Chicken Farm

Still trying to deal with this shoulder injury that I gave my self back in late October, and have since pissed it off a few times by tweaking it.

I probably should have gone to the doctor last calendar year while I had my deductible all maxed out. 

From everything that I have read it can take up to twelve weeks for a sprain of the A/C joint to heal and that is if you don't make it angry and if that is really what the issue is.. Again from all that I have read I am pretty sure that is what the issue is.  Lots of Ice and KT tape and Aleve seem to be helping..  Learning to crash on the sk8toy with out putting my arms out is also a big plus.

At times at my J-o-B the weird positions that I have to get into can be a big pain but I guess that is just part of the fun of work and getting old??

The one place I do find that my hurt wing does not feel that bad is while I am on the back
of one of my two wheeled joy machines.
Yes I have been riding indoors... Now that the oldest is back at school her room has been turned into a workout place where me and the wife have our bikes set up,, hers on a trainer and mine on the
rollers.
Do I want to be outside riding yes and I have been getting out when when I can,, yes I am the one
cyclist in the upper with out a Phat Bike.
But that is ok I sit and watch hours and hours of Skateboard videos so
I can come up with more funner ways to Thrash and maybe throw my self to the ground.

This is a real good one with some kickass skating in it with some of my favorite people to watch rip.

And while watching it I can say hey I have been there..

Funny their has been a lot of discussion about skateboarders who have become cyclist

mostly drummed up by this Guy.. 

But I guess it all rings true when you consider that both the Bicycle and the Sk8toy are nothing more 

than Freedom Machines..

As you individuals they were the key to adventure and a way to keep your self busy outside well after the sun went down. 

For me the bike came first a hand me down Schwinn that I loved then came my Stomper which is still in the garage which was at the height of the BMX craze of the 1980's.

But something happened in 84 a got a Veriflex and it was on,, I saw the Bones Brigade Video Show and all I wanted to do was ride my Board. 

Both have taken me all over the country exploring and having fun... just add a few wheels,, a couple dudes and something to jump on or over and watch out. 

And from here on out it will not end anytime soon.... Now If I could Just get this appendage to act like it should i'll be on the fast track to Awesomeness.. 

  

Tex-Mess

I spent yesterday morning watching the social media blow up..

It started off with a phone call from my 

kid who was on her way back from Texas and heading home to school.

She called to inform me that due to weather the Big Show on sunday had been 

canceled. 

I had no coffee in me and was coming down with some sort of virus 

so I could not really understand what she was getting at..

So I hopped on the interwebs and like I said things were blowing up.

Race was postponed then just canceled and the police were called in to help clear the park.

All day Saturday it rain and rain and the park took on a lot of moisture,,

it then proceeded to rain hard all night long.

The Park that the National Championships were being held at is from what I am told the crown jewel of  Austin park system.

Ok here is my 2 cents..

Did the promoters not speak of what cross is to the city before selecting the venue,,

did the Parks department not realize  what  would happen when thousands 

of cyclist showed up to ride and race and all their friends and family would tromp all over the park to get the best view of the event.

Was their a rain plan,, does it ever rain in Texas??

In my eyes this was poor planing across the board,, did no one look back to the races held here in Wisconsin when the same event was held and similar conditions were had?

Did Austin think that this would just be another music festival for dudes in skinny jeans and funky hats to hang out and take selfies?

I think that this just shows where cycling is in the USA, and for all those involved that look to the European model of the sport we are not even close. Had this been over the pond the crows would have been doubled in sized and the most epic day of racing would have been had.....because this is what cross is right?

So today Sundays races will be held and for those Pro's who could change their flights or hold off going back to their day jobs......which 95% of them have,,, again not europe..  The course has been modified and the tree root systems that were endangered are all now covered up and a National Champion will be crowned.

Lets hope that all other cities to host the National Championship event from here on out learn from this...

DONT MESS WITH TEXAS...

Now a Left Turning

I am not sure but I am pretty sure that I am not going to be able to top last Saturday..

The boy and I with the car all loaded up to the twin cities to hit two 

wonderful and totally different sk8parks.. 

I am going to put my best foot forward and see what happens.. 

More fresh wood did show up this week so I now have a back up to the fresh Foundation board from last week.. 

