Here are a couple more stories from my everyday work at Advantage Cyclery......
Of course, most of my time at the shop was all about fixing bicycles, and that was usually just basic repairs and tune-ups. However; I got one job that was passed off to me after no one else could figure it out. I think it was one of those jobs that everyone figured I would fail at, since all the other more experienced mechanics there had not been able to get it worked out. They didn't say this to me, but no one was willing to give me any ideas on it either. So off I went, determined to overcome this problem.
The bike was a Klein road bike. Two chain ring model. The problem was that it wasn't shifting up front worth a hoot. You could make it shift up onto the big chain ring, but it then would not shift down into the small one. If you made it shift well into the small chain ring, it wouldn't shift into the big one, and to make matters worse, the derailluer was at it's limits of throw, just to get it up into the big ring. Of course, the derailluer was a braze on model.
Well, after much consternation, several test rides, and hours spent staring it down. I finally had a "eureka" moment.
The bottom brackets on Kliens were pressed in affairs. I thought, what if the spindle is pressed in wrong? Well, after some careful measurements, I found that I was on the right track. I pressed the spindle out, reversed it, pressed it back in, and the shifting was spot on. The owner was very pleased, and told me that it had been that way since he had purchased the bike new. He had been to several shops and no one had figured it out.
Tom, my boss, was very pleased, and the other mechanics were amazed, and I had gained their respect. It was a good day for me, and I think that was the day I knew I had become a real bicycle mechanic. (Wheel building not withstanding!)
After that, I got more complicated jobs thrown my way. I learned even more, and gained a lot of good experience. Before I left the shop when it closed in 1997, I had become Advantage Cyclery's head mechanic. Ha! I never would have believed that when I started. But I did it. From a full on bench jeweler, designer, salesman to a bicycle mechanic. Who would have guessed that?
Not I!
Next week: Working at the shop brought a lot of bicycles into my life....
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bike Shop Tales: Back To Work III
Here are a couple more stories from my everyday work at Advantage Cyclery......
Of course, most of my time at the shop was all about fixing bicycles, and that was usually just basic repairs and tune-ups. However; I got one job that was passed off to me after no one else could figure it out. I think it was one of those jobs that everyone figured I would fail at, since all the other more experienced mechanics there had not been able to get it worked out. They didn't say this to me, but no one was willing to give me any ideas on it either. So off I went, determined to overcome this problem.
The bike was a Klein road bike. Two chain ring model. The problem was that it wasn't shifting up front worth a hoot. You could make it shift up onto the big chain ring, but it then would not shift down into the small one. If you made it shift well into the small chain ring, it wouldn't shift into the big one, and to make matters worse, the derailluer was at it's limits of throw, just to get it up into the big ring. Of course, the derailluer was a braze on model.
Well, after much consternation, several test rides, and hours spent staring it down. I finally had a "eureka" moment.
The bottom brackets on Kliens were pressed in affairs. I thought, what if the spindle is pressed in wrong? Well, after some careful measurements, I found that I was on the right track. I pressed the spindle out, reversed it, pressed it back in, and the shifting was spot on. The owner was very pleased, and told me that it had been that way since he had purchased the bike new. He had been to several shops and no one had figured it out.
Tom, my boss, was very pleased, and the other mechanics were amazed, and I had gained their respect. It was a good day for me, and I think that was the day I knew I had become a real bicycle mechanic. (Wheel building not withstanding!)
After that, I got more complicated jobs thrown my way. I learned even more, and gained a lot of good experience. Before I left the shop when it closed in 1997, I had become Advantage Cyclery's head mechanic. Ha! I never would have believed that when I started. But I did it. From a full on bench jeweler, designer, salesman to a bicycle mechanic. Who would have guessed that?
Not I!
Next week: Working at the shop brought a lot of bicycles into my life....
Of course, most of my time at the shop was all about fixing bicycles, and that was usually just basic repairs and tune-ups. However; I got one job that was passed off to me after no one else could figure it out. I think it was one of those jobs that everyone figured I would fail at, since all the other more experienced mechanics there had not been able to get it worked out. They didn't say this to me, but no one was willing to give me any ideas on it either. So off I went, determined to overcome this problem.
The bike was a Klein road bike. Two chain ring model. The problem was that it wasn't shifting up front worth a hoot. You could make it shift up onto the big chain ring, but it then would not shift down into the small one. If you made it shift well into the small chain ring, it wouldn't shift into the big one, and to make matters worse, the derailluer was at it's limits of throw, just to get it up into the big ring. Of course, the derailluer was a braze on model.
Well, after much consternation, several test rides, and hours spent staring it down. I finally had a "eureka" moment.
The bottom brackets on Kliens were pressed in affairs. I thought, what if the spindle is pressed in wrong? Well, after some careful measurements, I found that I was on the right track. I pressed the spindle out, reversed it, pressed it back in, and the shifting was spot on. The owner was very pleased, and told me that it had been that way since he had purchased the bike new. He had been to several shops and no one had figured it out.
Tom, my boss, was very pleased, and the other mechanics were amazed, and I had gained their respect. It was a good day for me, and I think that was the day I knew I had become a real bicycle mechanic. (Wheel building not withstanding!)
After that, I got more complicated jobs thrown my way. I learned even more, and gained a lot of good experience. Before I left the shop when it closed in 1997, I had become Advantage Cyclery's head mechanic. Ha! I never would have believed that when I started. But I did it. From a full on bench jeweler, designer, salesman to a bicycle mechanic. Who would have guessed that?
Not I!
Next week: Working at the shop brought a lot of bicycles into my life....
Monday, February 15, 2010
What A Drag!
So, I was procrastinating on Saturday and didn't get a ride in due to a mid-day phone call to fill in on guitar in the church band I play in. It wasn't my week to play, but the guy that was on for the weekend came down ill. That's what I get for not waking up in the morning right away and getting it done.
So, things were looking good for a ride to church on Sunday morning, since I would be meeting Mrs. Guitar Ted later and hitching a ride home. I looked around for a likely ride. I pulled out the El Mariachi for the job. Pumped up the tires and went on my way.
Now while it is winter, and the rolling resistance is up some, I knew that I was working way harder than I needed to. At first I thought it might be the Rampage front tire. I was running it pretty low and I could here the knobs singing when I hit the dry patches of pavement. Rampages are not the best rollers, and for maximum bite and traction on ice, I knew I was giving something away in terms of rolling resistance there. Still, it seemed as if I was pedaling far harder than I should have to.
For awhile, I chalked it up to just being way out of shape. But even though I have much to gain in that area, it wasn't all the fault of my low level of fitness now either. Nope! It was something else.
My rear brake was dragging. Really badly! I thought I had fixed it, and had parked the bike when I last worked on it sure that I had it figured out. Hrummmpf! I guess not! And my legs are still sore from the ride!
I'm blaming it all on "basement gnomes" for now!
Saturday evening I dug out a couple skinny tired, (for me) bikes to do some crummy weather training on. I know sooner or later that the snow will start melting, and the gravel will get peanut buttery. I grabbed the Ranier and the CrissCross and started setting them up as single speed, fendered, 40-ish millimeter wide tired gravel training rigs. I have one more set of fenders too, and one more bike that can get in on this rotation if need be in my Grand Prix fixie. So, I'll have no excuses for not putting time in on the gravel this spring when things get mucky. While one bike is getting re-habbed from a wet gravel mess, the others can be pressed into duty.
