Rick the Ruler

Burro Pedal Review

2011-09-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Homie, Lunchbox, recently clued me into Burro Bags, a bike company out in Jacksonville, Florida. I copped the Chronic Pedal Strap/Shadow Conspiracy Ravager Plastic BMX Pedal combo from them for the low. As soon as I rode with these, I sensed an immediate difference. Nothing against Origin-8, but the cages and double toe straps that I had from them just don't compare to a BMX pedal/strap combo. It offers so much more surface area for my foot which offers more power in every down stroke and therefore much more speed. The straps offer amazing foot retention which has helped with easier skid stops and a better up stroke. The pedal itself is not as long as the cages which gives me more clearance for my front wheel. Easy installation and great performance make these pedals a worthy purchase. Check out some snaps and a video below.

Miami Bike Polo 8/28/11

2011-09-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

MBP meets Fridays at 7pm (except during Critical Mass) & Sundays at 1pm on the courts of Jose Marti Park. Three-man teams go head to head in divisions of beginner and advanced. No need to bring a team though. Feel free to show up with your bike and jump in a game!

Critical Mass 8/26/11

2011-09-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

A few snaps from Miami Critical Mass (meets the last Friday of every month at Government Center at 6:30)

Bike from West Palm to Orlando

2011-09-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

DAY 1 RECAP: Yep, that's right: I rode my bicycle 184 miles from West Palm to Orlando!! It was a great two-day adventure. My boy, Faden, and I caught the tri-rail in Golden Glades at 6:18 on Sunday morning (8/14/11) and took it to the last stop which is Mangonia Park. We commenced our ride at around 8 AM. The trip was no easy feat. We trekked a hard 100 miles the first day which included getting completely drenched by pouring rain while crossing a bridge in Fort Pierce with winds so heavy that they blew the glasses off of my face (luckily not into the water below). After drying our clothes in some shelter we found and waiting out the rain for 2 hours, we continued. We got to Wabasso around midnight or so and were more than ready to crash. We set up the tent in a grassy spot near a gas station and knocked out.

DAY 2 RECAP: We were awoken by a cop at 6:30 AM. He was pretty nice though and offered us directions once we told him about our trip. He suggested that we leave, but we slept another hour or two once he left. We eventually got up, used the utilities in the gas station, packed up our camp, and set out for the last day. We trekked for about 20 more miles before Faden had to throw in his towel about 6 miles away from Melbourne. With a commendable 120 miles under his belt, he managed to safely hitchhike the rest of the way to Orlando. Determined to finish, I rode on. Day 2 included another drenching in Rockledge, though it was not as bad as the first day. I found shelter in a house for sale and waited out the rain. As soon as it was clear, I headed out. My favorite stretch of the trip had to be the last big 23 mile stretch when I started heading West toward Orlando on State Road 520. I was so excited to be heading West that I was pumping myself up by yelling and singing and verbally patting myself on the back to let myself know how awesome I was. I'm sure it was quite a sight for the drivers passing me by wondering how I got out there on a bicycle and why I was talking to myself, ahaha. I cycled hard and fast in that stretch, just anxious to reach Orlando. I made it to my destination at 7 something that night, almost 8, to be greeted by Faden and Lunchbox! We ate, and then headed to LB's pad in Gainesville where we spent a few days before taking a bus back to Miami :)

