Ride bike!
Jobst Brandt
Jobst Brandt
bfd
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
>
Is this really "riding?" It looks more like an overgrown BMXer doing
*tricks* on a singlespeed mtb. I was expecting a video of some great
rides in Europe or some other fantastic climbs. Maybe even something
from the **DEATH RIDE**....
(PeteCresswell)
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
Every time I see that guy, I think about the diff between human
and chimp genomes being less than 2%.
Then I think "What's the diff between a neuro-muscular genius
like Danny MacAskill and a klutz like me."
Probably just a few dozen lines of code... -)
--
PeteCresswell
andre...@aol.com
That mutant is f....g incredible. But he is not human. He is a borg. A
cybernetic organism part human and part bike.
Fritz
Fantastic cycling video, but I really want to see the gnarly out
takes.
Dan O
Really! Somebody should teach that skulking rascal to ride
"properly" ;-) Harumph! :-)
dusto...@mac.com
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
>
Disc brake.
--D-y
Tom Sherman °_°
> On Dec 29, 2:54 pm, Jobst Brandt <jbra...@sonic.net> wrote:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
>>
> Is this really "riding?" It looks more like an overgrown BMXer doing
Looks more like a trials frame - notice the missing saddle.
--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
I am a vehicular cyclist.
landotter
The harumphers need to grow up. Neato stuff is invented every day.
That vid is swell!
thirty-six
Yeah, but it's fun. I was doing some of these things as a teenager on
a small framed racer. Never managed riding the fencerails although I
thought about it a lot. I liked doing the reverse wheelie as this
was particularly easy on my Viscount. Doing long drops was not realy
an option, even with the saddle down it was too high and there was
insufficient give in the bike. I'm surprised this video hasn't had
double the hits. Nobody told me it wasn't possible so I did, or tried
what I and others had done with the skateboard, only I had a 24" and a
racer not a BMX.
Dan O
Of course I was being facetious. ;-) :-) Certain harumphers insist
that leaving the road on your bike is not proper transportation
technique, but rather "skulking". I grew up riding anywhere, anyhow I
could - sometimes just *because* I could; and sometimes this gets you
where you were going anyway - in thrilling style.
thirty-six
wrote:
> "bfd" wrote:
> > On Dec 29, 2:54 pm, Jobst Brandt <jbra...@sonic.net> wrote:
> >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
>
> > Is this really "riding?" It looks more like an overgrown BMXer doing
> > *tricks* on a singlespeed mtb.[...]
>
> Looks more like a trials frame - notice the missing saddle.
>
No, where?
thirty-six
A month's practice?
Frank Krygowski
>
>
> Then I think "What's the diff between a neuro-muscular genius
> like Danny MacAskill and a klutz like me."
>
> Probably just a few dozen lines of code... -)
... and hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice.
When I see someone like that, I console myself by saying "Well, I can
probably play fiddle better than he can."
OTOH, when I hear someone like Mark O'Connor or Joshua Bell, I tell
myself "Well, I can probably out-ride him."
- Frank Krygowski
landotter
Heh, I do have some fun on the city ride with 38mm cross tires. Viva
40psi!
That said, I get a lotta smiles per mile these days. I'm a tall
handsome drink of a man, but I'm thinking it's the newer hornrims--
they're very approachable, especially when I'm on a geeked out bike.
Or maybe they just think I'm a retard. At least they're being nice!
Jobst Brandt
>> Then I think "What's the diff between a neuro-muscular genius
>> like Danny MacAskill and a klutz like me."
>> Probably just a few dozen lines of code... -)
> ... and hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice.
> When I see someone like that, I console myself by saying "Well, I
> can probably play fiddle better than he can."
> OTOH, when I hear someone like Mark O'Connor or Joshua Bell, I tell
> myself "Well, I can probably out-ride him."
You seem to lead a difficult life in which competition is the
mainstay. I find watching a skill or art enjoyable without
denigrating it or trying to make it less. How does your competitive
appreciation experience great pieces of classical music, something the
fewest of us can compose?
Jobst Brandt
Jay Beattie
By the time Mozart was my age, he had been dead 17 years. IN YOUR
FACE, MOZART! Punked! -- Jay Beattie.
Frank Krygowski
> > can probably play fiddle better than he can."
