All Passion No Smoke

The excitement today in Mr. Fantastic's class was off the veritable Richter Scale. It was in a word incalculable. And when he played some musical favorites from my era, if it were not for the bike being a stationary one I would have climbed into the ionosphere. A bit of hyperbole I will admit. but there never was a man who I knew so little about but was I so willing to put my trust in. His boundless energy inspires me to put forth an effort I haven't felt since running up the Empire State Building steps.

It's a three ring circus and an amusement park all rolled into one. The admission price is our membership at Equinox and filling out the little square box at the reception desk and voila, we land in the seat of a numbered bike. Then we witness the whirling dervish transform himself from the quiet, self effacing young man we  know into the animated comic book character that takes on a personification we want to cheer and sweat a river to.

All passion, no smoke and truer words could never be  spoken about  Tripp Doherty. All passion, no smoke and oh yes no mirrors either.

Inside the Mind of Mr. Mayhem

I have not been able of late to attend Mr. Mayhem’s class but I have been talking him up a storm to anyone and everyone with ears.  They all seem to echo the same sentiment that he is distinctly different and almost to an individual they cannot really describe what it is that Tripp does for them in his classes.  I would hesitate to pigeon hole it into any one category as well.  He for me is more than anyone a psychic journey into my past and into an outer world where there is no gravity but the air is thick with visceral etchings that change throughout his hour.  What I mean to say is that like a dream I cannot hold onto the image as pleasant as it is I must leg go of because the next feeling is filled to the brim with another of his unmistakable incantations. Almost as if he is a magician without props. 

He has a mythical boyish aura about him and he is filled with silent agreement when your eyes meet his.  There is a knowing is the only way I can describe it that fetches your attention and then rivets you to the effort you have always been seeking. Even this post is writing itself because Mr. Fantastic is ethereal but as real as you or I. And yet there is also something else, he possesses elements I can’t yet describe, but like creativity it arrives on it’s own time schedule.  

Best Tripp Ever!

Sitting in the 945 in our beloved Lavender Palace I looked askance at the bank of televisions and spied one with today’s title lined perfectly for me. And I thought how fortuitous because as I rode I was rolling around in my head as to what I would call today’s entry and there it was as if it were served up on a frying pan for me. Isn’t that the way though the world offers up to us answers to our questions and if we just slow down we can notice all the messages that arrive just in time. 

Tripp was his usual superlative best again today and his iconic jumps with two arms reaching the ceiling are part of his energetic repertoire along with his climb up the paneled glassed wall. My point is Tripp is never boring and his essays about life are always welcome because as I have chronicled this man has seen things we will never see in ten lifetimes. He has so many stories underneath that remarkable disheveled hairdo and one day I hope I can write some of them. 

And let there be no doubt that although I might bill riding with Mr. Doherty is the wildest ride on earth make no mistake if you put the effort in that he calls for the results we all are looking for will manifest themselves below our head and shoulders. 

The energy was pulsating today it was as if you could extend your palms out from the handlebars and just feel the electricity. We burn calories and I just have a helluva lot of fun.  

Does Anyone Know this Man?

I am sure you do and I am trying to understand what about him inspires us to do the things we do. I am not talking about what we do in the Lavender Palace. I’m talking about outside EQ. Take today for instance. He had been talking about this Polar Bear event in Oyster Bay this Sunday. You know where those hearty souls doff their warm end of the winter clothes and head into the frigid waters? Well I never thought of ever participating in such lunacy. However, after not giving it much thought I decided that I would join the mob of crazies and see what it was all about. 

