Where was I?

Inspirational TC Bank commercial

Granted this is more of a short film than a commercial for Taiwanese TC Bank considering it's 3 minutes long but it is still very inspirational. I hope to have that same sort of gumption when I'm in my 70s. Based on a true story which is documented in the film "Go Grandriders."

Time for some BMX videos

I haven't posted any BMX videos in quite some time so I figured these would be worthy of a post. I like the Gatorade trick in the first video and the amazing rail riding skills of the second video. Enjoy!

Ben Hucke at GlenHaven Skatepark from Sputnic BMX on Vimeo.

A Day With Millsy from Federal BMX on Vimeo.

And for good measure, I had to post this video of some guy absolutely flipping out over a skater digging up his bush. Talk about anger management issues.

ARF needs your help.

Ballpark Franks will donate $1 every time this video is played so watch the video and then share with the world to help the Athlete Recovery Fund get $100,000.

Go to SupportARF.com for more videos.

The Strangest Secret in the World

Words of wisdom from Earl Nightengale. I found this YouTube video thanks to a Tweet from Jason Ellis and really enjoyed it. This makes me feel better about my future because I think about success all the time. I just need keep my head up and never stop trying. Success will come if I never give up.

My First Mac

I recently got my first Apple MacBook and decided to make a video using Final Cut Express. Nothing particularly entertaining about this video but then again I didn't make it to entertain, I made it so I could learn more about video editing.

My First Mac from Nudnik on Vimeo.

Time for a nap

As you can see from the post below, I went on a long road bike ride this morning and I'm feeling a bit sleepy. That being the case, I'm going to post a bunch of stuff in one post so check it out. You get some good BMX videos, Travis Pastrana destroying a Subaru, a "plane" you can wear, and a super addictive game. Enjoy!

'Keyko' section from SuperBmx's 'Live for Today' from Superfly on Vimeo.

AOTC "Sour Hour" featuring: Chris Zeppieri from AOTC on Vimeo.

If the video below doesn't work then just click HERE to see a guy holding a glider up with his own body and taking off with a strong head wind. Impressive.

Check out one of the simplest and addictive games ever played on the internet. I stayed up 2 hours later than I meant to because of THIS great game. Canabalt is so much fun and easy to play.

Mugshots On-line

My friend Travis (see his interview HERE) pointed out to me that a UNT student in Denton, TX has created a Twitter account that posts the pictures of all the people who are arrested in Denton. The original purpose of this project was to show the impact that social media can have and now the student is apparently writing a paper for school. The thing that is funny is some of the comments made. I have included a few of the funniest pics below but please waste a few hours and scroll thru them. Commenter Samurailicious is the funniest commenter.

The charge for this arrest was Theft and Samurailicious commented that "Someone stole her eyebrows."

The charge for this arrest was Assault Causes Bodily Injury and Samurailicious commented that "Someone must have made fun of his hair."

This one I added from another blog but only because the hair is great.

Bamboo Bicycles

Thanks to an NPR tweet, I just found THIS article about a couple of guys in New Jersey that teach people how to make bicycles out of bamboo. It's a cool article and of course, now I want to figure out a way to build a bamboo bike. I wonder if bamboo would hold up to the torture of BMX?

Impeccable Timing

In so many instances, a great photo is a matter of perfect timing. Sometimes it's skill and other times it sheer luck. THIS website has a few photos that are the definition of perfect timing. Below are just a couple of my favorites.

Brian Miller -TVR Shovel Throwing

While I will admit this is at least somewhat entertaining and the last clip is kind of impressive. I'm truly only posting this because I suspect it is going quickly make the rounds in the BMX world. Check it out and then go post your own video of you throwing shovels.

Brian Miller-TVR Shovel Throwing from Alec Hugo on Vimeo.

How to Raw / Paint your BMX bike

This article will cover the process of getting that raw bike frame look, removing anodized color from rims & stems, and painting bike parts with canned spray paint. I have also included a link to a SHORT VERSION if this article seems too long to read, but keep in mind, the SHORT VERSION doesn’t have all the warnings of the long version.

