This Week on the Web 2

Clear those tabs.  Here's an innovative take on flatland, make the rhythm rock to the bike:

I met this guy Joe while I was in NYC a couple of summers back.  A former architect, he builds and sells one bike at a time, each one of them unique.  I heard one of his employees, Krys was hit by a car and has a long road to recovery, maybe you can help. Maybe you'll want to after watching this video:
 

The Inverted Bike Shop from Show Love on Vimeo.

Professional builder takes 12 years to build one bike.


10 ways sex is like riding a bike.


Drinking alcohol may significantly increase problem solving skills (and your willingness to tell others they a wrong?).

Marla Streb says that bike shops need to clean their bathrooms, was she talking about the Rose?

Lot's is happening in the Yewtah bike scene.  Not only is the (almost) Whole Enchilada Enduro scheduled for this fall, Ali is sayin' that he will be putting on enduro races this summer.  Of course, the Tour of Utah is coming our way this summer with the Salt Lake City stage finishing downtown on 300 West, August 10 at 3:30-4:00pm. With no major climbs in the day's parcours, its likely to be a sprint finish.

Tired of being a spectator? Learn how to build bicycle frames, here in the Wasatch.

On the other hand, the Salt Lake City Mayor's office doesn't seem to understand the important cross- disciplinary nature of cycling and has abolished the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee, established in 1986. Let the Mayor know what you think: mayor@slcgov.com

Want to make a bigger impact and have a resume booster, as well? How about joining the new Salt Lake City Parks, Open Space and Trails Board?  Applications due Friday, 4/13/12 5pm. Alternately, you could get involved in the Granary District and the upcoming charrette.

With Fabian out for a bit, Fahzure's interest in the peloton has shifted.  With no Contador, Schleck in poor form, Martin down, Valverde back, Sanchez showing strong, this year's Tour De France is looking interesting.  What's that you say? Cadel? Well he seems to have enough on his plate to distract him (click to see tweets from Cadel's "better half"):

Yep, still holding on to her last name, going on a "bucks night out," blackmailing her hubby and retweeting her own tweets (which Stevil points out, is like drinking your urine).  My picks for the TDF? Sanchez, Voelker, Van Garderen.

Hump Bike- Sled Sled

You may have seen this bike out on the Utah DH race series, or maybe up at the Canyons, or over in Boulder City doin' some preseason tuning but, you were probably most likely to see this bike on the Bobsled.  It's owner, Demi, is an Aves local who likes to send it. Look for this aqua and white flash as you carve the sled this spring.

So this sled is a Yeti 303 DH v1, I have to put the v1 there because v2, in carbon, even, is due out soon.  The v2 bike is totally different. This 303 is a sled with its shock rate entirely linear. No rocker arm, swing link, or arcing frame member controls the shock:

Rather, the shock is driven by this shuttle and rail system in line with the spring. Pure linear.  Want to know what a coil spring feels like? Ride this bike:

BB and head angle are adjustable via the lower shock mount.  Lots of hydroformed and machined aluminum. Interesting mounting blocks that connect the swingarm to the shock driver:

Triangulated swingarm and shock driver assembly. Code brake and DT Swiss wheel are strong and reliable:

Lookin at the cockpit, it is wide and low, kids these days.  The Fox 40 in white nicely compliments the white rear triangle:

This sticker says something about all-moutain use only:  Being the favored child, Demi gets special stickers and mods:

Sram, DT Swiss hubs, corncob cassette and giant rotor, must be a DH bike:

Hump Bike- Taking a Giant Hump or Dump

For $95, is this Old Skool Giant Too Cool?   

By: Rolling Hall


Enter Your Vote>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What's dressed in red, sports a perky rack, and shifts smoothly?  Up for purchase is a Giant MTB that appears to have seen little use in its hometown of Sprawlsville, UT.:

Its manila-mo owner probably rode it around the cul-de-sac once, explaining why this ferrous frame hasn't returned to base elements. It's an LBS-notch above 80's-department store quality, and for close to the same price, after taxes, you could buy this four-and-a-quarter star POS. So, with that monstrosity as a gauge, would you hump this Giant, or dump it?:

At first glance, the NICE NICE NICE upright riding position might look tempting. It'd provide a lucky cyclist with a commanding view of populated streets. But, unfortunately upon further inspection, the quill stem is mounted at a ready-to-snap height. We'd advise lowering it a bit, unless you'd prefer an impromptu introduction to Terra Firma (no, not the exotic dancer you perv). That's a quick, costless fix, and the rest of this red-sled doesn't appear to need any more coin tossed at it to get going on your first Giant adventure.

