My Commute In Pictures: Part II

Last time we left off with my crossing Fletcher Avenue on Falls. Right after that intersection I pass a long time Waterloo resturaunt icon in Steamboat Gardens. Finest greasy cheeseburgers anywhere! Okay, focus....focus.....










On up Falls Avenue to my next major intersection at Ansborough. There's a gas station there on the right. 1st motivation for commuting in the morning! Also worth noting is that the final block approaching this intersection is slightly downhill. The last downhill since I crossed the Black Hawk creek bridge. Most of this commute is uphill to the West/Northwest. Funny thing is that we get West/Northwest winds all Fall/Winter/Spring too. Combined with the nearly all uphill profile of this commute it gives me quite the workout somedays. Like Friday when the winds were out of the West at 25-35mph!




Once I get past Ansborough, it's all uphill to University Avenue which is a very busy six lane affair. Fortunately the City saw fit to put in a walkway here that I can use to get up this hill. I call it "Water Tower Hill" because it's got a municipal water tower at the top. It's also the toughest part of my commute.









Things finally level off here at this gas station where I cut through the parking lot to a frontage road running parallel to University. Second motivation for commuting here! I get a kick out of the reactions from folks filling their tanks as I go gliding by. Still slightly uphill through here.










The frontage road dead ends just before the overpass of Green Hill Road. Again, it's fortunate that the City/State saw to it to include walkways over the bridge. University Avenue used to be Highway 218 after Falls Avenue was abandoned as the highway. Now 218 runs a different route and this is actually still a state highway. It's one of the rare unmarked routes, but I happen to know it's State Highway 934. Now you know too!


That's it for part two of My Commute. Stay tuned for Part III coming up yet this afternoon where I will detail out the last section of riding down University Avenues side paths and the final run up to my workplace.

My Commute In Pictures: Part II

Last time we left off with my crossing Fletcher Avenue on Falls. Right after that intersection I pass a long time Waterloo resturaunt icon in Steamboat Gardens. Finest greasy cheeseburgers anywhere! Okay, focus....focus.....










On up Falls Avenue to my next major intersection at Ansborough. There's a gas station there on the right. 1st motivation for commuting in the morning! Also worth noting is that the final block approaching this intersection is slightly downhill. The last downhill since I crossed the Black Hawk creek bridge. Most of this commute is uphill to the West/Northwest. Funny thing is that we get West/Northwest winds all Fall/Winter/Spring too. Combined with the nearly all uphill profile of this commute it gives me quite the workout somedays. Like Friday when the winds were out of the West at 25-35mph!




Once I get past Ansborough, it's all uphill to University Avenue which is a very busy six lane affair. Fortunately the City saw fit to put in a walkway here that I can use to get up this hill. I call it "Water Tower Hill" because it's got a municipal water tower at the top. It's also the toughest part of my commute.









Things finally level off here at this gas station where I cut through the parking lot to a frontage road running parallel to University. Second motivation for commuting here! I get a kick out of the reactions from folks filling their tanks as I go gliding by. Still slightly uphill through here.










The frontage road dead ends just before the overpass of Green Hill Road. Again, it's fortunate that the City/State saw to it to include walkways over the bridge. University Avenue used to be Highway 218 after Falls Avenue was abandoned as the highway. Now 218 runs a different route and this is actually still a state highway. It's one of the rare unmarked routes, but I happen to know it's State Highway 934. Now you know too!


That's it for part two of My Commute. Stay tuned for Part III coming up yet this afternoon where I will detail out the last section of riding down University Avenues side paths and the final run up to my workplace.

My Commute In Pictures: Part I

I got this idea from Endurosnob, but I tweaked it a bit. Hope you enjoy it.

My commute starts out with a four block long walk with my daughter to school. She likes to help push my bike.











After dropping her off, I back track those four blocks and head up Baltimore to it's dead end at a cemetery where I head left for a short jaunt to an alley for a block, get dumped out on another street and go left, and right down in front of some row houses. Another left/right turn combination finds me at a dead end. Straight ahead there is a 7 foot high embankment to the edge of HWY 63. I cross the four lane road and end up......





Here! On the other side of the road, I head left and down across this grassy field towards that overpass you see here. If your monitor is good, you will make out the path in the grass I've beat down over the last five years. That path drops down another 6ft embankment and dumps me out on the Sargent Road bike path. I go under that overpass, hang a sharp left on the bike path to.........







...this view. There used to be a casket company in this meadow. Now it's full of wild flowers and tall grass prairie. There still are flowers in bloom yet in mid-October, which is really cool. I see lots of birds here, including a Red Tailed Hawk that claims this area as it's territory. To the right there is a very steep 20-30ft high embankment to the Avenue of the Saints highway.







The bike path eventually turns right here, but I go straight from this dead end of Falls Avenue. Falls used to be Highway 218 from Cedar Falls to Waterloo back sixty years ago. Now it's a little used dead end spur at it's Eastern terminus. Up ahead is a bridge across the Black Hawk Creek, another cemetery on the right, and finally an intersection with a major city street, Fletcher Avenue, which used to be Cleaveland Avenue back in the day, but they changed it up about fifteen years ago. Anyway, I continue up Falls Avenue on my way to work.

That's it for today. Part II will detail the rest of the Falls Avenue portion of my commute.

My Commute In Pictures: Part I

I got this idea from Endurosnob, but I tweaked it a bit. Hope you enjoy it.

My commute starts out with a four block long walk with my daughter to school. She likes to help push my bike.