Here is a list of what you will need:

A bike and/or part you want to change the color of

Tools

Newspaper

Clothes hangers

Sandpaper (varying grits)

Rubber gloves

Masking tape

Paint stripper

Oven cleaner

Mineral Spirits

Canned spray paint/clear coat

All of these items can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.

The first thing you need to know if you’re going to repaint or “raw” your bike is what you want the final product to look like. I love to paint my BMX bike a lot. I like changing up the color schemes on a regular basis. In the last 3 years, I’ve had at least a dozen variations of colors on my bikes with one of those color schemes lasting almost a year and a half. That being said, it’s important to have a visual in mind when you start the process of changing colors on your bike so you know what parts are getting what color.

My first “good” BMX bike went through more than half a dozen color combos while I owned it with the rims, sprocket, hubs, forks & bars changing color every couple of months. My current ride started out factory blue with white highlights. Originally I had to paint the hubs & rims to match the factory blue as well as the brakes, lever, sprocket, & seatpost white for highlights. I ran that color scheme for the longest time because the factory color was great but after awhile I even grew tired of that and had to change. That’s when I went to the green & brown colors inspired by a U.S. Army Harley motorcycle.

This is why I am stressing the importance of having a game plan before you begin painting. If you’re anything like me than patience is not a virtue for you and you attack your bike with spray can in hand without a plan. In the past this has not been as big a problem but for my last color scheme it didn’t pay off as well. When I painted my bike green & brown I decided to paint over the blue & white instead of stripping it off and painting it fresh from scratch. That’s where I made my mistake. The paint and colors came out just fine but after my first session I started to see little spots of blue coming through where I scratched off the green. Being a bit of a perfectionist like I am, that began to bother me. That is why I promptly decided to change colors once again after only 4 months.

Since I have never been rich enough to have an actual spray paint gun I have always painted my bikes with Krylon and I have gotten numerous compliments on my bikes paint jobs. I figure this means I’m doing something right so I’m going to share my techniques with you today. First thing you need to do is realize that to do it right, you have to take your bike apart. Most people don’t like this idea because it just adds to the time it’s going to take to complete the project but to make it look good you have to do so. That’s why I paint my bikes when it’s going to rain for a few days. If you like painting your wheel sets as much as I do than this will also force you to learn how to lace a wheel. That can save you money as well because you won’t have to pay somebody at your local bike shop to do it for you. THIS is the website that taught me how to lace up a wheel but I suggest you do a Google search on the topic and read multiple articles on the subject. I also highly recommend you take photos of your wheels laced up before you take them apart so you have a reference for putting them back together. You can also do one wheel at a time so you can look at the other wheel as a reference. If you’re going to paint your frame than take your bike completely apart before you start painting. That means pulling the wheels, forks, bars, headset, cranks, seat-post, brakes, and chain off. You can leave the bottom bracket bearings in if you want but I don’t recommend it if you’re going to use paint stripper on your frame. The thing that most people don’t take into consideration is the overspray that happens when painting your bike. This means you need to have every part that you DON’T want to paint kept separate from the parts you DO want to paint.

Now that you’ve taken your bike apart, it’s time to sand down any rough spots. These rough spots are generally caused by falls and grinding which means you should check the chain-stays, bottom bracket, crank arms, etc. I suggest you start with a medium grit (80-120) to get the big scratches out. Then move to a fine or extra fine grit (180+) to smooth out the sanding marks from the medium grit. Once you’ve done that it’s time to strip the old paint off. From this point on, YOU SHOULD NEVER TOUCH ANY PART OF YOUR BIKE OR SUPPLIES WITHOUT GLOVES. I personally like to use a pair of surgical gloves as my first layer & rubber house cleaning gloves for the outer layer. In order to begin stripping the old paint off your bike you need to create a place to use the paint stripper. DO NOT DO THIS INSIDE AN ENCLOSED SPACE. I do all my work in my garage with the garage door open. I also lay down multiple layers of newspaper to protect my garage floor.

