Breaking Two

Last week was my best week on the bike since I have been home from the desert.

With drier trails and longer days I was able to log some miles and climb some hills. 

But I am still down one bike,, with my single speed being broken on the seat tube. 

I have spoke with Spot and as of now they are only offering a crash replacement at a cost that does not make my wallet smile. 

So I took my Cracked bike to a local Fabricator who came highly recommended.

Paul at Blue Steel Fab has a pretty cool shop in his garage and even spent some years in Summit.

So our paths had crossed even though we had never meet.

He took a look at the crack and came up with a plan,, he was going to sleeve it and bring it back to life. 

The seat tube had a cable stop on it for the front derailleur which I told him that he  could 

get ride of it as it would be single from here on out. 

Palms were slapped and thanks given and I was on my way..

Flash forward to this morning and I get a text from him saying we have a problem.

He removed the stop and after filing it down noticed that the metal was soft to the touch. 

What he found above and below the stop holes in the frame. 

The seat tube so fatigued that there were multiple issues.

 The big hole is where the cable stop was and above and below you can see the holes and the crack above them. So what I am wondering is or was it a bad tube is just from something going on with the aluminum seat post and the steel of the frame. Regardless this bike should not have died after only three years of use and last year it did not see that much riding. 

Spot says that since I only paid 900  instead of full price of 1299 that they can't justify replacing it. 

Again I say horse shit,, and since they don't weld anything anymore they can't and wont do anything. 

Bla Bla Bla Bla and Bla... 

Just under 14K of climbing last week and 

I am feeling strong,, now just need to figure where my race pace is..

Sunday is the first Minnesota Series and it will be a real test of where i am and where I need to be. 

The LaMere is riding well and seems to have its own set of wings, so the plan is to 

hold on and go fast.

Now I just need to find a new Single Speed Mountain Bike,,

I feel naked with out one and not the good kind of naked.. 

Now only if the Money tree will start to grow..

Gotten Higher

It is hard to believe that two weeks ago I was waking up to the Red Rocks of Sedona.

Again by far one of the most beautiful places that I have ev

er been to,,

and not that in the middle of the day it is not fun to look at but the sunrise and sunsets in this town are by far the best parts of the day. 

The deep canyons of burnt colored rocks light up and give off a display that has to be seen by the naked eye. 

This was going to be our last day in the High country before heading back down to the Valley.

Anna and James were going to hike while I was going to go for what i thought would be a quick ride, and the ride that everyone says that you have to do "The Hangover". 

Flash Back some eighteen years ago the Doctor and I packed up his Geo Storm and headed out to Moab. After a few days of riding we were told the must ride was Poison Spider,,

In 96 the bikes were not what they are today with disc brakes and good suspension.

The ride leading up to the portal was typical Moab riding,, up and over slickrock and through sandy washes.

Then comes the Portal the thin ribbon of single track that clung on to the side of hill overlooking the Colorado River.

Needles to say with a new baby at home and not wanting to come back dead I did not try to ride a lot of the tricky sections and portaged my heavy ass Gary Fisher across the deadly sections till we were able to descend back down to wallstreet.  

My experience on "The Hangover" was not that much different.

I spun up the Munds Wagon road looking for the sign to tell me turn here,,

with my over excited self basking in the early morning sun I took the first turn for the Hangover,,

First mistake,,,,,,, The trail map said that the trail should be ridden in a counter clockwise fashion.

I kept thinking that it was going to be a lollipop and at any moment I should start going to the right.

By the time I figured out that I was going backwards I was in it and this was the way that I was going to go. 

After cresting the first saddle and getting unreal views of the Oak Creek my first hike a bike section started following a white stripe of dotted lines painted on the rocks that went straight up and up..

Bike over the shoulder climbing with nothing to hold onto trying to figure out who and how people were riding this. 

I had been told that my 23lb XC bike was going to be the wrong bike for this ride..

It was perfect with all the carrying that I had to do.

Finally to the section of trail that clung on to the side of the Mountain up down over up around through and around again.. Unreal,, my mouth open and smiling all at the same time. 

By the time I made it back to the road and Munds Wagon Rd I was fried.. 

I descended the  road back to the car and the family,, beaten and bloodied,, and asking my self

how in the world did an eight mile ride take 90 minutes??

Regardless when and If my ship ever comes in or I just fuck it and give up on this Mid West dream,, I am going to get my self a small house in the Pines,,

and watch the sun go up and down on the Red Red Rocks of the Coconino!!

Got Noodles

Vacation started landing in the Valley of the Sun early on a tuesday morning. 

