My New to Me Specialized Singlecross

Thanks to Brandon, I now have a bouncing baby Singlecross! Went out for a cold, slushy, and snowy road shakedown ride. While most of my friends are inside on their trainers, I refuse to ride inside. My original plan was to race geared this year, but that has since changed. That is why I was so happy that Brandon got a new frame and I have this to ride for the rest of the winter, and be ready to ride( the new MTB) off road as soon as the weather breaks.

I got the frame, fork, wheels, and tires from my man Brandon. The rest of the build was stuff I already had, which will be changing as needed or as funds come in. The build is and upgrades to be done are:

Frame: Specialized Tricross Singlecross
Fork: Specialized Fact Carbon Cross with Zerts inserts and Alloy Steer
Headset: Stock Loose ball IS   UPGRADE: Probably Cane Creek 40 TBD
Stem: Easton EA30 105 mm 31.8
Handlebar: Salsa Bell Lap 44mm 31.8
Brake Lever: Old Ass Shimano SLR with Dirty Ass White Hoods   UPGRADE: Heck No Tektro Ergo's
Bar Tape: Salsa Black Gel (which I'm sure will change colors frequently, but thinking Rasta)
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN-54 68X113
Crankset: Sugino RD Somethings with Salsa Ring(45t road/ 42 or 38t cross or tour)
Pedals: Shimano PD520
Brakes: Avid Shorty 4
Seat Post: USE Alien Carbon
Seat: WTB Silverado OEM take off
Wheelset: Specialized Looseball Hubs With Alex Rims  UPGRADE: Lighter Rims with Surly Hubs
Freewheel: White Industries ENO 18t
Tires: Specialized Houffalize(wirebead)  UPGRADE: Something Kevlar

I was also in San Francisco last week, so eventually I will get around to blogging about that. What a tale it will be! Prison, Pedi-cabs, beer, food, and food poisoning. So, until then, Peace!

Couple of Good Rides This Week

I had Friday and Saturday off this week, so I got some good rides in. Friday was my sister's 40th birthday, so in her honor I rode 40 miles. It was a mellow pace @ 10 miles per hour on the Chubby Monkey. The highs were in the low 20's, so my Heed had turned into a slushy, which was tasty. The down side was my drink was in a stainless steel Klean Kanteen, and I kept thinking my lips were going to freeze to it, but they never did. I rode from Akron, up the towpath to the Carriage Trail, up to the Hike and Bike to Brandywine Falls, and after a snack stop at Appalachian Outfitters I headed home. The "trails" were freshly covered with 3-4 inches of snow, and the roads were a slushy, salty mess. 

The Chubby Monkey

Brandywine Falls

Summit County Hike and Bike

Saturday's ride wasn't as long due to time constraints, but it was on actual single track. 

Quail Hollow

New Year's Day Ride

New Year's Day Ride
Originally uploaded by BForrer

Just a quickie post! Went and did the Medina Bike Club's New Years ride today. Rode there from my house which was about 17 miles. All in a head wind and rain! Luckily it was kind of warmish, like mid-40's. I met up with my friend, Doug and headed out for the 24 mile ride. After missing one of the turns, we ended up back on course and got a few bonus miles in! Yay! On the way back to town we had a nice tailwind. Since I was soaked through, I persuaded Doug to drive me home, with the promise of hoppy beverages. I ended up with 42.25 miles, not too bad for the first ride of 2011! Happy New Year!

First Real Ride on the Snow Monkey

We've been getting snow for the past 4 days and I finally got out on the bike to enjoy it. I've been doing the obligatory parental stuff, building snow people, snow removal, pulling the little one around the yard in the sled.

Today was my day! I went out to brave the snow, or what was left of it. Actually there was still quite a bit of it, in spots. I rode from my house down Portage Path, to Peninsula, and back, by way of the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath. This route usually takes me around 35 to 40 minutes one-way when it is dry. Today, it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes. There were a few sections left where no one had been yet, and some sections were trampled to a crusty hard pack. For most of the 23 miles, I tried to stay on the packed down foot prints of the hikers, but I would occasionally venture off in to the powdery stuff. The sun was out, so the 20-25 degrees didn't feel too bad. I actually broke a sweat, which is normally a no-no when winter cycling, but I wasn't that far from any where, so I didn't care.

The "Fat Front" worked really well. The front tire would pack down the track and the skinnier rear would dig right in. This did make me wonder how much different the Pugsley rides. With our weather around here, I could never justify buying one. We get snow, but its pretty iffy, and we don't have sand. I guess I don't really need a reason other than I want one. The Snow Monkey is a test mule of sorts, maybe it will persuade to get one in the future, but until then, I will " run what I brung"! As a side note, The OR Water Bottle Parka works well at these temps, my water did not freeze!

I would hate to get stabbed by one of these!

I rode my bike today!

I rode my bike today!
Originally uploaded by GasSucks

We only got a dusting of snow here in N.E.Ohio, but I still needed to go out and test the winter set up on the Karate Monkey. It worked!