Tripp said that the expectation of just how cold the water will be is much worse than what you actually feel as you hit the water. I took him at face value instead of adopting a cynical attitude of: Yeah Right! We were actually quite lucky because the air temp was in the low 50’s not exactly winter but the waters of Oyster Bay were just a tad cooler at 46 degrees and a water temp just 14 degrees above freezing is nothing to shiver about. Well check that maybe just a little bone chilling at that. As I watched the small horde of adventurers rush in I thought I would take my time just in case some of the brave bathers changed their minds and headed back to the rocky sands of the beach. And return they did in quite a few numbers with the most horrified looks on their faces. I got my feet wet and I decided right then and there to take the plunge and take my whole body head and all submerge myself for the full effect.  Yowsa it was freaking cold but I had no visual documentation so I spied Constance’s beloved husband Michael who is never without his camera and I asked him to take a picture or two and again with little thought headed back in for the second dunking. It was just as cold but now I had proof.  

Someone said to Tripper once that the people in the studio are not your friends. Well I hate to differ but today I counted several. Maureen, Lori and her husband and daughter, Stacie, Janene, David and of course Constance.  And of course there was me because I was just not going to miss out and I am so glad I did. I even bought a hat and long sleeve Tee just to mark the occasion.  

P.S. 

I would never had done what I did today without Mr. Inspiration Tripp Doherty.  

P.P.S.

Check out on Facebook some of the great photos Constance's husband Michael took. 

Gypsy Rose Jack

Today being a light business day, I opted for the 945 edition of Tripper Tuesday. I arrived at the gym and as if by whimsical magic was summoned upstairs to check on the proceedings in the 830 which had about ten or twelve minutes to go. The fact is we have become good friends most of us that pedal our hearts out with Mr. Fantastic and I just wanted to soak up some of the love that goes on in the Lavender Palace.  

As I peered in to the fabulous fish bowl I could see that Tripp was leading school just as he always does with rhythm, energy and his unmistakable charm. He in what seemed a second hopped off the Schwinn and ushered me in petitioning me to ride for the last 10 minutes. And not wishing to be a Killjoy I doffed my hat, coat, pants and shirt and as I did I was showered with the most beautiful cacophony of love since I did the twist in 5th grade. And just like then I felt encircled in what else could I say but the love and affection you all give me. It was fun taking off my clothes because I am such an exhibitionist. I will long remember this and thank you every one.  

Anything after that might seem anticlimactic but the 945 did not disappoint and I could never have imagined having this much fun kicking my butt and  I look forward to the Doherty Show every time those glass door open. 

A Soul In Great Neck

I used to work in Great Neck back in the 80’s and we used to call it the town with no soul.  Fast-forward 30 years and it’s 10 o’clock in EQ Great Neck and a Mr. Tripp Doherty is leading us in a spin class.  Well somehow the soul has been installed and add in some charisma, enthusiasm and you have a workout that you just wouldn’t believe.  

Great Neck’s CS has a narrowness to it that I am not used to but I could soon learn to like. Woodbury of course sports one of the largest studios anywhere on Long Island or NY for that matter but you cannot see many of the faces of the riders because for the most part everyone is facing forward. But in GN and from my vantage I could see most of the faces of three-dozen riders and I have to tell you that they were riveted on our charismatic friend, Tripper.

  On my way in there materialized Peter Rothermel our former manager in Woodbury and he was beaming.  He it seems has done some miraculous things for the 3500 odd plus membership there. And it was self evident because he had 9 count ‘em 9 valets directing traffic because his 167 parking spots were just not enough.  I told him he was like a Yankee player that played with us and now manages somewhere else. He will always be in our hearts and minds. He must have been using the Miami Device because his dark beard reminded me of Don Johnson from the 80’s series. Miami Vice.  

I loved how Tripp got everyone caught up in his infectious enthusiasm because it is irresistible and I have the feeling they would love to see more of him in that studio. On my way into KSC today I saw a placard for Tripp and his outdoor runs starting at 11 am on Tuesdays. And the question is at least for me will I take his challenge and join them. Oh and on Sunday, tomorrow Tripp is running up 66 flights of stairs in midtown and I can’t help but think about the time I ran up the Empire State Building steps a half-life time ago. Good luck Tripper.