After dropping her off, I back track those four blocks and head up Baltimore to it's dead end at a cemetery where I head left for a short jaunt to an alley for a block, get dumped out on another street and go left, and right down in front of some row houses. Another left/right turn combination finds me at a dead end. Straight ahead there is a 7 foot high embankment to the edge of HWY 63. I cross the four lane road and end up......





Here! On the other side of the road, I head left and down across this grassy field towards that overpass you see here. If your monitor is good, you will make out the path in the grass I've beat down over the last five years. That path drops down another 6ft embankment and dumps me out on the Sargent Road bike path. I go under that overpass, hang a sharp left on the bike path to.........







...this view. There used to be a casket company in this meadow. Now it's full of wild flowers and tall grass prairie. There still are flowers in bloom yet in mid-October, which is really cool. I see lots of birds here, including a Red Tailed Hawk that claims this area as it's territory. To the right there is a very steep 20-30ft high embankment to the Avenue of the Saints highway.







The bike path eventually turns right here, but I go straight from this dead end of Falls Avenue. Falls used to be Highway 218 from Cedar Falls to Waterloo back sixty years ago. Now it's a little used dead end spur at it's Eastern terminus. Up ahead is a bridge across the Black Hawk Creek, another cemetery on the right, and finally an intersection with a major city street, Fletcher Avenue, which used to be Cleaveland Avenue back in the day, but they changed it up about fifteen years ago. Anyway, I continue up Falls Avenue on my way to work.

That's it for today. Part II will detail the rest of the Falls Avenue portion of my commute.

Origin 8 Gary Bar Update

I've been noticing a lot of activity on the web regarding the attributes of the Origin 8 Gary Bar. For some details on the bar, check out my previous posts on it here and here.

I've also added a couple shots I took of my Pofahl 29"er custom that I hop illustrate what the bars look like mounted up and ready to go.

Now I'd like to address a few misperceptions about this bar and it's inevitable comparisons to a On One Midge Bar. The Midge, which made off road drop bar use a reality again, is a bar that was co-designed by a fellow named Don Person, better known on the web-o-sphere as "shiggy".
He and Brant Richards of On One worked diligently to bring what they believed to be the perfection of the old WTB drop bar that was originally a modified Cinelli road bar. The Midge proved to be a great success and works great for off road cycling.

Enter Origin 8, which is a "house brand" of J&B Importers. They made the Gary Bar as a competitor to the Midge. It's a drop bar for off roading that is more similar than different in comparison to the Midge, which I detailed in one of my original posts on these bars. (link above) The main difference being the "slope" of the bars from the bar tops to the drops. This is most easily seen from the front view of the bar.



The slope is there on both the Midge and the Gary for a reason. It's to help clear your wrists and forearms while in the drops for off road maneuverability. Without the slope, if you were to thrust your bike sideways for instance, leaning it to make a small steering correction, you would smack your wrists and fore arm into the upper side of the drop bar. So slope is important for increased maneuverability off road. The Origin 8 bar has more slope, which isn't a bad thing off road. This; however, places the brake levers at an unusual position compared to a Midge and especially compared to any drop bar we're used to seeing.

Is that a problem? I really think that it's perceived as a problem that's not really there. For instance, take a look at a mustache bar. The brake levers are on their sides, for crying out loud! I've never heard a complaint about that, and as a matter of fact, some folks praise the position as super comfortable while palming the hoods on a mustache set up. So the Gary Bar is about halfway between that mustache bar and a Midge. I feel it gives my hands a great perch to rest on, but I would say give it a try first before you pass it off as being "non-functional". Besides, you are not supposed to be riding on the hoods of a drop bar in the first place. A point that most are either ignorant of or reject out of hand. I use the hoods rarely off road, and mostly only on longer gravel grinders.

Other than that main functional/aesthetic difference, the two bars- Midge and Gary- are rather similar. The Midge being a more refined bar, the Gary a bit cruder. Both are fantastic off road bar choices, and either should prove to be a great choice for your off road drop bar rig. I like both and recommend both for their intended purposes. The only thing I find that is a bit more appealing in the case of the Gary Bar is it's price, which I think is a killer bargain for what you get. On a budget? The Gary is the obvious choice. Want a more refined, lighter weight bar? Midge is the way to go. Functionally their is very little difference, so either way should work well.

Now go ride yer bike fer cryin' out loud!

Origin 8 Gary Bar Update

I've been noticing a lot of activity on the web regarding the attributes of the Origin 8 Gary Bar. For some details on the bar, check out my previous posts on it here and here.

I've also added a couple shots I took of my Pofahl 29"er custom that I hop illustrate what the bars look like mounted up and ready to go.

Now I'd like to address a few misperceptions about this bar and it's inevitable comparisons to a On One Midge Bar. The Midge, which made off road drop bar use a reality again, is a bar that was co-designed by a fellow named Don Person, better known on the web-o-sphere as "shiggy".
He and Brant Richards of On One worked diligently to bring what they believed to be the perfection of the old WTB drop bar that was originally a modified Cinelli road bar. The Midge proved to be a great success and works great for off road cycling.

Enter Origin 8, which is a "house brand" of J&B Importers. They made the Gary Bar as a competitor to the Midge. It's a drop bar for off roading that is more similar than different in comparison to the Midge, which I detailed in one of my original posts on these bars. (link above) The main difference being the "slope" of the bars from the bar tops to the drops. This is most easily seen from the front view of the bar.



