P |
eople are like molten lava
spewed up from the earth
there being no consistency
it is here where friendship gives birth!
Pressures so great
that we begin to bond together
until our composure changes its state
forming diamonds that last forever
THE ADVENTURES OF JALON G. HAWK
It is the first Friday of August and I wake by the cracking of thunder. Lightning creating shadows within my bedroom, I roll over to look out my window to get a glimpsed of the morning sun, which is amber red trying to force its way through the threatening clouds. “ Kieee-kiee” is the sound that I hear coming from the dead Maple in the back yard. “Kiee-kieee”. I quickly get over to the edge of my bed when, looking out at the tree, I see a huge old Hawk sitting in the top looking straight at me! Making one more “kiee”, the bird takes off while at the same time another lightning bolt dashes across the sky, blinding me for the next moment.
Getting up, I begin thinking about this morning’s events. Birds have always been bearers of messages for me in the past, along with that red sun, what does it mean? “Red in the morning, Sailors take warning” is that o’ll saying. May be I’m reading into this too much but then there was that premonition again!
Calling my
faithful companion Buck, a five year old Norwegian Elk Hound, we started our
usual two mile walk to the bike shop. At the end of the drive way there is a playing card with the top side
facing up. Picking it up and flipping
it over I notice it shows a picture of a 'star trek'-like ship. In the upper left hand corner the
inscriptions “LIGHT CRUISER” and a name at the bottom saying “CHIMERA
CLASS”. I just stuck it in my pocket
while Buck and I continued on our walk. I’m lucky I suppose because I really don’t have to depend on a car to
get to work. In fact, I have a paved
bike route that Buck and I go down almost every day that is an old rail
conversion.
The Shoppe is something that I have been working since 1981. Service in this town seemed to be lacking quality, and after hanging out at the area bicycle shops I knew there was room for another one. After time has gone by, my loyal customers would not go anywhere else. Up grades are inevitable so I picked up some high end frame builder’s work. Now I know there isn’t much money in frame building. It usually attracts a different type of character to give up some of the things that others think are not essential to life, so it doesn't surprise me when the builders that I am using either go bankrupt or sell their business. Sure would be nice to have someone that I can rely on and who’s got a good product while understanding ethical business practices.
Buck and I are getting close to the Shoppe when I notice some one-or something- sitting in front. Upon getting closer it begins to look more like some kind of animal. A leopard?! Wondered if the zoo lost something last night? Then she stands up. Wow! Some woman in a leopard skin suit is looking in my front window.
“Good morning!” I say to her as I walk by.
“You the owner?” she asks, drawing my attention away from opening the door. Giving a nod, I give some comment on how I do my best that I can. By now I notice Buck is pulling on the leash wanting to go into the bicycle Shoppe.
“How long ya been around?”
“Since 1958”.
“ Good year for the Thunder Bird!” She exclaims. Then correcting herself, “ No, I mean the bike shop, and what brands do you carry?” Opening the door, Buck is unusually quick to get inside. I let go of the leash and grab ST. Francis-a ceramic door stop-to prop open the door.
“Opened my doors in 1986. The brands that I use to carry either sold their company out, or went bankrupt in the last five years. I’m presently looking for a builder, but I cannot find anyone who fits the bill. Just wish one could just wander in the door!”
“Sometimes you should not ask for something, you just might get what you ask for.” she says as she draws me in to look deeply into her eyes.
This is when I notice that my legs are about to give out, sweat is forming on my fore brow and I begin to get a lump in my... throat. All my energy is running out of me when I force myself to look at her... machine. Before me is a bicycle I have never laid eyes on. The frame looks like stainless steel because it is unpainted with the fillets exposed. The components are mostly American made indicating that the whole rig is put together by someone who knows what they are doing. Stainless steel has never been successfully used as a frame material, so trying to not look at her I ask “Wow, where'd ya get the rig?”
“Won it on a bet!” she comments with an uneasiness. I can tell something is bothering her. It is hard to hear her over the noise that the crows are making that is starting to gather on the roof peak across the street. “Got to fly!” and without a further notice she is off on her ride.
Feeling a little weak, I walk into the Shoppe. Aiming for the chair I sit down and try to gain some composure and I feel something in my pocket. Reaching in I remember that card that I found at the end of my driveway. I got the chills and begin thinking about that red sun this morning. “Chimera Class” it reads. Getting up and going over to my bookshelf, I find the dictionary and look up the word Chimera. It says that it comes from a Greek myth. “1. Fire- breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent.2.An impossible or foolish fancy. [<Gk. khimaira, chimera. “she goat” ]”. Well, I’ll go along with the “foolish fantasy” part. How I can become so infatuated so fast with someone is beyond me.
Trying to shrug this whole thing off, I start on a tune up that came in when a big off-white ‘60 vintage Ford Thunderbird with some old cruisers on a roof rack pulls up in front of the Shoppe. Out steps a dude in some rustler’s outfit. I get all kinds on the East Side of this town so I'm not too surprised to see this Joker. Stepping into my place did surprise me though, and keeping my back to him while overhauling a wheel bearing I say “Good afternoon!”
“Howdy
partner!” he exclaims with quite a bit of rashness. I noticed those crows
starting to gather on the roof across the street again as we both look out the
window.
“Been doing that all day, gathering there on that roof. Must be an Owl in the area” I comment. He just gives me a strange look and steps out front, raising his arms in the air and gives an impressive long caw followed by two short ones when the crows made together sounds of retaliation and then fly off. I didn’t say anything and he acts as if it is common practice.