> > OTOH, when I hear someone like Mark O'Connor or Joshua Bell, I tell
> > myself "Well, I can probably out-ride him."
>
> You seem to lead a difficult life in which competition is the
> mainstay.
Nope. I'm generally regarded as a relaxed, amiable guy. Why, I'm
even capable of enjoying jokes on Usenet without lecturing the poster!
> I find watching a skill or art enjoyable without
> denigrating it or trying to make it less. How does your competitive
> appreciation experience great pieces of classical music, something the
> fewest of us can compose?
Jobst, this is more than I need to explain to you, but: When I hear
(for example) The Lark Ascending or Mendelssohn's Em concerto, I'm
totally immersed in the music; and I'm a bit wistful knowing that I
could never, ever do my favorite works justice.
When I'm playing for fun with a fiddler who's much better than I, it's
a bit different. I'm usually smiling broadly, maybe shaking my head
in wonder, but also trying to pick up tunes and tricks. It's a
thoroughly enjoyable experience, but also a motivational one.
And in that latter situation, I actually have told an impressive
teenage fiddler "Well, at least I can ride a bike further than you
can." She laughed at the joke; but maybe that's the difference
between young & pleasant, vs. old & curmudgeonly.
I don't know if you play music for recreation. If not, too bad. It's
a unique and pleasant way of sharing with others, and enjoying others'
company. It even beats arguing on Usenet!
- Frank Krygowski
Jobst Brandt
>>> When I see someone like that, I console myself by saying "Well, I
>>> can probably play fiddle better than he can."
>>> OTOH, when I hear someone like Mark O'Connor or Joshua Bell, I tell
>>> myself "Well, I can probably out-ride him."
>> You seem to lead a difficult life in which competition is the
>> mainstay.
> Nope. I'm generally regarded as a relaxed, amiable guy. Why, I'm
> even capable of enjoying jokes on Usenet without lecturing the
> poster!
So how does that description explain how you responded above in >>>?
You seem to be intent on minimizing the accomplishment of the stunt
rider or athletic speed of the other. I don't see this as a joke.
>> I find watching a skill or art enjoyable without denigrating it or
>> trying to make it less. How does your competitive appreciation
>> experience great pieces of classical music, something the fewest of
>> us can compose?
> Jobst, this is more than I need to explain to you, but: When I hear
> (for example) The Lark Ascending or Mendelssohn's Em concerto, I'm
> totally immersed in the music; and I'm a bit wistful knowing that I
> could never, ever do my favorite works justice.
That doesn't fit with the claim that you are relaxed and don't lecture
people on Usenet. I suppose you don't hear much from KDFC in SF:
http://radiotime.com/station/s_32282/KDFC-FM_1021.aspx
with Dianne Nicolini and other talented announcers who present works
of the great masters.
> When I'm playing for fun with a fiddler who's much better than I, it's
> a bit different. I'm usually smiling broadly, maybe shaking my head
> in wonder, but also trying to pick up tunes and tricks. It's a
> thoroughly enjoyable experience, but also a motivational one.
You might try that when watching a stunt bicyclist riding as you
probably cannot. You won't pick that up so quickly. This is stuff
learned in early youth.
> And in that latter situation, I actually have told an impressive
> teenage fiddler "Well, at least I can ride a bike further than you
> can." She laughed at the joke; but maybe that's the difference
> between young & pleasant, vs. old & curmudgeonly.
The laugh may have been solicited by the awkwardness of the non
sequitur.
> I don't know if you play music for recreation. If not, too bad. It's
> a unique and pleasant way of sharing with others, and enjoying others'
> company. It even beats arguing on Usenet!
Oops, there goes the competition again.
On the other hand, I marvel at the subtleness of the complex and
alluring choruses of the great operas, Giuseppe Verdi's in particular:
Jobst Brandt
Tim McNamara
<61764022-2090-46cc...@j14g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>,
Frank Krygowski <frkr...@gmail.com> wrote:
Playing music is anti-competitive and- of necessity- cooperative. If
you're competing, you're not playing music. If you're playing music,
you're not competing. You can't simultaneously play music with someone
and compete against them. That's why music competitions are almost
invariably solo performances (excepting "American Idol," which has
almost nothing to do with actual music).
