Wheels, Bars, And Fur!

Well, as many of you readers know, I have a snow/fat bike I dubbed "The Snow Dog". What many of you don't know is that I had some trouble already with it. Here's the deal...

I got the thing together and rode it to work the first time just over a week ago. It was making noises, and that isn't to be wondered at, since things were new, used, and just assembled together for the first time. I figured there would be a few hiccups. No big deal.

I dialed things in and did another ride a week ago Saturday. Whoa! Things were snappin' and a cracklin' that shouldn't had ought to be. I determined that something was amiss in the drive train. I got home and pulled the rear hub apart, and yep!  There it was. Bad pawl that caused a torn up drive ring. The situation didn't look good, but I wanted to ride it on my birthday, so I popped it back together, and Sunday a week ago went for a final ride before I would send in the wheel to Phil Wood & Co. for repair. I wasn't going to have a wheel for possibly up to two weeks, maybe more.

As you can imagine, I was pretty bummed out. It was like giving candy to a baby, and letting them taste it, and taking it away. Well.....except that I didn't bawl and throw a huge fit! Let me tell ya, I felt like it!

I just tried to let it go, but when I told Ben Witt about it, he hatched up a plan. My buddy Captain Bob was to pick up his new Spearfish from Ben's shop on Friday, so Ben sent his own fat bike Phil Wood hubbed rear wheel back with Captain Bob so I could ride for awhile. Awesome!

So, there it is, all blue with a rim strip that is all furry like the interior of a 70's Chevy van conversion! Thanks Ben! I totally appreciate the kindness!

I'll update what the ol' Phil Wood & Co. do with regards to the first hub later, but for now, I'm rollin' fatties again. Wait.......uh........that didn't sound right. Awww.. whatever!

Next, I got ahold of the new Gary Bar II from Origin 8. Remember the old Gary Bar? Yeah......well this one is totally different!

The first Gary Bar  was loosely based off the On One Midge bar. The overall dimensions were very similar, but the "slope" of the drops was more severe. Here is a link of a comparo I did between the original Gary Bar and the On One Midge Bar.

I'll also be doing the "big comparo" again with the newer version, but for now I can say that the Gary Bar II is waaay different than a Midge Bar, or any other off road drop bar. The new bar also uses 6000 series aluminum and has a nicer overall finish and feel than the older Gary Bar did. The "flare" or "slope" was radical on the first Gary, and on this one, it is very subtle. Less than the Midge for sure. It has more drop, and the extensions are even longer than the first Gary Bar's were. It also sports a bit more reach to the drops as well. It is 5cm narrower than before and looks much closer to a road bar than an off road bar. Less sweep to the drop section too. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a closer knock off to a Nitto bar than anything else.

The new Gary Bar II is also bar end compatible and retails for about $40.00. I bought my own, so I could compare it to the Midge, (which was graciously submitted to me for use by Captain Bob. Thanks man!) As I said, look for more soon, and another contender or two will also be added to the mix. Stay tuned...

Wheels, Bars, And Fur!

Well, as many of you readers know, I have a snow/fat bike I dubbed "The Snow Dog". What many of you don't know is that I had some trouble already with it. Here's the deal...

I got the thing together and rode it to work the first time just over a week ago. It was making noises, and that isn't to be wondered at, since things were new, used, and just assembled together for the first time. I figured there would be a few hiccups. No big deal.

I dialed things in and did another ride a week ago Saturday. Whoa! Things were snappin' and a cracklin' that shouldn't had ought to be. I determined that something was amiss in the drive train. I got home and pulled the rear hub apart, and yep!  There it was. Bad pawl that caused a torn up drive ring. The situation didn't look good, but I wanted to ride it on my birthday, so I popped it back together, and Sunday a week ago went for a final ride before I would send in the wheel to Phil Wood & Co. for repair. I wasn't going to have a wheel for possibly up to two weeks, maybe more.

As you can imagine, I was pretty bummed out. It was like giving candy to a baby, and letting them taste it, and taking it away. Well.....except that I didn't bawl and throw a huge fit! Let me tell ya, I felt like it!

I just tried to let it go, but when I told Ben Witt about it, he hatched up a plan. My buddy Captain Bob was to pick up his new Spearfish from Ben's shop on Friday, so Ben sent his own fat bike Phil Wood hubbed rear wheel back with Captain Bob so I could ride for awhile. Awesome!

So, there it is, all blue with a rim strip that is all furry like the interior of a 70's Chevy van conversion! Thanks Ben! I totally appreciate the kindness!

I'll update what the ol' Phil Wood & Co. do with regards to the first hub later, but for now, I'm rollin' fatties again. Wait.......uh........that didn't sound right. Awww.. whatever!

Next, I got ahold of the new Gary Bar II from Origin 8. Remember the old Gary Bar? Yeah......well this one is totally different!

The first Gary Bar  was loosely based off the On One Midge bar. The overall dimensions were very similar, but the "slope" of the drops was more severe. Here is a link of a comparo I did between the original Gary Bar and the On One Midge Bar.

I'll also be doing the "big comparo" again with the newer version, but for now I can say that the Gary Bar II is waaay different than a Midge Bar, or any other off road drop bar. The new bar also uses 6000 series aluminum and has a nicer overall finish and feel than the older Gary Bar did. The "flare" or "slope" was radical on the first Gary, and on this one, it is very subtle. Less than the Midge for sure. It has more drop, and the extensions are even longer than the first Gary Bar's were. It also sports a bit more reach to the drops as well. It is 5cm narrower than before and looks much closer to a road bar than an off road bar. Less sweep to the drop section too. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a closer knock off to a Nitto bar than anything else.

The new Gary Bar II is also bar end compatible and retails for about $40.00. I bought my own, so I could compare it to the Midge, (which was graciously submitted to me for use by Captain Bob. Thanks man!) As I said, look for more soon, and another contender or two will also be added to the mix. Stay tuned...

Thinking About Gravel

Man! All this talk lately of gravel races, registrations, and combined with how cold and snowy it has been has me thinking more and more about grinding up some gravel under a blue sky in the Iowa countryside.

Well, that could be done now, but it is awfully cold out there for anything very long, and of course, these days, gearing up to ride and taking it off at the end takes as long as the ride itself! Still, I need to get out there. CIRREM is just around the corner, and I want to get that ride in, if possible.

Mike Varley, of Black Mountain Cycles, posted this pic of the BMC frame/fork combo mounted up with Kenda Karma 1.9"ers!  That's awesome news. That means that I won't be sacrificing anything to not having gone with the Presidio, since that was the main feature of that bike I found attractive, besides the complete build spec.

Not  that I would run that big of a tire, but I could, which makes the frame/fork that much more appealing. In fact, I will be running some older IRC tires, 42mm, that I have been sitting on for some time. These will fit easily, and they are kind of heavy and tough, so they will make for some good training tires. Eventually, I will be going to a different, undisclosed as of now, wheel set, which I will use for actual events. I've got something in the works in that regard, so I'm holding back until all the details are worked out and I feel confident in announcing that.

