From Chad:

Robb…..this is an important IMBA alert that could potentially spread nation wide. Basically it effects our Recommended Wilderness areas and the new management is to treat these areas as IF they really are wilderness. Something Congress should only have the power to do. But now they’re planning to empower someone in the Forest Service to create defacto wilderness…..and the wilderness advocates are loving it as it could set a national precedent.

Bitterroot Comment Period Extended to November 9th.

The most important and immediate action that EVERYONE OF YOU can do today is to comment of the Bitterroot Travel Management Plan before the November 9th deadline.  Please see our Bitterroot Comment Suggestions page for more details. No matter where you live it is vital that you weigh in on this particular TMP as bad bicycle policy is spreading and your backyard could be next! May guilt, poison oak and pinch flats plague you for eternity if you do not comment!  Apathy Sucks. Don’t depend on others to carry your load.  This is APATHY FOR THE BITTERROOT! Please take 15 minutes to write your letter for future mountain biking opportunities on your public lands.  The Forest Service needs to hear from the cycling community no mater where you live.

If you have already submitted your comments – THANK YOU!

Montana Mountain Bike Alliance
P.O. Box 7023
Bozeman, MT 59771

www.montanamountainbikealliance.com

“Whatever the social question, a bicycle should be part of the answer!”

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On the internet, there are several different forms of online forums. Local club and advocacy groups use forums as a way to let their members communicate and keep everyone informed about what’s going on with the group. Larger, more general forums aim to create a large community based around one specific purpose…talking about mountain biking. As of late, these larger online forums are also entering into products reviews and other forms of content generation to further expand their offerings.

Just like the larger forum sites, we are also looking at ways to expand the offerings of the new bike198.com that will be launching in the coming weeks. The idea of adding a forum to the new site was discussed, so I wanted to get an idea where you guys hang out online.

I guess the real question is…is there room for another mountain biking forum on the net?

Results from The Mountain Biking Forums Poll

This really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone here. MTBR.com took the top spot with local groups cleaning up second.

Mountain Biking Forum Poll Results

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I know what you are thinking…October has come and gone and I still don’t have the free eBook, Ramped Riding! I was the one that set the October deadline, so I felt the need to chime in and tell you why it is not on your computer screen yet, but it will be very soon.

October ended up being a very busy month for me and the MTB198 crew. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been dealing with some medical issues with my wife, and that has put a lot of time constraints on things at home. Luckily, all of the stress came to a head last Friday and we got the fantastic news that she will be able to have kids naturally! That was a huge weight off of our shoulders and even though we have a long road still to climb, we have a lot more positive outlook on where things are headed.

During this month, I also released another 118 page ebook on robbsutton.com titled Ramped Blogging. Ramped Blogging takes you step by step through the process of blogging and how to create a successful blog. Like the Ramped Riding ebook, it is free to newsletter subscribers, so if you are interested in starting a blog or making your existing blog successful, you can download it for free using the link below.

Ramped Blogging – The Ultimate Blogging Guide for Beginner and Experienced Bloggers

Ramped Riding – How To Become A Better Mountain Biker

I can’t seem to stop adding content to Ramped Riding! Every time I think I am done, I think of something else that just has to be added! The free ebook just continues to grow, but I want to make sure it gets out. So…I am going to add a couple more things and get it ready to be published within the next 2 weeks.

That’s right…I just made another deadline that is going to be achieved. You will have your very own copy of Ramped Riding within the next two weeks. Now that things have calmed down at home, I have gotten the other ebook published and I can stop obsessing over adding more content…I can get it done and out to you guys.

Updated On Mountain Biking by 198

As you may have already seen on the blog, I am in the process of updating everything on Mountain Biking by 198. We are getting a new logo designed by the crew at Vitamin (vitaminisgood.com – check out their site animation!) and a new site design by The Shatt and the crew at Just the Web (justtheweb.com). Every thing is going to be located over at bike198.com and you will not have to change a thing. I am doing the backend work to make everything flow over seamlessly without the need to change subscriptions, rss feeds, etc.

Thank you for continuing to support everything that is going on here at Mountain Biking by 198. We appreciate it more than you’ll ever understand. Be on the lookout for the new logo and happy riding!

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For many mountain bikers, the cold is too much. They hang up the bike and call it a season and look for other outlets to fulfill the need. Whether it be snowboarding, skiing or just sitting in the house with a bag of chips remembering the rides of the past year…these riders let the bike collect dust in anticipation of the coming spring season.