Two of the loves of my life are bicycling and playing guitar, especially
jazz.
http://mplsjazzworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/11/saturday-afternoon-jazz.html
Tom Sherman °_°
> [...]It even beats arguing on Usenet!
>
No it does not.
Mark J.
> Frank Krygowski wrote:
>> [...]It even beats arguing on Usenet!
>>
> No it does not.
>
Mark J. Python
Nate Nagel
> Frank Krygowski wrote:
>> [...]It even beats arguing on Usenet!
>>
> No it does not.
>
Does too!
--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel
Frank Krygowski
> > even capable of enjoying jokes on Usenet without lecturing the
> > poster!
>
> So how does that description explain how you responded above in >>>?
> You seem to be intent on minimizing the accomplishment of the stunt
> rider or athletic speed of the other. I don't see this as a joke.
There's your problem.
>
> > When I hear
> > (for example) The Lark Ascending or Mendelssohn's Em concerto, I'm
> > totally immersed in the music; and I'm a bit wistful knowing that I
> > could never, ever do my favorite works justice.
>
> That doesn't fit with the claim that you are relaxed and don't lecture
> people on Usenet.
Sorry, you're losing track. I write quite a bit on Usenet. Sometimes
I'm explaining, sometimes relating incidents, sometimes advising,
sometimes debating. I'm sure some of those posts might be considered
"lecturing," and I won't deny it.
But that has absolutely nothing to do with my emotions when I'm
listening to music, whether classical or other.
> I suppose you don't hear much from KDFC in SF
No need. Our area of the country has other such stations.
> > When I'm playing for fun with a fiddler who's much better than I, it's
> > a bit different. I'm usually smiling broadly, maybe shaking my head
> > in wonder, but also trying to pick up tunes and tricks. It's a
> > thoroughly enjoyable experience, but also a motivational one.
>
> You might try that when watching a stunt bicyclist riding as you
> probably cannot. You won't pick that up so quickly. This is stuff
> learned in early youth.
There's no "probably" about it - I cannot ride that way. Yes, it's
truly impressive, but it's not motivational. At my age, I'm not going
to attempt to learn those tricks. It wouldn't be wise.
> > And in that latter situation, I actually have told an impressive
> > teenage fiddler "Well, at least I can ride a bike further than you
> > can." She laughed at the joke; but maybe that's the difference
> > between young & pleasant, vs. old & curmudgeonly.
>
> The laugh may have been solicited by the awkwardness of the non
> sequitur.
:-) Your capacity for curmudgeonly assumptions astonishes me!
- Frank Krygowski
Frank Krygowski
>
> Playing music is anti-competitive and- of necessity- cooperative. If
> you're competing, you're not playing music. If you're playing music,
> you're not competing. You can't simultaneously play music with someone
> and compete against them.
I agree that music is certainly cooperative. But competition exists,
and it isn't necessarily negative.
Another young fiddler used to come to our music sessions. When he was
about 14, his dad confided to me "He told me his goal is to beat you,
Frank." And he certainly became more skilled than I am, going on to
be concertmaster in his high school's award-winning orchestra. He
eventually moved on to a well-respected university as a music major,
and intends to make his living in music.
And I've been in various traditional music sessions where people
latched onto a notey tune and, eventually, accelerated it bit by bit.
"Devil's Dream" (Appalachian) and "Drowsy Maggie" (Irish trad) are two
I recall. Eventually, people would fall off and listen in wonder as
others went even faster - but the tune would end in laughter, not in
the kind of grumping that Jobst seems to envision. And I'm sure I'm
not the only one that later practiced the tune with a metronome.
It doesn't all have to be pious, respectful and staid. Last night, I
spent four hours playing with people of widely varying ability, each
doing the best he could, each having fun, sometimes leading, sometimes
following, sometimes teaching, and often (gasp!) even joking! I
couldn't imagine a better way to spend New Year's Eve.
- Frank Krygowski
Dan O
> On Dec 31 2009, 8:02 pm, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Playing music is anti-competitive and- of necessity- cooperative. If
> > you're competing, you're not playing music. If you're playing music,
> > you're not competing. You can't simultaneously play music with someone
> > and compete against them.
>
> I agree that music is certainly cooperative. But competition exists,
> and it isn't necessarily negative.
