Drinker with a Riding Problem

Icycle; been there done that... do it again

2012-01-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

I am out the door and Icycle bound

it's been a pretty shitty 2012 and there are little to no indications that this year is going to be any different than 2010 & 11. Suckfest.

80+hour work weeks (money will be nice when i see it) , 5+ weeks of work crammed into 2 week deadlines which seem to be the new MO these days. My client waits till the last possible moment to turn me on to the project and it's due "next Week" normally 30 days, 45 days maybe even 60 days to turn a project. Now it's a week maybe two if i'm lucky. So there been absolutely no riding. I can hear myself getting fatter.

Been to 3 different hospitals in a week (not for myself thank goodness). Twice with my dad who suffered a stroke after a minor surgery on Monday they transferred him to another hospital that specializes in cardiac care. They released him from CCU and yesterday he got to go home. The other hospital visit was for my son who suffered a groin injury with lacrosse conditioning.

To add to the bad luck turns out i lost my CamelBak Hawg and all of it's contents which include a Nikkor 70-300m zoom lens and case. Yeah, I guess it was left in the car and someone got it. Yeah i'm a dumbass.

Missing - gimme a shout if you happen to see this on the street, pawn shop, local trail.

Yeah, i am Ready for a change for the better, good times, good friends, good riding, great venue, great event, and a good buzz or two. Today going to pick up some screenprinted goods, a bunch of shit to burn and a keg of brew and i am off to Fontana Village for Icycle.

only it's not going to be horrible like this

and this

it's going to be sunny and high of 57*F that is just Wrong..

i'm outta here

bRad

What's Playing: Flames Go Higher - Eagles of Death Metal

Eagles Of Death Metal - Flames Go Higher MP3

It goes to 11, and then it goes

2011-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

In a couple of days it'll go to 12

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe

hard to believe this year is over... I'm kind of glad to see it go. went from zero work projects to having too many work projects. A lotta shit happenin' here on the local scene, too much petty drama and politics to get into on here the blahhg .

Christmas Time in the City

had a great Christmas! though seems here lately the "spirit" hits, and then wham; it's gone...

even got in a couple of rides

I'm really diggin' the Cross Check

Seems I'm banned from the neighborhood xmas parties... well that's not exactly true. i just can't attend bearing gifts of Shine.

I put a hurt on too many people including myself

luckily it was our bathroom i stumble back home to redecorate and not our host's.

i am pretty sure i did several of these

including the Rough Rider & Spaniard followed by a Swallowed Dove that resulted in a Dandy Fop

It's all a Blur to me

My apologies to anyone I might have offended in any way; also sorry to my son, who got to see the awesomeness in action. Thanks for the shine Santa Squirrel, btw you're my favorite Holiday bad influence.

My goal(s) for next year? Ride More, Work Less.... (No not be Workless) Bitch Less, Be a Better: Dad, Husband, Friend, Artist, and cleanse my liver, and stay out of Hospitals & Jails. oh and get more stuff published.... and build more trails .....

oh yeah i going to hire illegal immigrants to manufacture our Christmas cards... too much damn work.

Things coming up.

Sonya and I are celebrating 22 wonderful years of Marriage this New Year's Eve, Yeah it get's easy after a while.

Next weekend (Jan 7th) come out and help us get this new Sulphur Springs trail going! so we will have a venue for the Paris Mt. Downhill.

You don't have to be an REI, Friends of Paris or SORBA member to attend, but we do ask that you Register (FREE) online so we know how much food to have! GE is providing the volunteers with lunch, REI and BillyGoatBikes/Mountain Khakis is providing some swag too raffle for those who attend.

Yeah trying to whip my liver into to shape for Icycle coming January 28th, What is Icycle? Well it's a big frozen Party in the mountain of western North Carolina and the next thing you know a Race breaks out. it's an XC race during the day, and a Downhill event that night.

Separator from Ryan Bergmann on Vimeo.

It used to be the first race of the season, which that title is now owned by the Snake Creek Gap series. Icycle always has such a great vibe to it, nobody is too serious about racing as they are about having a good time.

Working on getting the website done this week.

to Register Online Go HERE

http://go-greenevents.com/event/id/567

I'm thinkin' i may do up some Hoodies and Tees

also Working on Eric's Pisgah Productions for his 10th anniversary web updates for all of the races

and for his Newest Race the Pisgah 111k Race.

which will be May 19th *Permit Pending, The course layout, logistics and details are all coming soon. This event is a Jeff Papenfus memorial race event. ALL proceeds to go to Jeff's wife Lisa. Jeff had been toying with the idea of doing a 100 Mile Race for a year or so then, after starting up the Greenville Short Track Series he was bouncing ideas off of me, and a couple of others, plus getting info from Eric on putting on an event in the National Forest. With Jeff passing away last summer Eric decided we needed to make this event happen in memory of Jeff. so without making it a complete gravel grinder Eric scaled it back to 100k instead of a hundred miles, then after some minor route changes it turns out the total distance became 111k.

Shirts maybe?

Some Recent media exposure for the Pisgah Stage Race & Shrimper in the Squirrel suit. I even had some pix published in the latest edition of XXC mag (full 2 page spread in the back) Now if i could just start making money off this photo gig.

