"Mountain Bike Racers" via BikeBlogCollection in Google Reader

Random Mountain Bike Tips and Tricks

2012-05-24T14:29:00Z

Wanna look like a pro out on the trail? Here are 9 tips and tricks for getting dialed this spring.

Tip #1: Line up the tire label with the valve – makes the valve easier to find.

Centering the valve stem with the tire logo(s) makes it easier to find the valve when you’re in a rush.

Tip #2: Friends don’t let friends ride with kickstands. They’re heavy, and dangerous.

Tip #3: I don’t care how cool you are, how long you’ve been riding, or how easy you’re taking it on your ‘recovery ride’ – wear a helmet, dummy.

Tip #4: QR Lever goes on the disc/non-drive side of the bike. Don’t ask why, it just does.

Quick release levers go on the disc-brake side of the bike. Thru-axle forks will only let you put them on the correct side.

Tip #5: Protect your spare tube – put it in a ziplock bag or an old sock to prevent your multitool from rubbing/poking a hole in the tube.

Tip #6: When photographing your bike, make sure the chain is in the big ring. It looks faster.

Proper bike photo. Chain is in the big ring, rim/tire labels are in the proper places.

Tip #7: Gorrila tape. Keep a small roll in your saddle bag/hydration pack, or wrap some around the frame or seatpost. It has many many uses: keeping a broken spoke from flopping around, booting a slashed tire sidewall, or even taping up a broken finger. Gorilla tape is stronger than duct tape, so don’t substitute.

I keep some gorilla tape wrapped around my seatpost. If you’re clever, you can place it so it’s hidden by the saddle bag’s strap. If you’re lazy/in a hurry like me, just put it anywhere.

Tip #8: Fenders. Get some. They’re cheap, light, easy to install and remove, and work really well. Combined with waterproof shoes or shoe covers, they turn your bike into an all-weather adventure machine. Stay off the trails when they’re wet, but ride paved and gravel roads to your heart’s content in the rain without getting mud in your eyes or spray up your crack.

All set up for a long ride in the rain. Note the improper gear selection for photographing however.

Tip #9: Sunglasses go UNDER your helmet straps, that way you can take your helmet off while wearing the glasses. The roadies will tell you they go outside the straps, but, that’s stupid.

Photo: element22

Which tips and tricks would you add to this list?

5 Year Plan

2012-05-24T14:00:08Z

Bike riding has become integrated into my daily routine. It’s a part of my life. It wasn’t always that way, but it is now. And I don’t ever foresee a time when spinning pedals isn’t a regular occurrence. Jobs have changed, priorities have shifted, but riding a bicycle has remained a constant. I hope it always will. However, within that sphere of pedals and wheels, changes have, and continue, to occur. I’ve ridden a bike for utilitarian reasons. I’ve used a bike to explore. I’ve raced cross-country, cyclocross, and endurance events. I’ve dabbled in bikepacking*. At times I ask myself, “what’s next?”

*And I plan to do more!

I have no idea. Except that riding itself is a progressive, evolutionary act. I’m a better rider than I was a few years ago. And, despite my permanent place in the middle of the pack, the inherent physical (and mental) benefits are accruing, laying a foundation for a future of healthy living. That is, riding, and racing, encourages a more sustainable lifestyle, whose dividends are an untold positivity. The investments I’m making now—the training, racing, lifestyle choices—could prove far more valuable when I’m 75 years old than any 401k or stock options ever will.

But what about right now? Or next year? Or the next 5 years**?

**If it were not for this blog, I’d have no idea what I did 5 years ago.

Recently, a co-worker asked me about my 5-year plan. “My what?”

“What do you want to be doing in 5 years?”

“Uh…”

A list of bike and ski irrelevancies flashed through mind: the Colorado Trail Race, the Breck Epic, the Coconino 250, the southwest face of Timpanogos, Superior…

I pushed those thoughts away long enough to act focused.

“Honestly, I have never thought that far ahead.”

I really hadn’t. Ever. And I still haven’t. At least, I haven’t in any specific, presentable form. There is no PowerPoint presentation on my desktop called “The Next 5 Years: The Future of Grizzly Adam.” When I do think about the future, the thoughts are abstract, obscure, and clouded. I do know that I want to write more. I’d like to climb a few more mountains. I want to show my kids the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and more of Zion. I want to stretch my bike riding habit to its logical conclusion. What is that conclusion?

How should I know?

Actually, I hope there never is a conclusion. Not to bike riding, and not to adventures, bike races, and the desire to try new and interesting things.

I want to ride a bicycle forever.

It is a profound bit of symbolism that a bicycle can’t be ridden backwards. One can only go forward on a bike. Onward. Ahead.

Forward propulsion leads to mental, spiritual, and emotional progress. Pedaling a bike forces us to connect with our bodies and our minds. We learn to appreciate the sublimity of human strength, the acuity of gravity, and the conspicuous beauty of the world around us. Not only the beauty of the mountains and the sky, but the small things as well; flowers, rocks, dirt. We learn to slow down, even while becoming faster and more efficient riders. We are not so hurried, and the day’s urgencies fade into the background, forgotten for short, but wonderful moments of clean, circular happiness.

I don’t know what I will be doing in 5 years, and frankly, I don’t care. So long as a bike is still involved, then whatever it is I spend my days doing won’t really matter. As long I have the bike to keep me sane, healthy, and forward-focused, I will be happy. In other words, in 5 years, I hope I’m doing most of the same things I am doing today. Riding. Writing. And having the time of my life trying to improve at each.

