It’s Been Awhile

To celebrate an all-around glorious day of biking and Day 9 of Dry January, I thought I’d whip up a post.

Reason for glory #1: I finally put flat pedals on the Stache which made my morning commute even more heavenly.

Reason for glory #2: I solved the mystery of the skipping chain on the Aberration. History: I bunged up the derailleur trying to keep up with Adam and Egg a few months ago. After putting off buying a new one, the way I do, I finally bought an identical replacement. Same chain, cassette and chain ring, but the chain started skipping as the quick link engaged the cassette. No ghost shifting and it only skipped once every few rotations.

Theories: the new derailleur had narrow/wide pulleys, so I figured the quick link was getting stuck on them for some reason. I installed a new 11 speed quick link thinking maybe the old one was worn out. No luck. Egg thought the chain was actually a 12 speed chain, but I had already experimented with a 12 speed quick link.

Solution: I figured I’d give a new chain a go, knowing full well that I’d probably have to replace the derailleur as well. Twenty bucks and a new 11 speed chain later, and the Aberration rides like a dream again. Turns out the old chain was severely worn, but the new chain doesn’t skip on the cassette. Glorious.

Next week: maybe a review of Jody Rosen’s book “Two Wheels Good”. Or maybe a profile of one of my riding buddies.

Send sparkling comments or angry rebuttals to: hornetfootball244@yahoo.com

Tough place to be teaching online. Not sure I could do the vanlife/YouTube thing, but it’s nice to know 5th Street Beach n Manistee has kept their free WiFi on, unsecured as it is.

Hearts Content

WHEN IT ALL GOES AS PLANNED

A MONTH EXPLORING THE WEST:

BRITISH COLOMBIA, WASHINGTON, UTAH, AND COLORADO

(pics appear in reverse order from our itinerary)

This pic pretty much sums up everything.

THE BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON

IDAHO SPRINGS

LITTLE BOOK CLIFFS WILD HORSE MANAGEMENT AREA

FRUITA

MOAB

SALT LAKE CITY/PARK CITY

EASTERN OREGON

WASHINGTON

WHISTLER

FLYING KIWI: This guy was from New Zealand. We got most of the way up the climb and found this paragliding launch spot. We sat there for awhile admiring the view of Pemberton Valley (or at least a valley in Pemberton on the climb up Middle Earth.) His unforgettable line was: “This will be fun if I do everything right.” We watched him launch, and he let the wind fill his sail, float him down the valley, and out of our envious sight. Fucking glorious.

CLEAR AS AIR: The guy from the Bike Co. in Pemberton said we’d find a creek where we could fill our water bottles. So we did.

ONLY A MISHAP, NOT AN ADVENTURE: Got me a new Minion SS, on recommendation from George K. The strange puncture from my rock roll just wouldn’t seal or plug up. Cool kid from the Giant Bike shop tried to jack me up on an installation, so Brandon and I gave it a go in the parking garage. No luck, so I went back and the other cool kid hit it withe compressor free of charge. Found out later that this is the rear tire of choice for some in the Whistler Valley.

WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE: This was an evening ride in a local neighborhood. There are houses just down the frame. Whistler is nuts.

TRYING TO LOOK SPECTACULAR: Actually, there were some serious rocks rolls in this cool little neighbor trail system.

LOVE CANADIAN STYLE: Stopped at the Chromag shop. Fell in love with this DoctaHawk. 180 fucking mm up front. Manager’s bike.

EMPLOYEE’S RACK: I’m sorry. As much as I used to think that the 29+ was a Trump killer, mine now has flat pedals and is enjoying retirement as a cruiser.

NOT QUITE THE FERNIE VIEW

I NEVER REALLY KNEW if I was getting ripped off with the exchange rate. But I was happy the Canucks appreciated Twisted Tea. Talked with the cashier about the recent ban on single-use plastic bags. Guy in front of me had a French accent. I couldn’t help but feel like the Canadians are moving forward and we Americans are growing obese at the casino.

SABOTAGEE: just when you think your feeling all badassed, you finally hit a rock roll then have to ask some hybrid chick for her pump cause you think its your pump but its actually a really nasty double puncture-type thing that even Brandon’s old, worn-out bacon strips won’t seal.

KAMLOOPS

NOT THE Kamloops we were expecting. I can’t imagine that the big timers made their name at the local XC trails. But these were actually a hoot. Some retired guy spends his days designing and building them. A few gnarly spots but overall the type of townie kind of trails you would expect from a town like Kamloops. (I won’t go back there if I get to BC again: too big of a town. And my skills are too small for the badass shit that we didn’t even come close to seeing. )

TRIED TO READ Desert Solitaire again this summer. Edward Abbey is so full of shit. He writes fiction. But he mentions Vernon Pick and his uranium claims in Moab. Apparently, the guy fell in love with this valley the way I did when I drove through. See below.