Until then, I have a few wheel sets to "use up" in the Lab that I have collected for various reasons. Cast offs, or stuff that came with other deals. I'll most likely train on some 80's era Shimano Sante' hubbed wheels with Matrix rims, barely used. If the wheels have 50 miles on them, I'd be surprised. Better fix that, eh?

Well, here's lookin' forward to some gravel grindin' good times in 2011.

Thinking About Gravel

Man! All this talk lately of gravel races, registrations, and combined with how cold and snowy it has been has me thinking more and more about grinding up some gravel under a blue sky in the Iowa countryside.

Well, that could be done now, but it is awfully cold out there for anything very long, and of course, these days, gearing up to ride and taking it off at the end takes as long as the ride itself! Still, I need to get out there. CIRREM is just around the corner, and I want to get that ride in, if possible.

Mike Varley, of Black Mountain Cycles, posted this pic of the BMC frame/fork combo mounted up with Kenda Karma 1.9"ers!  That's awesome news. That means that I won't be sacrificing anything to not having gone with the Presidio, since that was the main feature of that bike I found attractive, besides the complete build spec.

Not  that I would run that big of a tire, but I could, which makes the frame/fork that much more appealing. In fact, I will be running some older IRC tires, 42mm, that I have been sitting on for some time. These will fit easily, and they are kind of heavy and tough, so they will make for some good training tires. Eventually, I will be going to a different, undisclosed as of now, wheel set, which I will use for actual events. I've got something in the works in that regard, so I'm holding back until all the details are worked out and I feel confident in announcing that.

Until then, I have a few wheel sets to "use up" in the Lab that I have collected for various reasons. Cast offs, or stuff that came with other deals. I'll most likely train on some 80's era Shimano Sante' hubbed wheels with Matrix rims, barely used. If the wheels have 50 miles on them, I'd be surprised. Better fix that, eh?

Well, here's lookin' forward to some gravel grindin' good times in 2011.

Trans Iowa V7 Update #13: Volunteers Update & More

Another Saturday, another Trans Iowa Update! Here is Update #13 with more on the Volunteer Situation:

We got a great response to the call for volunteers such that if everyone that showed interest actually commits, we'll have Checkpoints #1 and #2 covered. This means that we still could use a few bodies for the finish line and at the start line.

There is a rumor floating about that after Checkpoint #1 closes, there will be a gravel grinder happening that will go for about 50 miles or so, depending on the weather. Stay tuned for any updates on that front as Trans Iowa V7 draws closer.

Loose Ends: As of now, we only have cue sheets to produce, number plates to do, and a finish line to get sorted out. Our original hope was that we could use the barn we had wanted to be the finish line at T.I.V6,but seeing as how it is Easter weekend, the family that owns the property will be having a family get together on Sunday and we do not want to impinge upon that. Final word is still pending, but there is a big chance we will be changing our original plan to..........something else. 

Pre-Race Meat-Up: We will be getting organized the night before T.I.V7 at The Grinnell Steakhouse once again for the required pre race meeting. Remember: You must attend this event to get your cues to start T.I.V7. No exceptions! Last year we had our meals subsidized by the Grinnell Chamber Of Commerce's Tourism Board. This year, we unfortunately could not appropriate those funds again. So, this one will be on you guys and gals to pay for. I'll have details on exact costs and menu choices in the near future.

Final Checkover: While we have reconned the entire course for T.I.V7, we will be doing some spot checking of certain sectors before the event. These will be reported on here in the Updates as they occur, so look for those once the weather starts to break here in Iowa.

Until next time......happy training!

Trans Iowa V7 Update #13: Volunteers Update & More

Another Saturday, another Trans Iowa Update! Here is Update #13 with more on the Volunteer Situation:

We got a great response to the call for volunteers such that if everyone that showed interest actually commits, we'll have Checkpoints #1 and #2 covered. This means that we still could use a few bodies for the finish line and at the start line.

There is a rumor floating about that after Checkpoint #1 closes, there will be a gravel grinder happening that will go for about 50 miles or so, depending on the weather. Stay tuned for any updates on that front as Trans Iowa V7 draws closer.

Loose Ends: As of now, we only have cue sheets to produce, number plates to do, and a finish line to get sorted out. Our original hope was that we could use the barn we had wanted to be the finish line at T.I.V6,but seeing as how it is Easter weekend, the family that owns the property will be having a family get together on Sunday and we do not want to impinge upon that. Final word is still pending, but there is a big chance we will be changing our original plan to..........something else. 

Pre-Race Meat-Up: We will be getting organized the night before T.I.V7 at The Grinnell Steakhouse once again for the required pre race meeting. Remember: You must attend this event to get your cues to start T.I.V7. No exceptions! Last year we had our meals subsidized by the Grinnell Chamber Of Commerce's Tourism Board. This year, we unfortunately could not appropriate those funds again. So, this one will be on you guys and gals to pay for. I'll have details on exact costs and menu choices in the near future.

Final Checkover: While we have reconned the entire course for T.I.V7, we will be doing some spot checking of certain sectors before the event. These will be reported on here in the Updates as they occur, so look for those once the weather starts to break here in Iowa.

Until next time......happy training!

Musings On The Name

Mountain Bike: The name conjures up some of your favorite memories on a bicycle, or maybe it brings to mind a certain favorite bicycle you had, perhaps your first good mountain bike. Perhaps it makes you think of riding your favorite trails. Whatever that "name" does for you, that's a personal thing. I was just wondering if it is the right name for what we are doing.

Think about it: A large part of North America, (or the world, for that matter), is not mountainous. Experts seem to think the percentage is about 23-25% of the earth's surface is mountainous, and of course, most of the world's population doesn't live on a mountain. So, if you are not riding on a mountain, are you a "mountain biker"? I dunno. My feeling is that we got the name all wrong for this activity in the first place.

<==What the heck are these guys doing if it isn't being done on a mountain?

A long, long time ago, if you went off-road on a purpose built machine for the job, you would very possibly be on a "Mountain Bike" brand bicycle. Yep! That's right, the name coined by some mechanic some where for the new crop of off road bicycles was used as a brand name by Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher to sell frames and forks brazed by Tom Ritchey and assembled by Kelly/Fisher. Everything else was, well.......something else!

Like many things in this culture, folks caught on to the imagery that "mountain bike" conjured up in their minds and pretty soon, "Mountain Bike" became "mountain bike" as we now know it. I should add that many early companies called their off road bikes "All Terrain Bikes", which if you stop to think about it, makes a heck of a lot more sense than "mountain bike" does for all the types of bicycles we think of as "mountain bikes".