Trail Dog

2012-05-24T08:22:00Z

Churchill is turning out to be a very worthy riding buddy. We're working on lengthening the time on the trail. Yesterday we were out for a little more than an hour.

A swim in the swamp helped cool him down and rejuvenate him for the rest of the ride. He is a water dog. Finishing the ride we crossed one of the longer bridges over a stinky dirty swamp - instead of running the trestles he opted for the water crossing. Ewww, he was so gross and smelly afterward . . . . it was pretty funny and now my car is funky for all the wrong reasons.

Leatt DBX Pro Neck Brace Review

2012-05-23T12:58:25Z

There is nothing scarier than hearing about all the injuries that have been happening lately when people really send it. Having progressed through different styles of mountain biking and finding I love gravity riding, I have also had more than my share of near misses. Having broken both my clavicles (separate crashes), torn my right ankle, broken both my wrists, and chipped a fragment off my left ankle, I have also encountered many a near miss with head injuries.

Not wanting to tempt fate any more, I decided to get some heavy-duty protection. One major upgrade to my gear was a new set of leg braces from FOX called the POD. But the other, and even more important, piece of equipment is a Leatt Brace.

So why is the Leatt so important? Well for one thing the Leatt brace represents a piece of technology that’s geared directly toward the rider’s safety in every way. With 360° of protection around the neck, it reduces the chances of whiplash and also prevents the following conditions:

Hyperflexion: extreme forward head movement (displaces vertebrae and can snap the spinal cord)
Hyperextension: extreme rearward head movement (can also damage or snap the spinal cord)
Lateral Hyperflexion: extreme sideways head movement (can twist or snap the spinal cord)
Axial Loading: compression of the spinal column due to a powerful vertical force on the helmet
Posterior Hypertranslation: rearward movement of the head and helmet on the neck

Designed in 2001 by neurosurgeon Dr. Chris Leatt after witnessing the death of a motorcyclist from a severe neck injury, the Leatt Brace went through three years of R&D and testing to maximize its protective abilities and comfort without hindering range of motion or peripheral vision. In 2004, after giving up his medical career to focus on the brace, Dr. Leatt devoted an additional two years to bringing his invention to the marketplace.

Specs

The latest rendition of the Leatt Brace is the DBX Pro, which I decided to run–not because I am a Pro, but because I decided on the simpler, lighter version over the DBX Comp, which has a few extra adjustments that I decided I could do without. The Pro model is all-carbon and comes in at a scant 650 grams.

On the Pro you get cool-looking red anodized CNC-sprung hinges on both sides of the brace–perfect for either left or right-handed riders. Cleverly placed vent ports also act as stations to hold the padding, making for a velcro-free replaceable pad (no need to worry about the velcro wearing out any more).

In the box you also get a high-quality bag to carry the Leatt, as well as a tool kit and extra spare clips that allow you to tune the brace to fit you perfectly.

The picture below basically shows a breakdown of all the parts on a Leatt Pro. With only 7 major parts, it is easy to service, replace parts, and clean (when needed). The pads come out easy enough once you get the hang of it, and as mentioned above they don’t lose their ability to hold in place after repeated attempts at setting up and tuning.

Speaking of tuning, the thoracic member is adjustable as well, along with the spacing pins. I ended up using the middle-size set of spacing pins, and the stock positioning on the thoracic member for proper support. For added security, I am also using the additional harness to keep things in place.

Out on the Trail

I didn’t need to make many adjustments to get used to the Leatt Pro. Other than one or two times when I had to fumble around with the double “D” rings on one of my lids, the Leatt barely felt like it was on–a true testament to its great design.

Not even the plate in my right clavicle came into contact with the brace, which confirms the brace is designed to avoid contacting the clavicles. This is very important as the clavicle is one of the most sensitive bones in the body and the easiest to break.

The jump right after the photo above saw me eating dirt–hard enough that I was out for a few weeks with a bruised quad and shoulder. I landed hard and had my bike toss me off and into some trees, basically head first but sideways, causing me to flex sideways along my leg, then strike the ground with the head. Pain in the leg… yes. Pain in the neck… no.

So do I think the Leatt Pro works as advertised and is worth the investment? I would have to say yes.

I am not one to shy away from devices that make your ride safer. In fact, having come from a motorsports background when you never know what could happen, I was always concerned about safety, so this fits right in. Is the Leatt Pro worth the $699 price tag? Well, if it saves you from a life in a chair or a lengthy time in a hospital, you tell me.

Now if $699 is too spendy and you still want protection, then check out the DBX Comp III for $399 or the Ride II for $299. Both work as well as the DBX Pro but are a bit heavier and are made of different materials.

Overall, a person who rides gravity should really consider spending their dollars on a device such as this one. In fact, many of the manufacturers today are making provisions on their cheek protectors and pressure suits to accommodate the Leatt. It seems they have seen the benefits of the Leatt in action as well.

I would like to thank the folks at Leatt for sending down the DBX Pro for a review. Check out Leatt’s website for more information.

Four ride weekend (photo dump)

2012-05-22T12:57:00Z

God save the queen . . . being part of the Empire (not to be associated with THE Empire) ain't a bad thing. Victoria Day weekend was a beauty this year!

