Spin'n Wrenches

311

2008-07-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

It's starting to look like this Blog is going to be updated monthly and what a good month it's been so far.

For the builds

Jen picked up her new Grognard Cyclo-Cross Bike today. You won't miss this one at the races this fall, or anytime that is. It came together very nicely and I gotta say that FSA chain makes the FSA crank shift very well. This is the first Grognard I've built; Dave was great to work with and does some very fine brazing. Because of her petite size the frames shape was a little funky causing me to use V-Brakes in the rear but with the travel adjuster they feel very good.

Earlier this week Mike Ahrens dropped off a sweet road frame, and if it's ridden as fast as it built up it's going to be winning some races. Flawless frame/component compatibility with a nice groupo to boot. Thanks for the sweet photo Mike.

The Truing Stand got an upgrade.

Both of Stella’s cross bikes were in for some pre-season love, it made for a full on Lobster Fest in the shop

Racing news in my little world has been unbelievable.

Working for the Bicycle Outfitter I earned two podium spots at the USA Cycling 2008 Masters Road National Championships, I did a full tune up on Dawn Neisser of the Protech Racing's Cervelo TT bike that got her a 3rd place finish in the Women’s Master 50-54 Individual Time Trial And for my first top spot as a wrench, John Novitsky of VOS Racing, took home the starts and striped in the Men’s Master 50-54 Individual Time Trial on a set of Zipp’s I re-laced and glued up for him

Over at Mount Snow Vermont at the Mountain Bike National Championships, Mr. Henry Kramer got the win in the Men's Expert 50-54 Cross Country. I built up an S-Works Hard Tail for Henry at home earlier this year but for this race he took his Epic full suspension to handle the rougher course. Before he headed across the country I did a full tune up and fork overhaul for him dialing in all the little things before the race and it paid off.

I just need one of my crosser’s to get some stars and bars and I’ll have a hat trick from the three types of bicycle racing I wrench for.

Work'n, Work'n, Work'n

2008-06-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

It's been crazy busy lately, I have enough work at the casa I had to take an extra day off from the Bicycle Outfitter. I do a few side gigs for some friends (and friends of friends... if you need a wrench and don't dig bike shops shoot me an email) but most of the my home wrenching is for the HRS/Rock Lobsters and Mike Ahrens has been hooking me up with a good stream of builds.

Check out Mike's Blog for the latest build I did for him.

16.25 steel rocket, Mike did an awesome group spec. as always. The tube set he used is killer, check out the rear stays and the down tube on this one.

He also fowarded me an email from the lady who I built up the red road frame in March, she already has 1500 miles on it and just completed the AIDS ride from SF-LA with not a single mechanical problem. That's what I love, getting people out riding and loving it.

I need to start getting some miles in soon, I just have no motivation to do any road riding these days. I really want to get back on the dirt but I need to go slow. I have too many concussions from pushing it on the dirt the last couple of years, one more good whack to my dome and I might as well join the Special Olympics. Humm now that I have Sundays-Tuesdays off maybe I'll make Monday a long/easy ‘cross day to force myself to do a little road and some get some easy dirt miles.

Man In The Box

2008-05-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's scary sometimes how great minds think a like. I was taking some photos of my tool box last night, (I do this occasionally for insurance, history, or just for the hell of it...) when Josh called, he just picked up a Pedros Box like mine. He wanted to see how I had mine set up, so this one's for you Josh.

At the Bicycle Outfitter every mechanic brings in his own tool box. It's pretty cool to see how each guy has his tool box dialed for the types of bikes and style of cycling he supports. Some guys carry everything and the kitchen sink, Jim has a 75lbs beast with drills, dermal, and a built in dolly. Jon's converted camera case is dialed for a full pro build, with back up cable cutters, hacksaws and big old hammers. Dave and both of the Rich's are treasure troves of cool and obscure tools, collected over the years of working in shops, and doing race support.

Mine is the lightest, 48lbs last time I checked. It's dialed for working at races, and events where I shouldn't need the hacksaws and drills; it also works great for the Outfitter because they have those so community tools. I take mine home so I can use it on the weekends, and on Tuesdays when I ride in to work it's breaking the back of El Mechanico.
Anyway... On to the really nerdy stuff

Main Palette

Lip Balm
Key Ring Light
Shimano BB Tool
Phil BB Tool
Phil BB Tool (It helps to have 2 to install a Phil BB)
Shimano/ISIS BB Tool
Campy BB/Cassette Lock Ring Tool
Shimano Cassette Tool (Shimano wo/guide)
Campy Square Taper Crank Arm Puller
Shimano Cassette Tool (Pedros w/guide)
Park Chain Tool
Park ISIS/Octalink Crank Arm Puller
Park Disk Rotor Tool
Campy Peanut Butter Wrench
Park 4-6mm Tri Tool
Shimano BB Tool (Pedros)
Pedros Star Nut Tool
Scribe
Small Flat Head Screw Driver (craftsman)
Small Phillips Head Screw Driver (craftsman)
1/4" ratchet (craftsman)
Large Flat Head Screw Driver (craftsman)
Large Phillips Head Screw Driver (craftsman)
Easton Spoke Wrench
BMF Flat Head Screw Driver

Main Box (First Slot)

Pliers (craftsman)
Dykes (craftsman)
Channel Locks (craftsman)
8" Needle nose (craftsman)
Scissors
12oz Ball Pin hammer
Park Quick Link Tool
Fox Shox Pump
Plastic Hammer

Not In Photo
8mm Marzocchi Rebound tool
Spokes
Bicycle Research Nipple Driver
Zip Tie Nippers

Main Box (2nd Slot)

MSR Ti Fork and Spoon (Mechanic's gotta eat too)
Small Adj. Wrench
Silver Sharpie
Black Sharpie
Small Wire Brush
10mm Sockets
26mm Sockets
Cone Wrenches (with a 32mm wrench)
Shimano Chain Checker
Park BO-2

Main Box (3rd Slot)

36mm Wrench
Lock ring tool
Large Adj. Wrench

Main Box (4th Slot)

Pedros Equalizer Pedal Wrench
Shimano Chain Whip (w/Lock ring tool)
1/2" ratchet (craftsman)

Main Box (Under Yellow Dish)

My Business Cards
Random Business Cards
Small "Red" Lock tight
Chai Tea
Lunch Money
Enduro External BB Tool Shimano
Enduro External BB Tool Campy

Left Palette

2 & 2.5mm L Bend Allens
Random T25 L Bend
Shimano Chain Ring Bolt Tool
Shimano STI Lever Tool
6-8mm Combo Wrenches (craftsman)
Schrader Valve Core Remover
Long Shimano Spoke Wrench
"Stubby" 5mm L Bend Allen
Park 8/10mm Canti Brake Wrench
Whipperman Chain Checker
Park 1.5-6mm Folding Allen Set

In Pouch
Pedro's Red and Yellow Spoke Tools
Shimano Spoke Tools
Mavic Spoke and Hub Tools
Tire Irons
Short "Standard" L Bend Allen Set

Right Palette

Pedro's 8mm Allen Pedal Wrench
Pedro's 6mm Allen Pedal Wrench
T7-T35 Torques Folding Set
Park Cable Cutters

In Pouch
Lots of little bits.

Hanging

3-10mm Park L Ben Allen Wrenches
9-18mm Craftsman 6 Point Combination Wrenches
Large T25

It's ever evolving as I replace, need or find new, better, cooler tools. I wouldn't count on it looking like this next year.

Well I'm off to fix a bicycle... maybe I'll get a ride in today too.

CamManoAm

2008-05-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago Lennard Zinn reported in Velo News that he had successfully used a Campy Shifter with a SRAM Rear Derailleur on a Shimano/SRAM spaced drive train. I thought this was a great idea because for a while Michelle has been thinking of switching her cross bike from SRAM Rival to Campy because she likes the Campy levers better for her small hands. Not wanting to use her for an experiment like this I used it as an excuse for me to guinea pigs myself and build a cross bike I've been wanting for a while.

This is the Frank-N-Bike I came up with.

