2nd Favorite Thing

Local Ride: Luther Forest Trails, Malta, NY

2012-02-01T00:33:00.000-05:00

I was able to once again take advantage of the warmer temps and get out for a ride this past Sunday. On the weekends I try and ride somewhere I don't normally go. Usually I have a bit more time so driving for 30 to 45 minutes there and back isn't a big deal. I've been thinking of heading back up to Luther with the Rocky since there are some trail features I wanted to try. The singlespeed is fun, but just not always the right tool for the job. I wasn't really sure f the trail conditions so I posted on the facebook page for the Luther Forest Mountain Bikers, a group of local riders who help maintain the trail network. I should have known that this "Trails are great! Frozen and wet, really tests your skills..." really means "Make sure you ride with studs!" But, I didn't really have the time to put on the studs so I took a chance.

More slippery than it looks, the steepest sections had to be walked.

When I got there I knew I was in trouble. The parking lot was a sheet of ice. And with the warmer temps, some of it was melting. Now ice is slippery, but wet ice is down right dangerous. Luckily, it seemed much of the ice was pitted and crumbling so there was some traction to be had. I started off and right away I was thinking this probably isn't a good idea. I was able to ride, and get traction but I was unsure of where and when the tires would break loose. The tires I have on the bike now are Bontrager Big Earl and are 26 x 2.5 but are the dry conditions version. Still I have had good luck with these in the past so I rode on. Soon after starting, the trail winds along a gully and much of the trail is a slight off camber. As I was approaching a downhill off camber section, I could just picture myself just touching the brakes, losing control and heading down the gully ass end first. Here it is, the pucker factor. This is about the time my sphincter tightens up and my life starts to flash before my eyes. And I stopped. I seriously thought about turning right around and going home. But after a second or two I came to my senses and said "fuck no...I am going to ride God dammit!". I let some air out of the tires. I think I started with somewhere around 36psi and took them down to about 28psi. Now these tires aren't tubeless so I knew I was taking a gamble but I would much rather change a flat tire than climb out of a gully with 36lbs of bike in tow.

Most of the newer trails looked like this.

I am so glad I continued because from that moment on, the trails were very manageable and I never lost control or had the ground come up to meet me. And not all of the trails were covered in ice, most of the newer trails had very little or no snow at all. In fact it was wet and muddy in some sections. I kept the pace slow to play it safe and only picked sped up where there was little or no snow. It was a real challenge to ride back here with no studs, especially the log crossings. It seemed to me none of them were perpendicular to the trail and there was always ice before and after each one. I felt certain the rear tire was going to slide out when I was at the highest point on the log and I was going down. Keeping off the brakes just before and right after the features as well as shifting my weight away from each tire as it crossed the log was what saved me.

Much of what I rode looked like this.

I rode for about 2 hours, I really needed it too. Another successful winter ride. But next time I come here I will definitely have studs...I can totally do without the pucker factor.

Masterworks Wood & Design Salvages Condemned City Trees to Make Beautiful Wooden Bicycles |

2012-01-25T00:26:00.000-05:00

Proof that sporting a woodie in public can be okay...

Masterworks Wood & Design Salvages Condemned City Trees to Make Beautiful Wooden Bicycles |:

'via Blog this'

Zodiac Engineering, Stripped, polished and counterbored @Animal_Bikes...

2012-01-22T00:11:00.002-05:00

Now this is a nice stem! This company makes some trick parts for bmx bikes.

Zodiac Engineering, Stripped, polished and counterbored @Animal_Bikes...

Nepali Trails with Sandman Titanium. First Details - 970biking - Mountain Biking Videos - Vital MTB

2012-01-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

Fat bikes are not just for winter...

Nepali Trails with Sandman Titanium. First Details - 970biking - Mountain Biking Videos - Vital MTB

Take an epic journey through the highest mountains in the world in Nepal, on big wheels! After a 15 day trek around the base of Everest to acclimatize, Martín Campoy takes his Sandman Titanium on the rest of this amazing journey.

Biden on Internet Freedom = Anti-SOPA on Vimeo

2012-01-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

Biden on Internet Freedom = Anti-SOPA on Vimeo

americancensorship.org

Joe Biden filled in for Hillary Clinton at the London Conference on Cyberspace (LCC) on November 1st, giving a speech on the importance of freedom in cyberspace and talking up the importance of freedom on the internet and not regulating the internet. Meanwhile, the Obama Administration stands with congress in full support of H.R 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, which would give copyright holders the ability to censor websites on the net. We need to stand up now and let Congress know that they shouldn't mess with the Internet!

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet on Vimeo

2012-01-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet on Vimeo

Tell Congress not to censor the internet NOW! - fightforthefuture.org/pipa

PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations censor entire sites-- they just have to convince a judge that the site is "dedicated to copyright infringement."

The government has already wrongly shut down sites without any recourse to the site owner. Under this bill, sharing a video with anything copyrighted in it, or what sites like Youtube and Twitter do, would be considered illegal behavior according to this bill.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill would cost us $47 million tax dollars a year — that's for a fix that won't work, disrupts the internet, stifles innovation, shuts out diverse voices, and censors the internet. This bill is bad for creativity and does not protect your rights.

Coffee’s Amazing Health Benefits :: CoffeeNate is a video coffee blog that teaches about coffee 5 minutes at a time!

2012-01-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

Coffee...LOVE IT!

Coffee’s Amazing Health Benefits :: CoffeeNate is a video coffee blog that teaches about coffee 5 minutes at a time!:

'via Blog this'

2012 NAHBS | North American Handmade Bicycle Show | Groovy 650b Rohloff Dinosaur Skin | #NAHBS | Test

2012-01-15T11:43:00.001-05:00

I like everything about this except for the grip shift. Sick build and color scheme...love it!

2012 NAHBS | North American Handmade Bicycle Show | Groovy 650b Rohloff Dinosaur Skin | #NAHBS | Test:

'via Blog this'

Why my Laptop is Running Hot

2012-01-13T01:51:00.001-05:00

Dust Bunnies. Apparently they were getting in through the vents and multiplying. This is what I had guessed. Not sure why I haven't pulled it apart and cleaned it before. Anyway did it tonight and it's running cooler and no longer overheating. Now I just need a new battery and I'll be all set.

Before

After

Before

After

Local Ride: Central Park, Schenectady, NY

2012-01-12T01:10:00.000-05:00

Yet another great day to ride on Wednesday. The sun was shining and I think temps were almost in the 40's. Trails were hard and fast again. I am glad I got out too because I knew the weather was going to change...and it did. I woke up on Thursday morning to everything covered in wet, heavy snow and now freezing rain was coming down. Shitballs. Had it been colder or the snow less wet, I would have attempted to ride. But with the wet snow and the weather channel calling for more rain, I am going to have to stay off the trails till they freeze again.

Local Ride: Central Park, Schenectady, NY

2012-01-11T01:02:00.000-05:00

Trails are hard and fast, just watch for the leaves in the corners

I've been taking full advantage of the mild weather we've been having. Rode last Friday and today on my lunch break at SCP, and in Luther Forest this past Sunday. Still not feeling 100% but I'll be damned if I am not going to get out and ride while I still can. Gonna try and get out tomorrow too. Might head over and ride at Colonie Town Park, depends on how much time I have. No excuses for the rest of you. Get out and ride Fuckers!!!

Local Ride: Luther Forest Trails, Malta, NY

2012-01-09T00:06:00.001-05:00

These trails actually begin in the state's Saratoga Technology and Energy Park, but they extend onto the Luther Forest property. I just always called it Luther Forest. Another great day to ride today. Temps were perfect, not too cold and not too warm. There were some areas that were soft and wet but for the most part it was hard and fast. The only thing that kept my speed in check were the leaves in the corners...well that and my fitness level.

I haven't ridden here since summertime last year. There have been a few changes, some new sections of trail and some new technical features. Since I don't ride here often I wasn't quite sure what the preferred route should be. Luckily I had a map, made by one of the trails frequent riders, to help me keep my bearings.

Except for one or two ridiculous but not impossible climbs, this place is perfect for a singlespeed bike. Lots of flow and not terribly technical so you can keep up your momentum. I am glad I brought the singlespeed. One, because of the fitness benefit to me and two, I wanted to see how the tires would fare on these trails. These trails are similar to the ones in Schenectady Central Park but there is more elevation gain and less rocks and roots. Overall I think they performed well, although they take some skill to get the most of them. Traction, braking and grip were all very good but rolling resistance and weight of the 2 ply casing were a negative. One area where they excelled was on fast descents, which of course I am not surprised because it was what they were designed for. I felt much more confident bombing hills with the Maxxis Wetscreams than with the Kenda Nevegals. Not sure why, maybe the heavier tires make the bike more sure-footed or maybe the 2 ply casing sucks up the bumps better. Whatever the reason, I love going downhill fast and these tires allowed me to do so.

I've also been playing with the air pressure in the fork. Not sure if I should lower the pressure but I didn't want to blow it out because of the cold weather. I'll have to look into this a bit more because setting the fork air pressure to 130 PSI for both positive and negative chambers was giving me too much sag. I had it at 150 PSI initially so maybe I'll try 140 PSI and see how that goes. Oh and I am still loving the pedals.

I have been sick with a cold since December 30th so my new year hasn't been great so far. Still, I cannot complain with all the good weather we've been having. Even though I probably should not have been riding, I went anyway because who knows how many more days we are going to get like today? Now, I am not going to gloat and continually beat a drum about how great the weather is because I know there are a lot of people waiting to ski and snowboard. But I am going to enjoy a nice day and take the opportunity to ride if it presents itself, which it did. Really for me there is almost nothing as relaxing and enjoyable as a mid afternoon ride on a warm winter's day with the sun peaking through the trees.

Reflection and Resolution

2012-01-04T00:31:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Another year has come and gone. I always start the year thinking about what I am going to do different, bigger, better...yet never about what I've done or learned during the past year. I thought this year I would do that, reflect, and get an idea of what if anything I need to change. Because how can you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been?

