Go Like Thoreau ! Simplify....Simplify....GO SINGLE SPEED

He's back!  Who, might you ask?  The man that I call the Crazy Eddie of Framingham, MA.  His prices are INSANE!

Its huge in the Big Apple, Its huge in Frisco, Its huge in Atlanta, Philly, San Diego, Chicago. 

Why is America going ga-ga over single speed? 

1. Direct short chain line for more power per pedal stroke. 

2. Easy to clean and maintain your bike. 

3. You get a much better bike for the buck, without all the rotten, over-priced shifters and derailleurs. 

4. We all hate planned obsolesence and corporate monopoly. Shimano controls the bike industry, and they make rotten shift systems, 

5. It IS the money. New bikes are WAY over-priced, and getting rid of the crappy shifters is a great way to save $$$. 

If you need gears to get up a hill, than you are a lilly-livered, candy-assed wussy !! 

Go Like Thoreau ! Simplify....Simplify....GO SINGLE SPEED 

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I'm a Lumber Jack and I'm OK ...

Here is a map of my ride from last weekend. Anyone familiar with the Upper Gussy Trail will see that I cut out a section to check out some other neighoring trails. I climbed up the Gussy from Sanford road, rode down the ROW, over the Wet Spot and instead of heading down into the valley of the two water crossings I tried an old trail I found years ago that seemed be cut out of the rocks when I imagine the Housatonic River was much higher thousands of years ago.

I heard some sawing in the distant when I finally hit the forest road. There were fresh truck tracks, too, and in the area where I noticed all the trees were marked there was a logger felling trees.

He was pretty well dressed for the occasion, as far as logging goes, as I now now. Doesn't look like I'll be riding any of those logs anytime soon.

I saw the skidder off in the back and below is route they are using within that tract of land. I was impressed that their impact was being carefully minimized, unlike what I have seen in the past at Naugatuck State Forest.

While I was still feeling adventurous I followed the white trail till it split off towards Kissing Oak but kept heading north. I found a nice little two step roller that I took some video on.

From there I tried to follow where the old logging road went but I lost it after the rollers. I think it goes through the nearby break in the stone wall and then parallels that still you hit the stream, which is where I picked it up again. In the photo below you can just make out the depression in the soild where the road tracks.

Here is closer view of the same track. It was pretty easy to follow but it's not rideable. At one point I hit a thicket in which I had to walk around which lead me up a steep incline and I came across the skidder path that made part of the Mulikin Trail. I headed west on this path, which I was able to ride for the most part and eventually hit the Mulikin Trail where comes down the hill and does a sharp turn onto the old farming road.

Of course the only way I am going to do this kind of exploring is on a singlespeed. I am not going to risk a busted hanger or my rear derailluer getting caught in my spokes.

I took hooked back around to the Forest Road and climbed back up towards the Gussy. Guess I am out of shape because I only made it half way up the steep climb. The Gussy was looking nice.

I had a little woops on the Log Ride Short. As soon as my front tire hit the log it slipped out from under me and I landed on my back on the benched edge of the trail. My camel cushioned the blow. I think I will wait till things dry out some more before attempting that stunt again.

I found a point on the Gussy trail that comes very close to the West Side Equestrian Trail so I decided to check it out a possible bail out. The two trails are probably 30 yards apart. Near the stream crossing is a mud wallow that needs some work that I tried to skirt the edge of it but stalled out and went down like a sack of potatoes right into the wallow.

I noticed that somebody did some armoring of the stream but could have done it better. Might have to fix it this summer when the stream is just a trickle.

Protect Connecticut's Ban on Sunday hunting - Oppose H.B. 6553

Please contact your state representative and ask them to oppose Sunday Hunting (H.B. 6553) in Connecticut. 

Hunters already have the woods to themselves six days a week during the hunting season. It seems only fair that other outdoor users should have one day a week when they feel safe to venture outdoors without fear of being struck by a stray arrow or bullet.

Find your representative through the State of Connecticut Districts Website.

