2011 Arrowhead 135

The race is happening NOW!  On our walk to work (7:40EST) we thought about the biker, skiers, and runners who were getting ready for their 7:00CST departure from International Falls, MN.  They said it was -9 this morning at the race start.  I'm not sure what the temperature was in Marquette, but it felt cold.

Here are the live updates:
http://www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/results/2011-results

We're watching for #18 Danny Hill.

Before work I tried to find some webcams located in Northern Minnesota:
http://www.rainylakeonestop.com/rainylake_cam.html - International Falls
http://www.lakevermilion.com/EagleEye/index.html - Lake Vermilion (closer to the finish)

2010 In Review: The Bicycles

Everyone else is doing a year in review so I thought I would too...

By Month
January - Gary Fisher Rig 29
February - Vassago JabberWocky - Green
March - Giant Reign XO
May - Salsa Big Mama and Bianchi SOK
July - Singular Swift, Kona Honky Tonk
August - Specialized Epic Comp, Salsa El Mariachi
November - Rocky Mountain Slayer, Trek Rumblefish
December - Banshee Paradox

Categories:
Local vs. On-line
Gary Fisher Rig - local
Vassago JabberWocky - on-line
Giant Reign - local
Salsa Big Mama - on-line
Bianchi SOK - on-line
Singular Swift - on-line
Kona Honky Tonk - local
Specialized Epic Comp - local
Salsa El Mariachi - on-line
Rocky Mountain Slayer - on-line
Trek Rumblefish - local
Banshee Paradox - on-line

Steel vs. Aluminum & Wheel Size & suspension
Gary Fisher Rig - aluminum, 29, hardtail
Vassago JabberWocky - steel, 29, hardtail
Giant Reign - aluminum, 26, full suspension
Salsa Big Mama - scandium, 29, full suspension
Bianchi SOK - steel, 29, hardtail
Singular Swift - steel, 29, hardtail
Kona Honky Tonk - steel, road bike
Specialized Epic Comp - aluminum, 26, full suspension
Salsa El Mariachi - steel, 29, hardtail
Rocky Mountain Slayer - aluminum, 26, full suspension
Trek Rumblefish - aluminum, 29, full suspension
Banshee Paradox - aluminum, 29, hardtail

Gary Fisher Rig

Vassago JabberWocky

Giant Reign XO

Salsa Big Mama

Bianchi SOK

Singular Swift

Kona Honky Tonk

Specialized Epic Comp

Salsa El Mariachi

Rocky Mountain Slayer (how to pack and ship a bike)

Trek Rumblefish (linked) http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/29er_full_suspension/rumblefish/



Banshee Paradox

The most consistent thing: Ergon Grips.

Winter Stuff

Fresh air, blue sky, sunshine.  Cross country skiing a few miles from the bike trails.  Echo Lake - Marquette, MI.

Trek Rumblefish - Gary Fisher Collection

He's been riding this for about a week.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/29er_full_suspension/rumblefish/

29 inches. 
110 rear, 120 front suspension. 
Can ride it to the trail.

Fixing a Coil Fork that is Leaking Oil/Air

Where is it leaking?  Not the valve, but around the top.

He removed the top with the crank puller and brought it up...saying "I think I can fix this."  After explaining how the mechanism works with a rubber gasket at the top of the screwed-on cap I suggested plumbers tape for a fit that was more snug. 

Verdict = no air or oil leaking yet. 

Perhaps photos will follow after a few rides.

A new bike on the horizon...

It is one of these:

Singular Swift
Gary Fisher Superfly
Rocky Mountain Slayer
Trek Remedy
Kona - not a Kona, their website is too slow.

Ride the Divide

Whew! This morning, after sleeping in, we watched Ride the Divide. Inspiring to say the least. I like to see what they eat. Cashew granola bars, Emergen-C, olives, pork sandwiches, fruit, nuts, pizza.

We're going for a ride tonight...a night ride with the lights on, with friends. No snow yet, but in the next month or so I think it'll be here.

Watch it here while it lasts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzc1CC1boXM&feature=featured

Is that new?

Last night his friend rode up and took a look at his bike and then said, "Wait, is that new or were you riding that the last time we rode?"

Thankfully he continues to ride the Salsa.

El Mariachi

I think the El Mariachi is going to be ridden for a while. Aside from some normal positioning adjustments he seems to like this bike. He's noticing the shorter fork length compared to the Singular. To accommodate this a riser bar may be swapped. He's saying numbers like 490 --perhaps the length of the fork?

Other components include his standard, trusty Bontrager wheels, straight seatpost, and Ergon grips. He has messed around with the gear ratio depending on the ride he's doing that particular week.

Epic Photos

I had a picture after all.
Specialized Epic Comp 2010.