New Webzine Debuts

Some of you may know Jason Mahokey, aka "The Soiled Chamois". Well, he started his own web-zine called "xXc" . He also has a blog to go with it. The tag line of the web-mag should give you a clue as to its content: Epic, Adventure, Solo.

Sound interesting?

I bet some of you will click the link and check it out. The rest of you should!


Have a great weekend!

New Webzine Debuts

Some of you may know Jason Mahokey, aka "The Soiled Chamois". Well, he started his own web-zine called "xXc" . He also has a blog to go with it. The tag line of the web-mag should give you a clue as to its content: Epic, Adventure, Solo.

Sound interesting?

I bet some of you will click the link and check it out. The rest of you should!


Have a great weekend!

I'm Working On It!

Okay, today's post is all about things I'm working on.............

Going To Sea Otter: Next week I leave on Wednesday and spend the remainder of the week at Sea Otter, the annual mountain bike festival, race, and exposition held near Monterey, California at Laguna Seca Raceway. Too bad I don't have a motorscooter license, cause Ducati will be there demoing their Hypermotard rig. (Carlos faints with jealousy at this point!) I'll have to snag a photo of that bad boy!

Trans Iowa V5: Then less than two weeks after I get back I put on another Trans Iowa with my good buddy d.p. and a few volunteers. There's still some last minute things to pull together, but I think we'll be okay.

Riding For... I've got lots and lots of riding to do. Testing product, checking out components, and getting some longer routes in for the Dirty Kanza 200 at the end of May. Going in at this point I feel better than last year. Better fitness, better power, better recovery. I don't have a coach, a power meter, or a heart rate monitor, for that matter. But I know when I can punch the 38 X 18T gear over the dike, like I did about a month ago, that I'm better than I was last year, or for a long time, for that matter. Heck, I remember in 2003, when I started riding a 29"er, I had a 37 X 18 and it about killed me riding in to work!

And on a bit of a surprise...... Finally, we are taking the wraps off something next week that has been cooking in the back round for awhile now. Some of you out there have gotten the preview and know what I mean. It's going to be a big challenge, but I am excited going in that it is the right thing to do.

Okay, that's it for today. I hope you all have an adventurous time on a bicycle this weekend!

I'm Working On It!

Okay, today's post is all about things I'm working on.............

Going To Sea Otter: Next week I leave on Wednesday and spend the remainder of the week at Sea Otter, the annual mountain bike festival, race, and exposition held near Monterey, California at Laguna Seca Raceway. Too bad I don't have a motorscooter license, cause Ducati will be there demoing their Hypermotard rig. (Carlos faints with jealousy at this point!) I'll have to snag a photo of that bad boy!

Trans Iowa V5: Then less than two weeks after I get back I put on another Trans Iowa with my good buddy d.p. and a few volunteers. There's still some last minute things to pull together, but I think we'll be okay.

Riding For... I've got lots and lots of riding to do. Testing product, checking out components, and getting some longer routes in for the Dirty Kanza 200 at the end of May. Going in at this point I feel better than last year. Better fitness, better power, better recovery. I don't have a coach, a power meter, or a heart rate monitor, for that matter. But I know when I can punch the 38 X 18T gear over the dike, like I did about a month ago, that I'm better than I was last year, or for a long time, for that matter. Heck, I remember in 2003, when I started riding a 29"er, I had a 37 X 18 and it about killed me riding in to work!

And on a bit of a surprise...... Finally, we are taking the wraps off something next week that has been cooking in the back round for awhile now. Some of you out there have gotten the preview and know what I mean. It's going to be a big challenge, but I am excited going in that it is the right thing to do.

Okay, that's it for today. I hope you all have an adventurous time on a bicycle this weekend!

The Camp Is Rideable! (But Barely)

<===Green moss and white snow make a contrast of Winter and Spring.

