Looks like the 29ner is here to stay. They are now being sold @ Walmart.
Notice the quick release front and bolt on rear wheel. Totally gnar-tastic!!!

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Ultimate Track Bike Whoop Section

The Jet Set Cyclist stopped by the shop this week to drop off parts for his new track bike. It’s by far the most high end single speed I have built. Just the wheels and frame come in @ $12,000! This is the third bike I have built for Jet Set Cyclist since The BC opened. I could tell just by how serious he was when we were discussing the build that this is his pride and joy, out of all the bikes in his stable of two wheeled steeds.

I matched his fit numbers from his previous track bike. Measured twice and cut once. I have never been so nervous about cutting a seat mast. Even though I matched the same seat height, I still fear I cut it to short!

This is the most baller track build I’ve done!

Anyways,

I rode up to Northbrook with Iron Maiden on Sunday. It was a nice day, Windy, but nice. We split a sandwich and we each had a mini Arnold Palmer half and half and a apple cider donut. I love the donuts there. Their soo good!

This next part is highly confidential. Don’t let The BackStreet Skeet know that I rode without him breaking our man-date.

Iron Maiden and I found a new feature @ The White Clay

This whoop section made me feel like this guy!

I SWEAR I'm not a roadie

So I might be getting some base miles on the road bike. But I'm still a skilled bicycle handler! Here is a video that BackStreetSkeeter shot of me during our road ride after work today.

Mountain bike features on a road bike!

No issues with douchie drivers today. Just a solid ride with BackStreetSkeet and Bionic Becca.

Road Riders: 1 A$$hole Drivers: 0

I haven't posted in over a year, but today's ride got me back on the blog wagon.

Iron Maiden and I departed out of Pike Creek on the "morning loop", we were just looking for a mellow 1:30:00 on the road bikes. So, we are rolling down chambers rock when a silver honda civic is blasting the horn and yelling @ Iron Maiden. Not passing, but being a douche bag asshole.

After they sack up and pass Iron Maiden they attempt to play the same game with me. I don't like to play this game! I fire a water bottle at the car as they pass by.

DIRECT HIT! Thump!

So, Thuggie Tweedle Dumb and Thuggie Tweedle Dumber pull over. The Driver, Thuggie Tweedle Dumber, gets out of his beat up civic and says, "ya hit ma car!". His car, in neutral, rolls forward as his homie sitting shot gun,Thuggie Tweedle Dumb, laughs at his derelict companion. Thuggie Tweedle Dumber hops back in and pulls his e brake. TTDer gets back out and says, "Why'd ya hit my car". I told him that, "I don't appreciate you terrorizing me on my road ride". He hops back in a rolls off, but I know it won't be over that easy.

I go back and get my water bottle, check in with Iron Maiden, because she was still startled by the aggresive douchie honking. Minutes later as I predicted here comes Thuggie Tweedle Dumb and Thuggie Tweedle Dumber. Lets face it I'm in lycra and road shoes, which are awful foot wear for combat, I pick up a rock the size of my fist and prepare for the worst.

Thuggie Tweedle Dumber fires his half empty Monster Energy can out the window completely missing us by 10 feet. We High tail it down Chambers Rock and sprint to the road that runs through White Clay (between the Chambers Rock/Thompson station intersection and Corner Catch, by the ranger station) that is blocked off to cars.

As we cross the bridge that is wide enough for 2 cars a soccer mom flips us the bird in her mini van as she is talking with her cellphone up against her ear. She was probably talking about the latest episode of "Bethany After All" with her best girl friend and didn't want to share the bridge and freaked out.

We then make it to the road and ride back to the GavaganDeathTrail Service Course with out a hitch.

In Hindsight maybe I just should have squirting water on the wind shield of Thuggie Tweedle Dumb and Thuggie Tweedle Dumber or simply flipped the bird and told them to "go F*&K themselves". That would have been more appropriate than getting into a altercation which could have ended differently.

Maybe its best to turn the other cheek and just write it off as I have soo many other times.

But you know What! I'm glad I threw my bottle at those douche bags. I hope Thuggie Tweedle Dumb and Thuggie Tweedle Dumber learned today that Roadies will fight back!

I don't really consider myself a roadie, by any means. But, I hope I have helped Roadies get a more Bad Ass reputation!

I guess I channeled my inner Kenny Powers

USAC Mechanic Clinic Summary

Now that the Mid Atlantic is getting pounded with snow I finally have the chance to update about my journey to Colorado Springs to become a USA Cycling licensed race mechanic.

On the first day of the course we meet in one of the conference rooms of the Olympic Training Center. We were greeted and divided up randomly into 4 groups and then got our learn on!

The Olympic walk

I got to see some Olympic Athletes playing some Ping Pong

Mechanics can from all over the country to take part in the race mechanic clinic. some mechanics traveled from Japan, New Zealand, and United Kingdom.

On the second day of the clinic we took a field trip to the 7-11 Velodrome

These banked turns are steeper than NASCAR's!

My classes mates in the velodrome

We got to check out the shop area of the velodrome

Cool posters on the wall

Mavic Neutral Support was there and taught us how to properly exchange wheels in a race situation

Mark from Mavic taught us the proper technique

Pro mechanics don't get on their knees

Calvin from park tools showed us how to wash bikes

This is how dirty bikes get clean

The last day of the course we had a expo with all the manufacturers and instructors

DI2 TT controls

These controlers are much cooler than the drop handle bar shifter that I installed at the shop

My 15 minutes of fame on usacycling.org
Here I am with Dave from Shimano learning how to use the diagnostic tool for the DA-7970 (DI2)

Certificate time!!!

