Where do you draw the line?

Isn't that an old DK song?

Just saw this, it starts off slow, but gets pretty rad.

The Line, part 1 from Marco Toniolo on Vimeo.

I'm looking forward to Part 2

This.. is.. Sheffield!

Some highlights from the descent on the BUCS XC course in England. Pretty good for a larf.

BUCS 2011 X.C Carnage! from Joe Bowman on Vimeo.

MTBville Bobsled Shredit

Here's a video from local bro Ross Measures of mtbville.com. This one isn't up on mtbville yet, but there is definitely some content worth looking at. The video is also hosted ad-free on vimeo if you'd prefer to watch it there, but I will respect Ross' wishes to have embedding link back to vital so you can watch an ad.

Geoff Gulevich sure does rip it up. Next time you're up on Bobsled--which seems to be about 9/10 times on Fromme lately--it's time to start manualing those whoops! The high speed truckin' on Indian River Drive doesn't quite capture the stomach-in-throat feeling of being there, but I know the spot well!

Video: Geoff Gulevich on Home Turf - More Mountain Bike Videos

EDIT: vital embedding appears to not be working, go to vimeo to watch it...

Life Cycles: Vancouver Premiere

We've got tickets for this out at UBC on Thursday. Doors at 7. Tickets at Dunbar Bikes. Pretty smooth trailer.

The Shore Beckons

Fresh off yet another weekend of hardtail shredding, we're stoked on the ride and stoked to get back up there. Four of us met up with Andrew from Brodie Bikes at the crack of 9am Sunday morning, fully caffeineated as expected and ready to climb the fire road up Mt. Fromme.

First, your friendly neighbourhood Bike Checks:

Lyle's Haro Extreme is a conversation piece standing still, let alone being tossed down rocks, roots, and ladders. With a NOS Marz MZ1 from Dave at Ride On, it's that much more extreme.



My Brodie Catalyst, being confused for a vintage bike on a regular basis. 8 rides and I was through the first pair of front brake pads. Very happy with the decision.



Tim's Specialized Rockhopper, ugly on flat ground but sweet once it's pointed down hill. Listening to Tim breathing down your neck is another story...



James' Haro Steel Reserve 8, one brake, no suspension, serious shredder! Outrigger soccer shoes, unbelievable talent.



I was able to snap a few photos that weren't complete crap, even in the low light conditions of the magical forest.

Tim takes a second full pull on the first log on 7th Secret.



James headed down a switchback while Lyle waits for him to clear it. Being behind the guy with only a rear brake is much less scary than being right in front of him. This photo gives you a good idea of the rock work that both protects the trail from erosion and smoothes out the ride.



7 frame sequence on 7th Secret, made to gif by Lyle himself. This log was steep as hell, and I was the only one left to watch Andrew nail it at speed.



And a shot of Andrew and Lyle on a rock roller coaster section on Pipeline. Click for big!



Ironic Mountain Bike Parking. We all have track bikes, so we're versed in this, right?



Now, sit back and enjoy this video. Sure the airs may be beyond the scope of what we're riding, but the feeling is there - the feeling that is likely to recur next weekend...

Feel Free to Pass...

Another rad day at the mountain. Opting out of both the tweed ride, St. Valentines race, AND Riot2010.. we headed out to get muddy at out local East side spot. Conditions were sloppy, wet, and sloppy. I got to watch Weeks flick his rear K-Rad around roots and berms like it was on ice. Theres a science behind that. I believe the technical term is 'Poo Notches'.



Poohaps that should go in the B-tionary. Oh.. speaking of which:

attention [əˈtɛnʃən]
n
1. concentrated direction of the mind, esp to a problem or task
2. consideration, notice, or observation a new matter has come to our attention
3. The act of truing and tensioning ones wheels after their break in period My rear wheel could use a tension

Its definitely getting faster out there. I found the best flow would happen when Morgan would lead and eat up the bumps. Weeks would follow and translate Morgan's line to rigid. Then I would follow and try to match Weeks' line. Bigger bars mute your input. Smaller tires wash out easier. The Extreme is getting dialed, and so is the Brotalyst. I feel like I'm 15 again. Lets end this with a straight downhill blast losing 100m elevation for every 600m of trail shall we? Feel free to pass!

Its time to start the music!

Crank this up:


Mute and full screen:

Flashback Fabrications

I've been meaning to post this for a while.

Paul Brodie is somewhat of a legend around here. There was a day when his name was synonymous with 'The bicycle group' Kona, and Brodie bikes.

Back then it was all steel, and the bicycle group was pushing the 'sloping top tube', unicrown forks, and other MTB industry changing ideas (including double strap toe clips!).

I'm not sure when it happened, but Paul got out of Brodie bikes a little while ago. That's understandable. The brand still has power, and they make some really great aluminum race frames. Just ask Morgan.

