Recreation News in Raleigh

William & Mary, NO (noooooo!), Thanks Dick.  Welcome to my first (of many) rantings.

William & Mary, 11/15

I’ll admit it, I was thinking about this one.  Lots of people will write-off a team from a conference with little reputation.  W&M played #5 Georgetown (the team that beat UNC to get to the Final Four last year) on November 10.  Five days later, they play #21 NC State.  I know they’d be ready for State, as far as skill was concerned.  But I wasn’t worried about State.  Then I got worried.  William & Mary used that treacherous 3-1-1 defense and that first half got my heart rate up.  However, the second half provided me with much more enthusiasm. Hickson’s 31 points also eased my soul;  not one shot missed.  Way to go, JJ!

NC State is (1-0).

New Orleans and more below the fold

Britt Daniel of Spoon once sang “Give me something to look forward to.“
I don’t think he was talking about basketball.
But if he lived in Raleigh, he might change his mind.

As the bike culture in America gets trendier and trendier, Alleycat races are popping up in most urban cities across the country.  A subculture has been created that is taking these areas by storm.  Young kids of all ages and cultures are fixing up bikes graphically and stylistically.  From Scraper Bikes, to Velospace, to fixing up old freestyle bikes, the DIY bike culture has hit a new high, only matched by that of the mid 80s (BMX and Messenger Culture and Film).  Even musical artists are catching on to the craze.  From The Cool Kids getting “busy as a bee on my bike grips” to Bat for Lashes and her animal crew cruising down an eerie Donnie Darko-esque night street scene doing spins and wheelies to PedalMafia and their constant coverage of NYC, bike culture in the US is ready to tackle small urban centers.  Is Raleigh ready?

I hope so…....

Saturday will be your chance to see Raleigh’s version of this bike steez with Hallowheels, a cleverly named and well fun bike race in downtown Raleigh.  Meet at Cup of Joe and have your bunny suit ready, I’ll have my video camera handy.

More on Spooks and Spokes Below the Fold

I ran the Raleigh marathon when it debuted in 2000.  Okay, I ran a portion of the marathon by being part of a five person relay.  I ran five of the 26.2 miles, which at the time, was the most mileage I had ever run in a race.

I was nervous as heck but also extremely excited.  It was COLD.  I believe it was in the 30s that day.  It wasn’t a pretty day but it was the first marathon that Raleigh ever held, so it didn’t really matter.  Excitement was in the air.

More below the fold.

ALL FEMALE ALLEYCAT TOMORROW!!!!!

If you are unfamiliar with Alleycat Races, read more HERE.  If you are unfamiliar with all female Alley Cat Races, don’t worry, Raleigh is too.  Tomorrow will be the first all women-identified alleycat, cleverly titled Pussycat Race, in Downtown Raleigh. 

More Info Below the Fold