 |
Features
|
|
|
| Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! |
|
|
|
|
|
Being taken for a ride by Shaf de Bass
Reported by I3anjaxt
/
Submitted 09-08-06 19:40
On Tuesday I cycled down to Wimbledon Village to meet up with Shaf for a training ride up to Richmond Park. As I waited for him to arrive a fellow cyclist approached me in the street and asked me if I’d heard of Ken Livingstone’s plan to register all cyclists, and to give them number plates. Shaf turned up just as I was voicing my disdain for this idea and he said that he was all for it, saying that there are a small number of cyclists on the roads that give the majority a bad name.
Shaf was decked out in all the cycling clobber, the kind of skin-tight stuff that you wouldn’t dare to wear unless you’re in tip-top physical condition. If I’d worn a pair of those padded shorts of his I’d probably have ended up looking like an overstuffed waterbed.
The Cannondale Bad Boy 2006
He was quick to show off his newly bought pride and joy, a Cannondale Bad Boy 2006 hybrid bike. It’s an excellent model, and it needs to be, as it’s about to be tested to its limits on the 2,500 mile London to Jerusalem Peace Cycle, which sets off on Sunday 6th August from Embankment Gardens in central London. For more information check out:
http://www.thepeacecycle.org/
Shaf will be one of 42 cyclists who will undertake the gruelling journey across the Channel, through France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, before flying over to the Middle East for the final leg, which will hopefully take in Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Israel.
Some of the cyclists taking part this year
Sadly, the tragic events that have been unfolding in the Middle East in recent weeks have resulted in last minute changes to the route, which may have to be amended again if it is deemed to be too dangerous, but this has not deterred Shaf one bit. He is not a person to let uncertainty stand in his way and has spent the past few months actively raising sponsorship for the trip, with a minimum target of £2000, one which he hopes to comfortably surpass. And, thanks in part to the generosity of London’s clubbers he’s well on his way to doing so, with over 50% of his sponsorship having come from HarderFaster members.
Shaf and I set off on our bikes through Wimbledon Common on what was a hot and humid day and I soon found myself struggling to keep up with him. His training has seen him bulk up considerably and the muscles in his legs are nothing short of impressive. He’s very conscientious when it comes to observing the Highway Code, and I was impressed with his unfailing use of hand signals, which were rather more refined than my own ones that only come in the one and two fingered varieties and tend to be reserved for white van drivers.
For an hour we rode at high speeds that I am not yet used to, and so once we had passed through Richmond Park and had reached Richmond Hill, I was relieved when he agreed to make a brief stop at a pub with one of the finest views that London has to offer.
Over a couple of pints of orange squash, which at 60 pence made him a very cheap date, albeit a less than aesthetically pleasing one, we sat and talked about the Peace Cycle. I didn’t want to discuss politics, because heated discussions have been had by one and all in recent weeks, and there’s nothing more of value that can be contributed to that side of things. Ultimately, there are at least two sides to every event in human history, and the only thing that most people can agree on right now is that what is happening out in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon is a tragedy of epic proportions, and on all sides it is innocent people who are suffering the most.
As a result, to some it might seem rather unimportant, that this event seeks to raise funds to rebuild a theatre, something that seemingly won’t make a difference in the grand scheme of things. But maybe that’s the wrong way to look at it? In a place where there is nothing but misery and despair, if just one person can be made to feel that the outside world cares, then it will have been worth it. No one can change the world overnight, but the inspiration that this charity fundraiser might instil in others is the greatest contribution that the Peace Cyclists can ever hope to make in improving the lives of the less fortunate.
Mount Saint Bernard, which will test the cyclists to their limits
Shaf’s more immediate concerns will be focused on completing the European leg of the ride. Extremes of weather will be encountered and the Alps in particular pose a difficult challenge, as during the previous Peace Cycle in 2004 winds were so intense that they frequently unseated riders. Also, whilst some days will see the riders clocking up 120km, others will see them managing just a fraction of that. And one particular day in the Alps will see them cycling up Mount Saint Bernard to an altitude of 1000 metres, which is impressive, considering that Britain’s tallest mountain only manages to reach a height of 1300 metres. The greatest threat, however, surely has to come once they reach Italy, where car drivers are notorious for their death defying antics.
