I love Mr. Show.
Archive for the ‘Other’ Category
All these goats are retarded
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Making the most out of shitty singletrack videos
Saturday, July 24th, 2010Why do singletrack videos always come filled with shitty techno? Man it kills me.
If I were to make helmet-cam videos of trail riding you better believe there wouldn’t be any techno, and the music might be more along the lines of Iron Maiden, Red Fang, Comets on Fire, or perhaps some super stoner metal like The Sword. Not that I’m pigeonholing myself here. Just giving some insight into what really makes mountain biking great. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of the trail beer, the green sticky, and the long days in the saddle. Just sayin.
Here we see good use of a helmet cam, but the music choice is absolutely terrible (sorry if this is your video). Might I suggest watching this with the sound muted, while this plays in another tab?
Because when you can’t ride, youtube is all you got. As for me, this weekend may not see any riding, but I will be floating down the John Day River. Fishing. Drinking. Next weekend however will see some dirty, dirty miles.
Dank is like my security blanket
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
If only I was younger and my bones weren’t solid.
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Getting rad in Southern California
Friday, July 9th, 2010I’m from East of LA. San Gabriel Valley. A town called Duarte, or Durock if you’re a gangbanger. I am not, but I do know how to throw signs up. I spent twenty years in the area and yet I don’t feel much attachment to the area. Things change every couple of years, and for the most part, the area I once knew no longer exists. Many businesses that were a part of my growing up have since closed, but the haze still lingers.
So that’s a bit of a downer way to start a post right? Is there anything good to say about the trip south? The title of this post makes it seem like it.
Well here we go then.
Riding in Southern California is different than riding in Oregon. While we are known for our wet roots, my experiences down south usually involve poison oak, sharp rocks, haze, and yet some pleasant flowy trails. The options for riding seem to be less, but the quality is still pretty good. We’re not talking Oakridge here, but I’ll take what I can get.
Santa Monica Mountains. When we arrived at the trailhead, the area was socked in with fog. At the top of the trail it had finally started to lift.
Most of the trails I’ve ridden in this area are out-and-backs, and this one was no exception. Luckily it was up up up and then down down down. I didn’t bring the Kona with me on this trip and opted to give a geared bike a try. This was a Niner-something that was a blast to ride. I might have to add a geared bike to the stable…
A trip home is never over until we make it to East LA. My friend Dave is living in the house his grandparents bought in the fifties. He’s doing all the repairs by himself, living the dream.
The Fourth of July in El Sereno is amazing. Professional fireworks are cool and all, but watching a two hour illegal fireworks war from the roof of Dave’s house was better than anything I’ve ever seen.
The next morning, after waking up in El Sereno we headed back toward the hotel. I was getting picked up by my brother-in-law for one last day of mountain biking for the trip.
Marshall Canyon near La Verne. This trail is shared by runners and horses. On a holiday this trail is extremely busy, and this one was no exception. Another out and back with some nice little kickers all the way down. Again on the Niner, which has no problems boosting over logs and spending a few seconds in the air. Good stuff.
It’s always nice to experience riding in different areas. It’s also nice to get back to local trails, and as of this posting I’m headed out in two days. Preferably somewhere a little cooler than Portland. Damn it’s hot.
Living in a cycling mecca
Friday, June 18th, 2010
After putting the Kona back together I felt it would be appropriate to take it on a ride around town. From a 32×18 perspective, Portland bike traffic is insane. It’s not just the numbers that can be overwhelming, but the skill level of the average commuter. I don’t mean this to be an exercise in bitching, but it’s clear that summer is here. The beginning of summer usually reminds me why I really enjoy riding in the winter.
I’m all for more people on bikes, but do I have to be near them?
Now for something completely unrelated. If you were ever into Deep Elm Records, might I suggest this gem from 1998? Hell yes.
Can you move that one pixel to the left?
Monday, June 7th, 2010After a week of self reflection I’m heading back into the office to slay css dragons. No more programming. All pretty pixel pushing.
Is this some kind of joke?
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010Thanks Nate.
Keep em coming
Friday, May 28th, 2010
No salt water this time around. No Cool Guy. No broken feet. (fingers crossed)
I hate when the Giro is winding down
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Picture from Steephill.tv
Waking up at 6 every morning to watch the live feed of the Giro has been great. Coffee and a bagel and yelling at the tv is a great way to start the day, and I’m bummed it’s going to be over on Sunday.
