Beans In A Jar, Pflugerville Skatepark, & An Afternoon Ride in North Houston

While I was on tour with my band back in June, I made a quick list of roasters in the areas where I was touring so I could pick up a bag or two during my travels.

One of the roasters that I noted was Combs' Coffee near Denton, TX.  Many reviewers noted that Combs' place was like a coffee temple... so yeah, I had to go check it out!

My girlfriend found this coffee "jarringly" great!

When you first arrive at Combs' place - it's not a regular coffee shop. Rather, it's nestled in a small enclave of small but modern warehouses.  When you walk in, there's a wall of mason jars filled with roasted coffee beans from around the globe. When I say "around the globe", I'm not only talking about the usual suspects, but also places such as China, Thailand, Bali, and Nepal.  

And then, when you walk past the small room filled with jars of beans, it's only THEN that you see the coffee shop and finally meet the man behind the brand, James Combs.

From my conversations James Combs, he shared that he is close pals with Weihong Zhang of Blendin Coffee Club (Houston) and they will occasionally work together to buy super high quality beans and split up the prize for their respective shops.  Both of them are Q Arabica Graders - which I had never heard of until I met James. The best way to put it, a Q Grader is the wine sommelier equivalent to the coffee industry.

After spending a lot of time talking about coffee with James, I picked up two jars to take back to Houston. Today, I'm reviewing the Nicaraguan Fincas Mierish bean from the Comayagua region.  BTW - check out the Fincas Mierish link for some fantastic details about their farms and beans.

About the coffee: this is a wonderfully rich coffee. I know I tend to lust after the Central African beans but this batch from Nicaragua is exceptional and worth enjoying.  I noticed a beautifully sweet start with this coffee.  Have you ever had a great "coffee flavored" ice cream or coffee-infused beer?  That's what I tasted when I first took a dive into this brew. It's the taste of what coffee SHOULD taste like. I could see adding a bit of oat milk or a lightly sweet cream to this coffee, but it's so rewarding right out of the pot. I also imagine this would make for a fantastic cold-brew - but it may not be acidic enough for those who like a super strong cold-brew.

Note that when you order from Combs' - your coffee will be shipped in a regular bag, not in the quart-sized mason jar packaging you find at his shop.

Moving on from coffee, let's check out two skateparks I found in Pflugerville, Texas last month!

Pflugerville is north by northeast of Austin, TX.  Super cute city that has monetarily benefitted from the rapid growth in Austin, but I'm not sure the locals appreciate the higher home prices and rapid growth from the Austinites moving into their community. Nonetheless, the city is home to one of the BEST skateparks in the State: the appropriately named Pflugerville Skatepark.

At 41,400 square feet, this park is beautifully laid out, clean, plenty of safe parking, super smooth transitions, and perfectly maintained.  The photo I took does NOT do the park justice, so check out what others have posted. I was legit bummed out that it was so damn hot (over 100 F) and that I could only skate for about an hour before heat exhaustion kicked in. If I lived near this skatepark, I would be here as often as possible.  It's so well laid out and beautiful.  I love the two large seperated pools too.

There was a second Pflugerville skatepark (more like a pocket skatepark) that I skated while my girlfriend checked out a connecting trail.

It's called the "Skate Spot" and the connecting trail that links to it is called Bohl's Loop.  The trail is 7 miles long, but the Skate Spot is basically a ramp and a taco with picnic seating nearby. Yeah, it's tiny! On the plus side, it's shaded by the surrounding trees and if you decide to walk / run on Bohl's Loop like Pat did, then you're in luck as the trail is pretty great. 

And now... lemme talk to you about the bike ride I completed in the north Houston area last week.

The Spring Creek Greenway has been a favorite of mine ever since I started seriously riding bikes again in 2020.  This ~ 30 mile trail is a treasure!  Many parts are shaded, includes clearly marked trail markers, nearly 100% is paved, and (when there's not a drought) the meandering creek is a bonus zen experience.

I added ~ 12 miles to my ride by exploring the western side of the trail.  It was interesting to note that much the western portion was not on Google maps. Also, the western portion (noted as "ExxonMobile CityPlace") does not directly link with the rest of the Spring Creek Greenway. Kind of dumb and also kind of dangerous if you're trying to ride the entire route because you have to get onto the parkway and the highway feeder to get to the rest of the trail.

However, this is only a very small section of somewhat risky bike riding... 99% of the rest of the trails are absolutely beautiful. Sometimes, too beautiful. I remember thinking to myself how the beauty of my surroundings were becoming monotonous. When I first dove into the trail, I was stopping often to take photos of the trees, flowers, bugs... but then, it because the same thing over and over again... for miles.  

