I normally do not post on my zero mileage days, but there was some excitement that needed to be recorded. My Canadian buddy had a rough go at it yesterday when his rear derailleur hanger broke and he had to walk about eleven miles before someone gave him a lift for the remaining seven miles to Silver City. He showed up last night and I had him a cold beer waiting.

This morning we both headed down to the bike shop as I needed to get that rear tire back to a tubeless setup for defense against those goat heads found in Southern New Mexico. No tubes can withstand the little prickly devil’s weed.

As we were heading to the only bike shop of the three in town that is open today, I took us by the other two shops in case he had to visit them tomorrow. One shop was actually busy doing inventory of their bikes they use for the non-profit side of their business and the owner told Michael that AJ, the owner of the bike shop open today, had recently acquired the same bike Michael has and perhaps if he still had it, the needed part could be procured from the unsold bike. A glimmer of hope.

Of course you cannot trust anything on the internet and the store did not open at 10 am, instead it opened at 11 am. Across the street I noticed a barber poll and I peaked inside to see someone getting a trim in what looks like an art gallery. I was immediately interested.

I soon found myself in the barber chair getting a $10 haircut, which is unheard of nowadays. Getting a haircut without an online reservation is almost impossible and $10 for a haircut reminds me of the military barbershop prices only found on post. To top it off, the artist that painted all the amazing work inside is the one cutting my hair.

How does all this work and come to be? Well, he went to barber school in Portland, Oregon and soon found himself working in a barber shop without many customers because they did not know and trust him yet. He asked the owner if he minded if he brought in his easel and painted in between customers.

He would take pictures of customers and then paint their portrait. Next time they came in they would be amazed at his work and purchase the painting. He was on to something.

Now his artwork is being sold at a couple galleries and he just returned from Italy where he received some formal training for the first time. He says now the artwork pays the bills and the haircuts pay for his lunch.

Needless to say we chatted with him until the bike shop opened. Unfortunately, we found out quickly that AJ recently sold the bike identical to Michael’s, the glimmer of hope was fading fast. AJ looked through his small box of various derailleur hangers with no luck. Like many parts on a bicycle, this particular part is not universal. AJ had found a couple that were close enough that perhaps some machining could be done to make them work.

I then asked AJ if the guy that bought the identical bike would possibly be willing to let Michael have his hanger to allow him to finish the ride. Of course a new hanger would be ordered as a replacement. AJ immediately texted him and within minutes the man called back from his work and told AJ he did not mind if AJ swung by his house and picked up the bike. AJ closes the shop and runs to the man’s house and picks up the bike. Michael just found himself experiencing full on unfiltered trail magic.

Michael is now continuing on his way towards the border and meanwhile I had an amazing lunch talking with a Vietnam War Veteran that actually worked for Hughes when they manufactured the Apache helicopter transmissions and gearboxes. Needless to say, we talked for sometime. He and his wife were so amazing and both were born and raised in a small mining town in New Mexico.

Today has been a good day and War Dog is all packed up and ready to get at it tomorrow. Here we go!