Drop Bar For Mountain Biking: Part V

<===The conversion back to drop bars is complete!

It has taken me awhile to get back to finishing this up, but here is the final post in the Drop Bar For Mountain Biking series.

This picture shows that a standard mountain bike frame can be turned into a successful drop bar rig. Yes, the stem will be a goofy, high rise affair, but it works and that is the point here. To be able to gain the benefits of using drop bars, ( better hand,wrist, forearm alignment, better breathing, better control in rough trail, less fatigue), regardless of looks. But if you ask me, I really like the looks! (Check out the previous post for my custom off road drop bar rig for comparison)

Rant Mode: On- However; not all is well with drop bars today. I happen to know one of the principal designers/influencers of the Midge bar design, (and so by default, the Gary Bar, since it is a Midge clone), and he specified short drop extensions which I feel was a mistake. This affords you one, to maybe one and a half decent hand positions, depending upon your hands size. If yer paws are huge, you are stuck with one place to ride off road. So the Midge/Gary is a bit lacking, in my mind, due to that choice in design. The Wilderness Trail Bike's drop is great in that regard, but the drop is way too deep. This means you have to run a riser stem even on a bike designed for drops.

What I would like to see is something that takes the best of both designs and melds them into one. Then add in a choice of widths. So we could have a drop bar designed for off roading with a shallow drop, (90mm or less), that had a classically designed drop extension that afforded two hand positions,(no "ergo" bend, and room to go "into the drop" or set out at the ends), and a bit more flare to the drop section than either the Midge or Gary provide. (Maybe 5 degrees) My take is that a shallow drop would help with stem choices, a longer drop section gives you more grip options, or you could cut it back to get your "Midge" type length if desired. A little more flare I think would match up with our natural wrist/hand alignment better. Oh! And it has to be bar end shifter compatible too!

Then we have stems. The bane of an off road drop bar fanatics existence. Make us some riser stems already! I mean more than 40 degree rise, like maybe a 50-55 degree rise with reaches from 30mm to 100mm. Make them out of steel, or at least forged aluminum with a removable face plate, (of course) and in 25.4mm and 31.8mm clamp sizes. This will allow folks the chance to check out a drop bar on their current mtb rig. No changing frame sizes, no "shorter top tube". Just use the rig you already have.

Finally, we need an off road drop bar hydraulic brake lever! This one component would blow the doors wide open for drop bar use off road. Make it with a split clamp perch, a carbon fiber blade that is easily replaceable with aluminum ones or with shorter reach blades for smaller hands. Obviously, it would help in crash repairs as well. Then make it so it can have a bar end shifter mounted inside of the lever, sort of like SRAM's new time trial levers. (Those levers are designed so that they always return to the same position whether you shift up or down) Okay, now we'd be talkin' off road drop bars!

Rant Mode: Off- So, that's my take on off road drop bars for you. I hope you enjoyed that series and I apologize for putting off this final installment until now. Here is where you can find Parts one through IV: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Thanks for reading!

Get out and ride those bikes folks! This will likely be your last decent weather weekend in a long while! Go for it!

Drop Bar For Mountain Biking: Part V

<===The conversion back to drop bars is complete!

It has taken me awhile to get back to finishing this up, but here is the final post in the Drop Bar For Mountain Biking series.

This picture shows that a standard mountain bike frame can be turned into a successful drop bar rig. Yes, the stem will be a goofy, high rise affair, but it works and that is the point here. To be able to gain the benefits of using drop bars, ( better hand,wrist, forearm alignment, better breathing, better control in rough trail, less fatigue), regardless of looks. But if you ask me, I really like the looks! (Check out the previous post for my custom off road drop bar rig for comparison)

Rant Mode: On- However; not all is well with drop bars today. I happen to know one of the principal designers/influencers of the Midge bar design, (and so by default, the Gary Bar, since it is a Midge clone), and he specified short drop extensions which I feel was a mistake. This affords you one, to maybe one and a half decent hand positions, depending upon your hands size. If yer paws are huge, you are stuck with one place to ride off road. So the Midge/Gary is a bit lacking, in my mind, due to that choice in design. The Wilderness Trail Bike's drop is great in that regard, but the drop is way too deep. This means you have to run a riser stem even on a bike designed for drops.

What I would like to see is something that takes the best of both designs and melds them into one. Then add in a choice of widths. So we could have a drop bar designed for off roading with a shallow drop, (90mm or less), that had a classically designed drop extension that afforded two hand positions,(no "ergo" bend, and room to go "into the drop" or set out at the ends), and a bit more flare to the drop section than either the Midge or Gary provide. (Maybe 5 degrees) My take is that a shallow drop would help with stem choices, a longer drop section gives you more grip options, or you could cut it back to get your "Midge" type length if desired. A little more flare I think would match up with our natural wrist/hand alignment better. Oh! And it has to be bar end shifter compatible too!

Then we have stems. The bane of an off road drop bar fanatics existence. Make us some riser stems already! I mean more than 40 degree rise, like maybe a 50-55 degree rise with reaches from 30mm to 100mm. Make them out of steel, or at least forged aluminum with a removable face plate, (of course) and in 25.4mm and 31.8mm clamp sizes. This will allow folks the chance to check out a drop bar on their current mtb rig. No changing frame sizes, no "shorter top tube". Just use the rig you already have.

Finally, we need an off road drop bar hydraulic brake lever! This one component would blow the doors wide open for drop bar use off road. Make it with a split clamp perch, a carbon fiber blade that is easily replaceable with aluminum ones or with shorter reach blades for smaller hands. Obviously, it would help in crash repairs as well. Then make it so it can have a bar end shifter mounted inside of the lever, sort of like SRAM's new time trial levers. (Those levers are designed so that they always return to the same position whether you shift up or down) Okay, now we'd be talkin' off road drop bars!

Rant Mode: Off- So, that's my take on off road drop bars for you. I hope you enjoyed that series and I apologize for putting off this final installment until now. Here is where you can find Parts one through IV: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Thanks for reading!

Get out and ride those bikes folks! This will likely be your last decent weather weekend in a long while! Go for it!

First Ride, Long Drive, Freak Out Wednesday!

These wheels, separated at birth, were re-united with each other in time for a woodsie ride.

Wednesday the plan was to hook up with d.p. and do a little B road scouting and some Trans Iowa business. So, after getting my two little ones off to school, I loaded up the Dirty Blue Box with the Badger outfitted with the Edge Composite wheels for the hour and fifteen minute drive. At least that is what I thought! After I got to d.p.'s abode, I found out a bit differently.

After discussing the current situation with Trans Iowa lodging and sponsorship, I went to grab my rig and get set to ride. Problem was, I had no front wheel! Left the dang thing sitting alongside the car when I took off from Guitar Ted Laboratories! Ruh-row! I was freaking! This was an expensive wheel set, probably worth more than The Dirty Blue Box itself. No other choice but to high tail it back to see if by some act of God it would still be there.

