Snowball's Chance In Hell Bike Race

Two weekends ago on Brownie Lake in Minneapolis, a bunch of crazies gathered for the SnowBallsChanceInHell Bicycle races. (the actual name is much longer) They are held right on the lake - the frozen lake, for you out o' towners. In a nutshell, a "course is shoveled/broomed off and bikes race around for a number of laps. The course is a figure-eight, so there are frequent collisions, many intentional, and loads of screwing around. Nobody take these races too serious, it is all about fun. Refreshing. So was the temperature. I believe it was in the negative temps, or zero at best.

There were some prizes given out by the sponsors: One on One... can't remember who else, maybe CRC Coffee?

Some guys showed up with studded tires - not the wimpy store bought ones, but home-made with sheet metal screws versions. Most were without studs at all though. A number of Surly Pugsley's were there too. Again, for out o' towners, the Pugsley is a mammoth tire'd mountain bike. It is the SUV of bikes. Balloon tires are 4+ inches wide. They are specific for winter riding. The guy doing the wheelie is on one.

If anyone knows the names of guys riding, feel free to leave it in the comment section. Credit where credit due and all.

Windsled - School bus for freezing lakes

I was assigned to Bayfield, Wisconsin last week to shoot a "windsled" that kids take across Lake Superior to get to school. These kids live on Madeline Island, one of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands. Strange device to be sure. It is like a swamp boat made to go across thin ice, or lakes that are still freezing and may have open water. It is driven by two large props - which are each driven by a 502" chevy race motor. They don't put these motors in street vehicles. They are powerful mills! Anyway, if you'd like to hear more, head to the NY Times site and view the slideshow while you are there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/22ice.html?ref=us

Mount Shasta!

Last spring I begged to be assigned a story on climbing Mt. Shasta that I knew the NY Times was doing. At first the reply was "no, we'll find someone closer". Bummer. Then less than two weeks before the climb, they call me and ask if I want to do it! Well, so much for training in advance. I just took what fintess I had and went for it.

Stephen Regenold, Minneapolis based freelance writer (and fellow adventurer) and I struck out to climb the 14,000+ beast. If you want to read how it went, copy and paste this link: (tried to post as a link and blogger would not do it?)

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/travel/escapes/15Shasta.html

It was my first mountaineering climb, and as mountains go, this was a good first-timer's choice. It was not easy, but there are not heavy techincal sections. I have a long history or rock climbs, so this was something altogether new. It is basically a long, steep hike in the snow. Up, up and up some more.

Sadly, we never stepped foot on the summit. We endured 70+ mph winds and little sleep at camp (10,500') and in the morning we saw several avalanches in the area that we were to hike through. "Wind loading" was becoming bad. No other climbers made summit all week though, so we felt a little better about bailing. I am here to tell of the story rather than burried in snow. I feel good about the decision.

I got some nice photos despite the circumstances and had a good time to boot. Northern California is fantastic! Oregon is really nice too!

Enjoy the images. The guy descending is me - photo credit: Stephen Regenold.

R.I.P. Polaroid

So, Saturday I found out that Polaroid, the instant film company has quit making their products. I am sure that most of you know Polaroid for the big clunky cameras. Those ruled! However, there was a lot more to the company. We (formerly - pre-digital) medium and large format, or 4x5 users knew it as an easy way to get a preview for how our film would turn out. It was spendy, messy and likely toxic, but we loved it. I have warmed hundreds if not thousands of polaroids under my arm pits. Sometimes, when working on fashion sets, I'd have two under each arm ( to speed up the processing of the chemicals). And to dispell a myth, shaking them did not speed or help the process at all.

Polaroids had a distinct smell. A mild chemical smell, that I have to admit that I loved. I became quite fond of it. I've said too much...

So, here's to Polaroid. An american, photographic icon. So long old friend. And to my artist friends who still use and rely on Polaroid, I am sorry for your loss...

*I'll scan a few and post them here when I return home.

BMX!

These images were taken at an F-Bom (www.f-bom.org) gathering at 3rd Lair (indoor skate park). F-bom is a new site that is trying to get BMX and Freeriders on the same page. They both like to launch their bikes off of stuff, yet they genereally do not congregate together. So, Shad Holland decided that he'd try to bridge the gap with his new forum. I went to shoot some images for the sites' gallery, and to add to my biking photo collection. Some of these riders are really talented. They look really relaxed as they sail around the place. These are just a teaser. I am working on a more public display of my on-going project. Enjoy.

