Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers!
Ken, Curtis, Jason

Belgium 2-step

After driving nearly 12 hours from Brittany, France to Paris to Roubaix to Southern Belgium, Jason came to a crossroads in a tiny little town.

looking for Brakel. Or Rue de Coronet.

Or Oudenarrde.

Never again will he travel sans GPS.

Pressing Forward

Survived yesterday and motivated today. Some other shots from Phils
place...with the Sony "Lance Story" crew looking at Phil Photos

Too Easy?

I'm sure it's easy to see beautiful photos of Belgium, Phil's fluffy cat and coffee with Eddy & think this guy has the life. Making movies, traveling the world and getting - paid? Sure that's the picture I'd like to paint but part of why we have a blog is to keep things a little more grounded for readers who know there's probably more to the story than that. Of course it's not that easy so let me bend your ear (eyes?) for a moment and bring that picture back down to reality.

I'm sitting here in my studio and it's quiet. So quiet I can hear the wind outside. The rain hitting the roof and the fridge as it turns on and off. It's cold in here but I'm sweating. Too much coffee and not enough progress. I'm the king of procrastination but if we want this movie to be released on schedule, at Tour of California I cannot be. I took a couple days off and feel guilty and way behind. There is just too much to get done although I will put off the work for a few more minutes till this mug is empty so I can finish what I've now started here.

Ever notice the list of credits at the end of a film? How many people it took to pull it off? Now go watch one of our movies. No credits, just thank you's to those who helped. It's so goddamned daunting this thing. And I feel so goddamned alone in doing it. I really wish I had some help, had a budget to hire help. There's no creative meetings to share ideas. There's no hiring of writers or specialists to help or distribute the work load. It's just Ken and I with the occasional help from Curtis who's a full-time student with 2 jobs. Ken has a full time business with employees so he works nights on a list that only grows. And then there's me. The dreamer - er, sorry, the director.

I just deleted a run-on sentence about all the BS stuff I"m dealing with from hard drives that fail to credit cards to promotions for fund raisers and on... my point is this stuff is really hard and I'm not even editing the movie yet. Hell just trying to get people we still need to film to e-mail us back is a daily hurdle. Getting the attention of Ben Stiller or Lance Armstrong - mission impossible. No you don't need to read about me singing the blues but I do feel it's important to share some of the suffering, the down-days, the self doubt. Ken and I have put all our cards on the table and it's California or bust. Literally. I've never risked more and had a harder time getting the smallest things accomplished. So for the record, it's a down day. I'm riddled with self doubt and I'm trying like hell to pull this thing off. If I could just focus on being creative I might make some progress. But what fun would that be right? I'm getting a headache. Before casting any doubt over the production getting finished let me reassure anyone reading that I am tenacious as a pit bull and will finish this movie. Just wanted some of the non-glam side of my life because its' easy to think things are coming too easy - truth is Nothing Comes Easy.

Ken often tells me to break out a camera and do a self-interview when I feel like this. Maybe have it in the out takes. But that's the last thing you want to do when feeling self-conscious and unsure. Still photo is more telling anyway.

Still Photos from Belgium

more to come...

Rest day?

Epic Nor'Easter hammering the coast! Had to take a day away from the movie to recharge and forget about cycling. But windsurfing solo in hurricane force winds ? Its on!
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Only in France

Will you find decent Bordeaux served at the airport. Au revoir
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Tour de Flanders

Driving the last 40k. Brutal!
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Ok...

So he turned away before the photo took. Its still coffee with Eddy. Once in a lifetime opportunity. And now you were there.
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Oudenaarde cycling museum

Worth a visit if you are in Belgium. Got some amazing footage and photos! Will post when I get back home. Stressful day waiting to hear from Eddy then racing to catch him before sunset, shooting his interview (he seemed very busy), then finding my way out the tiny village where he lives, re-routing around traffic (Brussels can give DC a run for its money) now in search of dinner and a strong beer!
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At eddy merckxs headquarters! So bloody hard to find but I did it!

Now waiting for the MAN.
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Belgium advert

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Thanks Ken

I think naming our film "Chasing Legends" was a brilliant move. It is the film, it is what all cyclists do. And it is my full time job.
Jb
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Turnips

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Reminds me of the fingerlakes - w/o the lakes

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Classic

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Fields and clouds

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Belgium countryside

Woke up late this morning and have been moving slowly since. Were I home on a day like this I would surely be scrambling to ride, kayak or windsurf (it,s a bit breezy). But here I am only concerned with sipping my coffee and seeking out the most picturesque scenes this small cycling town is offering. Very happy have brought the Canon 5D as the still photos on this trip may rival the high def footage.

For a professional observer there is a lot to take in. CoFfee is gone so I'm back to the search. Today I will send many shots , hope you check back soon.
Jb
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Lost here?

In the land of kings who wear tin bras? Or would that be a 'bro'?
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Small town, big church. Coffee break.

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French photo speed traps meet American ingenuity!

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Home of a legend

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Kite beach

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Jz touches the atlantic for first time

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Brittany coast kiteboarding

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God I love France...

Jb
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Expressive car art

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Horrendous traffic

Now we know why. In Brittany region now.
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Return to the Chase

Hey, it's JZ the driver! We are on the road again, still Chasing Legends... I didn't get enough of this summer. Jason missed me so much that I cried every night. (Laughing) I can say you that we are preparing you really big surprise for the movie. Sure that you will enjoy it!!!
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Return to the chase

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French graffiti

Another american influence. I once painted walls as well.
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Vive la France!

This is the airport magazine. Bonjour!
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Solid Relationship

I am enjoying the quiet company of my trusty backpack. It has not let me down in all my travels. China, Ecuador, Canada, Switzerland, Alaska, Scottish Highlands, Alps and Pyrenees and today the Northwest coast of France. Sure its usually a one-sided conversation but she does provide me with a great deal of support. Faithfully there in all weather. Funny what you pay attention to when there is time to think.
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Riddle me this...

Why is it, in London's busiest airport, there is no noise? In fact almost any airport or large public place outside the States is Noticeably more quiet. Are we that loud as a country?
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Breakfast then off to Paris

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Phils ride

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Damn

The non. Cyclist film crew has a budget. The have a sound man and lights. Director and 2 cameramen. The shot looks amazing. I am pissed and jealous. And running camera #2. I better get a credit...
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Watching non-cyclists film cycling is fun

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Filming phil with sony crew

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BRILLIANT SUCCESS

The interview with Phil went quite well. He graciously gave me over 2 hours of his time and fittingly at the end a short rainshower swept the countryside where Phils UK home is nestled. This of course produced a brilliant rainbow.

Phil is off to a black tie dinner while I goto check out the pub and soon after collapse. What a day.
JB

LONDON

Jason took the red-eye last night to London to interview Phil Liggett. After London, he will meet up with JZ in Paris to interview a very special addition to the film.