To say that there was much cursing, freaking out, and praying for grace would be an understatement. I made it back in an hour and ten minutes, pulled up in front of the lab and whattaya know? There was an Edge Composites rimmed front wheel laying curbside in the street! Lucky for me the crack heads in my neighborhood don't know cycling! That wheel had been laying there for two and a half hours!

So, after I got my sanity back, I decided I may as well go for a woodsie ride in the Green Belt. The recent winds have made a mess out of that area with tons of sticks down and even some very large branches that required frequent dismounts to get over. (Hey! cyclo-cross practice anyone?) It was a good thing to get my head cleared out. Although, I missed out on riding with d.p. and felt like an idiot for not being there to scout with him. (Sorry about that, d.p.!) The results of his scouting B roads can be seen here.

The errant front wheel suffered no permanent injuries due to its separation!

The wheels were fantastic! I will have much more to write about them later, but for now I can say that they were very nice to ride, as they should for a wheel set that should retail at around $2600.00! (Yes.......they are very spendy hoops!) I am just happy that my bone headed maneuver didn't ruin the chance I had to ride and evaluate them. d.p. tells me "everyone has done that at least once". Well, they would probably have to do it about 12 times to catch up with the value of the one mistake I made! Ha ha! At least it all turned out just fine in the end.

First Ride, Long Drive, Freak Out Wednesday!

These wheels, separated at birth, were re-united with each other in time for a woodsie ride.

Wednesday the plan was to hook up with d.p. and do a little B road scouting and some Trans Iowa business. So, after getting my two little ones off to school, I loaded up the Dirty Blue Box with the Badger outfitted with the Edge Composite wheels for the hour and fifteen minute drive. At least that is what I thought! After I got to d.p.'s abode, I found out a bit differently.

After discussing the current situation with Trans Iowa lodging and sponsorship, I went to grab my rig and get set to ride. Problem was, I had no front wheel! Left the dang thing sitting alongside the car when I took off from Guitar Ted Laboratories! Ruh-row! I was freaking! This was an expensive wheel set, probably worth more than The Dirty Blue Box itself. No other choice but to high tail it back to see if by some act of God it would still be there.

To say that there was much cursing, freaking out, and praying for grace would be an understatement. I made it back in an hour and ten minutes, pulled up in front of the lab and whattaya know? There was an Edge Composites rimmed front wheel laying curbside in the street! Lucky for me the crack heads in my neighborhood don't know cycling! That wheel had been laying there for two and a half hours!

So, after I got my sanity back, I decided I may as well go for a woodsie ride in the Green Belt. The recent winds have made a mess out of that area with tons of sticks down and even some very large branches that required frequent dismounts to get over. (Hey! cyclo-cross practice anyone?) It was a good thing to get my head cleared out. Although, I missed out on riding with d.p. and felt like an idiot for not being there to scout with him. (Sorry about that, d.p.!) The results of his scouting B roads can be seen here.

The errant front wheel suffered no permanent injuries due to its separation!

The wheels were fantastic! I will have much more to write about them later, but for now I can say that they were very nice to ride, as they should for a wheel set that should retail at around $2600.00! (Yes.......they are very spendy hoops!) I am just happy that my bone headed maneuver didn't ruin the chance I had to ride and evaluate them. d.p. tells me "everyone has done that at least once". Well, they would probably have to do it about 12 times to catch up with the value of the one mistake I made! Ha ha! At least it all turned out just fine in the end.

Trans Iowa Business and More...

Just a quick note or two this morning...

Bikepacking: There is this guy in Arizona that is a huge back country cycling nutcase and happens to know more about computers and software than maybe is good for a soul, but anyway..... His name is Scott Morris and he's been known to track the GDR once in a while with Topofusion mapping and what not, so you may have run across this before. Anyway, he started this site about all of us adventure freaks called Bikepacking.net You have access to routes and there even is a forum there with information being traded about set ups, hardware, software, and the like. There is even a special page about Trans Iowa there to check out. If you have any GPS data from a past Trans Iowa, Scott wants to hear from you, by the way, so go to the link, 'splore around a bit, and let him know you've got something of interest for him.

Trans Iowa Recon: I will be doing a bit more recon today. Just some fine tuning really, and meeting with some folks in Williamsburg. It's not all business though, as I get to ride my bicycle too! I'll be taking the Edge Composites XC rimmed wheel set on its maiden voyage today. So that ought to be some fun. I'll have some photos to share, hopefully, tomorrow.

The Drop Bar Thing: I haven't forgotten about the drop bar pieces and I will try to get that all tied up yet this week in a final post. Stay tuned!

The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo Thing: This is something else I want to get going on. The date should be set any day now. Stay tuned for that big announcement.

Okay, I think this should have been entitled "Loose Ends Wednesday" or something! My mom used to serve left-overs on Wednesday.......Hmmmm............ I wonder if I am falling into that tradition!

Trans Iowa Business and More...

Just a quick note or two this morning...

Bikepacking: There is this guy in Arizona that is a huge back country cycling nutcase and happens to know more about computers and software than maybe is good for a soul, but anyway..... His name is Scott Morris and he's been known to track the GDR once in a while with Topofusion mapping and what not, so you may have run across this before. Anyway, he started this site about all of us adventure freaks called Bikepacking.net You have access to routes and there even is a forum there with information being traded about set ups, hardware, software, and the like. There is even a special page about Trans Iowa there to check out. If you have any GPS data from a past Trans Iowa, Scott wants to hear from you, by the way, so go to the link, 'splore around a bit, and let him know you've got something of interest for him.

Trans Iowa Recon: I will be doing a bit more recon today. Just some fine tuning really, and meeting with some folks in Williamsburg. It's not all business though, as I get to ride my bicycle too! I'll be taking the Edge Composites XC rimmed wheel set on its maiden voyage today. So that ought to be some fun. I'll have some photos to share, hopefully, tomorrow.

The Drop Bar Thing: I haven't forgotten about the drop bar pieces and I will try to get that all tied up yet this week in a final post. Stay tuned!

The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo Thing: This is something else I want to get going on. The date should be set any day now. Stay tuned for that big announcement.

Okay, I think this should have been entitled "Loose Ends Wednesday" or something! My mom used to serve left-overs on Wednesday.......Hmmmm............ I wonder if I am falling into that tradition!

Touring Tuesdays: We're Off On A Hundy!

Here's the next installment from the "Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour". Today we get a chance to see my first century unfold. We also see that I learn a few things about cycling on the road as well.

We pick things up where the ride had just started from Dewar Tap and left north on a quiet county blacktop.....

By the time we had gotten to the Wapsi Valley High School, about 10 to 15 miles in, I had an intense feeling come over me. Hunger! I was famished! So, I called for a stop and I ate most of Troy's dried fruit mix. Next trip I will have to remember to bring some "road food". As we quenched our hunger pangs, we looked around and noticed that it was very peaceful and quiet on this morning. There was nary a car on the roads, and the birds and animals must have still been sleeping. A dreary mist hung in the hollows of the fields. It promised to be a humid summer day, with a good stiff southerly wind. This was good! We were going north with the wind and the road was our own.