I've also been workin' Todd's updates for his three races in 2012, Trying my best to make something cool, but different from everything else i'm working on. Trying a new look for Swank65

so who knows maybe it'll be something else... it's been a tough challenge to keep everything different year, i kind of wish there were a couple of others doing some art for the local riding scene... feeling kind of stuck in a rut.

plus TTR Bikes stuff using the New logo, getting some shirts and stickers done up

and trying to find a local mural painter to tackle some blank walls

Got some recent projects in the mail yesterday, Thanks Stevil!

I'd rather be forgotten than remembered for giving in

Not Giving a Shit Beats Evil?

Happy New Year

-bRad

What's Playing: The Daily Mail - Radiohead

We're marching through Georgia G-G-Georgia

2011-12-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

the Bad thing about Good weekends; They just don't last long enough! spent Saturday trying to shoot Christmas Card photos for my lovely wife. Which meant draggin'

Dumb

and Dumber

to the park in the hopes we capture the perfect image(s)

This year things went a whole lot easier. The secret? leave the wife at home... Yeah there's just too much stress when she gets involved into the production, the dog gets stressed, the kid gets stressed...

So Harrison and I grabbed the dog and were told "don't come home till you get the perfect shot!" Thanks no stress there.

_____

Sunday was off to G-G-Georgia to ride Paynes Creek with the Chip (Birthday Boy) & Jackie and their boys.

Thanks to the SORBA workday that cleared the leaves off the trail the day before. Super fun ride.

Smokey & the Bandit

______

Then it was back to G-G-Greenville to meet with The President of the Friends of Paris Mountain and the Rangers to present $3000 for the Sulphur Springs Trail project. Some of the proceeds from our Downhill race in November are helping the Friends complete the reroute sections of the downhill. hopefully within the next week we can get dirt moving on this project

Finally we've done something more than just throw a kickass Party! Makin' the SorbaMom Proud!

What's Playing: Pavement - Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence

	Pavement - Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence

	Found at Genius MP3 Music Search Engine

Happiness

2011-12-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

and a new Wool Bandit Jersey (thanks Stevil)

i was wearing it a couple of days ago and a red bird slammed into the glass door of my office... i'm pretty sure the shear awesomeness of this jersey was in some responsible to his demise.

What's Playing: Blessed Not Lucky - The Evens

Cookin' it Up! Recipe for Disaster

2011-12-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Friday was spent cooking 10+ gallons of chili for Saturday's Oyster Roast

double the pleasure; double the fun

I am diggin' the new bike!

Saturday was the Cross in the Park CX State Championship race at Cleveland Park. on my ride to the park i crossed paths with the Winter Bike League...which had a ton of riders and once at the park there were only a handful of people for the cross race.

Later that Night was the Oyster Roast bonfire out at Sunrift Adventures

too much Beer, too much Chili, too many Oysters...

What's Playing: Jump Into the Fire - Harry Nilsson

	Harry Nilsson - Jump Into The Fire

	Found at Genius MP3 Music Search Engine

Calm as a Bomb

2011-12-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

Yeah sorry for the delayed post... whole bunch of pix coming soon from the SCCX Race Saturday and a handful of Oyster Roast blowout later that night. I've got a bunch of stuff that pays the bills to do first; so maybe tonight when the dust settles i'll get some things posted up.

Fall doesn't Live Here Anymore, Hello Winter

2011-12-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

goodbye leaves

goodbye birds

hello winter

time for Lacrosse

time for a Cross bike

yep... finally received my CrossCheck

Now Harrison wants one

He also wants a haircut

Yep time for a haircut

Saturday Cross in the Park SCCX State Championship Race then Saturday Night the 2nd Annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser for our bike club... Details

time for Oysters

a lot of Oysters

and time for some Chili

and some cold beer and local Bluegrass

time to go back to work...

What's Playing: Money Rock n' Roll - The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Thanksgiving Day MTB Throw Down

2011-11-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

what are you grateful for? me ? Loving Family, wonderful wife and son, good friends, plenty of local trails to go ride, and a beautiful day off to enjoy all of the above. Turkey Day Ride at Paris Mountain has been getting more and more popular. Yesterday turns out George Hincapie and some friends had a Thanksgiving Day MTB Throw Down they met at the amphitheater up Mountain Creek, then the Road to Sulphur Springs/Fire Tower>down Kangua Right > Left on Brissy Ridge > Left on Pipsissawa > Right on North Lake Loop > Right up Kanuga & repeat 4 laps back down the Kanuga Right round the lake ...

Big George was killing it out there,

Brian Hill was a minute or two behind

and Cleve (the Local SRAM rep) was about 45 seconds behind Brian.

Great day to be on the trails. great seeing so many friends out enjoying the day.

What's Playing: Mountain Man - Crash Kings

crash kings - mountain man mp3 download

Happy Cranksgiving!

2011-11-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

got a ton of stuff going so this probably be the only post this week...

What's Playing: Wild and Free - Curtis Mayfield

Stuff going On.

2011-11-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here is what's going on 'round here

it's a Charity Road Ride for a Greenville MTB Trail Project !