Here is a sample letter:

Representative <First Name> <Last Name>
Legislative Office Building
Room,
Hartford, CT 06106

Dear Representative <Last Name>,

Please oppose H.B. 6553, which would lift Connecticut's long-standing ban on Sunday hunting.
Hunters already have the woods to themselves six days a week during the hunting season. It seems only fair that other outdoor users should have one day a week when they feel safe to venture outdoors without fear of being struck by a stray arrow or bullet.
Please vote NO on H.B. 6553. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

<Your Name Here>
<Your Address Here>
<Your City, State and Zip Here>

A 29er from Giant? Meh

The mountain biking blogsphere is all abuzz about the fourthcoming Giant 29er and I am not sure I am really all that impressed. Above is a lousy photochop rendition of the sketches that were posted on their Facebook page. From what I gather the notable features are hydroform tubing (hmmm I think Kona and Marin already did that) but what appears to be truly unique is the headtube is somewhat integrated. I read somewhere that this head tube is for a special fork from Marzocchi, meaning probably can't build this just by aquiring the frame.

Similar to the Fixed Gear Apocalypse that BSNYC keeps preaching about, it appears that the 29er movement has finally reached critical mass, now that Giant is entering the market. Kind of looks like the Marin Pine Mountain, which Giant probably produces, and it was only a matter of time till they copied the design. Of course, I don't know that for sure but when your factory churns out a lot of the bikes we see here in the US by different manfacturers, you got to figure there will be some design coppage.

So, who doesn't make a 29er? Here is a list of the major bike manufacturers that I pulled from eBay. If there is a link, they have a 29er, if not, they are bolded and red (the exception is Trek, they have a 69er but no dedicated 29er, so they are purple - pink didn't show up well with the white background).

Azonic
Bianchi
Cannondale
Cove
Diamondback
(they claim that they started the revolution 17 years ago)
Ellsworth
(Look for the Evolve)
Foes
Fuji
(didn't know they made mountain bikes until last year)

(not only do they have an SS, they have full susser, too!)
Gary Fisher

(Gary claims he invented the 29er)
Giant

(coming soon)
GT
Haro
(they have 650b rig as well)

Huffy

(They make mountain bikes?)
Independent Fabrications
Intense
Iron Horse
Jamis
K2
KHS
Klein
Kona
Leader
Litespeed
Marin
Maverick
Merlin

(looks like they have one but their website is under construction)
Mongoose
Moots

(they also make a backwards 69er that they call a 96er)
Motobecane
Niner
(Duh!)

Norco
Raleigh
Redline
Rocky Mountain
Salsa
Santa Cruz
Schwinn
(are you kidding?)

Scott
Seven
Soulcraft
Specialized
Surly
Sycip
Titus
Tomac
Trek
(they make a 69er but no dedicated 29er)
Turner
Univega
(they make mountain bikes?)

Vassago
Ventana
(not only do they a 69er but also a 650b!)

Voodoo

Probably missing a few manufacturers but I think is a pretty good cross section of the market.  65% of this list makes 29ers and even if I discount those manufacturers that only make 29ers you are still look at more than half the population making 29ers.  I'd say that's a critical mass.

Taking the bait?

I noticed this last weekend and I was about to throw it into the woods on this past ride when I turned it over and saw that it had a label. It is indeed a salt lick. Judging by the placement there are a few clear fields of fire for the would be hunter. I wonder if this was the same hunter that decided to block the trail?

According to the CT DEP website, Use of Attractants for Deer Hunting, Upper Paugussett happens to be in Zone in 11, however, it is public land and not private so the salt lick is verbotten (forbidden for those that don't remember SGT Schulz from Hogan's Heroes) according to CT DEP.

Use of Attractants for Deer Hunting. The following attractants may be used while hunting deer in Connecticut:Deer decoys during the early and late archery seasons only. All types of scent attractants (i.e., doe in heat, buck lure, urine, tarsal glands, food smells, smoke pole) that provide no substance for deer to consume. All types of sound attractants (i.e., doe calls, buck calls, antler rattling, electronic calls).Hunting over planted fields where normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation is used.In addition to the attractants listed above, the following are allowed on PRIVATE LANDS ONLY while hunting deer in DEER MANAGEMENT ZONES 11 and 12. Minerals or chemicals that may be safely consumed by deer (i.e., salt licks).Artificial or natural foods placed, scattered, distributed or deposited (i.e., hay, grains, fruit, nuts and other foods that may be safely consumed by deer).

Well, this is obviously a direct violation and I have sent a note to the State DEP about it. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot they can do I suppose. By the looks of the brick it appears to be broken which means there is probably another one nearby.