Very Brief Rant: Get a Bell!

I ride a lot on trails where there are dog walkers, trail runners, families with kids, etc. As well as other mountain bikers. I have a bell on my bike, and when I want to let someone know, in a friendly way, that I'm approaching, I ring it. It saves my voice from screaming "on your left" constantly, it's audible over a long-ish distance, and it cost $4 to put on my bike.

You would think this accessory would be common among the sort of person that is perfectly willing to spend several thousand dollars on a bicycle. But you would be wrong. I'd estimate 95% of the people I see riding bikes on the trails around here would prefer one of the following to installing/using a bell:

-The Stealth Pass. Maintain total silence as you approach the unsuspecting pedestrian, relying soley on their innate 6th sense to warn them to move out of your way. Act really peeved when they don't move quickly enough.

-Ride off the trail. Who cares about singletrack? If you want to save 10 seconds getting back to your car, you can just ride around the silly hikers off the trail (yes, you can combine this with other techniques)!

-The triathalete scream. You all know it - "On your left!" Unfortunately, sometimes there *isn't* a good way for someone to get out of the way, yelling is pretty unfriendly, and it's hard to yell at someone from 50 feet away without losing your voice after a few repetitions.

-The inappropriate pass. You're 10 feet from the trailhead, finishing your ride. Is this really the time to rail around someone? YES! Alternately, a line of 10 riders is coming uphill - should you yield to them, ruining your shredtacular descent? Naw! If they don't get out of the way, just ride off the trail.


If you are riding on crowded trails, and you don't have a bell, you are basically an idiot, in my book. It's also possible, depending on what passing technique you use, that you're ruining the trail, endangering bike access, or even risking hurting someone (possibly yourself).

So get a bell. If you can't swing the $4, stop by Waltworks World HQ and I will give you one for free and help you install it. No joke. Then ring away and make friends out there, while proving to everyone that you are not a moron.

Old School

Thanks to Reven for the picture - this is her 2005 vintage WW (so, somewhere in the first 30 or so frames I built, though I'm not sure exactly what number), being ridden this weekend at Steele Creek Park in TN.

I'm about to build her an "update" of the same basic setup - it's interesting to see how much the way I build things has changed over the years, along with the overall evolution of 29" bikes. By my current standards, this bike has really long (for a singlespeed) chainstays at 44cm, a very short/steep front end (71.5 HTA and 38mm rake), no seat tube sleeve, and tiny tubes (31.8mm downtube on a 29er?) that are probably underbuilt for the punishment that Reven deals out (I was such a weight weenie...) Tire clearance kinda sucks too, so that will improve as well.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Mattar Paneer!

I have no idea how authentic this recipe is at this point, it's been heavily modified by yours truly and probably wasn't that authentic to begin with. And it's obviously not traditional Thanksgiving fare - but let's be honest, Thanksgiving food sucks.

Matar Paneer ala Walt

Cottage cheese : 2 cups (if you can find dry curds, those are nice, but normal large wet curds work fine)
Frozen Green Peas : One bag (2 cups-ish)
Vegetable Oil
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Cinnamon stick
Red chili powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder : 2 tsp
Heavy cream : 3/4 cup
Garam masala powder : 1 tsp
One large onion, diced
One can of diced tomato
2 cups diced hot green chile
Some fresh ginger, shredded
1 tsp salt

Heat up some oil and toss in onion, green chile, and ginger. Fry for about 5 minutes until the onion is transparent.

Add chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder fry them for 3-4 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, salt and garam masala powder sautee them for another 4-5 minutes.

Take the resulting mixture and process to a smooth paste in a blender or food processor.

Heat up the pan with remaining oil and add cumin seeds and cinnamon stick, fry for maybe a minute or two until things are sizzling.

Add the paste bring to a boil, then add peas and cottage cheese and cook for another 5 minutes (simmering).

Finally, add the cream and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and serve over quinoa or rice.