Ride with Big George Hincapie - Nov 20 2011 10:00AM

http://go-greenevents.com/event/id/492
Plans are being made for a new park in downtown Greenville that will be home to mountain bike trails and a pump track. On Sunday, November 20, come join Big George Hincapie for a benefit bike ride that will raise money for this new park. The park will also include a memorial trail for Jeff Papenfus, an avid mountain biker and adventure racer who passed away suddenly in July. The road ride will begin at Hincapie Sportswear at 10am, and include 30 and 56 mile ride options. Big George Hincapie will join us for the longer ride. A silent auction will also be held to raise additional money. A $25 donation gets you a ride with George, lunch, beverages (BEER!) and post-ride activities. If you can't make the ride, your donation still gets you lunch and fun times.

Date: 11/20/2011

Time: 10:00AM

Where:
Hincapie Sportswear
45 Pete Hollis Blvd
Greenville, SC 29601

December 3rd is the Cyclocross State Championships at Cleveland Park!

then later that night is the 2nd Annual Upstate SORBA Oyster Roast..

http://go-greenevents.com/event/id/474

Mmmm Good

Hopefully in the next day or two i'll receive the latest purchase. found a sweet deal on a new Surly Cross Check... couldn't let it pass...

thinking i may add some splashes of color to the mix something like this...

inspired by:

What's Playing: Let It All Be - Melvins

Stick a Fork in Me...I'm Done...

2011-11-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

yeah last weekend was our Downhill Race at Paris Mountain State Park... Saturday was getting the park ready, then a pre runs down the course, then it was over to Sunrfit Adventures to the Party.

Our beer sponsor hooked us up with 4 kegs of Peach Flavored beer...so after a keg of PBR and a half barrel of Blue Moon the Son of a Peach wasn't that bad... it was free beer, and i guess you can't complain about free beer... my piss did smell a hint of peach the next morning....

then after not being able to get the baseball field lights on (had the wrong combo for the door lock) we decided to park some vehicles around the pump track for some fun.

Five AM came waaaay to early to head back to get this Race going... There were several "oh Shit " moments. If you ever want to destroy the camaraderie of a bike club? put on a Downhill Race. Wow... Seriously i lost at least three years of my life expectancy. It was Chaos plain and simple. It's done, and i'm glad that it is.

Thanks to everyone that struggled to make this event work, the amount of volunteers; time and effort spent was amazing. Event sold out at 125 Riders, which was huge, it was a little more tan Jay's Shuttle Truck could handle.

here are some pix from the days events: Full Set of the Downhill Pix on Flickr

Luca was killing it

there were some talented little kids!

Bergen rockin' it

Henry

wow

Women on Wheels

Pros

Ethan

Ryan from Asheville won the pro men

Cecil

Greg

Yeah, I almost got taken out by this guy above; when he endo'd off the bridge and into the creek bed pit i was standing in shootin' pix

here's the another view of the crash

Photo by Charles Slate

Danny

Josh

Dave

Matt Adams

GROMs

Fastest Cat 1 time won a Boxxer Wold Cup Fork from SRAM

won by a 15 year old. Man, this kid is going to be something...

here's another link to some very awesome photos of the day.

http://www.allincubestudio.com/2011/11/paris-mountain-downhill-race/

What's Playing: Going Down - Freddie King

It's All Downhill From Here!

2011-11-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

Working on getting this thing Done with! so Ready, thanks to everyone who's help pull this nightmare together...

Party Tomorrow Night 6pm at Sunrift Adventures in TR open to everyone $10 a head... Beer from RJ Rockers and Food from Shane's Southern Cuisine...

there will be a little of this

PumpTrack Fun from Shutter on Vimeo.

Sunday is the Downhill Race come out and make some Noise!

definitely need some more....

Monday i'll be in the hospital recovering from a brain transplant

What's Playing: Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Blue Oyster Cult - Dont Fear The Reaper mp3 download

11-11-11 & Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

you have 2 chances today

make it count

a long time ago Rota Spain

What's Playing: In Your Honor - Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters - In Your Honor mp3 download

Cross it Up...state

2011-11-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

photos from Saturday's Cross in the Park Series Race #2 Full Set HERE!

Race #3 is this saturday

but i'm gonna miss it because we'll be setting up for the Downhill Race at Paris and Party later that night out at Sunrift!

www.parismountaindownhill.com

What's Playing: Crude Bomb - The Evens

The Evens - Crude Bomb mp3 download

Herding Cats and Diggin' New Trail (it's all good)

2011-11-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Business as usual hasn't really applied to me October November...it's been one day here, and there the next. Last Thursday Night was the Open House Reception for the REI Greenville.

The place was packed with familiar faces from so many places, IMBA/SORBA, Bikeville, Greenville Rec, City of Greenville Parks, Greenville Zoo, Spartanburg Rec, the Spinners, Spartanburg Rec, Partners for Active living, Upstate Forever, SC State Parks Rangers, Friends of Paris, USA Cycling, GlobalBike, you name 'em they were there. REI's community outreach program is pretty impressive.