Only photo I took from Friday's SMH ride with Scott, Mark, John B., and King - a flat. Exciting stuff.

Saturday's ride with Brian and Jason. Check out those panty lines! Is that a really wide thong Jason is wearing or Depends undergarment for being incontinent? He did wet himself once during the ride.

Tower on top of Fortune. I was the middle man - Brian was ahead of me on the climbs, Jason behind. Perfect scenario for not having to try.

Camp Fortune Ski Hill - trails were in great shape and work had been done on them.

Brian

Depends Undergarment Man

Sunday was a 2 hr city tour with wifey and The Peanut in tow.

I think this is the only stretch that wasn't littered with walkers and runners who took two lanes. Even with a 9 AM start the pathways were chock-a-blocked.

Lots of baby geese out.

Rolling through Experimental Farm - here they grow two headed cows and tomaccos.

A Sunday ride would be a waste without coffee and cookies. The Peanut loves her chochy-chip cookies.

Sunday afternoon was spent taking a dip in King's newly aquired pool. It was nirvana escaping the heat minus the wee penis.

The Peanut working on her doggy paddle.

Holiday Monday morning was spent knocking out a reverse loop of Fortune. John B. all fuzzed out.

King draped over the handlebars like wet laundry riding up a particularly steep pitch on Fanny.

Matt's dog Chance chased.

The Alps are calling me, must be time to race :)

2012-05-22T15:58:00Z

It’s Supposed to Be Fun

2012-05-22T14:00:40Z

Image: David Stoker

The group splintered immediately. The stout, steep climb broke us apart like waves on breakwater. Those with the legs, rode away up the hill. The rest of us labored painfully over the top. I was dizzy. My breathing was deliberate and forced. My legs were screaming. “Why do I feel so sluggish?” I wondered if my brakes were rubbing, or if one of my tires was slowly going flat. No, the brakes were fine. And so were the tires. The sluggish, heavy feeling originated in my legs.

The climbing ended. I breathed deeply as the dizzy blur faded into clarity and focus. My legs started to feel better, lighter. I stood up and chased. Slowly riders started to grow closer. I passed one, and then another. And then a few more. But the lead group was gone. Gone forever. I glanced behind me. Nobody. Ahead? Nobody. I was, once again, in no-man’s land.

The race course at Soldier Hollow, Utah is really two courses in one. The lower half is fast, wide, and requires constant pedaling. The upper half is singletrack, and is a more traditional mountain bike experience: switchbacks, rocks, and no room for error. The sum of the parts is a unique course, part cyclocross, part mountain bike. The long sections of relatively flat terrain are interrupted by short and abrupt climbs that sear the legs and explode the lungs. They are not hills, so much as they are walls. Any easement in the pedaling, and the train of riders behind will charge by with sudden authority. It’s a course that requires one to go, and to go hard.

There is no place to hide.

And so, I went. Until I couldn’t anymore.

Being caught in no-man’s land was an undesirable predicament. With nobody visible ahead, there was nobody to chase. And with nobody chasing, there was nobody to run from. Complacency, and a false sense of speed, lulled me into a trance. Until the 40s, who had started a couple minutes back, started blowing by me. From top to bottom, the Expert 40s are the fastest (non-pro) group on the local circuit. That fact gives me hope. Who knew that mountain bikers get better with age?

One by one they came by, and one by one, I latched on for a tow. Grabbing the faster wheels forced me to dig a little deeper, and ride a little harder. I remained in categorical no-man’s land, but found a game of cat-and-mouse nonetheless. And in the end, progress. A little, anyway.

The next day, I brooded over my result. “How long am I going to bother with this eternal treadmill?” I wondered. “I won’t win many, or any, races. I won’t ever be as light or lean as the traditional cyclist. But I can be better, right?” But how much better? And to what end?

To what end? It’s a question that I ask all too often. Indeed, it’s a poisonous question. A way of quitting something before ever trying at all. It’s a question that breeds indifference, apathy, and destruction. To what end? Who cares! The results of anything we do—bike race, or otherwise—can’t be controlled, or pre-determined. There is no way to know with certainty if the latest campaign at work will succeed, or if anyone will read your book, or if you will win the next race. The variables are infinite, and the metrics of success, indefinite.

Later, I realized once again, that worrying about results, and that being disappointed with them, is futile and pointless. I raced hard. I did my best. And I am happy about the effort. I am encouraged and optimistic at the incremental improvements that are slowly, but unmistakably, manifesting themselves. And best of all, I had fun. A lot of fun. Racing bikes is supposed to be enjoyable. Why that is, or how that is, I will never understand. But pushing our bodies and minds beyond the limits of reason is delightful.

And, if there is an end, then that is it. Fun. Joy. Bliss.

Immediately after the race, riders were clustered together swapping stories and doling out praise to one another.

“Great race!”

“Nice move on that switchback at the top.”

“That attack was brutal, you blew my doors off!”

“Way to close the deal.”

There were high-fives and claps on the back. Hand shakes, and half-hugs. They were all handed out evenly, regardless of finishing times or placement. Everyone understood that everyone else had suffered, dug, and pedaled just as much as they possibly could. We were, at that moment, equal.

I love racing my bike. I love the joy and the pain. I love the people. I love the irrational justification.

But most of all, I love the riding.

We mountain bike racers are like children. We play in the dirt. We go fast. And we ignore reason.

In other words, we have fun. A lot of fun.

