Stranded

Yesterday,
I got up early, with another day off.  I went out to do a workout on the CX bike.
Mostly a ride, with just a small, four, uphill hard efforts added in.

went to see the Paul Strand show, got the chimney flu cleaned out, and out to a show with friends.
and took some pictures along the way.

I was overwhelmed by the number of photographs.   About 24 prints into viewing, of the aprx. 250 prints, and my mind,  the real small part of the brain I have, that takes Art in. was full  The Paul Strand show, its huge,  and the prints are very good.
As much as I analize my efforts and think about how, why, I ride my bike.
I did the same effort to the photographs.   Thinking.   My brain had the heavy legged feeling of not being able to keep up,  to dig deep and put in another complete full effort.
I labored on completing the effort.   I was enjoyed,  to make it.  A bit proud, and really, toughing it out, it was needed.  I need a good kick in the Ass to get my photographing going better.

In the mean time,  Arthur Gorka sent me a link, that makes good cheap prints, easy to do, order on line.   I'm getting prints of photos I like,  and thanks to you my friends, I have a lot to choose from.
Some of you have a real talent, your photographs have quality, merit, I enjoy.  Thanks, after the fact.

Kathleen Fite Wulfkuhle:

Allan Rodzinski:

cheers, dlowe.

Paul Strand  http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/805.html 

It Should Be.

Cross is Awesome.
for a short time a race consumes you,  30, 45, 60 minutes.
Good legs, Bad legs, fat, bad bike handler,
smart tactical racer.  Just the strongest and fastest.
You crash, or get chopped in the corner.
Flat.
and run/ride to the pit.
If you are racing well, no doubt there will be sometime during the race where you drool.

Saturday we set up the course, in a nice big park, and we all try to make the most of the park.
Its surprising how quick it goes,  presto, we kit up and ride and check out our work.

we all grab a tool and the big buckets of posts,  I gravitate towards the bridge cornfield section.
the old line was rutted,  and despite the low bramble the good line looked like it now road to the left.
we got busy and cleaned it.    I left for a bit and was happy to see an unexpected treat.  Two logs steps added to the fast uphill.

photo: Steve Thum     It road really well.



I had great legs, and got a good start and was in the ten front riders.  we hit the fast jogging path, and I just shifted down and went, blowing by Mr. DeLuxx,  and right to the back of the top group.
I soon rolled my rear tire,  old aging glue gave way.   I worked a bit got it back on the rim, road to the pit,  found another group and we fought hard all the way to the line.  14th.  Happy for sure!


why is cyclocross important?
Its my race, my choices, to cheat, to chop wheels, to encourage a foe to kick my ass more.
I try to, apply this to life,  to dig in, bury myself in something I love. fail and laugh.
enjoy a beer with my friend/enemies.

After my race I sold t-shirts and I got to chat with Featherman,  and we talked about our races, and european racing, and I tried to talk him into going to Nationals,  at least put the seed of thought into his head.
to the Young Featherman.

the last race of the day is the SScx race.  I got a number, put pedals on the bike,  Took off from the line hot.  Went hard,  a 4 lap race.  wiped out cooking it in a corner leading the 3rd lap.  raced with three dudes for 4th and took the sprint.   It was grand.

Cheers, CYCLOCROSS!  dlowe.

Cheers Crossasaurus Awesome!

we still have some t-shirts left it you wanna buy a small memory.

https://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaCiclismo

harder, faster, better CX

I always wondered to myself,  how does a band,  a musician, conjure up the spirit, energy, and true artistic output, that you want to see,  when they stand on a stage and the room,  it's not quite full, nope, it's on the pretty empty side?

This is what I want to do,  to race cross.

                                 photo: d. Smith -  Re-kitting up for Whirlybird.



and I'm suffering, as all cross racers do,  I'm digging deep.


and wrangling all out of me that I can.


I want to be faster, fitter,  a bit thinner too.


as much as I suffer, wallow,
I so much long for cross. 
Especially in March.


Dudes,  Keep your foot on the pedal,  go fast,  and ride smooth.
I'll chase, and spit and despise you for being in front of me, faster.

I'll hang on the best I can.   
but really,  Well done,  thanks for the beatings.

I race cross.
I must do my best.
Always.

an under attended but fantastic show Friday night,  with soul man Mike "the truth" Watt and the Italian bandmates "il sogno del marinaio".


il sogno del marinaio - "Zoom"


Mike Watt

Whirlybird was great, mud, and I could smell the waffles as I raced.


HPCX.  it  should just be one day.  but don't change a thing,  a brutal fun lap.


West Chester  CX,   you keep getting better, and hard and fast.


Cheers brothers and sisters!
dlowe

Blog

I don't know if you know what a fanzine is,  I remember them with a keen fondness.
Hand made,  copies xeroxed scammed at Kinkos.  Picked up in various places,  the best spot to find a good fanzine, the cool record store.


blogs sorta fill in that spot for me

there are no editors, owners or advertises running blogs.
It is one thing that, does not, have anything to do with money.   They have no worth

some blogs last a couple of postings,  some a couple of years,  and some you get to count on like fatmarcs,  its so nice to see,  A New Post,  and you dive into it,

Its hard not to have a hard copy of this stuff,
blogs end up being a fortune cookie,
crack it open, read, sorta relate, or maybe it don't make any sense at all.
eat the cookie, too,  done with dinner, go for a ride,  on with life, maybe even a small thought later about what the cookie meant.

Today, is about my future,  I'm looking for a building to buy or a space to rent.
I don't know what I am doing, but I want to be a portrait photographer.  Not as a job.
As a fine artist.
I don't want to make a penny.   I have a good job I love.
What I am trying to do?   I don't know, not emulating something,  just following a whim,
A strong whim,  and I don't care where it takes me.

I liked this building, but I pedaled past and about 1 1/2 blocks up is the HQ of an motorcycle gang,
a real bad ass stab you in the head type of thugs.

I want urban, and BIG, I don't care about run down.  I love the Parkside area of Philly.

fanzines were political, musical, just fucking full of personality.

there's a old building with a big personality out there waiting for me.

see you at Whirlybird!

cheers, dlowe.

Caffeinated Cyclocross

down in the woods watching the riders, they went by, I was already done, so, in a way, I knew.

I had my legs for most of the race, by the end of the last laps, I gave in and dropped back a couple of places, finishing 7th.   Happy, but not glad.  I could of been 5th.
The course was good, long power, a bit of rain, s. jersey mud.  slippery, but not a bog,  a clean mud.
Most of the course was fast.

I found something beautiful here.  I hope its the same, for a lot of years to come.


dlowe.