“Heard around that you might be in need of a frame builder.” he said. I start to think about the woman who was in earlier and her comment about not asking for something.
“And you might think that you are one?” He doesn't say anything, just starts to look around the Shoppe. I begin to get a little uneasy about the whole situation when Buck shot up and heads around the parts counter, putting his ‘happy’ face up front and center of our new guest.
“Yep, a rare breed I think.” He bends over to pet the dog. “I think I saw the liking of a picture of one of these in a dog book. Next to it was a caption saying something like ‘Spoiled rotten lazy bag of bones’.”
“Norwegian Elk Hound.” I commented. I feel better now that Buck takes a liking to the stranger. He has a better sense of knowing people than I do.
Standing up, the stranger starts commenting on the frames hanging in the Shoppe. “A lot of past loves hang's from the ceiling in here. Klein Team Super, one of the best aluminum frames ever made, having that Boron reinforcement on the stays and fork. An American Bicycle Manufacture road frame, very nimble for an aluminum frame as well as one of the most beautiful ever made. Too many welders in this industry and not enough frame builders I always say! I see one of Chris Chance’s great pieces over there, a Tenth Anniversary I think.” Putting down my work I walk over to the counter to talk.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I say bluntly. “He is going to expect it every time you come in now.” I get to thinking that this individual might know more than what his get up may lead one to think.
“Looks like that Raleigh International over there is your present ride?” He couldn’t have pegged things better even if I told him.
“Well, a good part of one’s enjoyment with anything is how you feel about it. Kind of hard to go out with someone when ya get burned, feel the same about my bikes. Promises are cheep. I’ve heard them all, ‘Life time guarantee’, ‘ Exclusive dealership area’, doesn’t mean much when the company’s go bankrupt or sell out.” I said.
I hit a soft spot. There was a long quiet moment when he said “So you like the feel of steel, eh?”
“As you noticed, I’ve ridden them all, some that aren't even here, and they all to try to get a ‘feel’ of a good quality of steel, so why not just ride one? Reynolds 531 has won more Tour De Frances than all the rest of materials combined. I think the old ‘70 vintage European road bikes are highly under rated, and right now that o’ll Raleigh is reliable. With the Campagnolo Record components on it and rides great!”
Well, that did it. He stood back and just looked at me, gave a sigh and said “So steel is real ya say?”
“You’re darn toot’n!” I snapped back. He walks out to his T-Bird and comes back in with what looks like a frame tube.
“What do ya make of it Partner?” he asked.
“Looks like a frame tube.” I say with a smile. I know that he is on to something.
“Ever had Carob ice cream?”
“ Sure, kind of like chocolate, but some how a little different I suppose. What does that have to do with anything?” By now I knew I had been roped into something. He stands back from the counter.
“What kind of tubing do you think this is?”
"I gather its cro-molly by its look and light weight.”
“What would you think of a steel that has a yield strength that is 50% greater than your finest titanium frames. It also has a 50% greater density creating a 50% greater modules of elasticity than 6Al titanium at only a 2oz difference in an over all tube set weight while providing corrosion resistance and a over all ride characteristic that you have never experienced!”
“Believe in half of what you see and none of what you hear!” I say to him kind of matter of fact . I wasn’t going to give him an inch with his hard pressed story about some ‘miracle’ tubing.
“So, a retro-grouch! Hmmm. Tell ya what. I’ll build ya the finest steed ya have ever ridden, no cost to you. If its not the greatest ride ya ever been on, you keep the steed and I move on. If it is everything I’ve promised, then you still own the beauty and I get a chance to build frames out of your shop to try to fill that void of building dream machines for your customers! What do ya say Partner? What have you got to loose?”
Things are a little too quiet. He is looking me right in the eye and I can see the desperation there. It seems like he really did not need to build frames at my shoppe. If he is as good as he says then why here? I could only guess that it might be that it has something to do more with get’n in with me and maybe there will be someone who can appreciate his craftsman ship. Also that maybe he has heard something about my shoppe an its history for put’n out high quality machines and together we can fill that void..... Hey wait a minute here. What did that gal say earlier today about asking for something? Some how this is just too coincidental yet I have to go with the flow.
“So where do we start?” I ask.
“Well, from look’n at that 56cm. Raleigh I’d say that you have a 32inch inseam, but look’n at you I’d reckon you’re only 5ft. 8in. Must be short in the torso by about two inches. On top of that your stem length is somewhere around 110mm on a 56.5cm top tube and those TTT bars reach out front pretty far with those brake levers so my guess that your arms are about an inch or so longer than normal. That short stem could cause some under steer. I also notice that your brooks saddle is back on the rails all the way. Do you have some knee problems, or just like shallow seat tube angles?”
“Maybe a little of both.” I reply to him. “Got to stay seated on the saddle for hill climbing so I don’t bruise my knees.”
“Can I come over and look at the bike?” he asked.
“Sure thing.” I say to him.
“By the looks of things here,” referring to the saddle, “I’d say that either you have one leg longer than the other or a double jointed hip.”
“Boy, I've never noticed that before. I've got over 50 thousand miles on the saddle and I guess it shows, doesn’t it?” He is pointing out the folds in the leather where my pelvic sits and one side was lower than the other. “Come to think of it, I do some times pop my hip when I stretch. Seems like I have a better ride when I do to. Like my knees don’t hurt as much.”
