Leaving House and home
December 2, 2014 § 30 Comments
When I saw the big yellow Penske moving van with the tan pickup hitched up behind it, I almost shed a tear. After two years of threats, Brad House has moved to Texas. Do the poor Texans have any idea what they’re in for? Do they remember Radical Reconstruction?
Few people have made a bigger impact on cycling in the South Bay than Brad. Whether it was the bright orange catmuffs he began wearing a couple of years ago, items that make an already ridiculous looking sport even sillier, whether it was his cycling shorts whose rear panels had expired in 2002, whether it was his “all the guns, all the time” right wing views that made the NRA look soft on the 2nd Amendment, or whether it was his random habit of opening his mouth and jamming it full with both feet, Brad was a force that none could ignore.
In addition to his uncanny ability to say the exactly wrong thing at the perfectly wrong time, though, Brad has made the South Bay an exponentially better place to ride for hundreds, if not thousands of cyclists. Foremost among his contributions was his advocacy. Cyclists, as everyone knows, are whiny little bitches. They will complain about their two free team kits, their 25% shop discount, and their “free but turn in at the end of the season” team bike for hours upon endless hours. Just try getting your average wanker to show up at a city council meeting and advocate for something cycling related, though. Ain’t ever gonna happen.
Unless your name is Brad House.
The same energy with which Brad broadcasts batshit crazy political views that will make Texas seem like a moderate-liberal enclave is the same energy he brought to council meetings in the South Bay. Brad always found time, always made time, to advocate for cyclists’ rights. And he invariably articulated his position thoughtfully, persuasively, and intelligently — so much so that the suit-and-ties on the city council had no clue they were dealing with a cannonball that was looser than a $5 hooker.
Brad is the first cyclist I ever met who refused to back down to bullying cagers. He didn’t simply control the lane, he controlled the very oxygen in the street. He was the first person I ever rode with who took his rightful place smack in the middle of the lane and refused to be bullied out of it. One time on the Donut a cager with a latte honked at him to get out of the way at a stop light. She is probably still getting the dents out of her hood.
In contrast to his aggressive defense of his right to ride in the road, I never heard Brad talk shit about anyone, ever, and it’s not only because he loved to talk about himself. It’s also because, beneath all the flibber-flabber and blibber-blabber, he saw himself as a kind of Pied Piper for new cyclists. Although they’re ashamed to admit it now because their mentor wears those orange catmuffs, hundreds of people in the South Bay got hooked on cycling, and improved as cyclists thanks to the friendship and encouragement of Brad House.
Nor were Brad’s contributions limited to advocacy and raunchy tales in mixed company that would make a porn star blush. Every race promoter in Southern California owes a debt to Brad, who promoted races here for decades. Whether it was the San Pedro Grand Prix, one of the best and most challenging race courses ever, the annual drag race held out at LAX on Westchester Parkway, the countless hill climbs in PV, or cyclocross races, Brad invested the time and passion and legendary cheapness that is required to put on a bike race.
Yet for all his cheapness, he was a generous guy. I remember five years ago at Woodland Hills I was bonking before a race. “Brad,” I said, “got any food?”
“I think I got a candy bar somewhere,” he said. We went back to his pickup and he rummaged around on the floor in the back seat for a few minutes, stirring up more dust and trash and filth than you would think could be contained in such a small vehicle. “Here!” he triumphantly called, holding up an opened package with a half-eaten Clif Bar in it. The expiration date said something on it about the Jurassic.
But no candy bar ever tasted better, and on the fuel generously supplied by Brad I went on to finish 72nd and didn’t fall off my bike.
Despite his welcoming mien to beginners and his extremely sketchy bike skills and his wildly flapping elbows and his crazyman catmuffs, Brad was also a successful bike racer, and he never tired of reminding people that he had more California State Champion jerseys than anyone in history. Whether that’s true or not, he certainly had no shortage of them, and along with his expired rear short panels and unblinking brown eye, those flashy jerseys were a sight to behold.
More than his racing exploits, his kindness to others, his advocacy, his passion as a promoter, and, when he worked at the bike shop in San Pedro, his ability to take a perfectly functioning bike with a minor problem and turn it into a rolling catastrophe, Brad will be remembered by most as a friend — someone who was there when you needed him, often there when you didn’t, too kind to hold a grudge, and always looking forward with enthusiasm and passion to the next ride.
