Fat Tire Tales, Trips & Tips

2009-08-21T01:13:00.027-05:00

TRIPS: Nothing like it in the world
Moab, UT

Thanks to my wife, who surprised me with all of the coordination for this surprise birthday trip! Like Durango, what do you say about Moab that has not already been said? Although much of the high-desert terrain is reminiscent of Glade Run rides in Farmington, N.M., (see the Road Apple Rally), the scenery is unmatched by any ride in the world. Of course, the Slickrock Trail was everything I had anticipated all of these years; clearly the most unique terrain en masse I’ve been on.
However, what made this trip phenomenal was a relatively new bike tour company called Sol Fun. Aside from New Zealand, this was the only time I’d ever used a tour guide to get to know the trails quickly, and it was worth every penny. It wasn’t just about the riding (although my guide Heidi Rentz was a phenomenal athlete and a terrific person overall), but recommendations for the scenic-route drive route from Grand Junction’s airport, accommodations, massage therapists and eateries were all right on target. The bike provided was also perfect for these rides, and convinced me that a Kona Dawg can compensate for poor riding even better than my Prophet already does.

I did a two day tour, which Heidi nicely laid out to both warm me up and see if I’d actually survive Slickrock. Day one was a morning ride at Dead Horse Point State Park (above photo by Heidi), which at one time – long ago – appears to have been a peninsula into the ocean. More recently – still long ago – tourist guides say it was used as a natural corral for wild horses since the sheer cliffs on three sides to the Colorado River below would challenge the resolve of any stallion, I suppose. The afternoon was the Bartlett Wash (right) just north of Moab, and was a great Slickrock primer with tremendous views.

Day two, of course, was the Slickrock Trail, which was completely incredible. Because so much has already been said about this trail, I’ll allow the curious to explore. However, I’ll mention that Heidi was kind enough to talk Acme Bike Shuttle owner and "best downhiller in Moab" Kyle Mears into showing us how to REALLY ride the first 2.5 miles of the trail. A very encouraging young lady, she did a pretty convincing job of allowing us to believe she was actually tired too as we took on the remaining eight miles (apparently there is some debate regarding the distance).

One of the best features of these tours, especially when showing up sans pals, is meeting other riders in the group. We actually only had one other rider each day, but both were terrific. On Day one we had Colin, a 16(and ½)-year-old downhiller from New Hampshire who was ecstatic just to have people to talk to about mountain biking. Day two brought 21-year-old Joe from London, who really just hammered the trail although he hadn’t ridden for two years (not a lot of trails in London). Joe and his dad Roger had also been riding the day before with Sol Fun co-owner Allen Poertner as part of a whirlwind tour of the U.S. for Joe’s 21st birthday.

After the ride, we all had a tremendous dinner at the Desert Bistro (Heidi, Kyle, Allen and Pat Poertner – very genuine people and avid cyclists/guides, Roger, Joe and me) and they even remembered my birthday.

Here are the facts (and recommendations from Sol Fun):

> Lodging:

The Adventure Inn; family owned, light continental breakfast, wireless, across the street from the renowned Poison Spider Bicycles and practically next door to the massage therapist. Oh, there’s a Redbox $1 video rental across the street and you can easily walk back to motel from downtown if your overload with liquid-based carbs.

> Food & Beverage: The Moab Brewery (great beer an great, moderately priced food); Pasta Jays (great, covered outdoor dining, moderately priced – try the dinner salad with gorgonzola and the Alfredo Williams); Desert Bistro (beautiful outdoor, evening dining, higher-end price range, terrific menu items include elk, antelope, seafood, duck and rabbit).

> Thrift Store: For the best price in town for the gear you forgot, visit the Wabisabi Thriftique at 411 Locust Lane.

> Massage: Check out Felix Tatarovich Massage on the north end of town, just a few doors down from the Adventure Inn.

Almost forgot: Either get to Moab early or get out after a ride to see Arches National Monument just two miles north of Moab – you won’t be disappointed! The first photo below is the "Delicate Arch," which is beautiful to hike to for sunset, and the second is known as "Park Avenue" (no, I didn’t steal their photo; I actually only looked at their website as I wrote this) .