I got out to The Camp yesterday and made a two hour tour through there on the Big Mama. It was a blast! Of course, this is the first real "dirt" of 2009 for me, so I was very excited.

The trails ran the gamut from tacky and clear to muddy, choked with dead falls, or blocked by logging debris. There will be a clean up day at The Camp on April 18th, and I suggest if you are local, that you should show up. They will be needing lots of help. (I'll be in Cali that day, so I can't help, or I'd be there myself.)



<===A touch of snow here and there yet! (Probably gone by now!)

I rode through the Pines and that is still my absolute favorite spot on the trails out there. I ran into a bit of mud in one spot, but otherwise it was pure bliss there.

I saw a couple of deer, a Red Headed Woodpecker, and a huge Wild Turkey that I think was going to sit there and wait for me to fly on by. However; I stopped, and when it saw me stop, it got up and trotted away in a flash. Man! Those things can haul the mail when they want to run, and they are totally silent.



<===Big Mama= Big Fun!

So, the Big Mama was a hoot! I have the 120mm travel Reba Team with the Maxle 20mm through axle on it and that jacks up the bottom bracket pretty high. I could clear some of the smaller downed trees with ease.

I will have to see if I can tune on the suspension a bit more as it is super, couch-like soft right now. Like you are sitting on a pillow. Really! Yet it will climb as steep a pitch as you have the legs and traction for. Unfortunately for me, the greasy soil let me down in some spots and I couldn't quite clean everything yesterday that I am sure I could have, had it been drier. I did bag one climb I have a terrible time on with other rigs though, so that was a small consolation.


<===Over looking the river.

I thought I might not get along with the longer fork on this bike and the higher bottom bracket/slacker angles that it creates, but it actually behaved pretty well. I did have a wandering front wheel when I was going super slow, and climbing with the suspension set so plush required the on the nose of the saddle position to gain any altitude, but I am used to that on full suspension rigs.

Turning in was cool. I could actually "tip" the bike into slower turns, wheel it with lots of bar input, or lean and carve. Very versatile in that department, I think. I may try lowering my bar height a bit though by going with a flat versus riser bar. I found that the front end was too easy to pop up off the ground at times and the front wheel didn't seem pinned to the ground quite well enough at times in corners.

I will also definitely be tweaking on that suspension too. It's going to be a fun ride! I can't wait to go out on the Big Mama some more and ride it at different venues.

The Camp Is Rideable! (But Barely)

<===Green moss and white snow make a contrast of Winter and Spring.

I got out to The Camp yesterday and made a two hour tour through there on the Big Mama. It was a blast! Of course, this is the first real "dirt" of 2009 for me, so I was very excited.

The trails ran the gamut from tacky and clear to muddy, choked with dead falls, or blocked by logging debris. There will be a clean up day at The Camp on April 18th, and I suggest if you are local, that you should show up. They will be needing lots of help. (I'll be in Cali that day, so I can't help, or I'd be there myself.)



<===A touch of snow here and there yet! (Probably gone by now!)

I rode through the Pines and that is still my absolute favorite spot on the trails out there. I ran into a bit of mud in one spot, but otherwise it was pure bliss there.

I saw a couple of deer, a Red Headed Woodpecker, and a huge Wild Turkey that I think was going to sit there and wait for me to fly on by. However; I stopped, and when it saw me stop, it got up and trotted away in a flash. Man! Those things can haul the mail when they want to run, and they are totally silent.



<===Big Mama= Big Fun!

So, the Big Mama was a hoot! I have the 120mm travel Reba Team with the Maxle 20mm through axle on it and that jacks up the bottom bracket pretty high. I could clear some of the smaller downed trees with ease.

I will have to see if I can tune on the suspension a bit more as it is super, couch-like soft right now. Like you are sitting on a pillow. Really! Yet it will climb as steep a pitch as you have the legs and traction for. Unfortunately for me, the greasy soil let me down in some spots and I couldn't quite clean everything yesterday that I am sure I could have, had it been drier. I did bag one climb I have a terrible time on with other rigs though, so that was a small consolation.


