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.

So, What Are You Gonna Do?

It's approaching gut check time her in the Midwest, put up or shut up. Looks like the Death Riders will be making a showing at the 10th Anniversary of the Burnin'. Oddly enough. it's the same team we had tried to put together for the inaugural event a decade ago. Things sort of fell apart with that incarnation and we never got a chance to race together that year. I am totally looking forward to finally getting this team out on the dirt.

 

12 and 24hr Racing always gives me a chance to bring along way too much gear. What can I say I'm sort of a gear whore. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and know it's in my basement. Thankfully, most of my teammates over the years have embraced my  long checklist and pounds of gear.

More than anything I just need to get my mind set on what I want to do this fall. I'm pretty sure I am signing on for the BT Epic this go around. It's something I have wanted to do for a while and it's put up or shut up time. I had planned on doing way more racing this year than last... But, so far it isn't really happening.

Maybe by this time next year I will be working 9-5 again so training and racing isn't as difficult.

Lets hope so anyway.

 

DEFEATER

Labels seem to matter a lot these days; in fact it feels like every week a new subgenere is invented, heralded and, usually, quickly forgotten. Although they were born out of the hardcore scene, for the past five years Boston, Massachusetts' Defeater have challenged the conventions of the genre by crafting music that takes an old-school formula and pushes it in new and ambitious directions without sacrificing an ounce of aggression.

In The Belly Of A Shark

I can already see the daylight getting shorter from my office window everyday. The shorter amounts daylight bring up a host of unanswered questions for the coming fall. BT Epic to do or not to do? Burnin' At the Bluff? Cyclocross racing this year??? So Many questions I need to ask myself. Well, to be honest I have already been going over the BT Epic plans. If I can get a saddle figured out that isn't uncomfortable after 4 solid hours of off-roading I'm in. Saddles are a weird thing you never think about them when you are comfortable, but when you are uncomfortable It's all you can think about. I am a pretty big fan of my Fizik Tundra2 for XC Racing and trail ridding. However, It's firm and flat profile doesn't seem to do well on the endurance side of my rides. Hopefully, going back to the tried and true Fizik Gobi will be bliss to my nether parts. In time your death riders will figure out what awaits them in October, for now it's back to our regular scheduled program.

Every now and again I find a band that reminds me just why I love Punk and Hardcore. GALLOWS is just one of those bands. It's hard to say what it is, that puts a band in that 'something special' category. 

Well, what ever it is Gallows has it. I'm gonna sound like a internet dork here but... 

I have to say, I think Frank and Steph Carter are two of the main reasons behind the 'it' factor. 

They have both since left to do other things and Gallows continues on. Still a good band in every aspect, but maybe not as great. Well, that is this mans opinion anyway. If you haven't heard of them go out and pick up a copy of "Grey Britain" or "Orchestra of Wolves". Neither of them will disappoint, we give them the death rider seal of approval. 

Enjoy some fine young English chaps.

In The Blink Of an Eye

As far as news goes not a ton has been going on other than ridding and enjoying the very non St.Louis weather we have been having this summer. It has been a welcome change over last years monster heat and humidity for nearly three months straight. Last week I was running bachelor style as the Jenster was out hiking in Utah. I decided to stop putting off some bike maitence of my own as well as help j.rider swap and bleed some brakes and start building up his 1x10

I got most of the wrenching duties squared away Saturday afternoon and headed out for a ride and some shopping before night fall. did some more wrenching before I decided to read and hit the hay for the night.

the death riders had a Bi-Fecta planned for the morning so I needed some shut eye.

Sunday morning we were off to Lost Valley and trying not to make mention of the droplets forming on our windshield. We stayed the course and by the time we had crossed the river the sprinkle had passed us by. 

A little overcast and breezy but no rain so we headed out for a day in the saddle.

Everything was pretty grand, good company and trails in great shape.

Things were rolling along nicely. Until...

I have been ridding Mountain Bikes for the last 14 years or so and have made this move countless times.

A group of riders is approaching from the oncoming direction, so you slow down and yield to them just off the trail. No big deal easy peasy... Well that is unless you pile drive your front wheel into a six inch tree stump camouflaged in the duff along the trail. Honestly, I had no idea what was happening I just heard everyone gasp and say OOOH! or something like that. Luckily, since I had no idea it was, I did the perfect rag doll crumple kind of slam. Other than smashing my glasses into my cheek and coating them in sweat and dirt not much was a miss. The ride was in fine shape not a scratch and I was all intact and just a little shook up. We went about our ride but cut off the second half since I couldn't seem to get back in a good rhythm.

I'm just glad it wen so smooth, could have been pretty gnarly for sure.

I was a fan of VISON from the first chords of  'once'.

 It's hard to put my finger on what it is that makes the "In The Blink Of An Eye" record still hold up after all these years. Somehow it does and I listened to it just a few weeks ago, never fails to put a smile on my face.

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.

Art Offensive

I have said before that I am a sucker for a good art department, and well it's true. I am a classically trained photographer and art school drop out. While I have used my education at some parts of my life, for the most part I've always worked with my hands. Everything from short order cook to helping map the human genome. At times I wonder what my life would have been like if i had pursed commercial art and design work. However, that usually only last long enough to remember awful assignments of design classes past.

With all of that said, I love it when a bike company or record label or anything for that matter has the ability to make a nice product and marry it with awesome design and ad work. 

Yes, my stature and measurements place me in the 'AVERAGE' segment for bike frames and fit. Yet, I do love handcrafted bikes. In my time I have be blessed to ride and race an Original Fat Chance 'Yo Eddy' made in Sommerville, MA and an equally righteous Independent Fabrications 'Steel Deluxe'. Even my current Santa Cruz 'Highball' has a custom paint treatment. I really like not being the white sheep and having something unique and somewhat different from the status quo. 

Lets just say if I had money to burn I would be calling 44 Bikes in a heartbeat.

Built to shred...check.  Awesome design and art department...Check. 

Bitchin' shop and cute shop dog...check. Soft spot for Punk Rock...check.

Whats not to like?

Oh and then there is this. I stumbled upon a piece of 44 Bikes propaganda that reads

"I'm painting my bike black, until they make something darker..."