Best Laid Plans

I really wanted to have a lot of stuff done before Sarah and I (and Pele - it will be an exciting holiday!) head up to Estes for Thanksgiving with the fam-in-law:
-Kurt's frame
-Prepping/packing/shipping Stu's frame/fork
-Finishing up some forks and other little stuff
-Wrangling Mohawk's mangled hanger back into shape
-Probably lots of other things I've now forgotten

But, at 9pm, looking down the barrel of being a stressed out jerk for Thanksgiving, or alternately finishing stuff this weekend or next week, I opted to come inside, write a quick blog post (with a *terrible* picture, even by my low standards), drink a beer, and call it a day.

Of course, I think I quoted Kurt 6 months and it hasn't been even 4 yet, but once I set myself a goal (even a little one) I often have a hard time letting go of it. I do deliberately try to quote really conservative wait times - because I don't want to be that "he quotes you 3 weeks and it takes 3 years" framebuilder. But it still rankles when things don't come together the way I want - even if they're ahead of schedule.

Anyway. Kurt's bike is a pretty sweet 4" travel FS setup:
-71 HTA, 73 STA
-18" seat tube, 29" standover
-24" effective toptube
-13.6" BB (unsprung)
-45cm/17.7" chainstays
-For a tapered Fox TALAS 120/95 (it'll be 71 HTA at 95mm, and more like 69.5 at 120 travel)
-Awesomely brazeon and cable-stop free, because I didn't get to that yet

I am aware that it's weird to use a perfectly good DHX Air as a dummy shock to hold the shock mounts where I want them for tacking.

In any case, happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and I'll rap at ya this weekend.

Monday Irrelevance: Sign a petition for beer and food

I have been friends with the Avery guys for many years, and they are looking to open a restaurant/brewery in Gunbarrel (farther from my house; boo!)

Anyway:

Hi everybody,

Please help support the cause, and sign our online petition and letter to Boulder City Council. Go to...

http://www.change.org/petitions/city-council-of-boulder-co-allow-tap-rooms-to-make-and-serve-food-and-keep-iconic-boulder-businesses?share_id=LsPllZlpKY&

Please email the link to as many of your Colorado friends as possible. Signing the petition will increase our support numbers, and automatically send a letter to City Council.

Thanks!
Joe

Joe Osborne
Marketing Director
Avery Brewing Company

Waltworks CFITT 2011 - Race non-report

From Luis:

DNF! Race went well though, and I felt surprisingly good after being sick the week before. Got tons of stories but they're best told around a campfire.

At around 12:30am Sunday after the most hellacious hiking trail poach EVER (think: 2 pedal strokes - huge log 2ft off the ground - lift heavy ass bike - repeat every 25 feet for 5 miles) I reached some nicely groomed trail. I was JRA when CRUNCH, looked down and the rear der. was completely wrapped around the cassette, slider bent, cracked and deformed.

I considered my options, rigged up the bike as a SS with a droopy chain and continued on until I reached the next point where we were supposed to pick up the Florida Trail. The GPX was screwed up in this area and I rode in circles around a hunter campground for about 20 minutes until I heard someone racking their pistol. At that point I decided it was best to ride out some forest roads to US19 and call for extraction.

As I laid inside my sleeping bag waiting for my wife, shivering, it suddenly hit me "YOU HAVE SLIDERS DUMBASS". WTF I could've tightened my chain and continued on the 20 or so miles of trail I had to go to the end, I'm a sser after all. MEH, my brain wasn't working right.

Ended up with 161 miles on the GPS, not a bad day at the office I reckon. next year the camping gear stays home (and I won't make that silly mistake again). BTW riding the trails and forest roads in the Ocala National Forest at night solo is real spooky. David Muse (of TNGA fame) had a nice run in with some good ole boys...

No real pics of scenery but I attached a few.

De-fense!

Yes, it's over. You can all call her Dr. Sarah now.

The Ubiquitous Old Car in the Woods Photo

Title and picture courtesy of Barry.

...the rest of the story

If someone wants to translate any of this, feel free to email me.

I find it interesting to note that the only two action shots are of Marcus' bike (in the second, it's actually Chris riding, not Marcus).