This guy was as sharp as the eyes of a hawk at a thousand feet and before I can comment on his wit he moved right along with more questions about fit, leaving me to believe that he’s done this before.
“ Ever use aro bars?”
“Profiles, Scott, T-Gear, Mavic, just to name a few. There is always a compromise between stem length and whether I use a system or a clip on bar set up. I never have reached that ‘balance’ point.”
Just then the phone rang. I go over to answer it and it is Pat asking what is the latest in suspension forks. “It is a good friend and customer,” I say to the guest in my shoppe, “ asking some questions and I’ll just be a minute. Feel free to do what you need to.”
I look out the window and noticed those crows gathering on the roof across the street again and get to think that they might have something to do with this individual in my shop. He is measuring the width of the bars and then started heading for the door. “See ya in about a month Partner!” he exclaimed.
“Pat, can I call ya right back, I’ve got some Joker in the shoppe?” I asked .
“Sure thing!” Pat said. Hanging up I noticed one of the crows swooping down towards the Rustler. He didn’t even flinch and before I could even find out just what this, well, individual’s name is he's off in that T-Bird cruising down the road.
I call Pat right back and start to tell him the events of the day as best as I could recall at the moment. “I don’t know Pat, the whole thing seems strange. What do you think of it?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait a month to see if this Joker is real and in the mean time, see what you can find out about that Metax tubing.” Pat suggests. We talk about the latest fork designs and then Pat adds “Maybe grace is working with you on this frame building thing. I know that I’m still riding today only because of the machines you sold me in the past, it is too bad that your past frame builders couldn’t hold out in such a difficult market. Something is to be lost in the new age “cookie cutter” bikes. This guy may be able to come up with something that really is different. Small builders can be a lot more flexible in their work in using new materials over large companies because creativity isn’t controlled to mass production. Stainless steel is harder to work with and this character could be just the one to be able to work with it”
The day ended in the shoppe pretty normal. I finish off a couple wheels that I am building for someone and ask Buck if he wants to go for a walk. His ears jump up and as usual all the antics start in. Barking and getting under my feet while I bring in the bikes from out side. Buck is about as good as a dog and companion can get. “What do you think of the gal that was in here today? Something about her you didn’t like? Then how about that character in that western outfit? What do you make of him?” I don’t know what to think either. Maybe it was just a dream... Any how, I’ve got some time to ask around about this guy and gal. Someone must know something about them.
Stepping out the door I look one more time across the street to see if those crows are around. Nope. Locking the door, Buck and I start the walk home and I hope that I can just clear my head. Stainless steel, what would it ride like?
Share with me the joys of your past
Share with me your sorrow
Share with me the joys of today
And let's make the memories for tomorrow
When my spirit shows up to see you at work
To bump you off your chair
Jalon is there just to play and flirt
And take you off to life's big fair
So share with me the loves of your past
Share with me their sorrow
Share with me a love that will last
All the way into tomorrow
Chapter 2
I spent some time asking around about that ‘Metax’ tubing and everything thing that my guest had claimed rang true, making his return even more exciting. No one knows anything about this desperado though. The gal in the skin suit I was more successful with. She has made herself known down in southern Wisconsin’s Kettles by becoming ‘THE’ one to beat. Everyone’s story is different except for the fact that no one can stay up with her long enough to find out who she is. They say that she is riding before sunrise and no one can see her leave and figures that she parks along side the road somewhere and leaves after dark. Description of her varies from person to person but one thing remains consistent-she rides a stainless frame with a lot of American made components on it.
I figure that the backyard needs to be mowed before Buck and I head for the Shoppe. That’s when I notice those crows gathering in the trees after the one in the pine makes a scream that sends chills down my spine. I get to think about the day that all this mystery started. “Let’s get down to the Shoppe Buck! I get a felling we might have company today!” Dropping the handle to the push mower, I grab Buck’s leash and we head out as if adventure was made for this day.
Like before, I see someone standing in front of the Shoppe. Straining, I see also the Thunderbird and Buck and I start increasing our pace. Trying to not seem over excited, or out of breath, I give our new friend a big “Howdy partner!”
“I share your excitement, Laurence, and how’s o’ll Buck doing here?” he says while bending down to give him a big hug.
"Grab his leash while I open the Shoppe.” I opened the door and put the bike rack out after I set St. Francis next to the door and Buck runs by me.
“I’ll let you have your dog and I’ll get the ‘Joker’.” said the stranger. I clear the stand and he comes in with a frame unlike anything I’d ever seen. He hands it over to me. “Don’t be so excited! I need some grits, and I reckon I saw a south western deli down the road. Think I’ll get my fill why'd you two get aquatinted!” He is gone walking down the road before I can say anything. I look out the window and noticed those crows following him on the roof tops as he went along. Strange character, I thought. Anyway, I just grab the frame and bolt down to the post office that is just around the corner to get the thing weighed. “Say Jim, can you weigh thing for me? Got a special one here!”
“Sure thing Mr. Gust! Three pounds, fifteen ounces.” the postmaster exclaimed.
“Under four pounds!” I state and run out the door.