<===Over looking the river.

I thought I might not get along with the longer fork on this bike and the higher bottom bracket/slacker angles that it creates, but it actually behaved pretty well. I did have a wandering front wheel when I was going super slow, and climbing with the suspension set so plush required the on the nose of the saddle position to gain any altitude, but I am used to that on full suspension rigs.

Turning in was cool. I could actually "tip" the bike into slower turns, wheel it with lots of bar input, or lean and carve. Very versatile in that department, I think. I may try lowering my bar height a bit though by going with a flat versus riser bar. I found that the front end was too easy to pop up off the ground at times and the front wheel didn't seem pinned to the ground quite well enough at times in corners.

I will also definitely be tweaking on that suspension too. It's going to be a fun ride! I can't wait to go out on the Big Mama some more and ride it at different venues.

T-6 Brent's Rule Of Single Speeding

Okay, so I like single speed riding. Alot! Many others dig it too. Why? Well, I'm not going there. This isn't about that. This is about gearing, and mental states of riding, and beer. (Well.......not really "beer", but it sounds good in this story. You'll figure it out!)

So here I was last year riding most of the time on my OS Bikes Blackbuck with a gearing set up of 34 X 20. I was spinning well all summer and it worked great for me. I could climb, I could go fast as I thought was fun, and I could limit my off the bike hikes. Good. Well........so I thought.

It was all good until Captain Bob and I had our "Sponsorship Summit" with Twin Six back last November. Ryan and Brent have had me as a "member" of the Team for awhile and it was my time to thank them, ride, and hang out a bit. I was spinning my gear on the Blackbuck when Brent says, "What gear do you have on that thing?" Well, a conversation ensued on the single track of Murphy-Hanrahan park as Brent expounded on the virtues of his "Rule For Single Speed Gearing"

Basically, "The Rule" states that you should not get too comfortable on the single speed with the gear you are running. This leads to stagnation in the performance department, lethargy, and a propensity to drink the cheapest Pilsner you can find. Not good! So what you should do, is put on a gear one to two teeth less in the back than you are running now. Performance will pick up, you will have more energy, and you will drink cool beer, like Pabst Blue Ribbon.

I said that sounded pretty painful, and that would most likely only increase my hiking time. Brent retorted with something like this: "Well, at first it sucks, ya know? You go out a few times at first, your legs are killin' ya man! You say, "This sucks!" Then you go out a few more times. Then you say, "Meh.....This isn't so bad." Then the next thing ya know, you're flying man!" Uh-huh.............riiiight! That's what I thought at first, but Brent took more time with me, ya know he is a Team Leader and all, and technically my Director Sportif, and I listened because of that. I think I finally came away with an understanding, and promised my DS that "next year" would be different!

So, we're into next year and what has happened? Well, I gave the idea a try on the Misfit diSSent. I set it up with a 34 X 18 and went out to ride. Well, it was fast, hard to deal with for awhile, and it made me want to buy imported beers. I decided that Brent must be a genius and that this was possibly going to work out for me. Then a day came that I hate to admit to. Captain Bob had something to do with this one...........

I had the Misfit at the shop, as I used it to commute into work on. Well, we were talking about this single speed gearing rule, and Captain Bob got down on a knee and said, "What have you got on hear for a gear?" (Why is it everyone asks me about "my gears"?) Anyway, he counted the big rings teeth.......36! Wow! I was pushing a 36 X 18? This was almost like doping, and it made me want to run out and buy a premium imported beer for sure! (late edit: Captain Bob says it is a 38 X 18!!!- He has the bike right now)

So, here's a public apology to Brent of T-6 saying that I'm sorry I ever doubted ya man! I hope you can still consider me as part of the Team. Thanks for the "Rule of Single Speed Gearing" I guess the most important part about it is that you just have to be blissfully ignorant of your higher gearing, mash away, and don't buy cheap beer.

