NorCal Bikers

From the Top to the End

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:11:00 +0000

I started at the Top of the World (well, sort of, I did pedal in from Seabright which included a detour because the bridge was being retrofitted). Top of the World is Hole #27 at Delaveaga Disc Golf Course above Delaveage (regular) Golf Course. The view, on a clear day, is fantastic. Today wasn't such a clear day but it was still beautiful and sunny and awesome.

Here's a good photo of my old school steel Ibis Mojo. It isn't the lightest bike in the world and it doesn't have 8 inches of rear travel (or any) but I love it and it can totally cook ass when I put the hammer down. Much happier with my small "horn" bar ends.

Here's a close up of my camera rig on my handlebars. Nothing too fancy but it works pretty well. I think I'd get a lot less shake and blur if it were on my helmet but then the camera angle would be much higher.

And the view across the camera down the trail.

Trail's end out at the point between Main Beach and Seabright (or Castle) Beach in Santa Cruz. Better images and video to be uploaded and appended here later, maybe tomorrow depending on how long I last.

By the by, apologies if the formatting doesn't quite work out properly. I'll see how it publishes and adjust from there. Maybe.

When You Need 410 CI Rumbling Between Your Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:38:00 +0000

If you have to ask why the Gunbus 410 Cubic Inch V-Twin Motorcycle needed to be made then you probably don't understand. The builder built it because he needed a good backdrop to show off his hot girlfriend, DUH!

Cool pics after the link of a huge motorcycle that can't really turn anything but heads.

New Shoes and a Mini Tune-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:26:00 +0000

Finally got around to replacing my well used and worn out Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires. Well, actually just the rear as the front is still pretty good but will need a change before too long. Comparing the two tires is crazy to see just how beat up the old tire really was.

When I levered it off, I saw how beat up and cracked the sidewalls were and just how plain worn out the whole tire was. They've been great tires for how I ride and I don't see any reason to change. I do wish I'd gotten the blue replacement tire instead of the red but, now that its on, it looks kind of cool, a bright contrast to the blue frame.

I took advantage of having the bike out to clean it up a lot and adjust my shifting for cleaner movements. I probably took off close to a half pound of road grime, sludge and dust. Of course, that weight came right back on with the new tire but I should get better shifting, less friction and easier pedaling now. Not that I had any complaints before but I'm guessing I'll be ripping it up better than ever tomorrow when we get out.

I'm hoping to get out for a ride with John and Mike and their dogs so we'll have a full contingent and, hopefully, some good video possibilities. If chasing one dog is fun, chasing three should be excellent. The last video I shot didn't come out all that well because Nande wasn't in good running shape at the time. Tomorrow should be an improvement, I hope.

Next up on the bike list is to get the cranks pulled from the donated frame and get them installed on the Mojo, maybe with the sprockets too since they look to be in pretty good shape. And then I'd love to start getting the Szazbo back into running condition. It won't be cheap or easy but its such a cool and great bike that it deserves another run at glory.

How to Build an Electric Motorcycle

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:19:00 +0000

The never boring and always interesting Popular Science brings us a cool DIY project conversion article called Riding Clean.

It is a step by step instruction manual to taking a Yamaha R1 motorcycle and converting it from gas power to electrical.

If I had the time and a spare $10k, I'd convert my Suzuki V-Strom even the resulting bike will be a bit of an eyesore, never having to suck it up and pay $4.50+ per gallon would kick ass and outweigh a little ugliness.

Oh yeah, also being able to accelerate to 100 mph in near silence (the bike's top speed is supposedly around 150!) would be super sweet too! The only downside to the quiet of the bike would be that I'd have to listen to the nimrods in their chopped Honda's listening to their crappy Mexican music too loud.

Fork Him, He's Done

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Cyclist Floyd Landis loses appeal of doping ban.

Can we move on now, pretty please?

“I am saddened by today’s decision,” Landis said in a statement. “I am looking into my legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed.”

Apparently not. Floyd, the best way to proceed is to stop this ridiculous charade, own up to the FACT that you cheated and go do something else with your life and time.

Landis to get appeal verdict on Tour title Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:16:00 +0000

The Floyd Landis case will finally be over on Monday. Do you think they waited until the week before the Tour de France started on purpose?

Landis to get appeal verdict on Tour title Monday

Today in History

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:47:00 +0000

This Day in History: June 26

1819 - The bicycle is patented by W.K. Clarkson.

Electric Moped

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:52:00 +0000

the ErockIT – 50 mph pedal electric hybrid motorcycle which is what we used to call a moped, motorized pedal, when I was growing up. Of course, ours weren't all new-age electrics and goodness. Nor did ours have the rather shocking (and punny) electric motor's acceleration.

Or the rather insane $39,000 price tag for this little bike. I do not expect they'll see very many for that much as that's a damned insane amount of gas to offset.

But it is a step in the right direction.

If I were going to go electric with my motorcycle, I'd probably go with the fine (and local) folks at Zero Motorcycles though I'd prefer a road bike to a dirt bike but I'm sure they have one in the works. Or they should.

Go Here, Watch This, Enjoy, You're Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:16:00 +0000

Dougie Lampkin - Festival of Speed trailer.

A highly entertaining video of a guy named Dougie riding his trials motorcycle through an English manor including tight stairways, hallways and doorways too narrow for his bars.

Are you still here?

The Cardboard Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Design student produces $30 cardboard bike. Enough said. Go read it and enjoy.

Another Public Bike System Doomed by Tards

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Montreal's high-tech public bicycle system is another in a long line of, sadly, doomed attempts to create a usable alternative to people driving cars everywhere.