Back in the Shoppe I put the frame in the stand thinking that there is going to be some over time this week if I am going to get everything done that I have scheduled. Standing there looking at this beauty left me breathless. The fillets flow from one tube to the next. Jewelry works like I have never seen. I have a 700c rear wheel sitting next to the bench and slapped it in. Nope, that won’t do. Must be a 650c and I don’t have any. Maybe a 19mm mountain bike wheel would fit. Looking over to the wheel rack I spotted one and it slips in.. Fits like a glove. I really hadn’t though of a component package yet, but I do have some Campy Record parts left over from my Slim Chance! Digging around I find brakes and derailleurs. I drop them into the ultrasonic cleaners and quickly put on a couple coats of wax. Hmm. Bars ... What am I going to do about bars? I do have a Campy Record head set somewhere in my spare parts drawer. While I am installing the crown race I notice once again the crows gathering on the roof peak on the bakery across the street. Just then the master builder walks in, holding a warn out Bible in his left hand.
“You two get’n to know each other yet?” he asked. I had to stop and look him in the eye.
“You know, I asked all around town about you this last month and no one could tell me that they knew of you. What I don’t understand is that you have the ability to create beauty like this and yet remain unknown. May I ask, just what is your name and what is your story?!”
Long pause... He walks around the counter and then around me, never taking his eyes off me like a dog facing a cat. “I am an Outlaw,” he starts saying, “I was born an Outlaw’s Son. The single track is my legacy but it’s the road where I like to ride! In one hand I have a Bible, a torch sports the other side. Don’t you know me boy?! I’m the man they want!”
Well, I just stand back and look at him and wonder if things aren't getting a bit deep. He gives me a stern look and then a smile appears on his face. That’s when Buck gets up and walks over to him and sits next to his leg, looking up at him with those brown eyes , with a hope that he can sucker him into a pat on the head.
“Some, they call me Larry, and some call me Cain. Some call me a sinner boy and some call me a saint. Some, they just come looking for me and if the find what it is that they have sought, then they call me by what the Spirits do, that be, Jalon Hawk!”
Well, if I am learning something about Jalon, that would be to think about what I am going to ask him before I do it. However, as if he was enjoying the interrogation I just had to plug a little more. "Quantify 'Outlaw' if you please." He smiles and follows through.
"I am sure you will understand being a tourist as I can see of this picture on the wall." He is referring to the picture taken of me just before I went on my twelve week bicycle trip a few years past.. "Then you will know that a life on the road is the life of an Outlaw Man. You see, I'm young and strong as I can be. I know what freedom means to me. And as I watch the rising sun, I know my life has just begun! I spend my life upon the road, just to add to what I know. Some day I may settle down, and all my friends will be around."
Just then the phone rings. Walking over I see Jalon head for the T-bird.
"Hello , Tail Wind Shoppe!" I exclaim. "Yes Janice, next week will be just fine, thanks for calling."
"Going to get off easy on schedule tasks this week, eh boy?" Jalon states after bringing in what looks like a custom handle bar set up, may be for the... 'Joker'.
"Hey, what did ya name this frame Joker for?" I ask him as he puts the bars on the counter.
"I didn't name it-you did! Don't you remember what the last thing you said when I last left your Shoppe about a month ago? You said to your friend Pat something about a 'Joker' being in your Shoppe! Could not be a more fitting name for a Desperado. The Joker is a playing card that can represent anything. Sort of like a shape shifter that I know."
Felt that I should leave that one alone for now. "That was the owner of this bicycle that was in the stand. I'm always glad when they call. Got to run a tight ship in a space of only 360 sq. feet. Kind of like a doctor's office I guess. I try to do everything by appointment so that I can keep my over head low and still give top quality service with individual attention. It has worked for fifteen years, and it may very well be the means to my success."
"I have heard a lot about you and how things worked around here. That is one reason that I decided to stop in here. Another reason is to watch you turn a wrench! Here are some" Jalon says as he picks up the bar that is sitting on the counter, "bars that I had made to help you get properly positioned on this machine. With a 54cm. top tube, 16 and 1/8th inch chainstays, and a 120mm stem with a rise of 10deg. over 42cm offset on the fork should get you the neutral steering that I am looking for with your body geometry. She may have a little over steer when you sit perched upon the saddle and hang off the extension bars. I made them that way to stretch you out with those long arms of yours. However, when you kick back on the saddle on a down hill, I think you are going to have the ride of your life!"
These things feel light compared to the set up that I had on my Slim Chance. The TTT 'Moscow' time trial bars with the adjustable Mavic aro clip-on bars I thought were a pretty good bar combination, but these hand made bars felt light and looked great! "What are they made out of?" I ask walking over to the stand and placing them in the steer of the fork.
"True Temper RCX2 road one inch top tube as the cross bar and end bars. The stem is part of a RCX2 down tube to allow the cross tube to slap through it and make a solid solder joint while providing the extra stiffness and strength to support the extra weight of the rider. I tend to over build rather than push the weight limits like other builders. Not that this is a stout unit like I saw in one of your pictures of your last ride. In fact I think that you will find it about 3/4 of a pound lighter than your last set up.!"
Jalon pulls up the chair that I made out of a front seat of a 77 Lincoln Mark IV that a buddy gave me. "Hey! This thing is pretty comfy!"
"Just an old office chair base and a car seat. Cheep accommodations! Had to get something to take my after noon siestas on. Working fourteen hour days catches up to you pretty fast. Besides, sitting on that stool over there left a little to be desired when I know that the folks across the street at the bakery must have been placing bets on which way I was going to fall off it!” I explain.