I suggest you test the paint stripper out on a small area of your bike first before you cover the entire part. I like to use the spray on stripper but you can get the kind that paints on if you prefer. I have found they both work just as well. Paint stripper can be found at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. Keep in mind also that for most bikes, it is going to take multiple rounds of stripping to get everything off the bike. When you’re applying the stripper make sure you put a thick layer on the part you are stripping. I used 4 cans of the spray-on stripper to remove the paint from every part of my bike. I like to do one side at a time and I don’t like to do too many parts at one time. The reason being is that if you let the stripper sit on the part for to long it will dry out and begin to gel on the part which makes it more difficult to wipe or scrape off. Most strippers will get the first layer of paint off within 5 to 20 minutes. Now that you’ve sprayed down the part and waited, it’s time to wipe off the stripper and see what paint is left. Spray paint from a can will generally come off easily but a factory paint job will take multiple wipe downs. As you can see, the green paint bubbled up letting me know it was ready to be wiped down. I usually start wiping the part down with paper towel to get the majority of the chemical off and then I give it a good wipe down with a steel wool pad. My recent experience with stripping my bike parts taught me that the paint on some parts is tougher to get off then others. The paint on my frame came off after two coats that soaked for 20 minutes. The paint on my handlebars took 4 coats and the forks took 5 coats with the last coat soaking for 2 hours. Even then I had to scrape the paint off with a metal scraper to get it completely clean. Once you’ve removed all of the paint, and you are down to bare metal, it is time for the next step.

Remember; NEVER TOUCH A BARE METAL PART WITH YOUR BARE HAND. The oils in your skin will cause the part to rust pretty quickly, ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES. Now that you’ve removed all the paint from the part, hose the part down with water and rub the remainder of the stripper off with your gloved hand. At this point, rust and time are your worst enemies. Immediately after hosing the part down, clean it with a rag and mineral spirits. Mineral spirits (or paint thinner) will remove any remaining water and oils that may have gotten on the frame which will keep it from rusting. Once again, do this outside because the fumes from the mineral spirits/paint thinner can be toxic, or at the very least give you a headache.

If you’re running any aluminum parts on your bike (i.e. stem, seatpost, rims, etc) then there is a good chance you have some anodized parts on your bike as well. If you want to remove the anodized color from your aluminum parts then you will need to get some oven/grill cleaner. I bought a commercial strength over cleaner from Home Depot but any oven cleaner from the grocery store should work just fine. You will want to do this in a similar manner to stripping the bike except that you won’t want to let it “soak” as long. The oven cleaner will begin to oxidize the aluminum part if you leave it on there too long so I suggest waiting only 5 to 10 minutes between layers. If you do find some oxidization of the parts then just sand it down with a very fine grit sandpaper to remove any marks left behind.

Now that all your parts are paint/anodizing free and have been cleaned with mineral spirits, it is time to paint/clear coat. Before your begin painting, you will want to mask off any areas that you don’t want to get paint into (i.e. bottom bracket, headtube, drop outs, etc.). On my frame I always mask off the drop outs, bottom bracket, & brake mounts. On my handlebars I mask off the area where the stem clamps down and on my back rim I mask off the sidewalls where the brake pads rub. Paint acts almost like a lubricant and can cause your rear wheel, handlebars & brake pads to slip. Once you’ve stripped the parts to bare metal, you want to cover that bare metal with either paint or a clear coat to protect it from rusting. If you’re painting your bike then 3 or 4 coats should be enough paint to make the part look good. Once you’ve finished putting color on your bike, put 2 or 3 coats of clear coat on there to protect the paint. If you plan to leave your bike with the raw metal look then you will want to put 7 or 8 coats of clear spray paint on there to make sure you have enough to protect the part from rust. This being said, you will probably need a total of 3 to 5 cans of spray paint and/or clear coat to repaint an entire bike (frame, fork, bars, crank arms, sprocket, rims, hubs, spacers, headset, stem, etc).

