BEYOND STRONG

Computer crashing and other fun shit

Been offline for 2 weeks.  Damn, I thought I would die without my net but it wasn't all that bad.  Between work, my bike, and other shit going on, I never even missed it.  Last Sunday I got home from my riding course to find my hard drive had a melt down.  $160 later, I am good to go.  Still trying to get the updates and everything else I am missing, but for now I am able to surf and shop, so things are good.

I have put nearly 500 miles on my bike already!  Can't get enough, it is so much fun.  I have even convinced my wife to get on and now she is addicted as well.  I told her I bought the bike to "get away" so she is going to have to get used to not always going with me.  Bike = Space.  When it gets to cold to ride, I will put it in the shop and start customizing it.  I am going to pimp my ride!

Training.  What the fuck is that????  The gym in town is moving and has been closed for the last 3 weeks, so I have been doing sporadic push-ups, pull-ups, and dips.  I haven't squatted in so long that I am not sure I would remember how and I haven't deadlifted in even longer!  I have been a complete and total bum, but for now I am good with that.  My training partners have 4 more football games, then we will most likely creep back into the weekend training again.  I won't go out on a limb and say I have officially quit, but I have certainly lifted far more 12 ounce cans then barbells and dumbbells this fall.  FAR MORE.  And my eating has been poor as well.  Fuck, I am going to hell on a shit cart! 

Work is going well.  This Monday I leave for Harrisburg for a week of training, it is always good to get away from the fence for a paid week.  It is hostage negotiation training, so it will be interesting to say the least.  More on your plate = more experience = more $$$.  And, of course, more $$$ means more motorcycles.  INDEED!

Here are some videos of a recent show my son's band played at in Richmond, Indiana.  He is the bass player (wood colored) with the long ass hippy hair and no beard.  He hates when I call him a hippy!  The lyrics are hard to hear, the recording is decent but it is hard to hear the singer.

Fucking METAL.  Good shit. 

Peace-

-Rick

Paul Newman RIP

Sadly, Paul Newman, 83, died on friday. Without a doubt he is one of my favourite actors and was one fo the coolest screen actors of all time. My favourite films of his include The Hustler, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Colour of Money, The Towering Inferno and my all time favourite Cool Hand Luke. Newman was battling cancer. His food company has donated more than $200 million since its inception. He has been married to Joanne Woodward for 50 years which is in itself a great achievement. She and his five children survive him.

Nick

The Belleville Weightlifting Club

This is a nice little documentary about The Belleville Weightlifting Club, SIU Carbondale. This gym is about as good as it gets if you ask me. Real strength training, plenty of equipment, great atmosphere and lots of HARD WORK. Check out the vids...

Nick

Cliff Diving

Man I have some talented friends. I haven't seen Joey Zuber for some years as he's been on the international cliff diving circuit. Here's a show reel of some of his best dives. These guys are just incredible!

Nick

Quantum stunts

Checkout my ace pal and Bond stunt double Ben Cooke being interviewed for the Quantum of Solace blog. The movie comes out next month in the UK. Ben is a stunning martial artist and is currently doubling Jake Gyllenhaal on Prince of Persia. And yes...he really is always that energetic!

Nick

Keaton Montage

Check out this great montage of some of Buster Keaton's work in films. Man would I like to have a showreel half as good as this!

Nick

Mary Wiggins

Here's some classic footage from 'Spills for Thrills' (what a great name!) with stuntwoman Mary Wiggins and stuntman Harvey Parry. Mary was one of the very first Hollywood stunt girls. I don't know the circumstances of Mary's unfortunate death but she apparantly committed suicide aged just 36. Harvey went on to a glorious career with classic films like Spartacus, Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Bonnie and Clyde, Blazing Saddles and was still performing stunts in his 80's in Raging Bull and Escape from New York.

Here's Mary and Harvey from the 40's...

Nick

322ft Bike Jump!!!

Somehow I missed this but David Horne put me onto this awesome bike jumping from Robbie Maddison. This is the practice footage and the show footage. Simply AWESOME!

Nick

WSM 2008

MARIUSZ WINS!!!!

Derek Poundstone takes second losing on the final event the Atlas Stones. Dave Ostlund takes his first podium spot with a solid 3rd place.

Results
1st Mariusz Pudzianowski - 5 Time World's Strongest Man
2nd Derek Poundstone
3rd Dave Ostlund
4th Phil Pfister
5th Travis Ortmeyer
6th Sebastian Wenta
7th Tarmo Mitt
8th Arild Haugen
9th Jason Bergmann
10th Terry Hollands

This is how close it was!!!

WARNING!!! DON'T LOOK AT THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE STONES!!!!

Nick

Basic Rider Course

We were on the range today riding.  The bikes they use for the course are 500 cc Buell Blasts.  They are fun little bikes that you can lay right over at fairly high speeds and they respond well.  Great bike for a younger rider or woman starting out.

Today we did lots of cone weaving, stagger cone weaving, quick stops, sharp curves while shifting, and tight slow cornering.  Good times.  One class participant laid their bike down, I think she panicked and hit the front break while slow turning.

Tomorrow is the last day.  Obstacles, etc. as well as the road test and paper test.  In the end, I will have my license and will be able to fucking CRUISE!  Next summer is going to be a wild one, and I think from now on spring and summer will be spent on the open road instead of the weight room.

If you don't ride, you should really consider getting into it.  If you are considering it, take the Harley Basic Rider Course.  You won't be disappointed.