On 30/06/2011 2:37 AM, Geoff Lock wrote:
OK, I have mentioned that weird looking fellow at Happy Wheels,
Kingsford. You know, that bloke with the green mohawk and painted finger
nails?

Well, I had been back to get some brake pads and noticed he had an
orange mohawk that time but that is not what I wanted to point out.

Some time after getting the brake pads, I was talking to Anthony, a mate
of mine who commutes on a mountain bike, and he told me that, that
strange looking fellow was actually some kind of world champion!

Now I didn't know that and decided to have a closer look at his website
- well I just assumed he had one and googled it up. Lo and behold, there
it was and his resume made interesting reading.

http://happywheels.com.au/about-stew

In summary, Stew (I thought he introduced himself the second time round
as "Stu", as in "Stuart" but in retrospect, he probably DID mean "Stew"
as in "Steward"), was the 2010 World Masters Games Criterium Gold
Medalist! I guess it is for his age group as I am assuming that is what
the World Masters are about.

On the one hand, I feel a bit silly now, in a way, cos I didn't know who
he was and he acted real humble, treated me right and sold me gear at,
what I thought, was, rock bottom prices BUT, on the other hand, we were
interacting as supplier and customer, so maybe, my purchasing power gave
me some clout - all of $20 for two pairs of brake pads and don't forget
the $70 for the pair of 700x23 tyres.

He does seem always busy working on bikes and actually knocked back
working on me mate's bike, according to Anthony, but then I work on my
own bike anyway. Might check out how he goes with truing wheels though,
as I admitted to him earlier that I was hopeless at it - he quoted me
$30 per wheel.

Why am I telling you guys this? I dunno. Most of you folks don't live
near Kingsford, NSW anyway I am probably bored, I think

I drive through sometimes