CJ:
Bretto, how long has the ride pushed out to now?
And are freds allowed?

Only those whose names are not Fred.

Not entirely sure of the distance, with only a V-Meter to go off. Last year was around 75km from memory, and with the added gravé it’ll be 100 0r so. Or I’m completley wrong and we’ll be out there all day fixing punctures and fashioning chains from fencing wire…

It’s good to be with you all for 2011.

So very soon, all will be right with the world. A-Merckx.

Riding now–I hear it’s as good as ever, just farther out. It’s very hilly west of Austin. It’s more rolling and gets flatter east of Austin.

It’s always beautiful. If I were hi-tech in anyway, I’d move back. Software is the industry that drives the economy.

Both you and Buck Rogers should get the book “Best Bike Rides–Texas” by Andy White. I don’t know if it’s been updated since ’98, but most of the rides are probably still do-able. It’s helpful if you want to get a feel for what to expect. Most of the rides are in Central Texas, in the Hill Country. The next large grouping is in North Texas. The rest are scattered about. Austin and San Antonio are in the Hill Country. Anything around those two cities is great for cycling.

Jeff in PetroMetro :From a little west of Austin, you’ve got Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock.

Put them together, you get Flatlanders. Effin’ brilliant stuff.

In Austin, Antone’s was down the street from where I lived. If a huge tour band came through (Rolling Stones, U2, etc.), they’d head to Antone’s after their show to jam until all hours of the morning. There was a pic of the guys from U2 at the counter of Conan’s Pizza where they ate before heading over to Antone’s.

Now in Houston, I live down the street from Fitzgerald’s. Everyone from SRV to the Ramones played there.

One cannot throw a rock in Austin/Dallas/Houston without hitting some ridiculously awesome musician or a well respected recording studio, guitar shop, record shop, or venue.

Oh, before we were married, my wife and I lived next door to Lyle Lovett’s girlfriend. I was cooking dinner one night, looked up out the window, and saw that distinct stovepipe hairstyle walking across my lawn to our neighbor’s house. Listen to the song “I Married Her Just Because She Looks Like You”. My wife and I swear he wrote that about our neighbor who was in Lyle’s life before Julia Roberts. Our neighbor looked just like Julia Roberts. Connect the dots.

Charlie Sexton. The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Alejandro Escovedo. Eric Johnson. Kelly Willis. Charlie and Bruce Robison–in Austin, just about anytime you stuck your head in the door of a dozen different places, these folks were playing. My wife is sure that, before Natalie Maines joined, the Dixie Chicks played at a picnic where she worked.

And to bring it back to cycling, Steve Hegg stayed at my apartment for a week in between the Tour of Texas and the Spenco 500. Really good guy. Really, really fast.

And I witnessed a conversation, standing on Highway 360, in Austin, after a time trial (I think), between Eddie B. and Armstrong (when he was a killer teen triathlete) about giving up triathlon and becoming a bike racer full-time.

There really is something in the water around here.

What does this all mean?

The Sky is Crying. I was in Oregon on holiday when I heard he died.

Buck Rogers:
One of my biggest regrets is passing up tickets to see SVR in Burlington, VT in summer 1990. My buddies were all going and I had to work so I passed on it as I thought I could see him some time later. Less than two months later, he was dead.

+1

And I’d say it’s Floodin Down in Texas (or about to anyway) for the CoTHO.

Bet he rides something odd – recumbent with Campy Chorus, or something.

You mean like this SRAM Red-equipped, Zipp-ladden, Power-Tap enabled, carbon-seated beast?

il ciclista medio :
@Jeff in PetroMetroYou know, I’ve been a fan of Lyle Lovett for a long time. For me, probably about the coolest modern country music around.He finally played in Sydney last year after what must have been about a 20yr wait, and I would have to say it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Had the punters in the palm of his hand, sublime.

I’m also a big fan of Lyle Lovett and don’t forget James McMurtry who is another awesome muscian out of Texas (and has anyone mentioned Stevie Ray yet?)