Luckily, I live in the southeast United States where the coldest we will see are temps in the teens. Even if the weekly ride quantity is brought down, I can get out on the weekends and brave the cold weather with the right gear and still get my dirt fix. As we start to dive into the dark season, I wanted to show you guys what have been using to combat the cold and make sure I can see when there is no light available. During this season, I am going to be reviewing/testing multiple products, but here is the list of my tried and true up until this point.

Pearl Izumi Leg Warmers -Sometimes they have a little bit of an issue staying put, but the Pearl Izumi leg warmers keep my legs warm and protected from the outside elements without getting in the way. They also allow me to wear my current lineup of mountain biking shorts that have built in chamois. If you legs get hot during the ride, they come off and stow easily due to their small size when rolled up.

Pearl Izumi Arm Warmers – In the same family as the leg warmers, the arm warmers from Pearl Izumi work as a base layer under a jacket or on their own. They easily fit in a pack or jersey pocket if you get too warm but they provide enough warmth and wind protection for pretty cold temps.

Showers Pass MTB Jacket – Showers Pass sent over this jacket at the end of last year’s cold season, so I waited to review it until this season as I would get more ride time with it. So far (review will be posted soon), this is the best riding jacket I have ever laid my hands on. It keeps you unbelievably warm but still breathes enough to allow your moisture/sweat escape so you do not feel like you are wearing a trash bag.

Swiftwick Wool Socks -Your feet are the most important part of your body during cold rides because circulation is crucial for comfort. The Swiftwick Four Merino keep my feet warm and comfortable.

Pearl Izumi Shoe Covers – Wind protection is just as important as your socks and the Pearl Izumi shoe covers keep all the warmth in and wind out. I also use the toe covers from time to time.

Jet Lites Blast HID 1000 – Reviewed last year, the Jet Lites Blast HID 1000 is so bright that planes are signaling to land on our local trails when I am out for a ride. Lightweight and bright, this light keeps me off the trees.

REI Brand – Novara Gloves – Honestly, I didn’t feel like spending a load of money on winter riding gloves, so I picked up the Novara’s over a year ago and they have worked perfectly. It is hard to brake if the digits are not working.

Some of the best rides I have had to date are in cold weather conditions, so I challenge you to brave the elements, get the right gear and head out for a cold weather, dark ride. It brings a whole new element into your riding and…you never know…you just may like it.

What are you guys using on your rides?

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After spending the day with Kent, he let me demo one of his 29’er hard tail mountain bikes. Kent actually raced this bike and keeps it around for demo purposes. Built in 2009, it was the first 29’er I had ever seen up close, never mind ridden. The bike featured the following components:

Fork: Maverick DUC32 – 130mm of adjustable travel. This was the first inverted fork I had ever ridden, but I was very happy with the smooth travel and absorption. At 3.9 lbs, it was light and felt very solid on the front of the big wheeler.
Brakes: Magura Marta SL Red – Provided exceptional stopping power in fast descents down fire roads.
Shifters and Derailleurs: SRAM X.0 and X.9 Combo – Easy shifting and I needed it in the high altitudes!
Handlebars: Custom Eriksen Titanium 31.8mm – This is high quality, light weight bike bling.
Hubs : Maverick Front, Bontrager Rear – The front is a Maverick 24/7 hub which is required for the DUC32 fork.
Stem : Maverick adjustable
Bottom Bracket: Shimano XT
Cranks: Shimano XT
Tires: Bontrager Jones 2.25 X 29″

Eriksen 29er Mountain Bike

The bike weighed in at 24.2 lbs as configured. The frame was a bead blasted naked titanium finish with the Eriksen logos laid on the down tube and the chain stays. It truly is a beautiful material and requires no paint as Kent indicated in the interview. The TIG welds laid down by Chris Moore are the best I have ever seen on any product anywhere in the world, and I been a lot of place. Unfortunately, I did not get to experience the Eriksen Sweetpost. These unique and often imitated seatposts are in high demand and they were out of stock, so I used the WTB carbon seatpost in place. An Eriksen 29’er titanium crafted frame starts at $3000 and you can add a Ventana rear suspension for an additional $300. Kent knows Sherwood Gibson personally and they have a licensing agreement with Ventana, Maverick and Yeti Cycles to use their rear suspension components. Kent doesn’t see any reason to recreate rear suspensions when these companies offer great products for him to use. The man has been around bikes for a long time and seen a lot of products, so I’ll take his word for it.

