What other Hobbies or Interests Do You Have?

After beating my body up most of my life with hard physical jobs and athletic type hobbies, I'm not able to pursue that stuff anymore. I'm too damned old, and everything hurts. What doesn't hurt, doesn't work anymore. Here's some of my past hobbies:

Sport Judo. (fought in tournaments)

Motorcycle racing in the Mojave Desert. (Actually was in one race with Steve McQueen. He was fast.)

Weight lifting. 

Road cycling. I had a custom frame built in England and outfitted it with all Campagnola Record equipment. The thing was like riding a bicycle made by Ferarri. With the steep frame angles, it was a very quick handling bicycle. Coming down the canyon twisties was a thrill. It truly was a precision instrument. Very stiff frame made from Reynolds 753 tubing. It would beat you up pretty good on century rides, but it was perfect for the daily 30-mile training rides, with lots of tough hills thrown into the mix. 

I love motorcycles and bicycles. Now, alas ... it's all in the past.

Now, I read a lot. I love U.S. history, free-market economics, authors from the "Old Right." Into Hayek, Mises, Rothbard, Mencken, Rand, etc. 

In today's political climate, a must-read is Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom." It is a mind and an eye-opener. Check it out.

Frank

taras22 ...

• Kinda curious....who built your 753 ?

The frame was built in Leeds England by Bob Jackson.

Prior to buying the custom frame, I rode a Schwinn Paramount for years. A car running a stop sign took care of that on an early morning ride. Totaled the bike, broke my shoulder and tore up the legs.

The insurance company offered to buy me a new bike as part of the settlement, and that started the quest for the Bob Jackson. I bought the Paramount back from the insurance company for $300.00 because I wanted all of the Campy parts off of it plus the hubs. Everything else was destroyed.

So, I ended up with the custom 753 tubed frame with all Campy Record equipment, with the exception of the hubs, which were Phil Wood sealed bearing hubs. 

Because of chronic pain, and other health problems, I ended up selling the Bob Jackson to a collector. That bike had many, many thousands of miles on it, and it was still in mint condition. The guy just about dropped his teeth when he saw the bike.

He also bought a Schwinn Paramount track bike that I used for working out on the rollers in the garage on rainy days. That bike had won a state championship back in the late 50s. Fixed gear, no brakes, a bit tricky to ride on the street, but it was a blast.

The funny thing is, the guy who bought the bikes doesn't ride at all, he just collects. He has them hanging in his garage with a ton of other bikes, including the first bike he had as a kid. I was glad it went to someone who would really appreciate it.

If I still had the Bob Jackson, I'd have it hanging on the wall in the family room. They are, after all, pieces of art. :-)

Take care ...

Frank

taras22 ...

Do you remember the early Colnago bicycles with their elaborate lug work replicating the suits of cards? I loved those bikes. And talking about lug work, my Schwinn Paramount had beautifully sculptured chrome-plated lugs. I had just gotten the frame back from the factory with a new paint job when that idiot ran the stop sign and destroyed the bike. Bummer!

There were two elderly ladies at the Schwinn factory with over a combined 50 years of experience who were the only employees allowed to braze the Paramount frames. Their lug work was a genius work of art.

Frank

• "Content may be removed for one or more of these reasons:
• It looked like spam
• It was abusive towards another member
• It depicts explicit and/or violent content
• It contains profanity"

So, posting two links to pictures of bicycle frames applies to the above, how??

Frank

axememan ...

• Love me some Harmonicas ...

Me too. Been playing them since I was nine and still haven’t mastered the darned things. I listen in awe to the likes of Charlie McCoy, Robert Bonfigileo, Toots Thielemans, and Lee Oskar.

Frank

mijostyn ...

Yes, thank you. I love those guys.

Here is THE Robert Bonfiglio CD to own. Super nice recording, great group, and Bonfiglio’s genius: Recorded live at the amphitheater at the Grand Canyon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXiQbV5qY-k

Here is THE Lee Oskar album to get. Fantastic Eastern European sound using a B-minor harp. The recording is first-rate and a great demo disc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLjLFHSnqc

I attended a harmonica clinic put on by Lee Oscar years ago. The guy was fantastic. He taught me how to play using the lip-blocking technique, which finally allowed me to bend notes. I was always a tongue blocker and could never figure out how to get the blow and draw bends properly. One little session with Lee and I had it.

Here’s another great ... P.T. Gazell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5zGvLJwkqM

Frank

axememan ...

I have five harmonicas, all in different keys, and one "C" chromonica sitting on the little table just in front of my "sweet spot." When I have a nice familiar ballad playing on the system, sometimes I try to play along, or just accompany the other musicians.

If you want a challenge, buy a Lee Oscar B-minor harp. It is confusing at first, but you'll start to pick out some songs that you normally play. You can get a mean "Summertime" on it for starters ... then branch out from there. I love the ethnic sound of the B-minor harp.

Here's Lee Oscar playing the B-minor harp. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLjLFHSnqc&t=5s

I've gotten so that I can follow along with most of it. 

H.L. Mencken once wrote that:  "you can always tell a true music lover because they always try to play their own music. They may be atrocious at it, but they try."

I am atrocious at it. :-)

Frank

axememan ...

I have one of P.T. Gazell's harmonicas. They are terrific. Easy bends in both blow and draw. Really nice tones too. As you can see, they are modified Seydel harps. I love mine.

http://www.ptgazell.com/gazell-method-harmonicas-1.html

Again ... try a Lee Oskar B-minor. Lots of fun.

Take care ...

Frank