Overexposed!

I never, in my entire life, thought that I'd end up on the cover of a French mountain bike magazine, riding a 36er and looking goofy. Well, ok, the looking goofy part was probably pretty predictable.

So, kids, believe in your dreams.




I'll post the rest (it's all in French, and probably says horrible things about my personal hygiene, or something) tomorrow.

Edit: I am not the guy with the hipster facial hair in the big picture. Duh. If I'm going to grow something on my face... it'll be like this.

It's the....

...final countdown...

Picture from Matt

I assume Matt was arrested for loitering shortly after this picture was taken, but apparently he likes the bike. A nice smart build - X9, King, Stan's, Fox, Thomson. Pretty much what I would use.

Random pictures for Andy

Random photos of Andy's (you guessed it) 29er. He's breaking the bank and going full XTR, so this thing should be pretty sick!

Extended...

The torture continues - Sarah has an extension to Sunday evening to finish her dissertation.

Expect more posts next week when I no longer have to spend all my time trying to get my wife to eat/sleep/stay sane.

Quick picture for Steven

All I have to say is that S&S couplers AND sliding dropouts makes for a heavy frame - but at least you can keep your wallet a little fatter when you fly with your bike.

As usual, geometry breakdown:
-Geared or SS
-71* HT, 73.5* ST, 12.2" BB
-Built for 80mm travel or (not pictured) a rigid fork
-Taper-ready
-425-445mm chainstays (adjustable with the sliders)
-Plenty of clearance for any XC-ish tire (ie, 2.4 or smaller will fit)

This is an all-around XC setup for Steven's upcoming trip to Guam, and then to wherever his travels take him after that.

Also, quick announcement: Garro and Dicky won the pop quiz. But it does not seem like either of them wants the fine, fine sleeveless jersey... should I do some modeling to change their minds?

1am Pop Quiz!

Sarah is working late, and so am I. At this rate we'll both be vampires by spring...

Quiz: What did I have to do to my bike to get home from the climbing gym tonight?

Hint: I did it within 100 feet of the police station, and if I'd been seen, I probably would have gotten in a bit of trouble.

Hint2: I'm a pretty big dirtbag.

First correct answer wins a free pair of socks or a metro-tacular sleeveless Waltworks jersey (worn a few times but nice and clean. I swear.)

We lose

Councilman Appelbaum pretty much summed it up:

Councilman Matt Appelbaum went a step further and said he doesn't want any human access to the property.

"It's not that mountain bikes are the problem," he said. "It's anything that's the problem."

I do not even know where to begin calling out the hypocrisy in Mr. Appelbaum's statements, but I'm almost too angry about the whole process to write coherently, so I'll say this: vote for the BMA/BOA endorsements for City Council.

I expect that a lot of people will throw up their hands at this point and just start poaching trails. I cannot say I blame them, though I don't condone it. CC has made an enemy out of every reasonable mountain biker in Boulder.

From the BMA - City Council Meeting + FREE BEER

City Council Considers Bike Trails On Anemone Hill

This is our last and best opportunity for a close-to-town trail accessible by bike so you can ride to your ride. It would also provide an opportunity to connect a single track loop on Anemone Hill to the trails at Betasso Preserve. We have an opportunity to create an excellent trail experience for EVERYONE, hikers, trail runners, and dog walkers included.

BMA needs YOU and YOUR friends to show up to support BMA's ask Council to approve the OSBT loop trail and the connector:

City Council Chambers
Broadway and Canyon
Tuesday, October 25 at 6pm

If you cannot show up,email your thoughts to city council (click here).
BMA has some talking points below.
The main point you should convey =
ask Council to approve both the OSBT loop trail and the connector.