As we made our way across Highways 3 and 92, I thought about the hills to come. The gently rolling countryside had proven to be an easy challenge. I knew that greater hills lie before us and I wondered if I would be up to the task. Then my thoughts would be broken by a comment or a joyous whoop made by one of my companions. We could all ride side by side and converse. This made the miles slip away under our wheels.

We reached Lawler Iowa at mid-morning. There we stopped at a convenience store and had some refreshments and filled our water bottles. We would make many stops like this during the week. Generally we might find a bite to eat at one of these stops. Most often though we just had soda pop and Gatorade. We would hang out in the front of these stores, just sitting right on the ground in the parking lot.

This, of course, attracted a lot of attention. People generally would look askance and not give us so much as a "hello". Only children, as a rule, would be curious enough to talk to us. We obliged them and were amused by their curiosity. Sometimes they would even be enthusiastically supportive of what we were doing. There were no children at Lawler this morning; however, just disdainful looks and a bathroom to use. Steve bought some fake chewing tobacco that he cursed for its nasty taste, but he chewed it for the rest of the trip!

We got a little turned around here since we couldn't find the northward black top we were looking for. We finally figured out we had to go east out of town to find that road. Once we were on our way again, it became like before, quiet, an occasional car, but only now it was bright and sunny. It was getting hotter. I had ridden 40 miles now and I felt the miles coming harder. By the time we reached Protovin Corner, I was starving again. More munchies; Pop Tarts and water. We had gone over 50 miles and it was approaching the noon hour.

The next stretch between Protivin and Cresco is a county blacktop that receives as much or more traffic as a State Highway. This was my first experience with "true" highway riding. It also was more hilly. I did not know about drafting techniques. My climbing abilities were not developed yet either. So, I fell off the back often. I would grit it out and catch back up though. This ended up really draining me. After another convenience store stop in Cresco, we had another 12 miles to go to get to Lime Springs. Then another two miles downhill to the park. It was hot, very windy, and 12 o'clock noon when we left. Most of the last leg was in a crosswind, as we were obliged to go west. It was here that Troy broke the wind for me and began to teach me how to draft.

Those twelve miles took forever! I wasn't sure I could make it. Add in some major hills and I thought I was done for. I was in pain and I was cursing myself for being so dumb to think I could go on with this for a week! I thought these hills would be nothing compared to what lie ahead, so therefore I was toast. I was going to have to die because I was stupid enough to think I could do this. Perhaps it is hard to understand, but sometimes, well.........you just have to do what you have to do. I did, and somehow I made it.

Next week we see the Lime Springs stop and the end of Day One of "The Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour". Stay tuned!

Touring Tuesdays: We're Off On A Hundy!

Here's the next installment from the "Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour". Today we get a chance to see my first century unfold. We also see that I learn a few things about cycling on the road as well.

We pick things up where the ride had just started from Dewar Tap and left north on a quiet county blacktop.....

By the time we had gotten to the Wapsi Valley High School, about 10 to 15 miles in, I had an intense feeling come over me. Hunger! I was famished! So, I called for a stop and I ate most of Troy's dried fruit mix. Next trip I will have to remember to bring some "road food". As we quenched our hunger pangs, we looked around and noticed that it was very peaceful and quiet on this morning. There was nary a car on the roads, and the birds and animals must have still been sleeping. A dreary mist hung in the hollows of the fields. It promised to be a humid summer day, with a good stiff southerly wind. This was good! We were going north with the wind and the road was our own.

As we made our way across Highways 3 and 92, I thought about the hills to come. The gently rolling countryside had proven to be an easy challenge. I knew that greater hills lie before us and I wondered if I would be up to the task. Then my thoughts would be broken by a comment or a joyous whoop made by one of my companions. We could all ride side by side and converse. This made the miles slip away under our wheels.

We reached Lawler Iowa at mid-morning. There we stopped at a convenience store and had some refreshments and filled our water bottles. We would make many stops like this during the week. Generally we might find a bite to eat at one of these stops. Most often though we just had soda pop and Gatorade. We would hang out in the front of these stores, just sitting right on the ground in the parking lot.

This, of course, attracted a lot of attention. People generally would look askance and not give us so much as a "hello". Only children, as a rule, would be curious enough to talk to us. We obliged them and were amused by their curiosity. Sometimes they would even be enthusiastically supportive of what we were doing. There were no children at Lawler this morning; however, just disdainful looks and a bathroom to use. Steve bought some fake chewing tobacco that he cursed for its nasty taste, but he chewed it for the rest of the trip!

We got a little turned around here since we couldn't find the northward black top we were looking for. We finally figured out we had to go east out of town to find that road. Once we were on our way again, it became like before, quiet, an occasional car, but only now it was bright and sunny. It was getting hotter. I had ridden 40 miles now and I felt the miles coming harder. By the time we reached Protovin Corner, I was starving again. More munchies; Pop Tarts and water. We had gone over 50 miles and it was approaching the noon hour.

The next stretch between Protivin and Cresco is a county blacktop that receives as much or more traffic as a State Highway. This was my first experience with "true" highway riding. It also was more hilly. I did not know about drafting techniques. My climbing abilities were not developed yet either. So, I fell off the back often. I would grit it out and catch back up though. This ended up really draining me. After another convenience store stop in Cresco, we had another 12 miles to go to get to Lime Springs. Then another two miles downhill to the park. It was hot, very windy, and 12 o'clock noon when we left. Most of the last leg was in a crosswind, as we were obliged to go west. It was here that Troy broke the wind for me and began to teach me how to draft.

Those twelve miles took forever! I wasn't sure I could make it. Add in some major hills and I thought I was done for. I was in pain and I was cursing myself for being so dumb to think I could go on with this for a week! I thought these hills would be nothing compared to what lie ahead, so therefore I was toast. I was going to have to die because I was stupid enough to think I could do this. Perhaps it is hard to understand, but sometimes, well.........you just have to do what you have to do. I did, and somehow I made it.

Next week we see the Lime Springs stop and the end of Day One of "The Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour". Stay tuned!

Trans Iowa V5 Recon In Pics!: Part II

<====At first glance, this may appear to be the same hill I put up in the last post. It isn't. There are a lot of hills like this though. Sorry about the ghost image of my map on d.p.'s windshield!











<=== Great scenery abounds. d.p. almost went off the road in a couple spots where the view was too good to miss!













<=== I said that there were "mind numbing flats" on T.I.V5. I meant it! It ain't all hills out there.













<=== The B Maintenance factor will play heavily into how T.I.V5 plays out. No one will escape! This section is in the first 40 miles. If things get too wet and crazy, we have alternate routes for almost all of these.











