DionRidesBikes.com

4130 Subway Series - San Jose, Ca.

2012-01-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

We're bringing the 4130 Subway Series to Nor-Cal! SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

Date: February 18th, 2012
Start: 150 East San Fernando St., San Jose, Ca. - San Jose State University Martin Luther King Jr. Library
Time: 3:00pm - ?:??pm

First ride will be in San Jose, Ca. meeting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library at San Jose State University. This is a BMX/Urban/Street ride, so come with your 20", 24" or 26" bikes. Everyone is invited, but this ride is truly for the O.G.'s. Street, dirt jumpers, BMX cruisers, side-hacks, trials, flatland - all are welcome.

We will end the ride at the San Jose City Hall on 4th and Santa Clara.

THIS IS NOT a fixie ride, San Jose Bike Party or Critical Mass, so please don't make it that. This is a BMX/street ride where the buzzing of freewheels will be our soundtrack for the afternoon and evening.

The loop is 10.34 miles and will take us to Santana Row and back using the main streets. There are stops every 2-3 miles at major intersections so nobody gets lost, but you are on your own if you do. The ride starts at 3:00pm and will end just in time for an early dinner (you're going to be hungry by that time) and there are plenty of options in and around the end point back at San Jose State University.

Some of you will choose to stop and session some areas, which is cool - but please stay legal. If you choose to ride something you're not supposed to, break the law or get popped for something illegal (riding or otherwise), you are on your own.

We may be riding into the evening, so bring some front and rear bicycle lights. Riding without lights at night is illegal - again, you are on your own.

Let's have some fun. Please, no monkey business and no bad attitudes. Rain WILL cancel and re-schedule this ride, so let's hope the weather holds up for us.

The route is HERE.

Here's how it goes down in Las Vegas:

MTBR Sunday Dirt Mass - January 15th, 2012

2012-01-16T09:06:00.001-08:00

Some go to mass on Sunday. Mountain bikers go to Dirt Mass on Sunday.

Fugetaboutit.

My buddy, Brett, put this one on - as he does every few months. It's a great time at my local trails, and it's nice to be able to introduce other riders to Santa Teresa County Park: an amazing South Bay gem. As always, the Sunday Dirt Mass rides are "no drop", so no matter how slow you are, we always wait up.

We all arrived at the trailhead around 9:00am. On my way over I caught up with Brett (who also rides to the trails) on the paved multi-use trail and we spun along at a break neck speed of 9mph on our single speeds on flat ground. Pulling up, we already noticed a gang of people and knew that it was going to be a nice turnout; surprisingly strong during the NFL playoffs. We started our ride around 9:20am.

The head count was approximately 25-27 riders - all skill levels, all ages, all types of bikes.

We broke up into two groups: the "faster" group - who took on the more difficult trails at a faster pace, and the "slower" group, who I took on a good calorie burner. What makes Santa Teresa County Park especially accommodating is that no matter which route you take, you will pretty much always end up in the same place. This allowed the group at large to meet at central locations for a large re-group. Even with the "no drop" rule, some riders took wrong turns and ended up breaking off, but we all eventually found each other due to the trail system.

I'm very happy that my group had fun. I didn't want the route to be too difficult, but I also didn't want it to be too boring. There was a lot of climbing, but there are also fun, technical descends (like Stile Ranch Trail).

Until next time, dirt thumpers.

The Nisene Epic

2012-01-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

My brother sent me this e-mail last week:

Been back on the bike lately. So nice over here in SC. Let me know if you want to do a ride Sunday morning. - Sent from the couch

So I called him later that night and we decided on our traditional Nisene Epic on the CX bikes. Our loop usually consists of riding out from his house, into Aptos, climb to "the couch" in Nisene, and descend through the forest to Branciforte Dr. with a short stop at Casalegnos before the road climb back into town.

As usual, we had a few creek crossings and MTB'ers (not-in-the-know) asked us about our "Hybrids" or "Road Bikes". These rides are always epic and fun; perfect for CX bikes. This is how we ended up:

My brother was the first to cross the creek.

Casalegnos. My brother went for the PBR; I went for a coconut water.

I Fixed My On-One Inbred

2012-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I fell into a riding slump (burn out) and realized I needed to change some things up a bit. While browsing MTBR, I had the wild notion of ordering a TomiCog - a fixed gear cog that allows you to convert your bike by simply replacing your rear disc rotor and flipping the wheel.

Well... fast forward to a few days after Christmas, and I am pedal striking and spinning away to my heart's content at my local trails.

The TomiCog is a nice piece of metal; pulling the disc and slapping this baby on was a snap. The caveat, however, is that you will no longer have a rear brake, so you are forced to use only a front brake and leg resistance to stop. Not wanting to throw myself off too much, I went with the same 32X20 gearing, which allows me to get up-and-over everything on my local trails.

This is my third go at fixed off-road and I've seem to have forgotten how exhausting it is. If you're a bicycle rider and haven't been cryogenically frozen for the past 5 years, you know that fixed gear riding does not allow one to coast on descends - you still have to pedal. Combine that with off-road obstacles, rocks, loose terrain/lack of traction, hard climbs and extreme concentration as to not face plant, the off-road fixed gear truly adds a whole new dimension to your local romp.

Since I ride to the trails, the 3 mile ride out and back is brutally slow; and since you can't coast on descends, the overall ride time takes much longer than with a freewheel bike. So, as I've said in my previous post about riding off-road fixed, you have to go into the ride with a different mindset or else you will scream to the gods when a granny on a 1994 Roadmaster comfort bike cruises past you on the multi-use trail.

I would recommend off-road fixed to anyone who 1) wants a challenge or 2) stopped taking their medication. It is fun, entertaining and will get you the craziest comments and stares on the trail. Viva la FIXED!

The Leader got Lighter (and stops better, too!)

2012-01-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

My China-brand "Mosso" aluminum fork finally came in and I installed it with some new Avid BB7's and red anodized brake cable housing. Bling bling!

Taking it out to the trails the other day, I was really expecting the aluminum fork to rattle my brain - not so! I was surprised to find that it wasn't any more harsh than my steel Kona 29'er fork. And after riding the 29'er for so long, you tend to forget how nice 26" wheels are for maneuverability in tight situations.

The mighty, MIGHTY Beach Cruiser

2011-12-30T07:33:00.000-08:00

We're in, over our heads, people.

...Carbon fiber

...DW-Link Rear Suspension

...Dropper Seat Posts

...Electronic shifting

...29'ers

...and let's not even begin to venture into road bikes (!)

...all destined to be obsolete in a matter of a few years.

Do we really need all this stuff to have a good time? Weren't we just raving about Shimano V-Brakes and 100mm travel suspension less than a decade ago? When browsing the pages of Mountain Bike Action (MBA) and MTBR.com, I feel like I'm a 17 yr. old male watching a parade of hot, Los Angeles 10's in bikini's and high-heels... it just seems all unobtainable without the immense wad of cash. Meanwhile, the nerdy, Battlestar Galactica-loving brunette (who kind of likes you) goes unnoticed.

I'm going to take a little time to put that cute, nerdy brunette on a pedestal in all her glory; I am talking about the simple (yet mighty) beach cruiser. Loyal and low-maintenance, there is no reason why you shouldn't have a $100 beach cruiser among your Los Angeles 10's. Now, before you close this tab and move on to reading MTBR's review of the latest carbon fiber 29'er gadgetry, hear me out.

I've owned a number of beach cruisers in the last few years and I've made the mistake of "fixing them up". It always begins with a basic coaster brake beater, but after a few months, the bike becomes a garage queen - something that I wouldn't think about leaving parked and locked outside of a grocery store. After awhile, I become bored with it and end up selling it. Or, on the other side of the coin, I will buy a "high-end" beach cruiser in the $400-$500 range that looks more like a chopper than a bicycle. Pretty, but not practical.

The purpose of owning a beach cruiser is to keep it simple (believe me, I am correcting those bad habits) and to enjoy a bicycle in its simplest form. In terms of bicycle riding, there are very few options that take away all but the bare essentials of drive train and braking with the fixed gear coming in at a close 2nd place.

Beach cruisers are designed for comfort and single speed simplicity - yet still have the maneuverability and speediness of a large BMX bike. After hitting the trails over and over again with your fancy pants 29'er or destroying your legs and lungs on a century ride with 10,000 ft. of climbing, the beach cruiser will cleanse your riding palette. You will slow down and take it in. You will stop and chase the ducks, take a picture of a flower, or talk to old people. You'll perform the most epic coaster brake skid, ever. You will recall what riding is supposed to feel like when you've just about got burned out on yelling at iPod zombies on the trail.

There are many variations of the beach cruiser, as I mentioned earlier, but I've found the most basic to be the most fun. My brother turned me on to "BMX" inspired beach cruisers some years ago when he told me about the "Beers, not Gears" ride they do in the Santa Cruz mountains on beach cruisers in stormy weather. He had built one up as a big BMX'er, but when Swobo came along with their Folsom bike, I really came to notice that there was a revolution going on in regards to recreational bicycle riding.

The Swobo is big, bad, sturdy and ready for some serious action. However, this is nothing you can't build on your own with a little ingenuity and some extra parts.

This is my new incarnation - a basic cruiser, purchased from Target for $150. After re-building it with some correct torques and added grease, I replaced the tires (needed), the stem, handlebar, seat post and seat - all were laying in my parts-bin. The next upgrade will be some BMX pedals (old-school Bear Traps, perhaps?). Done. Finished. Go ride. More interesting builds can be found HERE.

If you're feeling a little burn-out or need something for fun, active recovery when you're not destroying King of the Mountain records, consider a beach cruiser. It's one of those things that you'll continually be telling yourself, "I love this bike!".

Merry Christmas! (NOT "Happy Holidays")

2011-12-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

"Happy Holidays!"

F*ck that... it's Christmas and that what most people are celebrating today. We took the beach cruisers down to my home town of Santa Cruz and did some Instagram'ing; here are the results.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Some Instagram'ing

2011-12-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

If you're not on Instagram... it's time to be.

Where else can you witness photos of the wild proclivities of Justin Bieber and JWOWW? If that doesn't interest you, you can go ahead and follow me "dionridesbikes".

Here are some shots:

Rewind to June: I forgot to post about how I dealt with a Craigslist Scammer...

2011-12-08T13:54:00.001-08:00

Original post was June 16th, 2011

I posted a bike for sale on Craigslist and I got this e-mail this morning:

Hello good day.i read about your post on CL i do have interest in the AD.I hope its in good condition stated and still available? get back to me with more pics so i can take more look at it thanks

My response:

Which item are you talking about?

His response:

Hey what item did you have forsale?

My response:

I am interested in doing business with you. However, before I present my items to you, I need a commitment from you that you are willing to do business. Can you commit to doing business with me?

Once you confirm that you are willing to do business, I will forward a picture to you of my item for sale.

His response:

Yes i want to do business with you get back to me

My response:

Okay,

This is the bicycle I have for sale. It is very special to me as it introduced me to a whole new world of cycling combined with sexual pleasure. I wish for any user of this bike to experience the same pleasure I felt when riding it. I will not except low offers and I only speak to those who are serious about purchase.

As part of the transaction, I must receive commitment from you that you will not alter this bike in any way nor install a regular bicycle seat. As part of this special art project, I received grants for creating this project and by contract, cannot have this bike altered in any way.

Unless you provide confirmation that you will ride this bike in its current form, I cannot do business with you.

His response:

Hello yes i will ride itHello thanks for the swift response, Nice reading from you again,Am Scott Papesh.i want you to assuring me that's in good condition and am paying $750 through PayPal.Do you own a PayPal account? get back to me with your txt #Have a lovely day,Scott

My response:

Hello Scott,

I do not have a PayPal account, but I am still willing to do business. I must mention another aspect of this bike before proceeding. The blue fake penis must be inserted into your anus and you must simulate homosexual sex when riding this bicycle. You MUST play disco music very loud, yelling, "I'm the Queen of the WORLD!".

You must understand that this bike is an art project and I received grant money for it, so contractually I cannot sell it to anybody who is not willing to do this.

You have to be handsome when riding this bike to attract lovers. Are you handsome? Please provide a picture of yourself so I may judge whether you are the appropriate buyer. If I don't receive a picture of you, I will NOT do business with you.

Still waiting for a picture to see if he's "handsome" :)

24lbs of Rigid 26"

2011-12-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Sounds like a pretty interesting porn actor!

I'm actually talking about my Leader 510, built on the cheap with whatever I had lying around my garage. I've since sold my black Kinesis SS, and while posting and posting and posting this bike for sale, I said F* it - I'm going to the "dark side" and just ride the snot out of it. I tossed the gears and went SS via a chain tensioner for the vertical dropouts.

Going from my 29'er (with trail bike geometry) to this with smaller wheels and XC geometry makes riding the two very different. The 29'er manages to climb the rocks more efficiently, descend a bit faster and sop up the bumps a little better. The Leader 510 climbs the fire roads a bit better, turns on a dime, whips around easier, but is a much harsher ride. If the question is "Which one is better?" the answer would be "Yes..."

The frame is aluminum with a heavy steel front fork. Ideally, I would love to upgrade to something much lighter up front - but I don't think I'll be turning laps any faster.

A lot of people think I ride rigid bikes to be "hardcore", but that isn't the case at all. The true reason is because it is what feels most comfortable for me, my riding style, and where I ride. I'm also a cheap bastard who doesn't like fiddling around with a lot of bike technology. When I ride suspension bikes, I think I fiddle around with lock-outs, U-turn adjustments, etc. more than I actually ride.

Suspension is great, but unless I go with a very high end, expensive bike (like an Ibis), I don't feel it's worth going that route. For me, it's all or nothing. And because I have other financial priorities... I go with nothing - bare bones, grit your teeth and hang-on-for-dear-life bikes.

So, let's see how long the Leader sticks around. Maybe I will keep it until it dies, or maybe put it up on the chopping block in the future - but given that it's worth more to me than what I can sell it for (a few hundred bucks, maybe?), I probably will keep it. Upgrades in the next few weeks will be Avid disc brakes (on order) and blingy, metallic red brake housing.

Long Term Review - On One Inbred 29'er

2011-11-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Hello internet'ers...

I guess it's time to do a 2 year+ review of my beloved On-One Inbred 29'er. My initial build is HERE, from 2009.

This bike has gone through a handful of different configurations - standard singlespeed, suspension fork, rigid, 1X9, 18 speed, monster-cross, commuter, back to a standard single speed - and it has graced this blog many times over. I have gone on countless off-road adventures with it and will continue to do so until I am physically unable to ride anymore. It has hung in my garage for weeks at a time... and has also been the only bike I'd ride for weeks at a time. It's rigid, basic, no frills, lo-tech and high-passion. It looks good enough to have people checking it out, but it's also understated enough to be ignored.

I a nutshell: I love this bike.

I have bought, built, ridden and sold many bikes, but there are a handful of bikes that I never intend on selling unless I get into very serious financial trouble. Those three would be my Pake C'Mute, my Surly Pacer and my One-One Inbred... all three are steel with traditional geometry.

The On-One Inbred is a multi-purpose frame that can be built a number of ways, sort of like my other two lifelong bikes. No matter how I configured this frame, it has performed well. The Inbred isn't a high-class, ultra light race bike and it doesn't present itself as one. Conversely, it makes a statement of true passion... as if to convey a message, "Get to pedaling and find your purpose in life."

The steel ride, as I've expressed before in previous posts, has a quality that is soft enough to maintain comfort yet stiff enough to maintain a quick, responsive ride. The Inbred is not light (mine is 26.92 lbs. in its current form), and can probably stand to lose a few pounds with a carbon fork and lighter tires: but what's the point? It does what it's intended to do and an upgrade would be like polishing new chrome. In other words - there's really no point in trying to make this bike into what it's not.

It is well known in the mountain bike world that 29'er wheels have a rolling advantage over 26" wheels. Although you do sacrifice a small amount of steering responsiveness on 180 switchbacks, the big wheel with a fat 2.4, tubeless, cushy tire in front helps when there is no suspension. I am very used to riding without suspension, so what may be "fun" for me may be punishing for others. This frame is designed to be used with both suspension and rigid forks.

The geometry is more "all-around" than cross-country, so you 135lb., lycra wearing hammerheads may not appreciate the ride. I am sure that it would be a great bike to enter your local XC races with, or if configured correctly, would even be a candidate for some cyclocross... but this can't go without saying that there are better options available when you're intending on hardcore racing. No... this is a trail bike to go see the world on.

The extreme sloping top tube helps with stand over: when you need to stop, place a foot on a rock or log, and take in the sights. The frame is a bit long, so a slightly shorter stem from what you're used to riding with may be necessary. Bottom bracket, seat post and headset tubes are all very standard: 68mm English, 27.2 seat post, 1 1/8" headset. Buying this frame and gathering parts from your parts bin can be done. I've also taken into account that if this frame were ever to break, I could easily get it repaired by a local welder (unlike titanium, carbon or aluminum).

The vanilla yellow paint is a little ugly in my opinion. So, going on that theme, I've chosen late 70's "sunrise" colors to go with it: yellow, orange and red. I'd like to eventually get custom paint on there... but I'd probably go with another ugly, eye-sore color like neon-something.

If you are looking for a fast climbing, hardcore, tight steering XC bike, the On-One Inbred is not for you. If you are searching for passion and a life long companion - then look no further. The Inbred will never win a world championship... and that's the whole point.

Wow! Hello again!

2011-11-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

It's been a month since I last posted, but not without reason. My General Agent (my manager) took off to the East Coast to visit family and I had to manage the agency for a short 3 weeks. It didn't eat into my riding time as much as it just ate into my general time, altogether.

A lot has happened in the last month, but I guess I'll start with the whole cyclocross racing thing.

I was getting in some good training rides, and with the help of a new Garmin Forerunner 305 with Heart Rate Monitor, I've been able to see my progression (or digression) from day-to-day. With the aid of this device, I would lay out some hard loops, beat my own times, etc. It has opened up a whole new aspect of riding that I didn't have before, and it's really nice.

All that being said, before I even lined up at the start line at the Surf City Classic last weekend, I was completely indifferent about the whole thing. I had a great start keeping up with the leaders, and after getting dropped on the climb, I just quit. DNF. No go. I asked myself, "WTF am I doing out here?" and I hung it up.

After last year's experience and this year's lack of drive - my Surf City experience was the true litmus test of whether racing is in the cards for me... and it's not. Riding for the sake of riding is what I love about riding. Mentally, I'm pretty exhausted from my career, and so maybe this is why I don't have the desire to compete outside of work. Anyhow... no more race reports from me, unless I'm taking pictures of my brother... but even he is a little "out of it" this year.