The slope is there on both the Midge and the Gary for a reason. It's to help clear your wrists and forearms while in the drops for off road maneuverability. Without the slope, if you were to thrust your bike sideways for instance, leaning it to make a small steering correction, you would smack your wrists and fore arm into the upper side of the drop bar. So slope is important for increased maneuverability off road. The Origin 8 bar has more slope, which isn't a bad thing off road. This; however, places the brake levers at an unusual position compared to a Midge and especially compared to any drop bar we're used to seeing.

Is that a problem? I really think that it's perceived as a problem that's not really there. For instance, take a look at a mustache bar. The brake levers are on their sides, for crying out loud! I've never heard a complaint about that, and as a matter of fact, some folks praise the position as super comfortable while palming the hoods on a mustache set up. So the Gary Bar is about halfway between that mustache bar and a Midge. I feel it gives my hands a great perch to rest on, but I would say give it a try first before you pass it off as being "non-functional". Besides, you are not supposed to be riding on the hoods of a drop bar in the first place. A point that most are either ignorant of or reject out of hand. I use the hoods rarely off road, and mostly only on longer gravel grinders.

Other than that main functional/aesthetic difference, the two bars- Midge and Gary- are rather similar. The Midge being a more refined bar, the Gary a bit cruder. Both are fantastic off road bar choices, and either should prove to be a great choice for your off road drop bar rig. I like both and recommend both for their intended purposes. The only thing I find that is a bit more appealing in the case of the Gary Bar is it's price, which I think is a killer bargain for what you get. On a budget? The Gary is the obvious choice. Want a more refined, lighter weight bar? Midge is the way to go. Functionally their is very little difference, so either way should work well.

Now go ride yer bike fer cryin' out loud!

A New Bike And Gearing Talk

Twenty Nine Inches just received this SE Racing Stout 29"er for test/review yesterday. SE Racing? Yes......that company! Yes, they do a 29"er and have since 2005. They also have a few really cool fixies in their lineup as well. Anyway........this 29"er is just a bit different than most that you see out there these days.

A lot of these 29"er single speed bikes are a bit complicated......for single speeding. Sliding this, eccentric that, and disc brake worries. SE Racing just does it the ol' fashioned way. Track ends baby! Linear pull brakes, nutted axles, and track ends. Couldn't be simpler, or easier unless it was "fixed". That said, there is a gizmo on it that allows a derailleur to be mounted and there are full cable stops for a triple crank drive train on the frame. Don't worry! I won't succumb to the temptation of gears on this bike. It's got a 51.5" gear on it, so it's geared about perfect for our trails in this area. I shouldn't have any problems with this set up.

Speaking of Gears: In my "Endurance Racing and the 29"er" post's comment section, I received a comment pertaining to how I would gear a 29"er to compensate for the wheel size. I know that the prevailing wisdom out there is to reduce your cranks chain ring sizes to something like 40-30-20, although I've seen guys going for a set up with a 29T middle ring and a 20T granny too. Gearing is such a tough topic. Everybody is so different, how can you recommend a gear package and say, "this is it"? I don't think it works like that. There just isn't an easy answer.

Fitness levels, terrain demands, and individual riding styles and makeup are too varied and complex for there to be an easy answer. The thing is, you just have to experiment. What works for you won't for someone else. Or you could just take the single speeder way and live with what you've got and mash until you have to walk up the climb.

Here's what works for me, and in no way am I recommending this for anyone else! Single Speed: I gear on the tough side just a bit for the course. If I get down around 8mph I walk. Easy. Multi Speed Drive Train: I almost never use a granny gear (smallest chain wheel on the crank set) Heck, if you are going that slow, you can walk as fast and use different muscles for a bit. If I do get into the granny, it's in the middle of the cassette, which might be one gear lower than a middle ring/biggest cog combo. If manufacturers made a 29-42 crank set, I'd be all over it. Maybe a Stronglight or a custom assembled one is in my future. Whatever it is going to be, that granny ring is going away. It's dead weight and I don't need it. I mean, why would I ever need something lower than a 29 X 34? Again, I might as well walk if I do need something lower than that!

I had a crank set with a 20T granny once and a 32T rear cog in the cassette. It was ridiculous! So much torque that it spun the rear tire on climbs and you couldn't go faster than 10mph anyway spinning like a madman. Crazy I tell ya! I just don't need that. Your mileage may vary.

A New Bike And Gearing Talk

Twenty Nine Inches just received this SE Racing Stout 29"er for test/review yesterday. SE Racing? Yes......that company! Yes, they do a 29"er and have since 2005. They also have a few really cool fixies in their lineup as well. Anyway........this 29"er is just a bit different than most that you see out there these days.

A lot of these 29"er single speed bikes are a bit complicated......for single speeding. Sliding this, eccentric that, and disc brake worries. SE Racing just does it the ol' fashioned way. Track ends baby! Linear pull brakes, nutted axles, and track ends. Couldn't be simpler, or easier unless it was "fixed". That said, there is a gizmo on it that allows a derailleur to be mounted and there are full cable stops for a triple crank drive train on the frame. Don't worry! I won't succumb to the temptation of gears on this bike. It's got a 51.5" gear on it, so it's geared about perfect for our trails in this area. I shouldn't have any problems with this set up.

Speaking of Gears: In my "Endurance Racing and the 29"er" post's comment section, I received a comment pertaining to how I would gear a 29"er to compensate for the wheel size. I know that the prevailing wisdom out there is to reduce your cranks chain ring sizes to something like 40-30-20, although I've seen guys going for a set up with a 29T middle ring and a 20T granny too. Gearing is such a tough topic. Everybody is so different, how can you recommend a gear package and say, "this is it"? I don't think it works like that. There just isn't an easy answer.

