Monday, August 31, 2009

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Cool Street Jam in New York

Found this pretty cool blog tonight called "Thrash Bikes" its all about freeriding/dirtjumping/street in and around New York city. It seems that they host a street jam in June at the Brooklyn Banks ("See Banks"). From what I have seen out of New York the riding is getting super technical and long flows on the streets, edging closer and closer towards how a bmx preforms.

Heres a video of the event with some pretty awesome riding on bmx's, dj hardtails and even a fixed gear or two. Make sure to press the view in HD button! Check out part two of the video (link) for some not-so-great music, but really good riding.

Thrashbike Jam 2009 from y.arava on Vimeo.


Also make sure to check out the blog itself here: ThrashBikes; to see some cool bike checks and videos

-Colin


Mitch on Switchbacks


Rigid singlespeeds make things interesting


Not much of a challenge for Nic

We had a good group ride on Tuesday. I've been riding solo for much of the summer on the supposed group rides since people are busy and have other engagements. This is to be expected in the summertime and not an issue at all. However, I will be out there every Tuesday as long as I'm healthy, and in town. So if you ever feel like going for a ride or get introduced to the Dump, I'll be there at 7pm. Last Tuesday, Mitch, Justin, Colin and myself showed up for the ride, along with Nic and Mitch's better half, Claire. That's the biggest ride we've had in a long time and it was good to have more people out. We Picked up Al from Cycle BC, on the trails and did a pretty standard loop. We rode to the top of Twister via Switchbacks and then came down Old payoff and Snakes and ladders. No spectacular crashes although Justin had another battle with his rockgarden nemesis on Little Face, and Colin took a bit of a spill on old payoff. Neiter one was fantastic enough to take the crash trophy but in all honesty I can't remember who is the current trophy holder. Andrews crash on his road bike was pretty fantastic though so I have to say that he must still clench the trophy with his one good arm.

In other news... there is an alleycat tomorrow in Victoria. Meet at the Chain 7:30pm, mash the pedals and empty the cans.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Singlespeed mtb, and housing

I sent my shock off for servicing last week. But since I can hardly go a week without mountain biking (or I'll risk my mental health, which is unstable to begin with) I had to ponder my options. Sure I could borrow some of the demo bikes we have at the shop, but I've been riding those for quite a bit and I wanted to try something different. So, out from hibernation came the Cannondale that I've had since 1998. This bike (a rigid M400 mountain bike) has gone through many transformations over the years and has served me well. The last incarnation was a singlespeed version that I used for a cyclocross race last year and for commuting in the snow last winter. I was running a 34x16 gear on it for that purpose but decided to lower that a bit, so I threw on a 32t chainring and headed for the dump. I've ridden this bike as a singlespeed, ever since the original drive train finally gave up the ghost a few years ago, but I've never ridden it on mountain bike trails as a singlespeed. Although in it's early years it saw a lot of action on the mountain.
The trails at the dump are not friendly for heavy gearing as I soon found out. I managed to ride up most of the trails that were not to steep, but once I got into technical and steep climbs, things got a little rough. This resulted in much sweat and many stops. I immediately decided I should lower the gearing a bit but I must say that I was blown away by how much fun this was. Every little thing is a challenge on that rig, even just riding on the fire roads. I enjoyed being forced to ride smoothly, or I would pay for it. I rode up to the top of Twister and that's where I discovered a bit of a problem. My fancy pink "brake" housing was splitting on me..."Now why was this happening," I thought and then realized my rookie mistake. I had been so mesmerized by the colour that I didn't check if the housing was a brake or a shifter cable when I installed it after salvaging it from the garbage can at work. Using a shifter housing for a brake cable is not a smart idea, since shifter housing is designed to have as little friction as possible and for that it sacrifices strength. there was a good story on this in Urban Velo a while back: Brake VS Shifter Housing
But I digress. I temporarily fixed the brake issue by switching the housing around, back to front, which provided me with enough stopping power to get down the hill. The day after I rummaged around in the parts bin and found an old 18t cog and some yellow (!) brake housing and went out again, after work. That gearing is much better, but since the cog was out of a cassette, it was not quite as wide as the singlespeed cog that was in there before. I did not realie this until I was on the trails and kept throwing my chain off. I solved that problem, by sacrificing an inner tube and having my chain tensioner pulling up instead of down, thus engaging more teeth on the cog and getting rid of the annoying chain throwing issues. That configuration worked well, and the hills were a little easier, so I'll keep that setup for now.