I converted my 29'er back to a single speed. If I ever get the wild hair to put gears on it again, please kick me. That bike was meant to be a SS - it is a perfect ride for one gear. It's still pretty heavy, but it is so much better than the heaviness of having multiple speeds - fully loaded it creeps up near 30 lbs. No thanks... I like it this way.

I'm selling my 26" SS if anybody is interested. $320 and it's yours; I'm also going to let my Leader 510 (geared) bike go for $600 o.b.o.

26" Single Speed

26" Leader 510 rigid XC

As always, you can e-mail at dion@dionridesbikes.com

I haven't been doing much in terms of true road riding, and so I've been averaging about 60 miles per week, mostly dirt. Also, since I was "training" for CX racing, my rides were short and hard. The cooler weather has come, so maybe some longer, slower rides are in the future.

One thing that I have been addicted to is Instagram. This is the only place I post pictures of my rides now, so if you're a fellow IG'er, follow me @dionridesbikes and I'll follow you back. I love this phone app, and it lets me document all my rides. Very addicting stuff!

Thanks for visiting my site. I am amazed to learn how many people actually read this thing and I'm glad to be of entertainment. Stay tuned for my "cheap parts" review! You can always support my site by clicking through the Amazon banner at the top to make future Amazon.com purchases. It costs you nothing extra (just a click), but it sure helps me a lot. Thanks again!

Hicks Rd. to Mt Umunhum - Tackling the BIG hill with the SMALL bike (Mercier Nano Mini-Velo)...

2011-10-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Hicks Rd. to Mt. Umunhum is one of the toughest climbs in the SF Bay Area. John Summerson touts this climb in "The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) in California" as:

For all of California:

#7 Most Difficult Half Mile: 14.3% (mile 0.3-0.8)
#5 Most Difficult Mile: 13.9% (mile 0.1-1.1)

For the San Francisco Bay Area:

#1 Most Difficult Climb
#5 Steepest Climb (10.2%)
#5 Most Technical Descent
#4 Highest Elevation Attained Climb (2,846 ft)
#5 Greatest Length of >10% Grade Climb (1.6 miles)

So... what better bike to do it on but the mini-velo?!

Of course, this self inducing punishment was planned to test the limits of the mini-velo in terms of epic climbing, and to prove to the naysayers that the mini-velo can be used as a contender against a formidable hill. With two water bottles, two bars and my Garmin Forerunner 305, I stepped out the front door with an intent to go suffer.

Again, I did not feel any difference in speed, although my Garmin and my B.icycle app tells me I was 1MPH slower on my mini-velo, and that was probably due to the loss in rolling momentum on the smaller wheels. Also, this little bike is heavier than my road bike by about 3 lbs.

I am very happy with the re-gearing, because it did come in handy. When I hit "the Wall" on Hicks Rd, getting over the the 32t cog bailed me out as I started to gas on the last 1/4 of the ascent. Unlike my road bike, however, I did not have to stop to take any breaks; on occasion I will to get some water on the 700c bike. With the efficient granny gear, (39/32) I spun up without worry.

I felt strong when I hit the top to Hicks Rd., which is about 1500ft of elevation gain at 9 miles. After chilling out and taking the picture (below), I decided to continue on to the Mt Umunhum gate, and beyond.

I passed the gate and continued to climb beyond. Of course, as I went up things got very creepy and stories of the locals started to get in my head. I was way the hell up there and no one with with me - so I was totally exposed.

As I was going up, I went beyond the "no trespassing" sign, when I heard a gun shot.

I am an avid shooter and gun owner and know what that sounds like (not like the movies). It was at that point (around 2,900 ft. of elevation gain) I turned around. Could've been sport shooting or getting rid of a "varmint", but I was not interested in sticking around to find out.

Here is my total trip:

Hicks Rd. to Mt. Umunhum on the Mini-Velo by dionridesbikes at Garmin Connect

In all honesty, I was really starting to gas out on the long steep climbs which are a very different type of climb that I'm used to: short, fast and mashable. But to be fair, these "steep" climbs are REALLY steep!

The Mercier Nano Mini Velo is a better bike than I am a rider. It handled this test well beyond my expectations and there was very little lacking in the speed department. I do have to note that the small wheels did not enjoy the pot holes nor the bumpy descend, so I should've compensated with slightly deflating the tires when I started to head down (I have them at max, 100psi). I am happy that I did not go thinner than 20 X 1.50.

The next ultimate test will be a century on this bike.

Parts Bin Win - My New Fixed Gear

2011-09-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life's simple pleasures are laying on the side of the road. And when I see a junked steel frame, fork, handlebar, bearings and wheels left for dead that may fit me, it's ALL MINE.

On my way out to the trails earlier this week, I spotted this up the street. You see, living in a hoity-toity neighborhood has its perks, and when the rich'ies throw their "junk" out, sometimes there are unique treasures, like this 19?? Fil's Tour Du Monde. This would be the 3rd "junker" that's been tossed out for hoarders' consumption. I looked at it as a resurrection project.

Now, I've scoured the land of Google and nothing has come up in regards to this bike. I even posted a thread on Bike Forums with really no help. So, my mystery bike will just remain a mystery. Somebody replied on my thread that it may be a special brand made for a department store back in the day - which sounds about right - but aside from that, there isn't really anything to be said about this strange badge. Oh well.

I was really happy to discover the wheels weren't taco'ed because it's very common to find junkers with completely unusable wheels. Not these! With the intent on building this into a fixed gear, I pulled the 5 speed cassette and derailleur, re-spaced the rear hub and re-dished the wheel. I didn't have axle nuts for the front wheel, so I took the quick release axle from a junk wheel and used it for this bike.

After digging through my nuts-and-bolts bucket, I finally found some axle nuts that would work for the rear hub.

I pulled the bearings, re-greased them and got everything nice and locked down. Since the frame didn't have brakes, I had an old Odyssey 1999 side pull BMX brake that bolted right on. The crankset was from my Mercier Nano and I had to spend $80 on tires, tubes, a square taper bottom bracket and a 14T cog. With the 42T chainring up front, the gearing is at a real nice 74.6 gear inches.

I kept the old cotter pin crankset bottom bracket lock ring for the suicide hub conversion. With plenty of red Locktite, the bottom bracket lock ring and a front brake, my suicide hub conversion should be fine for my purposes. Don't think this is much of a contender for the velodrome.

My last fixed gear was my Motobecane Messenger which I had to sell. It was a very nice bike with some great components. I never thought I'd be riding fixed again, but with a find like this - How can't you not ride fixed?! Deep down inside, I am a hipster who sincerely misses fixed gear riding.

Everything else is from the parts bin, including the fenders, grips, pedals, bell, water bottle cage, seat, seat post, brake lever and chain. All those times I contemplated on throwing something away or selling it at a bicycle swap meet, I'm glad I kept it.

How else could you build such a sweet fixie with minimal pocket change?

More on the Mercier Nano Mini-Velo: In defense of the 20" wheeled road bike!

2011-09-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

So far, I've found three old blog sites regarding the Mercier Nano Mini-Velo, so I'm going to give you a little more than just the scarce reviews on this little bike. If you're just tuning in, my first ride impressions can be found HERE.

I've ridden it a handful of times (remember I own 8 bikes, and I rotate riding them) and I didn't want to give the Nano the full spin until I came to a good upgrade stopping point. My FSA compact crankset finally came in and it's now complete at a husky 26.3 lbs.

Here is the list of upgrades I have done:

1. Primo Comet 1.5 tires (I already had one from my flatland BMX bike)
2. Drilled rims to fit Schrader tubes (because 20" presta tubes are hard to find, plus I can add Stans sealant in Schrader tubes)
3. 11-32 cassette
4. Shimano 2X8 brake shifters
5. Origin 8 Velo Seat
6. Cork look bar tape (it's actually gel tape)
7. FSA Compact Crankset
8. Eggbeater pedals (parts bin)

Today's ride was my normal roadie loop, and, after having to stop a half dozen times to get the shifting straightened out, I really dug the new gearing. It "wakes up" the speed and climbing efficiency of the little bike, and add the 100psi tires... it easily can hang with 700c wheeled bikes at a layman's pace.

Of course, the looks on the faces of the hardcore roadies are priceless when almost all of them took double-takes and the riders I passed must've really thought "WTF?" when they saw me go by.

In the last four rides, I've layed down 85.2 miles and 3800ft. of elevation gain (climbing). The fastest I've gone on this bike was from today's ride of 48.3MPH - so if you're wondering if this bike is still a contender for serious road rides... it is. The small wheels make very little difference with the minute decrease in rolling momentum on flat ground (when compared to a 700c road bike).

People will criticize the small wheels for not being able to absorb bumps on the road. This is easily fixed with a high volume, wide tire. I believe, if you're going down to 20 X 1.25 (and skinnier) with high pressures, you are bound to feel the road a little more, and yes, you may lose some of the road bump shock advantage a 700c wheel may have. The Primo Comets 1.50 seem to ride in the sweet spot of low rolling resistance and shock absorption.

Having 53/39 X 11-32 gearing gives this bike a much wider range of usable gears that the stock 52/42 X 12-25 has. In the low end of things, the 53T X 11T gearing scoots you along very well on the flats and descends (spin out is about 40MPH), and on the upper end of things, the 39T combined with the chain dancing between the four biggest cogs in back will have you spinning at a faster rate up hills without crushing your knees. Swapping out the gearing transformed this bike from a recreational city commuter to a long haul, touring friendly hill climber.

I'm not a fan of letting my hands leave the handlebar to shift, so new shifters were at the top of my list when thinking of upgrades. The head tube shifters are fine for daily strolls and commuting, but I was looking to "unlock" the full potential of this bike. At first I considered bar end shifters, but after finding Shimano ST2200's on eBay for $95 (shipped), the extra $20 was worth it.

Lesson learned when installing new shifters: don't rely only on bench testing them before going out for a fast paced ride. Like I said previously, I had to stop nearly a half dozen times to adjust both derailleurs before the chain would sit in a cog and the front derailleur would push the chain to the small ring. After that, it was nice having those quick, positive shifts. The front derailleur has a fine tune micro-shift option that allows a rider to ride the whole cassette while in the small ring.

The stock seat, was very, very uncomfortable. As I said previously, it seems right for an upright, flat bar bike, but when leaned a little more forward, this wide, jelly seat was just the pits. I purchased a thinner "velo" seat from Origin 8 and it did the trick beautifully; I did not get saddle sore at all. Seats are an individual matter, so the stock seat may work for you - it clearly did not for me. However, the stock Nano seat found it's way to my fixed gear bum bike, which is in the works (stay tuned for that build).

Finally, I want to make the suggestion to all those interested in this bike: drill out the rims to fit Schrader tubes! I have a close and personal relationship with 20" tubes (BMX state of mind, forever!) and it is very, very difficult to find 20" Presta valve tubes. Conversely, 20" Schrader valve tubes are widely available - even drug and hardware stores carry them. Most importantly, flat protection is a snap by simply removing the valve core and squirting in tire sealant of your choice. I prefer Stan's sealant over Slime since it's a little lighter and comes in 2oz bottles that squirt right into the tube. I picked up three goat heads (two in front, one in back) on my ride today and none of them flattened my tires.

My biggest criticism is the weight of this bike. 26.3 lbs after upgrades seems a bit portly to me, and I feel the culprit are the wheels, heavy parts and frame material. It would be nice to bring this down to a reasonable steel bike weight of 22-24 lbs. but then you are looking at replacing every part of this bike... which makes a $300 into an expensive endeavor. I'm keeping it AS IS and will just deal. All that aside, you really don't feel the weight when riding it, and the steel frame is very comfortable. Maybe I'm just being nit picky.

Interested in a Mini-Velo? Get one! They are fun, they hang right along with the bigger bikes and they are a blast to ride. You forget you are on tiny wheels and people freak out when you pass them. Be ready to upgrade if you want to fully unlock the potential of this bike... but if you don't, it does wonderfully in stock form.

Sept 10th MTBR.com Santa Teresa County Park Ride

2011-09-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

I guess, in my excitement of getting my new Mercier Nano, I totally forgot my ride report of this weekend's festivities. Local boys, Leopold Porkstacker (Brett), Big Larry (Larry), and I decided to host yet another ride. We had nearly a dozen riders show up and had a great time. Due to my time constraints (Almaden Day, an annual local festival, was happening), I took the cyclocross bike in the event I needed to jet out of there. Some of the highlights (and one crash) are as follows:

1. Brett is the King of the Flats. Not as in "flat ground" but as in "flat tires". On his way to the trails, he rode alongside the creek and picked up, what had to be, 50 goat heads in his tires. I helped him pull everything out, and he made it to the trailhead before realizing it was time to replace the tube.

Brett is a very funny guy and extremely entertaining. He had about a dozen foreign accents he recited while swapping his tube and had us all giggling while we waited. Never a dull moment with that guy - not to forget that he's pretty damn fast on a mountain bike.

2. I initially went with the chill-pace group and one of the riders, Russ, had a spill. His handlebar went right into his rib cage, and after a pause of catching his breath continued on like a champ.

3. When I heard the faster group was attacking the Joice Trail climb (it's ridiculously steep and loose) I thought it would've been a great opportunity to get some pics. It was then I decided to roll with the faster guys and start heading back home.

My B.icycle app showed we did about 1200 ft. of climbing over 17 miles. Not bad for a group ride that spanned the entire park. No rattlesnakes this time!

Here are some pics from the ride:

The next day (Sunday), I decided to ride the cyclocross bike out to Almaden Quicksilver, loop the climb, and come back home. I actually had to work on Sunday, so I left a little early in the day. Riding in the cooler weather made quite a difference: it has been a consistent 80-90 degree weather here in Almaden Valley for awhile and I've been desperately waiting for things to cool down.

I guess the cool weather helped my riding because, not only did I do Almaden Quicksilver, but I also rode out to Santa Teresa County Park and added in the short loop. Ride time was 1:54 with 1930 of elevation gain, covering 22 miles (I swear it feels like more).

With over 3000ft. of climbing and 40 miles of dirt - this boy can't complain!

Here are some pics from the top:

Down the Rabbit Hole - First ride with the Mercier Nano Mini-Velo

2011-09-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

Recently, I sold one of my .22lr rifles and some bike parts and had enough to buy a budget "play" bike - something that I can use for cruising at speed or recovery rides. At first I was really looking into purchasing a fixie again (and I use the term "fixie" not "fixed gear" for a reason), but when browsing the BikesDirect.com website, I stumbled upon the Mercier Nano Mini-Velo.

Some time ago, I remember BikesDirect posting a thread about offering "Mini-Velo's", and at the time, my closed mind concluded that the small wheel was just too inefficient to make any sense of having one. They also looked funny to me. As you know (if you actually read this blog), I am no stranger to the 20" wheel. I grew up BMX'ing and rode flatland up until a year ago before my knees started to hurt from it. Sad, because I love BMX with all my heart. But, having ridden the 20" wheel for so long, I knew that it provides a very slow, inefficient way of getting around.

As much as I decided the mini-velo was a lame idea, the Mercier Nano simply could not be ignored. As much as I shopped BikesDirect's site for a new fixie, I kept returning back to the Nano page. I was being reeled in.

I decided to do a little research before going any further. Bike Forums has a great ongoing thread about these bikes and what I read intrigued me even more. I found that the 20" wheels, when geared properly, can actually scoot along pretty well - almost as well as a 700c wheel. Furthermore, I learned that the mini-velo, although small enough to fit in the back of a car, is still plenty of bike to tackle big road rides.

With $299.99 burning in my PayPal account, I took the plunge.

After doing the BikesDirect Shuffle (adjusting of everything) I took it out front and rode up and down my street. It was then I realized everything claimed on the Bike Forums thread was true. It moved around pretty nicely, and immediately you forget you are on small, 20" wheels. I brought it back in, made further adjustments to the front and rear derailleurs, and placed it in my dining room "staging area" for today's lunch ride.

I set out for today's ride with my normal roadie loop in mind: approximately 20 miles with +/- 1000ft. of climbing. After I got used to the initial weirdness, I found myself rolling along quite nicely. However, it felt slow - but the end result numbers from my B.icycle app tells a different story.

The cockpit feels very natural, and the 40cm road drops are just fine, even for me, (I normally ride a 46cm drop bar). The bike feels a little flexy on mashes due to the quill stem and 25.4 handlebars, but also very stable. Riding no-handed is no problem and the small wheels do not twitch at all.

There are some improvements that need to be made, however, and I have already turned this $300 into a $500 bike (which kinda defeats the "budget bike" thing, although $500 is not bad). First, the rims are drilled for presta valves only, so I drilled them out to fit Schrader valve tubes which are widely available at a variety of stores. Conversely, 20" presta tubes are hard to come by unless you are near a bike shop. 20" Schrader tubes can be found at big box stores, hardware stores, and even drug stores.

Second, the gearing looks big, but it is actually appropriate for the small 20" wheel. The crankset is a 52/42, and cassette is a 12-25. In the 52T chainring and the 12T cog, you still spin quite a bit on the flats and descends. I ordered a new cassette (11-32) and a new chain to compensate for the bigger cog. Today, I made the climb just fine on the stock 25T cog, but there may come a time when I'll need to climb a wall and that 32T may come in handy. I did not like the gear spacing between the cogs at all. Two of my bikes are 8 speed and they don't feel as rangy as this cassette.

Third, the seat is a bit uncomfortable when in the "road riding" position; I feel it would be better suited for a more upright seated bike (like my beach cruiser). So, I ordered a new, narrower road seat (brown Origin 8) with brown bar tape to match.

Forth, the tires are slow. they are cushy (65psi max, even though I have 80psi in them). Good for mild riding, but they have a lot of rolling resistance. I have not ordered replacement tires yet, but I have a feeling these will be next on the list after pay day.

And lastly, the down tube shifters are annoying. I'm happy that the rear is indexed, but the front shifter is friction and it's not fun to remove your hands from the handlebar to shift. I wouldn't mind this if my bike was truly for leisure rides, but if you want to move along quickly, having shifters on the handlebar is more appropriate. I found Shimano ST-2200 brake shifters on eBay for $95. I would've went with bar ends shifters, but the ST-2200's were only $20 more.

In the end, this is how my ride stats ended up. The ride time did not show up, but I did my roadie loop on the Nano in 1:23:14.