Image: David Stoker

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Mountain Biking Durango, Colorado: Phil’s World and Telegraph Trails

2012-05-22T13:11:04Z

The western half of Colorado has more to offer in the way of mountain bike trails than just Grand Junction and Fruita. Further south, in and around Durango, there are several great networks of smooth flowing singletrack. For a long weekend in May there’s nothing better than heading south and exploring some new trails.

This year we made our first stop at Phil’s World in Cortez, Colorado. This gave us an excuse to travel down over Lizard Head Pass instead of the ever-terrifying Red Mountain Pass (aka the Million Dollar Highway). Unlike other bike areas, Phil’s World is on private land and there is a recommended donation of $3 per person. It’s worth it.

Head across the doubletrack from the parking lot to enter Phil’s World and begin your ride.

The trails here are meant to be ridden clockwise. Don’t deviate from this or you’ll probably end up in a head-on collision. The longest ride possible at Phil’s World is 28 miles. If you want to do that, just keep turning left at all signed intersections.

There is a lot of sweet, smooth, flowing single track to be had here.

Trails like “Elbow” are marked with a skull and crossbones and have some slightly technical spots.

Every major intersection includes a laminated map. When you are approaching intersections there are bright yellow “caution” signs. Each trail is marked with a great sign like this:

This is the cushiest bike park ever. Maps, wood-carved signs, and single track…

A note about the “Pass on Ribs” trail: At this intersection you can turn left and head up a trail called “Abajo” which will take you to “Ribs.” Ribs is like riding the Scream Machine at Six Flags over Georgia on your bike. The whoop-de-whoos will make you do this: omigosh omigosh omigosh don’t brake don’t brake don’t brake! Followed by: Whaaaaaahoooooooooo! Wheeee! Whooooooo!

Still, some sections are steep and could be intimidating for beginners and early intermediate riders. If this might be an issue for you or your fellow riders, then take the “Pass on Ribs” trail and save “Ribs” for next time.

Our last few trails of the day, “Abajo,” “Ribs,” and “Here for More” led us to awesome vistas.

Sleeping Ute mountain (on the right) watches over Cortez, Colorado

We bombed down the final hills and back to the car for an aprés bike libation. What a great way to start the weekend!

Heading towards the end of our ride at Phil’s World

We left Cortez and drove the 45 miles to Durango to camp at Junction Creek campground. We’ve stayed here before and really enjoy it in the early season. This was actually the first weekend (May 4) that they were open this year. The “D” loop is best for tents but some of the C and E loop sites have tent pads as well.

Saturday we headed south on Hwy 160 to the last trailhead of the Telegraph Trails in Durango. The “Salebarn” and “Big Canyon” trailheads are located on a frontage road behind the Home Depot. You’ll turn left at the red light right near Wal-Mart and once you turn you’ll see the Ford Dealership almost right in front of you. Bear right. You’ll head down a frontage road and you’ll see a dirt road leading straight up a hill ahead. Go up the hill and you’ll see the sign for Salebarn. I recommend starting here and ending at the Big Canyon trailhead which comes out just behind the Ford Dealership.

Sale Barn trailhead – part of the Telegraph Trail System in Durango, Colorado

Big Canyon trailhead behind the Ford Dealership. Exit here, bear left, and ride back down the frontage road to your car. This is a much better trail to bomb down than to go up.

Like the trails at Phil’s World, the Telegraph Trails are well-marked with maps. We like to go up Sale Barn to the Cowboy trail and ride it just past the junction with the Big Canyon trail. At the next “triangle” we turn right and head up to a double track.

It’s so crowded out here on Saturdays.

We ride this up, up, up until we eventually intersect with the Sidewinder trail. From here we bomb down Sidewinder and Big Canyon with almost no pedaling!

An example of the awesome maps offered at the Telegraph Trails.

Smooth singletrack on the Telegraph Trails

We left the Telegraph trails and headed straight down the frontage road towards town to the HomeSlice Pizza place located at the corner of College and 4th by the gas station. You need to go there. Really.

On the last day, we headed to the Horse Gulch side of the Telegraph Trails. Head south on 8th street and, just before the Sonic, turn left. There is a solar business here. If you get to the Sonic, just turn around and take the first right. You’ll see a gravel/dirt road and random parking ahead.

Ride up the double track for about 10 minutes. It’s not too much of a grind. You’ll come to the very obvious start of the Horse Gulch section of the Telegraph Trails.

Looking out towards the Horse Gulch area; just to the left are several benches and a map of the area.

The rides here are shorter than the other side, but you can do laps or make a loop as strenuous as you like. We like to head up the Telegraph trail until it intersects with the Meadows trail. We take this to Stacy’s Loop, ride Stacy’s to the first Cuchillo intersection and then ride up one side of Cuchillo and down the other. That takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. Stacy’s has some climbing, but it’s all ridable and fun! The switchbacks going up are smooth and well-banked.

If you’re looking for something even more strenuous, head up Mike’s trail. This climbs higher than Stacy’s and contains many many more switchbacks.

The Horse Gulch trails tend to stay lower in the valley than the Sale Barn trails.

The flowers are pretty. No vegetation was harmed in the taking of this photo.

If you really want an epic ride, you can ride the Telegraph trail up and over the ridge and drop down into the Big Canyon/Sale Barn area, ride there, cross BACK over the ridge and come down the Anasazi Decent. I’ve never done it, but I’m sure others have!

