Cincinnati - D. Brent Miller

April 4, 2026

A visit to Cadre Cycle

Paid a visit to Cadre Cycle this morning. This is the Moto Guzzi dealership where I have purchased my Guzzis. There are a lot dealerships within big fancy buildings and lots of product bling. Cadre isn’t like that. Cadre is old school and where “everybody knows your name.” It’s my second family.

Enzo’s grey V7 Milano next to my grey V7 Sport.

Enzo Miller is the owner of Cadre. He is well versed in all things Guzzi and owns a few in addition to Cadre Cycle. One of the bikes he owns is a 2019 Moto Guzzi V7iii Milano. It’s a grey bike. When my V7 Sport was on order, we wondered if it was the same color as his Milano.

Today, I rolled my Sport next to his Milano to compare greys. They are very close, but just slightly off in color. We had a good chuckle about whose grey looked better.

Afterwards, I rolled on for a ride home … the long way home. Stopped at Kroger for a few things for tonight’s planned dinner, lasagna.

See you on the highway.

Brent

March 27, 2026

Film is coming back

Lately, I have been reading that film is coming back. Mostly, the return to film is with artists. Digital is nice and quick, but even the best digital filters cannot replicate what film produces–that is the grain. Old-school film is all about sharpness and grain. And, manufacturers like Kodak, are returning to produce film. Who doesn’t remember the popularity of Kodak Tri-X, the photo journalist’s go-to B&W film.

My Canon FTb purchased in Vietnam in 1971. It’s built like a tank, and the only film camera I currently own.

Why am I writing about this? Because today, talking with a friend, I was asked about selling off camera equipment that is no longer used. Turns out I did not know he was an amateur photographer with lots of gear. Nor did he realize my professional photography background. Turns out, he is sitting on his father-in-laws medium format equipment. My ears perked up.

I have often thought about returning to film for artistic efforts. My Canon FTb is still in good condition, even though I bought it in 1971 in Vietnam before I left that county. That makes it 55 years old, and it’s still viable. Load it up with some Tri-X or Ilford film, and it’s ready to go. But my real desire is medium format film cameras. The camera I regret letting go was my Hasselblad. Loved that camera, but I had long quit developing film. So, I let it go, and sold it to a friend who had access to darkrooms.

As film returns to the art community, there are companies that will develop and scan B&W film for customers, thus bypassing the need for a darkroom.

All this makes me think about returning to film. To resume art with B&W film. Time will tell what my future photographic efforts will hold.

Are you shooting film?

See you on the highway.

Brent

March 24, 2026

I have registered for DGR

Last year, I wanted to. In the past, I have supported others. But this year, I am committed to riding with DGR, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to raise money for men’s health.

Primarily, the Movember movement supports men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. Last year, the ride was scheduled just five days after my prostate surgery. I was not in any kind of condition to ride a motorcycle. This year, I am ready and registered to ride in this import fundraiser.

Lin is creating my attire for the ride. After all, I need to look like a distinguished gentleman with proper attire. I’ll be riding my Moto Guzzi in Cincinnati.

You can help. Just take a pic of that QR code and make your donation. Then stay tuned for May 17. I’ll be posting pics of the ride.

See you on the highway.

Brent

July 24, 2017

Helping Veterans at the Wheelchair Games

It is rare to be able to meet, greet, and rub elbows with hundreds of U.S. Veteran wheelchair athletes, but that’s what happened at the 37^th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games here in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 17-22. Six hundred athletes were expected to attend.

For one day only, vendors and sponsors hosted information booths for veterans and their caregivers. As the program leader for the Cincinnati Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, I was honored to be one of those information providers, and grateful to VHA Director of Volunteer Services Sabrina Clark, for asking PHWFF to share a booth with Volunteer Services.

What attracted Veterans to our booth? Fly tying. I tied one quick fly pattern, a Tenkara Kebari that looks like a lot of other flies—just thread and feather on a #12 curved hook. It ties up fast. It catches trout, blue gills and an occasional bass. It’s effective using any fly rod—conventional or Tenkara. It may have seemed simple to me, but I noticed how individuals were in awe about how a fly is actually tied. Many asked questions and indicated interest in learning fly tying. All were surprised that I took the time to tie a fly just for them.

The result was a line of wheelchairs lining up for a “free fly.” They also received information about Project Healing Waters. Several dozen wheelchair veterans rolled away with a smile on their face and a fly in their pockets and backpacks … in a protective cup with lid. I couldn’t tie them fast enough. A few veterans knew about PHWFF, some had participated, but most wanted to know more about this fly fishing program for veterans and how they could participate. Contact information was provided for the nearest program to where they live.

A big thank you goes again to Sabrina Clark, and my booth partners, Traci Washington and Ryan Pleasants chiefs of Volunteer Services of Columbus and Dayton.

The games are sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2018 games will be held in Houston. You can learn more about the games at www.WheelchairGames.org.

See you on the highway.

Brent

June 11, 2016

Fuel Coffee on a Saturday Morning

Cincinnati—Most coffee shops are open every day, seven days a week. Fuel Coffee is open only on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, and people line up into the parking lot to get a cup of java.

While they are waiting for coffee, they have a few things to look at.

Brent