Not bad for a weird, little bike! Here's how the same route looks on on my Surly Pacer. I don't know how I gained 300 additional feet on climbing with the Nano - it must be the small wheels. As you can see, the numbers are almost identical.

This bike surprised the living hell out of me - it's almost like the little kid that gets picked on, yet knows Martial Arts and kicks every one's ass. People will laugh at it, look at it strangely and even ask if it's something that you made in your garage. My brother, in fact, asked me if I was going to put "freestyle BMX pegs" on it (as a joke, of course... or was it?) Don't let this strange, niche, "popular in Asia" bike fool you. It is plenty capable of a regular road ride, and when geared correctly, will surprise the kitted club guys when you're hanging in there with them

If you're looking at buying one of these, understand that the parts are for a... well... $299.99 bike and you may want to upgrade. For a small bike it is heavy, but the steel frame can insure many, many years of enjoyment. Even if you don't upgrade (I rode mine in stock form today), it is plenty fine to move you around town.

Like all my bikes, I will follow up with a three month review in the future. Here are some pics from today:

Ooh! I forgot my San Jose Bike Party Ride Report!

2011-09-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

...as the title says...

This is the cruiser. I changed up some things on the Utility Bike and made it just for cruising. I am, however, going to convert it to a single speed for simplicity.

What can I say about SJ Bike Party that I haven't said before? I guess we (and I say "we" as in my wife and I) may be getting too old for it or just bored. Probably more bored than anything. I guess if you have the right people to go with or if you're young enough to appreciate being out that late with other young people, it would be great.

I remember being in that "no-man's land" age right after high school and before legal drinking age when my buddies and I, filled with testosterone, would run around town looking for stuff to do. Bike Party is GREAT for people like that. I guess riding for 4-5 hours at 10MPH is not my cup of tea. My wife tells it like this "The idea of going to Bike Party is grander than actually going to Bike Party". Like I said, I think it's great for others and thousands of folks enjoy it - but I think I'm going to hold off for awhile.

I really do appreciate all the hard work that goes into SJ Bike Party and some of the creations some people bring are pretty cool. Some dude brought out this one-wheeled bike that reminded me of the one-wheeled thing on South Park.

Here are some other pics that I snapped during the 27 mile ride.

Road Riding is Hard...

2011-09-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Geesh, I sure did get an ass-whoopin' yesterday...

One of my clients rescheduled, leaving my entire afternoon empty. I'm not one of those who jumps for joy in celebration when that happens because not seeing a client translates to not making money. As much as I love riding, I always get nervous when my afternoons and evenings don't have a work related activity.

However, with the "extra" time, I decided that it was time to tackle Hicks Rd. to Mt. Umunhum on the Surly Pacer. I haven't done any hardcore climbs with my new compact crankset yet, so I guess if I was going to do it - might as well go big. Also, I've lightened it up a bit with some new tires and a carbon fork, so the steel beast is coming in at a healthy 22 lbs., even.

For all those unfamiliar, Hicks Rd. to Mt. Umunhum is "4.1 miles. 2,199 ft elevation gain. 10.2% average grade. 17% max grade."

Toughascent.com has a great write up about this climb that I won't bother to reiterate - but let's just say that it's a killer.

Yesterday I realized something: I've been riding my mountain trails and fast road rides with interval style mashes, fast transitions, etc. But in doing so, my road riding has suffered in a big way. I truly thought I was going to be stronger than I was on this climb, but I got incredibly smoked... the only thing that forced me to continue to go up was my mindset - otherwise there were many opportunities to just turn around.

I eventually did make it up to the top of Hicks Rd. and I know that my average speed going up those steep areas HAD to be in a 4-5MPH range, which sucks. I was sweating like a turkey on Thanksgiving, and water was starting to run low. BUT! my mindset was to get all the way up to the first gate of Mt. Umunhum, and thus I did.

I guess the Cliff Bar helped because I felt stronger on the second half of the climb. I was getting frustrated that the top wasn't coming as fast as I wished, but it finally happened.

This climb was a big wake-up call - I realized that my riding habits have really formed me into a one-trick pony and I need to do more of this style of riding. Aside from my poor road riding fitness, my Surly Pacer rocked. This bike has been molded/changed/repurposed at least a half dozen times since I've owned it, and no matter what parts I've put on it, it has always been a great bike.

Here's how I ended up:

If any Bay Area, Ca. road riders have not yet done this climb, DO IT. I've seen some riders blaze up this mountain, and others simply turn around. It's a great mind-over-matter game and a test of will.

Tour De Santa Teresa County Park

2011-08-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

This past week I was asked to host a "tour" ride through Santa Teresa County Park and I committed to yesterday. We had 14 riders show up of all different skill levels from "first time riding in ____ years..." to "I race...".

It was one helluva time with awesome people and happy faces. Brett (Leopold Porkstacker from MTBR) and Larry (BigLarry, also from MTBR) helped me out with lead and sweep. Brett took the faster, stronger riders out with more challenging routes (such as Joice Trail Climb) and Larry kept the newer riders from getting dropped off the back. I cruised the middle to be sure the group stayed somewhat together.

Nobody crashed (a few tip overs on Stile Ranch Trail) and nobody got left behind. Highlight of the day was when one very pissed off rattlesnake stopped ten MTB'ers in their tracks. One rider (not with our group) used his bike to push it off, while it hissed, rattled and struck at his bike.

Here are the pics, courtesy of BigLarry.

Start of the ride at Harry Rd. and Camden Ave.

Up we go!

Dan51 getting to the top...

Regroup!

Shiloh (The Law from MTBR) showed up...

Andrew (Cool_Man from MTBR) was BRAND NEW to mountain biking and this was his first trail ride aboard a super sweet Niner bike. Good job, man!

Hitting Norred Trail

The faster group missed the turn, so I had to go back and get them. Unfortunately, I had to climb that steep ass grade to backtrack. Here's Brett jamming to the top.

How do you stop 10 mountain bikers on a descend dead in their tracks? Throw an extremely pissed off rattlesnake in the middle of the trail... that's how!

One rider (not with our group) finally pushed it along with his front wheel. The rattlesnake did not give up without a fight: it rattled, hissed and struck at his front wheel about 5-6 times before going off in defeat.

Dude, Snake... take a chill pill. We're just trying to ride our bikes...

Surly Pacer is a Road Bike Again and a New Leader is Elected

2011-08-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

A few things have occurred since I last posted: the first change is regarding my Surly Pacer. After some deliberation, I decided to throw on a real 50/34 Shimano compact crankset. Since I'm on a tight budget, I went with a Sora which slid right on to the existing bottom bracket. Still with the mountain bike handlebar set-up, I did my normal road loop and found the new crankset to be wonderful with a small exception: I needed a better selection of gears.

Since I already had Shimano 9 speed bar-end shifters and a few pairs of Easton EA70 road handlebars in the parts bin, I figured it would probably be best to toss on the road drops, a 9 speed cassette (which I had on my Gary Fisher SuperCaliber) and the bar-end shifters and make it into a regular drop bar road bike once more. After finally getting my new silver and white cable housing and new space-age bar tape from FUBAR, I put it all together and this is what I came up with:

After the gearing changes I took it out for my road loop once again and absolutely loved it. The mountain bike handlebar was great, but I could feel the difference in the more aero position of the road handlebar. Plus, there is nothing like getting into the drops on a descend. The bar end shifters are a little cumbersome, but it makes gear selection a very conscience decision: in other words, I'm not fumbling between gears trying to find something that's "right".

The 11-34 9 speed was also a good decision as there is a 30t cog in there that my 8 speed cassette didn't have, making my climbs a little less grumpy. I haven't had to use the 34t cog yet, but I'm sure there will be a steep hill that it will require.

As far as styling goes, this bike has no color on it except some small graphics on the handlebar and wheels.

Next up, is my new Leader 510 H MTB Frame.

I stumbled upon this when I went "cheap frame shopping". The Gary Fisher SuperCaliber is just too big: I barely clear the top tube when standing over it. Plus, the way I put it together just felt weird in handling. I decided to take the parts I had on it (with the 9 speed cassette going to my Pacer), pull whatever I had in my garage and put together a nice 1X8 cross-country 26" bike.

The 6061 aluminum frame cost $70 off blueskycycling.com. I pretty much had everything here to make it what it is with the exception of new tires, a 27.2 seat post, SRAM 8 speed shifter (1:1 SRAM is NOT compatible with Shimano!), and a zero-stack headset (standard 1 1/8 headsets do not work with this frame) - in the end I had to add about $150 of parts to build it. I felt a little stinky about having to purchase a new headset, but oh well.

I took it out for a loop yesterday and had a blast - it rode exactly how I expected it to ride - firm, compliant and quick. The 1X8 suits the types of rides I want to do with it, but the Stile Ranch Trail climb was a bit of a haul between the gearing and rigid set-up. I look forward to taking it up Rocky Ridge, but I know this bike, without suspension, has its limitations.

Stay tuned, interwebberz, for the 3 month review of this build. I'm sure there are other hard tail lovers out there curious about this incredible internet deal. $70 for a frame is hard to turn down, and inspecting the weld and build quality, I just don't know how Leader can possibly make money off these units unless they are just desperately trying to unload them.

First Impressions with the Ragley Luxy Dirt Drop Handlebar

2011-07-31T09:29:00.001-07:00

I've had an on-and-off relationship with dirt drops - I love them for awhile, then I decide they don't work... then I say, "Hey, why not?" and get into them again. The general problem I have with dirt drop handlebars is that they are a bit narrow for my shoulders. So, when I read about the new Ragley Luxy Handlebar, I was excited to give them a try.

My original thought was to put them on my single speed (as in the pics), then I got a wild hair to put them on my Surly Pacer. After mocking them up on my Pacer, however, I decided they were just too odd to put on a road bike - so on to the SS they went.

The Ragley Luxy bar is something that just can't be studied by a future purchaser with pics alone - you really have to see it yourself and grab it; it is the oddest handlebar I have ever seen and used. The drop is short, the reach a bit far and the flair at the bottom of the drops extends to 680mm wide. The top is 31.8mm and will need a 31.8 stem. The best way to describe this handlebar would be a "...mustache handlebar that has been flared and dropped".

Like all dirt drops, the rider has to expect to be in the drops most of the time and should adjust stem length and height accordingly. As said by Shiggy on MTBR, "...the drops ought to be placed in the same area as you would place your hands on a regular handlebar..." or something to that effect. So before committing to dirt drops, understand that your sugary-sweet Thompson stem may not work - you may have to buy another to work with this set-up. I always have a handful of stems in my parts bin, so finding something that would work was not a problem. As you can see, I have a number of spacers to bring the stem high enough for the dirt drops to be in a reasonable position.

First impression was I felt pretty stretched out until I got used to the dirt drop position again. After the initial weirdness, I really enjoyed being somewhat tucked. As I've described before, dirt drops make you feel like you're "in" the bike instead of "on top". When I finally hit the trails, the true test was afoot!

I don't know what is was, but I felt a good 10% faster than normal. Was it the new handlebar or just feeling good? I know one thing, however, was that drops did help the crank out on the steep XC climbs. I did get some arm pump from bearing down, but that's just riding single speed in general. For the sit and spins, I rode the brake hoods and the top of the handlebar, which was nice.

Descending was extremely confident because you are riding the front tire a bit more than a regular flat or riser handlebar which places the body more upright on the bike. But because of this, you may have to be aware of any rocks, logs or other obstacles that may come your way where you have to heave your front end up-and-over. I was definitely faster on the descends with this bar than I was with my riser bar. Again, there is something about being tucked down that just really speeds things up. Could be in my head, but whatever it was - it made a difference. Don't know how this would do in an extremely technical situation.

I was able to bunnyhop curb height without a problem.

Dirt drops are NOT for everyone. It takes an open mind and a general feeling of experimentation to enjoy them. Some riders will hate this handlebar from the looks alone, as the Luxy really steers away from anything traditional. It is nothing like a road handlebar and a far cry from a MTB flat or riser. Even in the alternative handlebar world, this thing is a monster.

I am not finished, by any means, with dialing in the set-up. I feel like I need a different stem, so I will try one I have in my parts bin that has a very steep rise. If you're in for an alternative ride, try the Ragley Luxy. I like it much better than the On One Midge Bar, plus it has a 31.8 clamp area for extra stiffness.

PROS

1. Strange design that just works
2. People will look at you like you're a space alien
3. Positive climbing and descending characteristics

CONS

1. A shorter, higher rise stem will almost always be needed
2. Bar tape rips on tip-overs unless protected
3. May need disc specific road brake calipers if using discs

Instagram on my iPhone

2011-07-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hello interweberz... haven't done much posting lately as a computer upgrade has occurred in the RidesBikes household. I am now a proud owner of a new iMac, and I am completely stoked on it. As the years went by, my PC started to really take a major dump. And in its last days I had SpyBot, BitDefender and Norton Utilities trying to eliminate all the crap and nothing worked.

So, here I am, happily sharing this via my new iMac.

Recently, Mrs. RidesBikes turned me onto an iPhone app called "instagram" which I have been sharing my photos on. If you partake in life's little pleasures such as this, please follow me, using "dionridesbikes" under the search function. Here are some of my latest:

Two Year Review of my Specialized Comp MTB Shoes

2011-07-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

I use Crank Bros. Eggbeater pedals on all my bikes and therefore only use one pair of shoes for all riding. I am very hard on shoes, given that I ride nearly every day, so when I abuse shoes, I really abuse shoes. With very frequent riding in all types of conditions - creek crossings, mud runs in CX races, dry, hot weather and everyday destructive behavior - it has been a long time coming to retire them.

Looking back at my riding photos, it appears that I bought these shoes back in the spring of 2009. I recall my first impressions were that they actually fit my wide'ish foot (as Sidi's do not; even the "wide" ones), and that they were a decent price for a local bike shop mark up. Most importantly, I didn't feel pain nor hot spots at the time. However, as much as they've degraded from use, they do not support my foot very well any longer.

I really don't know how long a pair of MTB shoes is supposed to last, especially with the amount of riding I do. I guess two years isn't that bad considering the ground I've covered - I'm curious to see how my new Shimano M161's will fair against my abusive riding.

The heel wore away on the inside on both shoes.

Both ratcheting straps broke off the tongue, so I repaired them by riveting them on permanently.

That is a big, gaping hole at the little toe area. Both shoes wore holes in this same area.

The sole wore away where I clip-in to my eggbeaters, causing them to feel loose on the pedals.

Oh Single Speed... why did we ever break up?

2011-06-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

I've been riding my Surly Pacer lately with the wife and leaving the UNBRANDED bike at home, even though the original purpose of that bike was to do those types of rides. After some seat time with the Surly Pacer, however, I've grown to re-love that bike: the feel, the comfort and the speed of road geometry. I've had my Surly Pacer for two years now, and although I've swapped out all kinds of parts (even made it into a singlespeed for a quick sec), it's now at a happy place.

I gave it a little thought and decided to repurpose the UNBRANDED back to what the frame calls for: mountain biking. I gathered up the parts from the parts bin and converted it to a singlespeed.

HOLY SHIT! I forgot how much I love singlespeed riding! It was so nice to mash through climbs and rely on momentum - it's a whole different style of riding that I took for granted... there's something about a direct chainline to your pedal stroke that just feels right.

This bike is 100% analog - v-brakes, rigid fork, skinny tires, ancient wheels, and an old 110bcd crankset with a square taper bottom bracket - a little throwback to the pieced together "winter" bikes folks would ride to protect their multi-speed race bikes from the harsh elements. There is a purity to riding these types of bikes that modern parts just can't compare to: I guess it's like listening to music on vinyl.

I do not intend to change this bike to geared, nor do I intend to upgrade any parts on this bike; I want to leave it AS IS, replacing only things that break (the On-One Inbred 26" frame does sound appealing, though). Selling it would be futile - I would probably only get about $200-$300 on Craigslist. However, the enjoyment I'm going to get out of this bike does not have a price tag.

June 17th San Jose Bike Party

2011-06-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

The wife and I haven't been to the San Jose Bike Party for awhile, but the weather has been nice so we decided to load it up and go last night.

Bike Party seems to always carry the same timeline as the night progresses:

Starts off very fun; lots of mature riders having a great time with music going.

First stop, the energy is still cooking but the youngsters start to come out and the obnoxious behavior commences.

The mature, well behaved riders either dropped off the back or called it a night. Now it's nothing but completely obnoxious humanoid monkeys, screaming indecipherable words in the tone of a teenage boys whose balls haven't dropped yet.

Mile 20 - end: "Let's get ahead of everybody else so we can just get home"

Bike Party is an interesting look into how things can start as something cool and fun but turns into a bit of a mob mentality near the end - and I don't think it's anybody over the age of 21 acting this way. However, considering how large the group is and how rude and obnoxious a lot of the participants can be, I am surprised that there aren't more problems than presented.

I have spoken to the organizers and even done on the "Test Rides" and these folks sincerely want to keep the Bike Party in relatively good order - which they generally do. However, the message of civility isn't getting to those who need it the most.

For the most part, I have been taking my "utility bike" on these rides, but the wife and I decided that for the next Bike Party we ride, we are going to have to take something with a little more speed behind them to get ahead of the group and away from the lower primates. Therefore we are taking our road bikes - so if we need to jump far ahead of the group, we have the ability to do so.

I enjoy the scene of Bike Party, but some of the youngsters get a little on my nerves.

Yup, I am officially an old man.

Photos courtesy of Mrs. RidesBikes. Check out her Tumblr HERE

Motorcycle Horn on a Bicycle

2011-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Well... here's a fun one.

I've had this motorcycle horn sitting in my office for a LONG time. It was intended to go on a Cafe Racer motorcycle I built and sold a couple of years ago, and I never got a chance to use it.

Anyhow, I had the crackhead idea of connecting it to a Makita Drill battery and seeing if it would actually work - and *BOOYAH*, it did! The motorcycle horn is VERY loud, and hopefully doesn't suck up the battery like a car horn would.

The wiring was very, very simple using a bar mount push button. I do unplug it when not in use and I still have yet to see how long a charge will last. Below are pics of the push button and the mounted horn.

...and here are the three levels of warning. Can't wait until I get to use my new horn on a clueless victim!

A little R&R on RR (Rocky Ridge)

2011-06-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Had a strong ride yesterday, doing the full outer perimeter of Santa Teresa County Park - even did the Bernal Road Climb to get back up. It was Home > Harry/Fortini Entrance > Harry Trail > up Stile Ranch Trail > back down to Fortini > climb Rocky Ridge > Boundary Trail > Access Trail > Bernal Rd. > Fortini Trail > Harry Rd. > Home.