TIPS/MORE RECAP:
1. Plans to obtain a camera for the trip fell through last minute, so I was just going to use my phone. Unfortunately, it got fucked up in the rain on the first day and turned off completely until sometime in Gainesville. Be sure to keep your phone in a waterproof area, because when the rain starts coming down hard out of nowhere, you may not have time to put your phone away safely.
2. I'm dumb and I forgot the directions at home in a rush to catch the train. My iPad saved our asses! We used my phone to take pictures of the directions from my iPad, and then we used cardboard strips to write down the directions when my phone fucked up.
3. Its a GREAT idea to recalculate the route every now and again to make sure that you are still on track. I found this out the hard way when the directions we had were a bit askew and we added an extra 2 hours/about 20 miles to our trip.
4. We used the bicycle feature on Google Maps to map out our route. For the most part, it is extremely accurate, but I must stress again to recalculate every now and again to make sure that you are still on track!
5. We brought about 12 PB&J sandwiches, about 10 bananas, trail mix/dried fruit, and some granola bars. We each had half a PB&J, a banana, some mix, and maybe a bar each time we stopped (about every 2 or 3 hours depending on how we were feeling). We had food left over, so maybe we'll bring a little less next time.
6. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! Keeping hydrated is so important just to avoid cramps and to keep your body running smoothly. We got free ice at gas stations and then filled our bottles multiple times from the sinks of said gas stations and various water fountains. This worked until 6 miles from Melbourne where the sink water was yellow (the attendant even warned us not to drink it). I'm not sure what was up with that.
7. Be sure to keep in touch with someone that has your route in case of emergencies, especially if you're by yourself (my sister in my case).
8. I need some cycling shorts for my next trip; saddle sores are a bitch.
9. Everyone up north is strangely nice. And the mansions are fucking incredible!

EQUIPMENT: M-Wave 3-Piece Traveller Pannier, M-Wave Pannier Rain Cover, M-Wave Alloy Bicycle Carrier Rack (Standard), Coleman SunDome 7-Foot by 7-Foot 3-Person Dome Tent (Orange/Gray), Incase Skate Messenger Bag, Windsor The Hour fixed gear bicycle (Rick), and Windsor Clockwork single speed bicycle (Faden).

ROUTE: I tracked the whole thing with Endomondo, my favorite app that tracks running, cycling, swimming, etc. It tracks it live, so LB and Faden were watching "me" ride as I neared my location so they could come pick me up. I paused it every time we stopped, for accuracy. The Endomondo route is HERE (includes top speed, average speed, elevation, etc.) and the original Google Maps route is HERE if you would like to compare.

PICTURES: As I said, my phone got fucked up in the rain the first day of the trip and I had no other camera with me. The first two are pics from my phone before it went out of commission, and the rest are pictures that LB took with his cam.

My bike, fully loaded, at our first stop of the trip in Juno Beach.

Crossing a short bridge in Jupiter.

Faden and I upon my arrival to the Walmart in Orlando, both grimy as hell

It should be well known that Faden is an exhibitionist. His untoward behavior is usually at the expense of those around him. In this instance, he invented the naked flex where he strips down when you're not looking and flexes when you turn around -.-

LB

Aerospoke

2011-07-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sup with this brand new Aerospoke on deck?! Hahaha.

Well as the story goes, I got cut off by a car while riding in Gainesville during that trip a while back and ended up wrecking. I was completely fine, but my rear wheel was bent and couldn't be ridden. Maybe it was for the best because I ended up buying this rear Aerospoke. Shit is so goddamn smooth. I kinda want a front one too. Who wants to get it for me??? Lmaoooo

Le Vélo de Papi Fait de la Résistance

2011-03-24T14:05:00.001-07:00

There is something magical to be found in these two wheeled vehicles, as simple a mechanical device as they are. Some people get it, and a lot more don't. The people featured in this video clearly get it. Check out this French documentary depicting the various aspects of fixed gear bike culture:

Gville part 2 x Talla-nasty

2011-03-02T18:57:00.001-08:00

Made a video edit of a trip I took with some friends this past weekend to Gainesville and to Tallahassee. The 'Ville was to chill and Tally was for Fresh Fest 4. A successful weekend imo, though I didn't get a chance to really check out the skate plaza in Gville. Next time. Here's the edit and a couple of clips from the Tallahassee show:

Run 4 Cover

2011-02-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

Nigel Sylvester x 13THWITNESS, both beasts in their own rights. Watch this shit:

BB Fixie Fucks

2010-09-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

Shot with my BlackBerry for shits and giggles:

NY Vids

2010-09-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Riddle likes to take random videos and I like to put them up. Why not? Here's some from the NY trip (don't mind our overuse of the words "ew" and "dude" haha):

Riddle was starving and we tricked him into thinking that DQM sold food. Priceless.