Well, it's a plan anyway!
So, things were looking good for a ride to church on Sunday morning, since I would be meeting Mrs. Guitar Ted later and hitching a ride home. I looked around for a likely ride. I pulled out the El Mariachi for the job. Pumped up the tires and went on my way.
Now while it is winter, and the rolling resistance is up some, I knew that I was working way harder than I needed to. At first I thought it might be the Rampage front tire. I was running it pretty low and I could here the knobs singing when I hit the dry patches of pavement. Rampages are not the best rollers, and for maximum bite and traction on ice, I knew I was giving something away in terms of rolling resistance there. Still, it seemed as if I was pedaling far harder than I should have to.
For awhile, I chalked it up to just being way out of shape. But even though I have much to gain in that area, it wasn't all the fault of my low level of fitness now either. Nope! It was something else.
My rear brake was dragging. Really badly! I thought I had fixed it, and had parked the bike when I last worked on it sure that I had it figured out. Hrummmpf! I guess not! And my legs are still sore from the ride!
I'm blaming it all on "basement gnomes" for now!
Saturday evening I dug out a couple skinny tired, (for me) bikes to do some crummy weather training on. I know sooner or later that the snow will start melting, and the gravel will get peanut buttery. I grabbed the Ranier and the CrissCross and started setting them up as single speed, fendered, 40-ish millimeter wide tired gravel training rigs. I have one more set of fenders too, and one more bike that can get in on this rotation if need be in my Grand Prix fixie. So, I'll have no excuses for not putting time in on the gravel this spring when things get mucky. While one bike is getting re-habbed from a wet gravel mess, the others can be pressed into duty.
Well, it's a plan anyway!
What A Drag!
So, I was procrastinating on Saturday and didn't get a ride in due to a mid-day phone call to fill in on guitar in the church band I play in. It wasn't my week to play, but the guy that was on for the weekend came down ill. That's what I get for not waking up in the morning right away and getting it done.
So, things were looking good for a ride to church on Sunday morning, since I would be meeting Mrs. Guitar Ted later and hitching a ride home. I looked around for a likely ride. I pulled out the El Mariachi for the job. Pumped up the tires and went on my way.
Now while it is winter, and the rolling resistance is up some, I knew that I was working way harder than I needed to. At first I thought it might be the Rampage front tire. I was running it pretty low and I could here the knobs singing when I hit the dry patches of pavement. Rampages are not the best rollers, and for maximum bite and traction on ice, I knew I was giving something away in terms of rolling resistance there. Still, it seemed as if I was pedaling far harder than I should have to.
For awhile, I chalked it up to just being way out of shape. But even though I have much to gain in that area, it wasn't all the fault of my low level of fitness now either. Nope! It was something else.
My rear brake was dragging. Really badly! I thought I had fixed it, and had parked the bike when I last worked on it sure that I had it figured out. Hrummmpf! I guess not! And my legs are still sore from the ride!
I'm blaming it all on "basement gnomes" for now!
Saturday evening I dug out a couple skinny tired, (for me) bikes to do some crummy weather training on. I know sooner or later that the snow will start melting, and the gravel will get peanut buttery. I grabbed the Ranier and the CrissCross and started setting them up as single speed, fendered, 40-ish millimeter wide tired gravel training rigs. I have one more set of fenders too, and one more bike that can get in on this rotation if need be in my Grand Prix fixie. So, I'll have no excuses for not putting time in on the gravel this spring when things get mucky. While one bike is getting re-habbed from a wet gravel mess, the others can be pressed into duty.
Well, it's a plan anyway!
So, things were looking good for a ride to church on Sunday morning, since I would be meeting Mrs. Guitar Ted later and hitching a ride home. I looked around for a likely ride. I pulled out the El Mariachi for the job. Pumped up the tires and went on my way.
Now while it is winter, and the rolling resistance is up some, I knew that I was working way harder than I needed to. At first I thought it might be the Rampage front tire. I was running it pretty low and I could here the knobs singing when I hit the dry patches of pavement. Rampages are not the best rollers, and for maximum bite and traction on ice, I knew I was giving something away in terms of rolling resistance there. Still, it seemed as if I was pedaling far harder than I should have to.
For awhile, I chalked it up to just being way out of shape. But even though I have much to gain in that area, it wasn't all the fault of my low level of fitness now either. Nope! It was something else.
My rear brake was dragging. Really badly! I thought I had fixed it, and had parked the bike when I last worked on it sure that I had it figured out. Hrummmpf! I guess not! And my legs are still sore from the ride!
I'm blaming it all on "basement gnomes" for now!
Saturday evening I dug out a couple skinny tired, (for me) bikes to do some crummy weather training on. I know sooner or later that the snow will start melting, and the gravel will get peanut buttery. I grabbed the Ranier and the CrissCross and started setting them up as single speed, fendered, 40-ish millimeter wide tired gravel training rigs. I have one more set of fenders too, and one more bike that can get in on this rotation if need be in my Grand Prix fixie. So, I'll have no excuses for not putting time in on the gravel this spring when things get mucky. While one bike is getting re-habbed from a wet gravel mess, the others can be pressed into duty.
Well, it's a plan anyway!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Trans Iowa V6: Thoughts Part XIII
Sometimes I see something posted or e-mailed to me that makes my eyes open a bit wider. A newer person to an "under the radar" event comes in, (generally), and writes the types of comments that make me think....
"It's time for a reset of the playing field here!"
I can't really blame these folks. I mean, these sorts of events and their "rules and regulations" are more about unspoken things and having the correct attitude than what you will find from the rules for the typical "hamster circuit" events that are most popular in the mountain bike world.
Those events generally do not have a sort of loose, "suggestion-type" list as to what to do, wear, and bring to an event. They do not expect you will do the entire event unsupported and either provide all sorts of infrustructure or the actual support itself, or both. They "provide services" and charge a fee for it. In return you are expected to play by all sorts of rules, and the riders expect a lot in return from the promoters for following all of these rules for a fee to race. Like a closed course, ammenities, maybe a t-shirt.
And please- Don't take offense. It is okay to provide that sort of product and for bicyclists to buy into it. (Pun intended)
Well, at Trans Iowa, and a lot of other gravel grinders, you are not going to get that. You won't even have to pay a fee at all for many of these events. What you will get is simply this: A chance to challenge yourself mentally and physically against the clock on public roads while riding a bicycle. Like a big group ride challenge in the middle of the country. In return for pointing ya'all in the right direction, and for keeping tabs on ya'all for the purpose of bragging rights at the end, we expect you, the participant, to be of a reasonable mind and consider the following:
We are informing you all that are in the event that if you don't agree that you are on your own, that you are responsible for yourself, and that this is being undertaken of your own volition, then don't take the start.
The bottom line is this: Do not burden the event staff, promoter, or other racers with possibly having to extricate you from the course for any reason. This is a cardinal rule for all of the self supported, unsanctioned, "under the radar" events out there that drew their origins from "Curiak Rules"
Consider the statements highlighted here carefully. Most of you guys and gals "get it", but please- still give this some thought. It is important to really understand it.
