Carbon Anyone?

I can't really tell you what it's like to ride a carbon bike. I have only owned aluminum bikes, of course I do have some carbon parts but I honestly can't feel the difference between the two, other than I know when may be lighter than the other. I assume it feels or sounds different to blast down a hill and when I say "down a hill" I don't mean in terms of a dh course. That is something that hope to find out before the new year in my quest of a new bike. Can anyone out there tell me if it feels or sounds different??

I do like the company Niner and the fact that they just make 29er bikes. They are committed to the belief of 29ers and not 650b's or 26ers and they are making some sweet parts to go along with their bikes. I just saw one on bike rumor (my favorite site), the new RDO Stem with a claim weight of 115g for a 90mm stem and all for 89 bucks. To me that's pretty reasonable price for that weight.

I have been spending a lot of time writing and sketching out ideas for t-shirts. Lately it has been a creative release for me since my new job. I have been posting my designs on a website called Zazzle. I really would like to have my own site but haven't figured out how to produce the shirts myself and well essentially cut out the middleman (sorry zazzle). I have lowered the prices as much as I can because I can't see why you need to pay over 25 bucks for a t-shirt. Here's a cool little promotion panel for the products that I made.



Well that's all I have for now, I'll be updating the side links to your right. I found some cool hand bike builders,mail order sites that I have been visiting regularly.

Happy Trails
~Db

Back In The Saddle, One Year Later...

I'm back again and one year later. A lot of time has flashed by, a lot of things changed, like the fact that I don't live in New Jersey but Pennsylvania. I'm figuring out how to do a nice transition from this blog into a newer, sweeter design and name. That little project is on the horizon but for the time being, I'll keep posting to here.

I still got the Turner 5 Spot, I feel like I'm the only one that hasn't switched to a 29er. It's not that I don't want to join the band-wagon, I mean the 29er revolution but it just comes down to timing and money. When I got the cash, something more important pops up and then the money goes elsewhere. That's life, I guess or maybe poor saving on my part but after building up the Turner to my specs, it's hard for me to just buy a complete bike and replacing and upgrading the parts as time goes on.

Now-a-days, there's so many options, by different companies that are offering a 29er. Carbon, seems to be the big rage. I never owned a carbon bike or got the chance to ride one, so I don't know really how it would feel on a rock shrewd trail. I can only imagine that it would feel a little harsh. I got the full squish now and after a 1/2 hour on a trail that is covered in roots, my lower back aches, so I can't imagine how intensified it would be on a carbon bike... or i could be wrong. Anybody can agree or disagree??

My biggest gripe with a bike shop, is that I don't want to do a parking lot test and then drop 2k on a bike. I say 2k because it seems like the entry level bike price has shot up from 12 hundred dollars, for a decent entry level bike to 22 to 25 hundred dollar bike for a decent component bike, that is just one step better than a entry level bike. I could be wrong on this issue of price point but around here it seems that way. What is it like in your area?? Ok, back to the parking lot test. There are a few shops around my area that will allow you to test ride a bike for the day, it's not a bad option and the fee goes towards the bike if you buy it from them but if one shop offers Cannondale Flash 29er and another shop offers a Santa Cruz Tallboy 29er you are going to lose your money someway. So why not offer at least 40% of your money back even if you don't buy the bike from them, that way it isn't a complete loss. Who's to say within the first 1/2 hour of the ride, you think the bike sucks and now you are out of 50 to 75 dollars.