Friday was out bright and early to lead 30+ middle school kids in a "Community Service" project... Since their Social Studies teacher Matt is an avid Mountain Bikers and local Downhill racer... we had plenty for the kids willing to work on with the new Sulphur Springs trail we started a couple of weeks ago with the big group from REI... Diggin' with kids is fun.

Lunch

Shrimper explaining to the kids the "Circle of Death" when working with trail tools do not cross into someone else's Circle of Death.... form 9 - 3 was pretty productive, the kids had fun. thanks to Chip & Liz for coordinating lunch for the crew.

Saturday was Race 2 of the Cross in the Park Series..

will post up more photos later

Then Sunday was back at REI for the Day 3 Grand opening celebration we set up a tent handed out propaganda about the club, and watched as people camped at the door then a huge line of people line up around to the back of the building... first 200 in the door get Camelbak water bottles with varying sized gift certificates.

El Presidente - Cheap Bastardson

missed out on heading up to Swank, My wife's brother and his wife were in town for a visit from TX so it was family time first fun bike stuff taking the backseat...

Less than a week to go on this Downhill Race, and things are getting pretty crazy, and i couldn't pick a better time to get sick... Yeah, a flood of sinus crud has now landed into my chest... Yay love being sick... first i thought it was just allergies that started around Double Dare... Now i'm thinking maybe it's a cold...

couple of art projects

gotta get back to it...

What's Playing: Level - The Raconteurs

The Raconteurs - Level mp3 download

A Few of My Favorite Things

2011-11-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

here's another thing lifted from the Hellingham blog; too cool not to repost!...

Awesome

oh yeah don't forget ...

What's Playing: Change Has Come - Screaming Trees

Sub Pop 300 05 - SCREAMING TREES - Change Has Come mp3 download

Double Crossed

2011-11-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Cool video lifted from Hellingham's blog..

UTCX - Halloween 'Cross from Grizzly Adam on Vimeo.

Cash is King....Art not mine.

This weekend!

Cross in the Park Race #2 Saturday! Details HERE

REI Greenville's grand opening this weekend we'll be out the Sunday morning out on Woodruff Rd. next to Whole Foods.

then Swank65 later in the day if my head doesn't explode from all the shit that's going on with trying to organize the following weekend's Downhill Race & Pre-Party... lotta shit goin' on and too little time to get it all done.

What's Playing: All You Ever Wanted - The Black Keys

I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love)

2011-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay, busy day, but i'm currently having my liver cleansed...

Got out of G'vegas

and up to Cove Creek in Pisgah Friday night and it was friggin' cold and wet... it rained all night long, we had a pretty good fire started ...

...and then heavy rains came.

The rain gave way to blue skies and cold winds.

Thank God for coffee & misguided Gnomes

time for Double Dare to start... What is Double Dare? Well it's 2 person teams that start at noon on Saturday and have to ride to find up to 10 checkpoints scattered throughout the forest, and then make it back before midnight or be DQ'd. Then at 6:00 am the next day to do it all over again and attempt to get 10 new checkpoints before 6:00pm Sunday evening.

the Good

the Bad

more Bad

and the Ugly

More Ugly (Dicky and his mooseknuckle)

Eric going through the Rules

the Passports get handed out to the Teams

then they've got to figure out the best route to get the most checkpoints and be back before midnight...

from there it's a long cold day and night in the woods

pit stop

Looking Glass

Top of Bennett Gap

freezing my balls off

Pisgah is magical this time of year

after sitting on Bennet i went up halfway up Pilot Rock and froze for an hour waiting for a team to come through up or down... nobody...

the Fire back at Cove Creek

was calling my name

To Be Continued....

What's Playing: The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden

	Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

	Found at Genius MP3 Music Search Engine

Double Dog Dare ya...

2011-10-31T16:55:00.000-07:00

Double Dare Fun and Games continued...

Burning man

Dennis carved this fuggin' awesome pumpkin

Dicky & Garth...not sure what was goin' on there

Midnight Slow Race

classic, well played Dennis!

my DD2011 photos HERE on Flickr

What's Playing: Spooky Action - Dear and Glorious Physician

	Dear And Glorious Physician - Spooky Action

	Found at Genius MP3 Music Search Engine

Want

2011-10-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Verb:

Have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for.

Noun:

A lack or deficiency of something.

Synonyms:

verb. wish - desire - require - need - will - lack - like

noun. need - lack - necessity - deficiency - poverty - shortage

i want one of these

Spent half the day rolling around town with Steve looking for a couple good backdrops for his latest build

over to the pump track at Gateway followed by an Octoberfest Lunch at William Hardware Cafe

then over to a local salvage yard

over to Poe Mill,

cool red tail hawk at the Poe Mill stack

then down to the Rock Quarry at Cleveland Park

the pumpkin patch

the old tree

at Falls Park downtown

cross the tracks

the old Rocks and Ropes wall

back to Poe Mill

Behold the QuadStickel

i want.

then after shooting it was over to Kip's Lucky Bike

Kip showing his SE Quad

during the course of the day we crossed paths with this baby twice. first encounter was going down the road, Steve calls and says "tell me you got a photo of that?" my reply "nope, couldn't get the camera out in time and it turned the opposite way; Damn." The second time was fate. we were somehow meant to see this car up close... It's a cross between a Ford Pinto and a Ford Ranchero

Behold the Pinchero

Awesome

Yesterday it was 80*F; Tomorrow in the mountains high temperature will be in the low 40's

Autumn... is here now
Winter ..... Tomorrow

So Buy some local wool goodies

What's Playing: Mongoose - Fu Manchu

Fu Manchu-Mongoose mp3 download

Call of the Wild

2011-10-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Calling me by Name....