The "Self Supported" ethos is what makes these events work. It is all about you. How you deal with a challenge, and if you overcome it, you get all the kudos. You did it. It wasn't by support of a crew. It wasn't by support by an event that had "aid stations". Nope......you and you alone did it.
And that's pretty dang cool if you ask me.
"It's time for a reset of the playing field here!"
I can't really blame these folks. I mean, these sorts of events and their "rules and regulations" are more about unspoken things and having the correct attitude than what you will find from the rules for the typical "hamster circuit" events that are most popular in the mountain bike world.
Those events generally do not have a sort of loose, "suggestion-type" list as to what to do, wear, and bring to an event. They do not expect you will do the entire event unsupported and either provide all sorts of infrustructure or the actual support itself, or both. They "provide services" and charge a fee for it. In return you are expected to play by all sorts of rules, and the riders expect a lot in return from the promoters for following all of these rules for a fee to race. Like a closed course, ammenities, maybe a t-shirt.
And please- Don't take offense. It is okay to provide that sort of product and for bicyclists to buy into it. (Pun intended)
Well, at Trans Iowa, and a lot of other gravel grinders, you are not going to get that. You won't even have to pay a fee at all for many of these events. What you will get is simply this: A chance to challenge yourself mentally and physically against the clock on public roads while riding a bicycle. Like a big group ride challenge in the middle of the country. In return for pointing ya'all in the right direction, and for keeping tabs on ya'all for the purpose of bragging rights at the end, we expect you, the participant, to be of a reasonable mind and consider the following:
We are informing you all that are in the event that if you don't agree that you are on your own, that you are responsible for yourself, and that this is being undertaken of your own volition, then don't take the start.
The bottom line is this: Do not burden the event staff, promoter, or other racers with possibly having to extricate you from the course for any reason. This is a cardinal rule for all of the self supported, unsanctioned, "under the radar" events out there that drew their origins from "Curiak Rules"
Consider the statements highlighted here carefully. Most of you guys and gals "get it", but please- still give this some thought. It is important to really understand it.
The "Self Supported" ethos is what makes these events work. It is all about you. How you deal with a challenge, and if you overcome it, you get all the kudos. You did it. It wasn't by support of a crew. It wasn't by support by an event that had "aid stations". Nope......you and you alone did it.
And that's pretty dang cool if you ask me.
Trans Iowa V6: Thoughts Part XIII
Sometimes I see something posted or e-mailed to me that makes my eyes open a bit wider. A newer person to an "under the radar" event comes in, (generally), and writes the types of comments that make me think....
"It's time for a reset of the playing field here!"
I can't really blame these folks. I mean, these sorts of events and their "rules and regulations" are more about unspoken things and having the correct attitude than what you will find from the rules for the typical "hamster circuit" events that are most popular in the mountain bike world.
Those events generally do not have a sort of loose, "suggestion-type" list as to what to do, wear, and bring to an event. They do not expect you will do the entire event unsupported and either provide all sorts of infrustructure or the actual support itself, or both. They "provide services" and charge a fee for it. In return you are expected to play by all sorts of rules, and the riders expect a lot in return from the promoters for following all of these rules for a fee to race. Like a closed course, ammenities, maybe a t-shirt.
And please- Don't take offense. It is okay to provide that sort of product and for bicyclists to buy into it. (Pun intended)
Well, at Trans Iowa, and a lot of other gravel grinders, you are not going to get that. You won't even have to pay a fee at all for many of these events. What you will get is simply this: A chance to challenge yourself mentally and physically against the clock on public roads while riding a bicycle. Like a big group ride challenge in the middle of the country. In return for pointing ya'all in the right direction, and for keeping tabs on ya'all for the purpose of bragging rights at the end, we expect you, the participant, to be of a reasonable mind and consider the following:
We are informing you all that are in the event that if you don't agree that you are on your own, that you are responsible for yourself, and that this is being undertaken of your own volition, then don't take the start.
The bottom line is this: Do not burden the event staff, promoter, or other racers with possibly having to extricate you from the course for any reason. This is a cardinal rule for all of the self supported, unsanctioned, "under the radar" events out there that drew their origins from "Curiak Rules"
Consider the statements highlighted here carefully. Most of you guys and gals "get it", but please- still give this some thought. It is important to really understand it.
The "Self Supported" ethos is what makes these events work. It is all about you. How you deal with a challenge, and if you overcome it, you get all the kudos. You did it. It wasn't by support of a crew. It wasn't by support by an event that had "aid stations". Nope......you and you alone did it.
And that's pretty dang cool if you ask me.
"It's time for a reset of the playing field here!"
I can't really blame these folks. I mean, these sorts of events and their "rules and regulations" are more about unspoken things and having the correct attitude than what you will find from the rules for the typical "hamster circuit" events that are most popular in the mountain bike world.
Those events generally do not have a sort of loose, "suggestion-type" list as to what to do, wear, and bring to an event. They do not expect you will do the entire event unsupported and either provide all sorts of infrustructure or the actual support itself, or both. They "provide services" and charge a fee for it. In return you are expected to play by all sorts of rules, and the riders expect a lot in return from the promoters for following all of these rules for a fee to race. Like a closed course, ammenities, maybe a t-shirt.
And please- Don't take offense. It is okay to provide that sort of product and for bicyclists to buy into it. (Pun intended)
Well, at Trans Iowa, and a lot of other gravel grinders, you are not going to get that. You won't even have to pay a fee at all for many of these events. What you will get is simply this: A chance to challenge yourself mentally and physically against the clock on public roads while riding a bicycle. Like a big group ride challenge in the middle of the country. In return for pointing ya'all in the right direction, and for keeping tabs on ya'all for the purpose of bragging rights at the end, we expect you, the participant, to be of a reasonable mind and consider the following:
We are informing you all that are in the event that if you don't agree that you are on your own, that you are responsible for yourself, and that this is being undertaken of your own volition, then don't take the start.
The bottom line is this: Do not burden the event staff, promoter, or other racers with possibly having to extricate you from the course for any reason. This is a cardinal rule for all of the self supported, unsanctioned, "under the radar" events out there that drew their origins from "Curiak Rules"
Consider the statements highlighted here carefully. Most of you guys and gals "get it", but please- still give this some thought. It is important to really understand it.
The "Self Supported" ethos is what makes these events work. It is all about you. How you deal with a challenge, and if you overcome it, you get all the kudos. You did it. It wasn't by support of a crew. It wasn't by support by an event that had "aid stations". Nope......you and you alone did it.
And that's pretty dang cool if you ask me.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Friday News And Views
<=== Oh! If only there were clear dirt trails near by! How I would thrash thee!
The one thing I really worry about now as warmer weather looms is just how fast is this stuff going to melt, and when will it rain? The right, (or wrong) combination of these two answers could mean that the floods we saw in 2008 could be eclipsed by a potential flood like we have never seen the likes of. I sure hope that doesn't happen! It would really be disastrous. But this pile of white stuff is doomed to melt, and melt soon.
In the meantime, I have made my reservations/plans for Frostbike. That will be coming up a week from today, at least for me, as I trek up to Northfield, Minnesota and hang out at Mike's Bikes again. After that I am doing the open house, and then Saturday there is some mystery plan that will probably only become clear on Saturday afternoon. But I am okay with that. Sunday I'll make a quick appearance and then get back to Iowa. Look for reports from the road starting a week from today.