 And much like fresh rubber on my bike or a fresh pair of bibs everyday should be 

new wood day..

New is good and at time it is more important than anything else.

After my head slide in September I have been in need of 

a new lid as mine blew up like the Drill Sargent in Stripes..

And not to mention that Uvex has had to recall all their helmets in the US

and now I am back to the Company that has covered my 

head for so many years,,,

And if that was not was not enough bike stuff for this guy who is not on a comeback because he never left..

I found out today that MR. Ping is going to now AKA,, MR.. Time USA is going to take care of 

all my Pedal needs,, and even asked if the PIP would like to 

ride the Time.. 

I sent her a Text to tell her that she got her self a new hook,, and then told her that her and Teammate Ben did a good job racing the team relay today down in Austin during the CX nationals. 

Just the two of them,, pretty tough going up against teams of for,, but even better is that they got to see the course at race pace. 

Now that little shit gets to eat some good food and go to the Pro Party at the shop owned by the guy who once raced bikes then got banned for life because he did what everyone else did but just better. 

Lots of high fives and selfies going on there. 

Friday means that it is the weekend and that means that beer is going to get to be drank

and that is more awesome than showing up to 

work on a monday.

So here is to all the races and skaters it is 

the day that we are all working for.,.

Stick me in a Vortex

As the new year continues to roll on and the temps continue to drop and make it feel like Siberia

I continue to hide in my secret dungeon and work like Rocky in the Fourth movie titled after his name. 

  

I have said it before and will again this is not a comeback.. It is the beginning of a new chapter. Or better yet the Beta testing is done and this is going to be DMC V.2. I have spent the better half of three months wallowing in self pity and followed by a dark grim cloud of self doubt. Much like Rocky I was knocked down and out and I am going to have to fight to get back to the machine that I once was.

 I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is beautiful,, it is full of Red Rocks and short sweet smelling green Cedar trees. 

The fam and I are twelve short weeks away from heading back to AZ for a bit of an attitude adjustment.  Call it a bit of a altitude adjustment. 

Sun,,, Fun,, Single Track,,, and Sk8board Wheels On Fire. 

I can't wait I dream about living back in the southwest especially when the weather is as 

nasty as it is now. 

People always just wait till the summer it is miserable and yes it can be,, but I get torn of what

weather I want hot and dry or hot and moist??

It is hard to say,, but I know that the  two things I love to Sk8 and shred Singletrack can be done in both places.. Grass is always greener on the other side right?

Well either way I know 

that it is coming and can't wait to see the boy one year later bust out his new Sk8 tricks.. 

As I said this morning on the FB

 This curb and all curbs and parking blocks anywhere near Mom and Dad's 

place don't stand a chance. 

Skate and Destroy!!

HaPpY FuNsTiCk

The New Year has come and gone,, and I could not be happier. 

Now in my old age it is no secret that I am not a big fan of the 

Holiday. I do love having the day off but don't need to stay up late to see fireworks and as resolutions go.... I think that is all just a bunch of horse plop.

As the work day ended I was able to slip out and grab the boy and 

head down to the skatepark only find out that it was closed due to the fact that it was new years eve. 

More Horse Plop.

So back to the house and shred the garage while listing to some old school punk rock.

The wife and kids watched movies about middle earth and I enjoying a documentary about 

Christian Hosoi,, if your are a fan and old like me you should watch.

I was sawing logs before the new year came dreaming about backside airs and single track.

As I woke up to find 2015 here it was nothing but breakfast and strong coffee and 

out the door on the Blackbuck.

Little to no snow was on the ground last week and the single speed was itching

to ride. 

By the time I made it to the Vista trail I was bummed to see that people have been riding on it and walking and running while the trail is soft.. Huge ruts from 4+inch tires and foot prints were all 

frozen into the ground. 

For me it just added to the traction of climbing ,, but that is beside the point trails

are not supposed to be used when wet or that soft.. 

Regardless it  was a great ride climbed the hill like it was summer and floated over the small sections of ice and snow that were hidden on the north sides of the trail. 

Flash-forward to saturday the young one and I 

drove up to the 612 to get some radness going in both the 3rd Lair and the Famila skateparks.