2008-06-17T20:00:00.007-05:00

TIPS: Watch for cars on the way to the trail

This entry is in no way meant to be funny. That said, the irony is remarkable as you look at this Associated Press photo by Jose Fidelino Vera Hernandez of a car colliding "into cyclists participating in a race in Mexico's northern border city of Matamoros" June 1. The crash killed one rider and injured 14 others at the scene (although I only count 8 in the air), while many roadies still tell me that they don't mountain bike because they're concerned about injuries. I've never seen a tree do this to anyone!

The12-mile ride to work has further convinced me that road riding might just take more courage than most other indulgences I can think of -- and you have to do a lot more of it to stay in shape. My prayers go out to these riders, their families and any of you brave enough to put a few ounces of titanium, aluminum, carbon or steel and a dinky plastic helmet up against a quarter ton of fast-moving fury. (Look at the photo closely; it doesn't look like the headless helmets or footless shoes -- not to mention the airborne bikes -- did these guys much good at all).

2008-05-22T09:36:00.005-05:00

TRIPS: Hell was colder than expected
Pinckney Village/Hell, Mich.

The Potawatomi Trail (aka “Poto”) is an incredibly fun 24-mile roller coaster ride that you can bomb in a couple of hours, or thoroughly enjoy taking your time with. It sits just outside Pinckney Village and butts right up to Hell, Mich., home of Survivor contestant Erik Reichenbach, the ice cream scooper from Hell. The trail should not be confused with the more infamous Potawatomi Trail of Death from Indiana to Kansas.

It was two days before a business trip to Lansing, Mich., that the June/July issue of National Geographic Adventure landed in the mailbox. About halfway through it was a little blurb about a “bombing through glacial hills” in the Pinckney Recreation Area about an hour east of Lansing (or an hour west of Detroit) outside the small village of Pinckney, Mich. The story included a quote from local bike shop owner John Calvert saying the trail had everything from trees, to swamp, to sand (and some other stuff I can’t remember now that I gave him my copy), and that bike rentals were a mere $15 a day.

I also got this description from the Michigan Mountain Bikers Association: “… you'll find three trails: the 17-mile Potawatomi Trail [aka “Poto”], the 5.1-mile Crooked Lake Trail and the 1.9-mile Silver Lake Trail. The routes are shared with hikers.”

After a few phone calls and visit to Village Cyclery website, we (me, John and his shop dog Woody) met at the shop and he set me up with one of the standard rentals: a 25+-pound steel Pro Flex that was older than my teenage daughter. He even threw on some new Richey SPDs and a trail pump (which I forgot) at no extra charge before sending me on the 10-minute drive to the trail head.

MMBA calls the trails “intermediate & advanced,” but it ranks closer to “intermediate” in my book, although the roots and unexpected sand pits during descents demand some savvy. There’s a detailed and accurate description of the trails here, And you can get an up-to-date map, camping information and more from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The park closes at 10 p.m., so you can even get a night ride in.

Although I get the impression that the trails (all shared with hikers) get crowded during the summer, only 4 hikers and 5 bikers crossed my path all day, which meant building a head of steam was never an issue. Both the scenery (all types as John described) and the wildlife (deer, cranes, chipmunks, foxes) were terrific, but the numerous lakes and no fewer than a dozen, twisting wooden bridges over marshes and waterways were the surprise of the day.

A short visit to Hell after the ride is a must before leaving the area. The good news is that you won’t starve there, thanks to fresh pizza (cheese bread’s the local favorite) from Hell’s Kitchen and dessert at Screams Ice Cream, which also boasts the only 365-day Halloween shops I’ve ever seen under its roof. There’s also a pub – as one might expect – in Hell; but these three places plus a church with a question mark on top instead of a cross are about all you’ll find there.

Best of all there’s no hurry to get back even if you’ve rented your bike. Although John closes at 7 or 8 p.m. depending on the day, he’s got a convenient rack and lock out back for after-ours returns!

I almost forgot: It was 56 degrees in Hell today, and “yes,” Hell does freeze over here every year.

Check out more photos below, and enjoy the ride through Hell!

2007-05-30T20:39:00.001-05:00

TRIPS: Last Okinawa Entry (for real this time)

Thanks to Adrian, my previous "last ride" entry was bogus. He invited me out a few weeks ago for some rigid riding -- truly awesome despite my butt needing to toughen up a bit. It had been nearly a year and a half since I`d been on anything but full suspension and nearly three since a full rigid. He broke me in on Day 1 by letting me use his geared version until the downhills. Dumping about 10 pounds in bike weight did wonders for the climbs, and the downhills were fast and buttery (I only realized how much shock absorption my body took in my right knee a few days later).