I really dig the expression on Scarponi’s face. Using Basso to pull him right up to the finish line and then pulling ahead for the stage win was awesome to watch. Perfect execution in my opinion.
If today was awesome, tomorrow will be even better. Unless Evans or Arroyo can get their shit together, Basso is going to take this one home.
Making light of religion and getting through the Vatican
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010I am not religious. I’m not an atheist, but the word agnostic just sounds difficult. Secular Humanist? I’m not sure. What I’m getting at is that I don’t believe in God, so going to churches for three weeks is really getting tiring.
Yesterday we went to the Vatican to check out the museums and the Sistine Chapel. The first couple galleries were what I expected, the Sistine Chapel was impressive, but I was really taken aback by the modern art wing. There was some pretty cool stuff in there honestly. But this post is not about that.
But the first gallery we went to was renaissance/byzantine painting. Misia and I devised a way to get through this particular gallery. Many of these paintings are very serious. Very very serious. So serious are they that they have some really odd and funny imagery. Here’s a good sampling from this gallery.
The look on this baby’s face is a bit disturbing.
Is this guy pointing at the scriptures with a boner?
Are these the three stooges of the angel world? What is it with floating heads. There was also a painting featuring an arch of babies heads that I didn’t get a photo of.
I think this guy lied about his talents.
West-Side!
Nice monkey shoulder-pads.
I don’t have a clue what’s going on here. Really bad gas? Why is Jesus on this dude’s back? What is this?
So there you have it. Once you find the absurd details the rest is a breeze.
Vorrer due birre per favore
Monday, April 5th, 2010We left Portland at 12:30 on Saturday and got into Rome around 1 on Sunday. Smooth flights, bad movies, microwaved food. The usual.
After a long/slow train into the city we caught the subway to Coliseo, which is right at the Coliseum. Duh.
After a 5 minute walk from the Coliseum, we found our apartment. And boy what digs. This place is bigger than our house and there’s marble floors. And marble tiles in the bathroom. And a bidet.
This morning we woke up, had some coffee at our cozy little breakfast table.
Afterwards we headed out for the day.
Seeing these buildings in art history books and in movies doesn’t prepare you for actually standing below them.
The Coliseum is impressive. More impressive were the crowds. We didn’t go inside, but from the outside the people inside were pressed against the sides. Admittedly we are here the during the easter holiday. Today was also a national holiday, so the crowds are out in force.
Finding an open grocery store was a bit of a tall order as well. The three we knew of were not open, so we walked until we found one. Wine is cheap. Really cheap. What would be a $10 bottle in the states goes for about 1,50 euro. And it’s delicious.
I’ve been looking at bikes when I see them, but there’s not much to report on. Mostly dutch style cruiser things, cheap department store bikes, and the weekend warrior choice seems to be mountain bikes.
I did spy one awesome Colnago though…
On the way home from the market we found a small stall in our building that had opened for the afternoon.
It’s nice having a beer store in your building.
Tomorrow we’re headed west to the Vatican and possible Tiber Island. Saturday we leave for Paris to catch a Sunday morning train to Roubaix. It really is a rough life.
On the outskirts of a well known city
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Lies the factory that makes amazing tubes.
It’s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except with steel.
Preparations for the Roubaix
Sunday, March 28th, 2010
We’re two weeks away from the Roubaix and our plans are coming together. Not the solid kind – hotel, transportation. But the actual comprehension that we’re going to be in France, in Roubaix, witnessing our favorite race with our own eyes. We’re saving all of our actual prep for when we arrive in Rome. From there we’ll book our flights to Paris, and then we’ll hop the train to Roubaix from there.
More to come…
Another attempt at the Ronde
Sunday, March 28th, 2010So the last time I attempted the Ronde I missed some of the markings, partially due to fatigue, partially due to them being faded in some areas. I missed Brynwood, and College, which are the gnarliest climbs of the whole route.
This time was different. Stocked with enough water and a better understanding of the route, I set out to complete the whole thing. And boy did I.
I wasn’t able to make it to the mountains to ride dirt, but I found quite enough hills to climb right here in Portland. Thanks Ronde.