Here I am with TJ Grove one of the best and most respected mechanics in the USA
TJ has been to the Olympics and World Championships for the US National team

USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanic Clinic Class of 2009

The 2009 USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanic Clinic has been something I have wanted to go to the past 2 years. It was completely worth it. I'm proud of myself that I finally went and became certified.

Now I am just waiting to get my License in the mail

USAC Mechanic Clinic Day 1

Day 1 of the course is over. Alot of information has been gone over and there is still 3 more days left. 2maro we get to take a field trip to the 7-11 Velodrome.

USAC Mechanic Clinic

So this winter instead of heading to the west to go snowboarding I decided to take the USA Cycling Race Mechanic Clinic held at the Olympic Traning Center in Colorado Spring, CO.

Iron Maiden dropped me off at PHL at 5am to head to ORD and then COS. While wander around O'Hare airport(ORD) I met one of my instructors, Calvin of Park Tools.

A hour delay and a new plane later we were on our way to Colorado Springs(COS).
Got a ride from the OTC shuttle van with more instructors and checked into the Days Inn and took a nap.

When I woke up I headed to the dinner next to the Days Inn, Maggy Mae's.
I had the whole restaurant to myself

Seriously! Nobody else was there besides the staff.

Off to the OTC 2maro to start the course.
I know I'm very prepared, but
Wish me luck!

DI2

DI2

I just started installing the Shimano 7970 DI2 electronic shifting system. It is the most amazing bicycle technology I have ever scene!
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Barge Dirt Jumps What Will Red Bull Think of Next

Barge Dirt Jumps in San Francisco Bay - NWD 10 - Pinkbike.com

Shared via AddThis

Barge Dirt Jumps What Will Red Bull Think of Next

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Whiteface 5K. It has been one wet race season this year. Got some runs in yesterday when is was dry and fun. Today I'm just here for mechanical support. Basically replacing shift housing/cables.
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Sicky Gnar, Broh!

A Tale of 3 DH Forks

These are the DH forks that I own.

This is the 2005 Manitou Dorado
Carbon fiber bodied inverted 7" travel fork

Pretty cutting edge for its time.
Inverted stanchions just like dirtbikes
2005 was the last year they produced the Dorado, but in 2009 they reintroduced them

The Fox 40RC2
8" travel

As you may know I love Fox suspension!
This fork works great and has an excellent damping system, but the location of the dampening adjusters is on the bottom of the fork. Since it hangs down about an inch the adjusters are subject to impacts, so Fox developed a cover to "protect" it.

Once you impact the cap it is really hard to be removed because the bottom nut that secures the lower on to the dampening rod is threaded on the outside as well as the inside, so the protective cap can thread onto the bottom of the fork and protect the fancy RC2 adjusters. So, when trying to remove the protective cap by unscrewing it counter clock wise the bottom nut un-threads with the cap. (suggestion: reverse the thread on the outside of the nut, so when the cap is un-screwed it keeps the bolt tight, if not tightening it more)
After the realization that my fork was slightly damaged I ordered a new cap.
The most effective way to remove this protective cap stuck on to the bottom nut is to use a dremel to cut it off carefully!!! I used a process of making cuts then using a small flat blade screw driver and hammer to pry the cap off.
20 minutes later Fork fixxed
....2 months later it happens again plus a strained right rotator cuff...FML
So I order the parts this time 2 caps and a new bottom nut(just in case)

The first time this happened I was explaining my problem to Jacy, Monster Energy/Specialized World Cup TeamMechanic. He said "Hmmm I don't have this problem because Sam and Brendan run Rock Shox(Black Box World Cup Boxxer), you should get a 2010 Boxxer Team."

Enter The 2010 Boxxer Team
8" travel

After debating getting this fork for the past 2 weeks I pulled the trigger once QBP had 1 left in stock. Not only am I happy to have this fork because I'm a whiz at servicing Rock Shox forks now, but the fork came with a soft, a medium, and a firm spring to tune the suspension. Fox sells them extra.

The Boxxer a tried and true DH fork.
Recommended by East Coast DH Legend Todd Bosch

Look at the difference between these 2 adjuster knobs!

Whiteface 5K DH race is going to be my first time riding the Boxxer!
I hope the Fox Racing Shox tech support van is there to fix my shitted up 40 for free!
They can deal with servicing my fork and getting the cap off this time,
while I'm riding my new Rock Shox 2010 Boxxer Team!

Cross Practice Wednesday Night!
Oh Yeah!!!

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The pot season starts on August 19th!
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Mobile blogging

Now live mobile blogging! Via blackberry
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The Prince of Brandywine Cyclery

I'm Rad

Ok the secret is that Brandywine Cyclery is advertising during The Tour de France

The stars of the commerial: Specialized Tarmac, Iron Maiden, and KJ

Here is the Commercial. If you don't live in Delaware, Southern NJ, or South East PA you won't see it! Only here it is available to the world!

Sorry...check back july 5

Well because of a glitch in the contractual paper work I can not reveal any information about my previous post "July 4 2009". So check back on Sunday July 5th.
Be ready to be totally blown away!

So here is a great photo from one of the repairs from the Brandywine Cyclery.
The Dirt Diggler BMX tire

Last weekend I had a DH race @ Windham, NY home to the 2010 World Cup Finals.
They received 9 inches of rain during the week resulting in a weekend of riding in the mud. So much mud I had to was my bike every 2 runs because it was completely covered in brown mud.
I could have used a tire named the Mud Diggler (Maxxis 2.5 Wet Screams), but my Kenda Excavators worked fine.