I had to stop and remind myself that this "monotonous beauty" was exactly what my soul needed.  This is exactly why I'm here!

When I ride on long stretches of road (such as the Hotter'N Hell ride last month) I remember feeling bored... numb... to the cycling experience. Was I so used to being constantly stimulated by technology and my surroundings that a peaceful bike ride - albeit a scorching hot one - was "just not enough"?

When that thought crossed my mind again, I physically stopped, made myself sit down on a bench to drink some water, and told myself to disengage, relax, and appreciate that I am here.

I found that once I let my mind clear itself, I could enjoy the ride more: the humming sound of the tyres against the ground, the steady cadence of my pedaling, the sound of my breathing, and the smells of my surroundings.

It wasn't all peace and love though. After I had made it to the end and was working my way back to my starting point, I found feel a cool breeze on my face.  The smell of rain was in the air and I was two hours away from my starting point!

Lucky for me, it did not rain on the trail area. However, I was pedaling furiously so I could get to a covered area just in case the rain hit.  That hard sprint was for about 30 minutes and THAT seriously drained my energy.

Still, it was a beautiful journey and I relax significantly after I realized the rain wasn't going to hit. The relaxed pace at the end didn't do anything for my average speed / timing... but this was not a race. It was a day off from everything, which means more that the numbers could report.

Let's Ride, Kemosabe!

I haven't been doing much riding lately because the temperatures in Houston have been holding steady in the 100s (F).  In the big book of excuses to not go outside - I think heat waves would be ranked near the top.  Right?  Yes?  Please?

Well, anyway - I'm still doing what I can to train for some upcoming rides, which all promise to be fun while pushing my limits.  Here's the down and dirty on my upcoming bikes and deck actions!

Wichita Falls, TX -- August 25 - 27

Hotter'n Hell Ride - 100 miles

I mentioned this ride in an earlier post and I'm starting to get concerned that I won't survive... or... actually.... if I'll be able to complete 100 miles!  Nonetheless, I have been working out at home and in the office - mainly doing exercises for my glutes as that is the area where I feel I need the most work.  

Boneyard Garland Skatepark - Since I'll be up in Wichita Falls, I'm planning to make a stop in north Dallas on the day after the ride to check out this highly rated and recommended skatepark!

Pflugerville, TX -- September 2

I'll be in Austin for work August 30th and September 1st - but after that, Patty and I will be doing some hiking around the area, drinking too much coffee, and hitting up a couple of skateparks in Pflugerville (aka northeast Austin).

Northeast Metro Skatepark - This one is huge (40,000 square feet!) and looks like a lot of fun.  I'm eager to check it out as it looks like it has a lot to offer for my level of skating. Just from the photos, it looks similar to the North Houston Skatepark (77,000 square feet). 

Skate Spot - not a whole lot of info on the Internet on this one, but several people have recommended it to me as it features tree canopies and a lot of great features packed into a small area.  Very curious about this one.

EDITORIAL NOTE: SEPTEMBER 3rd IS MY BIRTHDAY

Spring, TX -- September 13

Spring Creek Greenway - 80 miles

This is not an official ride event, I just enjoy this trail in north Houston and I am eager to checked it out on the Fuji bike.  It's approximately 40 miles one-way and I plan on trying to achieve the roundtrip ride in under 6 hours.  My other go-to scenic Houston ride is the Terry Hershey Trail in west Houston. That trail is about 21 miles one-way - although I've clocked an additional 35 miles with the other trails that branch off the Terry Hershey system.

Galveston, TX -- October 21-22

Bike Around The Bay - 120 miles

And this is the ride that REALLY has me a wee bit worried.  It's the ride that prompted me to finally seek out a multi-speed bike.  I mean, the MS150 was definitely the catalyst for me wanting to shop around for a multi-speed... but the anticipation of this ride is what tipped the scale.  Horror stories abound about the treacherous headwinds, the long, long slog along the highways, and then trying to cover the distance in time to make it to the camp site and get enough rest... and reboot my energy for the next day.

The Fuji has given me the opportunity to learn the nuances of the gearing mechanism on a bike while also understanding where I need to concentrate (most important: pace yourself!) for longer rides such as Bike Around The Bay.

My Texican skate deck setup

I've mentioned this deck in previous posts, so I wanted to use this post to talk about my new favorite skateboard set up (sorry Snake Farm, but you'll always be my first).

The Snake Farm deck (see March 2 post) was my first skateboard in... 20 years!  It's a traditional popsicle shape deck, which was perfect for me as I was looking for a standard deck to see if I *really* wanted to sink myself into skating.  But also -- I didn't want to buy something cheap and meaningless.

