Good Folk

 

I had a bit of fun the other night, shooting wheels with JK, for the Revolution WheelWorks website.  I've know Jk for a while, I think I've got one of the first set of wheels, unlabeled, that I've been racing cross on.  My first set of tubular rims.   so I'm sorta biased, but being me, I have a hard time using anything that I'd feel would slow me down on the bike.   I like the wheels a lot.  I've ridden them at battenkill, Granogue.  The carbon clinchers, my favorites.   It took me awhile to get use to the braking sound, but all else, super good.   I train on 'em, crits on 'em.   Just ride 'em to their death, I'll do.  I hope to get my second set this spring, just for racing.   Revolution Wheelworks.

the Studio was George's living room, drinking beers, listening to music, cats sleeping on wheel bags, a good way to spend a night.  Trying to fill in all these quiet days, the ones from x-mas eve to after new years day with productivity.

 

 

 

the other day, its was cold and clear, with snow moving in.  I hit up the centennial lakes to do some hot laps, 45mins. of as much as I could drive myself to replicate racing, workout. 

 



I pre-rode my lap, making some adjustments to the course, and on my way down the walk, a mini-van hops off the road and creeps down, looking for a place to pull off, to fuck or get high.

"Yo Fuck!,  you have to fuck here"  I yell at 'em.  they look at me, with zombie stares and park just to the right.  OK, go with it, so each lap the vans there, whatever.     Deal with it, go hard, 4 to go, push on.
the snow comes down, the van leaves, I finish up.   What a beautiful place.   I stand over the bike, steamy fog rising off of me.  Taking a few photos with the phone.  

If you'r on the cusp about going to Louisville, go, I love that town.  and I really can't wait to line up, on the old golf course links, and go at it with the other, Over 50 yr. old men, racing cross bikes.  and I really look forward to the weekend of watching Championship racing.  Right there, against the tape, yelling, drinking, watching the best.  My folk. 

other wise, next up, a week easy, some Crazy Train,   yo, a 100 or so phila cx peeps pedaling about abandoned urban places.  Beers.  and a cool Patch.  nice thinking Lone Wolf Cycling.  

 

Philly cross its got soul, heart, its thumping away, strong.   I hope to sprint up to the front of the ride and look back, look back at 150+, riding, January, cold. not racing.  A good training day, for me, for my soul.   Good Folk!

a grand new year to you all!

dlowe.

   

In Tune-upped

Every once in a while I hit publish, sit for a bit, and change my mind. and I revert to Save. I'm glad that in its clunky way, the blog, that it gets posted, but then hangs empty,  I'm glad that I can edit this thing.    maybe come back and figure out what I was trying to say and say it better, or just leave it, in the edit mode, not every to be posted.

the other night I went out to see The Babies.   that's it.  a real good show.


The Babies - Moonlight Mile

... at the Kungfu Neckte, a small place, in an urban bar, once a neighborhood hold out, now its life, is the re-energized beer/music thing.  Great small place, good sound, a stage that's 10" off the floor, and much like cross, you can step up close, as you dare and take it in.   The last night of their current touring.  They played with a sleepwalking joy, of knowing that soon they'd feel the strange peace of sleeping in a bed, or on a couch, some place that'll they'd considered home.  They played relaxed, full.

There is this guy, I've seen at shows, he's at a few of the small shows I've seen over the last couple of years. 

I like seeing him at shows, his style.     No drinking, led light, reading his book.




I'm working on refining my photo work.   Its nice to go back through stuff, and see how crappy it can be,  how at one time I thought "not bad".   



Cheers, dlowe.
  

check 'em out here:  http://dlowe.dphoto.com/#

 

 

 

Wankers

well I've pre reg'd for the last race of my season  1/31/13.   Thursday night in Louisville.  7pm.
Singles Speed Cyclocross.  I don't have a proper SS bike, and I don't wanna do it on a gear'd locked out bike.   and my cross bikes, I love ya, but I'm done with ya.     Hate to say it,  but your going up on ebay/C-list,  after Worlds.   
It might be this clunker upgraded w/things from the shed bike.

but it might not, maybe a new bike.   I do like my Raleigh SS mtbike, maybe it needs a friend to hang out with in the shed,  uuuh, a Raleigh sscx would be nice.  maybe.