He opens up his book and starts reading. I clear off the work bench and start to organize all my parts. The head tube and bottom bracket are both faced and reamed, making installation relatively easy. It took about four hours until I had it all together, and by now Jalon has fallen asleep on the chair. I roll the machine up next to the counter and told Buck to wake up our friend. "Buck, wake up Jalon. Get him Buck!"
He bolts up just excited as all get out that he might get some attention. Pushing his nose under Jalon's arm, we start to get some movement out of the corps. Mumbling, Jalon asks "You done? So much for watching you turn a wrench! Boy, ya know… there must have been quite a few accidents in those old luxury vehicles. People falling asleep at the wheel." Getting up and stretching, he walks over to the Joker. "What a lovely we have here! What do you think now Partner?!"
"Got to give it straight to ya after the ride. One thing I can do is weigh it on a bathroom scale." Going over to the other counter I reach under and pull the scale out. Weighing myself and then the bike and I, I determine that it comes out around twenty pounds. "Pretty respectable considering the aro bars and Brooks leather saddle."
"Weight freaks! How big is that spare tire ya got around your waist? Rotational mass is a more important factor than static weight." He walks out the door and opens up the trunk of the T-bird, pulling out what looks like a custom road frame.
"You riding too?" I ask with enthusiasm.
"Lived my whole life for this moment. You're darn toot'n I am! Saddle up Laurence!" He rolls in a beautifully fillet soldered cro-molly machine painted the same off-white as his Thunderbird.
"You named it the 'Queen of Hearts'?" I ask.
"Don't you drive a Queen of Diamonds boy, she'll beat you if she is able, and the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet. This is my first love built under the 'Lovers Moon' of October few years back. We can stand around talk'n all day and before you know it the sun will be down! Can I change in the room?" pointing at the bath room door.
"Sure, go right ahead." I tell him. Never thought of seeing him in riding shorts. After all, he has been in that rustler's outfit all the time. He stepped out and I tried not to snicker. "Well, you look almost human!" I say to him without trying to offend him. He ignored me. Probably gets it all the time.
"Why don't you get ready and Buck and I will go for a short walk. His eyes are starting to look a little yellow."
"Thanks much, Jalon!" The two of them disappear and I change into my riding outfit.
Jalon's riding apparel consisted of cotton shorts, Victoria I think, and a Campagnolo cotton T-shirt. I sit on the floor and start to stretch when they walk back in. "I hope that we have time for that on some grass in town. I could use a good stretch today!" Jalon states as he unhooks Buck from his leash.
"Yea, if you want to. There is a fairly large park on the North side of town as we head out."
"So we are heading up to Lodi, eh?"
"How did you know where we were going?" I ask him. Again he is on the ball a little more than I give him credit for. "It is my job to know!" he exclaims.
"Well then, what is it then that you know about those crows that seems to be following you all the time?" I ask Jalon pointing to the few that have gathered once again on the roof top of the bakery across the street.
"You see crows, I see a darkness that looms over me just like the things that hang over you, my friend. Only the dark forces that hang over me are visible to us all, I don't know so much about yours. You see, Hawks and crows are always in competition for space just like our mind, body and spirit. I find it interesting that crows band together just like the body and mind against the soul to try to find their strength to create a force. The Hawk usually flies alone or with a mate. The crows are there to try to steer me off course from purpose. Create doubt in my direction. I was once deceived by the "One With Many Names and Faces", however when I was in the Ozarks in Arkansas I was blessed with an event that brought light to the element of power. Enough for now. We have an event to experience this moment! Saddle up Partner!"
Without another word he climbs on his ride and disappears down the road. I might have hit a soft spot and once again I should have kept my mouth shut. No time now to ponder. Closing up the Shoppe I take one last look at this beauty. Only a 38.75in wheel base. Might ride squirrelly. Starting out I immediately felt at home here in the cock pit. As he said, I feel a little over steer when stretched out on the bar ends while sitting up right. Once in the aro position however, the machine disappears out from underneath me. Seeing the walk lights blinking, I stand out of the saddle for a sprint to get through the stop lights before they changed. Like a Gazelle the Joker accelerates with little effort. The bottom bracket is as stiff as any aluminum frames I have ever ridden-even my $2300 Klein Team Super with it's Boron reinforcement in the stays.
Gliding along I almost forget about Jalon. Heading past Warner park while going out of town I see him stretching in the green grass near the lake. Riding up to him I feel an apology is needed for questioning him about the crows. "Hey, I'm sorry for bringing up something about the crows."
"No problem, Laurence. 'Truth' is something we all have to accept, no mater how profound. So what's your ride like?" Jalon asks while he stands up and then straddles his machine.
"Fits like a glove! No matter how I try to be objective about it I cannot help but just smile. Let's go past Lodi to Gibraltar Rock and see how it climbs on a steep hill!"
Lodi is about twenty seven miles from Madison. Riding along, I notice how Jalon appears as if he isn't even there. Kind of like watching a turkey vulture circling in the sky. He would ride out front or behind me never trying to start a conversation. Then he pulls up along side me and to size me up on my ride.
"How do I look, Partner?" I asked him, trying to start a conversation.
"Like you belong there. We are coming up on your favorite down hill. Enjoy!"
