Nothing like a little sibling rivalry for motivation.
"Your name is Fire because I just can't call you bike"
Any resemblance to Sally Jean is purely intentional.
Friday, February 29, 2008
New Rider
Abby joins the crew. Only two weeks after her older sister soloed.
Nothing like a little sibling rivalry for motivation.
"Your name is Fire because I just can't call you bike"
Any resemblance to Sally Jean is purely intentional.
Nothing like a little sibling rivalry for motivation.
"Your name is Fire because I just can't call you bike"
Any resemblance to Sally Jean is purely intentional.
Clean
Crappy phone pic (new phone to me) pretty much worthless. Zion ready for action. The saddle stayed that low for the entire uphill and subsequent downhill.
Skull Valley overlook.Very nice day for a ride yesterday. Shorts and short sleeves.
I took the newly moto'd Zion up 37 to drop in 40 at Granite Basin. By moto I mean I was trying out the 28" wide Sunline V3 bars as well at the shorter 50mm stem I just installed. Apparently, I am trying to see what is the shortest possible cockpit that is still rideable by a human my size.
Discussed briefly going with Dave, but the times did not work out. He felt he could clean the 37 climb because his legs were feeling good. I watched Dan nearly clean it a week ago, and at that time thought I never would be able to do it simply do to lack of strength.
At the bottom, I thought what the heck, lets go for it. My strategy was to go very slow between technical obstacles, the use my sprintness to get over them, the try to ride slow and recover for the next one. I failed in prior attempts because I just lost my wind so to speak. The strategy worked...unbelievable. You could hear my whoops for a mile around when I cleared the crux move, going up and over a log with eroded rocky uphill leading into it because I knew I had it in the bag at that point.
I never, ever thought this trail was entirely ridable by me on a SS. It's actually no too hard with suspension, but SS is another world entirely. Just goes to show what a proper mental attitude can do for you. Thanks for the encoragment Dave.
I then descended to the 40 turn off. At this point I decided to continue on 37 to the overlook just to see if I could prove it with another difficult technical climb.....cleaned it again!
Then went down 40, and repeated most of the ride Dan and I did last week. Unfortunately on the next technical uphill out of Mint Wash(which I amazingly cleaned last week), I blew both the crux moves, but got up the rest.
Loving the big bars and short stem. Does not seem to affect things in the least negatively.
Edit: I also got to swim a few laps at the Y while the kids had their lessons. I did 200 yards. This was hardly considered a warm up in the day. The pace would be equivalent to an easy walk, but by the end of 100, it felt like I went out too fast on a race pace 200. By 150, My arms were fried. By 200, I had difficulty getting out of the pool.
Lordy, things are not what they were. Interestingly, my HR never got over 120, and I was never out of breath: just totally deconditioned in the swimming muscles.
Maybe it is time to sign up for a tri again, to motivate a little swimming and running cross training. My weakest link in Triathlon has always been the bike, and for once, I am probably in the best biking shape of my life. The swim would be easy to ramp up. Just need a motivator to run.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Water Everywhere
What can I say except I really, really enjoyed the decidedly low tech ride Dan and I had on Sunday. 2.5 hours of Granite basin's finest.
The climbing was more prodigious than usual, and what we did not do in elevation, we made up for in steepness. Highlights included: descending 40 in snow and ice...carefully; putting down my seatpost 4 inches for that descent, and then never raising it again the rest of the ride, simply no flat areas; crossing a very swollen Mint Creek below the overflowing Granite basin lake dam; cleaning the steep climb out of mint wash (both of us yee-ha, I never thought I had a prayer on an SS); nearly flipping over the bike on one manual across a stream (like the short stays!); flowing streams freaking everywhere, unbelievable amounts of water out there; being faster than Dan for 5 seconds on the final steep climb since I had grampa gearing and his legs finally gave out a bit:)
I laughed out loud many times on this ride. It is so nice to have evenly matched equipment (rigid SS) and two relatively close riders (at least on the descents). Thanks Dan.