The bike is built around the now re-built, smashed Campy Record shift lever Mike Creed left at the shop when he stopped by to have it replaced before the Tour of California. It's all Campy "Red" (race grade) guts with a "normal" white body now. I paired it with a Shimano Dura-Ace 7500 right hand brake lever that I used for my left hand brake lever (I just routed the brake cable to the back of the bar and it lined up fine). It's a pretty nice feel too, yeah they are a different shape but they are very similar in size.

On the other end of the machine I have a SRAM Rival rear derailleur pushing and pulling a Dura-Ace 10sp chain up and down a 12-27 Ultegra cassette, mounted on a Dura-Ace hub. I'm about to take it on it's madden voyage to the Baylands, but in it's around-the-block test rides it was shifting like it was built to work together. I think the key is using the Shimano Cassette and Chain together, their hyperglide ramping and chain shape makes for some awesomely smooth shifts.

For the filling in this wacky sandwich I choose to avoid the front derailleur and went with a 42 tooth chain ring on the trusted Shimano Dura-Ace Octalink Crank with the Ultegra BB, with a chain keeper for a little extra insurance.

Now it's testing time to see if this really works under power.

More details later, I'm going to go ride my bicycle

Structural Art

2008-04-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

I think it's fair to say that I have assembled (built) a lot of different types of bicycles. I still love it when I find something really simple, very well done and just down right cool.

Mike Aherns dropped off a new Voodoo Bizango for me to do a build on. Joe Murray nailed the design with this frame, all of the little details are there.

The Seat Stays have a nice hourglass bend to them

They also have crimps in the tubing for a Disk Rotor (and a very Rock Lobster esque Disk Break Tap/Renforcement Bridge)

And the Cassette (and a rack mount braze-on?)

With cool/removable Canti Posts (I'm taking the off for this build, it's going to run Avid Jucy 7's)

While the Chain Stays were crimped for Chain Ring and Tire clearance (but no crimp on the Non-Drive side)

I really love it when they use full run/disk break "Cable Stops"

Who Do That VooDoo Like You Do?

Well I better get to work I have a box-o-parts to hang on this sweetie

I'll post up some better pics with Michelle's camera when I've got it all built up.

Ooops missed March, month Photo Dump

2008-04-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Forgot to post in March, but here are a few photos to update things...

I got a new toy ugh... tool. One I've been needing too, an FSA Spoke Tension Gadge. It's AWESOME blows the Park and Wheel Smith ones out of the water (so does it's price)

Mike Ahrens and I stopped by Stanford to check out their Frame Building class one night, it's pretty impressive what they have going on there. Jeremy asked me to be a guest speaker for a wheel building lecture.

I helped Jon Husk glue up a few wheels for the Aaron's team.

It was sad, yet awesome to see about 1500 cyclists ride by work one Saturday. It was cool to see how all the different groups of cyclists came out for such a good ride. Roadies, Commuters, Racers, Tri-geeks, Tandems, MTBers, Tourers, Cruzers, I even saw a Penny Farthing all riding together. It was awesome to see, so sad it took a tragedy to gather all the tribes.

Just when you think you've seen it all

Jon's ready to take on Thor

Bike Projects Last month were... Lots and Lots of Custome Frames...

Jen's Shooting Stars (still in progress)

A really bad photo of Mike Ahrens and the "Red Rocker" yummm Campy/Mavic

Aimee's Inglis- Now this was a fun build Curtis did an awesome job with this one, and I need to thank Aimee for the very nice tip that Michelle and I are enjoying right now

and now that I'm sporting a camera phone, a new thing I'm going to add to the blog... Cool customs I see on the train. The first one is a random IBIS I saw on the way home from my Monday "Mechanic's Bike" ride from SF to Marin. Didn't meet the owner but it looks well loved.

34

2008-02-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning a year older. Crap one year closer, and one year left 'till I'm a masters, when I said I would try racing again. Maybe I should take up trials.

The Tour of California Prologue stage was a lot of fun. I got to help out Ric at the FSA booth. It was a lot of fun talking with people about the new products they are offering and the Jumpsuit was cool.

A very busy day, I didn’t get to see the race at all but I saw a lot of cool bikes and the weenie dog count was at 3

While I was over at Paul’s yesterday I got a call from Jen whom I meet at the Tour, she asked me to build up a custom Grognard Cross frame she won at the 24 hours of Cool last year. She stopped by last night with her husband Scott so I could check out the frame and help her pick out her components. It’s mostly going to be an FSA build with a CK head set and Shimano shifting and brakes. The frame is a work of art with an awesome paint job, we’re going to have to get a Pro to Photog this one.

And it looks like my first roadie gig will be with the Webcor Builders Women’s Cycling Team at the Sequoia Cycling Classic next month. I’m really excited to be working with this team. They are not only the NRC #1 ranked women’s team in 2007, and the only UCI-registered Women’s team in North America in 2008, but a really great group of ladies. Working at the Bicycle Outfitter I get to see Karen, Christine, Katheryn, and Beverley often, it’s nice (and a little intimidating) to know I’ll be working with a team of this caliber.

I’m just going to enjoy the rest of my birthday off before the work starts tomorrow.

The Off Season

2008-02-14T20:46:00.000-08:00

'Cross is over time to relax... right?

well, here's a Photo Dump to recap the last week or so...

Cali was using the powers of the Puppy Dog Eyes to try to trick dad out of some treats. Of course it worked...

The boys are in town for the big race.

Their bikes suffer from TSA "love" just like the rest of us. Rock's boss maybe jerking around in the media but his riders are pro, Michael was cool and patent when I was working on his bike and very thankful when I finished. It was really cool that we had the parts in stock and could get him rolling with just a quick pit stop.

Michelle and I have been doing more training with the Pups.

Brock got a new toy and asked me do the build. These new Santa Cruz's are building up really nice, the crew over there has deffinatly steped it up. This one is going to be sick, All XTR with a DT Swiss wheel set, CK and Thompson. Brock is going to swap out the tires for something a little more NorCal Cross Coutry, this monster will be flying at the local Simi Pro races this MTB Season.

Super Wisco sets off on a V-Day delivery.

I'm building the most expensive bike I've done so far...

Oh No there goes Ergomo...

And, Michelle put her V-Day present to use

I'll be helping out FSA with their booth at Sunday's Prologue Expo. I'll try to get a few photos, and find out more about Ric's wooden rims. yummm wooden rims...

playing with new toys.

2008-02-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

Michelle and I splurged a little yesterday and got iPhone's, so I'm playing around seeing if I can do a blog post on this thing.

Still having a little trouble uploading photos from the phone but typing is hella easy

Blury photos of Tex & Cali soon... I hope

Yeah yeah I'm ah lagggg'n

2008-01-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry got a little behind on the race report...

Mr. Gill and the Fair Grounds didn't disappoint the hard core crossers who showed up for our weekly sermon. The only muddy race day in the Bay Area this season was a goodie. I was a little jaded after the epicness of Portland's USGP monsoon and KC's Natz blizzard, this Sunday was good rain.

as per normal I was sans camera for this one, so all the pics are stolen from the Boss, Lauren and maybe Rob...

The Pit was off in a far corner of the course but it was a really nice set up and being the fair grounds water wasn't a problem. The wash station looked to be a livestock cleaning station for the 4H'ers, on sloping concrete (nice drainage) with an asphalt road butting up to it. It had 5 nicely pressured spickets and four race supplied hoses... score I brought my own.

I really didn't need brushes for most of the race; the water took most of the mud right off. I did grease a few chains and it seemed to help out a little.

Stella killed it during the women’s race on her SS. Her SS in my favorite bike on the team, I hope she drops it off so I can clean it up for the off-season.

The guys got the worst rain of the day but it kept the bikes cleaner then the earlier clay-ier races

DodgeBall lead out the race for the first couple of laps then mechanicaled and got a wheel from the boss on the back side of the course. Tim rode like an animal getting second to Howie and taking the overall in the series.

A good race to end the season on.

The Mud Come-ith

2008-01-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

Ah yeah. Last one of the season for me and this baby promises to be epic

The great Mr. Gill and friends will be presenting Peak Season Cyclocross @ the infamous Watsonville Fairgrounds this weekend. Mother Nature will be present for a true cyclocross mud bath.

