Sneak Peek of 15 Custom-Painted Bikes - Lenzerheide DH World Champs 2018

Sep 4, 2018
by Ross Bell  
With the World Cup done and dusted it's now time for the biggest race of the year... It's time for World Champs and all the custom bikes and gear that comes with it. We've been for an early lap of the pits to see what droolworthy creations are being assembled, although some were off limits and kept stowed away of prying eyes, so make sure you check back tomorrow for a full run down on the complete builds when they are revealed!

Charlie Harrison's Intense M29

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Jack Moir's Intense M29

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Dean Lucas' Intense M29

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Emilie Siegenthaler's Pivot Phoenix

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Eddie Masters' Pivot Phoenix

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Tahnee Seagrave's Transition TR11

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Mick and Tracey Hannah's Polygon Xquarone dh

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Neko Mulally's YT Tues

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Angel Suarez's YT Tues

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Aaron Gwin's YT Tues

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Marcelo Gutierrez's Giant Glory

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Jacob Dickson's Giant Glory

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Dakotah Norton's Devinci Wilson

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Noel Niederberger's NS Fuzz

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212 Comments
  • 69 1
 Some of these bikes are beautiful! Any idea on who the painters are? I know Image Design Custom did the Seagraves'. The YT Mob machines are something else, 'specially Gwin's. TLD's work?
  • 208 2
 Like any art, credit should be given to the artists.
  • 14 0
 @funkendrenchman: Agreed - but I guess it's hard to tell from walking round the pits.
  • 10 0
 @E9G: Adam Brayton’s is up on the Hope Instagram page and was painted by fatcreations. From a pic on their instagram they also did Siegenthaler's
  • 19 0
 Fat Creations did the Pivot team bikes as well as the Saracen ones.
  • 1 0
 @dingus: YeahI saw Alistair was pretty snowed under with Worlds bikes. One day...!
  • 2 0
 I think the Intense do there own bikes, might be wrong though.
  • 2 0
 Fat Creations did at least the Pivots
  • 9 0
 Next level bike porn.
  • 2 1
 @dingus: they usually do Santa Cruz as well as far as i know
  • 6 1
 Am I the only one who's expecting matte black or red Trek.
  • 18 3
 Tahnee's takes the cake as far as I'm concerned. In my opinion she and her brother get the coolest kits and frames in the world cup circuit, I just love the Muc-Off hot pink in with the matte black and Transition blue.
  • 12 0
 Angels is incredible also
  • 10 0
 Those Intense frames have my vote, specially Moir's
  • 23 1
 Doesn’t painting a frame void the warranty tho!?


............door closing behind me.....
  • 1 5
flag trails801 (Sep 4, 2018 at 15:51) (Below Threshold)
 @Rimrider26: Generally NO! Tape the serial # off or If you're still worried email your brand and ask.
  • 7 1
 Pivot bikes paint jobs for the win!
  • 1 0
 my thoughts as soon as I saw this
  • 1 0
 Somebody make Marcelo some Colombian flag colored fork decals!
  • 3 0
 @ryanandrewrogers: Agreed! Although we may be a little biased. Wink
  • 1 1
 @ryanandrewrogers: that's a sticker
  • 1 0
 @Rimrider26: They will settle by sending you a replacement frame as opposed to dealing with the lawyers fees. I airbrush bikes on the side and already contacted my attorney about it. They have to show a direct correlation between the paint work and the breakage. As long as the bikes are not baked, you really run very little risk of damaging the integrity of the frame.

