What I Do In Whistler

This video is pretty good. I've never been to Whistler but I imagine my trip being a mix of the first and last segments. Bonus Girvin sighting!



What I Do In Whistler from nsmb.com on Vimeo.

Girvin Sighting!

I saw this proflex on Sunday. The legends are true, mine isn't the last one. 

This is a Yuba Mundo with a copper sissy bar. Very cool.

Zen And The Art Of Bicycle Neglect

I started biking (again) in 1995. My first mountain bike was a 95 Giant 870 ATX which I still have and ride on occasion.



For something I held (and hold) so dear to my heart I treated it brutally. Over the years I've ridden it into the ground only to dig it up and trash it again. My friends and I used to race right down the middle of Difficult Run. The water gradually got deeper and we would reluctantly float away from their bikes as the frames clung to the bottom of the creek. I remember the time the hub bearings seized while I was riding around the monuments with my girlfriend (wife). This of course was the result of too many creek races. One time the drive side crank sheared off while I was booking down 16th street on the way to work. The chain bounced and skidded on the pavement while I was left going full speed through traffic, my right foot aloft with a crank arm and chainrings dangling, still clipped into my shoe.

I digress.

Through these experiences I've learned to take better care of my bikes.  I don't ride them into the ground anymore but I come pretty close. There is always that question, "How hard and far can I push this component  before it brakes and I'm left walking?". That question was on my mind as I cleaned my horribly impacted chain this morning in the 40 degree sunshine. It was pathetic, the drivetrain looked and felt like someone melted black crayons into it while I was pedaling down the beach. I'm glad my neighbors didn't come out while the embarrassing de-funking was taking place.

As I de-funked I noticed that my 36t chainring was beginning to shark-fin which meant that besides the teeth wearing down the chain had stretched. In the past I wouldn't have given this much thought. I probably would have let it go for another few seasons until it snapped or got so bad that  my friends made fun of me.

Nowadays I'm trying to find that sweet spot between gear longevity and ride quality.  Sure I could probably push these components another season or two, but what kind of seasons would those be? There would  be lots of extra friction and shifting issues, and then I would have to replace more parts all at once as the drive train components would wear down together. Getting as much as I can out of a piece of gear is the goal but no longer will I compromise the ride as an experience to get it.

The Sligo Creek Triangle

Since wrecking on the ice on Friday, I did what I should have done a few weeks ago. I got my Giant (AKA The Girvin) up and running with some grippy tires to give the LHT a rest from the ice and salt. I haven't ridden the Girvin since I wrecked it last June on a bridge not 50 yards from where I wiped out on Friday. I think I've discovered the Sligo Creek Triangle.

When I wrecked the Girvin, the drive side pedal was ripped out of the crank. I was worried that the threads would be too damaged to use again but the new pedal went on with little fuss (or so I thought). It wasn't until I rode it that I noticed that either the pedal is at an angle of the crank or bottom bracket is bent. It feels very strange on that side, maybe I'll swap out the cranks tonight.

Abused since 1995 and still kicking ass

While I was at it, I retired one of my oldest pieces of bike gear. My first year of issue XTR v-brakes. I can't remember when Shimano first released the XTR line but I lucked into a good deal for these at mtbr.com. I'll guess 1997 maybe? Anyway, these were my first venture into v-brakes and I remember that first ride being stunned by their stopping power. They were so strong my frame would flex so I put on a brake booster (seen below), which was a 90's thing that I probably didn't need.

The cantilever I put replaced them with are completely inadequate so I think I'll look around for a rebuild kit. I would be nice to have them rocking again.

Just popped open a brand new case of the Mondays...

The Craigslist Shuffle: Ultegra Shifters And A Girvin Sighting

A few weeks ago I told you about my latest addition and things are moving right along. I just rolled down to Georgetown and picked up a set of Ultegra STI 9 speed shifters through a Craigslist ad. I just need the appropriate bar tape and they will be good to go. Bar end shifters, your days are numbered. You know every step closer to my Ultimate Cross Check goal makes me feel a little more like Mr. Burns... hmm?

yes... excellent...

Shout out to Dan from Big Wheel Bikes in G-town. Thanks for the hook up, and props on the Girvin rental bike!

This fork will be around long after you're dead.

Election Day, Custom Steel, and Halloween

This morning I joined a few hundred of my neighbors to stand in line for an hour and make small talk in exchange for the privilege of voting in today's presidential election. Having never biked to a presidential polling place, I thought it would be nice to take the Girvin along so it could see what all the excitement was about. I only had my camera phone on my so excuse the small resolution.

If your election last longer than 4 hours contact a doctor immediately.

The Girvin quickly got into the spirit and made small talk with one of my neighbor's brand new custom steel Palermo touring bike. This bike was beautiful, British racing green and cream with gold inlay on the lugs fitted with XT and Thompson components. Very elegant, and not something I see on the everyday commuting circuit.

After a stellar voting performance I spiked my helmet on the floor and did the Truffle Shuffle before heading of to work. I went by way of the Capital Crescent trail to take in some fall colors. I also happened to take in some second hand ganja smoke from a dude burning one down while walking his dog. I did not take a picture of this because it just wouldn't be cool and he would have been justified in setting his dog after me.

Further along I spotted this dude taking a set of dishes into the house he worked at via burley trailer. This guy gets props for several reasons; first for transporting a set of dishes via mountain bike on a bumpy gravel trail. Second for recognizing the Girvin and still having one he blew out back in the day.

On to Halloween...

This is by far my favorite holiday. Most major holidays are family oriented and require travel and large meals and dishes and house cleaning and that is all well and good. But it's nice to have a day where none of that is expected, where the emphasis is on creativity, silliness and sexiness. Where the level of participation required to be socially acceptable is soley up to the participant. Plus everyone gets free candy and women suddenly have the urge to out slut each other! All that is missing is a declaration of federal holiday by the powers that be and this would be the best day of the year.

My Halloweens usually fluctuate from raging parties to quiet nights of candy dispersion. This Halloween landed somewhere just left of the middle of that scale. Having a 3 month old daughter made things pretty tame, which was just what I was in the mood for. Some neighbors came over with their little one and we went to a few houses before retreating back to our house to drink beer and eat candy.

Happy Holidays indeed.

For a costume I thought my 1993 White Zombie "Say You Love Satan" world tour shirt would be totally appropriate. To top it off I found the scariest mask I could find... children ran screaming, parents locked the doors and turned out the lights, and somewhere a copy of the constitution burst into flames... it was perfect!

BOO!

Achieving The Impossible

Many have tried (probabaly not) to attach a front fender to a bike that rocks the Girvin CrossLink. So many have faltered with bloody knuckles and broken resolve to tackle the complexities brought on by a fork that puts the front tire miles away from the head tube. My friends the sun has returned and the long cold night is over. I present to you the Girvin with a newly installed front fender.

Actually it was pretty easy. I used the SpeedEZ ATB fenders from Planet Bike. It took about 20 minute to finagle the whoziewhatsis but after that is was a breeze.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow so we will see how it works.