The Corral will be in play again...

Check list for this race...
Pam
Brushes
Old T-Shirts
Hoses
Garden hose Y-Splitter
Sprayer Head
3 Gallon Bucket
Full rain gear
More chain lube then normal
Bogg Schloggers (rubber boots)

When come the mud I will give them clean bicycles to race through it.

The 2008 USAC Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic.

2008-01-14T01:21:00.000-08:00

Cycling technology is in a state of constant change, striving to best what has come before. As with the athletic side of this machine/culture it is very competive, but there is also a great comradely amongst those who dream, design, fabricate, build, assemble, maintain, and love these machines. I was very fortunate to be one of the 55 mechanics who gathered to attend the 2008 USAC’s Bill Woodul Mechanics Clinic in Colorado Spring at the US Olympic Training Center the past 4 days. I’m only beginning to digest the full experience, so much was shared. Of course there was the class/clinic side of this gathering where we were schooled by the clinics 10 very experienced instructors, but also the coming together of like minded people with such great respect for not only the machine but each other.

The instructors did an incredible job of organizing a curriculum, test and time line to set a pace and stress level very similar to what, would be race mechanics would be facing at an event. The days were packed with clinics, all over the training center. Some were indoors in class room settings and others were out side “labs” to compare it to a college science class. The clinics ranged from the pure mechanical and functional, to the operational side of a race and of race team, to the wrights of passage of professionalism. All were steeped with the experience and personality of each presenting instructor.

Always looming in the back of the mechanics minds was “the test” a 100 question multiple choice, open book, test that encouraged debate late into the night. It was really awesome to see everyone huddling together, in discussion and debate. It did a wonderful job of creating a “one for all and all for one” team atmosphere, evident on the last day when all 55 mechanics received their license after passing the test.

We also had a great time, it took a short time to crack the ice but once everyone was comfortable with the setting, some really great personalities came out. As one instructor said a couple of times “there isn’t a ‘that guy’ in this group”. I made several new and grew other friendships. To sum it up on a blog is impossible. It was truly an experience I am proud to have been a part of. I’m really looking forward to see what the future will bring for everyone who attended, the sport and the machine.

More Power

2008-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

Ahhh Yeah, I love new toys... er Tools...

The C3 19.2 volt Cordless Inflator

Mine showed up today and the battery is a charging.

Gotta give Tim B. the credit for turning me on to this baby. No more pumps at the races for this wrench, just 19.2 volts of pure hand held air pumping power. I can see that auto shut off air gage being very useful for 'Cross.

But it'll have to wait until the 20th to see any action. Wed I'm back on a Jet bound for Colorado Springs, the OTC and USAC's Mechanic’s Clinic until Sunday. As a Jr. I got to do a couple of training camps up there and they were a lot of fun, I hope the dorms are better then I remember and the food is every bit as good.

I'll take a camera and maybe the lap-top, although I doubt I have much time for Blogging until I get home.

Well time to start packing...

Back in the Saddle

2007-12-31T19:03:00.000-08:00

A classic Single Speed ride in Santa Cruz today.

Lennie and I stopped by Paul and Holly's to drop off a few things and pilfer a parking spot. Then we headed out, down by the cliff's to Natural Bridges back over to Swift street and up to campus. Over to Wilder, down Zane Grey, then back to the cliff's to watch the last sunset of 2007

Back to Paul's to load up the gear and over to the Falafel House on Mission for a quick after ride snack.

I gotta say it was a good day.

New Year Resolutions

2007-12-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

I took the day off from the races and put a little time in to my own rig.

I did a full overhaul, the fork, both hubs & the freehub body (Chris King), BB, Headset... and all the fine tuning... The Shop's almost dialed enought to take in a few customers.

Tomorrow, Lennie's Santa Cruz loop. 2:1 is going to hurt but that's what I need.

Lots-O one speeder riding planned for this year. Gotta get in shape.

Rob's Pics

2007-12-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

I stole a few pics from Rob of the Natz...

Tim and I commuting to work

The Office

My "In Box"

One of my Clients

Time to clock out.

KCCX '07

2007-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wow. What an experience.

The team did really well. I'm very proud of them all. The conditions were really rough, and the course layout was a little difficult to get around quickly on foot. I really wish I could have packed my new rig out there; it was the perfect venue for it. The whole team did a great job working together, and helping each other out. Stella was awesome as always, I always learn so much from her about the off bicycle side of racing. I learned a lot this trip.

I flew in with Aaron and Stella on Thursday night and got a room with them in Platt, Mo. about 20 min's from the venue... The Friday was the hardest day. After a frozen morning the girls were turning the course to muck, they all started slipping and sliding in to each other. Stella started further back and got caught up behind and in a few tumbles. I don't know what lap it was Sarah stopped but when she came in to the pits she looked very cold. Matt was bundling her up as I hung up her bikes then I went back to watching Stella finish out her mud bath, like the true fighter she is.

Tom's race was the sloppiest muddy hell we had all weekend. He borrowed his son's Bjorn's Clif Bar Salsa as a back up bike, and good thing he did. We did four swaps his race. I was really proud to be in the pits for Tom, watching him move up like a rocket going from a 100th starting place to 26th. With smooth swaps and good commutation, it was the kind of racing I love. No more "B" races for you Mr. Fox.

Saturday I meet Josh in the warm-up tent. He was spinning on a trainer next to AJM and Justin; we were all joking about Andy's 666 numbers and trying to stay warm. It started snowing early that morning and the temps were a lot colder and dropping. Stella was helping me out a lot that day with Josh (and Aaron) at the start line so I could be over in the pits with the bike. He races an awesome race, and didn't take a bike the whole race. It gave me a chance to watch AJM make Nor-Cal Proud and really enjoy the race. I got to see Josh sprint for the line grabbing the team highest place finish of the weekend. I ran his bike back to the warm up tent and Pow-wowed with Matt and AK before their race.

They took off in the coldest conditions of the weekend, Tom saved my toes by giving me some hand warmers I put in my rubber boots during Josh's race. No bike swaps this race either, just a straight up slugfest of a race ageist the elements. Both Matt and Aaron jumped up from their call up places. AK made it up as high as 10th before taking a fall. Matt clawed his was through the slushy/mud/ice/snow/glob to the heals of the 6 way battle for 20th-26th, being back a couple of rows at the start from the rest of those guys, he had to put in a big effort and couldn't quite crack them. Aaron rode to an amazing 13th place.

Sunday was the big show. Aaron and Stella enjoyed the racing and checked on me through out the day while Matt and I focused on Sarah. We meet in the warm-up tent and started checking tire pressure. I matched the pressure on all wheels of her bikes by hand setting it slightly higher then it was the first day. After the first lap she was in 12th when she took a change for a bike with more pressure, and one more to get back on her A bike after I pumped it up, finishing only two more places down in 14.

Great time in the pits. The mechanics were so cool, Eric, Rich, Tim and the crew were all helping each other out, catching and cleaning bikes for each other, loaning tools and Tim's let me use his wicked new hand held air compressor, I gotta get one.

Tim, Josh, a couple of locals, and I tipped a touch of Hennessy during the men's Elite race for the Swigg Boss and yelled at the racers.

Then we headed for home.... I know I left a lot out but this was getting long and I need to unpack... but it was a great time and the Lobsters should be proud.

why it's a "Mechanic's Bike"

2007-12-11T00:34:00.000-08:00

Mr. Fisher coined the "Mountian Bike", I'm going for the "Mechanic's Bike" and this may be the only one...

I was going to save this but what the hell it's too cool to keep underwraps.

I'm still working out a few bugs with the towing but it was really convent that Sarah's bikes were getting a pre-nat's check over...

Paul built exactly what I had first envisioned and better. I'm going to ask him to make me a "commute rack" too for riding in to work. The race rack is a little big.

I've been trying to find the words about how nice of a ride these 650's are for this, utilitarian/Mountain Bike/retro cruzer/ chingadara/ commuter thing. And “Fun” is all I can come up with, I want to ride it all the time, it’s just a hell of a lot of fun to be on.

the B bender

2007-12-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

It's here, The 650B Mechanic's Bike.

