The Pedal F*cker is now Unit-less

If you have perused my Former Lovers page you might notice two recent additions.  The Fredmobile was just added and now Pedal Fucker has joined a long list of well ridden bikes that have been accepted into the fold of another where they will continue to bring their new owners much joy and happiness.

I put Pedal Fucker up the usual Craigslist sites that I like to use, as well as on the Northeast Bike Classifieds Facebook Page but ironically it was by word of mouth or I guess you could social media that connected me to the buyer of Pedal Fucker.  I posed this very same picture on Instagram with a caption indicating I was done, that is done with the latest incarnation of Pedal Fucker, however, a follower from Australia (as well as huge bike and beer fanatic) took the comment as if I was done with the bike.  Which brought on the following conservation:

It was Lizridesbikes (and blogger of When Inspiration Hits) suggested I contact someone she happens to know that is looking for a Singlespeed Mountain Bike.  I contacted the person and he was interested.  Sent some pictures, answered a few questions, did a little negotiation and settled on a price.  Turns out he was going to be in the area doing some errands and we agreed to meet at one of the local commuter lots in Newtown.

As we were making the exchange, in the pouring rain, a State Trooper rolled through the lot and rolled down her window to say that it must not be a nice day to ride a bike.  We all had a chuckle but when she pulled away I mentioned that this lot is heavily patrolled because it always looks like there are drug deals going down.  Of course the buyer, said, well you are right, bikes are like drugs, they are addictive and can be expensive, but the huge difference is that they are good for you!

Reba RL, Carbon Fiber Bars and Seatpost

Like all my bikes, the Kona had quite a few costume changes, including 5 different forks, 4 different handlebars, 3 cranksets, and two and a half wheelsets.  It got raced at Singlespeed A-Palooza two years in a row, and I rode it not just in Connecticut but also Cape Cod, Pine Hill Park, and twice at Kingdom Trails.  I have to say of the 6 singlespeed mountain bikes that I have ridden over the years it was by far my favorite.  So here are some pictures of the evolution and transformation of this bike.

SSAP Training - front wheel was in the shop

T-U-B-L-E-S-S at Kingdom Trails

And Jesus said: "Though shall ride Singlespeed"

Wheely wide bars (762mm) and White Brother's Fork

Carver Rigid at the Old Ford at Stewart State Forest

Fox F29 Fork

I always thought the Fox F29 was a 110 mm fork but when I see it pictured above and then I remember riding the Kona Unit with the White Brothers 110mm fork (which I knew was indeed 110 mm) it now seems that the Fox might have been 120 mm.  It really threw the geometry way off on the bike.

Rigid with Bluntz

This is what she looked like the day I bought it.

It was a great ride!

I really don't want to thin the herd ...

but I think I have to.  I initially put the Qball up Craigslist but my Bike Guru saw the ad and immediately chastised me.  He was right, though, I can't sell the Qball because it's basically what got me seriously in to mountain biking and as a result of that has lead to an even more profound involvement in cycling.  In fact, maybe to assuage my own guilt I created a page on this blog as an homage to one of the most versatile bikes that I have ever owned.

Configured for sale

That leaves me with removing a duplicate.  I half heartedly put the SX800 up on Craigslist a week ago and also added it to a Facebook page, too, that actually got a response but the kid low balled me I it wasn't worth it.  I would rather keep it then sell it for what he offered, even if I could have negotiated him up, it still wouldn't have been worth it.

Pre-sales configuration

Last night, I made a more serious attempt at selling it by listing it on other Craigslist locations.  As you would expect, I got a flood of scammers who can't read directions and promptly deleted their inquiries.  I really don't have to sell it but it would be nice if I could so then buy a road bike (did I just say that?) because what's the point of having two cross bikes?

I had always envisioned on selling the Trek and I put up an ad, too, but again now that I have it set up as a dedicated commuter, I am not so sure.  The flat bars really make a difference on this frame and now I am contemplating trying even a wider flat bar and upgrading the right hand shifter to a Shimano LX to match the left side.  This bike has turned into a diamond in the rough.

I might, temporarily, throw in the towel on Singlespeeding if I am able to sell the Kona.  Here I have it set up with the Blunts wheelset, but it might go easier if I throw the Stans Arch & Crest wheels on instead and keep the Blunts for a rainy day.  That rainy day could be purchasing a full suspension frame with the Kona proceeds and making the Spot a Singlespeed with an adapter.  Ironically, space is no longer an issue because I found a way to hang the last bike in the garage.  The real dilemma these days is just trying to figure out what bike to ride.

The right way to ride Waldo

It's more of a personal opinion but I have been struggling with how to ride all Waldo without having to repeat any of the trails in the same direction more than once, and staying on Singletrack.  Today I found that formula!  Just when I got to the parking lot it started to sprinkle but the real surprise, besides still finding the new parking lot still not open for business, was the weather had remarkably changed and the temperature had dropped 20 degrees.  Could have used another layer and wool socks.     

