To Speculate and Procrastinate

I know this blog has been basically mothballed due to a combination of ludicrous amounts of work and what had been a long running, and conscious, decision not to have my computer, or internet, at home. Now I'm adding more work to that schedule, and it's called for connectivity from home. The result? As expected I've been trawling through the huge backlog of unread blogs, unresearched little factoids and so on.
One of the effects of this is that I've been reminded of one of the reasons I believe I wrote it in the first place: to share, vent and speculate. Not to friends via email or messages, not on facebook, but just into the general world around. Case in point:

BMW 6 series Gran Coupe.
Last week I drove down to Munich with a group of colleagues, along the way we were playing Leap Frog with an unidentified but rather attractive BMW (similar to above but Bronze with black wheels). Now that it has sprung to mind due to seeing something or other on a blog, I now know it is a 6 Series Gran Coupe and that it has a load capacity of 530kg.
530kg?! For a relatively big luxury sedan that just doesn't sound very high. I wonder if it's being sold in the US (or Australia for that matter). Add four account managers after a long lunch, a few bags with laptops and prospectūs, and there is barely capacity for the requisite clubs to tackle an afternoon round.

Meh, what do I care, I'm not an account manager

image credit

Urban Outlaw

URBAN OUTLAW - THE TRAILER from Tamir Moscovici on Vimeo.


I know this video has been passing around the blogs for a while now but I just got a moment to watch it, looks like it'll have some great shots and maybe some interesting info but the tidbit that stood out for me were the marks on the road at ~3:15....

Times Change

Wow, it's been nearly a year since the last post on here! Not that anyone will be reading anymore but it's odd the factors that collide to prompt me to break the draught: a rare spare moment on the internet, an interesting photo, and an empty office with no one to remark too.



This may speak about me more than anything else but the things I first took notice of in this photo of Times Square in '61 was 2m high "two trouser suits" sign and the amazing condition of the road. If you've ridding NYC recently I'm sure you'll share my astonishment.

The Atlantic

Update in absence

OK, here's a quick update which is essentially an email I sent to a few people, basically I'm too busy with life for the internet right now, but I don't want to turn my back on it completely:

"It's been pretty hectic here for the last few months, well basically since I started working in December. Now I have no internet and rarely get a moment to jump on a computer at work [I've just come in now after working in one of the other sights for the day]. But besides that what has happened?:

I bought an old steel road bike from a friend on the cheap and a few days later I went off to Belgium and the Netherlands for a week. I caught a train the night before I had planned to leave and ended up in Rotterdam. I say ended up as I wasn't intending to be there, it was the product of last minute cheap ticket offers and miscommunications. I decided to ride from there to Brugge for a hotrod/bike party i was going to [where I finally got to meet Chris, thanks mate!]. Did it over two days as I didn't leave Rotterdam until after 3pm and it was about 200km including about 20+km of distance covered while lost. Ended up riding from Rotterdam through Brugge, Gent, Brussels and to Antwerp to stay with friends for a few days [Thanks Chris and Ann, missing you!] before going to the Benelux polo Championships back near Amsterdam.

Some nice little memories along the way like rolling into a small town after 11pm, and within 10 minutes after eating, I had met people who introduced me to someone I could stay with for the night. I had a recumbent pass me like I was sitting still while I was spinning in top gear down into a tunnel under a river. Also got a nice slipstream tow and guide for about 40km from a friendly local road rider in western Holland.

I just had my sleeping bag strapped to my bars, a backpack with my bike bag, a few tools and that's about it. A decent map would have been very helpful as I was relying on some google maps prints and directions from locals, I also would have killed for some proper shoes and pedals [fixed that upon getting home and haven't really worn other shoes since].

There are some beautiful areas out there and as is my experience when travelling, most everyone was very friendly and helpful. I would seriously consider moving to Antwerp! Maybe I'll keep an eye out for jobs out there...

Back to normal life in Berlin now, which consists of German language classes from 8, then work from 12 till whenever I finish, usually after 7, then time with friends before sleep. Currently working mostly in an old atelier building where we are building a bar and restaurant that will open in about 2 weeks, and close 6 weeks after that. It's such an improvement to be working in a vibrant park rather than the dark cave of a club where I spend most of my working hours.

Polo has been very much on the back-burner lately due to being busy with everything else but I've been back out a couple of times recently now that that I can keep the swiss-army-bike as a dedicated polo rig. I might head over to Barcelona in about a month to see the European championships, not play, just a good time to go there to see the place and some old friends.