The Wolf and I were over at Paul's shop back in August talking about the team bikes for the season, when the idea for this monster was was born. I wanted a cool rig for riding around at the race. Something I could roll to the bathroom, Ho Chi Minh our tent and stuff from the truck to the venue, and something I could cruz to the pits... Swigg Boss was also talking with Mr. Kirk Pacenti of BikeLugs.com about building up bike with 650B (27.5") wheels... the rest as they say, is history.

I normaly don't post pictures of "works in progress" but damn I couldn't wait with this one. This is a FUN bike.

Just a little background on what's going to be changed before going to the '08 North American Handmade Bicycle Show

The painter didn't hear the Navy when we asked for the fork to be Dark Blue to match our team colors, but Paul and I wanted to build the bike up to see if he needed to make any changed to the fork before having it re-painted (we don't, it's perfict)

I also scavanged the brakes from my other Rock Lobster Single Speed until we can dig up some Avid BB7's to go with the with the sweet Paul Love Levers I have for this baby. The Rear Hydro line is a little short so that's why the lever is all funky... we'll take care of that soon enough

With the 650B being such a big chunk of early Mountin Bike history, Paul’s inspiration for this came from the Schwinn Excelsior... Check out Klunkers for the ful story on how those rigs changed cycling forever... And DAMN did he nail it. This baby rides so AWESOME.

The boss and I went Gonzo with the component spec. hehe, and it's fricked bomb proof. Barring any wacky unforeseen, we made it to last forever. We had lot of help too, Paul at Paul Component Engineering has been one of 'Cross teams longest and most supportive equipment sponsors, and his stuff is totally bomber. He sent us the Hubs, Crank and Love Levers. Chris King is another team sponsor and one of my personal favorite parts manufacture, you'll never see another headset in my home shop.

Of course the key to the rig is the Rims, Paul liberated this baby's from the Bicycle trip when he worked there. 36 hole Super Champions, these baby's are so Classic. I can see why they were used as some of the first rims cut down to 26" 32 hole'ers. It was really cool and educational for me to build them up...

Ok that's enough for now, I wanna go ride my bike...

I'm sure I'll blog about this baby again

The Land of Ports and Water and Water and Water and Water…and more Water…

2007-12-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

SwiggBoss wasn't kidding when he said that the USGP finals in Portland was the Woodstock of US 'Cross. The Tribes did gather for this one. As did the weather, all of it, all formes of it, all at once, all in one weekend. I swear I saw every form of percipitation, fog, mist, drizzel, rain, sleet, slush, snow, ice, hail. I'm still scrubing the rust off my tools.Many Many bike changes on Saturday. Sunday, Sarah was the only one to take a change for a bike with more pressure in the tires.

It was truly an epic race, one those who were there will not forget.

Sorry no photos this post.

When the mud comes, we'll race bicycles through it.

2007-11-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Great Mr. Gill and crew are hosting the first race of the Peak Season 'Cross series this Sunday.

PLEASE

Running with Scissors

2007-10-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

I was a very bad boy today, I re-cabled and housed Stella's bike and wanted to test ride it...

todays photo stolen from Jon Suzuki

But I haven't got the new helmet I ordered yet... So I went on a 2 hour ride anyway. That's right Helmet Nazi’s, no brain bucket, sans lid, no dome, Pas de Casque. It was nice, really nice, not being burdened by the mandatory Styrofoam dunce cap.

The one thing you can say about Hairnets is that they are biodegradable.

It was so NICE being back on a bike (even one that's way too small for me). Betina stopped by the shop during her loop just as I was finishing up my work. So I tagged along for the rest of her loop back to her office. Then I got lost in the "Baylands" dyke system while trying to find my way around NASA Ames. I can't believe how much riders hate the Baylands, for me it's like Kansas, flat, shitty roads and windy as all hell, it even smells like home. Ok it's doesn't smell like Cow shit... Mostly Human, Bird and Fish shit... but shit, is shit, is shit...

And riding is riding. Oh salt on my forehead, how I missed thee.

Life's the Pits

2007-10-22T19:14:00.001-07:00

Most of the images stolen from Lauren and Morgan

A Mechanic's home away from home.
THE PIT

I hung out with Daniel most of the day. Man he's got a rough job, I don't miss "Neutral Support" at all. Riders expect alot, but by the rules you can't do much. Anyone can change a wheel but only USAC Licensed or Team Mechanics can work on bikes. As a Team Mechanic I can only work on my team's bikes. It leaves a lot of "in need" folks with bad vibes. Sorry man that's racing come prepared, my team packs a wrench.

ok enough of that...

The boys pulled off another 2,3,4. Dave, Josh and Aaron battled Mechanicals, Slide-outs, and Justin Robinson. But Cal-Giant's, Giant rode a great race to grab the win from Dave. Aaron was riding AWESOME, coming back form a flat that left in in last place to 4th on the day... if he didn't flat...

Stella rode a great race landing in 5th

with Betina in 8th

Sarah was racking up the UCI points in Belgium

with Matt, putting the hurt on the Euro's

good week at the 'Lobster camp

Sacto Cross and there's a Crash Test Dumbie For Hire.

2007-10-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for pics of the NCNCA Cup Race in Sac but well... I'm a little medicated right now, that story next, and am having a little HTML brain fart trying to steal them from Mike's Blog or the HRS/'Lobster Blog .

Anyway it was a really good race day. Mike gave me a lift to the race and on the 2+ hour drive in the early AM we got our first chance to really chat, and damn that dude has an really good head between his shoulders. It's easy to see why he's so respected and well liked in the cycling community. Not only that, he has a 12 cylinder Ferrari motor bangin' in those legs. Just 8ish weeks after busting his C-bone he not only came out to race but ate up the field. Holding strong at the start, falling back a little, then putting the HURT on the chase group causing them to shatter, for a 5th place finish.

Josh, Dave and Aaron O. were up front, working over the only non-'lobster Cameron Falconer from Rick Hunters team. Ending up 1th-4th respectivaly. Cameron put up an awesome fight, but agents Josh and Dave... man that's one 'Lobster sandwich I wouldn't want a bite of...

I could tell Stella wasn't feeling it after the big battle the day before at CCCX #3, she got a very respectable 8th.

Today was my 3rd Monday ride with the guys, Mike and Aaron K showed up at Paul's shop to put the hurt on me... but I ended up hurting more then planned, by my own doing.

Mike loaned me the new rig I built up for him and we all set out on the "Friday Loop", Everything was going as planned, sticking with the guys on the flats then falling back on the hills. I'm WAY out of shape, and riding with the "A" guys on their easy days always is a work out. We started down "Old Cabin"'s single track and I was in a nice grove about 2 bike leinghts behind Mike until I took a switchback a little wide. I over corrected and BLAM hit a root and the deck...

Second Helmet I've busted this year, no concussion thankfully and no real "road rash" but I'm swelling up pretty good and the shoulder I busted is clicking now... Mike's rig was no better off, I jacked up the h-bars and shifters (easily fixable with a 5mm) but the real causality was the new carbon Seat Post that I snapped. He and Aaron were so cool, I was tripping over busting up his bike but they we're way more worried about me. Needless to say the pace dropped and I went in to survival mode to get back to Paul's. Luckily our Easton sponsorship shipment had arrived with new seat posts and we got his baby back together. I've been feeling like a real ass, he's been so cool about it, thanks Mike.

My "Wall of Shame" now has a new addition.

That makes 6 brain buckets in 22 years of riding that I've killed...

Michelle told me to order 2 more, so I have a back up for "next time". I really hope there isn't one.

Stella Rules

2007-10-13T22:17:00.001-07:00

1st @ CCCX #3 2007
I love seeing her smile.

did a week go by? damn I blinked....

2007-10-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

Feels like I did my last post yesterday. Little sleep and lots o' work will do dat to ya.

BASP #1 Sierra Point...

stolen from www.abbiorca.com

aka "The Land of Many Flats."

Holy Jeberz I did a ton o'wheel changes at that race.

A little request from mechanics to roadies learing to race cross... When taking a wheel change, cantilever brakes take an extra second to latch, please don't start riding with your mechanic's fingers still in your brake cables, it hurts... a lot...

those running clinchers found out that having them over 40 psi was the golden ticket.