The Zion performed superlatively. Cheapest frame and components I have with narrow (23") bars I found to replace the Mary's. Still had a ball.
Took the Rig to work today got in 1/2 hour tuning ride at lunch, then another 40 minutes on trails on the way home. I am feeling the short CS/short cockpit love for sure. Sooo much easier to lift the front for rough sections, bunny hops, etc. No regrets on decommissioning the Ventana.
Speaking of the Ventana.....I found a very subtle crack in the PC under the HT-DT junction that is concerning for possible fatiguing weld. This stinks as I almost had it sold, but there is no way I will sell it in a possibly unsafe condition. Fixable, but would mean return to factory for chin gussets, re-heat treat and re-paint. Probably not worth the expense. Might make a good office decoration because it is eye candy. Waiting on price to fix it.
The climbing was more prodigious than usual, and what we did not do in elevation, we made up for in steepness. Highlights included: descending 40 in snow and ice...carefully; putting down my seatpost 4 inches for that descent, and then never raising it again the rest of the ride, simply no flat areas; crossing a very swollen Mint Creek below the overflowing Granite basin lake dam; cleaning the steep climb out of mint wash (both of us yee-ha, I never thought I had a prayer on an SS); nearly flipping over the bike on one manual across a stream (like the short stays!); flowing streams freaking everywhere, unbelievable amounts of water out there; being faster than Dan for 5 seconds on the final steep climb since I had grampa gearing and his legs finally gave out a bit:)
I laughed out loud many times on this ride. It is so nice to have evenly matched equipment (rigid SS) and two relatively close riders (at least on the descents). Thanks Dan.
The Zion performed superlatively. Cheapest frame and components I have with narrow (23") bars I found to replace the Mary's. Still had a ball.
Took the Rig to work today got in 1/2 hour tuning ride at lunch, then another 40 minutes on trails on the way home. I am feeling the short CS/short cockpit love for sure. Sooo much easier to lift the front for rough sections, bunny hops, etc. No regrets on decommissioning the Ventana.
Speaking of the Ventana.....I found a very subtle crack in the PC under the HT-DT junction that is concerning for possible fatiguing weld. This stinks as I almost had it sold, but there is no way I will sell it in a possibly unsafe condition. Fixable, but would mean return to factory for chin gussets, re-heat treat and re-paint. Probably not worth the expense. Might make a good office decoration because it is eye candy. Waiting on price to fix it.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sally Jean the Bicycle Queen
We picked up this delightful book from the library and I have to recommend it highly.
Anyone who loves bikes will dig it.
It is about a young girl who grows from riding on the back of her mom's bike to a tricycle, to a bike with training wheels, to a full fledged bicycle; which she names Flash.
"I'm a plane, I'm a train,
I'm a girl up on a horse.
I'm Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen,
And my bike is Flash, of course!"
Unfortunately she outgrows Flash and her family has no money for a new bike... that is where the tale gets interesting. Using her resourcefulness, she fixes neighborhood kids bikes for a little spare change, and finally ends up using her mechanical skills to rescue a bike out of a pile of junk. Choked me up a bit.
You'll just have to check it out from the library and read it for yourself.....whether you have kids or not!
I think the illustration above from the front page says it all about the joy of riding (and short chainstays on single speeds:)). Check out the look on her elephant's face.
Hardtail Wars...
El Comandante vs Rig vs 737 EBB vs TRAIL 37
I rode Little Granite trail three times in rapid succession comparing the above noted frames. All were set up pretty similarly. I needed to settle the chainstay length and front end flex issue definitively (in my mind) Does it matter or not?
Tr. 37 starts with a near maximum power climb for about a mile. My HR is pegged throughout this climb even with measly 32X22 gearing. Then a 1/2 mile descent, and 1/4 mile steep climb. Turn around at top and enjoy the ride back down. On a good day I can do the loop in about 35 minutes. I have never cleaned it on SS. Usually due to simple exhaustion forcing me to stop and fall off the bike for a while.