 

I look forward to thee SSWCCX13  visit to Philadelphia.  No better place for it to be.   I expect 100's of racers, nights of parties, Sun Ra might return from Saturn.    I plan to be the King of the Clunkers SS. 
I want the winners, I want them to be flown to England.  somehow in my mind, the UK, and eel pies and all.  doc martins, Snatch.... , that where else could the SSWCCX go?  but from Philly to merry England.  and the next race host flies the tattooed winners over to give 'em some Respect.
I'd make a special winston Churchill Raleigh SS model.   the cigar smoking drunk, he'd be the head badge,  he'd of liked phila.
I'd want Obree, and Wiggins, the Oasis Gallagher bros. going at it.   Coldplay, yep.    a Ska night at the 100 club.  Johnny Rotten, Donovan,  the Queen Elton John.    

F'n A.  Its December 20th.  What do I want?  I want to ride my bike,  to kick some ass Racin.   I want to F' the man.  To raise a bit of hell, to rock.    I want to die before I get old.  I want to live a lot of life before I die.

cheers mates, dlowe.

I am myself

I've figured out that my soul is that of country dog.
A rambler of one.
I've often got more heart than brains.
a few ticks and fleas, maybe worms.
I can bark loud but hardly ever bite, ... well atleast not drawing blood.
I like to sit back in the bed of the truck, the drool, snot jowl spittle, just  roadmapping down wind.
I'll fart under the table, and wage my tail once or twice.
I go deaf when I see a squirrel, and bolt.
I don't show no affects of pain, or sickness.


one of my heroes.   Bill Cunningham.

a bike riding photographer, watch the movie, Bill Cunningham new york.


I don't think I've belonged to something so inclusive, as this years cyclocross season.
how'd that happen.  that people are taken the time to put on events, un-official and regulated.
rides, clinics, ovals, junkyards, parks, Monday night, Wednesdays, traditions...
Water ice, train wrecks?
and all have been invited, "join us".
I don't think I can remember any time in my life when this has happened before.
that people are just doing what they like
and if you do
all the better
and if you don't
it'll just take longer to kill the keg.

I love this band, Y Niwl, the songs, the 'tude, bunch a'thugs from countryside Wales. 
their own words, language.



Philadelphia, the SSCXWFuckingC.
I don't know if I'll get a Single Speed Cyclocross bike built up, I've been thinking about it.
and if I do, its going to be a bits and pieces one.
I wanna race the clunker class, trash picked frame, or a back of the bike store basement orphan, on the last legs and outta-date parts, wheels with hops, and a history in its self, been used, trashed, put back together, and used harder...

I, I think, am a Single Speed Cyclocross Clunker Racer, and as much as the fastest rider wins.
I wanta be on the bike with the most soul.  um... that French saying je no say kwa.

During my hot laps workout up around the Centennial Lakes, I saw the couch with 3 to go.
Off in the woods.  I went hard the last two laps.  I thought about how,why,that the couch was carried there.  Set down with a good view. 










I relieved myself against a tree, put the bike up in its roof tray, headed over to the follies Cx-mtb race, and bit some heels, cheated and howled.

dlowe.


I missed it this year,  I was working for a couple of days on a electical safety PSA

summer school

I don't feel like racing tomorrow,....   I sit in the classroom and look out the window,  people are crackin' beers, long rides,  putting on a little fat on about the waist.
on Summer Vacation.    
I've got a bunch of home work, a book bag full.
I've got two months to go, to L'ville.   I'll work hard, and be smart about it, I hope.   I've never had to be fast in the end of January.  

Today, I've always wanted to do the park house tour.  In phila., at one point in time, this was quite an important city, and the Men w-$$$ built a number of house just outside the city,  spread down the river, up on the bluff. 

I've downloaded christmas music,  I want to celebrate. well that's not so much news, I always want to celebrate, or ponder, ... the thinkin'... and drinkin'

Ljiljana and I don't worry about celebratin, b-days, thanksgiving, x-mas.  We can't plan whats going to be a good day, you know, with work, moods, how much money is in the bank.  So when things fall in place, like today we make the most of it.  Today is a celebrate day. 

OK, so.. despite getting up early to race tomorrow, I do, I feel like its a full moon night ride, special, I want to race, well I've got the gear packed, and nothing to lose, I feel like racing.   I want the hole shot, I want to be the anvil from the sky, crushing my foes.   Hmm, might be a good day, immune to pain day.  Just got get my feet on the floor when the alarm goes off and out the door.  after that, its habit.

cheers, d.