On Day 2, I took the rigid singlespeed for the time of my life. The best news was that I blew the rear tire at nearly the same time as the bearings in Adrian`s other bike completely gave out -- these light rigids were a dream to walk out with (a little over a mile) compared to my Prophet that completely lacks "reach through" or shouldering spots because of the shock. It was actually not a bad peaceful ending, since the rigid singlespeed had given me a thrill I had forgotten.

Thanks Adrian.

2007-04-29T08:46:00.000-05:00

TALES: Spiders & Bikes in Art

I just noticed this piece by Kevin Nierman while glancing through Dirt Rag's galleries the other day. It's an unusual find, but I thought it was fitting for this blog.

If any of you know of bike pieces that reflect our unique relationship with arachnids here on Okinawa, then don’t hesitate to post a link in the comments section.

2007-04-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

TALES: A Sister Club Complete with Giant Spiders? Unbelievable!

A Florida rider who had recently moved to Okinawa saw my road bike in the van yesterday, and we started talking. He said he’d been out to “Spider Kingdom” a time or too on his mountain bike, but that it was pretty technical for him. Obviously, he was spot on with the technical nature of Okinawa riding, and I thought it would be inappropriate at the time to correct him that it’s actually “Spider Loop,” so I just listened ...

I soon discovered why he got the name wrong, but I could not believe my ears. He started telling me tales of giant spiders sticking to his face and making him scream like a girl (which eventually happens to all of us), but then he continued on about Florida and Spider Kingdom. It was at this point that I realized what he was saying: The Ocala Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) where he'd previously ridden had trails rife with Golden Orb spiders, which are remarkably similar to the Banana Spiders across the trails ridden here by our Okinawa Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) “Spider Riders.”

As we continued our verbal walk through the twilight zone, he described the Ocala club’s logo (shown here), which is similar to an old Okinawa club logo that co-founder Tom showed me a while back. To top it all off, the Ocala club’s trail system is dubbed “Spider Kingdom,” which of course is close enough for government work to our “Spider Loop” trail system in Okinawa. A final coincidence from my brief research is that both clubs started up at about the same time: 10 years ago.

I’d heard of sister cities before, but never sister clubs. I sent the Ocala president a note introducing our club thinking, although it’s a bit of a stretch, that there may be some merit in fostering an international relationship between the two clubs. I'd encourage any of the Okinawa riders who consider themselves ambassadors to make contact as well.

In the meantime, I’ve already torn up the singletrack in Tampa’s Alafia State Park, so I guess Bellview, Florida, is next “must see” if I’m ever in 'gator country again. Can’t wait to see what “Spider Kingdom” has to offer!

2007-04-14T06:56:00.000-05:00

TALES: The Final Stretch of Dirt in Paradise

It was a sad day for me today, as I took my last MTB ride in Okinawa for a very long time (thanks to Alex, Jeremiah, Matt and Joe for making it a good one!). Not bad at all at 20+ miles, but still far short of what’s needed for the Shenandoah Mountain 100 with Tom in September! I’m not too proud to say that the prospect is incredibly intimidating while tremendously exciting at the same time. I’m anxious to see how we hold up (actually, it's me and not Tom that I’m concerned about).

Despite my SOCAL and Durango heritage, those who know me know that Okinawa is where I fell in love with mountain biking in 1998, so it’s been nostalgic this go-around. It’s also a bit tougher to say goodbye this time, knowing that I’ll likely never return. I must say that I’ll even miss the banana spiders!

I spent the afternoon boxing up my baby for advance shipment this week. It's been a great 3+ years here, and the guys of OMBA are a fantastic group to ride with (I hope this blog has done them and the association justice). Riding here has been technically challenging and rewarding, and what I've learned here has already paid off on short trips elsewhere.

I'll be moving to KC, where I'll do my best to replace the fun riding with OMBA by riding with the crew at Earthriders Mountain Bike Club (100+ miles of singletrack within 30 minutes of home – never thought it of Kansas).

Looks like skinny tires only in the meantime, and there’s plenty of Okinawan coastline along the highway to explore in my spandex before I leave! I look forward to continuing this blog once our tornado touches down in the land of Dorothy and Toto.

