Firing it up.

Another big big trip has reared its head. A week of camping and riding in Colorado and Utah before heading to the Red Bull Rampage.
We are going to be covering a lot of miles both auto and bike. Mark,Paul, and myself will be flying to Orange County to meet up with Bill and off we go. Brian Head, Gooseberry Mesa, and the Whole Enchilada to name a few. There's going to be head cams, photos, and blogging for this one. We leave in a few weeks.

Shit is gonna get real.

WFO - WTF?

Two down and how many more to go is any ones guess. This is the second Niner WFO9 frame that has broken on me. You know the first time it was the edge of a weld and I thought it was no big deal. It happens that way sometimes.
The latest break was disturbing. Both cracks down low, centered around the BB. The one on the down tube to the BB ran right down the center of the weld. The one on the swing arm was straight metal. Cracked all the way through. I have been really happy riding the bike. Actually I love it. I am totally hooked on the long travel All Mountain 29, no doubt. Still it makes me wonder if the engineering to get 5.5 travel with 29 wheels needs another look. These cracks aren't factory defects.
I suppose as long as they are willing to keep replacing frames I'll keep riding them.

Currently I am waiting on an XL in black to be assembled. Meanwhile I have Marks birthday ride weekend coming up at his cabin. I really look forward to this every year. Brevard likes the big bike. I might be on the Sultan though, which is a great ride too albeit not as much of a stomper.
This just sort of pisses me off because of the whole Maxle lite incident I had this past summer. Basically it snapped on an outing to a freeride park and I separated my shoulder. Catastrophic failures scare the hell out of me now. It was quite painful.
Just another chapter...

Untitled
Originally uploaded by MykP8

Untitled
Originally uploaded by MykP8

On my way to the top spot, and then ...

 

I clipped a tree at the bottom of the run. Rolled out of it like a Champ although my time was docked because technically I took a short cut. Nonetheless it was a fun day. The Pirated Stanley Gap Time Trial was a success. Now around min 4 of the video is where the Radar Gun was set up and I did tie for fastest speed at 32mph which is not to shabby.

Should have gotten style points or something!

Blankets Creek mashup

Messing around with different camera angles.

Desk and bike stand for really cool mountain bike

Believe it or not you really do not spend a lot of time in the saddle when riding Mountain Bikes.
I'm not seeing this as such a great thing. Of course if you work a hip start up this would probably
bump your Hipster credit way up with your fellow associates.

The design called PIT IN uses a desk or table as a bike rack. The bicycle seat then serves as a chair while you work or take a break.  Link -via Laughing Squid

Now that is a Birthday Bash

I have not balled it up like this in a long long time. Guess I was due. I was out for an all day epic on my Birthday yesterday. I had done Bear creek to Pinhoti 1 and then on to Pinhoti 2 when, and I still have no idea how this happened but, I ate it big time. I think something snagged my front wheel. Possibly a root sticking out of the bank hooked it. It was a total stop. Well, except for the flying through the air part.
Pretty beaten up I still managed to hook up with DJ and do Stanley Gap to end the day.
Life's good eh'?