Ramones Soundcheck - Circa 1980

I've been the huge Ramones fan for decades and clumsily blabbered about it awhile back, so I'll spare you the history for now.

Recently while cruising YouTube, I rediscovered this little gem. Ramones soundcheck from Italy, circa 1980. I dig the informal nature of it all, folks milling about and yet it rocks. Johnny's awesome guitar tone and style in action. Close up view of Marky's drumming technique. Dee Dee warming up on bass. Joey looking awkward and cool at the same time, yet sounding fantastic.

The Ramones, R.I.P...

Slomo - Short Film

Caught this on the New York Times site.  Fantastic message, story, and short film all rolled into one.  At currently 52 years old, this film connects with me on many levels.  Escape from the rat race theme, do what you want - skating, cycling, surfing - whatever your thing or link to the happy place is.

Give it a roll, well worth the 17 minutes out of your (ironically) busy day.  Click here to play.

Chasing Ice - Glacier Calving

Impressive glimpse into our changing world.  You don't get the full scale of it, until the end of the video.  Mind boggling...

Murmuration - Video

Fascinating and beautiful, no other description required.  Give it a view...

Chris Kovarik - Video

Caught this video via Facebook post.  Dude is railing some serious berm action, reminding me a bit of my motocross days.  Nice break from the usual endless jump sessions featured in most videos.

Just keeping my ol' blog alive with a few posts.  Pending some motivation and subject matter to actually write about.  That area of my defective brain been hibernating too long, looking to jump start it soon.

Merry Christmas - RUN-DMC Style

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night…

The Jet Bicycle - Video

Utterly fantastic stupid fun.  Legal on your local bike trail?…

26 Ain't Dead - Video

Well done, fun video.  26" wheels and hardtail, dude is ripping it - new school style.  Give it a go and agree.

Even though I've succumbed to 29er hoops, I realize there is no "right" size wheel set.  The right size is whatever works for you and your riding style.  26, 29, 650B - who cares?

As long as they're rolling with dirt under 'em - all that matters…

Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen - Climbs O Plenty

I noticed the report on the 30th running of the Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen via the Bicycle Times website today.  Posted video of the 2010 version, appears to be a local Pittsburg show reporting on it, cool viewing.  Pittsburgh has some mighty steep hills, some complete with cobblestones.  All around painful fun for all.

Interesting concept with this event, only the hills are timed/scored, so a few folks going for the win - while the general mob just attempting to survive.  Everyone riding for their own reason/satisfaction.  Fantastic.

Since I grew up in the New Jersey, I also enjoyed the look of the neighborhoods, trees, etc.  Brings me back to my east coast roots.  Would be cool to ride this event one day.

Old School - Spanish Style

Caught this video via Facebook, worth a repost.  Early '90s old school styling - bar ends, fanny pack, top mount shifters, pre-suspension - it's all here.  These dudes can also ride, as you'll discover upon viewing.  Traffic fun in Madrid, Spain - then trials moves in the mountains.  Cool stuff.

Apparently, this is an episode from a Spanish adventure type program.  Click here for full length original version.

How to be a Mountain Biker - Video

This video has been bouncing around Facebook between riding pals of mine.  For a good reason - pretty well done and proof real life is stranger then fiction...

Washington Student League - Cool Video

Short video on the mountain bike program I was involved with last spring, coaching and running a middle school team.  A great program to get 7th - 12th graders riding and racing bikes.

Take a peek and get some kids out there...

Human Powered Helicopter

Caught this video making the Internet rounds and thought it worth reposting.  Actual human powered flight.  The sheer size of this thing is insane, yet flies by pedal power.  Pretty damn cool...

Unlocking the Truth - The Kids Just Wanna Rock...

Fantastic short film about two 12 year old pals, their band, inspirations, and growing up.  I got a huge kick out of this video and story.  Rock on little dudes, rock on...

Call your Cunados - VW Bus Video

Well done video about some pals sharing interests in old school VW buses, surfing and camping.  I've never owned one, but have always dug this old buses.  Cool stuff...

H-Ball and Tomac - Circa '92

Circa '92 footage of H-Ball and Tomac rocking old school style, complete with bar ends and disk rear wheels.  This doesn't look so abnormal to me - or even seem that long ago - but then again, I'm old and was already riding for awhile before '92.

I got a kick out of it, so posted for my massive following (ha!) to enjoy and/or mock.  Greg Herbold and John Tomac, now icons of the sport, could still kick your ass - even on these ancient steeds.  Bet on it.

Tom Ritchey - 40 Year Ride

Nicely done short film about Tom Ritchey.  Racer, rider, builder, innovator - dude is an icon in the bicycle world - no debate required.  What he's accomplished is pretty amazing, no matter what the industry.  Sit back, watch, and agree...

Tiger Mountain - Trail Building "Mockumentary"

Nicely done video showing off recent trail work on Tiger Mountain, a local riding spot here in the Seattle area.  The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, along with an army of volunteers, have been at work creating new trails at this well used and popular location.  Very cool to see and I'm looking forward to checking these out on two wheels.







Another video of new trail finished last summer.  I've yet to ride this, will do so this spring.  Some of the trails at Tiger Mountain close during the winter to reduce damage, though really not necessary with recent maintenance and modern trail building methods.  That debate continues.


I've ridden Tiger Mountain many times over the years, quite a bit in the '90s - then a gap of a few years - and now plenty of times with son Ian. It's a Seattle area classic with a decent climb to the top, then really fun trails to descend.  Yup, plenty of people ride Tiger and for a good reason - it rocks.

Thanks to the crew at Evergreen and all the volunteers involved to keep this place flowing.  Great job.

How a Bicycle is Made - Raleigh, 1945

How to make a Raleigh, circa 1945.  No carbon fiber in sight.  Just good ol' steel and the scary tools required.  Remove the glamor of all things bike - and it looks sorta like a metal shop - a dirty old metal shop.

Check out how they "paint" the frames.  Ah, the good ol' days of no OSHA and EPA to worry about - or whatever the British equivalent is.  I get a kick out of these vintage films and how things were manufactured.

Interesting stuff...

Junkyard Cross 2012

Came across this online, too cool not to repost.  Awesome crazy cyclocross fun in a junkyard. Yeah, a junkyard.  May wanna get a tetanus booster shot before entering.

I don't know the full story behind this race, appears to have something to do with Bilenky Cycle Works, the makers of some very nice bikes back on the east coast.

Gotta love 'cross in all its wacky forms - serious or not.