Sunday, October 20, 2013

Arizona Bike Rides (2013)

January

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
April
May

June


July



August

September

October

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


November


December

Arizona Bike Rides (2014)

January

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

July

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August

September

October

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November

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December

Saturday, March 02, 2013

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.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

"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. 



Tuesday, January 01, 2013

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.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Cover: Dead End Street (The Kinks)



Check this out on Chirbit

Original on YouTube (sped up a bit relative to record)

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Beer: Phoenix Ale Brewery Visit

Nice little place in Phoenix. Tried out 8 beers brewed by them, rated below:

Watermelon Ale - 6.5
Fretzy's English pale ale - 8
Camelback IPA - 6.5
Hoppy Valley - 6
Fretzy's Hef - 7
Ironwood - 4
Wheatstalk - 6
Uptown Amber - 7



Sunday, June 03, 2012

Arizona Bike Rides (2012)

2012 Amateur Road Race Calendar (Arizona)


Jan 8 - 100/62/34 - Casa Grande Century - $30 - DONE (62)
http://www.active.com/cycling/chandler-az/casa-grande-century-cgc-2012
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Feb 12 (Picacho Century) - 100/63/40 - Tucson/Oro Valley - $25 - DONE (63)
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Mar 10 (Mining Country Challenge) - 96/66 - Superior - $35 - DONE (66)

March 24 (Tour de Cure) - 80/62/35/8 - Phoenix - $150 min - DONE (81)
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/NorthernArizonaArea?pg=entry&fr_id=7993

March 31 (Chandler Century Ride) - 39/65 - Chandler - $35 - DONE (65)

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Apr 14-15 (Bike MS) - Day 1: 105/64/47, Day 2: 50, 32 - Sedona Verde Valley - $250 min
Apr 14 (Holualoa El tour de Mesa) - CONFLICT

Apr 28 (Tour of the Tucson Mountains) - 70/27 - Tucson - $90 min - SKIPPED
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May 5 (Ride for the Children) - 65/25/10 - Scottsdale - $50
July 14-15 (White Mountain 2 Day Tour) - Day 1: 63, Day 2: 38 - $60

July 21 (Taylor House Century) - 95/65/45/30- Flagstaff - $60 min
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Sept 16, Skull Valley Loop Challenge - 54 - Prescott - $30

Sept TBD (Magic Circle Bike Ride) - 66/33 - Wilcox - $TBD

Oct 13 (Cochise County Cycling Classic) - 234/157/92/45 - Cochise County (S. AZ)

Oct 14 (Tour de Scottsdale) - 70/30 - Scottsdale - $70

Oct 20 (Sedona Century) - TBD - Sedona, AZ

Oct 21 (Tumacacori Century) - 100/64/24 - Southern AZ - TBD

Oct 21 (Tour de Safford) - TBD - Safford, AZ - TBD
www.tourdesafford.com

Oct 27 (FASTER Gran Fondo with Bob Roll) - 100/55 - Scottsdale, AZ - $100/75

Nov 04 (Silverbell Century) - 30/67/82/100 - Tucson, AZ - $25

Nov 17 (El Tour de Tucson) - 111/80/66/42 - Tucson, AZ - $100

Saturday, April 23, 2011