<=== Some folks didn't get to experience the cemetery hill top finish at T.I.V3, so we thought, "Let's start at a cemetery." Brilliant! Now you all will get to experience it. (Well, all that get in and then show up, that is.)








Okay, here are some more images from the T.I.V5 course for you to ponder. I've got a few more, but I think I will not post them. Not now.

d.p. and I are pretty pumped up about the event though. I will have some more news later on mileages, some sponsorship news, and other tidbits. Stay tuned!

Plus......a registration announcement will be made by the end of this week!

Trans Iowa V5 Recon In Pics!: Part II

<====At first glance, this may appear to be the same hill I put up in the last post. It isn't. There are a lot of hills like this though. Sorry about the ghost image of my map on d.p.'s windshield!











<=== Great scenery abounds. d.p. almost went off the road in a couple spots where the view was too good to miss!













<=== I said that there were "mind numbing flats" on T.I.V5. I meant it! It ain't all hills out there.













<=== The B Maintenance factor will play heavily into how T.I.V5 plays out. No one will escape! This section is in the first 40 miles. If things get too wet and crazy, we have alternate routes for almost all of these.











<=== Some folks didn't get to experience the cemetery hill top finish at T.I.V3, so we thought, "Let's start at a cemetery." Brilliant! Now you all will get to experience it. (Well, all that get in and then show up, that is.)








Okay, here are some more images from the T.I.V5 course for you to ponder. I've got a few more, but I think I will not post them. Not now.

d.p. and I are pretty pumped up about the event though. I will have some more news later on mileages, some sponsorship news, and other tidbits. Stay tuned!

Plus......a registration announcement will be made by the end of this week!

Trans Iowa V5 Recon In Pics!

<==There will be hills and lots of them!

<===This B Maintenance road dissappears into a tunnel of trees!


<===All the B roads were too wet to travel by car. We'll have to re-check those later!

<===There were more than a few B roads that left no option but to walk, or ride in the road bed. No Ditch Riding Here!

<===It was a long, long day in a car. But we accomplished much!

Today I met d.p. in Marengo at 6am at Doose's Cafe for breakfast before we took off on our T.I.V5 recon mission. We did the tail end of the event first, and trashed about 75% of my proposed route before we even hit the gravel!

Then we made it to the first checkpoint town where I saw a rather "earth mother-ish" type standing on the edge of the curb smoking and drinking a cup of java. We were looking for a coffee joint, and low and behold, she beckons to us and we stop to find out she runs the coffee shop in the building behind her. Wow! A "siren" call, eh? Anyway, we go in and the place is like a freaking art museum. It is awesome! So we talked to her about our little event, and she was totally down with it, and wants to open early for us to sample the fine coffee and other caffeinated treats she has 'round the joint. Sweet!

Rolling on, we encounter B roads, mud, re-routes, mud, hawks, hills, more hills, mud, and then our first real checkmate in the route finding.

Our choice was truncated. So we came up with an alternate plan, no biggie. It's looking really good, then.......BAM! Gated, signed "No Tresspassing" Great! So we reconnoiter another route.....truncated! Then I finally find something that worked, even though it involved some pavement. Oh well! It was either that or re-do a major portion of the event, which basically would have put us behind, well......who knows?!! Weeks? Months? We wanted this done today, so we went with the paved option. No biggie! Only about five miles of pave' in all that re-route.

That ate up a bunch of time, but in the end, we had enough time to do the re-route at the end to see how the run in back to Williamsburg would look. So far, so good! The B roads were un-driveable, so those will need to be verified later, but that shouldn't be too big a deal. I think we're good to go, but since the re-routes were pretty extensive in a couple of places, we don't have any hard figures as of yet on mileage, time for cut offs, or an over all time for the event. We should be able to get a good idea on this really soon though. So, stay tuned!

I just got home at the fall of dark. A long, long day, but a productive one. I don't think I've gotten so much sewn up by this time doing a Trans Iowa, so it feels really good.

Now to figure out timing to do registration!

Trans Iowa V5 Recon In Pics!

<==There will be hills and lots of them!

<===This B Maintenance road dissappears into a tunnel of trees!


<===All the B roads were too wet to travel by car. We'll have to re-check those later!

<===There were more than a few B roads that left no option but to walk, or ride in the road bed. No Ditch Riding Here!

<===It was a long, long day in a car. But we accomplished much!

Today I met d.p. in Marengo at 6am at Doose's Cafe for breakfast before we took off on our T.I.V5 recon mission. We did the tail end of the event first, and trashed about 75% of my proposed route before we even hit the gravel!

Then we made it to the first checkpoint town where I saw a rather "earth mother-ish" type standing on the edge of the curb smoking and drinking a cup of java. We were looking for a coffee joint, and low and behold, she beckons to us and we stop to find out she runs the coffee shop in the building behind her. Wow! A "siren" call, eh? Anyway, we go in and the place is like a freaking art museum. It is awesome! So we talked to her about our little event, and she was totally down with it, and wants to open early for us to sample the fine coffee and other caffeinated treats she has 'round the joint. Sweet!

Rolling on, we encounter B roads, mud, re-routes, mud, hawks, hills, more hills, mud, and then our first real checkmate in the route finding.

Our choice was truncated. So we came up with an alternate plan, no biggie. It's looking really good, then.......BAM! Gated, signed "No Tresspassing" Great! So we reconnoiter another route.....truncated! Then I finally find something that worked, even though it involved some pavement. Oh well! It was either that or re-do a major portion of the event, which basically would have put us behind, well......who knows?!! Weeks? Months? We wanted this done today, so we went with the paved option. No biggie! Only about five miles of pave' in all that re-route.

That ate up a bunch of time, but in the end, we had enough time to do the re-route at the end to see how the run in back to Williamsburg would look. So far, so good! The B roads were un-driveable, so those will need to be verified later, but that shouldn't be too big a deal. I think we're good to go, but since the re-routes were pretty extensive in a couple of places, we don't have any hard figures as of yet on mileage, time for cut offs, or an over all time for the event. We should be able to get a good idea on this really soon though. So, stay tuned!

I just got home at the fall of dark. A long, long day, but a productive one. I don't think I've gotten so much sewn up by this time doing a Trans Iowa, so it feels really good.

Now to figure out timing to do registration!

Raliegh "Rainier" Single Speed Cross Bike?

<===Will this frame and fork be mine?

Taking a wild swing at possibly getting this as a skinny tired option in the fleet. Problem is that only 65 are being made and they are all spoken for already. There is a slight possibility that I could score one, so I am taking the chance.

Yeah, limited edition and all that. Funny thing was, they weren't even going to make any, it was just a one off show rig.

Time will tell. If it comes, it might be a really cool, super light option for gravel grindage, and who knows? Maybe I'll hop a barrier someday! I figure that if this guy is doing it and having fun, why can't I?

Raliegh "Rainier" Single Speed Cross Bike?

<===Will this frame and fork be mine?