Fortunately the cyclists won’t have to carry all of their own gear, as a support vehicle will bring up the rear and each rider has a small amount of space allotted on it. When it comes to spare parts, Shaf will be taking two spare inner tubes, and precious little else. Any punctures will see the tubes being replaced instantly and then the punctured tubes will be repaired in the evenings when the riders reach their nightly stopovers points. This will be done when they’re not busy taking part in media events, which they hope will raise even more awareness of the ongoing suffering currently taking place in the Middle East. They also plan to carry a signing book with them, so that the mayors of all the towns they stop at can write messages of support for the Palestinians and Israelis who have been caught up in the violence, so that they might know that there are people in Europe who care deeply for their collective plight. Most of the time their hosts will be supporters who have generously agreed to house and feed them.
Several times, as we sat there in the pub talking, we were interrupted by Shaf’s phone ringing. This is a person who does not stop for a moment, irrespective of whatever it is that he is doing. He likes to keep busy, and is even considering running a marathon shortly after returning from the Peace Cycle. As well as training for the ride he has also been part of the Organising Committee and Logistics Team for the Peace Cycle, due to his contacts in the Middle East.
Last year he spent 5 weeks out there, and was shocked by some of the injustice that he encountered. So, towards the end of last year, when by chance he came across a link to the Peace Cycle’s website, he was immediately interested in joining it. However, the prospect of raising so much sponsorship seemed daunting, so in the end it was down to fate to seal the deal. On learning more about the aims of the Peace Cycle and its hope to raise enough funds to rebuild the children’s Freedom Theatre in Jenin, he realised that the activist who had built the original Freedom Theatre, which was demolished by the Israeli army in 2002, was in fact Arna Mer-Khamis, better known to Shaf as his great-auntie!
When I asked him if he’s ready there was no hesitation in his response, the training he has received has left him with a good grasp of bicycle maintenance, as well as a wealth of knowledge on nutrition, stretching, pacing himself and cycling safely in a large group. There are special signals that he and all the other riders have had to learn for the latter.
I jokingly asked Shaf if he’s having his testicles removed beforehand, just to be on the safe side. With cycling linked to testicular cancer, it might not be such a daft idea. However, it seems that he’s rather attached to them, and so will take the chance, and of course he now has the perfect excuse if anyone catches him ‘examining’ himself in the middle of the night. The saddle soreness will hopefully be minimised by the padded shorts, but Shaf won’t be able to refer to it as ‘saddle soreness’, because a condition stipulated by one of Shaf’s sponsors is that for the duration of the trip, he must refer to his saddle as ‘Sean’.
The last thing that we spoke about was the previous Peace Cycle in 2004. When the riders arrived in a small town in Switzerland, a waiter in a restaurant they visited was so impressed with their plan to ride to Jerusalem that he quit his job then and there, and the following morning he rode out with them, all the way to the end. No doubt Shaf will have even better stories than this one to tell once he’s on his way, so he’ll be keeping a video diary and a blog of his experiences, details of which may be found here: http://www.harderfaster.net/?section=forums&action=showthread&forumid=1&threadid=176079
With our orange squashes finally finished, we left the pub and cycled down through Richmond onto the Upper Richmond Road. Just before we set off in different directions I had a small lapse of concentration, when I was debating whether or not to ask him if he uses fake tan or has inadvertently been tangoed (I decided against it in the end), and I almost managed to get us both killed at a busy junction. So, he at least got to know why I object so strongly to the prospect of licence plates on bicycles. Yes, I’m one of those cyclists who gives cyclists like him a bad name. But at least I’m not the one wearing the skin-tight shorts!
I can only hope that his journey will be a safe one, devoid of any further near misses of that nature and I will be sure to be there to see him off this Sunday on what will most certainly be the experience of a lifetime.
If you’d like to sponsor Shaf then you can do so by visiting his website:
http://www.shafdebass.com/
Photos courtesy of Beentheredonejaxt. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Share this ::  :  :  : 
Follow HarderFaster :: 
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
|
|
|
Comments:
|
From: raving_pixie on 10th Aug 2006 07:38.33
Great article. Good luck Shaf. 
