This weekend will find me sitting in an airplane for 11 hours as I head to Ireland for this year’s instalment of Single Speed Worlds. This will be my 4th SSWC and my first one in a foreign country. I have made some great friends and memories at these events in years past. In Pennsylvania we raced through an angry bee hive on killer trails, and it’s where I met Garro. We then proceeded to cover the street with grease and set it on fire (it’s a great story). In Napa we drank wine like water and I somehow ended up racing in nothing but a DC jersey and a pair of tightywhitey underwear. In Durango…well, that was just a blur. But I look like I am having a really great time in all the pictures.
Some of the people I have met stick out more than others. In Napa I was absorbed into a crew of great people from Salt Lake courtesy of my old friend Dirty Dan. That’s right, his name is Dirty too (birds of a feather…). Beers were emptied, hamburgers were grilled, and shit was talked. It came up in conversation that my buddy didn’t have a bike to ride in the race, he just came to hang out. This guy Jeff says he has an extra bike that he can use, a custom Pereira. We had only known each other for about 2 hours. The Kanuk raced the wheels off of that borrowed bike and had a great day with us on the trails. All thanks to the generosity of a stranger.
Over the years I have kept in contact with some of that crew via the facebooks and the 6 degrees of drunkcylist. Come to find out, that day when I first met Jeff he was kicking the shit out of cancer. I had no idea. Now it seems that the fucker cancer is trying to get the upper hand. His friends have come together in a big way to help raise funds and support for Jeff and his family. The other day was no exception when I got a one line email from Mike.
Give Bates some positive vibes… he is in the pain cave.
Let us use this page, right here, to send those positive vibes over to Jeff. Chances are that you don’t know him but you are related. We are all brothers and sisters here and we have a rider down. Right now, he is deep in the pain cave and fighting like hell to get back on the group. Let’s give him a wheel and pull him back up. If you have never commented before, this would be a good time.
You’ve got this, hombre. Keep fighting because we are going to keep cheering. We’ve got your back.
Mucho positive thoughts, Master Bates. Hucknroll crew has your back.
Jeff,
keep it in the big ring and give er some stick.
snake
I know Dirty, in a way i guess we all know his other friend/brother Dirty.
Fight the fight, thoughts are being shredded your way…
Keep fighting, Jeff. We need you back on a bike and tearing it up.
never met the cat, but that doesn’t matter. Fight the good fight Jeff. Keep your aces high! This ones for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sam5omG0v0&feature=related
jeff, never met ya but you are a part of this dc family and there are a bunch of people rooting you on from the sidelines. xo – judi
Positive TrailMOnster karma headed your way Jeff! Elbow your way to the front of the kicking cancers ass line! You can do this!
Jeff
As many others, we’ve never met. Irrelevant. We are all family.
Since I suck @ words, I’ll paraphrase Hinault:
JUST ATTACK.
Fight that fucker. Make it your bitch. Never stop.
Many positive vibes & glasses of bourbon tipped your way.
Keep movin Jeff! Spin to Win!
Never met you Jeff but I give a shit that you are going through this.
Big Ring that shit and shake the bitch of your wheel.
There can be only one winner and it’s gonna be you!
Jeff, I don’t think I’ve had the chance to meet you. But, you know Dirty, and I know Dirty, and brother, that’s enough. All the best. Keep your chin up. We’re all pulling for you.
Fellow SSer, you can kick Cancer straight in the ass twice with this fight. Keep your head up, keep your plans coming for the future and keep on pedaling
Dirty, many props for posting!
Some of y’all may not know Jeff, many do…he’s top shelf.
Dedicate your ride today (or every ride like me) to Bates…that just might do it.
Sumbitch is right around the corner, get back on that wheel then drop the fucker….Serious..good vibes to ya from the drunk cyclist trooper in Seattle. Kick its Ass!!
Jeff,
never met, but we’re all part of the same, big, happy and dysfunctional family of cyclists!
Cancer is like a big dog chasing you on the bike. Just keep pedaling, and the sorry son of a bitch will get tired of fighting and go away!