About a month from now I'll be in Texas for a week and one afternoon I will get to ride a bike. Sheesh! One day to ride when I'm in a literal riding paradise! And no snow! Well, although I want to ride the whole week, I won't since I will have my family along, so that won't be happening. At least one glorious day in the sun should happen though. More on this as the date grows closer.
So, maybe I'll hit up the snowmobile trails again Saturday on the bike. It's not much, but it beats sitting around waiting for the snow to melt! Have a great weekend and I hope someone is riding a bike out there somewhere!
Friday News And Views
<=== Oh! If only there were clear dirt trails near by! How I would thrash thee!
The one thing I really worry about now as warmer weather looms is just how fast is this stuff going to melt, and when will it rain? The right, (or wrong) combination of these two answers could mean that the floods we saw in 2008 could be eclipsed by a potential flood like we have never seen the likes of. I sure hope that doesn't happen! It would really be disastrous. But this pile of white stuff is doomed to melt, and melt soon.
In the meantime, I have made my reservations/plans for Frostbike. That will be coming up a week from today, at least for me, as I trek up to Northfield, Minnesota and hang out at Mike's Bikes again. After that I am doing the open house, and then Saturday there is some mystery plan that will probably only become clear on Saturday afternoon. But I am okay with that. Sunday I'll make a quick appearance and then get back to Iowa. Look for reports from the road starting a week from today.
About a month from now I'll be in Texas for a week and one afternoon I will get to ride a bike. Sheesh! One day to ride when I'm in a literal riding paradise! And no snow! Well, although I want to ride the whole week, I won't since I will have my family along, so that won't be happening. At least one glorious day in the sun should happen though. More on this as the date grows closer.
So, maybe I'll hit up the snowmobile trails again Saturday on the bike. It's not much, but it beats sitting around waiting for the snow to melt! Have a great weekend and I hope someone is riding a bike out there somewhere!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
If'n Ya Cain't Beat 'Em- Join 'Em!
I guess that my take is if it has to be cold, let's have a bunch of snow to play in. Okay, we can check that off. We have lots of snow to play in!
It's getting to wear a bit thin now that it is coming on to mid-February!
So I chose to do something to work with what I have to work with.
I went skiing.
In fact, if I want to find out how much my conditioning sucks, I go XC skiing. Boy! It doesn't take long to find out my stamina needs to get off life support and get into shape!
I would think that more folks would be in to that. Oh well! No worries here! I had a great time and got outside. It was beautiful, and I learned that winter can be pretty decent to get along with, if you are willing to quit fighting with it.
If'n Ya Cain't Beat 'Em- Join 'Em!
I guess that my take is if it has to be cold, let's have a bunch of snow to play in. Okay, we can check that off. We have lots of snow to play in!
It's getting to wear a bit thin now that it is coming on to mid-February!
So I chose to do something to work with what I have to work with.
I went skiing.
In fact, if I want to find out how much my conditioning sucks, I go XC skiing. Boy! It doesn't take long to find out my stamina needs to get off life support and get into shape!
I would think that more folks would be in to that. Oh well! No worries here! I had a great time and got outside. It was beautiful, and I learned that winter can be pretty decent to get along with, if you are willing to quit fighting with it.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday News And Views
Yeah, pretty much like a late 70's era klunker, as far as I can tell. There are still some big hurdles to leap over yet though. I need to source a crankset, possibly a tubular BMX style cruiser fork, and decide if I want to braze on some canti studs, or get some Sturmey-Archer drum brakes, (which could influence whether I keep the flat blade fork or not). I actually have some gold ano Ukai wheels for it that are laced to a Sturmey-Archer 3spd rear hub and a SunTour high flange front hub. I found some BMX levers from back in the day with white plastic covers too, which I could use for the brakes. Oh! And I can not forget that the frame needs some brazing work, as well.
Salsa Cycles came out with the steel La Cruz with disc brakes awhile ago. I have almost been tempted several times by that bike, but in my mind, the disc part was overkill and unnecessary for how I would have used the bike, which was for gravel road riding and paved road riding. To my mind, if you want disc brakes, tons of clearance, fatter tires than a typical cross rig, (read above 34mm), and the versatility of being able to go off road all dressed up in a drop bar specific package, you go to the Fargo. Then the Vaya hit the scene recently, and to my mind, it was too much Fargo and not enough of a lightweight road influenced gravel flyer. I guess the Vaya is to the Fargo what Miller Lite is to a good IPA. But that's just me.
Now when I saw Joe Meiser go to the front on that titanium cross bike in T.I.V5, and I realized what I was looking at was a titanium Salsa proto, I figured someday we'd see the rig bow as a La Cruz or Chille Con Crosso titanium rig. I'm glad Salsa chose the La Cruz moniker and the tire clearance that the name is known for. This is the gravel weapon I was thinking of. Light, titanium ride quality, plenty of room for 38's, and it doesn't appear to have a dinky head tube. Cantilever brakes work just fine on gravel, and are in keeping with the light theme set out by the gray-ish metal the frame is worked up in. Not to mention, I have become enamoured of the way titanium can ride of late, no thanks to Lynskey!
Get me some carbon clinchers, a tubeless set up, and some nice SRAM Rival group action and I would have "near perfection" for gravelly goodness here. Near perfection? Yes. It is missing single speed-ability and the price! Well........what do I expect? It is titanium after all!
Wednesday News And Views
Yeah, pretty much like a late 70's era klunker, as far as I can tell. There are still some big hurdles to leap over yet though. I need to source a crankset, possibly a tubular BMX style cruiser fork, and decide if I want to braze on some canti studs, or get some Sturmey-Archer drum brakes, (which could influence whether I keep the flat blade fork or not). I actually have some gold ano Ukai wheels for it that are laced to a Sturmey-Archer 3spd rear hub and a SunTour high flange front hub. I found some BMX levers from back in the day with white plastic covers too, which I could use for the brakes. Oh! And I can not forget that the frame needs some brazing work, as well.
Salsa Cycles came out with the steel La Cruz with disc brakes awhile ago. I have almost been tempted several times by that bike, but in my mind, the disc part was overkill and unnecessary for how I would have used the bike, which was for gravel road riding and paved road riding. To my mind, if you want disc brakes, tons of clearance, fatter tires than a typical cross rig, (read above 34mm), and the versatility of being able to go off road all dressed up in a drop bar specific package, you go to the Fargo. Then the Vaya hit the scene recently, and to my mind, it was too much Fargo and not enough of a lightweight road influenced gravel flyer. I guess the Vaya is to the Fargo what Miller Lite is to a good IPA. But that's just me.
Now when I saw Joe Meiser go to the front on that titanium cross bike in T.I.V5, and I realized what I was looking at was a titanium Salsa proto, I figured someday we'd see the rig bow as a La Cruz or Chille Con Crosso titanium rig. I'm glad Salsa chose the La Cruz moniker and the tire clearance that the name is known for. This is the gravel weapon I was thinking of. Light, titanium ride quality, plenty of room for 38's, and it doesn't appear to have a dinky head tube. Cantilever brakes work just fine on gravel, and are in keeping with the light theme set out by the gray-ish metal the frame is worked up in. Not to mention, I have become enamoured of the way titanium can ride of late, no thanks to Lynskey!