The Snake Farm deck is made in Mexico by PS Stix and (at the time) Snake Farm had just signed a southside Houston skater to their roster... so I felt good about supporting them.  :)  The trucks are industry standard Independence Trucks - Stage 11s and my wheels on that deck are Spitfires.

So overall, a solid set up that felt comfortable and enabled me to start learning more and more alongside my oldest son -- the only reason I started skateboarding again.

As I skated around at various parks in Texas and Oklahoma, I began to consider what I liked and didn't like about the popsicle set up.  

I felt like I needed more real estate in the front for my foot and a more pronounced tail in the back to rest my other foot.  While I was in traveling in the Dallas area, I stopped by Geometric Skateshop to look at various decks.  The Powell Peralta Old School Ripper deck was definitely bigger, but felt too big and wide... like I was riding on a surfboard!  

Then I tried out the P&P GeeGah deck and I liked the shape and feel.  The nose was wider than the back while the tail had a little more space and concave to solidly plant my right foot.  So, I had made up my mind......... to think about.

After a few weeks, and even trying out someone else's deck that was similar to what I was seeking, I was ready to find my next deck.  A friend introduced me to Texican Skateboards and, after checked out the deck styles he had available, I was immediately on board with buying a deck from him.  

Texican is a one-man operation -- run by a guy named Frank Gardner.  As I learned more about him and Texican, I was even more enthusiastic:  He's based in Houston, his decks are made in Georgia and he drives there to pick up the blanks himself... then he shapes and paints each one at his shop in Houston.  He's 100% into what he does because it's his lifelong passion.  He also takes several months off each year to travel north to explore as many skateparks as possible.  When I say north, I mean from Texas to Montana and North Dakota!

Plus, I like that design on the bottom.

Frank recommended I check out Cherries Wheels, based in Austin, as I had mentioned my desire to buy from local business.  Frank uses their Big Boys wheels and had an extra set in his van in case he needs to replace them while traveling.  I checked out Cherries Wheels at Southside Skateshop and was sold on the Smoke Bombs... which were only 1mm bigger than the wheels I was using on my Skate Farm.

And finally, Independent Trucks had just re-released their Stage 4 trucks - which many say have more of a smoother turning radius... like riding a surfboard.  This would be ideal for the Texican as I requested wheel wells get carved into the deck to help prevent wheel bite.

The verdict: This set up is exceptionally fun.  I truly love everything about it: the wheels have a great bite but also slide nicely when pushed.  I love love love those Stage 4 trucks and really can't see myself ever wanting to go back to Stage 11s.  The Stage 4s have a smooth, flowy feel to them when taking turns and hitting ramps / bowls.  The Stage 11s are more aggressive on the turns.  The way the 4s are built - I wonder if Independence was trying to emulate the feeling of riding on a wave.  Perhaps others can explain the difference better than I.  All I know is that they are smooth and flowy.

The deck is also fantastic.  I feel a bit more confident riding on ramps and more with the wider deck.  I'm not one to do lots of tricks (for now).  I mainly just want to ride with confidence and enjoy the skating experience.

So yeah, this is the deck I'm taking with me in September along with the Fuji and a desire to enjoy the outdoors.

Mini-tour recap and upcoming coffee reviews

The mini tour in Texas (see June 21 blog post for details) went very well on several fronts: positive gigs, finding exceptionally good coffee roasters, checking out some great (and one not so great) skatepark, and most importantly - being around some amazing and beautiful people!   So, I'll start by talking about the first stop of the tour: Denton.

We started our series of gigs on Friday night at Killer's Tacos - which was about to be sold off and turned into a different venue.  Killer's vegetarian menu was pretty outstanding -- and I should know because I ordered four of their vegetarian tacos! I thought the sound system was really good and the vibe pretty chill. I've been told that when the place re-opens later this year, the vibe will still be the same.

Saturday morning, I checked out two coffee places and both were beyond amazing.

[NOTE: Photo of my coffee haul at the bottom of this post. I'll post extensively about the coffee roasters I visited in an upcoming post.  There's a lot to discuss!]

After coffee, I went to my first skate stop: Roanoke Skatepark.  I had been to Roanoke before (see post on March 31) and wanted to check it out using my new-ish Texican deck.  You know, I need to write about the Texican deck and the main man before the craft, Frank Gardner.  Again, I'll put a pin in that statement for a future post.

Watauga Skatepark

As last time, Roanoke was super fun, although I didn't go into the bowl this time as it was busy with other skaters.  Still a first class park and very well maintained.