Work

Picture of me with our new class 3 product

I work as a designer for a start up fuel cell company. We design and manufacture fuel cell systems to replace lead acid batteries in all different kinds of fork lift trucks. Most of what I do is packaging, placing all the components and arranging them in a way that they will all work properly but also fit into a predetermined space. To put it more simply, fit 10 pounds of shit into a five pound bag. And it has to meet certain weight requirements, it can't be too light. There are many other requirements but you get the picture...it's not easy. This year was a big year for our company. We made a lot of public promises to investors and share holders. We were also launching two new platforms that will eventually take over or complement existing ones, make changes to current platforms, as well as design and build several low volume or engineering special units. Insanely busy does not begin to describe what this past year has been like for me. I don't believe I have ever worked this hard on a product in my entire engineering life...lots of long hours and late nights in front of the tube for me. As difficult as it all was I am amazed as I sit here and type of what we were able to accomplish. Sure the system isn't perfect and it could be cheaper but we did what we set out to do. In less than a year we designed and built a fuel cell system, based on an entirely new type of fuel cell stack, that is a drop in replacement for a lead acid battery...and it works. Had you asked me if this were possible in January of last year I would have said no way...impossible, and we actually didn't start the real design work until late February. Now certainly I didn't do this on my own and this victory belongs to everyone that worked on this project. This past year at work has taught me what a small, dedicated group of individuals is capable of doing regardless of the issues and problems that arise. We shipped more systems this year than we have ever before and we are on our way to becoming a profitable company this year. So I look back and say "well done."

Home

On the boardwalk in Wildwood Crest, NJ

Life at our home last year was difficult, strenuous, joyous, hilarious, etc. just like most other families. But with my wife in school full time to be a Nurse Practitioner and two kids, a 3 year old and a 8 year old, it was extra hectic. Trying to balance work with my wife's busy school schedule and the kids school and extra curricular activities was difficult and left little time for anything else. Looking back now I am like "how did we do it?" My wife had one of her best semesters yet and made the dean's list with a 3.41 GPA, what we needed to get done at work got done, the kids made it through all of their commitments okay, we were able to vacation beach side for a week, and I was able to get away to go riding for a long weekend with some of my best friends. How did we do it? We just got it done. I think the big reason it worked is that my wife and I were in agreement with what had to be done, we discussed it, planned it out and executed as close to the plan as possible. Yeah it was crazy but as a family we had a great year. Another "well done" from me.

Mountain Biking

At the trail head for Cunningham Park Mountain Bike Trails

Obviously with everything else going on, biking had to take a bit of a back seat to other more important things. But looking back, I am not sure it did...well maybe a little. Local riding was definitely less because when I was around, I was busy at home. But I did get to do quite a bit of out of town riding, more than I realized. I traveled quite a bit to Long Island this year to visit family, usually it was a quick overnight trip and didn't involve me bringing the fam so I brought my bike. On the way down I would ride Cunningham Park in Queens, NY it's just off the Clearview Expressway and Glacier Ridge in Farmingville, NY which is maybe 10 minutes from my sister's place where I usually stay. I was also able to get up to Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield, New Hampshire for an overnight and was able to stay over two nights in East Burke, Vermont to ride at the Kingdom Trails which was actually a surprise birthday present for me from my wife. Best present ever! Also was able to meet up with friends and ride Pine Hill Park in Rutland, Vermont which was a perfect spot for a day trip. The local riding I did do was basically Schenectady Central Park and Colonie Town Park, mostly at lunchtime, sometimes meeting friends but mostly solo rides. So yeah, I didn't get up to ride SMBA as much as I wanted, or out to Schodack or even the Capital MTB Wed. night rides, but I still did okay and can't complain.

Resolutions
Everyone should have at least a few because let's face it, no one's perfect. And what better time to make a change than the new year. We can all use a fresh start. So here are mine...

Continue to be a positive contributor at work because ultimately their success is my success.
Be a better husband because a happy wife means a happy life.
Be a better father because my kids deserve the best.
Exercise for a least 30 min everyday. This is not only good for me health-wise but exercise really helps my mood. Good mood = fun dude.
Ride more. This also helps my mood but it is probably the exercise portion that accounts for most of it. Yet I know I would not feel the same had I walked or ran on treadmill. Maybe just being outdoors is good for you.
Ride someplace new. Last year I rode two new places, Highland Mountain Bike Park in New Hampshire and Pine Hill Park in Vermont. Both amazing places and both very different. there is so many places I have not ridden in the NorthEast so we'll call this kind of a bucket list.

I guess I am not going to change as many things as I thought, just do more of the same. I think I am on the right track. Unfortunately this year didn't start as well as last year. While visiting my family on Long Island, I did pick up a cold and I am still sick. But I did open up relations with my brother who I haven't spoken to in about 8 years, that's a long story, and also got in touch with an old friend where we just happened to fall out of touch and thankfully no bad blood there. Maybe I'll add one more to my list...

Keep in touch with friends and family.

Here's to another year of awesome family fun and riding!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T21:01:00.000-05:00

'via Blog this'

Overhaulin' the Singlespeed

2011-12-24T00:06:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to give some rebuild love to the SS for sometime now. Haven't done a thing to her since I put the fork on over the summer and it showed. The chain and cogs were gritty, the brakes in the rear were almost ineffective, the Crank Bros. Mallet's are beat to shit along with the EBB, and the entire bike was covered in mud and sand from various locations throughout the NE. One of the things I love about singlespeed bikes is the simplicity, which often makes rebuilding quick and almost painless.

New EBB Installed

Since I had to pull most of the bike apart to get to the EBB I figured I would just overhaul it and clean it up. I had some trouble getting the crank bolt off, felt frozen, but nothing a little leverage couldn't handle...thank you laws of physics. I cleaned up the chainring, crank spindle interface, and BB cups, greased it all and installed it back onto the frame.

Yup the old one is pretty beat up

New EBB installed

New Crank Bros. Smarty's Installed

The Mallet's I had on here were used for years on my RM Switch and since I got new ones, these were relegated for SS use only. They were worn when I put them on the bike, now they are really worn out. Drive side actually has enough play that you can feel it in each pedal stroke. I picked up this set cheap for a 29'er build I never got to completing. I got them for less than it would cost for replacement cleats, which I also needed. I've heard mixed reviews with these but I think they will be fine for what I need. Certainly they are better than what came off.

Crank Bros. Smarty Pedals, Orange with Black Plates @ 282 grams

Tire Swap: 2.3 Kenda Nevegals for 2.2 Maxxis Wetscreams

I absolutely love the Kenda Nevegals for this bike. The 2.3's offer a fast-rolling large volume tire which gives extra cush on the backside as well as excellent grip and predictability, assuming pressure is where it needs to be. But the one thing I loathe is their inability to play well in wet to muddy conditions. They pack up, become unpredictable in corners, and they slide right off wet roots unless you're really careful about placement and weight distribution. I replaced these with a set of 26 x 2.2 Maxxis Wetscreams. Of course these tires were designed for DH riding in muddy conditions but I know lots of riders that use this tire for muddy to slushy to snowy conditions during the winter with good results. Two things I like about these tires...I picked the set up for just $20 and the orange stripe matches my new pedals. Two things I don't like about these tires...the added weight of the 2 ply casing and the rolling resistance of these huge knobbies. After a few rides I'll know whether or not these tires will work well. I could always go right to the studded Nokians if they don't but I am hoping they will.

26 x 2.2 Maxxis Wetscream with MaxxPro 60a Compound

Check out the siping and square knobbies

Rear Brake Not Really Working

I had to remove the calipers from the bike, remove the pads, clean the pads with sand paper, clean the calipers, re-install them on the bike and then finally hit the rotors with the sandpaper to give them their bite back. Not sure why the rears were not working well. I suppose something got into the pads and contaminated them, reducing the friction, causing poor performance. I also readjusted the calipers to eliminate some rubbing. I just have to clean the rotors with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils that may have made it onto the rotor surface.

Last but not least I cleaned the cog, chain ring and chain and lubed them up nice. It was unbelievable the crap that was coming out between the links. I cleaned the rest of the bike as well as the fork stanchions. I spent the last two nights, after the kids went to bed, overhauling this bike so I could get out and ride today at lunch and it rained last night…a lot. No ride...so bummed. I would have preferred snow, cause I could have ridden in that. I can’t stand when ride plans are crushed by bad weather. Anyway here she is...all dressed up and no where to go.

Winterized and ready for more

Best fails of 2011 || TNL - YouTube

2011-12-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

Funny? Some. Shocking? Others. Fail? All.

Best fails of 2011 || TNL - YouTube:

'via Blog this'

Facebook Timeline

2011-12-20T13:05:00.000-05:00

I upgraded to the facebook timelime but still not sure if I like it. Definitely better than previous but lately I've been posting to facebook as well as read updates via Hootsuite. It seems a bit better organized and I do like the cover pic. I think that's what the old profile lacked the most, the ability to make the interface your own and personalize it.

Lunch Time Ride - SCP

2011-12-20T00:32:00.000-05:00

Rode the trails in Schenectady Central Park today during lunch. What a great day for a ride...weather was perfect...for Dec. 19th anyway. They were frozen and fast with surprisingly very little frost heave. There are some new fallen trees though, too big/heavy to move by myself. Had to skip some sections due to time constraints, but still awesome.

So Simple a Caveman Can Do It...

2011-12-19T00:11:00.000-05:00

23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our health" in a completely new way.
Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.

Follow Dr. Mike on Twitter @docmikeevans
Facebook/docmikeevans

Conceived, written, and presented by Dr. Mike Evans
Illustrated by Liisa Sorsa
Produced, directed, and filmed by Nick De Pencier
Picture and sound edit by David Schmidt
Gaffer, Martin Wojtunik
Whiteboard construction by James Vanderkleyn
Production assistant, Chris Niesing
©2011 Michael Evans and Mercury Films Inc.

OMG...How Much Did You Pay for Those EBB's!?!?

