Cinema de Ballsberry

Turn this one up loud~

Even though this vignette ends abruptly I like it. The song over is coming thanks to Josh sharing some TV On The Radio with me a few months ago. The title of the Track is Wolf Like Me and it's words call for transfer in tragedy which is exactly what Alchemy is saying is in need for the Ballsberry Family. I am looking for a different video host, I have been making some nifty little video edits of some interesting riders and what they do for me creatively, the problem is I am working in a MEG range that is bigger than my present free host likes. At any rate these videos are complete in original big, clear and loud form, I am just waiting to share them with you when I figure out a better medium.

Notice two separate important and yet same NEW links on my side bar. One is Himalayan Photographer Jeff Botz's Web Site and the other is Jeff Botz's brand new blog which will be the most interesting thing you could possibly read and understand on a real science level. In the future I will tell the story of my understanding of this man I have known now for over 7 years. Until then, take the time, I know you are really busy with existence in this sped up world which leaves you time for nothing but make the time and read what he is saying. Then look at the images, transfer what you are seeing from the computer screen in your mind and imagine this is true film photography that is huge, exact in detail, spiritually significant and unlike anything your visual cortex has ever absorbed. I am not delusional, Jeff's project is real and worthy of not only your's but the world's attention. Please spread his links as far across this spinning earth as you can, tell a friend and have them pass it on.

Urban Crash/Tues night Mountain Ride

Ballsberry clearing the plank drop, I was a fraction of a second to slow to get him in the air Rawness setting in

and for a closer look-click make big

On my homeward bound Stay Alive yesterday afternoon the weirdest thing happened a few hundred yards from the house in Dooleyville. I stood up to get some speed entering the last descent when all of a sudden my back tire blew out and it felt like the rear wheel broke traction and slid to the left sending the bike out from under me. The next thing I realized was that my riderless Lemond was heading straight for under the front right tire of the car viper that was passing on my left at the same second I was airborne arms in front of me and body parallel to the black deck. My eyes were on the little gray fixy and just before it was about to go under the car the driver instinctively swerved left to miss the ghost ridden bike and he did by a foot. All of a sudden I was happy that my work bike did not meet it's end then I slammed hard in to the asphalt which made me unhappy all over again. It was an abrupt stop to a hard fall that caused the wind to be knocked out of me. The driver stopped, I rolled around for a minute and alleviated him of any responsibility he had thought he had. As I limped away for a jog/walk to the house I heard him say that once he had been hit while riding a bike just like mine. "Thanks", I replied over my shoulder while thinking there was no way it was just like mine.

When I got home I tended to the 4 Beagle Puppies under our care and fixed the flat so my work bike would be ready for the morrow. Within in no time I was on the way to Sherman Branch to meet Scott alls balls Allsbury aka simply Ballsberry for an evening ride. He lives so close all he has to do is jump on his bike and roll down his street to a little spur trail that leads right in to the Branch. I looked at the gas gauge on the Montero and thought to myself that I had not added any gas in this car in at least three weeks and had been running on under the E mark hoping that my tank was actually bottomless. Can I make it there and back again? This time I was not risking it so I put in 20 In God We Trust Units at the local Petro Station which equalled 5.001 US Gallons. When I jumped back in the needle registered just over an 8th of a tank. Is that not the funniest shit I have ever heard? I can prolly make it there and back on that much fuel for the next month or so, life is good!

At Sherman Ballsberry rolled up and after some new parts chat we took off. I had not seen this ole pal in awhile and it was good to get caught up with him even though there were some serious things brought to the table. I have known Scott since the rainy Renaissance Race in the Spring of 1998 when he, Dicky and I were all on the same starting line but none of us had yet met. The course was soaking wet and the promoter asked the field right before the start about voting on whether or not the distance should be shortened. Scott and I voted yes, serious riders grumbled, then the hands including Dicky's skinny one went up for not shortening and the less serious grumbled. How could I forget what either of their faces looked like over ten years ago against the gray toned sky? At any rate last night I heard Scott laughing a bunch as we flew through the hard packed trail. I took some different video shots of him riding the long log ride and maybe in a day or two I will post some video work here.