2007-04-12T10:02:00.000-05:00

TALES: Riding vs. Writing

As is always the case when preparing to move, some things just fall by the wayside (like blogging). Fact is, everything has its priority, and for the past two months riding, not writing, has been the priority as I may never be able to bike Okinawa again come June!

not yet have I come across more challenging
natural terrain or a greater group of riders to hang with

Let’s face it, Okinawa’s just not a major international hub, and tickets aren’t cheap. However, I’m soaking up every last opportunity as this has been one of the most technically challenging and rewarding areas I’ve ever ridden in. Since I began single tracking here three years ago, I’ve also biked other spots, but not yet have I come across more challenging natural terrain or a greater group of riders to hang with.

Getting in Shape

I was embarrassed to admit it at first, but I swapped my hardtail C’dale F800 for a Felt road bike a few weeks ago to get in better shape for offroading. You know, the pros actually know what they’re talking about. After only a couple of long road rides, I’ve already noticed an increase in endurance. It also doesn’t hurt to shed a few pounds (less weight to haul up the hill). The best part is that there really is no better way to see Okinawa than on a bike, and the highways that skirt the coast make for a very enjoyable afternoon on two wheels. Tim took me out on the inagural 20- to 30-something-mile ride (verbally ensuring my safety the entire time) and it was absolutely terrific! 35 miles on my own today up the coast line, also amazing.

See you on the trails!

2007-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

TIPS: Jump Skills Part II- Pro Drop In Techniques

My last entry covering jumps talked a lot about starting with drop-ins. However, learning how to properly handle drop-ins for real while riding is a technique that will not only increase speed and confidence for XC riders, but it will also minimize wear and tear on your bike. (Like the high-impact landings that loosened my rear hub.)

I stumbled upon a terrific (and free) online instructional video illustrating professional drop-in techniques last night that you’ve got to check out at Decline Magazine. It’s the first in a planned series put out jointly by Fluidride and Twenty-20 cameras.

2007-02-11T23:28:00.000-06:00

TIPS: Jump skills useful even for XC riders

I think there probably comes a time in every cross country guy’s life –- particularly those of us who were one-time BMXers –- that we decide we’d like to re-experience the adrenaline of getting air time in the saddle 9even if it's not "big air," and last week was that time for me as I discovered a wonderful little place just down the street from home. However, after nearly three years of straight XC riding with little more than bunny hopping, it wasn’t immediately obvious how things had changed. Let me rephrase that: it WAS immediately obvious, but only the second I landed.

Eric practices hucking drop-ins

Obstacles
A cross-country rider typically does his best to minimize air time, to flow with the ground and to lightly skim over hurdles to maintain speed. Using the body and the bike to smoothly absorb shock and glide past those things Mother Nature intended to slow us down is the key to success. However, these first few jumps revealed that this is not a hard and fast rule; that properly launching yourself and can effectively land you smoothly BEYOND those obstacles that may otherwise slow you down if you can think fast enough to spot your landing zone prior to lift off. As you can see on the video, the habit of “flowing” over/down obstacles was hard to break (first drop).

Suspension
A higher-impact oversight was not pumping a bit more air into the rear suspension for the harder hits. This resulted in the rear shock bottoming out and some slight damage to my rear hub after a dozen jumps that was fixable ($20 at a local shop), but it rendered the bike functionally unsafe (unless you like walking long stints of single track back to the car with your bike on your shoulder or having your rear wheel rip the back end apart down a killer downhill section). Again in the video (second drop), you can see that the landing was level, but the rear shock got crushed without enough air in it.

I’m not a pro, but just some dude enjoying the adrenaline and learning the hard way. Please feel free to use the comments section to augment –- or refute –- what I wrote.

Bottom line
1. My use of the term “jump” is really inaccurate. More accurately, these were “drop ins,” and they’re a good way to ease in to jumping your bike while remaining very practical for XC use. It’s essentially riding off the edge of a steep incline.
2. Some obstacles are better absorbed and others are better avoided altogether. With practice, you’ll learn how to identify which is which and how to handle both.
3. First off, know your bike and what type of max impact it’s built to take. When practicing drop ins or jumps (meaning you’re gonna take a lot of big hits in a short time span) protect your bike by giving your shocks a bit more air. Drop-ins are a great way to warm up to actual jumps because you perfect the landings first!