Riding the Eriksen 29er

My initial thoughts when I sat on the 29’er were, damn this thing is like a 4×4 bike. I felt like an all powerful good ole boy riding high above everyone else with my dirt tires. I headed down a gravel road and hit every rock and small obstacle I could find to get a feel for the roll over ability of the 29’er, and it delivered. Rocks that would jar me on my 26” Hardtail were easily overcome by the 29’er.

The handling ability of the 29’er is what really surprised me though. I gained as much speed as possible down a 7 or 8 degree grade fire road which led into a tight circle around a grove of aspen trees and headed back up the hill. According to my iPhone GPS tracker I hit 38.7mph going down the hill. I hit the brakes hard on the first run because I was not sure how it would handle in the sharp circular turn.

The second run was a bit different. I slowed less and drifted around the circle quickly and was surprised at the handling ability of the big wheeler. It’s not really my style of riding now, but if I were a XC sort of guy this would be the ticket with the optional Ventana rear suspension. I made a few runs up and down this hill and really paid the price climbing in the 7600’ altitude. I told my Aunt, whose property I was riding on, that if I didn’t come back in 30 minutes she better come looking for me passed out on the road.

I also hit some ditches and set up some fence posts on the ground to bunny hop, which was pretty easy with the light weight. The weather was uncooperative while I was there so I didn’t get a chance to hit any of the local trails or purpose built TTFs, which was both good and bad. Bad because I really wanted to experience the trails and nature there, but good because Kent wanted to go riding together and I really would have passed out riding with him. It’s really hard to give an accurate review of a custom bike that wasn’t built for me. The dimensions are not spot on for me, and the components are totally customizable. Kent is a few inches short than me and I probably have 20lbs on him. Here are my pros and cons of the bike overall without taking into account my personal comforts or components.

Pros for the Eriksen 29er

• The weight of course
• Easy rolling commonly associated with 29” wheeled bikes
• Rigidity and response in turning

Cons for the Eriksen 29er

• Four wheel drive feel of the 29” wheel
• Price of titanium
• Increased chance of having your bike stolen

Final Thoughts On The Eriksen 29er Mountain Bike

Eriksen 29er Mountain Bike

If you love bikes and the process of designing, call up Eriksen Cycles.  Everyone there loves to talk bikes, components and racing.  If you sit down with Kent at the computer be prepared to navigate the Internet browser, as Kent is no Bill Gates when it comes to computers!  Kent really believes in the 29’er design and tried to nudge me towards it after the demo instead of my AM/FR build.  Titanium bikes will last a lifetime and I’ll probably transfer mine to my daughter in my last will and testament.  My last day there I turned in the demo bike and Chad Eskins came in to talk with me about components for my bike.  He had just returned from racing the 24 Hours of Moab where his team placed 2nd in Mens Expert class.  Unfortunately, he was recovering from a stomach virus but still came in to talk with me before I left.  We all kept him at bay, but his actions epitomize the customer support and passion for biking everyone at Eriksen Cycles possesses.

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Chris Sugai - Niner Bikes

1 – What made you and Steve Domahidy decide to start a mountain bike company?

You know…what made us start was I had started riding a 29er singlespeed around and was taken back by how much my performance improved as far as climbing and descending ability…cornering ability with the bike that I thought was the best slap in the face upgrade to a bike that I had ever done on a mountain bike in all my years of riding. Being a bike geek and always wanting to improve, I wanted to have a custom frame made on a 29er and…you know…looked around and didn’t really find anything exactly to my liking. Steve and I were friends and one thing led to another and we decided that we could probably make these bikes ourselves since so few people were doing it and see how it turned out. Ever since then, it has just been a wild ride.

2 – Niner bikes focuses solely on the 29er mountain bike market. Why did you and Steve Domahidy originally decide to stick to this platform?

Originally…you know…we only had one bike which was the one9 which was a 29er singlespeed. Everybody back then thought, “You guys are crazy. You guys are going to make 29er mountain bikes, especially just 29er singlespeeds”…at the time, that was not our sole focus…was not just to do 29er singlespeeds, but…you know…we basically had in our heads that if this went well we would come out with more and more models. Our second model the Sir9 was convertible from a singlespeed to a geared bike went really well. Our second, third and fourth bikes all came out really well received.

I’ve always believed that if you focus on one thing and do it well that you can pretty much dominate a market and trying to do too many things, kind of jack of all trades, you end up being pretty mediocre in all of them and I’ve seen that time and time again. When look across the landscape across businesses, it’s pretty true that companies that just stick to their guns and only do one thing, or only stick to one genre tend to excel in those genres and other players that try to come in and mimic what they are doing usually end up doing a second rate job. So Steve and I’s focus the whole time has been just to be core mountain bike company. Steve and I primary ride mountain bikes. That’s what we love and we’re passionate about. We feel that we have a special talent for that particular marketplace.