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A Rider's Wedding



So...over the weekend Curtis(bike mechanic) and I (sales staff) got hitched! After eight years together rowing and cycling the world, we tied the knot on Mayne Island. There was an awesome shot of us in wedding attire on our decorated bikes, complete with biking shoes and 'newly wed' signs, when I download it I will put it on the blog. That's all for now, see you on the Monday night ride!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Smart cookies

A bicycle is great for moving stuff around, but there are some size and weight limitations that apply. Also, it helps to be somewhat sober when operating this contraption, as is duly illustrated by these two geniuses:

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Performance and wood

Check out this video. Tastefully done.


I came across this brand the other day as well. Apparently, wood isn't such a bad material for bike frames. The craftsmanship is unbelievable. http://www.renovobikes.com/

Friday, August 7, 2009

Fixed on the group ride

In a moment of madness I decided to go on the road ride on my fixed gear bike last Monday. I spoke to Curtis who leads the rides, and he said he'd choose a route that wouldn't be too hilly. "Ok good," I said, and threw a brake on the front so I wouldn't crash into the rider ahead of me and take out the peloton. The ride was pretty casual and only had one really hard hill on it. This hill was Lagoon Rd. coming up from the Esquimalt lagoon. I was pretty tired at that point but I really wanted to climb the hill. So I went for it. In retrospect, I came into itway too hard, that is, I started really pushing it at the bottom of the hill so when I finally hit the steep part I totally bonked. Embarrassingly enough I had to walk for a bit as other riders passed me. So I'll have to ride back out there one of these days and try it again. Curtis matched my gear ratio and rode up the hill without a problem, just to show me that I need to train a bit harder. Other than that embarrassing episode, the ride was a success. With the 3 to 1 ratio I did not have too hard of a time keeping up with the other guys, at least not on the flats. The hills are tricky and that goes both for those going downhill and up. Cornering at high speed without being able to coast can get a little hairy but I just took my time and tried to be as careful as I could. However, I found that the fixed gear was good for riding in the group. If the rider ahead of me started coasting I could control my speed more precisely just by using my legs (as opposed to coasting and using the brakes), and did not have to use the brake. Of course I could not coast anyway so that is sort of a mute point I guess. It was definitely fun to go out on the group ride on the fixed gear, but I don't think I'll do it again any time soon. I didn't really hold up the ride this time but on a more challenging route I'm sure I would and that is not something I want to do.
Streetsprints tonight!!! Perhaps at the Velodrome which should be fantastic. Be there!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Ride report, forest fire.



photos pilfered of the NSMB forums, and from Dave B

I had a good ride at Hartland last night. It was a solo ride and that was great. It's soothing to ride alone from time to time, you can kind of enjoy the woods a little more and savour the silence. Also you can go at your own pace. If you feel like pushing yourself you can and if you get tired, just sit down and try and spot some wildlife. I tried to push myself to ride hard for a full hour, but needless to say I did not succeed. This hour thing is supposed to be training for the cross season. Since the races are usually only about 45min I've been told that this is the way to train for that sort of thing. Run for an hour, hard, or ride for an hour, hard. I tried but after about a half hour of pretty much steady climb I blew up, and had to walk for awhile. This is becoming an annoying habit, that is, me blowing up on climbs. The downhill was great though and I did some new stuff I've never done before which is my goal every time I go riding at Hartland.