Tips
On launch: Get your weight back and pull up onthe front of the bike.
On landing: Ensure your wheels hit level or rear first and get your weight slightly back (to compensate for your body being forced forward on impact).

I’m not a pro, but just some dude enjoying the adrenaline and learning the hard way. Please feel free to use the comments section to augment – or refute – what I wrote.

2007-02-10T07:55:00.000-06:00

TALES: Rain can’t dampen a good ride

When the thick, oily mud jammed between some of our wheels, frames and brakes this morning finally forced some to a complete halt, I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic that this was my fourth ride of the week (including my first-ever night ride with my new Jet Blast HID). Friday night was the first real rain in three weeks and many of us had been flocking to the trails – day and night – like fisherman to rivers of running salmon. It was the longest dry stretch I can remember in the past 2 ½ years.

That said, the mud, luckily, was near the end of what was an otherwise terrific day to be riding. Blurred Vision, One-Way Hills, La Luge and Paintball were just slick enough to keep us on our toes without repeatedly ripping the front tire out from under you, and the Mother of all Downhills was miraculously dry.

Our group got split up over where the linkup point for La Luge was, but all-in-all it was a great day, and we continue to get more new riders on the trails.

Had some camera issues, but at least you can check out some of the photos and a couple of videos down One-Way Hills (plus a great video of Jason admiring some shrubbery from close up).

Adrian Shreds One-Way Hills

Jason Tackles One-Way Hills

One-Way Hills Tackles Jason

2007-01-27T19:34:00.000-06:00

TALES: Paradise lost?

After pitching my self and my bike over two barbed-wire fences yesterday halfway through the “regular” route, it occurred to me that single tracking in Okinawa has become more and more like the labyrinth in the Harry Potter movie that continually changes.

After three of the original eastern trails that were essential links to the western trails (The Hole, Cinderella and Mudrock) were systematically deforested and plowed for a new golf course over the past year, the only solution to link (no pun intended) both trail systems was through a pre-existing series of gaps in chain link fences. With brand new fences installed and old fences recently mended, the black and red paint I left behind on already rusty barbs can attest to the fact that times are changing rapidly here.

"... it occurred to me that
single tracking in Okinawa has become more and more like the labyrinth in the
Harry Potter movie that continually changes."

Mainland firms have reportedly increased investment in Okinawa exponentially as it continues growing more popular as a retirement option for those on the crowded mainland. With that come plans for multiple new golf courses (both on top of current MTB and hiking routes in Yomitan) and plans to replace an existing course in Awase with the biggest mall in Okinawa!

As plans solidify for moving many U.S. troops off of Okinawa permanently, it’s reassuring to know that other financial opportunities for Okinawans are knocking at the door of Japan’s poorest prefecture (unemployment sits at 7.7 percent – double the national rate). Unfortunately, I can’t help but see a future for them that looks more like Hilton Head than a culturally rich subtropical paradise. Only those making big bucks could equate golf courses with preserving the environment and culture of Okinawa.

The good short-term news is that there's still plenty of great riding here, and it's tough to get bored in the wake of change. The challenge is foretelling which will be around the longest so we know where to focus maintenance efforts.

2007-01-26T20:00:00.000-06:00

TALES: The “on” day

Today’s 20-mile-plus ride was like riding the perfect wave into shore at Ocean Beach in San Diego.

It’s been a while since I’ve ridden alone, and despite not riding for a couple of weeks and pushing harder than I can remember, my burning thighs somehow felt distant. The oatmeal I had for breakfast provided more fuel than it should have and the constant thump of the MP3 player attached to my brain kept my legs moving mindlessly. I can only remember telling myself to “peddle in circles” to get the most of every revolution.

"There is no pain, no doubt, no fear, no hesitation
and there are no mistakes."

My daughter and I were talking a couple of weeks ago about the feeling of being “on.” She had just returned from having an “off” day at soccer practice, but we reminisced about the buttery feeling of “on” days, when everything flows perfectly without even thinking about it. You’re mind’s not cluttered, and you feel completely detached from your body. Your body’s relaxed and knows instinctively what you’ve taught it to do so many times before. There is no pain, no doubt, no fear, no hesitation and there are no mistakes.

