Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
BRIDGE BATTARU / FIXEDVAN XMAS PARTY
Saturday December 19th (THATS TOMORROW!), 1PM,
Start at Granville Island Public Market.
5 dorra. 5 bridges. fixed wheel only.
DT 3 bridges in any order, then 2 big North Van bridges in any order.
Brought to you by the lovely Haley M.
There WILL be a ProjB Prime for first over the lions gate!
The first year it snowed.
Second year she took you to the airport!
This year its back to orgininal format.
This is the most fun hammercat of the year!
FLYER
2007 START
Post Race Party is ALSO the FixedVancouver XMAS party.
That DOES mean drinking at 3pm. So if you have stuff to do, you better bring it with you.
Location is at the race finish.
If you want to know where the party is, you better show up to the race=D
Party Entry is FREE to racers!
You can bring punches for all your favorite dbags. We're gonna duke it out like children hiding behind monitors until all thats left is XMAS CHEER!
Its a dysfunctional family xmas melee you wont soon forget!
Start at Granville Island Public Market.
5 dorra. 5 bridges. fixed wheel only.
DT 3 bridges in any order, then 2 big North Van bridges in any order.
Brought to you by the lovely Haley M.
There WILL be a ProjB Prime for first over the lions gate!
The first year it snowed.
Second year she took you to the airport!
This year its back to orgininal format.
This is the most fun hammercat of the year!
FLYER
2007 START
Post Race Party is ALSO the FixedVancouver XMAS party.
That DOES mean drinking at 3pm. So if you have stuff to do, you better bring it with you.
Location is at the race finish.
If you want to know where the party is, you better show up to the race=D
Party Entry is FREE to racers!
You can bring punches for all your favorite dbags. We're gonna duke it out like children hiding behind monitors until all thats left is XMAS CHEER!
Its a dysfunctional family xmas melee you wont soon forget!
A Callout.
Hey Nick, I heard today you wore a set of brake pads to bare metal? Let's see a picture, any way you can manage it.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Slow and low
Anyone with more info? I don't know how to search for a flickr photostream from a JPG url.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I'm Calling It
Mander, let's book a date. When are you in town next year?
Others interested? Leave a comment...
Others interested? Leave a comment...
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Bike Culture Not for Sale
Last night Mark, Morgan, Rhiannon and I gave Leo's tall bike a better home than my current bike corral. Its now hanging from the ceiling in Bandidas Taqueria. It took a little while to get it just right (too many cooks in the kitchen?), but its not going anywhere now.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
New Black Label day!
In a hard situation, our friend Leo (of Black Label Bike Club) has to leave us to go back to Minneapolis. He can't take everything with him, so he's been having a massive bike yard sale. He kept his jig and his welder of course.. but there's just some things you have to let go of. I offered to take care of his tallbike for him. He looked a little choked up as he handed it to me to ghost ride it away.
Of course, in order to ghost ride with a tall bike, you have to be on a tall bike. Leo's mom was concerned for my safety, but I assured her its just like walking with a cane.
..anyways, I'm sure my timetrialtall and the Free Spirit will be good friends.
Of course, in order to ghost ride with a tall bike, you have to be on a tall bike. Leo's mom was concerned for my safety, but I assured her its just like walking with a cane.
..anyways, I'm sure my timetrialtall and the Free Spirit will be good friends.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Another day, another BMX vid.
This guy hucks himself off some pretty rad lines. I love watching good style, and we get some fresh scenery out of Latvia.
Also, The Come Up has done an interview with Tate Roskelley after the video posted immediately below this. If you've got a few minutes, it's not a bad little conversation. I know I've been talking about it with a few people.
Photo Bryce Packham
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
All Thumbs Up
Now, before I start this, there's no way I can reach the heights Brandon did with his first and second posts. So, from an entertainment and reading enjoyment perspective, click those links and read all about Brandon's experience with the V02 Max test.
The real reason I'm posting is to announce that I am apparently in good enough shape to undergo a similar test. Stacey Hutton, one of our Mighty Riders team mates, does research with Canadian Sport Centre Pacific out at the Olympic Oval in Richmond.
Today, I did a 20 km time trial in the lab to see if I had the power to take part in her current study. The mark to hit was about 270 watts average over the distance; I passed with an average of 302 watts, and an average speed of 38.9 km/h. That jerk on the screen held me off and won by about two bike lengths.
The 62/16 gear ratio on the test bike was not a factor, as that shiny thing in the back provides magnetic resistance equivalent to the gear you choose. I rode most of the test in the 53/16 (that is, all but the rollout and a few seconds in the 17 during my first couple minutes). It was pretty cool, though. A full 11-23 cogset and the choice of 39 or 53 up front.
As far as fit, the up/down and fore/aft saddle adjustments were good. The saddle itself was a BBB, and my entire choad area was numb by the 10k mark. The bar/stem could also be moved up/down and fore-aft. The hoods were kinda weird, way up high on track bars. The crank length was adjustable as well; I rode a 175.
Since I passed the test, I qualify to undergo a full V02 Max test for Stacey's current study. It will apparently be three sessions of the increasing-resistance test Brandon did, as well as a sprint test known as "The Puker". All thumbs up, right?
The real reason I'm posting is to announce that I am apparently in good enough shape to undergo a similar test. Stacey Hutton, one of our Mighty Riders team mates, does research with Canadian Sport Centre Pacific out at the Olympic Oval in Richmond.
Today, I did a 20 km time trial in the lab to see if I had the power to take part in her current study. The mark to hit was about 270 watts average over the distance; I passed with an average of 302 watts, and an average speed of 38.9 km/h. That jerk on the screen held me off and won by about two bike lengths.
The 62/16 gear ratio on the test bike was not a factor, as that shiny thing in the back provides magnetic resistance equivalent to the gear you choose. I rode most of the test in the 53/16 (that is, all but the rollout and a few seconds in the 17 during my first couple minutes). It was pretty cool, though. A full 11-23 cogset and the choice of 39 or 53 up front.
As far as fit, the up/down and fore/aft saddle adjustments were good. The saddle itself was a BBB, and my entire choad area was numb by the 10k mark. The bar/stem could also be moved up/down and fore-aft. The hoods were kinda weird, way up high on track bars. The crank length was adjustable as well; I rode a 175.
Since I passed the test, I qualify to undergo a full V02 Max test for Stacey's current study. It will apparently be three sessions of the increasing-resistance test Brandon did, as well as a sprint test known as "The Puker". All thumbs up, right?
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Stealing vids
Right off John Watson's site:
Damn. I think my favorite one is the failed 180 barspin at 1:40.
Also, I better go outside and cut more wood before thinking about rebuilding my BMX
Levi's® BMX 2009_24 Crashes from Will Stroud on Vimeo.
Damn. I think my favorite one is the failed 180 barspin at 1:40.
Also, I better go outside and cut more wood before thinking about rebuilding my BMX
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Murderer's Remorse
I stare blankly at the floor.
What had just happened?
The implements were all there.