Get me some carbon clinchers, a tubeless set up, and some nice SRAM Rival group action and I would have "near perfection" for gravelly goodness here. Near perfection? Yes. It is missing single speed-ability and the price! Well........what do I expect? It is titanium after all!
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Bike Shop Tales: Back To Work II
Here are some more stories about the day to day at Advantage Cyclery.............
Advantage Cyclery was a really busy place in the season. I remember putting in plenty of 12 hour days there. Most of my time early on was split between being a salesman and being a mechanic, but it wasn't long before I was in the back most of the time wrenching on repair after repair.
Early on in my tenure there, the shop was walled off. A doorway to the sales area being the only outlet other than the back door. So things could get really congested on a busy day by that opening. I remember one day early on that caused a bit of a problem due to this bottle neck.
It was a typical busy day and we had sales people running in and out asking questions and having us attach accessories to new bikes. I was busy with something when Mike, a long, lanky fellow with long, stringy blonde hair poked his head into the shop area with a bicycle in his hands. Mike was an employee at times, used to be on the Advantage Cyclery race team, and was a super mellow guy. This day he was helping us out on the sales floor.
He had this bicycle and was trying to do something but needed a tool. The customer that owned the bike was standing right behind him in the doorway, a young women, probably college aged. Mike said, "Hey, can someone hand me a pair of dykes?" Okay.....innocuous enough, but unbeknownst to Mike, the young women standing behind him was not amused. I saw her jaw hit the floor, and her face went white, then blood red. I started to chuckle, because I understood right then that the young lady was "gay" and was taking offense at the term Mike had used for "diagonal end cutters". Mike seemed unaware until he turned around, probably at the sound of a sharp intake of air by the young women, who then began to give 'er to Mike for being so rude.
Everyone in the shop was barely in control of their laughter. Poor Mike! We all knew him well enough to know that he would never throw out that term in a derogatory manner. And of course, the young women may not have been schooled in the layman's terminology for common shop tools. Ah well! It all turned out okay, and we got a light hearted lift during a stressful day!
Another customer story: There was a fellow that came in and out of the shop that was mentally handicapped to the point that he couldn't drive, but he held down a job and got around by bicycle. It wasn't uncommon for him to take some time off and go visit folks in towns up to a 100 miles away. He used some pretty low end bicycles, so we saw a lot of him due to his constant need for new parts.
Well, this fellow needed a saddle one day and because he had issues with women, the gals wouldn't help him. I don't know why, but he could not be anything but rude to women, so we had an understanding that he had to talk to Tom, or another male employee if Tom wasn't around. Much of the time, this fell to me.
He was hard to get through to, and very suspicious. So selling him anything simple usually ended up being a three hour ordeal, seemingly. I sold him the saddle, bolted it on to his rig, and off he went. Didn't see him for months afterwards.
Then one day he came in ranting, and had one of the girls in tears while the other came back to get me furious at the dude. I said I'd be right out. Well, it seems that his saddle wore out and he was upset that it had worn out like it did when he had "just bought it". Okay, keep in mind he had ridden the bike for three to four months and probably had three thousand plus miles in that time. He rode in all kinds of weather in blue jeans. The saddle he bought was a typical replace ment saddle too. Maybe $30.00 retail. All right?
Well, he got flaming mad at me when I tried to tell him he simply wore out the Lycra cover. He yelled at me and called me a liar. Whoops! Pushed the wrong button there he did! I looked him straight in the eye and asked him to repeat what he just had said. He did. I said, "You and I are going outside. NOW!" Yeah.....he was a bit surprised by that reaction!
Well, I took him outside the door and told him he could say anything he wanted, but never, ever call me a liar. He could go away with nothing, and never come back, or we could go back in, and talk civil about his issues. He apologized. We went back inside, found him a faux leather take off saddle, charged him $5.00 for it and sent him on his way. He never was any trouble after that.
The girls were amazed, and very grateful for what I had done. Well, all in a days work, I guess!
More people and stories about the old shop days coming again next week!
Advantage Cyclery was a really busy place in the season. I remember putting in plenty of 12 hour days there. Most of my time early on was split between being a salesman and being a mechanic, but it wasn't long before I was in the back most of the time wrenching on repair after repair.
Early on in my tenure there, the shop was walled off. A doorway to the sales area being the only outlet other than the back door. So things could get really congested on a busy day by that opening. I remember one day early on that caused a bit of a problem due to this bottle neck.
It was a typical busy day and we had sales people running in and out asking questions and having us attach accessories to new bikes. I was busy with something when Mike, a long, lanky fellow with long, stringy blonde hair poked his head into the shop area with a bicycle in his hands. Mike was an employee at times, used to be on the Advantage Cyclery race team, and was a super mellow guy. This day he was helping us out on the sales floor.
He had this bicycle and was trying to do something but needed a tool. The customer that owned the bike was standing right behind him in the doorway, a young women, probably college aged. Mike said, "Hey, can someone hand me a pair of dykes?" Okay.....innocuous enough, but unbeknownst to Mike, the young women standing behind him was not amused. I saw her jaw hit the floor, and her face went white, then blood red. I started to chuckle, because I understood right then that the young lady was "gay" and was taking offense at the term Mike had used for "diagonal end cutters". Mike seemed unaware until he turned around, probably at the sound of a sharp intake of air by the young women, who then began to give 'er to Mike for being so rude.
Everyone in the shop was barely in control of their laughter. Poor Mike! We all knew him well enough to know that he would never throw out that term in a derogatory manner. And of course, the young women may not have been schooled in the layman's terminology for common shop tools. Ah well! It all turned out okay, and we got a light hearted lift during a stressful day!
Another customer story: There was a fellow that came in and out of the shop that was mentally handicapped to the point that he couldn't drive, but he held down a job and got around by bicycle. It wasn't uncommon for him to take some time off and go visit folks in towns up to a 100 miles away. He used some pretty low end bicycles, so we saw a lot of him due to his constant need for new parts.
Well, this fellow needed a saddle one day and because he had issues with women, the gals wouldn't help him. I don't know why, but he could not be anything but rude to women, so we had an understanding that he had to talk to Tom, or another male employee if Tom wasn't around. Much of the time, this fell to me.
He was hard to get through to, and very suspicious. So selling him anything simple usually ended up being a three hour ordeal, seemingly. I sold him the saddle, bolted it on to his rig, and off he went. Didn't see him for months afterwards.
Then one day he came in ranting, and had one of the girls in tears while the other came back to get me furious at the dude. I said I'd be right out. Well, it seems that his saddle wore out and he was upset that it had worn out like it did when he had "just bought it". Okay, keep in mind he had ridden the bike for three to four months and probably had three thousand plus miles in that time. He rode in all kinds of weather in blue jeans. The saddle he bought was a typical replace ment saddle too. Maybe $30.00 retail. All right?
Well, he got flaming mad at me when I tried to tell him he simply wore out the Lycra cover. He yelled at me and called me a liar. Whoops! Pushed the wrong button there he did! I looked him straight in the eye and asked him to repeat what he just had said. He did. I said, "You and I are going outside. NOW!" Yeah.....he was a bit surprised by that reaction!
Well, I took him outside the door and told him he could say anything he wanted, but never, ever call me a liar. He could go away with nothing, and never come back, or we could go back in, and talk civil about his issues. He apologized. We went back inside, found him a faux leather take off saddle, charged him $5.00 for it and sent him on his way. He never was any trouble after that.