Rocky Ridge tossed me off its back 4 times; after all these years, still can't completely clear it on the rigid without at least one dab. I was determined yesterday, but my rear tire is extremely bald and I was losing it getting up and over some of the stuff. Practice!

So, here's my best Ansel Adams impersonation. Still trying to decide for today - trials or cyclocross?

My 3rd Day of Trials

2011-06-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

My 3rd Day of Trials from Dion Rides Bikes on Vimeo.

Well, ths is my official 3rd day of riding this bike in an actual "session" - 5th day if you count what I've done in front of my house.

I had some side hops and stuff, but honestly, it looks so utterly pitiful on video when you're doing them onto something that's no more than a couple feet high.

Please be kind - I'm just starting out on this bike.

1 1/2 Year Review of the Scott Sportster P5 Women's Hybrid

2011-06-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

The women's Scott Sportster P5 was purchased for my wife over a year ago after she was having one heck a time trying to find a bike that was comfortable to ride. I come from the philosophy that a high-end $5000 bike is worth nothing if it doesn't fit the rider. And out of all the bikes we looked at, fitted her on and test-rode, the $375 Scott Sportster P5 was the winner through-and-through.

A little background: My wife isn't necessarily a beginner; she actually has been riding for years and she was a very strong climber and roadie at one point. Two events took her out:

1. She was "doored" while splitting traffic on her motorcycle (legally) to a stoplight and that seriously damaged her knee - even with armor in her riding leathers. Some lady had road rage and slammed her door into my wife when she was safely passing through. Her knee has never been the same.

2. She went over the handlebar on her old road bike which aggravated the knee injury and destroyed her riding confidence.

Sucks because she used to really give me a run for my money on the road, but we are working up to where she was. These two events threw her back into beginner'ville and I am being very patient with her. Due to all of that, she stayed off the bike for a long time and lost her riding fitness.

The Sportster is a hybrid type bike that carries the rider in an upright, seated position for all day adventures on the road, gravel or dirt path. The stem is high, the v-brakes are powerful, and there are plenty of places to bolt on racks and fenders. A rider can truly go on an epic tour with this bicycle with the triple crankset combined with the 8-speed cassette in the back, going all the way up to a 32-tooth rear cog. Because of my wife's knee injury, we opted for wide, flat platform pedals that allows her foot to be placed comfortably as to not aggravate her injury as straps and clipless systems do (to her). The chain moves through the drive train with Shimano shifters and Shimano Acera derailures.

The one negative comment I have about this bike is the cheap front suspension fork. However, I did offer my wife to swap on a rigid fork and she told me she actually likes the "give" the spring suspension offers on the bumps. No problem! Again, she is the rider, and if it feels right for her, it feels right for her.

Some changes we personally did was add front and rear racks, a Serefas "female" seat (which compensates for wider sit-bones) WTB 700X38 Pathway tires with Slime tire liners and a trekking (mustache) handlebar that offers 4+ hand positions for the rider.

For a sub-$400 bike, I am completely impressed with what this bike has offered my wife in terms of performance - and I use that word by its true definition: The accomplishment of a given task measured against preset known standards of accuracy, completeness, cost, and speed.

I think it's easy to equate "expensive" to "performance", or "speed" to "performance - because neither speed nor expensive was the objective of this bike. We tested $1000 bikes, but none of those felt "right" for her - and the bike that just happened to fit her was this.

She has not had the chance to test the trekking handlebar yet, but I am confident she will like it. On long stretches of flat road, she used to lean on her regular handlebar to stretch her back and utilize her glutes more for pedalling. It always made me kind of nervous when she did this, because it's one pothole away from crashing. The trekking handlebar offers multiple hand positions, allowing the rider to stretch out a little in the cockpit. This product seems to be less popular in the US than in other countries, but after test riding it myself in the front of my house, I have to say that it is a very appealing upgrade. To top it all off, a matching purple bell tells trail zombies to get outta the way!

The Forte' Platform pedals are a fantastic product. They are wide, very grippy (for mountain bike use) and have sealed bearings. The pins are removable, giving the rider choices for how much grip they want, or as the pins wear down, they can be replaced. They are a nice, neutral, cool grey in color which goes with any bike. Again, price was the ultimate value at $39.99 - similar name brand pedals are in the $80 - $100 range.

Bike shopping can be very intimidating, and often times people think buying the most expensive is the best thing to do. Although higher end components and good geometry makes a difference for the hardcores, the daily recreational rider can get away with a budget bike that fits him/her. Don't discount the entry-level to mid-level bikes that are in the sub-$500 price range. Stay on top of the maintenance with these bikes and you can have a ride that will last a lifetime. From what I've discovered with the Scott Sportster P5 - it is more than enough bike to perform above and beyond its expectations.

Pake C'Mute 1 Year Review

2011-06-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

So, it's been officially over one year since I built my Pake C'Mute, and here is an update - not much has changed! My 6 month review can be found here.

The only true change I have done has been the shifter and handlebar: gears are moved with an 8-speed Shimano Alivio and the front is steered with a wider (29") low rise mountain bike handlebar. I still continue to be impressed with the versatility and tire choice I have with this frame, and so far, no cracks or busted welds.

I am considering racing the Surf City Classic Cyclocross series in October, so the training may begin changing as well as a weight loss program. I have toyed with the idea of going 2X8 on this bike, but I really like the simplicity of the 8-speed, so I will probably leave as-is. A 1X set-up is very nice for racing, as well. I may switch to a 36T front chainring, but I have to see how my training goes.

Advise: get a C'Mute if you're in the market for such a bike. Frames are going for $220-$250 which, I believe, is an awesome value.

I love that New Bike smell...

2011-06-01T10:46:00.001-07:00

Well... my trials bike finally came in yesterday from China. It is a "Because Simple" which seems to be popular in Asia and Europe. As much as I wanted the Danny Macaskill bike (Inspired Bikes), that bike was way beyond my budget for an entry into trials riding. I picked this up for $900, shipped.

It is a very, very strange ride and it will take time getting used to. Most notably, I am having one hell of a time bunnyhopping the dame thing. I feel like I can bunnyhop higher on my cyclocross bike, and when reading trials forums threads - I'm not the only one. Once used to the geometry, however, I don't think it will be a problem. Compared to the junk I used to be able to ride (well), this shouldn't be an issue for a few days of solid riding.

I was able to do small side hops to front, 180 rollbacks, rock-walks and other things just goofing off out in front of my house. It's raining today, so I will have to play it by ear to figure out whether I can actually give it a go today since (I think) there will be a break.

One Year Review - Geax Saguaro 29'er Tires and Steel Kona Unit Fork

2011-05-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Geax Saguaro 29'er Tires

I'm finally down on tread on my Geax Saguaro Tires and it's been a year and one month since I mounted them. During that time, I did have to swap out a rear for new one, however. But, these things are looking slick'ish and I'm ready to try something different. I will keep the rear on for awhile and upgrade the front to a Maxxis Ardent 29 X 2.4, Kevlar Bead.

But before I start switching things up, I wanted to give a year's reflection on these tires. I bought the Geaxs to manage the trails I ride - which are, generally, dry and hardpacked. What has changed, however, is the terrain. This winter we had some very heavy rains which brought up very loose, large rocks. If the rains didn't beat up my trails so severely, I'd probably keep the same set-up. Unfortunately, the Geax's are not going to hack it anymore for the natural changes that have occurred here.

The Sagauros are exceptional tires. I didn't even have the TNT versions, and they mounted up ghetto tubeless beautifully. The sidewalls in this configuration are sketchy and please note that this set-up voids any warranty offered by Geax. They roll very fast, and I would run mine as low as 23psi. These are great for fireroads and hardpacked dirt trails and at low enough pressures, they would hook up quite well. Like most low-profile knob tires, the sweet spot for these are light rain, tacky clay trails. *Please note that tubeless set-ups done are at your own risk and I will not be responsible for your decision on doing so!

With a fast(er) rolling tire, you do have your drawbacks. Loose, rocky terrain will kill these tires and possibly leave you chewing on a rock. Recently, I have been experiencing front tire skidding under hard braking, which I have never had a problem with before. This has killed my confidence and this is what has caused me to upgrade to a more aggressive front tread. This is due mostly to the extreme change in my terrain.

I would still put this tire as a great contender for a fast rolling rear. I am very impressed with how well they work, but only under certain conditions.

Steel Kona Unit Fork

Here is another upgrade (downgrade) I did last April when I messed around with a Monster Cross set-up.

I still do prefer rigid riding. But I am starting to feel like the steel may be a bit harsh to contend with the changes that have occurred on my trails. I am hoping that the switch to a larger, high volume front tire eases the pain a little, but I admit that the steel is beating me up pretty good.

Rigid riding is not for everybody - so you have to decide for yourself what you want in a ride. For me, it is the control, no fork dive and "BMX-feeling" that I like. However, descends are much slower on technical stuff, and you do get beat up pretty well. I am probably going to upgrade my fork to a Carbon Niner in the next few months.

The Kona Unit fork has taken a beating with me and it stays right on point. I have crashed with it, jumped with it, climbed heavy, rocky terrain and cruised the beaches with it and it just delivers in a "set-it-and-forget-it sense. Again, it is really up to the rider what he/she wants and is willing to sacrifice for a rigid ride.

I think a real nice benefit to the Kona Unit Fork is the price. For under $100, a rider can "experiment" with rigid riding and not have to fully commit. Once committed (like me) he/she can upgrade to a more plush, superior fork like the Niner.

So, I guess this is where I would put a positive spin on the Kona Unit - you can "try" rigid and not feel like you have to take out a second mortgage on your home.

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail on my steel rigid

2011-05-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first MTB video. I've done plenty of motorcycle and BMX vids, but I wanted to give this a try. Sorry, no hucking off huge drops or anything, just a steady climb up my local technical trail on my rigid 29'er.

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail *on my steel rigid* from Dion Rides Bikes on Vimeo.

Spring is here...

2011-04-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted something, but it's obvious, at least on this side of the country, Spring is here. That being said, everything is growing very tall and now I'm hyper aware of ticks and rattlers in the bush.

Anyhow, the local trails are covered in poppies and the weekend warriors are making their pilgrimages to Santa Teresa County Park.

Simplify

2011-04-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

No pics in this post, but I'll get some up soon as they come.

I've had to dig a little deep recently and bare down on getting back to simplifying my life. In the past six months, I've sold 7 bikes and 2 motorcycle. The motorcycle sales is what really was strange since this is the first time in over ten years that I haven't had at least one motorized two wheeler in my garage.

Currently I am down to my Surly Pacer, Felt "El Guapo" Beach Cruiser, Pake C'Mute, On One Inbred, Unbranded urban bike and my grocery getter. That's 5 more bikes than many people have, but I feel this is a good place for me to be. The garage looks very empty, but it is cathartic to not have so many bikes stuffed in my garage.

Priorities have shifted for me and I'm trying to eliminate some of my liabilities - including hoarding more than a dozen bicycles, half of which I barely ride.

I probably won't be building any more bikes for a long time, so my reviews of products are going to shift from "first impressions" to "long term reviews" - which most are probably interested in anyway.

So, here on begins a new path and a lot less stuff. Feels good.

A few CX pics from this week...

2011-04-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

More emphasis on the 'cross bike getting ready for the big events coming up. Enjoy.

At the top of Stile Ranch Trail... going up the rockiest way possible.

Looking at the trail on the other side; different day.

On Mine Trail, Santa Teresa Side of Bernal Rd.

High up above Lego Land.

Sierra Rd.; San Jose, Ca. with some Bike Party Folks

2011-04-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

You know I'm always down for a good climb, so when I heard about this ride I thought I might as well join in. I've been mountain biking so much lately and I realize that if I don't get a few road rides in before the big charity rides we do every year, I'm going to regret not training. Part of my problem is that I'm deathly afraid of road riding because of cars, but when I'm in a group I feel a lot safer. What better way to see how bad of shape I've become over the winter than to get up Sierra?

Of course, I employed my trusty 1X8 Pake C'Mute, completely caked in mud from the trails. ☺ The climb was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. This was my first time climbing it, but since I've tackled so many difficult climbs before, I knew I would be able to do it. Every time I'm in the Berryessa area, I take a gander at Sierra Rd., see that initial wall, and ponder: I wonder how bad that is...

Well, I got up without a hitch. I did stop for a sec to check out the view and get some water for about a minute, and onward and upward I continued. I was one of the first ones at the top.

I have to hand it to all the folks that tackled this climb: it isn't for beginners. I was especially jazzed to see the array of bicycle types there were: road, touring, mountain bikes, old, new, and in-the-middle bikes. Today was proof that you don't need a $5,000 bike to accomplish something awesome. Good people, good climb. What more can you ask for?

Ordered a tire for $4.99

2011-04-04T15:36:00.001-07:00

Yup.

$4.99 - that's the tire, tax and shipping... not on sale.

Universal Cycles is my go to place for online purchases, and by creating an account, I became a "VIP" member. If you review any products you've bought from them, you get $1 credit toward any future products you buy. Sooooo... I managed to build up $18 of credits, while the tire originally cost $20 (Ritchey Speedmax Cross 700X40).

With the tire only costing $2 at this point, Universal Cycles offered $2.99 shipping, with the grand total being $4.99.

Yes, I had to spend a lot of money to buy the products, review them, then get the credits - but in a time when work is a little slow, I am using any and every means necessary to get a much needed part at the lowest cost.

Universal also does 30 second price matching, so I search Amazon.com for a lower price and take advantage of a-dollar-here-a-dollar-there type savings.

Like I always say, I do not get paid for these types endorsements (shoot, I wish somebody would pay attention to my good words and KICK DOWN!), but if I can help another cyclist save money in this piss poor economy - why not?

Always support your local bike shop if you can, but if you're an online shopper - there's great deals to be had.

Birthday Ride...

2011-04-01T09:02:00.001-07:00

Great solo ride for my birthday.

Some from this week...

2011-03-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Since the rain has been coming down, my local stomping grounds have been closed and I've been riding my CX bike for good measure. I have a real nice "cross" loop that is about 20 miles and includes about 50/50 off and on road riding, including one hike-a-bike situation. Enjoy!

The weather is heating up so hopefully the trails dry out soon.

Here's a weird one - I snapped all four of my chainring bolts on a climb. I consequently switched back to steel ones.

The "hidden" trail at Santa Teresa County Park.

By IBM

A Few From this Week...

2011-03-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the fitness is back and I'm doing fine. It looks like once Mr. Huff and Puff left, I am stronger than before my trip. Thanks to "LaidLaw" for the encouraging words in his comments in my last post! Here are a few iPhone shots I got this week.

At the top of Coyote Peak

Santa Teresa County Park

Top of Stile Ranch Trail

Fixed Gear up Stile Ranch Trail

At the top...

Whoa! Long break :(

2011-03-06T10:19:00.001-08:00

Hello internet world... haven't posted for some time due to an extremely busy work schedule, an award trip (for good little insurance sales boys like me) and piss poor weather.

The wifebot and I just got back from a 10-day cruise through the Panama Canal. The entire trip, with travel was actually 12 days - so it was essentially 12 days + 3 days of insane work prior of NO riding. I thought that maybe the break was good for me and I'd possibly be stronger from the rest.

Boy, was I wrong.

My first ride was a day after I returned back, and what I would normally have no problems with was extremely hard for me. I was huffing and puffing, and yes, I actually did have to stop to take a break. Wow - everything I had worked up to was all shot to shit. The next day wasn't as bad, but I still am not where I used to be prior to me leaving.

I've concluded this: For cycling, if one is to "rest", he/she must do so with some sort of pedalling included. Kind of like, an active rest or what the elitists call a "recovery ride". I went cold turkey, and all those gains I had were lost. I believe that if I had access to a real bicycle, even a single speed beach cruiser, I wouldn't have been in such bad shape upon my return.

This was the longest break I have ever taken, and I am definitely going to try not to do that again.

"Nooooo... I'm not stopping to rest - I'm stopping to take a picture! That's it! A picture!"

2011 Superbowl Sunday Mt. Hamilton Ride

2011-02-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

I did this ride last year on my Surly Pacer and had a decent time, albeit very, very slow. I did it again, this time with a serious handicap - I took the "UNBRANDED". This year was another time in a last place finish, although I had three guys to do it with me: Leopold Porkstacker, Nelson34 and SparkyJay from MTBR.com.

What got me to take the UNBRANDED was that Porkstacker (Brett) was going to take his fat bike, and so I thought it'd be supportive to take mine. By time it was all loaded up, my bike definitely weighed over 40lbs which was a serious heavy haul. It wasn't bad in the beginning, but near the end, my stomach started to growl and a slight bonking was in the works. I think the Surly would've prevailed - but I'll save that for next year. My guess I probably will get up a little faster - but that wasn't really the goal for this ride.

All in all, I had fun with our little social pace group. My favorite quote was from Robert (nelson34) when he said "My whole body is a cramp..."

I also learned that the "UNBRANDED" was a fine bike for getting up, but it was just very slow. I think this bike will do fine for rides that don't require a steady 20 mile climb, but my big road rides for this year will probably be on the Surly Pacer. The WTB Pure-V saddle started to get uncomfortable near the top, and eventually painful on my sit bones.

Good times and thanks to all for providing refreshments afterwards. Next year I'm not going to be such a freeloader and bring something. This ride, like Turkey Day, seems to be getting bigger every year!

Gathering of the riders - Francis Cebedo giving some pre-ride advice

A couple of hours later, here are the three hombres: (L to R) SparkyJay, Nelson34, Leopold Porkstacker

The beer table...

I ended up having one afterwards. Delicious!

If You Can't Beat 'em , Avoid 'em - How to Ride While Bicycle Advocacy Groups Attempt to Change the World

2011-01-24T07:38:00.000-08:00

Every month there is at least 1 or 2 stories in the news about an injury or death resulting in a bicycle vs. car incident. Everyday, I read on multiple internet forums and social networking sites about promoting bicycle advocacy, "getting involved" and reaching out to the community; admittedly I jumped on that bandwagon for some time. I respect these people's desire to make change and becoming the voice for all varieties of cyclists. It's neat to see people get involved.

I've been doing some reflecting recently and realized that I, growing up on a BMX bike and riding far distances everyday to session spots, never had a car vs. bicycle incident. We didn't obey traffic rules, had lights on our bikes, or had to blow a whistle. We didn't have the internet nor were we aware of any bicycle advocacy happening at that time. We didn't wear helmets, reflective clothing or any other "safety" clothing aside from shin guards to keep us from tearing up our shins. But I never, ever had a car entanglement.

