tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37521884893302479012024-03-12T18:38:59.348-07:00The Hub Bike Co-Op BlogNews and views from Minneapolis' only worker-owned bike co-op.Hubstershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907278666274303336noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-62565042539652724072013-11-09T11:01:00.000-08:002013-11-09T11:35:45.988-08:00Hydraulic road? Yep, employee playing with their new SRAM s700 hydraulic drop-bar setup. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfrONUXTpNk/Un5777OniqI/AAAAAAAAAIY/0SpEjE-cphU/s1600/photo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfrONUXTpNk/Un5777OniqI/AAAAAAAAAIY/0SpEjE-cphU/s320/photo4.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
New shifter/brake/r-der day! I have been waiting for a company to make hydraulic road/cross shifters for years. Leave it up to SRAM to pull through for me with these guys. They are the S700 shifters/brakes which are the lower priced version (and no carbon or titanium and is 10 speed rather than 10) of their Red. I also decided to go with SRAM's X9 type 2 mtn rear der with a short cage (made for downhill but should work swell for a cross/mtn bike). This has a clutch it in to reduce chain slap and help keep it on the single chainring set up I am using (I have a Wolf Tooth ring up front that needs no guides). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wuk4qwnAvKc/Un5794cujsI/AAAAAAAAAIg/DDeXJ74n5Og/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wuk4qwnAvKc/Un5794cujsI/AAAAAAAAAIg/DDeXJ74n5Og/s320/photo1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
So my natural reaction when buying new stuff it to take it apart!!! This is all the bits from the front shifter/brake. It's remarkably simple. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THdF0k6qlJA/Un57_gZhsmI/AAAAAAAAAIo/FMEiC6AbVr4/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THdF0k6qlJA/Un57_gZhsmI/AAAAAAAAAIo/FMEiC6AbVr4/s320/photo2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
I don't use a front der so I kept all the shifter parts out. This is ALL the shifter parts. I still can't believe how simple SRAM has made this, especially considering the job it's made for and the reliability it offers. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Fgz62Gs3U/Un58BCrSy3I/AAAAAAAAAIw/GT3SbEUsLUs/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Fgz62Gs3U/Un58BCrSy3I/AAAAAAAAAIw/GT3SbEUsLUs/s320/photo3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
My frame was just made with cable stops... They didn't think someone would want to set the bike up with full hydraulic. Sooooo, I drilled em out, 6 of them to be exact (the extra 2 where the shifter stops on the right seatstay, I figured may as well since I am on a roll). No, I do NOT recommend doing this, its risky and could force you into a new frame purchase. I just was willing to risk things on my own equipment. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkCaIovkg3I/Un58CqKDgDI/AAAAAAAAAI4/tcW7G8HzY2w/s1600/photo5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkCaIovkg3I/Un58CqKDgDI/AAAAAAAAAI4/tcW7G8HzY2w/s320/photo5.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
New shifters on the bars... may need to get used to the extra large hoods that are needed to fit the hydraulic setup inside. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pNPqG2N6qE/Un58EcMYvsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/mbLkc75I5Bk/s1600/photo6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pNPqG2N6qE/Un58EcMYvsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/mbLkc75I5Bk/s320/photo6.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
The X-9 rear der lookin all good. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-caGnso3KhBs/Un58Gn47s3I/AAAAAAAAAJI/FGnZq4CGs44/s1600/photo8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-caGnso3KhBs/Un58Gn47s3I/AAAAAAAAAJI/FGnZq4CGs44/s320/photo8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see here that the housing goes all the way though what used to be a cable stop. Since the der, nor the shifter have barrel adjusters I added an in-line one on between the cable guides. The location keeps if from having a bend and I can reach it while riding. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InAMPx-Gq9M/Un58IppLWFI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/YBFpYQbm-lE/s1600/photo9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InAMPx-Gq9M/Un58IppLWFI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/YBFpYQbm-lE/s320/photo9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
All done! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jHqmD6XKZg/Un58LEZgw8I/AAAAAAAAAJY/0p0adKCFLZE/s1600/photo10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jHqmD6XKZg/Un58LEZgw8I/AAAAAAAAAJY/0p0adKCFLZE/s320/photo10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I swapped the rear rotor to a 140 since the new brakes have so much power (smaller the rotor the less the power/leverage) and I wanted the looks of the little one on the back. By switching from a Shimano 105 shifter, shimano Alfine left brake lever (matches the shifter shape without the shifter bits in it) and Avid bb-7 brakes I was able to shave half a pound off. This bike weighs just a tad under 20lbs (with pedals). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--4Ep3ybPEgw/Un58NBxrXRI/AAAAAAAAAJg/pyUQtHWRl5A/s1600/photo11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--4Ep3ybPEgw/Un58NBxrXRI/AAAAAAAAAJg/pyUQtHWRl5A/s320/photo11.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
I fell in love with the shifter shape immediately... The extra room at the top keeps my hands on the hoods when doing steep downhills and it gives a nice stable power position. Can't fight adding an extra riding position, even if it does look a little goofy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuydkEmuWh8/Un58PfBv3hI/AAAAAAAAAJo/akZw_ct2NCM/s1600/photo12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuydkEmuWh8/Un58PfBv3hI/AAAAAAAAAJo/akZw_ct2NCM/s320/photo12.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
So, what did I think? First off you should know I am a bit biased... I have been on hydraulic mtn disks since the late 90s and would never dream about anything else. Every one of my other bikes now uses hydraulic. I love the extra power, the smooth lever feel, the braking consistency (doesn't matter what junk you're riding in, they feel the same), the looks, the ease of maintenance, simplicity of pad removal, ease of wheel removal (no need to disconnected the brakes). This set-up was no different from what I have fallen in love with. While riding I am no longer thinking about braking, it just works. The power curve to these is a little different, however, from most mtn brakes. It's not as on-off as most but still has the same potential max power. This is a great things since you have less traction with the smaller tire and need to modulate things a little more. I am finding myself at higher speeds, using a controlled slide through corners like my mtn bikes, trying more difficult trails and throwing the bike around a lot more. This is all because I know I can stop quicker every time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-74281447383068954022013-10-23T16:32:00.003-07:002013-10-23T16:56:17.935-07:00Dynamo Lighting Systems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my-55vj-UBc/UmhTN1l2fhI/AAAAAAAAAKY/8AR5Lqyb-q4/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my-55vj-UBc/UmhTN1l2fhI/AAAAAAAAAKY/8AR5Lqyb-q4/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
DYNAMO LIGHTING SYSTEMS</h2>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
The benefits of using a hub
powered dynamo lighting system are well documented, but for some
reason have never become very popular in the U.S. Its hard to
understand why, when these systems offer better visibility, more
theft resistence and freedom from batteries and cold weather battery
failure.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
To get started we're going
to need a front wheel with a dynamo hub. Options for the dynamo hub
itself are plentiful with a wide price range from around $40 to
around $350 depending on what you are looking for. From there you
pick your spokes and rim (or work with one of our wheel builders to
find the best wheel components for your needs) and then its time to
build a wheel. As a side note, there are also several options for
prebuilt dynamo hub wheels which may suit your needs, but a custom
build will offer a broader choice of components. We are also more
than happy to build a wheel for you ($45-$60 labor per wheel). You
will also have to choose your lights. Again, many brands and models
are available depending on how much light you need and what types of
features you want.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
For this project we will be
using the following components:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2-pWALkhAY/UmhWHBXqLHI/AAAAAAAAAKk/7SBo2c6R6xc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2-pWALkhAY/UmhWHBXqLHI/AAAAAAAAAKk/7SBo2c6R6xc/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>-Hub: </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Sanyo h27 hub. This is
a great budget minded model for folks who dont have extreme demands
on their lighting sytem.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8UW5UQiWuI/UmhWmijVLgI/AAAAAAAAAKs/PWV4IbUuhtM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8UW5UQiWuI/UmhWmijVLgI/AAAAAAAAAKs/PWV4IbUuhtM/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-<i>Spokes: </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
DT Swiss champion
spokes. DT ships their black spokes with aluminum nipples, which are
okay, but I always encourage customers to spend a little extra on
brass spoke nipples, they are less likely to round out or crack
during service, they are naturally corrosion resistent and they have
a much longer lifespan than alumimum at a small and exceptable weight
penalty. Side note: DT silver spokes ship with brass nipples.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--B4_jBdyFeE/UmhXnq9LraI/AAAAAAAAAK0/cSFgLKOv0gs/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--B4_jBdyFeE/UmhXnq9LraI/AAAAAAAAAK0/cSFgLKOv0gs/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>-Rim: </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
We are re-using the
customer's stock Alexrims ID-19rim since this bike was only about 1
month old when they decided to upgrade to a dynamo system and the rim
is in new condition.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkSz7uQHONU/UmhYjGGCySI/AAAAAAAAAMc/qGUxMb5Q6qM/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkSz7uQHONU/UmhYjGGCySI/AAAAAAAAAMc/qGUxMb5Q6qM/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>-Lights: </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
This customer chose
Busch&Muller for front and rear. The front light is the B&M
IQ Fly RT and the taillight is the B&M Toplight Line Braketec
Plus, both great choices for commuters, this headlight has daytime
running lights and the taillight has a standlight which stay lit up
when you are at a stoplight and also has a brake light which puts out
a brighter light when your bike comes to a stop so that traffice
around you knows what you are up to. Both add a lot of safety to
urban commuting.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi5VnNBOrPg/UmhX2gfBJII/AAAAAAAAALA/mtIYhEuRVvU/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi5VnNBOrPg/UmhX2gfBJII/AAAAAAAAALA/mtIYhEuRVvU/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Using the Phil Wood spoke
cutter</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TaTrDkNebss/UmhYAUjNYuI/AAAAAAAAALw/gnMP3-OQPAo/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TaTrDkNebss/UmhYAUjNYuI/AAAAAAAAALw/gnMP3-OQPAo/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Preparing the spokes with
a coating of Wheelsmith Spokeprep</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a aiotitle="" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY26IPMnoAE/UmhYAXMO_lI/AAAAAAAAAL0/yLgpkFGNEB0/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY26IPMnoAE/UmhYAXMO_lI/AAAAAAAAAL0/yLgpkFGNEB0/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lacing the wheel</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Sqa7qmZR4/UmhYAzu-UMI/AAAAAAAAAL4/eEHmyDWTAs4/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Sqa7qmZR4/UmhYAzu-UMI/AAAAAAAAAL4/eEHmyDWTAs4/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Finished wheel being
installed in the fork </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Wiring the light can be a
bit time consuming if you have never done it before, so give yourself
plenty of time, take it slow and pay close attention to how things
are looking. Nothing is worse than spending a lot of time on a
project and not liking how it looks at the end. You want to make sure
that the wiring is secured along the frame, has strain relief where
needed and doesn't interfere with any other components or moving
parts.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
The tools you will need
are...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-wire stripper (preferably
with metric crimps)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-Zipties</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-Marker</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-Shrink Tubing (1/16"
and 1/8" optional, but very helpful)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-Heat Gun (a lighter will
work just fine)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
-Various Wrenches (depending
on what type of fasteners your lights have)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Side note: We are always
more than happy to wire or re-wire dynamo lights for you in our
service department ($17 labor per light).</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kZwXJf0-o90/UmhYBakBZTI/AAAAAAAAAME/MKHH4DPBD5I/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kZwXJf0-o90/UmhYBakBZTI/AAAAAAAAAME/MKHH4DPBD5I/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mounting the front light</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrlMx3MHnQY/UmhX-mkt0iI/AAAAAAAAALE/ZxXQW1nE03k/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrlMx3MHnQY/UmhX-mkt0iI/AAAAAAAAALE/ZxXQW1nE03k/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Installing the shrink
tubing to protect the wires and plugs</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMw8KOYUc8/UmhX-3gJJ0I/AAAAAAAAALM/FYnHrWSZMuQ/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMw8KOYUc8/UmhX-3gJJ0I/AAAAAAAAALM/FYnHrWSZMuQ/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The rear light gets wired
into the system</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Now its just a question of
running the wiring from the hub to the front light and from the front
light to the rear ligth. Keep the wire secured to the frame out of
the way of any moving parts. Make sure to have strain relief spots
near and junctions to avoid damage to the wires.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJrYOu4pxII/UmhX-3g0gfI/AAAAAAAAALI/XfTPtqwCbYI/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJrYOu4pxII/UmhX-3g0gfI/AAAAAAAAALI/XfTPtqwCbYI/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
That ziptie on the frame
acts as strain relief. It allows the part sof the wire connecting to
the hub to stay loose and flexible so that no stress will be put on
the electric components.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Now, its time to go outside
and try it....</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjAIhMeZqQ8/UmhX_amrWlI/AAAAAAAAALU/fAR39f7APto/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjAIhMeZqQ8/UmhX_amrWlI/AAAAAAAAALU/fAR39f7APto/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even with all the ambient
light this headlight still shows up really well to oncoming traffic.