T-6 Brent's Rule Of Single Speeding

Okay, so I like single speed riding. Alot! Many others dig it too. Why? Well, I'm not going there. This isn't about that. This is about gearing, and mental states of riding, and beer. (Well.......not really "beer", but it sounds good in this story. You'll figure it out!)

So here I was last year riding most of the time on my OS Bikes Blackbuck with a gearing set up of 34 X 20. I was spinning well all summer and it worked great for me. I could climb, I could go fast as I thought was fun, and I could limit my off the bike hikes. Good. Well........so I thought.

It was all good until Captain Bob and I had our "Sponsorship Summit" with Twin Six back last November. Ryan and Brent have had me as a "member" of the Team for awhile and it was my time to thank them, ride, and hang out a bit. I was spinning my gear on the Blackbuck when Brent says, "What gear do you have on that thing?" Well, a conversation ensued on the single track of Murphy-Hanrahan park as Brent expounded on the virtues of his "Rule For Single Speed Gearing"

Basically, "The Rule" states that you should not get too comfortable on the single speed with the gear you are running. This leads to stagnation in the performance department, lethargy, and a propensity to drink the cheapest Pilsner you can find. Not good! So what you should do, is put on a gear one to two teeth less in the back than you are running now. Performance will pick up, you will have more energy, and you will drink cool beer, like Pabst Blue Ribbon.

I said that sounded pretty painful, and that would most likely only increase my hiking time. Brent retorted with something like this: "Well, at first it sucks, ya know? You go out a few times at first, your legs are killin' ya man! You say, "This sucks!" Then you go out a few more times. Then you say, "Meh.....This isn't so bad." Then the next thing ya know, you're flying man!" Uh-huh.............riiiight! That's what I thought at first, but Brent took more time with me, ya know he is a Team Leader and all, and technically my Director Sportif, and I listened because of that. I think I finally came away with an understanding, and promised my DS that "next year" would be different!

So, we're into next year and what has happened? Well, I gave the idea a try on the Misfit diSSent. I set it up with a 34 X 18 and went out to ride. Well, it was fast, hard to deal with for awhile, and it made me want to buy imported beers. I decided that Brent must be a genius and that this was possibly going to work out for me. Then a day came that I hate to admit to. Captain Bob had something to do with this one...........

I had the Misfit at the shop, as I used it to commute into work on. Well, we were talking about this single speed gearing rule, and Captain Bob got down on a knee and said, "What have you got on hear for a gear?" (Why is it everyone asks me about "my gears"?) Anyway, he counted the big rings teeth.......36! Wow! I was pushing a 36 X 18? This was almost like doping, and it made me want to run out and buy a premium imported beer for sure! (late edit: Captain Bob says it is a 38 X 18!!!- He has the bike right now)

So, here's a public apology to Brent of T-6 saying that I'm sorry I ever doubted ya man! I hope you can still consider me as part of the Team. Thanks for the "Rule of Single Speed Gearing" I guess the most important part about it is that you just have to be blissfully ignorant of your higher gearing, mash away, and don't buy cheap beer.

Touring Tuesdays: The Time Between Two Tours

This post doesn't really have a thing to do with touring, but it has everything to do with it. From my perspective anyway, and this is my story after all. So here's the deal..........

Lots of life altering things occurred during the rest of 1994 and into 1995. I won't get into any gory details here, but I lost my first wife to methamphetamine. Now she didn't die. She got hooked, was dealing, and one day she disappeared. It was a traumatic thing to deal with. I had to go through a weird divorce, and for a time was fearing for my life since I had dumped almost a thousand dollars worth of meth down a toilet. (Drug dealers don't take too kindly to that sort of thing.) I even had to "steal" my own truck and hide it for nine months before I could drive it. Yeah, that was a weird time in my life and yes.....the details are even weirder!