The 4.5" cutoff wheel. The long chisel. the 5 pound sledge.
My feet are wet.
Where was the bike anyways?
My hand is numb.
Looking around the room, I start to piece it back together.
Another small hammer, a vise, two long wood clamps, two blades from a hand plane..
And in the middle of the floor, my headset wrench.
Picking it up, I focus in on the new indentations in the 34mm flats.
I touch the new distorted metal and it all comes flooding back to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The wrench slipped off the drive side BB cup!
I double checked I was turning it the right way. Drive side reverse thread, check.
I put the wrench back on, and held it in place while I carefully leaned into the bike.
The wrench slipped again. My hand hit the chainstay.
Inspecting the BB cup revealed that the two wrench flats were not flat.
I sprayed liquid wrench around it's circumference, and inside the bb in the hopes of loosening it up. Giving it some time, I thought about my options.
How long had that cup been in there?
I thought I had it out when I replaced the ball bearings a few months ago.
No! I didn't. Now I remember, I couldn't get it out back then either.
The balls had been crushed and were being eaten. The cranks were hard to turn. I had to remove them, wipe the whole thing out and replace the balls through the non drive side. Even after that, the bottom bracket would develop play after one ride for some reason.
This time all of the new balls were in tact. The grease wasn't even that dirty from the last rebuild. I just wanted to put a slightly shorter UN53 cartridge unit in it to stop this constant loosening. I was determined to get the drive side cup out.
After doing some other household chores I came back to look at the bike. The BB cup hadn't moved in the time I was away. As if it was just going to unscrew itself while I was gone. Sigh. There was a small pool of liquid wrench in the BB threads closest to the cup. Sure. I wiped it up, and cleaned off the outside of the BB area with a rag.
I opened the large bench vise up to bottom bracket size and dropped the frame in. After double checking that I was rotating the frame the right way, I gave it a push. Of course, it just jumped right out of the vise. twice. thrice. Clearly this was not the answer.
Some wood clamps, and flat steel. Hand plane blades, clamped on both sides of the BB should hold the wrench on. Bike upside down I strike the wrench with the five pound sledge. Thankfully the wrench doesn't shoot off the contraption I have just assembled. I check for movement and strike again. I adjust the clamps tighter. I am getting nervous, fearing for my fingers. After many strikes, I observe movement. One more good hit should do it!
Finally the wrench has turned... but upon removing the flat steel stock and clamps, I find that my 34mm wrench has rotated around the cup, without the cup moving. Picking it up, I focused in on the new indentations in the 34mm flats. I drop it on the ground and pick up the frame.
I throw the frame outside onto the lawn. In the rain.
I put on my safety glasses.
I grab my disc grinder and an extension cord.
Before I even know what is going on, I am attacking the BB cup.
First I grind a slot straight across its face.
I then angle the cuts to have a sloped surface in which I can fit the next implement of destruction. My legs and arms are sprayed with chrome and steel dust.
I march back inside with my grinder.
I trade it for a long dull angled chisel and my favorite sledge. The five pound.
I look over my prey. Everything is tinted red.
I straddle the tubes so they contact my ankles.
If this is going to hurt you, I want to feel it.
I jam the chisel into the fresh steel slot, and hold it there.
I pause to calculate. I wouldn't want to miss my shot in this position.
I strike.
The frame sings.
My ears ring.
I strike again and again.
I move the chisel to the second slot and continue to strike.
I work this fucking cup for an eternity.
The metal begins to peel, but the slot holds the blade.
My right shoulder burns, my left hand is numb.
The frame didn't ring out crying in that last strike.
I have detected movement.
I'm not as happy as I thought I would be.
I work the cup around, and it is still quite difficult to turn. Finally, after getting about 3 revolutions around, it spins freely. Out it comes.
I walk inside and drop my tools.
Suddenly I am dizzy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stare blankly at the floor.
What had just happened?
The implements were all there.
The 4.5" cutoff wheel. The long chisel. the 5 pound sledge.
My feet are wet.
Where was the bike anyways?
My hand is numb.
Looking around the room, I start to piece it back together...
After collecting myself, I go outside and pick up the frame off the lawn. It is cold and wet. I cradle it in my arms and inspect the face of the bottom bracket shell. Some slight marring. You'll be okay. We'll file that down. The threads appear to be in perfect condition.
I bring the bike inside and hang it up. I close my eyes. I don't want to think about what I've just done.
Epilogue: The cup was not rusty, as I orginally assumed. Instead, it had developed a crack along the outermost thread. This essentially changed the thread pitch around half the circumference, locking the cup into place. I attribute this to the original problem of the steel balls detroying themselves. Cranking in this condition may have lead to exccessive pressure on the outer cup. This would also explain why the the bottom bracket spindle would work itself loose every ride. The UN53 bottom bracket went in without issue.
What had just happened?
The implements were all there.
The 4.5" cutoff wheel. The long chisel. the 5 pound sledge.
My feet are wet.
Where was the bike anyways?
My hand is numb.
Looking around the room, I start to piece it back together.
Another small hammer, a vise, two long wood clamps, two blades from a hand plane..
And in the middle of the floor, my headset wrench.
Picking it up, I focus in on the new indentations in the 34mm flats.
I touch the new distorted metal and it all comes flooding back to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The wrench slipped off the drive side BB cup!
I double checked I was turning it the right way. Drive side reverse thread, check.
I put the wrench back on, and held it in place while I carefully leaned into the bike.
The wrench slipped again. My hand hit the chainstay.
Inspecting the BB cup revealed that the two wrench flats were not flat.
I sprayed liquid wrench around it's circumference, and inside the bb in the hopes of loosening it up. Giving it some time, I thought about my options.
How long had that cup been in there?
I thought I had it out when I replaced the ball bearings a few months ago.
No! I didn't. Now I remember, I couldn't get it out back then either.
The balls had been crushed and were being eaten. The cranks were hard to turn. I had to remove them, wipe the whole thing out and replace the balls through the non drive side. Even after that, the bottom bracket would develop play after one ride for some reason.
This time all of the new balls were in tact. The grease wasn't even that dirty from the last rebuild. I just wanted to put a slightly shorter UN53 cartridge unit in it to stop this constant loosening. I was determined to get the drive side cup out.
After doing some other household chores I came back to look at the bike. The BB cup hadn't moved in the time I was away. As if it was just going to unscrew itself while I was gone. Sigh. There was a small pool of liquid wrench in the BB threads closest to the cup. Sure. I wiped it up, and cleaned off the outside of the BB area with a rag.
I opened the large bench vise up to bottom bracket size and dropped the frame in. After double checking that I was rotating the frame the right way, I gave it a push. Of course, it just jumped right out of the vise. twice. thrice. Clearly this was not the answer.
Some wood clamps, and flat steel. Hand plane blades, clamped on both sides of the BB should hold the wrench on. Bike upside down I strike the wrench with the five pound sledge. Thankfully the wrench doesn't shoot off the contraption I have just assembled. I check for movement and strike again. I adjust the clamps tighter. I am getting nervous, fearing for my fingers. After many strikes, I observe movement. One more good hit should do it!
