Longtime (30 years) Santa Cruz Mercedes Benz auto mechanic, John Hayes, enjoyed his birthday, with his two kids. Kachina and Emerson, on the Busycle yesterday. He even drove most of the day (he is pictured at left) and helped us answer a question that crops up every now and again - why does it feel like the clutch (of which there is not one) is slipping sometimes when we pedal?The answer - we. if you can believe this, were pedaling faster than the gears in the transmission could spin or as John O'Leary, who was also there, later qualified, "it's like going down hill in first gear".
Besides John's revelation, we also learned a little secret about why the Busycle helps to promote a healthy back. Lisa Maloney TOLD US why her back always feels great after a Busycle ride. Such good news!!
As added testimony to how the Busycle is as much about bringing people together as it is a mechanical marvel, Anna da Costa was even there with her friend, Rozanne Shackelford and sister, Maria da Costa who came with her boyfriend Albert. And here is the kicker. the last time I saw Anna was the weekend before my car wreck more than 30 years ago. We were just getting to know each other then. And she bought my book so she can catch up some of what has taken place during all those missing decades!!
Because I am now down here in Aptos at John Oleary's beautiful beach house and have been since last week, I was unable to work with the fun people at Philz Coffee in making this a ride worthy of the value they have added to the Loma Verde and Middlefield neighborhood. Because of them and employees like Brianne Kinney who made us feel like kings when we brought them the Busycle a few weeks ago, to Tess Christy, Doug Carlson, and Suzzanah who kept driving out the love for us on Sunday, that corner section of Palo Alto is teeming with activity. Hats off to Jacob, and his dad Phil Jaber, for their chain of businesses which are fast becoming far more than just coffee houses.
Though we didn't go far or do a lot of rides. it was a great chance to do a Busycle regroup. We also have the interest of not only the amazingly clever, John Oleary, but his friend, John Hayes also wants to help us take the Busycle to the next level. The two of them have a ton of ideas and since John H is a cyclist who makes a living working on one of the most sophisticated vehicles on the planet, the Mercedes, the two of them bring a lot of horsepower to the Busycle effort as it ramps up for SF to Boston next June
Since I have been staying with Johnny O, I have had the opportunity to learn more about some of his wizardry. A strong HiWheel cyclist and union electrician, he is one of the highest ranking wire techs anywhere to be found. Far more than a new home or remodel electric man, he is regularly called upon to wire electronic data storage centers and jobs that fall within in that realm for clients such as MCI, Google, SGI, HP, Nortel Networks and the city of Santa Clara, etc. He has even consulted on the wiring for movie sets where he has rubbed elbows with George Lucas, Steve Landis, Eddie Murphy, Ted Danson and even McCully Colken (sp?)
Paul Gregg was there with his forklift beacon to add authority to an event that had all the many car drivers who passed us smiling, waving and taking photos of all the color that we were all about. Look for another Busycle event soon and in the interim, if you want to stay positive, you can follow my Affirmations of Note blog HERE.
THX 4 all of U!!
Lisa Knox
I'm diggin' the colorful flags on the busycle. Sorry I couldn't make this one, but I am DETERMINED to get friends and family out for the next one. Missing this one was a double whammy since, not only do I love the busycle, but I LOVE PHILZ COFFEE!