Flying down La Luge today faster than I ever have (thanks in part to it finally being dry all week), I can still feel the pillow-like flow of the bike absorbing every unexpected dip and root under my perfect attack position just inches above the seat; my legs and arms taking every shock easily and my unfaltering focus choosing the next line up ahead. Amazingly, this focus did not event waver when I intentionally ditched into the brush to avoid steamrolling a family of four hikers.

These are the few and far-between days you live for as a rider – or really, as a person in general: the “on” days.

2007-01-20T08:26:00.000-06:00

TRIPS: No delivery on a ‘Taal’ order (Luzon,Philippines)

For the second time in 30 days, I’m sitting within two hours of the famous active Philippine volcano within a lake within a dead volcano without the time to ride in for a closer look. The active Taal Volcano sits in the middle of Taal Lake, which it situated in the mouth of the giant dead volcano. Here’s the scoop on Taal from Wikipedia:

Taal Volcano is an active volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. This is located in Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas. It consists of an island in Lake Taal, which is situated within a caldera formed by an earlier very large eruption. It is about 50 km from the capital, Manila.
The volcano has erupted violently several times, causing loss of life in the populated areas surrounding the lake. Death toll was around 5,000 - 6,000 Due to its eruptive history and location close to population centres, the volcano has been designated a Decade Volcano worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters.

As for me, once again it’s just out of reach this visit with a two hour drive one way from Manilla and a full schedule flying to and fro elsewhere. Next time, maybe I'll ride Taal and add on a day at Corregidor too.

For more on mountain biking in the Philippines, the Bugoy Bikers seem to have their act together. If you’ll be there in late March-early April, check out their ride across Northern Luzon.

Photos came from Wikipedia, various hiker sites and Virtual Tourist-Asia.

2007-01-18T06:22:00.000-06:00

TALES: Pardon our dust while we expand …

We can thank Dr. Martin Luther King for the additional day to ride this weekend after Saturday was rained out. Despite that disappointment, it was absolutely incredible to see so many organized rides by OMBA members over the weekend, and the turnout on Monday was the highest I’ve seen for some time with 18 riders!

Absolutely phenomenal to see so many riders getting to know the trails, and it’s terrific to see riders at all levels enjoying the company and the ride.

I bagged out early, but Joe was nice enough to pass a few photos my way for the post after the group put 20-plus miles on their knobblies. The ride map's courtesy of "energystar1138" (Follow the thin, green line).

2007-01-08T21:47:00.000-06:00

Dirt Rag Tours C'Dale Factory

Dirt Rag staffers took a day tour of Cannondale's womb in Bedford, Pa., and they published a detailed overview online of the processes and people who turn out by hand the bikes we love at the rate of 400 a day. They also included a superb photo gallery showing many of the people, raw materials and steps in the process. Photo by the Dirt Rag staff.

2007-01-05T04:58:00.000-06:00

The Dirty Dozen's Inaugural '07 Ride

By the time we finished Jan. 3 – actually about 10 minutes into the ride – you could call us the dirty dozen as a night of rain that continued in the morning ensured the 12 of us were covered in orange mud for the year’s first Okinawa Mountain Bike Association group ride.

It was great to have so many riders, and so many new riders, out for a winding 19 miles through the Chibana (Chibana Market, Spiders & Pipes and Mad Hatter) and Spider Loop (La Luge, Mother of All Downhills and Lower Chute) trails. Not too many spills, aside from a pile up on some moss-frosted cobblestone enroute home –- we’ll have to try harder next time I guess!

New construction on a golf course 86'd Mudrock for good, but luckily someone had blazed some workarounds for us through what used to be secure chain links.

Anyway, checkout more photos here (Blogger was having upload issues) and the videos below of the ride instead of reading my droning...

Heading Down La Luge

Heading Down La Luge 2

2006-12-31T21:21:00.000-06:00

TRIPS: Ride where Jesus would’ve, if he had a bike

There's no better way to start the new year than with the resolution to ride places you may have never before considered, so here you go.

First, let me say how much I dislike Bicycling magazine as a whole. However, you really should check out this article on riding through Israel on the 530-mile Israel National Trail. Writer and rider Todd Balf put together a piece that not only gives tips on orchestrating the ride, but also makes you “feel it.” It’s long, but easy and entertaining reading. From the article:

"After Moses fixed his bike, our man hooked up with the mysterious network of mud builders. Then he spent his birthday going thirsty so he could cool his shoes with water. That's when his ride through Israel got really strange."