Of course, once you reach the trailhead again, you get to bomb back down the doubletrack to your car.

If you’re tired of pizza (like that ever happens) check out Serious Texas BBQ and get the Serious Texas Taco. You’ll crave them for the rest of your life.

Durango has a great, fun, well-maintained trail system. The next time you’re in the area, head out and show those trails some love.

needed the 3 days

2012-05-22T07:11:00Z

Busy weekend, lucky there was an extra day otherwise I wouldn't have gotten eveything in. Awesome road ride with my sister Saturday morning who was sporting the fastest bike on the thebig chute loop that day. I will be a little concerned when her fitness increases, most should be. Followed up with some window stripping and painting. This old house likes to beat me up but gives huge rewards. Found myself with some of the crew from Total sports Sunday touring the Canada cup course, rocked the 29er, still torn. Back at the house again in the afternoon followed by beer and great friends on the back deck. Monday had me on the bike at 7am, done by 9 and tearing apart my sunroom. It was supposed to rain, it didn't, new stone and pine floor laid. It was hot, it looks awesome, body is sore, easy ride and recovery tonight. to busy to fix this paragraph problem, maybe tonight.

Mountain Bike Spring Cleaning, Part 2: Drivetrain, Pivots, and Brake Maintenance

2012-05-21T13:24:11Z

This is a continuation of our series on spring bike maintenance. Click here to read Part 1: Washing, Fork Maintenance, and More.

Drivetrain Maintenance

After cleaning your bike and maintaining your fork, it’s time to tackle the drivetrain, frame pivots, and brakes.

Carefully remove the crank arms. Most cranks are self-extracting using an 8mm Allen key. Older models (square taper) may require a crank arm puller. Whichever model you have, remove the arm and get ready to check the condition of the bottom bracket bearings and cups.

Once the arms are off you have a better view of the bottom bracket and the bearing condition. If the bearing looks rusty or feels crunchy, it’s time to start up a list of replacement parts, and bottom bracket bearings or a complete cartridge may just be the first on the list.

Remove the bottom bracket using proper tools (depending on which bottom bracket you have) such as the Park BBT#19 used on this bike. Once that is off you can clean up the threads and individually check each bearing for lube and condition.

Not all bottom brackets let you access the races, but some will allow you to carefully pry a dust shield off. If that is the case, cleaning it up with solvent and re-greasing could be an inexpensive alternative to complete replacement. When reinstalling the bottom bracket or bottom bracket cups, clean then lube the cups to prevent them from galling or seizing up in the future.

The key here, besides adding the correct spacer(s), is to carefully align the cups to prevent cross threading when installing, and to ensure you do not over torque them (follow the manufacturer’s recommendations).

I hold off on the installation of the cranks until I finish the rest of the frame work.

Frame Maintenance

While the frame is nearly naked with just the bottom bracket in place, I can work on the rest of the frame with unrestricted access to the pivots.

Remove the rear derailleur (without disturbing any of the settings) and brake, so that the rear triangle has nothing attached to it.

On this Yeti 303 we had to inspect all the bearings. Start by removing the rear triangle from the frame. With the triangle off you can now feel for any grinding or roughness in the main pivot.

Since this is a downhill bike and has been ridden hard in both dusty and muddy conditions, I knew it was necessary to check individual bearings and links. So starting at the top and cleaning things as I went, I worked my way down and started to remove the rest of the linkages and the rear shock.

With each link removed, check individual bearings by spinning them and feeling the smoothness (or lack thereof). I use a small pick and pry the dust shields off to visually check for contamination. Then I add a high-quality grease by injecting it into each bearing, and seal it up again. After each pivot I re-torque it to factory spec.

Apply a side load to check for play (no play and you’re good; if there is play then you need to replace bearings).

In the event that one or two bearings are beyond your help, start a list of what is bad, call up your local LBS (or manufacturer), and get price quotes on new bearings. Replacing a bearing takes specialized pullers, which is a bit beyond this article. It’s best to leave that to the experts.

After all the bearings were done, we inspected the 303′s slider arrangement for wear and play.

After a cleaning and some fresh grease we’re ready to re-install the rear shock. Before the shock is bolted down, check the DU bushing and hardware for wear. If there is any, now is the time to get it replaced.

Torque down the shock and install the rear derailleur, but not the cables or rear brakes.

Brake Maintenance

First, find the plastic hardware that came with your brakes (the pad spreaders that most people throw away). With the pads still on the brake, cycle the brakes a few times to check for operation. Note the amount that each piston in your caliper moves with each stroke. Both sides of pistons should move the same distance per stroke of the lever (approximately 1.5mm). If for some reason there is uneven movement you need to cycle each piston to free itself.

Start off by removing the brake pads and then cleaning the caliper with bike wash, removing any trace of dust and debris. I then (with the aid of a friend) cycle the brake lever while holding back one side of the caliper with a wide screw driver (be careful not to cycle too much as to push the piston right out of the caliper). Then push the extended piston back into the caliper body. Do this to each piston, until the pistons moves equally and freely. The purpose of this whole task is to lube the seals of the piston. This is one of the most essential service tasks a rider can do to his bike to ensure good braking. After talking with many people from Avid, Hayes, and Formula, they all agree that this is something that people forget to do.

Once the calipers are free, install a new set of pads. In the example here we inspected the pads, which had a bit more than 1mm left on them, so we cleaned them up with 400grt sand paper and tossed them back on (a few more runs are expected from these, but not a whole season). Having the calipers removed with the adapter makes for an easy installation when we are ready to replace the bar.

The key difference with Shimano brakes is the use of Shimano’s brake fluid, which is NOT compatible with other brands. Shimano uses mineral oil in their systems.To bleed the brakes on this bike, it is best to first move the levers on the bar so they are parallel with the ground, then remove the reservoir caps with a Phillips screwdriver. Now remove all the oil in the reservoir.

Prepare a second syringe with fresh brake fluid and bleed the brakes, as described in this article. What you’re doing here is basically a reverse bleed which pushes the fluid from the caliper body into the lever reservoir. Once the reservoir is full again, suck out that old stuff, and top it off with new fluid.

Close the bleed port at the caliper, slowly cycle the brake lever, and check the feel of the brakes. You should have a solid feel to the lever. If not, reopen the caliper port and push a bit more fluid through, this time tapping the brake line to ensure that no air bubbles cling inside the brake hose. Close the port off and check again.

Once you’re happy with the brake feel, ensure the reservoir is full and then install the top cap again. Wipe off the brake levers and you’re good. This extra work on the brakes and making sure everything is fresh is essential for good brake operation and modulation.

(See our comprehensive disc brake service article for more info.)

Stay tuned for Part 3: Headset Maintenance, Component Reinstallation, and Final Details.

Cinema Sunday: “Trials Riding on Killer rocks in Moab – Jeremy VanSchoonhoven”

2012-05-20T12:00:19Z

I love watching videos of urban trails riding, because really, who can’t help but love Danny Macaskill? But personally, I think trials really reaches its ultimate application when it is done in a natural setting. When I’m out on the trail, these are the skills that I wish I had in my possession to really turn the world into my own personal playground.

Since most of us are not nearly this gifted on a mountain bike, I guess we will all just have to enjoy this video of Jeremy VanSchoonhover turning the boulders and cliffs of Moab into his own unique interpretation of a mountain bike trail:

Turbo Training

2012-05-19T17:13:00Z

On Friday the Doctor at the hospital said I would be fine to turbo train so Jenn helped me set it up. The turbo specific tyre seemed hardwork to get on so I hope it was worth the effort. The turbo belongs to Ali's dad and he has kindly leant it to me. We have borrowed it once before when Ali was injured but my one attempt at using it I found myself freewheeling. But after over a week of no exercise I am climbing the walls.

First thing was to get bike clothes on and then I tried using Garmin Training Centre to send a training programme to my Garmin. It worked telling me what to do. It was very basic, warm-up for 10mins, work harder for 5mins, recover for 5mins (repeat another two times) cool down. I had my sling on and was sat up which isn't the comfiest and I did get nice and hot but it was good to spin the legs.

I don't think there can be anything too hard just yet as I don't want to be moving my collarbone but I can at least do a bit of cycling on it and I could hear the tv over it (think the turbo specific tyre helps with that)

Week in Review: Mountain Bike PODs

2012-05-19T12:52:57Z

We have a fantastic batch of PODs this week, with an amazing showing from the mountains of Idaho! Be sure to drop us a comment and let us know which one you like the most!

Also, several commentators have noted that we seem to regularly feature photos from the same photographers. We do this because those photographers are constantly shooting and submitting photos–and the ones that they submit are generally exceptional! I’d like to thank all of our regular photographers for all of their hard work–keep it up guys!

If you’d like to see a more diverse set of photographers featured, you need to do two things:

1) Start taking photos that outshine the ones below.

2) Upload them to Singletracks.com!

It’s that easy! (Or is it? ) Now head on out, start shooting, and start uploading!

Cheers!

Titan Desert race, Morocco. Photo: Titan Desert.

“Ridgeline singletrack high above Champery” Trail: Champery Via The Col Du Cou, France. Photo: Sian_Hughes.

“Selfless volunteers doing trail improvements during the 2012 Disco Hill Trail Day.” Trail: Discovery Hill, Salmon, Idaho. Photo: chukt.

Lago della Caccavella, Italy. Photo: Sergio Barboni.

“Loading up for a Sage Creek shuttle. Tons of shuttles end up at North Fork. Stop in to the store and ask the boys for Beta.” Idaho. Photo: chukt.

Titan Desert race, Morocco. Photo: Titan Desert.

“Looks like hunting season has started. Shuttle Hunting Season that is. North Fork, Idaho.” Photo: chukt.

An Update

2012-05-18T15:53:00Z

Back at the hospital today to basically be told there's no change, but that is good as the bones haven't moved. They still think it will heal well and I've been told I can try a turbo, as long as my arm is still in its sling. But its basically wait and do nothing. I'm very bored without cycling and work.

Dakine Girls’ Amp 8L Hydration Pack Review

2012-05-18T13:08:42Z

Hydration packs must be catching on because just about every accessory company has added them to their product lines, and women’s specific models are starting to become more common.

Dakine is no exception and they have added a number of models to their line-up of packs. This review is for the Girls Amp 8L pack.

Since I’m obviously not a girl, I had my daughter test this out for me. However I’m the one who fills and packs everything, so I got a good perspective on that aspect of things.

