Things That Suck and Things That Don't

This pretty much says it all. I much prefer smaller non-sanctioned races to events that add on extra expenses so they can make it official and so I can then tally my points at the end of the season to calculate where I stand in the race for mediocrity. 

On another note, not much tickles my fancy more than "discovering" new music, especially when the music I discover has actually been around since about the time I was born. In this case it's the band Hawkwind. Their catalog is extensive but the early '70s saw them at their best. Lemmy was in the band for a few years before forming the now legendary Motorhead , named after a song from Hawkwind. Monster Magnet was heavily influenced by them too, and after listening to songs like the following, it's obvious where Dave Wyndorf found his passion for swirling effects and surreal imaging. My obsession with space continues.... 

Tommy Dugan - No F#@ks Will Be Given

I came across the following video today and was completely floored. Big. Smooth. Brakeless. I have to wonder about the sanity of this kid, as he pushes some serious boundaries in this clip. 

Tommy Dugan: Empire - Bad Idea from CollateralBMX on Vimeo.

At least he wears a helmet. Sometimes. 

Silly Speeders in Philly

Though I didn't get to make it to this year's showdown in the city of brotherly love, it was well documented.  For that I am thankful. 

This collection from A.E. Landes Photography sums it up well.

There still may be hope for civilization after all. 

Dee Rang Oh

I feel so privileged to have lived in Durango, if only for a few short years. The friends I made there are some of my best, and the experiences they've shared with me have undoubtedly made me a better and stronger person. I have ridden and laughed with legends who are consistently busy living life to its fullest. Without hesitation I can say that my time spent in the Southwest riding its trails and roads are some of my fondest memories to date. Seeing this video made me a bit homesick. I hope to once again spend ample time exploring the Four Corners region and continuing the relationships gained while being there. Happy trails my friends.

DWP

Daniel Wakefield Pasley is another unique character who has been in and out of my life for about the past decade. He is a sobering, witty and funny fellow who seems to have a camera attached to his face at all times. He doesn't miss much. 

Courtesy of Velodramatic.com

On my 40th birthday I hooked up with a bunch of my Durango friends and a few of my Portland buddies to tackle a little tour around Beef Basin and through parts of Canyonlands National Park on fat bikes. What transpired from the trip was DWP shooting thousands of photos and carrying about 900 pounds of film in the process - I know this because we all took a turn at pushing his bike at some point. 

Some of the photos and an editorial piece ended up in Wend Magazine (RIP). Though the story was embellished dramatically for entertainment's sake, it made for a good read about what could be, and Damon Riehl even made the cover, which in itself is a story. 

From that trip I gained much, and even a favorite shot of myself that DWP took:

Daniel also runs the website Manuel for Speed where he chronicles pro racers in a way that only he can. The results are fantastic; the details in all of the stories are not what readers might expect, but if you know DWP, you'd presume nothing less. 

So if you ever come across a big white stocky blonde Norwegian with blue eyes who boasts an interminable boyish demeanor and most likely has a Hasselblad in his hands, go say hello. 

You won't regret it. 

Bizarrely Beautiful and Bristly

I can't exactly take credit for finding this gem, as Stevil beat me to it. Regardless, it's too good to not share with my throngs of followers (listen to the pin drop here). This is a delightful look at a hairy individual with really good taste in hobbies.


The Chop with Ed Oxley from Whitenosugar Productions on Vimeo.

I think the best part, however, is that I found out about the band Kadaver. More specifically, this gem of a song by yet more hairy individuals set in one of my favorite climates:

Rock thrives in the desert.