You'll also notice the light patch in front of the bike. This really
helps illuminate potholes and road debris. This light is fairly
average dynamo light, but its performance surpasses all but the high
end battery lights.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqIuvgLYAiU/UmhX_gtQW2I/AAAAAAAAALY/350aCiEbJAM/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqIuvgLYAiU/UmhX_gtQW2I/AAAAAAAAALY/350aCiEbJAM/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And here is a picture of
the taillight in action.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBa4nwINhDo/UmhX_4D_YjI/AAAAAAAAALk/1XXhubQRXrM/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBa4nwINhDo/UmhX_4D_YjI/AAAAAAAAALk/1XXhubQRXrM/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And here is a better photo
of the light patch.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks for reading.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-4690041951551612372013-09-04T11:09:00.005-07:002013-09-04T14:15:26.517-07:00First in Flight: Hub Team Member and Aerospace Engineering Grad Student Loretta Trevino becomes the Powderhorn 24's first Female Overall Champion.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MO37v8yob2g/Uid3MytoKiI/AAAAAAAAAJo/nvIhI43iQBQ/s1600/1176222_10201754054962940_211626288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MO37v8yob2g/Uid3MytoKiI/AAAAAAAAAJo/nvIhI43iQBQ/s1600/1176222_10201754054962940_211626288_n.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
Photo By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23296509@N06/with/8729076751/">Eric Shoultz</a><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-128cc11c-ea29-114c-a0dc-2676cd674910" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Powderhorn 24 has quickly become one of the premier local races since its inception in 2011, with a unique 24-hour endurance-focused format. Riders compete alone or in teams to complete as many 4.8 mile laps as they can within the time limit, circling Minneapolis’ picturesque neighborhood of Powderhorn. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Only the toughest cyclists dare to enter the race’s solo division, and the 2013 race marked the first time that a woman took first place in that category. That exemplary lady is Loretta Trevino, and she also happens to be a rider for The Hub’s cycling team. We caught up with her during her recovery period, which just so happened to include a grueling rowing practice earlier in the day. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Interview by Zach McCormick</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hub: What do you do when you’re not on a bike?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Loretta Trevino: I’m a grad student at the University of Minnesota, I’m working on my PHD in Aerospace Engineering. I just moved here last year from Seattle, and I work at a small rocket company there. Jeff Bezos, the guy who owns Amazon, his side project is this rocket company because he wants to make space accessible to everybody. I work for them part time, but my full-time job is school right now. I just finished my 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> year of what’s normally a 6 year program.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you involved with any athletics outside of cycling?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve been rowing since college, and the rowing club here in Minneapolis is really good. The Masters crew wins nationals almost every year, and the ladies are amazing to row with. I hooked up with them when I moved here and have been rowing with them for a couple of seasons now. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you fairly active in competitive cycling locally?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I just started getting into the gravel races, my first gravel race was the Gentleman’s Ride last September. That was actually only the second century that I’d done ever, and I was a little intimidated by it. But my commute in Seattle was pretty far, so I got used to being on the bike a lot. My goal this year was to ride a century every month, so I started in January. It started out as a joke between my friend and I, but by the 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> week in January we decided we had to do it before the cold front came in. We kept doing it, and P24 ended up being my 11</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> century. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But I’ve only really just done alleycats and gravel races, I haven’t gone into the big scene in cycling because I wasn’t sure if I was fit enough yet. Or at least, I wasn’t confident enough yet [laughs].</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When did you transition from being a commuter to a more avid cyclist?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Probably since I moved back to Minneapolis this past year, in Seattle I really transformed from someone who just cycles to someone who goes on longer rides. There’s so many places to ride in Seattle, with the islands out there. I would go bike camping by myself for 3 or 4 days, I would just disappear and go around the islands. That’s when I started getting a lot of endurance and miles in, because it’s just so much freedom out there and so much to see. Lots of hills, and lots of climbing. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Was this your first P24?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No, actually! Last year I had literally lived in Minneapolis for less than 24 hours and someone dropped out of The Hub Women’s Team last minute. They contacted to ask if I had a bike and would join their team. One of my bikes wasn’t even put together, but we ended up winning by half a lap! That’s when I met The Hub, and I’ve raced for their team ever since. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did you do any other training regimens outside of the centuries?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think the rowing really helped me a ton, because that sport is like 80% mental and 20% training. You have to be really focused in the boat, and you go to the point of pain but you can’t lose your discipline. I knew this race was going to be all about keeping focused and not letting my surroundings affect how I was riding, and that’s the same thing I do in the boat. It’s all about running your own race, and not letting people who are lapping you affect how you’re riding. Once you start to get that kind of competitive, that’s when you start to lose, at least in endurance races. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did you have a support team for the race?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[Laughs] Yes, my boyfriend Paul was my support crew. We had initially bought walkie-talkies so we could signal each other because we knew our phones were going to die, but I didn’t even need that , because every lap he was there asking me with what I needed. Constantly stuffing my back pockets with food or Shot Blocks, filling up my water bottle, giving me drugs when I needed them. I think there was 3 laps where I didn’t see him, and those were towards the end when he decided he needed to rest his eyes. Having his support was essential to doing well in this race!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did you have a winning strategy going into the race that paid off for you?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I honestly had no idea how to pace myself, I’d never trained for a 24 hour race before. The most miles I’d done previously was 120. So I got myself going to a good cadence that my legs felt like they could do for a long time, and I never tried to accelerate too fast. Through the checkpoints, I never got off my bike, I just worked with the volunteers so that I never had to clip out. The last 6 hours I kept thinking “when am I gonna kick it in?” but I just kept resisting that urge. Finally when I finished my last bonus I had 80 minutes left and could do about 4 more laps in that time, so then I started pushing myself and I was miserable. Just that slight increase of speed was painful, and I wasn’t even that much faster. Then I kept craving Dairy Queen because it was on the corner that I kept passing! </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I definitely feel like the last 6 hours were my strongest, because that’s when I started catching up. I don’t think I was in the lead until that afternoon, but I just started slowly increasing my speed and feeling better and better, and I could just see everyone else burning out. I just saved my gas until then end. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paul kept telling me I was the 4</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> place lady, and I felt like the three faster ladies could all be top contenders. But then I kept catching up to some of the other guys doing solo and they’d say “oh, I’m in 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">rd,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">” but I had 50 miles on them, so I really thought that for a majority of the race all the girls were winning. I was getting </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">really </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">excited and that was motivating me, but then I caught up to Lee Penn and realized that we had biked the same amount of miles. Then I caught up to Alex Ones and he said “you’re only a lap behind me and I’m in 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> right now!” I just didn’t think it could be possible!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I ended up timing those last bonus stops to where I didn’t have to wait in line, and a lot of the people got stuck at bonus stops waiting for a half hour! I would keep swinging by those stops, and if there was a line, I’d just go another lap. Eventually, there wasn’t a line!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What was it like when you realized that you’d won?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Honestly, the last hour I wasn’t thinking about anyone else. Going into the last stop, everyone was screaming and cheering and I got off my bike and threw it at my boyfriend and just started walking away. I just wanted to get out of my jersey and find a shower, but I had to ask Paul how I did. He said “Yeah, you won” and at first I thought he meant just the women’s division, but then he said “No, you WON” and I realized I had beaten Alex! I didn’t even believe it first, I had to go ask Alex myself! I honestly believe any of the top 3 women could have taken it though, I just had the most discipline. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What bike did you ride for the event?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I rode my Trek Madone. I called it my “car” in Seattle because that’s the first bike I ever bought when I got a job where I could afford one, months before I ever bought a vehicle. It’s a carbon road bike, and I haven’t been riding it a lot around town, my default bike is my All-City Macho Man, but for some reason that week the Macho Man was just not fitting me perfectly. I knew the Madone fit me like a glove, and I knew it would be the most comfortable, because that’s the bike I did all my bike camping on in Seattle. I’ve had that bike for 6 years, and it’s my baby. I thought it might be a little aggressive, and it sort of was because my lower back is killing me, but I just kept taking painkillers and stretching a bunch. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Want to give any shout-outs to your fellow racers?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Alex Ones is just an incredible human being. The whole time we were riding, he’d go through checkpoints and he’d ask the volunteers if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">they </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">needed anything like “do you need any water? “And he was the one that had been riding his bike! But he was just so encouraging to everybody, even well over 300 miles. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jessica, who’s won the past two years is also fantastic. She’s my riding partner and my inspiration, and unfortunately she had to drop out early on because of some back problems, but she never gives up. She’s the one who gave me the idea to try and hold back, but never ever stop. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How’s your recovery been?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was actually fine…okay, my lower back’s been on lockdown but that’s just from overuse. I’ve gone to my personal trainer and they were like “what did you </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">do</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to your body?” I think I’m probably going to take about two weeks to recover fully, but I’m doing a lot better than I thought I was going to be!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What’s up next for you?</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m doing 3 gravel races in September, the first one is the inspiration 100, and then the Gentleman’s Ride, followed by Heck of the North. My goal is always just to do a little bit faster than I did the last time, I’m not going to be CAT 1 or anything like that, but I can always get faster!</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-64849145274849602832013-06-15T08:57:00.001-07:002013-06-15T08:57:20.822-07:00Bottineau Park Bike RodeoThe Hub helped fix bikes and shared some basic maintenance tips at a great event last weekend, Bottineau Park's Bike Rodeo. Several groups pitched in to get kids on bikes by teaching them how to ride, be safe, and have fun. Check out the video:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/INDcy5PtkhM" width="640"></iframe><br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-408641722686127922013-05-29T12:26:00.001-07:002013-06-15T09:12:28.919-07:00Project Homeless Connect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09D8N3ch25Q/UbySJsetppI/AAAAAAAAAEc/x8JreV8QXKQ/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09D8N3ch25Q/UbySJsetppI/AAAAAAAAAEc/x8JreV8QXKQ/s320/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+002.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7i8frI4XyU/UbyR5GAHs4I/AAAAAAAAAEM/RlAVbjR4ymo/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
Every year the Hub donates a portion of its profits to our community through our People and the Planet Fund. We participate in a variety of events and donate to some really great organizations. This week we sent three mechanics to help out at an event called Project Homeless Connect (http://www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org/). We worked together with a people from Bike Alliance MN, Spokes, Grease Rag and other volunteers to fix over 60 bikes! Most of the bikes had seen all kinds of weather conditions and were showing significant wear. We saw everything from flat tires to non-working brakes to messed up shifting. Our goal was to get the bikes as safe and rideable as possible!<br />
<br />
We love riding our bikes and know how important it is to have reliable transportation. It was great to hear the feedback from participants who were using their bikes to get around. Having access to a functioning bike can help reduce barriers to education and employment.<br />
<br />
Giant bicycles made a generous donation of 100 locks that was greatly appreciated by all the participants (especially those that didn’t bring their bikes because they had no way of keeping it safely locked up!). We also had a donation of helmets from QBP and trail maps from Hedberg Maps that were met with lots of enthusiasm.<br />
<br />
