One of My Favorites

This past weekend was the GABA Fall Bike Swap in Tucson.  Its one of the coolest events I know of.  I've managed to make it down every other year since 2007 and this year held up to and exceeded all expectations.  We loaded up the Intergalactic Space Cruiser with bikes and parts and friends and art and some completely random items and some beers and cruised on down Friday to descend our rowdiness upon Tucson.  We started at Brain's house that evening.  A round of hot toddies led to a dumpster diving mission with Brain's two year old daughter.  Somehow mom allowed for this under the premise of life lessons to not waste.  I'd have to say it was pretty cool seeing someone so young carry eggplants from the garbage and place them into her bike trailer....and having a child along brings instant credibility to just about any situation.  We wound up back at Brain's house to cook our Thanks Veterans dinner and sat around the table well into the night laughing about stories of the past and watching the dog make out with the rocking horse.  Holding true to tradition, very little sleep was had.

Saturday.  4:30 wake up.  Coffee and bike swap.  We drove over and started setting up our table well before dawn.  We flew the pirate flag of course, representing ourselves proper.  Everything here must go.  We stole some saw horses from Brain's neighbor and some plywood from Brain's climbing wall and made a table.  People were picking over our stuff with headlamps.  Traditionally the pre-dawn hours are the best time to sell carbon fiber bits....unfortunately we only had one.  It was the last item sold of the day.  If someone left something on our table, like a cup or coffee or a pen, it was sold.  We successfully traded a dried out Sharpie for a banana that was sitting in some guy's pocket.  People were heckled into buying things they didn't even want.  We even gave buyer incentives:  A cuban cigar to he who buys the Kona or the VIKTOR torch set, ginger mints for random upscale sales,  foil antennae for those who need help communicating their purchases.  All told we had more fun than is safe at such an event and made our wallets fat doing it.  Next time....more drinking!

But seriously people, what's the deal here?  Why is it that we have to drive 250 miles to come to your town and make your bike swap such a good time.  Take the fun into your own hands and stop taking yourselves so seriously.  Where are the Tucson bike community locals that like to party and have a good time?  Surely you have things to sell too.  Why is it that so many square people are out on the streets selling off their back stock of spandex?  It doesn't take a whole lot of effort or party to have fun here.  Just try.  Show some excitement, its six city blocks of free bike swap!  Scrap the tents and the fancy displays and for God's sake, stop taking yourselves so seriously!

our ghetto fabulous table

check out this girl's rad moustache tattoo.  I don't know who she is or who her tattoo depicts, but she clearly knows how to have a good time.