Testing....Testing...Testing....

No.... we aren't dead, not yet anyway. Lets just say sometimes life has a way of derailing even the best intentions. The first week of July saw k.rider pay in blood to the MTB gods and I haven't really returned to form yet. Thus, ending my comeback season a little short. All wasn't too bad in hindsight, it kept me from burning out and gave me plenty of time to plan my attack in '13... Since it's my favorite number, i'm hoping for good things next year. I promise to return things to more regular posts etc.

In the mean time enjoy this...

Burnt By The Sun

It is a heat wave in town. The temps are going to push well into the triple digits this week with today’s high near 108 degrees. Burnt By The Sun indeed.


 

 

j.rider out

Stepping Stone

Just because...







j.rider out

Soundtrack For Monsters

Here is what has been echoing through my head on my last couple of rides.


Come Alive - Doomriders
Road Born Orphan - Sweet Cobra
Rise - Public Image Limited
Set Me Down - Left Lane Cruiser
Sleep - Poster Children
The Protest Hour - Trap Them
The Moan - The Black Keys
He Is Never Coming Back - Gaza
A Ways To Uprise - Kerretta
99 Problems - Jay Z
Hot Air Balloon - Owl City
Fast Fuse - Kasabian
Breaking The Cycle - Modern Life Is War
The Poison Plot - Brothers Keeper
Built To Last - Sick Of It All
Such Great Heights - Postal Service
Pious - A Life Once Lost
Banjo Song # 1 - Hillstomp
Surfing On A Rocket - Air
On A Rope - Rocket From The Crypt
Drowned My Life In Fear - Leaf Hound
Vietcatterpillar - Black Moth Super Rainbow
Think Twice - Betrayed
Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
Come Back Home - T-Model Ford
On The Road Again - Canned Heat
Monsters - The Enkindels
Refused Party Program -Refused
Fear Not Le Loup - Le Loup
Neckwrecker - Electro Quarterstaff
Rock Candy - Montrose
Shadrach - Beastie Boys
Triangle Walks - Fever Ray
Soft Pyramids - Q And Not U
Set The Dial To Your Doom - Black Tusk
Cpai-75 - Bloodlet
Walk Together Rock Together - 7 Seconds
Trouble - Honkeyfinger
Cod Metal King - Strapping Young Lad
Dream Small - Poser Children
I See It In Us - H2O
Gene And Eddie - Brian Setzer
The Prisoner - Iron Maiden
Mandible - Mares Of Thrace
Aint Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph
Super Disco Breakin' - Beastie Boys
The New Year - Death Cab
Carry On - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Trepanning For Oil - Trap Them
Conquer All - Behemoth
Vent - Snapcase
911 Is A Joke - Public Enemy
Every Place Is A House - Maps And Atlases
Happens Everyday - Poster Children
Overture - 65 Days Of Static
Turnstile Blues - Autolux
Phoenix In Flight - Converge
Weak Brain Narrow Mind - The Immortal Lee County Killers
New Kata - Snapcase
Strange Dreams - Mahogany Rush
Watch This - Danananakroyd
Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Starship Troopers - Yes
Falsified Mitigation - Noisear
Five O Ford - Reverend Horton Heat
1974 - Cursed
Cardiac Arrest In D - Hillstomp
Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Entombed
Substance - Betrayed
The Pusher - Steppenwolf
Green Onions - Booker T and The MG's
Floating - Jape
Rise Above - Black Flag
Curse Of The Common Man - Engineer
Backslide - Unsane
I Don't Belong - OFF!
Shoot High Aim Low - Yes
Gristle - Gaza
Just Go Outside - Black Cross
Need - Lent0
The Furnace - Disfear
Inner Station - Burnt By The Sun
Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys - Traffic
Returning The Screw - Fugazi
Dazed And Confused - Cave In
Boabab - Mouth Of The Architect


 




 j.rider out

Set Your Goals

Training without having a goal is like driving in the dark without your headlights. You may get to where you need to go but you are likely to run into a lot of other things as well. The problem is I am not  sure what my goals are.