The girls were amazed, and very grateful for what I had done. Well, all in a days work, I guess!
More people and stories about the old shop days coming again next week!
Bike Shop Tales: Back To Work II
Here are some more stories about the day to day at Advantage Cyclery.............
Advantage Cyclery was a really busy place in the season. I remember putting in plenty of 12 hour days there. Most of my time early on was split between being a salesman and being a mechanic, but it wasn't long before I was in the back most of the time wrenching on repair after repair.
Early on in my tenure there, the shop was walled off. A doorway to the sales area being the only outlet other than the back door. So things could get really congested on a busy day by that opening. I remember one day early on that caused a bit of a problem due to this bottle neck.
It was a typical busy day and we had sales people running in and out asking questions and having us attach accessories to new bikes. I was busy with something when Mike, a long, lanky fellow with long, stringy blonde hair poked his head into the shop area with a bicycle in his hands. Mike was an employee at times, used to be on the Advantage Cyclery race team, and was a super mellow guy. This day he was helping us out on the sales floor.
He had this bicycle and was trying to do something but needed a tool. The customer that owned the bike was standing right behind him in the doorway, a young women, probably college aged. Mike said, "Hey, can someone hand me a pair of dykes?" Okay.....innocuous enough, but unbeknownst to Mike, the young women standing behind him was not amused. I saw her jaw hit the floor, and her face went white, then blood red. I started to chuckle, because I understood right then that the young lady was "gay" and was taking offense at the term Mike had used for "diagonal end cutters". Mike seemed unaware until he turned around, probably at the sound of a sharp intake of air by the young women, who then began to give 'er to Mike for being so rude.
Everyone in the shop was barely in control of their laughter. Poor Mike! We all knew him well enough to know that he would never throw out that term in a derogatory manner. And of course, the young women may not have been schooled in the layman's terminology for common shop tools. Ah well! It all turned out okay, and we got a light hearted lift during a stressful day!
Another customer story: There was a fellow that came in and out of the shop that was mentally handicapped to the point that he couldn't drive, but he held down a job and got around by bicycle. It wasn't uncommon for him to take some time off and go visit folks in towns up to a 100 miles away. He used some pretty low end bicycles, so we saw a lot of him due to his constant need for new parts.
Well, this fellow needed a saddle one day and because he had issues with women, the gals wouldn't help him. I don't know why, but he could not be anything but rude to women, so we had an understanding that he had to talk to Tom, or another male employee if Tom wasn't around. Much of the time, this fell to me.
He was hard to get through to, and very suspicious. So selling him anything simple usually ended up being a three hour ordeal, seemingly. I sold him the saddle, bolted it on to his rig, and off he went. Didn't see him for months afterwards.
Then one day he came in ranting, and had one of the girls in tears while the other came back to get me furious at the dude. I said I'd be right out. Well, it seems that his saddle wore out and he was upset that it had worn out like it did when he had "just bought it". Okay, keep in mind he had ridden the bike for three to four months and probably had three thousand plus miles in that time. He rode in all kinds of weather in blue jeans. The saddle he bought was a typical replace ment saddle too. Maybe $30.00 retail. All right?
Well, he got flaming mad at me when I tried to tell him he simply wore out the Lycra cover. He yelled at me and called me a liar. Whoops! Pushed the wrong button there he did! I looked him straight in the eye and asked him to repeat what he just had said. He did. I said, "You and I are going outside. NOW!" Yeah.....he was a bit surprised by that reaction!
Well, I took him outside the door and told him he could say anything he wanted, but never, ever call me a liar. He could go away with nothing, and never come back, or we could go back in, and talk civil about his issues. He apologized. We went back inside, found him a faux leather take off saddle, charged him $5.00 for it and sent him on his way. He never was any trouble after that.
The girls were amazed, and very grateful for what I had done. Well, all in a days work, I guess!
More people and stories about the old shop days coming again next week!
Advantage Cyclery was a really busy place in the season. I remember putting in plenty of 12 hour days there. Most of my time early on was split between being a salesman and being a mechanic, but it wasn't long before I was in the back most of the time wrenching on repair after repair.
Early on in my tenure there, the shop was walled off. A doorway to the sales area being the only outlet other than the back door. So things could get really congested on a busy day by that opening. I remember one day early on that caused a bit of a problem due to this bottle neck.
It was a typical busy day and we had sales people running in and out asking questions and having us attach accessories to new bikes. I was busy with something when Mike, a long, lanky fellow with long, stringy blonde hair poked his head into the shop area with a bicycle in his hands. Mike was an employee at times, used to be on the Advantage Cyclery race team, and was a super mellow guy. This day he was helping us out on the sales floor.
He had this bicycle and was trying to do something but needed a tool. The customer that owned the bike was standing right behind him in the doorway, a young women, probably college aged. Mike said, "Hey, can someone hand me a pair of dykes?" Okay.....innocuous enough, but unbeknownst to Mike, the young women standing behind him was not amused. I saw her jaw hit the floor, and her face went white, then blood red. I started to chuckle, because I understood right then that the young lady was "gay" and was taking offense at the term Mike had used for "diagonal end cutters". Mike seemed unaware until he turned around, probably at the sound of a sharp intake of air by the young women, who then began to give 'er to Mike for being so rude.
Everyone in the shop was barely in control of their laughter. Poor Mike! We all knew him well enough to know that he would never throw out that term in a derogatory manner. And of course, the young women may not have been schooled in the layman's terminology for common shop tools. Ah well! It all turned out okay, and we got a light hearted lift during a stressful day!
Another customer story: There was a fellow that came in and out of the shop that was mentally handicapped to the point that he couldn't drive, but he held down a job and got around by bicycle. It wasn't uncommon for him to take some time off and go visit folks in towns up to a 100 miles away. He used some pretty low end bicycles, so we saw a lot of him due to his constant need for new parts.
Well, this fellow needed a saddle one day and because he had issues with women, the gals wouldn't help him. I don't know why, but he could not be anything but rude to women, so we had an understanding that he had to talk to Tom, or another male employee if Tom wasn't around. Much of the time, this fell to me.
He was hard to get through to, and very suspicious. So selling him anything simple usually ended up being a three hour ordeal, seemingly. I sold him the saddle, bolted it on to his rig, and off he went. Didn't see him for months afterwards.
Then one day he came in ranting, and had one of the girls in tears while the other came back to get me furious at the dude. I said I'd be right out. Well, it seems that his saddle wore out and he was upset that it had worn out like it did when he had "just bought it". Okay, keep in mind he had ridden the bike for three to four months and probably had three thousand plus miles in that time. He rode in all kinds of weather in blue jeans. The saddle he bought was a typical replace ment saddle too. Maybe $30.00 retail. All right?
Well, he got flaming mad at me when I tried to tell him he simply wore out the Lycra cover. He yelled at me and called me a liar. Whoops! Pushed the wrong button there he did! I looked him straight in the eye and asked him to repeat what he just had said. He did. I said, "You and I are going outside. NOW!" Yeah.....he was a bit surprised by that reaction!
Well, I took him outside the door and told him he could say anything he wanted, but never, ever call me a liar. He could go away with nothing, and never come back, or we could go back in, and talk civil about his issues. He apologized. We went back inside, found him a faux leather take off saddle, charged him $5.00 for it and sent him on his way. He never was any trouble after that.