Taking a wild swing at possibly getting this as a skinny tired option in the fleet. Problem is that only 65 are being made and they are all spoken for already. There is a slight possibility that I could score one, so I am taking the chance.

Yeah, limited edition and all that. Funny thing was, they weren't even going to make any, it was just a one off show rig.

Time will tell. If it comes, it might be a really cool, super light option for gravel grindage, and who knows? Maybe I'll hop a barrier someday! I figure that if this guy is doing it and having fun, why can't I?

Friday News And Views

<===Easton XC-1 Single Speed racing wheels.

The fall is a busy time at Twenty Nine Inches with things to test and newsy bits flowing yet. Here we have some killer Easton wheels that will be tested for the site. Look for a post to show up later at Twenty Nine Inches. These hoops are definitely race oriented. They have narrow rims, lighter gauge spokes, and only 24 of them in each wheel with a 2 cross pattern. We'll see if they are stiff enough for a race day situation!





<=== Specialized tires in the "wagon wheel" size! (photo courtesy of Grannygear)

Twenty Nine Inches also has a new contributor in California. "Grannygear" has just received some Specialized treads and is going to rage them on some SoCal trail here this weekend. Look for an initial report on Twenty Nine Inches today with a followup to come soon. Some of these Specialized treads will also make their way to the Mid-West for evaluation, so stay tuned for that report as well.

Fixie Nation: Well, unless you have been hiding under a pillow, and if you are a cyclist, you have to be aware that there s a fixed gear phenomenon going on all over the nation. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News posted a story today on a new site dedicated to the phenom called "Guys Who Cut Their Own Hair" . They obviously have been up late at night downloading all sorts of content including videos of riding that includes some crazy trick stuff.

Is it me, or does a lot of this stuff not smack of grown ups doing their BMX thing on grown up bikes? Even the graphics and culture seem "borrowed" from that scene. Hmm.....whatever. And ya know, I just did a profile on a local cycling veteran that is up at sixfiftyB His fixie antics pre-date all these yahoos by at least 15 to 20 years. I also happen to know that a fixed gear group existed in Cedar Falls/Waterloo then that used to congregate on top of the Union, doing tricks, riding, and just generally hanging out. Just goes to show ya, it ain't new, it's all about marketing and promotion.

Yeah.....the site I mention above was started by Swobo. So there ya go........

Trans Iowa News: Wow! What a week for Trans Iowa! The event got a huge shot in the arm from a few sources. First up we have Vassago Cycles who stepped up to provide a super cool Fisticuff frame and fork as prizing. Then we have AdventureCorps who in conjunction with the Rough Riders are sending out water bottles and some cool little key chains/lanyards to be given to all of the race entrants. The AdventureCorps and Rough Riders share some similar ideals to Trans Iowa and our own "gravel grindin'" culture here in Iowa and the Mid-West in general. I am super stoked to have these new sponsors and I know d.p. is as well.

Look for a course recon to be happening this weekend. I'll be going out with d.p. and scouting our choices. Pictures and a report to follow, of course. Oh! And don't let me forget the traditional Trans Iowa recon diet of Red Bull and processed beef products! Gotta have fuel, baby!

Busy, busy..... So yeah! It is crazy around here at Guitar Ted Laboratories of late. I haven't even mentioned my Edge Composites wheel build that will be getting started sometime this weekend, my new rain jacket, and my up coming trip with Captain Bob to Minneapolis to ride some Salsa Fargos. Stay tuned for more late fall madness........

And ride your bikes, fools! Even if you are doing the fixie thing, riding a recumbent, or whatever. Just don't stop riding!

Friday News And Views

<===Easton XC-1 Single Speed racing wheels.

The fall is a busy time at Twenty Nine Inches with things to test and newsy bits flowing yet. Here we have some killer Easton wheels that will be tested for the site. Look for a post to show up later at Twenty Nine Inches. These hoops are definitely race oriented. They have narrow rims, lighter gauge spokes, and only 24 of them in each wheel with a 2 cross pattern. We'll see if they are stiff enough for a race day situation!





<=== Specialized tires in the "wagon wheel" size! (photo courtesy of Grannygear)

Twenty Nine Inches also has a new contributor in California. "Grannygear" has just received some Specialized treads and is going to rage them on some SoCal trail here this weekend. Look for an initial report on Twenty Nine Inches today with a followup to come soon. Some of these Specialized treads will also make their way to the Mid-West for evaluation, so stay tuned for that report as well.

Fixie Nation: Well, unless you have been hiding under a pillow, and if you are a cyclist, you have to be aware that there s a fixed gear phenomenon going on all over the nation. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News posted a story today on a new site dedicated to the phenom called "Guys Who Cut Their Own Hair" . They obviously have been up late at night downloading all sorts of content including videos of riding that includes some crazy trick stuff.

Is it me, or does a lot of this stuff not smack of grown ups doing their BMX thing on grown up bikes? Even the graphics and culture seem "borrowed" from that scene. Hmm.....whatever. And ya know, I just did a profile on a local cycling veteran that is up at sixfiftyB His fixie antics pre-date all these yahoos by at least 15 to 20 years. I also happen to know that a fixed gear group existed in Cedar Falls/Waterloo then that used to congregate on top of the Union, doing tricks, riding, and just generally hanging out. Just goes to show ya, it ain't new, it's all about marketing and promotion.

Yeah.....the site I mention above was started by Swobo. So there ya go........

Trans Iowa News: Wow! What a week for Trans Iowa! The event got a huge shot in the arm from a few sources. First up we have Vassago Cycles who stepped up to provide a super cool Fisticuff frame and fork as prizing. Then we have AdventureCorps who in conjunction with the Rough Riders are sending out water bottles and some cool little key chains/lanyards to be given to all of the race entrants. The AdventureCorps and Rough Riders share some similar ideals to Trans Iowa and our own "gravel grindin'" culture here in Iowa and the Mid-West in general. I am super stoked to have these new sponsors and I know d.p. is as well.

Look for a course recon to be happening this weekend. I'll be going out with d.p. and scouting our choices. Pictures and a report to follow, of course. Oh! And don't let me forget the traditional Trans Iowa recon diet of Red Bull and processed beef products! Gotta have fuel, baby!

Busy, busy..... So yeah! It is crazy around here at Guitar Ted Laboratories of late. I haven't even mentioned my Edge Composites wheel build that will be getting started sometime this weekend, my new rain jacket, and my up coming trip with Captain Bob to Minneapolis to ride some Salsa Fargos. Stay tuned for more late fall madness........

And ride your bikes, fools! Even if you are doing the fixie thing, riding a recumbent, or whatever. Just don't stop riding!

Touring Tuesdays: On A Thursday!

The "Beg, Borrow, And Bastard Tour" Gets Its Name:

So yeah, I forgot on Tuesday......... Here's the previous entry.