I wanted to see the fire damage from the fire on July 20th. so I rode towards Snakes and Ladders on Old Payoff and just where Torpedo run starts, I took a right to the viewpoint. There used to be a really cool Arbutus tree smack in the middle of that plateau. It was one of my favorite places at the park and I always wanted to take a black and white picture there. Sadly I never did and now that tree has been burned to the ground except for one sad branch. I was pretty bummed out about that and considered taking a part of the chopped down arbutus home with me for a reminder to carry the camera at all times. This place is a popular spot for guys smoking dubies and cigarettes, and that's definitely what started the fire. I can't believe that people still do that. If you're a smoker you put out your cigarette butt properly and CARRY IT OUT WITH YOU. This is not the 50's people! You don't still throw garbage out of the window of your car do you? Maybe you do, I don't know...Seems totally ignorant to me.
Just keep in mind that if Hartland burns down because you could not be bothered to put it out properly, there will be a contract out on your head.

A huge thanks to the Saanich FD, CRD Parks, and BCFS for putting out the fire as soon as they did. You guys rock.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Custom framebuilders


Having a bit of a hard time finding a bike that fits you just right? Lets say, oh I don't know, maybe a 63cm track bike.
Perhaps a custom built bike would be your solution. I stumbled across this list of framebuilders on the net the other day and I thought some people would be interested. I got the list through a supplier of the S and S frame couplings, so the list is far from being complete but there are some options there:

http://www.sandsmachine.com/fbplist.htm

USA and Foreign Framebuilder Lists

View Builder Logos

Framebuilders Located in the USA

Products & Services with S and S Couplings
New Bicycles or Frames Existing Bicycles
Frame
Geometry
Available:
Standard
a=Available
i=In Stock
& / or
Custom
Materials
Offered
Models offered Retrofit Services
Contact Information
Click on a framebuilder's name
for more detailed information.
Materials:
Steel,
Ti,
Carbon F
or
Aluminum

Conventional
Bikes:
Single,
Tandem
or
Convertible

Recum-
bent:
Bikes:
Single
or
Tandem
Materials
Retrofit:
Steel,
Titanium
or
Carbon
Fiber
Any
Brand
Weeks
Wait:
Company City State Phone Std Cust st ti cf a sgl tnd cnv

sgl

tnd st ti cf
Anvil Bikeworks, Inc. Littleton CO 303-471-7533
cst st ti

sgl








Barcroft Cyclse Falls Church VA 703-750-1945 a








tnd st



Bilenky Cycle Works Philadelphia PA 800-213-6388 a cst st ti

sgl tnd cnv
tnd st ti
yes 1-5

Bob Brown Cycles

St. Paul

MN 651-730-7596
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4-6
Bohemian Bicycles Tucson AZ 520-440-3094
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 8
Borthwick Framesets Inc. Grinnell IA 641-236-0968
cst st


sgl tnd





no 12
Brew Racing Frames Creston NC 336-246-8555 a cst st


sgl



st

no 3
Burley Eugene OR 800-311-5294 a
st



tnd







Burro Bikes Big Bear Lake CA 909- 866-6588 a cst st


sgl








Bushnell Cycle Designs Auburn WA 253-826-2233 a cst st







st

yes 4
Calfee Design La Selva Beach CA 831-728-1859 a cst

cf
sgl tnd cnv sgl


c no 1
Calhoun Cycle Minneapolis MN 612- 827-8000 a
st





sgl
st

yes 6
Cherry Bicycles LaFayette IN 756-423-4488 a cst st ti

sgl



st ti
yes 3
Co-Motion Cycles, Inc. Eugene OR 541-342-4583 i cst st


sgl tnd cnv






Columbine Cycle Works Bellevue CO 970-356-7617
cst st


sgl



st

yes 8
Concept Technology San Diego CA 858-292-4255
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Cyclart Vista CA 760-599-1015










st

yes 6
Cycle Dynamics Santa Rosa CA 707-545-2453
cst st


sgl



st

yes 6-10
Cycles Gaansari Springboro OH 937-748-8862 a
st ti

sgl








Cycles LaMoure Sequim WA 360-477-0257 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3
da Vinci Designs Denver CO 800-873-3214 a cst st ti


tnd







Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles Seattle WA 800-292-5374 a cst st ti

sgl tnd


st ti
yes 3
DEAN USA Boulder CO 303-530-3091 a cst st ti

sgl








DeSalvo Custom Cycles Ashland OR 541-621-8408 a cst st ti

sgl



st ti
yes 4-6
Erickson Cycles Seattle WA 206-527-5259 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 1
Gunnar Cycles Waterford WI 262-534-4190 a cst st