Inside the ad's beehive-edjumacated listing, the seller claims this bicycle is 'weighting' for a person who loves 'out doors adventures.' We're pretty sure he intended to type outdoor adventures. And given the undeniable reliability and serviceability of thumb shifters, a Shimano drivetrain, and cup n' cone hubs, we wouldn't hesitate weighting the rack with camping gear to spend a weekend exploring the White Rim.:

On the stopping end things, (my God, he didn't mention breaks!) this Giant pile piles on mediocre power with a canti front brake and rear U-brake. While it's adequate stopping power to cruise rail trails with your most precious possession rolling along in a child seat, that stealthy U brake hidden under the chainstays wasn't a high point of slowing ATB's. Early mountain bikes favored this brake and location because its low-profile shape provided ankle clearance with a shorter actuation cable. Unfortunately, the more powerful, easier-to-adjust, and less affected-by-mud canti's would hang out too far from the seat stays. They'd snag stone-washed jeans and hit rider's calfs and ankles when getting rad -- not cool.

The seller of this particular 'smooth shifting' 21-speed beast (we're willing to bet he hasn't shifted a modern drivetrain yet) claims that massive saddle is brand-spanking new and 'confy' – by which we are assuming he means comfy. And that's a good thing when the only filter between you and your Giant adventures is foam grips and pinner 2in-wide tires.

The price is 'fi,' whatever the fu that means. So, for 19 five-spots do you see yourself leaning this retro-ride outside Alta's Peruvian? (A pair of Black Widow tele skis strapped with used tubes to the rack, of course.) Or is this 'classic' better off donated to the SLC Bicycle Collective to fulfill its two-wheeled talent fetchin' forties and blunts from a corner mart?

You decide!

Hump it: That's a NICE NICE NICE price!

Or

Dump it: That price is Fu…

---

See the poll on right sidebar

Bike Spot-15th and 15th

You may be aware of some of the local bike spots like, 21st South and Trax, with Cam Wood's BMX specialty shop, The Bicycle Collective and the soon-to-open Performance Megastore (!). 90th South with the soon-to-open Scheels (hear that Trek dealers?), Highland Drive and 9th and 9th have a bit of this going on, as well. The latest hotspot may be the 15th and 15th neighborhood, with the newly open Beehive Bicycles.  Look for the Applesque (or is it The Hive?!?! with their Chub Design theories) logo with fat and funky bikes in the window:

 

Fat bike and low-voc parts washer:

Owner Greg Steele is reaching out to niches by being open on Sundays and promoting brands such as Boo:

Thousand dollar truing stand:

After an introduction from Rolling Hall, I was curious to go across the street to the 15th Street Gallery, where Steve Smock, wrench turner at Really Competitive Cyclist, shows off his creative side with a supersized photorealist exhibition of bike parts.  Huge canvases show accurate machining and detail of bike components, even the individual cuts on a modern mirror finish cassette (click to enlarge):

The background collage/tech manual detail is amazing, too:

While I appreciate these works for their precision, attention to the mechanical and their expression of utility, I can also Imagine that some folks have a more Rothko approach searching for meaning in that which is abstract and unfamiliar.  Consider it an opportunity to take someone out, without a strong fondness for components (maybe sitting across the table from you), and see what your takeaways on the art are.

Bike Swap at the Fairpark

Well, by now, you know two things: 1. Fabian, yet to peak, from a small group at 10K, crushed them, like he crushed rock, in heroic form, on Strade Bianche;  2. The Bike Swap is over.  Here's what you might have seen or missed. There were a number of $300ish late seventies/eighties road bikes.  This one was the most novel, an Urago mass production:

A welded by Kieth Bontrager for $800.00:

Farari Bianchi's for sale:

Betty Boop did not sell for $265:

This Yeti 303 was interesting, but hella heavy and not that great a deal at $3200:

Sly Folks, Sly Fox, fistfulls of cash:

This is a video of Iltis not buying it at the Bicycle Collective table; which is hilarious, because otherwise he can't stop giving. This man puts out gives a lot to Utah cycling:

Fahzure, always slow, went down to A Putt in electric bike slicktrack oval racing:

Because it had all of the right markings: vintage, mixte, cool paint, I thought this bike was going to be best of show:

But alas this bike, like the Betty Boop, was priced at about $300, lacked much of its original equipment and posted later model add-ons and components of a down-grade quality. On the other hand, here was a $750, nearly stock Kona Stinky with everything in dirty, but working order. Start a DH lifestyle for under $1000 (it'll need a little work) with a dependable, fun bike. Freeride! Best of Show:

So, while there were a few opportunities, the problem with this year's swap lies in the fact that the pickings were particularly thin on the used front and traffic was slow. The people did not come out, especially those looking to get a deal on a new bike. More than a couple of vendors probably didn't cover their booth cost. The Bicycle Collective, who registers bikes for free at the event, only stickered about 45 bikes.  Let's hope that weather, the North Temple reconstruction and $5.00/gal gas conspire for a busier swap, next year.