I do take very detailed pictures of every bike I paint in case there is an argument about warranty coverage.
  • 45 0
 I am usually a person that likes outlandish designs when it comes to standing out, but the paint scheme on Emilie Siegenthaler's Pivot is fantastic in the simplicity of design.
  • 5 0
 The subtle details on it are incredible. Love it. Even so I’m usually not much of a fan of white rigs
  • 2 0
 I dig Noel Niederberger's no-fuss Fuzz
  • 1 1
 Yep. It actually tells a story about the sport with the lift chairs and mountain scenery. I think I saw Bender about to come off that one edge... Wink
  • 1 0
 @leopaul: Reminds myself of a few years back where pro snowboarders and surfers were drawing their sponsors logos onto their top decks. Or Dane Reynolds/CI weird board artwork.
  • 36 1
 Neko's scheme needs to be production. It looks sick!
  • 6 1
 Well he isn't using it, maybe it's for sale lol
  • 1 0
 yes!
  • 1 0
 @ it will be auctioned
  • 1 0
 Neko managed to get a more USA! looking YT than Gwin.
  • 33 5
 What idiots custom paint a bike and then just slap a big ugly much off sticker on it? awful!
  • 3 1
 Over a huge portion of the red metallic flake, and it's a cheap sticker, not even oracal vinyl.
  • 15 1
 Someone getting paid by Muck-off.
  • 3 0
 That blood splatter is awesome! Ruined by that sticker, could've put it on the fork.......
  • 2 0
 I see it as a plaster/bandaid on the blood splatter, think it looks pretty cool actually
  • 1 4
 @nojzilla: pretty sure that's supposed to be mud, not blood
  • 1 0
 @bizutch: then why is it red like blood, not brown like mud? Perhaps if it were brown people would think it was a shitstain...
  • 2 0
 I mean, if you're gonna diss at least spell the brand name right. Wink
  • 1 0
 They care so much about their brand presence, they would tattoo their riders forehead if they could.
  • 1 0
 @chyu: no need they just wear those huge flat peak hats that look like a fckn massive bill board Big Grin
  • 29 2
 The YT's nailed it.
  • 20 1
 So well. Giant on the other hand was like "here's some stickers you idiots, poof! Custom!" They deserve better than that.
  • 1 1
 Unreal looking bikes.
  • 19 0
 ED Master bike looks like Jon Olsson signature !
  • 26 8
 sorry, but that giant is so ugly
  • 15 4
 Just decals on black paint, you could get a housewife shopping at a hobby store to get that done in a few hours. Where's the real deal custom paint Giant?
  • 11 3
 On one hand, they finally bothered to do a "custom" paint job, but on the other - they didn't even try.
  • 2 0
 Wich one?
  • 6 0
 It looks like a Look lol
  • 5 1
 that was my favorite of them all...
  • 2 0
 @tylenoljones: The color scheme is good, all paint would look sick. Get some metallic flake or pearlescent tones in there.
  • 1 0
 @hostforaxenomorph: mayyybbeeeee lol. Either way it looks like some modern art painting. Personally I hate modern art.
  • 1 0
 I'm not digging the second Giant, and they both LOOK very "phoned in." Marcelo's isn't that bad LOOKing, though. I mean, just LOOK at it. Hmmm...where have I seen that Piet Mondrian style color scheme before?
  • 22 7
 You couldn't give me one of those Polygons...."sorry mate, shed's full" - slowly backs out of room.
  • 10 4
 Ahahaha class and so true such, an ugly bastard bike!! Nothing will come close to those of Steve Peat on his final WC races tho, each one different but all were awesome!!
  • 10 1
 @McArdle: The spitfire, the cow, I miss those bikes.
  • 4 0
 @McArdle: mooooooooo
  • 16 0
 The best thing about worlds (apart from the actual race)
  • 49 0
 I found almost an entire sausage in the trash at worlds. That’s the real gem here. Check. Mate.
  • 12 0
 I have no words... They are beautiful
  • 13 1
 It seems Gwin is taking the no wheels option to avoid flats.
  • 14 2
 That Wilson Paint job is so conflicting for such a Canadian brand haha
  • 7 4
 i know, im surprised they didnt paint Trumps face on there just to support the tariff on canadian metal LOL
  • 3 2
 It doesn't usually bother me seeing a bike originating from a country being painted in another country's flag's color but this one just seems odd. It's cool and all, but for some reason it doesn't fit.
  • 3 3
 @Ride406orDie: It's because you & @BoneDog get butthurt easy. Too much teet for too long. Wink
  • 10 0
 Gutierrez's bike - accidental Mondrian? I thought this was Giant, not LOOK hahaha
  • 2 1
 Its still pretty darn well done - but yeah Look did it first, I think
  • 12 1
 Let's see GEE ATHERTON's bike! Oh wait...
#gee4worlds
  • 4 0
 I think Gee may be racing... I've heard nothing official, but page 11 of this entry list Gee is on there listed as a substitute!