And then the relapse:
Grimpelder: “He ain’t heavy (he’s my brother)” (The Hollies)

Now bikes and musician’s….
Snoop on a low rider cruiser tandem, blinged to the max, speakers and spliff holder, with some voluptuous bimbo wearing totally inappropriate attire (for a bike that is) on the front, doing the hard work
Morrisey on a single speed Raleigh, scarf and hounds-tooth jacket with an un-oiled chain giving off just the right whine as he forlornly pedals past
The Chilli Peppers on BMX’s (too obvious?)
James Blunt on a tricycle, possibly orange, to allow the continual strumming of guitar while yodelling “You’re beautiful” until unceremoniously being hit by a bus whilst in the cycle lane
Mariah Carey – solid gold MTB with all of her platinum disc’s melted down to make the bars, some gold CD’s as mirrors, not for traffic but for hair and make-up checks whilst stopping every 10 meters

I think I could do this all night…..just let me grab another beer……

Has got me wondering what type of bike other musicians might ride. But I’m not sure we should go there…

We learn early in life that Friday night is high school football, getting drunk, and getting laid. Saturday is college football, getting drunk, and getting in a fight with either your girlfriend or some guy who’s staring at your girlfriend. Sunday is church–mostly Southern Baptist. Real hellfire and brimstone. Makes you feel bad about what you did on Friday and Saturday. By Monday you get over it, and by Friday, you’re ready to go again. What was my point? Oh yeah. We’re not particularly sophisticated, and our beers reflect it.

One can never accuse Lone Star or Shiner Bock of being great beers. They’re good beers, dependable, consistent, and traditional to Texas.

Jeff in PetroMetro:
@xyxax It was everything that came out of Austin.

Still is. ‘Austin Skyline’ by Jimmy Lafave is still one of my favorite albums (though, as the name suggests, owes as much to Dylan as it does to Austin). I saw him live in an underground bar in Wellington in the mid 90’s – just him and a bass player. Fantastic. And isn’t Darden Smith from around those parts?

@xyxax
Well played. I couldn’t think of anything for the Schlecklet. You nailed it.

@Marcus
No, JENS and the PS Boys would be strange bedfellows. And I think ‘Hurt’ (probably the Nine Inch Nails version, rather than the Johnny Cash version) should be JENS’ signature tune.

Enuf already.

Unusally, for a tiny bit of spit at the bottom of the South Pac, we can find allot of very good Yankee beers at the Hash.

Another great song is Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down”. It breaks my heart everytime.

Thor or JENS – Power and the passion
LA – Natural woman
Boonen – Too drunk to f@#k (or snort)
Landis – Humpty Dumpty or The boy with a thorn in his side
Jacky Bobby – Future’s so bright (I gotta wear shades)
Clenbutador – Ironic

Friday arvo & a little brain dead so I’ll leave it at that

@Gianni
The insular world of the Permian basin (not to mention Yale) may not be conducive to a presidential mind.

@frank
You know, Mubarak started fixing people’s posts and now look…
and Lance, like, cured cancer with those yellow bracelets and everything.

G’phant :
@xyxax “Lance Armstrong can’t play guitar for shit.”
This has got me wondering about what PROs can play and/or sing – or, raather, what they SHOULD play / sing.
Banged n Felled – “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down” (Chumbawamba)
LA – “Rawhide” ? “Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll” ?
JENS! – “Takin Care of Business”
Everyone in Spain – “Suspicious Minds”
Rasjuicin – The Chicken Dance
Clenbutador – “Lyin’ eyes”
Best I stop this now, I think.

Forget the songs, here is the beginnings of a Breakaway Artists LP
David Moncoutie – Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Jacky Durand – Only the Lonely
JENS! – Another One Bites the Dust
JENS! – So Hard (although am not sure the Pet Shop Boys and Jens go together)

any others?

Grimpeur the younger: “Chain of fools” (Aretha)

It was the soundtrack of my childhood.

Sorry. Getting a little wistful. Think I’ll go get a 6-pack of Lone Star.

frank:
@sgt

And you’ll all be happy to know that I will finally be in true Rule #9 territory on Saturday; forecast high is 5. And rainy.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww…the Californian is gonna have some rain and cold. So sad.

Frank: I’m confused. Does that make you the kettle or the pot?

Gianni :
Hey! Hey! If anybody sucks it’s us Americans. A fatter, lazier, dumber group than us, you won’t find them.

Well us Aussies have been giving the Americans a run for their money, let me rephrase that, a waddle to the fast food counter, no let me rephrase that, a stop at the drive-thru, in the lard-arse stakes. Heck, for a while there we even held No.1 position on the world obesity levels. Thankfully we have now been relegated back to No.2, after the US.

