GREAT TIME LAST NIGHT WITH MIKEY RAT, LOUIE, JULES AND THE YOUNG DAREDEVIL JACK . . . . KICKING BACK WITH GREAT PEOPLE, GOOD FOOD, GOOD VINO WAS A PERFECT TIME . . . . BEEN CHINWAGGIN WITH CHOOK ABOUT CARS AND BIKES FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS . . . . HE GETS 'IT' AND GETS ME AND WHAT I WAS PUTTIN DOWN ABOUT THE RIGID DEBATE DILEMMA . . . . PAPA CLUTCH, HERE I COME !!!

I love the feeling of calm that comes over me once I'm done wrestling with a dilemma or a problem that has been consuming much of any given waking moments during the days, weeks and sometimes months, that precede decision time . . . . well the jury is in folks and the decision is made, gonna order me one of the Papa Clutch bolt on hard tails first thing I get off here. Shock, horror and bemusement I'm certain will be feelings that Lovey and his good mate Barse will likely have, especially given their collective, muchly appreciated on my behalf, attempts to steer me in the weld on direction, what's that fuckin Whitey idiot gone and done now ???

The above ride owned by 'Tourist' on the Chop Cult blog/site where I pinched the shot from, was the final justification for my definite decision to go in this direction, I remember seeing the shot some months ago but didn't realize it was a bolt on jigger, all I saw was one extremely fucking cool scoot, but to find out now that it is a Papa Clutch bolt on kit is the ultimate confirmation that I'm doin the right thing . . . . both for the reason of [A] not wishing to bastardise, no matter how nicely it's done, the stock, straight, unmolested frame, and more significantly, [B], I totally dig the way the fucker looks on all three examples I've used to illustrate my argument . . . . and Tourist's shovel is just the absolute shit in my comprehension of what it looks like.

I understand there is a kind of 'chopper crew cultural cringe' regarding bolt on hardtails, even extending to weld on sections because they aren't done by the owner/rider, and I'm not leveling this at Lovey or Barse, I can understand that thought process and can even respect it . . . . however, I've made it clear from the get go that I'm no fabricator, let alone a mechanic, but I do have a clue about not only what I want in my bikes but also in how to draw it all together, I don't harbour any insecurities about the absence of the former two attributes at all, never have . . . . moreover, I don't think it detracts from the nature of my bikes, or my cars, or my bicycle, or my skateboards, or any other fucking thing that I have made the conscious decisions to alter, modify or rearrange to suit my take on aesthetics, I'm super comfortable with the whole idea.

I'm reminded of a comment made by well known Scientist of Death and Show Class kingpin, Tim, a few weeks ago, he wrote that he sees himself as a 'chronicler', not a builder, a bloke obsessed with bikes and all to do with them . . . . well, I ain't anywhere near the lofty heights of Tim and what he does but I am in my own little way, another chronicler, a nutter for bikes, cars, music and other stuff, I sure as shit ain't no mechanic, builder or whatever . . . . what I do have is a good eye and a sensibility for discerning what looks cool and what works, by and large at least, and at this point in the development of Project Shoveller, it's my ability to see into my minds eye and trust in that vision that leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy with the decision I have made . . . . only time alone will prove me right . . . . or maybe, wrong . . . . but I doubt it.