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demo man
06-11-2006, 07:47 PM
Too lazy to do a proper introducton speech tonight, and to be honest, I don't actually know enough about tonights guest to give the guy justice...So, I'll jump straight into what will be an interesting read for sure!

Alcehmist!


1. Who are you (name, bikes you ride, age, job)
Rob Parbery (aka Rob the nutter, rob the singlespeeder and Oh that Rob) Aged 36,. I'm a Regulatory Affairs Scientist, singlespeed advocate and President of MWMTB.

http://singlespeed.smugmug.com/photos/90300812-M.jpg

My bikes:
The most recent aquistion is a Surly Cross Check, built up as singlespeed with On One Midge bars & Cane Creek cantis mainly for commuting but also for some other moments of silluness.
Baum Expresso Single Speed.

http://singlespeed.smugmug.com/photos/87565788-M.jpg

This is the ultimate blinglespeed – real steel & Aussie made.
Surly 1x1 – My first SS.
http://singlespeed.smugmug.com/photos/50017741-M.jpg.
I'd walked into Cyclefanatsy to buy a tensioner & came out with this 3 weeks later. This one as a lot of sentimental value – we've done a lot together.
I also have a Giant OCR1 & a Cannondale Prophet so I can still ride on those days where the legs are saying they've had enough.

2. When and why did you become a member of Farkin?
My profile says June 2004, has it only been that short? I probably joined since thecat kept posting links to pictures on mtb-oz or 26inches.com and you had to be a member to see them.

3. The inspiration for your user name was what exactly?
I'm a chemist and back when the web was new I used to work for a chemical company doing product developemt for all sorts of stuff from chocolate & pharmaceuticals to explosives. But most of what I did was skin & hair care lotions & potions – a kind of alchemy – the search for eternal youth and all that. I've used that user name on a number of forums & bulletin boards (if any one remembers them) for many years.

4. Why are you still a member?
It's a distraction from work and a great way of communicating events and trail issues with a lot of people out side of the structure of the clubs.
Amongst the noise there's some interesting people

5. What was your favourite ride of all time?
Earlier this year I did the Central Australian Bike Challenge. Sure technically it was a 7 day race but it was more like 7 days riding with your mates and all staying in the same hotel.
Alice Springs has some amazing single track very close to the town, so if you're ever heading up that way take your bike.

6. 3 trails you must ride before you die:
Only 3? Whakarewarewa Forest NZ, Fruita/Moab & somewhere with a lot of snow.

7. What is something about you that few people know?
I own a geared bike. Hang on if you've read this far you already know that. I went to see Jennifer Love Hewitt in concert.

8. Describe ‘Australian Idol’ for those who haven’t seen it.
Australian Idle is what you do after a ride – The moments of inactivity just after the ride has finished sitting back and reccounting the ride on the back veranda, sitting on the grass, in the pub or whereever.

9. What is the heaviest thing in your house?
I'm guesing it is the fridge.

10. How did you come to own that thing?
Warm beer, rotting meat and sour milk are not good things.

11. The latest you’ve been up riding?
Having done a few 24hr events now including a couple attempts at doing it solo I've ridden arround the clock.

12. Group rides, 2/3 people rides, or solo rides?
2 or 3 people or smallish groups. When solo I get bored with my own company cause I know what I'm going to say about half the time, I also get lazy.

13. Long epic rides or short stints through the singletrack out the back?
Epic rides are all about the stories, they dont need to be long, just eventful.

14. What does your other half think of mountain bikes?
Can you post this in the “Girls Only” forum for me?

15. What does your boss think of mountain bikes?
It's just another one of the dangerous things I do and probably wouldn't know that there is difference between a road bike and a mountain bike.

16. What is your favorite part of mountain biking?
A side from not having to change gear, cleaning that techy climb that's thawted you for ages & shiny new bike bits it has to be the stories; boasts, tales of near missess/scars, the planning of the next ride.

17. What is on the desk you log onto Farkin from?
At work, there's a lot of yellow folders containing drafts of product label, TV commercial scripts and print ads waiting for approval, assorted sunscreens, baby products, two bottles of personal lubricant, 3 empty coffee mugs, a picture of the Baum, the map of the CABC, a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon, a Nearing Zero cartoon and some very very big books
At home – a scanner, climbing helmet, a few karbiners, two tyres, a couple of Careflight bears, a fruggle, Fluffy, a Surly Tugnut and empty bottle of Coopers Pale Ale (I need to fix that) and a derailleur hanger for the Prophet.

18. Last time you got approached by the police?
I was breath tested on the way home from a club XC committee meeting.

19. What pisses you off more than anything else?
Mindless stupidity

20. Who would you like to see become a member of Farkin?
Jerry Onslow the imfamous Foley artist.



Thanks for that Rob!

I have a nice treat for everyone next week, so make sure you all tune in again at 8pm (ish :) )

Frazzle
06-11-2006, 08:46 PM
Great read, didnt actually know alot about alchemist, or Rob Parbery so it was a good surprising read and now i think i know a little too much, especially concering the Jennifer Love Hewitt concert :p . Once again, another great read demo_man!
Fraser

Rik
06-11-2006, 08:47 PM
THAT Rob eh. Damn SS geek :)
Love the Baum, Dunno about the OCR or Prophet though.