So I was what you might say "depressed" and not really thinking about any adventures going into the summer of '95. My friends were concerned and were watching me closely, I know. Fortunately, I found a source of solace that got me through this tough time. But I didn't know God as well as I was going to in a few months time. There was something brewing that was going to really rattle my cage, but in a really good way.

During all of this turmoil the shop hired a bunch of assemblers to get us through the early season builds. One of the new guys was a rider that had been hanging out a lot. Ryan was his name. A sometimes quiet, but extremely funny guy that could ride a mountain bike better than anybody I knew then. Ryan had the particularly cool ability to track stand no handed and talk to you for as long as you wanted. All the while just gently rocking his bike back and forth to keep balance. Crazy ability!

Ryan and I got to be friendly and we hung out sometimes. Of course, the story about the "Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour" was recounted to him by Troy and I. Ryan would often say he thought it sounded like a fun thing to do. Another guy at the shop working as a mechanic, Tim, would be showing some interest as well.

I don't know who came up with the idea to go again, but it came up. In my mind, I just needed to get away from it all. The pain, the bad memories, and stuff that was still going down throughout the early summer. I was just glad some folks wanted to come along. So it was that Troy, Ryan, and myself were committed to make another touring attempt. This was going to be bigger, badder, and better right from the start.

We were going to the Rocky Mountains.


Stay tuned for the start of "The Race Against Death Tour"

Touring Tuesdays: The Time Between Two Tours

This post doesn't really have a thing to do with touring, but it has everything to do with it. From my perspective anyway, and this is my story after all. So here's the deal..........

Lots of life altering things occurred during the rest of 1994 and into 1995. I won't get into any gory details here, but I lost my first wife to methamphetamine. Now she didn't die. She got hooked, was dealing, and one day she disappeared. It was a traumatic thing to deal with. I had to go through a weird divorce, and for a time was fearing for my life since I had dumped almost a thousand dollars worth of meth down a toilet. (Drug dealers don't take too kindly to that sort of thing.) I even had to "steal" my own truck and hide it for nine months before I could drive it. Yeah, that was a weird time in my life and yes.....the details are even weirder!

So I was what you might say "depressed" and not really thinking about any adventures going into the summer of '95. My friends were concerned and were watching me closely, I know. Fortunately, I found a source of solace that got me through this tough time. But I didn't know God as well as I was going to in a few months time. There was something brewing that was going to really rattle my cage, but in a really good way.

During all of this turmoil the shop hired a bunch of assemblers to get us through the early season builds. One of the new guys was a rider that had been hanging out a lot. Ryan was his name. A sometimes quiet, but extremely funny guy that could ride a mountain bike better than anybody I knew then. Ryan had the particularly cool ability to track stand no handed and talk to you for as long as you wanted. All the while just gently rocking his bike back and forth to keep balance. Crazy ability!

Ryan and I got to be friendly and we hung out sometimes. Of course, the story about the "Beg, Borrow, and Bastard Tour" was recounted to him by Troy and I. Ryan would often say he thought it sounded like a fun thing to do. Another guy at the shop working as a mechanic, Tim, would be showing some interest as well.

I don't know who came up with the idea to go again, but it came up. In my mind, I just needed to get away from it all. The pain, the bad memories, and stuff that was still going down throughout the early summer. I was just glad some folks wanted to come along. So it was that Troy, Ryan, and myself were committed to make another touring attempt. This was going to be bigger, badder, and better right from the start.

We were going to the Rocky Mountains.


Stay tuned for the start of "The Race Against Death Tour"

It Sure Could Have Been Worse!

<===About 5pm outside my front door....

I was really hoping we'd miss the snow, and for awhile there, I thought we would. No snow yet by mid Sunday morning- But it came. And boy howdy! Mrs. Guitar Ted heard it thunder during the snow storm. I missed that. Rats! I always wanted to hear that when it was snowing by the bucket load.

