forced to reevaluate your goals

I figured I had this bike, the $15 complete, 1989 StumpJhumper (the J is silent I understand), just cluttering up the joint with it's horribly good looking but dissatisfyingly small and spinny 26"edness. A bike around with which it would be possible to tinker. There is a lot of talk about the new new- when is there not in the bike industry?- and it is true I do not love the 26" for myself and my style of riding.

[aside: I feel that wheel size should be chosen to best match rider size/style and that 27.5"/650b-if-you're-nasty has a valid place if you are looking to retrofit a 700c bike with a larger volume tyre for some hott action ungettable on 25mm, or maybe if you are between 5'6'' to 5'11" and are real damn particular, otherwise it is a straight punch to the hard sell and some buy-it-because-you-lack type of snake oil.]

Anyhoo, I had nothing to lose and possibly something to learn, so I ordered some rims (25mm wide Velo Orange Diagonale 32h) and some tyres (2.2' wide Maxxis Ardent front and Crossmark rear- that Crossmark hooks up like a champ, too) and away I went.

27.5" and 26" respectively, in a science shoot-off.

There used to be a stop in the drop...

which I chopped. And later cleaned up with a file.

That derailler was crapped out and got replaced.

Clearance looks good.

I thought perhaps I might retain the Paul's cantis, but nope. For kicks, I put a v-brake arm on the boss. However the tyre is so tall the cable canoe rests atop it. It is times like these that allow me to bask in the warm glow of my bike-part hoard, though....WTB Speedmaster cantis c.1995. That is OG, son. The leverage is unfortunately reduced by moving the pads so far up the arm,but it runs and don't cost nuthin.

 Booty bin almost matching King hubs?!? Yep.

I been sitting on these for a while. This seemed like the time. It's been years since I rode a King rear, and I forgot how instantaneous pawl engagement is. It is a fucking delight.





Swapped out the dirt drops.

New parts are rims, tyres, cables/housing and purple lock-on grips because obviously. It's so nice at this point, I'll trade out the poopy chainrings and BB.



 Yes, I have been riding it. It's fun. The thing I notice most is the King's snappy get-up. The less than optimal cantis feature, too. As for the real point, the wheel size; the 27.5" climbs punchy or steep well. It is a slog on the longer stuff. I notice it's zzzzzzzzzzsmallness, just like a 26", and pine for a bigger momentum. Same on the flats. It handles nicely in the tight singletrack- speaking of which, the new 49?

 Holy shit. I have to say- whoever routed that, you did a real nice job. Thank you! Seems like you were constrained (by BLM distance regs?), and there were a couple too-tight serpentine folds that I think are going to wash out, but you clearly had to dump elevation and your mandate was clearly Good Times. That's a man date I like to go on. Well routed, player. Fun up, fun down.

In the end so far, I remounted the rear baskets and threw on the porteur rack and it will be a fun townie and spare camping bike. It's fun, but not a dedicated trail bike for me. Also, I could potentially use those wheels on that old Salsa La Raza, whenever I actually get that running again.

If, for whatever reason, you got an old 26" bike you wanna swap over, it is likely doable. Even easier if using a disc specific wheelset.

That is all.

'm all right now

Never thought I'd make it, but I always do somehow.'m all right now.




...skip to :45.

Today is 4 weeks out from getting straight broke off. I feel better by the day. I been rolling my right IT band (ow! tender) and opening my chest. I cannot complain.

You believe how nice it was today?!? Man.

A little roundy round the rollier section of Ord on some fat tyres was the recipe for win. That bike is getting clownier by the day. I replaced the stock saddle with a Brooks Flyer. The extra springiness may or may not be a keeper- I will switch back and forth between a standard B17 and the Flyer and see. Also, I swapped the stem from 120mm to a 100mm, and changed the bars from the Salsa 17* flat to the Surly Open Bar. The reach is both shortened and lengthened (given the bendy nature) and I have 2 more hand positions, give or take infinity. I feel this will pay off big time when bikecamping or going for longer rides. I have aspirations to both in the future; may even combine them.

