Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/03/influence-riding-society.html
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wilder Ranch Solo Ride
Given that my trails are closed here from the rain, I decided to get down to my home of Santa Cruz, Ca. and cruise up Wilder. I was also able to see my nephews which is always a treat, and give one of them his birthday present a little early.
Route was: Parent's house > Wilder Loop > to the Bottom > Up Long Meadow > Twin Gates > UCSC > *singletrack fun and jumps* > Through UC > Down Bay St. > cruise the neighborhoods > West Cliff > Parent's House
Somewhere in there I think I hit Zane Grey and some other stuff. I think since I went up, back down and up again, I climbed somewhere near 2200' feet of so.
The ground was soft and I felt like I was going nowhere fast. No matter how hard I pedalled, I could not get any momentum behind me to keep rolling. Literally, it was drudging through the mud. Count it as a 100,000 leg presses, I guess.
Here are the pics with commentary:
Route was: Parent's house > Wilder Loop > to the Bottom > Up Long Meadow > Twin Gates > UCSC > *singletrack fun and jumps* > Through UC > Down Bay St. > cruise the neighborhoods > West Cliff > Parent's House
Somewhere in there I think I hit Zane Grey and some other stuff. I think since I went up, back down and up again, I climbed somewhere near 2200' feet of so.
The ground was soft and I felt like I was going nowhere fast. No matter how hard I pedalled, I could not get any momentum behind me to keep rolling. Literally, it was drudging through the mud. Count it as a 100,000 leg presses, I guess.
Here are the pics with commentary:
First stop on Wilder Loop Trail. These exposed rocks were SO slippery, I slid right off of them.
Quick stop at the Kilns. Totally reminds me of Ireland.
Obligatory water tank pic.
I stopped at my old high school, Santa Cruz High, to reminisce a little. This graffiti piece is awesome.
This is the front steps where we used to have "Free Speech". I think it was on every Thursday at lunch so the students could talk/debate about current topics. I remember we would talk about things like the 1st. Gulf War, gang violence, education, etc. Sadly... nothing has f*ckin' changed, and it's been nearly 20 years. I wonder if they still have this...
Why the pic of the stage in the quad? This slab of concrete gave me the best times in my life. As you can see, it is well worn of years and years of skaters and BMX'ers grindin' it away. I used to feeble (peg) grind this, sprocket grind it, 360 off it, 180 off it, abubaca it, footplant it, bunnyhop up it... etc. In fact, the right of passage to manhood was the ability to bunnyhop up it - I remember the first time I did it. I think they re-paved the quad, because the stage was actually much higher than it is now.
I thought they would've painted over this by now, but down at the ceramics room is a very faded graffiti mural I did in 1992. The kids have gotten so good at murals, I thought somebody would've gone over it with a much better piece. A part of my wishful thinking is that they haven't painted over it as a sign of respect for such an old piece - since it is actually older than the seniors that are graduating from there. But, one can only wish.
And finally, the sun-over-the-ocean shot. So pretty... just the right amount of fog produces sights like this. People wonder why I like the fall and winter so much.
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2010/12/wilder-ranch-solo-ride.html
Vans Presents Cowtown?s PHXAM April 2-3
Join Vans for Cowtown?s 10th Annual PHXAM and see some of the world?s best up and comers compete for cash prizes including $3000 for 1st place, $2000 for 2nd place, $1000 for 3rd place and $2,500 for Best Trick. Held at the newly renovated Desert West Skateboard Plaza in Phoenix, AZ, on Saturday, April 2 [...]
