Get Outta Town

It seems like the only cure for my “situation” at work is to get away often and surround myself with bike people.  We all have one cool thing in common (bikes, duh) so it’s nice to unplug for a little bit to forget about any troubles I might have.  This weekend’s activities started off with a trip to the hills, and to a place I haven’t visited in a few years.

Cane Creek Cycling Components was the site of the Blue Ridge Battle Pump Track Challenge this past Saturday.  As a former sponsored douchebag (I mean, rider) for Cane Creek, it was nice to get back out there.  However, instead of picking up some sweet headsets this time, I watched some folks tear up their pump track.

And taking a break from emcee duties for a bit, local Charlotte rider Will Washam did his part to get rad out there too.

Look at that concentration.  So rad.

I remember way back on one of my visits to Cane Creek when they built that pump track.  It was cool to see the employees take a break, do a couple of laps on the track, and get back to work feeling refreshed.  That always seemed like a nice job perk to me.  Now it's nice to see it being used for an event that traveled around the state.  Definitely worth the trip.

And while I was there (and one of the main reasons I went), I got a chance to hang out with Mandy from DeFeet.

She was selling the "Best Socks in the World" at the event, and since I forgot to mention it I'll tell you that the first picture up there is one of her sons.  He's pretty rad.

And speaking of DeFeet, I finally got a chance to see the new Batty Cat sock out in the wild.

It's becoming quite popular.

It was an awesome Fall day up in the hills.  I met a lot of cool people and made some new friends.  Really interesting ones too.

Dogs like me.  People, not so much.

I just needed to get away.  Even though I just watched some people ride, it was still a good time.  Don’t worry though; I was actually smart enough to bring a bike and I took it out on the trail too.

More on that tomorrow.

More Good

Back when I built up my new single speed I had a little issue.  I never mentioned it because it wasn’t really important at the time.  Plus, I knew it would be resolved quickly. 

I had to use (gasp) another brand of headset.

I won’t mention the inferior brand here, but it was included with my new frame.  I already had a Cane Creek 110 that was halfway compatible, but since the new head tube was tapered I knew I needed a new bottom bearing.  Plus, I would be temporarily running a non-tapered fork so I would need that fancy reducer crown race thingy.  Before my frame showed up, I ordered a new bottom bearing, crown race, and pieced together with my “old” top assembly I had what I thought was the proper headset.

The bottom bearing was brand new from Cane Creek, and the top cap and bearing was a leftover from a past bike.  When I tried to install it, I just couldn’t get the preload right.  I was frustrated, until I realized (after searching on the Internets) that my new frame had a 42mm inside diameter, and the bearing I was trying to use was 41mm.

See, size does matter.

In my haste, I put the (included with the frame) headset (top part only) on and figured I would get on the horn with Cane Creek to get the necessary part I needed.  I sorta forgot about it, until I looked down at the headset with disgust during a ride last week.  The next morning, I picked up the phone and asked for help.  It seems that the website only listed headsets in the 42mm variety for the Forty Series, and I just had to have a 110.  I told them that I wouldn’t dare use that “other” brand of headset any longer, and I was reassured that I didn’t need to.

They shipped it out moments after I got off the phone, and after a quick trip by the Pony Express down from the hills I can finally get with the program.

 It’s so purdy.

And wouldn’t you know, it went on without any issues.

I guess that’s what happens when you put the right shit on there.

Anyway, other than bragging about putting fancy new shit on my fancy new bike, today’s post is mostly about customer service.  I didn’t do my homework before I built my new bike, but a quick call to a real live person (in my home state even) got my issue resolved lickety split.  Cane Creek 110 headsets are made right here in NC (I swear, I’ve seen them do it), and once again I get to buy local from one of the best companies in the whole wide world of cycling.

I promise they will give you the same level of customer service.  The best headset you can buy (with a 110 year warranty) that’s made right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. and they actually give a damn about the people that use their products.  Hell, I even got a follow up e-mail to tell me that they hope I enjoy my new bike.

That’s some damn fine service right there.

A Review Of Sorts

Back on Saturday when I rode at Uwharrie, I finally got a chance to try out my new Lizard Skins gloves. The G-Love to be exact. I didn’t want to test them under race conditions during the Winter Series (mostly because it was really cold), so I wanted to wait until I had a prime opportunity.