Fitness levels, terrain demands, and individual riding styles and makeup are too varied and complex for there to be an easy answer. The thing is, you just have to experiment. What works for you won't for someone else. Or you could just take the single speeder way and live with what you've got and mash until you have to walk up the climb.

Here's what works for me, and in no way am I recommending this for anyone else! Single Speed: I gear on the tough side just a bit for the course. If I get down around 8mph I walk. Easy. Multi Speed Drive Train: I almost never use a granny gear (smallest chain wheel on the crank set) Heck, if you are going that slow, you can walk as fast and use different muscles for a bit. If I do get into the granny, it's in the middle of the cassette, which might be one gear lower than a middle ring/biggest cog combo. If manufacturers made a 29-42 crank set, I'd be all over it. Maybe a Stronglight or a custom assembled one is in my future. Whatever it is going to be, that granny ring is going away. It's dead weight and I don't need it. I mean, why would I ever need something lower than a 29 X 34? Again, I might as well walk if I do need something lower than that!

I had a crank set with a 20T granny once and a 32T rear cog in the cassette. It was ridiculous! So much torque that it spun the rear tire on climbs and you couldn't go faster than 10mph anyway spinning like a madman. Crazy I tell ya! I just don't need that. Your mileage may vary.

Wednesday News And Views

Formula Disc Brake Recall: From Bicycle Retailer and Industry News website, we have news of this recall of Formula disc brakes. Here's a short quote from the article:

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Formula Brake USA, yesterday announced a voluntary recall on its Oro Disc Brakes. Roughly 5,700 of these brakes were sold. According to the CPSC, the brake’s hand lever can separate, resulting in a loss of braking. This can cause the rider to lose control of the bike, posing a risk of injury."

You can check out the full notice here.

Single Speed Throwdown Out East: I got this little tidbit in my inbox yesterday, so take it for what it's worth, but an announcement of an "Americas Single Speed Championships" to be held next year in September has been made. Part of a series in New Hampshire called the "Ultimate XC Challenge", the event is slated to kick off with a festival including an XC race that is part of the series out there. The Single Speed Championships will start out with a hill climb that will determine a male and female "red jersey" winner. Then there will be a loop course XC race to help determine an overall winner and an "Americas Single Speed Champion" in a male and female category.

Interestingly, there is a Single Speed World Championships going on out on "the other coast" too next year. Hmm............

Big Wheeled Ballyhoo 2008: There was some question as to which weekend next year that this event would be held on mainly due to the fact that on the sidebar of this very blog I have the date set in the middle of the week next year. (I'm like that! Sorry!) So, the actual dates are tentatively set for June 21st and 22nd. The longest days of the year sound like a good time to ride the biggest off road bicycle wheels, don't you think? Put it on your calendars and plan on joining us, won't you?

Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride: In a little over a week from now we are going to be setting off from Marengo, Iowa to ride about a 100- 110 miles of Iowa gravel, hills, and dirt. You can find the details and a link to a printable route map/directions here. We will be taking off at 6am in the morning and I expect us to arrive back at the square in Marengo about twelve hours later, maybe sooner or later, depending upon weather and other variables. The ride will have about an hour-hour and a half of darkness to start out with. Please bring a headlight and red tail light with you. Remember, this is a "tune up" for Trans Iowa so no support will be available. You are on your own. We will have one convenience store stop a bit less than halfway into this, so plan accordingly. The terrain ranges from extremely hilly, rolling hills, to dead flat on a combination of very little paved roads, gravel roads, and "B" level maintenance roads ranging from average condition to beyond primitive. If you plan on coming, just show up in Marengo at the East side of the downtown square at about 5:30 am to get saddled up and ready for the 6am take off. Looking forwards to this ride, it should be a hoot! Haloween costumes optional!

Wednesday News And Views

Formula Disc Brake Recall: From Bicycle Retailer and Industry News website, we have news of this recall of Formula disc brakes. Here's a short quote from the article:

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Formula Brake USA, yesterday announced a voluntary recall on its Oro Disc Brakes. Roughly 5,700 of these brakes were sold. According to the CPSC, the brake’s hand lever can separate, resulting in a loss of braking. This can cause the rider to lose control of the bike, posing a risk of injury."

You can check out the full notice here.

Single Speed Throwdown Out East: I got this little tidbit in my inbox yesterday, so take it for what it's worth, but an announcement of an "Americas Single Speed Championships" to be held next year in September has been made. Part of a series in New Hampshire called the "Ultimate XC Challenge", the event is slated to kick off with a festival including an XC race that is part of the series out there. The Single Speed Championships will start out with a hill climb that will determine a male and female "red jersey" winner. Then there will be a loop course XC race to help determine an overall winner and an "Americas Single Speed Champion" in a male and female category.

Interestingly, there is a Single Speed World Championships going on out on "the other coast" too next year. Hmm............

Big Wheeled Ballyhoo 2008: There was some question as to which weekend next year that this event would be held on mainly due to the fact that on the sidebar of this very blog I have the date set in the middle of the week next year. (I'm like that! Sorry!) So, the actual dates are tentatively set for June 21st and 22nd. The longest days of the year sound like a good time to ride the biggest off road bicycle wheels, don't you think? Put it on your calendars and plan on joining us, won't you?

Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride: In a little over a week from now we are going to be setting off from Marengo, Iowa to ride about a 100- 110 miles of Iowa gravel, hills, and dirt. You can find the details and a link to a printable route map/directions here. We will be taking off at 6am in the morning and I expect us to arrive back at the square in Marengo about twelve hours later, maybe sooner or later, depending upon weather and other variables. The ride will have about an hour-hour and a half of darkness to start out with. Please bring a headlight and red tail light with you. Remember, this is a "tune up" for Trans Iowa so no support will be available. You are on your own. We will have one convenience store stop a bit less than halfway into this, so plan accordingly. The terrain ranges from extremely hilly, rolling hills, to dead flat on a combination of very little paved roads, gravel roads, and "B" level maintenance roads ranging from average condition to beyond primitive. If you plan on coming, just show up in Marengo at the East side of the downtown square at about 5:30 am to get saddled up and ready for the 6am take off. Looking forwards to this ride, it should be a hoot! Haloween costumes optional!

Chris King News

News From Chris King: Many of you loyal blog readers will remember my mentioning that Chris King has a new "Mix and Match" headset program which I put to good use on my Pofahl Custom 29"er recently. Well now they have another new program that they have introduced called Wheels For Life in conjunction with mountain biking icon Hans Rey.

Basically, Hans is giving back by helping to provide bicycles to needy people in developing countries. Hans chose the colors based upon Chris King's ever popular "Dread Set" and because the colors are representative of Africa where Hans first realized the need for basic transportation for the people of that continent. Now Wheels For Life has spread out to include nations in Asia and South America, as well. Chris King states that Hans represents one of their longest running sponsorships and that supporting Wheels For Life was an easy decision based upon this history and this statement found on the Wheels For Life website:

"We keep our administrative costs and overhead as low as possible. 90 - 95% of the funds received are going towards buying bikes. Everybody in our charity works on a volunteer level for free. We only have to pay some minimal bookkeeping fees to our accountant. Hans Rey pays for all his charity related travel expenses out of his own pocket. We keep the costs down as much as we can, in order to buy more bikes."-Hans Rey

A portion of all profits from Wheels For Life products sold by Chris King goes to helping out this charity.



In other Chris King news, the problem with some 29"er frames not clearing Reba fork crowns, especially those equipped with Pop-Loc lock outs, has been addressed for those who use Chris King headsets. After seeing what folks were doing to modify base plates to help clear the fork/downtube interferance issues, Chris King has produced these steel base plates that add about 8mm to the crown of your fork to help get the fork crown knob controls to clear the down tube in the case of a crash.

You could also use one of these with a Chris King headset to slacken out your head angle a tad and use one of them fancy new longer offset forks out there now. Hmmm..........tuning options! Or, if you have monster, sausage-like digits, you could have yerself a fancy new stainless steel ring fer yer finger! Ha!

Me? I think I'll use this one to help a dusty ol' Reba I have in the Lab to clear the down tube of my '03 Campstove Green Karate Monkey, which is going to be revived as a single speed trail bike. Oh, yeah! That Wheels For Life headset will look good on that bike too, wouldn't it? Time to start saving my ducats!

Thanks to Chris DeStefano of Chris King for the info and the base plate! Chris and I have been missing meeting each other for about a year now, so it was finally good to have met him and to have gotten the personal run through on all of Chris King's new products at the Outdor Demo at Interbike. Thanks again, Chris!

Chris King News

News From Chris King: Many of you loyal blog readers will remember my mentioning that Chris King has a new "Mix and Match" headset program which I put to good use on my Pofahl Custom 29"er recently. Well now they have another new program that they have introduced called Wheels For Life in conjunction with mountain biking icon Hans Rey.

Basically, Hans is giving back by helping to provide bicycles to needy people in developing countries. Hans chose the colors based upon Chris King's ever popular "Dread Set" and because the colors are representative of Africa where Hans first realized the need for basic transportation for the people of that continent. Now Wheels For Life has spread out to include nations in Asia and South America, as well. Chris King states that Hans represents one of their longest running sponsorships and that supporting Wheels For Life was an easy decision based upon this history and this statement found on the Wheels For Life website:

"We keep our administrative costs and overhead as low as possible. 90 - 95% of the funds received are going towards buying bikes. Everybody in our charity works on a volunteer level for free. We only have to pay some minimal bookkeeping fees to our accountant. Hans Rey pays for all his charity related travel expenses out of his own pocket. We keep the costs down as much as we can, in order to buy more bikes."-Hans Rey

A portion of all profits from Wheels For Life products sold by Chris King goes to helping out this charity.



In other Chris King news, the problem with some 29"er frames not clearing Reba fork crowns, especially those equipped with Pop-Loc lock outs, has been addressed for those who use Chris King headsets. After seeing what folks were doing to modify base plates to help clear the fork/downtube interferance issues, Chris King has produced these steel base plates that add about 8mm to the crown of your fork to help get the fork crown knob controls to clear the down tube in the case of a crash.

You could also use one of these with a Chris King headset to slacken out your head angle a tad and use one of them fancy new longer offset forks out there now. Hmmm..........tuning options! Or, if you have monster, sausage-like digits, you could have yerself a fancy new stainless steel ring fer yer finger! Ha!

Me? I think I'll use this one to help a dusty ol' Reba I have in the Lab to clear the down tube of my '03 Campstove Green Karate Monkey, which is going to be revived as a single speed trail bike. Oh, yeah! That Wheels For Life headset will look good on that bike too, wouldn't it? Time to start saving my ducats!

Thanks to Chris DeStefano of Chris King for the info and the base plate! Chris and I have been missing meeting each other for about a year now, so it was finally good to have met him and to have gotten the personal run through on all of Chris King's new products at the Outdor Demo at Interbike. Thanks again, Chris!