Next park was the Watauga Skatepark.  It's a small park (see photo) but perfect for a beginner / intermediate level skater.  The small covered bench area was highly appreciated as the temperatures was reaching close to 95!

After that, I drove from Fort Worth to Waco and checked out the Sul Ross Skatepark.  Oh man, this place was my favorite of the three this day - mainly because of the long pool feature.  Super clean park with lots of subtle ebbs in the concrete that makes riding a blast.  I wish I could have spent a lot more time here but (a) it was almost 100 degrees outside and (b) I kinda really needed to get back on the road to Austin for a gig that night.  But man, I can't wait to find an excuse to go back there.

My weapon of choice: an IYV 300 Guitar

The gig in Austin was at a house called Arnold House... because it's on Arnold Street.  House shows can be loads of fun, but a major challenge for me as I need a serious PA system to help push the drum machine at level with the guitar.  

Luckily, I have known the people in Shipwrecked and Self-Checkout Renaissance and I asked if one of their members could play an impromptu minute set with me.  

Josh from Self-Checkout got volunteered to play drums for my set and we played a cracking 30 minute impromptu kraut rock set.  I was super pleased with how it turned out and so was everyone else... who thought it was my normal set!

Sunday morning - got up and out to pick up a bag of beans at Greater Goods... but... I saw a review for a place called Progress Roasters that was on my route to Greater Goods and... well... I had to check it out.

Progress Coffee Roasters is located near downtown Austin, just off the highway.  It doesn't have a great view, but man oh man, what a great coffee place!  I ordered a cup of standard black - which was a Central American blend.  Normally, that's not my thing, but it was well done and flavorful.  I picked up a bag of their Ethiopian and hit the road again for Greater Goods.

Now, in my post from February 14th, I made note about a coffee I enjoyed at the Bernie Bean.  Bernie Bean featured a re-branded coffee from Greater Goods as THEIR coffee... but after a little digging, found out that their coffee was sourced at Greater Goods and the coffee I fell in love with was a Costa Rican bean.

Arnold House  (Austin, TX)

So, as you can imagine, part of my objective for this tour was to make a stop at Greater Goods and pick up a bag of this incredible batch.

And now... with treasures of coffee beans safely tucked away in the car, I sped off to find the next series of skateparks.

My first skatepark of the day was at Mueller Skatepark. I noted that while Google Maps notes the park as Gaylord Sackler Memorial Park, all the signs at the park say Mueller Park.  Apparently - the park has both names officially.  But... what's most important was how nice this park is.  AND, it has a pump track!  I really had a blast at this park, even though it was freakishly hot.

My next stop was at the Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skatepark (see photo below).  I loved this park too!  Nice ramps, clean and well maintained, and so much fun.  I thoroughly enjoyed this park and was disappointed when I couldn't spend more time there due to being super hot and tired.

So, with a couple of bottles of fresh, cold water in the car, I drove off to Houston... but had a note to stop in Sealey as I wanted to see their park next.

Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skatepark
& my Texican deck

However, I knew there was a park or two on my way to Houston -- specially at a place called power plant skatepark.  More specifically, the Smithville Powerplant Skate Park.

Once I arrived, I was intrigued as it looked kind of small, but well used.  However, once I got wheels on the ground, it was apparent that the park suffered from a lack of maintenance.  The graffiti didn't bother me at all, it was the crumbling concrete and dirt build up all around.  If you click on the link to the park - you'll see photos of how it looked when it opened.  But today, it's a sad and neglected.  I hope the city / parks board does something to give the skatepark a little love.

So, I didn't spend much time at all at the Smithville Powerplant Skatepark and was back on the road to Sealy, Texas.  That park was diametrically the opposite of Smithville!

Both are small, but Sealy's skatepark is very clean, well-maintained, and great for beginners.  Smithville looked rough around the edges, but expert skaters might enjoy the challenge of the place.

I enjoyed the Sealy skatepark a lot... mainly because I could skate it without getting stopped by rocks / broken bits of pavement.  Nice but also nothing special.  If you're traveling near Sealy, Texas and you have your deck... give it a spin!

Anyway, I made it to Houston and got to the venue just in time to get set up and soundcheck for the set.  The gig went well, but it was super sad to note that it was Shipwrecked's last gig for a long time as their drummer is moving to (ugh) Santa Monica.  :D

All in all, a great three day trip with friends, coffee, and lots of skateboarding... and almost dying from heat exhaustion!!! 

Self-Checkout Renaissance (Houston gig)

Shipwrecked (Houston gig)

Look at all that roasted bean goodness!!!

A Different Kind of Tour (no band this time)

I had hinted about this a while ago on my Instagram accounts, but here we are for the big reveal!  Yup - instead of touring for band promotion, I am hitting the road to enjoy traveling for a change and have fun exploring trails and parks.

