Blubber Burn Classic Pictures

Hi everyone. I realized that not everyone could see the pictures on facebook, or don't even have a facebook account so I made my album Public and I will share the link. If any one else has any other pictures (Mitch! etc) post'em up in the comments!


FaceBook Links

fIXED "epics"

from Fyxomatosis:

JUNKUN Part 1 of 2 from GOOD.is on Vimeo.

AND:

"Flat Out" Teaser from FLAT OUT PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

On tinker and prep for the Blubbah

Quote of the month:
Shayne: "I feel like like Tinker Juarez today!" Halldor: "what do you mean?" Shayne: "Old and Hairy!"
Bwahahaha...
Tinker still kicks ass though. Check out his race schedule for 2010:
http://tinkerjuarez-2008schedule.blogspot.com/2008/04/2008-schedule-subject-to-change-date.html

The blubber burn is getting organized and I've got a few of the prices in today...Some sweet stuff from Sombrio, TRP, Michelin and more...We're going out after work to plan the course so we will be night riding on cross bikes tonight. Should be entertaining! Everyone who wants to come out is welcome to join us.

Hope to see you all out there on the course on Sunday. Also, if you don't feel like racing but want to be a part of the race, get in touch with me. I could definately use some help with the timing and marshalling etc.

Rock on Garth!

What a Great Day

What an amazing day it has been today!

I took a ride out through prospect lake road and then up to the observatory! I love that route so much, it's a lot of fun. I need to work on my descending skills though, I feel a little scared going around corners at high speeds.

Got Blubber???

The Blubber Burn Classic, is on this weekend (Sunday February 21st). The blubber what? You might ask. Well, the blubber burn is meant to be an excuse to take those pesky fenders off your CX bike, put the knobbies back on there and kickstart the long cycling season ahead with a cross race at the Dump. In the process you should be able to burn off some of that winter blubber, and who's against that?

This is a Cross race but if you're ready to be scolded and don't have a CX bike you can ride your mountain bike, but only if it's rigged up to be singlespeed.

The race will start at 2pm on this Sunday (Feb 21st.) We'll be in the parking lot quite a bit earlier and will have the course market out, so if you want to take a practice loop, you should be able to do that. Like the poster says: Show up in your finest getup. Registration starts 1pm, race at 2. race fee ($10) goes to trail maintenance at the dump. No categories but prices for men and women. Everybody races at the same time. Le Mans Start. Technical terrain, good people, lots of fun. Hope to see you there.
What else is there to know? you tell me.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me at the shop.
250 381 1125
Dah Blubbahhhh!!!!

M.E.C. and it's response to "being a bike shop"

This is a very interesting read, It is just the comments section to one of the official blog posts on the subject of MEC having cycling gear and bicycles. There is a commenter (official mec person) that is trying to back up MEC's claim to the bicycle category. The conversation goes from why they did it in the first place to how MEC's board is predominately "white" people and that "people of colour" do not like the outdoors. Also the MEC commenter seems to start getting frustrated with people around the second page and starts saying things like:

I'm obviously bias towards MEC selling bikes as I need MEC to do well in order for me to pay my mortgage and my daughter's Montessori fees. Aside from this bias, I'm really bugged by my local bike store in Kitsalano. The guy is polite and the mechanic super helpful but the prices are horrendous. I bought a tube there for just over $5. I can get an equivalent tube at MEC for $3.50. Recently, I had to replace my entire back wheel at $155. MEC quoted me $100 - 120. I like to support the local store but when their prices are consistently 30 - 50% higher than MEC it makes me wonder if they're grossly inefficient or just plain gouging me. All these bike parts are coming from the same group of factories in Asia and a little bit from NA.

To be frank, as my finances become tighter, I look for bigger bargains and paying 5-10% for made in Canada is within my range but 30-50% is downright fool hardy.

HC.

Honestly, for me I find that 5 vs 3.50 is peanuts and yes they may come from the same factories but local shops do not have the room or resources to purchase huge amounts of stock so that they can get discounts on product via bulk buying. For someone who can write on MEC's official blog I would hope they had more sense to them. Support your locally economy instead of a enormous box store. This is one of the many reasons why we are in said "recession."

LINKY

New SRAM Apex

Sram is introducing a new groupset for october next year called "Apex." It is said to be similar in spec, materials and weight as Shimano 105. The best part of this whole thing, its price tag: It is rumoured to cost $700us for the entire groupo.

I think this would be a great addition to entry level cyclocross bikes.

NEW Shimano 105 groupo!

Shimano announced a new revised 105 groupo yesterday, to match what the current ultegra and dura-ace groups look like and feel. Although the 105 does away with carbon levers and is quite a bit heavier than ultegra or dura-ace (2400-2500 grams). When will tiagra get a facelift?


Now onto pictures! (click photos to see full size and not cut off)

Photos: © James Costley

Speed Record on Rollers.