The Power of Pure Excellence:

Well, after yesterday's post, I'll mention the outpouring of good tidings, a couple nasty replies and -in general- the essence of my growing legend of Excellence.

First things first: "Thank You" to the many emails agreeing that I should be 'hooked up'.

2ndly things 2ndly... To the folks who felt that I was 101% serious and basically demanding special treatment.  I wasn't 101% serious, I was only, sorta, kinda serious... and mostly kidding [but in a 101% serious way].

Some email examples...

A.  "Who the ^%$@ do you think you are, Lance Armstrong??" 

No, I don't.  I love my wife and wouldn't leave her no matter how famous I became, ride my bike for health, fun, and a better sense of the world I reside in, and never for profit.  Oh, and because I don't think gasoline is such a good idea on a day to day basis.

B.  "Why should you get things for free, when I have to pay full price?" 

I agree.  I don't want anything free [unless it's a gift], but wholesale would be sweet.  Lots of folks, including me, pay full price on things.  I just want to not pay full price on my bike stuff.  [refer to A.]

C.  "I thought you shared your story to, perhaps, inspire folks, not to make a profit?" 

True, I did.  If I can help inspire anyone, great... and I've replied to every single email I received after the Strib piece ran and then, later on, the Riv Reader piece too: all 2371 of them.  And I didn't add, or use, one single 'form/stock reply' either... everyone of them: I wrote to that person, about their requests, concerns, questions, pleas, needs for resources/links/help/etc.  The only ones I didn't respond to, and I even tried to get to most of them, were the "Congrats" type emails.  All that said, I don't really want to profit from any of this, and trust me I probably could, but I don't [much to my wife, Amy's, chagrin] really know -or want to know either- how to take something like I've done/do/will always continue to do and make it into some sort of candy-coated, pre-packaged, just-add-water, display-stand-at-your-local-supermarket "Thing" for sale.  Anyway, I'm not that smart, nor calculating.  On the other hand, if I could get some bike stuff at cost, that would help out a lot... staying at home with Chloe, homeschooling, kinda negates me from the 9 to 5 workforce [if a bike shop or the "Q" would hire -both- Chloe and me, that'd be cool though!].  We are a single-income kinda family... and after taxes, Amy's salary -while at the tipity top for RN's- is pretty much swallowed up by month to month living expenses.  Again, thanks for writing.

D.  "I guess you think you're like some kind of effing rock star, if I lived by you I run you over with my SUV.  You have no excellence in my opinion." 

Hey, that's not very nice.  No, I don't think I'm a rock star... but I was a pretty competent musician back when I played, and played with lots of famous folks you probably love.  Concerning running me over with your SUV, no worries... someone local to me probably will soon enough.  And worst, they won't even know me as well as you do [and you don't know me except thru LFoaB].  PS... you forgot to use your " 'd " on your "I" in the death threat part.  Have a great day!

E.  "If I ran that QBP place, never even heard of it though, I'd give you the keys to it!  You're more of an asset to Humanity, the sport of Cycling, and inspiration in general, than any of those drug users racing professionally.   In my opinion you're a true athlete (for your love, dedication and day after day committed attitude), and you used a bike to change everything!  None of those guys can say that!" 

Thanks for the note.   I don't want the keys to anything, just some wholesale pricing.  The way I look at it: in business/economy terms... I, big maybe, helped get some folks to get their old bikes out, off to their local bike shop for a couple repairs; or to go to their local bike shop and get a bike... to start riding again, maybe.  And as such, helped the lil' LBS guy make some scratch for tomorrow's Hamburger Helper w/the xtra creamy -and always delicious- cheesy cream sauce packet, and then -also- put a few bucks in QBP's pocket too [because they probably sold that fella's new chain, or bell, or bar grips, or fixing bolt, or tube, or stem, or reflector to that lil' shop first].  But that's, like I said, a big maybe.  But I do know I certainly helped people think about buying and/or pulling their old bike[s] out and most importantly: reconsidering them.  But all that aside, I'm glad to help and I just want some wholesale pricing.  It's not like I'm asking for free anything here.  Also, I don't feel like a true athlete when I'm rolling along at 15mph and my legs feel like over-cooked pasta, but thanks for all the nice words & thoughts.