>
> Another young fiddler used to come to our music sessions. When he was
> about 14, his dad confided to me "He told me his goal is to beat you,
> Frank." And he certainly became more skilled than I am, going on to
> be concertmaster in his high school's award-winning orchestra. He
> eventually moved on to a well-respected university as a music major,
> and intends to make his living in music.
And your Rugby team won the President's Cup 3 years running - we
know ;-)
Sounds like your "sessions" may have emphasized competitiveness, if
this kid felt that success was to "beat" the Heroic Fiddler, Frank
Krygowski.
(Ego mostly feeds the Dark Side, I think.)
>
> And I've been in various traditional music sessions where people
> latched onto a notey tune and, eventually, accelerated it bit by bit.
> "Devil's Dream" (Appalachian) and "Drowsy Maggie" (Irish trad) are two
> I recall. Eventually, people would fall off and listen in wonder as
> others went even faster - but the tune would end in laughter, not in
> the kind of grumping that Jobst seems to envision. And I'm sure I'm
> not the only one that later practiced the tune with a metronome.
>
> It doesn't all have to be pious, respectful and staid. Last night, I
> spent four hours playing with people of widely varying ability, each
> doing the best he could, each having fun, sometimes leading, sometimes
> following, sometimes teaching, and often (gasp!) even joking! I
> couldn't imagine a better way to spend New Year's Eve.
>
One problem I see with your "jokes" (at least here on RBT) is that,
while they may be "jokes" to you because they are intentionally not
serious, that is often because they are intentionally sarcastic
(implying a serious counter message), and especially tend to be
deliberately derisive. (That they also tend to be highly supercilious
and smarmy is probably not deliberate; that's apparently just your
style.)
FWIW, I don't think your particular response in this thread was not so
much one of these cases, although there *was* perceptible ego coming
through, which I think could lead someone to misinterpret your intent.
AMuzi
> Frank Krygowski wrote:
>> [...]It even beats arguing on Usenet!
>>
> No it does not.
>
Was that Argument or Abuse?
--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
Frank Krygowski
> On Jan 1, 10:40 am, Frank Krygowski <frkry...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Another young fiddler used to come to our music sessions. When he was
> > about 14, his dad confided to me "He told me his goal is to beat you,
> > Frank." And he certainly became more skilled than I am, going on to
> > be concertmaster in his high school's award-winning orchestra. He
> > eventually moved on to a well-respected university as a music major,
> > and intends to make his living in music.
>
>
> this kid felt that success was to "beat" the Heroic Fiddler, Frank
> Krygowski.
Nope, our sessions are not competitive at all. The person with the
all-time record for attendance (literally NEVER missing a session)
calls herself very slow at learning tunes, has a limited repertoire,
and not infrequently drops out of a tune because her fingers just
forget where to go. Yet everyone treats her with great kindness,
often concentrating on playing tunes within her capabilities. And,
BTW, everyone takes turns picking tunes, so everyone gets some that
they enjoy and can play well.
I believe the kid fiddler's ambition to "beat" me was probably a
product of the typical school orchestra. Both my son's and my
daughter's school orchestras let the students periodically compete for
seats; one could challenge another, they'd play the same selection,
and the "winner" got the higher seat. That scheme causes the kids to
practice, and doubtlessly improves their skill.
In a similar manner, schools have spelling bees, math contests, and
science fairs; choruses and plays have auditions. Personally, I think
these are fine. I prefer it to an environment where kids are all told
they are excellent, and that they should feel good about themselves no
matter how badly they choose to do.
> One problem I see with your "jokes" (at least here on RBT) is that,
> while they may be "jokes" to you because they are intentionally not
> serious, that is often because they are intentionally sarcastic
> (implying a serious counter message), and especially tend to be
> deliberately derisive. (That they also tend to be highly supercilious
> and smarmy is probably not deliberate; that's apparently just your
> style.)
Hmm. Well, I'll try to do better in the future, making sure not to
imply anything negative about anyone. Because there's always the
chance I might be misinterpreting their attitude or what they write.
And that might lead me to repeatedly and mistakenly call them things
like "smarmy," which is certainly derisive.
So thanks for the excellent, but self-contradictory, advice.
- Frank Krygowski