To make the climb even more interesting, there are 65 water bars interspersed in this short trail. Each requiring a lift of the front and subsequently the back. On the descent, I will usually bunny hop them. No big deal one or two times, but 65 times?
...while totally tapped from a maximum effort climb?
...or while descending at warp speed?
...at an average of a water bar every 6 seconds on the descent, but usually in series with less than a second between them at high speed?
Don't tell me it doesn't matter how easy or not it is to get that front wheel up. On this trail it does.
Conditions are a mix of mud and snow right now. Traction is essentially unlimited on the 80-90% of the trail that is ridable. Tires don't matter much. All bikes ridden rigid with Zion brand forks.
Ventana El Comandante (cs=17.9): Climbed well. Took more effort to get over some water bars, but essentially did the job. Downhill, it was clunky and awkward to keep speed over the water bars. Many times just had to whoa way down. Sorta killed my flow. Rides stiff, in between the Rig and 737
Zion 737 EBB (SC=17.4"): Feels like it has an inch of suspension on each end. So smooth. Climbed just as well, less effort to ge the front up. Clearly out descended the Ventana on the trail. Remember that speeds are slow, and tech/body english moves are required to get over stuff. I was not as bothered by the flex as I have been in the past, probably because there are no high speed sweepers (where the Ventana excels) on this trail.
Rig (CS=17") Very stiff, punishingly so. Again, no problem climbing. Easiest to lift the front clearly. Descends like a rocket. Easiest to lift and bunny hop, but punishing when it hit the rocks.
What did I learn?
1. The Zion is a really great riding bike, even more so as you consider its price. It does not play well with suspension forks.
2. I preferred the Rig to the Ventana. The Rig also gives me the front end stiffness I desire for high speed sweeping type corners without forcing me to work so hard to get the front end up. It is probably best utilized with a suspension fork. That being said, Fishers have such a bad reputation for breaking, I wonder how long it will last.
3. With the two cheaper frames, the Ventana (gorgeous though it is) is superfluous. It is on the chopping block. Kills me, but I don't feel the love any more.
As it turns out, the geometry of the Rig is nearly exactly the geometry recommended to me by a custom builder. If it continues to keep me happy for 6 months or so, I just might plunk down for that custom steel frame.
I rode Little Granite trail three times in rapid succession comparing the above noted frames. All were set up pretty similarly. I needed to settle the chainstay length and front end flex issue definitively (in my mind) Does it matter or not?
Tr. 37 starts with a near maximum power climb for about a mile. My HR is pegged throughout this climb even with measly 32X22 gearing. Then a 1/2 mile descent, and 1/4 mile steep climb. Turn around at top and enjoy the ride back down. On a good day I can do the loop in about 35 minutes. I have never cleaned it on SS. Usually due to simple exhaustion forcing me to stop and fall off the bike for a while.
To make the climb even more interesting, there are 65 water bars interspersed in this short trail. Each requiring a lift of the front and subsequently the back. On the descent, I will usually bunny hop them. No big deal one or two times, but 65 times?
...while totally tapped from a maximum effort climb?
...or while descending at warp speed?
...at an average of a water bar every 6 seconds on the descent, but usually in series with less than a second between them at high speed?
Don't tell me it doesn't matter how easy or not it is to get that front wheel up. On this trail it does.
Conditions are a mix of mud and snow right now. Traction is essentially unlimited on the 80-90% of the trail that is ridable. Tires don't matter much. All bikes ridden rigid with Zion brand forks.