Source: http://www.lat34.com/2011/03/28/vans-presents-cowtown%e2%80%99s-phxam-april-2-3/
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Sunday ? Up, Up and Away ? Alex Magallan
Alex Magallan from Up, Up & Away! from Sunday Bikes Sunday posted up Alex Magallan’s part from the “Up, Up and Away” video. I’m personally a huge fan of Alex’s style on and off a bike. That dude can wrangle … Continue reading 
Source: http://www.bmxunion.com/blog/daily/sunday-up-up-and-away-alex-magallan/
HAPPY ST. PATRICK?S DAY | OUTSIDERS BMX
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from your friends at Outsiders BMX! GO GREEN! Tweet
Source: http://bmxoutsiders.com/blog/?p=665
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Adventure Riding on Bicycles
Well, I've been plagued by Strep - worst case scenario is I happen to get it when we're having a break in the rain and therefore have been missing some nice-day rides. Oh well.
So, I've sold two of my bikes, the Fantom Cross Uno and the Fantom Comp DS... all that remains is the Messenger which should go when the weather gets better and more and more people are "getting out". I have to say, after cleaning those bikes for the new owners, a part of me wanted to be a hoarder - but that does me no good.
Now, let's get to the topic at hand: something I like to call "Adventure Riding". Yes, I know that all riding can be classified under "adventure", but I have constructed a way to define this sort of riding. It's not social riding at social pace, nor is it racing oriented. Let me explain.
I guess this all stems from my love for SuperMoto and dual sport motorcycles. What is fantastic about these bikes is their ability to be 1) street legal 2) they can handle on and off-road very well and 3) they are quick and nimble, but not outright rockets (like sportbikes). They sit upright, and, when tuned correctly, have fantastic throttle response. Oh, and they wheelie really well.
Here are a couple of shots of my old adventure bike - my KLR650. I rode that thing on trails, roads, through the canyons... everywhere. I've had a number of these types of bikes through the years.
These type of motorcycles give the rider an opportunity to explore - which many adventure riders do all the time. A great documentary about adventure riding is "Long Way Round" with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. I guess it isn't "true" adventure riding defined by the purists since they are both celebrities and had a support vehicle most of the time, but it is very entertaining and I highly recommend it.
So, how does this play into bicycles?
With the growing popularity of 29'ers and the niche of "MonsterCross" that has come about, I notice that same sentiment for the pedalling enthusiasts. Many are building "do-it-all" bikes that can handle both on and off road very well: big wheels, rigid forks, fat tires that roll on pavement and dirt well, and multi-hand position handlebars.
As you can see from previous posts, my rides consist of a lot of off-road. But because of where I live, I do mix in a lot of pavement riding that I don't bother taking pictures of. I purposefully venture off the street, away from cars and bike lanes, and find alternative routes to where I need to be. Most of those routes are dirt paths, creekside singletrack, hike-a-bike situations and back roads.
Having been hit by cars twice in my life; I don't like to expose myself to those dangers. I see all types of wild life that can hurt or kill you (like big cats, boar and rattle snakes), but none of those animals are more dangerous than a distracted person driving down the road. So, this adventure type riding also keeps me out of traffic.
If you are considering building a new bike or replacing the one you have now, I would highly recommend looking at these "do-it-all" type bicycles that are offered out there. MTBR has a great thread (which I've referenced before) called, "I Beg You, More MONSTERCROSS" which has dozens of incredible bikes that serve the adventure purpose.
Nearly all of my bikes perform off-road as well as on-road, which all have been purposefully set up that way. With the help of MTBR and researching tires, you can probably even transform your current bike into something more adventure worthy.
If you are not a racer, consider a bike like this. I always ask - why deny yourself a bike that is set-up a to do it all... and do it well?
So, I've sold two of my bikes, the Fantom Cross Uno and the Fantom Comp DS... all that remains is the Messenger which should go when the weather gets better and more and more people are "getting out". I have to say, after cleaning those bikes for the new owners, a part of me wanted to be a hoarder - but that does me no good.
Now, let's get to the topic at hand: something I like to call "Adventure Riding". Yes, I know that all riding can be classified under "adventure", but I have constructed a way to define this sort of riding. It's not social riding at social pace, nor is it racing oriented. Let me explain.