We are always excited to help out in our community and Project Homeless Connect was a great way to share our love of bicycling!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kK_Z-LymD8I/UbySF9zbQRI/AAAAAAAAAEU/w3BwkpDWN_U/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kK_Z-LymD8I/UbySF9zbQRI/AAAAAAAAAEU/w3BwkpDWN_U/s320/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gBjTIXdss3M/UbySL77NzdI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JM03mPD2f8Y/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gBjTIXdss3M/UbySL77NzdI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JM03mPD2f8Y/s320/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1qarM2Y-jI/UbySN5ax7eI/AAAAAAAAAEs/J8pY8ZM2eeI/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1qarM2Y-jI/UbySN5ax7eI/AAAAAAAAAEs/J8pY8ZM2eeI/s320/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zeMn-1eqj5k/UbySPHZjWEI/AAAAAAAAAE0/IN6Y5r6XWd0/s1600/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zeMn-1eqj5k/UbySPHZjWEI/AAAAAAAAAE0/IN6Y5r6XWd0/s320/Project+Homeless+Connect+2013+009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-40926649305958827492013-03-06T12:49:00.000-08:002013-03-06T12:49:59.404-08:00Suspension Maintenance Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If it has been more than a year since you've serviced your suspension. keep this in mind...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bcJPpkyziM/UTeFmycxRTI/AAAAAAAAAF4/eVs941osfwY/s1600/P101004101012007_09.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bcJPpkyziM/UTeFmycxRTI/AAAAAAAAAF4/eVs941osfwY/s1600/P101004101012007_09.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
As robust as your suspension is, it is really quite sensitive to wear and tear from the abuse you dish out on the trail. Contaminated fork oil, damaged seals and worn bushings can all cause <i><b>serious and expensive repairs</b></i> or often necessitate <u><i><b>replacement</b> </i></u>of your fork.<br />
The best way to avoid this costly situation? Regular maintenance. All suspension should be serviced on a regular basis. Manufacturer recommendations for oil bath lube changes can be as frequent as every 30 hours of riding and they want you to have a complete service every 100 hours.<br />
<br />
This may seem crazy, but keep in mind that this fork didn't feel too bad on the bike....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQqPjGiCt5k/UTeFk6bxuPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/mcOY7Tw7AyM/s1600/P101004201012007_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQqPjGiCt5k/UTeFk6bxuPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/mcOY7Tw7AyM/s1600/P101004201012007_10.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
What's the best plan of action? Check out your owners manual (find it online if you don't remember where the print copy is). The manufacturer will tell you exactly what's needed to keep your suspension happy. Here you will find a table of maintenance intervals. Follow this table to learn what you can do yourself (cleaning the upper tubes after every ride) and what you might want us to do (service damper every 100 hours). If you want to keep it simple just bring your fork in for service once a year (twice a year if you really want to be on top of your game). We'll clean and inspect your suspension components, replace wear and tear parts and re-lube to manufacturer specifications to help ensure you have a long and loving relationship with your suspension.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-53251370604690575502012-08-02T09:24:00.000-07:002012-08-02T09:24:46.782-07:00Let The Patterson Transmission Enhance Your Commute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxWoiJENtws/UBGR2q6J_yI/AAAAAAAAACg/U3gezh8ILlM/s1600/patterson2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxWoiJENtws/UBGR2q6J_yI/AAAAAAAAACg/U3gezh8ILlM/s320/patterson2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Patterson Transmission cranks installed on a Raleigh ten speed re-purposed for all season commuting</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here at The Hub we love commuting and since commuting and internal gears go hand in hand, why not talk about FSA's new 2-speed internal crankset the Patterson Transmission? FSA is a relative newcomer to the world of internally geared cranksets, with both the Schlumpf drive and the Hammerschmidt having been on the market for some time. The difference, for myself anyway, lies in accessibility. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I haven't been able to justify spending the money for internal cranksets in the past as both the Schlumpf and Hammerschmidt retail in the $700 range, so i was pretty excited when the patterson came on the scene at far more reasonable $300. I bought it, set it up and have been happily riding ever since.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First off, i guess it makes sense to talk about what type of bike this belongs on. the important physical restrictions are simple, the bike must have a 68mm bottom shell and fixed chain stays. you need to have down tube cable routing, but if you don't you could always add a clamp on cable stop, so no need to worry about that. This crankset was designed by Sam Patterson (one of the founding members of Sram) for commuting, but could easily find a home on a touring bike, mountain bike, weekender recreation bike or cargo bike.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-S5z8ZQm8E/UBGYu-ZqX7I/AAAAAAAAADo/wNRgObyJFb4/s1600/patterson+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-S5z8ZQm8E/UBGYu-ZqX7I/AAAAAAAAADo/wNRgObyJFb4/s320/patterson+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom bracket shell faced to exactly 68mm with perfectly parallel faces for optimal bearing performance. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
A few things to remember when picking one up. Installation has many facets as you need to have your bottom bracket shell faced (to ensure 68mm which and to give the outboard cartridge bearings a good reference), you need to pick out what shifter you want to use and have that and a cable installed (not included) and you need a few specialty tools (we would be more than happy to install it for you, inquire about service rates at the shop).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now for the fun part; what's inside and how does it work?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkc7aCMrO9A/UBGVTA3VGVI/AAAAAAAAACs/PIwqSpOuHuQ/s1600/patterson+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkc7aCMrO9A/UBGVTA3VGVI/AAAAAAAAACs/PIwqSpOuHuQ/s320/patterson+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyone who is familiar with the Hammerschmidt will recognize the similarities right away, a simple planet gear system with a direct drive and an overdrive. The crank's direct drive functions just like any other crank (the Patterson comes with a 28t ring) and the overdrive increases the gear to the 1.6:1 ratio. This effectively gives you a 45t ring!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jq8mAfC60mE/UBGXVIu2XoI/AAAAAAAAADM/5RpK1fuTkfw/s1600/patterson+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jq8mAfC60mE/UBGXVIu2XoI/AAAAAAAAADM/5RpK1fuTkfw/s320/patterson+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Initial diss-assembly of the crankset.</span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The function is simple: operate the shift lever to release cable tension and the pawl on the control plate sub-assembly engages a ratchet in the crank which in turn...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkIYDW3m_k8/UBGXVf9D58I/AAAAAAAAADU/eqKDQIS2Fe0/s1600/patterson+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OkIYDW3m_k8/UBGXVf9D58I/AAAAAAAAADU/eqKDQIS2Fe0/s320/patterson+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
...rotates the sun gear, which then rotates the planet gears, and they, in turn, rotate the chainring section of the crankset faster than the crank is spinning. And...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEApb2RWSLc/UBGXV63FfCI/AAAAAAAAADY/9ZbNuDwH5PU/s1600/patterson+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEApb2RWSLc/UBGXV63FfCI/AAAAAAAAADY/9ZbNuDwH5PU/s320/patterson+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
...voila, simply 2 speed planetary gearing!<br />
<br />
Impressions of the crankset so far are very positive. The shifting is super quick and clean (i have mine set up to an old Sturmey Archer trigger shifter). The gear range is wide enough but the jump is reasonable so i don't end up with a lot of annoying recovery shifts (I have mine set up with an 8 speed Shimano nexus rear hub, f.y.i.). the bearing set up is FSA MegaExo, reliable and serviceable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyY4dh5g9Qg/UBGbyUbawmI/AAAAAAAAAEg/9PSiMWTnAdw/s1600/patterson+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyY4dh5g9Qg/UBGbyUbawmI/AAAAAAAAAEg/9PSiMWTnAdw/s320/patterson+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The cartridge bearings are easily replaced when worn or easily serviced on a regular schedule to maximize their lifespan.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVXsQ7_O9O0/UBGaVz6juNI/AAAAAAAAADw/UuoXfk6yxtM/s1600/patterson+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVXsQ7_O9O0/UBGaVz6juNI/AAAAAAAAADw/UuoXfk6yxtM/s320/patterson+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I am one of those mechanics that really appreciates the value of a good overhaul so i clean out my cartridge bearings a bit more often than most, and i have to say, it does increase the lifespan. The non-drive side cup is your typical MegaExo setup. The drive side is another story<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UY03KDXmk0w/UBGaWSSRPKI/AAAAAAAAAD4/8XKe6v7gQSw/s1600/patterson+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UY03KDXmk0w/UBGaWSSRPKI/AAAAAAAAAD4/8XKe6v7gQSw/s320/patterson+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The bearing is connected to the crank via a small snap ring and the cup remains empty in the frame.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izQA51TOZSM/UBGaXBYee8I/AAAAAAAAAEA/agRT3TMlR6A/s1600/patterson+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izQA51TOZSM/UBGaXBYee8I/AAAAAAAAAEA/agRT3TMlR6A/s320/patterson+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
FSA uses completely serviceable cartridge bearings which can be easily broken down to the loose balls for thorough cleaning and bearing ball replacement.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BOqJYYJmyXQ/UBGaXYBKftI/AAAAAAAAAEI/pBCgkmInbs0/s1600/patterson+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BOqJYYJmyXQ/UBGaXYBKftI/AAAAAAAAAEI/pBCgkmInbs0/s320/patterson+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The picture isn't great, but here we have clean races and fresh grease with brand new bearings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hdY8hesPPWY/UBGaYHUfbMI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/qOvwzyEe3Ys/s1600/patterson+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hdY8hesPPWY/UBGaYHUfbMI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/qOvwzyEe3Ys/s320/patterson+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Align the new bearing balls, re-install the retainer and seals and you are ready to ride!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBNsGOdi9vc/UBGdKKN6fVI/AAAAAAAAAEo/dIoSx5_S8Ic/s1600/patterson+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBNsGOdi9vc/UBGdKKN6fVI/AAAAAAAAAEo/dIoSx5_S8Ic/s320/patterson+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The chainring is a bit different than the usual fare, as well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U0L8iWAW2DY/UBGgaQNDkAI/AAAAAAAAAE0/X41MyblTADk/s1600/patterson+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U0L8iWAW2DY/UBGgaQNDkAI/AAAAAAAAAE0/X41MyblTADk/s320/patterson+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The chainring is held in place by a splined interface</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8kOvkG2T1s/UBGga4t-arI/AAAAAAAAAE8/iNc332ePV1I/s1600/patterson+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X8kOvkG2T1s/UBGga4t-arI/AAAAAAAAAE8/iNc332ePV1I/s320/patterson+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It is held in place by a spiral retaining ring</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEN0RPAk9y0/UBGgbru9cPI/AAAAAAAAAFI/C5cdG2Z_ki0/s1600/patterson+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEN0RPAk9y0/UBGgbru9cPI/AAAAAAAAAFI/C5cdG2Z_ki0/s320/patterson+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> Replacement chainrings are available at a reasonable cost, which is good news for winter riders who tear through drivetrains, and for those who prefer to ignore maintenance on their ride until it's pretty much destroyed (though, i would always still recommend regular maintenance to prevent parts from wearing prematurely). FSA also makes replacement parts available for most of the internals, which is good news as nothing lasts forever. And speaking of maintenance, the above photo gives a good illustration of the ports that allow easy access for flushing and lubing the internals with minimal diss-assembly! this keeps maintenance easy and hassle free.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Final thoughts... The Patterson transmission is going to make the internal gear set pretty excited. With the most affordable 2- speed crank currently on the market there is no reason not to double the range of your internally geared commuting bike, so you can find better gears and ride more efficiently, which means having more fun. Reasonable cost, 165-170-175mm crank length options, 9 speed compatible chain, mountain bike approved... whats not to like?</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-11362495169571398512012-07-05T14:33:00.006-07:002012-07-05T14:33:51.245-07:00Overhauls. A day at the spa for your bike!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Mwjg5NmDo/T_X9xGoEx1I/AAAAAAAAAAM/9wuG9_axTNY/s1600/overhaul+blog+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Mwjg5NmDo/T_X9xGoEx1I/AAAAAAAAAAM/9wuG9_axTNY/s320/overhaul+blog+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
New or old. Everyday riding or weekend recreation. Fair weather or right through the snow and mud. Someday soon your bike will be crying out for a complete overhaul. Here is the truth about maintenance; no matter how diligently you air up your tires and lube your chain, there is nothing you can do to prevent the break down and failure of lubrication. All the grease inside your bearing systems will eventually collect enough moisture from the air and grit from the road that it will just stop working how its supposed to. In fact you don't even have to take your bike out of the garage for lubrication to break down, it is simply the natural progression of things. All of your cable housing will eventually fail in much the same way, and lets not forget that your brake pads, tires, chain, cassette, rims, saddles and bar tape will all wear out and need to be replaced. But, it's really not so gloomy, because the solution is as close as the service department at your local Hub Bike Co-op. So, lets take care of all of this at once so you can get back out and ride! Here is how we do it. <br />
<br />