Idle hands are the devil's playground

Being self employed means a life unlike the average man's. I often have time on my hands in the middle of the workweek. That is how I found myself earlier this week. So, I've been reading a lot and taking oppurtunities to do things that I usually cannot, such as taking a ride with a teammate one morning. It is pretty sloppy out on the roads, so I took my cyclocross rig instead of the road bike. It got really dirty. In fact, it got dirty on top of the dirt of several CX races that I never washed off.

So, I did what any guy would do. I put it in the bathtub and sprayed it off with the shower wand. I waited till my wife left the house. My wife who only hours earlier had cleaned the entire bathroom. Well, I'm happy to say that I got it clean without her noticing. I confessed later in the day though.

So, while I don't necessarily recommend my method, it is easier than the bike-on-rack through the car wash method.

If you have a better idea, I'd (we'd) love to hear it.

PS. For viewers in warm climates, you should realize that water hoses are packed away for the winter here in MN. I really had no choice...

Knut Design

A friend of mine called a few months ago saying he had some stuff he'd like photographed. We agreed upon a plan and he sent me the items to be photographed. What I picked up at the post office (insured mail) was a 40-some-pound box. Inside the box was the beginning of his new company Knut Design.

Back in college "Nate", as I call him was an art student quite taken with printmaking. It seemed to come natural to him and he made some really beautiful pieces. Through the years, his skills continued to grow. He went to Norway for a time to make prints, and a few years ago was accepted at RISD -Rhode Island School of Design. Alas, the woodsy, outdoor side of him fell for a chance to move to Jackson Hole, WY where he still resides.

But, back to the company... Nathan's printmaking days consisted of using different chemicals and acid baths to etch a pattern or shape onto a plate of metal. He took those same techniques, but focused on the plates themselves as the final product. Nathan pictured these plates being used as cabinet faces and backsplashes in some of the Jackson Hole, high-dollar homes he was working in as a carpenter. Turns out people liked the idea and now he is busy growing his own company.

Check out his site for more examples and contact: www.knutdesign.com

Cyclocross Racing in Blaine, MN

These images are from the Grumpy's/Little Guy Racing (my team) Cyclocross Race held in Blaine, MN this fall. It was on the grounds of the NSC Velodrome (see earllier posts on this blog). Matt "Little Guy" and Rob "Tuffy" designed a course that was more difficult and varied than anyone suspected possible. It was my first Cyclocross race ever and it was a ball! In 30 minutes, I had to make as many laps around a 2k course as I could. Obstacles included: muddy hills, muddy ditches, thick grass (worse than it sounds), 18" hurdles. There were off-the-bike hills too, but not large ones. I finished in the front half of the pack, not too bad. It was a gas.

The NY Times sent us out to cover the race, so I raced the "c" race, which is for the slower and rookie riders. Then I shot the next two races, which get longer for the participants. "A" racers go for one hour! Brutal!

It was really good exposure for the sport, which is really a niche here in the US. European countries go nuts for this type of racing, but they are not competing as much with the Mall of America, Wii systems and reality TV for entertainment. Sad, we have too many options for entertainment here in the US. Anyway...

Bjorn Selander, divinginto the ditch in the Blue/white Ridley Factory jersey became the (under 23) National Champ in Cyclocross 2007. I think he is only 19, or 20 yrs old. Look out! Congrats, Bjorn.

Aric Hareland, jumping the barrier in the black/white Silver Cycling jersey is another local tough guy.

Enjoy the images. Try to catch a Cyclocross race in the future if you have not. It is a great spectator sport, as it takes place on a short course and involves laps. The Velodrome is good entertainment too. I'll be there this next season. It should be entertaining; spandex.

When it was warm...

Some of you know that I grew up on the east coast and rather enjoyed the surfing and skateboarding lifestyle that the coastal states are known for. So, it was with great joy that I accepted an assignment to wakesurf here in Minnesota. I had done it before, and was excited to get the chance again. Really fun.

Here's the skinny: You get a boat, preferrably one with an inboard motor and prop. Weight one side of the boat (with water bladders call "fat sac's". The boat then produces a larger, heavier wake. Using a surfboard shaped device you pull yourself into the wake just behind the boat and when you can let the wake's power propell you, you toss the rope into the boat. Now you're wake surfing. *Not to be confused with wake boarding, where you hang on to the rope the whole time - lame...

Check out the photos. First, Bill Tyler is deep in the curl. Not easy to do, but he's doing it with style. The rest are of Todd "Z-man" Zaugg on his home lake. He's quite comfortable on the board... comfortable enough to accept a beverage from someone in the boat. Nice Todd.

As a disclaimer, this can be really dangerous without the proper equipment. DO NOT try this with an outboard motor boat, as your body parts and the prop may tangle.