3 – What advantages do you see with the 29er wheel over the 26″?

This question has been asked a lot and there is a great deal of information on the Internet. The major points are that the 29 inch wheel as a lower rolling resistance than a 26 inch wheel so…basically…it will roll faster than a 26 inch wheel. The attack angle on a 29er is better than a 26 inch wheel, you are going to get over objects easier. You have a larger contact patch on the ground, so a 29 inch wheel is going to corner better and it is going to brake better. I feel the 29er wheel adds a lot of confidence to the rider because its stability once you get the wheels moving and…also…the 29 inch wheel, because of the way the axles are situated…are actually higher than a 26 inch wheel…the bottom bracket in relation to the axles of a 29 inch wheel is actually lower on a 29 inch wheel…thus technically lowering your center of gravity, so you’ll find the 29ers will definitely turn better at speed. Those are what I see as the major advantages of a 29 inch wheel over a 26 inch wheel.

4 – Do you see any disadvantages with the 29er platorm?

The only major difficulties I see with the 29 inch wheel over the 26 inch wheel is sizing. I think when you start getting down to trying to fit riders at 5′1″, 4′11″…then you start getting a pretty cramped cockpit and toe overlap situation to where you would have to make some geometry changes. You might start sacrificing some of the benefits and then you kind of get into a gray area of if the benefits outweigh the compromises you have to make in handling in order to fit the rider properly. And that is where a 650B or maybe a 26 inch wheel is still a viable option for riders of that height. But…you know…I’m 5′6″ and able to ride a 29er no problem and we fit riders down to 5′3″/5′2″ on our bikes without any issues. That is about the only big disadvantage I see with the 29er platform.

5 – There are two huge releases this year with the WFO 9 and the Air 9 Carbon. Both of these bikes appeal to a very specific mountain biker. Who is the perfect rider for the WFO and Carbon?

Niner Bikes - W.F.O. 9

For the W.F.O. 9, it is definitely for the rider that is going bigger. It has 5.5″ of travel in the rear, and usually with a 29er…you can subtract an inch…so the W.F.O would be the same as a 6.5″ bike on a 26 inch wheel bike. I think anywhere where someone is going to be riding larger stunts…5 or 6 foot drop offs…really, really rough technical terrain…is going to be a suitable rider for a W.F.O. Is it designed for buff, swoopy singetrack…no. But high speeds like SoCal where you have a lot of high speed descents and shoots and drops…the W.F.O. is a great bike for that type of riding.

Niner Bikes - Carbon Air 9

The Air9 carbon, definitely on the other end of the spectrum. It’s extremely lightweight…very stiff…very efficient. Designed more towards a person who is doing cross country racing or just cross country riding where there is a lot of climbing involved…smoother trails. Obviously, it can be ridden on rougher trails…but you would have to have the skill level to go up with that. The Air 9 can be ridden as a singlespeed or a geared bike so…basically…those two types of riders, or the same rider who wants to try both gearing setups, are available on the Air 9 Carbon.

6 – I had a chance to race your Jet 9 in a local xc event and it was incredibly fast…especially in the rooty/rocky sections of the trail. When you think of the perfect rider for a Jet 9, what characteristics do they have?

From all of the feedback we have gotten from the people riding the Jet 9, its a pretty wide spectrum of people that are riding that bike. We have guys that are riding it on terrain that I would think you would be riding a R.I.P. 9 or a W.F.O. on and they were really happy with the Jet. Wasn’t really designed for that type of riding…heavy, heavy offroad riding…it is more designed to be an efficient cross country machine where you want to take the edge off. We have a lot of roots, baby heads and you want to be able to sit down and pedal through all of those and the Jet 9 will allow you to do that and hammer in the big ring. The CVA suspension is active in all 3 rings so that allows you to sit in any gear and have a fully active suspension. Where as a lot of other 3 name acronym suspension systems…only work really well or optimally well in the 32 middle chainring.

The Jet 9 is lighter than the W.F.O. or R.I.P. 9 so definitely marketed towards cross country racers. Great for 24 hour events where fatigue over time takes a toll. The Jet 9 has enough to just take off the edge and still be very efficient. Looking forward to what people have to say when we have the new 2010 model out fairly soon.

7 – With the popularity of the 29″ wheel size, there are a few manufacturers in the industry experimenting with the 650b. What are your thoughts on the 650b wheel?