There is still the explanation of the name of this tour. A little of this can be guessed at, on my part, it is obvious. However; Troy and Steve had some panhandling to do as well. Troy, whose brother's bike he was originally going to use, had to abandon that plan a week before the tour. The bags on the rear struck his heels and there was no way to make it work. So, Troy had to beg and borrow a friends deceased father's bike. Then Steve, he borrowed money for the food for all of us on his girl friend's credit card. (Admittedly, that was a beg and borrow for all of us.) Troy and I also had to borrow sleeping mats and tents.

In a hurried frenzy to ready our bikes, Troy and I spent two nights late at the shop working on them. I had a check at the point where the stem for my drop bars wouldn't work on the bike's original fork. This required a fork change. After three forks we found that the headset needed to be changed as well. Then we discovered after two hours and three headsets that I needed a BMX specific headset! Then it was the tires. I couldn't get any tires to fit on my new wheels! I made my thumbs into burning blister pods trying to force tires too small onto my rims. Not even the efforts of a very drunk and funny Steve could avail me. I was led to cursing and I called out, "This bastard bike!" Well, "bastard" became a pet word of the tour and the title of our tour had been fulfilled.

Troy and I finished our bikes in the nick of time. Saturday came and went, and then I packed my bags and made ready to depart from Dewar Tap at 5:30am Sunday morning. I was a little nervous, very excited, and anxious to go.

On Sunday, August 7th, 1994, I awoke to my alarm clock at 4:30am, walked out into the kitchen and.....AARRRRGH! Glass in my heel! After a little first aid treatment, I got my wife up and we picked up Troy at 5:05am. The sun was just coming up. It was cool, but it looked like it could be a great day. Steve and Brenda, (his girlfriend) were waiting at the Dewar Tap when we got there at about 5:35am.

After fooling around nervously for about 15 to 20 minutes we said our goodbyes. We left northward from Dewar on a county blacktop on our trip. I waved goodbye to my wife and turned away. Goodbyes suck, so I didn't look back.

I really didn't know what to expect. The longest single bike ride I'd ever done was maybe when I rode about 30 miles on the Raccoon River Trail. I don't know what these guys decided to do for mileage when the day started. Although; the plan was to go to my family's reunion in Lime Springs, Iowa some 75 miles away. Maybe it was the motivation of having my relatives see us on our way. Maybe it was the tail wind we had all the way up there. I don't know, but I felt sure I could do it.

Stay tuned next Tuesday when I get into the first day of riding.

Touring Tuesdays: On A Thursday!

The "Beg, Borrow, And Bastard Tour" Gets Its Name:

So yeah, I forgot on Tuesday......... Here's the previous entry.

There is still the explanation of the name of this tour. A little of this can be guessed at, on my part, it is obvious. However; Troy and Steve had some panhandling to do as well. Troy, whose brother's bike he was originally going to use, had to abandon that plan a week before the tour. The bags on the rear struck his heels and there was no way to make it work. So, Troy had to beg and borrow a friends deceased father's bike. Then Steve, he borrowed money for the food for all of us on his girl friend's credit card. (Admittedly, that was a beg and borrow for all of us.) Troy and I also had to borrow sleeping mats and tents.

In a hurried frenzy to ready our bikes, Troy and I spent two nights late at the shop working on them. I had a check at the point where the stem for my drop bars wouldn't work on the bike's original fork. This required a fork change. After three forks we found that the headset needed to be changed as well. Then we discovered after two hours and three headsets that I needed a BMX specific headset! Then it was the tires. I couldn't get any tires to fit on my new wheels! I made my thumbs into burning blister pods trying to force tires too small onto my rims. Not even the efforts of a very drunk and funny Steve could avail me. I was led to cursing and I called out, "This bastard bike!" Well, "bastard" became a pet word of the tour and the title of our tour had been fulfilled.

Troy and I finished our bikes in the nick of time. Saturday came and went, and then I packed my bags and made ready to depart from Dewar Tap at 5:30am Sunday morning. I was a little nervous, very excited, and anxious to go.

On Sunday, August 7th, 1994, I awoke to my alarm clock at 4:30am, walked out into the kitchen and.....AARRRRGH! Glass in my heel! After a little first aid treatment, I got my wife up and we picked up Troy at 5:05am. The sun was just coming up. It was cool, but it looked like it could be a great day. Steve and Brenda, (his girlfriend) were waiting at the Dewar Tap when we got there at about 5:35am.

After fooling around nervously for about 15 to 20 minutes we said our goodbyes. We left northward from Dewar on a county blacktop on our trip. I waved goodbye to my wife and turned away. Goodbyes suck, so I didn't look back.

I really didn't know what to expect. The longest single bike ride I'd ever done was maybe when I rode about 30 miles on the Raccoon River Trail. I don't know what these guys decided to do for mileage when the day started. Although; the plan was to go to my family's reunion in Lime Springs, Iowa some 75 miles away. Maybe it was the motivation of having my relatives see us on our way. Maybe it was the tail wind we had all the way up there. I don't know, but I felt sure I could do it.

Stay tuned next Tuesday when I get into the first day of riding.

Wednesday Woke Up Late....

So today I woke up late......

I usually am up pretty early, like really early, to do my morning ritual. However; last night was a late one due to a meeting. So, today you are getting a late post.

Today I would normally be testing product for Twenty Nine Inches too. But.....it's going to rain for the third Wednesday in a row! Well, I can't complain. I'll still find plenty to do with Crooked Cog stuff, and ya know, I had a run of awesome weather on Wednesdays for the whole summer. I am bound to get a few stinkers in there at some point for weather on a Wednesday. So it goes.....

Here's what I do have for you, some news about The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. As I posted a few days back, it is going to happen. Here is what I can say now that is definite. First of all, the event is moving, as I said, and it will be in an unlikely but really cool place. That place is in Nebraska and is called Potter's Pasture. Hit the link and check out the latest post on the Potter's Pasture MTB blog to get a glimpse of what to expect. Then check out the other posts so far to get a glimpse of what the trails are all about there. Potter's is out in Western Nebraska and is only a short jaunt off I-80. Easy to get to.

You might say, "Western Nebraska? But who will show up?" Well, that is a great question. Here's the buzz so far on Potter's. Lincoln/Omaha folks are pretty aware of this place and many of the 29"er freaks from there have been to Potter's. They promise me that a fair contingent of that areas 29"er freaks will make the trip over. Plus, Potter's is only 5-6 hours from the Front Range area of the Rockies. I hear that a fair number of Front Range 29"er freaks will also make the trip.

I think it's a great idea, the place is awesome from a riding standpoint, tons of trails in a very unusual setting. The people will show, we have almost a whole year to get the word out. Finally, it will be a perfect joint for laid back camping, hanging out, and just having a simple good time.

And speaking about the timing of the event, it will come at the time when a lot of riders will be looking for a good time. That being the end of the season. We are working out a specific date, but it looks like the second weekend in October 2009 for now. More details will be coming, but for now, that is what we have to put out there now.

Wednesday Woke Up Late....

So today I woke up late......