Anyway, I was coming home from church in the Dirty Blue Box and it snapped loose in the rear going down a hill. Woo Hoo! (I'm one of the odd folks that actually enjoys this sort of thing!) Anyway, No harm-No foul. All came out well after about a city block's worth of fishtailing. Who knew a front wheel drive Civic wagon would drive like a half ton pick up truck in the snow?

<===Gordos make yer tires mo-betta!

In the meantime I kicked back for awhile and then got down to shoveling the evil white mush. Afterwards I went down into The Lab and swapped out some different tires on the Gordo rims. The Captains went on, which are supposed to be 2.2 inches wide. On the Gordos though, they are 57.3mm wide, or 2.3 inches. Yeah....that's what I'm talkin' about! Pump up the volume! (Well, the volume actually stays the same, it's how it is arranged that is nice!)

So, I'm keeping The Captains on for a bit. I like their overall good performance and they climb really well. Right now they are on the Big Mama. Hopefully I can get out on some "real" dirt soon. I hear the Camp trails may be lookin' good, with the exception of the logging. I might get out there, but Trans Iowa is on top of the "must do" list, so maybe not. We'll see!

It Sure Could Have Been Worse!

<===About 5pm outside my front door....

I was really hoping we'd miss the snow, and for awhile there, I thought we would. No snow yet by mid Sunday morning- But it came. And boy howdy! Mrs. Guitar Ted heard it thunder during the snow storm. I missed that. Rats! I always wanted to hear that when it was snowing by the bucket load.

Anyway, I was coming home from church in the Dirty Blue Box and it snapped loose in the rear going down a hill. Woo Hoo! (I'm one of the odd folks that actually enjoys this sort of thing!) Anyway, No harm-No foul. All came out well after about a city block's worth of fishtailing. Who knew a front wheel drive Civic wagon would drive like a half ton pick up truck in the snow?

<===Gordos make yer tires mo-betta!

In the meantime I kicked back for awhile and then got down to shoveling the evil white mush. Afterwards I went down into The Lab and swapped out some different tires on the Gordo rims. The Captains went on, which are supposed to be 2.2 inches wide. On the Gordos though, they are 57.3mm wide, or 2.3 inches. Yeah....that's what I'm talkin' about! Pump up the volume! (Well, the volume actually stays the same, it's how it is arranged that is nice!)

So, I'm keeping The Captains on for a bit. I like their overall good performance and they climb really well. Right now they are on the Big Mama. Hopefully I can get out on some "real" dirt soon. I hear the Camp trails may be lookin' good, with the exception of the logging. I might get out there, but Trans Iowa is on top of the "must do" list, so maybe not. We'll see!

FSA Wheels: XC-290

<===The FSA XC-290 wheels: In Black!

I received these FSA XC-290 wheels for testing on Twenty Nine Inches recently. FSA may not be on the tip of your tongue for a 29"er wheel set. But they probably should be judging from what I'm seeing here.

32 spokes. Three cross. Traditional "J" bend spokes. Eyeleted rims. Smart choices that other wheel makers (I'm speaking pre-built here) are not making. All of that and they (supposedly) only weigh 1800 grams for the set. That's well within reason for $550.00 wheels.

These do have a special splined nipple though, so that is a bit odd. Although, FSA does the right thing and includes a wrench with each wheel set. (Along with skewers and rim tape.)

I am thinking that these days any wheel maker needs to consider tubeless ready benefits in their designs. There are more and more tires for 29"ers coming out that have this ability. Sadly, it would appear that the FSA XC-290's do not offer this advantage.

The wheels have a "Mavic-like" skewer, which I hope actually works like one. The look is definitely "Kerkove Nation" approved- all black with some tasteful white graphics. (Removable, if you want) Each wheel is hand built and serially numbered. That's kinda cool.

Just looking at them I think that they will perform quite well. I'll weigh 'em, ride 'em, and flog 'em for awhile. We'll see how they fare later.

FSA Wheels: XC-290

<===The FSA XC-290 wheels: In Black!

