New York March NYC Meet-Up

Range-rover said:
Poor Maggie your blasting her out of the house! It takes awhile for those speakers
to break in put they will get there. I know how you feel about the Leica's new stuff,
now that I sold the Fuji and got into Sony I'm looking at lenses the Zeiss is so temping.
The Sony is such a step up.
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I'd look at the 55 f1.8 Bob........... Tremendous lens

Jeff
 
jsrockit said:
Sometimes I feel like I`m on 14 different types of forums when I read this thread... the fashion gossip forum, the guitar forum, the tube geek forum, the financial advice forum, the bicycle forum, the complain about NYC forum, etc. I miss hearing about Leica serial numbers and creamy bokeh. I also miss you guys too. :)
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We miss you too John, but hey it's great that we go off topic sometimes
but photography is our main thing. I see you purchased another Fuji
alas I sold mine and purchased a Sony A7 and I'm really liking it.
 
Been there and done that with the Sony... it’s good though. I just prefer Fuji to any other brand.
 
jsrockit said:
Sometimes I feel like I`m on 14 different types of forums when I read this thread... the fashion gossip forum, the guitar forum, the tube geek forum, the financial advice forum, the bicycle forum, the complain about NYC forum, etc. I miss hearing about Leica serial numbers and creamy bokeh. I also miss you guys too. :)
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John,

It seems like I groom mucho lazy slackers here that don't post. My off-topic rants are trying to engage people to post, add comments, and participate.

So I come across as the loud mouth. LOL. My broadcasting seems to work through.

Also since you left dodge my life has changed a lot. Trying to keep you in the loop. Seems that my work is more about "ethnography," documenting, and creating an archive than fine art, although I do consider myself fine art B&W printer.

Lately everything has been more about identity and lifestyle. I can't imagine life without photography, bikes and guitars. I'm realizing that this past decade or so I have been photographing a disappering NYC so I can take a sense of home with me when I leave.

A lot of things are converging...

Cal
 
Sunday I took out my steel IBIS that now weighs 22 pounds set up with mountain bike tires and a 3X1 using an XTR front deraileir. Works great. The gearing is 63"-51"-39." The 39 inch is not quite wheelie gear like the trials 30 inch gear.

So I did eight laps/intervals of the Harlem Hills without overdoing anything. I learned that I gained a lot of strength; I likely could of pushed out 2-6 more intervals; and this was using the 63 inch tall gear.

In the late fall of last year I dropped down to 147 pounds at one point before getting to over 160 pounds this week. Initially doing three sets of 40 push-ups was a struggle and within a week I was up to three sets of 50. Now I seem to have leveled off at three sets of 60. BTW I never weighed this much ever.

I'm not really aerobically fit at this point, but I am stronger than I have been in perhaps 15 years. Amazing how profound muscle memory works.

I am pleased.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
True bob... which Sony did you go for?
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Okay here's the thing I got a good price on a A7 but! a seller on ebay
listed a A7ii with a problem, every time he would put the camera on the
camera would say "turn off and on again" and looking at the photos I
could see that the sensor was angled. He did say that after the cycle
the camera did take pictures, so I went for it and I received it last week
and indeed the sensor seemed stuck (no ibis). I watched a few video's
and took it apart and the sensor did receive a slam and it was stuck.
I proceeded to free the sensor and once freed "jiggled" and I put it all
backed together and it works great now, no more "turn off and on" and
I could shoot and lower speeds and movie look smooth, another patience
cured!
 
Calzone said:
In the late fall of last year I dropped down to 147 pounds at one point before getting to over 160 pounds this week. Initially doing three sets of 40 push-ups was a struggle and within a week I was up to three sets of 50. Now I seem to have leveled off at three sets of 60. BTW I never weighed this much ever.



I'm not really aerobically fit at this point, but I am stronger than I have been in perhaps 15 years. Amazing how profound muscle memory works.



I am pleased.