But who am I kidding? The whole idea that the name is wrong and should be changed is like tilting at windmills. It ain't-a-gonna happen! But that doesn't stop me from thinking that maybe it should be changed.

Have a great weekend ya'all!

Musings On The Name

Mountain Bike: The name conjures up some of your favorite memories on a bicycle, or maybe it brings to mind a certain favorite bicycle you had, perhaps your first good mountain bike. Perhaps it makes you think of riding your favorite trails. Whatever that "name" does for you, that's a personal thing. I was just wondering if it is the right name for what we are doing.

Think about it: A large part of North America, (or the world, for that matter), is not mountainous. Experts seem to think the percentage is about 23-25% of the earth's surface is mountainous, and of course, most of the world's population doesn't live on a mountain. So, if you are not riding on a mountain, are you a "mountain biker"? I dunno. My feeling is that we got the name all wrong for this activity in the first place.

<==What the heck are these guys doing if it isn't being done on a mountain?

A long, long time ago, if you went off-road on a purpose built machine for the job, you would very possibly be on a "Mountain Bike" brand bicycle. Yep! That's right, the name coined by some mechanic some where for the new crop of off road bicycles was used as a brand name by Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher to sell frames and forks brazed by Tom Ritchey and assembled by Kelly/Fisher. Everything else was, well.......something else!

Like many things in this culture, folks caught on to the imagery that "mountain bike" conjured up in their minds and pretty soon, "Mountain Bike" became "mountain bike" as we now know it. I should add that many early companies called their off road bikes "All Terrain Bikes", which if you stop to think about it, makes a heck of a lot more sense than "mountain bike" does for all the types of bicycles we think of as "mountain bikes".

But who am I kidding? The whole idea that the name is wrong and should be changed is like tilting at windmills. It ain't-a-gonna happen! But that doesn't stop me from thinking that maybe it should be changed.

Have a great weekend ya'all!

Thursday News And Views

And The Winner Is.... Well, it didn't take long yesterday to make a decision on which frame to base my gravel grinder on for now.

The Black Mountain Cycles "Monster-Cross" will be the sled of choice. I got a lot of comments on this particular frame and fork, and since not everyone reads the comments, I thought I would toss out some kernels from that discussion here.

The thought that it was "cool to get the niche brand" was certainly an appealing factor here, but not just the only one. Mike Varley is a smart designer, and he has learned a thing or three about bikes over his tenure in the cycling industry. Mike was the guy behind the original Haro Mary 29"ers, and he also did the design on Masi's cross bikes, as well as a lot of other rigs, so there is that pedigree behind the BMC stuff. It isn't like some ol' shop owner just had some "catalog" frame branded with his logo, or something. I have some high expectations for this bike, but that said, it will be cool that only 50 of these are going to be out there. (For now, anyway)

Other considerations were the taller head tube, the slightly longer chain stays, and the bigger tire clearances. My parts should swap over very well, for the most part, and they will get used. I really have had a hard time looking at the bike the parts are on just hanging there on the hook all these years, being neglected. Not good.

I'll have more to say about the frame and fork later on, but for now I want it to be understood that the custom ultimate gravel bike is still on the radar. This won't replace that idea, but will be in addition to that. Eventually, I have a plan for a single speed version of this BMC frame, so stay tuned for that.

That Circus Of A Race In July is in the news again. For only the second time ever, and the second time in five years, a rider is being stripped of his Tour de France title. I won't bother to link to anything here, it's all over the cycling press today. Of course, we all knew this was coming ever since the tainted beef story came out months ago. Now that the gloves are off, and the suspension has been announced, the real question is that of Contador's character.

He has repeatedly said that he would quit cycling and walk away if the allegations against him turned out to result in a suspension. However; he signed a lucrative contract with a new team in the meantime, and it would be hard to believe that he could walk away from that if some sort of plan could be concocted to keep him on the payroll through the reported one year ban. Many athletes claim the high road only to waffle later on. I'm thinking Contador will return.

If he does, it will only add to the "clown-like" nature of this cycling-circus called The Tour de France. Hey! I've got an idea! Let's just call it what it is: The Tour de Fraud.

And In Other UCI News: The ongoing story on the possibility of the UCI requiring a frame certification for road and time trial bikes, (which I wrote about here), and was postponed by the UCI until further review could be done, is being more clearly discussed. In a newspeice by "Bike Europe" it is being reported that the UCI was taken aback by the realization that a lot of frames would be submitted for testing. To quote the article:
 
"Apparently the UCI miscalculated the number of frames that would be brought forward by the industry. In particular as the International Cycling Union plans to test all frame sizes and all frame variations." 


And with a 12,000 Swiss Franc fee for each carbon fiber frame, that's a lot of coin, time, and trouble- potentially. Think that might raise the costs of bicycles just a little bit? I think so. So do 45 other cycling companies, which are listed at the end of the "Bike Europe" article linked above.

Thursday News And Views

And The Winner Is.... Well, it didn't take long yesterday to make a decision on which frame to base my gravel grinder on for now.

The Black Mountain Cycles "Monster-Cross" will be the sled of choice. I got a lot of comments on this particular frame and fork, and since not everyone reads the comments, I thought I would toss out some kernels from that discussion here.

The thought that it was "cool to get the niche brand" was certainly an appealing factor here, but not just the only one. Mike Varley is a smart designer, and he has learned a thing or three about bikes over his tenure in the cycling industry. Mike was the guy behind the original Haro Mary 29"ers, and he also did the design on Masi's cross bikes, as well as a lot of other rigs, so there is that pedigree behind the BMC stuff. It isn't like some ol' shop owner just had some "catalog" frame branded with his logo, or something. I have some high expectations for this bike, but that said, it will be cool that only 50 of these are going to be out there. (For now, anyway)

Other considerations were the taller head tube, the slightly longer chain stays, and the bigger tire clearances. My parts should swap over very well, for the most part, and they will get used. I really have had a hard time looking at the bike the parts are on just hanging there on the hook all these years, being neglected. Not good.

I'll have more to say about the frame and fork later on, but for now I want it to be understood that the custom ultimate gravel bike is still on the radar. This won't replace that idea, but will be in addition to that. Eventually, I have a plan for a single speed version of this BMC frame, so stay tuned for that.

That Circus Of A Race In July is in the news again. For only the second time ever, and the second time in five years, a rider is being stripped of his Tour de France title. I won't bother to link to anything here, it's all over the cycling press today. Of course, we all knew this was coming ever since the tainted beef story came out months ago. Now that the gloves are off, and the suspension has been announced, the real question is that of Contador's character.

He has repeatedly said that he would quit cycling and walk away if the allegations against him turned out to result in a suspension. However; he signed a lucrative contract with a new team in the meantime, and it would be hard to believe that he could walk away from that if some sort of plan could be concocted to keep him on the payroll through the reported one year ban. Many athletes claim the high road only to waffle later on. I'm thinking Contador will return.

