Mojo any one?

[bikerchic]

It was long ago pointed out to me via MTBR.com (http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44)that many cyclist especially it seemed mountain bikers had "mojo's" for good luck on their bikes.

So I wonder do any of you have a Mojo and if so what is the story behind it?

I'll post a pic of mine which is on my Serotta who became "FlyGirl" and this is the story of how and when she got her name and Mojo.

I was on a training ride by myself up in the high desert where I lived at the time. I had a 20 mile loop which I would lap and on the second lap about the half way mark I usually would stop at a cyber cafe called Water Canyon and get a cupa jo, refill my Camelbak and hit the road. On previous rides I had searched and searched the road for that little thingy which would become my mojo as rumor has it it must be something you find on the trail to truly be a good luck charm.

This day I did not have Mojo on my mind, what was on my mind was beating the desert heat and getting miles in and wondering why I didn't do my ride in reverse as I had ahead of me that long grinding 6 mile climb before going home, ugg!

So I stop for my cuppa jo and get it all doctored up the way I like it go to sit down outside on the patio there was a nice breeze and I could have my bike right next to my table. I pulled out my chair sat down and *ouch* what was that I sat on? Ugg a big plastic fly! How gross! And what's worse it stuck to my lycra shorts so I had to pick it off.....hope no one was looking!:rolleyes:

Well I didn't think anything of it and wasn't thinking when I stuck the fly in my jersey pocket, drank my coffee and hit the road it was about 8 am and I had another 10 miles to crank out, I really wanted to beat the heat, it was already hitting the high 80's.

So about half way home on that long up hill stretch it hits me, I've found my Mojo and it's a fly!!! Now how am I gunna make that cool for my Serotta and what kind of name would "fly" be? I always thought I would tie in my Mojo with my Serotta's name.

When I came home and stripped off my cycling clothes, emptied out the pockets so I could throw them into the washer I left that ugly plastic insect laying on the table my son saw it. Being a boy of course he thought it was cool, a fly! We talked about it and how I was thinking of a way to make it be my Mojo or thinking maybe forgetting about it and looking for another Mojo when he said "hey Mom it's fly". My son is also a jazz musician and "fly" is jazz-speak for cool, fast, nice.....so we both came up with the name FlyGirl for my bike and he helped me zip tie the plastic fly onto my bike.

My son was also working as a graphic designer for a vinyl company and was supposed to make me a sticker for my fork with a fly holding a pin up girl, he never got around to it as college started, job ended and his school life took over.

So that's my story sorry for the length but I would love to hear yours!

[redrhodie]

Oooh, I didn't know 'bout the mojo! I'll keep an eye out for mine, starting now!

That's one fly fly!

[TrekTheKaty]

I'm on the look out also!

[Zen]

I guess "road kill" wouldn't exactly be good mojo :rolleyes:

[Kalidurga]

I guess "road kill" wouldn't exactly be good mojo :rolleyes:

I just hope you've never picked any of that up and put it in your jersey pocket.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Wow - now that is one heckuva great story!

I don't have a mojo, but I'm ALL FOR anything that will help me get through some days when I'm out there getting MY miles in. ;) I sure needed some mojo today, that's for sure!

Way cool story, Flygirl... way cool.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I love the plastic fly! :D

I found a tiny turtle on the road a few weeks ago, kept him and fed him for a few weeks then let him go again. Not practical to strap him on my handlebars. :cool:

I also found an Israeli coin on the road.

I'm kind of into insects. Used to keep tarantulas. I have a couple of insect tattoos.
My bike has a bee on it already, though it's not as hip as your plastic fly :D :
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Strumelia/SJ9T5OUm2dI/AAAAAAAAA7A/EfAA7jLeQoA/Luna_8.jpg?imgmax=720
My next bike will have a cicada.

I'll have to keep my eye out on the roads for a suitable 'mojo'.

[bikerchic]

LOL thanks for the comments! I'm thinking maybe I should have titled it Get Your Mojo!

Have fun getting yours and remember they find you, you have to accept what you get for good luck.