The Choice Is Yours- Best MTB Shuttle Vehicles

The Choice Is Yours-our weekly feature where we take the best responses from Monday's You Must Choose and polish 'em up to show off. Monday we asked for your opinion on what the nastiest MTB DH Freeride bike shuttle vehicle is. Here are some of your answers with a little analysis by Fahzure and Rolling ( Kid in D') Hall:

Pinzgauer

Suggested by: Brian

Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

Brian sums it up pretty good, "Swiss surplus Pinzgauer. Simple 4-banger engine, massive ground clearance, can ford rivers a foot and a half deep, climb 45 degree slopes, and has a shitload of room for people, bikes, and all the beer anyone could drink." All those reasons alone make it worthy enough for us. Here's one for sale priced less than your brah's lifted Toy' with Moto Metal wheels. Yes, you're losing some creature comforts and MPG's are going to be questionable but, you're gaining trailhead envy -- and for that reason we can see ourselves running shuttles up Grafton in a Pinzgauer.

Your Bicycle

Suggested by: Reverend Dick
Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

A nod of the helmet goes to the Rev, for our first shuttle-vehicle suggestion, and most efficient one -- a bicycle. While it is possible to complete rides like The Whole Enchilada without a shuttle, it's not something we're going to add onto the ol' bucket list any time soon. Rather, like the Rev and others on Fahzure's bachelor ride, a more realistic freerider would say that taking one of multi-reniasance man Jesse Marshall's Franken-bus's to the top and enjoying the ride down with long travel sleds, is more like it.

                                           
The Minivan

Suggested by: Rolling Hall

Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

The Minivan with two in the front five in the back, is the mullet of vehicles. Your GF might not like it, but we do … for its capacity. You can find a running one for less than a new triple clamp fork and given their boxy shape you'll have room to move bodies up the mountain. Avoid car-based ones if you don't want to drag the rear bumper and struggle up passes.  The Astro/Safari twins, come in all-wheel and have an EPA ratting 16/23mpg, and its low-profile soccer-mom stigma will help keep the boys in blue of your back. 

Ford Excursion

Suggested by: WakiPaki

Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

Surprisingly no one mentioned a Ford Raptor, instead we got a nomination for the Excursion over Barley sodas at the local watering hole. His reasons: comfortable leather seating for seven, V10 or diesel power, and room for bikes and gear. Sounds luxurious. But, we hear the blue oval is introducing a $4K Kashima coated option for the Fox-suspended Ford Raptor next year. Maybe that'd change the WakiPaki's flavor.

6.7 L Turbo Diesel Dodge Megacab

Suggested by: Busti

Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

The Mega Cab can hold a mega shit-ton of gear, and with a Cummins engine as an option it flirts with 20mpg's, especially if you Yewtah Edge it. Not bad. What is bad is paying for major repairs like injectors. What is good is the option to belch dinosaurs, and for that reason we can see ourselves running a Megacab up the pass in Jackson Hole.

E350 Van w/ Diesel 7.3 L & 3 in lift

Suggested by: Marac

Why it's a worthy shuttle vehicle:

As a professional driver, Gisto Marac, is likely to go with the purpose-built choice which comfortably fits 15 and bikes with the Moabesque roof rack, and has as much power as any of other choices. Why take two vehicles when you can take a whole Posse in one. Not having compromise every other choice is just an alternative to the obvious winner. As a total fantasy, Marac notes that if your posse is slightly smaller (say, 8), you might consider a  Sportsmobile Chinook Baja,  $150,000, which also makes it versatile for those weekend getaways with the sweetie:

Looks like the van that wallet can best afford, takes the day.

And, just like that, it is Spring (Coil, of couse)

I'm not really sure that winter happened in Yewtah, because without snow and with high temperatures, it has seemed like a constant March. Ghetto foam pit in December, I-Street broken collar bone in January and, now, all the whispers of spring on the bicycle interweb: energy returning to the system.