Dadahrea

2010-09-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

Checked out a new installation at OHWOW last month called Dadahrea. Pretty dope collaboration from a number of artists. Peep the pics:

New York

2010-09-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

Went to NY with friends Lunchbocks (yes, that's how we spell it) and Riddle. Big ups to our buddy, Nick, and his roommate, Nat, for letting us crash at their crib. Check out some out of order pics of the trip, haha:

Riddle and LB, partners in crime

LB bein a suave motherfucker

Nick Sethi in the forefront and his roomate, Nat, in the back right

Nat's bro, who was also in town, and LB chillin

Chillin in Max Fish

Beautiful fuckin city

Atop Nick's roof

View of Libation from up there

Oh my god, this pic just made me remember Poland Spring. Such cheaply priced water, and yet it tastes so great, haha

Incredible toy store

Comics, toys, and more!

Union Square Park

Time Square

Big ass dino in the biggest Toys R' Us I've ever been in

And Travis Barker doin the celebrity thing. Awesooome

Steezeball cook

At the cafe in Kinokuniya, a Japanese bookstore. It was probably one of my favorite places there. Maybe I'm just a nerd, lol.

Pretty cool wall in Williamsburg

Lou Reeds in Williamsburg

This shit was crazy

On that "Where's Waldo" tip (top right)

Saxophone Spidey

NYHC TATS

Chinatown

Neckface!

Until next time, NY!

Fukuoka Fixed Gear

2010-08-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

Japan and fixed gear cycling. A healthy combo, I'm sure you would agree, accented only by the great tricks that I always wish I could do, haha. Watch:

BBM

2010-07-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I lost my old BlackBerry. Well, accidentally threw it out of the window doing 100 on the turnpike really, but that's besides the point. Luckily I have insurance and I had a new BB within 2 days sitting on my doorstep (what a service!). This means a new barcode for BBM, so here it is:

Madbury

2010-07-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

Big ups to Phil from The Award Tour for the drop of The Madbury Club which opened it's doors to the masses online just a couple of weeks ago. Full of anything that you might want to read about from music to fashion to video games and more, this site takes blogging to a whole new level. Complete with eloquent diction and fruitful pictures you will leave this blog feeling inspired and perhaps even changed for the better, haha. Be sure to check out the promo video below and then head over to the site to see all the goodies that have been cooked up by the club.

Maestro

2010-07-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just spent the better parts of last night and today watching 30+ episodes of Maestro Knows. I'm pretty terrible at keeping up with shit, so I only watched a few episodes when it first came out. I'm glad I found it again though; it's got some really good episodes with some sick people including Nigel Sylvester, Geoff Rowley, Johnny Cupcakes, and more. And some sick places to add to it including Japan and Germany. A dope online series that I highly recommend!

HUF

2010-05-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of HUF, Keith Hufnagel's brand, then you've been sleeping! Peep their new commercials:

B Flat

2010-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Check this out: http://wwww.inbflat.net/

Play them all together. My favorite part comes as each video ends leaving only one playing. Beautiful sounds.

Macaframa NY trip

2010-05-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

And this, my friends, is the life, haha.

Peep their blog on your way out! Macaframa

TRASH TALK

2010-04-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

Drove up from Miami to Orlando with some friends to meet up with peeps and see Trash Talk (also TT Myspace)! I unfortunately threw my BlackBerry out of the window while traveling at 100mph on the Turnpike (may it rest in peace wherever it may lay), and so I was unable to document the trip as I would have liked. In any event, the show was too fucking ill and well worth the hours put into the trip, haha. Here are a couple of pics from the show that my friend Krystal took with her phone:

This pic was taken of me using some kids as leverage to join Lee on some vocals for "Manifest Destination". He ended up wrapping the cord around my neck and letting me do damn near all the vocals myself for the latter part of the song while he choked me (definitely not as raunchy as it sounds, haha). Anyways, the evening was full of this type of shit as Lee handed the mic to Chris (the lead singer of my band) to do all of the latter part of "Sacramento is Dead" while walking around the pit like it was his show (lol) and also to my buddy Faden for another song that I can't currently recall.

And this is Lee taking full advantage of the entire venue, haha.