We take a good look at your bike and make a list of all the parts that are worn out and in need of replacement, then we get to work stripping parts off your bike, recycling what is past its usable life and cleaning the rest with degreasers and solvents to uncover their original beauty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqPkudFsSI8/T_YAwaVFpKI/AAAAAAAAAAY/JU_1vxlI5jE/s1600/overhaul+blog+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqPkudFsSI8/T_YAwaVFpKI/AAAAAAAAAAY/JU_1vxlI5jE/s320/overhaul+blog+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the rear derailleur and freewheel before and after.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROFtByCGrN8/T_YA0b7zyYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/FGfyVpSR7xE/s1600/overhaul+blog+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROFtByCGrN8/T_YA0b7zyYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/FGfyVpSR7xE/s320/overhaul+blog+028.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YErjFNReVLU/T_YAyHfWfjI/AAAAAAAAAAg/uSe_E4iEaWE/s1600/overhaul+blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YErjFNReVLU/T_YAyHfWfjI/AAAAAAAAAAg/uSe_E4iEaWE/s320/overhaul+blog+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And, here is the crank set before and after.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l2nCZ-3Crrw/T_YA1y9WbRI/AAAAAAAAAAw/Bk76YD_gxBQ/s1600/overhaul+blog+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l2nCZ-3Crrw/T_YA1y9WbRI/AAAAAAAAAAw/Bk76YD_gxBQ/s320/overhaul+blog+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Now, on to the bearings. this is where overhaul service really steps up and gives you more bang for your buck than a tune-up. For tune-ups we perform adjustments on bearing systems, but we don't get a chance to get inside and really clean them out to remove any contaminants that will hinder smoothness and cause premature wear and tear.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fu3g5i1jB0g/T_YB2mEBHmI/AAAAAAAAAA8/BwDtkGP_GRk/s1600/overhaul+blog+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fu3g5i1jB0g/T_YB2mEBHmI/AAAAAAAAAA8/BwDtkGP_GRk/s320/overhaul+blog+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the hub when it came in. there is obviously a lot going on in here that we don't want. for starters, the grease is old and has started to harden and gel, feels more like peanut butter then lubricant. Secondly, this grease is filled with contaminants and all of that grit is wreaking havoc on the bearing race, which needs to stay smooth in order to function well. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqqj2E9tOas/T_YB4XdkEnI/AAAAAAAAABE/O4QRPEU2KOQ/s1600/overhaul+blog+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqqj2E9tOas/T_YB4XdkEnI/AAAAAAAAABE/O4QRPEU2KOQ/s320/overhaul+blog+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the hub after a thorough cleaning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzwfuRDJEBQ/T_YB7_niqpI/AAAAAAAAABM/cy6VJ31Gvcw/s1600/overhaul+blog+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzwfuRDJEBQ/T_YB7_niqpI/AAAAAAAAABM/cy6VJ31Gvcw/s320/overhaul+blog+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And, here, the final step. New ball bearings and a healthy coating of grease. This is a Teflon-fortified grease which holds up well to moisture and pressure. This grease is fairly thin and "sticky" which leaves a good meniscus layer between contact points for optimal performance and protection.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAx1RnU3uOM/T_YEHsacNDI/AAAAAAAAAB0/jXeBcEvn7Vw/s1600/overhaul+blog+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAx1RnU3uOM/T_YEHsacNDI/AAAAAAAAAB0/jXeBcEvn7Vw/s320/overhaul+blog+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Along with your bearings, we give star treatment to the threads that hold your bike together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cJMrPm9N-o/T_YEJOsM7MI/AAAAAAAAAB8/jYZJqO0LS8c/s1600/overhaul+blog+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cJMrPm9N-o/T_YEJOsM7MI/AAAAAAAAAB8/jYZJqO0LS8c/s320/overhaul+blog+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Before and after cleaning up the threads on the fork's steerer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGQGlHSa9f4/T_YEyQ1M1JI/AAAAAAAAACI/vcqT71Bx4-w/s1600/overhaul+blog+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGQGlHSa9f4/T_YEyQ1M1JI/AAAAAAAAACI/vcqT71Bx4-w/s320/overhaul+blog+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUzNiTzMctA/T_YE0gQzpjI/AAAAAAAAACQ/3ZjvxgBYX_A/s1600/overhaul+blog+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eUzNiTzMctA/T_YE0gQzpjI/AAAAAAAAACQ/3ZjvxgBYX_A/s320/overhaul+blog+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So, when do you know to get an overhaul? There's no easy answer, but some agreed upon "standards" may help. Most bearing systems (i.e. headset or hubs) should be overhauled every 3000 miles or so when riding in primarily good conditions and as frequently as every 1500 miles if riding in wet, muddy, very sandy or dusty and extreme conditions. The trick is to do it often enough that you aren't caught always replacing parts due to wear when more frequent overhauls could keep those bearing systems alive for the long haul.<br />
<br />
And for those of you with internally geared hubs, hydraulics or suspension systems, check with the manufacturer of the product, but generally get these items serviced once a year to keep them in good running order.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-60484681365127138862012-05-31T07:46:00.000-07:002012-05-31T09:11:03.121-07:00Guest Post: Chica Warrior tests Frost River Highway 1 panniers<i>Editors Note: When these panniers arrived from the good folks at <a href="http://www.frostriver.com/main.html">Frost River</a> I instantly knew who we needed to give them to to put them through their paces; our good friend, Chica Warrior.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chica Warrior: Two Thumbs Up for Frost River’s Highway 1 Panniers </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xI0A0Ppbq6k/T8eB5k6WETI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Ke1b4fm084Q/s1600/hwy2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xI0A0Ppbq6k/T8eB5k6WETI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Ke1b4fm084Q/s1600/hwy2_1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stopped in my tracks back in 2005 when I first saw a bike outfitted
with these bags; in fact I got down on my hands and knees to inspect them. Rugged, worn, and looking like they stepped
out of a bygone era when durable goods were in fact durable and made from canvas
and leather and wood. The design of Frost
River’s Highway 1 Panniers began when
the current designers at Frost River were still at Duluth Pack and collaborated
with Grant Peterson and Rivendell Bicycle Works to produce them. Originally they were sold under the Rivendell
Baggins label, and while there is currently a disagreement over who has the
design rights to manufacture and sell the bags, I know both companies to be
excellent and will leave it to them to continue the argument. And since Rivendell no longer has the Baggins
line, I’m just glad one can still get them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCtyp8kB2Go/T8eC48jifDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/8vamZuOJmnk/s1600/hwy2_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCtyp8kB2Go/T8eC48jifDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/8vamZuOJmnk/s1600/hwy2_3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Admittedly, they are not for everyone. But if you are a tinkering traditionalist and
not obsessed with reducing weight at every opportunity, you will fall in love. They are good-sized–in the vicinity of a 30
litre combined capacity–and they define stout.
The bags are made of waxed cotton canvas, referred to as “tin cloth” for
good reason. Tin cloth gets a
spectacular rubbed patina over time, looking remarkably like leather as it
wears. Everything on the bags is secured
with either leather straps with solid brass buckles or parachute cords and
grommets. As you might guess, with these
materials the bags are heavyweights, tipping the scales at a hefty 1675
grams. But these materials give you a
lot of flexibility allowing you to customize the bags and the fit to your
heart’s content. If you mind the initial
futzing around to move the bags from one bike to another and to dial in the
rigging, get an Ortleib. However, if
that’s not a deal breaker, it really can be kind of fun. In my situation, I mounted them on a quite
narrow Tubus Airy attached to my single speed and then on a Nitto Big Back Rack
with my touring bike. While they worked
on the Airy (and in fact my largest load to date was carried on the Airy), as
would be expected the fit was much, much better on the Big Back Rack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1BdywHOUk/T8eCkz91fLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/SdIeYaLC8Zc/s1600/hwy2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1BdywHOUk/T8eCkz91fLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/SdIeYaLC8Zc/s1600/hwy2_2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been riding with them for about 2 weeks doing grocery
runs, my regular 20-mile round-trip commute, and one 35-mile urban tour. As a reference point, I’m a 53 year old woman
and alas no longer a spring chicken but the weight has not bothered me. The carrying capacity makes grocery hauling
easy–I loaded up about 35 pounds of bulky, awkward, heavy groceries (think
glass half gallons of milk, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, a melon, dish soap,
and the like – not to mention rain gear and a lock) and the bags simply
swallowed them. The 4-inch draw-string
cuff and the foot-square flap means I could’ve even stuffed a few more items in
there if needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3BbAf5AM5A/T8eDBUE_kFI/AAAAAAAAAAk/y6uo3xM3BLA/s1600/hwy2_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3BbAf5AM5A/T8eDBUE_kFI/AAAAAAAAAAk/y6uo3xM3BLA/s1600/hwy2_4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The load on side one</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaSBtBpuXhE/T8eDORs4MFI/AAAAAAAAAAs/SPr1025QKHM/s1600/hwy2_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaSBtBpuXhE/T8eDORs4MFI/AAAAAAAAAAs/SPr1025QKHM/s1600/hwy2_5.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Side 2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
With respect to rain, tin cloth is water-resistant but not
waterproof. For light rain/short
distances, they do just fine. For
longer, heavier rain situations, this is easily remedied thru the use of a
trash bag liner. As a retired cross
country motorcyclist, my biker buddies and I always lined our leather bags with
trash bags and it stood up to 400 miles at 60 miles per hour in the pouring
rain across Kansas. With a few
Filson tin cloth coats in my wardrobe, I can say that for winter riding,
the panniers will perform well in snow but that the cold will make the
waxed canvas stiff. My biggest criticism
of the bags are the fasteners at the bottom of the bag, which are leather
buckle straps that are hard to reach and too close to the spokes. An additional strap keeper would be helpful
and could easily be installed by the handy owner. The reach, however, is still awkward. There are vertical tabs intended for
compression straps around the bags, but a horizontal blinky tab would’ve been
nice. Again, because they are canvas,
one can easily be added. The internal
sleeve with the stiffener is great to have with soft bags like these.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
If these sound interesting to you, go for
it. At a suggested price of $190, they
are worth it and comparable in cost to other well-made bags. And not only will you have a certain <i>je ne sais quoi</i> kind of hip style<i>,</i> with their outstanding workmanship and
heritage materials, they will last your whole life. I have several other Frost River bags; all
are well made and the company stands behind them. When my large Frost River Old No. 7 canoe
pack was seriously damaged by a mysterious creature in the night, they repaired
it free of charge, shipped it back to me at no cost, and identified the
culprit: a porcupine! Yep, that’s Minnesota manufacturing at its
best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-51357294264854190832012-03-26T14:29:00.029-07:002014-03-18T22:26:06.771-07:00Ahhh, UtahWhen trails are closed and the weather is cold here in Minneapolis, there are two more reasons to go to Utah. This adds to all the other reasons to go: the martian landscapes of red slickrock, mountain bike trails for every skill level including death-defying, cliff-top views that go on forever, and free camping with views so amazing you kinda just want to stay at camp.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had mountain biked in Utah once before and had a blast. After three years I was overdue for a visit. Matt and Joe were game, and we started planning a MTB and climbing trip last summer.</div>
<br />
The trip this year started with a 24 hour drive. Lots of coffee, uncomfortable naps in the passenger seat, and searching the ipod for music to keep us awake. The goal: get to Hurricane, UT with enough light left to hit some trails and set up camp.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTYPV0jPGFM/T3Df96IoF_I/AAAAAAAAAAg/YTKcMCnVeLY/s1600/car.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTYPV0jPGFM/T3Df96IoF_I/AAAAAAAAAAg/YTKcMCnVeLY/s320/car.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724321381058353138" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: center; height: 239px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
No problem. We arrived the next morning and found a free camp spot on top of Gooseberry Mesa. It was a random side road that rewarded us with cliff top views of miles of valleys, mesas, cliffs. We dropped our gear, pulled the bikes off the car and rode some trails. After a near sleepless night it was all kind of dreamlike.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arEuyDJBq24/T3DhnQGIvLI/AAAAAAAAABE/Kmzf1Bh8L7o/s1600/vista2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arEuyDJBq24/T3DhnQGIvLI/AAAAAAAAABE/Kmzf1Bh8L7o/s400/vista2.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724323190839753906" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 121px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Gooseberry Mesa had terrain for our every need. Rolling slickrock, technical rock features, jumps, trails along cliff edges.... Ahhh, Utah. Riding these trails took some getting used to. Short, super-steep ascents would be followed by equally steep descents or drop-offs. Unlikely angles were made possible with the extreme traction provided by the sandpaper like rock. The granny gear finally got some use.<br />
<br />
I rode a Giant Anthem 2 for the trip. Due to the short travel XC bike (3.5" for the 2006) I picked the Kenda Nevegal 2.35s, thinking the wider tires would have extra cushion and grip. They lived up to their reputation and were predictable in all the terrains we encountered. I also test rode some Ergon grips, but decided they weren't the best for such technical riding. I think they would be better for long XC type rides.<br />
<br />
We spent several days wandering Gooseberry. We camped out each night on the edge of the mesa, and watched the sunset cast changing colours on the valley below us.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DcBVUdgjRc/T3DjVcTnwmI/AAAAAAAAABc/17jvPIWkn8o/s1600/gberry.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DcBVUdgjRc/T3DjVcTnwmI/AAAAAAAAABc/17jvPIWkn8o/s400/gberry.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724325083903148642" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 193px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 331px;" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NanA_KV2eS4/T3DnDu06P5I/AAAAAAAAADI/yzAykWSxDeQ/s1600/endoftheline.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NanA_KV2eS4/T3DnDu06P5I/AAAAAAAAADI/yzAykWSxDeQ/s320/endoftheline.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724329177683476370" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 246px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 327px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWmrv5HNNMQ/T3Dm-OQedjI/AAAAAAAAAC8/phoZp12MnWY/s1600/rail.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWmrv5HNNMQ/T3Dm-OQedjI/AAAAAAAAAC8/phoZp12MnWY/s320/rail.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724329083041379890" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 241px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><br />
