Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Waiting

The rides keep coming and life is flying by! I keep thinking about this Devlins song....



The irony is.....I'm not waiting for anything or anyone. I refuse to let life pass me by while waiting for something to happen. There are constant reminders every day. I'm driving my life....and the riding keeps me sane, and fit. I am a crusher. One of many....

We had an awesome ride over at the infamous Allamuchy trail in NJ. Home of the legendary 24 hour race that destroyed many riders and bikes over the years. First stop was Marty's shop in Randolph, NJ to meet up with Jesse. This was my first visit to the shop and it's really nice! Ari and I had been trying to hook up a ride with Jesse for quite awhile and we got it on this October day as we raced to beat the rain. Jesse's pal and coworker John met us at the trail and so did Kevin. In the parking lot before the ride John announced that he had looked up the race scores and realized that he's ranked  number one in the country for DH in his age group and category. Scary!!! He led us through a ripping ride in Allamuchy!! He knows it like few others.... We beat the rain for the first 2 hours and then it began to fall and get through the trees to the trails and us. Slippery....yes. Killer ride! Thank you Jesse and John!

Snow White (Julie) and 5 dwarves hit the trail at Blue Mountain in Peekskill for some destruction and we got what we asked for. Abuse on every level. Blue is the jam. Kevin got hurt on a big roller on "My Favorite Trail" near the end of the ride. He rode out with one leg....Ouch! Get better soon Buddy!

Life goes on and the rides continue.....
I swear I'm gonna get some software and edit some videos.....really.

Ari checking out Marty's Bus

At the trailhead....Allamuchy!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

A Greater Strength

I have been remiss about posting some of the greatest rides ever. Riding, not writing. Riding with a greater strength and savage skills. Leaner, stronger, faster than ever. Our riding crew keeps growing.....we just did my birthday ride in the Jungle with 10 of us and 11-13 the day before on the Alpine-Balay trails for 5+ hours. Nothing can tire me out. It is absurd. The strength and drive comes from within, but I owe the riders in my crew for pushing me forward faster and faster. Kevin, Sam, Jason, Erik, Julie, Kai (in from Berlin), Leo, Chris, and the rest of you know who you are....

Press play to see and hear one of my favorite bands "Lir" from Dublin...this one goes way back!



So.....my movie has been crazy! Lots going on and the riding is off the charts. Riding road like a demon and devouring all mountain trails! New gear on my bikes definitely helped to push me over the line. New Rockshox Monarch rear shock on my Ventana plus new internals to make my Lefty a PBR air fork....also new Formula The One brakes. Transformation is not a strong enough term! My El Rey "The King" is unstoppable! Destroying rock gardens and anything else in it's path. I just have to keep pedaling and hold on! Got a new E13 singlespeed crank on my Spot with the new Gates Centertrack belt drive system too....also ceramic bearings in my Project 321 Lefty Hub and new Formula "R1" brakes. Super fast and nimble! Does better gear make you a better rider? Yes!!!

I got a GoPro camera and have been shooting some wicked videos....footage to be seen shortly after editing....stay tuned.

Charlie from E13 was in town for a visit so we took him out to the Jungle to show him how we do it in the East. He got to ride Jason's Ventana El Ciclon and he ripped it. He rode the Otter Slide without the bike! It was impressive.

Kai flew in from Berlin for 2 rides including my birthday ride at Jungle.Steve drove down from Kingston for the birthday ride at Jungle and the 4 hombres were reunited....Kai, Steve, Jason, and me. It was a long time since we shredded together. On thing hasn't changed...they are all rippers!!

Lots of pics.....lots of rides. I'll try to write more often. It's not easy being the star of my own movie that never seems to end :) Ayuh.

Tom the Niner Rep's basement workshop/fleet

Otter Slide at Jungle Habitat

Charlie on Otter Slide


The new Rockshox Monarch shock on my El Rey

Jungle Ride...Jason, Sandy, Sam, & Chris

Sos and the Shortbus

Sandy and the SRAM Brothers at Tom's/Ringwood

Post ride BBQ at the Balays...Yummy

Sam's new sombrero and Charlie from The Hive/E13

Kevin feeling up my Formula R1 brakes at Stewart

Kevin, Sam, and Leo at Sprain Ridge

Trailside maintenance at Ringwood....Yup.

2 Amigos....Jason & Kai...breakfast before the ride

Taking over Piermont with mountain bikers

Jungle Birthday Ride with my Bros

Sam and Sandy the Ripper!