The Mexican bike shop
This afternoon I took Linc's motorcycle and my camera out for an adventure. I did my normal route and then decided to go a little further. I left downtown Playa and went into the regular streets of a Mexican city. the houses became more concrete and had less windows and walls. A lot of the homes had clothes lines strung full of multi-coloured clothes on the roofs. The odd man just calmly leaning against a sign post. For some reason mexican men love to chill on the corner and see what the world is going to do next. As I drove down these streets, I was the epitimy of a "rubber necker". I kept looking left and right and was lucky that I did drive the bike into something more stationary than me.
After roughly 30 blocks or so, I rode pass a bike shop. I don't think I could have the braked any harder as I pulled over and laid down the kickstand. I walked up to the bike shop which had 5 guys in it. One older man, 3 middle aged guys and one younger kid. One guy was sitting on a upside down 5 gallon pail while rebuilding a hub from an "late-model" bicycle. Another guy was behind the counter cutting tomatoes and putting them into a larger bowl that already contained onions, and fish and was making some sort of pico degio. The younger boy and the other middle aged guy were just sitting there stare at me as the "white guy" walked in.
As we all tried to break the language barrier, (I could not speak much spanish, and they could not speak much english) we managed to get across a few simple thoughts. I took out my camera and asked if I could take some photos. Well the camera sure triggered their excitement. We didn't speak the same language but a camera is known everywhere. They all start pointing at things that I should take photos of, smiling at every item. This is when it happened. My ego took a huge jump off a endless cliff.
As some of you know, I have spent many years working in bike shops in Winnipeg and have had many bicycles over the years ranging from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars.
The older man that I had mentioned whom was also there, turned out to be the owner. And the item he wanted me to photograph he pulled out from behind the counter. It was a framed photo. As soon as he had the photo in one hand, the other hand was wiping the frame and the glass piece. He wiped it with such meticulous care and attention, that left me with such anticipation to see the photo. Once he had finished wiping the little to no dust off the perfect frame and placed it on the counter for me to see, my heart dropped. The photo was of bicycle in front his counter of his little store. This bike was a full suspension bike, that at home could probably find at Canadian tire for $300 dollars or so. The owner had somehow sold this bike through his store but it was the most amazing bike they all have ever seen. The owner was incredibly proud of this bike and the photo, which anyone could see. He handled the frame with such attention that it caused my tongue to twist in knots. Here was a bike, that I used to make fun of when it came through the service department at the bike shop. I was left speechless (which was probably a good thing), and all I could do was snap a few photos.
After roughly 30 blocks or so, I rode pass a bike shop. I don't think I could have the braked any harder as I pulled over and laid down the kickstand. I walked up to the bike shop which had 5 guys in it. One older man, 3 middle aged guys and one younger kid. One guy was sitting on a upside down 5 gallon pail while rebuilding a hub from an "late-model" bicycle. Another guy was behind the counter cutting tomatoes and putting them into a larger bowl that already contained onions, and fish and was making some sort of pico degio. The younger boy and the other middle aged guy were just sitting there stare at me as the "white guy" walked in.As we all tried to break the language barrier, (I could not speak much spanish, and they could not speak much english) we managed to get across a few simple thoughts. I took out my camera and asked if I could take some photos. Well the camera sure triggered their excitement. We didn't speak the same language but a camera is known everywhere. They all start pointing at things that I should take photos of, smiling at every item. This is when it happened. My ego took a huge jump off a endless cliff.
As some of you know, I have spent many years working in bike shops in Winnipeg and have had many bicycles over the years ranging from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars.
The older man that I had mentioned whom was also there, turned out to be the owner. And the item he wanted me to photograph he pulled out from behind the counter. It was a framed photo. As soon as he had the photo in one hand, the other hand was wiping the frame and the glass piece. He wiped it with such meticulous care and attention, that left me with such anticipation to see the photo. Once he had finished wiping the little to no dust off the perfect frame and placed it on the counter for me to see, my heart dropped. The photo was of bicycle in front his counter of his little store. This bike was a full suspension bike, that at home could probably find at Canadian tire for $300 dollars or so. The owner had somehow sold this bike through his store but it was the most amazing bike they all have ever seen. The owner was incredibly proud of this bike and the photo, which anyone could see. He handled the frame with such attention that it caused my tongue to twist in knots. Here was a bike, that I used to make fun of when it came through the service department at the bike shop. I was left speechless (which was probably a good thing), and all I could do was snap a few photos.
posted by AJ at 10:28 PM
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