Finally the wrench has turned... but upon removing the flat steel stock and clamps, I find that my 34mm wrench has rotated around the cup, without the cup moving. Picking it up, I focused in on the new indentations in the 34mm flats. I drop it on the ground and pick up the frame.
I throw the frame outside onto the lawn. In the rain.
I put on my safety glasses.
I grab my disc grinder and an extension cord.
Before I even know what is going on, I am attacking the BB cup.
First I grind a slot straight across its face.
I then angle the cuts to have a sloped surface in which I can fit the next implement of destruction. My legs and arms are sprayed with chrome and steel dust.
I march back inside with my grinder.
I trade it for a long dull angled chisel and my favorite sledge. The five pound.
I look over my prey. Everything is tinted red.
I straddle the tubes so they contact my ankles.
If this is going to hurt you, I want to feel it.
I jam the chisel into the fresh steel slot, and hold it there.
I pause to calculate. I wouldn't want to miss my shot in this position.
I strike.
The frame sings.
My ears ring.
I strike again and again.
I move the chisel to the second slot and continue to strike.
I work this fucking cup for an eternity.
The metal begins to peel, but the slot holds the blade.
My right shoulder burns, my left hand is numb.
The frame didn't ring out crying in that last strike.
I have detected movement.
I'm not as happy as I thought I would be.
I work the cup around, and it is still quite difficult to turn. Finally, after getting about 3 revolutions around, it spins freely. Out it comes.
I walk inside and drop my tools.
Suddenly I am dizzy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stare blankly at the floor.
What had just happened?
The implements were all there.
The 4.5" cutoff wheel. The long chisel. the 5 pound sledge.
My feet are wet.
Where was the bike anyways?
My hand is numb.
Looking around the room, I start to piece it back together...
After collecting myself, I go outside and pick up the frame off the lawn. It is cold and wet. I cradle it in my arms and inspect the face of the bottom bracket shell. Some slight marring. You'll be okay. We'll file that down. The threads appear to be in perfect condition.
I bring the bike inside and hang it up. I close my eyes. I don't want to think about what I've just done.
Epilogue: The cup was not rusty, as I orginally assumed. Instead, it had developed a crack along the outermost thread. This essentially changed the thread pitch around half the circumference, locking the cup into place. I attribute this to the original problem of the steel balls detroying themselves. Cranking in this condition may have lead to exccessive pressure on the outer cup. This would also explain why the the bottom bracket spindle would work itself loose every ride. The UN53 bottom bracket went in without issue.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Mutiny on the ProjB
Since this is now just my own personal BMX video blog, I'm posting the trailer for the new Mutiny video and what I claim to be the best video of 2008. Both of these videos will make you cry. Spot your Vancouver!
Mutiny Bikes "Let's Get Mystical" Trailer! from Mutiny Bikes on Vimeo.
Mutiny Spring 08 Web Video from Mutiny Bikes on Vimeo.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Reservoir Dogs
Fire up the Bialetti or the Bodum, your choice there, but you have to watch this video.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Projekt-C is Go.
Much shit has been flung. Many nights of blind drinking. A few lost bikes. Camaraderie. There are a lot of stories to tell, though we can only get to so many. I'm happy to announce that Camilo has finally put his parody blog live.
Some more photos of the man himself from our Washington Tour, which we have yet to fully sort through and put up a good writeup. Maybe the ProjC blog can help. Glad to have you around, Project-C.
Some more photos of the man himself from our Washington Tour, which we have yet to fully sort through and put up a good writeup. Maybe the ProjC blog can help. Glad to have you around, Project-C.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
High Fives all around!
Here's a vid of one of my favorite NYC passtimes. The taxi hailing high five:
Just beatiful. I'm actually pretty glad to see the positive reaction from the majority of peds there. I never really looked back to see if they were stoked or crying 'hand rape'.
Speaking of high fives, BIG HIGH FIVES to Morgan for WINNING HELLTRACK 2009!
He stayed in second through the first two motos, advancing onto the final. Still fresh and pumped, he rethought his strategy for the final race. Using Newton's third law he emerged from the first corner in his chosen line and blasted on home to Victory. And WHAT A VICTORY! $70 cash, a Skull Skates Hoodie, A T shirt, A BMX DVD, Cruiser Bars, and a freakin TROPHY! Daaaamn son.. Unsanctioned racing is where its at. Lets see if next weekend's return to Vanier will be as fun.
Just beatiful. I'm actually pretty glad to see the positive reaction from the majority of peds there. I never really looked back to see if they were stoked or crying 'hand rape'.
Speaking of high fives, BIG HIGH FIVES to Morgan for WINNING HELLTRACK 2009!
He stayed in second through the first two motos, advancing onto the final. Still fresh and pumped, he rethought his strategy for the final race. Using Newton's third law he emerged from the first corner in his chosen line and blasted on home to Victory. And WHAT A VICTORY! $70 cash, a Skull Skates Hoodie, A T shirt, A BMX DVD, Cruiser Bars, and a freakin TROPHY! Daaaamn son.. Unsanctioned racing is where its at. Lets see if next weekend's return to Vanier will be as fun.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday Mornin Vids
Neither of these are particularly new, but I feel I should post em up
Skero | FussVomGas
MC SpandX |Performance
BFF Trailer
SLC Pirate VS Ninjas ride
..and a classic vid recently sent to me by Wyatt
I love that one. I gotta work on my cargotrack stoppies.
Skero | FussVomGas
MC SpandX |Performance
BFF Trailer
SLC Pirate VS Ninjas ride
2nd annual Ride Like a Pirate Day : Pirates vs Ninjas from zed bailey on Vimeo.
..and a classic vid recently sent to me by Wyatt
I love that one. I gotta work on my cargotrack stoppies.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
HELLTRACK
This Sunday, Don from Ride On Again is putting on Helltrack. Racing should get going around 1. I have one knobby tire on the FBM already, but might have to find another by Sunday. Now, are SPD pedals allowed... and can Lyle ride the Kitten Chopper?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mein Velomobil
amphibian velomobile from Jan Jan on Vimeo.
I love the idea of amphibious bikes. You can't see it, but the guy is eating a whole chicken inside that thing.
Wait.. 2:15 in this vid:
Also, check out this big sleeved street trials master from Calgary!
For some reason it reminds me of this classic Immortal video:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I <3 my Bicycle
I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes Trailer from BAD BREAKS on Vimeo.
Stoked. Cannot wait for Fall oh nine=]
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Danny's commute aka. GNFU
Ahh, a commercial featuring our favorite trials rider. Pretty good slow mo emo roll. But would he race a tallbike in the dark at Strathkona? GNFU
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
The Naked Experience
Now that I'm back on the mainland, I should probably recap my recent bike building work/vacation before it is too far in the past.
