L.I.V.I.N

Hey Gang,

Not really much to tell lately, been riding lots... so that's nice. Besides that, just livin.

Enjoy the music and photos.

Music

• Hyetal 'Phoenix'

Ciao

RIM... it's shorthand for 'sh*t i got the cramps bad'

Hey Everybody,

So yesterday was the Rapture in Misery 6/12 mountain bike race.

Music

• Dunian, 'Where is the Problem'

The race started at Noon, lemans start. i entered the 6 hr solo category but would ultimately call it quits after about 3 hours and 45 minutes or racing. i got the cramps, i pulled the plug.

The temperature probably got up to around 90, not so bad considering the last 10 days have been 100+, but the humidity was still awful. i bet the head index was over 100. i started the race very conservative since i was planning to go for 6 hrs, but despite that conservative approach i still cramped up pretty quickly. by my third and final lap the feet and calves were seizing up anytime i had to negotiate a difficult obstacle or get off my bike. it was rough. That third lap was where i fell apart, and it all started with a big wipeout in the 'bone yard.' Besides being stunned The fall caused no real damage but it signaled the beginning of the end.

i should mention that the course was hard. Both due to the fact that there was a lot of climbing per lap, and i'm talking steep a*s climbs (lots of people walking, me indluded) and because the rain the night before had maid the ground just moist enough to make it feel like you were pedaling thru glue. plus all the humidity and rain made any rock or root extremely slick.

a friend of mine referred to it as slippery velcro.

All in all it was still a fun day. the turnout seemed pretty good, maybe not as big as bone bender, and i really learned a lot. i had never attempted a race of this length so it was all learning the hard way for me. note to self, when your entire body is poring sweat for multiple hours it's nice to have extra gloves and even an extra kit. My hand's were starting to blister and the damp glove's didn't help.

so the race didn't go as i would have liked... but, i didn't break any bone's, i dont need any stitches, and I'm not even that tired today. i applaud everyone who competed and especially the ones who kept gutting it out, lap after lap. the conditions were brutal but so many people were kicking ass out there.

See ya on down the trail.

Ciao

Time to get Raptured

Hey Everybody,

So it's the morning of RIM, aka Rapture in Misery. It's a big mountain bike race.

Music

• Beautiful Swimmers, 'Big Coast'

I'm doing the 6 hr solo race and am gonna get my ass kicked. Stay tuned for a full report.

Ciao

Home-swope-west bottoms-home

Hey gang,

So still lot's of riding going on. Where am i ultimately riding too? What's the point of all this? Why even get out of bed when you could just pop a pill? no clue, but pedaling you're bicycle around is a nice way to spend a few hours of your day.

Music (i've posted this before, but it's so good...)

• Washed Out, 'You'll Feel It'

So first off we got a cat/kitten. or more accurately, my roommate got a cat/kitten. Tuna, he's cool.

Next it was off to Swope Park to do the Thursday night show-n-go race mtn bike race. i was late and jumped in half way. More and more people are showing up for this... first it was 5, then 9, now about 11. i would have made 12 had i been on time. Can't make it next week but ill be there the week after!

After some post race beers (on the house thanks to the boulevard team! thanks blvd team!) i booked it back to my hood and then proceeded north on main st, i was headed to the west bottoms. It's just so much fun down there. Around about the Gates BBQ on Main St i ran into this dude. He was a nice carrot to chase down and that was made even more fun given my low tire pressure mad max V8 interceptor mtn bike, sure he was smoking a cigarette, but i got him. We said hi. It was cool.

After dodging train tracks and foul odors in the west bottoms it was time to head home. The night was over and i had some Minsky's pizza to enjoy.

p.s Someone got new bar tape. not me, but someone none the less. Keep your eye's out for the bubble gum express rocketing thru the plaza.

Weekend wrap-up... lot's of biking.

Hey Gang,

How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good. Critical mass, night out on the town, mtn bike race.

Bing Bang Boom.

Music

• Noah and the Whale, '5 Years Time'

Critical was fun despite the fact that i witnessed a near accident that could have been really ugly. You'd think that people about to run a red light would look both ways. Thank god the driver was paying attention. On a lighter note, a little later i stopped to block an intersection as everyone else rolled thru and the guy in the car i was blocking rolled down the window and said 'is this critical mass?... man, i missed it!' He then proceeded to to tell me to go on ahead and that he would block the intersection. He angled his car and put on the flashers. It was pretty funny, and this guy was wearing a tie too! i guess tie people are people too.

The night out on the town was lots of fun. Getting drunk usually is. My advice go to the R bar for dinner and then go to Harry's in Westport and hang out with old blue eyes.

The Mtn bike race was a blast. Yes i made the podium but that's pretty easy when there are 4 dudes in your race (three hr marathon class.) Still, the trails at Perry Lake, KS are tons of fun and the weather was not too dreadfully hot. The Mad Max wheels* were in full effect and i felt like i was flying.

Plus i even did a little motor pacing for a friend on the way home.

*Yes, Max get's seriously f-ed up in this clip but only because the other car has nitrus, that's basically the equivelant of doping. Without the nitrus Max would have smoked those fools. Those leather clad apocalyptic psycho killers later tested positive and were banned from terrorizing the highways for two years. During this time they moved on to unsanctioned crimes like stealing candy from babies and ripping tag's off mattresses. Sure, they returned once the two years was up, but the sense of zest and gusto they brought to sadistic killing was gone. They no longer had that ultra high gear necessary to rise to the top of all psycho killers. You can check out their book 'Positively Psycho, the real story of how we raped and pillaged the Australian out back' here.

Ciao