New Honda Fire Bird

Check out Josh's Civic Honda Fire Bird. I have had the honor to ride shot gun in this sweet little red sled on more than one occasion. Yup, cruising down Tryon with the windows down listening to some old school Bill Joel turning all the heads. Red Necks dig it and usually give a thumbs up or a nod, hell yea. The bucket heads look confused as they do most of the time, after giving a double look then they just turn away in disgust. The younger crowd with the cans on their exhausts give looks of jealousy before asking where they can get one for their car hoods, little did they know it came out of the late 70's. The general public at first appears alarmed but the moderate sound of Billy Joel winds up putting them at ease even though they seem to think the sticker does not really match the car.

I suppose if I were his kid or someone who gave a crap about what people think of me and my place on the earth I would be a little embarrassed to be seen riding down the road or stopped at a light. Thankfully I am not his kid nor do I care what people think about me so I am proud to be in Josh's Bird for a lift to the nearest place to go mountain biking, it does have a sweet rack that is most of the time broken.

Double Down Brought to by Smoothie King

Can you hear the ring? Click and make big to read. Way back in April or it may as well been a life time ago I rode in my 2nd Double Down on it's 2 year open to the public anniversary. June 08 Charlotte Health and Fitness has published this 2 page article written by Ilan Paltrow with supporting photos by me without credit which I have been told as if it matters that there will be a correction in next months edition. Just like Smoothie King touts, "Chewing is overrated"

Over the weekend Rachel sent me this link to an article recently done by a local news source in Biddeford Maine. When you click it you will see a familiar image that I took of her riding along the Stay Alive here in town being flanked by moderate outbound three abreast traffic and a Ron Paul sign in front of tacos nevado. The article is nice and I also like Rachel's picture of her bike leaning against the rail of the last ferry of the day out of just north of Deep River crossing the Connecticut River for camping under the shadows of Gillette's Castle on the opposite shore. For some reason I see something in that picture that is familiar to me. Good work getting yourself alive out of the BAMA(Boston Atlanta Metro Area) Raych, stay north of the BAMA for ever that way you have a chance! Canada is soon ahead of you, be sure to get a stamp on your passport and see if they will trade theirs for yours~

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Yo, Denver the gate way to the west coast, how about you New England Towns, and those still following what you know down south, this girl needs our help. Meet Arleigh Jenkins who is in the running for this year's Santa Cruz Hell Ride that was won last year by another Charlotte resident and global leader of the SS class Dicky Dillen. This contest involves getting out to Downieville CA and racing a really heavy squishy death bike provided by Santa Cruz overland up high against 3 other girls from around the country. When Arleigh wins the race that will last a long while by going up high above the tree line to sub alpine regions and over exposed sloping terrain with huge life ending drops on each side then making epic descents only to start climbing again for ever she will bring home the fancy bike and tons of great stories. Last year when my former ex wife and I made the UXC Challenge win to get the free scholarship to the 2007 Trans Germany (go back in time, look at the videos for a laugh!) Arleigh was very helpful in getting us some serious votes, now it is time to return the favor and make sure she gets to the west coast Death March next month! Apparently Charlotte has some continual contest winning spirit, this time with Arleigh's initiative to go to the bigger than life California mountains. To do this she needs your help by rocking the Vote from the link here. The second step you can make to helping is please forward this story to as many nice people in your realm that could take the time to vote her there.

This Public Service Announcement is brought to you by those in search of not dying but living for the minutes in the saddle that take you places other than where you are now.

Robert D. Tucker

There have been some interesting packages that go in and out of my bag over the years even though I have never carried a brain. The other day I took one to Wachovia for Robert D. Tucker who instructed me to leave the envelope at the empty reception table near the phone I was talking to him at. I can handle that Mr. Tucker, no problem.

I often take motions to order in to the State Courthouse and the Judges' Chambers where they all hang out when they are not in the courtroom. I am always reading the name of the judge out loud to the assistant to the judge that way a mistake does not get by. Often I have to say that this package is for the Honorable Richard Boner, that's right Judge Dick Boner.

A recent new one was going to Wachovia at the Plaza when I looked at the package fresh out of my bag and the girl at the reception right off the elevator and I said, "Do you have a Rich Boss?, this package is for Rich Boss." She said that she did have a Rich Boss and that she would be sure he got the delivery.

They are not in my pants

they are on a small domestic tree in our backyard and they seem busy. Ants are interesting in their work ethic which is constant. The activity is fast paced and there are different roles that they play. From the workers moving the food back and forth to the nest to support the colony to the bigger fellows that stay close to the queen and lop the heads off of any threats to her majesty. These defacto Centurions of the Queen have a mandible mounted two armed pincher that is designed to scissor the heads off of enemy ants. Their instinct has them dying before not doing the job that they have been born to do.