For my love of Time Lapses...

Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

Another little excerpt...

     "Yet beyond the paucity and the solitude of the surrounding desert, it was an exultant thought that peeled back the veneer of our self-important delusions. We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment- the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on this planet, in this universe."
                                     -Aron Ralston

   

Texas Quest Adventure Race Recap...

     Well... I might be addicted. 

     This past weekend marked my second Adventure Race (Bike, Trek, Paddle), and so far we are 2/2 for having a blast. After getting my first taste, I wanted more ASAP, and a post popped up on the Facebook feed about a Texas Adventure Racing event near Huntsville on the 13th. And here's the kicker... for FREE! I took it as a sign and loaded everything last minute for a blast south. 

     With such late notice, I didn't figure on rallying anyone else into it, so I jumped at it solo for the trip. I typically get an empty feeling in my gut when I do these kinds of things all alone. I've been blessed with so many good friends and a great wife that I'm accustomed to good company at all times. "Happiness only real when shared" was the revelation that Christopher McCandless, a famous solo adventurer, came to. I've been trying to put much more effort into shared experiences in this new chapter of my life. However, the beauty of this kind of racing is that I was only gone for about 24 hours. And anyone that knows me knows that's a pretty common gap if I get obsessive with a task or destination. The other great thing is the Adventure Racing community. Usually the guy with tattoos and a shaved head that shows up by himself isn't the first one invited to share the campfire. But that wasn't so this weekend. 

     The drive south was exactly what you'd expect... traffic in Dallas followed by nothing for a few hours. Solo drives are great for people with no hair- windows down, radio UP. A quick stop and visit at the Chili's in Huntsville (same one I ate at the night before winning the Caney Creek Enduro in 2011), and back on the FM roads that lead out into the woods. Camp and transition area were set up at a great little spot inside the National Forest, surrounded by pine forest except for a perfect little window for stargazing. The fire was already started and the sun was setting, so I scrambled to get camp set and organized. All was well with the exception of my tent, which I've only set up a couple times so far. Some mismatched poles left the sides drooping in to the point that my 4 person tent barely fit one cot (diagonally), but it wasn't bad enough to redo. Soon after I found myself discussing the use of Pop Tarts as heat shielding for spacecraft with a batch of NASA Engineers, Aussies, and marathon runners. Several friendly faces around the fire made for a good time and a reminder that I'm not completely solo. (Shout out to all of you and hope to see you again soon!) Eventually the clock drove us to our tents for the night. 

     Race morning saw a chill in the air and a larger group than expected. I recognized a few of the cars from the previous weekend, but no familiar faces with the exception of the night before. Time to prep the new Camelbak (review coming soon), chow down, and stretch better than last time in hopes of avoiding the rookie cramps. 

     At 9:15, the race officially started with a scramble to the maps, water, and special tests at camp. I opted to save the paddle for last with my hatred for wet socks, and instead took a run at two of the special tests. I love the creativity here, and you locals can expect to see some odd challenges come out after a few backyard beers! Upon completion, it was time to tackle the run/ walk/ modified wobble. I watched the map and soon realized the scale of it was more than I've ever done. I was prepared for 3-4 miles, but somehow made it through 7.5 beautiful pine forest miles. I wished for my camera several times, and especially looked forward to hitting the same loop with wheels beneath me! Huge thanks to the group that ran with me for several miles, and to Kathryn for keeping me company the last couple miles and keeping me from turning this adventure race into an adventure stroll. Coming in from the run, I opted to finish my special tests with a shoe toss and my first go on a slackline (shaky to say the least).

     Next was the bike leg, the part that I'm most comfortable with. Pedal pedal pedal, and pedal some more. I'm not sure the final mileage count, but it was a good ride, especially after the long trek. Several downed trees, fresh trail, and creek crossings kept me huffing and puffing, but I love that winding singletrack in the trees! One of the aforementioned down trees hung me up, but I wasn't aware of the damage until a shift and two cranks grenaded my drivetrain. A broken derailleur hanger had me sitting still until I remembered a little trick. Within a few minutes I was rolling ghetto singlespeed, and managed to finish out the bike leg as strong as I'd started. 

Dear stray branch... if I wanted to ride singlespeed, I would have brought my singlespeed. 