The Dakine Girls’ Amp hydration packs employ the same basic design as the men’s version, but are sized to fit a girl’s (usually) shorter torso and narrower shoulders. My daughter is 5′ tall and the pack fits her well, albeit with the shoulder straps cinched all the way down. This model ships with a waist belt, but she does not like to use one and fortunately a quick pull of two velcro tabs allows easy removal. The shoulder straps are wide enough to sit comfortably without twisting or digging in, and the back panel is perhaps the best I have ever seen. Even on 80° days, she had no sweat issues with it.

The pockets and cargo area are simple and well thought out. Starting at the top there is a fleece-lined pocket perfect for sunglasses, a GPS, a smartphone, or an MP3 player (just not all at the same time.) Next is a smallish quick access pocket suitable for keys, a CO2 inflator, and other small items. The main pocket unzips all the way around for wide-open access. There is an elasticized pocket that holds the water bladder, a dedicated tire pump sleeve, and several mesh organizer panels for stashing a spare tube, snacks, maps, etc. Across the bottom of the pack there is a a dual access outside pocket that works for quickly stowing empty snack wrappers, arm warmers, or even a light jacket. I was initially dubious about how much it would hold, as it’s fairly tight, but it works surprisingly well for the above mentioned items.

I have to admit that the the hydration system threw me for a loop initially. I guess I’m just so accustomed to the ridiculously simple operation of that other hydration pack. The 70oz bladder is the type with a fold-over top and plastic slider. This style is great for fast fill-ups from pretty much any water source, and it is easy to dump ice into. The slider closes securely and we experienced no leaks from it. The hose is detachable and the valve sports an on/off rotating ring. For drinking, the valve actuates easily and has a very good amount of water flow. However, due to this feature you MUST turn the valve to ‘off’ before stowing the pack or you may arrive at the trailhead with an empty water bladder and a wet car.

Even though the lining sports a girly flower motif, it isn’t all roses with this pack. I already mentioned the ease of valve actuation leading to leaking if a another item ends up on top of it. Another issue is that the water has a very noticeable plastic taste. This doesn’t bother me, and I assume it will fade after several uses, but this may be a show stopper for some people. Overall the hydration system functions as advertised, but in my opinion it could be a little bit simpler to operate. In reality though, these are nit-picky details, and the pack works pretty well, all things considered.

Bottom line: This pack is perfect for after work rides or short weekend excursions. The 70oz bladder is plenty, and the pack easily holds the essentials for non-epic trips. The size and fit are very good, even for shorter women, and the vented back panel is excellent. In addition to mountain biking, with the waist belt in place, this pack works just as well for hiking or skiing/boarding. Assuming the plastic taste abates over time, or if that doesn’t bother you, then this is a great little pack. Oddly enough, it’s not listed on Dakine’s site, but an internet search shows it available from $44 – $60 at a variety of online retailers.

Thanks to folks at Dakine for sending over this pack for review.

Pedal. Vomit. Pedal.

2012-05-17T17:34:41Z

Pedal

Pedal Pedal Pedal

Pedal Pedal Pedal Pedal Pedal

Pedal Pedal Pedal Pedal Pedal Pedal

Pedal Pedal Peal Pedal Ped—Vomit

Coast

Coast Coast Coast

Breathe Breathe Breathe

Breeeeeaaaaatthe

Breathe

Coast

Pedal

Emergency Prep for Mountain Biking

2012-05-17T13:56:09Z

Mountain bikers often take for granted the fact that we’ll return safe and sane from our jaunts into the backcountry—even those that take us twenty miles or more from the nearest town or main road. I think we get this false sense of security from the fact that long distances can easily be covered on a bike in a matter of a few hours, as opposed to hiking or backpacking where the time involved reinforces the reality of the seclusion and distance from help should some unforeseen event occur. The truth is, the further you get from your car, a road or a town, the greater the likelihood you’ll end up spending the night in the woods if a serious injury or breakdown occurs. Traveling with the appropriate gear, however, greatly reduces not only the discomfort and danger inherent in an unplanned-for night in the woods, but also the chances of that ever happening in the first place.

There are, of course, vastly divergent philosophies regarding just how prepared for the unforeseen one should be when venturing into the wilds. When I go mountain biking, I tend to be well prepared. My level of preparedness is directly proportional to the distance from civilization I will be, as well as the likelihood of encountering low overnight temperatures and/or precipitation. Wet and cold conditions can lead to hypothermia, and hypothermia is the greatest real danger one faces in a temperate zone wilderness.

My checklist of emergency equipment and supplies includes:

A warm fleece sweater and beanie
A water-proof, packable jacket and pants
Bicycle repair kit
Emergency kit
First-aid kit
Map & compass
Extra food
Water filter/pump
Headlamp

On a short trip near town in the summertime, I might only take a patch kit & tire pump. For a longer ride in the winter, I take everything on the list.

In addition to the gear I pack with me, I carefully consider what kind of clothing I wear when I go. There’s a saying among hikers and mountaineers: “Cotton kills!” Cotton, although very comfortable, is one of the hardest fabrics to dry out once it gets wet. As noted above, hypothermia is hands down the greatest threat to one’s safety in the wilderness of the temperate zones; that includes most of the continental United States. The last thing you want when the sun is going down and the temperature is dropping is to find yourself wearing wet cotton clothing. Fortunately for us, there is now a wide variety of comfortable, fast-drying, moisture-wicking fabrics available at prices to fit almost any budget.