p.vitalmtb.com/uploads/2062/entry_list_lenzerheide.pdf
  • 1 0
 @TinyTim10: Nice! Thx.
  • 9 1
 someone snuck a picture of Dak's Devinci seat tube into Tahnees TR11 section
  • 7 1
 Without scrolling back up I thought you were attempting a crude, albeit very confusing, joke. Which amused my dumb self after a three day weekend left my brain frazzled.
  • 3 0
 @ZappBrannigan: i thought about it but wasn't clever enough to come up with anything good enough for PB, decided to stick to the facts
  • 7 0
 Call me old fashioned but there's something in plain white frames with small accents. That NS looks so clean that it seduces mud and grime to cover it.
  • 7 0
 An entire frame in the same finish as Tahnee's TR11 head tube please. Rocket red sparkle.
  • 8 1
 dang Suarez's steed is dope
  • 4 1
 Agreed, one of my favs so far
  • 1 0
 Yep it is incredible
  • 7 0
 WOW. Someone's coming for someone's blood....
  • 5 0
 Would you say that’s RA blood type on the head tube?
  • 1 2
 that's mud. Metal flake mud.
  • 6 0
 Custom painted bikes ftw. End
  • 3 0
 No bike is compared to the USA flag colours on the Palmer Specialized! 2nd place for the southafrican flag on the Minaars bike years ago, 3rd place for Peatys Orange with Britain flag on it.
  • 3 1
 Palmer's frame will always be the greatest.
  • 3 0
 To date I have never seen an all gloss black bike with every fastener done in gold( Titanium nitride)
And I have never seen a rat bike as in Matt black with various shades of rust.
Guess I'll have to do it my self.
  • 2 0
 What I'd like to know is what happens with these works of art once the race is done and the rider gets a new one?! Do they get sold off, kept in-house, does the rider mount them on their home trophy wall, what? I've certainly never see any of these beauties for sale in the Pinkbike used parts bin...
  • 1 1
 They keep em. Neko left his Scott Worlds bike on display at Billy Goat Bikes for a long time. Most all of his old helmets are on display there now
  • 6 0
 Neko's the sexiest
  • 3 0
 Pity Neko wont be piloting it this weekend, at least itll stay clean!
  • 1 0
 @aushred: is he hurt?
  • 1 0
 @mollow: Broken hand
  • 3 0
 @aushred: ahh crap. The mob ain't paying their debts!
  • 5 1
 You should be able to choose paint work just like this on any top shelf offering.
  • 2 1
 A few manufacturers provide this option
  • 5 1
 Lots of custom painters offer this option Wink
  • 5 2
 Riding someone’s World Champs paintjob is a bit like getting your lid painted in Red Bull colors... you kind of earned it, but you didn’t... you may as well buy yourself a World Champion jersey on Ali Express, much cheaper
  • 6 0
 Everyone wants a custom paint job, nobody wants to pay for a custom paint job. (I paint cars and motorbikes, push bikes are no different).