Working at Naked bikes was an absolutely incredible experience for me. Not only because I was working under an idol of mine, but because I got to live (in my van) just outside of the shop. I was literally eating, sleeping, and breathing bike building for a month. In my last post I think I mentioned how much mountain biking goes on on Quadra. They are blessed to have an agreement with the forestry people where they can make as many trails as they want providing they do not publish a map, and they do not build permanent structures. This of course doesn't mean they can't bring teeter totters and other wooden structures into the woods. They just can't attach them to the trees.
During one of the rides, Sam proposed a single speed rigid 29er build off. Just $300 in parts from the Norco catalog, no paint, may the best bike win. Honestly, this got me pretty hyped. I wouldn't even have considered building a 29er if it hadn't been put out there. I started thinking about it more and more. I eventually priced out the parts, and used BikeCAD to figure out the dimensions.
Suddenly, all my big wheeled hopes were dashed. Andrea ran into the shop and said that we'd be building a bike for Shimano Canada. Due in two weeks! We were knee deep in Steel Wool semi custom cyclocross frames at the time and even the end of those bikes didn't seem to be on the horizon. During the next few meals we discussed the direction we wanted to take the Shimano bike.
Shimano wanted another city bike using Alfine, but this time they wanted it to be FASTER. Originally the parts were going to be all black, then all silver, then we received boxes of mismatched silver and black Alfine groups from Shimano, and the rep didn't have a good answer for us. They only thing they wanted was that the bike should be white.
We sketched out a few designs. Curved tubes were in order, as well as aggressive looking geometry. Over the next few days we hashed out a design to be somewhere between a 90s pursuit bike, and a quote cafe racer unquote. Of course, we didn't get started on it until halfway through the two week deadline.
Heres what we started with on Monday Morning:
So, It looks fairly normal in that diagram, but I'll tell you what's going on.
First, the top tube is bent once. Secondly, the seat stays are bent twice. The headtube is a custom machined and silver brazed integrated system, in that it has 45° surfaces internally to hold the anglular cartridge bearings. Then we made a crazy fork crown to match up with it and give it a blocky solid look:
Sam has this thing against slotted dropouts with disc brake tabs, and he was fresh out of eccentric bottom brackets. Since the bike has no derailleur we had to figure out SOME way to tension the chain. We were joking around about making turnbuckle chain stays, and then decided WHY NOT!
We decided that the stock Shimano rims were boring, and ordered some super deep white B43s from Velocity. I had to get Mighty Riders Vancouver to cut us some shorter straight pull spokes in order to build these wheels. They didn't have a full set, so they sent me a bunch of scraps basically (different types and gauges, all cut to the right lengths). It made the build very confusing, as I had to separate all the spokes to get the thickest ones in the right spots on the wheel so that it would be strong enough.
..and here's what the bike looked like during a dry test build to check the chain tensioning system (which worked amazingly btw):
What's also amazing that we made it that far in 5 days!
On the weekend Sam spent some SERIOUS time in the paint booth, and layed down some super gloss white on the frame. Here it is as I left it.
More photos on Flickr
I never got to see it, but in the next couple of days, Sam's artist friend was going to hand detail the frame and wheels in black and silver paint pens to give it some more zazz. (note: this never turned out, so the bike stayed totally white and is on display like this in Montreal right now)
I'm also pretty glad that its got a lot of my design cues in it, and that I did a lot of the work in getting it together. Its been a really fun project to work on, and hopefully Shimano Canada sends it to Shimano USA for the big Interbike trade show in Las Vegas next month.
Another project I worked on while I was there, was a cargo conversion front end for a track or road bike. Sounds weird I know. It looks weird too:
So far it has been tested up to 190lbs. I kept the trail low (20mm) so that changing the amount of weight on the front end would affect the steering less. I used the same fork blades that I would have used on my 29er had it materialized. Its got a good combination of TIG, silver and brass holding it together. And yes, that is an 8" rotor=]
I don't really know how to wrap this post up other than to thank Naked Bicycles and Design for giving me the oportunity to work at their shop. I should also mention that right now Sam is heading to Battle Mountain Nevada to defend his title as the world's fastest cyclist. Having trained with him for the past month (and gotten dropped on every hill Quadra Island had to offer) I'm sure he'll do just fine.
Working at Naked bikes was an absolutely incredible experience for me. Not only because I was working under an idol of mine, but because I got to live (in my van) just outside of the shop. I was literally eating, sleeping, and breathing bike building for a month. In my last post I think I mentioned how much mountain biking goes on on Quadra. They are blessed to have an agreement with the forestry people where they can make as many trails as they want providing they do not publish a map, and they do not build permanent structures. This of course doesn't mean they can't bring teeter totters and other wooden structures into the woods. They just can't attach them to the trees.
During one of the rides, Sam proposed a single speed rigid 29er build off. Just $300 in parts from the Norco catalog, no paint, may the best bike win. Honestly, this got me pretty hyped. I wouldn't even have considered building a 29er if it hadn't been put out there. I started thinking about it more and more. I eventually priced out the parts, and used BikeCAD to figure out the dimensions.
Suddenly, all my big wheeled hopes were dashed. Andrea ran into the shop and said that we'd be building a bike for Shimano Canada. Due in two weeks! We were knee deep in Steel Wool semi custom cyclocross frames at the time and even the end of those bikes didn't seem to be on the horizon. During the next few meals we discussed the direction we wanted to take the Shimano bike.
Shimano wanted another city bike using Alfine, but this time they wanted it to be FASTER. Originally the parts were going to be all black, then all silver, then we received boxes of mismatched silver and black Alfine groups from Shimano, and the rep didn't have a good answer for us. They only thing they wanted was that the bike should be white.
We sketched out a few designs. Curved tubes were in order, as well as aggressive looking geometry. Over the next few days we hashed out a design to be somewhere between a 90s pursuit bike, and a quote cafe racer unquote. Of course, we didn't get started on it until halfway through the two week deadline.
Heres what we started with on Monday Morning:
So, It looks fairly normal in that diagram, but I'll tell you what's going on.
First, the top tube is bent once. Secondly, the seat stays are bent twice. The headtube is a custom machined and silver brazed integrated system, in that it has 45° surfaces internally to hold the anglular cartridge bearings. Then we made a crazy fork crown to match up with it and give it a blocky solid look:
Sam has this thing against slotted dropouts with disc brake tabs, and he was fresh out of eccentric bottom brackets. Since the bike has no derailleur we had to figure out SOME way to tension the chain. We were joking around about making turnbuckle chain stays, and then decided WHY NOT!
We decided that the stock Shimano rims were boring, and ordered some super deep white B43s from Velocity. I had to get Mighty Riders Vancouver to cut us some shorter straight pull spokes in order to build these wheels. They didn't have a full set, so they sent me a bunch of scraps basically (different types and gauges, all cut to the right lengths). It made the build very confusing, as I had to separate all the spokes to get the thickest ones in the right spots on the wheel so that it would be strong enough.