2011-12-17T00:51:00.000-05:00

Seven bucks each. That's right...$7! So I bought two. I got these from Chad at Soul Cycles. They were on closeout with some other parts. Regular price for these were almost $40 I think. I've actually been meaning to replace the one on my 1st generation Hooligan since it's chewed up and beat to shit but just did not want to pay that much. Glad I jumped on them when I did because they are all gone now.

New Fork for the Singlespeed

2011-12-17T00:34:00.000-05:00

As much as I like the responsiveness and light weight of a rigid fork, it was beating the snot out of my elbow and wrists. Since I use a computer extensively at work and at home, something a little less abusive up front was necessary. Over the summer I picked this Reba Team fork used, from a friend, locally for $80. What a word of difference this fork has made. Dual air spring, motion control dampening and even has a remote lock out, which I have used more often than I would have thought, for those extended climbs when you're really torquing the bar. The added weight is no longer noticeable and my wrists and elbow are happy...and that is of course what really counts.

Doritos® Presents: CRASH THE SUPER BOWL

2011-12-15T22:47:00.000-05:00

Check out my wife in this Doritos commercial, her face is classic...

If they get to the final round, please vote for hers.

Doritos® Presents: CRASH THE SUPER BOWL:

'via Blog this'

The Weather is Here...Wish You Were Biking.

2011-12-14T12:23:00.002-05:00

Going for a ride in Schenectady Central Park right now. Gotta love this mild winter weather. This is what I like best for lunch.

Downhill Mountain Bike LEGOs? - Features - Vital MTB

2011-11-08T21:39:00.003-05:00

Downhill Mountain Bike LEGOs? - Features - Vital MTB:

If they actually start producing these I'm getting all of them...for the kids of course.

'via Blog this'

Scram SRAM...I'm going back to Shimano

2011-08-17T22:14:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the year I picked up a 2010 Shimano SLX shadow rear derailleur for $45, from One Ghost Industries (http://www.oneghostindustries.blogspot.com/). I've been wanting to switch back to Shimano because I just haven't been happy with the SRAM stuff. Till now the cost has been the major factor along with the fact that I just did not want to switch out a part unless its broken or just not working properly. Since I had to replace the chain and rear cog with new parts, I figured it was the time to install the derailleur as well. It took a bit of digging but I found a Shimano rear derailleur shifter in my garage along with a new cable and housing. The new housing is silver so it a nice change from the black and I also found some aluminum cable end caps which look pretty trick and match the rear link. It took a bit of fiddling with but I was able to dial everything in pretty well. This thing shifts awesome now, it's so precise. I also prefer the look of the new rear mech over the old one.

Back from my hiatus

2011-08-07T17:38:00.001-04:00

Lately I have had little time to blog and even less time to ride. A lot has been going on but I've just been real busy with the family and especially with work, 50 to 60 hour work weeks are just killing me. I really need the exercise too as it directly impacts my mood. I am so happy I got out for a road ride today, it was just an hour but has made a big difference in the way I feel. Besides the end of Summer is fast approaching and I want to get in as much riding as I can before the snow flies...really not looking forward to that.

Cunningham Park

2011-05-29T17:43:00.003-04:00

I found myself back on Long Island at the end of May and I brought my Rocky with me to ride at either Glacier Ridge or Cunningham Park. Unfortunately I spent most of the day looking for a new chain and rear cog because I was having severe skipping issues and simply could not ride it like that. I got the parts I needed, installed and adjusted them and headed home. On the way I back to Albany, I stopped in Queens to ride at Cunningham. The trails are always superb there. I love it! I was able to ride everything. I wish these trails were a lot closer but getting to ride them a few times a year make it a real treat!

New bits for the Rocky

2011-04-12T18:12:00.029-04:00

Early Spring found me pouring over websites for sales of any kind but particularly bike components. I had been eyeing several different parts but I wasn't making any purchases unless the price was right. I was sure if I waited long enough, what I wanted would be priced right.

I've been longing over some bits from Diety Components (http://www.deitycomponents.com/) for like ever. I love the Enoki grips as well as some of their bars and stems. I found out they were having a closeout sale on last years Dirty30 bars and the lifesaver bar ends. I jumped at the chance, I think the bar ends cost me $10, the bar was $25 and I think the grips were $20. Normal price for the grips but the bar and end caps were half off!

Okay, so now I needed a stem. There was a local guy selling a used Race Face Diabolus D2 stem for $45. The thing was practically brand new! It was also what I was looking for 70mm length with zero degree rise, 1.25" stem and 31.8mm clamp. I wanted something similar to my current stem, which was 50mm with zero degree rise, but just a bit longer so the front end wouldn't dance on steep climbs. The stem looks sick too, it's a perfect match for the Diety bits.

My first real ride with these parts was at Cunningham Park. What a difference from the last time I was there. The steering was so crisp, almost felt like when I had the triple crown up front. The bars, because of their width, also put me almost always in the optimal position. Helped keep my chest open for effective breathing and put my torso in attack position. I felt really confident riding with this setup and man does it look sweet!

What's Your Bike of Choice for Early Season Riding?

2011-04-11T23:57:00.001-04:00

Finally after months of inactivity (for the most part) there's no more snow on the trails and the weather is finally warm enough to ride comfortably. So the question is what bike do you ride? I know not everyone has more than one bike, but the true addicts like myself do. So which do you choose? Do you take the roadie out first and try to get your legs and lungs back in shape before hitting the trails? Or do you choose the XC hardtail with a shitload of gears so that you can ease into the riding season? Maybe the freeride bike with 6 inches of travel?Yeah it only had a crapload of gears because you removed the big ring for the sexy RF bash guard, but man isn't that ride plush with all that travel? Or maybe the singlespeed? That's right I said the singlespeed. "Why the singlespeed?" you ask..."Isn't riding this so early in the season basically the equivalent of kicking yourself in the nuts?" "Why yes...yes it is." I answer. But it's good and I'll tell you why.

My Soul Cycles Hooligan

There's been alot of debate over the years about gears vs no gears, the 29'er crowd is going through the same thing right now. Before I tried it I was like how is this better than gears? IMHO it's not better...just different. Look, I love all my bikes the same and they all have a specific use or they do one thing better than the others. The bottom line is the singlespeed bike is a fitness and skills building machine! Nothing else will get you in shape quicker than a singlespeed. Momentum is the key, if you don't want to walk up the hills you have to ride faster. Because you have to keep up your momentum, you become better at choosing good lines. This is crucial if you ride rigid. Up until this year thats what I've been riding, a rigid singlespeed, which is basically a bike with one gear and no suspension. Unfortunately, the tendinitis (tennis elbow) that plagued me last year will not allow me to ride the rigid fork...at least not for a while. No huge benefits to riding rigid anyway other than a lighter bike, slightly improved steering response, and no fork maintenance. Well, maybe to some those are huge benefits. Personally I like a little cush up front when riding some of the rocky and rooty terrain we have here in the NE. It's actually amazing how such a low tech piece of equipment can make you a better rider. No pain no gain I guess. So that's what I am riding right now, how about you?

Spring is here!

2011-04-11T23:19:00.000-04:00

Section of skinnies at Schenectady Central Park on April 2nd.

FINALLY! The nice weather has arrived! Yeah I know, we've all been dying to get out and ride but be careful. There is nothing worse than showing up to ride your favorite trail and find it all rutted out and destroyed because others rode it when it was too soft. Try and walk the wet sections or avoid them all together, it'll make riding later on in the season so much better.

What's Your Tire of Choice for Northeast Riding?

2011-03-20T15:11:00.002-04:00

There have been some discussions going on in the local forums lately on what's the best tire for local riding so here's my list of favorites for typical rocky, rooty and sometimes wet Northeast trail riding...

Bontrager Big Earl Wet, F and; R, 26 x 2.5
Bontrager Big Earl Dry, F and R, 26 x 2.5
Hands down and without question the Bonty's are still my favorite for local riding. They wear well, grip is awesome in any terrain, they are light for such a big volume tire, and rolling resistance isn't that bad. I love the GumBi compound too, the low rebound gives these tires unbelievable grip at the right tire pressure. Check out the pic below. The tires just conform to the terrain and I have yet to pinch flat. Pressures were 30psi in the pic.

Wow, check out that tire deformation!

The wet version is better than the dry version but only in wet conditions. I haven't noticed any other difference in dry or even moist conditions. They both shed mud well too, that's a huge plus. I've used 2.3's as well but the 2.5's are just more sure footed. Best of all you can find these relatively cheap on ebay or locally. I think I paid $30 for the Dry versions in the 2.5 and they were new. I think Bontrager is discontinuing these in favor of the new lines coming out like the XDX which I hear great things about. I hope they are at least as good as these because I dread the day I will no longer be able to purchase new ones.

Kenda Nevegals, F and R, 26 x 2.3 DTC
I have used the Kenda Nevegals too but my one beef with them is their mud/wet conditions performance...it is terrible. I have the DTC version, maybe the other compounds work better...I don't know. The rolling resistance on these are minimal thanks to the ramped center treads and the knobbies really allow you to get the bike leaned over in corners and still hold the line. Also light for such a big volume tire. Right now the set I have are slated to got onto my SS after mud season. They make riding with a rigid fork a bit more bearable. I also run these about 30-35 psi.

Kenda Kinetics, F and R, 26 x 2.6 Stick-E compound
I bought these on a whim. I like the tread design and the compound and the were on sale for $9 each. I had read reviews that some had issues with the sidewalls being too weak and failing. I figured even if they don't last long, no big deal they were cheap. Tire are surprisingly light for a 2.6 although they were slower rolling due to the compound and the big knobbies but that's also why they excel in cornering and grip. So far these have been the best. I didn't have them on the bike long but only because they rolled slower than the Bonty's. I had no trouble with these and they were actually the best big volume tire I have tried in snowy conditions to date. I will probably put these tires on again but maybe not till later in the year. I had these aired at around 35psi.

Riding at the Pine Bush these tires performed really well in the snow.