Some of the hours that have gone into the above is mind blowing.
  • 1 0
 @DownhillDoozy: ^^^ This, he gets it
  • 4 0
 @DownhillDoozy: i know the feeling... i just blew 35k painting my torana fml
  • 1 0
 @andydhteam: I wouldn't call that blowing money, I would call that a serious investment in something beautiful.
  • 2 0
 @LoganKM1982: yeh they have jumped up huge in value! if i was to ever sell it id make my money back... but that is never going to happen
  • 1 0
 @DownhillDoozy: I completely understand the labor and intensity in a custom paint job. That's why I say on top shelf models you should be able to choose this. I see no reason for the price of a top-shelf model without a custom paint job. I also have a background in painting and let's be honest. Lots of transfers and decals in that paint.
  • 2 0
 @properp: yeh a choice of custom paint would be sick
  • 1 0
 Custom paint on top shelf bikes, the perfect way to turn a $5000 bike into a $11,000 bike.
  • 1 0
 @Dudeclimbsrocks: people already buy $ 11,000 bikes with boring paint. You know custom paint work makes the bike faster. Just point it downhill.
  • 1 0
 @bman33: its a generic custom NOT choice to get what you want. You will accept what they offer or get nothing.
  • 1 0
 The beauty of being Australian is you can claim the green and gold, or the myriad of red white and blue colour schemes. Just stick an Ozzi flag or boxing Kangaroo on anything. Cant wait for this race, the #RAdelaideMTBMafia going to blow the doors off it.
  • 1 0
 The Roo makes it so rad!
  • 3 0
 for Canadians its even easier, Maple leaf on all the things
  • 4 0
 If it wasn't for the kangaroo and name I would have guessed Moir's was for a Jamaican Big Grin
  • 2 0
 I was thinking the same. Don't really understand the inspiration for it, but looks pretty cool all the same.
  • 1 0
 Those Giants remind me of this Spesh Enduro I saw at the bike park a couple months ago. The rider was on the team to some extent (uniform/jersey & stickers... plus skill lol) but the bike was just a typical Enduro with the rider's sticker on it. I guess those plain blocks of color look nice if you're into that sort of stuff, but compared to some of the others...
  • 1 0
 Jack's bike looks great ..... but the person who sprayed it bloody well used American English, and not proper English when spelling "Honoring" on the top tube instead of Honouring .... granted it is in favour of American Firefighters, so it may be allowed to slip in ......... Razz
  • 2 0
 That one is not Jack's bike it's Charlie Harrisons bike who is American.
  • 1 0
 All look pretty sick and you can count on the Swiss to do nothing but simple. Sic Mic's and Tracey Hannah's bike are looking particularly bad but nothing compares to Peaty's 2016 Spitfire V10, masterpiece by Alistair @fatcreations. dirtmountainbike.com/gear/bike-reviews/downhill-bikes/steve-peats-spitfire-world-cup-finals-bike
  • 2 0
 First off, it looks like Gwin is running the TRP E-bike brakes as well as Mulally now. Second, what's up with the mismatched wheels on Niederberger's bike?
  • 2 0
 Dont they know that using E-bike brakes they will get every trail in N.A shut down????.......googles e-bike brakes.....
  • 3 0
 polygon Xquareone DH, look so sick! Will see SIK MIK on the Top Podium as champions
  • 4 0
 Niiice! The Glory looks like a box of crayons though
  • 4 0
 Now the fades on the YTs are how fades should look! What a job!
  • 4 0
 Intense bikes are intense. Look very fast just sitting there.
  • 1 1
 I was never a fan of this "world champs Pimp My Bike Show Off"... Love Gutierrez's Giant, the colors of the colombian flag in his Glory reminds me so bad the world Champ Winner Giant Atx with Myles Rockwell back in 2000 and the DH Team
  • 2 1
 Apart from the YT's, they're all pretty damned boring IMO... I mean, look at Bryn Atkinson's custom painted bike - www.pinkbike.com/news/video-bryn-atkinsons-custom-painted-snake-bike.html - Now THAT'S a custom job.
  • 1 0
 Some very creative minds at work and the results are stunning. Have to say that Emilie's bike just looks mint, such a simple design, but spot on. That paint on Tahnee's headtube....lush :-)
  • 3 0
 So, who are the painters? I think i spy the work of @fatcreations in there for sure!!!!!
  • 3 0
 Front of Mick and Tracey's bikes look great...
  • 2 0
 Neko's Tues for me. Reminds me of peaty and rats V10s from 2010, I think it was?
  • 4 1
 Lots of handsome bikes but those YTs, wow. So good looking.
  • 2 1
 SS bolts on the YT bikes clearly visible on the drive side shot. Fitting since they are a German MFG if I recall?

