We Gotta Know

Sorry for being absent the last couple of weeks. I have been doing some traveling, ridding and some music viewing. At the end of June I was faced with the opportunity to see the one and only Black Flag. Depending on how you look at it...I guess.  That being said it was actually pretty awesome! While i can't say it was better than seeing Flag, the OTHER Black Flag band touring. I am still glad I got the chance to see Greg Ginn and hear some wonderful early punk rock!

The following week I set a course for the windy city. I was collecting on my birthday gifts of tickets to see the almighty Cro-Mags. Yes, you already know I'm quite a fan boy of John Joseph and the mags. So finally getting a chance to see them was super exciting. The icing on the cake for me was none other than my old friends Endpoint were on the bill as well. The boys from the other river city were doing a few one off shows and I'm never one to turn down a chance to see Duncan and Rob. Endpoint was as solid as ever playing lots of great songs. Some of them taking me back to some of the darkest days of my life. That is the awesome thing about music, it has been able to give me something to hold on to as long as I can remember.  It has been one of the only constants in my 39 years on this earth. I am truly greatful for all that music has given me.

The crowning jewel of the night was witnessing the power of the Cro-Mags. It is every bit of what you would imagine. I can only wonder how fierce it was when John was thirty years younger. It was better than I could have ever imagined and I was grinning ear to ear as I shouted along. Before they went on I was able to chat with John a bit about bikes of course... 

He was super kind and very nice. I will spare you the photo of us together.  

All in all it's been a nice few weeks away from the internet.

We will return to weekly blogging next week.

Get out and ride or see some Punk Rock.

The Kinghorse of Headsets speaks

I stumbled upon a pretty nice interview with Chris King the headset manufacture to the gods. With that said, it's been quite a few years since I've ran a King headset or Hubs. Not for any reason in particular other than I haven't worn out the stock headset in many cases. I feel the industry as a whole took note of what Chris was doing and has sort of caught up to his changes. With that said, he truly makes beautiful parts and combines function with them as well. Heck, I don't think any hubs sound cooler than a nice set of Kings! Something about the sound of killer bees is music to my ears.

 Chris King Interview Is Here

Louisville Kentucky is sort of like a second home to me. I have spent many weekends traveling to the bluegrass state to see some of best bands and even better friends. My love affair with the 'other' river city started in 1990 when I was first introduced to Endpoint. While Endpoint will always be my first and truest Louisville love. The mighty KINGHORSE isn't to far behind. I was lucky enough to catch a live horse set at the famed Brewery in Louisville. Sean Garrison is every bit as insane live as one would imagine. It was a great show. 

Long Live The Horse!

Everyone's A Friend

Often times it's easy for one to become bitter and jaded to things when you become a large part of it's landscape... I guess in some ways I have gone through this type of thing a few times in my life. I have had ups and downs in the world of music and cycling. At some point all the dedication and extra hours of promoting and advocating seemed to eat away at the fun factor. I can't blame it on cyclist or local bands etc. Ultimately... It is some sort of burnout, out side stressers our staleness that seems to drive one away from things they enjoy. To add to all of those points, sometimes 'life' seems to find ways to make it difficult to pursue your passions.

In short I guess you could take pieces off all of those things and come up with the reasons why I have been away from the bike for so long. Honestly, I just didn't want to ride... I had lost the fire. I made a promise with myself that if I never rode again and I was happy what did it matter. In the back of my head, I always knew I would find my way back. It's taken a few years but the fun factor has returned and so has my desire to ride and race.

One thing that I managed to forget about on my cycling sabbatical... Is the sense of 'Family' Mountain Bikers seem to have. It doesn't matter what you are ridding or when you started, we are all part of the tribe. I was reminded of this fact earlier in the year with a gracious frame donation from some old friends. It continued on race day with some handshakes and smiles as I registered and started to kit up. It even continued after the racing was over with folks happy to see me back in the fray. Thanks to everyone for making me welcome and happy to see me back. As for my results, I was pretty pleased eighth out of twenty four. That was way better than I could have predicted. It was just nice to get those first pedal strokes out of the way and hopefully some of the jitters. Who knows what will happen in the weeks and months to come...

I will leave the rest of my feelings and thoughts up to BLACKGOD to explain for me. Another amazing band from a couple of Louisville's favorite sons.... Patterson and Pennington

 

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