G’phant :

minion :++1 Wicked! Though I’d rather live in Texas than drink Tui.

And drink Budweiser ???

Bud–huh? Shiner Bock. It’s what’s for breakfast.

minion :
++1 Wicked! Though I’d rather live in Texas than drink Tui.

And drink Budweiser ???

This has got me wondering about what PROs can play and/or sing – or, raather, what they SHOULD play / sing.

Banged n Felled – “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down” (Chumbawamba)

LA – “Rawhide” ? “Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll” ?

JENS! – “Takin Care of Business”

Everyone in Spain – “Suspicious Minds”

Rasjuicin – The Chicken Dance

Clenbutador – “Lyin’ eyes”

Best I stop this now, I think.

Delenda est Alberto

And to bring it completely back to cycling:
Lance Armstrong can’t play guitar for is a total shit.

Fixed your post.

And you’ll all be happy to know that I will finally be in true Rule #9 territory on Saturday; forecast high is 5. And rainy.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww…the Californian is gonna have some rain and cold. So sad.

@Gianni
Having spent 23 years in Texas, some of it cycling the mean streets of Ft. Worth, why (only) Midland?

And to bring it completely back to cycling:
Lance Armstrong can’t play guitar for shit.

Beggars can’t be choosers tho.

@Steampunk
Thanks, but I’m still a little south of that.

And you’ll all be happy to know that I will finally be in true Rule #9 territory on Saturday; forecast high is 5. And rainy.

Brett, I’m jealous you have a track in Wellington. I’d kill for a track. Another reason the US sucks, hardly a velodrome to be found anymore. That Welli ride sounds like big fun.

Feeling bad for my Kiwis in Christchurch and Lyttleton (the port town, which also got F’ed). I’ve had too much fun in both places. These are two of the nicest towns anywhere, ’tis a shame they get shaken down when there are so many places that almost need it. I’m looking at you, Midland, Texas.

frank :
@Marko

Canadian music that doesn’t suckNeil YoungThe Tragically HipCowboy JunkiesWailin JennysBe Good Tanyas
Canadian Music that SucksBrian AdamsAllanisNicklebackNicklebackNicklebackRushArcade FireBarenaked Ladies

Fixed your post.

Ha!

Arcade Fire, how to make music that sounds like Bruce Springsteen (first album) trying to be indie…and badly. Never been able to work out what all the hype was about?

Ah, sorry mate. I’ll supply you with a bottle of Portland’s finest if I ever meet you to make up for it.

In the mean time, please stop staring at my dangling blockquotes. I can’t help it, I was born that way.

Jeff in PetroMetro :
@Buck Rogers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kRTASg9sh8&feature=related

Man, I remember watching that film, the first K. Smith film I had seen, and being blown away! So outrageous and awesome!

Your new avatar makes you look fat.

It’s not the avatar that does that. But thanks, I feel better with my old avatar back. It’s kind of like the internet equivalent of makeup sex.

This. Seriously. Why do you watch that guy? Even the local hack weather people here are better than him.

Look, it happens, OK? Just like you guys leaving dangling BLOCKQUOTE tags around in the posts that I have to go back and clean up. But you don’t hear me judging, do you? Maybe there’s a lesson that.

Don’t worry, Buck Rogers. San Antonio and the rest of the Hill Country do not suck.

@frank
Is a double insult the same as a double negative? That would be a no-no.

mcsqueak :

sgt:

@frankSolution 1: Don’t watch Al Fucking Roker

This. Seriously. Why do you watch that guy? Even the local hack weather people here are better than him.

I love Dave Chappelle’s skit when the reparations for US slavery are being paid out and his parady of Al Roker. Too funny!

@Steampunk
Absolutely. A list of American music that sucks might cause the server to crash. Particularly as I am in a phase where anything that is not Sonic Youth sucks.

Best Canadian band name from a popular on-line dictionary: “July Fourth Toilets”.

And don’t get me started on French “rock” music.

frank :
@minionWithout knowing anything about that nuckfuckler, I feel comfortably assuming he is a piece of shit based on that photo alone.

Nailed it.

@frank
Seriously? Roker? Get ready for Candlegate II.

@frank
Solution 1: Don’t watch Al Fucking Roker

This. Seriously. Why do you watch that guy? Even the local hack weather people here are better than him.