     Hauling the kayak to the water, I felt much stronger than I did the previous week. With the last two checks in sight, I charged the short paddle. After working my way off a sandbar, I threw the boat over my shoulder and hustled in for a 3:35 finish time. 

     

Post Race Death Face

     

     Another great time, and another cold beer reward! I then enjoyed a visit with the main promoter and his family, which included a gorgeous Australian Shepherd that gave me that final push for home that I needed. A few goodbyes and back on the road, I was home in time for dinner and drinks with my people. I'm starting to like this. 

Mighty San Gabriel Adventure Race Recap

So. Much. Fun.

     I've felt a draw towards adventure racing for a while, but never has the time been better than now! Coming off of my injury and trying to steer clear of motorized recreation, it seemed like a great sport to dive into. I like kayaking, hiking, and LOVE to ride my bike, so it made sense to me to give it a shot. I've also been looking for good promotion outlets for Vita Brevis Clothing and a scene where not only I can get involved, but I can introduce my people to something fun as well. This past weekend we jumped right in to one of Too Cool Racing's events and gave it a go...
     Adventure Racing is a sport where you combine some endurance based activities (trekking, kayaking, biking, etc) along with some navigation/ orienteering, and make a day of it. Events can be set up as 3-4 hour sprints, 12 hour adventures, or longer endurance expeditions. They usually combine some unknown activities like rope skills, puzzles, climbing, or who knows what throughout the course as well. Teams of 2,3, or solo participants take off and endure the fun!
     This particular event, the Mighty San Gabriel AR took place in Georgetown, TX the weekend of April 6, 2013. We chose to do the sprint course, which was approximately 1-3 miles paddling, 3-5 miles on foot, and 8-10 miles on the bikes with some special tests thrown in to keep it interesting. I suckered my buddy Brantley into signing up as a solo act after I had entered the race and he saw how excited I was.

     Loaded and ready to go, with no clue what to expect from the race, we made the drive to Georgetown Friday afternoon. We made it to the campsite early and set up camp before we ventured into Round Rock for check in and dinner. 

      With dinner in hand, we headed for camp with the intention of emptying a few good beers in the woods. We were hoping to return to a full campsite with racers from all over hanging out with the same intentions, but instead it was a quiet calm evening with a little wheelie practice and early bed time. Most of the other campers arrived between 9:30 and 10 after we'd lost our steam and decided it was best to get some rest.

     Race morning came to life early as everyone began prepping and others arrived. Per usual, there were some last minute tweaks to be made before the racer's meeting.

      With minimal information and still not quite sure exactly what to expect, we thought it best to snap a before picture.