This would be my first time ever wearing these gloves.




They are really lightweight, which makes them a good, year-round glove for the most part. For as thin as they are, they have just the right amount of padding in the palms to make them comfortable. The grippy stuff on the fingers make it much easier to hold on to the grips and grab the brake levers.



The verdict? I really, really like them. In fact, I’ll go as far to say that they are the best gloves I’ve ever owned. Do you want some? Well, it looks like the new website still doesn’t have them listed. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m sure you can have your local shop order them for you if they are a dealer.

Next up is my seat.



Back when I picked up my new WTB Valcon, I wasn’t sure I would like it. After riding on it for a while though, I’m hooked. The wiener slot makes it very comfortable, and the seat fits my buttocks very well. My sit bones sit on the saddle in just the right place, making my rides more comfortable. That’s good, because I will be spending a lot of time in the saddle this year.

My ass will thank me later.

This ass thanks for you reading about my ass (and wiener slot.)

Finally, another piece to the puzzle that is Little Miss Sunshine’s new single speed has arrived.




Yes, it’s a box. Cardboard is the newest bike part material.


I kid. Actually it was this:





We went with the Cane Creek 110 headset because well, it’s the best headset you can get (and they're made right here in North Carolina.) Little Miss Sunshine wanted a red one, which is pretty easy to get. I like red. I guess she does too.

And the grand finale…

(drum roll please)

The frame has arrived:



The B-43 Worldwide Headquarters is now equipped with a dissent AL Singlespeed 29er frame from Misfit Psycles.

Now I can get to work and build this thing.

I should stock up on beer.

See y’all tomorrow.

It’s My Day

That’s cute, but 21 was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...


Even though I turned another year older today, I’m not taking the day off from the blog. I actually like writing this stuff every day, and that’s why I’m still here. That being said, I’ll make this one short and sweet. I don’t have a whole lot to talk about anyway.


I’m hoping to go for a birthday night mountain bike ride or something, but I’m not sure if I will. Usually we go out to dinner so I can partake in mass quantities of food and drink, but since this is a weeknight we’ll probably just do it tomorrow evening. I’m really not sure what Little Miss Sunshine and Lunchbox have planned for me, so I guess I’ll have to play it by ear.


I know you came here to be entertained, and I owe you at least that much. There’s no need for me to go on and on about how old I am or how many presents I think I might get, so I’ll give you something else. Here’s a video that I “borrowed” from my friends over at Cane Creek Cycling Components. It features their Double Barrel shock and some sweet riding in Western North Carolina.






If that’s not enough for you, then here are a couple of hillbilly fellers with their take on a classic 80’s song.





Yeah, I know you liked that. It gave me a good chuckle. See y’all tomorrow.

Top Secret Mission

When I left off Friday, I mentioned that I had something pretty important to do over the weekend. It wasn’t something that will change the world or anything, but it’s a little important in the world of bicycling. It all started on my way home from work on Friday, with a little trip to a furniture place:



IKEA, really? Yeah, I had to partake in a little shopping, which is not one of my favorite things to do (unless it’s for bike parts of course.) I generally don’t do well around crowds, so this was the toughest part of my “mission.” I looked around this giant warehouse of furniture with my list in hand, and I was lost in a matter of seconds.



Places like this drive me crazy, so I try to avoid them if at all possible. The store employees weren’t much help I might add, but maybe I wasn’t the friendliest person they had even spoken with either. I was on a mission in an unfamiliar place, so I wasn’t in the best of moods. I had to do it though, and eventually I found what I needed:



Yup, that’s it. I bought a couple of shelves and brackets. Why, you ask? Well, my good friends over at Cane Creek Cycling Components needed these for a display at an upcoming bicycle trade show. Since they are located in Fletcher, NC and I live near the closest IKEA to them, I was asked if I could do them a favor. Of course I didn’t mind, since they do so much for me. The plan was to drop off the shelves on Saturday afternoon, but I had something to do first. I wasn’t just playing delivery boy for the day.


