Quick and Dirty

Got out for a quick 5 mile ride after work today on the Dillinger. Prior to clipping in and heading off I made a few more adjustments but that didn't abate the creaking noise I keep getting while pedaling which leads me to believe I have to revisit the EBB again. My Ergons needed to be readjusted, too. In my haste to be out the gate I should have checked my air pressure because when I got out on the trail I could feel that they were a little mushy. I also put on my full huckle & buckle kit, well I always ride with my knee and shin guards but today I threw on the forearm guards. After my last two rides, the scrapes and gouges in my forearm needed a little extra protection. It paid off when I endoed and landed right on my forearm.

Looks like the Open Space off of Sanford Road got marked and that means I can start on my trail proposal in earnest now. I probably won't be able to push a trail between the two houses on the little sliver of open space that separates them. I imagine the residents off of Sanford Road will fight it so I will make that a Phase II attempt and a test of the system. I think it will be a test because the town wants trails but they can't let developers play ring-around-the-rosy with them when it comes to divying up the land. If the town wants trails then they are going to have to ensure there is enough land to do so.

The Wet Spot (there are more shots on the Gussy Blog) on the Gussy Trail was particually wet today. There was actually a trickle of water running through it. Looks like I might have to go in and cut a channel just so that it's not a big trough that you have to ride through.

Today's ride was exceptionally wet and dirty. We did get over two inches of rain earlier in the week and that manifested itself up and down the trail. For the most part, the Upper Gussy was pretty well drained. There are some new spots that are soft that I am going to have to armor this spring and summer.

Another visit to the Park City Metro North Station Bike Rack

Back to NYC this week so I thought I would drop in at my favorite bike rack and see if there was anything new, anything wild, anything fabulous, maybe something vintage dragged up from the basement because the car was in the shop. There as a little treat, this mass produced Bianchi with a sprung saddle, granted not a Brooks, though. A friend of mine has something similar that I want him to sell me so that I can rebuild it into a fixed/sser Monster Crosser.

I have seen this Schwinn often times enough and what get's me is that the owner is sitting on a train somewhere, or already at his place of work with a saddle and seatpost. Dude, get a lock, and lock it down!

The Panasonic with the ghetto styled bars seems to be a regular now and of course there is the Toponga. I don't understand the bag over the seat concept in rainy weather. OK, so the first time you plant your fourth point of contact upon the seat, it will be dry, but by the time you get where you are going, the rest of you will be wet anyway, so what's the difference? Unless of course the owner thought it was supposed to rain today, too, which might be the more likely explanation.

New Gear: Hydrapack Laguna

This is my new hydration pack from Hydrapak, the Laguna. I won it a contest for being the GPS Data whore that I am. So I thought I give a little review of the new gear. First off, this pack has more straps and buckles than a dominatrix. While it's primary purpose is for mountain biking it will also expand into a day pack, so not only does it have straps for carrying a helmet and pads, it also has compression straps at the bottom so you could carry a lightweight sleeping bag.

It has four external pockets, one at the top, another towards the bottom but on the exterior of the pack and then two on the sides as bottom. The top most outer pocket is felt lined which I would presume would be for a small camera. The lower external pocket has headphone access for your mp3 player, as well as some pockets, and a key clip. I think it would have been smarter to make the top most pocket for the mp3 thus not having your earphone not have to reach as far.

Side pockets are nice for snacks. I can reach both with the pack on but it's difficult.

The main compartment is nice and roomy. Plenty of room for extra tubes, pump, first aid kit, and my folding saw. In one of the pockets I have my Gerber collapsible pliers and in the other is baggie with emergency ass wipe. It's missing a pump sleeve, unfortunately.

Overall, love the feeling of it on. The sternum strap can be adjusted up or down as well as tightness. Felt good wearing it around the garage. Can't wait to field test it this weekend.

New bits for the Fixed Gear Marin Stinson

I picked up an Origin 8 saddle the other day from eBay. It was like $15 with free shipping. I knew it would be perfect for the Stinson. Now all I need are some yellow Crank Brother pedals, a yellow KMC chain, and yellow fenders. Yellow rims would be the icing on the cake but that might be a little obsessive.

Please move the bike rack where it can be seen by all

The Park City at Oh Dark Thirty

Who ever moved the bike rack to the back of the station in the Park City was thinking with his or her head up their fourth point of contact. Of course it's now hidden from view were any enterprising person now has a much easier opportunity to steal something than if they were near the street.

The Topanga was back but I missed the Schwinn Cruiser with the lopsided seat. I haven't seen this Pannasonic since last summer.

I love the ghetto style bars. Nice big frame, perfect for fixing.

While walking to a new Indian Buffet in NYC I saw some lovely bikes including a teal Spaulding mountain bike and a smallish fixer outside the restaurant sitting like a diamond in the rough amongst all the delivery bikes. The significance of the Spaulding is I have one waiting in the wings while I decide what to do with it. Maybe, if I can find a 700c fork with a disc brake mount and a threaded, one inch steering tube I could build it into an all steel 69er, something I have been jonesin to ride again.