From: Janie Mac on 10th Aug 2006 07:57.17
Yay! So proud of you monkey *sniff sniff* be safe and keep your bullet proof pants on. Mwah.
From: Jennie B on 10th Aug 2006 08:21.46
Good luck shaf
From: xffx on 10th Aug 2006 09:26.18
All the best my friend, and keep safe
From: onthebass on 10th Aug 2006 09:37.06
WOW! Top work fella and we wish you all the best on your long adventure. How is the whole 'shaving down' practise taken in the middle east?! Take care!
From: Type 1 on 10th Aug 2006 11:56.09
good luck geeza.... see u when u back!!
From: Hels on 10th Aug 2006 12:30.56
Good luck my ickle Monkey! ... Ride Safe !  
From: Andy T on 10th Aug 2006 14:31.03
Good luck mate
From: Ped on 10th Aug 2006 15:29.14
All the best mate. I hope 'Sean' isn't too rough on you. 
From: Digital D on 10th Aug 2006 16:33.53
Good luck geeze
From: BottleofWater on 10th Aug 2006 17:19.10
Good lucky matey, do us proud 
From: Technikal on 10th Aug 2006 22:41.37
What an absolutely amazing downright mad feat. I couldn't even comprehend doing something of that scale. You deserve every ounce of respect for this - best wishes and best of luck!!
From: Maria on 10th Aug 2006 22:42.44
I hope you can back in time to celebrate our birthday in October 11th! mmmwwwwhhhhaaaaaa
From: Letty Bird on 11th Aug 2006 07:00.47
Live it up babe! I am looking forward to hearing ALL about it. I'm glad I got to see ya before you left. Best of luck and see ya soon!! 
From: mace on 11th Aug 2006 10:36.05
Good luck dude!
From: anushka007 on 11th Aug 2006 11:12.00
 good luck with everything, come back to us in one piece - 
From: raving.looney on 11th Aug 2006 11:36.00
All the best shaff!!! what a leg end!!! x
From: Minx! on 11th Aug 2006 12:39.59
Best of lucky really proud of all you are doing. Come back safe you hear. See you in a few weeks and we'll have loads of drinks to make up for what you are missing now. Big Minxy snogs  Andi xxx
From: miss marie on 11th Aug 2006 22:25.52
I think what you are doing is amazing babe!!!
Good luck!! xXx 
From: strings on 12th Aug 2006 08:58.58
Word Dawg!! Good luck!!
From: Jay..... on 12th Aug 2006 13:58.59
good luck. you should be proud
From: Jihad Joey on 12th Aug 2006 22:17.32
You are my hero shaff!
From: Taz on 13th Aug 2006 14:39.22
He's just so buff. 
From: djdyju on 13th Aug 2006 16:20.33
Great article. Good luck Shaf, I hope everything goes well.
From: Stakker on 14th Aug 2006 09:38.54
The Daddy.
From: Tina Martin on 14th Aug 2006 09:54.13
Good luck Shaf
From: spangledwench on 14th Aug 2006 14:43.52
Good luck babe, hope it's all going well out there - looking forward to reading your updates. Hope your ball bags don't ache too much! Mwah xxx
From: Alix on 15th Aug 2006 10:26.26
To the bravest, maddest, most admirable in the whole wide world.... Hope you're having a blast babe, but can't wait till you're back. xxxxxxx
From: Not Marcus on 15th Aug 2006 11:45.41
From: sexyminx on 15th Aug 2006 17:19.08
Good luck Shaf you can do it. See you when you come back. Look after yourself OI OI!!
From: VOID on 16th Aug 2006 09:23.04
Goodluck sweeti, me and the yellow stretchy smiley man are both cheering you on xx
From: ck on 17th Aug 2006 12:27.35
So far so good   You da monkey!
From: Camden Nurse on 17th Aug 2006 20:45.29
Wicked! Get in there my son!
From: Sonic_chick_ on 17th Aug 2006 23:31.49
Wow Shaf!! Lot's of respect to you mate,look after yourself!!
See you soon!! X x X X x X
From: I3anjaxt on 18th Aug 2006 20:09.09
"Photos courtesy of Beentheredonejaxt. Not to be reproduced without permission."
-Well, the Gay Times has been in touch, and yes, it can reproduce the photos, with permission.
|
|
|
![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