      Within a few minutes, the race was under way, and I found myself on the most dreaded leg first- the run. Strangely enough, the adrenaline put us much further towards the front than expected as we made our way to the 6 checkpoints laid out for us on foot. I held up better than expected, but was steadily giving ground as I was reminded of all the awful things my leg has been through. A good dose of road running, trail, and good old fashioned bushwhacking got us to all 6 checks, and I got to watch Brantley test his luck as he bounded blindly down a ravine that claimed a nearby competitor's ankle. We spotted a shortcut to the transition area and came in surprisingly well for what I figured would be the worst segment of the race for myself.
     After completing a puzzle, and with a fresh map in hand, it was time to ride! I knew this would be my strong point, so I was excited and cranking. As we dropped into the trail, it grew technical with a nice downward slope and some mean rocks. Having already paid my dues and leaving my flesh on rocks of the same nature in my previous racing career, I made several passes and had a blast pinning it through the terrain. Soon after, the rocks were gone and it was time to spin some miles on the shore to the next two checks. A wrong turn led me two miles off path before recovering, and my curses broke the morning silence for anyone in earshot. With frustration level high and cramping becoming an issue, I struggled to find the checkpoints on what was supposed to be my strongest suit. Chalk it up to rookie mistakes and that stubborn enduro mindset. I soon found myself too ignorant to find a smoother way and mashed my way UP the very same rocks I'd bombed down before. A pedal strike, misstep, and missed tree in a slow corner sent me rolling into a creek bed. I soon recovered, fought through another set of cramps, and mashed my way back to the transition area. Brantley had some issues involving a flat tire, the same missed turn, and a faceplant. None of which won me "friend of the year award" since I had a pump and he'd already spent his CO2 cartridges chasing me.
     Upon arrival, there was another special test involving a seesaw, balloon between my knees, and some car tires. It was a fun change of pace from my frustrated spinning after wasting so much time with stupid mistakes. Next on the list were two paddle checkpoints, just in time for the windiest conditions of the day. Whitecaps abounded, even with all the trees in the water to break them. The wind pushed in our faces the entire time, and the going was snail paced. It was rough enough that I saw a couple flipped canoes, and waves were coming over the front of my kayak and filling it up. At this point, it was all adventure, without much race to be seen. I was struggling to not go backwards. After finding my way to the second check at the end of a wind-pushed cove, I realized the struggle I would face trying to paddle out. Opting to kill my legs and save my arms for the big water row across the bay, I drained my boat and threw it over my shoulder for a hike to the furthest possible point. With the end in sight, I paddled through white caps and trees to the opposite shore and repeated my drain/ over the shoulder routine for the steep uphill climb to the finish. With legs protesting, I made it to the top and found my way to the middle of a supportive crowd. Race is over, where's the beer?
     Brantley struggled with cramping legs and the mental beat down a good endurance event can dish out, but managed to tote his kayak to the top shortly after and find the finish line. It felt great to sit back with that in our past. Recovery drinks would flow and stories swapped as we met several fellow racers from all over Texas. This is our kind of scene, and will most definitely not be our last time at an adventure race. As I wrap up this entry, I can't help but wonder- if we crammed that much into a sprint, how much more could we experience in a 12 hour? Give it a few days for him to forgive me, and present the idea after a few beers when the girls are around. Nobody backs down in that situation.

A delicious little excerpt on chaos...

     "I had become more and more enraged and mystified by the idiot decisions made by my countrymen. And then I had come suddenly to pity them, for I understood how innocent and natural it was for them to behave so abominably, and with such abominable results: They were doing their best to live like people invented in story books. This was the reason Americans shot each other so often: It was a convenient literary device for ending short stories and books.
     Why were so many Americans treated by their government as though their lives were as disposable as paper facial tissues? Because that was the way authors customarily treated bit-part players in their made-up tales.
     And so on.
     Once I understood what was making America such a dangerous, unhappy nation of people who had nothing to do with real life, I resolved to shun storytelling. I would write about life. Every person would be exactly as important as any other. All facts would also be given equal weightiness. Nothing would be left out. Let others bring order to chaos. I would bring chaos to order, instead, which I think I have done.
     If all writers would do that, then perhaps citizens not in the literary trades will understand that there is no order in the world around us, that we must adapt ourselves to the requirements of chaos instead.
     It is hard to adapt to chaos, but it can be done. I am living proof of that: It can be done."

-Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, written in 1973

Transition TransAM 26" in all its proper glory...

ONE bike??? I have to narrow it down to ONE FRIGGIN BIKE!!! But how? I ride a lot of different stuff, and it's just a must that I have 17 different bikes in my garage/ house to maintain...

Enter the BAMF of one-bike collections for a wannabe freeriding damaged dirt jumper with a multiple concussion downhill career. Blah Blah Blah, 29er this, full squish that, all mountain vs trail vs XC vs dj. Hold my beer and watch THIS!

so fresh and clean...

I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with all the mags and Interwebs telling me I needed a different bike for every single ride. I was bouncing back from some ridiculous injuries that had kept me down for far too long, and I just couldn't wait to put rubber to ground. Problem is, what bike do you get for everything from the pump track you built to gravel roads to the trails you'll sneak out to when you get the chance? What gearing and components? What suspension? And what about the fact that all your money has gone to the insurance company, hospital, anesthesia, etc?

From house to beer in 9 minutes

Simple answer: find the most versatile geometry hardtail you can wheelie, and sacrifice the build from the dirt jumper you can't ride worth a crap. You don't look cool in girl jeans, you're almost 200 lbs, and your hair is too short/ receding anyways. Having been a fanboy of Transition since the first trail-or-park pics, you should reach out to them and see about that TransAM. It looks cool and the numbers say it'll feel right. Just so happens the white frame looks GREAT with my red and black build. Gearing you say? Nah, let's singlespeed it for a while.

