Shouldn't this post be in the Lavender Room?

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

search roadfused as a post name. you'll see Tibb's arch nemesis.


by the way he's called Jon Boy now.

We speak of Mr Tibbs only in hushed tones and in secret places.

He is like the wind, no one can touch him.
He is like the shadows, no one can see him.
He is like the sound of tubular tyres and a disk wheel on asphalt.

There is no place to seek for Tibbs, for he is like the footprints of the birds in the sky.

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Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...

This is like asking "why the fascination with Cervelo?"...

or, "What's really so great about Mark Allen?"

The truth is out there.

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nuun-feedthemachine.com adventure racing team
2008 National Champions
http://www.clancymultisport.blogspot.com

I came in as the Tibbs era was winding down. It seemed that he had a string of some pretty crappy events in his life- and this was his solace. Unfortunately, his posts never really interested me, so i didn't see how he got an entire room named after him.



That said, after reading about the shit he went through on a personal level, I hope he's doing ok.

Tibbs started out as customerjon not much unlike swimfan but then got insightfull for a little while and sparked some interesting discussions.

Started a funny club called Team Secondhand Racing that got semi-serious with people donating their spare equipment to people that needed it.

With so many off topics started in the main forum Slowman decided to create another room and name it after Tibbs, the person that started many of them.

Got a P3 from people donating to a fund, felt bad about accepting it, not really sure what finally happened to it. A lot of us here felt he should keep it. No, I didn't donate to the fund.

Had some personal problems I don't remember the details about and then faded into the background. I think he had needed time to sort things out.

Now he posts every once in a while and probably lurks a lot.

jaretj

"so i didn't see how he got an entire room named after him. "

Because this is Slowtwitch. We have a thread with some 50K plus views and 766 posts about Sergio...a room for Tibbs is, well normal.

~Matt

The lavender room got started as a place for wide ranging discussions on a number of topcs only tangentially related to triathlon. It somehow turned into a place to discuss politics.

Like many geniuses Tibbs varied from right on the edge of normal to way past normal. I mean like medically not normal. From my end it seemed like manic depression. The good times were very good, he had very interesting and thoughtful things to say. The bad times were not good and other times what he had to say was just odd.

The most interesting things he had to say were when you could tell he had a significantly different way of thinking of things and looking at things.

On the other hand, it seems things got out of hand. Had some family problems etc. I think Jon seems more under control now, maybe different medicine or something. It means his lows are not like they once were and he proably is a much mor enormal person. It also means that we don't get observations as interesting as he used to give us.

This is an interesting thread. I suppose I was around throughout the Tibbs era, but I never fully followed the story. We really need a forum historian to write down these stories. There have certainly been some interesting sports related internet forum dramas. A couple that I recall.

1. I believe trinewbies had an adultery scandal that was outed by a thread on that forum. I only heard about it second hand, but I am sure it was a great story. I think trinewbies (TNO) is like the arch nemesis of slowtwitch.

2. Back 5, maybe 7 years ago the runnersworld.com forum was quite good. There was this guy, some masters runner from the West coast. He created this whole alter ego, said he trained with Kenyan's very believable. Alway posting these workouts he was doing (in his dreams maybe). His ego finally got the best of him, because the times he was claiming were near national class for masters. I think at one point he put up a race report from some Grand Prix type meet in LA were he claimed to have run like a 1:51 800m. He was shortly thereafter outed, as the story did not check out and then claimed that he had a heart attack from all the stress being outed caused him. It was quite funny when his identity was determined and some of his real race results (like a 23:00 5K) were posted. Quite entertaining at the time.

I had a chance to meet Tibbs a while back. He lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and tried to get a local ST gathering together, but everyone bailed at the last minute. I showed up with camera in hand to document the entire event (standard ST practice - it doesn't count unless there are pics). With his history on this forum, it would've been priceless to get his picture out here.

As it turned out, it was just me and him and we hung out for a while and I got a chance to meet a guy who'd gone through some significant personal stuff, but was pulling it together nicely. It's not my place to talk, so if he wants to disclose his history he can.

I decided against any photos. Didn't seem appropriate at the time.

From the stuff I've heard since tibbs 'officially' faded, he's on a good track to a better life. He needed it too.

He was mess, and some people here weren't insightful enough to notice that and enabled what seemed to be a terrible addiction to this place...

Actually Tibbs posted a picture of himself on ST one time. I was lucky enough to view it, and I don't know if it's still posted. It changed my life. I'll never forget that gut and balding head with the sweat and grease shing in the sunlight. He is immortilized in my brain in a way I would never recommend to anyone.

So did you got to see "THE P3" at least the last I heard he still had it. But it has been awhile.

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Just Triing
Triathlete since 9:56:39 AM EST Aug 20, 2006.
Be kind English is my 2nd language. My primary language is Dave it's a unique evolution of English.

Jon is a very special man. Despite his demons, he was a gift from the universe for which I remain thankful.

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Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...

 Sort of like alcohol...

like sex, drugs and Rock 'n' Roll...

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Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...

