Sometimes, you just need a ride in the country

It's been crazy busy for me lately. Work on the photography business, work on spring projects around the house, heck, I've even been busy with work on my bicycles. Busyness isn't always a good thing. Don't get me wrong, it's good to keep active and to be 'doing' things. Sometimes though, we can too easily let ourselves get too busy, so that we don't take the time to stop, reflect, and just enjoy simple pleasures that life gives us. They are always there, it is just too seldom that we actually stop and take notice.

Tonight, I was heading out for a ride after putting the kids to bed. Now, most nights, I'll grab the Karate Monkey, and roll it out, for some crank spinning, gravel grinding exercise styled riding. But tonight, tonight I wanted something different. I wanted to just slowly poke around the country side, listen to the birds, and smell the rain in the fields.
When I left home, it was lightly raining. I looked up, and pointed my bike in a direction that looked like to might not be raining quite so much. North. Not long after heading out of town, the rain was tapering off, and the sun was shining in the distance. That was my destination.
An incredible few moments were afforded to me. The sun broke through, the road dried up, and the wildlife was out enjoying the evening with me. I saw 13 deer, 9 hawks, 2 owls and hundreds of other smaller animals. A lone coyote wandering a nearby fence line. The red-winged black birds cranking out their song. The glory that we go whipping by in our cars everyday. Tonight, it was mine to enjoy. And I so did.


Life is Good.

Kick Stand Coffee

These guys are onto something. Kickstand. A mobile coffee shop, that's transported by bicycle. Cool idea, and I hope it goes really well for Peter, Neal and Aaron.

Kickstand Coffee from Brian W. Jones on Vimeo.

Sometimes I want to move!

So, no riding the mystery bike today. What's up with this weather?

I rode the mystery bike tonight

I got a quick little zip (very quick and very little) on the "mystery bike" tonight. I need a new chain (wasn't successful in re-connecting the old chain and keeping the link free) and once that's in place, I'll put some pictures up here on the blog. But, my initial impressions: incredible! This bike is fast. And, it fits me like a glove. I felt so incredibly comfortable on this bike, and I felt like it was custom made for me. That might change after I spend a few hours in the saddle non-stop, but this bike is right for me. I'm so stoked to almost have it on the road, and I'm stoked to be able to post some pics soon.

Cheers.

Back out on the LHT

I forgot how great this bike is. For some reason, all of the other
bikes in the garage have been getting all of the attention lately. A
shame indeed. This bike fits so well, rides so well, and handles so
many different purposes, it makes all the others in the herd nervous.
LHT, you rock!

Fixie Ramble

mad fixie skills

Chris Akrigg THE MAURICE.0 from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Way fast steel

Just another teaser of the mystery bike. If it weren't for the fact
that I didn't notice the BB spindle was brunelled (bearing raceway
pitted - just an old millwright term) this bike would be ready for a
shakedown ride tomorrow morning. All I need is to pick up a cartridge
BB(anything wrong with a cartridge BB on classic, vintage steel made
in France) and a 1/2 hour and this baby will be blowing me away with
it's speed, razor sharp handling, and incredible ride.

Any guesses on what it is yet? Hint: the bike model name and the
Shimano groupo that hangs on it are both called the same. Think
limited edition.

Serious progress on the mystery bike

There was a serious hurdle that's been crossed this past weekend. Now,
the re-build. I'm super pumped about this bike, and can't wait to get
it all finish for the reveal. Stay tuned!

Good for the mind

The end of last week I was stressed for some reason. Well, maybe more just frustrated, and without patience than stressed. I didn't even know why. Maybe the kids were being crazy? They're always crazy. Usually it doesn't get to me. Had a good week of shooting, and had some great shoots coming up on the weekend. It bugged me that I couldn't put my figure on the reason I was feeling so off.

When I'm feeling this way, regardless of the reason, there's a sure fire way to ease the funk. Getting out, away from any hustle and bustle, and just being alone in a quite place. For me, this usually happens on a bicycle. My bike takes me to great places. They don't even have to be far. Just away, quite, and alone. So I can think, and re-align. When hanging out with a sunset like this, how could you be frustrated? Good medicine for sure.

A simple bike helps. No gears = no worry.

Thank you Karate Monkey.