Made for an early wake up call from the 612 but it was worth it to be on the ground and mom and dad's house by 8 and having the whole day in front of us. 

Got some food from Sprouts and picked up my bike. 

With a quick swing of a few tools I got my rig ready to go and was out to the 

Preserve.

This eastern and southern tip of the Mountain's in North Scottsdale used to 

not be open and or establish for riding when I live there in the late 90's.

When we would ride the old jeep roads etc it was bush whacking and getting lost.

Any more they are well built and marked trails and from the Condo

you can climb and climb and get some hard work in.

For me this was great,, going out and testing the new bike and my old fat body.

Up and over the saddle of the sunset trail the views were amazing.

I would come back and ride latter in the week the same trails and with almost a week in my legs I

was flying.. The ride starts with a two mile single track climb up the Quartz wash,

and it felt as if me and the bike were one.. I was moving and dogging all the Easter morning hiking traffic.. This time up the meat of the sunset climb I only dabbed once and not even when I had to wide around a hiker and put my left hand in to a Cactus,, I don't advise this. 

My hope from my week of riding was to continue to build on my form that felt like it was about a month behind.

I got to test out that form yesterday at the first and best race of the season so far.

The 24th running of the Decorah Time Trial down in Iowa,, is one not to miss and this year 

their was a 500$ first place prize so some big hitters had showed to give it a go. 

After taking the Bavers and ET out for a ride around the house friday night was was worried about 

the fact that I just can't make the bike go fast.

The kids raced first and James had a blast racing his new bike,, then finding his new Bff and talking all things MindCraft.

I chose to go number 2 and passed the two in front of me early in the race,, This gave me a clear shot in front with only people chasing. I felt like I was giving it all I could and am not sure where I could have pushed and gone harder. I did drop a chain which blew my mind on one of the downhill sections which took some time out of me. 

And on one of the last steep climbs spun out and had to put a foot down and restart. 

Crossed the line and waited for all to finish. 

Dom finished with a flat tire and he is super strong this spring.. ET blew up his cassette and still had a strong finish.. And Jeff Hall Blew the Race up and took the win.

I clung on to fifth and was faster than last year,, 

I have a ton of work to do,, but now with the trails dry can do it on my mountain Bike..

So here is to happy Pedals.

SkaterBoy

Back for more,, and not sure where to start.

Have a lot of stories and memories of time well spent.

Not sure where to start but will 

sort it out.

Did not take as many photos as I would have likes but while on the two wheels it

was eyes forward and pedal On.. 

Need to figure out what to do with my broken Spot,

was sent an email and told that they would replace my  USA handmade Frame with a Twain made frame at a pretty penny.

At a loss,,

But at least the new LaMere is on its way and will be ready for the race in 

Decorah on Saturday.

Home Like Vacation but Less Awesome. 

A bumpy Ride

Tomorrow morning is going to take bike geeking to a whole new level with 

both  Paris-Roubaix  and the first stop on the World Cup.

Red Bull covers the world cup and if you have not gone and watched any of the events that they 

show you are in for a treat.

Not only is the commentary well done, but they make sure to have 

cameras in all the best spots and both men's and women's races are covered start to finish. 

The a few thousand miles away one of if not the best one day classic the Hell of the North..

I love watching this race and am always blown away with the history.

Before I new what the "classics" were I saw images and snippets of video of this  race and just

 remember the dirty faces and crashes and the cobbles being lined with superfans 

pumping their fist for their favorite racers.

Still have not figured out how I will have both races on at the same time.

Should be able have the Roubaix on the computer and then stream from my phone or Kindle to the TV..

Either way it is going to be a morning of coffee and bikes,,, and will be my first day off of one

in a length of time that I can not recall.

My thoughts are take two days off get all things packed and ready to go so

come tuesday morning after we land I can have my bike built and out on the singletrack. 

Bike is in the desert waiting for me took longer than I thought it should which had me in the garage getting the Spot cleaned up in case I needed for the first race of the season. 

As I was cleaning it I found on the seat tube a good size crack in the frame.

About 3/4 around the tube and back to front.

Bike is only 3 years ridden and was one of the last of Spots hand built steel frames here in the USA.

I sent a picture to Garro to see if he thought it could be fixed being steel,, and he responded  not with out replacing the whole seat tube. 

So as of now I need to make sure that the LaMere makes it back in time as I have already signed up for the Iowa race.   So sick and tired of breaking shit,, will be interesting to see if Spot 

does anything to make it better,, this boy still needs to have a single speed hanging in the garage. 

Well that is it few more hours and the desert sun will be on my face.. 

