Chapter 51

“Nice bike. Kona? Joe Murray designed?” That was a question I couldn’t answer. As far as I was concerned ... Murray was a cheap brand sold by Sears. They went bankrupt in 2005 ... Murray ... not Sears.

“I bought the bike because I could get just the frame ... made the way I wanted ... I bought a complete Shimano XTR frame set, DT 29er front wheel and a DT 27.5 rear.When I striped out the Campy gearset to install the XTR ... I laced the DT’s into four-cross spokes and the top of the line Rockshox is perfect for my weight. I built the thing because Verner took so long to ship my Pitts motor.” I finished with, “and ... no I don’t want a beer.”

The eyes of my inquisitor bulged and he turned away.

The statuesque blonde said, “You were a little rough on my big brother there.”

“Oops, big brother?” I blushed. “I have an excuse ... my sibs are 11 ... all three of ‘em.”

“Why were you so short...?”

“Look ... I know who I look like ... my grandmother ... and my two Aunts ... I know what my voice sounds like ... the Aunts have the same voice ... without the Australian accent I was born with. Aunt Cynthia had a serious reputation until she got married. Auntie Surprise ... Ha! Got you. Surprise is her REAL name. It’s a suthern thing ... she managed to get pregnant on a tropical island. Lost the girl when Seven ... like I said ... suthern thing ... I met a kid with the first name of Senator. We lost Seven when she turned five. I call Surprise Auntie Mom ... I’ve lived with her since I was five.”