If he does, it will only add to the "clown-like" nature of this cycling-circus called The Tour de France. Hey! I've got an idea! Let's just call it what it is: The Tour de Fraud.

And In Other UCI News: The ongoing story on the possibility of the UCI requiring a frame certification for road and time trial bikes, (which I wrote about here), and was postponed by the UCI until further review could be done, is being more clearly discussed. In a newspeice by "Bike Europe" it is being reported that the UCI was taken aback by the realization that a lot of frames would be submitted for testing. To quote the article:
 
"Apparently the UCI miscalculated the number of frames that would be brought forward by the industry. In particular as the International Cycling Union plans to test all frame sizes and all frame variations." 


And with a 12,000 Swiss Franc fee for each carbon fiber frame, that's a lot of coin, time, and trouble- potentially. Think that might raise the costs of bicycles just a little bit? I think so. So do 45 other cycling companies, which are listed at the end of the "Bike Europe" article linked above.

A Plan To Get By On For Now

Now that I am committed to the Dirty Kanza 200 which happens on June 4th, I am now in the planning stages for coming up with a lighter steel cyclo-cross-ish bike that will do two things. #1: It will get me riding sooner on a rig I can train on that would be similar to my "Ultimate Gravel Rig", which is going to take some time to get together, and #2: It will possibly be a donor rig, as far as parts go, if it is a complete. What if it is just a frame? That's cool. I have 9spd Campagnolo parts just gathering dust that would be fine for this.

But What About The Ultimate Gravel Grinder Bike? Yeah.....I wish I could get that done now. The thing is, the earliest that can get started is this spring, and finished by......? I don't want to rush that. So, I want to get on something lighter, steel, and that will get me a feel for what I like and don't about a cyclo cross based gravel rig. My plan is to get lighter. Both me and the bike. The plan concerning me is in motion already. Time to work on the bicycle part of the equation. Bonus: If it doesn't pan out, I have the Badger which will play as back up bike. Now that I have laid all that out, here are the contenders....

Fisher Collection Presidio: Previously I had been looking at the Erwin, which is a step below this bike, and opined that I didn't like the spec or the value for the dollar so much. Well, this Presidio is what I would like for spec, and I looked into the employee purchase on it, and it is do-able. Okay, that said, here are a few other thing I am liking.....

Steel, obviously. Carbon fork, and low mount hangar for the brake. Good. Single speed capability. Great! Big tire clearances. Great! Geometry, Okay. Wheels.....meh! (But I can build wheels)

So, this one looks like a contender. The final nice thing is that most all of the hardware could go to the new custom rig with this frame getting a permanent single speed makeover.

Black Mountain Cycles Cross Frame: Industry veteran, vintage mountain bike maven, and shop owner Mike Varley owns Black Mountain Cycles, a bicycle shop in Point Reyes Station, California. He commissioned a design for a cyclo-cross/all rounder in steel that is a pretty smart design. (There is a smartly designed steel road frame as well. Read about both here.) Anywho......here is what catches my eyes....

Steel- Great! Steel fork- Great! Big tire clearances, (but not quite as big as the Presidio), Great! Geometry- Good. Small Brand Coolness- Off The Charts! (For what that is worth, I happen to like that) Smart details- Great! Not available as a complete- meh! (But like I said, I have some Campy stuff sittin' around) Price: Excellent! Single Speed-able- Great!

Another strong contender. I like orange, but it is also available in a rich brown hue as well. Hard to choose between this and a Presidio. Either would get the job done.

Either way I could be up and running sooner than later, and either would do well on gravel. The BMC, (That's Black Mountain Cycles ya'all, not the Swiss roadie marque), would put to use some long neglected road stuff I have, so "re-cycling" in this case has an appeal to me. The Fisher Collection rig supports the shop I work at, in a way, so.......  Like I said, tough call.

Then there is one other remote possibility that is rumored and yet to be announced. 

Choices. What a nice problem to have.....

A Plan To Get By On For Now

Now that I am committed to the Dirty Kanza 200 which happens on June 4th, I am now in the planning stages for coming up with a lighter steel cyclo-cross-ish bike that will do two things. #1: It will get me riding sooner on a rig I can train on that would be similar to my "Ultimate Gravel Rig", which is going to take some time to get together, and #2: It will possibly be a donor rig, as far as parts go, if it is a complete. What if it is just a frame? That's cool. I have 9spd Campagnolo parts just gathering dust that would be fine for this.

But What About The Ultimate Gravel Grinder Bike? Yeah.....I wish I could get that done now. The thing is, the earliest that can get started is this spring, and finished by......? I don't want to rush that. So, I want to get on something lighter, steel, and that will get me a feel for what I like and don't about a cyclo cross based gravel rig. My plan is to get lighter. Both me and the bike. The plan concerning me is in motion already. Time to work on the bicycle part of the equation. Bonus: If it doesn't pan out, I have the Badger which will play as back up bike. Now that I have laid all that out, here are the contenders....

Fisher Collection Presidio: Previously I had been looking at the Erwin, which is a step below this bike, and opined that I didn't like the spec or the value for the dollar so much. Well, this Presidio is what I would like for spec, and I looked into the employee purchase on it, and it is do-able. Okay, that said, here are a few other thing I am liking.....

Steel, obviously. Carbon fork, and low mount hangar for the brake. Good. Single speed capability. Great! Big tire clearances. Great! Geometry, Okay. Wheels.....meh! (But I can build wheels)

So, this one looks like a contender. The final nice thing is that most all of the hardware could go to the new custom rig with this frame getting a permanent single speed makeover.

Black Mountain Cycles Cross Frame: Industry veteran, vintage mountain bike maven, and shop owner Mike Varley owns Black Mountain Cycles, a bicycle shop in Point Reyes Station, California. He commissioned a design for a cyclo-cross/all rounder in steel that is a pretty smart design. (There is a smartly designed steel road frame as well. Read about both here.) Anywho......here is what catches my eyes....

Steel- Great! Steel fork- Great! Big tire clearances, (but not quite as big as the Presidio), Great! Geometry- Good. Small Brand Coolness- Off The Charts! (For what that is worth, I happen to like that) Smart details- Great! Not available as a complete- meh! (But like I said, I have some Campy stuff sittin' around) Price: Excellent! Single Speed-able- Great!

Another strong contender. I like orange, but it is also available in a rich brown hue as well. Hard to choose between this and a Presidio. Either would get the job done.

Either way I could be up and running sooner than later, and either would do well on gravel. The BMC, (That's Black Mountain Cycles ya'all, not the Swiss roadie marque), would put to use some long neglected road stuff I have, so "re-cycling" in this case has an appeal to me. The Fisher Collection rig supports the shop I work at, in a way, so.......  Like I said, tough call.

Then there is one other remote possibility that is rumored and yet to be announced. 

Choices. What a nice problem to have.....