The photos here are Balf’s, and he’s got lots more in the December 2006 hardcopy edition.

Wikipedia’s got a pretty detailed entry covering the different segments of the Israel National Trail as well if you want to check it out.

2006-12-30T21:13:00.000-06:00

Been a long time

Can’t really account for the past couple of months, since they’ve gone by so fast. I know they’ve involved FINALLY getting my bike back (minus a few essential missing parts and an ungreased head tube), a trip to NY and N. Cal with no riding thanks to some terrific germ passed to me on the plane from Okinawa, and a wonderful holiday stint that included a trip to the Philippines to hand out toys and a visit from my parents on their first trip to Okinawa.

Anyway, back in the game now, so look for stuff soon that actually covers MTB instead of my pointless excuses and whining.

2006-10-14T07:47:00.000-05:00

Back in the old saddle

I finally couldn't take it anymore and saddled up the F800 hardtail last week. Terrific to get back on the trail, despite the fact that my bike is ... heck, I don't really know where it is. I guess the Giant dealer next to the Bicycle Pro Shop wasn't just bad mouthing the competition when he said they take months to tune up a bike.

It was good to see the guys again, too (Tom, Jason, AJ and new guy Adrian). Adrian instantly earned the spot of honor, pounding the 20-plus miles on a rigid single-speed while staying with -- or ahead of -- the rest of us.

2006-10-02T18:59:00.000-05:00

TALES: Still waiting ...

My bike
It's been more than a month since I dropped my ride in DC for a new front triangle (bad paint). It took C'dale about two weeks to build it and ship it to the Bicycle Pro Shop (pretty good in my book), but the shop's been slower than molasses at putting the pieces together. They finally said the proverbial check was in the mail Monday.

Luckily I've been able to stay busy cross training, as well as learning hypnosis and concentrating on improved sleeping habits in psych classes. I've seen a slight improvement in stamina and attitude; we'll see how it applies on the trail soon enough.

Epic race & new online TV link
Although we missed the entrance lottery for 2007, the goal is now to hit the 2008 Cape Epic race in South Africa (http://www.cape-epic.com/) with Clint. You can see a well-done, 26-minute production of this year's race at XRide TV (new link in my links list).

2006-09-07T03:14:00.000-05:00

Durango Wheel Club at Bakers Bridge, 1895

TRIPS: Durango sans two wheels

Was lucky enough to sneak in a stop home to see my folks in Durango last week. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been back, and the past two visits were either focused on skiing or riding – for obvious reasons, being at the epicenter of both. The urge to ride was even stronger as my in flight magazine was the current issue of BIKE, which chronicles multiple rides in my southwestern homeland as well as a feature on the fabled granddaddy of all races over Crested Butte’s Pearl Pass (Crested Butte Chronicle photo, 1980). However, I resolved not to ride since I’d not been back in so long, and it was the best decision I’ve made in a while (although the framed, 1895 photo of the Durango Wheel Club in my parents' house made it a bit more challenging).

Two wheels were the farthest things from my mind as my folks and I canoed across Lemon Reservoir and ducked a midday hailstorm under a Ponderosa to enjoy a Rainbow Trout dinner that night; or the next evening enjoying a Kokanee Salmon after a day surrounded by mountains fishing on Vallecito Reservoir. After riding horses, stopping at the La Plata County Historical Society’s Animas Museum, visiting some local attractions like the Bar D Chuckwagon and just enjoying the scenery, I realized that I missed a lot while I was on the slopes. I barely know the place I left behind or any of the people in it, yet I realized as I looked around that I’m more like them than anyone else in the world. I’d forgotten that the biggest thrill of life on two wheels is sometimes getting off the bike for a look around and spending some time getting to know those you love.

Of course, I had to pay homage to my hometown Cannondale dealer Mountain Bike Specialists, while looking around. My brother still remembers talking to MTB legend Ned Overend in the same shop when we were kids, and their store/museum still pays tribute to Ned and many others.

I left with a stronger appreciation for my parents and for my hometown, as well as a stronger urge than ever to return again soon to ride everything in sight -- hopefully with my lovely wife in the saddle along side me! You can only wander so long in the Garden of Eden without eating the fruit!

