Grant's visit to PDX

[Michael Mann]

I shot some not very good photos. Grant spoke at Powells and said he was deviating from his standard spiel. It was good - funny in a dry way, opinionated, natch. Talked a lot about un-racing, and how he spent a lot of years riding a lot of miles, most of them thinking mostly about getting to the end, and how that's no way to ride - or live. And then we rode to Velocult, which is about the perfect place to end a ride like that. Beers, lots of chatting, the biggest collection of Rivendell bikes I've seen in one place in Portland, and a lot of nice Bridgestones as well. Got a big smile for my '85 MB-2.

https://picasaweb.google.com/116897251123335733984/GrantPetersenPDX5122012

--
Michael Mann
http://baiku-velomann.blogspot.com/

[cyclotourist]

Looks like it was a GREAT time up there! Any ride that ends at VC has to be a good one!

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Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

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[charlie]

Yes we drove the 270 mile RT to Portland and managed to miss the talk
(but did get a signed book, yaaay!) Also missed the ride due to a slow
bike assembly three blocks away from the starting point, doh! Then to
top it off, couldn't find the Velo Cult store until 'G dog' almost
left but he was kind enough to chat a short minute and shake hands so
I'm happy. My wife read the book some on the drive back and I have a
personal signed copy as a gift for my riding pal.....The Velo Cult
store has some nice beer (I managed one) and I purchased a few
consumables I was in need of. Next came a blast back home with my SO
jammed in the back of our 92 Suzuki Swift. My thoughts on downtown
Portland....a madhouse and not very accommodating to automobiles but a
kind soul or two helped us in our frantic moments making the day at
least memorable. Also had the pleasure to meet 'Smitty' from the
Owners group who was out with the wife and children both riding
Rivendells a Betty and a Hilsen. Wished we could have stayed longer
and visited maybe next time............

> smile for my '85 MB-2.https://picasaweb.google.com/116897251123335733984/GrantPetersenPDX51...
>
> --
> Michael Mannhttp://baiku-velomann.blogspot.com/

[Aaron Thomas]

Looks like fun. Did Grant have a travel bike with him for the ride to Velo Cult or did he borrow one? 

[Smitty]

Hey Charlie... was good to meet you. 

I caught Grant's spiel but by the time I rousted the wife and 2 kids out of Powell's children's section then got mobilized on the bikes we too missed the ride to Velo Cult. We set off towards VC on our own but it was too nice a day to not stop at the fountain for a few minutes. About half a mile from VC I ran into list member Norman riding his All Rounder home and he told me the party was winding down, but me and mine figured we were almost there so may as well press on and at least check out the shop. By the time we got to VC the last of the Rivsters we're leaving (Allan in Portland and Charlie were the only list members I recognized) and Grant was already long gone. Oh Well. The talk was entertaining and there are worse ways to spend a sunny afternoon than riding around town on bikes with the family. We stopped for dinner at the "a la carts" food cart pod and had tacos, burgers, banh mi, and ice cream. 

My family regularly do group rides but usually we're the only ones on Rivs. We were both looking forward to a ride where Rivs were the norm. Maybe next time we'll make it to the start on time. 

--Andy 

[Mike]

So bummed I missed it. Unfortunately I was stuck at work with no
chance of stepping out for an extended lunch break. Sure was a nice
day for a ride.

--mike

[charlie]

Thanks 'Smitty' your friendliness helped make a hectic, poorly planned
(on my part) day turn out better. Goals for us: maybe a GPS or even
just maps, get a bike rack for the automobile, leave with enough extra
time, buy some shorts that fit (that was a unexpectedly hot day)
allow more time to hang out in unfamiliar places......we don't get to
travel much and so are not good at it.... yet.
I've been reading Grants book and its well laid out with short, to the
point chapters....I like it and believe it will communicate well with
those not familiar with his previous writings.

[Allan in Portland]

Thanks for the photos Michael. I wasn't able to put any names to faces (and bikes) like I'd somewhat hoped, but that's cool too. Kind of maintains the mystery. :-)

The talk was pretty interesting, but only after giving it a day. At first I was a little disappointed that it seemed more aimed at Oprah's book club, while I was hoping more for a sermon to the choir... yeah, I know the book isn't so much aimed at the choir, but anyone going to hear an author talk on one of the nicest Saturday's Portland has had this year is I think safe to assume part of the choir. Or at least knows Grant, knows Rivendell, and knows the virtues of steel, leather, & cork. Maybe that can't be said for everywhere, but in Portland, I don't think it a stretch.

The one thing I'll say is that it surprised me that Grant hasn't always been the "unracer" he is today. He has been as long as I've known of him, about 2005 or so, but that was a relatively recent conversion of his. Since I was already more or less an "unracer" when I discovered him, I always thought of him as an "unracer" and appreciated it that here was a guy sympatico with myself, and a lot more knowledgeable about it.

So after thinking about it, and realizing that it took Grant 20-some-odd-years to become an unracer, there probably are a lot of people out there needing to unrace themselves, and probably even a few on this list.

Regards,
-Allan

On Saturday, May 12, 2012 7:26:49 PM UTC-7, velomann wrote: