4307

"Why was I feeling like a fraud all of a sudden? I’ve actually had an epiphany with regards to what I want to do and where I want to go with racing and riding bikes in general. I guess what has happened is that although I’ve had a taste of the sharp end of elite cross-country racing, and taken it all relatively seriously, I still don’t feel like I fall into that world-class bracket. I’m just another keen cyclist...But, all the same, I share the love as
much as the next person." - Anja McDonald (pro mtn. bike racer) from theridejournal pg. 18

This type of thing is what motivates me not to try. You go pro, and then what? All you've gained is security - you wake up and say to yourself, 'I am one of the best in the world.' This is what I'm talking about here applied to biking.

4308

4309

Mike Brennan OD's all day

4310

A couple days ago I woke up to find out Alienation was having a contest where the first ten people to skid past seven parking spaces get two free folding tires. I felt like a little kid going top speed in the parking lot of my apartment and skidding but F-it.

4311

This is issue one of the ride journal . Lots of good reads and photos, definitely worth the free download on this shit rainy day.

Also, take a look at a-frame mag. It's another free online magazine and has some dope pictures and plenty of good text for days when there's no swell or you live two hours from the nearest beach, or both. Good thing I can always just get my swell on by going to the gym. What's up?

4312

Here's Dan Cox's section from Tomorrow We Work. I like this because he just rides around doing the tricks he wants even if theyre not the trendiest or most impressive.

4313

How stoked are you that summer's here? This edit explains how I will be feeling every day for the next three months. Shouts to the H&M sign at :36.

4314

Got a text from Zack saying Muffin Man was on campus, so i got my sick, tired butt out of bed to go say whats up. Turns out it was Muffin Man's look-a-like Jake Seeley. Hes the guy in the red hat in this:

BMX legend Jim Cielinski, Ian Scwartz, Lee Dennis, Alex Magallan and a few other riders were there too. Got to see some wild riding go down including that photo of the up ledge manual. He wanted to throw the bars out of it but got too tired before he stuck it. Jim was filming for something they were going to show about after the filming of the new video thats comming out, Up Up and Away:

Maybe it will turn up online at some point. It was dope getting to see them ride and shoot the shit with them. I talked to Jim C a bit about his signature PC pedals with metal pins Sunday's coming out with which he had on his bike. I guess they just decided to stop at UMass and get some riding in before heading to Pittsfield for the premier. If only my Acura hadn't gotten stolen I'd probably be there right now. But that's life, it was a good time and I got to ride with some of my favorite riders.

4315

Ride put the leftover questions from their Sean Sexton interview online here. “If you’re going to sit around kicking rocks being mad all the time then that’s just going to be you, and I just decided to rise above the situation and be positive.”

Bring the ruckus...

4316

Everyone has this idea in their head that ambition is a good thing. Why? So you can be stressed out all of the time and look at life as a competition? I don’t see how that’s a positive thing. In my opinion if you try to be better at things you just get stressed out doing it, and then even if you get better at them all you’ve accomplished is stepping on other people or showing other people up. Being passionate about things may come as a result of being happy and confident, which are good and will lead to personal growth and “advancement”. But to be ambitious gets you no where in life; No where I want to be at least.

I'm making this a philosophy blog as well. I just thought of that stuff and it's making it really difficult to study for finals.

4317

Spotted this pool yesterday, this was our first session in it. It ended with the cops comming (see end) but it was worth it.

4318

4319

Joseph Pennell Refresh edit.

4320

check out this Sergio Layos interview on Etnies.

"Kinda made me realize you don’t need much to be happy. If you do what you wanna do that’s all you need." - SL

Part 2 here.

"Of course you can’t always be always happy but you should find something that goes with your day." - SL

4321

There’s an entire culture surrounding bmx that makes it about more than just riding around and doing tricks. I’m going to be posting anything related to bmx that interests or appeals to me.