fork cute...

I've really been digging Max's Born Free video.  The apocalyptical look of him riding around the Bay is some of the best riding footage I think I've ever seen and his words brief, yet effective.  From the first time we met I've always thought of him as a very articulate person, everything he say's seems to just plain make sense. Topics like skateboarding or choppers, both yield a feeling difficult to describe because you have to actually "live it" in order to truly know what makes them special but he somehow always seems to have a way of putting it into words so relatable that you can do nothing but sit back and think "whoa...nailed it on the head."

You know those old guys you meet on the street or in a dark corner of a bar that just look and sound like they've done it all and seen it all, and after talking to, you walk away feeling a little more enlightened and even more convinced that you will never be as cool as them? Well, Max.....I think you're well on your way to becoming that cool.

flashback repost....

The Born Loser posted a pic of that famous green Knuckle the other day and made me think of my friend Davey. He shared with the world that and a series of other amazing old family photos of early San Bernardino club life, the bikes and the people that have inspired many of us in the blog-o-sphere. Just wanted to share again....    


BERDOO-





Davey and Yoshi

The terms "ruler" and "stand-up guy" get tossed around loosely these days. Both are phrases I rarely use because they really only apply to a small handful of people I know. I think Davey falls into that catergory. Humble and reserved he's just doing his thing. A regular guy supporting his family, and trying to be apart of this chomper epidemic when time and money permit.
Me and Nick cruised up to his house in Fontana to pick up a radiator for the Econoline and started talking about his family and looking through some of the countless photos from the late 50's through the 60's. Infamous photos you've seen on all the blogs of his grandma and grandpa, pops and uncles bikes. I was shaking holding those photos in my hands just knowing that right here in my hands is where it all began. Some of the pioneers of a lifestyle most of us strive to emulate (but never will) doing things for the first time just to see where they could take it. Some take all this too seriously, some take it for granted and some for the wrong reasons entirely but moments like this remind me of why I do it. I love the past, and love learning, not knowing. Once you know everything or have everything, then what? The future will come and when it does I probably won't be ready, but thats okay because i like surprises.

Davey, if there was a team, you'd be on it. Thanks for sharing the photos with me and I cant wait to meet your Grandma.



Grandpa


Grandma

...and her panhead!

booya

ATR LET ME RIDE from Mark Choiniere on Vimeo.

Mark thought it would be interesting to film an ordinary day in the life of me getting ready for Born Free 4.

paint...

My knuckle is the first thing I have ever felt compelled to have painted and I couldn't have been more stoked when Max offered to help me out in that department. Not only is he my pal but I really dig his style, you always know when its a Max job. When I gave him the tins all I asked for was "black with just a little bit of something, nothing crazy".  I like wild, over-the-top paint jobs but for my bike, I just wanted it to be mellow.  Even though I did a ton of little tricks and treats to the bike I still think it looks pretty simple from far until you get closer and its obvious Max understood what it was I was trying to achieve and nailed it. Now every time I open my garage door my eyes go straight to that paint, its weird having something so nice for once. My only problem with the paint is that its impossible to take a picture of without getting all kinds of glare or reflections but that could just be because I don't know how to take a picture.

Once again, thanks dude for taking care of me and making me look cooler than I am.
 xoxo.