Ventana El Comandante (cs=17.9): Climbed well. Took more effort to get over some water bars, but essentially did the job. Downhill, it was clunky and awkward to keep speed over the water bars. Many times just had to whoa way down. Sorta killed my flow. Rides stiff, in between the Rig and 737
Zion 737 EBB (SC=17.4"): Feels like it has an inch of suspension on each end. So smooth. Climbed just as well, less effort to ge the front up. Clearly out descended the Ventana on the trail. Remember that speeds are slow, and tech/body english moves are required to get over stuff. I was not as bothered by the flex as I have been in the past, probably because there are no high speed sweepers (where the Ventana excels) on this trail.
Rig (CS=17") Very stiff, punishingly so. Again, no problem climbing. Easiest to lift the front clearly. Descends like a rocket. Easiest to lift and bunny hop, but punishing when it hit the rocks.
What did I learn?
1. The Zion is a really great riding bike, even more so as you consider its price. It does not play well with suspension forks.
2. I preferred the Rig to the Ventana. The Rig also gives me the front end stiffness I desire for high speed sweeping type corners without forcing me to work so hard to get the front end up. It is probably best utilized with a suspension fork. That being said, Fishers have such a bad reputation for breaking, I wonder how long it will last.
3. With the two cheaper frames, the Ventana (gorgeous though it is) is superfluous. It is on the chopping block. Kills me, but I don't feel the love any more.
As it turns out, the geometry of the Rig is nearly exactly the geometry recommended to me by a custom builder. If it continues to keep me happy for 6 months or so, I just might plunk down for that custom steel frame.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Rig
Just built up a 2007 Fisher Rig frame using the Comandante as a parts donor.
This project started with thinking a lot about what I like and don't like about the various hardtails I have tried. I had an near replica to this Rig previously and liked it except it felt a little difficult to handle...tended to wash out in the front. That frame was a large, and in retrospect, I realize the problem was the long nearly 25" ETT.
I serendipitously got the Comandante simply because I coudn't pass it up as it was a smoking deal. I thought it was too small for me, but in riding it, I discovered I love the smaller ETT. El Comandante is an incredible handler, stiff, light, and just rails the corners. I have found that it falls down a bit when I have to repetitively and quickly get the front up at high speed such as descending the water bars on 37 when you are almost back to the car, and usually tapped by the ride. Face it, the same longish stays that make it rail also make it truckish when I want nimble.
I also put some time on a nearly identical steel Zion 737 during the time. It has a very smooth, plush ride, generally I enjoyed it, but the front end flexed in stressful situations leading to unpredictable handling just when you need it to be predictable.
Thinking about it, I was planning a custom with a HTA in the 70-71 range, STA 73, ETT 23.8"ish, and CSL 17ish". This steel bike would be sort of like grafting the rear of the Zion on the the front of the Ventana with large diameter tubes for the TT and downtube to get the flex free handling I wanted along with shorter rear end. A custom bike is out of the question at this juncture, so I considered my options.
One day it dawned on me: Used Rig
They are cheap, readily available and satisfy my requirements: 17"CS, 24"ETT, Large diameter, gussetted tubes at the HT-TT and DT-TT intersection.
So it arrived this week and I built it up tonight as noted. Initial impressions from riding around the garage and the driveway are very favorable. I compared it back to back with the Zion and found it noticeably stiffer on the front end, noticeably easier to loft the front. The Zion is butter, and a beautiful white bike and will stay for sure. I will ride Rig and Zion back to back for an evaluation period. If they seem to fit the bill, the Comandante will sadly be on the chopping block. Sad because it is a gorgeous frame held back from greatness by unneccesarily long (by my standards) chainstays.
This project started with thinking a lot about what I like and don't like about the various hardtails I have tried. I had an near replica to this Rig previously and liked it except it felt a little difficult to handle...tended to wash out in the front. That frame was a large, and in retrospect, I realize the problem was the long nearly 25" ETT.