I usually hang my parts from coat hangers so that I can paint each part completely instead of having to paint one side at a time. When painting your bike with spray paint it is important to remember to use light coats sprayed at a distance of 12 to14 inches from the part. Spray each part with one layer at a time and allow the manufacturers suggested dry times between coats. Most spray paints require 10 minutes to an hour between coats and a total dry time of 1 to 24 hours. Check the back of the can before you buy the paint to make sure the dry times work for your schedule. The first layer of paint should be thin enough that you can still see metal underneath. Being patient and spraying numerous light coats of paint will prevent you from getting runs in your paint job which are a dead give away that you did it yourself, and makes the paint job look bad. If you do get a run in the paint then wipe it down immediately with a rag and let the paint dry completely. Then you can sand down the remainder of the run and start painting again afterwards. Remember, be patient with the painting process and allow the recommended total dry time before you put your bike back together. If you get anxious and try to put the bike back together before it is completely dry the paint will scratch off easily and once again, make the paint job look bad. If you take your time and do it right, you will get compliments on the quality of the paint even if the color scheme looks horrible.

Now that you’ve finished painting the bike and let it dry completely it is time to put the bike back together and go for a ride. I hope this helps anybody planning on painting or “rawing” their bike. If I’ve left something out or if you have a question just post it in the comments below and I’ll try my best to answer it.

How to Raw / Paint your BMX bike SHORT VERSION

Here is a list of what you will need:

A bike and/or part you want to change the color of

Tools

Newspaper

Clothes hangers

Sandpaper (varying grits)

Rubber gloves

Masking tape

Paint stripper

Oven cleaner

Mineral Spirits

Canned spray paint/clear coat

 

All of these items (except for the bike) can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.

 

Step 1:

Take your bike apart, making sure that all parts being painted have been removed from parts that are not being painted.

 

Step 2:

Sand down any rough spots, scratches, etc. to ensure a smooth surface. Use a medium grit sandpaper first then work up to an extra fine grit.

 

Step 3:

PUT ON THICK RUBBER GLOVES. Spray on paint stripper in a thick coat. Allow 5 to 20 minutes for the paint stripper to work. Wipe off the paint stripper with paper towels or steel wool pad. This will take numerous layers to get all the paint removed. After all the paint has been removed, spray the part down with water and wipe off any excess paint stripper with your gloved hand.

 

 

 

Step 4:

To remove anodized color from aluminum parts, spray the part down with oven cleaner and let soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not let the part soak too long or it will begin to oxidize. Wipe off the oven cleaner and spray it down with water to clean it thoroughly.

 

Step 5:

Clean your raw bike parts down with mineral spirits or paint thinner. DO NOT TOUCH BARE METAL PARTS WITH BARE HANDS. The oils in your skin will cause the metal to rust. ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES.

 

Step 6:

Mask off any areas of your bike part that you do not want to get paint into with masking tape. Paint your bike with a total of 7 or 8 thin coats of paint/clear coat. Use thin layers to prevent the paint from running and make sure you put enough coats to avoid potential rust. Allow the suggested dry time between coats and before you put the bike back together.

 

Step 7:

Put your bike back together and go ride.

 

Sideways Bike

Now I call myself a bicycle enthusiast and I have posted some rather unique bike designs on this site in the past but this one is even beyond me. I don't understand the point. Check it out and let me know what you think.

You can find out more HERE. That is if you're actually interested

5 books everyone should read

What five books should every person read?

 When I first started thinking about the answer  to this question I thought it was going to be simple, but then as I narrowed down my list I realized that it's a lot more difficult than I thought. Below is my list of 5 books that I think everyone should read and it surprised me to see how many of the books on my list focus on religion. Especially because I don't consider myself to be a terribly religious person.