By the way, I just got told the other day that there are some photos of my beautiful new niece here

That the highlights for the moment, since I'm dedicating some time to internet usage now I've also put a few more recent photos up too but still many months behind.

As usual I regret that it's such a long time between contacts but it just the way life is right now."

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but just hit the links for some visual stimulation. Hope everything is great by anyone [will anyone read this, or has everyone got bored and tuned out by now?] and everyone reading this!

February

I would be remiss if I were to allow the month to pass without at least one post, so here's an assorted grab bag of things I've been meaning to, but failing to share:

A brilliantly executed tourist map

Crumpled maps on Core77

Bike shop from 1912, be sure to check out the large image for all the details.

via Kottke

Honda Dream after a few protein shakes?

Rocket garage

Ok, must be off, need to write an invoice, go to school, prepare for the monthly apartment move etc etc

Lid

I must have seen this image ten times so far, mainly from all the Tumblr image feeds I get sucked into, but the most recent time I saw it I decided that I really want the one in the foreground for riding around town on a chopped up mopped/tiny bike.
via Boomcheck


Tthis one found on Bubble Visor would be an expectable substitution.

Tab Clean out.

Time to shut down the surplus firefox tabs again, so here are a few of the pages I've been sitting on:

-Hotrod Havoc Trailer

via Slim' s Fabrication

-The Evolution of the Terrible One Barcode

This story on CycleExif included a link to this document about the evolution of the Barcode frame. It's a very interesting read that shows the slow and steady evolution of something as seemingly simple as a BMX frame.

-All about the details


Fantastic semi-subversive campaign for Amnesty International
via The Cool Hunter

-What to do when you out grow you XR50

via Death Spray Customs

-Rad Ball

This is amazing!
via Bike Jerks

-Doing as you're told

People Watching Plus from Rune Madsen on Vimeo.

Nice demonstration of the public's propensity to follow the rules.
via Wooster Collective

-Perfection


via Two Wheels +

I highly recommend checking out each of the links to the origin sites as they are all great and varied sources of inspiration and information.

Cold and White

Riding in the snow is a new experience for me, in fact I have only a little [distance] experience with the snow in general. But it is an experience that I must embrace if I am to continue my life here in Berlin [granted the public transport is great but I prefer to ride].

We had our first real snow fall last week and it did force me in to a train in the morning as 1.5" slicks do not make good snow tyres. That is until I learnt about the zip-tie snow modifications. After that I was rolling and sliding my way around the city, I kept catching myself laughing out-loud between cautious moments where are all my concentration was focused on not falling under a passing truck. Great fun!

While it does look ridiculous, it does also work surprisingly well. Now that the roads are ploughed and salted grip levels are generally only a little less than a rainy day I have taken them off as they make turning a little treacherous when not in the snow. Also the cold makes the ties very brittle so I had already lost many of them, but next time the snow falls I will be putting them on again!

Obviously don't try it if you have rim brakes! This is the better option if you have the money to spend:


via Fahrtwind, Dutch Bike Co and Poloholica also thanks to Styleserver for the ties and the warm place to install them.

Random Image #48: Pull

via one of my favourite new blogs: the excellent Futility Closet. Go there and be educated and amused!

Drei. Zwei. Eins. Polo!

(The following is blatantly copied from another blog I write for: Adelaide Bike Polo)

Nicky and I doing battle with Max.

I thought it was time for a little update from the dark side of the globe.
It's getting cold over here and as such the play is going indoors, in fact there have been indoor tournaments the last two weekends. The most recent was in Konstanz, unfortunately I couldn't get there (Halloween in Berlin meant 3x alleycats followed by parties, sometimes polo get relegated), by all accounts it sounded like a great time.
The first was Polomotion in Utrecht, The Netherlands; this one I did have the pleasure of attending. I had the honour of playing there with guys that some of you may remember: Nicky and Chris from Antwerp Fixed.

The tournament was hosted in a hall of one of Europe's largest bike trade fairs: Bike Motion. This meant that we were inside in the warmth, had a steady crowd of interested onlookers all day, and could wander around the halls drooling over all the bike porn between games.

Although there was only one court, each of the 26 teams managed 6 games and finals for the top 8. Unfortunately we, The Antwerp Diamonds, narrowly missed out on making the cut: we reached equal 8th but lost out on goal difference.