After 3 nights at Gooseberry, it was time for our next stop, St George. There was rumour of top-notch climbing and biking in that area. How much could we do in a day? We ended up covering all of Bearclaw Poppythe first day. It was a longhaul, with the star of the show being the downhill ride from 3 Fingers of Death thru the acid drops. This was a section we definitely benefited from by scouting first. Following that the snaking trails before the turn-around point had to be the fastest terrain of the trip. The following day we had a double feature with the rocky and lung-busting Zen trail followed by climbing at Green Valley Gap.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjDAf0alJb0/T3DlJpswvcI/AAAAAAAAACA/oyuTyADSW64/s1600/aciddrops.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjDAf0alJb0/T3DlJpswvcI/AAAAAAAAACA/oyuTyADSW64/s320/aciddrops.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724327080363081154" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 231px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 346px;" /></a><br />
After more days of climbing and biking our trip was running out of time. We had to start heading back to Minnesota. Moab was on the way and would be our last stop. One last hurrah on the one of the most well known MTB tracks in the country.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3O3DOQAS7o/T3DmZZHCKmI/AAAAAAAAACk/LeIprCHaeco/s1600/slcikrock3.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3O3DOQAS7o/T3DmZZHCKmI/AAAAAAAAACk/LeIprCHaeco/s320/slcikrock3.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724328450299406946" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 239px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tcZKXOJYzo/T3DmEKvluZI/AAAAAAAAACM/zwIP7KNKo48/s1600/slickrock.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tcZKXOJYzo/T3DmEKvluZI/AAAAAAAAACM/zwIP7KNKo48/s320/slickrock.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724328085665724818" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 310px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 416px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRLUOfR7Aik/T3DmKs-kGEI/AAAAAAAAACY/ExRQ9fhHZVU/s1600/slickrock2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRLUOfR7Aik/T3DmKs-kGEI/AAAAAAAAACY/ExRQ9fhHZVU/s320/slickrock2.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724328197934553154" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 252px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--07-XUVKJ_U/T3DmihxvIBI/AAAAAAAAACw/fez21vK7CCQ/s1600/slickrock4.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--07-XUVKJ_U/T3DmihxvIBI/AAAAAAAAACw/fez21vK7CCQ/s320/slickrock4.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724328607244820498" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Slickrock didn't disappoint and reminded me why it is such a legendary spot. The terrain is unlike any other and there are breath-taking views in every direction. The scale of the rocks and gradient of the trails pushed us to the limit. Some ascents were so steep it felt like I might roll over backwards, and they kept going up until legs and lungs were burning. It was a capstone to be remembered.<br />
<br />
Overall, we got in a mix of biking and climbing<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>everyday for 8 days straight. Definitely the type of trip I want to do more often.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmACQy2wiGo/T3Doa0bUYcI/AAAAAAAAADU/atrBbzHHilA/s1600/seeya.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmACQy2wiGo/T3Doa0bUYcI/AAAAAAAAADU/atrBbzHHilA/s400/seeya.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724330673835368898" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
See ya on the trails.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-60457796638392137942012-02-29T11:26:00.006-08:002012-02-29T14:02:51.850-08:00Steel, aluminum, carbon, titanium... what do I choose?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck1yZBjGEdQ/T059c-iLZ2I/AAAAAAAAAGI/Sn5LL7sVcig/s1600/racin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck1yZBjGEdQ/T059c-iLZ2I/AAAAAAAAAGI/Sn5LL7sVcig/s320/racin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714642913955899234" border="0" /></a>At the front, throwing down on titanium<br /><br /></div><br />Commuting, Racing, touring, mountain biking, road riding or just riding along... Non of these things have been able to avoid the great frame material debate. But what do they really mean? What are the real differences? Has this changed over time? Whelp, lets see if we can make more sense out of all this stuff...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSMXA7uQNJk/T058kvbiSeI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ng7ZQjtoPE0/s1600/steel.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSMXA7uQNJk/T058kvbiSeI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ng7ZQjtoPE0/s320/steel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714641947828832738" border="0" /></a>Steel<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lets do this in the order that makes the most sense to me... I am the one writing this. Steel, also known as chromoly (a mix of steels and alloys to make it even lighter and stiffer, this is where name brands come into play).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Past</span>:<br />Its one of the oldest frame materials out there, besides wood but that's a whole other blog post in itself. Due to its age it has had the most "tinkering" done as a material, starting out as your basic pulled from the ground steel it has undergone huge changes by the names of Reynolds, True Temper, Columbus, Ritchey and many others. They took this basic steel and added things to harden it, lighten it and stiffen it. In the beginning of the 1900s a frame could weigh upwards of ten pounds, now they can get down to just shy of 3.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ride</span>:<br />Lets start stereotyping! Cause that's what happens when you talk in generals about a frame material. To start off we are going to talk about compliance... this can mean 2 different things, the feel from road vibrations (roads are made up of little rocks that will cause a vibration when riding) and impact (how it rides over larger cracks). This is really important actually, a bike can be incredibly smooth over vibrations but not flex enough to relive the rider of larger impacts. We will also talk about "stiffness" of the bikes. This simply refers to how well it deals with the rider's weight.<br /><br />With that said, steel tends to be one of the most impact smooth rides AND takes care of vibrations better than most other materials. It also gives a little bit with the rider's weight, the stiffness does tend to be a little behind that of the other materials. This can be a good thing! It is also where "the feel of steel" comes from. It will give a little as you push on the cranks but pop back into alignment very quickly. This give can actually work to your advantage. Think of dancing of a cement floor (no give, super stiff) compared to a wood floor (more give and flex)... which one would you wanna polka on?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Durability</span>:<br />Steel has a great reputation in this department... It should! You can expect a frame to last as long as you want it too, its reparable, can be realigned (most of the time) and takes a lot to mess it up. This can vary though... If you have a super light steel frame don't expect it to be around for life, its how this works, it will have less material and be slightly more prone to dents, cracks and bending (sometimes depending on the mix it can be overly rigid and simply crack). It its a super heavy basic steel bike, usually older, it can be bent very easily. I can spread a frame on many 80s road bikes by hand to fit a wider rear hub into it. This means if you hop off a curb or take it off road you may end up with some issues. These are by no means an issue that you need to worry about with most manufacturers. Expect to ride your steel bike for decades. It can, however, rust. Its rare and most of the time its just a bit of surface rust (like on a steel bridge).<br /><br /></div></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSMXA7uQNJk/T058kvbiSeI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ng7ZQjtoPE0/s1600/steel.JPG">\</a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9irFI9LcLI/T058eSWUqOI/AAAAAAAAAFw/cSw9ng_tn9Q/s1600/aluminum.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9irFI9LcLI/T058eSWUqOI/AAAAAAAAAFw/cSw9ng_tn9Q/s320/aluminum.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714641836943124706" border="0" /></a>Aluminum<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Past</span>:<br />This has become the most common frame material that exists but please remember... this used to be exotic and amazing. Starting its life in Italy and Japan (B-Stone Radac and Alan) way back in the 80s the first bikes were some of the smoothest and most flexible bikes made. They were also not welded together but threaded into a lug. Its some crazy stuff! Then along came a man, a smart man, a man who went to MIT and loved bikes... He studied tube diameter and the differences it could make. Basically he made em fat with thin wall thicknesses. This changed how they rode and how light they could be. All through the 90s aluminum was used as the high-end race material. This gave it a pretty bad rap though... with manufacturers trying to make it as light as possible they had a lot of them brake. With the introduction of carbon and the ease of manufacturing aluminum it changed to the main stream in the late 90s. It is now one of the most reliable materials (manufactures have added at least a pound of material since the days of the 90s race bikes) and used by almost every company out there on bikes ranging from basic department store to several thousand dollar full suspension mountain bikes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ride</span>:<br />Aluminum tends to be one of the stiffest materials out there. This also means that its compliance is a little less than most. You will feel the road a tad more and feel the larger impacts to a higher degree. Out of the saddle climbing on an aluminum frame feels sturdy and fast. Many manufacturers are manipulating this material with shapes and wall thicknesses to achieve a ride quality that can actually be quite smooth and responsive. Giant is regarded as one of the leading aluminum frame manufactures because of this. It is why they have had so many awards for their aluminum road bikes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Durability</span>:<br />Unfortunately aluminum is one of the only materials that can not be fixed if broken. It is also very difficult to straighten a frame that has been bent. The nice thing is it has become durable enough that this is no longer an issue. Aluminum does not rust at all but it does rot. It takes a long time but we have seen this on a few frames. By rot I mean it slowly deteriorates when exposed to extreme weather and toxins. <br /><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy9J3ox4BfQ/T058ZiUDIaI/AAAAAAAAAFk/EIE7PqWHwaw/s1600/carbon.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy9J3ox4BfQ/T058ZiUDIaI/AAAAAAAAAFk/EIE7PqWHwaw/s320/carbon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714641755329208738" border="0" /></a>Carbon<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Past</span>:<br />Carbon started its life with bikes in the 80s. Its most notable frame is the one used by Greg Lemond in the 1990 tour de France. Carbon did not go totally main stream till the late 90s. The biggest factor for this was price but also trust. Many of the earlier frames didn't have the longest life span. It was harder to produce with consistent results and so consumers took a while to trust the durability of carbon, especially when you are going to put so much money on the line. Since the 90s carbons reputation has slowly changed to being more durable. As production has gone up costs have gone down. Now, almost any bike over 2K is carbon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ride</span>:<br />Carbon has some of the most interesting ride qualities out there. You can usually "feel" the lighter weight of it and the stiffness of it can be even better than Aluminum. Its vibration damping characteristics can often make it even smoother than steel. One of the few downsides is that a carbon frame tends to be a little more impact feel than steel, many times it is very similar to aluminum. This just means that it takes up most of the road vibrations but you will feel it when you go over a larger crack in the road. Not really a big deal unless you ride on an older road.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Durability</span>:<br />It has been argued that carbon never wears out. This means that out of all the materials out there carbon is the least likely to change ride quality over time. The downside is because of its construction its a tad more likely to form a crack somewhere in its structure. This is why it took so long for carbon to catch on. These days its not as much of an issue but can still pop up from time to time. The plus side is it can be repaired! A talented frame manufacture like Appleman can take your cracked unusable frame into something almost better than new. Unlike steel, it can be repaired without injury to as much of the paint. He has repaired a BMC carbon frame for me and it looks amazing! With no repaint needed! On another positive note, carbon does not rust or rot. I keep saying it would make a spectacular winter bike!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-crVODLOR43Y/T058VhegbVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/MkXlAvSv3Hs/s1600/titanium.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-crVODLOR43Y/T058VhegbVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/MkXlAvSv3Hs/s320/titanium.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714641686385159506" border="0" /></a>Titanium<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Past</span>:<br />Titanium Started showing its head around the bike industry in the mid 80s (this is getting a little repetitive). First with road then mtn. It spread like wildfire in the 90s due to its light weight, great ride and major durability. It had a slump in sales in the late 90s and early 00s due to the improvement in carbon and titanium's high price. We have seen an improvement in sales in the last 4-5 years. There are many reasons for this and most are simply speculation. I feel its because you can buy a titanium bike and actually grow old with it. You really don't need to worry about durability, weight, corrosion or ride change... it just goes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ride</span>:<br />Its amazing! It should be... its expensive and super durable. It will be as compliant if not more than steel in both vibration damping and impacts. It can also be almost as stiff as an aluminum or carbon frame (manufacturers usually don't bother making it as stiff as it can be). It really is a dream material... It will just cost you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Durability</span>:<br />Just ride the thing! The only issue I have seen for durability is from the major manufacturer of it in the mid 90s. They made frames for many other companies as well. I have seen a few cracked welds but that is all... and that is totally repairable. For the most part you will see less problems with titanium than any other material out there AND you can leave it unpainted so you don't even have paint to get scratched.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">So what do I choose?</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of them! Yep, these photos were taken from my personal fleet of bikes. The short of it is that you can't really go wrong as long as its the right type of bike for you and your riding. If I could only have one it would be titanium as you could probably have guessed. Its pricey but its all you will need to buy for a really long time. My favorite bike that I own is steel though but the bike I ride the most is aluminum. When I wanna go fast as hell I take the carbon bike out. I know... you read this whole blog post just to find out that its really not that big of a deal. But the thing is that its not! As I say to customers "ride a bunch of bikes... and buy the one you like to ride the most". For some people that will be steel, some aluminum and others carbon or Titanium.