The girls were amazed, and very grateful for what I had done. Well, all in a days work, I guess!
More people and stories about the old shop days coming again next week!
Monday, February 08, 2010
Scheduling
Then after Frostbike it will be full court press on Trans Iowa V6 details. This will be mixed in with trying to get some riding in for Twenty Nine Inches testing, which all by itself would keep me plenty busy as it is. Add in that RAGBRAI is coming through our area, and I am sure spring tune-ups will be falling into the shop like rain.
Of course, the end of April will be all about Trans Iowa. No Sea Otter this year. Too much going on and I can not afford it!
After Kansas, I'll be doing another Fargo Adventure Ride in Minnesota. That's three big rides in the space of six weeks! If I am still alive after the Fargo Ride, we immediately head up to Chequamegon again for another dose of single track.
Whoa!
I will be trying to ride all the ascents out this time, but it will be insanely tough! This was by far the hardest GTDRI course ever and also the most scenic. We'll be camping out right afterward and hanging out till Sunday morning. This will be a great time.
Whew! That's going to be an epic year of cycling if it all pans out. Of course, after all of this, at the end of September, I'll likely be headed out to Interbike too. So more riding in Bootleg Canyon. Oh yeah!
So, as you can see, I'll be plenty busy all year long. If I have to decline your offer to do something else, I think you'll be able to figure out why!
Scheduling
Then after Frostbike it will be full court press on Trans Iowa V6 details. This will be mixed in with trying to get some riding in for Twenty Nine Inches testing, which all by itself would keep me plenty busy as it is. Add in that RAGBRAI is coming through our area, and I am sure spring tune-ups will be falling into the shop like rain.
Of course, the end of April will be all about Trans Iowa. No Sea Otter this year. Too much going on and I can not afford it!
After Kansas, I'll be doing another Fargo Adventure Ride in Minnesota. That's three big rides in the space of six weeks! If I am still alive after the Fargo Ride, we immediately head up to Chequamegon again for another dose of single track.
Whoa!
I will be trying to ride all the ascents out this time, but it will be insanely tough! This was by far the hardest GTDRI course ever and also the most scenic. We'll be camping out right afterward and hanging out till Sunday morning. This will be a great time.
Whew! That's going to be an epic year of cycling if it all pans out. Of course, after all of this, at the end of September, I'll likely be headed out to Interbike too. So more riding in Bootleg Canyon. Oh yeah!
So, as you can see, I'll be plenty busy all year long. If I have to decline your offer to do something else, I think you'll be able to figure out why!
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Trans Iowa V6: Thoughts Part XII
This week's Trans Iowa V6 talk won't be so heavy on details. Still, there is much to say.
First off, we got in some sweet Trans Iowa stickers that all the racers will be getting at the Pre-Race Meat-Up on April 23rd. These would look nice on an aluminum top tube, or most any down tube, or wherever you want to stick something up with a Trans Iowa logo. These came courtesy of Wilson Bicycle Consulting which will also be sending out Kevin Wilson to help with the volunteer crew. If you get a chance to see him, tell him thanks for the support.
Speaking Of Volunteers: We have not really been beating the volunteer drum this time because we haven't had to! It has been pretty amazing so far, and I am glad to say that we have volunteers enough to run the event now- if all that have stepped forward do show up. This is awesome, and if you are a racer at T.I.V6 this year, please make an effort to say thanks to these folks. They are not getting anything but the satisfaction that they are helping out with something they believe in, (and a guaranteed entry to T.I.V7 if they want it).
Stay tuned for an e-mail from me closer to the event, if you are a volunteer.
Gravel Grinder At Trans Iowa: In lieu of a proper name for this, I am just calling it "the gravel grinder during Trans Iowa, and telling folks that if you are not in T.I.V6, you can still check out parts of the course.
That's right! If you want a wee little taste of what the guys and gals of T.I.V6 are seeing out there, you can check out about 50 miles or so of the actual T.I.V6 course. This will be a group ride with no rider left behind. Details will be released later, (with a proper name for it even!), and the total will be around 100 miles. Shorter options will be available as well.
A Moto: We will feature a motorcycle bourne course sweeper at this years T.I. for the first time. If conditions are decent that is. I mention this so that you riders will not be surprised by this and will know what is up if some dude on a moto is trying to get a close look at you. We are doing this in an effort to be more precise in pinpointing where people are on course, and this will obviously allow us to pass along more timely info to support folks. Because of this, I am going to be a bit more persnickety about where and how you place your number plates on the bike/body. I am going to ask that the plates not be modified in any way. I am going to ask that the plates be plainly visible from a distance. This will prevent the moto from having to get up in your grill and we will get better info.
Finally, in an effort to make sure we don't leave anyone unaccounted for, we are going to sweep the course after each checkpoint closes with this moto. Obviously, the moto will not be giving out free rides to town, but in exceptional cases, the moto will stop to make sure you have called in for the calvary, whomever that may be for you. Once again- You are responsible for getting out safely! You either have a support person, or you are on your own. If you are on your own, the moto driver is going to double check that you have called in to the DNF line. Then we are moving on. This is important! HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR GETTING OFF COURSE IF YOU DNF!! We will not be responsible for you, and if it is raining, cold, and blowing out of the Northwest at an ungodly rate of speed, (all things that have happened at previous Trans Iowa's), I'd hate to be you with no one to come and get me, and being stuck miles from Grinnell.
I say these things because I know many of you are coming to Trans Iowa alone, without a support person. Be smart! Don't try to be a hero, or think you have to finish because you don't have anyone to call. Better to cut it short while you still have something left in the tank than have Trans Iowa be sullied by some needless tragedy.
Roster Thoughts: This leads me to the final thoughts I have for this posting. Rosters have been increasing to astronomical levels in a few of the underground, unsanctioned gravel events. While the ideal of free racing for all comers is an attractive one, it doesn't come without strings attached. With great rosters come great responsibilities, if I may be so bold to paraphrase the famous quote. Let me explain.....
After Trans Iowa V1 there was a great outpouring of compliments directed at Jeff and I for doing the event. The thought that we had pulled off a succesful event was a heady feeling. We, (or rather more correctly- I) got our heads pulled out of the clouds by long time event promoter, Rich Gosen. Rich had been putting on gravel grinders, XC races, and time trials off road longer than I had been riding a mountain bike. So, to say he knows a thing or two would be an understatement. Well, Rich was non-plussed by our "accomplishment".
In fact, he was rather irritated due to our lack of care that we gave to tracking folks, in particular. There was more to it than that, but suffice it to say, it was a wake up call, and well needed. I'll just say this: event promoters better be very, very confident that they can keep track of all the nuances that each extra person on an event roster brings to the table. Not only that, but the impact of each person on the locality, and the locals themselves. (Which can be a good thing, or....) It only takes one disgruntled local to ruin it for everybody. I also would mention that getting help is paramount in putting these events on. Volunteer help is indispensable to me in running T.I.V6. I'll probably have around 10 volunteers for a roster on the day of the event that might number 50-ish folks. If I had twice that number on my roster, I'd want twice that number of volunteers. I've learned this over five Trans Iowas.
Okay- I've said all I will say about that. Folks can take it- or leave it.
Until next time..........
