Cyclocross Bike Crazed - Will this ever end?

Hmmm...What the heck happened??? I turned 50 in June (did a great bike ride on my 50th) then it's suddenly October! I'm not sure what happened to summer...well that's not entirely true...it seems I spent my entire summer working on and around our new place (you know building fence, horse pens, horse barns, hay barn, wood shed). All I know is that there was very little bike riding in between all those projects. I still have a few more urgent-before-winter chores to get done. So needless to say my bike riding has greatly suffered, but it seems that my need to test new stuff has not stopped.

Oh yeah, just when I thought I was somewhat over the-need-to-test-and-ride-everything obsession here I am again mildly thrash testing some new stuff. All this is possible only by riding which means I'm back riding again, insanely out of shape, but nonetheless riding until I feel a need to puke on every ride (which these days doesn't take much). First up is my new carbon communter bike, an On-One Dirty Disco disc cyclocross bike. For some reason it looked like a fun commuter bike - and it is...



It's nothing fancy and it is fun to ride to work and on the back roads here. I've become a big fan of cyclocross bikes as the best ride for the gravel rides I like to do. I thought I would like to "try" a cyclocross disc bike since I roast my rim brakes all the time on the steep hills around here. Fortunately or not, my boy seems to have taken a fancy to this bike and he jets around the "farm" on it as if he were in a CX race all the time. Hmmm...not sure about that kid sometimes.



Next up is an All-City steel single speed cyclocross bike. I'm not sure what got into me, but once again I had a desire to ditch my plastic SS-CX bikes and get back on a heavy steel bike. I have no regrets in getting rid of the stupid light carbon bikes since the ride of the steel is soooooo much better. I accidentally gave it a custom paint job (rattle can) since I did not find the original lime green very eye pleasing. A black bike seem to be my thing, Love this bike.



Finally, after repairing or being profoundly unhappy with combo shift/brake levers I decided take a risk (oh sure twist my arm) to try a very unconventional unit that is incredibly simple, not to best looking to some people (I love it), but works flawlessly. Meet the Retroshifter...



I tried it out on my Gunnar as a 1x10 drivetrain and totally love how well it works and I like the cost and the crash replacement deal they have. I am now such a fan of these that I'm thinking of using Retroshifters on my other geared CX commuter bike (the On-One).



I am also testing the E-Thirteen XCX chain keeper up front and have had zero issues with losing a chain since I started using it a few months back.



I wish I could say the same thing about the Pauls Chain Keeper, but I had nothing but problems using the Pauls unit with their extension (which I needed to place the chain keeper properly on my Gunnar due to tubing flare at the bottom bracket). Using the Pauls chain keeper with the extension I lost my chain in several CX races last (using it on 2-different bikes) and I lost chain numerous times just riding or commuting to work. So far I've not had any issues with the Pauls unit (without the extension) on my Stong Frame running a 1x9 drivetrain. Both the Pauls and the E-thirteen are not cheap but at this time I think I have found what works and what does not.

My summer is gone, I'm out of shape (for me), and I guess I'm just normal otherwise in my need to ride and test everything bike related. I wonder what's coming next from my bike obsessed brain and test laboratory? I can't wait to see.

The Road to 50

Well I've been on the road to 50 for 50-years now. Yep that's right I'm 50-years young. There are the rotten butts in this world that track you down somehow and try hard to make you feel like an old geezer...I don't buy into their crap.



I'm not sure why the age of 50 means you need to be a member of AARP, I'm thinking that AARP is for those people that make it to 90, which by the way is my next goal in life. Maybe I should clarify, that means I intend to be riding my bike at 90 anywhere I want to go...can you imagine a 90-year old smokin past you on a bike? I can and that is where I'm aiming. AARP is going to have to wait awhile for my membership to say the least. To celebrate by 50th anniversary in this world, I decided to ride my bike on a torturous ride (no surprise there) up National Forest Rd 050. The ride started with a 2700-ft decent, followed by 5400-ft of total climbing. Ride time was a short 3.5hrs over the 53-miles of awesome self torture. I chose a geared bike (gasp!), yeah I know it is totally abnormal for me to do such a thing, but don't say anything about it until you have ventured up the road to 50.



