Inglewood Jack

This video is a riot, especially if you're a fan of Pulp Fiction.

Where are they now...and can we get them back?

Today's steady stream of mindless, corporate machine made punk/hardrock aimed to reach out to our restless youth is some of the worst crap I've every heard. I can't stand the radio anymore, long live the iPod and MP3 players.

Somewhere around 6th or 7th grade I was introduced to the DC punk scene. I wasn't the black clad, mohawk wearing disgruntled youth typically associated with that scene, but I did have my ripped jeans and black 10 eyelet Doc Martens, well before they became so mainstream fashion, and when wearing the wrong color shoe laces in them could get you your ass kicked.

The rare trips to go hang out at Salamander in Georgetown listening to local bands on vinyl was always something to look forward to. My first DC band exposure was Minor Threat, but that quickly wore off when I heard Bad Brains. Having hit the DC punk scene around 1979, they were already kicking ass and influencing bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag. Unfortuantely I was getting into them as they were on their way out. Unknown to most, BB influenced alot of todays mainstream rock, Metallica, System of A Down and Nirvana to name a few. On my list of influential bands, they're second only to Led Zeppelin.

I never got to see them live, but thanks to YouTube, they can live on. I dug up some old footage of their early concerts. The footage is a good selection of their range as a band, best classified as punk/reggae they excel at both ends of the spectrum.

More Charm City Pics

Took a while to pick through the almost 500 photos, but here a some good shots. Gina got the Mens B while I shot the Mens A race.











The ADG boys sporting the new digs...kinda hot for long sleeves though eh?








hmmmm, not exactly










Sean working the natural barrier










Brian kickin' it in the Men's A race. These boys were smokin' this course.

One Down, Now Let's Roll

Well, as much as I wasn't looking forward to today's first 'cross race of the season, it wasn't that bad. Compared to last season, it's a monumental improvement, considering I didn't finish. There were something like 88 starters, that's huge for a local race. There were only 86 in the 30-34 Masters race at nationals.

I squandered a front row start struggling to get used to the new pedals and hit the dirt about 10-12 deep. That was only topped by the pile up in front of me on the first off-camber grass section. After getting bikes untangled with the guy infront and a huge gap had opened. Overall I rode a solid race trying to just pace my effort and felt surprisingly good after finishing what was close to an hour race. What stung was coming around to start the 3rd lap and seeing the lap counter with 5 to go, the race was estimated only be 5 laps, oh well.

Next stop Gloucester, MA for the Crank Bros. series (hopefully).

Gina snapped alot of good photos...
Coming into the sand pits












Clean remount, the skills were on today, except for one slip taking an inside line too hot.

I felt especially good on the long runs, moving up and passing alot of riders.










Another clean remount coming out of the pits. This is just a cool photo, I like B&W.











The barriers, this was second to last lap. I passed these two shortly after this and never saw them again.

Already?

So, it seemed like it was just the begining of August and there was plenty of time to prepare for 'cross season. Well, that time has passed. Just glad I'm not going to be peaking because this weekend is going to hurt.

Gina thinks she's cool, and now she's boo-hooing b/c I'm writing everything she is saying. Gina thinks she rocks. All of this is questionable and subject to change...., sorta like objects in mirror are closer than they appear...

Luv you pookie bear

Old School

Passing on, found this on the +1 Lap site.
plusonelap.blogspot.com

Fini

Ok, it's official the 'cross bike is finally finished. After picking up an already mounted chain missing the pins from the Bike Doctor the other day, I made my way up to Race Pace to get this thing done. Fortunately Steve was there and helped put the finishing touches on by dialing in the drivetrain. Just need to glue up the front tire and take her for a spin.

Oh, did I mention it weighed in at a scant 16.97lbs?

The Good Old Days

Gina just sent this to me, I got a good laugh out of it. I especially like bullets 10-14, ladies take
note.

Right this way Mr. Ridley

So to top off my day, not only did my 'cross frame finally arrive, but I was surprised by an early morning delivery of some sweet Andre Dugast Rhino tubulars.

mmm, look at that tread.

'cross tires just don't get any better than this.










And now for the good stuff...