City Council We need to thank the City Council for making OSMP take a second look at Anenome Hill and ask that they create a professionally designed, sustainable and fun trail system in this area that will work for hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians. We need to be positive, logical and thoughtful to these volunteer leaders of our community. It was Council that kept the hope of access in the West TSA alive by instructing OSMP to hire a professional trail designer to do their own evaluation of the area.
What you should know:

OSBT map The Open Space Board of Trustees has approved 4 to 1 a professionally designed loop trail that will

* Manage User Conflict: Separate no-bike trail segments are available for dog walkers, kids, and the elderly who may get spooked by bikes. Directional use is explicitly called for by OSBT. These are the right things to do.
* Protect the Resource: OSBT explicitly calls for on-trail use for everyone on Anenome Hill. Social Trails in the area will be reclaimed and restored. Neighboring property to the north and the south have no human access to provide refugia for the same critters that *could* be affected by a trail on Anemone Hill. We support these environmental values of our open space lands.
* Provide a Positive Recreation Experience: The OSBT recommended loop provides a 45 minute loop ride through a forest for bikes who have no place else to go w/o getting in a car or riding on paths and roads for long distances. It provides alternate routes for hikers, equestrians, and others. It has beautiful views of the city and the continental divide. This trail will be a valuable recreational asset for the citizens of Boulder.

Sounds perfect, right? Sadly, there's a catch.

Staff recommendation OSMP Staff recommended ONLY a connector trail to Four Mile Canyon only and doesn't want the OSBT approved loop at all. They want Council to approve a loop loaded up with switchbacks that would exclude bikes from the user mix. There's plenty of reasons to believe this is a BAD idea.

* The Four Mile Connector would coincide with the OSMP switchback loop trail for about 25% of it's length. Bikes, hikers and equestrians going both directions on this trail segment would be a user conflict nightmare.
* The link trail would serve stronger, faster, long-distance riders, but not the families of Boulder or the quick after work ride that keeps us all sane after a hard day in a cubicle.
* Perceived crowding and bike on bike user conflict will be significant on the connector.... you'll see everyone on your way out and once again on your way back. This will reduce the quality of the recreation experience significantly.

BMA believes we should combine the OSBT Loop with the Four Mile Connector...this is why:

* Cyclists are a responsible user group - in 2011 alone we've contributed over 2400 hours in volunteer bike patrolling and 2000 volunteer hours doing trail work. We've proven mountain bikers can help make this opportunity successful.
* We know how to manage our own user group - and providing the diversity of experiences people are looking for through both the OSBT loop and the Four Mile Connector provides the greatest value to our community for the least impact on other trail users and the environment.
* These trails link in to our existing multi-modal transportation network (e.g., the Boulder Creek Path), allowing us to ride to our ride, be it short or long.
* There are some 100 miles of hiker-only trail available in the West TSA - we're only asking for a handful of miles to accomplish these important objectives.
* Both trails are critical for our long term vision of a "peaks-to-plains" trail that allows you to go from Nederland to Boulder by bicycle. Right now city open space forms a brick wall that forces us onto roads when we want a long distance adventure.
* Having both trails serves the families, children, and casual riders of Boulder as well as the uber-atheletes of Boulder.
o The OSBT loop provides an excellent recreation experience for people who live in Boulder and don't want to get into their cars and drive to a trail head.
o Stronger riders will be less likely to do laps. If they've got the time and energy, they can take the connector to Betasso for a longer and more remote trail experience.
o This area is bordered to the north by Sunshine Canyon and to the south by Boulder Canyon... no temptation for cyclists to ride where they shouldn't.
o This trail sits next to the core of Boulder. Whether it be from your front door or from your office downtown, cyclists will warm up on the way to the trailhead (no driving to the trailhead!) and get that 45 to 90 minute experience that is missing from the trail offerings in Boulder now

The OSBT loop with the Four Mile Connector provides the greatest management flexibility and the best trail experience for all users. It reduces or eliminates user conflict by providing hiker-only trail segments, the possibility of directional travel for bikes, and a connection to leverage this access into Betasso Preserve, thus dispersing use. The entire trail system is 8.2 miles, approximately 6 miles would form a shared-use loop and connector trail, the rest would be hiker-only.