Apple Pie

 

This iron bed, I've slept in it many of nights.  and in a few different houses.  It used to be upstairs in my Great Grand parents house. 

 

 

During the 3 nights I spent in Beaver, the trains rolled along the river.  I woke 3 or 4 times, the low rumble, trembles, a rattle in the room, awakening me.   The kinda thing that will be a good memory.

It was a good weekend, of racing.       Monday we all sat in the living room, with cups of coffee, the house quiet, we talked.  Just whats on our mind talk.  My mom and I and Michael,  my stepfather.

  

 

Sunday morning, my Mom had a bit to do, and with rain forcasted, seemed better to me that I head out to the CX race on my own.

 

For breakfast I had apple pie.

 

 



I did not set an alarm, I woke while it was just before dawn, I laid in the bed, and the sun rose.  The light slid into the room.  

The bicycle has given me patience, perseverance, confidence.  It burns off my abundant over-exhuberent energy.  my goals for the season, of not needing to beat someone, I've learned, learned that my effort, my drive, I own.  I race to win every race.      Saturday, I heard my Mom cheering for me as I rode by, I got passed and could not catch back up, ended up 3rd.  I gave my mom my phone and she took the photo.

I like this time of night, the house is quite, I hear pascal, one of the cats, eating dry food.  I'm going to grab a beer from out off the porch,  its a cold night, so the beers are quite well chilled.   Its dark in the house, and I'll sip, and not really think, just relax.   the christmas garland and holiday strands of lights,  entwined, give a nice glow.    I'm tired from 3 good long days of work. 

dlowe

home

way long ago when I was kid, we made do, you know, If 5 guys showed up, three had gloves, somehow we made a baseball game outta it.  Pitchers hand, 3 hits, all the shit you needed to do, and the games, they were great.  Same with football, made due. 

To me a good cross course is the one that makes due the best.  Sure having some great landscape, drops, flyover, sand,  that makes a great course.   but you gotta make due. 

I'm at my Mom's in Beaver PA, drove over today, made it early enough to suss out the course, South Park Wave Pool.  

I offered to help, they had it going on, not much for me to do.   I pedal about a bit in my street clothes.   upphhh,   fence post, tightie tight single track w/roots, edge of sidewalk cement.  etc. 

BB gun fight, dirt clod war, we are gonna have some fun.

 my mom had some cold beers in the fridge, ones I'd left from the last visit.  A fresh baked apple pie.
We hit up a bar over in Rochester for beers and dinner.   A F'n good night.  I'm stoked to race tomorrow. 

 My bikes are parked in the garage next to my step-dads work bench, he's on the road screening the doc he just made.  He's a good man. 

My mom's from WVa, and I've spent a bunch of times, during the summers as a kid in Parkersburg, and with my Great Grand parents in Ravenswood.   Those were my Andy Griffith days.  Good kid days.

I worked in the South Park mall for 6 months, one of the times I dropped outta college.  Doing the photo stuff, you know, taking portraits at Sears Portrait Studio.   

sorta a home coming,  fucking sorta wanna do well tomorrow, and Sunday, I want to kick some ass.
my Worlds.
cheers, d.

Firm Handshake.

Its nice to be reading again.  I finished two books this week. 
I've got a few more started,
and with the colder weather, and early dark. I should be sitting by a fire in my slippers turning lots of pages this winter.

I'm making my plans for L'ville.   I enjoy the exploring about the town, and thinking about the trip quite a bit.

Louisville looks to have some nice old places to visit, just mixed in with the life of the downtown.

Got out on the bike, cross.  Some plans but ended up pedaling.   and ended up passing the John Coltrane place.   A couple of men were doing some brick work on the front of the place.  The house is not in good shape.    I pedal past a bit then circled back.   Chatted with the main man.  64 yr old dude, doing the masonary work.  He stuck out his hand to shake.  I grabbed on as strong as I could and squeezed.  I ended up hanging out a bit.  He pulled out a photo of Coltrane from '57,  standing on the porch.  He talked about the importance of the past, of wanting this to live on.

If I keep things simple in my head, my world is based on time.   Most of the physical experience, from waves,  friction, gravity.   I've never gave a lot of thought to spirit.  Yep soul, but spirits?
and there are so many Head of State God figures, it's be a lot of work for me to figure out which one to put my blind faith into.

