Mountain Biking - The learning curve. Random chance. [o]

Trial and error. Spending (and wasting) some cash. Reading online. Installing some sh#t wrong and having to have a shop fix my screw up.

IRC Kujo tires worked great for me out west, but suck in even the least bit of east coast wetness. They're coming off, and the Kenda "sticky rubber" is going back on. Slipping and sliding all over the greasy rocks and roots today. Not fun.

Timer shots: just when you think you've got it, you don't. Got this log nicely dialed, then set the camera up. And of course end up going to far left and having to make an early exit.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5688.jpg

The first time bleeding my hydro brakes, with a line shortening in the session: oops. I've slightly cross threaded the barrel nut into the lever/master cylender assembly. Catastrophe averted by luckily having it not in so far that the inner threads couldn't be salvaged, and a local shop actually having a new barrel nut. For me to thread in nice and slowly. And carefully.

Take #2. Another damn too early left exit. This one with a not quite far enough hop to the side...
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5698.jpg
Which cost me a new rear derailleur. Smack, *crack* as the cage assembly snaps right in half... Main body and hanger are fine. tossed the parts bin spare on and was up and running again for today.
Anyone got a lower cage 08 year X.9 mech assembly they wanta' get rid of?

Wiiiiiiiide bars rock. 28" and 29.5" bars on the two main rides. Yeeeehaaaaa! Wide bars + slack angles + short stem = Dave a happy steering camper. No ill effects in the tightly spaced trees here just yet, but I'm sure I'll snag a bar sometime. They feel gooooood.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5706.jpg

What my sister in law calls their yard pig:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5582.jpg
Multi-cultural weddings can be...entertaining. Last weekend involved no riding, but the O'Brien and Chang clans being joined in (we hope) wedded bliss. In deep woods Maine.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5617.jpg
Yes it was entertaining. People nervous around large drunk people in kilts need not apply.

Pick up your crap, people. Well, if you notice you've lost it. I find so much bike detritus it's pathetic. One more argument non-bike NIMBY types can add to their arsenal of reasons they would like us off the trails.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5682.jpg

When you think things are in focus, they may not be. Check again. sometimes you need to refocus to really have things in perspective.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5680.jpg

Some blingy parts aren't really worth it, except for the bling. Dangerboy levers blades. Look nice. Can't feel a damn bit of difference from the stock Avid lever blades. Meh. OTOH, some things are fugly bits, but the functionality of them absolutely kicks ass all over the fugly nature. I feel this way aobut my Gravity Dropper posts.

Where's Flo?
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5664.jpg

I love the ground hog, around these parts we call them whistle pigs.

I love the ground hog, around these parts we call them whistle pigs.

Cute little suckers. the little bit of cleared space around the inlaws place in Maine was crawling with them. That one let me get about 3' away before it started to arch its back and hiss. Not that it's terribly nasty, but I backed up rather than get a closer pick. I'd just as soon not have to deal with rabies, plague, etc.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5587.jpg

And a slow but fun little blip over at Trumbull from a week or so ago:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/videos/th_Trumbull.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/videos/?action=view&current=Trumbull.flv)

Where's the fungi?

I feel deprived.

Cute little suckers. the little bit of cleared space around the inlaws place in Maine was crawling with them. That one let me get about 3' away before it started to arch its back and hiss. Not that it's terribly nasty, but I backed up rather than get a closer pick. I'd just as soon not have to deal with rabies, plague, etc.



You're on the East Coast now, no plague here.....yet.

So if I read everything correctly (which is a big stretch) you got married? If so, congrats. :beer:

You're on the East Coast now, no plague here.....yet.

So if I read everything correctly (which is a big stretch) you got married? If so, congrats. :beer:

Nah, my brother in law was married. I just went along for the free food and plentiful beer.

Very nice, scrub.

Great pics of course. What camera do you have?

Great pics of course. What camera do you have?

Canon S2IS. Couple years old. Takes good shots, though it would take better shots if I learned a bit more about how to use the thing. :D

Tehee!

I have the same red DB bling. Looks nice and I CAN feel a difference.

Another great post!

I love it when scrub posts.

Regarding the photos of bike parts, it seems that reflectors are a common item around here, especially the yellow ones that come on platform pedals. Where do these things come from? Are people really riding reflector laden platform pedals on the singletrack?

I love the ground hog, around these parts we call them whistle pigs.

How does one cook a whistle pig around your parts?

How does one cook a whistle pig around your parts?

Cooking tip: If you poke holes in 'em before puttin' 'em on the BBQ they don't whistle quite as much.

...and from today at Trumbull. Snotty/slippery a bit from yesterday's morning rain.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5761.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5736.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/June%2008/IMG_5712.jpg

I wanna see some run-up video of that forst rock, thats great!

I wanna see some run-up video of that forst rock, thats great!

there is about a 3' drop roughly 20' back on the trail, then it's a straight shot up to the boulder. nicely ramped up both sides. maybe 8" at its narrowest. it's actually really easy up and over.