Typing that sentence out is weird for me as I've spent 14+ years planning tours based on where my band can perform and how much distance we can "reasonably" tackle between cities.  Touring life - contrary to popular belief - is neither glorious nor fun.  It's a race from city to city, trying to stay awake, friendly, fed, passably sober and, not go broke in the process.  All in the name of trying to increase your fan base.  Many times, it's a thankless and frustrating experience and must be done with a degree of consistency for it to "work".

And now, with the passing of time, I don't have an interest in that lifestyle.  Often when I was on tour, I would wish I had more leisure time to explore the cities we stopped at and just enjoy the community and the surrounding countryside.  

I started embracing that concept on my last few tours with Stockhausen & The Amplified Riot -- taking my bike and/or my skateboard and giving myself extra time between gigs to enjoy the experience.  And now... I'm ditching the band aspect completely and focusing on exploring the bike trails and skateparks without any band pressure.

And so, below is my plan of travel for late September [edit: November].  I'll be packing up my trusty Nissan Rouge with my bike, skateboard, and whatever else I need for the journey.

Along the way, I'll also check out local breweries and (most importantly) coffee roasters!  I'll have a large, insulated bag so I can keep the bags of coffee protected as I drive from place to place over the course of two weeks.

My goal is not to achieve hundreds of miles of bike riding - it's to enjoy the trip and check out the bike trails and skate parks that I had to drive past when I used to hustle for band work.

In other bike news, I'll be training for the Hotter'n Hell bike ride (100 miles) in August and the Bike Around the Bay (174 miles) in October.

Other big endeavors on the horizon - I'm planning on late Spring 2024 to ride on the Great Allegheny Passage.  This route will take about 10 days to complete and cover 500 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to Harpers Ferry, WV and back.  I'm planning to do this ride instead of the MS150. I'd like to do the MS150 again... but I feel there's some changes that will need to be made in the management of the ride for it to become enjoyable again.

I know there are plenty of riders and groups that can accomplish these rides / routes in far less time... but my goal is not to crush miles under my wheels in the name of distance.  I want to enjoy the sights, sounds (solitude) and nature and be able to enjoy these rides while I still can do them.  :) 

Tour, Skate, Chill

It's time for another quick tour around Texas for Stockhausen and the Amplified Riot. 

This time, I'll be touring with my friends from Shipwrecked and Self Checkout Renaissance - both from Baton Rouge.  I'm super excited to travel with these awesome bands - and also excited to be hitting up a few new skate parks along the way!

Here's how it's looking for this weekend:

I've hit up Roanoke before during a tour last March - and it was a fun, easy riding park.  But the others will all be new to me.  I'm especially looking forward to Gaylord Sackler skate park because it has a pump track!

I'll also (of course) be checking out coffee roasters - especially in Austin.  I was looking forward to hitting up Texas Coffee Traders but they will be closed by the time I make it into town.

Thousand Helmets: version 2.0

I know the importance of safety while either riding my bike or while on a skateboard, but I was never keen on the styles available.  Not that safety NEEDS to be stylish, I just found the dominate bicycle helmet styles to be a little too… I don't know... weird?  And then Thousand comes along and I was immediately sold on their aesthetic.  So, if you’re shopping around for a helmet, I’d like to recommend Thousand helmets – but only their latest version (aka 2.0).

I bought my first Thousand helmet (Speedway Crème) in August 2020.  I instantly loved it: comfortable, solid, and looked cool.  At the time - we were still in the arms of the pandemic and even though I didn’t see a lot of people out and about, I definitely didn’t see anyone in Houston wearing a helmet like this.  More importantly – I was doing exactly what Thousands’ marketing was hoping to achieve: wearing a helmet, but also, doing it in style.

Many riders have more than one bicycle and I am no exception.  I have one at my apartment and one at the house where my sons live.  So, I decided to buy a second helmet and just keep it at the house so there’s no excuse for NOT riding.  The second helmet I ordered was in Stealth Black (#2 in the photo below) and is a good quality helmet, but didn’t feel as solid as the first one.  After examining the two helmets side-by-side I found that my perception of the “solid feel” of the first helmet was due to the straps that are used.  #1 uses vegan leather straps, which are slightly stiffer / thicker than the all-fabric straps used on the Stealth Black.  The difference in the thickness of the straps allows the plastic harness in the back of the helmet to move up and down a bit more.

I presume it is more of an aesthetic thing to use the different strap materials as the brown vegan leather wouldn’t look as stealthy on a black helmet with a blacked out logo.  It didn’t bother me too much that the back harness moved around more freely (but still stayed secure while on your head), but I noticed it.  If I didn’t have the two helmets side-by-side, I would have never known the difference.

