this is just a picture...

mtn fixed...
Originally uploaded by divine_gear

of my new mtn wheel, that will go on my new singlespeed some time at the end of next month.

it's a fixed/free surly hub laced to a salsa disc rim. the new singlespeed will be able to be flipped or flopped. i'm only going to run a front brake (as if you couldn't tell). i have some of the parts already, but most are on back order of what i want. like headset, seatpost, and stem. after the frame gets here, i'll figure out the length of the bb. the crankset and freewheel is on the way. everything else i have, bars, grips, saddle, fork, wheels, and pedals.

both the steamroller and monolith are gone, and the warrior is on its way out. the stable is settling down.

namaste...

update...

on the stable...it is now cut down. two bikes on on their way out, and another one will be out soon (depending). no word on the new toy yet, but that will put me down to four bikes. two geared. two single/fixed. what more could anybody want? i'm also updating the slider, because it will become my road/commute/cross-race bike, and i'll need that thing in perfect condition if i'm going to ride it that much.

there is a new cycling club in town. it's free to join for zero-eight. i stumbled upon their site, just by chance; and found out there there are going to be cross races at reagan park down in medina. so my thought on joining would be to maybe be kept informed on races, so i don't miss any. there are three remaining that i'm going to try and hit. the reason not to join is that their sole sponsor is the shop i work at, so i'm not getting any benefit there, and i'd rather support the shop itself through racing than going through a second party.

namaste...

so my...

transformation of my stable has begun...

here and here. however i feel good about this. i'm changing the stable due to philosophical reasons rather than money reasons.

damn that whole reading, and belief thing...

namaste...

unite...

on the last day...

an enjoyable day out...
Originally uploaded by divine_gear

of the year; randy and i were able to get out to westbranch. we pulled up and the sign said that the mtn bike trails were closed. we then pulled around to the parking, and that was closed. checked out the sign that said that deer hunting season was over the day before. so we thought that it would be o.k. to ride. took a tour around the boat parking lot, and a ranger came up, took down the hunting signs, and the 'no riding' signs; and we were off.

the weather was great. not too cold. i would say when we started it was in the upper thirties. it ended in the low forties.

the entrance to the trail was a little muddy; however the 'lake side' of the trail was great. not muddy at all. covered in leaves though, which made turning a little tricky. i was taking the trail pretty hard, like it was dry; but i quickly learned, and slowed down a little. however as i warmed up...i gained back some speed.

this day i did get my quota in for flats. three in total. my first flat was the front; a thorn. new tube, and off. later on...we're going down a hill side, and into and across a stream; which was very slick going over the rock. because of this; i had to push up the other side, and i started hearing the 'spiss', 'spiss', etc...as the wheel turned. yelled out...'another flat.' it comes back 'are you serious?' 'yup.' rear this time. torn again. patch kit this time. as we were repairing the tube, a guy came by with his dog. which it was at this point i made up my mind...when/if we get a dog...i want a trail dog to ride with. anyway...we chatted with the guy, and he was off. so were we.

we took the loop up, and skipped the 'expert' section; however on the way down, on the other side of the loop, we took the 'most difficult' section back. coming through the rocks i noticed that my rear tire was slipping off the rocks. oh well. not enough air, but i'll get through. then i noticed that my front was really slipping. flat. 'are you freaking kidding me?' 'nope.' jammed a bunch of air in there and took off. 'screw it. we're almost done.' and that was the case. took the long out, and headed down towards the fields. saw some hunters, got covered in slop from the fields, and back to the car.

good times. great ride for the last day of the year. the next day (new years day)...snowed like a mother. nice. i may have to shovel my driveway. oh well...

namaste...