Both parks 

were pretty empty and the boy and I were having a blast.

I got my self some new wood and turned up the session to eleven. 

The lair allows scooters and I know that I have ranted about this before but these kids on

those scooters just have no clue about flow or who's turn it is!

After skating a month old board that looked twice its age I went out to the shop and 

scored some new wood and I have to say everyday should be new wood day.. 

The next stop was all the way downtown to the Family HQ skatepark.

This is a no nonsense park more street orientated and owned by Pro Skater 

Steve Nesser.

When we showed up their were maybe a dozen guys ripping around.

These guys all rip and were flying and flipping and sliding any and everything.

Not saying that the boy and I were out of our element but we 

were not riding at the same level as the crew there.

Needless to say everyone was super cool and encouraging of the young James.

After an hour and a half of shredding the place started to fill up

and he and I were tired and sat back and watched.

   Another solid day of ripping today at the local park it is safe to say that the

boy and I are good and tired.. 

We are only four days into the year and we all have been having a blast.

More to come,, Sure,, Changes,, maybe.. Smiles all

around You Know it!

The Blink of an I

If a picture can tell a story I hope that someday i'll be able to write a book. 

My photos would be my words and the 

the visions of someone always on the move..

As I look back over the past twelve

months I can see movements that kept my brain 

and body engaged and informed.

Their have been many adventures and 

missions to explore and enjoy..

I find comfort and solace in the images that

depict were I have been in both space and time..

And can smell the dirt and sweat like it was just yesterday..

At times if you slow down just enough the sweeter things 

taste that much sweeter. 

I remind my self not to take this for granted because it could be

gone in the blink of an eye. 

Stop and smell the flowers let new relationships grow 

and blossom..

Hug,,love,,and Cherish all around things can change in the blink of an

eye,,even if you can only blink one...

Get up get out and get back on it.. It is just like riding a bike

after all. 

If you are not going to be then who is,, Be Awesome.

It is just that easy,,

And never stop,, Quitting is not an

option.

Keep pushing,,Keep pedaling,,Keep reaching...

It has been one hell of a year for this Darkhearted Boy

Thanks to all of you that make my trips around the sun that much more better. 

Bringer of the Light

Inspiration comes in many different shapes,, forms and ways..

My old man self has been motivated to be up off my squishy ass and keep moving.

After a lackluster sk8 session thursday night I was itching for more and more.

But what I need more than anything was a less impact sport one like cycling.

The college aged cyclist was home from school and this dad thought what a great reason to go out and ride a bike. 

The kid gets good grades but did not think to bring her mountain bike home.. So as a good dad or at least that is what I tell my self I got my geared bike all set up for her to ride on. 

The winds were low and the temps were manageable and not a lick of snow was to be found as we headed out to ride some frozen dirt. 

Not wanting to try to hard I switched the Blackbuck from a 36x17 to a 36x18 and smiled as the gear felt so good. As for the kid she had to deal with my 1x9 drive train less than what she has 

on her BMC.

Getting into the woods felt like it would in the middle of summer just with more clothes... and if all went well it would be my first ride on single track since my crapass crash in September.   

It felt as if I sprinted up the hill granted I got to wait a few times for the kid who is on her way to cyclocross nationals in Texas in just a few weeks. 

Ripped some single track after letting out some air pressure which then made cornering so much better. 

All was said and good until the least likely place for one to crash brought me to my knees testing 

the strength of my new Twin Six Knickers. 

Seems that some fat tires,,, either bike or truck had driven through the quarry while the dirt was soft and wet and caused some big as ruts..

I was once again looking over my shoulder trying to find the Pip when I found my self Highsided  trying to keep shit up right.

As I have said before can't get out of my own way. Falling down is the new cool thing to du..

Anyhow when it all came to an end I got to ride my bike and ride some single track and 

had such a good time that the young kid ended up blowing chunks,, That 

is the sign of a good ride,,,,., Blood and Chunks..

Needless to say going 

to the Skatepark today my body kept telling me how old that I am and 

what I have been doing to it.. Anna wants me to take a week off and I may do just that 

but only after riding on Tuesday,, as that is the day of our hero,, the one that will bring us to the to light..

Here comes the sun,, Here comes the sun.. And it is all Right..