2006-08-29T00:35:00.000-05:00

TALES: I was wrong, and DC’s better than ever

A new coat
The paint chronicles continue, but Revolution Cycles, where I bought the Bike in Tampa, was awesome, with complete follow through.

So, after stripping my bike, spending more than 20 hours on a plane, sleeping for three hours, and riding DC buses and trains for another two hours, I walked into Georgetown’s Bicycle Pro Shop this morning with my baby whose flesh had been shedding on me. They’d told me to bring in, but I did not anticipate the luck I’d have at showing up while an actual Cannondale rep was in the store to evaluate the faulty paint. “Roberts,” (who explained to me that this was indeed his first name) changed my whole attitude about “corporate think,” and gave me yet another reason to love one of the best American-built bikes on the market: he opened the ’07 catalog and asked which color I wanted, letting me know they needed a week or two to build it! You can see the one I went with pictured on the left. If you want to see the rest of their 2007 lineup, do so here. I was wrong to doubt, and won’t make that mistake again.

The Shop
While I was in the Bicycle Pro Shop, I obviously had to buy some stuff and just look around. I’ll tell you that George (the roadie), Greg (the mountain biker & wrench) and Tony (the manager) were completely awesome and helpful in every way. These are all guys who ride seriously, and I highly recommend them if you need a C’dale or Specialized set of wheels in the area. Greg was extremely helpful with info for discount tools (that I'll pass on when I find the notes).

The city
While I waited an hour for a Metro bus, I noticed a big change since I’d left three years ago: every bus now has a bike rack on front. I talked a bit with a guy waiting with me who pulled up on an older, fat tire Trek who said every bus in the system’s now got a rack. We shared stories about Durango rides (my hometown and a favorite destination of his) before he was off. Incidentally for those who’ve never been to D.C., check out the Metro for all transport – it’s cheap, convenient and you’re never looking for parking!

Floyd Landis: What MTBers may not know
Did you know Landis started out on MTBs? I picked up this local gratis rag called “Spokes” that apparently covered him as a local boy years ago as he topped 24-hour race charts. Known for riding wheelies, they recounted a race where his front rim taco’d , so he removed the front wheel and actually finished the race – passing competitors – riding on the rear wheel alone! The publication’s not online, but I’ll try to get a copy of the article. There’s definitely some history behind this AFP photo of Landis popping one on his victory lap.

2006-08-26T16:34:00.000-05:00

TRIPS: Don't miss bikes on film if you'll be in Tokyo in November

The 2006 Bicycle Film Festival is more than halfway through its world tour, and its scheduled to be in Japan's busiest city in November.

Of particular interest is a piece called Adventure High, in which five friends travel by bicycle from Mongolia to Nepal hoping to experience old-fashioned travel adventures. One of Singletrack Magazine's contributors has reportedly got a pretty good piece on bicycle couriers in the mix, too.

The festival shows seven films (usually two per night) film a night for a week, and typically starts with a flic-less opening party night. Keep checking the festival's site for exact Tokyo dates, dates for other cities around the globe and a synopsis of all seven films.

2006-08-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

TRIPS: Choose your poison in Rotorua, New Zealand -- or ride a volcano in Hawaii

Rotorua, New Zealand

A few months ago, I told you how awesome a time we had riding in Queenstown (on New Zealand's southern island) over a Christmas holiday, but there's great riding on the north island as well. Dirt Rag published a great rundown of the many adventures awaiting your knobblies in Rotorua, from cross country to downhill (where the World Mountain Bike Championships finish up this weekend on Mount Ngongotaha). This is a short hop from Okinawa and the article’s definitely worth a look (or two). Photos of Rotorua by Graeme Murray for Dirt Rag.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

For a guy who wanted to ride Indonesia’s Mount Merapi as it spewed fire balls a couple of months ago, this caught my attention (at least the tires won’t melt!) A hotter alternative to New Zealand awaits at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, which just opened a 15-mile Intermediate Course that includes a 6-mile, 2000′ climb on a dirt and gravel road and two double-track loops that veer off the main road. The top loop at 4000′ is 3.8 miles. The lower loop at 2700′ is 1.7 miles. Just when you thought all you needed was huge thighs, keep in mind the lava rock hazards and steep rock-strewn stretches as you read the Drifting Son’s synopsis. He’s also got some other interesting entries for those considering a ride in America's paradise.