I've never needed to define my spirtiual beliefs, in god, no god, whatever..

 

 

Riding the bike and where it takes me, I have to make sure to keep my eyes open, to not just look up the road. 

 

 

Off to Pittsburgh this weekend, to visit my mom, and racing some cross.

 

cheers, d. 

inertia

are there any great thinkers around today?

places where smart people sit and discuss, explore ideas, thoughts.

I understand Inertia all to well.   I tend to want that, once I get going I just want to stay there, just moving along.  Its a fight to push forward or back.  

Inertia is more defined to explain effects of physical, tangible objects, right?

is there an inertia to my soul, thinking, how my brain works?

and the world acts upon me,  and I try to accept, ignore or fight its forces.


in a race I like that Zone,  I want to reach it and maintain it,  but there is more and less happening around me, and I do have a bit more to give. 

Understanding what moves me, or why I don't veer to a new path,  defines me.   This blog, my writing its just off the cuff,  it'll stew around in my head a bit, but then I usually just type it out.    I'm surprised by what I write, and look forward to see how my next set of words typed out on the page, comes out, its a new read for me too.   

JK and Jess text me yesterday,  I was laying on the couch, watching tv.   Asked If I'd like to go see Sufjan Stevens X-mass sing along show at the Union Transfer.    Yep, got up, took the camera to practice, to work at it.

I liked the christmas ghoul,  I had a crush on that ghoulish backup singer,  I don't know,...

the show was sold out, but people were quite nice and with out much any inconvenience to others I just walked up to the front of the stage to take some pictures.

after about 4 songs, the relaxed big security guy came over and plainly asked me to stop taking pics,  I needed a camera pass from mr. Stevens to use my camera.    I'm not sure if Sufjan has a thing against dslr's, Canon, or my skills?   The pics from peoples phones were looking better than what I was shooting,  maybe he was worried that the camera might led to a blog posting, and that I might weave his show into my mixed up words.

Sufjan searching, looking, maybe finding some inertia.

cheers, d.

Mundane

race report, - Klutxztown cx Saturday's version.

the race went excellent. after my tough physical/mental zapping week I was chopping at the bit to let my steam off on the racing of my cross bike. Day of, last row start, excellent! I like the view of 40 or so riders in front of me. the starting grid was tight, 7 across, packed tape to tape. No holes for me to poke through. I got in a bigger than normal starting gear, so coming up to speed would take a bit longer, but once I got up to speed, I jedi'ed through the pack, came outta the prologue maybe 12th. I brought a big shovel, and dug deep, deep into what my body could do. Standing and driving it faster. I musta been above my max most of the times. The barriers glowed, blurred in the light. I held on tight and found a good battle for 7/8/9/10 moved to the front of that group and pushed the pace up, pushing it, really suffering good. a bit of a lapse and 8th came around, I held the gap a bit, then it grew, I still buried myself all the way  to the line, 8th! When I got home I felt like I had fallen down a flight of stairs, I had a couple of beers and passed out at 8:30. These types of days are what I need, using racing as my training, My mind is fresh as ever, and I really look forward to the next race.

my average, the mundane,  its.....    the word work,  its not a word I like.   To most, and the way I learned it, you worked, toiled at something you didn't enjoy, to earn....   ?   a reward?

its the work I love,  to be able to do a lap at the Wissahickon, that's not work, thou it does require a bit of physical exertion, its a blessing.

this list of beers, from Agiato's, where I stopped post Wissahickon, I really don't think they are made because of toiling away is going to make the brewers some $$$,  a boat, fat belly, smell of coconut oil, hot babes.     I had the Scotch Ale.  and it was... mundane-lly good. 

 

I've ridden by the Indian many of times, I've never stopped.  Today I stopped.  Each block of stone was carried up to this perch.  Not easy I imagine.     A lot of what inspires me, it comes from my peers, my friends.       and I just want to make sure you know,  that the bit of extra effort, I appreciate, that it inspires me to do more, and in the end, I hope that I inspire others.

 

 

to the greatest mundane days.

 

 

Cheers, d. 

juiced

hmmm... I've found something that interest me,... in music and the photos I take.  finding the balance between abstract composition and the reality of a clearly focused photograph documenting the performance.