..and here's what the bike looked like during a dry test build to check the chain tensioning system (which worked amazingly btw):
What's also amazing that we made it that far in 5 days!
On the weekend Sam spent some SERIOUS time in the paint booth, and layed down some super gloss white on the frame. Here it is as I left it.
More photos on Flickr
I never got to see it, but in the next couple of days, Sam's artist friend was going to hand detail the frame and wheels in black and silver paint pens to give it some more zazz. (note: this never turned out, so the bike stayed totally white and is on display like this in Montreal right now)
I'm also pretty glad that its got a lot of my design cues in it, and that I did a lot of the work in getting it together. Its been a really fun project to work on, and hopefully Shimano Canada sends it to Shimano USA for the big Interbike trade show in Las Vegas next month.
Another project I worked on while I was there, was a cargo conversion front end for a track or road bike. Sounds weird I know. It looks weird too:
So far it has been tested up to 190lbs. I kept the trail low (20mm) so that changing the amount of weight on the front end would affect the steering less. I used the same fork blades that I would have used on my 29er had it materialized. Its got a good combination of TIG, silver and brass holding it together. And yes, that is an 8" rotor=]
I don't really know how to wrap this post up other than to thank Naked Bicycles and Design for giving me the oportunity to work at their shop. I should also mention that right now Sam is heading to Battle Mountain Nevada to defend his title as the world's fastest cyclist. Having trained with him for the past month (and gotten dropped on every hill Quadra Island had to offer) I'm sure he'll do just fine.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
3rd place in B, and New Bike Day photo!
Since Brandon says that without pics, this bike did not exist, I am calling this my new bike day post. Scandium Brodie Romax B-Team, Ritchey wheels and carbon fork, Ultegra 10 speed, and a bunch of free Race Face parts through Mighty. As he isn't planning on racing much cross this year, Mike Sidic came through big time with a pair of old XTR pedals, a Fizik saddle, and WTB Cross Wolf tires. All that's left is to build my tubular wheel set.
Now, on to the race! I got enough shit from certain people about considering starting the season in C's. There were good arguments either way, but in the end I chose to ride B. I registered early and didn't feel bad about taking front line for the start. I got the holeshot and came out of the first lap in front. However, by half way through the second lap, two dudes had blasted off the front and were gone for good.
While the course changed from last year, it was still very fun and very technical.I was neck and neck with Neils on his single speeded BH for a couple of laps. With the BH man in front on the first of two uphill hairpins in the forest, he dumped it and I squeezed past. After that, I was basically alone for the rest of the race. I felt like whatever gear I was in, it was either too slow or I couldn't spin fast enough.
I came through the finish line at one point to see 4 laps left on the board. Fuck, had it only been that long? Three guys were within sight behind me, and I felt like I didn't have much left in the tank. However, the next time through, the board showed 1 lap to go. Sweet relief! They'd switched it from 3 to 4 instead of 2 and didn't fix it until after I'd come through.
The forest section was awesome, in my honky-tonk opinion. For the last couple of laps, a guy in an EV kit kept catching up to me at the top of the run-up into the forest, but he was nowhere to be found by the high speed exit back to the flats. On that last lap, I knew that if I made it to the top of the run-up before him I was pretty much in the clear - or so I thought.
I made it through the forest all good. My 36/12 was proving to be too short on the last couple runs of the down hill section out of the forest. That, and a chasing pack of dudes, had me deciding to shift to the 50 for the first time in the race. (Note: if you don't have much experience with front derailleurs, don't fuck with them.) After spinning out a medium gear in the 36, I went for the 50. It shifted right over the big ring. Fuck. Luckily I stopped myself and shifted back down. Right over both rings to the inside. Fuck.
Fortunately the 50 caught the chain on my next attempt and I was thundering toward the finish with only four corners and a fun technical section to go. Remember, keep the hammer down all the way until the end. And come through for third place in your first B category cyclocross race. Hell yeah!
We saw good results from our friends in C as well: Haley took 2nd woman in her first race; Meat took 5th; Atkinstall 9th; Barber 12th. In the A/Masters race, Berry got a flat and Beckstead had a bio-mechanical. There were other Mighties racing but I can't remember how they did. In any case I think everyone had a good time, including a crew of hecklers. The next couple of races are out of town, either on the Island or in Washington. Hoping to make it out for those.
Now, on to the race! I got enough shit from certain people about considering starting the season in C's. There were good arguments either way, but in the end I chose to ride B. I registered early and didn't feel bad about taking front line for the start. I got the holeshot and came out of the first lap in front. However, by half way through the second lap, two dudes had blasted off the front and were gone for good.
While the course changed from last year, it was still very fun and very technical.I was neck and neck with Neils on his single speeded BH for a couple of laps. With the BH man in front on the first of two uphill hairpins in the forest, he dumped it and I squeezed past. After that, I was basically alone for the rest of the race. I felt like whatever gear I was in, it was either too slow or I couldn't spin fast enough.
I came through the finish line at one point to see 4 laps left on the board. Fuck, had it only been that long? Three guys were within sight behind me, and I felt like I didn't have much left in the tank. However, the next time through, the board showed 1 lap to go. Sweet relief! They'd switched it from 3 to 4 instead of 2 and didn't fix it until after I'd come through.
The forest section was awesome, in my honky-tonk opinion. For the last couple of laps, a guy in an EV kit kept catching up to me at the top of the run-up into the forest, but he was nowhere to be found by the high speed exit back to the flats. On that last lap, I knew that if I made it to the top of the run-up before him I was pretty much in the clear - or so I thought.
I made it through the forest all good. My 36/12 was proving to be too short on the last couple runs of the down hill section out of the forest. That, and a chasing pack of dudes, had me deciding to shift to the 50 for the first time in the race. (Note: if you don't have much experience with front derailleurs, don't fuck with them.) After spinning out a medium gear in the 36, I went for the 50. It shifted right over the big ring. Fuck. Luckily I stopped myself and shifted back down. Right over both rings to the inside. Fuck.
Fortunately the 50 caught the chain on my next attempt and I was thundering toward the finish with only four corners and a fun technical section to go. Remember, keep the hammer down all the way until the end. And come through for third place in your first B category cyclocross race. Hell yeah!
We saw good results from our friends in C as well: Haley took 2nd woman in her first race; Meat took 5th; Atkinstall 9th; Barber 12th. In the A/Masters race, Berry got a flat and Beckstead had a bio-mechanical. There were other Mighties racing but I can't remember how they did. In any case I think everyone had a good time, including a crew of hecklers. The next couple of races are out of town, either on the Island or in Washington. Hoping to make it out for those.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mayne Island Trippin' / Cyclocross Season Begins
We are headed to Mayne Island tomorrow with the entire Bandidas crew. I'm bringing my Brodie, lending the Sekine to one of the dudes, and Louise's Bianchi crossversion will be out as well. 3X racing will be had. Mike Sidic I'm looking at you.
I'm hoping to conquer the Island in anticipation of this weekend's Aldor Acres cyclocross season premiere! Check out my flickr set and video from last year's race. Mike Sidic, again, I'm looking at you. Nick Berry too.