They say this cat Tibbs is a bad mother
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I'm talkin' 'bout Tibbs.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT!

team secondhand racing was supported by Record10. he busted his ass on the project, and many people received very good used parts that enabled them to build a better bike then what they had. it was a great effort, and Chip put a lot of heart and soul into it--he put his own money and parts into the project.

also, Tibbs somehow managed to benefit from a ST campaign where people chipped in enough money to buy a Cervelo--a P3. He got the bike, and nobody saw him on it, let alone a photo of the bike or anything. it was all weird, and there was some kind of blow up about it. i don't remember anymore about that. but, he got people to buy him a bike...he was pretty influential and had a great following around here.

I'd like a new cervelo...if everybody here sends just ONE dollar....I'd definitely post a picture of me on top of it.

Here is a link to a thread started by "Hid" to sell Team Secondhand Racing (TSR) gear (June 2004). It also has some links to the threads where the idea to get Jon ("Tibbs") a bike started. Jon repeatedly said he didn't want people to go through the trouble, wondered why they were helping him out, and apparently got some hate mail from people about the whole project.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=142054;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;guest=9212429

One odd part of the story was that Hid raised the $2,000 that Gerard said would get a P3 then disappeared for a few months.

As I was reading those threads, the thought that kept coming back to me was "Why would anyone donate money so this character who spews out jibbersih-like responses could get a new bike?" Insanity



I now know how Jim Jones got everyone to drink the cool aid: A herd of sheep following the crowd, "Hmmm , I guess its cool to do if XXXXX thinks its cool"

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"As I was reading those threads, the thought that kept coming back to me was "Why would anyone donate money so this character who spews out jibbersih-like responses could get a new bike?" Insanity



I now know how Jim Jones got everyone to drink the cool aid: A herd of sheep following the crowd, "Hmmm , I guess its cool to do if XXXXX thinks its cool" "

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BELLS, WHISTLES, AND SIRENS GO OFF!!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!

Sounds like our current Swimfan situation...Tibbs all over again. People had BETTER NOT be buying Swmfan a new bike.

If you guys donate money to buy me a sweet tri bike I'll leave this forum forever!

Now that should get some people motivated!

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Proud Founder of the Jamis Mafia- Daring to be different.

we don't want you to leave forever, we want you to get all pissy and storm out, then a couple weeks later come back, then repeat that cycle like 50 times, then start all over again under a new name

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kangaroo -- please do not read or respond to any of my posts

[reply]we don't want you to leave forever, we want you to get all pissy and storm out, then a couple weeks later come back, then repeat that cycle like 50 times, then start all over again under a new name[/reply]

For the right bike I am willing to do that!

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Proud Founder of the Jamis Mafia- Daring to be different.

if you did not live through the height of the Tibbs era then you will never fully understand why poeple were so connected to him to help get the guy a bike.

everyone who did live through that time probably has a different view of tibb - from extremely good to just the opposite.

regardless - Tibbs was a compelling character - he brought a lot to this forum - and much of it was insightful and increadibly humerous

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http://www.clevetriclub.com

rob reddy

Tibbs is an amazing person who has had a really tough go of it for the last 5 or so years. The fact that he has perservered to this point speaks volumes. Most of us couldn't handle the shit he's had to deal with... I also believe that he is one of the most misunderstood people on this forum.

I count Jon as one of my friends. He and I have helped pull each other thru some tough times. I look forward to finally meeting him in February (after I do the Austin Marathon) where we will consume much BBQ and beer. It will be fabulous.

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

But don't forget...we also have to feel sorry for House when he storms out. Then we need to welcome him back, and make sure that nobody offends the fragile "house" of "just house" or "house boy" or whatever name he'd go under. Because he would have been through a lot...new bike and all.

I followed the Tibbs,TSR saga - I was new here, and as an outsider it seemed like a little internet forum that had gotten WAY to personal and gone WAY too far.

I also believe that he is one of the most misunderstood people on this forum



With posts like these, its not hard to see why he was misunderstood:

"Any one seen my keys?
Oh, here they are."

or

"Look at it this way...or that way. Now if look at it right here it looks diffrent then it did over there. If we throw some light on it here and created some more shadow on that side then it will look more like that. Take two super trooper spots and hit it from 35 degree angles you would see it is really bright from the front row. I could take 8 frenils on the number one track and 3 pars on the 3 track with blue and red gels then you have it like this.

That is how I look at anyway"

or

"Hey now when I finish the job tonight I'll have some postage cash and you will get your treat. The chick getting power of your pay off will stun you and your friends."



I wish I was around to send this man of wisdom ALL of my money. Keee-Riste

House - you are hearby directed to change your name to "house boy" - that's classic

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kangaroo -- please do not read or respond to any of my posts

"I count Jon as one of my friends. He and I have helped pull each other thru some tough times. I look forward to finally meeting him in February (after I do the Austin Marathon) where we will consume much BBQ and beer. It will be fabulous. "

He's your friend yet you've never met him... the madness continues!

I have many friends that I have never met in person. Jeebus, people, lighten up.

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

LOL, yeah that's Tibbs... sigh... ;-)

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

You're walking on thin ice Mister. Very very thin. Apologies will be demanded from multiple peoples in the very near future.