When I started road cycling a few years ago, I took all the safety awareness lessons I've been reading about on the web and applied them. Coincidentally, this was the time I was hit by a car. And as recently as yesterday, while riding with my wife on a very wide road, we were hassled by a couple of douchebags who thought it'd be funny to buzz us and scream to scare us.

Usually, when I ride, I never experience these interactions with cars simply because I've re-adopted the way I used to ride when I was a kid. I do obey traffic rules, and I utilize and encourage safety gear like a helmet, reflective clothing and lighting (I'm all grown up now), but I stay WAY off main roads and avoid busy streets as much as possible. I cut through pathways, take dirt paths and residential streets, hop curbs, ride through parks, trails and other "workarounds". If I must absolutely be on a street, I choose super wide streets with large bike lanes or if there is no bike lane, I hop up the curb and ride on the sidewalk. In other words - I've adapted my riding style to survive an environment that is not bicycle friendly. This is exactly the way we used to ride our 20" bikes in the 80's and 90's - but we didn't do it for safety... we did it for fun.

"Work-arounds" like Coyote Creek Trail provide miles of car-free riding

I can't wait for the world to rebuild a bicycle friendly infrastructure, nor do I have the time to go to city council meetings. I don't agree with the way Critical Mass presents itself and I would never get involved with it. But, I do have a BMX background, and I do know how to get in and out of ride in stealth mode.

Next time you route your ride or if you have a daily commute - consider your options. Get comfortable with riding off road, getting up and off curbs without falling and seeing opportunistic alternative cut-throughs in your town. You don't have to subject yourself to becoming a sitting duck out there while bicycle advocacy groups try to change the world.

Hey, if Cru Jones can do it...

Generic Mountain Bike Urban/Rural Smasher Build - 2 Month Review

2011-01-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

You can find these all over eBay and internet bike shops. They are gloss black, aluminum, and has no name. Nashbar sells them for $99 and they range in price depending on where you look. Most of the time, they accept v-brakes and disc brakes, and are universally tabbed and drilled to fit virtually any modern component. These are the generic, Asia made mountain bike frames, and I have one.

If you read previous posts, late last year I traded my Eastern Traildigger 26" DJ bike for an old school Gary Fisher SuperCaliber. I was super excited but promptly lost my new-to-me woody when I found cracks near the water bottle mounts. With a broken frame, I had all these old and new components needing a place to go, so I went to www.bikeisland.com and found a 18" Kinesis frame for $185 (I should've went with Nashbar, but oh well).

With an urban smasher in mind, I built it around a Surly 1X1 fork, 2.35" Schwalbe Big Apples, a big Race Face Atlas all-mountain handlebar, a homemade double crankset (22/39) and an 11-34 8 sp. cassette. I have both front and rear racks, v-brakes, square taper cranks and BB, and a bell. The entire bike weighs 31.08 lbs., as shown. Dalmatian not included.

I don't know what it is about this build, but as heavy, generic, and old-school as it is, I am just having a blast on it. Since the Big Apples are so, well, big, they provide a comfort on the road that can't be had with skinny road tires or even wider cyclocross tires. Let some air out to 25-30psi, and they climb dry rocks just as well as mountain bike tires and handle fireroads and dry singletrack just fine. Take it easy in the mud,though. The 26" Big Apples sit at, actually, a larger diameter than my 700 X 28 road bike wheels and tires - so you get a slight benefit in a larger rotational mass. I successfully mounted them ghetto tubeless which is holding together very well.

This is now the only aluminum bike I own (except for my beach cruiser) and I'm actually enjoying the stiffness of it. It mashes the hills quite nicely and combined with the fat tires, is not jarring at all. I am not at all delicate with this bike, and it is taken through the rocks of Santa Teresa County park at least 3-4 times a week.

Since this bike is not fancy, very understated and unassuming, it's not a conversation piece unless people know what they are looking at. Adding more fun to the mix, I climb past guys on $2000 full suspension mountain bikes all the time on it - and it looks like a commuter bike.

But, best of all, it has become a jack of all trades. My daily rides are, at a minimum, 50% dirt and 50% road - sometimes more or less either way. And this bike seems to be doing both very, very well. Of course, it's not going to perform like a 15lb. road race bike or the newest technology carbon fiber all-mountain bike, but it can, and will, hang with those bikes on many occasions. I can spin up trails in the granny gears, or mash on the flat asphalt streets in the 39T chainring and 11T cog.

Don't discount these $99 generic frames. Often times they will have lifetime warranties against defects and they are often made by the same hands behind any of the big name frames.

BICYCLE RIGHTS! BRRRRRPPPP! Hold up, I'm stopping... BIKE!

2011-01-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

Made in TAIWAN

2011-01-20T18:42:00.001-08:00

Guess what?

Unless you've shelled out the big bucks for a domestic, custom built frame most likely your bike was made in Taiwan or China.

As much as people kick and scream on internet forums about the poor quality of these "unbranded" frames and parts littered all over eBay, it is simply pure fact that nearly all off-the-shelf bikes have a connection to Asia.

This is not a bad thing.

I personally used to work in electronics and have travelled to the Chinese factories; I personally witnessed the cheap "Cheng-Sing" products and high-end "Sony" products were being constructed by the exact same hands. I'm sure the manufacturing of bicycle frames and parts is identical.

The label of being "Made in Taiwan" is nothing to be feared or criticized. I'm confident in saying your home appliances and the machines you rely on to cook your food are probably all made in Taiwan or China. Don't hate.

Check out the article below that was in RIDE BMX (click on the pics to enlarge). Photos by Keith Mulligan and Article by McGoo.

I Crashed - Body Planted on a Wet Wood Bridge

2011-01-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

I rarely crash, but when I do, I have to say... it can be epic. I guess when I ride the mountain bike, I don't expose myself to too many bad situations, but every once in awhile I don't think ahead and I end up on the ground. On the rare occassion I ride my BMX, crashing is every 30 min., so I guess it's all relative.

The other day, I was riding Santa Teresa County Park having the damndest time negotiating the rocks after the rain started to come down. Climbing slick rocks is a biatch, so when I got the the descend, I was relieved.

Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking when I hit the wood bridge, and I instantly lowsided and bodyplanted pretty damn hard. I was going about 15MPH. Bruised left inner thigh, bruised right hip, bloody and bruised shin, skinned elbow.

Thankfully, the 29'er is SOLID, so I aligned the seat back forward and went on my merry way.

Until the moisture goes away, I'm taking the bridges a lot slower.

Worst BMX Start Ever...

2011-01-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

Bike Soiree "Facing the Future Ride" - Saturday Jan 15th. Fremont, Ca.

2011-01-13T07:45:00.000-08:00

I was asked to step in and help route a ride through Fremont, Ca. since I spend so much time there. Please come out and join us if you can. It will be a very light and easy ride of 24 flat miles so this will be cruiser friendly. Hope to see you out there!

FaceBook Link > Bike Soiree "Facing the Future Ride" - Saturday Jan 15th. Fremont, Ca.

An Oldie but Goodie - Old SMHooligans Video

2011-01-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

An old video edit I did from back in the day. Includes on board riding with me as pilot at the end.

San Jose Bike Party Test Ride Report

2011-01-09T17:56:00.001-08:00

So, I'm pretty much over the strep throat thing and aside from a slight cough and sinus issues, I felt well enough to get back on la bicicleta after letting my once quadzilla legs atrophy into toothpicks. Penicillin is AWESOME! For strep, that is.

We all met up at the Trek Bike Shop on Capitol Expy. Being only 5-10 miles away, I decided to ride out there. I loaded up the jersey with bars, petty cash, cough drops, my iPhone and I was out. It was a little cold, but nothing I couldn't get over at a social pace.

Off we went. Of course, like most of these events I didn't know a soul. A few people had some of the On Your Left bells I sold at the Bicycle Swap Meet earlier this year, so that was neat. Thanks for your patronage!

As we were headed down Santa Teresa Blvd. I decided not to spend my first well day doing a chill-out cruise, so I broke off and hit the hills. Even the guys in front were like, "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!" and I was thinking, "No... this is the right way!" Thanks for your concerns, though, guys! That's Bike Party watching out. It would've been nice if more people were interested in mountain biking - I would've loved taking someone out for a tour and showed them back to Trek.

As I started to climb Bernal, I noticed the "Trails Closed" sign was not out! Dude, I FINALLY get to ride my trails! At that moment, I crossed over and began to climb Ohlone Trail after letting about 10psi of air out of the Schwalbe Big Apples.

I descended Fortini and headed up Stile Ranch Trail.

Boy, not mountain biking for a couple of weeks really takes a toll on you once you get back to it. I was huffing and puffing, and on the ride back home, I even cramped up standing up to sprint - which is a sign that I've fallen out of shape (temporarily). Stile Ranch was HAMMERED - the rain beats up the trails so bad it reveals big rocks that have been buried for years.

My heart was in it today to ride with San Jose Bike Party - but not knowing anybody and discovering my trails opened back up got me back to my normal, solitary self.

Except for my deer friends.

Halfway up the climb. If you look to the lower left, you will see a neat pack of deer.

More deer - there was about 15 of them. One large buck, a few teens and fawns and a gang of does.

Single Track on the Big Apples.

Top o' the climb. This is my place. This is my peace. No cars, traffic, honking... no bullshit. Just me, the wind, my animal friends and nature.

Adventure Riding on Bicycles

2011-01-07T08:56:00.001-08:00

Well, I've been plagued by Strep - worst case scenario is I happen to get it when we're having a break in the rain and therefore have been missing some nice-day rides. Oh well.

So, I've sold two of my bikes, the Fantom Cross Uno and the Fantom Comp DS... all that remains is the Messenger which should go when the weather gets better and more and more people are "getting out". I have to say, after cleaning those bikes for the new owners, a part of me wanted to be a hoarder - but that does me no good.

Now, let's get to the topic at hand: something I like to call "Adventure Riding". Yes, I know that all riding can be classified under "adventure", but I have constructed a way to define this sort of riding. It's not social riding at social pace, nor is it racing oriented. Let me explain.

I guess this all stems from my love for SuperMoto and dual sport motorcycles. What is fantastic about these bikes is their ability to be 1) street legal 2) they can handle on and off-road very well and 3) they are quick and nimble, but not outright rockets (like sportbikes). They sit upright, and, when tuned correctly, have fantastic throttle response. Oh, and they wheelie really well.

Here are a couple of shots of my old adventure bike - my KLR650. I rode that thing on trails, roads, through the canyons... everywhere. I've had a number of these types of bikes through the years.

These type of motorcycles give the rider an opportunity to explore - which many adventure riders do all the time. A great documentary about adventure riding is "Long Way Round" with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. I guess it isn't "true" adventure riding defined by the purists since they are both celebrities and had a support vehicle most of the time, but it is very entertaining and I highly recommend it.

So, how does this play into bicycles?

With the growing popularity of 29'ers and the niche of "MonsterCross" that has come about, I notice that same sentiment for the pedalling enthusiasts. Many are building "do-it-all" bikes that can handle both on and off road very well: big wheels, rigid forks, fat tires that roll on pavement and dirt well, and multi-hand position handlebars.

As you can see from previous posts, my rides consist of a lot of off-road. But because of where I live, I do mix in a lot of pavement riding that I don't bother taking pictures of. I purposefully venture off the street, away from cars and bike lanes, and find alternative routes to where I need to be. Most of those routes are dirt paths, creekside singletrack, hike-a-bike situations and back roads.

Having been hit by cars twice in my life; I don't like to expose myself to those dangers. I see all types of wild life that can hurt or kill you (like big cats, boar and rattle snakes), but none of those animals are more dangerous than a distracted person driving down the road. So, this adventure type riding also keeps me out of traffic.

If you are considering building a new bike or replacing the one you have now, I would highly recommend looking at these "do-it-all" type bicycles that are offered out there. MTBR has a great thread (which I've referenced before) called, "I Beg You, More MONSTERCROSS" which has dozens of incredible bikes that serve the adventure purpose.

Nearly all of my bikes perform off-road as well as on-road, which all have been purposefully set up that way. With the help of MTBR and researching tires, you can probably even transform your current bike into something more adventure worthy.

If you are not a racer, consider a bike like this. I always ask - why deny yourself a bike that is set-up a to do it all... and do it well?

Homeless man w/golden radio voice in Columbus, OH

2011-01-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Not bike related, but I'm helping to make this video go viral. That's how we can help this guy in this day and age.

Selling Three of my Bikes - One Fixie, One SS Cyclocross and One MTB

2011-01-03T19:31:00.001-08:00

Well, for those of you that follow along, you know that I'm not out there destroying bikes - but I'm trying to down size my garage and prioritize a few things in my life. Therefore, three bikes must go! Here they are with pics. If you, or anybody you may know, may be interested in any of these, please hit me up at dion@uglypads.com. Please note that I'm in San Jose, Ca. Thanks for looking!

Medium Motobecane Fantom Comp DS Full Suspension MTB

"In an attempt to downsize my garage for 2011, I am selling my Fantom Comp DS with upgraded Sun Ringle Wheels, Forte Carbon Handlebars, and Kenda LUST tubeless tires with Stans Sealant (NO FLATS!). I purchased this bike last year and ridden it only a few times locally. I am very meticulous about my bikes and do not abuse them, crash them, or huck them off anything. It's very new'ish with no dings, scratches, broken parts; it's clean and a great looking bike.

For $650, you're getting a fantastic bike with some great components. I am not interested in haggling over the price, which I think is fair. PEDALS NOT INCLUDED. Thanks for looking!"

54cm Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno - Custom Single Speed Cyclocross

"I am selling my single-speed cyclocross bike in an attempt to downsize my garage. I built this bike custom from the frame up and it's great for the trails and city. Parts include Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO frame and fork, Truvativ Omnium Track Cranks, White Ind. 22T freewheel, On-One Mary handlebars, Continental Cyclocross tires, lock-on grips, etc.

I am very, very meticulous about my builds and I did not rush anything nor oddly fit things onto this bike - it is solid with no weird creaking, rust, or damage (no scratches, dings nor dents).

For a custom build with attention to detail, I believe $500 is fair, so I am FIRM on the price. PEDALS NOT INCLUDED. Thanks for looking."

54cm Motobecane Messenger Fixed Gear/Single Speed

"I built this bike a couple of years ago and it has treated me very well. However, I'm out of room and this, which never gets ridden, is on the chopping block.

Note: I do understand that you can get these from BikesDirect for $299. However, the only thing this bike and those bikes share is the frame, everything else is completely different. For $120 more, you get much better components than what comes stock.

Surly Steamroller fork (NEW), Tektro R70 brakes, Animal BMX pedals (NEW), Oury grips (NEW), Ritchey seatpost and stem, Truvativ Omnium cranks (46X16), White Ind. freewheel with a fixed cog on the flip-flop side, Panaracer Touring tires, etc.

I am VERY, very anal retentive about my bikes, especially when I custom build them - this bike is solid. It has never been crashed and there are no dents, scratches or dings. $420 FIRM - Please, I am not interested in negotiating the price. Thanks for looking!"

Just a few from last year and this year...

2011-01-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Well, goodbye 2010 and hello 2011.

It's been raining pretty good in NorCal and today I'm a little sick, so here's a few pics from the past few rides. Enjoy!

My Mountain Bike had 250cc's Today - Riding Hollister Hills

2010-12-26T18:04:00.000-08:00

Admittedly, I haven't ridden my dirt bike in almost a year. I keep it on a Battery Tender in the garage and in pristine condition - except for the scratches and other battle scars its received from my various past adventures. After selling my Suzuki DRZ400SM, I contemplated on selling this. I realized that the technology on my CRF250X is fantastic, it runs like a champ, and it has plenty of power for the easy-going trail riding I like to do. In other words, I probably can keep this thing for another 5-7 years and it will still be awesome. After all, it is a Honda. Except for the handguards, an engine gaurd, a fender bag and a Stage I jetkit from JD Jetting, it's completely stock.

Oh, and I'm still paying for the damn thing.

Today I decided to take out the machine. My brother is still training for CX racing, so I decided to let him be and I went solo. It took me about 10 miles before the rust started to shake loose. Unless you're a downhill mountain biker, dirt riding is definetely a change of pace. First, you have power. Second, you have tons of suspension and third, it's an interesting dance with traction control.

Most of the trails in Hollister were closed due to the rain we've been having, but I didn't complain. I rode all over the backside and even hit a few black diamond trails that I love so much.

I will always ride dirt bikes. It's just I have to be in the right mindset to haul myself out. I mean, I think it took me longer to unload and clean my bike than the actual riding time I had.

Fixed Gear Mountain Riding in Fremont Older

2010-12-24T13:54:00.001-08:00

Since my trails are still closed, I decided to give Fremont Older in the Cupertino/Saratoga area a try. A lot of folks post about it in MTBR, but I've never been. From what I've seen and heard, it didn't look too crazy - so what a great opportunity to bring my re-built retro-fixed bike out. The original build is HERE.

I never really rode this bike in that form and I wanted to not let it go to waste, so a quick change out of some parts and it was very off-road worthy. I did have to spring for a new handlebar, chainring, cog, lockring and fork.

Fremont Older proved to be the perfect stomping ground for off-road fixed gear riding. I found the climbing to be more enjoyable than the descends - literally you can "spin out of control" on a fixed mountain bike. So, using the front brake to modulate your speed works very well. The super-wide 730mm handlebar helped a lot on mashing up the climbs.

This wasn't my first time riding off-road fixed - when I had my Motobecane Outcast 29'er, I had that in fixed gear fashion for a bit. If you're curious about riding off-road on a fixed gear, here is what I've discovered that may help you:

1) Use the same gearing you would for a singlespeed. There are TONS of sites and information out there regarding gearing, and it will literally make your head spin, so I won't get deep into it. Most people start out with a 2:1 ratio i.e. 32T X 16T. But this all depends on your wheel size, crank length and most importantly your fitness level. Because I'm on 700c wheels, I choose a 32T X 18T gearing which I can get up most hills with. Today posed no problems.

2) Get 'em wide. There is a lot of debate over wide handlebars, but I know, for me riding a single gear, the wide handlebar helps a lot when it's time to mash. I know this because yesterday was actually my official first ride on this bike and I had 630mm handlebars which were way too narrow. Now I have 730mm bars on there and they feel a million times better.