I think the 650B wheel has its place. I think…again…like I spoke about earlier…29ers are hard to fit on riders under 5 foot 2 you definitely start having issues with toe overlap and so forth…so I think the 650B would be a great wheel size for that. When you start getting to riders that are 5′5″/5′6″ and then above 5′9″ and all the way to 6 foot tall and above…you know…the advantage of the 650B gets diminished quite rapidly because the 29 inch wheel is definitely more efficient then a 650B.

And then…its always that situation when new technology comes out, you always see the interim technology kind of come out. When rear suspension came out you had a lot of suspension seatposts pop out all over the place. The Thud Busters and U Shock Post and all of those type of RockShox shock posts because people just didn’t want to go over to full suspension. As things became better known and people understood the technology better, full suspension definitely has won out. Suspension seatposts are still out there but not in the type of volume that you saw back then. Disc brakes is another great example.

When disc brakes first came out, people were really horrified about having the thought of a hydraulic hose and people didn’t want to give up their ChiChi levers they had just bought, so you had cable actuated hydraulic brakes and that was that jump gap made for people who couldn’t quite jump across stream to the new technology of hydraulic disc brakes. But…again…time marches on. Fully hydraulic brakes are definitely the way to go and cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, I see the 650B has a limited use and that any rider to rides a 650B, back to back with a 29er on a trail, will easily see the advantage of a 29er…will see no disadvantages to owning a 29er. Also, as standards come, there is a huge selection of 29er wheels available and now forks and frames…where, with 650B, there is a very limited amount. I think it is going to be tough for the 650B to gain traction and get a lot of market share. That’s my thoughts on the whole thing.

8 – What are you riding right now?

Air 9 Carbon and another prototype bike on the weekends and having a really good time.

9 – Where is your favorite place to ride?

You know…one of my favorite places to ride is definitely Donaville. Definitely like to go there at least once a year to ride and went to Whistler earlier this year…had a blast and hadn’t been up there…at least for mountain biking…had been there to snowboard. Really had a blast up there. Those are two of my favorite places to ride as far as terrain goes, but I’ve had some pretty amazing rides in the Chez Republic a year ago. Just came back from Eurobike and rode in Switzerland, so a lot of it more than just the actual riding and the environment and who are with and just the day sometimes. Even your local trail is just your favorite place to ride when everything just kind of comes together real nicely.

10 – What were you doing before you started Niner Bikes?

I owned a small construction company that I started when I was fairly young and still have it today. Steve has been in the bike industry…basically…for the last 20 years or so. That is sort of where we came from.

11 – Where do you see 29ers in the next 5 years and beyond?

I’ve made some bold statements about this…I definitely think that 29ers are basically going to take over the mountain bike market. I feel that a paradime shift is going to occur and that 26 inch wheels will be the minority wheel size actually in the pretty near future. You look at the landscape when disc brakes came out…there was a lot of tension and a lot of back and forth about the whole thing but at the end of the day…superior technology always wins out and I think riders…once they ride a 29er…will se the benefits. I don’t see riders going back. Just our own feedback we have gotten from our own riders, we rarely see people go from 26 to 29 and then go back to 26. Its always the same email, I just sold all my bikes and I bought another one of your bikes. I don’t really see the market share for 29ers getting any smaller in the future.

12 – What is your favorite beer?

Let’s see…I’m alcoholic…so I stopped drinking when I was around 25 after some mishaps with alcohol so I have not had a real beer in a long time, but I do enjoy nonalcoholic beers, so I don’t have a favorite one to be honest with you.

13 – What is your favorite part of mountain biking?

My favorite part of mountain biking is just hanging out with my friends. Thats the part that…you know…just brings people together, riding on a trail, hanging out, sittin’ back, eating a PowerBar and drinking some water at the top of a hill is one of the best parts of the ride for me. That is definitely my favorite part about mountain biking.

14 – Is there anything else you would like to add about Niner Bikes or any other random thoughts?

We appreciate all the support that we’ve gotten over the years and sites like yourself that have taken the time to look out for a small company like ours and give us a platform to speak and test our bikes and let people know what our bikes our about. We really appreciate it. Again…everyone at Niner rides. We all enjoy riding. That’s what we talk about on Monday’s. Where did you go and what did you do? So…I hope that shows in the bikes that we produce and thanks for the time…I appreciate it. Bye

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I’m assuming you are a lot like me; you love mountain biking, and you love mountain bike photos. You are probably reading this because you want to take the steps necessary to return from your rides with some great memories that aren’t just “all in your head.” Some call people like us “funny” names associated with cameras, and others seem bothered by our constant efforts to capture that perfect moment. You will have to ignore all of them and tell yourself that you are going to invest in the effort to shoot and shoot often.