 


j.rider out

Axe To Fall

Race number two is in the books. I finished. I was reminded of a number of things. The starts are hard and fast but I cannot ride in the red for an entire race. I need to hydrate better while racing. Over-tightening carbon bars can cause them to crack but under-tightening carbon bars causes them to slip. Add all of these up and there is an axe to fall. j.rider out

Buried Alive

It's been a long time since I have felt the leg burning of a start like yesterdays race. From the gun it was a mad dash for a wicked left handed creek crossing...That took us directly into a service road climb and finally to one of the many grassy knoll sections. My heart rate was pushing the max after our first few efforts. Add to that the amount of dirt and dust I was sucking in and it felt as if I was being buried alive. It was a brutal wake up call for my body, that is for sure. I did manage to reel in my legs and lungs at somewhere towards the end of lap three. By then, the damage had been done. I wasn't going to be picking up any extra places for my suffering and dust eating. All in all not to bad of a result for my second event in 6yrs. I was able to hold onto 4th Place and finish out the last lap strong. It was good to get a second race under my legs so quickly... Now it's back to studying and training for the next set of events.

I have to admit on of the first things I thought about after finishing. Was, just how brutal the start felt... It was not unlike the first time I got to see Buffalo NY's  Buried Alive. That band seriously felt like they were pummeling you with the crunching of Marshall full stacks. It's was an impressive thing to witness for sure.

Enjoy some Scott Vogel love.

This one seems fitting for my return to cycling

Sick Day

First race of the season is over.
DNF Front wheel tried to fall apart. Should have called in sick.
j.rider out

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

 

support my friends

Code Orange

Orange = Elevated  

“Increased protective measures based on specific threat information regarding a known or suspected terrorist plot.”

After a long 6 years away from racing the time has come for me to once more attach those pesky numbers to my bars...and let the pieces fall where they may. I'd be a big fat liar if I said I wasn't at all nervous... I was doing pretty good until three days ago and then the jitters and doubts started to flood in. It's been a big learning process this time around. I have spent months researching training and nutrition as well as bike set-up and technique. None of that really seemed to matter when I was 10yrs younger and had plenty of time to ride. I feel better prepared mentally but what the hell does that really mean? I'm not placing any big expectations on my return to the fray of racing. However, it is nice to feel somewhat better prepared this go round. Honestly, for me it's all about pushing my own personal limits. Sure I have goals and dreams... But, those can all be reached with hard work and persistence.Well, at least I hope so!

 

Some musical inspiration by the Code Orange Kids

Yes, it's true they all just graduated highschool..WTF?

I can't thank j.rider enough for his constant encouragement and help as I've tried to hold his wheel this winter and spring. It's always nice to have someone to suffer with out on the road and trails. I am looking forward to the new dawn of our racing days and the excitement and fun that comes along with it. The Pack In Black will finally make it's official debut on Saturday. Lets hope for miles of smiles...

New Direction

I guess in some ways it's a good thing we haven't been much for Blogging in the last few weeks. It just means we have been out on the bikes and spending some quality time on the trails. Not much new to report this time...k. rider is still dialing in the cockpit and torn between a lightweight vs awesome set-up. An age old problem for sure. 

It has been nice to turn a page in the training/ridding program and start to see a few glimpses of my glory days. Hopefully, this all points to a 'New Direction' for my ridding form... Only time will tell. 

Let's Start Today!

Since we are all about 'HardCore' Cycling... Get it?

Maybe this tribute kit idea may gain some ground within the death camp. Imagine the possibilities.

Thorn In My Side

The biggest thorn in my side the last few months has been my immune system... So, as much as j.rider and I had hoped to kick off the season yesterday… It just didn’t happen. The last few months have been full of colds and topped off by the FLU just a few weeks ago.  The early spring has j.rider suffering from seasonal allergies and congestion. Needless to say, we were both bummed to be sitting this one out… But, things don’t always go as planned. The ‘Pack in Black’ will have to wait a few more weeks to make it’s debut.

I did manage to get out and enjoy the 70 degree Sunday and some tight twisty trail. However, I forgot about the cardinal rule of not going to Castlewood on a beautiful weekend afternoon. Holy invasion of dogs, hikers, kids, teenagers and even horses. I think the trails were as congested as j.rider! Luckily I was able to make my way to the little used sections of the park and ride without the headaches.

All the nice weather and sun had me feeling pretty good and my mind thinking about some good tunes. In a spur of the moment decision, I cued up all the Quicksand songs available on the old iPod. That got the wheels turning and I decided to draft a new bylaw to the Deathwish charter.


Article 3.14 of the death rider mandate:
All those who seek the mark of death, must have witnessed at least one live performance of the former new york band Quicksand. NO EXCEPTIONS!

I quickly ratified the new article and put it to a vote, all those in favor say aye!

Sucker For A Good Art Department

Not that the 'Death Riders' need another reason to be a fan of Thomson goodness... But hey, it always makes me smile when I can tell someone in the art department is an old punk rocker.

