Ain't no sunshine when shes gone...

I don't really remember the last time I saw the sun, I'm pretty sure it was over 2 weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure the trails have the consistency of a water logged loaf of bread.

In other news.....I have been a contributor to LitterMag for a few years now and have developed an quite pleasant "e-friend" level relationship with Shawn Spomer. (Spom's if you're read this: if we hang 2 more times in person you get bumped to "3D friend" status.)
Anyways, Littermag is probably one of THE best online media sites in the mountain bike industry. Not for some fancy flash layouts, or do-hickey forums, but for some of the most rad content on the planet. The "cream-of-the-crop" photogs like Sven and Gary Perkins are regular contributors, so I am pretty stoked to be mixed in with those guys.
The BIG news for Litter/Shawn, its that they have partnered with the Vital Media Network, founders of VitalBMX.com and VitalMX.com, to create VitalMTB.com. The crazy part is that Shawn had temporarily scaled back the site content at one point. The new site drops August 1st, and I should still be contributing to the new venture!

Pics for clicks

Both machines in action. Sad part is that my laptop has more power than the G5 tower. My girlfriend knows more about Final Cut Pro than your girlfriend. Rad.




You'll find some really cool, interesting, or just plain weird items when you buy a house formerly occupied/owned by a couple in their 70's. I found this old Kodak film canister in the basement workshop, filled with about 100+ various keys to god knows what. It now houses my loose change. File this one under the 'cool' category.

A rebuilding year....

LucentProductions.com is currently down right now while I try and focus some energy on the site. I'm thinking that I want something that has a better video player embedded so that I can really showcase some of the good stuffs. If anyone is out there that has some recommendations on that sort of thing let me know! My interweb-page design is right up there with my photochop skills.

For now, just stayed linked here or on face-space/twitter/smoke signal for any updates.

Highland Mountain Bike Park.

So the past week and a half consisted of filming 3 days down in NJ for the US Open, and then coming home to pound out 2 vids from that event, AND finish a pre-season Highland Mountain bike park video I shot.

Being that I wanted to get it out ASAP since its no longer 'pre-season', I tossed this together last night for the dudes at HMBP. The mountain, the owner, the crew....ALL rock. Get your arse up to Highland now!!

Highland Mountain Pre-season from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.

See no Evil.

I hadn't touched editing in quite some time....and I think I'm making up for it this week in a big way. I shot for the MS/Evil Bikes race team @ the US Open, ate some delicious indian food courtesy of Evil Marketing Manager Todd Seplavy, and learned how rad Steve Smith is on and off the bike. The kid likes movie quotes, cooking in his undies, and italian ice. Oh, and he loves his mom.

Evil Bikes - 2009 US Open from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.

Open season.

Memorial day weekend can only mean one thing on the East Coast mtn bike scene. US Open.
Diablo Freeride park played host again to the US Open of Mountain Biking for another year (I honestly lost count, maybe 6th?). Some of last years masses were off at Angelfire to scoop up some UCI points, but those in attendance were in for another gem of a race.

I had teetered on the idea of not going this year due to being broke as a joke, but some last minute video work made my decision quite easy.

Rolled into town Thurs just in time to catch up with Todd Seplavy and Steve Smith and we hiked up the mountain for a course walk!

US Open Course Walk - Presented by Evil Bikes from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.

In typical US Open fashion, Friday was a hot and sticky 90 degree day, followed by some showers for Sat's practice and qualifiers.

Last year's dual slalom event had been replaced with a Giant Slalom event this year. The berm ridden woods from 08 were now improved and groomed for 09, providing an amazing display of berm exploding by the likes of Lopes, Fairclough, and good ol Sam Hill (thats not a knife....this is a knife). Brendon took home the win, with Sam right in tow. According to Specialized team manager Sean Heimdel, Brendon gave Sam part of the winnings so that they can remain facebook friends.