Step one is pretty simple; you gotta have a camera with you to get the photos. Bring your camera on rides. When? Always! Not just your big trips to Whistler or Moab. Bring it on your local rides, and have it with you when you ride solo. Seems so obvious when you are sitting here reading this text, but I hear it all the time when we roll up on an amazing view, or a friend pulls a trick that words won’t describe, “Man, I wish I had my camera today”. So, to restate what I said earlier…shoot and shoot often.

Unless you are off the bike at a planned photo shoot, one thing you’ll have to come to grips with is that you’ll probably need to be in equal or better shape than the people you plan on shooting. One of the best ways I’ve found to be in the right spot for a shot is to get out ahead of the group, pick a spot, and shoot the others as they ride by. Getting out in front of the group for the shot you want is why you’ll need to be in good shape. Once you’ve taken the shot and put your camera away, you’ll notice you aren’t the lead dog or even with the group anymore. Sure, you might be fortunate enough to have riding buddies who will wait for you, but based on my experience, those friends are few and far between. Even the best of friends can grow tired of waiting for you. Just because you are “Mr. Photo” doesn’t mean they want to ruin their “flow.” So, while this article is about shooting, don’t forget to focus on your riding as well.

One of the best things about being a mountain biker and wanting to do mountain bike photography is that you know the sport. No one is asking you to shoot your cousin’s wedding here.  You are shooting the sport you daydream about. You spend hours looking at the latest mountain bike magazines, watching Roam (for the 100th time), and tearing up the local trails. You shouldn’t have any trouble being motivated to shoot. In fact, you’ve probably got shots mapped out in your head.

We’ve established the need to bring your camera on every ride, the need to be as fit as the people you plan on shooting, and the need to invest the time shooting. Let’s move on to some basic non-technical photo topics. We’ll dig deeper into the technical stuff in Part II.

Find that great angle! Be willing to move and change your point of view on things you see. What I’m talking about here is the willingness to get dirty in order to get that great shot. Climb a rock, lie on your stomach, climb a tree, get uncomfortable! You don’t want to be the guy who stands in the middle of the trail shooting the same angle as each rider rides past. Before going out, make a mental or physical list of the types of shots you enjoy looking at and try to recreate some of that magic. Sure, I haven’t talked about camera technique yet, but by first forcing yourself “outside the box” and choosing unique angles, you will be making a big move toward taking your photography to the next level. Put ROAM in the DVD player again, scour through those mags again, visit your favorite mountain bike websites and bank some ideas for your next ride. The riding buddies that you shoot may not be doing road gaps or back flips, but getting a shot of someone climbing a fire road with unique lighting and angle can make an equally powerful image.

It’s not the paintbrush! Say what? When people ask me what kind of camera I shoot with after seeing one of my photos they admire, I usually give them the cheesy one liner, “It’s not the paintbrush that makes the painting.” While it may be/is a lame one liner, I do feel that it’s true. It wasn’t my camera that got the shot; it was me and the rider.  Don’t feel handicapped by a lack of equipment. Sure, I’ll cover some topics that will need some money behind them, but for this installment we will keep the price point low. Have you got your camera? Pricey or cheap, it doesn’t matter. Either way, we all need to do the same thing before hitting the trail, RTM (Read The Manual)….I know, that’s more time off the bike and in front of what looks like a book. A lot of photography terms might not make sense at first, but I assure you they’re necessary. You’ll need to know your camera backwards and forwards. This is so you can make the needed changes to your camera to get the shot. I’m telling you this ahead of time so that when Part II comes around you’ll be familiar with some of the terms and familiar with your camera of choice.

You’ve got the motivation, ideas of the shots you want, and your camera. Time to get out there and ride. When you return, hopefully you’ll post some of your stuff on the MTB by 198 flickr pool. In part II I’ll cover some of the camera basics including shutter speed, f-stop and ISO. They all should look familiar by then from reading your manual.

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In a very non-descript building next to the Yampa River, The Titanium Master works relentlessly.  He and his small crew craft the finest handmade titanium bikes in the world.  This isn’t opinion, it is fact.  Eriksen Cycles has captured both Best Titanium Bike from the North American Handmade Bike Show and Best Bike Builder of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show in 2009.

Kent Eriksen's Shop

Kent Eriksen is a legend in the cycling industry and world renown for his hand crafted and beautiful titanium bikes.  Moving to Steamboat Springs in 1974, Kent has been around this quaint Colorado town for many years, and the residents know of him very well.  I spent a lot of time at the local watering hole, the Double Z bar, which is conveniently located right next door to Kent’s shop.   Every person I met there knew of Kent and his incredible bikes.