Cal
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Cal,
This is the reason that there is a class of racers called "master" that they don't let the youngsters play around with. It is age 36 and up. There is a sweet spot of age where the ketosis decline hasn't begun too much but the muscle memory of training is very much in full force. Supposedly it is a window from about 38 to mid 50s. A racer who is within this window can push harder to their maximum output for longer because their body has gotten used to it and can prioritize healing. These are the guys that do centuries at 6am on Saturday mornings at a 22mph average, go have brunch then go about their day.
When I was racing for Temple as an undergrad in 2009, I was 33 and super fast. I had come from being a spinning hill climber mountain biker to road and cyclocross with the same attitude. I also was a combat vet so my goal in a race was to simply pass the guy in front of me. My mind was just extraordinarily competitive and was aware that I could push my body farther than most people know. I held a 210 watt output for 60 minutes and could breakaway with almost 500 watts. This is when I weighed 163lbs and was riding basically constantly. I was doing 60 mile rides on Saturday and Sunday, then using my commutes as sprinting drills. I was using my bike on a metered trainer 3x a week in the evenings. I didn't do any special cooldowns or stretching, I was just riding. What it got me is 8th place in my last race and a spot in the US national collegiate cyclocross championship. At that last race I was working as a mechanic as well since my shop was one of the sponsors. I missed the gun for the collegiate riders and started 3 minutes late. Over the 5 laps of the race, I passed and lapped most of the field except 7 riders ahead of me. This is with two crashes as well. All the young college riders were fast but had no stamina for the long haul. They complained that I had an unfair advantage because I was a decade older. I never made it to the nationals. A car door opened in front of me while I was riding home from school pretty slowly in a light mist. I tore all the cartilage from my shoulder in what is called a complex SLAP tear with dislocation. While the national championship was being raced in Bend, Oregon, I was recovering from surgery and lamenting that my doctor had recommended that I not ever race again.
Anyway, age is an unfair advantage when it comes to cycling.
Phil Forrest
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Cal,
This is the reason that there is a class of racers called "master" that they don't let the youngsters play around with. It is age 36 and up. There is a sweet spot of age where the ketosis decline hasn't begun too much but the muscle memory of training is very much in full force. Supposedly it is a window from about 38 to mid 50s. A racer who is within this window can push harder to their maximum output for longer because their body has gotten used to it and can prioritize healing. These are the guys that do centuries at 6am on Saturday mornings at a 22mph average, go have brunch then go about their day.
When I was racing for Temple as an undergrad in 2009, I was 33 and super fast. I had come from being a spinning hill climber mountain biker to road and cyclocross with the same attitude. I also was a combat vet so my goal in a race was to simply pass the guy in front of me. My mind was just extraordinarily competitive and was aware that I could push my body farther than most people know. I held a 210 watt output for 60 minutes and could breakaway with almost 500 watts. This is when I weighed 163lbs and was riding basically constantly. I was doing 60 mile rides on Saturday and Sunday, then using my commutes as sprinting drills. I was using my bike on a metered trainer 3x a week in the evenings. I didn't do any special cooldowns or stretching, I was just riding. What it got me is 8th place in my last race and a spot in the US national collegiate cyclocross championship. At that last race I was working as a mechanic as well since my shop was one of the sponsors. I missed the gun for the collegiate riders and started 3 minutes late. Over the 5 laps of the race, I passed and lapped most of the field except 7 riders ahead of me. This is with two crashes as well. All the young college riders were fast but had no stamina for the long haul. They complained that I had an unfair advantage because I was a decade older. I never made it to the nationals. A car door opened in front of me while I was riding home from school pretty slowly in a light mist. I tore all the cartilage from my shoulder in what is called a complex SLAP tear with dislocation. While the national championship was being raced in Bend, Oregon, I was recovering from surgery and lamenting that my doctor had recommended that I not ever race again.
Anyway, age is an unfair advantage when it comes to cycling.
Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

WOW Phil.

Didn't realize how elite a competitor you are and that you had such a high ranking.