Binaural
06-11-2006, 08:52 PM
THAT Rob eh. Damn SS geek :)
Love the Baum, Dunno about the OCR or Prophet though.

That Baum is the hottest XC hardtail on Farkin IMNSHO. Great interview!

n plus one
06-11-2006, 08:57 PM
Ah, so that is Alchemist, spoke to him at the start of the wws yarramundi 8 hr I think, at least I now know who I'll be talking to at the start of the highland fling...probably the only time I'll see in during the race though...:D

McBain
06-11-2006, 09:31 PM
Jennifer Love Hewitt? She did a concert? That's scary on a number of levels!

Hang on, does that rear tyre actually fit the Baum? :p

mtbmamma
06-11-2006, 10:27 PM
THAT Rob eh. Damn SS geek :)
Love the Baum, Dunno about the OCR or Prophet though.

Rik how could you!!!!:eek: Prophets are the worlds best bike!!!;)

tonas
06-11-2006, 11:29 PM
9. What is the heaviest thing in your house?
I'm guesing it is the fridge.

You sure its not the Baum. :D
Good succinct read Rob.

Andy.

thecat
07-11-2006, 07:07 AM
Don't blame thecat. thecat is blameless, MKay.

Dozer
07-11-2006, 08:04 AM
Was the Jennifer Love Hewitt concert all about her showing her rack? I didn't know that she had anything else to entertain people with............:rolleyes:

Good read lads, can't wait for next weeks surprise...........:D

alchemist
07-11-2006, 11:19 AM
Hey leave Jennifer alone - she could actually sing (I was suprised) it was a solo accoustic set at the Seymour Centre. However, if I never hear her say "Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser" again I'll be happy.

Don't blame thecat. thecat is blameless, MKay.
No we blame you for everything

Rik how could you!!!!:eek: Prophets are the worlds best bike!!!;)
You haven't riden a Baum yet have you? The Prophet does its job & does it well - of course if I could race MTNX on the Surly 1x1...
As for the OCR - I could see that disappearing soon.

johnny
07-11-2006, 12:00 PM
G'day mate, top read, thanks.

The world would be a much better place if we all knelt before the altar of Single Speed.

nick89_
07-11-2006, 01:19 PM
17. What is on the desk you log onto Farkin from?
two bottles of personal lubricant


haha, good read though. Looking forward to this big surprise.

Oddjob
07-11-2006, 04:24 PM
17. What is on the desk you log onto Farkin from?
At work, there's a lot of yellow folders containing drafts of product label, TV commercial scripts and print ads waiting for approval, assorted sunscreens, baby products, two bottles of personal lubricant, 3 empty coffee mugs, a picture of the Baum, the map of the CABC, a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon, a Nearing Zero cartoon and some very very big books
At home – a scanner, climbing helmet, a few karbiners, two tyres, a couple of Careflight bears, a fruggle, Fluffy, a Surly Tugnut and empty bottle of Coopers Pale Ale (I need to fix that) and a derailleur hanger for the Prophet.


I always knew there was something wrong with you singlespeeders. Other than dicky knees of course.

chriscross
07-11-2006, 06:27 PM
another great read...
a member i have never heard of.
and the best thing about it was it didn't take long to read:D

Mr Pants
07-11-2006, 07:00 PM
The world would be a much better place if we all knelt before the altar of Single Speed.

'cept that we'd be drunk all the time and basic infrastructure would be in ruins due to non-existent maintainence.:D

n plus one
09-11-2006, 10:08 PM
'cept that we'd be drunk all the time and basic infrastructure would be in ruins due to non-existent maintainence.:D

so he was right then?


:D

Drizz
09-11-2006, 10:25 PM
Great bloke, good read, great ambassador for Sydney cyclist and single speed nutters....:cool:

user name
10-11-2006, 03:09 PM
Yet another great read. i always check for these threads and thyre always so very interesting.

Hooch
27-11-2006, 11:20 AM
Rob is a genuinely nice guy.
Got to meet him earlier this year when he rocked up to a MTB orienteering event at glenbrook.
everyone at the event was whispering about this singlespeeder coming to do the event. Got to perv on his baum after he finished(shweeet machine). then at the Scont 24hr he was there again on his singlespeed.
He stopped to help me on my last lap when my chain got sucked up and jammed. He and another rider I had just past pulled up, jumped off yelling mobile mechanics, pulled my chain out and sent me on my way again.
Hope he stays advocating riding as he is certainly a great ambassador for the sport.

alchemist
27-11-2006, 11:36 AM
Rob is a genuinely nice guy.
He stopped to help me on my last lap when my chain got sucked up and jammed. He and another rider I had just past pulled up, jumped off yelling mobile mechanics, pulled my chain out and sent me on my way again.


Purely self interest that one, any excuse for a rest by that stage!

konasaurus
27-11-2006, 12:15 PM
i always thought you named yourself after the band alchemist