Only 2, sadly, but I'll be sure to add any pics that may surface if I find 'em!

BlackBerry

2010-04-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

IDK why, but the barcode for BlackBerry is so fucking dope to me, haha. Scan my barcode with your BB to add me on BBM!

formspring.me

2010-04-24T00:36:00.001-07:00

I almost forgot I had this! Ask me anything http://formspring.me/RickThaRuler

Ricken Rickberg

2010-04-21T21:56:00.001-07:00

Has a nice ring to it. I think I'll make a movie, it's obviously not that hard. Ah, who am I kidding, I'm to lazy to make movies. Instead of that, I'll just post this "trailer" for you guys:

Nomad

2010-04-21T19:13:00.001-07:00

The internet is a grand thing. It's ability to make the world a smaller place is beyond astonishing, and yet it still provokes within me the urge to travel, travel, travel.

(found here ---> http://community.livejournal.com/ruguru/830724.html)

(found here ---> http://www.lighttheexpedition.com/gallery-landscape.php)

Ah, someday.

Doppleganger

2010-04-20T21:35:00.001-07:00

I swear this dude and I think way too much alike, haha. This was taken in front of Wayward Council (which if you'll remember is the dope little record store that I encountered during my first visit to Gainesville) during my second trip to the ville which was just this past weekend. I think some pics and/or some video(s) will surface of my band playing a show there, so I'll be sure to post that up when I get my hands on 'em!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Technology is grand

2010-04-02T17:54:00.001-07:00

I'm testing this "post by email" shit. Pretty cool if it works. Anyways, this is a pic of some Vans that I picked up from the Nordstrom Rack in Sawgrass earlier this week. Some nice finds from the Vault line if I do say so myself, haha.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

A modern day Harold Hunter

2010-04-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's been a while, and yes, the title of this post is GREATLY exaggerated, haha. In any event, here are a few pictures of me skating that my buddy, Enzo, took some weeks ago or so:

Live well!

DOOM

2009-08-23T13:00:00.001-07:00

Fucking love this version of Sofa King by Dangerdoom

Nature

2009-07-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

If there was a god, would I be able to blame all of my shortcomings on him? Sounds like a copout to me.

At one point in my life, I believed that one could not really change their true nature. I still believe this to an extent, though not as fully as I used to. What would be the way to do it? Perhaps by acting one way until it becomes natural for you. Or maybe by erasing everything and becoming a blank slate once again, tabula rasa style. Who knows. If it truly is possible, I do hope to figure it out some day.

Nightlife

2009-07-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

Riddle, Carla, and I dove head first into Miami nightlife on Saturday night (and sorry in advance for any blurry pics, haha):

We started off at Art Walk in the Wynwood Art District

We saw this FINE ass Asian chick taking pictures here, so we felt compelled to do so ourselves. Her name was Lin, by the way, and she was Vietnamese. Yes, I went up and talked to her ;)

Chick swinging fire, dude on a drum, and other dude yelling some shit into a loud speaker

Next, we went to PS 14 and caught my buddy, Jonathan's, band, The Morning Flesh Project

Finally, we headed to South Beach to chill with some down ass kids
We went around the circle and freestyled acapella

Chill nights.

TattooLaPalooza

2009-07-12T21:16:00.001-07:00

I went to a 3 day convention called TattooLaPalooza with my sister and baby nephew on Friday:

There was a SHITLOAD of stuff going on there

There were a bunch of animals, lol

Got a tattoo of an octopus

Da Ville

2009-07-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

First trip to Gainesville for the 4th of July weekend:
(Sorry for the quality; some were taken with my phone, and I had to resize almost all of them.)

Lunchbocks and I went to the Lowbrow show at this record store called Wayward Council (played with Hey Buddy, Gretzky, and Fleabag)

Hey Buddy

LOWBROW

Val made us all Hello Kitty waffles for breakfast while LB took care of cutting up the Mango

After breakfast, I decided to let the pyro in me come out to play

Val got scared when the flame got really big and poured a pot of cold water on it thus cracking the glass all the way around

LB found the matches that Val had hidden and I went back to town

We started getting nervous when the glass continued to crack, so we put that shit out

Lunch at Chop Stix Cafe

Eli joined us for lunch :)

Next to the raspberry flavored Italian soda that I had at Maude's, this Thai Iced Tea was the best drink that I had while I was there; SO GOOD!

