Nicky on the Ducati
By admin | October 27, 2008
Here’s the first shots of Nicky Hayden testing the 2009 spec Ducati at Valencia. Nice livery!
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Indy RedBull MotoGP
By admin | September 16, 2008
Here’s my bike, ready to head up to Indy for the GP. I lit out for Indy on Thursday afternoon after work.
I made good time but as always riding with a back pack sucks! 2.75 hours from Georgetown to the west side of Indy. Not too shabby!
Friday was practice for all the riders. It was wet so we made our way down to the vending area.
They had a big area set aside just for Ducati bikes and Ducati owners. We spent a lot of time walking around checking out the awesome machinery.
Cool Bevel on Ducati Island
I really liked this guy’s duodesmo (2 valve head desmo). It is air cooled (but with a nice big oil cooler) and had some really nice minimalist running gear. The owner was from Asheville and knew NC Rick and Butch (but who doesn’t?).
The track was pretty wet for the riders!
Larry Pegram was a real good sport!
Saturday wasn’t too bad. The guys got some dry track time at least!
This the 125cc race on Sunday morning before the hurricane hit.
The MotoGP grid!
Hayden leading Rossi. Hayden would lose the lead but retain second place at the finish.
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A fortunate confluence of variables…
By admin | June 18, 2008
Conditions have been typical Kentucky for the past couple of weeks, heat in the mid to high 80s, 90 degrees on the hot days and humidity ranging from 60% to 80%. In short, the worst conditions that one can image for climbing.
Yesterday the high was 75 degrees and the humidity didn’t get above 50%. This is about as good as it gets here this time of year. Patti from Spain, on her honeymoon used this break in the weather to do Convicted second try and onsight Team Wilson (pictured below). Ray crushed Hoofmaker second go too! Nice work!
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In the heat of the summer…
By admin | June 10, 2008
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More pictures from Purgatory…
By admin | April 28, 2008
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Finished! (almost)
By admin | April 25, 2008
All panels, most of the holds, and most importantly pads, have now been installed.
Thanks to the University of Kentucky and George Bodde for the gymnastics mats!
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Bouldering wall update
By admin | April 14, 2008
Silas and I installed most of the plywood. We ran out of steam after drilling, t-nutting, and hanging 3 of the 4 and half sheets.
The climbable surface will be 4 feet taller than it is in the above picture. The holds I bought are going to be here this week and we hope to start using this thing on Tuesday or Wednesday. We need pads!
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My new bouldering wall
By admin | April 6, 2008
It’s going to be 12 feet tall, 35 degrees over-hanging, 12 feet wide, with 16 feet of climbing height. It took me all day to frame it to this point. I have to add the kicker at the bottom yet and then the plywood and holds. Thanks to my bro Neil Strickland for technical advice and for helping me get the top plate in. I couldn’t have managed without his help!
The top plate is bolted to the floor joists above with 9 lag bolts and the bottom plate is bolted to the slab with 3 x 1/2 inch Rawl 5 piece anchors. This thing is going nowhere!
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Spring
By admin | March 31, 2008
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Blast from the past
By admin | January 30, 2008
Watusi (Mike Paul) on Bachar Cracker in Yosemite National Park circa 1982
Bachar Cracker lies behind camp 4 in a hidden little cove. It involves slammer hands down low and a couple of finger locks before the slap for the right hand sloper. I broke my right wrist falling off the thing one August when my spotter moved aside at just the wrong moment. Bouldering pads have tamed the once bone breaking landing zone.
This shot was part of the photo shoot for the 1982 Rolling Stone article “Valley Boys”. Mike is one of the genuine nice guys of California climbing. Anyone who climbed in Joshua Tree back in the 80s met him either out climbing or around the campfire. Everyone has their favorite Watusi story. Mine involves a rowdy Halloween party in the monument and the lost of a finger later in the early AM.
Recent Watusi correspondence:
“I remember when we’d draw topos around the camp! I’m up here at my parents in Oregon and found them all in a box in their cellar…I’ll try to scan some and send them out, they’re a little too risque for posting on the Taco! They’re all there, the Alf series, The Kid and Dimitri potato in the exhaust incident and more! Some are way sick but Fish has my sickest in his archives. The funniest was when Bachar and I used to draw twisted topos on napkins at Denny’s and fold them back up and put them back in the dispenser. We’d then switch tables and sit back and watch the fun as some old bat would open Bachar’s “Bite harder my little monster” or something like that…Peace, MP.”
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