With the drop-off point so close to some awesome trails in Western NC, Lunchbox and I decided that we would hit up DuPont State Forest first thing in the morning. It was a brilliant plan (if I do say so myself), since we would get to ride at our new favorite place. We arrived in the parking lot and got ready to ride:



We happened to bump into some local riders at the trailhead, which was quite a nice surprise. Local Tarheel Trailblazers Flyin’ Elvis and his wife were there, along with a couple that owns the Bent Creek Lodge in nearby Asheville. We joined them for a ride, although this time it would be a little different from our “usual” route. We hit the trail, and I was immediately reminded why I love riding there. After a little climbing and some super-fun downhill action, we arrived at a creek crossing. This time though, there were rocks for us to step on (instead of getting our feet wet.)



After that, there was more climbing. When we finally reached the top, we had the pleasure of riding down a long, fast section of sweet singletrack. I made it down before Lunchbox, so I had a chance to capture him coming down the trail at full speed:



More trail, and more fun. This was a totally different route so far, so I got to see some new stuff out there. We came to a clearing at a lake, and you could see some beautiful mountains in the background:



Guess what happened next? More climbing (well, after a short downhill section.) We climbed a long gravel fire road, which would get us to the top of the forest. When I got there, I saw a house that looked a little out of place (I didn’t know people lived there.) They had a scarecrow out front, which kept me from sampling some of the crops they had growing in the little garden there:



We were at the top, on what was called the “Airstrip.” Just as the name would imply, it was an old runway on the top of the mountain, but I hear that it’s not in use anymore. The climb was tough, but when we got there the view was worth it:



After stopping for a bit to enjoy the view, we hopped on the actual Airstrip Trail. It was a long, fast, crazy downhill, and it was the most fun I’ve had on a bike in a long time. I looked down at my bike computer at one point, and saw that I was reaching speeds of over 25 miles per hour. Wow, what a rush. When we got to the bottom, we ran into a group of folks that were taking a break before they climbed up the very same trail we just descended:



In the photo above you have some people from our riding group, but the guy in the IMBA jersey was an out-of-towner. He’s Tom, the director of SORBA. I had met him a while back in Charlotte, and our riding buddy Flyin’ Elvis apparently knows him well. We chatted for a bit, and then we went our separate ways. I felt sorry for them for having to climb up such a steep trail (that was probably way more fun going downhill.)


Since my trips to DuPont in the past have always involved seeing some waterfalls, I was hoping that we would get to see some this time too. My wish was granted when we took another trail back to one of my favorites, Bridal Veil Falls. Lunchbox was kind enough to pose for the obligatory “waterfall photo.”



We eventually made our way back to the trailhead, and we all parted ways. I had to complete my furniture delivering mission, so we met up with a representative of Cane Creek (name withheld to protect the innocent.) We made the drop at one of my favorite post-mountain-ride hangouts:



After my uh, “mission” was complete, we enjoyed some tasty Mexican cuisine (and of course I had a frosty beverage.)



Mission complete.

No Review Necessary, But I’m Sure I Will Anyway At Some Point

First off, I'd like to thank Dicky for showing up at the Wednesday night race and snapping a photo of me (and subsequently posting it on his blog.) It didn't turn out too bad, and it actually made me look like I knew what I was doing. We all know that's not the case, so his fancy new camera must be something special. Check it out:



Photo cred: Cap'n Dick, of course.


I guess my cries for fashion conformity were heard. A care package arrived da udda day from my good friends over at Cane Creek Cycling Components, and it contained the necessary spacers I needed to complete to transformation of my new bike.





Yeah, I had some spacers on there already, but they looked kind of weird. The composite InterLok spacers didn’t quite match the black anodized ones I had, and I am all about matching. I mean, who wants to ride around with mismatched headset spacers?





Replacing them would be an easy task, but of course I had to document it to make it take ten times longer. I removed the top cap and stem, and inserted my shiny new spacers (being careful to use the prescribed amount for my fork.) Just like that, I was back in business.


I guess I could have wiped off my fingerprints before I took the photo, but whatever.