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSjZ0U0DM1Y/T058LTuELiI/AAAAAAAAAFA/6YAsjYUnNBU/s1600/steel.JPG"></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-26707301486373804382012-02-23T14:26:00.001-08:002012-02-23T16:17:03.920-08:00The Things We Do for Cyclocross: A Break to DISCuss BrakesAhhhhh, cyclocross. What a sport you are! I know it's not your season, and I've never raced you, but I hope to now that my shop's name will be on a kit and well, that sort of obligates me, right? So, I'm sorta new at this, but I know a few things:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I may eat it on the barriers,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kcu6B97A8sc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though probably not so spectacularly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will wish my bike was lighter,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9bZYddMIY/T0asgiW5PqI/AAAAAAAAABI/-A-EZ4Ymosw/s1600/x-check+%27cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iL9bZYddMIY/T0asgiW5PqI/AAAAAAAAABI/-A-EZ4Ymosw/s320/x-check+%27cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but, y'know, steel is real.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will probably get muddy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3s7fEIAgjyY/T0aqv9yrPDI/AAAAAAAAABA/0PVFWvMzWuU/s1600/cx+mud.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3s7fEIAgjyY/T0aqv9yrPDI/AAAAAAAAABA/0PVFWvMzWuU/s320/cx+mud.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And when I get muddy, I will probably wish I had more braking power. What I don't know yet is how far I will go to achieve this. People have been doing the cyclocross with good ol' cantilevers for years and years, but the times are a-changin'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few friends have converted to these mini-V things with success.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1RvIsYpLp0/T0a6FhBYkHI/AAAAAAAAAB4/tfhpoiwTewk/s1600/mini+v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1RvIsYpLp0/T0a6FhBYkHI/AAAAAAAAAB4/tfhpoiwTewk/s320/mini+v.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They're pretty cheap (and ADORABLE!), so maybe I'll give those a try.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But really, discs brakes seem to be the obvious answer, and since the UCI lifted the ban on discs in sanctioned events, options are growing.</div>
<br />
<br />
Cable actuated discs make good sense as commonly found models like Avid's Road BB7 work with the short pull of road brake levers and integrated shift/brake levers alike. One of the first disc cross bikes that really stood out to me was Erik Noren of Peacock Groove's personal "Ace of Spades" bike, which pairs custom painted Campy 11 speed levers with (of course) painted-to-match road BB7's:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HorTS1Ey5A/T0bWoUwQ4hI/AAAAAAAAACA/3E4aVo0Ya0M/s1600/ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HorTS1Ey5A/T0bWoUwQ4hI/AAAAAAAAACA/3E4aVo0Ya0M/s320/ace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd used BB7's on both my singlespeed mountain bike and fat bike, so this made sense to me. The rotor stays out of the wet n' nasty and allows for a higher mechanical advantage. Cool. Were I to get a custom bike made or come across a 'cross frame that'd take them, I'd probably do this.<br />
<br />
But then I got some Avid Elixirs for my singlespeed MTB and, after I bled them correctly, fell in love with hydros. And whattayaknow! After some <a href="http://www.cxmagazine.com/drop-bar-hydraulic-disc-brakes-cable-pull-adapter-for-cyclocross-cannard">home-spun rigs</a>, the bike industry's now catering to this niche within a niche market of hydraulic disc brake/road lever solutions:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwoCFtP1WUk/T0a2Y_IxrAI/AAAAAAAAABY/sHU7WpoJssE/s1600/TRP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwoCFtP1WUk/T0a2Y_IxrAI/AAAAAAAAABY/sHU7WpoJssE/s320/TRP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TRP's Parabox: What would RoboCop Do?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH6KjvHjvEU/T0a2bSKJc0I/AAAAAAAAABg/cSV-fV7PqCA/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH6KjvHjvEU/T0a2bSKJc0I/AAAAAAAAABg/cSV-fV7PqCA/s320/hope.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope's offering. Is that a reflector mount?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
all of which basically just convert the mechanical pull of your road lever into hydraulic disc POWA! While these solutions allow for the use of pretty much any lever, they're, well, less than elegant in my opinion. Looks like I'll just have to wait 'til summer for SRAM's superfancy hydro Red levers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-w70l2DtOg/T0a4FqfNjnI/AAAAAAAAABo/UvK0kjLKlCE/s1600/SRAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-w70l2DtOg/T0a4FqfNjnI/AAAAAAAAABo/UvK0kjLKlCE/s320/SRAM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For some reason that lever makes me think of this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYHubmGR8MI/T0a4jMmHQrI/AAAAAAAAABw/moSZSz3vh7k/s1600/conehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYHubmGR8MI/T0a4jMmHQrI/AAAAAAAAABw/moSZSz3vh7k/s1600/conehead.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and I wonder how comfortable it will be, but then I remember that I'm a cheapskate and would never, ever, ever, ever, ever spend Red money on anything so it doesn't matter.<br />
<br />
Soooooo, after all this talk, I'll probably be stickin' with good ol' canti brakes this year. How bad can they be? Guess I'll find out.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-25302360278792276262012-02-08T11:21:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:24:41.366-08:00Monster Machines Issue #2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Monster machines Issue # 2:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Vive la liberté!</b> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the Clever Optimist, or Optimist Clever, which I encountered in Paris France a few years back:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6_K6PnHA-7s/TzLLlOJkN1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/vv8NqJcWrM0/s1600/Albert_blog_post.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6_K6PnHA-7s/TzLLlOJkN1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/vv8NqJcWrM0/s320/Albert_blog_post.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706847518145656658" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I am fond of green colored bikes, as well as those sporting cantilever brakes, fenders, and racks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Plus, I especially liked the name of this one.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After returning state side, I did some modest googling to try to find out more about it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No luck, though I did find a link to <a href="http://clevercycles.com/blog/info/about-us/">this bike shop</a> out in Portland.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the ‘worth reading’ section of their website is <a href="https://clevercycles.com/energy_and_equity/#undove">this essay</a>, which starts thus:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>El socialismo puede llegar solo en bicicleta. </i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><cite><span style="font-style:normal">It is relatively brief, though dense, and like the proprietors at Clever Cycles, I recommend reading.</span></cite></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-Albert<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6_K6PnHA-7s/TzLLlOJkN1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/vv8NqJcWrM0/s1600/Albert_blog_post.JPG"></a></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-61534899507195242282012-02-05T12:12:00.001-08:002012-02-05T13:08:18.641-08:00Goldilocks... Meet bike world. Bike world... Meet Goldilocks.<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sdSvw6U6-E/Ty7js7cJs1I/AAAAAAAAAE0/dvwvdaPMIao/s1600/650t.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sdSvw6U6-E/Ty7js7cJs1I/AAAAAAAAAE0/dvwvdaPMIao/s320/650t.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705748138934514514" border="0" /></a>Some call it a 650B<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4sx4shIP30/Ty7jPOwRF0I/AAAAAAAAAEc/C7UWHpO2gNc/s1600/nevgal27.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4sx4shIP30/Ty7jPOwRF0I/AAAAAAAAAEc/C7UWHpO2gNc/s320/nevgal27.5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705747628723083074" border="0" /></a>Some Call it 27.5inch<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What is it then? Really, its right in between a standard 26 inch mtn wheel size and a 29er. <br /><br />Why on earth would "they" introduce a new wheel size? The short answer is because it makes sense. The long... Because there IS in fact an argument between 29ers and 26ers. To me this simply states that these two wheel sizes have both ups and downs. With any person that brings the topic up we hear things like "it rolls faster" or "its smoother" or "it keeps its momentum better" for 29ers. With a 26 inch wheel we hear things like "its lighter" or "its more agile" or "more durable". So.... why not have it ALL?<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfCArqlGuTY/Ty7jK82njeI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/AU7UUacZa_o/s1600/aks%2521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfCArqlGuTY/Ty7jK82njeI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/AU7UUacZa_o/s320/aks%2521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705747555198406114" border="0" /></a>A.K.'s Redline<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />A.K. built this bad ass 650b bike up from a Redline Monocog Flight 26er frame. It has Pacenti Quasi moto tires in a 2.0 width. She put the Velocity 650b wheelset on it with polished Shimano XT disk brakes and Richey components. Its one sweet bike!<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3Eq_V8L6tQ/Ty7iy4kb6lI/AAAAAAAAAD4/NxAeqyRWCS0/s1600/tire%2Bclearance.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3Eq_V8L6tQ/Ty7iy4kb6lI/AAAAAAAAAD4/NxAeqyRWCS0/s320/tire%2Bclearance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705747141731543634" border="0" /></a>What about tire clearance on a 26inch frame?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Many 26inch bikes will take 650b tires but not all. The picture above is A.K.'s bike with just enough clearance to fit the 2.0 tire. Its not a problem at all unless you wanted bigger tires. The larger wheel size will also lift the ride-height of a bike by a little under 2cm (or about 3/4 of an inch). This will slightly effect the ride of the bike but also give you more ground clearance. You should also know that the 2cm ride height boost also happens on most full suspension bikes (to compensate for the suspension action). This just means if you don't notice it on your full suspension you probably won't notice it on your 650b conversion bike.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pa-9p3oLTT4/Ty7iu2BRTcI/AAAAAAAAADs/bwncA3L9RWM/s1600/philphoto2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pa-9p3oLTT4/Ty7iu2BRTcI/AAAAAAAAADs/bwncA3L9RWM/s320/philphoto2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705747072327699906" border="0" /></a>My Phil Wood 650b conversion bike<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, it is a Phil Wood bicycle frame (made for 26ers). I got this about a decade ago while at a bike convention in Las Vegas. It was one of the first disk brake single speed bikes out there. The problem... It was always a little bit of a low rider and only made worse with my 180mm crank arms. So my solution: toss on some 650b wheels. Not only did this correct my ride height issues but it got me into the wheel size. Even after the first ride I though "why is there even a debate over 26ers and 29ers when you can just go in the middle and get the best of both worlds?". The Goldilocks fable instantly popped into my head. Not too big, not too small... just right. Years of debate seemed wasted (I'm a 6'4" 26er fan due to the "too big" feel that 29ers have and need to explain myself a lot). Why would I even need to talk about the other wheel sizes? The 650b wheels do what a bike product is supposed to do... go unnoticed. It just rides, no need to think about it being too small or too big because its neither of those. Why should you be thinking about that stuff when your biking anyway?<br /></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbi74_0JUVs/Ty7irKTogDI/AAAAAAAAADg/vmRcrqI_4zM/s1600/jamis.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbi74_0JUVs/Ty7irKTogDI/AAAAAAAAADg/vmRcrqI_4zM/s320/jamis.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705747009053950002" border="0" /></a>Jamis Nemesis 650b<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What about tires, rims, forks and bikes? Get em, they are out there and available. Many fork manufactures have been making them for years, tires are available at most of our distributors, many rim companies are making them and lets not forget about Jamis. They have multiple 650b complete bikes available in steel, aluminum AND full suspension. We have the Nemesis at our Minnehaha location ready to roll. <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-34956877663220517242012-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:002012-01-29T13:48:12.238-08:00Bike ride or man-date?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvm3tRUpQq4/TyW1z-kjF3I/AAAAAAAAACw/pqyBAddLBWs/s1600/pic6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvm3tRUpQq4/TyW1z-kjF3I/AAAAAAAAACw/pqyBAddLBWs/s320/pic6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703164407708850034" border="0" />my Moots and Ben's Surly<br /></a></div><br /><br />Its 8 am Friday morning, the temp is about 5 below and there is about an inch of snow on the ground. I'm sitting in my little house drinking a latte and watching my fireplace spew warmth all around the fake pile of wood; waiting to see if anyone will show for my weekly bike ride, The Bad Espresso Ride. Five minutes pass until Rupert's excited barking alerts me... BenE is here! My co-worker, fellow riding enthusiast and beard buddy. Him showing up always means we are in for a great ride.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lE7ThBA_UPY/TyW1tXdq8cI/AAAAAAAAACY/xvYZlLzr5vE/s1600/pic4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lE7ThBA_UPY/TyW1tXdq8cI/AAAAAAAAACY/xvYZlLzr5vE/s320/pic4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703164294131806658" border="0" />Ben on the swing<br /></a></div><br /> We found a swing! This one is by the Sibley house in Mendota. When you are this jacked up on espresso a swing is always a great idea. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UvRWxAXX-SI/TyW1qVlCj1I/AAAAAAAAACM/9phm5xnsSs4/s1600/pic3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UvRWxAXX-SI/TyW1qVlCj1I/AAAAAAAAACM/9phm5xnsSs4/s320/pic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703164242086235986" border="0" />Me on the swing</a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The wonderful thing about our bike trails are that we get to avoid most auto accidents... This Friday there were over 130 in the metro area, this is one of them on the Mendota bridge. We got to pass all sorts of cars on the bike path.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD8fLG4dAXI/TyW1nNHiHhI/AAAAAAAAACA/lhU_xWlPgyM/s1600/pic1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD8fLG4dAXI/TyW1nNHiHhI/AAAAAAAAACA/lhU_xWlPgyM/s320/pic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703164188275383826" border="0" />BenE confused by the autos </a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD8fLG4dAXI/TyW1nNHiHhI/AAAAAAAAACA/lhU_xWlPgyM/s1600/pic1.jpg"></a></div><br />Down past the Cedar bridge BenE shows his regal pose. I felt it was appropriate given the snow storm, river and prairie grass.