Thankful, 2011 Edition
A Note from Fatty: A huge thanks to everyone who bought a book or made a donation last weekend to help raise money for treatment for a neighbor kid of mine. We raised $3141 — an extraordinary amount in such a short time — and I’ve sent it along to the family.
Another Note from Fatty: Remember how, last week, I made an extremely compelling case for why you should take the Bicycling Magazine Readers’ Choice survey and vote for me as the “personality” with whom you would most like to ride? Well, apparently, it worked, because last night Bicycling tweeted this:
I’m tempted to think that Bicycling is trying to sway the vote here. But I’m sure that’s a silly and unfair representation of what was meant as a non-partisan appeal to people to vote. Right?
But just in case, if you haven’t taken the survey, why don’t you? It’ll only take about three minutes. And be sure to pay special attention to the “Personalities” drop-down in Question 20 (the final one), where you’re asked to “choose the cyclist you’d most like to ride with.”
Thankful, 2011
I am thankful for bikes. I have written a lot about riding bikes in the past 6.5 years. More than I would have thought possible, really. But I’ve written very little about bikes themselves, which is an oversight I should correct.
I don’t mean that I should write about a particular bike. I mean that I should write about — and be thankful for — the mobile miracle that is the bicycle. At their best, they are incredibly elegant-looking. You get on it and suddenly — without having to use any power but your own — you are factorially faster than you ever could be without the bike. And you can go dozens of times further. At just the right speed so that you can take everything in, while still seeing new places.
There’s no other machine ever invented that multiplies what you can do and where you can go like the bicycle.
Bikes are amazing. Wonderful. I love them.
I am thankful for cyclists. Maybe this is just me liking people who are like me. If so, that’s OK. But the fact remains, I almost always make instant friends with other riders, whether we’re on the road or dirt. After all, we’re both out there, enjoying doing the same thing, at the same place, at the same time. What a wild coincidence. We must have stuff to talk about. Like bikes! And riding! And places to ride!
It comes off as silly when I write it, but I mean it anyway. A person on a bike is almost always a friendly, interesting, happy person. That’s a good kind of person to get to know.
I am thankful for my readers. In between the silly posts, I ask a lot of you. And you never fail to amaze me with your generosity. Thank you for being an extraordinary group of friends.
PS: I will be taking a break from this blog for the rest of this week, so I can focus on getting books mailed before (or right after) Thanksgiving. Have a great vacation, eat lots of mashed potatoes and pie, and try to get out and ride.
See you next Monday!
PPS: For my readers who are not US-based, I still recommend you eat lots of mashed potatoes and pie, as well as getting out for a ride.
Comment by melicious | 11.21.2011 | 11:43 am
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well, Fatty!
Mmmmmmm, mashed potatoes and pie……
Comment by KM | 11.21.2011 | 11:48 am
Of course you’re going to win. This is just a ploy by BSNYC to increase the drama. He’s probably crafting a 40,000 word blog post about this contest right now. I’m riding the trainer today and tommorrow in preparation for the pie and mashed potatoes….Happy Thanksgiving Hammer (ladies first) Fatty and family.
Comment by Liz | 11.21.2011 | 12:02 pm
Yes, I’m trying to ride every day this week to counteract all the mashed potatoes and pie.
Happy Thanksgiving to Elden and family, and Team Fatty everywhere! Looking forward to the book!
Comment by m burdge | 11.21.2011 | 12:08 pm
Mashed potatoes on pie is an unusual preference. Ice cream is more common.
Comment by zeeeter | 11.21.2011 | 12:25 pm
My last Thanksgiving as a Brit! Taking the Oath shortly
so this one will be a particularly enjoyable Turkey-munch! Happy Thanksgiving Fatty, to you and your family.
Comment by Meredith S | 11.21.2011 | 12:28 pm
Speaking of pie… I saw this product yesterday and immediately thought of you and the potential it has to revolutionize your life. Perhaps you could invent an egg white and avocado pie filling for your after the holidays diet. I am sure the health benefits of the filling would negate the calories in the crust completely.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/breville-pie-maker-bpi640xl/?pkey=e%7Cpie%7C40%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C20&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule%7CCommon_Top_Wide_Rule-_-
Comment by Kent | 11.21.2011 | 12:44 pm
I Like Pie, Thus, I must Ride!