The Intense & Pivot bikes do it for me.
  • 2 0
 Not a fan of USA paint jobs in general but damn Gwin's is redic. That fade is amazing.
  • 3 0
 for sure! I really hope those American flag stylized HT pedals will be made available to mortals some day
  • 3 0
 the yt mob bikes.... holy smokes, every year there bikes are next level!
  • 1 0
 Giant's take on custom paint jobs, "Oh, if we just change the color pallet of the existing color templates for two riders, it'll be considered custom paint, right?"
  • 4 0
 I like the Glory
  • 1 0
 ATTENTION ALL RIDERS! PLEASE DM ME IF YOU EVER MIGHT CONSIDER THEORETICALLY THINKING ABOUT MAYBE LOOKING TO POSSIBLY SELL THOSE BEAUTIFUL BIKES! Big Grin Drool
  • 1 0
 My bike is up for auction if you’d like to bid on it!
  • 1 0
 @CharlieHarrison: Whoa! I didn't actually expect a serious response to that! Razz Where are these auctions that have been spoken of? Someone said other bikes, like Neko's, would/might be available too...
  • 1 0
 So long as we're Drool ing over bikes, I'll just leave this here...
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-bryn-atkinsons-custom-painted-snake-bike.html
  • 1 1
 Tahnee's looks great. The rest are nothing special, sure they are very well done, the quality is superb. Gwin's in particular is just another boring variation on the stars and stripes.
  • 2 0
 Think the YT's and Polygon's look the best! But all are pieces of art on their own!
  • 2 0
 Love every single one of them. Who are the best bike painters?
  • 2 1
 Ummm the NZ flag on Eddies bikes wrong, red stars with white back ground, not the other way round.
  • 1 0
 Keep these coming! Since I can’t watch world champs this year, this is all I have!
  • 2 0
 Is it a ... on a Emilie Siegenthaler's Pivot Phoenix?
  • 4 2
 Gwin's bike needs more eagles. #MOAREAGLES #freebird
  • 3 1
 Dak's Devinci looks incredible.
  • 1 0
 this is inspiring, seriously though, anyone know any companies that do custom graphics? I think my bike needs some love
  • 1 0
 Over here...UK though...
  • 2 0
 That's XXX rated material right here. Well done to all the artists.
  • 1 0
 Damn, that Tranny that Tahnee is riding is beautiful. I want a whole bike done in that red flake paint!
  • 2 6
flag preach (Sep 4, 2018 at 14:04) (Below Threshold)
 at first when I read this I was like "SHE'S RIDING A WHAT!?!?"
too much kaitlyn jenner in the media these days....
  • 1 0
 I thought all the Niederberger's had emigrated to the USA a couple of centuries ago.
  • 3 0
 Did Giant even try?
  • 1 0
 Hahaha, I had the same thought when I saw that.
  • 1 0
 they never put effort into there worlds bikes unfortunetly
  • 3 0
 honestly thought Marcelo Gutierrez's Giant Glory is the best looking glory to date. Simple and clean. Giant should produce that bike as complete
  • 1 0
 @raddog: best looking glory, yes. Still looks half hearted compared to some of the others.
  • 1 0
 @raddog: id rather my glory then his but im a fan of bright colours.. marcellos has to many different colours going on.. i dont understand why they dont just give him a bike columbian colours, not just put some stickers over the blue.. still its more effort then last yr, all he got was a new set of fork stickers...
  • 1 0
 @andydhteam: you must have missed the fact the colors on his bike are the world champ colors. Kind of iconic for this race. It's definitely simple but I like simple
  • 1 0
 @raddog: i did say columbian colours.....
  • 1 0
 @andydhteam: and i didnt say i was an expert on countries and flags..
  • 2 0
 These bikes should be in the Louvre.
  • 2 0
 My brother's flat green kona has spitfire stickers in that same spot.
  • 2 0
 Hey whoever did YT. Can I get Neko’s paint job on my Jeffsy?
K, thanks
  • 2 1
 Marcelo's colors on the glory should be giant's standard colors for that frame... It actually makes the bike look good!!!
  • 2 0
 I miss Peaty's world championship paint jobs
  • 1 0
 So can we, your customers paint our frame or will that result in warranty forfeit?
  • 1 0
 Great to see some colour on bikes again after everyone took their stock 2017/18 colourway cues from Richie Benaud.
lol
  • 2 0
 i really like color transitions on yt mobs!
  • 2 1
 Does this show who has signed their contracts for next year?