Materials Vs Design

Wow! I was on the internet-o-sphere again yesterday and saw where another mid-level bicycle compnay is going to offer a carbon fiber 29 inch wheel based hard tail. The news source reporting this said that some companies are being accused of being “late to the carbon 29′r HT party". Really?

This would indicate to me that the thought process is that it is all about what you make your frame out of. If that is the case, I can tell you a lot of folks are being snookered by "Carbon Fiber: The Snake Oil Of Frame Materials".

Hey! Don't get me wrong- Carbon fiber, used correctly, and of a higher quality, can be a "magic carpet ride" material. But let's face it, you can use the "best material" and still come up with a "klunker" of a bicycle. And the way things are going, it seems that it is more about having a carbon fiber hard tail, and price point, than it is about smart design, and maybe, possibly another material better for the job.

 <===Yes it is carbon fiber, but the design is what won me over.

As I have said, a smart design in carbon fiber is one thing: The material and geometry working together to bring a higher level of performance, or a more enjoyable ride, or both together, ideally. Then you have the frames that are carbon fiber, but are, well.......they aren't that fun to ride, or they just stink from a handling/performance standpoint.

But hey! We have a carbon fiber 29"er hard tail for ya! Right over here! Step this way! Snake oil, I tell ya. Get on the bandwagon. Which leads me to....

Carbon Fiber: The Commodity: I've written about this before here, where I talk about how some companies are using scary-similar looking molds and charging vastly different prices. Carbon fiber is "carpet fiber", right? I mean, look at the rush to the bottom on the road bike side. Companies are fighting to bring carbon road bike frames into their lines at sub $1500.00 for completes, and next year that will go lower. The "grey market" on carbon road frames is crazy right now, and as I stated in my piece from a couple weeks ago, mountain bikes, and 29 inch hard tails in particular, are headed down this slippery slope at breakneck speed.

<===OS Bikes Blackbuck II- Steel, reasonably priced, great performance.

Meanwhile, companies like OS Bikes, Vassago, Singular, Salsa Cycles, and others are selling reasonably priced steel frames and aluminum frames that are, well.......awesome! And yes- steel and to some degree aluminum, rides great, but the deal is that these companies and others have just made use of great materials and designed a bicycle with great geometry that is fun to ride, high performance, and reasonably priced. Oh! Did I mention that these materials are proven in the field with years of use? Not that carbon fiber couldn't be, but the variables are far greater with regards to carbon fiber. 

 Some of these bikes have a lot of thought in the geometry and the execution of the design. Yet they are not all that fancy-pants in the marketability department, apparently, like carbon fiber is.

So, what's the point? Forget the hype maybe, I guess. It just seems to me that the hype over the carbon frames is getting a little lopsided and design, and smart materials use is being overshadowed, that's all.

Materials Vs Design

Wow! I was on the internet-o-sphere again yesterday and saw where another mid-level bicycle compnay is going to offer a carbon fiber 29 inch wheel based hard tail. The news source reporting this said that some companies are being accused of being “late to the carbon 29′r HT party". Really?

This would indicate to me that the thought process is that it is all about what you make your frame out of. If that is the case, I can tell you a lot of folks are being snookered by "Carbon Fiber: The Snake Oil Of Frame Materials".

Hey! Don't get me wrong- Carbon fiber, used correctly, and of a higher quality, can be a "magic carpet ride" material. But let's face it, you can use the "best material" and still come up with a "klunker" of a bicycle. And the way things are going, it seems that it is more about having a carbon fiber hard tail, and price point, than it is about smart design, and maybe, possibly another material better for the job.

 <===Yes it is carbon fiber, but the design is what won me over.

As I have said, a smart design in carbon fiber is one thing: The material and geometry working together to bring a higher level of performance, or a more enjoyable ride, or both together, ideally. Then you have the frames that are carbon fiber, but are, well.......they aren't that fun to ride, or they just stink from a handling/performance standpoint.

But hey! We have a carbon fiber 29"er hard tail for ya! Right over here! Step this way! Snake oil, I tell ya. Get on the bandwagon. Which leads me to....

Carbon Fiber: The Commodity: I've written about this before here, where I talk about how some companies are using scary-similar looking molds and charging vastly different prices. Carbon fiber is "carpet fiber", right? I mean, look at the rush to the bottom on the road bike side. Companies are fighting to bring carbon road bike frames into their lines at sub $1500.00 for completes, and next year that will go lower. The "grey market" on carbon road frames is crazy right now, and as I stated in my piece from a couple weeks ago, mountain bikes, and 29 inch hard tails in particular, are headed down this slippery slope at breakneck speed.

<===OS Bikes Blackbuck II- Steel, reasonably priced, great performance.

Meanwhile, companies like OS Bikes, Vassago, Singular, Salsa Cycles, and others are selling reasonably priced steel frames and aluminum frames that are, well.......awesome! And yes- steel and to some degree aluminum, rides great, but the deal is that these companies and others have just made use of great materials and designed a bicycle with great geometry that is fun to ride, high performance, and reasonably priced. Oh! Did I mention that these materials are proven in the field with years of use? Not that carbon fiber couldn't be, but the variables are far greater with regards to carbon fiber. 

 Some of these bikes have a lot of thought in the geometry and the execution of the design. Yet they are not all that fancy-pants in the marketability department, apparently, like carbon fiber is.

So, what's the point? Forget the hype maybe, I guess. It just seems to me that the hype over the carbon frames is getting a little lopsided and design, and smart materials use is being overshadowed, that's all.

So, How Did You Celebrate?

So, yeah..........yesterday was my birthday. I am not a big one for parties, and whatever folks do for birthdays out there. I just like to have a day, ya know? Peaceful, fun, relaxing. Time spent with my loved ones, and some time spent alone.

That's my idea of a birthday celebration, and that is exactly what I did.

I got out on The Snow Dog both days this weekend, thanks to what I refer to now as "The Conspirators" who made the frame and fork a reality in a much quicker and less painful fashion than it would have happened otherwise. (Thanks to you fellas!) The Snow Dog got built sooner than I thought and it made for a great "birthday weekend" for me. You can tell because if you look over there I am smiling. Yes, this was on one of the rides and no- I don't wear a helmet in winter on snow rides. Really, it isn't that big of a deal. I can keep my head warmer this way anywho....

I peeled off the bar-mitts to show you all out there The Snow Dog without them. A "certain Trans Iowa winner" asked me how much it weighs. I retorted that I didn't realize folks weighed these things. I mean, it is a "fat bike" after all. After a certain point, it really doesn't matter, I think, but I would say it is 30 something pounds.

How does it ride? Well, as you can imagine, it is different. Bouncy? Yeah, a wee bit. Hard to pedal? No- amazingly it pedals rather well. That said, you can tell immediately when things start tilting upward, and I use a lot of the lower gears on this thing than I would normally. Does it float over everything? No. It needs help from cars, snow machines, or a lot of people. Packed in snow is your friend. Loose, un-packed snow is a no go. Especially the snow we have here now which is really dry, and acts like "hour glass" sand.