RIP Race Face...You will be missed!

2011-03-17T17:23:00.001-04:00

Namaste!

2011-03-17T17:00:00.000-04:00

Did 45 minutes of Yoga from the P90X program at lunch with some co-workers and I learned two things...I am way out of shape and I am about as flexible as a wooden board. I feel great but have a long way to go. I am hoping this translates directly into better performance on my mountain bike.

Icon Soft Brown Stripe by Skullcandy

2011-03-16T23:36:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for a set of over the ear headphones for a while but two things were holding me back. One, I already had several pairs of in ear headphones that worked fine and two, I didn't want to drop a ton of cash on something that I may not like. Also many of the headphones I had seen on the market just didn't catch my eye. Some were boring, others were too big. I also wanted something was different, that looked different. I think I found it in the Icon Soft over the ear headphones from Skullcandy. I got an email from The Clymb, they had several versions on sale. I found these and had to have them. I love the color and the name of this version, called the brown stripe, reminds me of mountain biking in the early and usually wet Spring. I paid $13.98 for these and they came with a decal which I affixed to my phone, a black dew rag with gold graphics, and a small template for spray painting the skull graphic on your skate board, bike, or helmet. For the price these are a fantastic deal. Construction looks like quality, they are comfortable, and they look awesome. I'll be using these mostly for listening to music from my phone and thanks too the in-line mic and can use it as a headset too. I also like the nylon braided speaker wire, much nicer than the rubber stuff and is tangle free. Yeah I can't use these while I am rippin' the local singletrack but that's not what I got them for. I'll be stylin' in my cubicle, listening to sick beats while cranking out killer designs from my workstation. Gonna go get some more tunes onto my phone and give these a proper shake down.

Race Face Closing its Doors!?!

2011-03-12T13:38:00.003-05:00

Race Face, no longer a maker of delicious bits for your bike.

I first read about this on pinkbike and has been confirmed by several other sources...

Bike Rumor
MTBR
Bike Biz

There is speculation as to why they are closing but I have not seen any official company statements. I checked their website this morning and it mentioned nothing of the closing.

I have been buying their products for years and I am pretty sure I still have every piece, still going strong too...bombproof. Never owned any of their carbon components but from what I've seen they are top notch. Race Face is one of the reasons I originally bought my Rocky Mountain. I really hope someone picks up the company and continues to produce these beautiful and well designed products. If not they will definitely be missed.

Making Time on the Trainer Less Painful

2011-03-10T22:21:00.003-05:00

Making time on the trainer less painful, originally uploaded by johnnysinglespeed.

I am dyin' to get out and ride. So desperate in fact that I have actually resorted to the trainer in the garage. Luckily, I found that Blue Sky Cycling was having a huge sale on DVD's. I got nine DVD's and each for under $3! This will definitely make the trainer more bearable. I really can't wait for the warmer weather.

New York Bike Law Could Mean Mandatory Licenses and Insurance For the Whole State

2011-03-01T23:25:00.001-05:00

"This afternoon, Gothamist points us to a proposal by assemblyman Michael DenDekker, a Democrat from Queens, which would require by law that every bicycle -- not just in New York City, but in New York state -- have a license plate, to be re-registered every year only after an inspection of the bike. A second bill, also in the works, would make it so every rider must be insured and carry identification. The enforcement would mean about $1,875,000 for New York, plus $375,000 every additional year in fees. But that's not the point, lawmakers insist."

I am not sure how else I can put this but its TOTAL FUCKING BULLSHIT! This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. It's just another way for NYS to remove hard earned cash from our pockets. And what about mountain bikes? I don't ever ride mine on the road and this schmuck wants me to insure and register the fucking thing? There is no way I am gonna put a plate on my Rocky...forget it! Can you hear it? The world is once again laughing at us...unbelievable.

Winter is killing me...

2011-03-01T22:32:00.000-05:00

I swear I have had enough. No more shoveling. No more snow blowing. No more cold. ENOUGH! I need to ride! Good news though...I found a bunch of mountain biking DVD's on sale at Blue Sky Cycling for less than $3 each! Not really a substitute for riding but it'll help me kill time on the trainer.

Blue screen of death!

2011-02-10T00:28:00.002-05:00

F#@&!%g son of a bitch! Right when I was in the middle of something. Thanks Windows update! :L

First Ride of 2011!

2011-01-10T13:22:00.005-05:00

20110105_SMBA Trails from John Ruiz on Vimeo.

This day was bitter sweet for me. It was my last day of vacation but my first ride of the New Year. I didn't really have much time to ride in Saratoga this past year so I figured what better way to kick off the New Year than to ride some of the most challenging terrain in the capital region. The fact that there is almost no snow back there right now is unbelievable. I hit all the new stuff too and it is awesome! Gnod, Porky Pine and Backstretch are all intermediate trails which will make it easier for more riders to enjoy the new stuff. There’s lots of flow, natural features as well as manmade bridges to add to the experience. Some also have go-arounds which will appeal to the less advanced riders. I also saw a few options which would appeal to the more advanced riders. The club did an amazing job on the new trails and it is a fantastic addition to the great trails already there. It was like rediscovering the trails all over again, reminded me of the first times I rode there.

One of my resolutions this year wasn’t necessarily to ride more often but to go on more rides that would last an hour or more. I spent 3 hours riding back there so this definitely qualifies. I can't wait to spend more time back there this year although it is a long drive. It took me about 45 minutes one way from my house in Delmar. It would probably take me 35 minutes if I left from work. Still if I can find the time the trails are well worth the while. Thanks to all who have donated and dedicated their time to making these trails great! To find out more about these incredible trails go here... www.saratogamtb.org

I took some pictures too and uploaded them to flickr. Go here to view them.

Car Fire on the LIE!

2010-12-28T20:58:00.000-05:00

Car fire on the LIE today. I was three lanes away and could still feel the heat like I was sitting next to a fire place...INTENSE! I hope whoever was in there got out.

Southward Bound

2010-12-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

On our way to LI. Just got to exit 22 and already stuck in traffic...ugh.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T13:42:00.002-05:00

Christmas Biking Carol, sung to the tune of White Christmas:

I'm dreaming of a gray Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the riders clip in
And there's no flipin'
On icy roads or piled up snow.
I'm dreaming of a gray Christmas
With every spinning class inside.
Please forgive. I won't be your guide.
Oh how much I want an outside ride!

Got this from a friend, thanks Jenn!

Forbidden Love

2010-12-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

Here's what happens when an Aston Martin has sex with a Smart Car...

Lunchtime Ride: Colonie Town Park

2010-12-11T15:18:00.001-05:00

Hey Mother Nature, I punch your
20 degree weather right in the head!

Was supposed to meet a couple of people for a lunchtime ride on Thursday but they left without me so I rode alone. Trails were in good shape. Icy in some spots but not impassable. Lots of frost heave which made the ride crunchy and bumpy. The leaves actually provided traction on some of the icy spots. It was pretty cold, about 22 degrees. But the sun was out and the trees sheltered me from the wind. My fingers were the only part of me that was cold, an extra set of gloves would have made the ride more comfortable. I rode for about 45 minutes and then headed back to work. Nice to get out and ride a bit more before the snow flies.

The Mille Miglia

2010-12-11T10:58:00.000-05:00

I've been into vintage race cars lately, mostly European. Watching the Mille Miglia: The Spirit of a Legend on HD Theater. This is like the Tour de France of Automobiles. What an amazing race.

http://www.millemiglia-thefilm.com/

Winter has finally arrived

2010-12-08T11:08:00.006-05:00

I put the studded snows on my singlespeed last night...it is now officially winter. Go fourth and rip it!

20101128 - Glacier Ridge Nature Preserve

2010-12-06T00:12:00.000-05:00

20101128 - Glacier Ridge Nature Preserve from John Ruiz on Vimeo.

20101122 - Jet Line Trail, Cunningham Park

2010-11-23T00:06:00.004-05:00

20101122_Poison Line_Cunningham Park from John Ruiz on Vimeo.

A Good Week for Rides

2010-11-22T15:57:00.008-05:00

My mom was coming up to stay and visit the week of Thanksgiving. I was able to take the whole week off. My Mom lives on Long Island, where I grew up. She drives, but not long distance and since I live near Albany I'd have to drive down to get her. I had planned on riding at some point during the week and this afforded me the perfect opportunity to do so.

Mike Vitti of C.L.I.M.B.

The plan was on my way down I'd stop and hit Cunningham Park in Queens and maybe hit Glacier Ridge the next morning before I have to head back home. I had ridden Cunningham before and the trails are well marked and well made but having someone who knows the trails always provides a better experience. I was able to contact Mike Vitti, President of C.L.I.M.B. and NYS I.M.B.A. representative, to take me for a tour. I rode with him last year here but they had completed some recent projects that I did not want to miss out on. Once again the trails were stellar! We ran into many other riders all of whom were very friendly. Whoever said new yorkers aren't nice haven't met many mountain bikers. And they all held such respect and admiration for Mike. Kind of made me proud to be a biker and a New Yorker at the same time. Mike was an excellent guide. I always enjoy discussing trail building issues or ideas with him, he's always got good sound advice and it nice to see that implemented in the trails. If you ever get the chance to ride here, it's a must see for how a well managed trail network can function and what it can provide to the community. After the ride we chatted with some other bikers and then we went our seperate ways. Thanks so much Mike!