Since then, I've logged I don't know how many miles on her... and she's lived a very diverse life throughout that time. Road rides, pump track laps, gravel grinders, urban, trail, and even commuter miles have accumulated. And they all lead to one conclusion: I love this bike. She's been geared, singlespeeded, and had every kind of tire you can imagine. She even wore a geeky seatbag and headlight for a while!

Why do I like the Tranny so much?

-Look at her! Ano red, white, black, and good geometry... she looks SOOO good! You know you're gonna have a good ride when you catch yourself smiling before you even take her off the rack. Style, my friend... you gotta look good to feel good.

-Riding is very nice. Such predictable and natural feeling geometry. She's laid back just enough to roll over/ through a lot of stuff that would twist up an XC bike, and she never feels twitchy. You can run the seat high and pedal all day, or drop it low and do all kinds of strange stuff normally reserved for a DJ/ park bike. Add to that option the fact that she'll clear a full on DH tire, and you've got yourself a whole bag of options. And who doesn't like options?

-I like to wheelie. Full on sit back, pedal/ brake white trash wheelies for blocks at a time. So much so that there's significantly more wear on my back tire than front. That said, the TransAM might be the easiest to wheelie bike in EVERY build that I've ever had. I love it. She also jumps well for being a larger frame!

-Efficiency and gram-shaving aren't my thing. I've always used heavier builds, and I've never been in good enough shape for it to matter much. However, I've traveled with this bike and ridden many pedally trails without any fuss. It never feels like a pig, she just does whatever I ask. During her commuter days, a set of hookworms and some higher gearing got me all over town, never hesitating to throw a wheely or bounce up/ off or over anything that needed to be bounced.

pure white trash.

I feel especially confident on board the TransAM, and every time I change the tires or drivetrain, it's just like getting a new bike that I can automatically ride with ease. Luckily, my stable is full at the present moment, and I'm very glad of it. However, I look forward to the occasional hardtail trail ride or urban session. If I'm ever forced down to one bike again (God forbid) I know exactly which one will stay off the chopping block! Best all around ride I've ever had, and she looks good too! Now let's go ride!

Full commuter garb. Looks nerdy until I get RAD on it!

My buddy liked it so much... he got one too!

The new Studio!!!

    

      I knew 2013 would be a big year, whether I wanted it to or not! After being sidelined most of 2012 with a few surgeries and recoveries, I felt behind and ready to catch up! As a very goal-oriented person, I decided to re-paint the big picture of my life, and the biggest way I wanted to do so was a new environment for myself and my pack. It was time to set up shop and let some roots grow, right here in North Texas! 

     I'm not very picky about my living space, but there are some strict requirements when it comes to my work space and the mutts. We are a force to be reckoned with! Worrying about losing my beloved studio and armed with a strange list of desires, I set out to find a home that would suffice in the area that I wanted to be in. Location is key, as one of my big goals is to ride my bicycle so much that the battery on my truck dies. This means I have to be VERY picky in what no one would call a "bicycle-friendly" town. I needed to be close (pedaling distance) to some food, entertainment, and friends. Also, I need some serious space. I grew accustomed to the compound, a 20,000 square foot facility attached to 52 acres of nearly lawless land, very quickly and was not too keen on leaving. With the way I am, the way my wife is, and our ridiculous pack of animals, I didn't have much faith in finding anything that would work. 

     With my Real Estate Broker license and keys in hand, I set out all over the areas I was interested in to learn some more. What I found has worked so well that I have trouble looking back on anything from the past! Without going into too much detail (I'm still old school about posting too much online), here's the breakdown: Steazy '70's split level with an enclosed garage turned game room, with an additional 2 car garage in a pocket neighborhood that has one of the best parks in town as the backyard. Add a 7' tall fence, some signature styling via my wife and I, and about three months worth of daily Lowe's trips later, she's coming to life! My favorite rooms- the garage and studio (ex-game room) or what I've referred to as my "Dojo" have seen the bulk of my skill-less, profanity intensive craftsmanship as I faced the learning curve of home remodeling. But I've kept pushing, and it looks great! Enough blabbering for now, check out some pics and the time lapse video from taking the studio from mild to wild!