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy in Five Parts by Douglas Adams.

    First off, this may be called a trilogy but there are actually five books in the series. I know the question asked for five books and my first suggestion already maxes out that limit but when you consider that you can buy all five books bound into one, I think it's safe to add this title. This was the first book I ever read and therefore holds a special place in my heart. The religious, economic and political commentary throughout this series of books may be 20 years old but it is still pertinent today. The humor used to comment on our species as a whole makes this a fantastic read. BTW, 42.

2. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

    The second book on my list of must reads is added because this is the book that turned me into a reader. When I was in college I had a job at bookstore and truthfully when I started there I wasn't much of a reader. For some reason though, this book turned me into a reader and for that I recommend everyone read this book. Be aware that this is a difficult read and I'll bet I reread every chapter at least twice due to the complexity of the material. That being said, check it out and enjoy.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

    This is a book that everyone should read no matter how many books you're limited to reading. This book was originally published back in 1937 and it is just as important and relevant today as it was 80 years ago. I promise you this book will change the way you look at the world around you, and if you're smart it will change the way you interact with everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis.

4. The Bible

    Now the reason I have added this book to my list may surprise you. I get a lot of grief when I tell people that I think the Bible is the greatest work of fiction every written. I am not saying that everything written in the Bible is fictitious but I am saying that I don't think it is 100% the truth either. I think the Bible gives humans a good guide for how to live life but I also don't think it is the true word of God. I think everyone should read the Bible because of it is the best selling book in the history of the world and if that many people have read it then you should too. If for other reason than to have a better understanding of the vast majority of people around you.

5. God's Debris by Scott Adams

    The final book on my list is from the very same author who created the comic strip Dilbert. You wouldn't think a cartoonist could write such a thought provoking book about about quantum physics, God, dating, etc. but he did. Even though this is a relatively short book, I highly recommend it because as a theory for the creation of everything it fits my outlook quite nicely. I actually look at this book at a "Bible" of sorts because it follows a Buddhist outlook that I think fits my ideologies on God quite nicely. I actually read this book in one sitting and I bet you will too.

Parkour Meets Skateboarding

I'm really not sure what to say about this video that the title doesn't already say. The soundtrack is an "interesting" choice. Talk about having your own style. Enjoy!

Teach your kid to ride a bike

This has got to be the easiest way to teach your kid to ride a bike. The new training wheel.

Care2.com Click to Help

So I recently stumbled upon this website that claims to make the world a better place by letting visitors to the site click to help. The idea is that advertisers on the Care2 website will donate money to certain causes based on the number of clicks a link gets. This is all under the click to donate page and on that page they causes from feeding children, pets in shelters, big cats, breast cancer, even the rainforest. I highly suggest that you head over to their page and click away on a few things you feel passionate about. I know I did.

Anti-health care reformers are morons

Now I will admit that I have not been following the Health Care reform issue very thoroughly but I just so happened to stumble upon MC Hawking's Crib where the following was posted just a few days ago. Quoted directly from MCHawking.com

"The stupidest thing the anti health care reformers have said yet.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The following quote is from the Investors Business Daily, a site that bills itself as "leading commentator on the key issues of our time," and claims that their editorials are "rigorously researched."

I assure you the quote below is not taken out of context. I encourage you to read the whole editorial for yourself here.

Here's the quote:

"People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."

Apparently, in the course of their rigorous research no one uncovered the well known fact that Prof. Hawking was born, and has lived his entire life, in the U.K.

Morons."

This has got to be one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. I literally laughed out loud.

First daughter sneaks up on Obama

I don't know why but for some reason, this picture makes me feel really good about President Obama. I've been a fan from the beginning but this makes me feel even better about the 44th President of the United States of America.

Gold Fever

If you've got any gold that you've been considering selling than this morning might be the time to do so. According to the Los Angeles Times, gold prices closed on Friday at an all time high. Makes me wish I had some gold teeth to sell.