Here is the first and very rare glimpse of Evil Earl and the lair from which he was created.
Just a few short weeks ago I was presented with the "#pavement project evil earl" build off challenge. I thought how appropriate it was to build a steel bike since I was from an area rich in the production of steel and transportation. Immediately it brought to mind all the past history in Pittsburgh such as the Homestead Strike, and the workers and jobs that came and went all in the name of Steel. That's where Evil Earl came in, spawned from the lost souls who toiled over the hot furnaces and almost unbearable conditions to churn out the Iron needed to manufacture all the steel we demanded in order to grow and build our nation at that time. Now a simple bicycle, a long related descendant of the blast furnaces inside a place such as the Carrie Furnace in Braddock, comes to life to provide transportation in an age where the Car is King!
yes my fellow people this bicycle, simple as it may look, should never be underestimated. For in the hands of a spirited individual places can be seen that otherwise would go unnoticed from the windows of the automobile. I would never have imaged that this small challenge would take me from the showroom floor at Trek World 2012 in Madison WI to the banks of the Monongahela River. All these ideas flooded through my mind during my designing stages and a month later I find myself getting a history lesson (which was extremely interesting) inside one of the last remaining Blast Furnaces in our area while I get photos taken.
I can honestly say this challenge was fun with the relentless trash talking & I really wanted to crush EvilXI (product manager at Trek) but as I sit here today looking at the proofs from my photo shoot I realize that I've already won a bigger challenge. The most important thing to take from this is that without realizing it this simple black frame, designed and built by Trek, kept me occupied, out of trouble, provided transportation and countless hours of creative thinking but in the end it educated me in history. I never would have imagined that!
Anyone who tells you to grow up and stop playing with bicycles should be given the same challenge. I've met new people, spent more time with friends, experienced new places, learned about iron furnaces and stimulated my thoughts thinking of colorful ways to build my Evil Earl. As I look at this picture I think of all of that, and these are memories that will last forever. So if Earl truly is Evil then its because he actually educated me while I simply thought I was playing.
Special thanks to
Blockhead- pit crew chief
Trek Bikes- awesome product-awesome people
Trek of Pgh- support
Mary Heyne & her friend Brenda- pictures & entertainment during the photo shoot
Ron- at the Carrie Furnace for giving us all access to the Historical site
Gary Fisher- Anyone who rides a bike is a friend of mine
and of course EvilXI.... for i now am richer in my areas history and the proud owner of a classic Evil Earl. Beat that my friend ;)
More photos to come along with a build list and pictures of all the small details but dont forget to friend Trek Bikes and vote later this month.
Beware the Steel Beast has been Unleashed and can be seen on the neighborhood streets of Pittsburgh!
*Stork