I usually am up pretty early, like really early, to do my morning ritual. However; last night was a late one due to a meeting. So, today you are getting a late post.

Today I would normally be testing product for Twenty Nine Inches too. But.....it's going to rain for the third Wednesday in a row! Well, I can't complain. I'll still find plenty to do with Crooked Cog stuff, and ya know, I had a run of awesome weather on Wednesdays for the whole summer. I am bound to get a few stinkers in there at some point for weather on a Wednesday. So it goes.....

Here's what I do have for you, some news about The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. As I posted a few days back, it is going to happen. Here is what I can say now that is definite. First of all, the event is moving, as I said, and it will be in an unlikely but really cool place. That place is in Nebraska and is called Potter's Pasture. Hit the link and check out the latest post on the Potter's Pasture MTB blog to get a glimpse of what to expect. Then check out the other posts so far to get a glimpse of what the trails are all about there. Potter's is out in Western Nebraska and is only a short jaunt off I-80. Easy to get to.

You might say, "Western Nebraska? But who will show up?" Well, that is a great question. Here's the buzz so far on Potter's. Lincoln/Omaha folks are pretty aware of this place and many of the 29"er freaks from there have been to Potter's. They promise me that a fair contingent of that areas 29"er freaks will make the trip over. Plus, Potter's is only 5-6 hours from the Front Range area of the Rockies. I hear that a fair number of Front Range 29"er freaks will also make the trip.

I think it's a great idea, the place is awesome from a riding standpoint, tons of trails in a very unusual setting. The people will show, we have almost a whole year to get the word out. Finally, it will be a perfect joint for laid back camping, hanging out, and just having a simple good time.

And speaking about the timing of the event, it will come at the time when a lot of riders will be looking for a good time. That being the end of the season. We are working out a specific date, but it looks like the second weekend in October 2009 for now. More details will be coming, but for now, that is what we have to put out there now.

And Now For Something Completely Different!

I am a bit tired of doing all the "serious" posts of late. So, I decided I needed a bit of relief from all of that. Today I am going to download some pics that I would not normally use, but I felt were a good foil for all the "seriousness" of late around here.

<====Arleigh "Arsbars" Jenkins: "What is that word I'm looking for?!! Can't.........think.........of.......it! Arrrgh!"

By the way, this was taken in the dining area of the house Crooked Cog rented in Vegas. Totally locked into the 1960's as far as interior design. I think the walls were really a different color to begin with, but everything looked like it had a fine film of "nicotine stain yellow" to it. Thankfully, the place didn't smell of it!



<==== Fall color landscape.

Ahhh! The fall of 2008 has been a pretty sedate and decent one around these parts. Just what a fall season should be so far. Plenty of warm sunny days, cool nights, and just enough rain to keep things real. And the colors have been pretty decent if not spectacular at times. Hopefully the end of fall is extended a bit before we have to put on so many layers of clothing that cycling becomes like putting mummies on two wheels in the woods! And as for that white stuff? Bleccch! Keep that away for as long as possible too. Ahhh........yeah, I suppose a little of it is fun to ride in for awhile, but I still haven't quite gotten over last winter yet, I suppose.



<==== I was Commuter before Commuter was cool.

I know that none of my readers ever listened to Country Music.........ever! But there used to be a song, I think it was Barbara Mandrel, anyway....it was called "I Was Country Before Country Was Cool" (Yes....I could Google that......but I ain't gonna!) So, yeah......this bike reminds me of that song. It is my co-worker Joel's bike. A Raleigh Professional that he has had in fixie mode and on 650B wheels for at least 10 years or longer. Waaay before all this "urban hipster", commuter cool crap came around. We're talkin' the gen-u-wine issue here folks! I mean, take a look at this picture. Those rust spots? Yeah.........he earned 'em baby. The hard way!



<===You wanna piece of this? C'mon! Bring it on!

Captain Bob and MTBidwell at the Flat Tire Fest. These guys are part of a very small crew that does everything for mountain biking at Camp Ingawanis. I mean everything! There are only about three other guys that really pitch in, and that isn't too cool for as good as the biking is out there. So, if you want to have something that is arguably three times as good as any dirt around here, and at least on par with anything in the state, why don't you get on board with the IMBA, (That's Ingawanis Mountain Bike Association) for next year and pitch in. (I'm talkin' to the locals here) Price for entry is ridiculously low, and a few hours of your time would do wonders on a trail day. Besides, you get to ride your bike out there on those days. So really, why wouldn't you do it?

All right......maybe that was serious! (It was)



<=== I'll take mine medium rare there Chris! Okay, thanks bud! You're fantastic, really!

Yes, there really is a guy named Chris King, and that be him bar-b-cuing up some fine slabs-o-beef there at Interbike's Outdoor Demo. Those big hunks were sliced up and made into some awesome sandwiches which I ate up rather greedily. You see, I was pretty hungry after working like crazy riding bikes all day in the heat and dust. Did I mention that I scored a free Dale's Pale Ale too? No? Well, thanks to Chris King, "The Other Chris At Chris King" ( That's Chris De Stefano, by the way) and everybody involved there for some fantastic grub and good times. (I wonder who polishes all the smoke residue off the display items afterwards? Hmmm.....) Anyway...It's not everyday you can get a Mountain Bike Hall Of Fame member to cook up yer grub for ya!

And Now For Something Completely Different!

I am a bit tired of doing all the "serious" posts of late. So, I decided I needed a bit of relief from all of that. Today I am going to download some pics that I would not normally use, but I felt were a good foil for all the "seriousness" of late around here.

<====Arleigh "Arsbars" Jenkins: "What is that word I'm looking for?!! Can't.........think.........of.......it! Arrrgh!"

By the way, this was taken in the dining area of the house Crooked Cog rented in Vegas. Totally locked into the 1960's as far as interior design. I think the walls were really a different color to begin with, but everything looked like it had a fine film of "nicotine stain yellow" to it. Thankfully, the place didn't smell of it!



<==== Fall color landscape.

Ahhh! The fall of 2008 has been a pretty sedate and decent one around these parts. Just what a fall season should be so far. Plenty of warm sunny days, cool nights, and just enough rain to keep things real. And the colors have been pretty decent if not spectacular at times. Hopefully the end of fall is extended a bit before we have to put on so many layers of clothing that cycling becomes like putting mummies on two wheels in the woods! And as for that white stuff? Bleccch! Keep that away for as long as possible too. Ahhh........yeah, I suppose a little of it is fun to ride in for awhile, but I still haven't quite gotten over last winter yet, I suppose.



<==== I was Commuter before Commuter was cool.

I know that none of my readers ever listened to Country Music.........ever! But there used to be a song, I think it was Barbara Mandrel, anyway....it was called "I Was Country Before Country Was Cool" (Yes....I could Google that......but I ain't gonna!) So, yeah......this bike reminds me of that song. It is my co-worker Joel's bike. A Raleigh Professional that he has had in fixie mode and on 650B wheels for at least 10 years or longer. Waaay before all this "urban hipster", commuter cool crap came around. We're talkin' the gen-u-wine issue here folks! I mean, take a look at this picture. Those rust spots? Yeah.........he earned 'em baby. The hard way!