Happy Thanksgiving to All.
Comment by dvhansen | 11.21.2011 | 12:45 pm
felt so strongly about wanting to ride with you that i took the survey a second time – from my work computer…you darn well better come out on top! Happy Thanksgiving, Fatty, to you and your family – enjoy the time off from the blog…and get me my books fast, i’m dying to read them!
Comment by Jesse | 11.21.2011 | 1:38 pm
Please tell me you also have a cookbook in the making?
Comment by a chris | 11.21.2011 | 2:28 pm
OK, I took the ludicrous survey JUST so I could vote for you (and David Byrne — happy coincidence).
Why was bakfiets.nl not one of the tickbox choices for bike brands? Doesn’t everyone have one for training rides? (Esp on singletrack)
Comment by Clydesteve | 11.21.2011 | 2:38 pm
joy of joys, my wife is PRACTICING cooking thanksgiving dinner. Turkey & mashed potatos last night, pie tonight. And she really does not need practice. mmmmmmmmmmm pie!
Comment by Heber Chad | 11.21.2011 | 3:59 pm
We want Pie!
Comment by davidh-marin, ca | 11.21.2011 | 4:29 pm
Fatty;
Happy Thanksgiving to you, and ALL your family. Thank you for everything you do for us, and get us to do.
Any Fatties who want to join us riding Thursday in the Annual Appetite Seminar ride in Fairfax(ca) 8am at the Java Hut (Yann, Laura, Angie???)
Just a sample video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzUpfFOyu1U
I am thankful for Wife#1 and her telling me about this site, and everything she and the kids allow me to do to ride. An for pie.
Comment by Richard from Calgary | 11.21.2011 | 5:02 pm
You can vote more than once for Fatty if you vote from your PC at home, work and your smart phone. There are 4 Iphones in my house. All are voting for Fatty.
Comment by Nurse Betsy | 11.21.2011 | 5:29 pm
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Pie and mashed potatoes……I may start now!
Comment by Carl | 11.21.2011 | 8:17 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to Fatty and family and to all my fellow fatties.
Comment by roan | 11.21.2011 | 8:19 pm
Fatty, I’m thankful for your blog. It makes me laugh, cry, think and respond. If there is one thing I do everyday it is to check fatcyclist.com.
Thanks for introducing me to the great cycling family around the world known as Fat Cyclists.
And a shout out to Zeeeter…Glad to have ya !
Comment by Linda | 11.21.2011 | 8:53 pm
Anxiously waiting for the book like a teenage girl waits for a Twilight movie.
Comment by NYCCarlos | 11.21.2011 | 9:44 pm
Happy Thanksgiving, Fatties!
Comment by Kukui | 11.21.2011 | 9:58 pm
Happy Thanksgiving, Fatty! Mmmmm… Mashed potatoes and pie… And ten extra pounds by this time next week! Bring it on!! =)
P.S. – So excited for the Best of Fatty books to arrive!
Comment by Jenn | 11.22.2011 | 12:24 am
Happy Thanksgiving, all! We usually adopt all the single-soldier types for this holiday, and this year it’s gotten out of hand! In addition to the singles, we will have Brits, and a contingent of Germans for whom this is an inaugural American holiday dinner!…14 people!! I’m thankful, and a smidge nervous!
Comment by roan | 11.22.2011 | 6:24 am
Some fodder while Fatty is busy.
Checkout the lastest online issue of Bicycle Magazine.
Article on caffeine…WHOA!Nelly, the DIY caffeine bar, ingredients include ‘hempseeds’.
Can’t wait for that next post race urine test.
Comment by evil3 | 11.22.2011 | 8:27 am
Happy Thanksgiving everyone in the Fat Cyclist family.
Also I might go on a T-day ride as the temp there are calling for on that that is in the mid to low 50’s, which might be on of the last rides I get in outside this year (depending on when it snows, as if I really want to get salt all over my bike).