That's the wrong foot, man!
I'm hoping to conquer the Island in anticipation of this weekend's Aldor Acres cyclocross season premiere! Check out my flickr set and video from last year's race. Mike Sidic, again, I'm looking at you. Nick Berry too.
That's the wrong foot, man!
Friday, August 21, 2009
New Bike Day?
25 bucks can go a long way sometimes. I probably paid almost that for the pedals that I had to put on this bike, as one of the original ones was broken off and the other catastrophically bent. What the hell.
Riding the Twenty yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised with its fit and handling. I have found the new home for my B17. New brake levers and cables, some BMX tires from the bin, and this thing's gonna be rad.
Continuing to try to thin my herd of bicycles, this is another that I won't give up just yet. I met Camilo on the street last night, and he said "you're Sheldon Browning it". Yes, I suppose I am.
Your homework is some reading about the Raleigh Twenty and Sturmey-Archer three speeds. My homework is to find out what's making the sound of gerbils in the drivetrain after 20 km of riding.
Riding the Twenty yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised with its fit and handling. I have found the new home for my B17. New brake levers and cables, some BMX tires from the bin, and this thing's gonna be rad.
Continuing to try to thin my herd of bicycles, this is another that I won't give up just yet. I met Camilo on the street last night, and he said "you're Sheldon Browning it". Yes, I suppose I am.
Your homework is some reading about the Raleigh Twenty and Sturmey-Archer three speeds. My homework is to find out what's making the sound of gerbils in the drivetrain after 20 km of riding.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
This is my Island Life
This is my island life
I have no friends to fear
I've got no problems no cross to bear
If you can find me
try and get me out of here
I've been here on Quadra Island almost a week now, and I'm still alive. Just barely though. Sam's training has been tough but fair. A bit of shop clean up at the start had me thinking about waxing Mr Myagi's car. Since then I have had some lathe practice, built a few wheels, had a TIG welding lesson, started cargo fork/rack and of course have gone mountain biking as much as possible.
The Shasta may be on its last legs. My first ride was a punishing run up and down some of Sam's backyard trails. They're rocky, soft, steep, raw and super technical. I was pretty worn down doing it rigid, but felt accomplished at the end of the loop.
This weekend we hit up Cumberland to check out their beautifully groomed and manicured trails. That was a treat and much faster overall. Once again the Shasta came through.
Last night I rebuilt its BB as half the balls were flat. At the same time I installed DFLNick's 175mm cranks, and took off the outer ring for more clearance. I also added one of Sam's old Schwalbe Big Bettys for another .3" of suspension travel. I was ready to hit the trails.
Today, not 1km up from Sam's yard, my freehub started making some gross sounds and the chain got all slacky. Then it went into the chainstay from the top, and I realized what was happening. I had a fully rigid fixed MTB on some of the hardest trails I've been on.
We met up with his friend Richard who lived nearby (just one section of single track away). He offered me his two speed Ti Cove Hummer.
I think the gears are 32/22 or 22/22. The fork is 5". The thing is a wheely machine compared to the "1987 XC Geometry" (as Sam calls it) of the Shasta. Shifting by hand requires stopping to shift from the granny to the mid ring, but it can be done moving in the other direction.
After I got aquainted with it We went down some pretty steep DH stuff ("Plaything" I think) and I got thrown around a bit. Its hard riding new trails on a new bike. Anyways, I made it with only some minor flesh wounds and I'll be back in the shop tomorrow morning. Even if I did hurt myself I wouldn't have a choice. I must continue my training.
Tom LaMarche Big Air
This one's pretty rad. Great timing on the shot with the shadow, too.
See it big on Andrew Temkin's flickr.
See it big on Andrew Temkin's flickr.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
New Bike Day
So, I race bikes...not tall bikes or anything, just "normal" bikes. Sometimes I race time trials. I used to do this with my track bike as I could get a better aero body position (with aerobars attached) more easily than I could with my road bike but then one day the UCI said I'm no longer allowed to:
Jerks.
So, despite the fact that Eddy Merckx was a great racer and all, I didn't really feel like doing time trials like him. I got ahold of Ed at Mighty and he hooked me up. I already had a Zipp 404/disk wheelset and the aerobars so I just needed to piece the rest together. After some effing around, it was new bike day:
Now I just need to learn to time trial...
Bicycles used in road events must be fitted with an efficient braking system that acts on both wheels (either
simultaneously or independently) operated by two brake levers. The use of a fixed gear in competition is prohibited
Jerks.
So, despite the fact that Eddy Merckx was a great racer and all, I didn't really feel like doing time trials like him. I got ahold of Ed at Mighty and he hooked me up. I already had a Zipp 404/disk wheelset and the aerobars so I just needed to piece the rest together. After some effing around, it was new bike day:
Now I just need to learn to time trial...
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Lyle's First Sanctioned Race
HE DID IT ON HIS TALL BIKE
Last night, fully intoxicated, we decided that it would be a good idea to race up Mount Seymour in the morning. On the brink of buying the discounted cyclocross-only licence, I balked at a $30 race only insurance cost and decided to roll with Lyle and shoot photos. I don't drink the night before a race anyway, right?
Camilo was the first of us up in 48 minutes - congrats man. Rob made it up in 56, his 23 cog always too long. Lyle did it in 63, the Time Trial Tall's 53 tooth single front ring also always too long. The descent in the rain was fucking amazing, for those wearing full-fingered gloves. The rest of the photos can be found onFlickr.
Last night, fully intoxicated, we decided that it would be a good idea to race up Mount Seymour in the morning. On the brink of buying the discounted cyclocross-only licence, I balked at a $30 race only insurance cost and decided to roll with Lyle and shoot photos. I don't drink the night before a race anyway, right?
Camilo was the first of us up in 48 minutes - congrats man. Rob made it up in 56, his 23 cog always too long. Lyle did it in 63, the Time Trial Tall's 53 tooth single front ring also always too long. The descent in the rain was fucking amazing, for those wearing full-fingered gloves. The rest of the photos can be found onFlickr.
Recumbent Pron
Carbon wheels. This guy has numerous recumbents with them.
This one I'm not quite sure about...
What's that? You don't like recumbents? Get 'bent! Get a Batmobile fairing!
Lots more here! Thanks Mark G. for the link. (All photos non-drive side by intention.)
This one I'm not quite sure about...
What's that? You don't like recumbents? Get 'bent! Get a Batmobile fairing!
Lots more here! Thanks Mark G. for the link. (All photos non-drive side by intention.)
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Harsh
From Allen and Delancy in NYC.
From the camera man:
**DISCLAIMER: This vid is raw, two people totally fighting in the street, it all happened pretty fast and NOBODY reacted. Hind-sight is always 20/20 and yes, i do feel remorse for instinctually filming instead of doing anything. 'nuf said.