After a few more months of riding and increasing my distance / stamina, I decided to upgrade my helmet to one that had a higher safety rating.  Again, I ended up back with Thousand but this time, I purchased their Chapter MIPS helmet.

When I received the new helmet, I tried it on and immediately did not like it.  I had never worn a MIPS helmet before, so I can’t fault Thousand.  The helmet wobbled quite a bit on my head, which is understandable as the MIPS design is like a cage inside the helmet that allows the exterior of the helmet to move / rotate in case of an accident.  However, the wobble was distracting and I felt like the helmet was going to slide off my head.  The MIPS design inside the helmet was nice and snug but that exterior shell moved around too much while riding.

Thousand was quick to respond about my concern and offered me either a refund or an exchange.  At this point in my post, I want to note that Thousand have been consistently quick and friendly with my questions and concerns.  So, I decided on an exchange – I ordered (basically) the same helmet as before but in navy blue.  My plan was to give my stealth black helmet to a friend who needs a helmet and just have the two.

However, when helmet #3 arrived, I noticed something was off.  The black plastic harness in the back was attached a little closer to the center of the helmet, which made the helmet feel too snug, even when the adjustment wheel was fully loosened.  Also, I noticed the trim around the bottom of the helmet was not fully attached, so I added a little glue to the inside and now it’s secure.  Neither of these are deal killers, but it was weird.  So, I kept helmet #2 and was planning to give #3 away… but then my friend bought himself a helmet (after I kept bugging him to do so!)… so now I have three helmets and decided just to keep #3 in a box until someone else comes along that needs a helmet.

All was going just fine until……. Thousand announced version2.0 of their helmets!  They claim that the new helmets are lighter and have better ventilation – which is appealing to me as it’s really ding-dang hot here in Houston for most of the year.  So, why not give it a try?

Enter helmet #4 from Thousand!

Right away, and I mean right-out-of-the-box right away, this helmet felt great!  It felt more secure… solid… but also familiar.  However, the white trim was also a loose like on helmet #3.  What’s up with that Thousand?  Anyway, I had the Gran Fondo Texas ride coming up so I took this helmet with me to give it a go.

Straight up, the vents on top are better positioned for air flow to your scalp.  Version 1 was good, but I felt a major difference with the airflow using the new 2.0 version.  Also, there’s a “howl” that occurs with version 1 from the air vents when you’re gaining speed (or hit with a strong head wind).  That howl is the sound of the air going across the air vents on top.  With the new design, that howl is gone.  The internal pads are good too, although they are on the thin side.  I would recommend Thousand consider adding a second set of internal pads to each helmet as the pads will wear out before the helmet does – as is the case with my #1 helmet.  I noticed that the pop-lock hole feature on the back is slightly bigger than version 1.0.  Oh yeah, and the new versions have a small “shelf” on the back so you can magnetically attach a bike light – although (as of this post) those lights are not available and it’s not clear if future purchases of this helmet will include the bike light like the MIPS version does.

Bottom line – I’m impressed with the improvements on version 2.0 of the Thousand helmet and I recommend it over the original version.  I implore Thousand to keep an eye on the quality control as they have a great product.  #4 will be my main bike helmet for now!  I'm keeping helmets #1 and #2 (mainly to be used for skateboarding) and donating #3 to a local bike shop that's active in the biking community.

TLDR: please use a helmet when either bike riding, skateboarding, or rollerblading.  These helmets are great for those sports. 

Yellow Dog Coffee Company (Norman, OK) + skateparks + gigs

While I was traveling last week, I could not resist the urge to buy some locally roasted coffee.  So today's post is about some beans from Papua New Guinea roasted at the Yellow Dog Coffee Company in Norman, Oklahoma.

The bag doesn't indicate much about the beans, but from my tasting notes, I suspect it's New Guinea Arona.

As soon as I poured my first cup, I noted the coffee was mellow on flavor and texture.  It starts with a citrusy, floral essence and then finishes with a honey note.  Interesting!  I would say that this coffee is pretty bright with a clean finish.  If you like your coffee with a strong, bold character, then this coffee is not for you.  However, I bet it would go great as a latte.  You know, it reminds me for the Peruvian coffee I reviewed last month from Noble Coyote Coffee: light body and mild flavor.  So I would rate this coffee as polite for an afternoon break.

Besides looking for coffee - I also played several gigs (the main reason for this recent adventure) and checked out numerous skateparks while in the north Texas / Oklahoma region.