My first inkling of the shift came in the form of bike job postings. Fahzure gets a fair amount of this material through the bicycle list serves that clutter the in box.  ThinkTank, the community bicycle shop list serve, is one of the more useful. Looking to make a career of the bike industry and feel better about the people you assist? You could get a job at a community bike shop in Vermont, New York, Santa Barbara or Minnesota.

Want to make a difference for riders on the Yewtah scene?  The Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective needs volunteers to get bikes ready for the Spring crush. Or, you could get on with the newly forming South Salt Lake Bicycle Advisory Committee (contact Dave at MBAC) or attend the Utah Bicycle Summit.

Another sure sign of Spring comes from Dirty, taking the pulse of the bicycle interweb constantly, who noticed the bike crazies are out. As I've mentioned before, AC/DC and bike tricks go together like...well...AC/DC and bike tricks. All Mary Bar comments aside, as the Revy will tell you, the "run what you brung" ethos is tremendously appealing to Fahzure. Now you know why there's a Mixte on the masthead:

Down in Moab, spring is always early...like now. As is a tradition, the Poison Spider Thaw is happening March 2-4, a great opportunity to ride the latest from Yeti, Kona and Niner for FREE (FREE T-shirt and a gals day, even).  With Yeti Joe and Schwilly  down there, it's sure to be a good time.

Hump Bike-Punkbike, so fun

Some bikes and bike-like devices are so novel that one can't help but want to try one.  At Interbike each year all sorts of freaky inventions are lurking in the New Exhibitors Pavilion (aka Basement).  If only there was a pool, I would have tried this one for sure:

Inventist, the company marketing this device, has several alternate conveyance devices: swerver skates,  Segway-type unicycles and Stepsters (The Revy's "Striderbike" inexpensive cousin).  This type of company is great, making fun inexpensive consumer goods that keep folks active.  Repeat that mantra as we progress.

You can imagine my joy, when I discovered this gem sitting in a corner at the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective:

Total hooey handlebar but, dual suspendy with trick band brake on cast aluminum wheels:

Handlebar replaced for greater stability:

With Fahzure on injured reserve, it was up to Tyson to send it (nice!):

Flo was turning in fast laps on a tight course:

Riding different bikes is fun!

Back...Palmer, too...Again!

Fahzure's break from reporting has him coming back refreshed like the irrepressible Shaun Palmer. For those of you unfamiliar with Palmer, from the mid-eighties through the mid-nineties, he dominated Free Sports winning at boadercross, snowmobile, skiercross, halfpipe, DH, road and BMX races at national and international competitions.  The X-Dance film festival, which precedes Sundance in SLC, each year, focuses on Free Sports film and video.  Although there were only a few cycling productions (how about more BMX, X-Dance?), both of the biggie cycling vids were Saturday night, with Yewtah filmmaker Clay Porter's 3 Minute Gaps showing first. Next up, an inspirational short about Tony Alva, who still rips pools like he was born to do it. This year the headlining film was The Miserable Champion, Shaun Palmer's story...here's the trailer:

Chainsaw Productions -Shaun Palmer "The Miserable Champion" from Chainsaw Productions on Vimeo.

Amazing person, amazing story, OK video.  At about 40 minutes long, it seemed abbreviated (Palmer says he's not done yet, one more gold around his neck before retirement (which didn't happen in Aspen, last week), and the story lacked a certain richness in narrative.  Worth a view, for information purposes definitely, but I'm certain there's more to be told about Palmer then just his achievements, which are mind boggling:

Gold X-games Boardercross 1997-1999
Gold X-games Ski cross 2000
USA Today World's Greatest Athlete
Silver 1996 DH World Championships (his first year in MTB competition)
Gold 1999 Dual Slalom  World Championships
Pike's Peak Hill Climb class winner 2000

X-Dance and the premier were great, with Palmer in attendance to take questions:

Today, Travis Pastrana travels a similar path, soon in 3D:

Be sure to keep following these guys, it's always interesting.

A Utah Killjoy

50/50 BMX riders have consistently raised the bar in terms of creativity for a number of years.  Their new vid features more of the improbable.  If you happen to be in the SLC area Nov. 28th, be sure to drop in to the premier at the Tower theater, 7pm:

In which crushing and plowing are related

After my recent post on my new green machine, the path has gotten a bit more difficult and crushing has taken it's toll.  The 3rd Cliff of Insanity is largely the source, with it's steep but soft landing ramp.  Fahzures first attempt at Keylining the ramp with the brake lever and bar end did not go well, breaking the attachment point off the lever body.  Fortunately, zip ties work well (thanks for the hollow pivot, Sram!):

Next, the only rock patch in miles beckoned Fahzure to clean some field stones. Spokes make a poor implement for the job:

Back at the Cliffs of Insanity, a little tire plowing:

Never have cleaned out soil from inside the tire before:

Yes, I run 'em 40-45psi (2.3's!)