Val & LB

We went to Maude's later which is a cafe that has a shitload of games like Apples to Apples and Connect Four

I slept over Eli's apartment that night. This is what happens when you forget your PJs

Went to a pool party/barbecue on the 4th. This house was so dope; a lot went on there from entering a secret room on the roof that had model trains and shit to accidentally having a mortar shot at me from the top of a school bus, ha ha

Eli, Evan, and Jen jumping off of the roof. I jumped off, like, 5 times; too fun (pictures of me jumping off soon--hopefully, lol)

Back to Val's that night to shoot fireworks and play with these long ass sparklers. Almost got into a fight with some dudes on the basketball court too, ha ha

Can't wait 'till the next trip :)

Resurrection?

2009-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've bothered to update this thing, and there is in fact a reason for that: one thing that I have discovered about myself in this period of self-realization is that I have terrible issues with remaining motivated, dedicated, and captivated with pretty much everything that I take part in. And I do mean everything; it ranges from big to small.
***I've included a list of things that I've aspired to be or be good at, at the end of this post.

There are probably a few reasons for it. Laziness is certainly a part of it, but I think that it is largely a matter of patience. I long to reach the end without having to deal with the means, especially when the means don't seem to immediately progress me to the end. Perhaps I simply require too much instant gratification; who knows.

In any event, I've realized the problem. The next step would be to ponder a remedy.

*** Skateboarding, Yo-Yoing, drifting (cars), guitar, basketball, break dancing, beat boxing, hip hop artist, drawing, stenciling, graffiti, music, FIU, religion (more than likely), ...a lot more shit that I can't think of right now. Will update periodically as I recall.

Sobriety

2009-05-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

I still don't smoke or drink; it's just not for me.

Genesis

2009-05-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lame title; it was the first thing to pop into my head.

In any event, I've been meaning to make a blog for a while in order to chronicle the current events of my life so that once I reach my destination, I will be able to look back at the roads that lead me there. It will be more for me than for anyone else, but feel free to lurk or what have you. I can't promise anything remotely interesting, but looking into other peoples' lives can always be somewhat entertaining at the least (hence E!, ha ha).

***If you feel the need to, you may skip this long ass post and head to the cliff notes at the bottom.

So to start this thing off, I'll talk about what it is that inspired me to start writing about my life: After 19 years of being a Christian, I no longer am one. Those that don't know me and are reading this are probably thinking "What the fuck?!?! This is some bullshit, I'm out of here!!" However, this should come as a shock to those who know me well. Those who know me well will know that I've been raised in a Christian family, gone to church all my life, played guitar for Bible Club in high school, was the VP of the same club in high school, and continued to keep in step with my beliefs by being an active member of a ministry called Campus Crusade for Christ well into my two years of college. There was no cursing, no smoking, no drinking, no fucking, and a lot of other shit that I abstained from. So for a person who has diligently lived as pious of a life as I have to no longer claim the same beliefs is a pretty big fucking deal I'd say!

The question remains: what was it that caused my shift from devoting my life to God to not being sure that I really believe that He exists? I'm not sure what it was to be honest. Some might say that I came to my senses. Others might say that I've been ensnared in the Devil's trap. Whatever it was, there are only two possible outcomes: either (1) I will come to realize that everything that I've believed and put my faith in my entire life is complete bullshit or (2) I will realize that it isn't and my faith will be increased sevenfold (see what I did there?). I can only hope to make the right choice.

In any event, this is a time for growth. A time to learn about myself and about others as much as I possibly can :D

So until next time!

P.S. There's a lot more shit to it, but it would be overkill if I tried to type it all down at once. Feel free to get at me with any questions, critiques, and/or criticisms.

***CLIFF NOTES: Fuck you, go back and read all that shit! I doubt that my other posts will be as long though (if it's any consolation, ha ha).