Anyways, the reason I post this, is because I saw a post on Craigslist by the man himself. He was selling all of his jigs used on Brodie bikes. wow. Thats a lot of BC MTB history in one garage.

A friend and I sort of joked about going halfsies on the stuff, but still, too much $$$$ for me.

I was in Super Champion recently, discussing fabrication and he came up again. Tyler Lepore had seen the post, and was tempted as well. Then we started talking about fabrication and motorbikes.. Apparently this is what Paul is up to these days!

Flashback Fabrications



Just incredible! Have a look through his site. He's making EVERYTHING from scratch! I'm inspired.

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.

The Collective - 2004

Further to Nick's last post, it is a requirement that you watch these videos with the bass turned up! The Collective, self-titled, 2004, so it's pretty old, but the production value and riding is still worth watching. All 16mm, tons of spots, and good smooth riding.

On with it... Matt Hornland, here's some more pogo for ya. I've said it enough times... Ryan Leech doesn't dab! A few good lines in here that us BMXers can look up to.



And to the North Shore, cable cam shots, this section I love - just gliding through the forest.



They have done two more videos since this one: Roam and Seasons. If anyone has a copy, I'd love to check them out.

History Lesson: Ringlé

Woweee.. Elite504 on Retrobike has posted a 6 part series showcasing development parts from Ringlé.


I'm not exactly sure what his association with Geoff Ringlé is, but I'm thankful he is able to showcase this little bit of boutique part development history. Ringlé was the most sought after name in MTB while I was growing up, and its great to see just what WASN'T released to the public in that era.

Ringle development parts series:
Moby
Trail Stem
Zooka
Ti-Stix and Ti-bolt QR and Collar
AntiChainsuck Thing
Hubs

Incredible. There's always so much to learn! I just LOVE the Moby post design, and the Grafton hubs:


Speaking of prototype development, check out these new Pedals from Terrible One:

Feelin Fine in '09

You know what FINE stands for, don't you?

After starting the year off with a debilitating stomach flu which the wifey and I lovingly shared, I'm back in action. Not only able to eat solids again, but I can ride a bike too. I've got a couple projects on the go right now, as do the other Projekt members.

Some of my short term goals this winter are to build up my new hubs when they come in, have my shit together for NAHBS, work on my tritall at le cyclery de WMD, Ride my new old school WMDMTB on the local trails, and harass DFL_Nick on the internerd.

You see, I showed him this picture of the new bike:


...and he got all hot and bothered.

Nick: ...and now you've got me eyeballing that Timberline out on the balcony...
3:52 PM me: haha
3:53 PM you have no parts
3:55 PM Nick: I have OCB. Srsly, I need a beater.
And the wheelset off the Cirrus would be perfect.
Rack/fender mounts, singlespeed, perfect snow goon.
3:56 PM ...and no aesthetic concerns whatsoever :D
3:59 PM me: Thirty Dorra says you cannot have timberline running in that incarnation before snow melts.
4:01 PM Nick: hah, it'll make a good beater either way!
4:02 PM me: yes. you've had it for 2 years now, patiently waiting to be ridden again
4:03 PM Nick: I totarry backburnered it, too many carcasses kicking around as it is.

This is just the sort of motivator a (money) hungry courier needs to get off his ass and actually resurrect one of the bike frames he's currently tripping over. I'm really hoping I don't win this bet to be honest. I haven't checked The Weather Network yet to see what the long term forecast is looking like.. But I really want to see Nick working on a single speeded fender and rack equipped GT Timberline in the snow, while he still needs a snow bike. Sure the .243 is a decent plow, but its got no fenders and winning 'hardman' awards from the walkengers isn't that big of a badge of honour. I put more weight on actually having running bicycles. Still, he's planning on cannibalizing his once running condition Rocky Mountain Cirrus for parts, but I'll let that slide since he already stripped it. I will not accept removal of parts from the 243 (ie brakes or drivetrain components) as that defeats the purpose of making a second bicycle.

I'm pretty sure he got to work fitting some wheels onto the frame as soon as I left him last night, because this morning I received some email bitching about missing cantilever cable guides. If this motivation keeps up, he could actually have the snowbike running in super rush time.

So what does it need?

Decent snow tires tires, full fenders, a rack, brakes/pads/levers/cables, cranks/bb/pedals/chain/cog/spacer/ring, (all of which could be priced out reasonably at OCB if he sweet talks Leanne)..and some sort of solution to the non horizontal dropout issue.

It could be majik geared, which takes time and experimentation and is not the most reliable setup for a work bike. The rear dropouts also have room to be extended via dremel, which takes a steady hand. ..or it could have a tensioner bolted on, which is the quickest solution really.

I'm curious to see how this turns out, and I'm rooting for courier cat on this one.

Speedy Delivery

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.