One may think someone with such stature in the bike industry would be on a high horse, but everyone at Eriksen Cycles is grounded and very fun to talk with.  If you want to talk bikes, these are the people to call or see if you are in Steamboat Springs.  The genuine enthusiasm in their voices and constant smiles are like nothing else I have experienced in visiting many bicycle shops and shows.  I spent a good part of Friday with Kent, talking about the design of the bike he is building for me.

Eriksen Frame In Jig

I immediately sensed this is a biker who is passionate about designing and building.  You could almost see the calculations and design thoughts spilling out into the room from his head as he showed me the shop and materials.  There are no overblown egos here.  At Eriksen Cycles, it’s like talking with excited kids who just got cool new toys and are sharing the experience with you.  One of the coolest and unusual bike frames I’ve ever seen was oversized frame for big people, and I mean people who are 6’6” and up.  Eriksen builds these frames for Lennard Zinn Cycles specifically for human Clydesdales.  Titanium is the perfect material for these bikes because of the weight advantage.  I can’t even describe how incredibly light these oversized frames were.

Interview with Kent Eriksen by John Collins

Kent Eriksen

How long have you been in Steamboat?  Did you move out there with plans to open a bike shop?  If not, how did it happen?

I left home on a long bike tour, returned several months later after touring around northern North America including Canada.  I worked along the way at odd jobs to eat and sleep.  After returning back to West End, WI for a few days, I decided to hit the road again, landing in Steamboat (Springs) on New Year’s Eve, 1974.  I started a bike shop in the summer as a secondary business with Inside Edge Ski Shop, for the off season.  The bike shop morphed into Sore Saddle Bike Shop, the “Cone” was built and the shop became a mainstay in Steamboat until its last owner ran the business into the ground.  The current tenant is a bike shop called Orange Peel Bike Service.  Moots Cycles was born and raised in the same building we are in now, including the Cone, moving out of downtown to its current location in 2001.  I left Moots Cycles in 2005.

What are major challenges of working with titanium?

It is expensive, requires a very talented welder and it only comes in one color.  That said, it is very resilient, compliant, strong and light, lasts forever, is shape-able, beautiful and it looks great with any color!

What are the statistics on the type of bikes you craft, meaning what percentage are mountain, road, tandem, etc.?

50% road, 35% MTB, 15% Cross and other.

How long do you intend to keep crafting bikes?

As long as I can.

What are the dates for the 2010 Tour de Steamboat?

July 17, 2010

From the crew at 198, thanks for the article John! Great work!

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This is the first guest post by Clint Adams. Clint is going to be checking in from time to time on bike repair, maintenance and tool reviews. As a pro bike wrench…he is good at that kind of stuff!

Park Tool Company is the most recognizable bicycle tool manufacturer on earth. The PRS-15 is Park’s most versatile bicycle repair stand in their lineup; it can clamp to nearly any bike, it is fully adjustable, and has many add-ons available. After lots of time working with the PRS-15 it is time to let you know how it performed.

From Parktool.com:

The PRS-15 is designed to be the finest folding repair stand made. Manufactured from the best materials to provide and can be quickly turned into a complete mobile workstation by adding the optional Truing Stand, Bucket Tool Kilt, and Paper Towel Holder accessories. Ideal for anyone wanting a premium quality repair stand that can be used in the workshop or packed and used at a race or event.

Setting Up the Park PRS-15 Stand

Park PRS-15 Repair Stand Folded

Out of the box the PRS looks as great as you would expect from Park Tool and requires very little assembly. I was surprised to see that many of the components of the stand are made of plastic. I was willing to keep an open mind about the plastic, but still had a bit of concern in the back of my mind. I was also concerned with the amount of friction in Park’s Extreme Range Clamp and decided to apply some thin chain lube to reduce it. Even with these concerns, I was excited to see the PRS in action.

In the Real World with the PRS-15

Park PRS-15 Repair Stand

Folding – The PRS folds and unfolds quickly and easily. The base opens by unlocking the legs and sliding them down and out to a stable position. Did I say stable? Portable stands are typically known for tipping over with ease, however this is not true for Park’s Professional Race Stand and it is by far the most stable portable stand I have used. Servicing downhill bikes is typically a tall task for a portable stand, but the PRS’s four legs make it nearly problem free. The height of the stand is adjusted via a quick release on an oversized aluminum center tube and is extremely quick and easy. The oversized center tube aids in the stability of the stand by allowing little flex. The clamp unfolds from the stand by loosening a hinge and is the highlight of the stand.

