Hard Tail Adjustments

Limited miles & still adapting

No major component changes yet. Swapped the saddle for an ugly white "Race-Lite" that fits the old sits-bones a little better. Pushed the saddle up and back a bit more, while adding the top-tube bag. Up until today, the front shock has been completely locked out. I don't really care for the dynamic adjustment, not to mention the mass it adds to the front of the rig. I'll run it for a while yet. The front 30-tooth ring is definitely too small, whereas I can't see needing that low end ratio with that ridiculous big gear on the back. Add to that, it spins out at about 35.8 MPH as it sits. Going to a 32-tooth ring up front will give it better speed on the down hill and in road-groups. I've yet to push it up into the big gear, and second from the top simply because I wanted to see how it feels. Definitely changing that ratio sooner rather than later. The bars are too wide for cross country as well. They are the same width as my bigger full sus, which it fine for that beast. I think I'll take as much as 100 mm off the bars and drop the stack by one disk. Still running "roll-overs" with flats & pins on one side and Egg-Beaters on the other. Tire pressure is gonna take a little time on some serious dirt to figure out. A work in progress.

Another Bike for the Collection?

I've never had much desire for a "fat-bike", but through a series of misadventures, I now have one of those novelties to deal with. A business owed me a stack of money and was in the process of going into receivership. The owner offered the bike and some other stuff.. that made me nervous. In the end, I was "small fry" compared to the other people he owed money and would likely get nothing in the end. So... along with a reasonable tailgate-hanger, I now have an RSD 1X, complete with dropper, front sus and mitten inserts. It's kind of like having an old Volkswagen Super Beatle; not something you'd use on a regular basis - but who knows. What was I thinking....... At least I don't have to feed it and scoop up its poop!

 

Snow at the top of the canyon...still

After not having the opportunity to ride most of the previous week, it seemed like a "good idea" to incorporate a jaunt up the Avon/Liberty divide road. I used to do this stretch alone, in the evening, but today I went over there after a solid ninety-minutes of climbing and flats. Lets just say it resulted in some early suffering. At that, the road had snow about 3/4 the way up. I made it to a snow patch at the top of the canyon, which is where one may expect snow. Getting past that wouldn't be too much of a problem, other than the 900 feet of mud that follows. It looks harmless, but you only have to do it once to realize the consequences of peanut-butter mud. I think I did it once with one of my sons about 15-years ago, only to spend several hours servicing bikes - both on the trail and at home later. Give it another week. On the way down, I passed a chick on an E-Bike coming up from the gate. What's the point? UGH.....

People that make a sunny day a little brighter

I unexpectedly ran into a dear friend from not too many years ago (who's counting). It is certainly amazing - the brightness that some people can bring into your day. That encounter had me thinking about a trip to the Unita's, College days and a couple classic concerts. But that's not what makes people shine . It has to do with being a true friend - through the thickest of thick and darkest of days. Moreso, I really had to stop and assess why some people are just like that naturally. I think in this case, it is absolutely a genetic trait. Her mother.......an absolute angel. Her brother......rock solid and another life long friend to this very day. Perhaps it has always been my admiration of the example she's been to me. Diligent like nobody else I know. Putting herself through college in a very demanding program. On to be a balanced professional, wife and mother..........yes, those people do exist. Perhaps that all adds to the brilliance and light. You are nothing short of AWESOME girl. It was great to have run into you again. A solid friend forever.........

Losing another great

We lost Dickey Betts this last week - the perfect guitar foil to Duane Allman. Thy are all gone now; Duane, Berry, Greg, Butch... At one time they were refereed to as the "House Band" at the East (Filmore East). Their all-nighters were things of legend, regularly playing until the light of day. I know everyone either picks "Travel'n man", or "Jessica" as the essential Dickey, but without Duane, there was no essential Dickey. Shit-kickers and cowboy hat, Dickey was a legend!

Click here for "One way out" Fillmore East 1971

Pulling for Reed - Ride HARD!