Endurance Racing And The 29"er

This weekend marked the running of the 24Hrs of Moab and got me to thinking about endurance racing a bit again. My thoughts always run to what sort of bike to use for such stuff. I suppose that's only natural for endurance folks and bike geeks in particular. I'll tell you one thing, I can't imagine why you wouldn't do an endurance event on a 29"er unless you are really short in stature.

Just thinking about how 29"er wheels roll over stuff easier is a big plus. Coupled with it's momentum saving traits, one could learn to use those benefits to gain more comfort with less effort expended over a long ride. That's huge for endurance racers. The other traits of 29 inch wheels help here too. Better traction on climbs, better traction in corners, and best of all; stability on downhills and in slower handling. Things an endurance racer that is tired and worn out would appreciate.

Of course, it's not just about the wheel size. You've got to have a bike designed correctly for the wheels and for the job at hand. Today you can find a 29"er that will carve up switch backs with the best 26"ers. You can get a light weight rig, if that's your cup of tea. You can get a full suspension rig that is more than capable. You can get anything 29"er that a 26"er can have these days. So really, there isn't any equipment or handling negatives anymore with the 29"er wheel format.

Some folks still like to bring up the wheel acceleration issue. That's getting to be a pretty thin argument against 29"er wheels. As I've always stated, I'd rather use momentum to my advantage than have to rely on a quick accelerating wheel. In one case you can coast more, pedal less, in the other case it's the opposite. 29"ers also let you use more speed in corners due to the traction and stability benefits. All of this means I can be faster, safer, and less fatigued on a 29"er if I know how to use those benefits. Tight course? Probably a wash if you have to accellerate a 26 or a 29 inch wheel out of really tight corners. The difference is not much anymore in weight and gearing can accomodate. Momentum loss from a 26"er wheel compared to a 29"er? It's noticeable on every uphill and downhill. The difference isn't limited to tight courses there. Advantage 29"er wheels.

Endurance racing and 29"er wheels? I say they go together like white on rice. I can't see any reasons not to use 29"er wheels in an endurance race setting. Especially ultra long events, but certainly not limited to that. I predict that in a few years the 29"er will dominate the endurance scene.

What do you think?

Endurance Racing And The 29"er

This weekend marked the running of the 24Hrs of Moab and got me to thinking about endurance racing a bit again. My thoughts always run to what sort of bike to use for such stuff. I suppose that's only natural for endurance folks and bike geeks in particular. I'll tell you one thing, I can't imagine why you wouldn't do an endurance event on a 29"er unless you are really short in stature.

Just thinking about how 29"er wheels roll over stuff easier is a big plus. Coupled with it's momentum saving traits, one could learn to use those benefits to gain more comfort with less effort expended over a long ride. That's huge for endurance racers. The other traits of 29 inch wheels help here too. Better traction on climbs, better traction in corners, and best of all; stability on downhills and in slower handling. Things an endurance racer that is tired and worn out would appreciate.

Of course, it's not just about the wheel size. You've got to have a bike designed correctly for the wheels and for the job at hand. Today you can find a 29"er that will carve up switch backs with the best 26"ers. You can get a light weight rig, if that's your cup of tea. You can get a full suspension rig that is more than capable. You can get anything 29"er that a 26"er can have these days. So really, there isn't any equipment or handling negatives anymore with the 29"er wheel format.

Some folks still like to bring up the wheel acceleration issue. That's getting to be a pretty thin argument against 29"er wheels. As I've always stated, I'd rather use momentum to my advantage than have to rely on a quick accelerating wheel. In one case you can coast more, pedal less, in the other case it's the opposite. 29"ers also let you use more speed in corners due to the traction and stability benefits. All of this means I can be faster, safer, and less fatigued on a 29"er if I know how to use those benefits. Tight course? Probably a wash if you have to accellerate a 26 or a 29 inch wheel out of really tight corners. The difference is not much anymore in weight and gearing can accomodate. Momentum loss from a 26"er wheel compared to a 29"er? It's noticeable on every uphill and downhill. The difference isn't limited to tight courses there. Advantage 29"er wheels.

Endurance racing and 29"er wheels? I say they go together like white on rice. I can't see any reasons not to use 29"er wheels in an endurance race setting. Especially ultra long events, but certainly not limited to that. I predict that in a few years the 29"er will dominate the endurance scene.

What do you think?

Mission Accomplished

Mission accomplished! Dirt ridden, fun had. I got the Pofahl out and muddied it up a bit at the Camp. Apparently the heavy rains earlier in the week had left some big mud holes here and there in the lower sections of the trail system. I didn't stick around long and left to seek out some higher ground.








Fortunately, the Camp has plenty of trails higher up that drain well. I beat a path over to the Pine Wood Section for some swoopy single track fun.

Yes, Iowa has some pine woods here and there. Usually laden with the needles for your trail surface. I've seen trails here in Iowa that are clear and free of underbrush, but this trail shares the needles with lots of native weedy vegetation.






It was overcast, cool, and there was no wind to speak of. Very quiet with the exception of the random gunfire in the distance. It is hunting season after all.

I had some trouble in spots finding the trail to follow due to the low traffic that the Camp gets and the newly fallen leaf cover. I was out right after four or five other fellows, but could only find slight evidence of their passing.







The trees don't seem to be co-operating with each other this year. Some of the maples are about done- leafs half gone already- while several other trees are still as green as they were in summertime. Color splashes here and there, but I've seen much better color displays in Iowa than this season has.









Two hours of dirt ridden, plus a sugary treat in the car equals perma-grin!