The Pisgah Gnome Samford is going to be part of the Pisgah Double Dare & Fall Gathering.

for those coming up for the weekend the Gate Combo to Cove Creek group camp area is 1941

Let the good times roll

Crossin' it Up

2011-10-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was Carolina Triathlon's Cross in the Park series race # 1 here in downtown Greenville's Cleveland Park . There was a good turn out for a first race; had the Clemson/UNC football game not been going on at the same time there may have been a few more riders and spectators. For the community this is huge... Bike racing in the Park right in our backyards... no driving to Asheville, Charlotte. 2011 has been a good year for cycling here in G'Vegas... Saturday i really missed my buddy Jeff, he was instrumental in bringing the local cycling scene together, alley cats, short track races, helping revive the Downhill race... It is cool to see that others have taken up his cause after he passed away, and are making some shit happen 'round here.

Big H had to miss the final CYMBL race of the series because of Lacrosse, training and conditioning started 2 weeks ago and this past Saturday and Sunday was Lacrosse Training Camp. He was 4th in the overall standings for his age group before the last race..

things on tap for the next couple of weekends Pisgah Production's Pisgah Double Dare & Fall Gathering this weekend at Cove Creek.

who am i to argue with the rules?

Next weekend will back in Pisgah for the Swank65

here's some more of the latest art for Todd

then the following weekend all Hell breaks loose for the Paris Mountain Downhill Race

here's another art project

Some logo art for Mueller and his new trail company Elevated Trail Design...

Mueller was one of the masterminds involved in the design of Pumptrack in TR

here's some pics of a project they're working in Maggie Valley... sick

What's Playing: Crosstown Traffic - Jimi

06 jimi hendrix crosstown traffic mp3 download

a Whole Lotta...Whole Lotta and then Some

2011-10-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

really there's been no time for me to post. A bunch of stuff going on around here...

work is balls to the wall insane...

the question i hear the most is "what is it you do exactly?" I'm a proposal consultant (whore). what does that mean? well, i do proposal artwork, technical illustrations and artist photo renderings of Special Mission aircraft that don't yet exist other than on an Engineer's computer. I've been working military aircraft since 1990 in the Navy as an Illustrator Draftsman then with Lockheed Martin till 2001 then started my freelance gig after a call from Gulfstream in Savannah.

Tarkus

Work was great for a bunch of years, then things tanked, then technical proposal work became almost non existent. The corporation downsized, reduced it's outsourcing...for a little while i had starting losing hope i'd see any more from 'em. Slowly but surely they started coming back, small project here, another there, then work came to a complete halt when their latest creation the G650 crashed during flight test...

yeah that's not good for business...

Last year i had maybe two projects when normally there were 16 to 20 projects a year... and this year was more of the same... Feast or famine... Things are finally starting to pickup which is good, only downside: work gets in the way of play and it doesn't pay to play...

guess it's been a while since i've posted anything, so here's a recap 2 weekends ago at Paris Mountain was the REI, Friends of Paris and UpstateSORBA trail day on the new Sulphur Springs Trail reroute... had 70+ people most employees of the new REI coming to Greenville mid November.

Moving Rock and Dirt for a section of the Downhill Course.

Man, REI gives out Swag for trail days? Awesome.

And They Fed Us too! Thanks REI.

Double Trouble

Very cool, before moving to a new area REI donates to several area non profits, and through community outreach do volunteer workdays on local projects... Our new trail was such a project.... Within 4 hours nearly 200 yards of new trail was cut from the new parking lot up to the pinnacle of the Sulphur Springs where the Downhill course starts...

Oh Yeah... Back in Bidness bitches..

got a new D90 to replace the drenched D80 that needs some work done to it...

What's Playing: Cauchemar - Veal

Sound of Silence

2011-10-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

What's Playing: My Machines (feat. Gary Numan)- Battles

Party on Candy Mountain

2011-10-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

More Photos from Stage 5 on Pilot Rock

Jeremiah Bishop & Sam Koerber

Bob Koerber videoing Sam and JB

Adam Craig

Andy Johnston

Salsa's Gerry Pflug

WesD

Hannah Montana

Thom & Capt. Morgan

Patrick

Shafmo

Yuri

Let's get this party started

Stephen Janes

What? No Gnome?

i want a Fatbike! Badass.

this guy floated down the humvee section of Pilot Rock like it was nothing.

once i split from Skunky Brewster, i tried to follow Drew's wheel down the rest of Pilot Rock, he stopped at several spots waiting on my ass, He says to me, "man, you are carrying too much shit..." no shit, and this rigid fork is gonna be the death of me..." Hmmm? Fork it up? or fat tire it up?