Pick up all HRS /'Lobster the resoults on d'blog Brent is doing a killer job of updating.

Das' Vanderhooten'z rig came togather as planned at the race. Unfourtnutaly I didn't get any pics of it...

But I got a few of this sexy rig

Now Datz Pink and Blue

Yeah I left the steerer a little long...

A little stay wrap love going in to this build, gotta keep her quite on the trailz

Ah Yeah, I love nailing the cable routing on the first go.

Datz all for tonight, I got an 2 Advil PMs with my name on 'em

hurts so good...

2007-10-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

It has been 11 weeks since I last saw single track, but we took care of that today.

I took the bus over to Santa Cruz and meet up with Dave Wyandt at Paul's shop... The excuse to go over the hill was that I need to pick up some spokes for a wheel build I'm a little behind on (sorry Sara) but I needed a day off and hitting the dirt was the real goal of the day.

Dave was hella cool, keeping it to a nice pace and showing me some really awesome single track that I didn't even know was out there. good week day riding. I'm out of shape and will be feeling it tomorrow, but there's only one way to get the legs back. yuuummmmm pain....

Speaking of Dave

man it was rough watching him get worked over by Justin and Andy, Dave rode a good race but 2 on 1 with those guys is a bad place to be.

It was cool to see Timmy C got 2nd in the SS class, I did a few h2o hand up for him during the race.

Sarah was kicking butt and looking really smooth on the bike

The finish of the day goes to Dodge Ball... powering it up to take 7th from Logan

Matt J got the short end of the stick... his front mech slipped down and started rubbing on his large chain ring. Luckily Ben showed up and they were both on Crank Brothers so we did a bike swap with Matt riding Ben's (a couple of sizes too small) bike. 2 Laps later and Matt was back on his ride... I cranked the bolt down so hard I made the powder coat flake off. The ironic thing is that Michelle's did the same thing that day... grrr...

Rollin wit da' Bling, Bling...

2007-09-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

It took a while to gather all of the parts but it finaly came togather today.

Lennie's BLING Steel Rock Lobster w/S&S Couplers

Check out the nipple padren, Lennie had me lace them in a "nibblet" code that repersents the number's of his birth date.

The Specs are all over the map

SRAM Shifting and Cassette
Dura-Ace Chain and Front Der
Phil Wood BB
Campy Record Crank
Mavic Brakes
Thompsen Seat Post and Stem
Ritchey Bars

His Wheel Set
Black Chris King 32 hole Classic Road Hubs
Gold USA Ti Spokes & Black/Gold Nipples
Black Mavic Open Pro Rims and Skewers

This isn't a touring bike either, it handels like a F-22 fighter jet. Lennie couldn't wait to get out of here and take it up Mt Hamilton this afternoon.

Damn those are some NICE wheels!

CCCX #1

2007-09-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Rick got some nice shots of the action.

I really like the race at Manzanita Park, for me as the Mechanic it has the easiest pits to set up and work of all the races we'll do this year. It was a bummer to miss the first race of the season.

While the team was kicking ass I was setting on mine in "SAG #4" at the Tour For Woodside. Not exactly what I had hoped to be doing with my Sunday but it was for cycling and I got paid. It wasn't boring either, lots of flat fixes and a couple of wrecks kept me hopping.

Next week should be a big showing of 'lobsters with the guys back from Inter-bike.

I did get alot done in the shop.

Sara's "A" Bike, except the stickers and the Tubing it's exactly like her "B" bike

Matt's "A" Bike, my camera was acting goofy this was the only good shot of the SRAM Force he's running. Cool build up, those Reynolds forks are sexy.

Betina's frame and the wheels I've been building and glueing... lots of wheels... and more wheels...

MMmmmmmm wheels...

The storm makes land fall

2007-09-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

and it begains...

Great Party, awesome new (and old) teammates, me running around like a chicken with it's head cut off... IT'S CROSS SEASON!!!!

Jeff got the snaps of the party...

It was a great time, a couple of hick-ups with parts and clothing but hell we're still a month ahead of last year and I got some work out of the team to keep me busy for a week.

I hope more of the crew askes me to build up their stuff. A lot of new frames were handed out but only one made it in to my garage, I'll post it up tomorrow...

well I got a set of brakes to install and a wheel to build... my posts will be much shorter 'till January...

Planes, Train, and Autos...

2007-09-06T22:58:00.000-07:00

Today it was more like Trains, Buses and Bicycles.

A great day working and getting to know Paul professionally and personally. I was slow... very slow... new (to me) tools,

learning real (not the UBI or Bike Shop shit) frame prep, and the fear I would screw something up was always looming over me. But Paul was very cool, "Fast isn't as important as doing it right, do it right" was the theme of the day. It took a couple of frames but I started to "get" how thing work at Rock Lobster, meaning the tools and the expectations. Facing the BB's was my crux, I was/am so scared of reaming the shell below a 100th of a mm below 68 mm. Yeah Paul works to the hundredth... and I thought I was a bad ass for cutting spokes to the tenth, time for a personal review... It just goes to show why he's so good.

Paul also taught me a new appreciation for an instrument I have loathed for years, the Saxophone. IMHO Coltrane was/still is the only person who can play that thing. Then he busted out the Muddy Waters and we shared our stories of our axe sling'n. I can't wait to get away from bikes and jam with him... after the cross season...

I did get to work on one of the most beautiful bikes (Photos Soon) I've ever worked on today. The first thing Paul had me do was replace the fork and stem on the red/chrome lugged road frame he built up for the '07 NAHMBS (ok it's the '08 link) That will be shipped out to new owner very soon... it's an awesome bike and if it wasn't already sold I would have bought it...

ugh time for bed, it's a "school" night...

I can still smell the Al cutting fluid on my fingers... yummm...

The Calm before the Storm...

2007-09-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sounds like Thursday the real work is going to start… Paul and I spent some time on the phone last night, Michelle always laughs at me because I normally hate talking on the phone and keep it short but when Paul’s on, she isn’t going to see me for a while, haha I guess if I was on the other side of the hill I would just go over and see him, ah well…

I typed up the parts list and made the special order form for my stuff for the season, got them all e-mailed off. As soon as I know what frames are coming in, I’m going to start contacting the riders to set up appointments for their builds… I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off all months from the shop I’m checking out right now, so I have time for the team bikes. I’ll be making trips over to Santa Cruz on the weekends too, so riders over there can drop their stuff off with Paul and get it back in a week from me…

ok break is over, back to it... type, type, type...

RZMC

2007-08-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Holie Jeebus! I did a google search on the "Red Zinger Mini Classic" and found these youtube videos (not the greatest quality but they are almost 20 years old)

yeah I'm bored... I was hoping to find race results to find my old teammates names. Some of the current big guns did these races as kids too. Bobby J., Mike McCreedy to name a couple.

I did several of the other weekend Mini Classics in '88 (14yo). In '89 (in the 15yo cat) I raced them again plus the full 10 day race.

It was so much fun! I was setting in 9th most of the race but wrecks in the critter-runs got me and I ended up 14th over all. We had the over all winner on my team and the team I was on (High Gear Cyclery) won the team title.

It was so cool racing the Morgul-Bismarck I felt like Kevin Costner in American Flyers... Alight more like Andy Hampster on La Vie Claire.

Davis Phinney showed up to a couple of the stages and at the final stage, the Pearl Street crit. I got him to sign my race t-shirt and my Giro. Man was that a 15 year old's dream, not only meeting my hero (yeah Davis is the reason I grew a pony tail) but he was watching me race!

I sent the t-shirt to the sponsor "High Gear Cyclery" a couple of years a go and the helmet is on the wall in the garage. I hope there are races like this for the Jr's these days. It was a great experience that ingrained cycling deep into my life.

First of the '07 bikes...

2007-08-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

I finished up Sara's "B" bike yesterday... well almost, she's going to change out her stem for an Easton one and she also wanted to leave the bars unwrapped so she could dial in her position with these bars.

I also took this for my first ride around the block since I broke the good old c-bone :) nice and SLOW! The Dr said he didn't have a problem with me riding, just falling, he warned me if I fall in the next 4-6 weeks it re-breaks.

