Mike F

This is a joke right?

Cycle of Life | Victorian Farmstead Meat Company

mrv 

dunno.... makes me glad i'm near Detroit!

trailangel

Well, won't be buying that product.
I say forward to local law enforcement.

Leinster

"Page Not Found"

What was it? So I can know what to get outraged about.

trailangel

It's been taken down. Owner of the meat company said he would like to run down cyclist. If he would've used the "B-word" the FBI would be investigating him for terrorist threats.

mrv 

Seems like the primary complaint of the writer is with groups of lycra clad racers and wanna be racers. The writer was pretty straight up that they hated having groups of riders who would not go single file (like it's better to string 20 people out in a column as opposed to a tight bunch).
There was a comment about putting cyclist in the ditch / running them off the road. A couple of (dis)qualifiers were put in the rant about "understanding" how some people NEED a bike for transportation and how bike's make sense in a city / urban area. But country roads should be reserved for cars and trucks, man! (GET OUT MY WAY!!)
That kind of thing. Heard it all before.
I'm doing my best (and STILL failing) to always keep my return comments to "Thank you for being concerned about my safety!" and waving with all five fingers...

cthenn

Well, it appears he's had a change of heart (or at least a change of tune...). I saw this posted on that page, looks like it was from his Facebook page. If genuine, it's the right thing to do, but who knows how much of this is protecting his business...sorry, I'm always skeptical. Most people, when angry or ranting, reveal their true feelings, only to backtrack once the S* hits the fan.

It has been a long sleepless night. I am so sorry for the hurt I have caused. I have been searching for a meaningful way to apologize to the cycling community. Laura and I will be donating $500 dollars to a local fund for injured bicyclists. If one does not exist, we will start one. I was completely ignorant to the danger cyclists face. We have been sent countless articles on people that have been hurt or killed on bicycles and the impact was strong. There is no excuse for what I wrote. All I can do is try to mend fences. Anyone that wants to meet with me in person is welcome to join me for coffee (on me) at Community Market at 11am for as long as you like. Let the healing and educating begin.

trailangel

I say this guy needs to be investigated by LEO and documented.
When people put in writing that they want to hurt others....time to take it seriously.

EDIT:
Apparently LEO did pay him a visit.

Interesting YELP:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/victorian-fa...d-sebastopol-2

cthenn

So I would say my suspicions are confirmed unfortunately. Can't believe that many Yelpers are actually on the side of cyclists. Clearly this guy only "apologized" after the blowback. Makes it even worse to me. And though I never read the initial blog post, some of the Yelp comments which reiterate the comments are truly sickening.

gpelpel

Yes, the guy is backpedaling according to a statement (blog) he left on his website. He is real. His name is Adam Parks (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/adam-parks/18/736/505), he is the owner of Victorian Farmstead Meat Company and is some Sundays at the company booth at the Moraga Farmers Market. Doesn't seem to be a bad guy, just needs to spend more time biking on the road to understand our side of the story.

tjkoko

I used to live in the area and there was always some cyclist hogging the road to the consternation of motorists who wanted to pass. Yeah, and there's evil on both sides. Me when I'm cycling, I just take a brief stop on the shoulder to allow motorists to pass me unimpeded.

Peace,

-Buddha

DiabloScott

That apology has the ring of sincere contrition - no matter the motivation for altering his perspective.

gpelpel

His products are supposed to be of very high quality but also very expensive compared to supermarket meat, the irony is that he is mocking the crowd using $10,000 bikes, surely his own customers.
I hope he is sincere but in the days of 'please forgive me but make sure to continue sending the money' fake public apologies from politicians, pastors, and other celebrities one is allowed to be skeptical. Will a $500 donation change the man... probably not. I would suggest a life changing commitment such as joining a local cycling club and joining a minimum of one club ride for a year. After a year he should be thankful to feel healthy and should have a better appreciation of the cycling community.

Red Rider

I read the post, blogged and fb'd it, and read his apology.

He is ignorant as to the cyclists' perspective. He thought he was being sarcastic but that fell flat.

Instead of having coffee with him, I'd prefer to take him for a ride over those same rides that he drives, so he can feel what we feel.

I already have a source of organic, grass-fed beef, so I don't need to boycott his company.

I wonder how much flak he'll take at the local markets at which he sells.

trailangel

"Ride Along With Me The Best Is Yet To Be"......I don't think so.

retrofit

Article in Santa Rosa Press Democrat today.

trailangel

Damage control has been done on Yelp.
Most of the 1 star reviews have been taken down, and he is now a clean 4 star business.
I didn't know you could do this on Yelp. So now I won't buy meat there, and I won't refer to Yelp to evaluate a business.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/victorian-fa...d-sebastopol-2

DiabloScott

Ironic that the butcher is sponsoring a ride promoting veganism. Probably won't cost him much in product donation.