I received these FSA XC-290 wheels for testing on Twenty Nine Inches recently. FSA may not be on the tip of your tongue for a 29"er wheel set. But they probably should be judging from what I'm seeing here.

32 spokes. Three cross. Traditional "J" bend spokes. Eyeleted rims. Smart choices that other wheel makers (I'm speaking pre-built here) are not making. All of that and they (supposedly) only weigh 1800 grams for the set. That's well within reason for $550.00 wheels.

These do have a special splined nipple though, so that is a bit odd. Although, FSA does the right thing and includes a wrench with each wheel set. (Along with skewers and rim tape.)

I am thinking that these days any wheel maker needs to consider tubeless ready benefits in their designs. There are more and more tires for 29"ers coming out that have this ability. Sadly, it would appear that the FSA XC-290's do not offer this advantage.

The wheels have a "Mavic-like" skewer, which I hope actually works like one. The look is definitely "Kerkove Nation" approved- all black with some tasteful white graphics. (Removable, if you want) Each wheel is hand built and serially numbered. That's kinda cool.

Just looking at them I think that they will perform quite well. I'll weigh 'em, ride 'em, and flog 'em for awhile. We'll see how they fare later.

Trans Iowa V5 Update

If you have not gone to see the website lately, you need to if you are in this event. Important news. Get it down! Don't forget it.

It is only a month away. One month to the fifth running of this beast of an event that will start to consume my thoughts more and more as I get closer to the the date. Everything comes to a point now. Sponsors shipping goodies, cue sheets getting printed, stuff getting double and triple checked. Late nights, too much thinking, and anxiety. (Yes, I get wound up a bit over this.)

So far, it seems as though we'll be golden. But with a month to go, anything can happen. Weather is always the untameable beast. Things seem too good in that department this year. Eerily good. I'm not holding my breath that it will stay that way.

The roads everywhere along the course are coming up as being in perfect shape. Nothing remotely close to last year's torn up roads and flooding.

It's only a month away, and that will go by fast!

Ride yer bikes and have a fine weekend folks!

Trans Iowa V5 Update

If you have not gone to see the website lately, you need to if you are in this event. Important news. Get it down! Don't forget it.

It is only a month away. One month to the fifth running of this beast of an event that will start to consume my thoughts more and more as I get closer to the the date. Everything comes to a point now. Sponsors shipping goodies, cue sheets getting printed, stuff getting double and triple checked. Late nights, too much thinking, and anxiety. (Yes, I get wound up a bit over this.)

So far, it seems as though we'll be golden. But with a month to go, anything can happen. Weather is always the untameable beast. Things seem too good in that department this year. Eerily good. I'm not holding my breath that it will stay that way.

The roads everywhere along the course are coming up as being in perfect shape. Nothing remotely close to last year's torn up roads and flooding.

It's only a month away, and that will go by fast!

Ride yer bikes and have a fine weekend folks!

The Shearing Day

<===Doing my best Billy Gibbons imitation.

So, let's say you grew a beard, (and you are a male- we're not goin' the other way with this here!). Now let's say you go on for months and craft a fine patch-o-manfur.

Let's just imagine that for a moment...

So the day finally comes. It could be several things- a "look" from your significant other. A comment. Maybe you're just tired of trimming carefully. Or maybe you are looking for that last millisecond of speed. Whatever...........

The Day Of Shearing Has Come!

That means that skin that hasn't had direct contact with air for half a year gets exposed. Let me tell ya. That moment is weird. Kinda like ..........well...........I don't know quite how to put it.

Then your children see you. Maybe they screw their faces up like you are some stranger they've never seen before. The voice is right, the shape of the person is right, but that face! Maybe they point and laugh at you. Your significant other may walk by and glance at you with an air of triumph. "I told you that you'd take it off some day!" Hmm.....maybe. Or you might get from somebody that they liked the beard better. But they'd be in the minority, probably.

