By Raleigh Burleigh
Carbondale
For weeks ahead of Burning Man, I frequented the Carbondale Bike Project to tune up a couple bicycles (one purchased there) for myself and my girlfriend to cruise Black Rock City. A bike I had been gifted needed serious work, and even after rebuilding the crank shaft and packing the back axle with fresh grease, it was riding rough. With no more time ahead of departure, I surrendered to the clank.
Then, the night before we left Carbondale, I discovered in the Sopris Sun office a beautiful bike wrapped in newsprint, with a fuzzy seat, purple handle bars and a purple chain. On the side was spelled out “Carbondale Bike Project” and in the front: “KDNK.”
A small tag read: “For Raleigh — This just came in. If you don’t want it, leave in rack out front.” It was signed: “Kevin — Carbondale Bike Project.”
Weeks later, after the long drive and arduous wait to enter the event, after settling in the dust and several days of rain that turned the ground into goopy, quick-drying cement, the Playa was left compact and ideal (as it gets out there) for gliding along on two wheels — among art installations and eclectic musical vibrations, in a sea of every visible color emanating from countless ED lights. This was my favorite part of the Burning Man experience. It felt akin to swimming as a fish at the bottom of a vibrant ocean, among creatures and features of all sizes.
To Kevin, the Carbondale Bike Project, whoever built and decorated this magnificent bicycle (Aaron Taylor and Olivia Pevec) and the perfect synchronicities of the Universe: I offer my utmost gratitude. Thanks for making my burn before it even began.