So pretty.

Except for the fact that I was expecting the red and white color scheme. Now will I do with my new red and white Fizik saddle?











Steve B. at Race Pace helping install the FSA integrated headset. Steve is an awesome mechanic, he wrenches for the Trek pro team and Chris Eatough. Only he and Nick ever touch my bikes.










And now measuring the steerer tube... cutting carbon, now that's kinda scary, Steve will have the honor.























And now to complete the build... I need a bit of warming up before getting started.

It's Here!

So as I'm driving into the office I get a call from the bike shop, my Ridley is here! Finally. Should receive it tomorrow, sounds like a good enough reason to work from home as any.

Looks like I need a fresh 6 of Hoegaarden as I'm down to just one in the fridge and that won't be enough for a complete bike build. Good Belgian bikes require good Belgian beer to go with it.

Toys

So the past week or so has come and gone without a post. Not that we haven't done anything. Gina and I went out to Cleveland weekend before last for our brother-in-law Brian's surprise 50th birthday party. It was a good time, except for the 50 degree weather thanks to a hurricane rolling up the east coast to spoil an outside party. But the rain came and went and came and went several more times but in the end it was a good time. I realized as you get older all you have to look forward to are gag gifts, the best I thought was the 50 beer bottles wrapped in diapers from his brother-in-law Scott (there's a deeper story behind the diapers), we got him a membership to AARP. Not sure if we have any pics to post.


The birthday boy. He was actually surprised.

"I usually sniff this kind of stuff out, you know."












All last week I was on pins and needles, I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas. My new 'cross bike has yet to arrive, supposedly it was at the distributor in Nevada the week before but has yet to make that arduouis cross-country journey to Lancaster, PA to the shop where I ordered it. It's now less that two weeks until the first 'cross race and I have no bike! Plenty of parts to build it up though.

On the upside I did score my PowerTap last week. It came Friday night around 7:30 and it was on the bike within an hour. Gina went to the beach for the weekend so I was looking forward to riding with it Saturday with Bryan, the unofficial Power guru of Ellicott City. After our 3 1/2 ride all I realized was what a sadistic toy it is. Just one more way to watch your body suffer. Another 2 1/2 hours on Sunday confirmed it.

Gina got back Sunday just as I rolled in from the ride and we went into B-more to top off the weekend by watching the Yankees woop up on the Orioles. Always fun stuff.

Time Well Wasted

I've always had this affinity for tennis, I've never played formally yet I respect the game and those who play it. It's something about the overwhelming physical and mental aspect of the game that excites me. Over the years I've always enjoyed watching Andre Agassi play, he's always had such respect for the game, even in his early years where he could have gone the way of John MacEnroe. The best were the years watching the epic duels with Sampras, which unfortunately Sampras got the best of.

Last night I decided to stay up and watch what could have possibly been Andre Agassi's last match ever. He was up against the 8 seed, Marcos Baghdatis, and his experience was showing over the youth of his opponent, winning the first two sets by capitalizing on the endless string of unforced errors by Baghdatis. After dropping the third Andre bounced back and rallied to a 4-0 lead in the forth set. When most athletes would have packed it in, atleast mentally at that point, Baghdatis rose up and fought back to 4-4, eventually winning the set 7-5, incredible. To already be down 2 sets in a best of 5 and losing 4-0 where do you find that drive? That's what makes a professional athlete I believe, beyond all of the physical talent. That's where punks like Terrell Owens really piss me off, they don't deserve to be where they're at, they're not professionals.

So, back to my being attached to the couch for over 3 hours at this point. The match of course goes to a fifth set and fittingly after watching both players struggle both pyhisically and mentally thought the set, a tie break. At this point Andre can't get a first serve out of the bottom of the net and Baghdatis is cramping in both legs and can barely walk let alone chase down Andre's ground shots.

In a somewhat anti-climactic end to the match 4 hours after the start, Agassi won. Baghdatis couldn't overcome his cramping and became more or less a lame duck with only his serve to keep him alive, which unfotunately left him so abruptly at the start of the tie break where he double faulted two services in a row.

4 hours, time well wasted to watch two professionals perform at their best and giving it their all.