Good luck!
Beat it down Jeffro, I know you can amigo. Good mojo headed your way from all the crew at Sunday Cycles.
Jeff man, I’ll shred some dirt this weekend in your name.. Sending a shout out to the universe saying we the cycling collective have got your back!
Cheers!
Sending good thoughts.
Cancer Sucks ASS! best wishes and positive energy coming from Albuquerque
Jeff, grab a wheel, well bring you back.
Jeff is the coolest guy I know. It is ridiculously unfair. Fuck cancer. Long live the master.
Here is wishing you and yours a bidon full of courage.
In it to win it brother, in it to win it. Kia Kaha
wishing you well brother from another mother…two wheels one love!
Hang in there Mate, be strong.
Lots of love & light from down under.
Thoughts and prayers brother.
Pulling for you in Texas. Don’t know you, but anyone who’s ridden a SS at Skyline deserves it.
When in the cave find your power animal. . . and slide. Fight it brother and we’ll be praying.
A little cow bell coming your way to help push you along.
Long time DC reader, first time poster here.
From one singlespeeder to another, it’s just another hill to grind up. You got this.
Never have we met, but like all these others, i’m pulling for you brother.
All the positive energy you need is yours from the Southern tip of Africa. It’s a hill, climb it.
Go Jeff.
…lotta people, lotta posts & though everybody sez it differently, what’s goin’ on is a whole lotta love focused in your direction…
…stay strong & get healthy, bud…as i mentioned to someone else here recently – you gotta lotta miles waiting to roll beneath your wheels…
…get there & use ’em…
Jeff-
Probably never met in person, but positive vibes man. I started buzzing my head for a buddy with cancer a few years ago, I keep doing it since I am losing anyways, now I have a real reason. Fight and ride when you can to keep your mind sane in your skull.
Hey jeff,
I’d shave my head too in your honor, but I did that once and even my own mother laughed, so you’ll just have to accept the sentiment.
Good luck brother. Keep rollin’
Fight hard….. why it attacks in the prime of life is unknown.,.,Nothing but good thoughts and happy trails coming from here be strong and try to stay positive.. Your Wheels Will Roll again…..
I know from personal experience that it tries to break your spirit first. Make it fear your will.
Sit on for a few turns bro but don’t lose that wheel.
Keep strong Jeff.
Fuck Cancer. I hate that bitch.
Keep the desire burnin’ and the cranks turnin’ Jeff. Fight that bitch with everything you’ve got. Chitown got ya back.
Keep on Fighting Jeff and if your a SS racer you certainly know fighting and suffering. My wife is a 6 year survivor so I know more about this fight and that MF’n cancer than I care to but I also know that it can be overcome. I will echo the sentiments of others Fuck Cancer and keep on fighting love and prayers to ya brotha.
Ryan
Keep fightin’ man. You got this. Fuck cancer.
Happy, hopeful thoughts your way, Jeff. Keep up the fight. We are on the climb, giving you a push and cheering like only the Drunk Cyclist tifosi know how!
Like a big hill, keep crankin, you’ll get over it. Big Cog
I’ve never net you and only know of you from the post here on the site, but I am still pulling for you. Sneding postive vibes in hopes to meet you on the trail somewhere. You can do it. Keep fighting.
…think of us dc-ers as your big dirty ape in a drunkcyclist jersey, jumpin’ up n’ down, yelling, waving & cheering you on, jeff…
…(tip of the ol’ cycling cap to dirty b for the imagery)…
Cancer can suck a big fat dick, you got this dude. My dad had stage 3 Pancreatic. They gave him 5 months, now he is in remission.
Cancer is the BIG SHIT STAIN IN THE UNDERWEAR OF LIFE.
Fight like the fucking devil man. Win. Live. Thrive. You can do it.
Fight and win.
I just heard of this site tonight (which is weird because I’m a cyclist and I like to be drunk, too). Im moved to send positive vibes and all of my strength to Jeff. Cancer sucks, but you do not. Beat it, kind sir. Beat it to death with a 29er wheel and a titanium seat post.