I serendipitously got the Comandante simply because I coudn't pass it up as it was a smoking deal. I thought it was too small for me, but in riding it, I discovered I love the smaller ETT. El Comandante is an incredible handler, stiff, light, and just rails the corners. I have found that it falls down a bit when I have to repetitively and quickly get the front up at high speed such as descending the water bars on 37 when you are almost back to the car, and usually tapped by the ride. Face it, the same longish stays that make it rail also make it truckish when I want nimble.
I also put some time on a nearly identical steel Zion 737 during the time. It has a very smooth, plush ride, generally I enjoyed it, but the front end flexed in stressful situations leading to unpredictable handling just when you need it to be predictable.
Thinking about it, I was planning a custom with a HTA in the 70-71 range, STA 73, ETT 23.8"ish, and CSL 17ish". This steel bike would be sort of like grafting the rear of the Zion on the the front of the Ventana with large diameter tubes for the TT and downtube to get the flex free handling I wanted along with shorter rear end. A custom bike is out of the question at this juncture, so I considered my options.
One day it dawned on me: Used Rig
They are cheap, readily available and satisfy my requirements: 17"CS, 24"ETT, Large diameter, gussetted tubes at the HT-TT and DT-TT intersection.
So it arrived this week and I built it up tonight as noted. Initial impressions from riding around the garage and the driveway are very favorable. I compared it back to back with the Zion and found it noticeably stiffer on the front end, noticeably easier to loft the front. The Zion is butter, and a beautiful white bike and will stay for sure. I will ride Rig and Zion back to back for an evaluation period. If they seem to fit the bill, the Comandante will sadly be on the chopping block. Sad because it is a gorgeous frame held back from greatness by unneccesarily long (by my standards) chainstays.
Splendid
Just finished H's book club book A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Just as with Kite Runner, the book is tragic in its reality and a very compelling tale of Afganistan, this time from more of a woman's perspective.
I suck at reviews, but suffice it to say it is a splendid book and a very worthy read. It is heartbreaking to think of the lot of women under the rule of fundamentalist Islam. IMO, the over through of the Taliban in Afganistan is possibly the greatest good that has come out the entire war on terror. Good on the order of the US civil war's effect on slavery.
Get it, it's a page turner and will open your eyes a bit if you are from America.
Just as with Kite Runner, the book is tragic in its reality and a very compelling tale of Afganistan, this time from more of a woman's perspective.
I suck at reviews, but suffice it to say it is a splendid book and a very worthy read. It is heartbreaking to think of the lot of women under the rule of fundamentalist Islam. IMO, the over through of the Taliban in Afganistan is possibly the greatest good that has come out the entire war on terror. Good on the order of the US civil war's effect on slavery.
Get it, it's a page turner and will open your eyes a bit if you are from America.
Welcome John!
One of my most inspirational friends has joined the Blogosphere.
Check here to see what John is up to on his surgical trip to Gabon. It will open your eyes to how most of the world lives.
The initial photo is an empty belly after he removed a 56 lb tumor from a 150 lb(now 100lb) woman!
Check here to see what John is up to on his surgical trip to Gabon. It will open your eyes to how most of the world lives.
The initial photo is an empty belly after he removed a 56 lb tumor from a 150 lb(now 100lb) woman!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Plans....
Fall through.
Originally planned to go to Black Canyon with Hosking today. He got sick, and it was way wet out there. Didn't want to drive an hour for nothing.
Sedona? also too muddy.
Decided to stay close to home and suffer a bit on Little Granite....Rigid....SS.....suffering is guaranteed. Got one companion in Jay: a very game, but less than fit anesthesia colleague. So off we went on two orange bikes.
More snow than I have ever seen at the top of 37. Hard to climb SS in snow. Muddy in spots, but not the evil kind of mud. Beautiful views. I love 37 for that. Nice tech stuff that in some ways was easier on the rigid in the snow Hard to explain, but rigid just forces one to slow down, and the snow was tacky, and the wet dirt unbelievably tacky.