Had a great time, albeit a slow, steady one. Had to stop several times to decipher where to go. Also to take pictures and adjust a loose headset. It probably was a good thing I was by myself as I would have driven most people nuts, I think.

The Pofahl was great. I swapped out the 18 tooth Surly cog for a 21 tooth Surly cog before the ride. I think I found my off road gear for this bike. It turns out to be about 51 inches, give or take a few tenths! All that matters is that I can clean most of the climbs, although I have to stop to slow the "motor" down after a couple of the steeper/ longer climbs. The bike is fun to climb out of the saddle with, an important attribute for a single speed. The ride is smoother than I thought it would be, especially since the fork blades are much shorter than most 29"ers rigid forks. The Pofahl is not suspension corrected. It steers fast, almost too fast. I have to get some more saddle time before I can be totally comfortable with it. Industry Nine wheels are fantastic. I had forgotten how the highly tensioned spokes sounded when sticks hit them. PING! A very unique sound.

I was using a WTB Weir Wolf LT tire up front and a Nanoraptor out back. The muddy parts didn't agree with them, but the rest of the trail was perfect for them. Slightly tacky and covered with leaves and pine needles. No traction issues at all.

Overall, the Pofahl is just about dialed in. I think I'll be riding it at the Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride on the 27th. The 37 X 21 gear should get me by just fine, albeit not too fast! Looking forwards to meeting up with everyone that comes and having a good time. I just hope the weather holds out!

Mission Accomplished

Mission accomplished! Dirt ridden, fun had. I got the Pofahl out and muddied it up a bit at the Camp. Apparently the heavy rains earlier in the week had left some big mud holes here and there in the lower sections of the trail system. I didn't stick around long and left to seek out some higher ground.








Fortunately, the Camp has plenty of trails higher up that drain well. I beat a path over to the Pine Wood Section for some swoopy single track fun.

Yes, Iowa has some pine woods here and there. Usually laden with the needles for your trail surface. I've seen trails here in Iowa that are clear and free of underbrush, but this trail shares the needles with lots of native weedy vegetation.






It was overcast, cool, and there was no wind to speak of. Very quiet with the exception of the random gunfire in the distance. It is hunting season after all.

I had some trouble in spots finding the trail to follow due to the low traffic that the Camp gets and the newly fallen leaf cover. I was out right after four or five other fellows, but could only find slight evidence of their passing.







The trees don't seem to be co-operating with each other this year. Some of the maples are about done- leafs half gone already- while several other trees are still as green as they were in summertime. Color splashes here and there, but I've seen much better color displays in Iowa than this season has.









Two hours of dirt ridden, plus a sugary treat in the car equals perma-grin!

Had a great time, albeit a slow, steady one. Had to stop several times to decipher where to go. Also to take pictures and adjust a loose headset. It probably was a good thing I was by myself as I would have driven most people nuts, I think.

The Pofahl was great. I swapped out the 18 tooth Surly cog for a 21 tooth Surly cog before the ride. I think I found my off road gear for this bike. It turns out to be about 51 inches, give or take a few tenths! All that matters is that I can clean most of the climbs, although I have to stop to slow the "motor" down after a couple of the steeper/ longer climbs. The bike is fun to climb out of the saddle with, an important attribute for a single speed. The ride is smoother than I thought it would be, especially since the fork blades are much shorter than most 29"ers rigid forks. The Pofahl is not suspension corrected. It steers fast, almost too fast. I have to get some more saddle time before I can be totally comfortable with it. Industry Nine wheels are fantastic. I had forgotten how the highly tensioned spokes sounded when sticks hit them. PING! A very unique sound.

I was using a WTB Weir Wolf LT tire up front and a Nanoraptor out back. The muddy parts didn't agree with them, but the rest of the trail was perfect for them. Slightly tacky and covered with leaves and pine needles. No traction issues at all.

Overall, the Pofahl is just about dialed in. I think I'll be riding it at the Trans Iowa Tune Up Ride on the 27th. The 37 X 21 gear should get me by just fine, albeit not too fast! Looking forwards to meeting up with everyone that comes and having a good time. I just hope the weather holds out!

Dirt Session Needed Please!

Dirt.

Time for a long, long ride on some dirt. It's been too long since the last time, and all of these pictures on the interweb of others riding dirt are making me get that itch that needs to be scratched.

So, it looks like tomorrow will be that day. Forget about the lawn, the flat car tire, or any other household chores, I'm going riding on some dirt. I need to clear my mind of some crap. My family will benefit. I won't be so grumpy, for one thing! Funny how you get grumpy if you don't get a real off road session in once in a while, isn't it? Besides, I'll be much more relaxed and in a better mood once the ride is over. Riding has that effect too. It's good to get out in the woods and get that buzz that only a ride can give you.

Yeah, tomorrow is the day and I can't wait. I'm going to bed early tonight, getting enough rest, and then hitting the trail early in the morning tomorrow. I'll check out my bike of choice tonight, get it ready. Lube the chain, pump up the tires, and give it the once over. I'll grab my hydration pack, stuff in whatever I think I'm going to need. Jacket, some things to eat, and fill the bladder with some good ol' H2O. Everything will be ready. Just grab it and go in the morning.

Then it's dirt. Riding on some great little ribbons of dirt.

Hope you have a great weekend and a great ride or two.

Dirt Session Needed Please!

Dirt.

Time for a long, long ride on some dirt. It's been too long since the last time, and all of these pictures on the interweb of others riding dirt are making me get that itch that needs to be scratched.

