Hurts so good... part two...

A few weeks ago I went to a tattoo and body art expo that was going on locally. Walking through the door of the building I thought I was going to die from the sound of the tattoo guns doing their jobs on a couple hundred people who were getting fresh ink. The sound of the guns had me jumping and twitching... I really wanted another tattoo... bad. I walked around the exhibit with my buddy and former Haro co-worker, Larry, and the Masidaughter (who loved it). Eventually Masiwife showed up as well... to keep me from spending every dime we had on more ink. I tried to find somebody to just throw some color, anything, on me... but I just didn't connect with anybody and didn't get the right feeling about anybody. I mean, I have emotional attachments to my tattoos, not just physical, so the person doing the ink is as important as the artwork to me.

So I walked away without any new ink.

This...

(Yes, that's my car in the middle of the chainring.)

... became this...


... became this...


... and ultimately this;
The crossbones in the middle of the chainring was just too overshawowed in size by the new tattoo on the left calf. I got the crossbones about 13 years ago, so it needs some touch up and the chainring helps with that (though I still plan to have it completely recolored and cleaned up).

Track cycling is my thing. I love it. I love racing at the track. It is where I am as close to reaching my Zen-like state as I ever get on a bike. I love it- the simplicity of the bike itself, the smoothness of the racing, the ebb and flow, the back and forth, even the "bumping" in the Keirin... I love it. So the track chainring joins the other things that I have on me that are a part of who I am and what makes me the person I am. I'm pretty happy with it...

My man Soda Pop did the honors again.

I hope I don't ruin any reputation he might have by saying that he's a genuinely nice guy and does some great work. He's very easy to work with and is definitely talented. I mean, he took the chainring that I carried in to the studio (you can see it on the left) and then turned it into a great tattoo. So, once again, if you are anywhere near San Diego and getting a tattoo, you have to go to Above All Tattoo and see Soda Pop, or at least somebody there because they all kick ass. So far, two tattoos from Soda Pop and Above All Tattoo and I am very happy. I can't wait for this new one to heal and clear up so that the faint coloring shows up- it's got great shading with blue and white highlights to help it look like the actual chainring I carried in to him.


Since I can, here is the SockGuy sock dujour;

Green Camo with ultimate-style Adidas Chaparral high tops... dang that's cool!

And a little contest; the first person to post here with the correct size chainring on my calf and the manufacturer and model wins a pair of Masi socks (you pick the color)! You track goobers should know this one in your sleep! (That means you Soup-or-Wookie...)

Tim