Ashes of American Flags

Everyone has a band that they grew up with. You know the deal, you may have bought their first record and then stuck with them as they rode the sophomore wave and "grew up". Maybe they quit or broke up, maybe they kept going. But a small group of bands challenge their fans with each new release. Wilco is that band for me. They have been called the most important band in America right now, and I think that is almost an understatement. They are often compared with Radiohead, but in my opinion , where Radiohead took a detour into electronic freakouts and got sidetracked Wilco found their feet. The music is always grounded and approachable and yet they take it places you never anticipate.

My Ashes of American flags DVD arrived yesterday. I'm very happy.

Opinions please...

I'm in the planning stages of a Triumph build, and saw this on my Friday blog-trawl over at C.O.C. Anyone want to guess at the stretch and drop in that frame? Thanks for the help.

Awesome

Best Trump chop I've seen in ages. Love it. There's just something about this that looks so tough.

4Q Shop tour

Pray for me...

I just got done watching the Jason Jessee film, Pray for me. Absolutely fantastic film for anyone into the whole frisco bike/skateboarding/kustom car scene. Jason Jessee is one messed up individual, but about as rad as they come.

British Contingent

Brother for life and full patch Rattler Alexander Taylor.

You can see the "meh" on his face

Justin sat on one of those Victory machines last summer. I'm sure they're great bikes and everything, but style-wise it's the two wheeled equivalent of a Ford Contour (Mondeo for the Brits).

So Heavy

Adam Wright/Hauler photo of Jasin Phares, Max Schaaf and Jason Jessee. I loved these guys as a skater growing up, and they're just as rad today.

Scott Pommier

This is a link to a sick photo by Scott Pommier. What a great bike.

Scott Pommier

If you want to see more, click his link in the Essential Reading list on the right. Wondering why a link and no posted pic? I don't want to tread on any toes (for toes, read copyright infringment of dudes whose work I love) and I figure if they've gone the trouble of building a slick flash site like Scott's, then they might not appreciate my "click n' paste" tribute on my cheap n' nasty blogger.

Cycle Zombie Triumph

There are many great things about this scoot. In no particular order; black rims, no front brake, cleeeean front end and tight rear fender. 10/10.

Found on the Flyin' Dutchman's blog. Hope he won't mind a repro by a fan.

Max Schaaf in Hotbike Japan

Fifty different kinds of cool.

I've posted other shots of this bike before and can't get enough of it. It's just an all-time ride.

The Elvyn practice space

My Fender parts-caster, Gretsch 6120 and Gibson Les Paul special.


Drums from outer space...

Grand Cayman

The skate park in Grand Cayman. A billion degrees, no other skaters. Great.


Justin in the pool.


Some fat dude (Me) over the light. This park was so fun that I forgot to pad up the entire time. Everything else is so huge and intimidating that this pool felt like a mini ramp.

Fabrizio's '67 Bonneville

Nice one fab.

Fixed Gear

So there we go. An old '70's Japanese road frame which is actually really good looking and comfortable that I gave the ol' scrape n' paint, some cheap rims, one cool white Vittoria tire for looks and one Soma Everwear for durability on the rear, a nice Sugino crankset, a cheap bmx saddle and a Cinelli stem with some Cinelli drop bars.

The gearing is 48/14 right now. Pretty fast, but hard to skid when you're really moving. May change that up a bit. My knee gets stuck sometimes in the drops when I skid too. Not too fun, so I may have to try some different bars.

Slammed twice already.

Sleeping...

Sad news. Van Wastell died a few days ago. I heard that there was a possibility of suicide, but I sincerely hope not. He was a great skater, and will be missed as shown from the top shot from 4Qconditioning. I wanted to post another picture from happier times, and found the second one on the DLX tribute page.

RIP Van, and don't worry. Greater things are still to come.

Atomic Customs '38 Knuck

Damn this thing is hot.

Cardiel by Jason Adams

Thanks to Slap Magazine.

Mmmm... VL Frame

Hot Damn...

Tawmy Brady takes it in the knee.... so long season!