Andy, consider the source.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Is a matter of time until Swimfan gets his own room.

Good point ;-)

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

[reply][reply]
Unfortunately, his posts never really interested me, so i didn't see how he got an entire room named after him.


[/reply]
Is a matter of time until Swimfan gets his own room.[/reply]

With pads or bars?

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Proud Founder of the Jamis Mafia- Daring to be different.

[reply]I have many friends that I have never met in person. Jeebus, people, lighten up.

AP[/reply]

LOL... wow... how is that possible?

History of the LR:

Back in the day, there was only one forum. During the early part of the Iraq invasion, the forum began to get almost dominated by political posts (initially pro-war/anti-war, but then increasingly anything left vs. right--economy, ecology, abortion, etc.). Many of the non-political types wanted to only see on-topic posts and started beseeching Dan to remove political/off-topic posts from the forum altogether. So, Dan conducted a "poll" and decided to create a separate forum for the off-topic stuff. Tibbs suggested the name "Lavender Room" and it stuck. Very soon after it was created, Tibbs decided he didn't like it because it wasn't what he envisioned it to be--sort of a Penthouse Forum/Playboy Advisor kind of thing (I gather) where people could get together and engage in "smoove" talk, whatever that is.

FWIW--I trace the beginning of the political left/right stuff on the forum back to a Tom Demerly post "What I am seeing right now..." on the eve of the ground invasion of Iraq.

Also, is it just a coincidence that Customer Jon/Mr. Tibbs/Jon/Just Jon showed up about the same time Seinfeld went off the air?

"With pads or bars?"

BOTH, hopefully.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

They're all in my head... now if you'll excuse me, I have to go take my meds...

BWAHAHAHAHA!

Goof.

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

[reply][.reply]I have many friends that I have never met in person. Jeebus, people, lighten up.

AP[./reply]

LOL... wow... how is that possible?[/reply]

There are a few people on this forum that I talk to in emails, pm's and chat online that I consider friends but have never met. I have also had friends that I would talk to on the phone due to work.

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Proud Founder of the Jamis Mafia- Daring to be different.

those kind of posts demonstrate quite succinctly the truth of the axiom ' hindsight is 20/20'.

it's always easy once the fur has stopped flying to see what should have been done. The trick is to see it when you still have a chance to affect things.

I own and actually still race in a set of TSR tri clothing - quite nice stuff actually. None of us 'gave' money for Tibb's bike. Some of us bought the tri gear that HID designed and sold, and the proceeds went towards the bike. Gerard (a la Cervelo) said that if we generated $2000 he would give Tibbs a used P3. So, many people ponied up, I think we all got our clothing. Mine travelled the 8000 miles or whatever to my front door.

The real kudos of the whole thing should go to Record 10 (ti/carbon) who set up the TSR project to redirect unwanted bike/tri gear into the hands of those who couldn't afford it but wanted into the sport. That man deserves real credit.

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kiwipat

per ardua ad astra

"Any one seen my keys?
Oh, here they are."

I nearly spit out the water I was drinking when I first read that post. It was a funny way to "bump" the thread back up to the top.

There, now you understand that post...can't help you with the other two.

I guess you had to be there.

To be honest, several of us actually gave money STRAIGHT UP to the tibbs fund. I would do it again, with barely a second thought. We were having a blast and ST was great. There were trolls, but Tibbs made it all fun. I was sorry to hear about some of his emotional things he was going through. However, I do recall seeing photos of the bike, and I had a cow when he wanted to try to give it back (after all, I actually gave money so HE could have it, not someone else)

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berndog
How did we all get sucked into this crazy sport anyway?!!

I guess it depends on your sense of humor. I think that is a funny way to bump a thread, regardless of the time/writer.

I find it a lot funnier than your signature line...humor is subjective.

Anyway, those that liked his humor/willingness to bare his life online responded how they did. As you said, "I guess you had to be there".

Tibbs was there when Jesus died.....

To be honest, I miss the tibbsie of old. I remember if I had a lonely post, that was about to go to the third page and soon forgotten, tibbsy would bump it back up and keep the poor thread some company.

BTW, I LOVE your posts.

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berndog
How did we all get sucked into this crazy sport anyway?!!

And when Elvis and JFK battled the Bubba Ho-Tep Mummy...

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

I kind of wish BabySitter weren't so negative all the time. Why would you want to bash someone who we all had such a good time with. When you see him, tell Tibbsy that he is missed and that we wish him the best.

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berndog
How did we all get sucked into this crazy sport anyway?!!

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"I kind of wish BabySitter weren't so negative all the time."

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Knew this was coming. More to follow I'm sure.

Yes, I know it's a generalization but I call it like I sees it.

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berndog
How did we all get sucked into this crazy sport anyway?!!

Ron Burgundy: Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.
Veronica Corningstone: No, there's no way that's correct.
Ron Burgundy: I'm sorry, I was trying to impress you. I don't know what it means. I'll be honest, I don't think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.
Veronica Corningstone: Doesn't it mean Saint Diego?
Ron Burgundy: No. No.
Veronica Corningstone: No, that's - that's what it means. Really.
Ron Burgundy: Agree to disagree.