On another note, why no Treks?
  • 1 0
 Emilie's bike even has the track under lift painted on it. That's the sickest paint job I've seen in a while
  • 1 0
 Really like the Swiss and Columbian liveries, they properly convey the nation of the rider.
  • 1 0
 How about those sick pedals on Gwins bike?
  • 2 0
 Bikeporn!
  • 2 0
 stunning Art Pieces !
  • 1 0
 Show me some Demos. Specifically Finns. Neko FTW so far.
  • 2 0
 More! Dammit!
  • 3 2
 The American YT Tuez paint jobs are something else
  • 3 1
 YT's are gorgeous!
  • 1 0
 Hey @aarongwin if you sell that frame I want it, Fluorescent freedom FTW!
  • 2 1
 1. Tahnee 2. Gutierrez 3. Neiderberger
  • 3 1
 those YTs!!!! :o
  • 5 4
 There's something horribly wrong about a Devinci in American colours
  • 5 0
 Why is that? Dakotah is from the US. YT, a German brand, made in Taiwan/China with American riders Gwin and Neko. Same with Vali Hols Austria pain scheme, Emilie Siegenthaler's Pivot, Taiwan/China made, and Swiss colors, etc. etc. Sure Devinci is a Canadian brand (I have a Wilson and love it), but does that mean it can't have XYZ country's theme if said rider is from XYZ country?
  • 1 0
 @bman33: Maybe it's just because their last team was Smith and Wallace; we had some incredible Canadian riders on one of the few (two?) Canadian brands in the WC and it was good.
  • 4 0
 @src248: Not bashing that at all, still have my #longlivechainsaw stickers on the frame. It is a shame that team is gone. At least Wallace is still out there shredding. However, it is good to see Devinci back on the WC DH scene regardless of the riders.
  • 2 0
 @bman33: agreed, and I do think they did a great job with the paint
  • 1 0
 must be the non idler photoshoot
  • 1 0
 that rocky mountain i mean Transition is sick.
  • 1 0
 Paint my Session bideeyotch ...I got 5 on it !
  • 1 0
 Wayyyy too gorgeous!! Amazing
  • 1 0
 That Fuzz in all white... looks pretty neutral. Wink
  • 2 0
 That NS though
  • 1 0
 Eddie and Emilie on aluminum bars...
  • 2 5
 What's up with all the US riders not putting the stars and stripes on their bikes? Nobody?

Not a single US rider has actual United States Flag RED WHITE & BLUE on their bikes.

Troy Brosnan, Jack Moir & Dean Lucas got it right. Sport your country's actual colors. You're representing us all, not yourself just this once.
  • 1 1
 bro they rode red white and blue bikes the ENTIRE SEASON.
  • 1 2
 @Dudeclimbsrocks: Did I say anything about regular season. Riders are here to represent their COUNTRY.
Harrison, Gwin & Mullaly's don't have USA or stars & stripes on the frames.
I like a Worlds bike that indicates it's Worlds. I've never gone nor could go to Worlds, but I know I'd want my bike to look like an American Flag.
Nesteroff did go Stars & Stripes. He wins.
I
  • 4 0
 @bizutch: Charlie Harrison's bike is honoring fallen fire fighters and the foundation that support them. He will be raffling off the bike as well and proceeds will go to the organizations.
  • 2 0
 Well, if you're still a stickler for US Flag code then the use of the flag in advertisement (which explicitly includes putting a makers mark over the flag) is forbidden. Otherwise, the ones you call out are using it as a motif without smacking us in the face, people know where they're from they can connect the dots... well, most people.
  • 1 1
 @creativefletch: That's very cool. When I glanced I thought it said World Wildlife Federation. Smile But still you'd think it would have the red/white/blue somewhere too.
  • 2 1
 @ZappBrannigan: Wow. Took a different path there . Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @bizutch: Yeah, sorry. Being bored at work makes me cranky and sassy. :/
  • 2 1
 @ZappBrannigan: SassyBrannigan....
  • 1 0
 Those Intense frames are well... Intense!
  • 1 0
 We need the rest!!!
  • 1 0
 Porn!
  • 1 0
 Hubba HubbaDrool







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