Trans Iowa V6: Thoughts Part XII
This week's Trans Iowa V6 talk won't be so heavy on details. Still, there is much to say.
First off, we got in some sweet Trans Iowa stickers that all the racers will be getting at the Pre-Race Meat-Up on April 23rd. These would look nice on an aluminum top tube, or most any down tube, or wherever you want to stick something up with a Trans Iowa logo. These came courtesy of Wilson Bicycle Consulting which will also be sending out Kevin Wilson to help with the volunteer crew. If you get a chance to see him, tell him thanks for the support.
Speaking Of Volunteers: We have not really been beating the volunteer drum this time because we haven't had to! It has been pretty amazing so far, and I am glad to say that we have volunteers enough to run the event now- if all that have stepped forward do show up. This is awesome, and if you are a racer at T.I.V6 this year, please make an effort to say thanks to these folks. They are not getting anything but the satisfaction that they are helping out with something they believe in, (and a guaranteed entry to T.I.V7 if they want it).
Stay tuned for an e-mail from me closer to the event, if you are a volunteer.
Gravel Grinder At Trans Iowa: In lieu of a proper name for this, I am just calling it "the gravel grinder during Trans Iowa, and telling folks that if you are not in T.I.V6, you can still check out parts of the course.
That's right! If you want a wee little taste of what the guys and gals of T.I.V6 are seeing out there, you can check out about 50 miles or so of the actual T.I.V6 course. This will be a group ride with no rider left behind. Details will be released later, (with a proper name for it even!), and the total will be around 100 miles. Shorter options will be available as well.
A Moto: We will feature a motorcycle bourne course sweeper at this years T.I. for the first time. If conditions are decent that is. I mention this so that you riders will not be surprised by this and will know what is up if some dude on a moto is trying to get a close look at you. We are doing this in an effort to be more precise in pinpointing where people are on course, and this will obviously allow us to pass along more timely info to support folks. Because of this, I am going to be a bit more persnickety about where and how you place your number plates on the bike/body. I am going to ask that the plates not be modified in any way. I am going to ask that the plates be plainly visible from a distance. This will prevent the moto from having to get up in your grill and we will get better info.
Finally, in an effort to make sure we don't leave anyone unaccounted for, we are going to sweep the course after each checkpoint closes with this moto. Obviously, the moto will not be giving out free rides to town, but in exceptional cases, the moto will stop to make sure you have called in for the calvary, whomever that may be for you. Once again- You are responsible for getting out safely! You either have a support person, or you are on your own. If you are on your own, the moto driver is going to double check that you have called in to the DNF line. Then we are moving on. This is important! HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR GETTING OFF COURSE IF YOU DNF!! We will not be responsible for you, and if it is raining, cold, and blowing out of the Northwest at an ungodly rate of speed, (all things that have happened at previous Trans Iowa's), I'd hate to be you with no one to come and get me, and being stuck miles from Grinnell.
I say these things because I know many of you are coming to Trans Iowa alone, without a support person. Be smart! Don't try to be a hero, or think you have to finish because you don't have anyone to call. Better to cut it short while you still have something left in the tank than have Trans Iowa be sullied by some needless tragedy.
Roster Thoughts: This leads me to the final thoughts I have for this posting. Rosters have been increasing to astronomical levels in a few of the underground, unsanctioned gravel events. While the ideal of free racing for all comers is an attractive one, it doesn't come without strings attached. With great rosters come great responsibilities, if I may be so bold to paraphrase the famous quote. Let me explain.....
After Trans Iowa V1 there was a great outpouring of compliments directed at Jeff and I for doing the event. The thought that we had pulled off a succesful event was a heady feeling. We, (or rather more correctly- I) got our heads pulled out of the clouds by long time event promoter, Rich Gosen. Rich had been putting on gravel grinders, XC races, and time trials off road longer than I had been riding a mountain bike. So, to say he knows a thing or two would be an understatement. Well, Rich was non-plussed by our "accomplishment".
In fact, he was rather irritated due to our lack of care that we gave to tracking folks, in particular. There was more to it than that, but suffice it to say, it was a wake up call, and well needed. I'll just say this: event promoters better be very, very confident that they can keep track of all the nuances that each extra person on an event roster brings to the table. Not only that, but the impact of each person on the locality, and the locals themselves. (Which can be a good thing, or....) It only takes one disgruntled local to ruin it for everybody. I also would mention that getting help is paramount in putting these events on. Volunteer help is indispensable to me in running T.I.V6. I'll probably have around 10 volunteers for a roster on the day of the event that might number 50-ish folks. If I had twice that number on my roster, I'd want twice that number of volunteers. I've learned this over five Trans Iowas.
Okay- I've said all I will say about that. Folks can take it- or leave it.
Until next time..........
Friday, February 05, 2010
Chequamegon 100: A New Dirty Hundy
I got an e-mail from T.I.V5 winner Joe Meiser yesterday regarding some nit-witted idea he and his co-worker Tim Krueger hatched up. They decided to put on a 100 mile, self supported race through Chequamegon National Forest lands on CAMBA trails and fire roads.......for free!
Those doofuses. They oughtta talk to someone that could tell them a thing or two about numbskulled ideas like this. (Awesome! Way to go you guys!) I would tell them a thing or two about what they've gotten themselves into.
But, it would appear that it is too late for that. In keeping with the viral nature in regards to how fast rosters are filling up these days, by the time you read this, the event will likely be filled to its 100 rider capacity. And you know, if you've already invited people to come, it is really hard to tell them, "Whelp! We thought this over and we realized we were being rediculous, so ya'all just go on home now!" No.......that wouldn't really work very well now, would it?
Yeah, this idea is so whacked that it qualifies as a "badder idea" than Bad Idea Racing. Yes- that bad! But what can I do? I figured after last years embarassing outing that I had at the Rock Lake Trail I should get back for some revenge. We'll see how that all works out.
And like I said yesterday, I'll give it a try!
Have a great weekend and if you are not in the "snow-pocalypse", maybe you can get some riding in! (I know I better get busy!)
Chequamegon 100: A New Dirty Hundy
I got an e-mail from T.I.V5 winner Joe Meiser yesterday regarding some nit-witted idea he and his co-worker Tim Krueger hatched up. They decided to put on a 100 mile, self supported race through Chequamegon National Forest lands on CAMBA trails and fire roads.......for free!
Those doofuses. They oughtta talk to someone that could tell them a thing or two about numbskulled ideas like this. (Awesome! Way to go you guys!) I would tell them a thing or two about what they've gotten themselves into.
But, it would appear that it is too late for that. In keeping with the viral nature in regards to how fast rosters are filling up these days, by the time you read this, the event will likely be filled to its 100 rider capacity. And you know, if you've already invited people to come, it is really hard to tell them, "Whelp! We thought this over and we realized we were being rediculous, so ya'all just go on home now!" No.......that wouldn't really work very well now, would it?
Yeah, this idea is so whacked that it qualifies as a "badder idea" than Bad Idea Racing. Yes- that bad! But what can I do? I figured after last years embarassing outing that I had at the Rock Lake Trail I should get back for some revenge. We'll see how that all works out.
And like I said yesterday, I'll give it a try!
Have a great weekend and if you are not in the "snow-pocalypse", maybe you can get some riding in! (I know I better get busy!)
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