Comment by Eric T. | 11.22.2011 | 8:39 am
To Fatty and my fellow friends of Fatty – Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. This blog is one of my daily work avoidance treats, and I am very thankful to be part of a such a generous and fun virtual community. My wife and I were just saying how it would be so great if we lived in Utah so we could hang out with Fatty and the Hammer in person. My wife is actually qualified and registered for the Boston Marathon this April, so I am hoping there may be a Fat Cyclist meet up that weekend for the running wing of the family?
Comment by Brian in VA | 11.22.2011 | 11:44 am
I’m thankful for finding this site and for all of the cyclists, like me, who enjoy the zaniness that is Fatcyclist! I’m thankful for knowing someone that asks me to help and then thanks me for stepping up. I’m thankful for pie…..and beer. And I’m thankful for a bride that cares enough about me to let me ride and is always waiting with a beer. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
Comment by Rob M | 11.22.2011 | 12:43 pm
Fatty. You make me laugh. You make me cry. You make me participate in worthwhile causes.
I am thankful for Fatcyclist.com.
Happy Thanksgiving to Fatties everywhere.
Comment by AK_Chick | 11.22.2011 | 12:58 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to the wonderful world of Fatcyclist!It’s so awesome being a part of this group. Thanks to Fatty for bringing all of us “together.” Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday! :) I might go for a bike ride, but considering the temps (we are anywhere from -15 to 10 above), I’m probably going to keep my ride a short one with the dogs. Can’t afford a fat tire bike (yet), so I’ll be riding my trusty Gary Fisher Tass with studded tires (which still amaze me that they grip so well). Allez!
Comment by Susie H | 11.22.2011 | 2:15 pm
good grief, Elden! have you looked at what is being advertised in your sidebar lately??? Godiva chocolate parfaits??? oh, hellll no!
seriously though, as a longtime reader of your blog, but a recent cyclist convert, i wonder, would i be riding today if not for you? thank you, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Comment by davidh-marin, ca | 11.22.2011 | 2:31 pm
Chocolate Parfaits??? Helllll Yes! All I get is DZ Nuts (I don’t think that’s a snack)
Comment by AngieG | 11.22.2011 | 7:20 pm
I am so thankful for my wonderful Fatty Friends-@David-marin & Wife #1, my brothers from other mothers- @MattC and GregC, Yann, Karen, Philly Jen, Mike Roadie, Andrew and Christine and of course my BFOD (best friend of Dave) Fatty and his beautiful wife-The Hammer.
I’m also especially thankful of my BikeMonkey’s- Carlos P (The Head Monkey), Fisher, Kim, Yuri and his amazing wife Vanessa, the Jen’s and my BFF’s Cheryl and Heidi P.
@David-marin- I wish I could come riding with you. But between 3 papers and cooking dinner I am booked solid. How about I take a rain check until spring and we’ll plan some prepping for Davis rides with you,me, Yann and Karen.
Happy Thanksgiving Fatty’s!!!!!
Comment by MattC | 11.22.2011 | 11:03 pm
I’ve got lots to be thankful for. That I still have my job (gov cutbacks are threatening tho…2012 gonna be scary!), my family, our house, my wonderful wife and fur-babies, that I am physically able to ride bikes (cuz so very many aren’t)…and that I was able to go to the bicycling survey and vote for Bobke as the personality I’d most like to ride with….and, uhm, er…oops…I meant FATTY! FATTY is who I voted for! I mistyped…yeah, that’s the ticket…mistyped…misremembered..something like that.
I’m also thankful for all my adopted Fatty family that I’ve become involved with in recent years, and that we can get together now and then and just ride and have fun. And that under the Fatty banner we can all do some REAL good in the world. Happy T-day Fatties!
Comment by Debi | 11.25.2011 | 4:52 pm
Bicycling Magazine can’t sway my vote. I voted for ya’ Fatty. I have been very bad and I haven’t been reading your blog for awhile and I was religiously reading after I learned of it. Now, I have to figure out how to get a jersey and if I can still order your new book. Please don’t take it personal.
Thanks for the great idea Richard on how we can vote more for Fatty. Gonna’ go do that now.