Weiner Ride is back in Effect

First weiner ride of the year last night, even though nobody broke out a grill we still did a little suffering on some bikes and a little hydration after in the parking lot.

Take note thats seven 29er singlespeeds and a token kiddy wheel squisher.




Had the Sheep out last night for the first time since it went all Catawampus on me. The bike is totally rebuilt. Every last bearing has been repacked, the frame was stripped and polished, New rims (Halo Freedom Discs) laced on my hubs, the fork was rebuilt by White and has a new crown, new lowers, new bushings and all new seals and oils, the frame has an all new drivetrain with new Middlburn cranks and an Uno ring. It probably has 30 hours of work on it since it was ridden last. With all that work I had 2 flats in the parking lot before I even got on the bike, and my ebb slipped (fresh lube does that) once during the ride causing me to push over the top of a short hill. I went to a slightly different gear ratio 32/21 from my previous 34/22 and I’m not sure I like it. It felt really spinney and I thought I was slow on the flats but I was able to climb most everything I tried which doesn’t always happen especially this early in the year. I’m giving this frame a good effort early this year, I have never really meshed with it and if things don’t change the Sheep may go to market.

Do the Test

How observent are you? Click here to find out.

7.5 weeks and counting

A certain blog out there has accused me of becoming a Tony Hawk want-a-be because of my recent interest in skating pools. Well all I can say is Tony Hawks a pretty boy wuss, its all about Bob Burnquist:



EAT THAT 20 FOOT. Today I spent an hour in the pool and hour and a half pulling Noah up the biggest hills Farragut has to offer, thats next level PMBAR training right there, diversity is key.

GSMNP

Thomas and I went on a gravel road adventure today in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Starting at the Townsend Greenway parking we road up the Old Cades Cove road over Rich Mountain into the Cove. Went around the cove to Parsons Branch, up Parsons Branch to the gap turned around and went back down into the cove. We took the road back down into Townsend and then Townsend Greenway back to the car. With 44 miles and Id have to guess over 5,000’ of climbing, I was cooked. We saw a good bit of snow all day but it was never terribly cold. Thomas supplied the well earned homebrews at the end of a satisfying day. Check out Thomas’s pics from the day at Harvest the Ride.

I think I have a problem

The first step toward recovery is acknowledging you have a problem. As Tara says, tires are cheaper than alcohol, drugs, or gambling.


Jeff and I went to Pisgah this weekend, we road from the Hatchery>475>Davidson River Trail>475>Long Branch>Cat Gap>475> Canny Bottom>Daniels Ridge>475>Long Branch>Cat Gap>Beer. It was a beautiful day, weather and trails where perfect.















Jeff has a video of me crossing the same creek here.













Noah is way into bikes already. He’s been riding in his trailer allot and loves to "help" me out in the shop. I swear he will be truing flimsy 29er hoops before he is two.

Ride log update:
12th SK8 2:00
14th SK8 1:00
16th Haw Ridge 3:00
17th SK8 2:00
19th SK8 2:00
20th Fixy 1:00
23rd Norris 4:00
24th Farragut Greenway 1:30
25th SK8 2:30
28th SK8 2:30
1st Greenway Family adventure 1:30
2nd Pisgah 4:30
3rd SK8 1:30
I’m going to have to start riding a bike more than a pool to get ready for PMBAR

Best Norris Route Eva

I went to Norris today. Met up with Eric, Thomas/Hank, and Even Drew emerged from his garage for a ride. We started out with talk of a double Cobra route but at the top of Camp Sam plans where re-evaluated. We wound up putting together a fantastic loop hitting some of the hardest climbs this climb heavy area has to offer. Finished up with a stop by archers to load up on beer before the big descent back to the car. Nearly four hours in the woods on a cold and dreary day, fantastic!

Old School / New School



Drew Leading the crew


Eric and 20foot

Noah Update

Catawampus

Had a great week, spent several days at the skatepark. Ill have to get some photos from there soon. It’s a ton of fun but it’s tough on a body as old as mine. Saturday was a major greenway family ride.



The greenway thing in Knoxville didn’t start taking off until after Tara got pregnant so she hadn’t seen a lot of the greenway I ride on a regular basis. We did about 30 miles, which was the longest ride I think I have ever done without a chamois thanks to handcrafter English leather. We had Towing a trailer that far puts a beat down on my legs.

We made a stop at the Tomato head for a late lunch, it was a great day.



Noah is taking some steps now and again and standing on his own without holding on to anything fairly often.


Sunday I went out to Haw Ridge. It was the first time there in a while, its usually too wet this time of year. I started out having a great ride. I ran up on a new deadfall and made a pretty big log pile ride.



Later in the day I met with a catastrophe for my front wheel. I actually did this on the same jump I broke a handlebar on back in the summer. The wheel looks bad and all indications show I bent my fork as well.


Ride log:
31st fixy ride 1:30
2nd Greenway, Noah’s first trailer ride, went with the whole Murry clan
3rd Raccoon Mtn 3:30
5th SK8 2:00
7th SK8 1:30
9th Greenway, first family outing
10th Haw ridge 2:30 – SK8 :30

20FOOT

Lots of firsts this week,

Noah took his first steps
I towed Noah in his spank’n new bike trailer for the first time
Tara lost her bike off the roof rack on the interstate
I went to a skatepark and was twice the age of the next oldest kid there but still dusted off some mad skills I had tucked away somewhere
Jeff Murry was the first to attempt hucking the dam at Raccoon Mountain
And the legend of twenty Foot Thomas was revealed

This is a shot of me crossing the dam at Racoon Mountain, imagine riding down the side of this rock pile at 20mph. If its hard to visualise, ask Murry what its like.


Noah and I stop for a little snack mid ride. Check out Noah's sweet new trailer.



The legend of ”Twenty foot Thomas”

Ride log catch-up

I have gotten behind in the ride log mainly because i havent been riding to much. Its time to start gearing back up though.

Dec 10th Greenway fix 2:30
Dec 14th Christmas shop by bike 4:30
Dec 20th Fixy ride 1:00
Dec 21st fixy ride 2:00
Dec. 22nd Norris 2:30 Was left for dead in the woods by everyone
Dec. 24th Fixy ride 1:30
Dec 29th Went paddling on the Tellico
Dec. 30th fixy ride 2:00
Dec. 31st Norris 2:3
198 days on a bike in 2007
Jan 5th Haw Ridge 2:30
Jan 8th Fixy ride 2:00
Jan 9th Fixy ride 2:00
Jan 12th Farragut Fixy ride 1:30
Jan 16th brief fixy ride :30
Jan 26th Racoon Mountain 3:30
Jan 27th Farragut Fix 2:00