I guess this all stems from my love for SuperMoto and dual sport motorcycles. What is fantastic about these bikes is their ability to be 1) street legal 2) they can handle on and off-road very well and 3) they are quick and nimble, but not outright rockets (like sportbikes). They sit upright, and, when tuned correctly, have fantastic throttle response. Oh, and they wheelie really well.
Here are a couple of shots of my old adventure bike - my KLR650. I rode that thing on trails, roads, through the canyons... everywhere. I've had a number of these types of bikes through the years.
These type of motorcycles give the rider an opportunity to explore - which many adventure riders do all the time. A great documentary about adventure riding is "Long Way Round" with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. I guess it isn't "true" adventure riding defined by the purists since they are both celebrities and had a support vehicle most of the time, but it is very entertaining and I highly recommend it.
So, how does this play into bicycles?
With the growing popularity of 29'ers and the niche of "MonsterCross" that has come about, I notice that same sentiment for the pedalling enthusiasts. Many are building "do-it-all" bikes that can handle both on and off road very well: big wheels, rigid forks, fat tires that roll on pavement and dirt well, and multi-hand position handlebars.
As you can see from previous posts, my rides consist of a lot of off-road. But because of where I live, I do mix in a lot of pavement riding that I don't bother taking pictures of. I purposefully venture off the street, away from cars and bike lanes, and find alternative routes to where I need to be. Most of those routes are dirt paths, creekside singletrack, hike-a-bike situations and back roads.
Having been hit by cars twice in my life; I don't like to expose myself to those dangers. I see all types of wild life that can hurt or kill you (like big cats, boar and rattle snakes), but none of those animals are more dangerous than a distracted person driving down the road. So, this adventure type riding also keeps me out of traffic.
If you are considering building a new bike or replacing the one you have now, I would highly recommend looking at these "do-it-all" type bicycles that are offered out there. MTBR has a great thread (which I've referenced before) called, "I Beg You, More MONSTERCROSS" which has dozens of incredible bikes that serve the adventure purpose.
Nearly all of my bikes perform off-road as well as on-road, which all have been purposefully set up that way. With the help of MTBR and researching tires, you can probably even transform your current bike into something more adventure worthy.
If you are not a racer, consider a bike like this. I always ask - why deny yourself a bike that is set-up a to do it all... and do it well?
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/01/adventure-riding-on-bicycles.html
In case you had any doubts...
Yeah it's been quite a while but we still here. Not a whole lot going on with all the wet weather. Impatiently waiting for the AARP bmx jam down at camp Woodward West the first weekend of April. Stoked. I went last year but since then they have added quite a bit of new terrain, so looking forward to checking it out and getting in a solid weekend of riding. And to keep the theme going here, if you had any doubts that Shad has his finger firmly planted on the pulse of BMX... He managed to somehow find the picture below of me at last weekends Redline Cup qualifier racing in the 30+ open MONEY class. My fat ass couldn't pedal fast enough to keep up with the big wheelers and didn't even make the main. I did have fun though making them nervous diving to the inside in the first corner. Click on over to Goods online store and buy something. Support those who support the sport. Shad's been doing that for the nearly 20 years I've known him and even before that. Also check out James Thrash's photobucket for more Oregon racing photos.
Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-case-you-had-any-doubts.html
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Leigh Ramsdell 2x4 Shirt
Leigh's Art on a 2x4 T-shirt...
Source: http://easternbikes.com/blog/2011/mar/1/leigh-ramsdell-2x4-shirt/
The Make in the USA ? Part 2
Part two from The Make‘s trip to the U.S is now online for your viewing pleasure. The edit features Paul Horan, Casper, Mike Roche, Chicken and the Count 
Source: http://www.bmxunion.com/blog/daily/the-make-in-the-usa-part-2/
Back from the dead
Well sorry for lack of updates. I have been busy with work and then have spent the last month in Asia. Maybe I will put some stuff up soon…
Related posts:Ed is not dead Yeah it really is true I am not dead or...not dead no updates for a while, you know how it is...Aidan [...]
