Raleigh XXIX: Fixed gear mountain bike!

Here is my next toy, a fixed gear mountain bike.  I bought the frameset for $50 and although it's an XL, riding it around in the driveway this evening felt pretty good.  For one thing, I don't have to jack the seat up as high as my other bikes and I am using my FUBars that sweep back making the cockpit similar to my other bikes, in act I can't event tell the difference!  I am going to ride with FUBars for awhile and then I am going to try the FMe bars.

The frame color, a light baby blue with a hint of grey goes nicely with the orange accents with include chain, headcap, grip lockons, and bottle cage.  This will actually be my third fixed gear mountain bike having tried the Fetish Fixation and Qball already fixed using the Tomi Cog but I am going to definitely ride it a lot more.

I am going to start off riding the bike on some of the local rail trails, where I can ride slowly and not worry about having to stop too quickly.  I might even try some dual and single track this weekend at Collis P Huntington SP.  Riding the Big Burn will be a blast.   Eventually, I am going to put brakes on the bike but it's so clean right now I just want to enjoy it this way for awhile.  I will probably start out by putting a front brake on it while it's fixed and eventually go to front and back and just run it as a singlespeed, rigid mountain bike.

Build List:

XL Raleigh XX1X frame

Carver Carbon Fiber Fork

Aheadset

Easton Stem

Misfit Psycles FUBar

Clarke Lockon Grips

Crank Brothers Candy Pedals

Shimano LX crankset

Custom 32t chainring

Tomi Cog (fixed) 20t

WTB Saddle

No name seatpost

Velocity Dyad Wheelset

2.10 Serfas Krest 9r rear tire

2.35 Panaracer Rampage front tire

 

Sunday Morning Services at Upper Paugussett State Forest

Sunday Morning at Upper Paugussett State Forest

Eric Schonenberg asked me to help him lead a ride at Upper Paugussett a while back and after a few false starts in terms of scheduling we settled on the day after I come back from a week long fishing trip to Canada.  I met Eric, along with two others, Jason from Brewster and Rob of Brookfield, both of whom have ridden here before but have found themselves at time on the wrong trails at the wrong time.  At Upper Paugussett, except in a few places if you find yourself riding a blue blazed trail you will be in for an interesting ride, if not harrowing at time.  If you like hike-a-bike, then carry on!

Starting from Pond Brook, we took the connector to Al's Trail and Eric gave a few pointers on how to roll some tricky descents.  Then we rode up the Mulikin Trail, which is much better than riding the forest road and while most of the Mulikin is climbing, I can do it and I only ride a 1x9.

From the Mulikin it was a short hop over the Gussy and that's when the real fun began.  It's was a mixed group of ability so we stopped from time to time to give pointers on how to ride different features.

  

I did the older of the two log rides for the first time (in both directions) and hit a few of the hucks along the way, too.  Instead of doing the mundane loop back to the Mulikin on the Poly Brody, I showed them the Reach Around and how to ride back to the start of the Gussy and thus turn around and ride back without having to stop and turn around.  The Reach Around pops out onto the Jeep Road/Blue Trail (same as the Gussy, just further up) and while heading back toward the Gussy we cleared two fallen down Oak limbs that were blocking the trail.  I just missed stepping into a yellow jacket nest so we jumped on our bikes and got the hell out of there just to be safe.

Riding back up the Gussy was just as fun and more challenging in the other direction, because there is much more climbing.  Climbing the technical sections on the way up is a lot harder but well worth it.

I was pleased with myself after cleaning the up-and-over that built a few years ago using the cuttings from the pine tree where the yellow trail splits off from the Gussy.  In fact, it was so easy that I did it a second time to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

  

While I was riding great, I still had a few mishaps that lead to a few scratches and abrasions but it was a great ride and worth a little extra pain for a good ride.

Once back home, I did have fix a few things on the Spot.  My bars got turned upwards when I took the header on the log ride in the Mulikin when I hit too fast - note to self - slow down for the that one.  

 

Mountain Biker Beware: The Wierdo of Waldo

If you have encountered him at Waldo, you know the deal.  Some old guy complaining about mountain bikers on the access road down to the water.  If not, he's tall and gaunt, and has two dogs:  blood hound mix and a little yippy dog.  

First of all, very few mountain bikers actually ride the access road because the singletrack is so sweet, either up or down.  The only reason you might find yourself on the access road in the first place is if you had a mechanical or you were running late to get home for chow.  

Apparently, he tends to leave mountain bikers harassing notes on their cars in the parking lot.  Funny, but neither Paula nor I got a note on Wednesday when we encountered him on the access road.  Then again, we weren't riding, rather discovering some new areas in Waldo that you are eventually going to find interesting!

Also, one thing to note, see how he is parked?  That is how you should park when you are visting Waldo.  Perpendicular to the entrance.  That accommodates many more cars than pulling straight in.  That might even be the reason why the Weirdo didn't expand any of his ire on our cars by the way we were parked.  Also could be by the fact that he got a parking spot, too.  Hey, it's first come first serve! 

Please remember to park perpendicular to the entrance!

Also sprach Zarathrustra: "Thou Shall Ride Single Speed!"

Almost 2 weeks since I have been on the Kona so I whipped out the Unit to check out Upper Paugussett State Forest. I haven't ridden here in what seems like a month so I it was high time I went out to see what's what.

Looking down the hill towards Hanover Road on the Forest Road it looks like the Poly is getting widen, and from what I read on the last trail report at the CT NEMBA blog, it appears that Poly is getting improved.  Looks like the State might be getting ready to do some more logging.  Going to have to check with the Land Manager and see where it will be and when.

The Gussy was riding fine and very dry.  A few more branches blocking here and there but nothing I couldn't manager by myself.  

There appears to be a new challenge that the trail gnomes have found.  Rather than ride around this rock outcropping it appears people are riding over it.  It's not bad, except for the one rock at the bottom of the side you see here appears to be an ankle biter that could use a little rearranging.  

And wouldn't you know it, not paying attention in the technical climb and I go OTB and it's yard sale on the Gussy.  Executed beautifully with minimal impact to myself.