I was a cigarette smoker from the age of 15-32. In a way cycling and my friend Mike (Iron Mike) saved my life. I was one of those hyper unrelaxed people that made people afraid. Pretty much I scared people. I never learned how to relax, and my body at the age of 32 could not take it anymore.

When I worked at Brookhaven National Labs I had my lung capacity checked. Only about average despite the long-term damage from smoking a carton of cigarettes a week for 17 years. My deepest regret is having been a cigarette smoker...

So my "racing" career was more about pain and the agony of defeat. I developed a high threshold of pain that is kinda unhuman. I tried to hang with very strong younger riders, but generally I got dropped on the road and would be left for dead. LOL. Pretty much I took many a beating like a man.

In mountain biking though I was a good climber because of my size and weight. On a mountain bike I was considered a hammer. Also my undertanding of physics enhanced my style because I also pushed things to the hairy edge.

I'm really-really amazed on how somehow I'm stronger than ever and where this is leading. My mobility and quality of life decades from now seems promising, especially if I avoid the hazards of NYC and the pollution.

Pretty much I enjoy the Heroin like high from the endorphines.

I wish "Maggie" could learn how to relax and enjoy life. I'm really content; I don't need an overly busy life to feel full; and last night Maggie was talking about starting a new project. It seems commercialization kills enjoyment, fulfillment, as well as creativity.

Makes me think if selling my work would diminish its meaning in a similar manner. Something I never considered.

Have you ever considered doing a Time Trial? Sounds like your ability to sustain high output could be exploited. You could still race, but you would be racing against the clock.

Cal
 
Yeah I'm back solely to shooting photographs for the enjoyment of capturing the moment or the scenery. No more selling my work for a living.
I've thought about individual time trials but I haven't been up to competition shape since 2010. Little health issues here and there keep chewing away at my time and my fitness. I expect that after this thrombosis clears up, hopefully this year, I will be able to get back into serious riding. I want to do some very long tours and eventually ride from coast to coast and the southern to the northern border. A friend of mine packed up one summer and rode from Montreal to Vancouver then to Yellowknife. That is like riding coast to coast then most of the way back. People often aren't aware how large Canada is. I'd love to ride that route. I've ridden in Bahrain, Dubai, Perth, Hobart, Victoria BC, Hong Kong and most of the states in this country. I want to continue to do more until I physically can't. And of course, I'd take a few cameras.
Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Yeah I'm back solely to shooting photographs for the enjoyment of capturing the moment or the scenery. No more selling my work for a living.
I've thought about individual time trials but I haven't been up to competition shape since 2010. Little health issues here and there keep chewing away at my time and my fitness. I expect that after this thrombosis clears up, hopefully this year, I will be able to get back into serious riding. I want to do some very long tours and eventually ride from coast to coast and the southern to the northern border. A friend of mine packed up one summer and rode from Montreal to Vancouver then to Yellowknife. That is like riding coast to coast then most of the way back. People often aren't aware how large Canada is. I'd love to ride that route. I've ridden in Bahrain, Dubai, Perth, Hobart, Victoria BC, Hong Kong and most of the states in this country. I want to continue to do more until I physically can't. And of course, I'd take a few cameras.
Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk
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Phil,

I'm with you as far as commercializing my work. If anything good happens: oh-well it will be a surprise. Still I'll make some headway in marketing myself and try and sell some limited editions of my digital work.

In Westchester county is this town called Peekskill where right in town they have Blue Mountain Park. I was told by this one passenger on Metro North, who had a high end full suspension bike, that Peekskill has some of the best technical single track in the Northeast. This guy was riding in the train with body armor.

This part of the lower Hudson Valley is pretty rocky and you have to understand how a glacier made Hudson Valley. West Point is across the river and this is the deepsest part of the Hudson. Just north is the Bear Mountain Bridge, so the state park and Harringman State Park is just on the other side of the river.

Seems like a biker's paradise. Also only $1775.00 rent on a 2 bedroom on Main Street in a new LEED building called the Lofts on Main Street. Cheap rent in a luxury building with amenities.