Next up was another item I requested (man, I must be greedy.) I’ve had this itching lately to try some bar ends on my 29er to help me with climbing (I need all the help I can get), so I asked for a set of Cane Creek Ergo Control II Bar Ends. Since I’m basically trying to be a rolling advertising whore for those guys (kind of like NASCAR), I thought that my first foray into the world of bar ends should include them. Check it:





I’ve seen a few people around here using bar ends, but only one person using these particular ones. Back when I took my first visit to Cane Creek, I saw some of them being packaged, but I never thought twice about it. Now I’m thinking twice, and I’m also thinking nice (stupid pun, damn it.) These are compatible with any ODI–style lock-on grips, and it just so happens that my Lizard Skins grips are of the same variety.



Installation was a breeze, and again most of the time spent “installing” involved drinking beer and taking photos. All I had to do was remove the outer lock ring clamp and replace it with the bar end. Well, that and move everything over just a smidgeon to make room for said bar ends, but that was a small step. Again, success. After gulping down a hoppy brew, I took another photo (man this bogging stuff is hard.)



All nice and grippy, with little skinks to help keep my hands from slipping off.


Last (but not least), there was a surprise in my care package. Although I didn’t ask for them, I received a shiny new pair of grips, locking style emblazoned with you guessed it, the Cane Creek logo.






Yeah, these could have been used on The Big O to compliment the new bar ends, but I kind of like my red grips. I decided (with the help of Lunchbox) that these would work better on the new and improved Goose, so I got to work. Sorry Lizard Skins, but these grips would have to go for now:





As usual, this was a simple task made much more difficult by the consumption of beer and picture-taking. I simply removed the lock ring clamps from the old grips and placed them on the new grips. One more sip of beer, one more photo:





Man, I love getting new shit for my bikes. I think I like installing said new shit even better though, probably because it involves beer. Maybe I’ll come up with a clever review or something if I have time (or I run out of meaningful stuff to talk about.) HUGE thanks to Cane Creek for hooking me up, and putting up with a needy, semi-famous Internets blogger and pathetic mountain bike racer. My transformation to a rolling billboard is nearly complete.



Yeah, I know. I suck at this whole Photochopping thing.

UPDATE: The guy that we helped last week is doing well. He has recovered nicely thanks to the fine folks at the emergency room (and I guess those of us that helped on site to a lesser extent.) His bike was also hand-delivered by yours truly, so he can race again if he chooses to do so. Awesome news indeed.

Facing Forward

There is no reason to look backwards to my shitty race on Wednesday, so I’ll just look ahead. This weekend is shaping up to be a pretty good one. I would love nothing more than to immerse myself in the “bike scene” for the next two days, and it looks like I might get my wish. If I was wishing for a nice relaxing weekend though, then that one probably won’t come true.


If all goes well, I’ll be heading out to the U.S. National Whitewater Center after work today for some quality time on The Big O. I’m hoping to “ride ‘till I puke”, which just might be the case if the MadSS joins me there. Hooray! On second thought, maybe I’ll just take the mountain Uni out to Sherman for a different kind of fun. Either way, I’m in for some pain.



Tomorrow morning, we’re heading down to the Dilworth Criterium to watch a little roadie action. I know, I know, it’s roadie action, but it will be pretty cool. A criterium is a pretty neat thing to watch, since they do multiple laps on a short course. Plus, they haul ass, so that could make for some interesting crashes and close-calls. Check out the website for more info, and come on out too. I even heard that the good people from DeFeet International will be there. Come down and get some cool socks while you watch some super-fast roadie action. Damn, that sounded weird.


Sunday should be fun as well. It is the next scheduled Tarheel Trailblazers Kids Ride, but we’re changing it up a bit. This week’s ride was supposed to be at Sherman Branch, but we’ve decided to move it. There is already a club function at Fisher Farm park in Davidson, so we are combining the two. If the weather cooperates, then this will be a fun, fun time. Check out the website for more details, and come on out if you live around here.


I know, it’s not that exciting around here today, but deal with it. My weekend should be packed full of cycling goodness, the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time. In fact, from now on there will be plenty of bike stuff going on, and I couldn’t be happier. Don’t forget, the 6 Hour Grind On The Greenway is coming up next weekend too. Will I survive it all? Tune in to find out.


Before I get out of here, I thought I would let a little of my inner bike geek come out for a minute. I really dig all of the technical crap that goes along with bicycling, so I thought I would share a video with y’all. My buddy Jason from Cane Creek Cycling Components stars in a nice video presentation about Cane Creek headsets. Check it: