Mountain Biking in Mountains–Cool Concept!!

No deep snow or fast waters (Keith) on this peak, Just a great 24 mile, point to point trail. Did I mention 13 miles was climbing.

No More Epic Rides

Anyone following the my last build and the comments surrounding it should know, I’m loving the big wheels and all that comes with it. I’m loving it so much, I have abandoned my workhorse 2008 Specialized Epic, stripped it down and placed it on the auction block. I added gears on the Haro, got a sweet Stans wheelset with smooth-as-silk XTR hubs and am now as happy as a clam (for now). Check out the lastest modifications

Abusing Beer & Biking

Why are writers always talking about the sport of mountain biking with the consumption of beer together?  I’m almost certain that beer and biking cannot be abused, OK, maybe the beer part of it. I’m talking the about the endless articles regurgitating the topic over and over–birds feeding their young sort of thing. The blatant abuse and just over use of the topic.

Why don’t they write about the merits of sipping a few glasses of a good hardy Cabernet after a gnarly ride over your favorite rock garden. A spritzer would be very refreshing after navigating 12 miles of tight and technical single track. After endoing into the hard-packed ground, a fuzzy navel would be the ticket for sure. *$#%@ that! Beer is only way to go. Cold, refreshing, hoppy goodness…. that is a killer after-the-ride reward. The icy cold beverage brings riders together after their ride for the mandatory bullshit sessions, It takes away a few of your aches and pains that you’ve taken (endured) from your adventure and most importantly, it makes one happy.

OK, it makes sense, writers are not abusing beer and the relationship to mountain biking, they are praising it. It may be a worn out subject, but the fact is, summer, beer, and mountain biking are an inseparable pack that will always ‘be’. So put away your fancy robust wines and your fruit mixers and have a beer. It does a mind and body good.

Converted

After a recent ride, I was commenting to my friend Chad (29er rider) on my new acquisition, a Haro Mary steel single speed 29′er. While telling him about the amazingly big wheel adventure, he yelled out while laughing it up, “We’ve got another convert.” I sounded a little weird for a moment like I joined a fanatical religious cult or was turned to the dark side. OK, the weirdness passed. I think Chad might have been reveling in the idea that he’s right. Chad has been preaching the advantages of 29er’s to anybody who will listen for about 3 years now. It’s not like we were ignoring him, Chad’s a great guy and contributes a lot of valuable information on a variety of subjects, but big wheels. I always thought they were for extra large people. Not me. I don’t have the build. A 30″ inseam, barely reaching 5′8″, I thought I would look like tiny clown riding a giant circus bike.

It’s true, I do look freakishly small on my bike–it’s the wheels, but I don’t care, the frame fits me perfectly. With a few modifications- stems, bars, fork and brakes, the bike is tight. It corners great, it’s speedy and rolls over large rocks in a single…well you know. I’ve ridden it 3 times and can’t wait to ride again.

There is a bigger concern here. I have two Mountain bikes now (the Mary and my Epic) and if I were to choose between the two, right now, The Mary would win. Why? Because it’s new? The flexible steel frame? The one gear? The pure fun of it all? Maybe I have been brainwashed, my will is bent and have committed my life (at least this month) to serve the 29′er. I don’t have a firm answer.What I do know, it will be a big ol’ single speed spring, maybe summer and joyous merriment will be had.

Change is in the Air

I have a disorder. At least I think I have a disorder. Analyze this. Last year, around this time, I bought a brand new Epic frame and build it up with parts from a Blur (great ride) that I eventually sold on ebay. I was a great day after the build. The cockpit fit like a glove. On the trail it cornered like a dream, plowed over rocks and logs like they weren’t even there, climbed hills like my old Stumpy. This was the bike. This was the bike that had shelf life, that was going to stand the test of time. This year, same as last, love it. However something happened over the course of a month. I got that itch, that yearning for something different. Diving in head first with a few solid justifications, I bought a single speed 29er. Justification #1: I wanted to try big wheels. Justification #2: I’m in better shape this year than the previous years, I can do a SS. Justification #3 (the last): I will get in even better shape. As I write these, they all seem pretty lame.

The fact of the matter is that I think I just wanted to ride something different. Maybe it would give me a different view of the trail or see life through a new set of eyes. I know, BS. Bottom line is, I like to change it up. I have the fever. Truth be told, the group of friends I hang out with have the same illness. I have a feeling that the symptoms of this fever resonate beyond Wausau, beyond Wisconsin and yes, even further.

I will continue to explore these feelings, but I think I may have to live with this the rest of my life, there is no help for me. As sit here waiting for my purchase to arrive (hopefully) from AZ, I wonder about Mary and her 27lbs of steel, rubber and aluminum and think, “How can I lighten her up?” A new fork, a lighter wheel set, tubeless? Oh crap, somebody help me.

Life after Winter

Blooming flowers at Nine Mile

Signs of life in Wisconsin. There is hope for Summer after all.

National Holiday

I had a conversation with my good friend, riding bud and guitar playing comrade, Brian, today. By some act of God, Nine Mile County Forest is opening on time this year, May 1st. It’s an oddity. Nevertheless, we are rejoicing, because we’ll be riding by 3 and of course, our weekend is booked with the same activity. I’m starting to weep, happy tears. Brian was wondering, because of the excitement and importance of this day, why can’t this be a National Holiday?

This a valid argument. Those who bike in Wisconsin completely understand.  Think about it, a paid day off  for Nine Mile locals (and surrounding riders) every May 1st–interesting. It would be like a ‘Columbus Day’ for mountain bikers. It’s got my vote. Good idea Brian.

There will be a lot of happy people observing this day. It may not be a patriotic observance, but for the people who ride the trails on that day, it’s a flag waving, beer drinking, brats and burger grilling kind of a celebration. Sounds like a holiday to me.

Biking, Friends and, of Course, Beer

Wayne, Jim and myself at Levis

My first ride of the season and already I’m feeling the love. There is always an excitement about that first ride. Getting out on the trail, dodging trees and rolling over rocks and logs, stopping to talk to riders along the way and the inevitable beer, or two, waiting for you at the end of the ride. Is there anything better? Yes, but this is at the top of the list.

The weekend after the 15th (the day of my contribution to both the state and federal governments), Jen, Wayne, Jimbo and I headed to Levis Mounds for the maiden camping/riding expedition of the year. Unpacking and prepping for the ride was difficult, knowing that the trails were about a 100 yards away.  After an eternity of organizing the camp site and filling out the needed trail and camping passes, we hit trails (the Dump) on a beautiful, unseasonably warm, 68 degree Wisconsin day.

I’ve been thinking how to compare the experience of the first ride. The anticipation of eating chocolate chip cookies that have been baking, filling the kitchen with that irresistible aroma. Your first kiss. Sex. I know, it seems weird to relate riding to sex, but if you’re a true mountain biker, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Stepping over the top tube, clicking into your pedal and pushing off  into the woods, hearing the tires gripping the dirt, pinging off the rocks and roots, the wind in your face, the warm air filling your lungs and sweat rolling down your face. OH YEAH.

It’s funny how the bike that you’ve ignored over the winter becomes your friend so quickly. The relationship between your fellow riders are also renewed with the long awaited ride and the well deserved beers by the fire. Life is right again. I, along with the rest of crew are looking forward to more days exactly like our ride at Levis, however, it’s spring in Wisconsin and it’s snowing as I write this. Crap!

GB