2nd Annual Grapes of Wrath MTB Race in Newtown, CT

Sandy Hook Cycle and the McLaughlin Vineyards are hosting their second annual Grapes of Wrath Mountain Bike Race at the vineyards on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 1 PM, in Newtown, CT.

The vineyard trails are open for riding Saturday morning until 12 noon, but remember, this is hunting season so if you decide ride ensure that you are wearing bright colors, preferable blaze orange.

Registration fee for the race is $45 and there is a $1000 cash purse.

Ridefetish.com ... spoofed? (Maybe NSFW)

Past couple of days whenever I have tired to visit Ridefetish.com, the unofficial bike manufacturer worship site for owners and past owners of Fetish Cycles, I kept getting the page below. At first, I thought Eric finally hacked the site and put up his own site with all the things he is into but then I found that the site worked from my work machine. So, the only thing I can figure out is somehow it's getting or got spoofed. Here is the Spoofing Link in case someone has a burning desire to follow some of these links.

Different [pedal] strokes for different folks

Here I was at Broadway and 50th, in the middle of the Theater district with my camera waiting for cyclists to come down one of NYC's venerable bike lanes in hopes of seeing (and photographing) that elusive breed of messenger wannabes, the hipster. We don't have bike lanes is Subrural-urbia, we have roads designated by the State Department of Transportation as bike routes but they are not marked so motorist won't expect to see someone riding a bike and often honk and pass within 3 feet of a cyclist. So, similar to your typical NYC tourist that might be gawking at all the electronic billboard advertising, I was stationed on the side of the road hoping to snap a few pictures of fixed gear riders.

If you are a frequent reader of the blog, BikeSnobNYC, you will understand his disdain for motorists and their abuse of bike lanes in and around the City but it seems like a different environment on the weekend. Pictured above and below you have helmeted, pleasure riders in the bike lane riding both crappy and high quality bikes.

On the same street, just a little farther west, you have delivery riders who ignore the bike lane and ride with regular traffic.

Granted, this guy doesn't look like he deliverying anything, rather, it appears he might be heading to work or heading home.

Is there a language barrier or cultural differences that preclude one group from the bike lanes?

Marty's Mojo Failed Me

Sunday turned out to be a spectacular day but I had to go to NYC for a family get together. I did get some good material for the next edition of the Friday Fix, so stay tuned for this coming Friday's post. NYC was a mad house. It seemed there were at least two bike races, a Polish Parade on 5th Ave, and all the subways were running pretty slow. We did, however, get home an hour early and there was just enough light to head out on the bike.

So I rode the Qball and I got 50 yards up my road when I realized that there was something wrong. When I shifted into the lower gears and put pressure on the cranks, the chain would come right off. The chain watcher I installed was worthless, but then again I don't think that is it's purpose. Rather I think the problem is that this crankset sucks and I am going to have to get another one.

With the light waning I made a command decision and jumped on the 'Horse and headed for the forest. I was still wearing my commuting shoes (old Mountain Bike shoes really) and no pads but I felt that my Bakugan Mojo would help.

Whether or not it boosted my confidence I had a great ride at Upper Paugussett. I climbed up the big hill without asking Granny for help and cleaned just about everything on the Gussy. Yesterday's rain and the leaves made things a bit sketchy is some places but trail drains really well.

You might recall the Salt Lick I found last spring. I always figured the hunter who put it there would position himself north and above the bait but I think found a makeshift blind that wasn't there last week. I wonder if the person who made this is the same person tying the pink engineer tape.

If you ride the Gussy Trail and are wondering where this is, it's about 30 yards south from the third stream crossing (if you were heading north on the trail). It was funny because I stopped at this corner contemplating whether or not to push the trail out so that when you come flying down the hill you can continue the bomb. Finished up the rest of the Gussy and headed back on the forest road.

I went back down the bushwack and 3/4s of the way down my Mojo failed me. My front wheel slipped out from under me on a wet log and wouldn't you know, I went down on my knee and of course I wasn't wearing any pads. This always happens. Fortunately the ground was really soft and my knee just got a little dirty.

I need to ride this bike!

I know I said I was done a few posts ago but when I had heard that there was going to be some singletrack riding in the Tour de Roxbury I decided I needed to ensure that I wouldn't be dropping my chain on the trails. I swung by the Bicyle Center in Brookfield and Shawn hooked me up with a five bolt, 94 BCD Race Face bash guard and an ancient product called the Third Eye Bicycle Chain Watcher. At some point I will put on Granny's gear but I can get along without just fine for now.

Also added another water bottle cage and I am thinking about riding with a seat bag for TdR. It just depends on whether I can fit three tubes plus tools. I will tape my Gu packs to my down tube or just wear my baggies and a jersey with rear pockets to hold snacks. Of course if it turns out to be a warm day, I will bring a hydration pack for extra water. I just have to figure out how I am going to carry my other GPS, I might try mounting it to my top tube or even the down tube. Riding up and down my driveway isn't cutting it for me. I need to take it out and see how this dog hunts.

Also, a last minute addition to the Qball is my Mojo, Marty from Madagascar (the movie).