In further exploring the old Friday night SS loop environs (and happily, it is almost all open again! we need to bed some sections in more/again, so let's all ride there) I ran into B___ B_____ and we had an inneresting chat about trail right of way. He ran into some other cyclist recently while descending 50 at speed; which is how one descends 50. The other guy flipped out, fell off his bike and down slope. While B___ was leaning down, hand out to help him up, the guy began mouthing off about riding in control and claimed he had the right of way. B___, to hear him tell it, handled it extremely calmly/well. I think I would have told that dude to eat a dick and ridden away at that point. I agree that, all things being equal, the climber is accorded the trail. I further agree that, this being Real Life, it doesn't matter how "right" you are if you're in a bad situation. Getting lippy about someone else ripping legal singletrack downhill while you are laboring around a blind corner in the middle of the trail is bullllllshit.

B___ takes it so far as to climb the road around both 49 and 50, which, to my mind, is crazy talk. But that's what he does, just to avoid the possible crash since both of those are honestly 90% ridden in the downhill direction. I myself climb them both on occasion- though much more 49 since it actually gets you someplace from which it is fun to keep riding. And when I'm climbing these trails, I keep my ears open (no headphones or earbuds or whatever they're called when you are from) and I try to look around/through corners where I can. Because I'm responsible for my well-being on the trail; not the guy ripping down a sweet section of hero dirt.

It's prolly all 6s in here, and I do feel like I'm preaching to the choir, but. Look out for yourself and your riding buddies. Call out around a blind corner if it's a heavily used trail. (B___ has now collided with people who were coming up 49, 50, and Blair Witch). Be aware of what's coming. Call out the # of riders in your party who are still behind you when passing someone in order to keep everbody safe- which, if we're being preachy, it amazes me how few people do you this courtesy. If you yield, try to do it by leaning away from the singletrack while keeping your wheels on the edge of the trail. This keeps singletrack single. Don't put that in your mouth. Etc.

If hassles become legal matters, we will face all kinds of regulations. Trails designated directionally, etc. That would suck. Looking at the proposed diminishment of Fort Ord already, it is increasingly clear we all need to play nice.


Anyhow. Bike ride on a sunny day? Yes, please.

you know and I know

Taking the long way to to school:



We got there a little late...but I'd say it was worth it. OK, we will leave earlier next time.

clean out of sight

SS on pave to dirt. Because A) I am fortunate enough to live within riding distance of dirt, but really B) I am more willing to ride than to drive. That's because I am a cyclist. I lik to ride bikes.

If you are not riding to your ride, and you have the option to so do, then you are losing. Get with it.

I frequently see large birds on that one hillside. Mostly Red Tail Hawks and Buzzards, but an occasional owl. Today I heard a snake, Coluber lateralis lateralis- California Striped Racer, making a hasty retreat for his lair. Heard him and then saw him. I especially dig that, even though it's only due to the protracted walking on account of the SS.

Bobcats have been players these last few days as well...

Today I ventured into some new-to-me trails, and saw the above bobcat (Lynx rufus). I got much closer than this, but photos weren't happening. The cat had a large field mouse dangling from it's mouth. Yesterday's cat, I forgot to mention, I chased and was gaining(!) when he bailed to the side over a fence. I lik to see the wildlife.

Riding the new cleaned section and the fresh reroute was worthwhile. It will take some time to set in, but it has begun. Now it's not just a headache ever time I ride through there thinking "Man! This could be so much better." Because now it is. I also cleaned up some of those arm slappers on the descent to the other side.


I see this sign, but I'm unsure as to what it prohibits. I feel certain it is unrelated to my own activities.



Thinking of saws...

The Silky Super Accel 210 (Large Teeth) is recommended by a person whose bona fides we cannot access. At $37.95, it is made in Japan where they make solid cutting tools. I think I'm leaning more towards the American made Bob Dustrude Quick Buck Saw at $44.99 from Duluth Pack.

I'm through being cool, and I'm through with being stymied by large branches.

change your Life in a safe retreat

3 hour tour style trip to Santa Cruz for a quick sampling of some Westernest ridge aspects under a well shaded Redwood canopy. Dirt road climb to the serpentine ribbon of all downhill from here. Only one way to get to the top...and that is to climb.

The FNG, M___, wanted to see some new riding. He was in waaaaay over his head fitness-wise (big talk for a slow guy here) going up, and at the very most edge of his technical abilities coming down. There was a lot of waiting. There was a lot of waiting.