Along the road to 50 I've had ups and downs, but the overall experience has been totally awesome and the views of my life are the better than pictures could ever show. My ride on June 12th up Road 50 was just another chapter in my life quest for fun adventures on a bike.



There's so much to see along this road and climb that one can not possibly show all the memories of just this one day here. The road had ups, downs and was rocky and difficult in places just like everyday life...



I typically choose the harder path, the rougher road, since that is where my soul seems to benefit the most...



I can't wait for what comes on the road to 90!

Mr Bacon Approved Fatness

Mr Bacon approved fatness out on it's shake-down cruise a few days ago...



I must say that my first ride on these beastly tires was incredibly fun. I really thought that the rolling resistance and weight of such large heavy wheels would be a struggle to ride, but it was not. Instead I found that running tires with 8-10 psi was awesome...I could not feel a single bump, rock, or any obstacle that I ran over - amazing ride! I can't wait to try this thing out in the snow next winter. Spring is well along here and of course I had to stop and admire some of my favorite things in this world - mountain wild flowers:

Some Serious Fat is Brewing Here

Some serious fat is brewing in my devious bike laboratory....here is a comparison of the Baconator tire to my normal cyclocross and mountain bike tires. Size left to right (inches) is 1.3, 3.8, 2.2.



I'm tellin ya people - there is some serious Bacon cooking here.

The Baconator Begins Here

The fatness continues...the Baconator Super Fatty is coming together more everyday. A new addition today is a Paul Component WHUB - that's a super sized front hub (135 mm wide for those that need to know).

Feeling Fat

Been very busy the last few months working on our "farm"...I had a 2-year plan to do what I've accomplished in the last 2-months. I just want to get everything done - new water system out to the pastures and trees, new tree wind row, new animal shelters, new fencing...etc. You get the picture. I'm obsessed (as usual) with details and getting done. So my biking has suffered greatly over the last few months. I'm starting to feel fat for all my hard work around the farm.

Always Distracted

Hmmm...It's another one of those great,cool, sunny days when I'm sitting here, sipping some tasty coffee, looking out my windows at the awesome snow covered mountain views. But today I am pondering my biking this year, as in what it is that I want to do on a bike (besides riding everyday), what kind of focus should I be attentive to this year, where is my passion leading me besides continuously astray? I'm distracted by so many different bike-related temptations...mountain bike racing, endurance events like 24-hr races and 100-miles races, long endurance rides just for fun, bike packing, exploring new territory, cyclocross racing, snow biking...and it just goes on and on. My mind seems to never be calmed with just one focus so I've decided that I really need to narrow things down some (if possible), otherwise I just flounder with too much bike-passion and not enough time or funding to get it all done.

Some of my focus (distraction?) was put in motion long ago, like bike packing. A while back I obtained a bike (an awesome Strong Frame titanium - geared or singlespeed) specific for my "envisioned" bike packing adventure needs and so far it is exactly what I wanted.  Also, I've been collecting bike packing gear for the last few years and at this time I have nearly everything for what I believe will allow me to do some light, fast adventures and exploration over a 2-4 day period. I'm not interested in heavy touring loads, but rather I'm attempting some minimalist packing trips locally. We will see how it works out this summer I'm sure. McGruder Corridor - Lolo Motorway in 3-days anyone?



I'm thinking it would be more fun doing a bike pack trip than paying to race an endurance event. Well, maybe not more fun, but definitely I'd feel less guilt in the cost factor. The entry fees for some endurance events are nearly $300 which does not include all the food, lodging, gas, etc. that sucks your bank account dry. Typically an endurance event, when all said and done, will cost me $400-$800, which is stupid. I use to do 2-4 of those events at year (they were cheaper at one time)! That's some serious new bike parts or a new bike. I can not justify the cost of those events anymore, but I still have a strong drive to compete in these events for some reason. So considering the cost I decided to make my own adventures close to home.



I also have 3-cyclocross bikes now and I have a cruel passion for racing CX, so I'm sure that my annual self-torture-fest racing CX will continue. It's just stupidly fun, like BMX racing on a roadbike, so I "have" to do it!