Staff's switchback loop (they call it the "ridge loop") is a poor user experience for everyone. Two way bike traffic on 25% of this trail will increase perceived crowding and user conflict on the trail. Switchbacks are always a management nightmare because of "cutting" caused predominantly by hikers and because of conflict caused by limited sightlines between different user groups. OSMP has repeatedly denied or threatened to reduce bike access because of user conflict concerns, so let's not engineer user conflict into the system!


SEE YOU THERE!

ALSO (this is Walt) if you want all the brews you want (be reasonable!) ON ME before the meeting, we'll meet up at 4:30 at the Mountain Sun downtown. If you're interested, drop me an email or post a comment. If I don't hear from anyone, I'll just hope to see you at the meeting!

Jon's Frame or... Trogdor the Burninator!

First, if you're somehow not familiar with him, educate yourself on Trogdor.

How is this relevant? Well, really, it's not. But if I had built this bike for myself (and, trust me, I wish my legs were shorter, or Jon's were longer, so that I could just steal it from him) I would name it Trogdor. It's crazy, it's over the top, and it's arguably gone way beyond any semblance of good judgement.

Here were the goals for this bike:
-29" wheels
-Shortest possible chainstays
-Ability to run a bashguard and 1x9 or 1x10 drivetrain (no front derailleur)
-Slack/stable steering geometry
-Good standover

Well, I think we got there (apologies for the Craigslist-quality photo - it's dark. I'll try to get a better one in the morning.) Small painting in the background is by my good friend Chris (drop him a line and have him paint your favorite mountain!)
-27" standover. Excessive? Probably. But great for, like, throwing tricks, or, um, unplanned dismounts on off-camber terrain. Not that I'm suggesting anything like that would happen.
-400mm effective chainstay length. Yes, that's right. 15.75" It will be a wheelie/manual machine, so much so that it's arguable that it'll be hard to keep the front wheel down when going uphill.
-83mm BB shell for 56mm chainline and clearance for a big 2.4-ish tire.
-Offset dropouts (5mm to the driveside) and 135mm spacing for a straight chainline and no-dish rear wheel.
-69 degree head tube angle, set up for a tapered steerer, 100mm travel fork. Throw a 120mm fork on there and go to 68 HTA if needed.

Are there drawbacks? Sure. Honestly, I'm still not sure if the chainline will allow smooth shifting at the very high and very low range on the cassette (Shimano designs their mountain bike components for ~425mm chainstays). The frame isn't particularly light (it'll probably just barely break 5 pounds when the powdercoat is on), and some folks wouldn't like the wider q-factor on the cranks necessitated by the 83mm BB shell. Oh, and you need a freeride crank to fit, as well as a rear wheel that's been built or re-dished to fit the offset dropouts.

But for burninating the peasants in their thatched... er, I mean ripping it up on the singletrack, this might be just right. And only Jon will ever know, since the thing is too darn small for me to steal from him.

Picture of the housing guide was just because it looked nice, and I usually don't get them to look quite that perfect. The darn things are way thin/light/lacking in thermal mass, so they want to instantly turn into a little ball of molten metal if you throw just a little bit too much heat at them.

Mountain bike trails on Anemone Hill - time to get involved!

Background info: Anemone Hill is just south of Mt. Sanitas. The ridge runs all the way to 4mile Canyon to the West, and would allow access to Betasso, Logan Mill, Sugarloaf, Gold Hill, Switzerland trail. Good stuff. The Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees recently voted to recommend a trail there, and now it's up to us to make sure the city council makes it happen.

Some background:

Daily Camera article about a less-awesome staff proposal (but still more awesome than nothing)

Boulder Mountainbike Alliance info.

So, what can you do?

1. Come down to the BMA Membership party tonight! Join up and get some schwag, renew your existing membership (or join for the first time), and drink beer with other mountain bikers. TONIGHT, 6pm, at Full Cycle on Pearl.

2. Come make your voice heard and your presence felt at the October 25th City Council meeting where this will be discussed. It's at 6pm, at the Municipal building, 1777 Broadway. If you're interested in meeting up beforehand for a drink at the Mountain Sun, you can join me for that (beer on me if you come to the meeting!) too around 5pm.