I hope to hear some good stories and see some cool mojo's.

I had to laugh at all the dust on my bike it really showed up in the picture, gotta definately do something about that like get out and blow the dust off!
Yeehaw!:D

[bikerchic]

Bleeker I love that Bee on your bike and you love insects? Wow you're braver than I, they sorta creep me out. I have played with a tarantula or two living in the desert with my three boys, oy!:eek:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh this reminds me....last year I saw a tiny red Barbie platform disco shoe on the road quite a few times as I passed it on one of my favorite rides. Maybe it was trying to be my mojo and I didn't realize!!! :eek: :eek: :o

Well I'll have to wait for the next one.

[bikerchic]

A Barbie platform disco shoe! LMAO Now that would have been cool!

Shortly after I found my "fly" I was on a ride, stopped because I flatted and when I looked down at my tire there was a space creature laying in the dirt. Just the head but I picked it up anyway and still have it. The whole rest of my ride I kept thinking now what if I would have found that alien space creature before the fly?

Maybe my whole biking experience would have changed, at least I know FlyGirl would not be named FlyGirl and I would have a green alien looking up at me when I ride my bike, awe fate......:p

[Blueberry]

My next bike will have a cicada.

Next bike??!?!?!?!?! You're already planning;););):cool::cool::):)

Your bee is lovely:)

CA

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Next bike??!?!?!?!?! You're already planning;););):cool::cool::):)

I like my Luna so much that I might sell my Rambouillet next year and replace it with another Luna. I'll still 'only' have two bikes then. ;)

sorry.....back to mojos! :p

[smurfalicious]

Hmmm, before my first race I was bumbling around at Wal-Mart and strolled through the "bike" section. There with all the stupid license plates and nonsense were streamers made to insert into handlebars. It truly was destiny as they were baby and dark blue like my beloved bike. Never one to take myself seriously I bought them and proudly forced them into my grips.

I got some sneers from the "take myself too seriously" beginner/sport class folks but I didn't care. Half way through the race I bonked hard because nerves had prevented me from eating. All the hot pro/elite/expert racer boys were passing me and one hollered something like, "Nice streamers Rally Girl." I liked it, lots. I think he was meaning pep rally, but I was thinking of it more in my brother's moto cross terms of "rallying through" something typically implying at high speed.

[Blueberry]

I like my Luna so much that I might sell my Rambouillet next year and replace it with another Luna. I'll still 'only' have two bikes then. ;)



Pretty please post the Rambouiollet here next year if you do so....Please?!?!?!

:D:D

[roadie gal]

Not a critter, but...

My mom always believed that the color red was lucky. If any of us kids went skiing or biking or any sport where we "could get hurt" we had to wear something red.

To this day I wrap a piece of red electrical tape on my ski poles and on the seat post of all of my bikes.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pretty please post the Rambouiollet here next year if you do so....Please?!?!?!

:D:D

I will most certainly let you know if/when it starts happening. :)

[bikerchic]

Not a critter, but...

My mom always believed that the color red was lucky. If any of us kids went skiing or biking or any sport where we "could get hurt" we had to wear something red.

To this day I wrap a piece of red electrical tape on my ski poles and on the seat post of all of my bikes.

I vouge for the fact that Mom always knows best! Very cool tradition, keep it going!

[wackyjacky1]

Not sure if this counts as mojo, but my best friend gave me this guardian angel medallion for my bike:

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/IMG_0002_65-1.jpg

"Protect me and all who pass me by with a steady hand and a watchful eye."

[bikerchic]

Not sure if this counts as mojo, but my best friend gave me this guardian angel medallion for my bike:



I would say absolutely that qualifies! Awesome!

[latelatebloomer]

I use verbal mojo - before I leave the driveway, I have to say, "Ride safe, ride strong." Now I gotta find the visual mojo.

I love your mom's "wear red" mojo. There was a study that showed that students who wore red underwear on test days did better - so I got DH red underwear for the day he had to defend his thesis. He rocked.;)

[wildhawk]

Wow - we will be looking for mojos for our bikes. Since we do lots of nature trails, that should not be a problem. I love insects too - always have. And as an artist/naturalist I am always looking for “specimens” for my studio. I have lots of dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, spiders, snakeskins, etc. I even have a huge cicada!! My friends are hesitant to come into my studio because they never know what I will have laying about in ziploc bags!! My bike is named “Spirit” and I love birds of prey, so I was thinking of painting a single feather and the name Spirit in calligraphy - will that count as a mojo? Or do I need to attach an actual object to her? For chuckles, the first ride on her I attached a beanie baby opossum to the handlebars and got some strange looks on the trail. I called him my “bike buddy”!!

[Geonz]

I have a penguin dangling from my camelbak and a jester with a hypoxia jersey strapped to my fender on my Xtracycle. Haven't figured out how to get my stuffed turtle on there yet, or the decorative squash. Friday's project :) Martha Stewart, you ain't seen nuthin' :P

[Zen]

I liked it, lots. I think he was meaning pep rally, but I was thinking of it more in my brother's moto cross terms of "rallying through" something typically implying at high speed.

Maybe he wasn't too long out of high school (or still in it) to be thinking of pep rallies. I would have thought of it the same way as you.

Do they still have pep rallies?

[Chile Pepper]

Am I the only one who wants a mojito every time I see the title of this thread?

I have a couple of mojos for traveling, but nothing on my bike. When I was doing yoga last year, I would recite the "Ad guray nameh..." before going on a ride. I like the idea of something red. I'll have to keep an eye open.

[deeaimond]

never heard of Mojos before this, but now i'll also be keeping a lookout for one :D I like the fly fly..

[roadie gal]

... another thought... I have a car mezuzah in my car, why not a bike mezuzah? Would that count?

[bikerchic]

Geonz Martha Stewart better move over!

The legend of the bike Mojo as I remember it is that it (the Mojo) finds you and your desire or willingness to bring it onto your bike is what brings you good luck.

I do think it's perfectly acceptable to claim your own mascot or good luck piece and for that matter name your bike, I always did before finding the fly or hearing about the legend of the Mojo. I couldn't imagine having a bike without that personal touch of a name or a mascot.

Receiving a Mojo is just cooler, I think and for me it happened when I was least expecting or thinking about it. I hope it happens for y'all too! Keep your eyes peeled but don't worry too much about it, just ride and have fun, it will happen and let us know when it does, please!

[Irulan]

never heard of Mojos before this, but now i'll also be keeping a lookout for one :D I like the fly fly..


I think maybe you never heard of it is that it comes from the world of mountain biking.

Someone gave me a old Marvel figuring, Jane Grey I think, that they found while scuba diving. She had been buried in the sand and all the paint was worn off her nipples. (edit, I mean her boobs) We drilled some holes through her and zip tied her to my headset.... Wonder Nipples was my mojo for years. She mysteriously disappeared one day.

I too have always abided by the guideline that is has to be given, or found.

[bikerchic]

I like the fly fly.. Thanks dee..I admit when I found the "fly" I wasn't really happy about having it as my Mojo it was my son's explaination of "fly" that more than made it okay with me. :D


Wonder Nipples was my mojo for years. She mysteriously disappeared one day.

I too have always abided by the guideline that is has to be given, or found.


Irulan, wha :eek: Wonder Nipples! LOL I wish I could have seen her and I bet you were more than upset when you found her gone. Lets hope the good luck passes on eh and maybe she fell off and wasn't removed???

I totally forgot that a Mojo can be given to you, thanks for the reminder!

Back later, gotta fix something to take to Bunco tonight, have fun ladies! I hope I win the pot tonight I could use the $$!

[TxDoc]

It was long ago pointed out to me via MTBR.com that many cyclist especially it seemed mountain bikers had "mojo's" for good luck on their bikes.
So I wonder do any of you have a Mojo and if so what is the story behind it?


Well... I had to do a yahoo search to find out what in the world is a mojo... :o and no don't have one :D