I had a fairly aggressive schedule lined up with gigs and skateparks (see previous posts) and I am quite amazed that I was able to hit up five of the six parks on my list:

• Lewisville Skatepark (Lewisville, TX) 
• Northeast Community Park (Frisco, TX)
• Vandergriff Skatepark (Arlington, TX)
• Blake Baldwin Skatepark (Norman, OK)
• Roanoke Skatepark (Roanoke, TX)

Of the ones I got to skate - my favorites were Lewisville and Roanoke.

Lewisville gets high praise because it's a big, roomy park with a wide range of features.  Beginners to experts can find something to love there. I got to the park early (9:30am) and was the only one there for two hours!  By the time I left, two moms showed up with their small children and scooters... but I imagine the place gets much busier later in the day.

Roanoke gets high praise from me because it has several unique features as well as plenty of space for all level of skaters.  Definitely not as large as Lewisville, but still roomy.  Check out this video from Braille Skateboarding where they explore the park.  Actually, it was because of that video that I specifically sought out the park while I was in the region! 

Unrelated side note 1: I had also made a note to visit the gravesite of Townes Van Zandt in Dido, Texas - but I just ran out of time... which I'm sure Townes would appreciate.

The Blake Baldwin Skatepark was interesting in that they used natural rock formations as part of the obstacles / features.  A very cool idea.  

Oklahoma is well known for their red dirt and its ability to permanently stain everything red.  The stuff is not like the dirt found around Houston.  No, this stuff is kind of clay-like.  So... when you skate over it... you might be in for a surprise on how your board has stayed put while you continue falling forward!

Which brings me to why I want to give a shout out to the locals at the Blake Baldwin Skatepark... they brought brooms!  Someone brought a small PA to blast hardcore, punk, and metal... but there were also two brooms sitting next to the PA... and skaters would randomly pick one up to sweep an area to skate.  It was endearing and awesome to see that level of community.

For those who like data, here's how the parks I visited measured.  I have North Houston on the list because I stopped by there while on my way home... but also because it's interesting to note its size:

• North Houston Skatepark - 78,000 square feet (second largest skatepark in the United States)
• Northeast Community Park - 47,000 square feet  ("second largest in Texas")
• Lewisville Skatepark - 33,000 square feet
• Blake Baldwin Skatepark - 20,000 square feet
• Roanoke Skatepark - 20,000 square feet
• Vandergriff Skatepark - 7,500 square feet  

On my way out of town, I made a quick stop at Guestroom Records to drop off some tapes and check out their vinyl.  Highly recommended shop... they even had the Neu 50 box set!!!

Unrelated side note 2: Sadly, I discovered that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in Norman was closed (apparently, for quite some time).  

So yeah - the gigs!  Ha ha... guess I should mention those too while I'm here.

It may sound contrived or "playing it safe" when I say that all five were awesome... but yeah... all five gigs were great and absolutely worth it.  The show in Norman at The Deli got posted in the printed city music & arts newspaper!

I've finally purchased a clip-on tuner and removed the trusty Boss tuner that would normally be taped to the folding table where the drum machine sits.  (reminder: I need to find a tuner that is re-chargeable via usb)  As far as I can remember, I've never been a multi-pedal player.  I'm not trying to be an elitist about it, I'm just kind of busy with trying not to mess up the songs I'm playing by trying to remember which pedal to turn off/on!

I also got to say... many times while I'm watching bass / guitar players with loads of pedals... I never hear a significant difference when pedals are switched on / off unless it's something like a phaser / delay / etc... something that drastically alters the sound of the instrument.

So, if my guitar + amp is not giving me the sound I want, I will go out and find the right combination.  When I played metal and punk - I normally used a Mesa Boogie or a basic Marshall.  These days, it's a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV.  The amp is plenty loud and can effortlessly go dirty or clean and all points in between.  I modified the circuit board as there are well documented issues with this amp and the values / placement of capacitors & resistors.  Nothing crazy complicated... but I will make a note to post about the mods in a later entry.

And finally... I had left a three-star rating for a place in Farmer's Branch, Texas called The Diner. The food was (at best) okay and the service was slow.  So, three-stars as a reminder to not go back.  Apparently, they had something to say about my rating:

Ha ha ha, fuck those guys.

But... the next time you're in Oklahoma, come visit my valley!  Let me know what it's like because all I know about it is from this highway sign.

Tre Stelle Coffee Co (Dallas) + Gig & Skate

It's a new week and time for a new bag of beans!