**quite possibly the best side 2 of any punk record EVER!**

Suffering

I need more punishment and suffering. Last night was a start.





j.rider out

Low S.O.

Double posts today. The other one is kind of positive and this one... well not so much.

I will let Henry do most of the talking but let's just say that I have a LOT of work to do. I need to put my inner voice on mute and just get on with it. Easier said than done. The formula is to ride more. Train more. Suffer more.






j.rider out

Keep It Rocking

Play list for my last couple of rides. A few curve balls in here.

Ice Heavy Branches - The Appleseed Cast
March Of The Fire Ants - Mastodon
Death The Brutal Way - Asphyx
Self Destructive Pessimist - Crowpath
2 Layover - Premonitions Of War
Jump Into My Mouth And Breath The Stardust - Black Moth Super Rainbow
Just Sad - Entombed
The Company, The Comfort, The Grave - The Chariot
We Either Escape Or Die - Back When
Theme From A Gutbuster - Bentley Rhythm Ace
Pickpocket - Fujiya And Miyagi
Ride Or Die - Doomriders
Omniscient - Black Cobra
Chambered - Narrows
Fireflies - Owl City
Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Bullet The Blue Sky - U2
I Am The Destroyer - Celestine
Panoptikon - Catharsis
(Fear Not) Le Loup - Le Loup
N.I.B. - Cave In
Plague Bearer - Crow Path
Drowned My Life In Fear - Leaf Hound
Across The Universe - Laibach
Machine - Kruger
Bang Bang - The Knux
Cement - Kiss It Goodbye
Demigod - Behemoth
My Song - Al Wilson
Burning Monk - Blacklisted
Invincible - No Use For A Name
Keep 'Em In Stitches - Breather Resist
Don't Ever Change - Burning Love
Spleen Merchant - Clutch
Sacred Heart - H2O
No Leaders - Kill The Client
Baby Please Don't Go - The Amboy Dukes
Jaded - Aerosmith
Be Aggressive - Faith No More
Merchandise - Fugazi
Hyena - Dead Flesh Fashion
War - Edwin Starr
Nineteen Seventy Four - Cursed
Chemical Beats - The Chemical Brothers
Junior Citizen - Poster Children
About To Die - Entombed
Bernard - Noriega
Greenhorn - Engineer
Vehicle - Boy Sets Fire
Dark Days Ahead - Abandon
Look At Yourself - Uriah Heep
Blow It Out - Ludacris
Cowards.com - Coalesce
Drowning The Old Hog - Fear Before The March Of Flames
Black Sin - Black Breath
Soft Pyramids - Q And Not U
Knickerbocker - Fujiya And Miyagi
Kill The Sex Player Girls VS Boys
Big Riff - Cave In
Questions For A Ghost Maker - Bird Eater
Thieves - His Hero Is Gone
Death Explosion - The Crown
Axe To Fall - Converge
Home Wrecker - Converge
Tempt Providence - Masakari
In The City - The Eagles (From The Warriors Sound Track!!)
Rapid Dominance - Masakari
Promises - Fugazi





j.rider out

Infiltrate The System

For the last 8 weeks or so I've been dealing with a nagging and persistent cold... It will get me down for a week or so and go away. Then, after a few days of training or ridding...it's back!

Monday afternoon I could feel it coming on again, nothing good comes out of a sore throat....(unless, I played a show the night before) I only wish that was the case. I've been on the water and Vitamin C intake plan and getting lots of rest. I caved today and had to call the Doctor, I felt like Death and this awful sounding cough had me a little worried. Looks like I just have some wicked cold/viral infection...and I'm not alone, most of the city seems to have some piece of it.  So for the next few days I get to wait out the fever, chills and body aches...

Maybe a dose of MADBALL and some rest will kick start my good vibes

Take that Virus punks!

Give Thanks

As one who is well versed in self-hatred and the arts of negativity... I sometimes forget just how many great friends I have. It's pretty easy to slip into your own world of suck-a-tude, taking for granted people in this world do care about you. Some even think pretty highly of you from time to time. I am reminded of this time and again but it still takes awhile to sink in.

Over the years I have made some great friends through mountain bike riding. Two of the kindest and most generous folks that I am lucky enough to have met are the Adams family. You can always count on Bryan for some sage advice and Steph for a snide quip or a good story...with or with out a few beers. I have been on countless rides with them and many a camping or racing adventure as well. They have always made me feel at home and part of the extended bike family they have. I'm still not sure what I have done to deserve to be in there good graces, but I am very lucky to call them friends.