3) Use brakes. I use a front brake for off-road mountain riding only because my frame does not have v-brake tabs for a rear brake. If it did, I would definitely have a rear brake on there.

Brakes control your downhill speed on a fixed gear. I do not believe, for a second, that skid stopping is enough for off-road. I think it's just plain stupid on the street. Since you're not coasting on the descends, it takes a lot of energy to keep you from spinning your cranks out of control, so modulating the brakes keeps things in check. If you are only on the front brake, you end up putting a lot of pressure on your wrists, arms, shoulders and chest. Think how it is to hold yourself up in a "push-up" position. A rear brake helps balance this out and gives your legs a rest from fixed gear downhill resistance.

Don't question this. Get AT LEAST a front brake.

4) Have an open mind. Understand that this is fixed gear riding. It isn't extreme downhill - so the descends are going to suck as much, if not more, than the climbs. I actually prefer climbing over going downhill on the fixed gear. Unless you have very understanding friends who will wait for you on the downhills, it's best to leave the fixie at home if you are going on a group ride. What would be ideal is if they were also on fixed gear bikes - but that is a rarity.

If you're a strong singlespeed rider you will out climb a lot of the geared folks, however.

Off-road fixed gear riding is suitable for mountain exploration and mixing it up. If it is an all out group ride with your hammerhead friends - this won't be the bike to take. But for solo rides with exploration in mind to enjoy nature - a great choice.

Nothing Much but Rain in NorCal

2010-12-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

Not a whole lotta postin' going on since the rain has hit NorCal. I've been out in the rain these past few days on recon rides - unfortunately the trails are mostly closed with the exception of Fort Ord which is a bit of a haul. Although I may get down there this weekend...

Here are a few pics from my roam rides. Not much in terms of hills or singletrack, but very fun all the same. I've been riding my cyclocross bikes (1 geared, 1 SS) and they've really done me well. I've found some fantastic alternative routes from the dangerous streets of San Jose (dangerous from the idiot drivers here), and now I can almost ride my entire loop with 85% off-the-beaten-path roads.

1 1/2 Years of Surly Pacer - A Review

2010-12-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

I've had a love/hate relationship with my Surly Pacer... well, it's not with the actual bike, but it is more with road riding in general. Road riding is hard, and the main issue I have is the mixing it up with cars. I've been hit by a car TWICE. Once on my motorcycle and once on my bike - on this Surly Pacer, in fact. So, aside from all my internal struggles with road riding, let me give you my 1 1/2 years of experience with my Surly Pacer.

I have changed and molded this bike into it's current state - from a regular drop-bar road bike, to a retro looking thing, to even a single-speed at one point. But, I think I've found a stopping point. Currently it's geared for touring style riding, a self-inflicted double crank with a 38T and 30T chainring, mountain derailleur and a mountain cassette - truly, I should be able to scale walls with this. And, I'm even considering a "great granny" by replacing the 30T with a 28T - but I'm good in the current state it's in, right now. Cables are pulled and released with Paul Thumbie bar shifters.

The biggest thing I've done (and I mean "big) was the installation of the Race Face Atlas AM handlebar. Yeah, I'm not going out to attack singletrack with this bike, but boy, is it an awesome urban destroyer now. Crank Bros. pedals are in place so I can wear my mountain shoes and everything rolls on Alex Rims laced onto Shimano Sora hubs wrapped up in Fyxation Session 700 X 28 tires. The entire build weight is 23.58 lbs - sans the pump, seatbag and a filled water bottle.

Maybe the big handlebar is weird, but I love the comfort and "upright" seated position. It's all about comfort at this time.

Surly says:
"...It isn’t the fastest or lightest bike you’ll ever ride, but then again, it isn’t trying to be. This frame was designed as an all-day bike, which means comfort and reliability. The 4130 TIG-welded frame and brazed fork are designed to take the edge off the bumps and cracks in the road, but remain laterally stiff for those out-of-the-saddle sprints and climbs..."
"...The Pacer is not what most race-inspired roadies seem to drool over. It isn’t on the cutting edge of design, it isn't made of the latest ultra light super-expensive materials, and it isn't festooned with lots of bright colors and graphics. Rather, it is a road bike made of our favorite material, cro-moly steel, using frame geometry that makes it fast and efficient like a road bike should be, but it is not a racing bike. This is a frame meant for all day rides. There are a lot of other road frames out there that are flashier, more exotic, and full of promises most riders only dream of fulfilling. The Pacer doesn't make promises. It's simply a great riding steel frame..."
"...No, the Pacer will not impress people who live for the next replica team ‘kit.’ The Pacer reminds us, quietly, that there is a road bike out there for the rest of us..."
I agree with most of their claims. The Pacer is nowhere near the performance of a race bike - and even if you are a pretty strong rider (and I consider myself ay-okay), you will get dropped by others on race oriented bikes. But, in the end, the goal is not to race with this bike. The goal is all day rides in comfort. Cruising on flats between 15-25MPH (25mph when you're really cooking) and climbing/descending with a smile on your face is what this bike is all about. And, yes, you will get compliments on this bike from those who've seen the light.

One of the concerns for many who own this bike is the flexy bottom bracket that has a tendency to "ghost shift", or what Sheldon Brown called "auto shifting". This is apparent when you stand up to mash. A few things that help are:

1) Choose your shift before you climb. If you decide to mash through a gear change, you may ghost shift.

2) Index (or SIS) shifting works great with this bike. Friction, especially downtube friction shifting - not so much. I had a lot of problems with the downtube shifter set-up.

3) Liberally grease the cable guide under the bottom bracket. Sometimes, if there is friction down there, the bike will shift on its own on flex.

4) Make sure your cables and housing are well lubricated and always use high-end, reputable parts. This is shifting we're talking about, not valve stem caps.

The frame is definitely flexy, so be aware that this is a small compromise for comfort.

I've designed my bike around what the frame was intended for - comfort, exploration and all day rides. But, I have also been dropped by riders on race oriented bikes - but I don't fret. The Pacer reminds me that it's okay to sit-back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Wilder Ranch Solo Ride

2010-12-12T08:45:00.001-08:00

Given that my trails are closed here from the rain, I decided to get down to my home of Santa Cruz, Ca. and cruise up Wilder. I was also able to see my nephews which is always a treat, and give one of them his birthday present a little early.

Route was: Parent's house > Wilder Loop > to the Bottom > Up Long Meadow > Twin Gates > UCSC > *singletrack fun and jumps* > Through UC > Down Bay St. > cruise the neighborhoods > West Cliff > Parent's House

Somewhere in there I think I hit Zane Grey and some other stuff. I think since I went up, back down and up again, I climbed somewhere near 2200' feet of so.

The ground was soft and I felt like I was going nowhere fast. No matter how hard I pedalled, I could not get any momentum behind me to keep rolling. Literally, it was drudging through the mud. Count it as a 100,000 leg presses, I guess.

Here are the pics with commentary:

First stop on Wilder Loop Trail. These exposed rocks were SO slippery, I slid right off of them.

Quick stop at the Kilns. Totally reminds me of Ireland.

Obligatory water tank pic.

I stopped at my old high school, Santa Cruz High, to reminisce a little. This graffiti piece is awesome.

This is the front steps where we used to have "Free Speech". I think it was on every Thursday at lunch so the students could talk/debate about current topics. I remember we would talk about things like the 1st. Gulf War, gang violence, education, etc. Sadly... nothing has f*ckin' changed, and it's been nearly 20 years. I wonder if they still have this...

Why the pic of the stage in the quad? This slab of concrete gave me the best times in my life. As you can see, it is well worn of years and years of skaters and BMX'ers grindin' it away. I used to feeble (peg) grind this, sprocket grind it, 360 off it, 180 off it, abubaca it, footplant it, bunnyhop up it... etc. In fact, the right of passage to manhood was the ability to bunnyhop up it - I remember the first time I did it. I think they re-paved the quad, because the stage was actually much higher than it is now.

I thought they would've painted over this by now, but down at the ceramics room is a very faded graffiti mural I did in 1992. The kids have gotten so good at murals, I thought somebody would've gone over it with a much better piece. A part of my wishful thinking is that they haven't painted over it as a sign of respect for such an old piece - since it is actually older than the seniors that are graduating from there. But, one can only wish.

And finally, the sun-over-the-ocean shot. So pretty... just the right amount of fog produces sights like this. People wonder why I like the fall and winter so much.

A few from the past couple of days...

2010-12-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

The On-One Inbred 29er, moments before the rear freehub destruction...

Even better... yet another crushed Eggbeater spring. 3rd one this year?

My beloved Surly Pacer checking out the sunset. The Surly Pacer is not too fast, not too slow - just right.

Sunset from Today a la 'Cross Bike

2010-11-30T19:08:00.001-08:00

Schwalbe Big Apples on the Trails

2010-11-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

You're probably wondering if I ever work, and the answer is YES, but there is definitely a problem when your client cancels an appointment. Oh well. I f*cking hate that.

This afternoon I decided to give the 26 X 2.35 Big Apples a try on the trail. Since I couldn't find a definitive answer or review of how they worked on real mountain bike trails, I decided to give them a go for myself.

When I arrived at the trailhead, like I normally do, I first took out about 10psi from both front and rear (maybe a little more up front). I did the "squish" test and proceeded. I was actually very, very surprised on how well these gripped the dirt initially, and boy, did they roll! The only way I could truly describe the way they felt is that they gave off the same feeling I get when I ride my BMX bike on dirt. I proceeded to the entrance and decided to not go nice. After all, I did tackle one of the most difficult road climbs in the Bay Area yesterday on these tires!

Up Stile Ranch I went. Stile Ranch (or as us locals just call it "Stiles") is a technical climb of big and small rocks with 180 degree switchbacks. It's not easy if you're not used to that kind of ride - but me being a local - I ride this climb all the time.

I was amazed on how well these tires handled this climb. AMAZED. I did spin the rear wheel, slightly, a couple of times - standing up to get my bike over the big stuff - but nothing that wouldn't happen on my fast rolling knobbies. And let's not forget, I'm on a full rigid.

Then came the interesting part - the mud. Not just any ordinary mud: clay mud. On my trails, the dark side of the hill stays pretty moist, so you get dry rocky stuff on one side, and very slick muddy stuff on the other. Of course, the Big Apples slipped and slid, but that should be expected. And you can pretty much make a pinch pot out of this type of mud.

Of course, since they are slicks, they shed all that stuff away very quickly.

I think the Big Apples handled all the abuse from yesterday and today because of their construction and their ability to go low pressure/high-volume. I love the fact that these can go down to 30psi and still have very good rolling resistance on the road. This low pressure works great for the trails, just understand their limits with wet stuff - my confidence with these tires wouldn't wince on the dry and hardpacked. Now, it's obvious that they ARE NOT a serious MTB tire, but some of us like doing 50/50 pavement/trail rides. These rides I normally hit on my cyclocross bike, but at least I know that the Big Apples work for the same concept. They even have the neato reflective strip on the side for nighttime visibility. Value add in my book.

If you ride like I do, and take a "dual-sport" approach to your rides, consider the Big Apples. They're just not for beach cruisers.

First Ride On the Urban Replacement Frame

2010-11-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

Since my Gary Fisher SuperCaliber was cracked, I had to find a replacement - an unbranded Kinesis frame, which is essentially a Motobecane Fly frame. I wanted to put it to the test, so I decided to take it on a big climb.

I took off for Hicks Rd. on a very, very cold morning. I don't care what some of the East Coast folks have to say about California weather - 30 degrees is still 30 degrees. If I felt strong at the top, I was going to go all the way up to Mt. Umunhum, which is 3000+ ft up. I can go into details of this extremely tough climb, but toughascent.com does a fantastic report of it HERE.

A few noticeable things about using a mountain platform for road cycling.

1. It handles bumps and lumps like nobodys business, especially with the Schwalbe Big Apples in 26 X 2.35's. Yes, they are heavy and don't roll like road race tires, but boy - are they a dream for comfort!

2. It's a little slow. The geometry is really suited for mountain bike riding, and not going up paved roads fast. I got dropped by everybody, and I'm not THAT slow.

3. The descend was like butter. Again, those Big Apples KILLED the bumps in the road. I think that was the fastest I ever descended. I guess that's where the tires and MTB geometry really took effect. As recommended, the Big Apples only had 40psi in them. Contrast that with 110-120 psi in road tires and you can see how the balloon tires can soak up the road bumps.

I built this as an all-around, chill-out bike that can go far in comfort. But I did want to take it on the local kill-climb to see if it can handle the worst of the paved stuff we have around here... and it did. Again, it was slow, but it was nice. I think for what I intended this to be, it does well. It's definitely not for getting on the podium.

The next test will be off-road - as soon as the trails open again.

I did want to mention the douche-baggery that I witnessed on yesterday's ride. Please, roadies... don't make it worse for yourselves by thinking you're IceMan from Top Gun.

Now, I don't go on the boards hating on road riders - but a d-bag is a d-bag, no matter what they ride.

So I'm stopped at about the 1500ft mark talking to some other riders, when a road rider, right out of an 80's movie, yells out, "Race you guys to the top..."

The guy I was talking to says, "You win."

I was, like, "Really? WTF was that all about?"

Then, I'm granny'ing up the second part of the the climb (which goes to about 3100ft.) and some roadie pulls up to next to me and says, "Ha! I wish I had your gears..."

"Yup, granny gear all the way up. Relaxing ride today..."

"Yeah, ha... my small ring is bigger than your big ring..."

Me ->

He then proceeds to mash past.

Whenever I'm on my road bike, I pay special attention to not promote d-bag behavior by being a little nicer to people (that's my nature anyway). But really, the pissing matches are embarrassing for the likes of what I witnessed today.

Maybe these men have just not accomplished enough in their lives to feel the need to say stupid shit to complete strangers.

Some Pics from Black Friday

2010-11-27T18:34:00.000-08:00

I got one in yesterday before the rain came today. I felt really strong, even after the big Turkey Day ride the day before. It was an all out hammer-day on this ride.

Unfortunately, I've discovered that the friction shifters I like so much are not cutting it for off-road. They just don't stay in place, and my bike ghost shifts pretty bad. Believe me, I've tried everything. I think for road use, they work just fine. But for off-road, when you are constantly on the shifter, they just can't handle it.

The 29'er is being outfitted with Paul thumbies and once the shifters on the 26" bike go, I'm going back to triggers. I just installed an Alivio 8 sp. trigger shifter on my CX bike since I was having problems with the friction shifter on that, as well.

Here are the pics from yesterday.

2010 Turkey Day Ride - Los Gatos, Ca.

2010-11-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

Since it is just plain fact that Santa Teresa County Park was going to be closed this morning, I decided to get out on this ride this year since I missed it last year. I've never been up Kennedy Trail before, so it was a great way to check it out next time I need some hill climbing and my local trails are closed. I was hoping my brother was going to make it, but it was 30 degrees and he had to drive from Santa Cruz.

To my surprise, the climb was really not as bad as I thought it was going to be after I read the trail reviews. The last little hill was SUPER steep. I almost made it, but slipped and lost traction - impossible to restart again.

Except for a couple of people, I didn't know anybody. So being the stranger in a group of over 500 riders, I took off early. Plus, being a vegetarian, there wasn't much for me to eat except for a slice of pumpkin pie and Ron's wife's awesome cookies. Thanks!!

The descend down was horribly cold. My hands stung, even with "thermal" gloves. I felt pretty good with my ear covers, my base layer, an Under Armor long sleeve thermal base, Louis Garnier knee warmers and shoe covers from Performance. I have to say that I was STOKED I chose to wear my neoprene shoe covers - they made a big difference. My hand protection is something I have to prepare for better next time.

I hope everybody had a good time, I know I did even though I really didn't know anybody. I always enjoy the energy at these types of rides.

Here are some videos:

Riders going up Kennedy Rd.

Pouring into the trailhead

An Exclusive Interview with Mr. MTBR.com

Here are some pics:

Many of us met at Summit Bicycles on E. Main St. in Los Gatos.

An old Miyata with something warm.

Peeps

The Summit Bicycles Turkey Mascot

Sweet drop bar Salsa

Road.

Entering the Trailhead

Going up!

...and up

...and up

Ooh, SUN!

Grindin'

... and more grindin'

Coming up to the top...

Mob scene...

Piles of bikes...

Mobbers...

Santa with a beer...

The Filipinos brought Lechon

Da' crowd.

Going back down...

Some Reflection on Racing and a Cracked Frame

2010-11-19T19:29:00.000-08:00

First, let's get to the cracked frame situation. Dude... I was so stoked on my Gary Fisher SuperCaliber. I loved the 90's neon vibe, the funky paint job and the crazy colors I got to mix it with.

The other day I was doing a once-over and noticed these cracks:

Done.

Gone.

Goodbye.

It was fun while it lasted.

This is a sad time, my friends. Worst of all, is I traded my cherry NON-CRACKED Eastern Traildigger for it. I only rode my Gary Fisher once, on the road, with no bumps or curb jumps so I have a feeling I received it this way. And since the trade was done in the dark, there was no way I could see this.

I ordered an aluminum Kinesis frame as a replacement, a new bottom bracket and front derailleur. So much for my vintage build.

Onto my reflection on racing...

Last night I couldn't sleep and I've been giving the racing thing a lot of thought.

For, like, the last two weeks.

I think CX racing is not my thing. I really dug deep to think of why I lost interest and there's many reasons (mostly work stress), but I don't think I have the racer's mindset. I can't dig deep enough within to make a competitive attempt. What it is, is I focus so much energy into work, especially with my appointments, phone calling and pending business pouring into Saturdays and Sundays, and then I have to go to all these fraternal events on the weekends that relate to my work. The agency I am in is super sales competitive oriented, and when all is said and done, the only peace I find is in riding.

What I've come to find is that racing doesn't bring me peace. It actually kinda stresses me out and I don't have fun - and then it becomes a pain in the ass and then I don't want to do it. I feel I not only waste my time and money, but I waste the guy-who-I-may-finish-ahead-of's time, who may be actually going for the glory. I may just be a roadblock for him and he may be trying real hard to get ahead, when in my mind, I just don't care.

I think I've come to terms with the reasons why I ride, and to me, it's really to get away, not to dive into a heated competition. I have to compete everyday with work production, and my manager makes it a competitive sales environment.

I've been working hard trying to make the sales quota for the incentive cruise vacation that I promised my wife, Kelly. December is the last opportunity to make it - and if I screw this up I will really let myself and Kelly down. That means, there will be consecutive days that I will not be able to train. I don't want to view these days as a hindrance to my training, and then that's yet just another thing to stress me out.