I'm back on the Yirgacheffe train this week with a fresh bag from Tre Stelle Coffee Company, based in Dallas but has its roots in Eritrea.  I found Tre Stelle while on a recent tour with the band.  The morning I was leaving Dallas, I stopped by Benny's Bagels and picked up some road snacks as well as a fantastic bagel with lox.  Tre Stelle has several great reviews for their coffee and their beans - and it was along my route - so I stopped by to relax with my bagel and coffee.

And oh damn - both were great!  I think the regular drop they were serving was a Central American blend - which had a great balanced flavor and paired well with my bagel w/ lox.  However, I knew that I was out of Ethiopian coffees at home, so I picked up this bag before hitting the road again.

For the record - all of my coffee is made using either a Moccamaster KBGT or a Chemex Classic carafe. 

So, I would describe this coffee as having zesty fruit notes in the front with a smooth milk chocolate finish.  It feels like velvet on the palette - so it's an easy yet energetic brew.  It's so easy that when I finished my mug, I was kinda disappointed.  No, not kinda... I was sincerely disappointed that it was already gone.  Now I have to wait until tomorrow morning to enjoy another travel mug of this coffee.  Que será, será.

With a new mini tour coming up this month - I've decided that instead of hauling my bike with me, I'm going to bring my skateboard and hit up several skateparks along my route.  I might seek out another coffee roaster too, but I have a good stock now after my recent family trip to Fredericksburg, Texas.

While I was in the Woodlands, Texas about two weeks ago, I skated at the North Houston Skatepark - which is the second largest skatepark in the United States and the largest in Texas.  For this trip - I'm hitting up the Frisco Skate Park (another super large park), the Roanoke Skatepark (featured in this video) as well as TheDailyShredd in Oklahoma City, which is an indoor skatepark!  I've been posting reviews of the skateparks I visit on Google Maps - mainly so I can keep track of the various parks I visit during my travels.  I use Strava to track my progress on my bike rides and hikes - but it doesn't work as well with skateparks since I'm not traversing over a lot of terrain. Plus, I tend to keep my phone off me when I'm skating.

Whole Lotta Shakin Going On

Got a crazy busy month ahead of me!

This weekend, I'm participating in the Pedaling the Prairie ride with several members of the Saint Arnold's Bike Team - along with a few hundred new friends joining in on the fun.  Last weekend I rode 66 miles and I've already forgotten how terrible I felt after the ride.  How much I was regretting the ride by the mid-way point.  How much I wanted it to be over when I had another bridge to crest while riding against the wind.  Yup, I have totally forgotten all of that and I'm ready for the next one.

And then, the following week - I'll be up ion the Woodlands for my annual coursework on my professional certification.  I'll be taking time in the evenings to hit up a few skateparks in the area - making sure I make time on Friday to skate the 2nd largest skate park in the world!

THEN - I'm on a short tour in the Texas/ OK area with my band.  I'm super excited for the tour because I'm running low on coffee (I always pick up a bag or two while I tour) and I'll keep working on the new material that I'll be recording in May in Chicago.

And finally - of special note - I'll be riding in a Gran Fondo being held in far north Houston.  This will be my last big ride before the Texas MS150.  Yowza!!!

Ceci n'est pas un vélo.

Ah yes, the treachery of images. And yes, I have picked up skating again (after a 30 year pause) so I can enjoy cruising around the skateparks with my sons - one of whom is getting better each time and the other son... well... he'd rather just chill.  :)

When I was 10 and living in Jacksonville, FL - I used to skate and/or surf almost every day.  While I was not that great at it, I enjoyed cruising on the pavement and riding the surf.  I didn't think of it as exercise, just a fun thing to do in the days before the Internet.  In high school, when I lived in DC, I would skate around the city with friends and zip through the halls of the underground tunnel system under the government buildings... while also not getting caught by security.

Now that I'm back on the board, I wanted to find something to just kick around on that had simple graphics and made in North America.  I knew there had to be some quality buildings in the States and I'm willing to pay a little extra for their craft.

The Snake Farm "Boom Stick" deck I picked out is made in Mexico by PSSTIX and is 8.375 x 31.  I thought about going for a 9" wide  deck, but it felt a little too wide... like a plank!  and the 8" wide deck my son rides feels a little too narrow for my feet... so this one fits that sweet spot I was looking for.

I had my eyes (and feet ) on a super clean and beautiful WKND deck, but the shop didn't have the size I was looking for.  Next time!

The trucks are Indy Stage 11s and I'm riding Spitfire F4 wheels, 54mm, 99 dura.  Overall, this set up is fantastic for me.  I'm not doing any tricks (yet)... just learning to stay on the board and go up/down ramps without falling face first.

I will be at a work conference next week on the far north side of Houston and I plan on checking out the North Houston Skatepark as it's the second largest skatepark in the world.  What the hell?!