sgl








H. H. Racing Group Media PA 610-565-6023 a cst st


sgl








Holland Cycles, Inc. Spring Valley CA 619-469-1772
cst
ti

sgl








Hujsak Bicycles Wimberley TX 512-847-5639
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes call
Independent Fabrication Sommerville MA 617-666-3609 a cst st


sgl








J.P. Weigle Cycles Lyme CT 860-434-0700
cst st


sgl



st

yes 12
Landshark Medford OR 541-535-4516
cst st


sgl tnd







Lightfoot Cycles Darby MT 406-821-4750
cst st





sgl tnd st

yes 10
Lightning Cycle Dynamics Lompoc CA 805-736-0700 a cst st





sgl
st

no 6
Longbikes Lakewood CO 303-986-9300 a cst st



tnd
sgl tnd




Merlin Metalworks, Inc. Chattanooga TN 423.238-4923 a cst
ti

sgl








Moots Cycles Steamboat Springs CO 970-879-7546 a cst
ti

sgl








Ogle Bicycle Works Berkley CA 510-527-0095
cst st ti

sgl








Peter Mooney Cycles Belmont MA 617-489-3577 a cst st


sgl



st

yes 3
Pfeiffer Pframes Clemson SC 864-639-1194
cst st


sgl



st

yes 8
Powers Design Quality Cedar Falls IA 319-277-1002 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3-4
Ramblumtick Bikes LLC Missoula MT 406-829-6339
cst st


sgl








Rans Hays KS 785-625-6346 i
st






tnd st

no call
Ravello Bikes San Diego CA 858 274-2055 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Rex Cycles Sacramento CA 916-446-5706 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3
Richard Sachs Cycles Chester CT 860-526-2059 a cst st


sgl



st

yes 2-3
Rivendell Bicycle Works Walnut Creek CA 925-933-7304 a cst st


sgl








Roark Custom Titanium B. Brownsburg IN 317-852-3163 a cst
ti

sgl








Rock Lobster Cycles Santa Cruz CA 831-429-1356
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Rodriguez Bicycles Seattle WA 206-527-4822
cust st ti

sgl tnd


st

yes 9
Ryan (Now by Longbikes)


















Sano Cycle Works Huntsville AL 877-963-7266
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 2-3
Santana Cycles, Inc. La Verne CA 909-596-7570 i cst st ti
a
tnd


st

no 8
Serotta Competition Bicycles South Glens Falls NY 518-747-8620 a cst st ti

sgl








Seven Cycles Inc. Watertown MA 617-923-7774 a cst st ti

sgl tnd







Spectrum Cycles, Inc. Breinigsville PA 610-398-1986
cst st ti

sgl tnd







Solo Velo Albany CA 510-220-6087 a cst stl


sgl








Steelman Cycles Redwood City CA 650-364-3939 a cst stl


sgl








Strong Frames Bozeman MT 800 586-1105
cst stl ti

sgl



st ti
yes 6
Sycip Designs Santa Rosa CA 707-542-6359
cst stl


sgl tnd


st

yes 8
Tallerico Bicycles Los Altos CA 650-464-9085
cst stl


sgl



st

yes call
Ted Wojcik Custom Bicycles Hampstead NH 603-329-8057 a cst stl


sgl



st

yes 4
Terra Cycles Portland OR 503-231-9798
cst stl


sgl








Ti CYCLES Portland OR 503-621-9670 a cst stl ti

sgl tnd


st ti
yes 3
Ventana Mountain Bikes Rancho Cordova CA 916-631-0544
cst stl



tnd







Waterford Precision Cycles Waterford WI 262-534-4190 a cst stl


sgl



st

yes 6
WizWheelz Hastings MI 269-945-5581 a
stl





sgl tnd




Zinn Cycles, Inc. Boulder CO 303-499-4349
cst stl ti

sgl tnd


st ti
yes call
  

Foreign Framebuilders (Located Outside the USA)


Products & Services with S and S Couplings

New Bicycles or Frames

Existing Bicycles

Frame
Geometry
Available:
Standard
a=Available
i=In Stock
& / or
Custom

Material

Models offered

Retrofit Services

Contact Information
Click on a framebuilder's name
for more detailed information.