Well it's not really an '07 Lobster, it's an '06 but she had it repainted from the 'Bella colors to 'Lobster.

This cheap little thing saves so many problems, I'm glad she's using it.

No I didn't put the pink sticker on because it's a girl’s bike. It's a way for me to tell the bikes apart at the races. Matching King stickers on both sides of the bike are "A" bikes, a Pink or White on the Non-Drive side are "B" bikes. I'm looking for a nice (and cheap) way to get the riders names on the bikes too...

TEX got a promotion! He's finally earning his stripes as a shop dog! meaning he's starting to chill out and hang with "dad" while I work. I'd rather have this view then be looking at a picture of him on my desk any day. He's been so good Michelle and I picked him up a new bed just for the garage.

GRRRRRR this Blog photo formatting is driving me nutz... going to go back the original next post...

Busy Day... YEAH!!! ugh...

2007-08-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

Whew, it was busier today then it has been in the last few weeks (thankfully)

After a.m. chores Lennie called, he's heading up to Downieville this weekend, and needed a rear brake bleed... 2 hours later we're over hauling his rear Chris King Hub, after I said it was sounding loud he let it slip he hadn't overhauld'd it in a couple of years. Agh, 2 years, if he wasn't one of my best friends...

Speaking of Lennie he sent me this photo of his Rock Lobster Tig Steel 'Cross bike. This was Lennies first 'Lobster and in true style we built it up together in my garage.

He picked up the kit from Excel Sports out of Boulder on a business trip (he travels a lot) and Paul did up the frame build for him. He's had the bike about a year (I honestly don't remember exactly how long) and other then the tension of the wheels loves it. He even bought a Steel Road 'Lobster with S&S couplers we're spec'ing it out with a Force shifting, Campy crank, Phil Wood BB, CK/USA/Mavic MMmmmmm... he's picking up the odds and ends now... build up soon.

Now for something completely different the dancing Llam...ahmen... no we won't go there...

Went to the Dr's today too, he was cool, doesn't want me to push to hard yet. 12-16 more weeks for a "full" recovery. The x-ray, only one this time, he wants me back in 6 weeks for follow up and a better view of the over lap.

Made dinner... Then Matt stopped by to hang out/work on/drop off Sara's bike.

Working with Matt was a lot of fun, he's a mechanic by trade too, a BMW mechanic at a quality shop, and knows his sh*t. Details make the mechanic in either business, he's one of the good ones. We ate dinner and hung the components, but it was getting late by the time the first cables were being strung so this will be continued tomorrow... sorry no photos yet, not for a work in progress ;)

Why Don't I Race Cyclocross?

2007-08-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

I get this question a lot and believe me it's not because I don't want to. Oh I do.

I found a bunch of old photos that I burned on a CD a while a go. So let me tell you a little picture story. (and I wanna play with the photo formatting)

September 14th 2002, Fairview Dome Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite.

The biggest chuck of Granite in T-Meadows. I don't know much of it's history except what it did to me.

The route is called "Lucky Streaks" it's a Royal Robbins classic sandbagged 5.10d that should be a 5.11c (yeah yeah I know the rating system stopped at 5.10 when it was put up)

Bruce, Salah, Wilson "Dokie" and myself set off about 7:00 just after the sun starts warming the rest of the earth up, but we're on the west side of the rock so no sun for us 'till after lunch.

I lead the first pitch, it was a sleeper, maybe a 5.8, the rock was cold. I was in to Ice Climbing too so the cold didn't usually bug me but that day was just different.

I was climbing good though, in a good groove, up 10 feet place some pro, clip it, rinse repeat...

Bruce and Salah were roped up, and I was climbing with my bro Dokie.
You can make out Salah starting the 3rd Pitch, Dokie belaying me up to the Ledge (I'm the third guy in white) after he lead the 2nd pitch. This is the last photo of me before things went wrong. There are no photos of what happened next (although I wish there were).

I took back over the lead and and started up the Crux pitch. I was standing with my left foot in a crack, right flagged out on the face for balance, placing a Blue Cam (can't remember the make or size) with my right hand, when my left hand popped out of the crack. I had a fairly heavy pack on and so it pulled me backwards into a flip. Cool no problem I'd fallin' on rope before was the first thought, then PAIN!!! the next millisecond later... My left foot didn't pop out of the crack causing my Tib/Fib shattered right at the ankle.

I never had an experience like that before, I was in pain I never felt before falling faster and faster, I felt the first peice of pro pop out. I remember hearing Dokie yell "OH SHIT A ZIPPER", then 3 more go, BAM, BAM, BAM. Then I really though that was it, I was going to deck and I knew there was no way I was going to live.

A little yellow #2 Metolius (sp?) cam stuck and didn't pop. I felt the tug on my harness, the force through me in to the wall and I blacked out.

I woke up about 5 seconds later and 60 feet lower screaming my head off. In addition to my left ankle, I had a good concussion, a chuck skin taken out of my right eyebrow and my right ankle. and I didn't know it at the time but one of the three Nalgeen bottles in my backpack had broken 3 ribs when I slammed into the wall. The bottle broke too, yeah a Nalgeen, it's my now my spare change jar.

The luckiest thing of my life happened next, the party that was following us was a couple from Germany and the husband was with their version of YOSAR He quickly got me to the ground and bandaged me up.

OH NO! YOU’RE NOT GOING TO CARY ME OUT WITHOUT PAIN KILLERS!

It was a rough mile down hill to the trucks on a "climbers trail" (a few sticks kicked out of the way through the trees and rocks)

They didn't give me a choice.

We went to an ER (I can't remember what one) and they dopped me up, took x-ray and tried to get me to have surgey that night... Uh no, was I was just layed-off with no medical insurance, I needed to get home and call the family for help.

But there was no way that was going to happen that night so we went back to camp and I started in on the liquid pain killers. It was a really rough night, but good drugs took the edge off.

This is the result. A Titanium upgrade, 7" plate with 7 screws, two more on the other side and one in my hip from where they needed to take a bone plug to patch up the smashed bits.

I don't run anymore. You might see me in a fast walk or a kinda Skip run Skip Run limp, but nothing I could race Cross with, and jumping over barriers forget it, my ankle would be swollen up the size of a pumpkin the next week, I know I DNF'd the two races I tried to do.

So now I wrench, Cross is so much fun with such a great group of people I couldn't stay away and hands in the pits are needed.

But there is always Single Speeding, Road and Track... You better believe I'm going to start training as soon as this collar bone heals up and I can get back on a bike.

Monday morning a time for changes... "a (late night many beers) rant"

2007-08-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Wow a blog post I don't have any pics prep'ed for... cool let's wing it...

Let's start off with the real news... I'm no longer a Mechanic with Trail Head Cyclery... OUCH!!!!! yeah that hurt, no sh*t, I really like working there... for the record I left, they were really trying to keep me on (even when I got the 10 weeks disability from the Doc.)

THC is a great (MTB) shop, it's just a little to far for me to get to every day (20 miles one way + a broken collar bone on top of it)... yeah right, reality sinks in and I need to find work closer to home.

I really liked working for Lars, he's by far one of he better bosses I've worked for. Cool, Calm, 100% behind his employees (wrong or right), a "make it work RIGHT" shop owner/former wrench. I never stressed about time with Lars, he just wanted his customer’s bikes to be 100% when it left the door. If it took me 3 hours or 3 days he didn't care so long as it was right/perfict.

Ride'n off in to the sunset...

Bontrager, Keith made it, hopfully people will see me as the guy who took the family name and did my own thing with it....

I love my pup TEX! he's the best!! Just the right size to hang out with anytime.

A rare shot of me in a race these days... hopfully that will change in the next couple of years... 2009 I become a 35+ :) heheh

Team USA Guerciotti?!?!?!

2007-08-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

Darrell also brought over his "Guercotti" for me to take a look at for a full restoration protject, back to "ALL ORIGINAL" for the bike his brother-inlaw gave him for free... the story is that Darrell's Brother-inlaw got it from one of his clients as a "tip" for seling a house.

To preface this, my first real road bike was a Navy fade to White Guercotti 58cm that I LOVED! so I have a really soft place in my heart for them.