<===You wanna piece of this? C'mon! Bring it on!

Captain Bob and MTBidwell at the Flat Tire Fest. These guys are part of a very small crew that does everything for mountain biking at Camp Ingawanis. I mean everything! There are only about three other guys that really pitch in, and that isn't too cool for as good as the biking is out there. So, if you want to have something that is arguably three times as good as any dirt around here, and at least on par with anything in the state, why don't you get on board with the IMBA, (That's Ingawanis Mountain Bike Association) for next year and pitch in. (I'm talkin' to the locals here) Price for entry is ridiculously low, and a few hours of your time would do wonders on a trail day. Besides, you get to ride your bike out there on those days. So really, why wouldn't you do it?

All right......maybe that was serious! (It was)



<=== I'll take mine medium rare there Chris! Okay, thanks bud! You're fantastic, really!

Yes, there really is a guy named Chris King, and that be him bar-b-cuing up some fine slabs-o-beef there at Interbike's Outdoor Demo. Those big hunks were sliced up and made into some awesome sandwiches which I ate up rather greedily. You see, I was pretty hungry after working like crazy riding bikes all day in the heat and dust. Did I mention that I scored a free Dale's Pale Ale too? No? Well, thanks to Chris King, "The Other Chris At Chris King" ( That's Chris De Stefano, by the way) and everybody involved there for some fantastic grub and good times. (I wonder who polishes all the smoke residue off the display items afterwards? Hmmm.....) Anyway...It's not everyday you can get a Mountain Bike Hall Of Fame member to cook up yer grub for ya!

Drop Bar For Mountain Biking: Part IV

One of the most common things I see wrong on most drop bar set ups for off roading, (besides seeing the bars too low) are brake levers set too high on the curve of the drop section.

<=== Notice how low on the bend of the Gary Bar's drop I have this old Shimano SLR aero lever set. The clamp is set just above the center of the drops curve which puts the end of the lever far below the drops extension when that extension is parallel to the ground. The thing is though, you normally tilt the extension so that the extensions point downwards toward the rear axle. In this position, the lever tip should be even on an imaginary line drawn from the lever tip to the tip of the extension parallel to the ground.

<=== With the lever in this position on the bar, when you are riding in the primary position (In the drop) your hand will be in close proximity to the lever for ease of braking in an off road situation. I will also add that I probably should have had another person take the picture! I had to do quite the contortion to get these shots!









<==== Okay, back to the matter at hand! Speaking of "hand", the one in your off road drop set up should be capable of reaching out with the index finger and wrapping the end of that finger around the tip of the lever. From there you can pull it back and wrap a second finger around the lever if you choose to. However; I find that I normally do not need to do that as the leverage is high enough that I can generate enough power with one finger to do all but the most demanding sort of braking you might require off road. You wouldn't be able to do this from the drops if your levers are set too high. One tip: It is a wise thing to leave the tape off your newly set up drop bar bike and go for a casual ride around the block to determine whhether or not your lever position is correct from the drop. If it isn't, a quick wrench weilding session is all it takes to adjust it, and you don't have to wrap and re-wrap your bars.


<=== So....maybe you were wondering how I get SLR aero levers to work with BB-7 mountain disc brakes? Well, take a look here. I have the lever pulled much, much further back than one could on a traditional road bike drop bar. This allows me to pull more cable, which is just what the mountain BB-7 requires. (And I don't even have the lever pulled back all the way to the bar in this picture.) Having the lever higher up on the drop would prevent me from doing this, by the way.


True, this set up is definitely not recommended. It is not supposed to work. Be that as it may, this will be the third time I have used this combination, so ...........here I am, still alive to write about it!



Here's another look at the set up from the front of the bike. Notice how much "slope" the Gary Bar has which makes the tops a bit narrower than the otherwise similar Midge Bar from On One.

The benefit of having those "sloping" drops is that it opens up a place for your arms and wrists to move around, especially laterally. This is most handy while rocking the bike side to side up a steep climb. Also notice the shallow drop which makes finding a workable stem a bit easier.

Okay, next up will be a final look at my drop bar set up on this Karate Monkey, and a "wrap up" on all of this drop bar madness for off roading.

Drop Bar For Mountain Biking: Part IV

One of the most common things I see wrong on most drop bar set ups for off roading, (besides seeing the bars too low) are brake levers set too high on the curve of the drop section.

<=== Notice how low on the bend of the Gary Bar's drop I have this old Shimano SLR aero lever set. The clamp is set just above the center of the drops curve which puts the end of the lever far below the drops extension when that extension is parallel to the ground. The thing is though, you normally tilt the extension so that the extensions point downwards toward the rear axle. In this position, the lever tip should be even on an imaginary line drawn from the lever tip to the tip of the extension parallel to the ground.

<=== With the lever in this position on the bar, when you are riding in the primary position (In the drop) your hand will be in close proximity to the lever for ease of braking in an off road situation. I will also add that I probably should have had another person take the picture! I had to do quite the contortion to get these shots!









<==== Okay, back to the matter at hand! Speaking of "hand", the one in your off road drop set up should be capable of reaching out with the index finger and wrapping the end of that finger around the tip of the lever. From there you can pull it back and wrap a second finger around the lever if you choose to. However; I find that I normally do not need to do that as the leverage is high enough that I can generate enough power with one finger to do all but the most demanding sort of braking you might require off road. You wouldn't be able to do this from the drops if your levers are set too high. One tip: It is a wise thing to leave the tape off your newly set up drop bar bike and go for a casual ride around the block to determine whhether or not your lever position is correct from the drop. If it isn't, a quick wrench weilding session is all it takes to adjust it, and you don't have to wrap and re-wrap your bars.


<=== So....maybe you were wondering how I get SLR aero levers to work with BB-7 mountain disc brakes? Well, take a look here. I have the lever pulled much, much further back than one could on a traditional road bike drop bar. This allows me to pull more cable, which is just what the mountain BB-7 requires. (And I don't even have the lever pulled back all the way to the bar in this picture.) Having the lever higher up on the drop would prevent me from doing this, by the way.


True, this set up is definitely not recommended. It is not supposed to work. Be that as it may, this will be the third time I have used this combination, so ...........here I am, still alive to write about it!



Here's another look at the set up from the front of the bike. Notice how much "slope" the Gary Bar has which makes the tops a bit narrower than the otherwise similar Midge Bar from On One.

The benefit of having those "sloping" drops is that it opens up a place for your arms and wrists to move around, especially laterally. This is most handy while rocking the bike side to side up a steep climb. Also notice the shallow drop which makes finding a workable stem a bit easier.

Okay, next up will be a final look at my drop bar set up on this Karate Monkey, and a "wrap up" on all of this drop bar madness for off roading.