Those were a few of the many emails I've received since yesterday's entry.

I guess my "Excellence" is far more wide-reaching than, even, I ever considered.

And on that note... later this month, the month of May, 2008, I'll be offering the very first ever LFoaB-branded piece of merchandise [in case you don't know, LFoaB stands for Large Fella on a Bike]!  Stay tuned for details... if you know me, you'll love it.  And even if you don't know me, but suspect that you sorta "Get" me, you'll love it too. 

I may offer wholesale pricing to a select few individuals as well, maybe...

Keep Ridin'... Always

Comments

[George McNally]

Oh, hell yeah:-)

Where do I get in line for some LFoaB clothing?

There's lots of us out there, ya know-you might be on to something.....

[Craig Bradley]

Sweet. The very best part of this post is the comment that no, I don't think I'm Lance Armstrong. I love my wife and would never leave her (to paraphrase).

I love the (not so) subtle dig.

Keep ridin'

[fatguy1966]

See, I think a line of cycling wear for the larger (yet shrinking) rider is long over due.

I would wear a pair of LFoaB knickers while riding. Hell I would wear a LFoaB "3 Ft." Tee-shirt! (that would be a T-shirt with "3ft." printed on the back and an arrow pointing left.)

And because it would be the only items that I would wear while riding, I would expect that you would hook me up for the whole free thing you are working out with Q!

Srsly, a line of riding gear for Large Fellow's (and females) would sell like crazy(because there is practically no market for them.) And you could continue being a fab father while working from home.

[the driver]

LFoaB clothing. I'll take it. Perhaps it will be made large enough so my ass will no longer explode out the top of my shorts when I lean forward for the hill climb. That and extra-tall floppy jerseys. Where do I mail the check?

[yam]

Are you getting with the guys at Twin Six? That would rock. I'm not a lycra guy, but I'd don a LFoaB plastic shirt...

[Dead Nerve]

I cant wait to see what you have up your selves. For big people like myself we can go to aerotechdesigns.com for our REALLY REALLY big needs. (I hope I'm not breaking any rules but I think its important for big people to get comfortable clothes.)

[MtMann]

A couple things semi-related to several of your recent posts, but not directly in response to any particular one. If you filter, feel free to not post this, but since I couldn't find an email for you I didn't know how else to contact you.

First, I know you commented on moving to Portland. Not sure if you were serious or not, but if so, my congregation (Portland Mennonite) has a rental house next to the church that just vacated. Rent is $1100/month. It’s located on SE 35th about a block off Hawthorne, which is freak central (in a mostly good way) for Portland and just about ground zero for all things bikey (Sasha White’s workshop/studio is on 35th about 5 blocks away). The central eastside is definitely the most bike-friendly part of town. The house is also about two blocks from Sunnyside school and park. It’s smallish but well maintained. Downside is listening to the evening practice sessions of the praise band from the Hispanic congregation that shares the church. They’re loud, but they don’t practice late. And who knows, maybe you could sit in and jazz things up a bit. I also don’t think church attendance is required to live there – we’re a pretty diverse and reasonable group; not too wacky or uptight, but the pastor could answer that question better. His name is Rod Stafford and his number is 503-234-0559. Feel free to drop my name.
I don’t know if your wife would be looking for a hospital job, but a couple miles away is Portland Adventist hospital. Since they’re run by the Adventist church, they tend to be pretty holistic (in a hospital kind of way) and have the best (vegetarian) hospital food in town.
On the subject of food, I know Minnesota is a farm state, but we’ve got a ton of farmer’s markets all over town, and some are already open and selling good veggies.
Also, I want to thank you for linking my essay on wanting a fixed gear bike. I wanted to let you know I won it! I finally have something good to show for the English degree. Well, I don’t actually have the bike yet, since they’re building it up to my specs, but I’m feeling pretty hooked up – and definitely think you deserve similar treatment from QBP.

Finally, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m really disliking the black background with gray text – finding myself squinting one-eyed to read it. Maybe you’re trying to reduce traffic or keep out the riff-raff?

Ride Long,

Mike Mann