Hey, how did he know that this is my favorite downhill? All of a sudden I here "Seize the day!!!!" out of Jalon and then he disappears over the crest of the hill. I get out of the saddle to try to catch up and it is short time before I know that I am going too fast. Getting down into the aro position I feel suddenly like I'm flying! The machine again is disappearing out from underneath me, and I start to weave in between the leaves in the road just by leaning on the saddle one side to the other - at 35 miles per hour! I need more stability now so I put my hands out on the bar ends again and shift my weight back over the rear of the saddle. Wow! Perfect balance! And, just as I think that I am going to get past Jalon, like a Demon out of nowhere- a Doberman Pincher bolts out of the adjacent driveway after Jalon never even realizing that I am coming straight at him! I don't know how I got around that dog, by pure luck or grace. I just locked up the rear tire and threw my hip to the left pushing the bike out of the way of disaster. I watch the dog as it puts it's tail between its legs and yell at him "What the HELL do you think you are doing here?!!" Then turning towards the property I yell "Call your dog!!" The dog then drops back. Saying a quick prayer to myself in thanking God that I came out of that one alive I hear that proverbial pith..pith..pith-pishhhhhh! "Shit!" I exclaim while yanking on the brakes.
Looking for a place to try to stay warm in the September sun, I take a look at the damage. There is a rip in the rear tire about five inches long, making it completely useless. Looking up the road I see Jalon turning around and coming back my way.
"Thought I heard you cuss my friend!" he says with that 'I'm glad that happened to you instead of me' look.
"That was the 'I've got a flat' all rapped up into one word. Hey, what do you make of this?" I ask.
Jalon looks at the tire and then reaching into his wedge pack, pulls out a spare foldable tire. "I am a Boy Scout." he remarks kind of matter of fact.
"Boy, ya know, I don't think I could have come out of that one alive on any other bike. I mean, this geometry allowed me to move things so quickly when I needed to. It was a total spinal reaction! By the way, how do you know me well enough to know that this is my favorite hill?"
Jalon just sat down in the grass and pulls some fig bars out of his fanny pack while he watches me work. I am too busy changing the flat to press the issue. As if he is trying to sort things to best express the concept he comments, "The fact is, I don't know you at all my friend. I only know of you. I know of you through my experiences with you. No one knows anything except that of themselves-and very few people of that. As Christ had said "No one knows the Father except the Son, and no one knows the Son except the Father." This is because they are one of the same, expressed in the book of John some where. Combine how well I know myself with my experiences that I have had with you, I can better understand you, of how you are felling, what you are thinking, etc."
I put the wheel down for the moment and walk over to sit next to this wealth of knowledge. "Share some of those?"
"Sure, no problem." He says.
"Run that one by me again," I ask, "I don't quite understand."
"You don't understand because you are holding ideas to the information. The only limitation to any understanding is one's previously conceived ideas and expectations of it. Let go of all thought and just listen. It is like that of the relationship between the heart and the liver. Each has a consciousness of its own, they are independent of each other. Totally functioning independent of each other. They are aware of each other through the universal consciousness of the being. If the liver goes bad the heart knows about it in short time because of its experience with the Universal Consciousness. So it is with each other."
"It seems to make sense." I comment, only to bluff that I understand.
"Let me put it one more way, if I can." Jalon then grabs my wheel to finish fixing my flat.
"No, go right ahead. I'm fascinated!" I say with enthusiasm.
"You see that Oak tree standing in that field over there?" he asked, pointing at a lowly tree in the field before us.
"Yes, go on" I beg of him.
"Where does it receive its nourishment?"
"From the ground and the sun I suppose." I answer.
"And then where do you receive your nourishment, my friend?"
"From the same source."
"And just who-or what- created that tree?" Jalon continues.
"Some would say God."
"Then who-or what- created you, my friend?"
" The same, God"
"Then would your answers be any different for me or any one or any thing else, my friend?"
"No, I guess not." I say trying to see where this whole thing is going.
"Was it not said by a 20th century rock star that "I am he, as you are he as you are me and we are all together"?" Jalon is now finishing putting my rear wheel on and hands me the bike. "I'm not going to pump up the tire. I'll let you have the honors!"
"It was John Lennon." I follow through as I try to get 100lbs. of pressure out of one of those mini pumps.
"Then we can conclude that my thoughts are yours, and yours are mine. The same with our feelings and so on. This is why it is so important to think about how we interact with our environment, because what we do unto others we are doing unto ourselves!"
"Fascinating! How did you learn all this?" I ask this individual with new light now.
"I am just an observer of life. Like a mirror, I only reflect what I see. Far in my past the Inner Voice had said to me that I would receive three rings joined together when I would come to an understanding of these things."
"And have you received them?" I ask, hoping that this is not a sensitive subject.
"Feel free to ask anything you want to know of me. I have nothing to hide- except my frame building techniques!" he laughs as he pulls out a silver necklace that is hiding under his shirt. It has three rings intertwined with each other.
With that note we were both on the road once again heading down the road to Lodi.
Riding along on the new tire I feel lucky to have Jalon along. I would have been still along the road side wondering what to do next if he had not brought along that spare tire. He is riding up ahead and in my mirror on my glasses I notice a milk truck coming up behind us. "Car back!" I exclaim to Jalon.
We both pull far right where the road starts to break up into a sad repair job. Thinking that because of the stout bottom bracket and the straight bladed fork that I am going to shimmy right off the road. Much to my surprise we track right over it with ease. Catching up to Jalon I say to him "Even though this frame is stiff in the torsion plane it appears to be very compliant in the axial plane. I now see what you mean when you commented on the similarities between the Metax stainless and high quality steel being like chocolate and carob."