Things from the start just didn't looks right, the paint was crap no clear coat, sticker all in the wrong place, wrong fork etc...

It had a really wacky mix of componets... well I was running a mix of campy, shimano and mavic on my Guerch. but not this wacky...

Then I saw this under the crapy paint job...

with a little finger nail work I uncovered this little number.

Well Well Well... What do we have here?!?!?!

A HUFFY!?!?!?! OR IS IT? Now being a roadie from the 80's I know that Huffy was on a major marketing campaign re-badging Serotta, Landshark (Andy Hampsten rode this if I remember correctly) Raleigh, DelSavo, Motobecane, etc... for 7-11, Crest, the USA Olympic team, Greg Lemond etc... (this one is a? I don't know... never seen a silver one)

There are just too few Braze-on's not to be a race bike... these BB cable routers, the Number Plate holder, and the water bottle bosses are the only extra ones on the frame (not counting the necessary shifting/braking ones). No rack or fender mounts, no pump boss, nothing extra and for an early 80's frame (with a 63cm seat tube and a 60cm top tube) it isn't that heavy

When did Huffy spec Campy drop outs??

Looks Like I have a project on my hands... stay tuned...

Retro Sunday

2007-08-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

After a dry dusty day in the hell of the north of the 1990 Paris-Roubaix, Eddy Planckaert and Steve Bauer showed the world why cycling is the toughest sport with a 1cm difference in the final sprint on the Roubaix Velodrome, In Kansas there were only two races I could see on TV, the "Wide World of Sports" would show weekly highlights of the Tour de France in July and in April 2 hours of the Paris-Roubaix. Although I had seen the race (on TV) 6 times before this was easy to spot this as a defining moment of the sport.

That was first thing came to mind when my neighbor Darrell brought over his wife Mary's Panasonic for me to re-cable and give it the first love in 15 years.

Although this Panasonic has never seen roads anything like the Pave, it still brings back those memories.

Asides from the Johnnie Holmes stem, the Terry saddle and standard replaceables this baby is all original and in VERY good shape.

SN# right up front, no one will argue it's your bike.

I love the detail in this shot, a first gen. 600 SIS rear derailleur and almost a perfect Panasonic stamp on the chrome drops.

ROTTEN EGGS!!! The reason I switched to Campy in 1988.

Ti One On... a rant

2007-08-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

Titanium Spokes

Everyone seems to have their opinion on Ti Spokes

To quote Wheelbuilder.com
"Exotic materials have been successfully used in spoke manufacturing, however cost and availability can sometimes be limiting factors. Titanium, and Carbon/Kevlar spokes are currently in use on several manufacturers production wheels. Titanium spokes weigh significantly less than stainless spokes. Due to their inherent flexibility the Ti spokes give a very unique ride sometimes described as comfortable, plush, soft, Flexi, and even sloppy by some riders"

On Cane Creek's web site they have this to say about their Ti Spokes.
"Cane Creek Crono wheels with optional titanium spokes have relatively lower radial stiffness. These wheels provide a noticeably more comfortable ride, especially after hours in the saddle." and then have some calculus to back it up...

and it would almost be sinful to leave out this from the bicycle mechanic's web guru "Titanium is also used for spokes, but, in my opinion it is a waste of money. Titanium spokes should only be used with brass nipples, which makes a combination that is not significantly lighter than stainless spokes with aluminum nipples."

DT Swiss made their MMC spokes in the late 1990's with mixed reviews, the UBI/DT Swiss take on Ti is that it is not as reliable of a metal or ride as Steel and they no longer offer a Ti Spoke... The word in the shops is that DT Swiss was using a different composite of Ti then we are currently building wheels with today.

I have some pretty solid experience with building 26" wheels with Ti spokes, I haven't kept records but I would say about 45% of all wheels I built at Trail Head Cyclery were Ti spokes, primarily USA Spokes and some Marwi. Although I have built only 5 sets of Ti spoked 700c wheels (4 road/cross, 1 29er). All were laced 3x all around, shop standard was to build all wheels to keep with Chris King's warrantee and they like Ti Spokes laced 3x... "Due to the increased tension required by titanium spokes, titanium spokes should only be laced in a 3 cross pattern." to quote KCG's Hubset owners manuals ... and sorry Mr. Brown but all were built with aluminum nipples, THC's standard is to use 12mm DT Swiss nipples with standard rims and 14mm USA (or other) nipples with UST rims. However I'm starting to use 14mm with all Ti spokes. And I have never experienced any ill effects of the fabled Ti / Al electron sharing… i.e. the Al nipple fusing to the Ti spoke… Yeah for Boiled Linseed Oil... More on aluminum nipples in a future rant...

Specs aside the most important thing is the...

RIDE

If you thought weight go play in traffic RIGHT NOW!!!
(frick'n weight weenies)

I own 2 sets of Ti wheels.

SS MTB 26", Chris King SS Disk Hubs, USA Ti Spokes, Mavic 717 Rims.
700c, Chris King Classic Hubs, USA Ti Spokes, Mavic OpenPro Rims.

I have over 3 years on the MTB set mainly weekend rides, a few races, and 1.5 years on the 700c, with over 10,000 commuting/training miles. The best way I can describe it is, the same properties that make Ti frame riders fall in love with their rides are at work in wheels with Ti spokes. To expand on Wheelbuilder.com and Cane Creek take on Ti spokes, the sloppy/plush/flexie feeling from a Ti spoked wheel (namely a 700c) tends to come from low spoke tension i.e. lower steel spoke tension, 90knf ish for you nit pickers. Michelle's 28 hole and my 32 hole 700c sets are both very highly tensioned, pushing 140knf.

A Bad EARLY (4:30 am) pic of my front 700c wheel...

You can kinda make out the brake pad ware on the rim at each nipple from the high tension flexing the rim a little at that point.

Something I would only do with quality parts that can take that high of force. Anyway I really like the feel of my 700c wheels, at speed they are very stable and for most bumps they seem to dampen the hits. Michelle and Jack from THC said the same basic thing. I feel Sapim CX-Ray's build a better/stiffer road racing wheel but for 'cross or my riding (commuting/training) Ti spokes wheels cut the shock factor that helps save enegry. For 26" wheels the shock damping is pretty much a mute point with mtb tires on but the rotational weight savings and higher tensions allow for seeming quicker accelerations and less wheel wonder in tight berms. Ti spokes wins out here over CX-Rays because you can cut Ti spokes down to custom lengths (I could get spokes down to the .5mm on the cutter at THC) where CX-Rays only come in even lengths. Better spoke lengths mean more even tension beeween the two sides of the wheel, better tension means a stronger/ stiffer/ less flexie wheel

I have only seen one questionable failure of a Ti spoke in 3 years; it broke right at the base of the threads inside the nipple. Lars and I think it was from the spoke cutter mal-rolling the threads, and one off thing. The other failures have all been from derailleurs, sticks, pumps, rocks etc... Mostly bends and a few brakes, I have bent one spoke on the front of my SS MTB from an o'shit stop in a blind corner into a rock.

All in all I love Ti spokes, yeah they are pricy but if you spend a lot of time on your bike they are worth checking out.

oh yeah almost forgot for the Weight Weenies... a set of Chris King Hub / Mavic 717 Rim... Steel DT Swiss 14/15 V.S. USA Ti 14... Ti wheels were .5 lbs lighter...

Idle hands beget the devils work

2007-08-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not 'suposta be doing anything right now, tomorrow marks week three of this broken bone. From the war stories I've been hearing, between now and the 5th week are when more re-injuries happed from guys doing too much. I can see why.

Ok on to the bike stuff I managed to get done

Julie’s bike,

I like the setup she uses, 1x9... simple pure 'cross racing bike, my faviorite setup.

She dropped this one off for new cables/housing, yearly love and to remove the chicken levers. I just need to work out what I’m going to do with the rear brake… Farid used a seat mounted stop last year, I tried three others this year so far and I think I’m just going to go back to his set up for it, seems to work the best.

While I had it in the garage I used it as the sponsor’s sticker guinea pig. Nothing to new here I pretty much copied Josh and Simons from the last couple of years. Running a little shy on Mavic and Bell stickers, SwiggCo is going to call in the Calvary later this week for more.