3rd Cliff, 1st Drops

The newly rebuilt 3rd Cliff of Insanity on the Bobsled is ready to roll.  Demenem gets 1st chair:

After a poor first attempt, Fahzure nails it:

Plans are to continue the line through the super booter hip to a step down and wallride.

Fall is when we ride (and build)

I've always found fall to be the best time to ride.  In temperate climates, nearly a year's worth of suffering and practice are paying off just as the temperatures drop so the body's cooling system doesn't have to work so hard.  As the precip returns, it can also be a good time to build.  I had a couple of hours of waiting around time, so I decided to build this:

Not too spectacular, until you check it out from the other direction. It was installed on the third Cliff of Insanity, making it two and half feet more insane (notice the super booter in the distance?):

 
The low angle light of sunset should catch the whole venue perfectly, can't wait for the shots:

SSSSSS-Super Sick Specialized SX Sending Sunday

For more than 10 years, Fahzure's primary ride was his Killing Machine but, on its fourth fork and needing drivetrain and brake work, the Killing Machine became hard to trust.  I shopped around for over a year anticipating catastrophic failure of the KM (it never happened). I rode the Ibis Mojo HD, Knolly Chilcotin, Yeti 7, Intense Tracer and many more of the 6-7 inch offerings. I decided that I had to have coils, front and rear, some sort of multi-link rear end, and a design based on a 180mm fork.  Tys chose to support the home team, by picking up a One, so that eliminated that option for me. Thanks to my friends at Big Red and Wasatch Touring, I was able update my ride while staying within the lineage. At my age, the less I have to adapt, the better, I thought. Fahzure's new ride: 

 The Specialized SX Trail is the longest travel non-dual crown offering available from Big Red. I switched out the drivetrain to 10sp Shimano, put on a 90mm Thomson stem, meaty Oury grips and a Reverb seatpost, which is awesome when it works, so far, not very often; 39 lbs as you see it.  Saddle is a donor from Griffy after the stock slim jim folded (you'll thank me later, Chowdah) on no footer hard landers.  Lots of stuff on the bar and still tons of room:

 Front hubs are indistinguishable in my opinion, the Fox axle works well:

 Fancy front end: matching color F & F, headset, hub:

Look at all of those shapes, angles and joints:

 XT 10speed w/ SLX shifters has worked great; cool through axle, derail hanger, derail guard:

After six months of light use, the green ano has started to fade at different rates, to different tones; earn your turns stem:

 I'm fairly indifferent about cranks and pedals, as long as they don't break; my first steady relationship with a chainguide equipped bike has been a bit testy:

 Four pot Code brake calipers combined with carbon XO levers, light and super powerful brakes; so far, so good on the rear hub:

750 mm-29.5 inches wide handlebars is quite a switch up for Fahzure, who previously was running bars in the 25-26 inch range.  Fahzure loves his table tops, turn downs and, especially, X-ups. The wide bars combined with the longish stem are intimidating, where bar ends can catch on legs or clothing...will it work out?:

 Super Sick Sending Sundays came to end this past weekend and the turnout was as strong as ever, all kinds of conveyances were present; little tykes:

Many people were first timers on janky bikes, like this one with the quill-type stem a full inch and a quarter above the minimum insert line:

Danky Dan, who has taken up with a plastic 29er, was out Crossfit training on his dualie:

Tys styling the big stepdown:

Fahzure in the skills park:

Flo nearly bottomed out in the skills park (check those stanchions):

 

In the skills park, I got the courage to try a number of tricks on the new bike, including suicide no handers, no footers, and X-ups; on the big stepdown, I got to send it:

Griffy sends it legoman moto style:

Extend your arms and legs, scoot back, twist your arms to full click at the elbow:

Pavel was up with the Go Pro and, with lightening fast speed, put together these two vids of Fahzure and Tys:

 Thanks for a great fall warmup, Canyons, Tys, Pavel, Flo. So far, the transition to SX has been seamless, with one exception. All of my other bikes are black or blackish. I'm considering some repaints this winter, perhaps in dark metallic: