You may have noticed that the Rads like to dress alike. Here’s the backstory:
Technical and rugged gear/clothing is EXPENSIVE. It also tends to be UGLY. To avoid paying an arm and a leg supporting our hobbies, we keep our eyes out for swaps, trading-post message boards, clearance sales and discount gear websites, like Steep and Cheap or Backcountry. These websites are able to sell gear on sale because they act as a clearing house for last year’s models, out-of-season items, and unpopular colors or sizes (xs and xxl).
A few years ago, Steep and Cheap featured The Plaid Shirt, made by *Secret Brand. Unbeknowst to each other, four members of Team Radish bought the shirt because it was a great deal and actually attractive. The first time Rads wore the shirt to the same event, it was a cute ha-ha moment that gradually snowballed into the best kind of spoof – a gag that doesn’t hurt anybody, is generally making fun of ourselves instead of other people, gives us endless giggles, and echoes the innocent silliness of youth but with less dick jokes.
* I told my husband I was posting about The Plaid Shirt and he asked me not to reveal the real brand name. What a dork.
Secret Brand no longer makes The Plaid Shirt, so other Rads have taken to stalking Ebay and Craigslist for it. Our eventual goal is for everyone to own it.
So imagine our UNBRIDLED JOY when Rad member Bread spotted The Plaid Shirt at a bar the other night. He sent this pic to the group; we tried to convince him to do anything and everything necessary to obtain the shirt from the poor dude on the spot, but alas … I wasn’t there so I can’t be sure that the dude took Bread’s offer seriously.
Then, in an unbelievable TWIST, The Plaid Shirt was spotted the very next day on a different dude in the park. Luckily, BJRN happened to be WEARING The Plaid Shirt at the time so he was utilized as a prop. I was nominated to confront the hapless fellow (with his two young children in tow) because I enjoy being weird to strangers. I’m not nearly as good at it as Danny, but I’m close.
Here’s how it went down:
Me: uh, hey, sir. I know this is going to sound weird but I swear I’m not a creeper. Is that by chance a Secret Brand plaid shirt?
Him: It totally is! I’ve had this for years and it’s held up so great. They don’t make ’em like this anymore!
Me: yeah, I know … that’s why I’m offering to buy your shirt. Right now.
Him: you want my dirty shirt?
Me: yes. I’ll give you $40 cash right now.
(his children are watching this conversation with interest)
Him: WHY would you want my shirt?
Me, gesturing wildly at BJRN across the park: well, see, I’m in this informal bike gang and we like dressing up in matching outfits? And only half of us have The Plaid Shirt and, like you said, they don’t make them anymore so we’re resorting to aggressive street tactics like this, and eBay.
Him: …
(he is NOT finding this to be amusing, so I continue to talk because that’s my fear response)
Me: think about what a great story this would be, how a bunch of weirdos accosted you in a park and bought your dirty shirt?
Him: …
(If I were to interpret his body language, I would guess it would be “offended”?)
Me: I mean, I AM offering you $40 cash for an old and dirty shirt. You could buy a new shirt!
Him: uh, no, thanks? This shirt means a lot to me.
Me: okay! Well, have a good day!
(as I walk away, I hear his kids say “Dad! That lady was being weird, right?” to which he responded “yes. Yes, she was very weird.”)
Moral of the story: I am not deterred, but I will refine my approach.