Saturday Night Lights...

And Racing... The insanely fun way, in the DARK!

- MOVED TO FEBRUARY 11th -

I also hear word of a skid competiton... with prizes. Be There!

Shenanigans...

Now those are some funny looking trees...

Cog-o-licious...

I gave away my prize Phil Wood rear flip-flop hub to a friend as a graduation/b-day gift. I am really wishing I had kept it now, since I currently do NOT have a fixed gear mountain bike in my stable. There is something about a fixie and winter that mix well; like the ingredients of an Irish Car Bomb. Delicious and unmatched.

So I was paroosing the interweb searching for ideas when "WHAM"!!! I remembered the Tomicog. What a novel yet basic idea on how to enable the average Joe to run any 5 bolt disc hub as a fixed gear. My fingers did the walking as I instantly ordered an eighteen. I'll be like a kid on Christmas morning for the next week awaiting it's arrival!

Let's see...$30 Tomicog OR $200+ for a new rear wheel? TOMICOG! Just think of all the beer I can buy with the money I saved.

Fall Down, Build Up...

As I waddle around my casa feeling trapped and helpless ,I've motivated just long enough to get my Trek Sawyer Steel SS built-up and ready to ride -  even though I can't ride at the moment. I have that depressing feeling that one gets not unlike getting scuba gear on Christmas morning. I now have two newly built bikes and am gimped-up and cannot ride them. Total flippin' cock tease. I'm dying over here.

So I bought this frame because I love the lines, not because I like Trek (I really hate Trek). That and I had this sweet Niner Carbon fork that needed a home, which looks dead sexy on this frame. Rolling out the rest of the build I've got White Industries ENO cranks and Freewheel (32x18), White Industries hubs laced to Bontrager Duster rims, set-up tubeless with Specialized rubber. Running Ritchey Carbon Pro Rizers at the cockpit with Avid Juicy Sevens for stopping, Thomson Stem and Post, Salsa clamp, King Headset and my well worn-in WTB Silverado saddle. Had I been riding this beast on Friday I might still be in the game. Squishy forks get the best of me at times, OTB all the way. This stiffy might have saved my ass...

All in all I just felt the need to get back to the SS roots; Rigid and basic. Once I'm back at it, this is gonna be my daily driver. At least that's the plan today.

Tech'd Off...

It was a great day to get out and sample some dirt on the new Air 9. The Manimal, Possun and Brad had just completed a few hours trail work on the Gunbarrel section at Landahl so I headed out to met them and sample the new trail. This would be the first ride on the Air 9, and I was super psyched.

I dropped into the Barrel Hub and onto Rim Job. As I headed in I was trying to figure out the suspension set-up (Reba XX) and get used to things. My front end was a bit softer than I like, but I went with it anyway. My brake levers have a bit less throw and the bike was a bit less weight. So far so good.

Once I found the crew it was game on. We spun around on various trails and took advantage of most techie obstacles enroute. Landahl is home to some hella-fun rock gardens that require great skill to ride clean. I can't say that I rode anything clean today, but I did have a super fun time. The Manimal was busting tricky rock drops and climbs on his fixie like it was butter.

At some point, make that many points, I crashed. Some stupid, some legit, but the last wreck I had caused me to go OTB and slam my left knee into a limestone slab so hard I almost threw-up. Of course I thought I was fine and told the fellas I'd catch up and to ride on. After a few minutes of catching my breath, I had to re align my bars, stem and one brake lever. Then I tried to mount my stead...to no avail. I could not pedal. My knee was toast. At this point I just started to hike out. I was pissed.

Minutes later the crew found me and we all rolled out together, me doing the one legged pedal. We still got in a good ride, too bad It was cut short by yours truly.

Did I mention The Manimal cracked his frame? Second one in six months...the MASHER!

Long story short, I'm on the couch for at least a few weeks with a bum knee, bummer! I hope the rest of you can make up for my lack of riding by riding a little extra in my absence. Cheers!

Frigid and Rigid...

When it rains it pours and it's been raining bike frames and parts at the Pirates Lair as of late. It was only a few days ago that I finished my Air 9 Carbon SS Build. Today I started building up a Niner RIP 9 full suspension as a Single Speed but half way thru the build I wasn't feeling the love. I hung [that] bike on the rack and instead starting building this; a 2011 Trek Sawyer. Steel, Classic lines and an old school look had me at Hello. Yeah, shes a tank, but I'm used to that. I just want to see what I can do to make this beauty sail. This my friend is going to be a sexy machine. More to come...

Get Psyched...

On my Top 5 Local Favorite Race List. This will be my 4th year doing this race and I'm so looking forward to it!

100%...

I'd like to give a shout-out to the fellas at BikeSource for helping me get this build ironed-out...finally. It's been a few too many weeks of ordering little parts and getting this beauty dialed-in just how I want her. Billy worked his magic on my wheel set which needed some major help after the brutal beatings I pose on them. Farmer put up with me lallygagging around the shop and allowed me some space out of the cold to build her up. The Trail Asshole helped me figure out what it was in fact that I needed to transform the rig from (choke) geared to SS. Thanks Fellas, I do really appreciate your time and knowledge.

Now lets go ride, this bitch needs to taste some dirt.

90%...

If I could finagle just thirty minutes out of my intense training schedule I'd have a complete bike to ride. It's just so hard between all of the babes at the gym, hookers and cocaine to make the time, seriously.

Dirt Church Tithe...

Per a little bit of motivation by The Manimal and his new outlook on our selfish ways, I started my payout of Ride time vs. Trail Building time today at SMP. There was a huge crew of folks bench cutting the hell outta that place, and what was created is pure awesomeness.

The Red trail at SMP is just getting better, longer, harder and just stellar. I'm psyched that I was able to give a little time back. I do ride these trails regularly since they are in my backyard. Makes sense to get out and build when family and time allow. It was a good day to be out (60 degrees and sunny in January!). No complaints. I'll sleep easy knowing that I have been less selfish...at least for today.