Saturday 15 September 2012

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.

6 comments:

  1. well done whitey, you passed the test mate! don't listen to anyone elses opinion's just do what you gotta do, don't ever give a diddly-shit about what's cool or what-you-think-you-should-do-because-other-people-might-not-dig-it, go your own way, [oh fuck, i just know that fleetwood mac tune is going to be inside my swede all night now], you are right brotherman, the frankenshovel will be a bosting bike, it's your bike, no-one elses and let's be frank, do you really care if anyone 'likes' your bike? thought not, fuck 'em!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Got it all in a nutshell Lovey, thanks bro, glad I passed the test . . . failing still would've ended in the same result, as you said, gotta 'go your own way', and now it's stuck in bloody head, your twisting my melon man, love on Brotherman !!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. And you always have the option of going back to swingarm config easily this way. I'm trying to get up steam to finish off my "Return a badly chopped/welded on hard tail '57 Triumph,back to a decently customized swingarm"... It's taking a lot longer than I ever imagined, and something I'll probably not attempt again. Looking forward to watching all those parts come together on your project.
    Between you and Loveless my musical education has increased by leaps and bounds...so much music out there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looking forward to myself mate, now everything's fallen into place as far as planning goes it'll be action stations pretty shortly, just gotta save a bit more cash and I'm away. The music thing is something both Mr Loveless and myself are pretty seriously into Hairman, I've increased my understanding of so much stuff by following Tim's blog it been like visiting the library . . . stoked you're digging it buddy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. good choice WP, harley build frames that last, brackets and headstocks don't usually crack after 2000 miles, as I found - just check those mounting bolts once in a while...heh heh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks mate, yeah, I feel really at ease with the decision, and regular tension checks shall duly be carried out, rest assured . . . glad you picked up that 'hairline fracture' on your lovely old jigger before it dumped you all over the tarmac . . . te he he !!!

      Delete