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.