Yearly I neglect this weblog’s anniversary, and it seems that I’ve carried out so as soon as once more. Nonetheless, this time I’ve solely simply barely missed it, for it was on June thirteenth, 2007 that I first began typing phrases into it (or at the very least its precursor on the Blogger platform.) And I suppose it’s extra becoming that I acknowledge it immediately quite than this previous Friday, which was after all Friday the thirteenth, and subsequently Unhealthy Luck.

Anyway, this weblog is now formally sufficiently old to need to register with the Selective Service, so Blissful Anniversary to me.

Whether or not you’ve been studying this weblog from the start, otherwise you’ve solely simply occurred upon it, otherwise you merely cease in sometimes, assume to your self, “Critically, this man’s nonetheless at it?,” after which go submit about how unhappy that’s on Reddit, I thanks very a lot for doing so–and for contributing, although after all you’re by no means anticipated or required to take action.

Once I began this weblog, I wrote it anonymously, which was simply high quality with me. And regardless that I selected to drop the anonymity when my first guide got here out (at a sure level the Salinger/Pynchon shenanigans simply really feel pretentious), I’ve typically tried to keep away from sharing too many particulars about my private life. Certain, I’ll inundate you with all method of excruciatingly boring bike-related tedium, however for essentially the most half I do my greatest to spare you from such issues as plumbing issues or pores and skin circumstances or the all-consuming course of that’s negotiating with the cable firm over a charge improve.

On this case nonetheless there’s a private matter that isn’t solely consuming a good portion of my consciousness, however it’s additionally related to the topic of this weblog. (To be clear, the topic of this weblog is bikes, although I’ve been contemplating a pivot in the direction of ideas for negotiating with the cable firm’s retention division.) And sharing it on my weblog’s anniversary appears particularly becoming.

One week in the past, my longtime pal and using buddy died after combating most cancers for a number of years. His identify was Chris Lengthy. This feels unusual to sort, since he was a non-public individual, and subsequently one of many final individuals I’d have written about or talked about by identify on this weblog.

Nonetheless, Chris performed an vital position not solely in my biking life however on this weblog, as a result of our rides and our conversations knowledgeable loads of what you’ve learn right here through the years. I at all times revered the best way he rode, in addition to his data and expertise, and he taught me quite a bit. He was older than me, and one of many smoothest riders I’ve ever seen, on or offroad. Till he was sick, I by no means noticed him exhibit something resembling bodily misery, regardless of how lengthy or arduous the trip. He was ecumenical when it got here to bikes and biking, however his actual specialty was cyclocross, and when you rode within the New England or Mid Atlantic race collection you in all probability knew who he was.

In a method Chris was a type of biking ascetics many people know: he labored, and he rode his bike. The rest was extraneous–he stockpiled all his trip time for cyclocross season, and he didn’t also have a smartphone till it turned essential to get one when he needed to incorporate most cancers therapies into his life. He was a far stronger and extra devoted rider than I used to be, however we shared a typical disdain for (and propensity to snicker at) frivolity and gimmickry and stuff that was needlessly sophisticated and costly. And as significantly as he took his cyclocross season, and as meticulously as he ready for it, he was at all times as much as trip only for using’s sake, even with somebody gradual and lazy like me. We put in loads of miles collectively through the years, and he was the individual I rode with most frequently.

Chris was additionally a particularly diligent and fastidious mechanic, and was fully self-sufficient in that regard–he did all his personal work, together with constructing all his personal wheels. Not like Jörs Trüli, he had a serene work space, all his instruments and parts had been neatly saved and labeled, and his many bikes had been at all times spotless. Tidy rows of wheels and frames–years and years’ value–held on the partitions together with race numbers and plaques and photographs. There have been (nonetheless are) even pocket book binders stuffed with catalogues and receipts for all his bikes:

I point out this as a result of, in a closing little bit of irony, Chris has left it to me to deal with all of these things.

Sure, me. The man who hasn’t cleaned any of his bikes since like 2006, and who virtually killed himself making an attempt to wrap his bars with Newbaum’s:

So sure, I’m sharing all of this with you as a result of I wish to keep in mind and honor my pal, regardless that he in all probability would have been extraordinarily uncomfortable with my doing so. However I’m additionally letting you recognize that within the coming days and weeks you’re in all probability going to be listening to extra about all these items as I work out what to do with it. In the end I intend to promote a lot if not all of it to profit a corporation or two, although how precisely that may occur I nonetheless want to determine, and it’s potential I’ll even provide a few of it right here.

Anyway, thanks for indulging an uncharacteristically private submit, and for nonetheless studying this weblog in spite of everything of those years. Be sure to take pleasure in each trip.

With Gratitude,

–Tan Tenovo