I went to the Death Grips last night, after a dig a ditch fill the ditch type of work day.

never thought I'd see the Death Grips, thought they might flash out in glory, before my chance.  and it worked out perfect.  a good corner to wathch from, very close, on the stage.  very loud, hot. straight through the set. Enough, I was contented. 

I have not slept but a few hours each night the last few days.  and not on the bike at all, much, except a ride over at the Wiss on Monday.

I work a bit more tomorrow, .... and pass out tonight, wake early and finish a good week of work ...tomorrow.
maybe race Sat.,   maybe a long mtbike ride Sunday, and more riding, I look forward to riding, more riding....
I like music the power the unfocused, disconnection, overwemlthed intensity, no time.

 

where the world seems more in focus, outta focus.

deep love xxoo dlowe.

 

 

http://thirdworlds.net/main/index2.html

Off the Grid!

...no one really stands out in my mind,  Like a boss leader,  you know the imtimadator, squared chin, always razor stuble, low growl of a voice.   Brackish breath, cigs, last nights cheap whiskey.   and you meet them, a look over your head, and words said with a turn of a head towards more important task.   Not directed at you,  no comas, just run together, DO YOUR WORK.

Crossasaurus Awesome - Philadelphia Ciclismo!

 

 

when I'm out on a group ride, I always try to remember that the ride is only as fast as the slowest rider.    That on this ride we are the same fitness, skill level.   Both riding,  as one group.

 

The Cat 4's, no matter what, how pro $$$,  they always come off baggy,  a bit widered eyed, maybe it just cause they race the first race, early.  The alarm in there house goes off early.   They try to sneak out to this new love, without waking a sleeper.   The spouse a slight bit concerend about this new found love, but fine, ... it makes you happy,  you belong,  so she turns over and goes back to sleep. 

 

I'm learning a lot from my team mates.  Things I need in life, really, skills that make me a better person in this world.    I'm lucky to step into a time when the teams already been running for a while, geled and set.

the issuses they get resolved.    A bit of the time I feel like a Cat 4 in life,  my personality,  confidence, "people skills".   I'm a nit picker,  I like to watch.   be it racing or work, or whatever,  I like the wee little un-noticed details, the things so ordinare, that you glance over 'em.   I like the extra value, of catching voice in the air, two Cat 4's, strangers, chatting, hearing it start, maybe a friendship bound.

 

 

and what In the process of learning and teaching is being passed on?

 

what do you think this son learned yesterday at our race?

 

 

so where ever you are,  looking down at your phone maybe during a dull meeting,  think about yesterday,  think about the chart up there, with numbers, layoffs, $$$,  and think if you added a new value to it, another line,  like what you did yesterday at  "Crossasaurus Awesome - Philadelphia Ciclismo "  cyclocross Race.

 

that line on the graph  would run a very steep grade,  up and,  off the grid, maybe we can factor more of that into our lives, being independent, helpful, fun loving.  

 

Thanks to the leaders yesterday,  great job leading, and everybody that was there.

 

Cheers!  David Lowe 

fleshtone - Cold Speck

there is a great room in Philly.  Its small, a side chapel in an active church.   You almost could call this place the church of punk rock.    Shows in the basement, the main chapel.  Mostly indie, with a leaning towards punk.  

I carried in a 6 pack of an Old Forge tall boy cans.   Sat with a friend and drank and listened to the music.

in a room like this, a show like this, it gets pretty quite.   The audiences here are very respectful, and are pretty much silent, listening.   Cracking a can is a bit of an art, waiting for a crescendo. "crack".
Same with snapping photos,  I try to make sure that the I take pictures at a time where the shutter click is not heard.

Cold Specks is the name of the band,  but its her, I'm not sure her name, Al Spx I think.  

One of the best shows, again, another great one.  

Her skin tone was very close to the tone of the wood that made up this chapel.  At times she moved away from the mic and out sang the PA.     Listening to music in this room, I feel like a fine beer, aging in a bourbon barrel.


Her recordings come nowhere close to this live sound.   It was nice to hear just her, and a single supporter filling in a bit.   and I really enjoy her recordings,  all morning on the way to help with set up of our cx race tomorrow and all the way home, she played.


the photos, they are dark, same toned.  It was hard to "print" them,  very subtle changes, in the shadow, contrast, values made huge changes in the look.    ..... I need to spend much more time working on the "print".

thanks for reading, cheers, david.

Gettysburg/Annie Leibovitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers, d.