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MatbgC0LMNM/TyW1idlO_nI/AAAAAAAAAB0/6BF9GKxe_EI/s1600/pic2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MatbgC0LMNM/TyW1idlO_nI/AAAAAAAAAB0/6BF9GKxe_EI/s320/pic2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703164106795581042" border="0" />BenE looking yonder<br /></a></div><br />The amazing thing about the river bottoms is how much the sand firms up when its this cold and snowy. Last summer this stretch of trail was tough on a fat bike through the sand, now its a quick zip through and just a tad bit of sliding through the corners... perfection! <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPTQGaAhXAc/TyW1XtSnujI/AAAAAAAAABo/RHuRUgxlrMQ/s1600/pic7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPTQGaAhXAc/TyW1XtSnujI/AAAAAAAAABo/RHuRUgxlrMQ/s320/pic7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703163922033916466" border="0" />Our path awaits</a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPTQGaAhXAc/TyW1XtSnujI/AAAAAAAAABo/RHuRUgxlrMQ/s1600/pic7.jpg"></a></div>We ended up with several hours of riding, some of the thickest ice beards we have experienced and where able to keep most of our fingers and toes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-48146590904523020662012-01-25T15:47:00.000-08:002012-02-03T15:04:43.602-08:00I have a crush on Orbea!<div style="text-align: center;">This is kind of embarrassing to admit, but this July when I went to Utah to see the new 2012 Orbeas and walked into the display room I was dumbfounded by the ridiculous beauty of the new Orbea bicycles. The people from Orbea were talking to me and I could barely speak and my heart was racing. I go to trade shows, and see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">everyone’s</i> shiny new stuff, but I've <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">never</i> had this kind of reaction before. Sure, the Hub is an Orbea dealer so some of the thrill was that we get to stock these exceptionally stunning bikes, but like I said I see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">lots</i> of new bikes. We are getting our first shipment of new 2012 Orbeas this week so I'm a little giddy again.<br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Coming Attractions to our </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">301 Cedar Ave</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;"> store!!</span><br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A New </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Orbea Road</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Bike</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">……..</b></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The 2012 Orbea Aqua TTG:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i style="">$1259.99</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLp00CPIkMI/TyCVWHJCdLI/AAAAAAAAADU/ERMTc_xDEeY/s1600/Orbea%2Broad.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLp00CPIkMI/TyCVWHJCdLI/AAAAAAAAADU/ERMTc_xDEeY/s320/Orbea%2Broad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701721335357666482" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=" Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:100%;">The Orbea Aqua TTG is all about racing at a price that is often ignored when a company tries to make a bike fast. The much improved new Shimano Tiagra 10spd shifters and crankset are coupled with a 105 rear derailleur that performs like serious race equipment at a fraction of the cost. The Aqua frame encourages you to jump on the pedals push it, and the Shimano R500 wheelset spins up quickly and rewards the effort.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=" Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12pt;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Coming Attractions to our 3020 Minnehaha store!!</span></span><br /><br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A New Orbea Hybrid Bike</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">……..</b><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2012 Orbea Carpe H10:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i style="">$1529.99</i></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulxuKM9r_q0/TyHIa50NfGI/AAAAAAAAADs/Qi-E8vD57QY/s1600/H10_1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulxuKM9r_q0/TyHIa50NfGI/AAAAAAAAADs/Qi-E8vD57QY/s320/H10_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702058967749721186" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuQnJWsV1y4/TyHIbK0zoxI/AAAAAAAAAD4/M0YPTNGCywo/s1600/h10%2B%25232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuQnJWsV1y4/TyHIbK0zoxI/AAAAAAAAAD4/M0YPTNGCywo/s320/h10%2B%25232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702058972315624210" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F591pmrpQNY/TyHIw2FlC2I/AAAAAAAAAEE/1-p3Km0Dvc0/s1600/blog_1.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F591pmrpQNY/TyHIw2FlC2I/AAAAAAAAAEE/1-p3Km0Dvc0/s320/blog_1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702059344705948514" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;">The Orbea Carpe H10 is a versatile urban speed machine. The frame is steep and agile like a road bike and the Orbea wheels and excellent Vittoria Randoner 32c tires say go anywhere without fear. When it comes time dial back the speed, the Formula RX brakes will be up to the task even if you are fully loaded touring and hauling a trailer. The wide range Shimano 10spd XT drive train will get you up that hill fully loaded also.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2012 Orbea Carpe H60, Hub price $549.99</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-yj8Ivdw-A/TyHNv2AIY1I/AAAAAAAAAGI/k9NJRR02rao/s1600/h_10_3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-yj8Ivdw-A/TyHNv2AIY1I/AAAAAAAAAGI/k9NJRR02rao/s320/h_10_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702064825061368658" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">An affordable Orbea. The Carpe H60 at $549.99 is alloy single speed hybrid that even at such an affordable price still comes with Orbea's lifetime frame warranty. Simple, fast with reflective side wall puncture resistant tires that will keep you rolling worry free to the places you need to go.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;">What we are still waiting on from Orbea!!!</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Photos from Dealer Camp at Park City Utah.......<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The Orca Bronze BPX and T105.</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13873BXWEho/TyHJa8c43fI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/5cgIguxLKHA/s1600/blog_2.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13873BXWEho/TyHJa8c43fI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/5cgIguxLKHA/s320/blog_2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702060067968835058" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=" Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12pt;">Orbea Rallon SX30</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkUmVuiHJYo/TyHLtNft9FI/AAAAAAAAAE0/iSFcvPBUYeA/s1600/blog_3.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkUmVuiHJYo/TyHLtNft9FI/AAAAAAAAAE0/iSFcvPBUYeA/s320/blog_3.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702062580805006418" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyQeIO4DJCY/TyHL64qpLYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/HuPI5xUiMqs/s1600/RALLON.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyQeIO4DJCY/TyHL64qpLYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/HuPI5xUiMqs/s320/RALLON.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702062815731854722" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:donotshowmarkup/> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;">The elegant Orbea Diamond Link suspension design and Fox’s RP23’s Boost Valve expertly set up by Lonnie at Orbea was a blast, plush, but with virtually no pedal induced bob when ascending I had a moment of feeling out of my depth at the top of the chair lift, and stopped to take this picture, then the Rallon made me right at home.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman";font-family:";font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-style: italic;">More Pics</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5OGetweLos/TyHMUhqCYmI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Xd40qz5Euq8/s1600/blog_8.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5OGetweLos/TyHMUhqCYmI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Xd40qz5Euq8/s320/blog_8.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702063256231895650" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OgwLHzxgfDc/TyHMUVZXo2I/AAAAAAAAAFk/bJCyanat8-w/s1600/blog_7.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OgwLHzxgfDc/TyHMUVZXo2I/AAAAAAAAAFk/bJCyanat8-w/s320/blog_7.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702063252940759906" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JO9z1LMA8CI/TyHMUcGNcFI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Izkepn-JEpk/s1600/blog_6.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JO9z1LMA8CI/TyHMUcGNcFI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Izkepn-JEpk/s320/blog_6.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702063254739447890" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIuAsZdmcAA/TyHMUK8r2-I/AAAAAAAAAFM/E4oe5FzzADQ/s1600/blog_5.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIuAsZdmcAA/TyHMUK8r2-I/AAAAAAAAAFM/E4oe5FzzADQ/s320/blog_5.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702063250136095714" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHTRTgVwAf4/TyHMU55dRaI/AAAAAAAAAF8/LhQFGdlLBc8/s1600/blog_9.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHTRTgVwAf4/TyHMU55dRaI/AAAAAAAAAF8/LhQFGdlLBc8/s320/blog_9.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702063262739023266" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2aLzL3XHhfU/TyHN4L3P8dI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Lqkp7jnAiWM/s1600/chuff%2Blifted.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2aLzL3XHhfU/TyHN4L3P8dI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Lqkp7jnAiWM/s320/chuff%2Blifted.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702064968368648658" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">-Chuff</span><br /></span></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-72869558965075803272012-01-10T10:41:00.000-08:002012-01-10T11:25:27.328-08:00The Giant Giant's winter rampage<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lg-um6T8tcw/TwyQXNfEPcI/AAAAAAAAABc/JxcWVurh6fU/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lg-um6T8tcw/TwyQXNfEPcI/AAAAAAAAABc/JxcWVurh6fU/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696086357148188098" /></a><br /><div><div>Ramen Noodles, water, bananas and cheep beer. To me these all equate to my nice bike. The one that killed my bank account, murdered my social life and destroyed my spare time. Its the one in the stable that screams out to you every time you look at it... Take me! Take me! The one you have to tell "NO" far too often in Minnesota, Im sorry nice bike its too rainy out for you to play outside... Its way to snowy... That salt will kill your beautiful look.</div><div><br /></div><div>But not Today!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes! Nice bike! You can play outside...</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXAtBM2m0ho/TwyKehJL4hI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Y4GKJ2DmhLc/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXAtBM2m0ho/TwyKehJL4hI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Y4GKJ2DmhLc/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696079885614440978" /></a>I ride slowly out of the alley like a balding man in his $250,000 Ferrari. We glide down the neighborhood streets in no hurry, gotta warm this fella up. Soft pedaling is all we need till we get to the river, no need to show off speed when you look like this. <div><br /></div><div>You must listen when on this one, not for the engine but for that soft warm road noise that only a high end bike can make. Its a light drone of the road echoing through its full carbon frame, a soft whim from the tubular tyres, and a light vibration from each shift barley pulses through it. You feel none of this... only the contours of the road perfectly hitting your body. The curves of the street ahead of you taken with no effort, like the bicycle already knows your plan of attack. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now for some throttle... Like a race horse in the starting gate this guy is fidgeting and stomping, let me out! I need to move! </div><div><br /></div><div>You let it go and everything becomes a blur. The road noise gets drown out by the engine. The feel of the bike becomes one with the burning in your lungs and legs. You loose track of which one is in charge... the bike or the human. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-42525355276821276022011-12-29T12:40:00.000-08:002011-12-29T13:16:27.520-08:00Where's My Winter!?: Coping with Seasonal Unexpectedness DisorderSo, if you're at all like me, winter isn't just another season to ride in- it's an exciting, challenging time of year that raises many questions. <br />
<br />
Among them are "How much snow will we get!?", "Should I put on studded tires!?!", "Is it cold enough for long underwear!?!?", and "Will my beard and/or hair freeze up so I can take an awesome picture for the facebook!?!??!?" <br />
<br />
So far the answers are "hardly any", "nobody knows!", "no", and "not in the foreseeable future", and to me it's all a little unsettling, but everything's gonna be okay.<br />
<br />
How're we supposed to have fun in a snowless winter!? you ask.. well, I'm still trying to figure it out, and I think it has to do with what I'd call an "attitude shift". For example, I was really excited to do some of this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjwQciCQAnU/TvzUWMYKCUI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/OitdNCupAKg/s1600/pugstairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691657506834221378" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjwQciCQAnU/TvzUWMYKCUI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/OitdNCupAKg/s320/pugstairs.jpg" style="height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
but since there's little to no white stuff on the ground anywhere, I tell myself, "Cool! Guess I'll do some riding in this!":<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqPp1uTsq8k/TvzUWHgHpsI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Jcqu9BfzPHE/s1600/pug%2Blowroad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691657505525442242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqPp1uTsq8k/TvzUWHgHpsI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Jcqu9BfzPHE/s320/pug%2Blowroad.jpg" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"and heck! maybe I'll even ride this thing, which I wasn't expecting to bust out again 'til April or May at least":<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce04xERzVkA/TvzXYN3YPRI/AAAAAAAAAA0/w-NABOtXMWA/s1600/trek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691660840128232722" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce04xERzVkA/TvzXYN3YPRI/AAAAAAAAAA0/w-NABOtXMWA/s320/trek.jpg" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"Gee whiz, that thing sure is fast."<br />
<br />
See what I mean? Just like charging headlong into a blizzard requires a shift in attitude, expecting that and getting 40 degree weather and the occasional flurry can really throw you for a loop if you don't step back and adjust the way you take it all in.<br />
<br />
