BIKES

(After spending too much time reading Pinkbike and VitalMTB, and listening to The Adventure Stache’s podcast interviews of “famous” riders, I realized that I have some really cool and interesting friends/acquaintances that people might like to read about. Hopefully, this will be the first in a series)

Local Legend: Egg

Dave “Egg” Osterhaus is the co-founder of 2ton30inch, a brotherhood of like-minded manchildren, as well as Eggwerx, a garage workshop where his many friends gather occasionally to bungle their way through bicycle repairs. He’s a man of deep faith, a devoted father and husband, a ride curator and all-around good guy.

Young Egg:

I started off riding BMX and raced from 1981-87. Started mountain bike biking in ‘88 with old friends Pat Patonic Tony Kington Matt Bishop. My first mountain bike, a GT Timberline, came from Schneider’s bike shop in Cleveland. Our early mountain bike spots were Rocky River Reservation, Psychobabble, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.

Eggstyle:

I’d like to stay smooth. I try to ride clean, and pick good lines. Love a technical section.

Dave’s Trusty Steeds:

Favorite bike from the past: Trek fuel EX was real nice

Current favorite bike: the Superfly I’m currently riding

Dream bike: Santa Cruz Tallboi or Transition Spur custom build (that’s what makes the dream part). Honestly, I could probably build an aluminum dream bike.

What’s in your stable?

Ibis ripley AF, Trek Superfly, 9er rlt, Trek rig, Nashbar cyclocross ss, Giant Defy road bike, Mongoose Kos cruisers

Trails and Rides:

All-time favorite rides:

Hmm… Davis weekend ‘20, first Rimrock with Adam, NCTs with Hess, most 2Ton adventures. Brandon’s going away ride 3.0

Davis trip was rad. Mid July, few shirts worn, many brews consumed.

Coldest Ride:

-11 Huffman trail. Maybe 2019

All-time worst rides:

No bad rides. Seriously, the end of a couple early Mayhems were pretty miserable.

Those particular Mayhems were muddy. Heath dragging a bedraggled group 8–10 more senseless miles. Derailleurs skipping, chains sounding like a Panzer division rolling into town. [The Muskingum Mayhems, put on by Heath and Rae Gandolf-Boedicker and Appalachian Outdoor Club, were group rides through the trails and AEP lands south of Zanesville in 2000s.]

We’ve climbed that ravine out of Twin Falls in the valley, we’ve slogged through countless swamps, Walsh and I had to carry our bikes above our heads through water, we’ve survived the tunnels under the I71/Turnpike interchange tunnels. But no bad rides.

“Don’t lose heart, men”: Leaving no man behind at Rimrock Morrison

Favorite Trail Systems:

Rimrock/ Morrison, Pa. Wayne Marietta District. Kerr Scott Trails, NC.

Rimrock is the real deal, 6-8 different experiences in one ride. The fact that Adam and I discovered it makes it special, too. Love taking people there. It’s a magical place.

Also, Connector Trail is the best local trail.

Deep Thoughts with Dave:

Ebikes: yes or no?

NO!

Were you born to wheelie?

Why yes!

SRAM or Shimano Drivetrains?

SRAM

Favorite Gear:

Shimano MTB boots. 100% Brisker gloves. Crank Bros multi tools.

Current favorite tire is the Maxxis Dissector for trail. Maxxis Pace is great for rambling of all sorts.

Favorite Tool:

Sette chainbreaker

Why do you ride?

Therapy, camaraderie, adventure

Tune in weekly to Eggsadill for haute cuisine

If you know Egg, you know about:

Dead Man Floating: Dead man floating is a party trick I do for the camera that involves beer and floating lifelessly in particularly foul and/or cold pools of water.

Trains: I’ve been enamored with trains since I was a wee lad. So much power.

Always, ride bikes to see trains if possible.

Hair Shirts: The Hair Shirt was originally about comfort. I run hot due to the aforementioned hair.

(Hair shirts are currently available in the Travels with Pops Online Store.)

I bet you didn’t know: sometimes Egg listens to classical music

Why do drop bars hate you?

Drop bars look real cool, but I can’t find a comfortable position on them.

Why do lycra tights hate you?

Not true. When I’ve raced, I usually wear the devil’s trousers.

Have you ever met a briar patch you didn’t like?

(no response)

Why do you hate dogs? Supai? Yoshi?

Cats are cool. They’re low maintenance, and I think they’re smart. Never been a dog person. The slobbering and whatnot.

Did Terry ever thank you for saving his life at that Mayhem ride?

I don’t think so. ( Dave once saved a man’s life by throwing him in a tent after he consumed too many handfuls of potato salad on a very cold night).

Rumor has it…

You once slept in a ditch:

I’ve spent plenty of time in ditches, but I’ve never actually fallen completely asleep in one.

You secretly Zwift.

Not entirely true

Your wife Kelly once said before a ride: “It’s one thing to be a child at heart; it’s another thing to act like one.”

I don’t remember Kelly saying that. I love her, but I don’t subscribe to that statement.

Tell us about your extended family, particularly about how most of your sons are older than you.

It’s a huge responsibility, but never a burden.

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of…”

Did you ever apologize to Ray Petro for spray painting 2Ton 30inch at Ray’s MTB?

You don’t apologize if you’re not sorry.

Egg’s Reads:

Stories From the Dirt by John Long is an entertaining read. Reading Halford’s 2nd book currently.

One Album on a Desert Island:

Rush, Moving Pictures

Neil, Alex, or Geddy?

I’d say Neil, but unfortunately he’s gone.

Really respect him. He wrote most of their lyrics and was a most excellent player. Also, he was a wanderer, on a bike, and later an adventure motorcycle.

One of Egg’s few redeeming qualities is that he rebuilds trash bikes and gives them away. How many have you built?

12 that I can think of. The most random was one for Gus Michaels (the famous fixie rider).

Egg’s not getting any younger. What more does he want?

Get Jr. to come out more, I like to get down by Roanoke, maybe north Georgia, Kentucky/Sheltowee. Get on the bike as often as possible: more adventure rides, less hamster wheel.

Egg’s Advice to You:

Get out there, on a bike, on foot, in a boat, whatever. I think society would be in a much better place in so many ways if more people did. Also, unplug. Electronics are the bane of society.