A huge thanks goes out them both for becoming my official bike sponsors in 2012 I still can't believe my luck!

I will keep my sponsors and the rest of you posted on project "Crimson Ghost'

See My Vest

Another solid weekend of riding with k.rider saw the debut of Black Thunder White Lightning. It was only a gravel ride but i have to say that I really like the bike. There are only a couple of minor tweaks that are needed and it will be good to go.







This song has been a frequent guest on my rides.


j.rider out

DIY or DIE

For the uninitiated:
DIY as a subculture could be said to have begun with the punk movement of the 1970s^. Instead of traditional means of bands reaching their audiences through large music labels, bands began recording, manufacturing albums and merchandise, booking their own tours, and creating opportunities for smaller bands to get wider recognition and gain cult status through repetitive low-cost DIY touring.

So just how does this apply to the whole cycling world and this 'team'... Simple it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the status quot isn't really where I fit in. A wise man once coined the lyrics "out of step, with the world..." and I guess you could say I've kind of clung to those words as a badge of honor for most of my adult life. I have always felt like an outsider looking in on things. I guess that is what made me a great observer. I tend to memorise things and places...to a freakish degree actually.

j.rider and I have been on a few cycling teams over the years and always struggled to find the perfect fit. With that said some of the best times I've had on bikes was with those teams and folks we met along the way. A few season ago we got to see the local scene start to sprout some DIY clubs and that is what planted the seed. It has been a cool processes to witness from my point of view, coming from a punk rock background and playing music for years it really resonated with me.

It's time we think the group of jerks responsible for our little piece of DIY.
TEAM SEAGAL

http://teamseagal.blogspot.com/

The Death Riders don't claim to have superior attitudes or wrist snapping qualities... But rather just healthy record collections, more than the legal limit of band and rock gear trivia and the ability to add a song to almost every post you can come up with. So there you have it, the birth of  "Deathwish Racing" Thanks to all the members of Team Seagal for the DIY kick in the teeth!

Commitment

There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permits. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results (Unknown)

You have to train you mind not to give up, to keep suffering. (Levi Leipheimer)



I have a lot work to do.




j.rider out

Reveal

A new ride.

2012 - Giant XTC

Frame - 2012 Giant XTC 1
Fork 2012 - Rockshox Reba 29 RL 15mm Thru Axle
Brake - XT Disc
Rotors - F/R Aligator 160mm

Cassette - SRAM PG 1030 11x36, 10-Speed
Chain - SRAM PC 1031
Crankset - SRAM X9 2X10 26/39
Derailleur Front - SRAM X9
Derailleur Rear - SRAM X9
Grips - Ergon GS-2 S White
Handlebar - Truvativ T30
Headset - FSA orbit 1.5
Headset Cap/Bolt - Giant

Nipples - DT Swiss Brass
Pedals - Shimano XTR
Seat Binder - Salsa Lip Lock
Saddle - Fizik Gobi White/Grey

Seatpost - Thomson Elite 30.9 X 367mm
Shifters - SRAM XO 10 Speed
Stem - Ritchy WCS Axis 4 110mm Wet White
Hub (Front) X9
Hub (Rear) X9
Rim (Front) Stans Arch 29
Rim (Rear) Stans Arch 29
Spokes - DT Swiss
Skewers - Salsa Flip Offs
Water Bottle Cages - Serfas NC-100

j.rider out

We Ride Econo

I was doing a basement session on the trainer while watching the Minutemen documentary "We Jam Econo" and realized that pretty much sums us up as well.

We Ride Econo.

To the uninitiated it is pretty difficult to explain. Essentially, we are doing things our way. There is respect and even admiration for how others are doing their thing but it many ways it is not for us. We Ride Econo.

j.rider out

Less Talk More Rock...

Slow news day here at the Death Camp... Just the usual pre-season stuff, rigs being built and tuned in, supplies being ordered and what not. The Black Death kits have been tweaked and are ready to go to full production. Nothing else is fit to print just yet... Yeah Yeah I hear ya, less talk more rock...