Materials:
Steel
Titanium
Carbon F.
Aluminum
Conventional
Bikes:
Single,
Tandem
or
Convertible
Recum-
bent:
Bikes:
Single
or
Tandem
Materials
Retrofit:
Steel
Titanium
Carbon F
Any
Brand
Weeks
Wait
Company City State/Area Country Phone std cust st ti cf a sgl tnd cnv sgl tnd st ti cf any weeks
Agresti Fahrrader Ahlhorn
Germany 04435/ 971257 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3
Arvon Cycles Tofield Alberta Canada 780-662-2842
cst



sgl tnd


st

yes 2-3
Bob Jackson Cycles Bramley Leeds UK 0113 255 1144
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 8
Brodie Research and Tech. Vancouver B.C. Canada 604-325-2033 a cst st


sgl








Dietmar Hertel Rahmenbau Erftstadt
Germany 02235 799472 a cst st


sgl



st

yes 10
Fateba Winterthur
Switzerland 41-52-212-6911 a cst st





sgl
st

yes 4
Gleiss Rahmenbau Pattensen
Germany 05101 916460 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 2
GREENSPEED Ferntree Gully
Australia +61 3 9758 5541 a cst st





sgl tnd st

yes 2
Hardo Wagner Rahmenbau Lübeck
Germany +49 0451 8132043
cst st


sgl








Hillbrick Racing Frames Minto
Australia (02) 9820 4011
cst st


sgl



st

yes call
JESTER Hand Built Bicycles Welland Ontario Canada 905-788-1497
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Kinetics Cycles Glasgow
UK +44 141 942 2552
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Holger Koch Fahrradrahmenbau Kaufungen
Germany 05605 5665
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 6
La Bicicleteria Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico 52(3)823 65 99
cst st


sgl



st

yes 6
Langenberg Fahrradmanufaktur Baunatal
Germany 0561 49 5155
cst











yes 3
Lee Cooper Cycles Coventry
UK 024 76304723 a cst st


sgl tmd


st

yes 4-8
LoGo Trikes Spearwood W.
Australia +61 8 9418 2757 a
stl





sgl





M-Gineering Kiel Windeweer
Netherlands +31 598-491865
cst stl


sgl



st

yes 8-10
M . Steel Cycles Newcastle Upon Tyne

+ 44 (0)191 285 1251 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 8
Matsuda Bicycle Factory
(LEVEL)
Tokyo
Japan Fax 81-3-3806 6091 a cst st


sgl



st

yes call
Marschall Frameworks Möhnesee
Germany +49 (0) 2924 851532
cst st


sgl






yes 1-2
Naked Quadra Island B.C. Canada 250-285-3181
cst st


sgl tnd
sgl
st

yes 3-8
Pedalpower Berlin
Germany +49 (0)30 55153270 a cst



sgl tnd


st

yes 4
Recomboni - Cambie Cycles Vancouver B.C. Canada 604-874-3616 a
st





sgl tnd




Roberts Cycles Croydon Surrey UK +44 (0)20-8684 3370
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3
S.F.B. Loenen a/d Vecht
Netherlands +31 (0)294 231056















Simoncini-Italia Gambassi Terme Firenze Italy (39) 0571 632661
cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 3
Stalla & Dittrich GmbH Freiberg/Neckar
Germany +49 (0)7141 73 37 3















Tandem Technology Göderle Rahmenbau
Chemnitz

Germany 0371 5212870
cst




tnd


st

yes 8
Thorn Bridgwater Somerset UK 44-1278-423632 a cst st


sgl tnd


st

yes 4
TOEI Kawaguchi Saitama Japan 81 48 256 0390 a cst st












Velodrom-Rahmenbau Köln
Germany 0221 4062486
cst st


sgl








Wiesmann Rahmenbau Freiburg
Germany 0761 507188
c st


sgl