Bad News

[j44ke]

I don't know Fast Boy personally, but I have been following & admiring his writing ever since seeing one of his terrific bikes parked outside of NYC Velo one afternoon. Which was not my intention! I just wanted to look at photos of his nifty bicycles. But his writing is sharply perceptive in the face of pretty awful things having to do with cancer, and that skill made his writing challenging and thought provoking in the best sorts of ways. This most current piece is no different. If anything, it is some of his best writing, but it also relays some of his worst news. I only put it here because I know that he has fans at VSalon. If you don't know anything about him, then you might read some of the stories he's been telling about his quest for recovery and health. Not a sob story. Good, strong, clear-head. Plus he is a framebuilder, some contributors here have his bikes and some are his friends and riding buddies. Whatever the case, I know we all hope for the best.

teaching cancer to cry » Blog Archive » here it is.

[lukasz]

I hope the second and third opinions are better.

[scrubadub]

Thanks for posting this. He writes well, though I wish it wasn't rooted in reality.

[Bobonli]

Thanks for posting. I'd been aware of his fenders but never made the connection. Just watched his cooking and fabrication vids on Vimeo. A talented craftsman, at many things. Is there anything the community can do for him?

[chasea]

Business as usual, I'm afraid. I know it's taking a toll. He's put so much of his life on hold trying to stay alive. He'll get other opinions; some, I hope, that are optimistic.

Just gave him a call. Went straight to voicemail. I hope its because he's working.

He has a bike for sale in the classifieds, if you're looking to help out.
Fast Boy Tourer, Custom Racks, Wood Fenders, Campy

There isn't much we can do. There isn't much he can do. I spent a lot of time with him between the first two rounds of this shit. I think he has a healthy, realistic view. He'll listen and weigh opinions. He'll do everything he can to keep going. At some point we may have to realize that it just might not be worth it. Giving up just may be the bravest thing he can do. I sincerely hope that that isn't the case.

[sonny]

TBR, keep that man out on his mtb!

[funcrusher]

Just met ezra at Graham hills a couple of weeks ago...I didn't know he was a framebuilder...I also didn't know he was sick...you certainly couldn't tell

I too hope the other opinions are better

[ides1056]

bad news indeed.
I cry for him.

[marcelia]

fucking life and death
it all happens so fast and none of us are making it out alive... gawd, whatever we've got left - years, months, days, hours, all of us should be enjoying the everloving shit out of it, because otherwise it can be sad as hell. so drink up and ride your bike and my best wishes to this guy ezra with the shitty deal and who i've never met, but who makes some sweet ass bikes

[Jonathan]

It hits with a heavy heart here. I've been following the blog for several years, first to see what another framebuilder was doing and then because of the cancer. Last year my mother died from stage 4 metastatic colon cancer, like Ezra has. She lived with a colostomy bag for 15 years and the struggles with that is the reason she declined chemo in the last months of her life. It was time for her to take back her dignity and control. It's a bad situation all around, but it's also just life. How and when we die is as much apart of our story as how we live. I hope Ezra and his family can find strength in whatever they choose is right for them.

[the bottle ride]

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Ezra said he was an aethist- so it was the greatest compliment to know I had some small hand in helping him "find religion" in mountain biking.
In a spiritual sense, divinity never seemed closer then when on trails- I hope and think that is what Ezra found.

[jitahs]

Naw, he's really a great believer in humankind, from my virtual interactions with him.

It's the ultimate distance - time equation isn't it? The finish line is too far, the need to dig deep too penal. We are struggling with that now wrt a father-in-law.

You hope this is him just gathering his resources, sitting behind that huge motor out of the wind, until he's recovered enough to tow the rest of our lazy asses, however far that may be. You guys who know him know what I'm talking about.

[myers]

i don't know him, but i've followed his site/blog for quite a while. we've traded an email or two about frame building. his writing and work has a strength, openness, wisdom and positivity that is inspiring. i was hoping his latest series of posts wouldn't come. though about the worst possible news, they have those same qualities, which makes me admire him more.

[Nierman]

Well put, bottleride. Positive midwestern thoughts headed back east to Ezra, you, Chase and all those closest to this.

[the bottle ride]

Whatever the news is, today we rode.


Keep sending the positive thoughts- I beleive in it.

[Matthew J]

Since first discovering his blog a few years back, I've been rather impressed with his unique ideas. His positive attitude throughout this ordeal is even more impressive.

[Human Epic Jolt]

if anything means anything, you do too!

[Human Epic Jolt]

it's everything.

[j44ke]

Whatever the news is, today we rode.

Rock on....

[eippo1]

Rock on....

Agreed. His outlook and life is inspirational. I wish him strength.