The town is a bit rough, and they are trying to establish it as an up and coming art community, like Beacon further up the Hudson. The downtown is nice though, although not big.

Train fare to NYC is not inexpensive on Metro North. $51.00 for two off-peak, but on an express train only 45 minutes away.

I'm trying to avoid getting injured or pancaked her in NYC. Basically riding here is an accident ready to happen.

Sounds like you have the body type and genes to be competitive in a Time Trial. As you mention your age and base of training is a huge asset.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
It's great to have things that you love... :) As you can imagine, my life has changed a lot and so has my photography.
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John,

At the end of the Cold War I was forced to recreate myself.

Retiring is different because it is not a forced move.

For the past 2 decades I have not gone fishing, since I moved to NYC. This once was a big part of my life.

Photography, fishing, biking, and music are all about relaxing and enjoyment.

I wish "Maggie" could learn to relax.

Yesterday I took off of work because my vacation bank is nearly maxed out. I dicked around with my guitars most of the day optimizing the pickup heights. I gave my hands a workout on an acoustic, and also did an elyptical workout.

In daydream mode I took a look at this amp project I began years ago that is a cut chassis and pile of parts. This project is to basically recreate an Ampeg Portaflex B15N bass amp, except double the power by doubling the number of output tubes (4 tubes instead of a pair of 6L6's).

I have a 12 inch folded horn that can handle the power, and many of the old Motown recording were made with a Portaflex because they are great recording amps. It all started when I horse traded with my friend Pat and got this cloned Blonde Fender Twin output tranny that can handle 80 watts.

I recycling mucho parts from Grumman, so this amp will be very much like a "black box" full of military hardware. The point here is that in the end decades of what you were and where you were still remains relevant.

From my 40th High School reunion, I was pretty disappointed with my old friends. They kinda wasted their lives and did not do very much. Some still live in the same town, and many live in adjoining towns. Kinda sad.

Cal
 
Keep using those vacation days, perhaps for a short escapade with the bike? One think that I always thought about, but never did, was days long bike touring or packing.


It's not gonna be that long that I'll clock a year since I moved up to Sweden. Of course some things change. Photography wise I'm happy to finally hit the darkroom every now and then and do B&W. Spring light makes shooting slow film viable again.


My bikes take orders from the photographic division :D I see it as a nice way to go to location. Don't have my proper bike up here, but most probably it'll be sold and replaced or shipped when the circumstances allow me to do more recreative biking.


If out with buds it's much better IMO (except for the photography part). One member of the camera club is a bit of an elite hardcore rider, then that guy my age I know has sort of gone missing. He takes whole days off with the bike, which I can't really do, and doesn't seem to respond to any plan I throw of riding together.



With summer closing in, it's quite possible I reacquaint with a bud I met who often fished on the season. River fishing seems very relaxing and at the end of the day it's about being with good folks.


Calzone said:
I recycling mucho parts from Grumman, so this amp will be very much like a "black box" full of military hardware. The point here is that in the end decades of what you were and where you were still remains relevant.

From my 40th High School reunion, I was pretty disappointed with my old friends. They kinda wasted their lives and did not do very much. Some still live in the same town, and many live in adjoining towns. Kinda sad.

Cal
Click to expand...
Those are wise words. Be as much gung ho as possible, anyways you can always stay tucked in at home and "cease to exist" from the eyes of the world. Although relaxation is required in one way or other.



What you noticed in the reunion is the same when I go back to my hometown and see acquaintances there. "They're done" is what I thought.

Not even a decade since I got off high school, but aside of a single really good friend I really don't interact with anyone else from my class. Not to steer the discussion but it's ironic that tech both brings everyone closer as well as keeping distance between people.
 
Phil,

Check out the "Great American Rail Trail."

Starts in Washington DC; ends in Washington State. 4000 miles.

Big announcement in May???

Seems like not only an epic ride, but also an epic opportunity to photograph.

Cal
 
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