After years of owning the URL, MEATengines.com launched in October 2019 with a raison d’etre and exactly one article burning in my mind. I just really wanted to publish something I’d written about Dave McInnes closing up his successful service shop here in North Vancouver and moving to Kamloops. Mission accomplished, November 3rd. I made it through to January 5th, 2020, using material I’d either already written or extensively drafted, and then it was time to actually commit to creating content if I was intent on keeping this little blog going.
Now, we’re at the trailhead of 2021 and I’m looking back on a year’s worth of ~ weekly content updates. Some of it is (or actually, was) total crap – sorry about that – and some of it is decent. Aside from my piece about Dave, I received the most feedback from Sir You Have A F***ing MegaTower, Watching Them Fail, The Mass Extinction Of The North Shore Bike Mechanic, and Jac’s Guide For Dudes #1. Notably, none of them are about single speeding!
If you’re curious. The piece that means the most to me is If You Can Ride Through This, You Can Ride Through Anything. It’s no secret that I’m inspired by my kid.
A lot of other pieces simply didn’t happen. It seems lame to blame ‘rona but the fact is that in-person interviews and going around to take photos of some seriously cool old sh*t just wasn’t a priority. Hopefully, I’ll be able to create some of that material in 2021. Might also have some guest writers lined up. Definitely more Jac’s Guide For Dudes. And of course, all the original single-speed evangelism I can come up with.
I feel like I’m working a lot right now, and that spring and summer this year are going to be insane between wrenching in the shop, writing for NSMB.com, and helping out with SuspensionWerx, but my goal is to get up to posting twice a week. Twice a week without publishing anything that I want to delete this time next year. It’s a stretch goal.
Beyond that, as I wrap up the year, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy MEATengines more often than not. Readership keeps climbing despite the poor promotion, so I have to assume someone is recommending this site to their friends (or frienemies).
As always, suggestions are welcome: meatengines@gmail.com.
Happy New Year!
Andrew