» Anyone can ride... update!
Some time last week, Taj got sick and started taking drawing requests to help pass the time. The concept was simple; suggest an animal doing a trick on a bike and then Taj would then spend a few minutes doodling it out. A lot of you guys chimed in and above is the end result from the experiment. For details on each request, flip through it on our Flickr page.
To wrap it up, Taj even put together a pictorial on How To Draw.
Thanks to everyone who participated. If you don’t want to miss out on the next time we do something like this, make sure to add us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
» Anyone can ride...
Taj is resting at home right now and feeling a little under the weather. To pass the time, he’ll be doodling random animals riding bicycles. If there’s an animal you’ve ever wanted to see riding a bike, now’s your chance to submit a request. Post some ideas in the comments section and if Taj digs it, he’ll draw it up for you.
The doodles will be done in a few minutes and under the influence of Nyquil.
See the drawing above for an example.
Check our Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep up on all of the new doodles!
UPDATE: No more requests for now! Thanks to everyone who participated.
Check the Facebook page for all the doodles that came out of this!
» A drawing by Taj
You can’t really go wrong with a 7 wheeled cycle. Here’s a new wallpaper download for you guys to enjoy!
» Taj interviews ARF
The Athlete Recovery Fund (ARF) continues to be a generous help to numerous professional athletes who have found themselves under the gun of piling medical bills. Their list includes the likes of many talented BMX riders such as Mike Aitken, Stephen Murray, Jimmy Levan and recently, Taj Mihelich.
To help spread the word about their ’cause, Taj decided to interview ARF’s insurance consultant, Amanda Savage. She helped Taj take a bill that was over 40K and dwindle it down to $6700! Read the interview.
» Back to Basics with Taj
ESPN just put up a photo gallery with Taj. It’s a nice pictorial that’ll give you some insight on what life’s been like for him while he heals from back surgery.
» Erasers, screws and babies
Have you check out Taj’s Blog lately? He’s posted up plenty of amazing images there this past couple of weeks, ranging from babies riding the mega ramp, modifying magazine pages and even a comprehensive how-to on performing fusion surgery.
While there, make sure to check out Olympia Nelson’s bio / bike check.
» Taj Mihelich Advert
Here’s our latest print ad featuring Taj Mihelich popping an invert at one of Austin’s many fine ditches. Photo by Mr. Sandy Carson.
» Taj Q&A / Chase wallpaper
Chase Hawk wallpaper over at Ride BMX ( Wide | Standard )
Taj Mihelich shoe cover and a Q&A over at Dig
It was a tough choice between using the Taj shoe cover as the teaser or the nac-nac wall plant. Both look sweet as hell but the shoe ultimately won ’cause as far as I can remember, nobody else’s can cans has ever looked better than Taj’s. He does them dipped and proper. You can check out both pics and his Q&A over at Dig and then head over to Ride BMX to download a Chase Hawk wallpaper.
» the back of Taj
To keep up with the theme of his posts, here’s Lil’ Monty in front of Taj’s MRI
If you’re a regular reader of The Blog of Taj, you’d know that Mr. Mihelich has been having some horrible back problems lately. After a series of doctor visits and a bad-news bearing MRI, it’s been concluded that drills and screws are in store for Taj’s spine.
So, we settled on the fusion surgery. Its what Ruben was describing last post. The crazy part is they go in through the front of your abdomen to do the surgery. Its a relatively small incision, but two surgeons are present. One to do the actual screw and plate and bone graft surgery, and one to monitor and control the extremely vital arteries that run right in front of the spine. Basically they screw and plate the vertebrae together so they can’t move, and then fill the area where the disc used to be with bone grafts that will fill it in so the damaged disc can no longer put pressure on the spine. I think…. I’ll get more and more precise with exactly what is going on as I learn more.
YIKES! The procedure’s going to take him off the bike for 6 months, which is roughly 6 years in BMX time (it goes by much slower when you can’t ride). Needless to say, Taj is really bummed out about the news. Since we haven’t developed a time machine yet to fast-forward 6 months, why don’t we start a thread going full of ideas to pass the time while he’s injured? Aside from YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, what do you do when you can’t ride? With Taj’s personality in mind, recommend some books, movies and low-impact activities you think he might like. Leave it in the comments.
Also, I remember him running a zine distribution outlet a while ago so if you’re running a good ol’ fashion print-zine and have a copy to spare, send it over to Odyssey and we’ll make sure it gets to him. Address is after the jump.
» Gary Mihelich Fiolaflip
@GaryBYoung: Follow up interview at DigBMX.com about his recent double knee surgery.
Taj Mihelich: Wallpaper at RideBMX.com ( Widescreen | Standard )
Eddie Fiola and Jim Bauer: First duo hackflip attempt, after the internet launching device.
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