One of the items on the list above that few mountain bikers carry is a water filter/pump. Next to hypothermia, dehydration is probably the second greatest threat to a person stuck in the wilderness. In a true emergency, if I had no alternative, I would drink water from nearly any source. Barring such circumstances, however, I’ll never again take so much as a sip from the clearest mountain stream. Several years ago I became violently ill from drinking what appeared to be clean, fresh water. The truth is that even the most pristine looking creek may be contaminated upstream with an animal carcass, feces, or other pollutant. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the two leading illness-inducing microorganisms present in the water supplies of the US and Canada. Fortunately, these are easily removed from drinking water using any of the readily available filter/pumps on the market.

In terms of preparedness there is no substitute for knowing what to do in case of an emergency. All the gear in the world won’t help you unless you know how to use it properly. Before travelling any significant distance from help in the wilderness, educate yourself on emergency and survival techniques.

Undoubtedly there are people out there reading this who think all this preparedness is overkill. I am the first to admit that I have seldom had to use the emergency gear I pack with me on my outings, and that it is somewhat of a burden to lug it around with me. However, the times I have had to use my water filter, or put on my water-proof layer due to an unexpected downpour have made it all worthwhile. Besides, 10 million Boy Scouts couldn’t possibly be wrong every time they recite their motto: “Be prepared.” Could they?

Just checking things out

2012-05-17T07:13:00Z

Still can't sort out the paragraph proble, feeling there is some app I need now to solve it, maybe by the weekend. Made my way to hardwood for a Mini world cup race, that was the secondary reason. The main reason was to check out the Canada Cup course now that it's marked and to also see if I still liked my little wheeled dualie. It took a few minutes to get used to the slight movement of the suspension, I spent the tour of the CC course debating with user on what bike will be better. I do still like the squish, I also love my big wheels. As for the course, for a 29er, there are a couple tight spots out there and of course the roots made me question the hardtail. I think there really isn't a dramatic advantage to either on this one. It's a good course though, it seemed really long but lap times was equal to any other event. There is just a lot of stuff, it's a mentally tiring course where one mistake will have you dead stopped. Climbing was about normal for Hardwood, lots of short steep punches, the climb I hated is in again at the second feed/tech zone. Bone shaker seems a little more manicured again this year. Fnished up with the usual chase the little kids that have gotten even faster this year, around serious. Legs hurt, still sore. Older age, I guess I don't feel to bad getting beaten by someone half my age. Looking like a great weekend for some big miles. Two weeks of solid training, should be good. Oh, I'll probably end up racing the 2-9 for the Canada Cup. Probably.

The why did it happen post

2012-05-16T14:38:00Z

One of the first things people ask me is how it happened and I really am not sure. But that hasn't stopped me thinking about if I had done things differently that day, or if I was the cause of the crash. Orginally I ignored these thoughts as they don't help. But I decided writing them down will probably help me move on. What I remember of the actual crash is very little, the descent in question I have rode numerous times before, yes it is a little rough and I brake all the way down but I've never felt out of control. I must have been pushed off=line by a rock or something because I was heading towards a wooden post and then when I corrected I crashed, it was all so fast. Which probably explains why I broke my collarbone as if it was a slower speed crash I would have hopefully not broken it.

That evening I had been meant to be mountain biking in Calderdale, but not having had a great night or morning I cancelled, I decided I had been pushing myself a bit too much and that an early night would be a good idea, especially as I had to pack for the weekend. Neither my mountain bike or cross bike were ready to ride (my mountain bike needed the rear tyre changing after the weekend in Kielder and I had a front wheel puncture on the cross bike which I nursed home on the wednesday evening). Ali kindly fixed the puncture on my cross bike to help me get to work, I was having one of those days. Riding in I just wanted to go home and to bed and a tiny part of me worried that I wanted to crash. But I'm sure that wasn't the case. I wasn't even going fast down the descent and my thoughts had been more of stopping and going home. I did think maybe I wouldn't have crashed if I had been on the mountain bike but then I wasn't on uber technical terrain, I have rode this route to work lots.

It is just one of those things and I realise that just sometimes the doubts creep in a little bit. Now its just a case of doing everything right and hope that my bones heal quickly.

Two ride Tuesday and Church

2012-05-16T08:30:00Z

It was Churchill's first mtn bike/trail ride Tuesday morning. Seven months old and full of beans this dog can keep up!

Well, almost full of beans. It was pretty warm at 9 AM (mosquitoes are preparing to be in full force very soon) and everytime we stopped he laid down in the middle of the trail and I gave him a drink. I really didn't know what to expect with him on the trails as he is still young, full of piss & vinegar, and his re-call isn't the best yet. However, he did amazing and was a natural. He stayed behind me, always kept close enough (but not so close to run into me if I stopped quickly) and responded so well.

New signs out in SMH look great. Churchill christened a couple with one legged salutes. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel after 140 + kms on Sunday and RoTD, but I was surprised how spunky I actually felt.

I was tempted to let him jump into the lake/swap but it was pretty dirty. I'll be looking for better swimming spots.

I won a new pair of Giro gloves from a draw prize from RoTD on Sunday. Whoot! Not bad - comfy, grippy and light. Best $20 I've ever spent on a bike event - registration, feed zone, free cookie, bbq and draw prize. Whoot! I feel like I owe them money for such a good time.

My only beef is that there is no velcro closure dealie. Meh. They're free so I ain't complaining.

Church liked them - good patting gloves.

To prove I was feeling good I went out, after dropping Church off, and did a 65 km loop of the Park. Two ride Tuesdays!