Then you look in the mirror. Whoa! Do I really look like THAT!

Fun stuff this Shearing Day.

The Shearing Day

<===Doing my best Billy Gibbons imitation.

So, let's say you grew a beard, (and you are a male- we're not goin' the other way with this here!). Now let's say you go on for months and craft a fine patch-o-manfur.

Let's just imagine that for a moment...

So the day finally comes. It could be several things- a "look" from your significant other. A comment. Maybe you're just tired of trimming carefully. Or maybe you are looking for that last millisecond of speed. Whatever...........

The Day Of Shearing Has Come!

That means that skin that hasn't had direct contact with air for half a year gets exposed. Let me tell ya. That moment is weird. Kinda like ..........well...........I don't know quite how to put it.

Then your children see you. Maybe they screw their faces up like you are some stranger they've never seen before. The voice is right, the shape of the person is right, but that face! Maybe they point and laugh at you. Your significant other may walk by and glance at you with an air of triumph. "I told you that you'd take it off some day!" Hmm.....maybe. Or you might get from somebody that they liked the beard better. But they'd be in the minority, probably.

Then you look in the mirror. Whoa! Do I really look like THAT!

Fun stuff this Shearing Day.

Titanium News And Rumors

Lately, for whatever reason, it seems that there is all sorts of activity in the titanium frame and component areas. Downturn in the economy? Well, the "grey market" seems to be doing quite well, thank you!

So, the new venture by the former designer at On One, Brant Richards, is called Shedfire and his new brand, "tweak bikes" has punched out a new 26"er hard tail, long travel bike called the Ragsley. (See it here) So, here's a odd little sled not made from what you would think (steel) and in a time when it wouldn't seem to make any sense.

By the way, rumor has it there will be a 29"er from tweak bikes in aluminum. (But this is about titanium, so......)

It doesn't stop there, but it isn't so public. I happen to have gotten word, or should I say a second confirmation, just today of a titanium fork that will be coming out for 29"ers. It shouldn't be long now before it hits the public airwaves, but again, odd product- odd timing.

Then we have the way under the radar news that there will be a 29"er coming soon, made of the gray-ish mystery metal, that will not only be a BB-30 compatible sled, but reportedly, it'll have a Lefty on it. Sound nutty? Tell that to the factory guy that let this slip....(Hopefully he keeps his job!)

So, the times may not make sense for all of the titanium mania now, but it's happening, and coming to a trail near you.

This post is certified "Fool-Free" and not a bunch of myths and poorly crafted hoaxes. But you'll have to trust me on that one!

Titanium News And Rumors

Lately, for whatever reason, it seems that there is all sorts of activity in the titanium frame and component areas. Downturn in the economy? Well, the "grey market" seems to be doing quite well, thank you!

So, the new venture by the former designer at On One, Brant Richards, is called Shedfire and his new brand, "tweak bikes" has punched out a new 26"er hard tail, long travel bike called the Ragsley. (See it here) So, here's a odd little sled not made from what you would think (steel) and in a time when it wouldn't seem to make any sense.

By the way, rumor has it there will be a 29"er from tweak bikes in aluminum. (But this is about titanium, so......)

It doesn't stop there, but it isn't so public. I happen to have gotten word, or should I say a second confirmation, just today of a titanium fork that will be coming out for 29"ers. It shouldn't be long now before it hits the public airwaves, but again, odd product- odd timing.

Then we have the way under the radar news that there will be a 29"er coming soon, made of the gray-ish mystery metal, that will not only be a BB-30 compatible sled, but reportedly, it'll have a Lefty on it. Sound nutty? Tell that to the factory guy that let this slip....(Hopefully he keeps his job!)

So, the times may not make sense for all of the titanium mania now, but it's happening, and coming to a trail near you.

This post is certified "Fool-Free" and not a bunch of myths and poorly crafted hoaxes. But you'll have to trust me on that one!