Arizona Bike Rides (2013)

January

• January 13 (Sunday): Casa Grande Century (101/60/33) 

February

• February 15/16/17/18 (Fri-Mon): J&P Tucson Tour (~60 days/day for 4 days) - Out of Town
• February 17 (Sun): Picacho Century, Marana (72/36) - Out of Town 

March

• March 16 (Sat): Tour de Cure, Pheonix (100/81/65/34/8)
• My Results: http://app.strava.com/activities/44781460 

April

• Apr 6 (Sat): El Tour de Mesa, Mesa (70/28/5) - Out of Town

May

• May 4/5 (Sat/Sun): Salt River Valley Tour (Day 1: 85/8.5k, Day 2: 85/5k) - SICK
• May 10 (Fri) Mt. Lemmon Climb (56/8k) - SICK
• May 18 (Sat) & 19 (Sun): Bike MS, Cottonwood/Sedona (Day 1: 100/75/50, Day 2: 50/30)
• Day 1: http://app.strava.com/activities/54963114
• Day 2: http://app.strava.com/activities/55168665 

June

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July

• July 20 (Sat): Taylor House Century Ride, Flagstaff (95/65/45/30)

August

September

October

• Oct 13 (Sun): Tour de Scottsdale (70/30)

November

• Nov 2 (Sat) : Cycle for Life, Goodyear (35/65)
• Nov 3 (Sun): Silverbell century (66/82/98)
• Nov 16 (Sat): McDowell Mountain Century (96/70)
• Nov 23 (Sat): El Tour de Tucson (111/85/60/40)

December

Arizona Bike Rides (2014)

January

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February

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March

• March 22 (Sat): Tour de Cure, Pheonix (100/81/65/34/8)

April

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May

•  May 17/18 (Sat/Sun): Bike MS, Sedona (Day 1: 50, Day 2: 100)

June

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July

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August

September

October

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November

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December

You are my Home

Lyrics by Dhruv Bhate (c) 2013

Been in this cheap hotel, everyone knows my number, but no one knows my name, what a shame.

Felt good for a day or two, but now it’s been 22, no matter what I do, it doesn't feel the same.

Wake up in an empty bed, with an aching head, oh no no, yet another night of this sleeplessness,

Get into the taxicab, watch the world go passing by, there’s people just like me, what a sorry mess.

A voice inside my mind

Keeps telling me it’s fine

But deep down I know

This voice isn't mine

I’m going nowhere,

On a foreign land I roam

You know my name,

You are my home.

"Sehnsucht" in Hong Kong

Watched the brilliant documentary "Searching for Sugar Man" on my flight to Hong Kong, en route to Malaysia. I felt that familiar pang of longing for the unknowable, only this time it felt all right, knowing that it could happen to someone as good as Sixto Rodriguez and he was still fine. While the plane was taxiing, I wrote these lyrics, hope to come back home and set them to a song. It's been a long time since I wrote one. This one's called "Sehnsucht".

Sehnsucht
(C) 2013, Dhruv Bhate

I look with eyes that cannot see,

My mind is filled with dreams that can never be. 

Somewhere out there another Sugar Man dies.

A panic quivers carelessly,

As arrows strike me right in the heart.

Small voices echo smaller lies.

And when it comes calling, 
We'll be found crawling
In the, pouring rain. 

Don't believe those eyes
We're always in disguise
We're just fools, all the same.

Words spinning round and round.

A time lost in a space by the sea.
Scratch that track, it's just, all too wrong.

And when worlds collide,
We'll run out of places to hide,
And feel, no more pain.

Don't believe those eyes
We're always in disguise
We're just fools, all the same, 
playing the same game,
and no one knows our name.

I look with eyes that cannot see,

My mind is filled with dreams that can never be. 

Somewhere out there another Sugar Man dies.

Fell in love with the lyrical genius of this song called "Cause" by Rodriguez that featured in the documentary. 

Top 5 Artists for the Future!

Some of these may have been older releases, but I heard them first last year. Some fantastic new artists in 2012 are convincing me it may be time to loosen my grip on the 60s/70s and embrace the present and find my next "Oasis".

Dry the River - Weights & Measures (2011)
A bit over-the-top on the intensity meter, but in the right mood, can overwhelm the senses. The only song that made me cry last year, maybe ever.

First Aid Kit - Emmylou (2012)
Swedish folk band fronted by 2 sisters singing in amazing harmony and drawing justified comparisons to S&G.

Fun. - Why am I the One (2012)
Approached them with caution because of how big they got with "We are young", but the "Some Nights" album is fantastic and hard to fault. This is another gem from that album.


Adele - Set Fire to the Rain (2011)
I came to Adele late when we picked up her 2 LPs in Flagstaff early in 2012. This song in particular, is powerful and beautiful at the same time. Brilliant - here's wishing to more from her in the future.

John Mayer - Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 (2012)
OK - not a new artist by any means, but this guy has so much talent - if he can stay off self-destructing for another decade, I believe he is going to do more amazing work in the coming years. Fantastic song from his 2012 release (Born and Raised). The song is a wonderfully vivid story layered with the chasing your dream theme. Stay focused, John! Or go crazy if you need to, just come back and put out great music.