Mother nature decided to eff with Pros on Sunday by rolling in an apocalyptic storm during Amateur finals which meant Pro Men and Women's race runs would be delayed a good hr and a half. Riders were succumed to a blind crapshoot run a course that hadnt been ridden all weekend in the slop. Most managed a folly here and there, along with some the top guys making it through most of the course only to eat a face full of mud on the open grass corners at the finish. Sammy Hill redeemed himself with a win after being eeked out by Steve Smith last year, and a flat bonanza the year before.

So enough jibbah jabbah, here's the recap video:

2009 US Open Downhill and Giant Slalom - Presented by Lucent Productions from Litter Mag on Vimeo.

Check back later in the week (most likely friday) for the Evil Bikes US Open vid.

Slow and Steady.

I'm pretty bad at finishing projects. Not even just bike related projects. For example, there was a hole that needed to be patched in my living room after some new wiring jazz was installed. I think the hole was made in November, and I think the patch job finished sometime in February. Some might call it procrastination, I call it....well, procrastination.

But sometimes I get this flash of insipiration and motivation to get something done, and that fire under my arse was finally sparked last week. (partially)

I took me a week and about 3 trips to Home Depot to find all the right supplies, and only an afternoon to build.

A run down of the parts list cost:
PVC pipe: $7.50 for 2 10' sections

Hardware: $15
Angle Aluminum: $18
Wheels & bearings: $15 (I must note that this a rare price. I randomly found them at Toys R Us on some clearance rack for 70% off)
Plywood: Free.

So for under $60, I present you with the new Lucent Dolly. Still need to figure out a better way to keep the pvc peices together, but it works for now. I took it up to Highland this past sat and should hopefully have a sample video soon.

Boredom

Kevin Shiramizu is someone that I group into my 'quasi friends' catagory. Nothing against Kevin, I actually wish the dude lived closer to the east coast because all of my deductions about him bring me to the conclusion that he rocks. Not a full fledged pal, but also not one of my many exclusively e-friends either. Quasi because we have met before, but I have a new rule that I am not officially your 3D friend (one of Kevin's terms) until we have hung out 3 times. So I guess our friendship terminology is 'It's Complicated'.

Regardless, Kevin's blog is one of those sites that you'll visit and end up reading through 100 posts before you realize you missed your lunch break. Sometimes bike related, sometimes a randomly awesome video, or sometimes just his brain dropping some knowledge. Oh yeah, and Kevin also takes pictures/shoots video. He's in my Rad catagory of people I know.

Check it.
http://thenewboredom.wordpress.com/

Riding is back!

I made it out west last week for a work trip to San Diego, and ended up staying a few days with an NU Cycling alum!

My first ride of the season was 3 and half hr 12 mile ride through some of the most epic XC trails i've EVER ridden!

Happy thanksgiving from Lucent!!

I just picked up a fluid trainer, just in time to work off all the holiday food!!

Bean Snowboards 'Behind the Scenes'

The guys over at Bean Snowboards let me come down to their shop last weekend and shoot a behind the scenes look at how they press and manufacture their snowboards. I was truly impressed with the process and the finished product. I don't know many people that are hand building snowboards out of a 2-car garage....do you?



Bean Snowboards - Behind the Scenes Promo from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.

Lucent HQ update!

So the new Lucent office has been primed and painted! I event painted an old desk that was left in the basement by the previous owners. I have a few more pieces to add and pictures to hang before the final unveiling!

Happy Halloween

The Brickyard

I haven't really had the time to ride my bike lately due to major home renovation, but this past weekend I actually made it out TWICE to ride my Imperial.
On Sunday I hit up my buddy's backyard pumptrack 'The Brickyard', rightly named due to the hundreds of bricks that were dug up during the construction. we worked on the reverse line through the middle, hit up McD's (had my first Big Mac EVER), and then shredded the berms.


The Brickyard from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.

Highland Claymore Challenge

Better late than never!!

Here's my teaser from Highland's first slopestyle competition, the Claymore Challenge.

Spot the Lucent?

Dave Trumpore is over in Europe for the last stop on the World Cup circuit. As you can see from these picture, he's apparently taking in some of the sites!!