This all doesn't go without saying to those who continue to race, I have utmost respect for them. But after giving it a try I just don't see myself putting real effort into it the way the next guy may want to.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why some pound the pedals so hard, ultra-competitive, when I already do that with work. The last thing I want to be is be stressed out doing an activity that's supposed to be peaceful for me. To me, when I hit the trails, I like to take my time and spend time with nature. In a competitive environment, I don't feel there's room for that kind of "mountain trekking" riding style that I enjoy so much.

I think I may shine the rest of the season, which is three more races going into January. I'm not wimping out or being lazy, but if my heart's not in it, I just don't see any reason to continue. All it's going to do is make me not want to be there. That's not fair to the guys I'm up against, the race organizers or myself.

It was an interesting attempt, pretty cool and I'm glad I did it. But I just don't think it's for me. At least I tried it and experienced it.

So... no race for me on Sunday and no more race reports. I am still set on racing the SBRacing MTB race in the Spring when it hits Santa Teresa County Park - since that is MY park - but I will only do that for fun and will not race the season.

Am I disappointed in myself for not continuing? A little. I feel like I'm a quitter and this will take some time for me to get over.

But I also can't kid myself of what riding truly is to me. I also need to focus on my job.

Racing is not what pays the bills.

1950 Cyclocross Race

2010-11-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

You guys think YOU'RE hardcore.

Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home" - NEW street trials riding short film

2010-11-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Ride the Obnoxious - First Go on the 1991 Gary Fisher SuperCaliber

2010-11-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

Today I thought it would be PERFECT to get a ride in on the new-to-me 1991 Gary Fisher SuperCaliber. As I posted previously, I scored this on a trade for my Eastern Traildigger 26". The goal was to revive 1991, punch it in the stomach and have it regurgitate all the nasty bright colors that plagued the nation at that time (seems to be around a lot these days, too). Unfortunately, I had to throw about $300 at this thing to make it work right, but I am super jazzed at the way it turned out and the way it rode.

The upgrades include:

Surly 1X1 for
Aerozine Headset
Problem Solvers 37mm - 34mm reducers (so a regular 1 1/8 threadless headset would work)
Race Face Atlas bar
Hot Pink Oury Grips
Hot Pink brake cable housing
2.35" Schwalbe Big Apple tires
WTB seat
Electric Blue skewers
Crank Bro. pedals (from my garage)
Ritchey Seatpost (from my garage)
Avid rear V-Brake (from my garage)
Colorful odds and ends

I did my normal road loop, which is a 25 mile go-around inflating my Big Apples to only 32psi. I know that sounds CRAZY, but these tires truly work perfect and roll fast at this pressure. They also soak up any bumps and lumps in the road and work on dirt paths very well.

I was incredibly surprised on how well this bike pedalled and I think I have a new favorite urban bike - even more than my Surly Pacer. In fact, the goal is to ride this tank on one of the big social road rides next year just for shits and giggles.

This bike was just fun to ride and it hops curbs and handles the urban wasteland just great. I also think I have a guilty pleasure riding it with the Hot Pink grips.

BTW, I did a LONG trackstand at a light in front of some fixie kids. Little do they know what tricks this old man in lycra has under his sleeve.

No Race Sunday - MTB'ing in Santa Cruz, Ca. instead...

2010-11-15T09:09:00.001-08:00

My brother and I rode Santa Cruz yesterday instead of racing the Surf City. God bless you all for staying committed to the race schedule and doing all these series races - plain and simple my brother and I are just a little burned out.

We took our normal loop that took about three hours. Great riding, but it is undeniably warm for November - we are seriously in the 70's. Santa Cruz was a nice break from my sniffling, sneezing and coughing from allergies here in San Jose. Of course, 30 min. back in San Jose, my eyes started to swell and the nose itching began.

Anyhow, here are a few pics.

Lunch ride

2010-11-09T15:35:00.001-08:00

Rain has been gone for two days and the weather is arid. It's deceiving because it's cool, but you have serious cotton mouth at the same time. Anyhow, the drop-bar was the tool for today.

I think I'm done with the drops and going back to a traditional riser bar. The drops are fun and interesting, but really, a regular handlebar is the way to go. Anybody want to buy a dirt drop-bar with disc compatible levers?

Those drops do make for interesting photos, though... right?

The Amgen Tour of California returns to the South Bay next May

2010-11-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will use San Jose as the finish line for Stage four of the race on Wednesday, May 18th of next year.

In the past two years of the race, San Jose had served as the starting line for one of the stages.

Last month, San Jose's chief development officer Paul Krutko told race organizers the city would only be interested in hosting the finish line of a stage because it attracts more people.

San Jose is one of 15 host cities of the 800-mile bike race.

Analysis: USA Cycling to Vote on Rule Changes that Will Shape American Cyclocross

2010-11-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Got this from Cyclocross Magazine - interesting stuff here...

Analysis: USA Cycling to Vote on Rule Changes that Will Shape American Cyclocross

by Kat Statman

From the USA Cycling Communique about proposed rule changes: “The USCF Board of Trustees will vote on several key issues when it meets in conjunction with the USA Cycling Local Associations on Nov. 6-7 in Colorado Springs. All USA Cycling members are encouraged to review the USCF Board of Trustees proposed 2010 legislation and contact your trustee representative to let your voice be heard on the outlined issues.”

We here at Cyclocross Magazine have gone through this 30 page document looking for the significant rule change proposals for ’cross so that you don’t have to. There are a couple that stand out clearly and will possibly be contentious issues among USA Cycling members if passed.

One of the more problematic or difficult proposed rule changes is that of field size. The proposed legislation states, “UR10.13 1J7 Cyclo-cross default field limit – David Miller and Tom Simonson. This creates a default field limit for cyclo-cross races. 1J7. Maximum Field. Entries shall be accepted in order of receipt by the organizer up to the field limit and subsequent entries shall be returned. The maximum field limit in any youth race or a road event exclusively for category 5 men or Category 4 women shall be 50 riders. The maximum field for a road event that includes category 5 men with other categories shall be 75. For other road events and for cyclo-cross events, if no field limit is given in the official race announcement, a field limit of 100 shall be used.”

What does this piece of proposed legislation purport to change for cyclocross events and who might it affect? Possible reasons for such a rule stem from the extremely large field sizes that were witnessed at the 2009 Cyclocross National Championships and many other USAC permitted events around the country where field size in some categories became a problem. For example, as reported on the forums of roadbikereview.com, a poster mentioned that for the Alpenrose Cross Crusade (though this is an OBRA and not a USAC event) there were 100 to 150 entries in at least six individual races held on that day. Participation numbers for the National Championship events and for series like the Verge New England Cyclocross Championship Series or the Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross races is similar. Fortunately, the proposed legislation is not a blanket cap at 100 for all cyclocross races and leaves the discretion up to the promoter when it says, “For other road events and for cyclo-cross events, if no field limit is given in the official race announcement, a field limit of 100 shall be used.”

Juniors: No carbon or tubulars!
Another important possible rule change affects the under 17 Junior riders. The rule takes away these group of racers ability to use both tubular wheels and composite wheels. The added restrictions are, “Effective Jan 1, 2012 the following additional restrictions apply to Juniors under the age of 17 competing in any race: i) Wheels must have at least 16 spokes. The rims must be made of metal – composite fibers (carbon etc.) are forbidden. Spoke covers are forbidden. ii) Only high pressure detachable tires shall be used, with the tube detachable from the tire. Such tires shall be beaded. Tubular tires are forbidden.” Though we are not privy to the reasoning behind each proposed rule change, it seems to be in line with equalizing the Junior fields in terms of equipment advantages. The racing in the Junior ranks is not supposed to be about who has the most money, but rather about supporting and sponsoring a nurturing and fun environment to promote Junior development and interest in the sport.

Singlespeed Championship
For all of you singlespeed racers, there’s some big possible news on the horizon that will have a serious consequence on your National Championship plans. The new proposed legislation with respect to singlespeed categories is labeled as emergency legislation and, if passed, will be effective as of December 2010. Here’s the proposal: “This adds single speed classes to cyclo-cross championships. We want it to be treated as emergency legislation to be effective for the 2010 championships. 8F8. National Cyclocross Championships shall be conducted for Elite men (cat 1-2), and Elite women (cat 1-3), Single Speed Elite men (cat 1-2) and Single Speed Elite women (cat 1-3).” If passed there will no longer be a blanket singlespeed free-for-all race, but an actual National Championship awarded to the best Elite male and female singlespeeders.

No Helmet Cams or Visors
Everybody loves the helmet cam videos that are seen over on the cowbell site, unfortunately USAC is proposing to ban helmet cams with rule UR10.19 1N1. But it’s not like your $200 investment will be useless if it passes, as this rule only bans helmet cams and not bar cams, seat cams, or any other place on your bike that you might place a camera. Sounds like visors are out too: “1N1. Helmets. At all times when participating in an event held under a USA Cycling event permit, including club rides, any rider on a bicycle or motorcycle shall wear a protective, securely fastened helmet that satisfies the standards specified in USA Cycling Policies. No additional component (helmet cams, visors, fairings) that was not initially manufactured with the helmet may be affixed to the helmet. The structure of the helmet may not be modified in any way. (Policy I, Sections 1 and 2 – see appendices.) [disqualification and a $20 fine for failure to wear or for removing such a helmet during a race. The fine is also applicable if the rider is not racing, but is participating in the event as described below]. “Participating in an event” means riding a bicycle in the vicinity of a race at any time between the beginning of registration and the last awarding of prizes, but does not apply to riding rollers or stationary trainers in order to warm up.” So Todd Wells and Adam Craig could still wear their visors to protect their eyes from all the splatter while riding on the trainer. Consistency in that helmet safety philosophy would suggest that means helmet lights would also be banned for 24 hour races (mountain, cyclocross or whatever else).

80% Rule and Pulling Riders
There are many other rule changes found in this document relating to cyclocross. The proposed legislation changes make it much more clear that the 80 percent rule is not a steadfast rule and it is up to the chief referee’s discretion. Proposed rule UR10.29 5G makes clear what the 80 percent rule says, “UR10.29 5G Cyclo-cross pulling riders – Tom Simonson This amends slightly the new rules adopted by telephone conference call in July. The July rules are black italic – the new section is in red. This makes the intent of the 80% rule clear. The wording about whether lapped riders are to be pulled or left in has been changed to a more neutral form. 5G. Finish 5G1. Unless announced otherwise, riders who have been lapped will be pulled from the race using the following procedures: Before the start of a race, it should be announced whether lapped riders will be pulled or remain in the race. If riders are to be pulled, the following applies: (a) Riders who have been lapped shall continue the lap to a designated location before the finish line and withdraw, under the control of the officials. (b) The Chief Referee may, after consulting with the organizer, impose the 80% rule. Under this rule, riders whose time gap to the race leader is at least 80% of the race leader’s time for the first lap will be pulled by the officials unless it is the final lap. The number of 80% is merely an approximation based on a typical course; the intent is that all riders should be pulled before they are lapped. (c) Riders who have been pulled because of lapping or the 80% rule will be listed in the results based on their position when pulled and the number of laps remaining. The results will list the number of laps remaining after the lap on which they were pulled.”

Fixie Hipsters Need Not Apply
Also Fixed gear bicycles will not be allowed in cyclocross events, all bikes must have a freewheel and two brakes: UR10.18 1M3 Cyclocross bikes – freewheel – Tom Simonson. This makes it clear that all cyclo-cross bikes must have a freewheel. 1M3. Bicycle Types (a).. (b) For road, cyclocross (including single speed classes) and MTB races, only a bicycle with a freewheel and one working brake on each wheel shall be used, except as allowed elsewhere in these rules.” Just when fixed-gear cyclocross was about to jump the shark!

With this meeting happening this week, take the time to contact your local USA Cycling representative and make sure your voice is heard. Also please comment below, let us and others know what you are thinking, and keep the discussion about the direction American cyclocross racing is going alive and thriving.

This doesn't affect us who race only on the local scene. However, generally speaking, big rules find themselves into small venues over time.

Halloween post - Sick days and new project (as if I needed another)

2010-10-31T08:05:00.001-07:00

Halloween is here and it has been a tradition of mine to have the flu on this day. I've had this thing for a few days, and along with the extreme stress of my job, constant running around to see my clients, training rides and getting behind on UGLY! Pads - this was the only outcome possible. I'm about 90%, but I still have this lingering cough and it just - sucks - ASS. Oh, well.

Surf City CX Race #1 is today, and although I wasn't going to race it, I wanted to go down to watch my brother. However, a client called and said he has a $XXX,XXX IRA rollover check waiting for me and he couldn't see me any other day but today; so I had to prioritize.

I've been posting my Eastern Traildigger 26" BMX Cruiser on Craigslist lately. I've been getting a lot of tire kickers from obviously younger (or people who prefer txt sp33lng) offering me $150.

no thnx, d00d.

So I put it up for trade (I was looking for a vintage mountain bike) and got this response:

Hi
I have a aluminum Gary Fisher Tomac special....
I was going to sell it for 500 bucks.. It has new everything, rides, shifts, brakes perfect. rIMS ARE nos, OLDER, BUT JUST PUT ON A BIKE RECENTLY. WHEELS ARE TRUE. Matching Bontragers... FRONT shock is very new too. ROCK SHOX..
No problems..Period. It is a 16 speed, as I eliminated big fron sprocket for ground clearance.New front tire. New brakes, cables, rear shift derailer, inner tubes, etc..... WANNA TRADE???

Right away, I was intrigued, but I also knew that there was no way I could leave this pretty gem in the modified condition it was presented in. $300 is what it would take to turn this into a viable mountain/urban machine again.

I met the trade-man and we did an even swap. The fortunate part about the swap was that the bike shifted excellent. And, as he said, it was solid. Unfortunately, as I started to take it apart, I found some issues.

First, the Rock Shox fork steerer tube was way too short, and therefore you couldn't adjust the stem rise. I was disappointed at that, but most importantly, the headset was not appropriate. These Fishers used the "Evolution" headsets, which were threaded, oversized types introduced back in the late 80's. When you take a frame like this and try and "Frankenstein" 1 1/8" headsets with Evolution style headsets, it doesn't work. Believe me, I've tried. What you get is an extremely tight headset and crushed ball bearing cages.

The solution is to buy 37mm to 34mm reducer collars, press those into the headtube and viola! You have a modern 1 1/8" threadless compatible frame.

The Rock Shox fork is being replaced by a Surly 1X1, since I want to ride this as a rigid.

Along with the fork and reducer collars, I purchased a gawdy orange Race Face Atlas handlebar, Schwalbe Big Apple tires, a new seat, and some colorful odds and ends to bring it back to a 90's color scheme, circa Club MTV era. And yes, I have hot pink Oury grips being shipped that will look saucy on that orange handlebar. My water bottle will stay on the frame via a pink anodized waterbottle cage.

Of course, the stickers ALL had to come off. You are looking at a very worn, 20 year old paint job with the "zig zag" detail. What was once a beautiful day glow green, is now an avocado color. But, the patina of an old, faded paint job is great - so I proceeded to remove the stickers. Some of the stickers have been on there for so long, the images blocked the fading, and what you have is a "ghost" image of the sticker. I wish the paint was still in good condition, but part of me likes that aged look.

It would've been nice to have the original thumb shifters, brake levers, cantilever brakes and rigid fork, but the way I'm going to build this is going to make it into a very nice urban trekker. My goal is to ride the Strawberry Fields Forever ride on this thing.

Lastly, The frame may be a big too big for me (feels like a 19") with no sloping top-tube. It's about the same dimensions as my On-One Inbred 29'er, therefore the seat post won't be raised much. The bike elitist in me cringes at that, but the pragmatic part of me says "who cares?"

Here it is in the current state. Parts should be in next week and this should be done by next weekend, just in time of me getting over this flu bug.

One from today's ride.

2010-10-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Got out with no "training" intent. Wish I was this fast and strong last Sunday!

Race Report CCCX#5 - FAIL FAIL FAIL

2010-10-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Not much to report today as I raced a horrible race. Sorry, no photos, either. It was muddy and mucky which should've been fun, but mentally my head was completely not there. I basically "rode" the course and didn't "race" it.

I'm a little burned out on a lot of things, have a lot on my mind and I'm constantly running out of time to get things done and I've been working 7 days a week, let alone UGLY! Pads.

I can make up a thousand excuses, but all-in-all I checked out mentally about 1 1/2 laps in. Got lapped on my 3rd by the leader.

Hopefully I will be able to refocus for November. Nothing epic for today - just complete and utter FAIL. :(

At least my brother got a podium, which is awesome. I didn't even stay to watch since I was so embarrassed and disappointed with myself. I wanted nothing more but to go home after my horrible performance.

Greenleaf Killer & Stay True Present WHITTIER RELAY RACE

2010-10-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

Another race UGLY! Pads is sponsoring. Good luck, guys!

Road ride and cocky MTB'er

2010-10-20T15:52:00.001-07:00

Did a very easy road ride today on my Surly Pacer. After dropping a helmetless MTB'er on Bernal, I stopped at the upper parking lot where I saw him, still helmet-less, drop onto the trail. When he did, his helmet came undone off his backpack and I told him it dropped.

Being a fellow MTB'er, I politely told him, "Be careful of the rangers out here, they give helmet tickets which end up being a couple hundred bucks..."

He then snidely replied, "Heh... I ain't worried about that..."

Trying to be of help and I get attitude. Hope he does get a ticket just for being a jerk.

Aaaaaaaaaaaanyhow... here's the pic for today.

Monster Cross busts out with a granny...

2010-10-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

I decided to make my On-One Inbred into a 2X8... I feel the granny would help with some extreme situations. Here's a little suh'en-suh'en from the other day.

6 Month Review of the Pake C'Mute - The Do-It-All'er

2010-10-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting to hit the 6 month anniversary of my Pake C'Mute build to give it a full, updated review. However, I think I've been having so much fun on it, that I simply forgot to do it earlier. For those of you juggling 2 or 3 similar do-it-all frames and leaning toward the C'Mute, I hope that the following helps you solidify a decision.

The original intent of purchasing my C'Mute was to build a cyclocross do-it-all'er similar to my brother's 20 year old Rock Lobster. My first experience with a cyclocross bike was attempting to ride my brother's scandium Rock Lobster race bike, which, after a few pedals, I gave it back to him. It felt weird, sketchy, and just wrong. Even with a negative first impression, I was still intrigued.