I looked at the trail in a different light considering his present limits. That is a hard trail. You forget some of that, knowing it so well. It is exposed side-hill skibbly water bars, there is the pedal biting stump, here is the off-camber root ball, coming up is the fast section into the L-bend with an overhanging limb, etc.

It was still a healthful Good Time (riding hecka tight, buffed singletrack is great- if you're into that kind of thing), but faster is funner.

we go for all weathers

A way to come home from work.



A possible payload, which could be found on a given day on a given trail.


A toast: Here's to August. Here's to remembering to bring some clippers, a saw, and some long sleeves.

...what do you do?

I took M___ out for a ride. He's a father/soccer coach guy, who moved here recentlyish and expressed interest in learning local trails. Mostly, I find myself with little to say to my "peer" group. I started in talking to him, initially, on account of his sweet Duluth pack (so don't kid yourself: your gear says things about you and your choices) and came to find out he's an inneresting guy. Used to work for the State D_________, and the United N_____s building armies (of all things to build) in A____a. So. Yes, I'm innerested in hearing his perspectives. That's not what I lik to build, but you get the point.

Last week we met at the elementary school, having dropped off our respective chirrens, and wandered up the hill to some close, above-board trails which are very easy to access and pretty tame. I thought it would be most useful to him, and I could get an idea of his competence/attitude/compatibility. Hey. The guy built armies. Who knows which way he jumps.

He jumps pretty sensibly, I think. Being a self-professored student of history meself, his views seem level-headed, if a little sharp-edged. This is not a place I care to engage in heated discussion of anything other than bikes, but I do feel it worth mentioning that this country seems to be heading (quickly) toward the edges, and I wish my children to have the skills needed to thrive. Less will be more.

Anyhow, today was Intro to Fort Ord. Mountain biking 101. It was a little dull. M___ is not a fast guy, or a techy guy, and has a crap bike. But (the most important but) he is willing. It was very like riding with the kids; a lot of slowing, waiting, calling turns, and picking smoother trails. I'll do it again. The conversation was worthwhile. Hopefully he picks up the hammer and starts swinging it himself, though, because I only have so much daylight to burn.

Sussing out new people is weird. Mostly, there's some filters already passed before you ride together; i.e. other folks' introductions, meetings on hard trails, etc.

NSFW audio, and poor video, but it's the only copy of this relevant recording of Louis CK (super comic- you should watch his show) I could pull up...



P.S. Astute readers who really pay attention have noticed the Paul's Thumbies I run (on 2 bikes) and have inquired as to their badassness. I reply: they are pretty bad ass. BUT (the 2nd most important but) you have to keep your housing clean if you expect them to index well with 9 speed. Haven't tried a 10 set-up. Yet. And, if you are too lazy to do this (keeping it clean) then don't expect real crisp friction shifts, either. Since the 9 (and presumably more so, the 10. Eff the 11) speed cassette cogs are so closely spaced, it is easy to misshift. Full stop.

let that be

what it be.

Q- What is going on with the video format?
A- I don't know. It's for listening anyhow, so don't fret. Start it at 1:30 if you don't want to hear the intro.

Things happen. Other stuff seems important.





When I get the option, though, I do lik to take a little camping trip (on and with my bicycle).


It is not yet the Full Stawberry Moon- that's on Wednesday?! why yes. Yes it is- but yet it was a night to ride. My nameless associate and I embarked in the twilight and ended in the deep, dark woods. We rode up and stashed our packs in a privately owned sheltered meadow. There was plenty of time for more riding as there was no more daylight to waste. We know the nighttime is given over to dissolute pursuits so we did our best. Our best riding through the dark with minimal lights in search of beers which had been stashed behind trees and trails which have been hemmed in with Poison Oak, that is.



Did you receive this image via your mobile Friday night? Well then, you should have Xed, you should have Yed and you would have been hella Zed.


Q- How many Northern Californians does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A- Hella.


Even if (especially because?) such trips are only over-nighters, they are worth our time. A) What are you doing that is funner? 2) How many other nights do you have the option to do that other thing that really isn't funner C) That's what it takes to be a winner.