Speaking of the Team, I got Michelle to pull on her kit from last year to show off her...

NEW WHEELS!!! (get your mind out of the gutter)

I know I said we were going to get the rim's power coated pink but I couldn't help myself, I had to lace them up!

They came out good too. Brian cut the spokes for me when we stopped by Trail Head Saturday, and nailed the lengths.

The Specs.

Pink Chris King 28 hole classic road hubs
Blue USA Ti Spokes,
Front: 297mm 3x (nailed it)
Rear: 295mm 3x Drive (could have used 294mm) 297mm 3x Non-Drive (good)
Blue (and a couple of black) USA Al Nipples (14mm)
Black Mavic 28 hole OpenPro
Velox Rim Tape
Specialized Houffalize CX 700X32 S-Works Tire

Even the more harden fans seem to approve of them

Not Much Do'n Today

2007-08-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

Ugh Lots O' recovering from the last two days of the adventure known as life. Damn these injuries take a lot out of you.

BUT...I have no reason to bitch

Just some for the record today, cleaning up the photo dump.

Michelle's little Seven. I didn't do the build up but I have serviced the hell out of it, damn that little girl puts on the miles...

The guys at Richardson Bike Mart in Dallas, TX did an awesome job with the original build, and the bike has a killer build spec'd.

Campy Record
Easton
Mavic
Salas

I do want a Ti bike of some form, most likely a road frame, the reviews from rides (exp. old steel riders like myself) I know who own them are outstanding. Michelle loves this one.

Although it is the only bike she gets toe/tire over lap on...
Score Rock Lobster 2, Seven 0 ha-ha

Ah My favorite part on any bike... (and judging by the selection, Keith's as well).

WHEELS!!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE building wheels!! It's like my golf, my zen garden, my after dinner Porto. There's no greater joy for this mechanic then that one magic second, just after the three to five turns on each nipple to bring the spokes up to working tension, when I spin the now finally something of a solid creation in the truing stand and I know I nailed the spoke lengths down to the 10th of an mm. That my friend is a true bike mechanics orgasm. I was up to 83 built this year when I broke my collar bone, I SO want to break 100 for the first time this year. Riders lust for new bikes HA! INFIDALS! I would kill for this Holy Grail

Ok, Ok, I'll quit ranting and get on with it...

So we had a few (3) Reflex rims left over from the very generous contribution Mavic made to the team last season, and Paul kicked them over to me (with a few stickers). My task, Pit wheels for this season and you all now know how I feel about building wheels... Hubs are my Crux, I have this Chris King High Flange “Single Speed” hub I'm going to cut out of the old OpenPro hoop I currently have it laced to and re-lace it to one of the Team Reflex'

1 Down 2 to go...

Speaking of Wheels... Well Well Well what do we have here???

28 hole OpenPro's, Thanks Paul!!!

Going to use a 3x/3x lacing on these... sigh.... I wanted to do a 2x front / 2x/3x rear but Chris King likes Ti Spokes laced 3x/3x ok ok I'll play by the rules...

Don't think I can wait for the powder coater I gotta build these babies up!!!

HELP THE GIMP FUND!!!

For Sale one Santa Cruz Juliana Extra Small

Perfect for the petite girl looking to get in to cycling...

I hear through the grapevine that it was cared for by an ok mechanic ;)

The Specs
Shimano XTR 950 Drive Train
Avid Ti Brakes
Chris King/Dt/Mavic Wheels

Includes an extra Fox Float Shox!

e-mail for the other bits etc... asking $1200 o.b.o.

If your a Velo Bella or VeloGirl or a Rock Lobster Rider Let Michelle and I know! Hint Hint

That's all for today, time for a glass 'o Porto and an ice pack for the busted limb

While I'm posting up old photos

2007-08-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't build up these two but I think they are hella cool... and I'm killing time waiting on cloths to dry.

My back drop latley, I think this is going to be my next bike... I've always wanted to try riding (and mybe a little racing) on the track again. Fixies are a lot of fun. and I do have that Mavic Starfish crankset collecting dust

This bike is just frick'n cool! Michelle and I spotted this one at the Sea Otter this year. Paul told me the story behind it but it's too early in the morning to recall it... The owner is a cute little Jr who killed it in her race if I remember correctly.

I'm big on supporting the Jr's, I was lucky when I started racing to find guys who would show me the ropes. We gotta do the same to keep this sport alive and kick'n or I won't have any cool bikes to build up.

Jump Up, Jump up and get down

2007-08-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

A blast from the past, I found the pics of this Yeti 4x this morning.

Derek's dirt jumping bike, if I didn't break myself so much I would love to have one of these things.

you can obviously tell I'm much cleaner these days... must have been rag laundry day.

This was one of the first bikes I built up at home (not one of my own). It was too busy to get it done at the shop before he took off for college, so I did the work at home for him.

and you think installing a front derailleur is a pain in the ass?

Ahhhh Yeti!

Dog is my co-pilot

Tex loves the backpack... I have to buy a new one, he always cries when he sees me leaving with the green and black one without him

Pink and Blue, Pink and Blue

2007-08-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

After a morning of mass Blog'n Michelle and I went to the Bicycle Outfitter to pick up the final bits for her new Rock Lobster. That I finished up, one armed today.

The Specs
Rock Lobster Team Scandium / Aluminum mix
SRAM Rival Group
Paul Brakes
Mavic Wheels - an old set/training set
Easton Fork and Seatpost
Random other bits...

We're waiting on the rims for her
ah-hem BLING!!
Pink, Chris King 28 hole Hubs
Blue, Joe Hunt Ti Spokes
Blue, Al DT-Swiss Nipples
and... To be powder coated... whatelse...
Pink, Mavic OpenPro, CPX33 or Reflex Rims
whatever I can find in 28 hole, reflex's I hope, I haven't had much luck yet

the only front view of the first SRAM/Lobster routing I've done... errr I'm not thrilled but it works very well.

Michelle and Cali - My Girls check'n out the new toy.

One for the Sponsors ha ha ha

Where it happens

2007-08-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Ah the Gar-age

dark, dusty and musty... gotta love it, truly a man cave.

The rack

Bench and...

the in progress white wall

the BOX... The suitcase I live out of

Keep'n the Sponsors Happy

2007-08-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Paul and Larry's Team Cross bikes getting ready for the trip over the hill home.

I love Paul's Skull and Cross Bones cable hangers.

damn these were fun to work on (like I'm going to bitch about working on Campy Record or Dura Ace)

Get your Mojo On

2007-08-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

I got to build this IBIS Mojo up as a show bike for IBIS '07 Sea Otter booth.

I did this build at Trail Head Cyclery on short notice, it seems we were the only ones who had an XL and their Nuk' Pesto in stock... being good friends with IBIS they asked Lars if they could use it for the show. Of course we Trail Head'd it out with a lot of team stickers and a THC Chain stay wrap.

This was the second "show" bike I did for IBIS the first was a medium "Guiness Foam" Mojo that was shipped to the UK for Single Track World to review. I've never seen it reviewed.

Mojo's are great to build, good kits, and killer cable routing. They build up clean and nice.

To Post or Not to Post...

2007-08-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

Let's see, I'm starting this Blog so I can show off some of the really cool bikes that I'm getting the opportunity to build up at home and at work.

To kick things off some of my own rides.

Ah, the Race Lite. This is one of two bikes in the garage I didn't build up myself. I picked this up from a friend who needed some cash when I first moved to California. I'd always wanted one for obvious reasons and I got a sweetie too.

Projects for this one... Paul is retro fitting a Ridged Switchblade fork with a 1" threadless steerer for me :)

Paul's "little" contribution to mountain biking and my first Rock Lobster

The Steel Single Speed!!

This bike KILLS IT! I love this bike! ‘nuff said.

Michelle's Itty-Bitty Crawdad... this was her first Lobster. It's an Easton 7001 mix, uber light... since this pic was taked we put a on an '07 Fox F80.

Tex and the rigs.

My Second Lobster, the Road (my SS' evil twin)
The SS
and
the Crawdad