It does handle "car snow' rather well, and icy, packed in snow is no big deal at all. Even icy patches are a lot less dangerous. Still slippery, but not "instant down" like it is on skinnier tired rigs. Another nail in the coffin for studded tires for me. (I don't like studded tires, personally.)

I found some snowmobile trails and although the traffic has been low, I still made it through with ease. I wouldn't have been riding on last year's 29"er that I used.

One thing I didn't do, that I should have, was to disassemble the Phil Wood free hub and put in some thinner grease or heavy oil. I had free hub pawls hanging up badly yesterday and today.  Oh well! I guess I'll get to see how that comes apart now!

So, How Did You Celebrate?

So, yeah..........yesterday was my birthday. I am not a big one for parties, and whatever folks do for birthdays out there. I just like to have a day, ya know? Peaceful, fun, relaxing. Time spent with my loved ones, and some time spent alone.

That's my idea of a birthday celebration, and that is exactly what I did.

I got out on The Snow Dog both days this weekend, thanks to what I refer to now as "The Conspirators" who made the frame and fork a reality in a much quicker and less painful fashion than it would have happened otherwise. (Thanks to you fellas!) The Snow Dog got built sooner than I thought and it made for a great "birthday weekend" for me. You can tell because if you look over there I am smiling. Yes, this was on one of the rides and no- I don't wear a helmet in winter on snow rides. Really, it isn't that big of a deal. I can keep my head warmer this way anywho....

I peeled off the bar-mitts to show you all out there The Snow Dog without them. A "certain Trans Iowa winner" asked me how much it weighs. I retorted that I didn't realize folks weighed these things. I mean, it is a "fat bike" after all. After a certain point, it really doesn't matter, I think, but I would say it is 30 something pounds.

How does it ride? Well, as you can imagine, it is different. Bouncy? Yeah, a wee bit. Hard to pedal? No- amazingly it pedals rather well. That said, you can tell immediately when things start tilting upward, and I use a lot of the lower gears on this thing than I would normally. Does it float over everything? No. It needs help from cars, snow machines, or a lot of people. Packed in snow is your friend. Loose, un-packed snow is a no go. Especially the snow we have here now which is really dry, and acts like "hour glass" sand.

It does handle "car snow' rather well, and icy, packed in snow is no big deal at all. Even icy patches are a lot less dangerous. Still slippery, but not "instant down" like it is on skinnier tired rigs. Another nail in the coffin for studded tires for me. (I don't like studded tires, personally.)

I found some snowmobile trails and although the traffic has been low, I still made it through with ease. I wouldn't have been riding on last year's 29"er that I used.

One thing I didn't do, that I should have, was to disassemble the Phil Wood free hub and put in some thinner grease or heavy oil. I had free hub pawls hanging up badly yesterday and today.  Oh well! I guess I'll get to see how that comes apart now!

Bike Shop Horrors: Basket Mount

A customer at the shop dropped off a "comfort bike" for a tune up the other day with a Wald wire "paper boy" front basket mounted to it.

Now when Wald designed this accessory, they never accounted for bikes with suspension forks or super long head tubes. Add in a tall stem, and the mounts on the basket that attach to the handle bars make the lower struts far too short to reach the wheel axle, where the lower strut is supposed to be attached.

Never fear! Shade Tree Mechanic is here!

Note the threaded hook, much like you might see used on a traditional clothes line, which has been employed to clamp the upper part of the chromed steel stanchion on the suspension fork. Instead of hack sawing it off to a decent length, the owner looks to have used a spacer, (why? I can't really say), and then used two nuts to one- tighten the hook against the stanchion and pinch the rack stay to it, and two- to jamb the inner nut so it can not back off. (Why not just use a washer instead of the spacer and a Nyloc nut? Ahh........who am I kidding?! These guys are grabbing what is at hand.  And of course, the whole idea of attaching to the fork stanchion......bah!)

Anyway, the threaded portion must have been protruding out further than the owner was comfortable with so he nipped it off with what appears to have been a bolt cutter, leaving a nice, jagged steel edge to snag on, or worse- Cut you to ribbons.

And just to give the guy some well deserved credit, he actually uses this bike to grocery shop with, leaving his car at home. Bonus points there at least. 

Awesome! This is the kind of stuff that keeps me going in the dead of winter. 

Bike Shop Horrors: Basket Mount

A customer at the shop dropped off a "comfort bike" for a tune up the other day with a Wald wire "paper boy" front basket mounted to it.

Now when Wald designed this accessory, they never accounted for bikes with suspension forks or super long head tubes. Add in a tall stem, and the mounts on the basket that attach to the handle bars make the lower struts far too short to reach the wheel axle, where the lower strut is supposed to be attached.

Never fear! Shade Tree Mechanic is here!

Note the threaded hook, much like you might see used on a traditional clothes line, which has been employed to clamp the upper part of the chromed steel stanchion on the suspension fork. Instead of hack sawing it off to a decent length, the owner looks to have used a spacer, (why? I can't really say), and then used two nuts to one- tighten the hook against the stanchion and pinch the rack stay to it, and two- to jamb the inner nut so it can not back off. (Why not just use a washer instead of the spacer and a Nyloc nut? Ahh........who am I kidding?! These guys are grabbing what is at hand.  And of course, the whole idea of attaching to the fork stanchion......bah!)

Anyway, the threaded portion must have been protruding out further than the owner was comfortable with so he nipped it off with what appears to have been a bolt cutter, leaving a nice, jagged steel edge to snag on, or worse- Cut you to ribbons.

And just to give the guy some well deserved credit, he actually uses this bike to grocery shop with, leaving his car at home. Bonus points there at least. 

Awesome! This is the kind of stuff that keeps me going in the dead of winter. 

Trans Iowa V7 Update #12: Volunteers

<===Two T.I.V6 Volunteers waiting to assist riders at Checkpoint #1:

Calling For Volunteers: Trans Iowa doesn't run without people helping out. I found out the hard way in T.I.V1 and T.I.V2 that we would need a real corp of folks to help put this beast on. Ever since T.I.V3, Trans Iowa has not had any shortage of volunteers.

This year we have a handful of folks already committed to helping out with T.I.V7. (d.p. and I thank you!) However; we need more folks. Here's a brief outline of where we need some help.

The Start: T.I.V7 will get underway at 4am Saturday April 23rd. That's pretty early! We are going to need a couple of clear minds to help with a highway crossing right after the start. Basically, you will stop riders in case of traffic. Otherwise, we won't really need any help at the start, but the more fans the merrier!