OK, here is the course:

1. Take Waldo all the way down to Elmer Fudd 
2. Cut over to the new Daffy Extension and ride that all the way down to the bottom  
3. Ride up the Rabbit's Foot (fka Extra Credit) and back down to the shore.  
4. Back up the forest road (OK, not singletrack but it's only 100 yards) and then back on the Rabbit's Foot which leads back into Waldo.  
5. Waldo all the way back up Elmer Fudd and then down to Daffy.
6. Ride up Daffy back to Waldo
7. Down Waldo to the Captain's Log
8. Back up the Daffy Extension to Elmer Fudd
9. Elmer Fudd back to Waldo and take that all the way out to the parking lot
10. Thing one back to Waldo and do the uber technical section to the cut through
11. Back down to Thing 1 and then out!

On my way up Waldo I ran into my neighbor Chris riding with his son.  

This kid is going to be a shredder!

New blazes on Daffy!
Well, the temperature took it's toll
because by the end of the ride my toes were numb!

 

Gussied up before Work

If you are going to ride in Upper Paugussett State Forest during hunting season
you'd better wear blaze orange!

 

Looks like DEEP finally took care of the hornets nest but the last time I rode through it looked like the next was inert so I am not sure what good it does destroying the nest at this point.  I have to get them when they are still active to make an impact. 

Did a little foot raking to widen this turn - am I the only one that rides around the outside of this tree?

Kona Unit atop the Beer Stop.  The one thing I hate about riding in the mornings
is not being able to enjoy a frosty, cold one after the ride.

Circled back to check on the Mulikin

Only to find cheesy, purple blazes.
Really?

The water is really down at Pond Brook.
I really want to walk down the bank and see if the old Shepaug RR bed is still visible.

I wonder how long that bike has been submerged

It was tough riding on the lake bottom but a lot of fun.

Waldo's Indian Summer

I missed the planned Trail Maintenance Day at Waldo because I had things to do with my kids (that I missed for the past two weekends) so I headed over to Waldo at about 2 PM.  The state hasn't finished the new parking lot and the current lot was jammed up so I had to park on the other side of the road.  Never done that before but the car fit perfectly so it's good to know.  I passed a woman on a white full suspension bike that I have seen before but I didn't stop to chat.  I was there to ride!

  

I met up with Glenn Vernes who was there for the trail work and was riding after the work was done.  He turned around and we rode back down to the water and amazed at how low the water was on Lake Lillilonah.

The water is so low because the State DEEP is pouring concrete for the new boat ramp at Rt 133

My Kona Unit 29er is still rocking!
I love this bike.

  

Looking at Upper Paugussett State Forest

This eye is usually submerged.
It must look eerie when it's covered in water.

 

Not, ringing my bell

In preparation for Saturday's ride I headed over to Upper Paugussett Friday morning for a check out ride on the Kona.  The one thing I noticed off the bat was that my chain line was off and I think my seat needed to be raised just a little bit.  Otherwise the bike was feeling really good.  I found a coffee cup on the Poly Brody that I put in my bottle cage.  C'mon people, you can't pack out your own trash?  On the first climb up the back side of the Poly Brody was when I noticed the 19t which made it a little harder to climb that section.

The Gussy was awesome but somewhere a long the way I lost bell and didn't have time to go back and look for it.  Hopefully, someone will find it and hang it from a tree or put on a rock that will be noticeable the next time roll through.  Didn't have time to check out the bypass to the three bears.  I want to make some changes to that so that you can hit a pretty cool spine line right next to it and unbeknownst to most across the trail from the Three Bears is some more slick rock to ride.  It looks like someone is trying to block the Reach Around but did a poor job of it.

When I got home from work later in the day I noticed I had flat tire and it appears that tore the side wall on my rear tire.

Bike Work

Can't work on bikes without beer and I got a great deal on a twelver of Franziskaner Weissbier at a new Packy that opened in town.  When lived in Germany, right after high school, I tried Weissbier (Wheat beer) a few times but didn't really like it.  Then again, I was 18 and didn't have the refined beer pallet that I have today.  My first, real introduction to Weissbier was when I was visiting my host brother in Augsburg back in the mid 1990s and all I drank during that visit was Weissbier, both light and dark (dunkless), which is hard to find here in the US.  Since then I have been hooked on it.  The only draw back for me when I drink wheat beer is that it gives me bad gas.  But farting is fun so it's really a win/win!

With a big ride coming up this weekend I decided to swap out the Shimano LX cranks for my Race Face DeusXC cranks because the bottom bracket on the Shimanos is shot and I don't have to replace it.  

Not only did I change the cranks but the chainring, too.  I also went back to my lighter wheelset and put a Surly 19t cog in the back.

A few spins around the driveway and it was good to go!

Singlespeeding the Blow Hole

While I am not mountain biking as much as I would like to, I did happen to get over to Cromwell last week at hit the Blow Hole, aka River Highlands State Park.  It used to be called Blow Hole State Park because there is a stream that leads out the Connecticut River and forms a unique canyon that when the wind is right, it funnels the air up through the canyon and can get rather strong.

The Blow Hole, in by no means is a difficult place to ride.  There are a few hike-a-bikes only because of lousy trail design or no trail design, large due to the fact that in the past it was ravaged by ATVs.  New singletrack is starting spring up here and there and even though it has a rake and ride feel to it, the trails are starting to settle in.

One of the rare treats of the Blow Hole is the vista over the Connecticut River

 

And of course you ride right down to the river

 

Climbing/Hiking the bike out of the Blow Hole we came across a guy on a motorcycle

 

Never went up this section before but as you can see it's the mother of all hike-a-bikes!

It was a really tough climb and we all had problems climbing up due to the soft, loamy soil