So, it looks like tomorrow will be that day. Forget about the lawn, the flat car tire, or any other household chores, I'm going riding on some dirt. I need to clear my mind of some crap. My family will benefit. I won't be so grumpy, for one thing! Funny how you get grumpy if you don't get a real off road session in once in a while, isn't it? Besides, I'll be much more relaxed and in a better mood once the ride is over. Riding has that effect too. It's good to get out in the woods and get that buzz that only a ride can give you.

Yeah, tomorrow is the day and I can't wait. I'm going to bed early tonight, getting enough rest, and then hitting the trail early in the morning tomorrow. I'll check out my bike of choice tonight, get it ready. Lube the chain, pump up the tires, and give it the once over. I'll grab my hydration pack, stuff in whatever I think I'm going to need. Jacket, some things to eat, and fill the bladder with some good ol' H2O. Everything will be ready. Just grab it and go in the morning.

Then it's dirt. Riding on some great little ribbons of dirt.

Hope you have a great weekend and a great ride or two.

What's In The Stable?

I sometimes get asked what I ride. So, I thought it might be fun to show off the current lot of rogue bicycles here at the Guitar Ted Labratories and tell you a bit about each one.

Of course, here we have the original 29"er here at the Lab, the Karate Monkey. It's been through a lot of versions, but all of them single speed. Currently it's in parts in the Lab awaiting it's transformation into a new version. Still single speed though!






I hate to say one of these bikes is a favorite, they all have great attributes for me. However; this would be one that I'd point to most often as my bike of choice for almost anything. The Dos Niner is a fantastic rig. I use it for a lot of testing of components for Twenty Nine Inches. Here it is on Franklin Mountain in El Paso, Texas.








Oh yeah! This bike is one of those that I can't bring myself to change or sell. (no matter how hard those guys from Twin Six try to convince me!) I can't say exactly what it is about this 18" On One Inbred, but it's got a certain feel I just get on with. To me it feels like the fastest bike I own. I have no idea if it is. Probably all in my head!







Here's a rig that also gets changed a lot, gets used as a test sled, and to be honest, I hated it off and on for months. I have it set up almost as it is here, but I have a different wheel set and a Salsa 17 degree bend flat bar with Team Ergon grips on it now.

You know something? I really like it now! I finally hit on the right combination of parts that has me sitting on this rig in a comfy yet powerful posistion. And the Willits WOW fork? Yeah, it's pretty dang sweet, that's what it is! Here's the Raleigh XXIX+G resting against the fence back in May.



The newest bike here, the custom Pofahl single speed drop bar rig. Yep! And it's a design idea of mine too. A pretty personal bike to me. I'm obviously going to be a bit biased about my opinion on this one. That said, I honestly love to ride it. It surprises with a rock solid lateral stiffness and steering precision second to none. I think I'll reserve any further comment for now other than to say it fits really well. It's what the Karate Monkey should be for me but can't quite do fit wise. And I've got room to tweak the set up, where the Monkey was at an extreme with the drop bar for set up. More on this bike later!

So, that's the current line up. I've got a Badger in the Lab that will eventually be added to this group, but there just isn't the funds now to finish that build. (I know! I know! Believe me, I've heard all the reasonings and solutions) It's just not going to happen now, and probably won't until next year. It's all good!

Hope you enjoyed the tour folks! Now, get out and ride yer own bikes!

What's In The Stable?

I sometimes get asked what I ride. So, I thought it might be fun to show off the current lot of rogue bicycles here at the Guitar Ted Labratories and tell you a bit about each one.

Of course, here we have the original 29"er here at the Lab, the Karate Monkey. It's been through a lot of versions, but all of them single speed. Currently it's in parts in the Lab awaiting it's transformation into a new version. Still single speed though!






I hate to say one of these bikes is a favorite, they all have great attributes for me. However; this would be one that I'd point to most often as my bike of choice for almost anything. The Dos Niner is a fantastic rig. I use it for a lot of testing of components for Twenty Nine Inches. Here it is on Franklin Mountain in El Paso, Texas.








Oh yeah! This bike is one of those that I can't bring myself to change or sell. (no matter how hard those guys from Twin Six try to convince me!) I can't say exactly what it is about this 18" On One Inbred, but it's got a certain feel I just get on with. To me it feels like the fastest bike I own. I have no idea if it is. Probably all in my head!







Here's a rig that also gets changed a lot, gets used as a test sled, and to be honest, I hated it off and on for months. I have it set up almost as it is here, but I have a different wheel set and a Salsa 17 degree bend flat bar with Team Ergon grips on it now.

You know something? I really like it now! I finally hit on the right combination of parts that has me sitting on this rig in a comfy yet powerful posistion. And the Willits WOW fork? Yeah, it's pretty dang sweet, that's what it is! Here's the Raleigh XXIX+G resting against the fence back in May.



The newest bike here, the custom Pofahl single speed drop bar rig. Yep! And it's a design idea of mine too. A pretty personal bike to me. I'm obviously going to be a bit biased about my opinion on this one. That said, I honestly love to ride it. It surprises with a rock solid lateral stiffness and steering precision second to none. I think I'll reserve any further comment for now other than to say it fits really well. It's what the Karate Monkey should be for me but can't quite do fit wise. And I've got room to tweak the set up, where the Monkey was at an extreme with the drop bar for set up. More on this bike later!

So, that's the current line up. I've got a Badger in the Lab that will eventually be added to this group, but there just isn't the funds now to finish that build. (I know! I know! Believe me, I've heard all the reasonings and solutions) It's just not going to happen now, and probably won't until next year. It's all good!

Hope you enjoyed the tour folks! Now, get out and ride yer own bikes!