Another, more immediate example- Instead of being toe-numbing icefests that are fun in their own regard, both <a href="http://bikejerksmpls.blogspot.com/2011/12/bandit-cross-this-saturday.html">this</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Few-Gears-Eve-5/175542779130474">this</a> have the potential to be downright moderate in temperature and conditions. Dig it.<br />
<br />
Now quit reading and get a good ride or two in before 2011's gone forever, mmkay?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-36981971462345202872011-12-01T13:35:00.000-08:002011-12-01T13:45:20.198-08:00Monster Machines Issue #1: Chinatown NYCA few months back I was in NY for a spell. It was hot, muggy and stinky as the city is in the summer. Also, our toddler was along, complete with nap and meal schedule regimen. So for the most part we hung around our hotel near Wall Street, observing the early days of the Occupy movement and the ongoing reconstruction of the area known as ‘ground zero.’ One day we took to foot on a journey to secure sustenance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aS8rQl1BimY/Ttf0HhHr3PI/AAAAAAAAABk/F0k1LrVvSPg/s1600/2011_0929_donut%2Bplant.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aS8rQl1BimY/Ttf0HhHr3PI/AAAAAAAAABk/F0k1LrVvSPg/s320/2011_0929_donut%2Bplant.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681277864938036466" border="0" /></a><br />The walk featured some excellent examples of Chinatown delivery bike customization.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLTze8-_9c8/Ttf08OFwP4I/AAAAAAAAACI/0ttYEksNLrM/s1600/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLTze8-_9c8/Ttf08OFwP4I/AAAAAAAAACI/0ttYEksNLrM/s320/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681278770362728322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0agBpAhvXc4/Ttf078-l96I/AAAAAAAAAB8/N0HkgXzCadc/s1600/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0agBpAhvXc4/Ttf078-l96I/AAAAAAAAAB8/N0HkgXzCadc/s320/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681278765769291682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJfoHA3RDxk/Ttf08YvPXYI/AAAAAAAAACU/HP1ZquvuqU4/s1600/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJfoHA3RDxk/Ttf08YvPXYI/AAAAAAAAACU/HP1ZquvuqU4/s320/2011_0929_funky%2Brack%2B3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681278773221088642" border="0" /></a><br />Ahh, ingenuity! Note: I never saw any of these in ‘action’ so cannot comment on their utility and/or safety.<br /><br />Also spotted this clever fix of a 26” mountain bike with suspension fork replaced by 700c fork and wheel. Weird looking, may not handle great, but thanks to the bmx bars it features upright posture and with that wide and somewhat knobby rear tire a fat skid patch!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1LH8flT6A/Ttf1NyJSx_I/AAAAAAAAACg/YbaJ3zq7K2s/s1600/2011_0929_strange%2Borange.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1LH8flT6A/Ttf1NyJSx_I/AAAAAAAAACg/YbaJ3zq7K2s/s320/2011_0929_strange%2Borange.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681279072099026930" border="0" /></a><br />The donuts were good, too.<br /><br />-AlbertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-14466813923560091362011-11-22T14:14:00.000-08:002011-11-22T14:31:26.513-08:00The Tale of a Boy and His PugsleyAround one year ago, I decided I would finally give in to the temptation of the Surly Pugsley, and my life has never been the same. It was a long, arduous decision process (I don't really need it), but as I look forward to another snowy four or five months rather than dreading the limits the white stuff puts on my riding, it's one I don't expect to ever regret.<br /><br />At first it was pretty much a humble stock bike. Swapped housing, shifters, saddle, and bars. Nothing to sneeze at, but nothing special, really:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8q4YdOKMxVE/TswhsTnhpYI/AAAAAAAAAAc/RSLfJMgA_8g/s1600/Pugs002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8q4YdOKMxVE/TswhsTnhpYI/AAAAAAAAAAc/RSLfJMgA_8g/s320/Pugs002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677950275271370114" /></a><br /><br />Many miles, much cassette cleaning, and a few snapped chains later, I decided to build the Alfine hub I had used on another bike into a fat wheel, and that worked pretty well for the sand and other soft stuff this past summer:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV8CfpUasHc/Tswh26wm6cI/AAAAAAAAAAo/m2dAA4x0lTw/s1600/pugs003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV8CfpUasHc/Tswh26wm6cI/AAAAAAAAAAo/m2dAA4x0lTw/s320/pugs003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677950457577138626" /></a><br /><br />Only problem was, the Alfine requires a pretty significant 'hiccup' in the pedal stroke in order to downshift. While this hadn't been an issue in commuting, it became a real pain when riding offroad. I'd have to sort of 'pre-shift' into a gear suitable to a climb or sandy patch, push a high gear, or get off n' walk. I don't like getting off to walk, so I decided I'd try something completely different:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3n54iXBaa0/Tswh-YztPaI/AAAAAAAAAA0/X2_3vNt69Mg/s1600/pugs004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3n54iXBaa0/Tswh-YztPaI/AAAAAAAAAA0/X2_3vNt69Mg/s320/pugs004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677950585902284194" /></a><br /><br />Ain't no gaps between the gears of the NuVinci hub. Just a 360% range of continuously variable goodness. So far, I've been very pleased with the hub's performance. One needs to let up on his or her pedal stroke a bit to upshift, but downshifting is crazy-smooth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMw0cQtRHBs/TswiFFwoTtI/AAAAAAAAABA/GhFXyyKv3R0/s1600/pugs005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMw0cQtRHBs/TswiFFwoTtI/AAAAAAAAABA/GhFXyyKv3R0/s320/pugs005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677950701048188626" /></a><br /><br />At first, I found myself constantly messing with the shifter, keeping my cadence perfect. Now I think I've come to a good balance of appreciating the exactness of gearing the hub affords and just ridin' the damn thing sometimes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9kNKOjno-1M/TswiQdIytKI/AAAAAAAAABM/2QxuOMATzwo/s1600/pugs006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9kNKOjno-1M/TswiQdIytKI/AAAAAAAAABM/2QxuOMATzwo/s320/pugs006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677950896302109858" /></a><br /><br />I've heard varied reports of the transmission fluid's viability in winter, so I'll be curious to see if there's any issues this year. I know of at least one fellow 'round these parts who rode one pretty extensively through last winter, so I'm hopeful.<br /><br />If you're curious about the Nuvinci hub, fat bikes, or both and would like to try this thing out, call me at the University Bike Center or shoot me an email at <a href="bene@thehubbikecoop.biz">bene@thehubbikecoop.biz</a> and we'll make arrangements. See you out there in the snow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-24046525423432426152011-10-13T08:01:00.000-07:002011-10-13T08:26:01.953-07:00Bike Generator for Occupy MN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzk9gCyOIvk/TpcC0BRVGbI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/jLATEvfDgnk/s1600/generator.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzk9gCyOIvk/TpcC0BRVGbI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/jLATEvfDgnk/s320/generator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662998149159262642" border="0" /></a><br />This was the result of our donation of a used trainer to the cause of the downtown occupation. Lewis from a moto repair shop built a bike-powered generator for the folks to recharge the batteries they have been using to power the village. woo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-63277488901558975132011-10-06T15:18:00.001-07:002011-10-06T15:29:08.948-07:00Me, Myself and Masi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh8VjqKmu6M/To4qrzjVrTI/AAAAAAAAAAw/UYNB3v5SHfM/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh8VjqKmu6M/To4qrzjVrTI/AAAAAAAAAAw/UYNB3v5SHfM/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660508713712463154" border="0" /></a><br />Summer is coming to a quick close which only means one thing... Amazing bike rides are here! Top of Ohio on my trusty Masi Special.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoN83xs_9fY/To4qml6SOmI/AAAAAAAAAAo/QFZgQwZmF_U/s1600/photo%25281%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoN83xs_9fY/To4qml6SOmI/AAAAAAAAAAo/QFZgQwZmF_U/s320/photo%25281%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660508624151263842" border="0" /></a><br />Red leaves and Tree covered roads down by Lillydale.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03lGYp4cH6g/To4qfZ-DrOI/AAAAAAAAAAg/nUqCBf1Ky_w/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03lGYp4cH6g/To4qfZ-DrOI/AAAAAAAAAAg/nUqCBf1Ky_w/s320/photo%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660508500686777570" border="0" /></a><br />Yellow, red, green and orange. There is nothing like riding in the fall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-87815040601719868132011-08-11T11:33:00.000-07:002011-08-11T11:33:00.620-07:00Serial numbers are important!Every year we hear about dozens of bikes getting stolen. Many of these can be prevented, some of them can not but what always remains the same is that a serial number can help you get your bike back. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8qnt6_Yy8/TkQfNHqC9pI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pwH1R39jcdE/s1600/serial+number.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8qnt6_Yy8/TkQfNHqC9pI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pwH1R39jcdE/s320/serial+number.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Your serial number is usually placed on the underside of your bike frame (also known as the bottom bracket shell). Flip your bike over, write it down, email it to yourself, be thankful you have it if your bike gets stolen. If your bike does get stolen make sure to file a police report and give them your serial number, this will throw up a red flag if the thief tries to sell the bike to a shop (like ours) or any pawn shop. It also gives you proof if you see it pop up on Craig's list that it is indeed yours. If you see it pop up on craig's list then contact the police and let them take care of it. This also holds true if you see it out in the real world, you need to remember that you probably really want to have your bike back but the thief wants to avoid getting captured even more. <br />
<br />
Keep your bike from getting stolen in the first place! A Kryptonite lock will keep your bike safe and warm, Locking skewers will help with the wheels staying on and the Abus chain lock is a flexible sub for a u-lock but not quite as secure. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19uTIgVQ86c/TkQfTlDcGyI/AAAAAAAAAR8/2X2Y3Ho_7MY/s1600/way+to+go.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19uTIgVQ86c/TkQfTlDcGyI/AAAAAAAAAR8/2X2Y3Ho_7MY/s320/way+to+go.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Avoid Cable locks (example below) for any in-the-city locking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u28s27PehR0/TkQfZB9o3HI/AAAAAAAAASA/_b03fEWpoYI/s1600/bad+choice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u28s27PehR0/TkQfZB9o3HI/AAAAAAAAASA/_b03fEWpoYI/s320/bad+choice.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Many times they can be cut faster than using a key or combo. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Vce6UCkRE/TkQfmPSuylI/AAAAAAAAASE/zFVvKtAvANI/s1600/jodi+stealing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Vce6UCkRE/TkQfmPSuylI/AAAAAAAAASE/zFVvKtAvANI/s1600/jodi+stealing.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Hubstershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907278666274303336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-71513396307812509172011-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:002011-06-30T11:44:18.497-07:00Is my helmet still good?Helmets are great! Helmets are amazing! Helmets can save your life! But helmets also have short lifespans!<br />
<br />
We have many customers come in and ask a similar question "Is my helmet still good?". This is one of those questions of the philosophical nature, the one that you probably already know the answer too, much like "should I take a shower today?" or "am I really in love with that person?". No, your helmet is probably not still in proper working order. This is kinda a big thing since proper "working" order means still having that life saving ability. <br />
<br />
How can you really tell? Me and my co-workers favorite test... The hand break test!! If you can break a helmet with your hands... get a new one!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCgWTh4HTIE/TgzDXx3vuzI/AAAAAAAAARg/HHnnWuxdAh8/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCgWTh4HTIE/TgzDXx3vuzI/AAAAAAAAARg/HHnnWuxdAh8/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture: Spanish snapping a helmet in half with her mighty do-good arms</div><span id="goog_1686980077"></span><span id="goog_1686980078"></span><br />
<br />
So what is a helmets life-span? Most manufacturers recommend replacement after 3 to 5 years depending on your climate. If your on a coast next to a sea think 3 years max, here in MPLS we usually get around 4 years sometimes 5 if your lucky and store it somewhere proper. There are also many things that reduce the life expectancy of a helmet. Some of those being dropping it, crashes (you should replace after even a single crash), puppy dogs eating it (this happens a ton!) and outside storage. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Igqn4yqzhDc/TgzDm5GymRI/AAAAAAAAARk/kpYaQILJq8o/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Igqn4yqzhDc/TgzDm5GymRI/AAAAAAAAARk/kpYaQILJq8o/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Picture: This is a helmet being locked to a bike, if you do this on a regular basis you should start thinking of replacing the helmet yearly. The sun is a helmet killer!</div><br />
Why do helmets have such a short lifespan? They are Styrofoam, not a very environmental material but the best to make helmets out of. Styrofoam breaks down and gets brittle at a very quick rate (remember those Styrofoam coolers that would break after a month or three?). The reason they use it is because of the nature of the material. A bike helmet sacrifices itself to save your head. It is meant to crack and compress when your head hits the ground in order to slow the impact down. This also means that once that helmet gets squished and broken it is no longer good. This can also happen by simply dropping it (usually more than once at the same spot or from a high height).Hubstershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907278666274303336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752188489330247901.post-6207359286914669052011-06-19T11:00:00.000-07:002011-06-19T11:00:22.907-07:00Northside Bike FestThe Hub Bike Coop working with partnerships in North Minneapolis, held the Northside Bike Fest even though North Commons had just opened. The North Commons Park had been a shelter for residence displaced by the tornado. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QbSbuTSH-I/Tf41nkWBWXI/AAAAAAAAARc/IviJ08Nfxgs/s1600/Bike+Fest+2011+North+Commons+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QbSbuTSH-I/Tf41nkWBWXI/AAAAAAAAARc/IviJ08Nfxgs/s320/Bike+Fest+2011+North+Commons+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bike Fest 2011 North Commons</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Many kids were happy to win a new or used bike, and raced around the parking lot with their new free helmet on their heads!<br />
<br />
There are two more Northside Bike Fests left.<br />
<br />
Fowell Park 1615 Dowling Ave. N 4-7 p.m.<br />
Glen Gale Park 2448 Llion Ave N 4-7 p.m.<br />
(Rain Cancels)Hubstershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07907278666274303336noreply@blogger.com0