Clamping – I have used Park’s Extreme Range Clamp in a bike shop setting for a few years and it has been a favorite of mine since the day it arrived. The clamp has a release lever that allows you to quickly clamp any size seat post with one hand. Another cool feature of the clamp is that the clamping pressure is adjustable and makes it safer on delicate alloy and carbon fiber components. As stated before, I did have an issue with excess friction in the clamp’s release mechanism. When engaging the release lever, the clamp did not fully extend to the fully released position. This made it difficult to lift a bike and clamp the seat post with only two hands. After applying a little chain lube and allowing for some break in time, the clamp began working as designed.

Carrying/Traveling – I don’t classify the PRS as a true race stand. Stands designed with traveling in mind are typically simplistic and lightweight, and the PRS is neither. It has every adjustment you could ask for, but certainly pays a weight penalty. At 25lbs, the PRS is more than twice the weight of many high-end stands on the market and that weight really starts to show when carrying it a long way is required. Even with Park’s optional carrying bag, walking through airports and through race pits can be a burden. A race mechanic’s tools typically take a beating and the PRS is not invincible. My concern about some of the plastic components was justified. There are plastic adjustment knobs on the legs that have been nicked up and have created some pretty sharp edges. Other than that, the stand has escaped with nothing more than some scratches in the paint.

Overall Thoughts on the Park PRS-15 Repair Stand

Park Tool Company has succeeded in manufacturing one of the most versatile, easy to use bicycle repair stands on the market today.

The Good:

• Versatile design
• Stability
• Ease of Use

The Bad:

• Weight
• Plastic knobs
• Carrying bag not included

PARK PRS-15 PROFESSIONAL RACE STAND

Clint Adams started racing BMX when he was a kid and have been hooked on bikes ever since. He started working at a local bike shop my senior year in high school and have managed Atlanta Cycling’s service center for the past three years. He has completed Barnett Bicycle Institute’s Bicycle Repair and Overhaul course, and a Trek Certified Mechanic that is also Shimano DI2 certified. Clint a bike nerd and enjoy the technical side of bikes as much as I like riding them. He is currently working on my BA in Economics and plan to move into the sales side of the industry after he graduates.

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If only every ride could be exactly like that one with power on tap, heart rate controlled and speed at your figure tips. It is that ride that burns in our brains as we take that next pedal stroke hoping for that extra ounce of energy that will throw us over that line and into the realm of faster, stronger riding.

For many riders, it becomes an obsession that is easy to fall into. Each ride is a quest to push it past that limit we consider normal to extend the threshhold our body is capable of. With each ride, that line is crossed. With each ride, we are looking for new ways to become a faster and stronger rider. No…we might not race…and if we do…we are not pros, but the obsession lives on as we continually push the envelope.

Then it happens…we forgot to have fun on the bike.

Wait? What?! It’s a trap! Don’t get me wrong. For some riders, that quest to be faster and stronger is the fun in mountain biking. For other riders, it is just increased pressure to succeed that eventually leads down the path of over exertion and lost sight of why we are on our bikes to begin with. That small taste of mountain biking immortality brings out the worst in our competitive nature with ourselves.

I get this really bad sometimes. Out on the trail or the road, I have the thought in the back of my head, “you own a cycling based blog/website, kick it up a notch!”. Last weekend, I headed out on a solo 42 mile road ride with the goal to hit it big. I was going to average 20 mph over the course of the 42 mile solo attempt come hell or high water. You just watch…I am that fast.

The truth…I am not that fast. I kept the pace alive until about mile 34 and then the bomb dropped and I limped my way home to a 18.6 mph average overall. Now, 18.6 mph with a headwind on the road bike without the aid of a draft is an accomplishment that I should be proud of in and of itself, but…like any speed obsessed cyclist…I was pissed! Why did I hit a wall like that? Why am I on the couch sucking down every bit of carbs I can because my body now feels like absolute hell? Why am I turning my stress release into more stress? Riding my bike is supposed to be what gets me away from that mess, not bring more into my life.

Every now and then, we I need to take a step back and look at our my riding objectively. All I really want is to be in good enough shape that I am healthy, happy and can finish my hardest rides without feeling like I am dead. I am in that kind of shape. I am not in the kind of shape that I can put up times like a CAT 2 roadie and I don’t need to be to run a cycling based website. I do need to keep on enjoying riding my bike.

198 in Pisgah – Image by regularjoe on Flickr

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