Checkpoint #1: Since we have a short distance coming into Checkpoint #1, this is where we need the most volunteer help. I figure riders will start arriving around 6:30am and that checkpoint will be open until around 9:30am. So, if we could get some bodies at Checkpoint #1 by 5:30am to set up and catch the riders coming in, give them cue sheets, and check them off on lists, we would appreciate this. As I say, we have about a hand full committed to this checkpoint already, but we need several more folks. You'll be done and out of there by 10am, so it isn't a long gig.

Checkpoint #2: This is a bit of a different, and difficult, assignment. d.p. and I are looking for up to three individuals to man our remote, rural checkpoint. Individuals thinking of volunteering here should be prepared to spend several hours outdoors with minimal shelter. (Your car, most likely, will be it) Folks that can get by on a little, (think no bathrooms, etc), and that don't mind long hours should be the only ones taking this one on.

The time slot on this one would be about 1:00pm Saturday to about 9pm in the evening. That's a long haul, so keep this in mind.

The Finishline: We're going to need at least two folks that can get up early and be at the finish line by about 4am Sunday morning to catch any possible finishers. (Likelihood of a sub-24hr finish is highly unlikely, but some crazies are gunning for this) Most likely, we won't see a finisher till about 5am, but we have to plan on the best possible finish right now. (If the weather is at all inclement during the event, that sub-24hr, or even a 25hr finish won't be happening.) d.p.and I are a fail-safe here, but essentially we will need a couple pair of eyes to do the tallying up of names and finishing times. The finish line will be in operation until 2pm at the latest. We are thinking two people minimum, but more are always welcomed at the finish.

Okay, that is our volunteer call. Remember: Anyone volunteering for T.I.V7 gets a free pass in for T.I.V8 in 2012. Interested? Hit me at this e-mail and let me know.

Trans Iowa V7 Update #12: Volunteers

<===Two T.I.V6 Volunteers waiting to assist riders at Checkpoint #1:

Calling For Volunteers: Trans Iowa doesn't run without people helping out. I found out the hard way in T.I.V1 and T.I.V2 that we would need a real corp of folks to help put this beast on. Ever since T.I.V3, Trans Iowa has not had any shortage of volunteers.

This year we have a handful of folks already committed to helping out with T.I.V7. (d.p. and I thank you!) However; we need more folks. Here's a brief outline of where we need some help.

The Start: T.I.V7 will get underway at 4am Saturday April 23rd. That's pretty early! We are going to need a couple of clear minds to help with a highway crossing right after the start. Basically, you will stop riders in case of traffic. Otherwise, we won't really need any help at the start, but the more fans the merrier!

Checkpoint #1: Since we have a short distance coming into Checkpoint #1, this is where we need the most volunteer help. I figure riders will start arriving around 6:30am and that checkpoint will be open until around 9:30am. So, if we could get some bodies at Checkpoint #1 by 5:30am to set up and catch the riders coming in, give them cue sheets, and check them off on lists, we would appreciate this. As I say, we have about a hand full committed to this checkpoint already, but we need several more folks. You'll be done and out of there by 10am, so it isn't a long gig.

Checkpoint #2: This is a bit of a different, and difficult, assignment. d.p. and I are looking for up to three individuals to man our remote, rural checkpoint. Individuals thinking of volunteering here should be prepared to spend several hours outdoors with minimal shelter. (Your car, most likely, will be it) Folks that can get by on a little, (think no bathrooms, etc), and that don't mind long hours should be the only ones taking this one on.

The time slot on this one would be about 1:00pm Saturday to about 9pm in the evening. That's a long haul, so keep this in mind.

The Finishline: We're going to need at least two folks that can get up early and be at the finish line by about 4am Sunday morning to catch any possible finishers. (Likelihood of a sub-24hr finish is highly unlikely, but some crazies are gunning for this) Most likely, we won't see a finisher till about 5am, but we have to plan on the best possible finish right now. (If the weather is at all inclement during the event, that sub-24hr, or even a 25hr finish won't be happening.) d.p.and I are a fail-safe here, but essentially we will need a couple pair of eyes to do the tallying up of names and finishing times. The finish line will be in operation until 2pm at the latest. We are thinking two people minimum, but more are always welcomed at the finish.

Okay, that is our volunteer call. Remember: Anyone volunteering for T.I.V7 gets a free pass in for T.I.V8 in 2012. Interested? Hit me at this e-mail and let me know.

Bonus Post: The Snow Dog

Okay folks, (and especially those of you Conspirators that were involved with the frame/fork deal), here is the photographic proof of existence.

This was taken Friday morning on my commute into work at -8F. Yes- it was cold, but I was prepared.

(As always, you can click on the image to make it viewable)

The build list is as follows:

• Salsa Cycles Mukluk frame/fork. Size: 19"
• Wheels: Phil Wood SS 135mm rear used as a front hub/Phil Wood 170mm custom rear laced to Surly Rolling Darryl rims with Sapim butted spokes and brass nipples. Custom "guitar strap" rim strip by Ben Witt.
• Tires: Surly Larry 3.8" with Surly tubes.
• Brakes: Avid BB-7 with Ashima 185mm front and Avid 160mm rear rotors (Rear will be changed to match the front later) Levers: "Cheapo" Avids. Standard cables, Jagwire white housing. Rear has customized line near rear caliper made from two brake noodles, some Nokon silver anodized housing,  and a Jagwire in-line adjuster.
• Crank set: Older Bontrager Race Lite ISIS Drive 44/32/22T
• Bottom Bracket: TruVativ GigaPipe 100mm ISIS
• Pedals: Welgo platforms in powder coat white
• Chain: SRAM PC-951
• Cassette: 12-36T Shimano 9spd.
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-9
• Front Derailleur: Shimano XT Direct Mount
• Standard derailleur cables, Jagwire full run housing in black.
• Shifters: SRAM X-9 Twisters
• Grips: Cut down Ergon GP-1
• Head Set: Chris King 1 1/8th, blue lower cup, orange upper, and silver compression cap with blue top cap. One 3mm headset spacer. 
• Stem: TruVativ Stylo 100mm 31.8mm clamp.
• Handlebar: Ragley Carnegie's Bar Carbon pre-production sample, no graphics, Kevlar wrap gives it a mustard color. 
• Seat Post: Bontrager carbon OEM take-off. 27.2mm X 350mm, aluminum single bolt clamp. 
• Saddle: Bontrager "Inform" RL in white
• Seat Clamp: Salsa Cycles Lip-Loc in anodized blue.
• Bottle Cages: Velocity Bottle Traps in main triangle, one Bontrager Race on right fork leg, all in white. 
• Pogies: ATV Classic- (Farm and Fleet sourced for 20 bucks)
• Skewers: Salsa Flip Offs, 135mm/170mm in black anodized. 

That about covers the build, but if anyone out there has any questions, let me know. (I will be changing out some items down the road, but for now, this is how she rolls.)

