The Radavist

The last Recent Roll Nature Vibes post got a lot of love and while Texas is far from the Northwest, it still has its share of aw inspiring landscapes. Last weekend the lady and I made the trek to Enchanted Rock about 100 miles northwest of Austin. This large batholith is the third largest formation in the world, and second in the US. We managed to sneak in before the crowds so I got some surreal landscape shots with the Hasselblad.

If you’re within driving distance of Austin, or you’re already here for ACL, you better make it out to the Odyssey BMX Texas Toast Jam this weekend. It’s bigger and better than last year, with a tighter, more techy dirt section, a new and improved Gauntlet of Death, better street course and even a flatland section. I went out yesterday to check in on the guys and it’s a lovely, colorful mess of ramps and paint right now. Some of which look dreadfully fun to shred.

I love finding a roll of film you thought you lost. This one roll of Ektar was sitting in the bottom of my bag and I had no idea where or when it was from. Turns out, it was in my Contax T2 and I had taken it all over. Indonesia, Bali, along the ATOC, the RGR and finally, Austin. This is all randomness, pure and simple. Check it out below.

I thought I lost this roll of film somewhere overseas but as I was cleaning my office, I found one last roll from Bali. So I dropped it off to get developed and viola, vacation vibes all over again. These are all completely random and the film crops are all off (gotta fix that setting on my scanner) but they’re all pretty good!

Every year, when autumn rolls around, cyclocross invades this blog. Road racing is done for the year, forcing the Manual for Speed crew out into muddy grass with their Mamiya 7’s loaded and jokes cracking. At least that’s how it went down at this year’s Cross Vegas. Emiliano Granado is quite the photographer but an even better heckler. Check out his mid-heckling photography in this clever Guest Gallery.

Sure, it may look like a bunch of dudes, standing around, looking at some plywood but those are the most capable ramp builders west of the Mississippi. The crew is already cracking away at the 2012 Texas Toast Jam course. With the dirt already getting shaped and the ramps underway, you can expect it to be bigger and better than last year. I’ve seen the sketches for some of the course and its insanity.

Last week I swung by to see the guys. While I was checking in on their progress, I shot some photos with the Hasselblad. Check ’em out! And if you missed out on my photos from last year, see them here and my Recent Roll photos here.

I have met a lot of interesting people on the road. All through bikes. People from all walks of life, with various careers, personalities and ambitions. Sometimes those people become good friends. And that’s how Omar and I became friends. What started as a haircut, led to drinking, then more drinking, some karaoke, bad tattoos (have we even ridden yet man?) and finally, another haircut. Vinny’s Barbershop is my go-to spot for a trim when I’m in LA and it’s not just because Omar knows how to take 20+ years off with an hour-long session…

If I were forced to move anywhere in the USA tomorrow, It’d be LA. Now saying that, I have to admit, I dislike 75% of the “city” but that 25% is mighty tempting and it’s that percentage that brings me back every few months. Last month, I was actually in town for the Mishka LA opening but managed to sneak in some time on the bike, in the bar and at Golden Saddle Cyclery. Even though I was only there for a few days, I had my fill until next time…

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