I made a pit stop in a starbucks somewhere on the lower east side and i saw this guy who appeared to be a bike messenger (maybe not) and an older asian guy (for sure he was an older asian guy) getting into a fight because they ran into each other at the intersection. They pushed each other back and forth for 2 minutes with no results (other than the older guy throwing the biker's sunglasses under a cab) and the older guy could have walked away but WOULDN'T LEAVE THE BIKE DUDE ALONE, the bike guy even said 'stop following me man', then the bike dude totally let him have it, POW! KRYPTONITE LOCK TO THE FACE LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES! Dude's face was actually bleeding hard core for like the next 10 minutes, but i had to bounce soon after. People from inside the starbucks did come to his aid, but it all happened pretty fast.
From the camera man:
**DISCLAIMER: This vid is raw, two people totally fighting in the street, it all happened pretty fast and NOBODY reacted. Hind-sight is always 20/20 and yes, i do feel remorse for instinctually filming instead of doing anything. 'nuf said.
I made a pit stop in a starbucks somewhere on the lower east side and i saw this guy who appeared to be a bike messenger (maybe not) and an older asian guy (for sure he was an older asian guy) getting into a fight because they ran into each other at the intersection. They pushed each other back and forth for 2 minutes with no results (other than the older guy throwing the biker's sunglasses under a cab) and the older guy could have walked away but WOULDN'T LEAVE THE BIKE DUDE ALONE, the bike guy even said 'stop following me man', then the bike dude totally let him have it, POW! KRYPTONITE LOCK TO THE FACE LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES! Dude's face was actually bleeding hard core for like the next 10 minutes, but i had to bounce soon after. People from inside the starbucks did come to his aid, but it all happened pretty fast.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Worst Blog Ever!
I'm pretty much the worst blogger ever lately. Hell, I hardly even blogged my trip across the USA. I couldn't blog a common cold. I couldn't blog the blog side of a barn if it was a common cold. If there was an award for either being the worst blogger ever, or having the worst blog ever, I wouldn't even win.
I have an excuse though!. I've been driving a van. Living in a Van! (sung to Aerosmith's "Livin on the Edge") Yeah. Thats me in the creepy rusty white contractor van with the bed in the back. I'm cutting off other vehicles like I have some sort of steel exoskeleton! EXPLOSIONS!
Meanwhile my bikes are collecting dust. I recently made a trip to the Kootenays where I found my once beloved kitten chopper hanging by rope in my father's car port. I cut it down, wiped off the year of saw dust, and strapped it to the roof of my luxurious Recreational Vehicle (RV). I also rescued my Cunningham from its carbonite like encasement of basement dust.
Anyways, Thats my excuse. I've had a lot going on in my life the past couple months. Things outside of rigid TCP/IP protocol confinement. I'm only in Vancouver for a week right now before I head up to Quadra. I'm off to see the wizard, so to speak. I don't really speak like that, but I'll type it just this once. Sam Whittingham is taking a chance and hiring me for some production help on a cyclocross team bike build. Basically I'm gonna try and kaizen his frame business, and learn how to build bikes at the same time. I'm also going to live in my van some more, and learn the ways of the Island. From what I hear this involves a whole lot of rad, much ado about chilling, and copious globs of hilarity! Stoked on blogging pumped!
I have an excuse though!. I've been driving a van. Living in a Van! (sung to Aerosmith's "Livin on the Edge") Yeah. Thats me in the creepy rusty white contractor van with the bed in the back. I'm cutting off other vehicles like I have some sort of steel exoskeleton! EXPLOSIONS!
Meanwhile my bikes are collecting dust. I recently made a trip to the Kootenays where I found my once beloved kitten chopper hanging by rope in my father's car port. I cut it down, wiped off the year of saw dust, and strapped it to the roof of my luxurious Recreational Vehicle (RV). I also rescued my Cunningham from its carbonite like encasement of basement dust.
Anyways, Thats my excuse. I've had a lot going on in my life the past couple months. Things outside of rigid TCP/IP protocol confinement. I'm only in Vancouver for a week right now before I head up to Quadra. I'm off to see the wizard, so to speak. I don't really speak like that, but I'll type it just this once. Sam Whittingham is taking a chance and hiring me for some production help on a cyclocross team bike build. Basically I'm gonna try and kaizen his frame business, and learn how to build bikes at the same time. I'm also going to live in my van some more, and learn the ways of the Island. From what I hear this involves a whole lot of rad, much ado about chilling, and copious globs of hilarity! Stoked on blogging pumped!
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Riding Dirty No Doubt
BC MVA Sec 183.8: "A cycle operated on a highway must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person operating the cycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean pavement."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Bananaphone
After my last post, team Mighty captain Shane Savage could be found in the comments section, saying "can three and four hundred be far behind...". Well, so right he was, as after that first 200+ km day, Andrew and I did a 300 and a 400 on subsequent Tuesdays.
I'll be back soon with a longer update and some photos from the latest ride, an out-and-back to the old Coquihalla toll booth, 200 km out and 1244 m up. In the meantime, I've got a call to take...
I'll be back soon with a longer update and some photos from the latest ride, an out-and-back to the old Coquihalla toll booth, 200 km out and 1244 m up. In the meantime, I've got a call to take...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
My first 200km day.
When you hear that yesterday was my first 200k day, you might think I was lying. "You've done some pretty dumb stuff on a bike, Morgan, but not a 200 km day?" Well the odometer has never broken 200, but I've had worse days than yesterday for sure. The first one was on the Show Us Yr Bobs tour, where we rode 170k from Union Bay to Salt Spring Island. Fixed gear, 42/16, loaded trailer. My knee objected at about 150.
Another big day was last year's Big 300 ride. I was again concerned for the knee, due to a recent crash, and decided not to commit to the 300. Instead I came out on my track bike and rode 62 out with the group and solo back. Total was 125 at that point, brakeless. I came home to find Nick all "dude we need to go to Kerrisdale to buy the $160 Rocky Mountain Cirrus". Nick's only bike at the time being a 26" BMX, we hooked up the trailer to the Marinoni, and pushed my day to 170. Knee was just fine.
I also did 160k fixed in December with Weeks and Camilo. We were hoping for more mileage but the constant high winds and below-freezing temperatures kept us in line. Still one for the record books. The sidewalk of the Oak Street Bridge with 10cm of fresh powder was pretty nice.
Yesterday's ride was an impromptu invitation from mander in the next stupidly long ride proposition on fixedvan: almost 400 km with two mountain passes. Mander nonchalantly mentioned he'd be doing a 200 the next day and, having just cleared my schedule to allow for such mid-week adventures, I was in. Meeting at 10am in Port Moody, I can do, and so can the sentinel Tim Wyatt.
Here is the route: Vancouver to Harrison Mills, which is a bit before Harrison Hot Springs, and back (the map starts and ends in Port Moody). We ended up taking Dewdney Trunk Road out of Maple Ridge, which becomes a hilly, forest highway taking you past Stave Lake across a dam. A very nice change from the monotony of Hwy 7. Mander is probably the best person to throw unexpected hill climbs at, too. He eats that shit up.