Related posts:Ed is not dead Yeah it really is true I am not dead or...not dead no updates for a while, you know how it is...Aidan [...]
Related posts:
- Ed is not dead Yeah it really is true I am not dead or...
- not dead no updates for a while, you know how it is...
- Aidan Well before Aidan broke his foot he was shredding,...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blewbmx-news/~3/3sQsgKofNVg/
Your Bmx Blog Fix.
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, maybe this will help. Check out jebikes.com. It's your one stop spot for a ton of different bmx related blogs. They have a list of 185+ top bmx blogs so that should keep you busy for a few hours when I haven't posted anything. They will be listed in the friends links on the side of this site for easy navigation.
Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2010/11/your-bmx-blog-fix.html
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bears Bike Bmx 2010 Online Team Video
Erik Saunders over at VP-USA recently showed me this video of some of the VP test riders over the waters… Makes for good viewing, check it out!
Jibbles toboggan
Yeah Jib!
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blewbmx-news/~3/nUnW4_PDae8/
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I Crashed - Body Planted on a Wet Wood Bridge
I rarely crash, but when I do, I have to say... it can be epic. I guess when I ride the mountain bike, I don't expose myself to too many bad situations, but every once in awhile I don't think ahead and I end up on the ground. On the rare occassion I ride my BMX, crashing is every 30 min., so I guess it's all relative.
The other day, I was riding Santa Teresa County Park having the damndest time negotiating the rocks after the rain started to come down. Climbing slick rocks is a biatch, so when I got the the descend, I was relieved.
Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking when I hit the wood bridge, and I instantly lowsided and bodyplanted pretty damn hard. I was going about 15MPH. Bruised left inner thigh, bruised right hip, bloody and bruised shin, skinned elbow.
Thankfully, the 29'er is SOLID, so I aligned the seat back forward and went on my merry way.
Until the moisture goes away, I'm taking the bridges a lot slower.
The other day, I was riding Santa Teresa County Park having the damndest time negotiating the rocks after the rain started to come down. Climbing slick rocks is a biatch, so when I got the the descend, I was relieved.
Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking when I hit the wood bridge, and I instantly lowsided and bodyplanted pretty damn hard. I was going about 15MPH. Bruised left inner thigh, bruised right hip, bloody and bruised shin, skinned elbow.
Thankfully, the 29'er is SOLID, so I aligned the seat back forward and went on my merry way.
Until the moisture goes away, I'm taking the bridges a lot slower.
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/01/i-crashed-body-planted-on-wet-wood.html
Random photos?
Just dug out some old riding photos, and decided to chuck ‘em online. Check ‘em out for images of: Robert Nash, Gareth Jones, Charlie “Chaz” Lane, Jim “Blimey” Mellor and Chris Martin, amongst other stuff…
Stephen Hearn- Interview in BMX PLUS!
The amazing Stephen Hearn has a great interview in BMX Plus! Don't have it on your news stands? You can subscribe for a subscription online http://www.bmxplusmag.com/ Go get your copy now!
Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/03/stephen-hearn-interview-in-bmx-plus.html
Homeless man w/golden radio voice in Columbus, OH
Not bike related, but I'm helping to make this video go viral. That's how we can help this guy in this day and age.
Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/01/homeless-man-wgolden-radio-voice-in.html
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Indoor Bmx track update.
Damn. I went and did it. I couldn't just watch, I had to get out there and do it myself. Just watching Marcus killing it racing, he now has two seconds and two wins in as many races, I had to get back on the track. I ended up in a 2-4 combined moto with a full gate in the main and pulled out a third. Not bad for fat and out of shape and my first race back. Calling out the rest of you old guys that used to race! Get off your ass this wet winter and come ride the track. You might even have fun!
Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2010/11/indoor-bmx-track-update.html
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