2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon

I have a friend, Mike Musto, who saw my post on fb about driving down to ride at Cunningham. He emailed me about stopping by his place after my ride. Turns out he lives 10 minutes away from the park. So after I was done riding I called Mike, got his address, and headed over. Now I hadn't seen Mike in a long time (probably several years) so this was a great opportunity for us to catch up. He now works from home and is the Editor-in-Chief of an online car blog called Ride Lust. Part of his job is writing articles, lots of them, and posting them online. The other part of his job is test driving vehicles. Companies like GM send him cars to drive for a week and review online. He recently had the opportunity to drive the Chevy Volt and more recently a 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon. The Corvette just happened to be sitting in the driveway...in all it's $98,000 splendor. So after I changed out of my riding clothes and chatted for a bit, we of course went for a ride. All I can say is HOLY SHIT! What an amazingly fast car, I hadn't been thrown back in my seat like that since I went for a ride in my friends 650 HP pro/street Chevelle. This car was doing all it could to transfer the 505 HP to the pavement...really just unbelievable. I believe we were actually giggling like school girls...what can I say, machines like this can do that to a man. After our joyride, we went back to his apartment. His wife Aisha came home soon after and we went out for a bite to eat. We went to a pub, the food was actually really good and the beer was cold. We had a few good laughs but then it was time for me to head to my sisters out east. These are two of the nicest people I know. They were also nice enough to buy me dinner. So thanks to Mike and Aisha for the joy ride, dinner, and your excellent company. I am really glad I got to see you.

I ended up not getting to my sister's until 10:30p or so and didn't get to bed till almost 12a. I had the best of intentions to ride Glacier Ridge in the morning but was just too tired and too sore from Cunningham the day before to do so. I had a 4 hour drive ahead of me so I figured I would take it easy and get back home. I picked up my Mom and we headed back North. It was a really nice day for a drive too.

Cunningham Park...Oh Yeah!

2010-11-22T15:40:00.002-05:00

Riding in Cunningham right now with Mike Vitti of c.l.i.m.b. The trails are SICK!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T22:31:00.000-04:00

Took the girls out this morning while Tasha was out getting last minute stuff for dinner and picking up my Niece from Siena. I had to get them out of the house to "get the bugs out". Can't keep them cooped up when the weather is this nice. I raked up a pile of leaves for them to play in and got some great shots. They had fun. After that we went in and had lunch. Later on we had my in-laws over for dinner, which was awesome...so tasty. They were nice enough to stick around and give out candy while we went around the neighborhood with the girls.

Eliana was Cleopatra and Karina was a cute little puppy. Both costumes were fantastic, props to my wife for hooking the girls up. Our new neighborhood is great for trick-or-treating. Lots of kids. Everyone we've met so far seem so nice. We ended up walking around with our next door neighbors. They have three kids. Karina had a blast, this is the first time she's really gotten into the whole Halloween thing. After the first couple of houses she was on a mission to get more candy. It was windy out so it was kinda cold and it started to rain and then hail the first 10 minutes we were out. It cleared up after that but I ended taking Karina home early, besides her bucket was full. Tash came back later with Ellie. Moving was a good idea. Today was great! Trick or Treat? Definitely treat!

2010-10-29T16:00:00.001-04:00

Wow...I had forgotten how much I like crumb coffee cake. But alas, now it's all gone. :(

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Lawn Mower...It's ALIVE!!!

2010-10-29T00:52:00.003-04:00

So I stand here looking at the lawn mower that I've owned for the past decade. Six years of which it sat dormant and unused since we had a service take care of the lawn at our last home. The four years before that it was used and abused at our first home. I got this used from Tasha's uncle, I guess he didn't want it because the self-propelled part of it no longer worked. I was happy to take it since I didn't really mind pushing. I swear never once in the first four years of ownership did I change the oil, the spark plug, the filter or even sharpen the blade. If it ain't broke don't fix it...or maybe I was just too fucking lazy to do it. Whatever the case I never did, then we moved to a big house in an association where the grounds were taken care of. So I brought along the old mower fully expecting to get rid of it but never did. I always wanted to tear it down just to see how it works and maybe fix the self-propelled issue, you know as a hobby, but with work, family and biking it just took a back seat.

We recently moved and so it came with us because it is once again my responsibility to keep the yard neat and tidy. In a sick and twisted sort of way I am looking forward to this. Guess I like working outside and gardening. Now with Tasha in school full time, she's working less so we have to keep an eye on expenses. We could have certainly afforded a new mover at $300 to $400, but I just could not bring myself to spending that money if I could get this old one running which brings me back to me looking at the mower thinking "there's no fucking way this is gonna start." Of course I said the same thing about the laptop I now use. But this thing looked like hell, caked with dust, dirt, and grass clippings it really looked like one of those old cars that's been sitting in a field for 20 years. I am surprised I didn't find mice living in it.

My Dad was up visiting and helping me out with some of our home projects, the mower being one of them. He certainly has had more experience with them than me so we got started. Pulled the spark plug and cleaned it, pulled the air filter and cleaned it, removed what was left of the gas, drained and refilled the oil, and fixed the self-propelled drive. Turns out the belt had slipped off and the drive was just loaded with grass cuttings, dirt, etc. The blade was also replaced since it had huge chunks missing from it...guess I shouldn't have hit all those rocks huh. Moment of truth...we take it outside, fill the gas tank, prime the carb and a few pulls later the thing roars to life! Unbelievable that after sittings for six years that it would start up so easily. Thank you Briggs and Straton...and of course to my Dad for helping me out. So basically for the cost of some gas ($3), a quart of oil ($2), a new blade ($19), and some elbow grease ($0) we have ourselves a working mower and saved a few hundred bucks. Now for the snowblower...

Bicycle Drag Racing

2010-10-27T22:12:00.000-04:00

This is how we used to race we I was a kid...bicycle drag racing
I had a bike just like these. Ape hanger bars, banana seat, single speed, lots of chrome bits and it was canary yellow with black racing stripes. I still remember the first time I rode it. My first real bike...the Big Wheel didn't count even though that was cool in it's own way. Till this day no other bike I've owned has had an impact on me like that one did. Okay maybe the Rocky comes close.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Door Stop

2010-10-18T00:35:00.001-04:00

So since we moved we no longer have the garbage can built into the cabinets so we had to buy a new one. The one we bought has a lever at the base which opens and closes the lid. Works fine but eventually the can gets pushed into the wall and has started to scratch the paint. I have enough things to fix here already and I hate painting so I've been thinking of a way to keep it from hitting the wall. While looking for some hardware for another project I came across a door stop and thought...perfect. So I drilled a small hole at the base taking care not to disturb the mechanism and threaded it in. Simple and yet so effective, problem solving at its finest. I was pretty proud of this one.

2010-10-10T11:04:00.001-04:00

Having a cup of coffee and watching the girls play in the backyard. Moving was so worth it!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: My New Old Laptop

2010-10-08T13:59:00.002-04:00

I have been on this kick about not throwing stuff out unless it's absolutely necessary and reusing or fixing whatever I can. I have this old laptop that used to be my wife's. It worked fine in the beginning but then we started having problems with the hard drive and then the battery went and then she spilled a cup of coffee into it. After that the keyboard would no longer work. So we eventually bought her a new one which she needed for school but this one just sat. I hear everyone say "just through it out and get a new one...they're so cheap." It's not that I don't want to spend the money, it's just I have a hard time throwing away an almost perfectly good laptop. This thing is actually in good shape, except for a couple of minor cracks in the case. So I decided I was going to fix it, I could at least use it as a training exercise if I ever needed to work on a laptop again.

I knew it needed at least two things, a new keyboard and a new battery. One of the guys in the IS dept. at work hooked me up with a couple of websites that had parts pretty cheap. I got both the battery and new keyboard for $85 shipped to my door. All of the service documentation I got from Dell's website so replacing the parts were easy. I know I needed a hard drive too but didn't want to spring the $$$ until I knew the laptop was working well so I threw in a 10GB one I had lying around for file transfers. I was also able to get all the required updated drivers I needed and I had the original Windows XP disk the reinstall the OS. So far it's running good, I obviously need to get a bigger hard drive and I'd like to upgrade the memory from the 512MB to 2GB. A Bluetooth card would be nice too and will probably invest in something soon. So for maybe another couple hundred bucks I could have a decent machine. I would like to upgrade the video card from the 32MB to the 64MB version but that would require a motherboard change which is about $250. So unless I find another Dell Inspiron 600m on eBay or Craigslist with a busted LCD I'll just live with it for now. If anyone reading this has parts for this machine that they'd like to unload, please let me know.

A Break in the Rain...Quick Go for a Ride!

2010-10-06T23:20:00.000-04:00

I was able to get out and go for a ride this past Sunday. Feels like forever since I've ridden. We've been getting pounded with the rain, probably remnants of Nicole...bitch! Anyway some of my family was up visiting but left early on Sunday which gave me a small window...the wife was nice enough to let me get out for a bit too. Thanks sweetie!

BCHS high ropes course sign

I didn't really have the energy to pack up the car and drive to a trail so I just rode around our new neighborhood. After riding a while I remembered a trail that was on a piece of land sandwiched between Delaware Avenue and Route 32 so I decided to go check it out. It's a small piece of property but has some potential for a decent trail. There is some climbing but it's mostly flat and there are some trails existing. Could build a trail that circles the perimeter and then build a fun skills area in the middle. The one trail I took dumps out into a high ropes course which is part of Bethlehem Central High School from what I've read.

View from the bottom
of the trail head

I continued through that area which then led me to the school grounds. I did observe the posted signs for the high ropes course but didn't see anything else regarding the rest of the property. I'd like to actually contact the school or the town to find out exactly who owns that property. Maybe they'd allow a proper trail to be built? I don't like building without permission. This could actually be a really nice short track with a stunts area on the inside. Also it's a short bike ride from my house, maybe 20 minutes, for me to get there. Could probably link up that area and the Elm Ave Park area and make it a decent ride without having to drive anywhere. That's nice when you don't have a ton of free time.

Elm Avenue Park

From there I went back through the course and to the trail, scoped things out, and made my way back to Route 32. I rode back up to Elm Avenue and then over to the park and just kind rode through, played on some of the rocks and just enjoyed the nice weather. Not looking forward to more rain but at least this helps me get through.

2010-10-06T10:51:00.001-04:00

Still trying to figure out the kinks while posting from my phone and then how Hootsuite feeds my fb and twitter accounts.

2010-10-05T15:21:00.001-04:00

I am blogging from my phone right now...so cool. Just set it up to work with Blogger last night. Now the fun begins...