The system has some enhancements to try and defray the vandalism and outright theft that these systems have had to deal with in the past. But the reality of these systems is that some people will abuse the bikes solely because they can. The RFID chip will help as will the registration and rental fees by credit card but the idiot patrols will inevitably ruin this good idea because they have nothing better to do with their time.

I'd love for a public bike system to be sustainable. The concept of it is awesome, environmentally friendly and a think globally, act locally paradigm. But the reality is that people are assholes and they'll ruin anything.

A public bike system could work in a gated community or in a community where all the members are known and can he held accountable. A public bike system let loose in a city will just get eaten alive.

Combine a Trike with a Sailboat for Sick Speed!

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:23:00 +0000

The ::whike:: is a combination of a trike and a sailboat. When there's no wind, you can pedal it like a normal trike. But if there is wind than you can capture it and tear along at more than 30 miles an hour.

I can see some concerns about control at speed and on a crowded bike path. But just think how fun it would be tear it up on this thing!

I wonder how it does off path or road? Like on a big field?

And yeah, I hate the name too.

Excellent Bike Repair Site

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:27:00 +0000

I just came across Bicycle Tutor and am quite impressed with it as a repair guide to keeping your bike in top shape. I haven't dug into the site too much yet but they appear to have a good number of tutorials ready and able to help you keep your machine rolling.

I'll be adding it to the links just after posting this.

DZ Nutz - Protect Your Junk

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:26:00 +0000

Dave Zabriskie is one of the quietest but funniest guys in the professional peloton. He's been know for playing jokes and having hilarious on bike interviews. But this one takes the cake. I give you "DZ NUTZ Chamois Creme". Watch the video too!

Pescadero Road Race 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:31:00 +0000

Here's a picture of me at the Pescadero Road Race. It was a great course, unfotunately I didn't have great results... They haven't published the official results yet. All I can say is I didn't come in first and I didn't come in last! Now that I know the course I'll be much more confident on the descents. I took it a bit too easy and let a gap open up on the main field. I should have put in a harder effort to try and catch back on going up Highway 84. Oh well, I still had a blast and learned another new lesson. That's what Cat 5 racing is all about, learning from your mistakes.

Fight Cancer, Win an Ibis SilkSL!

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:23:00 +0000

Fat Cyclist: Fight Cancer, Win a Dream Bike where a $5 donation to help the Fat Cyclist's wife fight her cancer also buys you a raffle ticket entry to win a super sweet and fully tricked out Ibis SilkSL.

I'm not a roadie but I am an Ibis guy and I have every confidence that the Silk is a fantastic bike.

Plus, you'd be doing a good deed and that's never a bad thing. Also, Fat Cyclist is a pretty good website.

Expert Advice From Jonathan Vaughters - The Climb - Play Magazine - Tour de France - New York Times Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:00 +0000

This is a fun article with great climbing advice from Jonathan Vaughters. It's so true how kids like to climb anything and everything. Same holds true for my son. When he was less than 1 year old he managed to climb out of his crib. I always used to climb trees as a kid too. It hasn't been until recently that I enjoy suffering up climbs on my bike. As one reader said in the comments, the climbs are hell, but the feeling you get when you reach the top is unreal!

Expert Advice From Jonathan Vaughters - The Climb - Play Magazine - Tour de France - New York Times Blog

Pescadero Road Race On Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:10:00 +0000

Wish me luck. I'll be doing 2 laps for a total of ~47 miles. Here is a map of the course. Should be beautiful scenery if nothing else.

Pescadero Road Race
Find more Bike Rides in Pescadero, California

Thursday Night BMX

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:13:00 +0000

We took the boys out for their first time to the BMX track in Roseville. They had a fun time for sure and can't wait to go back. There was only one really steep step up that they had trouble with but the rest of the track they rode quite well. It was only $5 for a 2 hour practice session. All the bigger kids were really cool with the little groms being out there, gave them plenty of space and pretty much stayed out of their way. Good stuff! Check out a few photos I snapped before our camera started acting up again.

BMX June 2008

2008 Golden State Criterium

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Yesterday I volunteered as a course marshal for my local racing team's (Rio Strada Racing) annual Golden State Criterium. I worked at turn #6 which was the safest turn of the day. Only one rider went down and she got back up without incident. I think she just slipped on the wet roads as she was all by herself. It was a great event and we had a great turnout. Thanks to everyone who showed up and raced as well as all of the excellent work done by the volunteers.

Here are my photos from turn #6.

2008 Golden State Criterium

This is Hooliganism

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:54:00 +0000

And it looks like a great time.

Sunday Morning Rides

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:12:00 +0000

Ever need to find another ride to tear up on the weekend? Check out SundayMorningRides.com and you should be able to find a whole bunch of new motorcycle routes to explore and enjoy.

You can even download route maps to your GPS unit and they've just recently added a top notch mobile/iPhone interface too.

Shame they don't have something like this for bikes. But I'm sure someone out there has something similar.

David Millar Chucks His Bike Over a Fence

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Here is a classic video of David Millar of Team Slipstream Chipotle throwing his bike over a barricade after breaking his chain while sprinting for the finish line in the Giro d'Italia last week.

Toasty 34 Mile Road Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Sat, 17 May 2008 17:21:00 +0000

Just got back from a toasty 34 mile road ride with Erik. We left at 7:30AM and it was already quite warm. Average speed was 17.7, total ascent was just under 2000' and average temp was 88.

Bike to Work Day accident claims life of bicyclist

noreply@blogger.com (Erik) — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:17:00 +0000

Bike to Work Day accident claims life of bicyclist when he collided with a barrier early in the morning on his way to SFO where he worked as a mechanic.

I'm glad he didn't get run over like most of the other cycling accidents lately but it doesn't change the fact that he's still dead.