As the mountain section was drawing to a close, we made a left hand turn and got up to top gear cruising speed again. Then, BAM, my rear tire blew. As I was under the impression the wheel was a tubular, I figured this was it for the ride. When I came to a stop, I realized it was a clincher (hallelujah!). The tire was in such shitty condition that I had come to the false conclusion that it was tubular. That said, I would never had left the house on that tire if I'd known I could change it. Oh well.
So we're at about km 52, in the woods basically, with a flat - my second for the day after a freak front pinch in Pitt Meadows. I pull the tire and pass the tube to mander to patch while I install another tube. Upon reinstallation we identify a sidewall blowout, and boot it with a $5 bill.
We make it all of 4 km before it blows again, in a different spot. Fuck. At least this time we're near civilization. We walk half a block back to a gas station, and ask if there's a bike shop around. Down on Railway Street, the girl says, near the end. Well, at least it's down hill. I ride it on the flat just over 2km to Wenting's Cycle Shop, where I am able to buy a Schwalbe Lugano and some tubes. Mander checked out the nice stock of bikes from road to cx to bmx, including Svein Tuft's own time trial bike on display.
So, we're on the road again. Willie Nelson and shit. (It comes up at this point in time that I've said "Willie Nelson and shit" after fixing all three flats, and mander doesn't know what I'm talking about. It also comes up that the last time he was out this way, his riding partner, Rich, had a mechanical here) We ride the next ~30k to our destination without a problem, our drafting techniques now second nature.
After about 15km on the return trip, we are both ready to bonk. Not enough food. Oatmeal has worn off. Gatorade is low. We stop at a store for sandwiches, coke, and more candy. Sitting under a tree, reflecting on our condition, mander mentions we are doing better than he and Rich were when they also had to stop under this very tree. Of course, they were doing it fixed.
The sandwiches were just what we needed, and we got going again. Another 22km of good momentum, and BAM, my brand new rear tire is blown. Must have been a sharp rock, as it just caught the sidewall. Fuck you, rock! Mander guarded my coke/water bottle from a sea of ants while I changed flat number 4. Willie Nelson and shit.
38 km of solid riding leads us to Port Coquitlam, definitely within stabbing distance of the Lower Mainland. With mander at 160 and myself and 180 for the day, we are zoning out and decide to take it easy the rest of the way. I see hills in the distance and call small ring far in advance. We make it all the way in to Vancouver on the next leg. We part ways, myself for a cold beer and mander to finish his 200 by riding back to Port Moody - Willie Nelson and shit.
Sean came home and all you can eat sushi was mentioned. What better time? I stretched, showered, and destroyed that shit. Now I'm heading up to Mighty to talk fit with Ed about the Cyclops. After 200km in the saddle, it should be a good conversation.
Another big day was last year's Big 300 ride. I was again concerned for the knee, due to a recent crash, and decided not to commit to the 300. Instead I came out on my track bike and rode 62 out with the group and solo back. Total was 125 at that point, brakeless. I came home to find Nick all "dude we need to go to Kerrisdale to buy the $160 Rocky Mountain Cirrus". Nick's only bike at the time being a 26" BMX, we hooked up the trailer to the Marinoni, and pushed my day to 170. Knee was just fine.
I also did 160k fixed in December with Weeks and Camilo. We were hoping for more mileage but the constant high winds and below-freezing temperatures kept us in line. Still one for the record books. The sidewalk of the Oak Street Bridge with 10cm of fresh powder was pretty nice.
Yesterday's ride was an impromptu invitation from mander in the next stupidly long ride proposition on fixedvan: almost 400 km with two mountain passes. Mander nonchalantly mentioned he'd be doing a 200 the next day and, having just cleared my schedule to allow for such mid-week adventures, I was in. Meeting at 10am in Port Moody, I can do, and so can the sentinel Tim Wyatt.
Here is the route: Vancouver to Harrison Mills, which is a bit before Harrison Hot Springs, and back (the map starts and ends in Port Moody). We ended up taking Dewdney Trunk Road out of Maple Ridge, which becomes a hilly, forest highway taking you past Stave Lake across a dam. A very nice change from the monotony of Hwy 7. Mander is probably the best person to throw unexpected hill climbs at, too. He eats that shit up.
As the mountain section was drawing to a close, we made a left hand turn and got up to top gear cruising speed again. Then, BAM, my rear tire blew. As I was under the impression the wheel was a tubular, I figured this was it for the ride. When I came to a stop, I realized it was a clincher (hallelujah!). The tire was in such shitty condition that I had come to the false conclusion that it was tubular. That said, I would never had left the house on that tire if I'd known I could change it. Oh well.
So we're at about km 52, in the woods basically, with a flat - my second for the day after a freak front pinch in Pitt Meadows. I pull the tire and pass the tube to mander to patch while I install another tube. Upon reinstallation we identify a sidewall blowout, and boot it with a $5 bill.
We make it all of 4 km before it blows again, in a different spot. Fuck. At least this time we're near civilization. We walk half a block back to a gas station, and ask if there's a bike shop around. Down on Railway Street, the girl says, near the end. Well, at least it's down hill. I ride it on the flat just over 2km to Wenting's Cycle Shop, where I am able to buy a Schwalbe Lugano and some tubes. Mander checked out the nice stock of bikes from road to cx to bmx, including Svein Tuft's own time trial bike on display.
So, we're on the road again. Willie Nelson and shit. (It comes up at this point in time that I've said "Willie Nelson and shit" after fixing all three flats, and mander doesn't know what I'm talking about. It also comes up that the last time he was out this way, his riding partner, Rich, had a mechanical here) We ride the next ~30k to our destination without a problem, our drafting techniques now second nature.
After about 15km on the return trip, we are both ready to bonk. Not enough food. Oatmeal has worn off. Gatorade is low. We stop at a store for sandwiches, coke, and more candy. Sitting under a tree, reflecting on our condition, mander mentions we are doing better than he and Rich were when they also had to stop under this very tree. Of course, they were doing it fixed.
The sandwiches were just what we needed, and we got going again. Another 22km of good momentum, and BAM, my brand new rear tire is blown. Must have been a sharp rock, as it just caught the sidewall. Fuck you, rock! Mander guarded my coke/water bottle from a sea of ants while I changed flat number 4. Willie Nelson and shit.
38 km of solid riding leads us to Port Coquitlam, definitely within stabbing distance of the Lower Mainland. With mander at 160 and myself and 180 for the day, we are zoning out and decide to take it easy the rest of the way. I see hills in the distance and call small ring far in advance. We make it all the way in to Vancouver on the next leg. We part ways, myself for a cold beer and mander to finish his 200 by riding back to Port Moody - Willie Nelson and shit.
Sean came home and all you can eat sushi was mentioned. What better time? I stretched, showered, and destroyed that shit. Now I'm heading up to Mighty to talk fit with Ed about the Cyclops. After 200km in the saddle, it should be a good conversation.
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