Recently I started thinking that snow biking on 4-inch tires would be a hoot, but is it worth the investment? Hmmm??? It would be a lot more inviting if I could talk someone else into doing it with me, but so far I just hear replies that tell me I'm nuts, which we already know. I have to think about this some more, the snowy mountains are only 10-miles from me here and I am getting itchy to try some biking with those ultra fat tires.



All I know is that the long road ahead is full of fun and adventure. I'm not sure I will ever sort out all the bike clutter in my mind, not sure I want to since it's what drives me to keep pedalling.

The Faces of Winter

Yep, been lazy lately in regards to publishing something here. Shameful I know, but I haven't abandoned ship. Looking at my blog makes me want to go ride my bike when ever I look at it so I would only hope it inspires a few other people to get out and pedal some.



Winter is a hard time for most cyclists. Most are a bunch of chickens afraid of a little cool weather and snowy roads. With some exceptions, I hear plenty of talk about shelving the bike in winter, watching some kind of "ball" sport on the TV (boring), drinking heavily, gorging thyself on everything in excess, then come the poor-me complaints of getting fat, a lot of talk about nothing interesting...it's just continuous rehash of some insane blah, blah, blah spewing out of everyone's lips.



People, listen to me and get on your bikes in the winter, it will not only save me from listening to the same cursed conversations again and again, it will also enlighten your soul because you will pray for warmth and hot chocolate every time you're out there pedalling your bike with frozen fingers and toes. Well maybe I'm exaggerating a bit about the frozen extremities, but I'm not about the anything else. Riding your bike will lift you from the blah winter life you are living, plus it will give you something interesting to talk about to people. 



I'm here to say that winter is a cool time to ride some gravel, back roads at a slower pace, usually on an off-road kind of bike. I spend a lot of time riding alone in the winter and can not believe that more people are not out enjoying the ultra cool things I get to see. Winter riding is way better than riding any day with temps beyond 90-degrees in the summer. The only thing you need is preparedness (just like anytime you ride), so those of you that can not foresee the need for being prepared for the conditions should just stay home and drink/eat yourselves into a fat stupor...or maybe just go to a movie, take a nap, then come and bore me to insanity with every detail of your weekend celebrating in a big fat drunken lipid fest.



A few pointers if you do decide to venture out this winter for a real cool adventure on 2-wheels...I know it's hard for some road-toads to swallow this, but start with a pack so that you can bring extra gloves, hat (keep your head warm!!!), and extra layers as needed (one layer should be wind proof). Toe and hand warmers make a world of difference as does a mini-thermos of you favorite non-alcoholic hot beverage (hot chocolate for me) or soup...there's nothing like a hot carb drink a few hours into a bike ride on a cool day. Don't stop too long or you will have a hard time re-warming. Take time to put on windproof or extra layers before going down hill and remove the extra layer prior to climbing (keeping dry is important).



The only thing better then cold titanium is cold steel...Anyone ready for a ride?

 

Cyclocross - Single Speed Saga Continues

Yes, I must say that single speed bikes rule!!! As we recall, I converted my Blue Competition cyclocross bike into a single speed (that's a one geared bike to you) after having so much trouble with my rear derailleur. All I can say is that ditching those extra, bothersome gears really paid off. I am now convinced (once again) that single speed bikes suit me better than geared bikes. I may try a geared setup in the future, but for now I will stick with SS.

(Chasing the Mighty Matt Morra)


This cyclocross season I have had way too much fun racing in the INWCX Series. I did 2-races every race day (Single Speed and Masters 50+ categories) that I could attend. My plan was to gain some fitness by racing 2-races per day. It seemed to have worked well in the end.



Currently I feel better than ever since my back injury 2-yrs ago. I still have some minor tweeks in my lower back and most likely always will have issues. I do 20-40 minutes of Egoscue exercises 1-2 time daily to keep my back in proper shape and alignment, but it is totally worth it and has paid off for me.



The local CX season ended this last weekend (Nov 20th) with a super fun final pair of races for me on a snowy course in Coeur d' Alene, ID. I'm not anticipating traveling to Seattle or Portland for more CX racing, although I would like to. My underlying plan this year was to build for next year's racing season...so essentially this was just the beginning of what I hope is to become a stellar year in 2012, when I coincidentally turn 50 (WhooHoo!!!).