"For those that are allergic to chocolate, carob is a nice alternative, eh. Partner?"
"What??!!" I ask of the master builder.
"For those that want the feel of steel, the stiffness of aluminum and the corrosion resistance of titanium now have a legitimate alternative, don't you think?"
"You forget aesthetics. This is one of the most beautiful frames I have ever laid eyes on."
"Thank you, however nothing in itself has beauty. The very things that we find in ourselves that we admire we project on to something else and that is why it is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am glad that you admire my work for that is what I set out to do. I thank you for your compliment."
Wow… Now I see why he might ride out there alone with all those crazy thoughts going on in his head. Touring along I begin to feel that this machine is too easy to ride because I start to day dream too easily. Thinking about what Jalon said earlier about universal conciseness, some questions begin to surface.
"When we get into Lodi do you want to stop and take a brake?" Jalon asks.
"Yea, pull in at the Quick-Trip!"
Lodi is one of those all American small towns that you find splattered all across the country I guess. Every one owns American made cars and generally says a 'Hello' when greeting strangers. Jalon goes inside and gets himself another small box of fig bars, some Gatorade and a couple of bananas. I get my usual large mixture of Coke and Diet Coke, a rice crispy bar and a muffin. Finding Jalon sitting on the bench out front I sit beside him when one of the locals walks by dressed up in your farmer bibs looking at us in our riding outfits like we were from Mars.
"Good morning to ya-sir!" Jalon says as if it were common practice for a traveler.
"Ah,… ya. Where are you from, boy?!!" the man questioned with a kind of authority.
"From the deserts of Utah, sir." Jalon replies in such a way that just made the man look queer at him and continue on his mission into Quick-Trip.
I look at him strangely enough and pose the same question, "Where?"
"I was born in the desert and raised in a Cougar's den." Jalon says with kind of matter of fact.
Well I'm getting to know of this one well enough to know that I had better change the subject mighty quick. "You remember when we were talking about 'Universal Consciousness' back there when I had my flat? Does that concept have anything to do with Love?" He sat there with a mouth full of banana, seeming to thoroughly taste every last drop. Again he is not to be hasty in replying, like I set the hard drive into lock up.
"I see that you have let your ideas go and the Truth is now able to reveal itself! Yes my friend, it has everything to do with Love for Love is what connects us all. Many years ago I was troubled by some questions about life and when asking all sorts of 'Wise' people I couldn't get a straight answer. The Inner Voice wrote a poem that goes:
In life there are many questions
And it seems the answer is just 'not to ask'
Why is there pain
What is 'Truth'
And why does the end just go 'poof'?
These are just basic questions
And their answer's seems to lie in the one above
But here is one even grater than all those before
What is the meaning of Love?
I thought that I could find it in marriage, however I was disillusioned."
"So what you are saying is that Love is 'Universal Consciousness?" I ask Jalon.
"What Love is, is different to everyone. To me it is a verb. I believe that those that are looking for a noun will find a banquette that has plates and silverware and all the fine furnishings. What they won't find are the people interacting with each other. No action, just materialism. What it's meaning is, however, is universal-and it is to transcend. Unfortunately for me my Teacher is very thorough in His ways, and to understand exactly what Love means one would have to learn exactly what it doesn't mean."
"And how does on go about that?" I ask, hoping that it is not too personal.
"I had to learn it through going through a bad relationship. Quick, what is the opposite of Love?"
"Hate, I guess." I said being the first thing off the top of my head.
"Apathy is the opposite of Love. To Love is to care. To be apathetic, one is indifferent. Hatred, my friend is the opposite emotional idea to Love. This is why we can hate the ones we Love with the same vigor, because they are both the same emotion, different idea. Do you know of what the difference in the idea is, my friend?"
"Well, if the meaning of Love has something to do with caring about someone or something else, then hate must deal with only concern of the individual. It makes sense because one just needs to look at all the relationships that fall apart when individual needs are not being met. Self centered ideas are the root of all evil then, wouldn't you think?"
"He who believes that they are to be Loved by the one who they hate will be pray to the crossfire of conflicting emotional ideas of Love and hate, for Love begets Love and hate begets hate, my friend!"
Jalon just sat there and looked at me as a mentor would look at his student. Then he preaches "Hold no ideas to the experience and let the Truth reveal itself!" He gets up and walks over to his machine and makes an indication that he is a bit restless to get moving.
"Sit back down, you are not finished with explaining your poem. So when you came to the conclusion that the meaning of Love is a form of caring, or in short-'WE', have you found 'Truth'?" I feel like a sponge that is ready for the ocean.
"My friend, people have been trying on that one since the day we began to think independent thoughts. Do you think you are ready for it now?!" he asks with a sigh.
"Try me. Also try to do it in less than an hour because we still have a ride left ahead of us!"
He looked deep into my eyes and made me shiver. Then he gets up and goes into the Quick-Trip, coming out with a pencil and paper. "I'm going to draw a picture of my God and I want you to tell me what you see." He begins to draw what looks like a circle and then put a dot in the center of it.
"It looks like an eye." I say.
"The ego is quick to see itself." He then writes 'Knowledge' on the inside and 'Awareness' on the outside of the circle. "The circle and everything inside represents your ego-or knowledge. Everything outside represents Universal Consciousness. There are two kinds of consciousness; knowledge and awareness. The line of the circle is a boundary and represents understanding. One cannot obtain awareness or knowledge without going through the circle. Therefore the ego knows only knowledge and is aware of nothing. It is also finite. The spirit is aware of everything, but knows nothing, and is infinite. E=mc2 is a nice piece of knowledge, however if you are not aware of how it applies you will never split an atom. 'Truth' then, my friend, is a revelation or verb. This happens when the individual goes through an experience and either knowledge or awareness is gained through understanding. When knowledge is present and the mind holds no ideas to the experience, then awareness can be gained. When awareness is present and the mind holds no ideas to the experience, knowledge can be gained. What is important here is what is common for both is the experience and that we hold no ideas to it. 'Truth' is the essence of this. Enlightenment to the individual then is when one lets the Truth of this balance come forth and govern their lives. The Goddess of the Meadow spoke of the relevance of time to me, in that the experience is needed to allow this to happen. There is only one who was ever born that didn't need to go through the experience to become enlightened because He is the Truth!"
"And this is why you said before that the only limitation to any understanding is one's previously conceived ideas and expectations of it." I say with the enthusiasm of a graduating student.
"Very good my friend! Any time you say that you cannot understand you are letting these ideas prevent you from having clarity" Jalon now draws an arrow from the center of the circle outward. " This is where it gets interesting, because this is how Truth and God are one in the same. The ego is very self centered because it knows it is going to die along with its knowledge. Therefore eternal life can only be gained when the ego diminishes while the self transcends beyond the circle through understanding into the spiritual. We talked earlier about the meaning of Love being 'We'. The ultimate in this is showed in the myth of the crucifixion. Nothing is lost in the death therefore, because the experience and understanding of life all returns to the Divine Conciseness in the form of a greater awareness of Being."
"You lost me there." I say to Jalon. Wow, my head hurts. "Let's ride while I let this settle. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be!"
Life is a book that is already written
This is the miracle of life
The mystery is to find out how each one of us fits into the story
The adventure is to transcend into it
Like a couple of desperadoes climbing on their horses, we stroll out of town aiming for what is considered to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The Barraboo bluffs house one of the most beautiful lakes in Wisconsin called -unfortunately - Devil's Lake. The Native American Indians gave it the name for what they considered was the home of "The Great Spirit of the Underworld" or if interpreted it will have the meaning for the giver of life. When riding through this area of geological Bliss, one can appreciate how many years of glacial activity this area has gone through to create the mature rolling hills and valleys that make up the Wisconsin River bed.
"Been five glaciers that have come through this area to bring down these mountains. I know that from where you come from you would call these rolling hills. I think that you would agree however, that like a woman that has aged gracefully, there is a certain amount of beauty that Nature has to provide here." I comment to Jalon as we turn onto Hwy. J that will take us up closer to Gibraltar Rock.
"When you live out west I have to agree that the mountains have their grace. It is humbling to be here and see how time along with nature can carve out of granite rock the sculptures that she does."
I stretch out onto the aro bars and feel my lungs open up. We are starting a small hill climb that I have to say that is one of my favorites. All along the road side is some of the most beautiful wild flowers. Blues, purples, yellows and whites create a sea of colors that own the ground while the oak and maple trees reach over the top of the road. As I get to the top of the hill, off in the distance are the beautiful hills and valleys that make up the Wisconsin River bed landscape. Jalon is now far ahead of me caused from my day dreaming. The first twenty-seven miles were done with the average speed of nineteen miles per hour and my legs are now feeling it. The road was freshly paved within the last few years and now turns into more of a roller coaster ride with its twists and turns, hills and valleys. As I finish another short hill climb the road takes a sharp bend to the left and the bluff that makes up Gibraltar Rock is about 200 yards in front of me. Towering about 400 feet up I can see some rock climbers doing what they do best.
Cresting another roll in the road I see Jalon turn on hwy. V that takes you to the county park gravel road. Not without a workout can you reach the entrance of the park for a steep hill takes you to the top, and a long down hill on a gravel road leaves you at the gate. This is where you have to lift your bike over this gate to continue the journey up the bluff, and it is where I meet Jalon.
"So, you have been here before!" I say as we climb aboard our rides.
"One of my favorite places to come for peace and quite during the day. I saw the rock climbers strutting their stuff on the way up, and their presents during the week day is an unusual occurrence."
This park has been around for about a hundred years, the land given to the public after it was logged in the late 1800's. Time has created a mature woods that has grown over the broken up road that takes you up to the bluff's top. This reasonable facsimile of a road is now mostly covered up by pine needles and moss. Climbing aboard we both give a sigh knowing that we could come out of this with knee problems. Jalon takes the lead as we head up the two mile climb. There are sections that level out, however, for the most part the road is a challenge to keep the rear wheel from spinning. Jalon taking the lead up the hill put me in a position to take the chase. Standing on the pedals I feel the rear wheel slip loose on the damp moss. One advantage of a 650c wheel is how close the rear can get to the bottom bracket for traction. I down shift to my 36/23 and sit on the saddle in hopes that I can spin fast enough to catch up. Having a 72 degree seat tube angle puts me even that much more over the rear wheel and I start to get traction and accelerate with ease. About a quarter mile up the road the pavement flattens out enough to get out of the saddle and down shift to pass this 'Joker'.
"Hey, watch it there buddy!" Jalon comments as I brush past him.
"You snooze you loose!" I remark to try to throw salt into the wound.
To be continued....