Nicky and Chris with Thomas: our most generous host and either a Teddy bear, or Grizzly bear, it was never settled.

Utrecht was a beautiful city, one that has embraced the bicycle more than any other I have visited. Seeing middle class families riding along in convoy was a heartening sight, along with the numerous beautiful women on bikes!








Some of the photos I've stolen from the AFG gents, be sure to check out their write up here.

Viewing Pleasure

Since the posts have been rare of late I thought I'd make up for it in terms of minutes spent viewing and the most effective way to achieve this is by posting videos. Luckily I have numerous videos that I had been intending to post, so here goes, watch them all at your peril [or al least to the detriment of your productivity]

Great video about building a a house and making a home:

SHELTER from jason sussberg on Vimeo.
via Makr Carry Goods

I'm sure the vehicularly minded would already have seen this, even so, watch it again and turn the sound up!:

via Arkitip

If this doesn't move you at least a little bit, then, well, never mind, you wouldn't understand if I explained it:

via Driver Chris

Get out and ride

Life Cycles OFFICIAL Trailer from Life Cycles on Vimeo.
via ACME

I love some if the dated items in this story, like showing the passing of time with cigarettes smoked, regardless it has many interesting moments:

Design story: The Decanter from Landor Associates on Vimeo.
don't recall from whence this came.

A neat little animation

World Of Motion from Colin Hesterly on Vimeo.
via Monoscope

And finally, this looks like it should be fun: Machotaildrop

Machotaildrop - Trailer from friendlyfire on Vimeo.

Via Makr Carry Goods

The Simple Pleasure

via The Whoa

Early Morning Paris

Here's one to file under "Don't do this at home (but I'm glad someone did)"

I tried in vain to watch only a few minutes and merely leave it playing for the glorious sounds, but try as I might it was just too captivating. If you can't afford the time to watch it all, the first and the last few minutes give a good overview, but be sure to see the very end (it's a happy ending).

via Scooter McRad

Sight of The Day: Fighter

I'm not sure if I've been slacking off with this blog, or I've just been doing other things instead, but what I have been doing continuously is taking photos. This is a mildly infuriating [oxymoron?] thing to do due to the scratched lens on my camera, although I'd rather do it then let that stop me.
Anyway, I plan to put some photos up here more often, starting with this bike I stumbled across yesterday. Obviously belonging to a Wrench Monkees fan, that bike was a great contrast to the sedate, leafy street I found it parked on.

Seen and Done

Just a few shots from around the streets from a few weeks ago [I have a backlog that I am gradually sifting through]













More on my Flickr

Like Clockwork

If you've ever wondered how a mechanical watch works, and who hasn't, do yourself a favour and spend a few minutes watching this video. At every chime of the clock you'll be thankful you did. The oversize models used are works of art and the narration is classic 1949.

via Kottke

[ Download ]

AURORA X MONOW Follow Up

I posted about the AURORA X MONOW collaboration jerseys a little while ago and I just received a note about it from Sebastian. Since I love the work he's doing, and he asked so nicely, I thought I'd let you all know that that a second run is going to press as we speak. Get in fast with your pre-order as the first batch sold quickly. Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to get in to this order either as all my funds are going to sampling the produce of the local Brauerie(n..?) and train tickets to others/polo tournaments!
Good luck with the new run Sabastian, it's great to see a small studio succeeding.

The Design Process

My mate linked me on to The System a few days ago and it's been open in my browser since, I flick through a few pages when I need a break. Not good for productivity, thanks unnamed friend, ya jerk! But I still love ya.

Falcon Motorcycles Kestral

I may be away from motorcycle ownership for the time-being, (well, that's not entirely true, I still own them both but they are a few thousand km's away) but I still try to stay in touch with the scene from time to time. However enthusiasm is easy to let slip when I have no immediate prospect of riding* but this video quickly brought back a large slice of that.
The scene, the sounds and the details all just make me long for riding and wrenching.
The bike is the Falcon Motorcycles Kestrel, that I posted about on another blog I write for occasionally**, it's a genuine work of art. Please, for your own sake, head over to their site and spend a few minutes checking out the details and story of the Kestrel, I promise you'll be inspired!

*I did find a nice and complete yet neglected Le Mans 850 the other day, I took the details for when I get some income sorted here....
**yeah, I know, blatant plug

[ Download ]

All is Well, Just Remember:

via Fixed Gear Antwerp