Months later I built myself a Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, which I undoubtedly fell in love with. I was amazed on how well the bike climbed and actually managed the rocks in Santa Teresa County park so well. But, being a single-speed, it had its limitations, and that's when I decided to build myself a geared cyclocross bike.

My requisites were simple: steel, cyclocross geometry, do-it-all'er. I also wanted to be sure the frame had mounts for racks and lot's and lot's of tire clearance (minimum 700 X 40).

So, off to Googleland I went, searching "steel cyclocross frame" and the Pake C'Mute came up. It became a toss up between this, a Surly Cross Check and a Soma Double Cross. I briefly considered some other, more expensive frames, but cost was prohibitive for me. Looking at the geometry specs, weight and price, the Pake C'Mute seemed to fit the card.

I knew of Pake for their fixed gear frames, so I was confident in the quality and company.

I swapped some parts off my Surly Pacer (which ended up being rebuilt into a sweet road bike again) and had myself a nice, sub 22lb. cyclocross bike. You can check out the initial build here.

Since April, I've changed a few things to make it more suitable for its current job (racing) and they are as follows:

Ritchey Carbon Fiber Low-Rise handlebar
Old-school Falcon friction shifter
1X8 set up: 34T X 11-32T
Thompson 130mm stem and Seatpost (the longer stem is to compensate for the switch to a riser handlebar)
Crank Bros. SL Pedals
Hutchingson Tubeless Tires with Stan's Sealant (Bulldog in front, Piranha in back)
Updated Forte Seat
Anodized Red bits

HOW THE PAKE C'MUTE PERFORMS

General Riding (road and path): I've done a metric century on this bike when my Surly Pacer was in limbo land, and I have to say that it performed beautifully. Most notably was the stability of the bike. I never feel like it's too twitchy or iffy in turns. The fat tire clearance makes a GIGANTIC difference: I think mounting up anything larger than 700 X 32 makes a for nice comfy ride that even the bumpiest of roads can't hamper. I never feel cramped or too stretched out and it climbs remarkably well.

Strawberry Fields Forever Metric Century 2010

Off-Road Trail Riding: Again, the stability of the design and tire selection makes all the difference here. Continental makes 700X42c cyclocross tires that work just as well as any 26" mountain bike tire (I have them on my Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno). Remember that tire pressure can make or break your ride, so make sure you have your psi low enough to sop up the bumps, but not so low that you are going to pinch flat. Tubeless is a great way to go.

Climbing Rocky Ridge in Santa Teresa County Park

I feel I can bomb and climb with any mountain bike (especially climb). Rock gardens are rough, but if you have the skills to do it, the bike can handle it. Climbing is the true strength of the cyclocross geometry and you will have a great time breezing by mountain bikers in their granny gears.

Racing: I am a C Class racer, first year. So far, I've been consistent with my racing and in contention for the top 10 in points for the CCCX series. This is mostly due to my consistency, because I always finish in the back of the pack.

Racing with the C'Mute has its strengths and weaknesses, and this is where I will probably be the most critical (and it won't even be that bad). I really like the stability, as I've mentioned, but when you have to drop the hammer, the geometry is a bit TOO relaxed for that. The chainstays are a bit long, and it feels like the acceleration is a bit muted. I've moved my wheel as far forward in the dropout as possible, but it still isn't as sharp as the racing frames you see on the market.

Most people will not be using the C'Mute as a racer such as I am. But, it is definitely an option if you want to go out and participate in your local series; the C'Mute can handle it.

The only crashes I've ever had were during races and the sweetest thing about it is I didn't have to worry about some precious $2000 carbon fiber situation. I basically yank the bike out of the bushes, hop on, and keep pedalling.

Racing the C'Mute is definitely doable, but unless you are a Hammerhead, don't expect to win any National Championships with it.

This may be the only drawback with a do-it-all frame. Too racy, it's tough to tour or commute with. Too relaxed, and it's tough to make it a go-fast bike. But this perceived weakness is truly a strength!

FINAL SAY

The Pake C'Mute is a wonderful idea. Part road, part commuter, part cyclocross bike, part mountain bike - you can truly make it into whatever you want. I feel this frame will be a dependable life-long friend. Its ageless design will never let you down, no matter how advance frame design becomes.

I foresee the C'Mute evolving into many forms and wearing many hats throughout its life with me. While parts and old technology are replaced, the platform will live on forever.

Toro Race Look Back and a couple of 9th places...

2010-10-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

This was sent to me from my Brother. I thought it portrayed racing on the local scene really well.

This picture I attached was taken when I was soo going to take the inside line and pass Jesse and the guy in front of him with a charge over the barriers. Dude I remember the exact thoughts going through my head. I normally would. I was going to do it and the only reason why I didn't do it was cause I thought I might end up taking Jesse out and I figured I cant do that to Jesse so I held back. Cant tell here but they took it wide. If you look closely you see me eyeballing the inside corner. It is a tried and true area to pass. I tell you though come double points last race there will be no holding back if I am in contention. Sorry Jesse

One mistake I noticed myself making during that race was corrected by the help of a spectator actually. It was at the top of the climb. As I was getting almost to the crest of the hill about 2-5 pedal strokes from the top I would let off a bit and not carry all that hard works momentum up and over the crest. A guy up there was saying "nice pace" "keep it going over the crest!". This is when I noticed I had slowed right before the top, not good. And then the preceding laps I crested it. And I am not sure if this was good or bad because I straight up felt delirious after cresting.

One thing that I am saving for next year is I want to dis-mount step through for barriers. I have gotten descent with the way I dismount but I think that step through carries momentum better and can save you valuable time and energy. Lets say I saved 1 second by step through dis-mounts and 1 second cresting a hill. Over a 7 lap course it could save me 14 seconds. I have lost many races to someone who is less than 14 seconds in front of me.

Ok Toro Park wrapped up. What a blast.

So far, both my brother and I are in the top 10 for points, both in 9th place. Shoot, I may finish in the top if I race out the entire season. That would crack me up.

Power of the Bike Bell

2010-10-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

CCCX #4 - Race Report

2010-10-10T18:15:00.001-07:00

Today's race at Toro Park in Salinas, Ca. was exhausting. The start at the bottom of the hill was killer, then having to do that hill 4 times was a burn you never feel when going on your weekend ride.

After the whistle blew, I knew that some of the roadies would have difficulty in the singletrack areas, especially since it was downhill and very, very fast. For me, it was perfect, and I felt very comfortable dropping those who rode the brakes through that stuff. I was able to remain in the BMX state of mind and bunnyhop the curb... but that damn hill is what destroyed me in the end. I believe my competitor knew I was fast on the singletrack, so he dug deep on the climb and got me last lap. 25th out of 27th. Ugh. Oh well, I think, even with that horrible finish, I may have moved up in the top 10 in points. :D

My brother did exceptionally well, especially after last week's fiasco. Riding injured, there were no shoulder'ed hill runs, so he was able to ride a very fast race. 8th place for him! Way to dig deep, HTFU and really rise above. What a proud moment.

We have next week "off" (but that doesn't mean there's time off from training) and then we go back to Manzanita Park!

All I have are pics of my brother. I think my Dad took some pics today, too.

Burned out on training - go climb rocks...

2010-10-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little burned out on the "training" rides so I decided to go climb the rocks on Rocky Ridge - what a nice change of pace!

You can never have enough LOL...

2010-10-07T15:52:00.001-07:00

Changed my Fantom Cross Uno

2010-10-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well, whadaya think?

CCCX #3 - Race Report

2010-10-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today's race was very, very eventful - not so positive, but hey - it is racing after all.

After taking a few warm-up laps, I felt that I would have a great advantage, as a LOT of it was singletrack which is just my cup of tea. Just one hill climb (nice) and great technical stuff that is right up a MTBer's alley.

Again, the game plan was to find a position, and simply try my best to hold it there for the rest of the race... easy, right? I had a great mid-pack position and didn't feel a whole lot of guys could get me on the singletrack - I felt like a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately, fate would have it that I was TOO confident and crashed on the first lap. It was a hot downhill singletrack into a very loose sharp right. The crash was padded from the bushes, but I lost my position nonetheless.

Curse words filled the air as I felt a good ten riders go by me. Being a good group of guys, I heard a lot of "Are you alright?" - and gasping for air at this point, I pulled my bike out of the trees and got going again.

It was a lot of work to get a decent position, and I know I was in last place for awhile. I felt strong today, so I was able to knock a few guys off the back end chase one other rider. He was a little faster on the hill climb (something I will be working on seriously from now on) and I fell back on that. Suddenly, I got flashbacks to my motorcycle racing days and I started to watch the guy I was chasing for mistakes. Again, with the BMX background, I gained a LOT of time on a log barrier, which I easily bunnyhopped while others were dismounting to get over it.

I noticed that he was double apex'ing a turn, which was actually just one big turn - and BOOYAH! passed him on the inside. I blocked his pass all the way to the finish line and I felt victory. I finished 23rd out of 27, which could've been better but, oh well... :)

Now, to my brother's race.

What went down in my brother's race bothered me a lot. Yes, he got very injured... but what really bothered me is that his goal was to break top 5 in points and today was his day. I mentioned earlier that there was a lot of singletrack - and I was confident that he would SMOKE the roadie guys. The course was fast and perfect for those of us who ride MTB's.

The whistle for the 35+ Mens B class blew and my brother was right in there. Not 10 yards from the start, a bigger rider nudge through the traffic and clipped and dragged him down into the gravel and (ouch) sliding. He got up RIGHT away, noticed that his front tire tore off (tubulars) and walked away in disappointment. I knew that emotions were running high - and I could definitely feel the wrenching in his heart.

For those who have never raced (or haven't done any athletic competition) - there is something about pouring your heart, mind, soul, time, wrench time and dollars into this passion - and to have it stripped away tears you apart.

My brother was pretty well beat up. He had a HUGE gash in his elbow, road rash on his knee and forearm, a busted up jersey, a busted up bike and big time disappointment. I think, through the pain, he reflected a little and sent me this e-mail later in the day:

D,

Today's race was unfortunate for me but my feeling is nobody is at fault and that is because it is a bicycle race and these sort of things happen. Bicycle racing is a risk and in order to experience it you must be able to accept these type of incidents. You might mis-judge a turn or like in my scenario a guy clipped my wheel at the start and this resulted in a crash, and a high speed crash at that in gravel. I just hope that I heal quick and that I can resume my training. At this time my arm is in pretty bad shape with a big abrasion and what the medics called a hole that cannot be stitched up. I am having a hard time bending my elbow. I also have abrasions and both my shoulders and legs and hip but it is my arm that concerns me. No broken bones thank goodness. Bike wise a messed up front wheel, a tear in the sidewall of my tire which resulted in a flat, and some scrapes on both sides of my brakes.

Again, it was unfortunate but it was worth what could of been. And that would be another great day of racing and a finished race. I am looking forward to next week at Toro park!

As you can see, my bro's a trooper and I'm proud of him.

Anyhow, we have two more weekends and then it's break time, returning in November. Here are some pics from today.

Me going over some barriers.

A little knee scuff.

My brother before the disaster.

My brother after the carnage.

My old friend, Justin Robinson making the "A" class look easy.

Couple fun pics from the past week...

2010-10-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Eh, time to HTFU again tomorrow - unfortunately today is a full work day. I had a great conversation with my brother regarding a "no excuse" approach to CX, and I really enjoyed that - more of that later when I don't have pending applications sitting on my desk. In the meantime, enjoy!

Here she is in current race trim.

A pic I took on a seriously hot day in Nor-Cal

Heat ride

2010-09-28T21:30:00.001-07:00

Jeez... it was hot today. Personally, I'm not a fan of this weather, and at one point my temp gauge read 105 degrees. Riding in this heat is not what I had in mind, so tonight's ride was a fun game of "catch the sunset": try to get in as much riding before the sun goes down. Of course, there were a ton of field mice, so I'm sure the snakes had a good day. The usual turkeys and deer were out.

Then I came upon this poor soul, dying right there on the street. I don't think a car hit it, otherwise it would've been smooshed, so I'm thinking a hawk or some other kind of predator may have got it, decided it wasn't on the menu, and then dropped it. It was a biggum - like 2.5 feet. Sorry snake... I even have to believe nasty ass snakes have a place in heaven, right?

I got a decent ride in, short and hammer time. I think I need to just HTFU and go out earlier and brave the heat so I can get in more time. Ugh.

A few neato pictures taken at sunset. As always, the trusty iPhone 4 does not fail.

Today, the Suzuki DRZ-400SM went to a new owner. I had to let my past go - sad, but things have changed. I probably would've kept it had my wife still been riding a motorcycle, but after she sold her's I just put it away and never rode it. I think it will properly be ridden by the new owner. This is the first time in 10 years that I haven't had a street motorcycle - will I ever go back? Who knows? Now, I just have my Honda CRF250X and after CX season is over, I will be happily rolling the trails once more. Goodbye for now, SuperMoto.

CCCX Race #2 Report - Manzanita Park

2010-09-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yet another day of thrilling racing. Or, in my world, gasping for air, feeling pain and sucking dust. Today's festivities were held at Manzanita Park in Prunedale, Ca. It was nice because there were actual working bathrooms with stalls and everything! Much better than the usual port-o-potties.

"C" Classers lined up at 9:00am and the whistle blew promptly. My whole goal for today was to take what I learned at the last race and apply it: don't try to hang with the leaders EVER, race my own race, get my position and hold it. I think I did fine considering this was my 2nd race ever with a 25th out of 29 riders. Although that sounds sh*tty to most, to me it's a better standing than what I did last race and that is all I really asked for. Maybe next week I'll do better?

I did space out a couple of times which lost me some places - the course was incredibly complex and I wandered off-course. WTF? Oh well... the guy I lost a place to ended up breaking his chain and he had to run to the finish line, which I happily capitalized on.

A LOT of crashes today - I saw a handful of riders bite the dust in front of me. The course was insanely sandy. I didn't crash, and I actually rode pretty conservatively given my circumstance and goals for this year. I know for certain that a crash would definitely lose me a place. I can understand being super aggressive if I was going for top 10 - but at this point, that is out of the question. Again, stick to the game plan of holding my position and don't gas out.

The wife stayed at home today, so no pics of me until Scott Mosher releases his stuff for the day.

A decent shot of the infield of the course. It sure did twist and turn like hell in this section!

My flat bar bike. People actually were offended by my set-up. I had one guy come up to me telling me to cut them down. I asked if there was a rule for wide bars and he said "No" - if that's the case, why you up in my business, stranger? I actually am going to cut them down, though, to 28" wide. But, it always wierds me out when people approach me sideways like that - especially complete strangers, and especially when I'm feeling good about finishing the race.

This is my brother, Deric, lining up. He looked very strong and composed.

Men's 35+ B Class going!

My Bro.

Diggin' deep!

My brother had a kick ASS finish, and dropped two riders on the final stretch to the finish line. The last part of the course was a fast dirt downhill, to a very, very sandy 180 turn (where a LOT of people ate it) and a climb up to the line. Deric pulled out the old MTB skills, drove in between them on the dirt portion, and hammered passed them on the climb. Both riders looked like they were going to catch him, but they both gassed out at the top where my brother had a picture perfect finish. AWESOME!

Here's a few vids from today, too. Sorry about my yelling but I get pumped! Friends of dionridesbikes.com include: Deric, Jen, Nathan, Jay Jay, Rob, Scott, Kjeld, Creedence, Jesse and Miss Mary Perez (from Ciclista Bonita). Good seeing you all out there!

One last sit-and-spin before tomorrow's race...

2010-09-25T08:58:00.001-07:00

Pics of the wide, flat bar set-up for tomorrow's race festivities at Manzanita Park. After riding it this way for a couple of days, I think I prefer the leverage.

CRITICAL DIRT - A Study In Crossification

2010-09-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't say it's 'cross racing in the modern way of thinking, but still VERY epic!

"CRITICAL FILM - A documentary about a very special weekend of cyclocross racing. It only took 126 km of dirt, gravel and cobblestones divided in 4 stages between Dresden and Leipzig, 80 racers, 9 hours, 35°C, 600 liters of water, a ton of food, a world cup quarterfinal and many many enthusiastic souls, to make this an unbelievable experience.

They call it CRITICAL DIRT - A Study In Crossification."

CRITICAL FILM from e r t z u i ° film on Vimeo

Carbon Fiber Trigon Fork - 6 Month Review

2010-09-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

I am up for a 6 month review on my 26" Carbon Fiber Trigon Fork. Finding very few reviews of this fork on the web, I feel it necessary to share my experience.

I purchased this fork in April and posted about it HERE. I bought this fork more for the rigid set-up than the weight, although it is MUCH lighter than any steel option. Even with the very nice Rock Shox fork that came stock on the Motobecane Fantom Ti, I still have a huge problem with suspension forks - they seem to just bounce around too much for my tastes - lock-out and all. I also hate messing around with adjustments, air, lockouts, etc.

I've always preferred "set-it-and-forget-it", and what better way to do it than with a rigid fork? I was skeptical at first because I am over 200lbs., but after reading others post about their experience with a carbon fork, I thought it'd be fine. I never thought I'd be descending rock gardens with it, so heavy abuse was never my intent.

I've ridden this fork on just about anything a suspension fork would - and I am very, very impressed. Most of my ability to ride a rigid fork, I feel, comes from my BMX background where you have to "trials" ride more than just having the ease of suspension carry you over obstacles. Again, I prefer the former over the latter. However, the true advantage comes when climbing - especially on fire roads.

There are two cons about this fork that I have found:

1) It is not suspension corrected. I had a 100mm suspension for on the Ti bike before, and there is a definite change in steering geometry. For some, like me, this will not be a problem. But for others, it may pose a problem - depending on how you like your bike to handle.

2) It has a carbon steerer tube. For weight weenies, this is great, but it was definitely sketchy using the expanding compressor top cap that it came with. Also, clamping down on it felt very sketchy, as well. So far, no issues with slipping but I do have to point out that it is a sensitive area.

As an aftermarket part, I am very happy with it. Rigid riding is not for everybody, but for those like myself, I think the Trigon Fork does the job well. For $215, it would be hard to find a competitive bargain.

PROS:

Extremely light weight (claimed 525 grams/1.16 lbs)
Rigid set-up is low/no maintenance
Smooth, not as harsh as aluminum.
Available with v-brake mounts
Great value for the price

CONS:

Made in Taiwan (some people take issue with this)
Not suspension corrected
Carbon Steerer tube is a bit sketchy
Possible weight limitations
Rigid may not suit you