Episode 1 ~ Out Of Step

Sick Of It All ~ Last Act Of Defiance

Available everywhere on Century Media Records
http://www.sickofitall.com
http://www.centurymedia.com/

Cult Leader ~ Nothing For Us Here

Available everywhere on Deathwish Records
https://www.facebook.com/CultLeaderMusic
http://deathwishinc.com/

Lamb Of God ~ http://www.lamb-of-god.com/
REFUSED ~ http://officialrefused.com/
Agnostic Front ~ http://www.agnosticfront.com/
Will Haven ~ https://www.facebook.com/willhavenband
Mutoid man ~ http://mutoidman.com/
Cult Leader ~ https://www.facebook.com/CultLeaderMusic

Bands on the road:
for more updates and more info visit the bands websites listed below
Converge ~ http://www.convergecult.com/
Ultraman ~ https://www.facebook.com/UltramanSTL
Machine Head ~ http://www.machinehead1.com/
Rhett Miller ~ http://www.rhettmiller.com/

Carry The Torch

In the last year we haven't had a whole lot to publish. It was a pretty busy year for me... unfortunately most of it was not bike related. Jen and I bought our first house in April. Next, came moving two apartments into one house in early may, followed by cleaning, organizing and decorating. Well, she is still decorating actually or maybe always decorating is a better way to put it. I did manage to get in the miles and do some racing, just not what I had planned. Living with another person sure will bring certain things to light. My constant restless nights and awful sleep pattern, landed me in a sleep study. Her nudging got me to check out what I had already feared, sleep apnea. Thankfully, my sleep is greatly improved, even if I am a 'Hose head' now. She, then urged me to seek out a new knee specialist and have my bunk knee looked at...Again...

You see...I have been dealing with a torn meniscus in my left knee for the last five years or so. While it may seem crazy to go that long without getting it fixed, I had my reasons. This tear was discovered just weeks after a surgery I had for another repair those five years earlier. My confidence in the doctor I had been using was lost so I decided to just gut it out for awhile. That plan worked for alright but, it has just been getting worse and worse the last year. I started the process in September, the usual steps. Office consultations, x-rays, MRI's and then the results. It was brought to my attention, I know had two more tears in my medial meniscus, quite a bit of inflammation and arthritis. That makes the grand total of tears in my left medial meniscus six, not really something to be proud of. Looking at the best options for an active forty-something I decided to go under the knife a third time, it's a charm. Well lets hope so anyway.

That brings us up to today, just at five weeks post surgery. Everything, is going very well and with any luck I will be on single track in a few weeks. I look forward to getting back out on the bike regularly and the blogging too.
Till then, I am forced to figuratively 'carry the torch'

Out of Step

There may be something in the works.




I can't keep up,
Can't keep up
Can't keep up
Out of step with the world


J.rider out

Scratch The Surface

We are not as out front as we used to be but you can still find us. Just scratch the surface. j.rider out

We are still around. j.rider out

Old Tyme Hardcore

The Death Riders are excited to have the backing of some old friends and the best Tattoo Shop in town. Iron Age Tattoo has come on board to support your local Death Riders. My relationship with Brad and Mark spans a few decades, it seems almost impossible but it's true. As crazy as it would seem Brad Fink and I grew up on the same block. I still remember going to his house when I was about twelve years old. My friend Ted was buying a used JFA Skateboard deck from him. In those days Brad was a pretty good BMX freestyler and Skateboarder. He was responsible for the logo to my local skate shop as well as a semi-permanent fixture hanging out there.

My earliest memory of Mark doesn't go back as far. However, I've known him longer than some of our readers have been alive. Mark was working for 1227 'The Alley' at the time. Twelve Twenty Seven was the local Punk Rock/Hardcore venue at the time. He and another living legend Jim Honey were working the door. I was among the masses freezing in the cold waiting for the doors to open. The year was 1989 and I was finally getting to see one of my all time favorite bands... Agnostic Front. For some strange reason Saint Louis has quite a fondness for New York and still does. I'll admit, I am a huge NYHC fan always have been always will be. So by some strange luck my home city has always been good to the New York bands. 

I met a ton of folks that night and still remember it vividly. Mark and Jim had a style all their own when it came to crowd management and working the door. I'm sure I was probably terrified of Mark at the time, being less than five foot tall and maybe one hundred pounds. Mark has always been nothing but a class act to me, even for the few years when I traded in my Straight x Edge card. Honest, he might have ribbed me a bit, but He has always been the same solid dude.

Big thanks again to the crew at Iron Age and Mark Andrews.

Look for the 2014 kit to have a few changes as well as my skin.

Turning 40 this year means some more tattoos for sure, I better get 'Hammer Hands' on the line...

Till then enjoy some 'Old Tyme Hardcore' 

Its Mark Andrews approved

SLAPSHOT 

BOSTON STRONG

Backfire

I know... I know...

Where did we go? What happened to the Death Riders this fall. Well I wish it were some awesome tale to tell. In reality.... Not so much really. Towards the end of August I began having a ton of issues with acid reflux and frequent vomiting. In September I was sent for an endoscopy where it was discovered I have two rather large ulcers. By the end of October things seemed some what better. I managed to complete the BT Epic without cramping or puking, a major win considering the circumstances. Things quickly went form okay to awful in November. I was sent for an upper GI a series of bowel x-rays... The vomiting had come back with a vengeance. December, saw yet another endoscopy and more medications. Knock on wood things finally seem to be taking a better turn. The persistent vomiting seems to be ending and both ulcers are shrinking in size. All of that mixed with the Holidays and the increasingly busy schedule at work, has had my mind other places.

With all that said, it hasn't been all slow and no go here. I have been knocking on doors this off season and am lining up a few non-sponsors for the 'Death Riders' this season.

Ben and Mountain Bike Radio have been gracious enough to step up in support of the cause.

More irons are in the fire, we are just waiting to here back from a few folks.

Things are looking to be rather busy this season.

I am excited about the new year and can't wait for racing to start.

I will get back to the weekly thoughts ASAP.