Gravel Grinder Playlist 1.0

Cursed - 1974
Kiss It Goodbye - target practice
Every Time i Die - emergency syndrome
NORA - scars are supposed to last forever
A Life Once Lost - firewater joyride
Coliseum - children of our own creation
Maylene & The Sons of Disaster - memories of the grove
Deadguy - pins and needles
Turmoil - killing today for a better tomorrow
108 - martyr complex
Ringworm - the cage
As I Lay Dying - forever
Will Haven - climbing out of this bottle
Buried Alive - six month face
Doomriders - heavy lies the crown
Every Time i Die - floater
Glassjaw - siberian kiss
The Minor Times - the pugilist at work
A Life Once Lost - vulture
Kiss It Goodbye - choke
Norma Jean - murderotica
Coliseum - detached
NORA - wave goodbye
Coalesce - vehicle
Pusher - don't cry messiah
Converge - when forever comes crashing
Kiss It Goodbye - helvetica
The Minor Times - +++
Dead Swans - thinking of you
A Life once Lost - surreal atrocities
The Minor Times - casket city lights
Coliseum - no benefit
Ringworm - razors line
Doomriders - come alive
Botch - spaim
As I Lay Dying - 94 hours
Breather Resist - just do it
Doomriders - black thunder
Coliseum - skyline fucker
Cave In - crossbearer
Every Time i Die - logic of crockodiles
Will Haven - egos game
Trap Them - pulse mavens
A Life Once lost - detest
Breather Resist - a social workers nightmare
Cave In - terminal diety
As I Lay Dying - the darkest nights
Doomriders - ride or die
Poison The Well - botchia
Turmoil - playing dead
Deadguy - die with your mask on
Trap Them - the protest hour
Botch - to our friends in the great white north
A Life Once Lost - rehashed
108 - guilt
Glassjaw - pretty lush

Vehicle

There is a new ride in my quiver. It is a bit of a departure for me and is all about bang for the buck. No spy shots to post yet but those should be coming soon.






We needed more music and this is one of the best covers ever.

j.rider out

Dark Horse

Nothing like getting to work only to find an odd shaped package on the corner of you desk. I could tell by it's silvery plastic what was held inside... that's right. the long awaited 'Black Death' test pressings.

Getting to do things exactly the way you want is pretty awesome and having someone else who enjoys your design and aesthetic choices is even better. I feel a black plague coming on.

Snow Blind

Since the ice man has cometh I was at a bit of a crossroads of what to do today... I wasn't really feeling the idea of some trainer time, so I took off to sneak in a snow ride before the freeze/thaw cycle hits later today or tomorrow. Way more fun than sitting on the trainer for sure, but it still didn't make me a lover winter. I was on a solo mission today, J.Rider had other obligations.  I took along the old MP3 player and had her  pumping a pretty nice set of classic east coast youth crew jams. Somehow I kept hearing Black Sabbath in my head...Oh the irony.

Black Thunder

Test pressings of the official Death Riders 'Black Death' kits are on the way. I am super excited to see the finished product, should be here in a week or so. We are still refining the 'Gray Matter' aka summer kits... Both kits should be pretty awesome and deliver some serious heaviness...

Ghouls Night Out

I got out and rode at LV last night. 24 miles in just under two hours. Good times and the trails were in decent shape but I am still trying to work out the bugs in my lighting setup . I saw quite a few folks out there enjoying the night. You could say that it was a "Ghouls Night Out."






j.rider out

Tune A Fish?

While j.rider and I may be pros at tuning a guitar or bass... Sadly I must admit I have never been a great tuner of forks. After a bit of Internet poking about I found this method repeated a few times, so I gave it a try. I have to say it is a pretty good baseline starting point and I have been happy with how the 29er Reba feels using this set-up.

The 411 via the blog-o-sphere:

After a load of research and reading, I finally found the right formula. Since you’re dealing with a negative and positive air chamber that work together it made sense that there would be an air pressure ratio at work here. I was absolutely correct. First off, the positive chamber does the majority of the work and absorbs the big hits due to it’s larger air volume. On the flip side, the negative chamber is used to absorb all the small hits and literally gets the fork moving early in it’s travel and requires a smaller volume of air. Now, if you put 60% of your body weight into the positive chamber and 10lbs less than that in the negative chamber you should be set. In my case I weigh approx 185ish with all my gear on. Knowing that, I put 110lbs of air pressure in the positive chamber and about 100lbs in the negative chamber (as opposed to the 140lbs suggested by RockShox). I knew that was the right mix as soon as I measured the sag at a perfect 20% of my total available travel. With that setup I left the compression dial all the way open, the rebound just shy of full fast, and the flood gate at 2 turns towards the closed position.

Good Looking Out

Great MTB ride with k.rider yesterday. I'll take 55 degrees and riding single track on 12/31.

"True friends will always be there".

j.rider out.