Ten Mile fat burner

My trip north got postponed a day on account of the kids getting sick so I went out noon for a 10 mile fat burner on the Qball. I am not sure what it is, but I think the tires are giving me a lot of rolling resistance (2.3 Exiwolf & 2.2 Bontrager Jones) that I think I might switch to my 2.1 motoraptors. Also, the rear brake was sticking, this happened two years ago, so I think I am going to give the Qball a little overhaul.

Trail Gnomes have been busy. The downed tree has a nice rock tranny on both sides now. Trail rides really nice but there are a few problem areas that still have to be addressed.

Busy day at Upper Paugussett State Forest. I haven't seen the lot off of Echo Valley this filled since I had my trail building class here. I ran into two groups of hikers and a group of mountain bikers on the Trailway. Took the Mulikin Trail to see how it's holding up and it is starting to get overgrown. Two runs down the Gussy and some ancillary trails, including some knobbies on hardball riding and you get a 10 mile ride.

Interesting little occurrence here, seems some blow downs dragged a branch with them creating a little tunnel, or bridge. Lots of horse dutie on the Gussy, too, but hey that's what you get with a shared use trail.

The Friday Fix: Let's try this again

On my way home yesterday I stopped off at the Goodie Shop and asked what I should do about my bottom bracket. Linda, the shop owner, loaned me a BB tool to use with my own because she said that it was mostlikely not threaded into the BB, rather itself. Therefore, to really get it tight you need to come at from both sides. To do that required taking off both cranks. Good thing I did that too because I discovered that all the chain ring bolts were loose, too. Got everything tightened up and put it all back together. Added a Garmin Edge mount to the stem.

This morning was a cool 52 degrees (this is summer?) and there was a light fog when I took off at 7 AM. The bike felt really good. The first test would come on the first climb on Pond Brook Road. It's dirt and pretty bumpy. Coming down from the first hill I lost alignment in the rear wheel. No problems this go around and with that boost of confidence I just started to hammer. There was one sound that was giving me concern, which was a slight creak. Sounded like it might be coming from either the chain or the cranks, and then I figured out that it was actually the seat rails and how they are sitting on the seatpost.

Rode the 9.5 miles to work in 42 minutes. I think that is the fastest time for me riding a single speed, fixed or freewheel! It's that 48:17 ratio. On the way home, I detoured over to the Goodie shop to drop off the tool and still got home, riding an extra mile in 46 minutes. I checked everything again and it was all tight.

Miller Time: The Champagne of Mountain Biking in CT

Picture of yours truly doing a little roller

Miller Time

After missing the last member's ride at Wadsworth SP I made sure that I wasn't going to miss this one. You may notice that the map below has a pretty detailed track, something that my GPSMAP60 could not produce and I would never display someone's GPX file, that to me seems unoriginal. No, the map below was made with my new Garmin Edge! It's a 205 that I got through some biking connections. Only, I had to ride with it in my pack because when I had the cyclocomputer installed last week, they took off my Edge mount. In comparison to the cyclocomputer, they were pretty much complimentary of one another in terms of measuring distance.

I posted the ride on Crankfire.com and I wasn't really expecting it but the famous (or infamous) trail builder of Miller's Pond State Park, the Pukemaster (aka Jon Peterson, pictured below) of Bikerag.com decided he would give us the XC Weenie tour of the place. Of course last month's wet weather has impacted Miller's Pond as well and we would not get to ride the new XC Trail.

Also leading our merry band of Trail Ambassadors (Glenn, Paula, and myself) was Jon's girlfriend, Diana, both by the way are sick, sick freeriders. I felt extremely unworthy amongst these two demi-gods of the CT Mountain Biking scene and most fortunate that they were willing to go out of their way to give us this tour. Also pictured here is Glenn Vernes, CT NEMBA's Treasurer and recent convert to the 29er club who was riding his rigid, singlespeed, Redline 29er. Now that takes balls in a place like this.

This place is full of stunts, most of which have been engineered, and I say engineered, by Jon. Take for example, this one called the Dragon's Spine.

Rock spine with a Skinny connector with line to roll (right of the drop) or just drop it, and to finish, a log skinny up-and-over. Need to think about that for the Upper Gussy Trail!

And then there is the Ten Commandments. The slab of rock you see acting as a ramp was moved Egyptian Style 30 feet from the rock jumble above using a come-along and log rollers, finally coming to a rest in this position. You can ride it in either direction.

Jon makes it look so simple riding these stunts.

Paula

Of course, these days it wouldn't be typical for an afternoon with the threat of a thunder shower.

Fixed Gear Commuting with Marin Stinson

Except for a few minor distractions like the bottom bracket coming loose and not having enough chain tension the new commuter rides like a dream. On the way to work I stopped a few times to hand tighten the bottom bracket, and had to do that coming home as well. Also lost chain tension, once going to work and again coming back. Probably get rid of the aluminum nuts and get steel. The 48:17 ratio makes for slower climbs but awesome power in the flats and downhills. Also had to readjust the bars a few times but the FUBars are excellent.

A few changes might be necessary: the stem; the seatpost; the saddle. I love the look of the Brooks but it's hard on the glutes. The stem is a little too happy (to see you) which means I am riding more upright, like a comfort bike. I might try something with a shallower or no angle at all. I will have to see if that makes a difference to the cockpit or do I need to use a setback seatpost. I might even try the B66 again.

Here is a little demonstration and commentary of on the road adjustments.