Software Favs: TwitPic, Google Chrome and Hootsuite

2010-10-02T23:38:00.001-04:00

Here's a few of my favs for software I use almost everyday. Most of these are web-based and accessible from anywhere. My main reason for picking these was probably ease of use. I like simple, leaves more time to worry about more important things.

TwitPic
Wasn't looking for anything in particular when I started using this. Just wanted a way to upload pics from my phone and have them update my twitter account. It works well and haven't had any issues. Simple, just the way I like it.

Google Chrome
Been using it for about 3 weeks now and I love it! Nice and simple, easy to use, and it's got some cool features. Loads fast, uses tabs, has some cool themes and I like the new tab page.

Hootsuite
Was looking for a program that would feed my blog to my facebook and twitter accounts. It's nice to only have to make updates in one place. I tried Twitterfeed but would have to manually set it every time to get it to actually work. Kind of defeats the purpose somewhat. I then read an article about using Hootsuite and gave it a try. Another nice feature is that I can see both twitter and facebook feeds at once. At one point I thought it wasn't working but realized I had it checking/feeding every 24 hours but thought it was every hour. So far it's working well. it's got a bunch of features I haven't even tried yet but looks promising. Will have more time to mess around with this in the coming months.

Bigger is Better

2010-10-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

Not sure why I switched out the 2.35 Bonty's for the 2.5's but I had to fix a flat and just felt like changing the tires so I did. I love the look of the bigger tires. These are pretty light and the rolling resistance ins't that bad. Now all I need is some time to ride and some decent weather. I need to get out.

Old Road Jersey Found

2010-09-30T13:27:00.002-04:00

I came across this while packing for our move. One of the only jerseys I still have from my road biking days. This jersey is probably 20 years old but still in good condition. This was for use on colder days and is thick and warm. Wish I could still use it but the fit these days is more akin to a sausage casing than a jersey on me.

Used Crank Brothers Mallet M's

2010-09-30T13:23:00.000-04:00

I scored a pair of silver Mallet M's from a co-worker for 25! Barely used and in great shape. Said he had some pedal to shoe interference whidh made them difficult to clip in. I have a set of the same pedals in red that need to be rebuilt. At least now I can send them back and use these in the mean time. I love a good deal!

Colonie Town Park Ride

2010-09-14T12:36:00.001-04:00

Colonie Town Park Trails

2010-09-13T18:00:00.013-04:00

According to the Capital MTB calendar it was supposed to be a co-ed Luna Chix ride but I showed up to find an all female troop. Ah well, I don;t mind riding by myself...again. I've been back there plenty of times but I am still not sure of where all the trails go. It didn't matter, I had no agenda...just to ride...so I did. The trails are in great shape, really dry and fast. There are quite a bit of leaves and sticks down which made cornering at speed tricky. These trails are really fun on a full suspension bike. Lots of rocks and roots back there to so I was doing my best to hit and kickers at speed and get some air. I was trying to ride some sections as fast as I could as well as rail the corners. I guess maybe I did have an agenda. I also found the point at which my tires brake loose in a corner. I didn't go down but I did have to hit the brakes. Probably the most exhilirating part of the ride. That and the rock jump at the entrance of the double track trails that lead to the boat launch along the Mohawk River. I love hitting that at speed. Clean entry, smooth take off and nice transition. You can get some serious air on that. Have to get some video next time. I rode the trails down there which aren't real exciting but they can be ridden fast which is fun. There is one section that runs along the Mohawk which is pretty rocky and rooty. It's fairly difficult, so it's an accomplishment if you ride the entire line without dabbing. After exiting this trail, I played on the rocks by the pavilion and then went down to the boat launch just in time to see the sun setting. A nice ending to the day.

CX at SCP

2010-09-11T15:25:00.002-04:00

Took the Monk out for some dirt time. Definitely liked the 700C wheels on the trail but had to keep the speed down for fear of pinch-flatting. The bike handled really well back there and the only problem I had was the pain in my arm and the lack of cush.

Labor Day Red Oaks Ride in Schodack

2010-09-07T14:00:00.069-04:00

I got the chance to get out and ride on Labor Day. Since it was kind of last minute I didn't get the opportunity to hook up with anyone else so I rode alone. I don't really know the trails in Schodack, now called Red Oaks by the regulars. But I got a map from my friend Chris Roe, and I have ridden there with him a few times so I figured what the hell.

I got there about 2p and was surprised to not see very few cars there and only one with a bike rack. Not even sure if any of them belonged to people riding. Anyway I started off from the park and ride and tried to follow the normal Tuesday night route. I did my best to follow the map, which was excellent by the way, but I did end up making a few wrong turns. No worries though, I was able to back track and the map kept me going in the right direction.

The snake was unharmed

The trails were dry and fast but newly fallen leaves were everywhere. I guess it's that time of year...already (sigh). I managed to bunny hop a small snake last minute and avoided crushing him. As thanks he allowed me to take his picture and then I moved him off the trail.

Last time I rode here I brought my singlespeed. Gearing was good for the climbing but the rigid fork really hampered my ability to actually cruise at a good clip without loosing control. Plus with my injured elbow, it hurt like hell. I decided to use the Switch this time and man what a difference. I can really carve stuff on this bike and with 6 inches of travel I had plenty of cushion for the pushin'. It does come with a weight penalty so climbing was a chore but not impossible.

My trusy steed.

The strangest trail out there has to be House of Grouse. Not because of any super technical climbing or twisting switchbacks...but because of the male Grouse that is protecting his nest. That thing is FEARLESS! Everytime I go through there he chases after me on my bike. This time I was ready for hime, but where was he? Typically he is at the trail head or close to it. Maybe I was going to get away with not seeing him today I thought. Even though I knew he was there and was looking for him, out of nowhere he swooped down from the trees and attacked my helmet. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and for a moment there I thought he was a hawk. I had seen two flying through the woods just 20 minutes earlier. I let out a yell something like "oh shi..." and went down. He didn't knock me down, I just lost my balance trying to avoid him. Man was I pissed but I guess I can't blame him. I flung a few obscenities his way and I was off again. He followed me for a few minutes and then I lost him...more likely he gave up. Man did I feel like a fool. One of the times I was glad to be alone. I must have looked ridiculous at that moment. Have to laugh about it now.

The diving board

There aren't that many man made features out there other than some bridges but the trails are well built and offer a variety of challenging singletrack. The climbing is probably the biggest distinction of this trail network. Riding here often will definitely up your fitness level. I hope to get back here and ride a few more times before hunting season starts and these trails become off-limits until Springtime. This is a great trail network and having it so close to where I live is always a bonus since my riding time isn't what it used to be. Being a responsible husband and parent can do that. Even if I don't get to ride there often, it's nice to have such a great place to ride so close to home. Thanks to Chris and everyone who put the effort into bringing those trails back to life. Keep up the good work!

CX at SCP

2010-09-03T12:15:00.009-04:00

Took the Monk out for some dirt time during lunch at Schenectady Central Park. Definitely liked the 700C x 45 wheels on the trail but had to keep the speed down for fear of pinch-flatting. The bike handled really well back there and the only problem I had was the pain in my arm and the lack of cush. The rear end is super stiff so it climbs awesome but unless the trails are super smooth single track, this is not the right bike. Still a fun ride though.

Trials Demo by Jeff Lenosky

2010-08-21T14:00:00.033-04:00

I was lucky enough to drive out to Great Barrington, MA to catch Jeff do a trials demo at Berkshire Bike and Board. I took my oldest daughter, figured it would be some father daughter bonding and we get to do something involving bikes. Thought it might help her want to get into biking more too, we'll see how that goes.

Anyway it was a pretty sick show. He was kinda limited on space but he worked really well with what he had. He talked through each type of trick and then demonstrated. He did some really cool tricks with a volunteer from the crowd. I put together a video of some of the stunts he did. It's condensed to about half of the original show. Click the title above and it will take you to the video on You Tube. Still amazes me what people can do on a bike and more importantly, what a guy that is my age can do on a bike.

Jeff with my daughter Ellie

The bike used during the demo. Check out the broken spoke.

Lunchtime Ride at SCP

2010-08-20T15:44:00.001-04:00

Fast and fun lunchtime ride today at Schenectady Central Park. I rode everything including all the stunts. 4.9 miles in 41 minutes. Probably my fastest time on the Switch. Trails were dry and fast. The rain actully made the surface tacky. I was railing corners...it was awesome!

New Lightweight Shell for Riding

2010-08-20T01:09:00.000-04:00

Sombrio Wingman Jacket
I've been looking for a new lightweight rain/wind shell for a while now. I just didn't want to pay big $$ for one. Looks like my waiting paid off. I saw an add in my inbox from Huck N Roll about a Sombrio sale. I've always like the stuff from Sombrio. I was able to get a Sombrio Wingman jacket in Machete Green for $25! It's wind proof and water resistant, has Lycra cuffs to keep wind from blasting up your sleeves, and the ergonomic fit feels natural, not restrictive. It also has a hood that's big enough to fit a normal vented helmet like my Giro Xen. It also has this cooloff-axis topographic print. Can't wait till the weather cools down so I can wear this.

New Riding Socks

2010-08-20T00:46:00.002-04:00

I read on Twitter that Twin Six was having a one day sale on select socks. I was able to score five pairs of socks for 50% off! I didn't really need that many but the socks are cool and I got them at a good price so what the heck...and so far I love them.

New Hydration Pack and Resevior

2010-08-20T00:37:00.002-04:00

2009 Ergon BD1-M Backpack

I've been looking for a pack that actually fits me. My Dakine Nomad has been the best so far but when you load it up it's really noticable and it has a tendency to ride up above my waist which is just annoying. I came across the Ergon BD-1 pack that Competitive Cyclist had on sale at 1/3rd of the original cost. This is exactly the kind of pack I needed. Not too big, made to carry a load when needed and adjustable for different body types. This pack doesn't have the organization of the Dakine Nomad but it fits my torso really well. There is some adjustments I still have to make to get it to fit the way I want but I should have it dialed on the next couple of rides. This pack even has a safety whistle in the chest clasp and a clever pocket at the bottom which contains a rain cover incase you get caught in a downpour. As much as I would like to do a complete review of this bag, others have already done so and have done a great job. I will tell you what I llike and what I don't...