For those that don't know any thing about Pisgah other than seing pretty pics on the web. you've got to take the time and experience at least a week / month out here. hit up on one of the local shops, get a map or guide.... you will totally dig this place. Epic is the word that describes Pisgah the best...

oh by the way...

What's Playing: Lion Mountain - Nbadva Kure

Pisgah Stage Race - Hangin' with the White Squirrel

2011-10-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks Chip for the loaner camera! Saturday morning i made it up to Brevard just in time to catch the start for Stage 5. After the riders took off Shrimper and i made our way over to Pilot Rock for some

Cycling Dirt's Thom

wish i had a video of when Garth Prosser came down Pilot and dabbed several times; he couldn't get going....... Shrimper with the horn was comedic genius! " whammp.... whaammp... wwhaaaaa.... wha.... "

Jake from Industry Nine killing it

What's Playing: "Dirty Movies" - Van Halen

Van Halen - Dirty Movies mp3 download

RADrospective

2011-09-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Oh Yeah...

25 Years Later: A RADrospective from Marc Dewey on Vimeo.

Latest Art Projects:

New Kits for the SchwarzMarkt

ORDER TODAY!

Order Deadline

10/31/2011

Ship Date

12/22/2011

Past collaborations with the Mayor of Drunkingham

a kickass Levi Commuter Crew Jacket

Sticker of the week

Caps

Local Stuff in Work

the shape of things to come...

... curvy

What's Playing: Cheap Thrills - Eagles Of Death Metal

Beware of the White Squirrel with the Nut Staff

2011-09-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Shrimper's 4th in Elite 40+ Sweet!

Albino Rat with good PR .

Poison ivy, got it. either from Squirrel Gap trail out looking for fire wood, or from last nights ride on the Troop 19 trail at the zoo. Hate that shit...just want to scratch.....

During the ride through the park from Sliding Rock Creek trail to the Eagle Trail discovered that between the BoB trailer, my fat ass and Squirrel Gap my rear wheel didn't stand a chance.... totally whacked out my rear wheel rim.... loose spokes and way outta true. Thanks Kip for getting me rollin' again.

Stage 4 highlights

Watch more video of Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race 2011 on cyclingdirt.org

What's Playing: Hey Hey - You Dirty Rats

Pisgah, Pisgah, Pisgah (Pizgahhhhhh) glad i'm not bear poop

2011-09-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Pisgah Stage Race is Full Swing...

Watch more videos on Cycling Dirt

the rest of Thom's videos HERE on Cycling Dirt

Deep in the Heart of PISGAH! Monday night arrived in Brevard late, got to the Gauging Station @ South Mills a little after 8pm the Bob Trailer loaded.

got rolling and it start pouring down rain and i rained hard till i reached the swinging bridge. It took me nearly 3 hours from the Gauging Sta. to Cantrell Creek.

Riding South Mills Trail down towards Squirrel was like riding a Flume Ride.

There wasn't a trail... it was a river flowing down the mountain the new switchbacks on Squirrel Gap were a challenge freshly cut hillsides with 4 inches of water rolling down 'em trying to hike up...with a bob trailer in tow... yikes....super slick peanut buttery goodness

Riding with a loaded BoB on Squirrel Gap takes a little getting used to... Well a lot of getting used to... Going into turns you generally need to take turns wide or the BoB crashes into everything or off the ledge... Only problem Squirrel Gap is not a trail you want to go wide into the turns on. Some sections are at most 12 - 20 inches of trail with 20, 30, 40 foot tumbles down the steep hillside. add that with the driving rain, fog, wind and the black of night... it was pretty surreal.

Just after i past Wolf Ford and before i got to Horse Cove. i had my headlamp on dim to save power and was zoned out in the fog...next thing know i'm riding behind this...

only bigger...

Holy shit that freaked me out; i was riding 12 -15 feet behind the largest Black Bear i've ever seen in Pisgah it was huge... running down the trail in front of me... Got to Horse Cove and there was no sign of him...

from that point on i was making as much possible noise as i could, ringing my bell, singing out load, doing my best hunting dog howls.

Got around the last bend and i could smell fire... then i saw headlamps...Sweet ! BigJ, Jonathon and Chip we're camping at Cantrell Creek & Squirrel Gap and had a pretty good set up. They came in the other way Turkey Pen>SMR>Mullinax>Squirrel

J said "Man we didn't think you'd make it". I made it fine, but the Nikon D80 camera didn't fare too well... i got soaked in the rain. i had it in a bag within the camera case, but it still go soaked... evidently water got into the circuit card? any time i turn it on, the cam goes into rapid shoot mode, shot after shot of nothing... the display doesn't work, and the menu window has all icons/items blinking. Not a good sign...

I've had it out baking in the sun all day trying to get the moisture out. tonight will put it in a bag of dry rice to see if that will absorb what moisture is in there... most of the folks that i've talked to that know anything about cameras all say "i'm screwed, send it to Nikon for repair." What suckass timing, busiest photo season ever and i'm out a camera.

Good camping with my homies!

Black Out with Your Sack Out!

Tomato and his fire building efforts.

Deep in the Heart of it!