Here is to warmer dazes!!

Psychic Powerless

The new Bike is in a box and on its way to the Valley Of The Sun.

I finally got it 100% together and even tested it out on some hilly roads and 

some choppy crushed gravel trails around the house.

It rode well and I bounced the crap out of it to try to 

get the chain to jump.. Shifted when I should not and again was spot on. 

I know that the rough terrain in the mountains of Arizona will  be the true test. 

After slamming hard on the half pipe last night I thought that I had sent the bike in vain.

I went down on a run of the mill rock to fakie and as I rolled across the 

flat bottom I went splat. 

Shoulder a little sore and wrist pretty worked but have been hitting the ice and ibuprofen

and it seems to be getting a touch better. 

Was able to ride before and after work today and the 

I could feel the wrist but nothing that would stop me from riding. 

What it means more than anything is I need to take it easy on the Sk8Board

and just enjoy the ride while James gets rad and Gleams the Cube. 

I do need to get my hands on a new set of skating shoes as I have blown out my Vans,,

I hope to grab a new pair before we fly out on Tuesday Morning. 

Vacation and riding bikes is going to do me so 

damn good.

I need more than ever to get away from work. I have been put on training duty of not 

only one of our older guys but the new kid who needs so much help. 

But enough about that I do my best to not talk about work or what I do or why I do it this is all supposed to be about fun stuff...........
 I need to ride and ride some more than do It again.

I feel strong

but I just feel like I am hitting the red zone too quick and not able to recover as fast as I would like. Powerless??

I am thinking that the change in climate and some single track will do
do me well. I know that it is a long season but                                                                                                                
but I want to come out of the
        gate swinging,  After a week in the desert I get home and the first race of the
season,,, and as long as I don't burn my self out I should be ready to go..
Now back to the count down of when I get the Hell Out of Here..

TMB

Blood Stains

I have seven work days till I blow this Popsicle stand and head out to the desert. 

This will be the first time really getting to ride the new bike and the 

last bit of training before coming home and hitting up the first race. 

I have been spending a lot of time on this here bike to and from work,, finding the miles when the workload and #dadlife will let me. The miles have been good and from what I can tell 

I think that I am on pace to where I want to be. 

This trip to the desert is going to be timed perfect as we can't ride dirt here yet and I 

need to get use to the way my new Race bike rides. 

Not a whole lot has changed... My Maverick was sent out to Ethan who run  the Flow Zone Suspension  center based out of Denver. He has been working on my forks ever since 

I started riding them some 9 years ago. He found that the whole air side was shot, cleaned and replaced and now more than ever the fork is riding like butter,, I can't wait..

Rock Shock has their new version of one out and it is turning heads in the MTB world..

And I am sure it is going to be good,, if it is half as good as the real deal it is going to change the market for suspension.

The Thomson bars are not brand new they showed at the end of last season and I only raced on them once,, but was able to get some miles on them before the snow fell.. 

After years of 9+ degrees of sweep I am still getting used to flat and more of a straight bar,

I like the position and how low I now am to the front end of the bike. 

The frame LaMare is new this year I wanted to get the newer version that Buzzy had brought in,, it has better cable routing than the first generation and allowed me to pass on my last years bike to one of the young fast kids on the team. 

With the new frame came a BB30 which I now know so much more about... I was super stoked when King sent me a Bottom Bracket for it only to learn that their are BB30's and PFBB30's and so on and so forth,, Unfortunately I wont get to run the super sexy King BB on this rig.

I am however going with out a guide,, and this has me more nervous than anything. 

I am still 9sp somewhat by choice and somewhat because I am dirtbag laborer that can't afford a full new drivetrain. What I have working here is a 36 tooth Raceface Narrow>wide<narrow>Wide

front ring and a Sram short cage XO derailleur.   

I have had the bike out a few times around the hood jumping curbs and finding anything rocky rooty bouncy that I can find. Everyone tells me that it is going to work and so far from my far from scientific testing it is. 

The New Look S-track Pedals have been rock solid so far been running a set on my 

Cross bike and have been totally impressed. 

 Now I just need to get there. Time seems to be going by slow. 

Last things to be done is get the tires set up new sealant and valve stems,,

then break the bike down wrap it tight and get it in a box for shipping. 

Going to send it out on Tuesday,, wanting to see if it will make it to Scottsdale by

that friday.

On the return home I need to have the bike home no later than Friday the  twenty-fifth 

because we are racing the 26th in Decorah Iowa.. Going to be cutting it close. 

Ok time to do some more bike work..

As the Sticker Says Party ON!!