I thought I'd save some effort and sleep out with my tarp folded over the top of me like a burrito. Perhaps more like a soft taco. This worked out terribly. I'm puzzled as to how the condensation could be so heavy on both the outer and inner surfaces of my tarp/bivy. The fog was well in, and so thick on that ridge that it was falling out of solution onto us all night. Like a gentle sprinkle. You could honestly say it wasn't raining, but you were just as wet. It didn't matter so much for one over-night (I was plenty warm), though if I'd been on a multi-day effort I'd have been muuuuuuuch better off pitching a tent. If packing wet gear is a drag, using wet gear the following night is miserable drag.

These Hilleberg tents look dry and useful, if a little heavy.


We awoke.




I seem to be making a habit of sleeping next to this bike while it gets drenched. Next time it's getting drenched on it's own and I'm staying dry.



Breakfast was instant grits and left-over tofu scramble. See the tiny Tabasco?



I can't find my trusty Esbit. Good thing my faceless companion had a fancy pantsy alcohol stove.



I lik coffee.



My stuff.


I thought I'd illustrate the amount of precipitate.



My identityless co-camper taking his (or her) sweet-assed time packing up even though we had a schedule to keep. Look at all that stuff...

...plus this bikepacking frame-bag type set-up. I believe that is a sleeping bag in the seat bag gizmo? And I don't know what in the gas tank apparatus. I think I'd lik some frame bags. Save me the weight of racks at the minimum. And my back pack was heavy! and not so comfortable. All this, plus more on the one hand.

On the other hand, I already have racks and a back pack.

I believe I'll look into using a down comforter instead of a sleeping bag. Seeing as how I have one of them, and it might pack up lighter enough and smaller enough to warrant.


I broke a spoke on the way to work that afternoon. I keep saying this, but: that was the last ride on my rattly death trap of a suspension bike until I get a new fork. There were some good creaks.

Whatever I ride, I'll ride the hell out of it.

button all your lips

When I was 13 growing up in Austin,TX, a friend and I were getting paid by his realtor mom to move "junk" out of a rental house whose tenants had been evicted. In the garage were stacks and stacks and stacks of local punk albums. The tenants had to have worked for a distributor, because there were a LOT of albums. I ended up with the entire Black Flag catalog, because their songs had titles to which I could relate. One of the albums I took home was The Butthole Surfers' "Brown Reason to Live."

It confused me. The music was like nothing I'd ever heard before.

I ended up playing the record at 33 1/3, which made sense to me as it was a "full size record", as opposed to a tiny 45. Eventually I realized it was an EP meant to play at 45rpm, but by then it was too late. I was used to it. Now all the songs sound waaaay too fast to me.






All you people.

Not one of you (that's right: you) came through on our plans to head down to Big Sur for the riding, and I think we're effed now because school's out next week and the summer hordes will converge on the place and it's a no go. Maybe at night?




Anyhow, am I riding this thing at the right speed? Listening to the Test Bike Stumpjumper FSR Comp 29er was different and confusing. Interesting, because I rode my local and I've been listening to that on the regular aboard my 26" Santa Cruz Blur LT. This makes me feel well qualified in my impressions.

I liked the big wheels for pedaling pave sections. They were much nicer than the inefficient hamster wheeling feeling I get from pave on my Blur. The Comp 29 climbs much more smoothly than my squishy bike (which has a jerky, jabbing quality when climbing steep and low; each stroke is like a pedal stab) but this may be due to the fact that it had no granny. 2x10 I could take or leave. I like the idea of a tighter chain line, but the lack of granny hurt a couple times. Thinking of bikepacking with a 2x10 hurts me knees' brains.

Obviously, the Stumpy is new and feels new- I noticed the tapered steerer Rockshox Reba (with a 20mm thru-axle) felt like a straight arm to the ground. Steering precision. I like it.

The straight flat bar I flat-out hated. Hated. It felt like my wrists were turned inward. SUCKY.

I swapped my own saddle/post set-up over. Climbing, I wished I'd taken the time to dial the nose down some. Then on descents I'd think it felt just right.

Although it did not feel as though the front end was dangerous to know, I can say: I would not buy this bike. It feels too tall and therefor tippy. The wheelbase is noticeably too long. Clumsy, even. It was much harder to slip through the tight and twisty maritime chaparral.

Truism: Everthing is a trade-off.

I am open to the possibility of a 29" dually, but this ain't the one. In the interest of full squish- so far I'll stick with the 26" end of the trade. How much pave efficiency do I need in a bike designed around going fast over rough stuff? I'll err on the side of nimble, stable, low.