Likes: Flink (it really works), pack and harness design (very comfortable to wear, works as advertised), bladder sleeve, and hidden rain cover.

Dislikes: Zippers are a bit difficult to open and close (maybe this will get better once I break them in), Internal organization (would have prefered a few more places to store things), external harness doesn't allow pack to lay flat (not a huge deal for me but it does make packing for a ride or trip a bit more difficult).

The weight I feel when I load this up and ride is less then half of what my Nomad felt like. I only have three rides with this pack but so far I am really happy. All this at a price that just can't be beat.

2010 Deuter Streamer 3.0 Reservoir

The above pack didn't come with a bladder but I thought no big deal, I can use my old one. Problem is my old Camelbak bladder sprung a leak and is now useless. So I ordered the bladder recommended by Competitive Cyclist. They said either the two or three liter would fit so I chose the bigger. It does fit, sticks out the top of the pocket a bit but it's fine. Again I am not going to go into great detail but just list my likes and dislikes.

Likes: BPA free, wide-mouth for easy cleaning/drying, tube length (it's actually right where I need it), hassle free bite valve (can also be disassembled to be cleaned), sealing device is leak free.

Dislikes: Both the bite valve dust cap and bladder clasp can get lost and there is not a good place to hold the bag during fill.

This so far has been the best tasting and best designed bladder I have used to date. We'll see how it holds up, my last bladder lasted probably 4 or 5 years.

Local Rides: Luther Forest STEP Trails

2010-08-09T21:00:00.004-04:00

Had a awesome but difficult ride in Luther Forest tonight. It was sooo humid, I never ride worth a damn in those conditions. I don't know the trails that well so it was a bit of back tracking in some sections but they're pretty easy to navigate. Quite a bit of elevation gain back there and some really fast flowy sections. Some rocks and roots as well as some bridge sections. Lots of singletrack and the sections riding along deep gullies were the most exciting. Some hardpack as well as soft loamy sections so the Big Earls I have on my Rocky seem to be perfect. The Nevegals on my SS also worked well back there. Riding here is definitely a good way to lose weight and build fitness. These trails are located off Hermes Rd. in the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park (http://step.nyserda.org/) in Malta, NY.

Bicycle Flash Mob in Belgium

2010-08-06T15:41:00.000-04:00

Unbelievably awesome!

Courtesy of Cycle Chic (http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Plastic Coffee Container

2010-08-06T15:12:00.003-04:00

Keeping things organized in your home with two small kids is a tough job. Something is always getting lost or misplaced. I started using some of the plastic coffee containers we were recycling as a mini paint or crayon caddy. The ones with the handles offer a great place for a few paint brushes or pencils and you can store the paint inside. The tops also make a great place for placing and mixing paint.

The ones without handles are great for keeping track of crayons or markers. You could also label them and put your kids names on them if they are possessive like mine are. :)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: 35mm Film Container

2010-08-06T15:10:00.003-04:00

I know probably very few of you if any still use film cameras. With the advent of digital cameras they are a lot easier and less expensive to use. But I know most if not all of you still have some of those film containers lying around. These containers are great for keeping track of small parts in your work area. Typically they are opaque so knowing which one to look in is always a pain in the ass. I took pictures of what was being stored inside and printed them out on small labels. I then affixed the label to the proper container and used a few pieces of clear tape over them so as not to ruin them with my greasy fingers when working on my bikes.

You can use any small container, even glass ones like baby food jars. I like these because they are small and durable. I also use these to carry small parts in my hydration pack like SRAM power links, misc. nuts or bolts, Marzocchi fork air fitting adapter, etc. In pack with fewer compartments these work great for keeping things organized.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Plastic Lanyard

2010-08-06T15:09:00.003-04:00

`Typically when you bring your bike or wheel to a bike shop for them to fix they tag it. One of the local bike shops I go to use an adjustable plastic clip which they usually leave on when you pick up you item. I started saving these realizing their usefulness but not really knowing what I would use them for. This past winter I have been cleaning up my bike work area. Trying to organize all sorts of bike parts and hardware that I had scattered throughout the garage. I finally found a use for these clips.

These are perfect for retaining small round parts (spacers, cogs, lock rings, even small washers), they're adjustable, and they were free! These can also be used to retain headset parts and even cassettes. Now whenever I need these parts I know exactly where to look.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Dont lose it...reuse it!

2010-08-06T15:05:00.004-04:00

So for a while now I've been thinking about how much stuff we throw away. And by "we" I mean everyone. My family has been doing what we can to control what we recycle and what we throw away. I am sure there are uses for most of the glass, plastics and metal things we all through away. I thought I would share some ideas that I've come up with for things that commonly get thrown away. Most of these will be bike related but I do have some suggestions for other hobbies. If you've got an idea, please send it to me and I'll add it to the list.

New cog on the SS

2010-08-06T14:49:00.001-04:00

I was finally able to replace the rear cog on my SS. I had an ACS Claws 20T that was shit, the bearings inside were shit and the grease was just coming out. I traded a friend of mine (thanks Jeff) a stem for a new Shimano 20T he had in his basement. It's thius cool gold color too...so unique. I had my LBS swap out the cog for me.

What a difference! I rode it Monday night on a group ride and it was so quiet and smooth...one of the things that drew me to riding a SS in the first place. I rode it again today on some local singletrack. It feels good to be back on the singlespeed again.

New blog look

2010-07-06T12:25:00.000-04:00

I once again changed the look of my blog. Used Blogger's new template designer and it pretty nice for someone that has limitied understanding of HTML. Still have some tweaks to make but it almost all there.

Wow...I didn't know Thomson made these...

2010-06-27T22:11:00.001-04:00

Making 3D models of bike parts

2010-06-25T21:41:00.002-04:00

I've been performing more monotonous functions at work lately so I decided to try and model some bike parts in Pro/ENGINEER. I am putting together an interior gear rack for my Xterra to hold a mountain bike as well as my other riding gear. Some of these parts will have to be fabricated and I figured I could model them up just to see how they would look before cutting anything. I want to incorporate some water bottle holding features So I modeled these versions up and rendered them just for fun.

Bottle cage with wood finish

Bottle cage with black finish

I'll post more pics as I get further along.

New bp logo suggestions

2010-06-25T21:37:00.000-04:00

The oil spill going on in the Gulf is terrible. This stuff really upsets me but it does serve to drive home the point that we need to be free of fossil fuels. Why can't we get beyond this!?! One of the good things that has come out of this is all the new logo ideas for bp. I think this one is my favorite...

FUCK YOU BP!!!

'Nuff said!

2010-06-25T21:27:00.001-04:00

http://rideafuckingbike.com/

SMBA MUD 2010

2010-06-25T21:24:00.001-04:00

I was so disappointed this year. Not that the organizers did anything wrong but I had made it a mission to get the day off to go up and help out, have fun and especially ride. My Mom was up visiting but didn't feel well so I couldn't leave my oldest with her and my wife was out. Not only that, it was pouring rain...FUCK! So I took a chance and ventured out with my oldest to go and check it out for an hour or so.

I probably should have stayed home. I hate standing out in the rain and my daughter likes even less than I do. It wasn't long before I got the question "Can we go home now?" and of course it was in the oh so lovely whiny voice, if you're a parent you know of what I speak. Oh and did I mention the sick bikes that were there to demo. High end stuff from Trek and Gary Fisher, also a few Ibis whips to try to. I didn't get to ride any of them. Anyway, not to sure everyone there was thrilled about me bailing on helping out...oh well. I guess I'll just have to wait for next year's.

Does a bear shit in the woods?

2010-06-03T00:03:00.000-04:00

My Dad had been visiting with us for the past couple of weeks. I had to drive him back home over the holiday weekend so I wanted to stop over in NJ to visit my friend Rich and his wife Katie. Thught it would be a great opportunity to ride too. So on Monday he and I drove over to Ringwood Sate Park. Hadn't been there in 10 years so I was stoked to go. We didn't really know the trails and the maps we had sucked but we found some good sections but there was lots of climbing.So about 3 plus hours into the ride we are really starting to feel it but we finally found the Skyline trail which is supposed to be one of the best trails in there and it did not disappoint. I only wish we had hit this wen we were fresh. So we finally figure out which way is back to where we parked and were finally getting into riding the trail when I come around a corner and BAM! There's a black bear on the trail...with two cubs...and there all about 15 feet in front of me. "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" Must have said it a few times "...an effing black bear with cubs, go back...go back!!" I told Rich. I have never been more ready to shit my pants than right then. Then we had to back track the difficult terrain with our bikes between us and the bears. We waited a few minutes and watched them move off up the hill. With a huge sigh of relief we moved on back the way we were going and made sure to hoot and holler the rest of the way. For while we were still on our toes and vigilant but eventually we relaxed and laughed about the whole thing. Rich asked me "Does a bear shit in the woods?" and I told him I wasn't going to stick around to find out. In the end I guess that's what mountain biking is supposed to be...a fun and memorable ride.

Rear Hub on the Switch is Toast!

2010-04-17T15:41:00.002-04:00

So had a great ride Tuesday during lunch at Schenectady Central Park with some of my co-workers. Trails were in great shape too. So we rode did log rides, skinnies and the ridge drop...no problems. I got home that night, took my bike off the rack and started wheeling it into the garage. It was then I noticed the rear wheel really dragging, looked like bent rotor. So I was going to swap it for a new one when on closer inspection I found that the hub is actually split at the drive side and has propagated more than half way across! The last thing I would expect is spitting my rear hub...at SCP no less. Not sure if this is just from age but I have never seen a failure like this. Too bad too cause I really liked this hub. Had to put on my rear DH wheel for now. Thank God for spare wheels.

