And speaking of books, friend to many and enemy to a few, the perviously mentioned Mr. Eugene Robinson (seen here in mid-yowl, fronting his band Oxbow) is presently going on tour to promote his new book, 'FIGHT'. Should he be coming through your neck of the woods, go by to support the fella, and see if along with a signed copy, you dont walk away with a black eye to boot?

On the January 13th appearance, it looks like hell be in New York with P.W. Long, formerly of MULE fame.
If you miss that, youre foolish. If you dont know who MULE was, then youre foolisher.

Their cover of Nina Simones 'To Love Somebody' is one of the finest tributes these ears have ever heard.

Now then- Back in the day when you called up the old Swobo H.Q., one of the friendly voices on the telephone was a fine fellow by the name of Jeff. He has since moved on to greener pastures and besides spending time at firing ranges in Las Vegas, he has delved head first into the technical world of Photoshop.
He recently sent us seasons greetings in the form of a piece of his newest digital art.

Obviously his new skills are unmatched.

Chef also offered us a bit of holiday cheer in our inbox.

...and one more from Shawn;

"I know I rarely post anything on Bike Love, but this is a picture of my bike by a sign that says #1 donuts.

I had to share it with you all this lovely morning. My co-workers think I am crazy because I am all smiling @ werk tonight. I am down right giddy. I think I have the x-mas spirit."

Thanks you all. Its almost enough to make me like Christmas again.
Id better find my holiday spirit somewhere or Santa Loudass is gonna serve me up a stocking full of something a whole lot more unpleasant than lumps of coal.

Ive been blessed with a Santa of a different sort however as the master of masters, Antonio Columbo laid this beaut on me cause this year Ive been a marginally good boy.

This weekend found me buried in all sorts of domestic chores which have been sorely neglected as of late. I still havent done any form of Christmas shopping, but for you all I can offer this;
Between grocery shopping (complete with a roving band of carolers which made me throw up in my mouth a little bit), floor vacuuming, and dish washing, I found time to peep the art work for the new Single Speed World Championships t-shirt.
Thats right- Youve heard it here first. The wheels for 2008 are already in motion, though youre gonna have to wait for August to get a piece of it yourselves.
I can however present you with what was the inspiration for the new shirt.

As a matter of fact, last week I spoke on the phone with this past years host, Dr. Jon and I likened The Worlds to a big, smelly, sore covered, albeit lovable and friendly dog who comes and stays at your house for a while, you feed him, get slobbered on, and then he wonders off to the next house. Youre happy to host him, but youre always just as happy to see him go. Then damn Curtis has to go search the mutt out and invite him back.

'Nuf said about that...

Now theres an artist that goes by the name of Al Columbia that Ive mentioned here before on The Bummer Life. Among all of the 'art that doesnt suck' thats been showcased here over the months, Als art sucks the least.

Hes an absolute master of combining the whimsical and utterly terrifying, and Ill go on record here to say that if I was capable of drawing a straight line, Id draw a straight line just like him.

To see what Im talking about, you need look no further than ether of his two published books from Fantagraphics called The Biologic Show.

Crza passed this on. I thought it was a parody, but now Im just scrathing my head and saying, 'damn.'

After a long hiatus from fabrication, our man (Sk)ugly has gotten the torch lit on his frame building business and sent on a photo of his recently completed whip.

In an email we got the other day, he claims that shortly after the new year he should be in full production mode.
Dont forget (Sk)ugly, tis the season of giving.

As per the usual form of 'short attention span theatre' we host here on The Bummer Life, well now offer something of an entirely different nature from Jim;

"Local rider narrowly escapes certain death… Woweezowee. The photo shows a huge boulder that fell almost straight down on HWY 82, Independence Pass, barely missing the rider but wrecking his bike. Check out the pavement damage.

Glad it wasn’t me… I was sweeping out the garage.
JG"

Jim, everybody knows boulders never fall on you when you are sweeping the garage.
How about the final quote in that article though...

“It’s only in Colorado that you have cyclists in December,” said Shanks. “What a community.”

Riding their bikes in December? They must me mad...

The Urban Velo kids are still always on the hunt for folks who want to speak their minds about why theyd prefer to ride a bike on the city streets in their I love riding in the city segment.

Duh.. Cause its been like, years since anyone was killed by a falling boulder in the environs of a city scape...
In December...

Say- you know how when men win races, they get all kinds of cool loot and whatnot, and when women win races they get a pair of earrings? (Its true. I saw that happen once.)
Well, the Hunting forwarded this online petition to us, that will then be sent on the great minds at the UCI demanding some equal treatment for the women folk who race the bicycles. Sign it, and go to bed tonight feeling good about yourself.

And now finally, speaking of the people who race the bicycles.. That Cross Nationals thing just happened.

(Photo of Bjorn Selander by Mitch Clinton.)

The one eyed wonder Zeke has an insiders perspective on the mellay.
Or should I say half of a perspective?

HEYOH!
Ill be here all week. Dont forget to tip your waitress.

Theres a slew more info to be found on the gig right here.
It looks like our boy Marko faired pretty well for hisself in the one speed catagory.

Photo © Newlow

Alright.. My nose has a date with a grindstone. Everybody have a good Monday, 'aight?

Heres some over and some out.