Hey Look it's Sasquatch (upper left)

Tearing it down

Packing it up

Big J @ Horse Cove

What a beautiful day!

gotta have more cowbell!

Shrimper tapping into his DarkSide.

Rider up!

Sam Koerber, Adam Craig & Jeremiah Bishop were flying coming up through Horse Cove; just over an hour from the start...man, that is a good pace.... i can't even do Clawhammer Rd. in a hour... let alone half way through Squirrel Gap....

Smiles

and Beers were had

photos by Chip

Thanks to Shrimper (aka DarthVadar) for bringing in the cold Dale's Pales, Momma Pils, and the bacon egg cheese biscuits for breakfast. man, you saved the day!

photo by Dan Bennett

you know it figures! this was my chance to get photos into DirtRag (been trying for years = nada) and last week got an email saying "hey, send us a proof sheet when you get back..." and the camera is dead.

What's Playing: Driven to Tears - The Police

The Police - Driven to Tears mp3 download

Gravity's Pull - Beech Mountain Pt. II

2011-09-25T17:18:00.001-07:00

Cool Video of the weekend's Fun!

US Nationals Championships from Lucas Alcalde on Vimeo.

Saturday was Dual Slalom finals

Shaw vs. Shaw

Grom vs. Grom

Camera battery died after about 2500 shots, so didn't get any shots of the Pro Dual Slalom then later had to split early due to family emergency. so missed on Sunday

What's Playing: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit mp3 download

Gravity's Pull - Gravity Nationals - Beech Mountain Part I

2011-09-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

Friday got up to Banner Elk & Beech Mountain for the Gravity National Championships

Party at Jeff & Kym's Cabin, this place was a trip...

Dreams will be caught in this place

Chad gettin' horny

Big Guns

Heavy Medal Josh scored big earlier that day

Heavy Metal

Saturday was the Pro DH Qualifiers

Favorite shot of the day

DOH!

What's Playing: I'm a King Bee - The Stone Foxes

Wetness - Finally got Some

2011-09-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yay Rain, been way to dry here lately, seems every time we were supposed to get rain, we got cheated... nada, zilch.. Today we received pretty much a full day of good soaking rain....

Yeah, headed to Beech Mtn this weekend for the Gravity Nationals and hopefully the weather is going to be nice.

i'll be doing the play - by - play like these blokes

I'd like for these announcers to do the play by play at my funeral!
How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?"

Mark Your Calendars

Trail Workday at Paris Mtn. Saturday October 15th @ 8:00am

What's Playing: Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine

Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine mp3 download

Torn...

2011-09-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

cool stuff happening all around us in either direction this coming weekend.

head North? to the Gravity National Championships at Beech Mountain

and do a bunch of this....

or head South? for the Georgia Singlespeed Championships @ Paynes Creek outside of Hartwell

or head NorthWest? to the Jackrabbit 9/6hr Race. in Hayesville, NC

Hmmmm.....

What's Playing: Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop mp3 download

Nothing Better!

2011-09-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

There really is nothing better than seeing a bunch of kids having fun on their bikes. That is why these CYMBL races have been so much fun...

CYMBL Race 4 Christ School, Arden, North Carolina

Logan

JoeP and his Mini-Me

Henry

Big H

Caleb killing it.

Wes D (irty Fingers) and Hannah

Berg

Berg Killin' It

Congrats Harrison; 2 Podium Finishes in less than two weeks (very Proud) I'm just glad he enjoys riding his bike with me... and doesn't mind my camera in his face.

Get a kid, and go ride!

What's Playing: What Comes Around - Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys - What Comes Around mp3 download

Wish you were Here, and I was in Vegas

2011-09-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

yep

What's Playing: Thee Ol' Boozeroony - Kyuss

Kyuss - 1995 - ...And the Circus Leaves Town - 03 - Thee Ol' Boozeroony mp3 download

Losing my Mind...Plus Everything Else I Touch

2011-09-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here lately i don't really know what's going on with me... i don't know if it's a sign of getting old...or what. I'm losing stuff left and right... set something down and forget where i placed... a week or so ago lost my wedding ring.... didn't notice it till late, after a group ride at Issaqueena... happened to glance at my hand and wonder "where the hell is my ring" sure enough it was no where to be found, dug through bags, looked in the yard, car, basement, tried to recall all my steps that day... " hmmm , when was the last time i remember it on my hand?" Where could it be? yep found it .... right where i dropped it... at Issaqueena... how no one else picked it up is amazing. Lost my wallet over the weekend.... was ready to start canceling cards and then my son found it under my car seat...