Thanks: Salsa Cycles, Milltown Cycles, Surly Bikes, Jason Boucher, Ben Witt, "The Conspirators", Chris DeStefano, Chris King, Europa Cycle and Ski, "Mrs. Guitar Ted", and ayone else I may have forgotten......

Bonus Post: The Snow Dog

Okay folks, (and especially those of you Conspirators that were involved with the frame/fork deal), here is the photographic proof of existence.

This was taken Friday morning on my commute into work at -8F. Yes- it was cold, but I was prepared.

(As always, you can click on the image to make it viewable)

The build list is as follows:

• Salsa Cycles Mukluk frame/fork. Size: 19"
• Wheels: Phil Wood SS 135mm rear used as a front hub/Phil Wood 170mm custom rear laced to Surly Rolling Darryl rims with Sapim butted spokes and brass nipples. Custom "guitar strap" rim strip by Ben Witt.
• Tires: Surly Larry 3.8" with Surly tubes.
• Brakes: Avid BB-7 with Ashima 185mm front and Avid 160mm rear rotors (Rear will be changed to match the front later) Levers: "Cheapo" Avids. Standard cables, Jagwire white housing. Rear has customized line near rear caliper made from two brake noodles, some Nokon silver anodized housing,  and a Jagwire in-line adjuster.
• Crank set: Older Bontrager Race Lite ISIS Drive 44/32/22T
• Bottom Bracket: TruVativ GigaPipe 100mm ISIS
• Pedals: Welgo platforms in powder coat white
• Chain: SRAM PC-951
• Cassette: 12-36T Shimano 9spd.
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-9
• Front Derailleur: Shimano XT Direct Mount
• Standard derailleur cables, Jagwire full run housing in black.
• Shifters: SRAM X-9 Twisters
• Grips: Cut down Ergon GP-1
• Head Set: Chris King 1 1/8th, blue lower cup, orange upper, and silver compression cap with blue top cap. One 3mm headset spacer. 
• Stem: TruVativ Stylo 100mm 31.8mm clamp.
• Handlebar: Ragley Carnegie's Bar Carbon pre-production sample, no graphics, Kevlar wrap gives it a mustard color. 
• Seat Post: Bontrager carbon OEM take-off. 27.2mm X 350mm, aluminum single bolt clamp. 
• Saddle: Bontrager "Inform" RL in white
• Seat Clamp: Salsa Cycles Lip-Loc in anodized blue.
• Bottle Cages: Velocity Bottle Traps in main triangle, one Bontrager Race on right fork leg, all in white. 
• Pogies: ATV Classic- (Farm and Fleet sourced for 20 bucks)
• Skewers: Salsa Flip Offs, 135mm/170mm in black anodized. 

That about covers the build, but if anyone out there has any questions, let me know. (I will be changing out some items down the road, but for now, this is how she rolls.)

Thanks: Salsa Cycles, Milltown Cycles, Surly Bikes, Jason Boucher, Ben Witt, "The Conspirators", Chris DeStefano, Chris King, Europa Cycle and Ski, "Mrs. Guitar Ted", and ayone else I may have forgotten......

Friday News And Views

Update On The UCI Certification Story: Monday I posted a story about how the UCI was going to set in motion a plan to have all road and time trial bikes meet a certification process and how that might affect the bicycle industry. (Read that post here)

Although some poo-pooed the idea that it was detrimental to the industry, or that the UCI's scope would expand, it seems that now the industry has had its say with the commission heading up the inquiry into the plan for the UCI. Now it appears the plans have been put on hold.

Although full details are not known, it is widely held that the bicycle industry vociferously opposed the new regulations as being too much of a financial burden. Guess we'll all see where this goes after February 1st.

Update On The Snow Dog: Late Thursday evening it was completed. All approximately 34lbs of fat bike goodness. Yes: that is one heavy bicycle! I'll tell you that most of it is in the wheels. Those babies will be some gigantic flywheel-like, rubber doughnuts for sure. One thing I know- I am going to burn through some calories pushing that bike around hill and dale.

I couldn't get an accurate weight on it since my scale wouldn't grab ahold of the thing properly. When I get it to work, I'll get a proper weight on it, but suffice it to say, it weighs more than any other bicycle I own. I'm sure it will hold a line quite nicely! Yes- Templeton Rye was drank afterward in celebration of the finish.

Pics? Well, it was too late to go outside and get any, besides which, it is wicked cold out there, so I'll grab a few images to post later. Stay tuned............

So, What's Next? Next I am turning my attention to maintenance of the "fleet" here. Then I will focus on getting my three main gravel grinders in tip top shape. The Badger will be getting new levers....maybe.....if the guy that is selling me his Ultegra levers ever hooks up with me. I will also be looking at a few nice upgrades to the Fargo, and possibly the Singular, although being a single speed, and tricked out, there isn't a whole lot one can do there.

But first I have a lot of work to do to get test mules and test bikes for Twenty Nine Inches in tip-top shape. Yes.....I believe in Spring! Warmer weather is coming. No......really!

Friday News And Views

Update On The UCI Certification Story: Monday I posted a story about how the UCI was going to set in motion a plan to have all road and time trial bikes meet a certification process and how that might affect the bicycle industry. (Read that post here)

Although some poo-pooed the idea that it was detrimental to the industry, or that the UCI's scope would expand, it seems that now the industry has had its say with the commission heading up the inquiry into the plan for the UCI. Now it appears the plans have been put on hold.

Although full details are not known, it is widely held that the bicycle industry vociferously opposed the new regulations as being too much of a financial burden. Guess we'll all see where this goes after February 1st.

Update On The Snow Dog: Late Thursday evening it was completed. All approximately 34lbs of fat bike goodness. Yes: that is one heavy bicycle! I'll tell you that most of it is in the wheels. Those babies will be some gigantic flywheel-like, rubber doughnuts for sure. One thing I know- I am going to burn through some calories pushing that bike around hill and dale.

I couldn't get an accurate weight on it since my scale wouldn't grab ahold of the thing properly. When I get it to work, I'll get a proper weight on it, but suffice it to say, it weighs more than any other bicycle I own. I'm sure it will hold a line quite nicely! Yes- Templeton Rye was drank afterward in celebration of the finish.

Pics? Well, it was too late to go outside and get any, besides which, it is wicked cold out there, so I'll grab a few images to post later. Stay tuned............

So, What's Next? Next I am turning my attention to maintenance of the "fleet" here. Then I will focus on getting my three main gravel grinders in tip top shape. The Badger will be getting new levers....maybe.....if the guy that is selling me his Ultegra levers ever hooks up with me. I will also be looking at a few nice upgrades to the Fargo, and possibly the Singular, although being a single speed, and tricked out, there isn't a whole lot one can do there.

But first I have a lot of work to do to get test mules and test bikes for Twenty Nine Inches in tip-top shape. Yes.....I believe in Spring! Warmer weather is coming. No......really!