I did break here, at the Caprock cave of wonders, and

based on forensic evidence, the 3 cans on the right are not my leavings. Folks is getting migh-tee cavalier about leaving their trash in the woods at the Caprock and other points. I hadda wear a pack today, so I removed all this, but.

PACK YOUR TRASH.



...AND, PLUS, SHOW UP WHEN IT SUITS ME FOR RIDES. Else I gotta find some actual cool people who can ride on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Try to straighten out your act and boogie down.

And I mean that.

Before Tulsa, it was some night riding to Fort Ord. Locals only. We took those good singletracks, drank those warmish beers. Home at 1:18, up at 6:30 to drive to the airport.

Back at home this past week, it was some bike riding to my job. Low booking enabled me to take the long dirt route. 2 hours of singletrack commute? Yes, may I have another? With the light lasting as long as it is right now, I was able to take the longer long way back home as well. Up that hill on dirt, and so many of the troublesome logs have been removed! Big, chain-saw requiring logs. So it was better than good. There was some eye level poison oak tendrils, so I spent some precious evening light beating back that hateful weed. Then it was over, down, over, up, down, up, down and down some more. Singlest of tracks.

I feel great! Seems like anytime I ask of the legs, there's something in there to respond. That's such a fine way to feel.

And it is because of all the day-to-day riding. The buddy with whom I rode in Santa Cruz last week complains bitterly about our local. I understand this, as it gets boring to ride the same stuff over and over wherever you are, but...what you got is what you got. Ride that ish. If you skip riding regular because you are tired of your same-old then (you're not bored, you're boring) you have no ability to ride those Epics when they present themselves. Your Epic just hurts in that case. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Ride your route backwards, take that one turn you always skip, ride at night, explore.

For the record, it was some more clapped-out (for reals, that thing is a little scary. I think the front end is going to crap out permanently at any moment) dually riding. The rattle? Ahhh, it's full squish! OK, maybe it was the loose cones; my rear end is spread wide (yeah, yeah) and the necessary clamping plays heck with my hub, but what can I say? OK, maybe it was also the seat post mounted bottle cages shaking loose from their clamps, too.

Anyhow, riding is to be had. Chiggity-check your equipment, folks, before you wriggity-wreck your equipment.

I'll always regret the day I joined

(skip to 1:25 in to skip the talky talk)


As I was looking at this flock of bicycles this morning, trying to settle on one, the singlespeed revealed itself to be that One. It's been awhile since I took it out. Cycles, cycles. Some bike or other has been calling me recently.





1stly- it's so light! And responsive! And punishing! And automatic. No thought, just pedal. I like that.

Climbing was well handled. Legs are feeling Good. Ribs are feeling good (little bit of pull; minor not major). With a drop in tyre pressure, downhills were in the bag. Up the hill to dirt (you know that one power line easement I been squawking about? It's a no go- straight down to a Poison Oak filled drainage...oh well, time to try that other one), across, down, up another side, and an extra woods loop for kicks.



This is why oaks are Mighty. Every limb on it has dropped, but here it is Spring and damned if it's not giving it another GO.





At home, this package had arrived:


Good on you, H___.




In addition to some oddball taffy on which my kids are now hooked, and aside from the mummified jumping spider, it contained the repair parts for the shelved B17. The Standard Titanium Tension Shackle and the 60mmTension Pin & Nut Assembly.


Sucks to your carbon fibre rails, kids.




That this saddle is repairable sits well with me. The nut did not sit well in the shackle at first.





So I took the flat file to it...






though it took the rat tail file to really do the necessary.






All flush and moving into position.






The notches sit up under the (riveted on Titanium!) nose. Also, note the mummified jumping spider in the mysterious box which we shall examine another day. Yes, that is the photo.





Threading the Tension Bolt.







Flush. Ready to insert into the (Titanium!) nose cone...








I put another nut on the bolt end, and levered it into position in the nose in order to back out the bolt and begin tensioning the leather.







Done.







Yep. That there is a perfectly repaired (and repairable!) saddle. Put that in your weight weenie and smoke it. Please also note the large, hammered rivets. If you are thinking about a Brooks, I recommend these on whatever version suits your posterior. The small rivets tear through the leather much more readily. True fact.






What else?