Monday was out GPSing and flagging the Sulphur Springs new Downhill reroutes... Shrimper, Jarret and i did one pass down the mountain, and here's the plot...

then did the route again with Rangers Jason & Shawn, and Jason the President of the Friends of Paris. the new REI coming to Greenville is funding the trailwork which cool. So down the mountain we went for a second pass... i was GPSing with my iPhone again and when we got to the bottom i pulled off my camelbak and realized my phone was no longer attached.... "holy Shit!" man, if it were'nt for bad luck, i wouldn't have any luck. i'm slowly and reluctantly giving in to that fact. So back up the mountain 3000 feet of trail with an area of 10 -12 either side... looking for my lost phone... Thanks Shrimper for trudging back up through the thorny thickets with my dumbass looking for it.

here it was (see below).... the gps and rangers calling drained the battery, but it was 200 feet from the top

Last night went out to Paris Mountain for an early evening ride, and got a kickass ass ride in, didn't get hurt which is a major plus. The trails are so dry, it's been a while since we've had a good rain. We got cheated when the Tropical Storm Lee went north us... we were supposed to get 6 -10 inches of rain, and we may have gotten an inch.... maybe... The normal wet spots (seeps) on the mountain on Kanuga Tr. and on Pipsissawa Tr. were as dry a bone....

some pix:

Nothing say's "Love" like graffiti

Autumn is coming...

Release the Hounds

They're calling for Cooler temps tomorrow and all weekend... Bring it; i'm ready.

Art of the week

too much Greenville Rec ....

Stage Race ad for Mountain Flyer mag

GROM Racing....

and Brevard Vacation House....

What's Playing: Can't Stand Losing You - The Police

The Police - Can't stand losing you mp3 download

Challenge to Conquer Cancer Short Track Race 1

2011-09-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from Thurday's Short Track Race at Cleveland Park downtown G'ville. pretty cool, great little course, Brandon from Carolina Triathlon was the organizer. The Troop 19 trail was the course with a couple of big climbs and the short downhill down the old steps next to the Zoo... it was a cool vibe, and a great turnout.

Tomato making the wrong turn in...

i think that was his planned tactic of throwing everyone else off their game...

It Seemed to work

Pile up

Steeper than it Looks

Harrison did great, got 2nd

The rest of the photos for the Race are HERE. It is Great to see the local MTB race scene pickup up momentum.

What's Playing: The Distance - Cake

What's going Down...with Things coming Up

2011-09-03T10:58:00.001-07:00

The 3rd Annual Paris Mountain Downhill Race. Sunday, November 13th, 2011, Registration is open for the race, and pre-race party... Thanks to St. Francis Sports Medicine for being Presenting Sponsor and still trying to locate a Title Sponsor.

the Night Before Pre-Race Party will be behind Sunrift Adventures in TR. Saturday the 12th, big bonfire, and working on Beer and Band and will be open to All Area Cyclists.

Sunday Race: best of one run format. USA Cycling Event.

the 3rd Annual Pisgah Stage Race:

the 6th?? Annual
Pisgah Double Dare & Pisgah Gathering.

Always a Great time

What's Playing: Get Down Moses - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

Thanks, I needed That.

2011-09-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Last night was our IMBA/SORBA meeting and group ride at Issaqueena.

it was a dry 97*F driving thru Clemson to the trail. We had a brief meeting about some of the stuff going on around the area. Talked about the recent trailwork project there at Issaqueena on the collarbone trail, and about how the Clemson Experimental Forest is in the process of putting in Maps, Kiosk, and trail name signs at all trail junctions....

He also mentioned that instead of listing each trail as a Number like what was done out at Fants Grove, they're using the names the trails have been given over the many years, so you'll see signs for Wounded Knee, Chainbreaker, CollarBone, Vomit, Pig Horse, Anthill....

Rocky English ( one of the head guys for CEF) also talked about the upcoming surveys that'll be going on there at Issaqueena, there will be people out asking questions about access, where you rode or are riding, what would you like to see out there...etc. etc. They will also be giving Gps units out to users to track where the majority of the user groups, what trail(s) are utilized the most and by whom (Bikers, Hikers, Horses). Rocky also talked about how CEF is getting ready to make a lot of Issaqueena off limits to horses, and the fight they're getting ready to have on their hands.

Jason from Pickens City Council talked briefly about the trail project they're working on with John & Pat's company RideGarden. Here he is showing us the map... it's gonna be a pretty cool project, Pump track, trails, skills areas, greenways,

Found this Picasso in my attic

then it was time for an early evening ride down around the lake... Sorry didn't take an pics (too busy riding) , but it was beautiful, golden sunlight, off the lake and trees.... looked similar to this pic a took a a bunch of years ago.

thanks Liz for bringin' the beers, much appreciated.

photos from last weekend's trail work

Jason does more with one arm then most do with two....

thanks to RandyB for bringing out a ton of good BBQ and Brisket

Sunday, with the kid being sick with allergies, we had to bail on the CYMBL Kids race #3 at Camp Carolina in Brevard , so Sonya and i did a Swamp Rabbit Trail ride....29 mile ride from the house from end to end of the SRT and all of the spur trail sections around the YMCA and Zoo,

hit the new Pumptrack while the wife was getting lunch at the Cafe' @Williams Hardware.

got to see some recent finished art projects along the way....

wife did great, though got sunburnt as hell on her shoulders and back. We checked out the newest greenway section off of the Rabbit; called Sliding Rock Creek which is over a little ways behind the Y. and goes though Nicholtown , behind what used to be old Beck Middle School. (now called Sterling Academy) up to the Nicholtown Community Center... good little climb lots of acreage for singletrack trails in the woods, and that is the next project for the City Park managers. It's gonna be cool.

Have a good Summer's End weekend....

What's Playing - Indian Summer - Chris Whitley