Damn ticking on the SS and new tires on the Switch

2010-04-13T00:10:00.002-04:00

Still dealing with some ticking noise on hard acceleration with the SS. I took the bike out today at lunch and everything else worked fine. I had to lower the bars by swapping a spacer but that was it. Bike rode pretty solid. Will probably have to replace the slightly used cog for new to see if that is the problem. Too bad....the bike looks and otherwise runs perfect but little problems like this really annoy the hell out of me. Makes we want to buy a new SS..almost.

I picked up some Bontrager Big Earls from a friend for the Rocky Mountain. These are the GumBi compound wet versions. The front is supposed to be 26 x 2.5 but it looks just like the 2.35 on the rear. Doesn't matter, I think I'd prefer that anyway. These are probably the best tires I've ever used for NE riding. They shed mud well and stick to wet rocks and roots provided the air pressure isn't too high. I also have a set of the 26 x 2.5 Big Earl dry versions which work great as well but are a bit heavier and slower. I am looking to lose some weight on the bike. The tires are always an easy fix and these Bonty's will roll faster than the Stick-E Kendas I had on there previously. Going to try them out tomorrow. Next will be a lighter bar and stem combo and hopefully something not as stiff as the El Norte setup I have now. This will be predominantly for trail riding. For DH riding I typically swap the bar, stem, wheels and tires for something more heavy duty.

Singlespeed parts swap...part V

2010-04-10T15:54:00.001-04:00

I got the bike back and the headset looks nice. So much smoother too...guess that's the difference between ball and cartridge bearings. Riding this weekend is out since the wife is working nights. Looking forward to riding next week.I'd like to set up a weekly singlespeed ride like we used to have a couple of years back with the SMBA crew.

Singlespeed parts swap...part IV

2010-04-05T00:20:00.001-04:00

Had a friend make me spacers that were the proper size and installed them on the back side. This allowed me to mount the fasteners flush to the cog which just looks better.

I still have a problem with a dull knocking noise that sounds like it's coming from the rear hub but could be that the new chain is not meshing with the slightly used rear cog. I am going to bring it in tomorrow to have the headset replaced so I'll see if I can have a new rear cog ordered too. The chain line seems to be off ever so slightly and I have adjusted it as much as I can. It should work fine and I don't think this is a cause of the knocking.

Rode SMBA for the first time this year

2010-04-02T00:20:00.016-04:00

Had a half day today so I went and picked up a membership and drove up to Saratoga to ride. I took a co-worker of mine who just got a new Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC. Nice bike and perfect for these trails. We rode Pilgrim, 107, Bee, Ridgeline, High Noon, and a portion of the Carriage trail. The weather was perfect but I am soooooo out of shape and sooooo not used to riding up there. Definitely a different type of riding than what I normally do here in the Albany area. I really miss riding over bridges, rocks and logs...I love that type of technical riding. The climbing I could do without...just kidding but it just tells me I need to get out there and start riding/running/whatever to get in better shape. I am sick and tired of being the slow guy.

Singlespeed parts swap...part III

2010-03-30T23:21:00.004-04:00

I picked up my new cog from High Adventure Ski and Bike on Monday. It's awesome having them so close to my work that I can run over during lunch and get exactly what I need. I am glad I went with the FSA over the Salsa because the look of the black with machined raw areas really tie into the Race Face crank I am running. I installed it last night and re-sized the chain to account for the extra two teeth. Two problems with this chain ring, it wants to mount on the opposite side of where the old one was which changes my chainline and the chain ring bolts I have are too long. I did find some spacers I could use and they work but I would rather get the proper sized bolts for this setup. Also, I'll need to adjust the BB cup spacers to try and shift the crankset over and try to maintain the original chainline.

I replaced the brake cable housing to the rear brake with some Jagwire housing I had lying around from previous bike builds. This cable is much stiffer and doesn't compress like the old one so response and brake feel is improved. I decided not to use the full length housing and utilize the interrupted cable guides on the frame instead. There are a couple of reasons fro this, they are tucked under the top tube so there's less chance of me catching the zip tie with my leg (I done this too many times and have bruises to prove it) and separates the movement of the handlebars and front cable housing from the rear caliper and rear cable housing. This eliminates the caliper engaging with the handles cranked to one side or the other.

One other thing, while adjusting the headset I noticed that it wasn't as smooth as it used to be. The setup I have now is cheep Aheadset with ball bearings. This headset has been on there for like the past four years and I think it's time to replace it. I have an old Race Face Team SL headset with cartridge bearings that I may put on there. It would be a huge upgrade to what I have on there now.

So I need to reposition the crank to improve the chain line, get the proper chain ring bolts or shorter spacers, and replace the headset. Good thing it's still raining here, otherwise I'd be pissed that I couldn't ride this now.

Singlespeed parts swap...part II

2010-03-28T16:05:00.003-04:00

So I replaced the worn front cog and chain which according to my Park Tool chain stretch tool needs to be replaced. I also removed the Bushnell EBB and replaced the BB. Not sure which change fixed the knocking but its gone and that's all I care about. I am still waiting for my 34T FSA singlespeed ring to arrive at my LBS so for now I have a fairly new ramped and pinned 32T installed temporarily.

I swapped out the 90mm x 7 degree Bontrager stem for a 105mm x 10 degree Titec stem. So far it feels good, may have to adjust the height but the length seems good. This will also be stiffer than the Bontrager stem.

I also swapped the plastic water bottle cage for a couple of swank Bontrager carbon ones. These look really nice...almost too nice for this bike. I may try and pick up some carbon headset spacers to replace the steel ones. They'd be lighter and would tie in with the cages.

Next I need to replace the brake lines. they seem too flexible and engage the rear caliper when I turn the handle bar too far left of right. I am sure I have some lying around, just have to be sure it's stiffer than what I have now. Can't wait to get some free time so I can get a couple of rides under my belt with the new setup.

Singlespeed parts swap...change for the better?

2010-03-18T00:02:00.001-04:00

So I've been running my singlespeed as a 69'er, at least until the start of this past winter. I liked the big wheel up front helping me roll over things but with the the suspension corrected Surly fork and the 29" wheel just raked out the bike too much and handling suffered. I decided that I would bring it back to a 26" SS but try and make it better. I can still use the 29" wheel with the suspension corrected 26" fork if I want and may still do so. We'll see how things go.

First I got rid of the old wheelset. It was cheap and the front hub was wasted. I pulled an old set off my geared winter beater to use. The rear hub was also wasted so I had a Surly SS hub laced up to it with DT Swiss spokes (Thanks CK Cycles!). The rims are Mavic 221's and are light as hell. I have had good luck with these hoops and I think they will serve me well. I had a 17T cog on the back but it was killing my fucking knees, especially this early in the season. I swapped it for a 20T which feels just right.

For the front chainring I have a 34T SS chainring. Both this and the chain are showing signs of wear so I will be swapping them out for newer ones. Hopefully this will take care of the knocking/ticking noise I hear when I put the hammer down. I also removed the bash guard. One because I want to go with the minimalist approach and two I am selling the crankset the bash guard belongs to. The minimalist approach sounds more like I have some intentions so I am going to stick with that. I found some small Aluminum spacers that work perfectly.

One of the big problems I was experiencing was the harshness of riding a rigid Aluminum singlespeed. I had a set of 26 x 2.1 Kenda Kharisma II's on there last year and they worked really well but I had to pump them up to 40psi so I wouldn't pinchflat. Probably something to do with the 200lbs rider but I digress, let's stay focused on the bike. I swapped the 2.1's for a set of 2.3 Kenda Nevegals. Looks like this is the fattest tire, besides the one around my waist, I can fit on my frame. These tires are the dual tread compound so they're not super slow and roll fairly well. They really do a much better job of taking the edge off a rough trail. My wrists and knees told me so. I can also run lower pressure in these, right now they are at 30psi.

Rider position has always been important to me. How this bike handles when climbing is a big deal when you only have one gear. I've been playing with a few different stems to see what works and what doesn't. The shorter stem definitely makes more precise handling on tight trails and makes it easier to lift the front end but can lead to the front wheel coming up on tough climbs. Right now I have 90mm Bontrager stem and it feels fine, plenty stiff and responds well to rider input. It does tend to dance on the tough climbs so I am going to have to lower it or switch to a longer stem. I have a 100mm x 0 degree and a 105mm by 10 degree. Not sure which one to use yet but I don;t think I want to go longer than 105. Just a word to the wise, always leave a little extra when cutting your steerer tube. You can always cut it more if you find you don't need it but you can never add it back.

So far I like the changes that I've made. They all seem to improve on the ride with the exception of the stem maybe. One thing I don't like is the Bushnell eccentric I purchased last year to replace the one piece Aluminum eccentric that came with the frame. I cannot get the EBB to stop slipping. I followed the directions to a T and I made sure to measure the BB housing to be sure it was within spec to work with this EBB. I'll be removing it and sending it back to Bushnell and see what they say. I have to replace the BB anyway so I will do them both together. Anyway, looking forward to dryer trails and more sunlight afterwork to see how this newer version performs over the old.

Fresh new look to my blog

2010-02-28T16:29:00.001-05:00

It was time for a change. I think I finally found a template that is easily customizable and well thought out. Just a few more changes and I think it'll be done.

FOR SALE: Lezyne Allpack Hydration Pack

2010-02-25T20:42:00.010-05:00

I bought this pack but it just doesn’t fit me comfortably. I am very picky when it comes to fit. It’s an awesome pack and a shame I can’t keep it. I can bring it in if you’re interested in trying it on and checking the fit. Let me know if you are interested or know someone else who is. It’s going up on craigslist this weekend. Currently this pack sells from $60 to $90. Condition is brand new and still has the tags. Price is $60. Click here to more...

FOR SALE: Bike Parts and Apparel

2010-02-10T01:19:00.004-05:00

Just cleaning out my garage before the Spring so I have more time to ride. I'll be adding more in the coming weeks. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to see more detailed pics. Local pick up only - Albany area. Click here to see more..