We rode out for about 1.5 hours, the hiked and biked our way back through mud, snow. I would call it a good day all in all. Not your typical ride for sure. Probably hiked 2 miles out of 8. Really glad I didn't take the geared bike for this one.
One thing is for sure...commuting is no substitute for actually getting out on trails with some steep climbs. I have felt the time off the trails. Maybe I need to set up a SS commuter with a barely pushable gear to get some power training.
Originally planned to go to Black Canyon with Hosking today. He got sick, and it was way wet out there. Didn't want to drive an hour for nothing.
Sedona? also too muddy.
Decided to stay close to home and suffer a bit on Little Granite....Rigid....SS.....suffering is guaranteed. Got one companion in Jay: a very game, but less than fit anesthesia colleague. So off we went on two orange bikes.
More snow than I have ever seen at the top of 37. Hard to climb SS in snow. Muddy in spots, but not the evil kind of mud. Beautiful views. I love 37 for that. Nice tech stuff that in some ways was easier on the rigid in the snow Hard to explain, but rigid just forces one to slow down, and the snow was tacky, and the wet dirt unbelievably tacky.
We rode out for about 1.5 hours, the hiked and biked our way back through mud, snow. I would call it a good day all in all. Not your typical ride for sure. Probably hiked 2 miles out of 8. Really glad I didn't take the geared bike for this one.
One thing is for sure...commuting is no substitute for actually getting out on trails with some steep climbs. I have felt the time off the trails. Maybe I need to set up a SS commuter with a barely pushable gear to get some power training.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
I blame D (and M)
Wifey took 2 kids to swim lessons and I felt inspired. By my sweet tooth!
Note mostly in focus photos.
Cookies are my preferred golden brown, but "burnt" according to H.
If I can't ride, might as well eat.
Note mostly in focus photos.Cookies are my preferred golden brown, but "burnt" according to H.
If I can't ride, might as well eat.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Dobson
James Dobson in this interview voices many of my frustrations.
Fact is, this election I am independent with conservative/libertarian biases. My vote will go to the candidate who best represent my views of what the scriptures say a leader should be. Some might say: Choose the lesser of two evils. Not anymore.
I leave you with a couple more thought provoking articles from Doug Phillips' blog.
All this in some way leads me to believe that we are headed to the first post-Christian election in American history. For better or worse.
Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can't vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life.I think this expresses the frustration of many on the "Christian right" who essentially won the election for Bush four years ago. The republicans have squandered their support, and they are looking elsewhere. The republicans stand to further alienate this block of voters, especially if McCain is nominated. The fact remains that neither party can lay claim to the Christian vote since neither party truly and accurately represents the Christian world view. They probably never did, but the republicans were always perceived as representing it more closely.
Fact is, this election I am independent with conservative/libertarian biases. My vote will go to the candidate who best represent my views of what the scriptures say a leader should be. Some might say: Choose the lesser of two evils. Not anymore.
I leave you with a couple more thought provoking articles from Doug Phillips' blog.
We can “win” an election, and yet sell our spiritual birthright. Conversely, we can “lose” an election yet remain faithful to the Word of God, thus preserving the conscience of the body of Christ and enjoying the favor of the Lord.
The ballot box has a very important function in a free society, but it can never be expected to do anything more than to reflect the character, the desires, and the will of the people. If the people who vote are of weak or bad character, if their desires are larcenous and envious, and if their will be perverse and evil, the election results will merely reflect their own nature on a broader scope.
All this in some way leads me to believe that we are headed to the first post-Christian election in American history. For better or worse.
World's Best bike
I have been riding the above set-up steadily for about 8 months now, and it seems to do the ticket for me. Some times I want to go SS of fixed, but that does not give me the gearing flexibility I want with steepish uphills, and longish false flat downhills. Maybe a 2 speed would work okay, but too much bother to set up.
Dedicatory post here.
PS: Can any tech savvy blogger folks help me figure out how to post my photos larger say 1000x750. Blogger always shrinks them.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
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