I’ll miss you Brad, sort of.
END
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Cycling in the South Bay 
I just recently met him and only rode with him once, but I can agree with your assessment of his kindness and outspoken demeanor. Houski, you will be missed! But the muffs, not so much (unless your name is Betsy).
Texas has no idea what they’re in for. I hope he’s leaving with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for them to return him in.
I think Brad’s going to be surprised to find himself considered a huge California liberal back in Tejas:^O
Hee, hee!
Brad has changed the way I ride for the better and not just because he convinced me to try the silly catmuffs which, by the way, work as advertised. Even if you don’t get the orange catmuffs, I recommend them to anyone who rides fast in traffic as they cut the wind noise and make it easier to hear cagers coming up behind you. They’ve saved my bacon more than once on my morning commute.
Catmuffs & bacon!
I met Brad once, sort of. A small group of PV Bike Chicks was rolling along PV North when a slightly larger group of cyclists, led by a guy in a Big Orange kit with big orange catmuffs, came up behind us. Now normally a group like that would go around us and continue on their way, but we had a cute young lady riding that day and Mr House just slipped in next to her and talked her ear off for several miles. And how did I know who he was? From reading CitSB, of course.
The man, the myth, the catmuffs!
I see many Texas state tandem mixed time trial 120+ Championships in his future. Many
And then … Wyoming!
Soberingly sentimental.
However, I’m confident that …
He’ll be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
I was Brad’s massage therapist… for awhile. Always respectful, always promoting to donate to events (which I did occasionally), and always an advocate for us beginner riders!
Wait… should I save this for his eulogy?
Everyone who moves from California to Dallas deserves a eulogy. Maybe two.
Seth, you need to add a “Like” button.
I did. It’s spelled “Subscribe.”
I’ve subscribed. Twice. 🙂
I know — thanks!
Waldo ~ more like a “love” button.
Seth, I love it when you do this. A quote from one of my favorite authors, “Getting to know each other on a first name basis is crucial. Once you know someone’s name, they become real. And once they become real, they matter. And once they matter, you’ll take just a little more care for them, and they’ll take a little more care for you.” This particular blog, and others like it, make the riders in our peloton more “real” (even if we know them already) and this binds us together in an odd, strange, quite dysfunctional, bike family.
Brad ~ good luck in Tx ~ CitSB will always be here when you get back.
🙂
NG
Somewhere in Texas there are two guys wearing Yellow Rose of TX state champ jerseys as the winners of last year’s Texas 100+ Tandem Time Trial championship. And they are shitting themselves in fear of the ass-whupping coming their way in 2015.
The two guys in Texas wearing that jersey are lying on a couch together in a warm and loving embrace.
I heard they were lying on the couch in their media room with all 7 of their framed jerseys lining the wall.
Somehow I think we haven’t seen the last of Houski. At least I hope not!
Return of the House, Part VII.
Wow that was too nice Wanky…if he reads this before he gets to Tx he might turn back! In all seriousness though Brad to the Bone has done as much or more than anyone I can think of for cyclists & racers in the South Bay in the 25 years I’ve been riding here. Lord knows we all love to show up & race but we sure is hell aren’t lining up to promote them or clean up after. Good luck Brad & I will miss thrashing you on the Donut.
It won’t be the same, watching the see-through panels, the surge to the front, and then the dislocated elbow flap.
Hopefully he will plant many fertile seeds in Texas from whence mini-Big Oranges will spring.
Brad rules!…Well done Seth…you capture Sir Bradness with the perfect mixture of hero and nutball!
Ballro! Henut!
Seth,
It seems people who read your blog are intrigued by your mention of Brad’s “orange catmuffs”. Wondering if you’d like to try them yourself? Shoot me an email and we’ll send you a pair!
P.S. Thanks for this post, we didn’t know Brad actually made the move until reading your blog!
Brad is prominently featured on the Catmuff web site; he’s the guy in the Big Orange jersey. Thank you for the kind offer. Brad has been a super ambassador for your product for quite some time now, and others here in SoCal have followed his lead.