We had a very mild winter and I think I'm to blame for that, I bought a snow blower and jinxed the winter. So it wasn't global warming it was me and my SEARS snow blower. This winter, I did a lot of road riding, more so than the past 3 years (i think 3 years) that I had this bike. when you have the proper clothing, winter riding is doable. It's a hell of a lot different riding the road in the winter than in the woods. In the woods, the trees are a big factor, hell it shields the wind for you but now I know what it feels like to get hit with a 50 mph wind in a open field feels like. In that same day, which was probably not the best day to ride, we rode into a massive snowsquall. at first it was pretty cool but as my pace picked up, the sleet started to sting a little bit, but who the hell cares, it was really cool to ride through and in it. Oh the wind, it was brutal. 50 mph winds that day as well as the snowsquall and my god, it felt like someone was tied a rope onto my seat post and was playing tug-of-war with me and I was losing badly. Chuggin' up the hill and the wind hitting my bike sideways, either pushing me towards that ditch or closer to the traffic, someone clearly didn't want me out there. But I did it and that's what matters.

Last year, I trained for my first charity ride, the Bike MS: City to Shore bike ride. Between me mtn biking and road riding, I felt really good riding 75 miles at a 15 mph pace. The rest stops were packed with good treats and were evenly spaced every 15 miles. I did good in raising a little over a grand. For my efforts, I got a really cool Bike MS: City to the Shore jersey (I'll post it up). So this year, I decided to do it again, with the same team I rode with last year, Lor-Mar Mechanical (free plug here!) I got an awesome cycling jersey from them (and I'll post that up as well) but this year I'll be doing the 150 miles in 2 days and I'm hoping to raise more money this year. I also decided to do another charity ride this summer, the American Diabetes, Tour De Cure and I signed up for the 63 mile ride. This should be interesting because this ride should be much hillier than the MS ride, which was pretty flat except the last 2 bridges you need to cross. I figure my time won't be as good as the MS ride was and my speed will be a tad bit slower, since lately, I have been climbing at a snail's pace. Not much saddle time with the road bike, I have been enjoying my time in the woods, on the mtn bike and last year it was the opposite. I'll have to balance my road and mtn time, along with my work and home life.

I hope you all get out this weekend, enjoy a ride, whether it's on pavement or dirt. AND if you feel a little generous, here are the links to where you can donate for my charity rides. The American Diabetes, Tour De Cure Charity Ride 2012. The Bike MS: City to Shore Ride 2012. If anyone donates, I'd like to Thank You in advance!

Happy Trails!
-jd

Back In the Saddle, in 2011

Again, it's been awhile since my last post and so many things have changed.

i finally bought a road bike, i think last year or so. a cannondale synapse carbon 4(?) i don't know if it was a 4 or 3. at this point it's maybe a year old but it looks like this red/black/white bike with sram rival parts. the bike rides nice, i just need to swap the saddle out to my favorite wtb devo i have it on my mountain bike and never had problems with it, so why not put it on my road bike. i'd like to upgrade to easton carbon bars and a stem and of course the saddle. i also thought about selling the frame and fork and swapping it out for a cyclocross frame and fork. i still haven't decided on that idea.

no new upgrades to the mtn. bike. i need a tune-up, maybe, i'll bring that in soon, to beat the spring time rush. this year, i may put on new grips, buy a spare chain, really run the wheels tubeless and not just run 1 wheel. i'd like new tires, just not sure what would be a good all around tire for this area. the soil conditions are always changing and i don't have the patience or time to be swapping tires on and off, so often.

in some late night down time, i have been creating t-shirt designs and selling them on a website. my store name is Trail Hog and i think i did pretty considering, i haven't really advertised it anywhere else. it takes me more time to post up the work, then to actually create a design. if you have time, check it out.

we have had a ton of snow this season, and it's finally melting. i'm getting the itch to ride but i don't want to ruin the trails, so this is where the road bike comes in handy. maybe i can motivate my phat ass and hook the bike up to the trainer and start riding. i read it's suppose to climb to 60 by friday. i gotta say, it's a bit boring riding on the trainer and never understood why anyone needed a fan blowing at you until i did a ride in my garage. jeeze, i looked like i just stepped out of a shower with my road shoes on. dripping disgusting wet. oh yea, i did my research and bought a kurt kinetic road machine, 100% leak proof and quiet (compared to other brands). I'm completely satisfied and would highly recommend it and it's well worth the extra cash. i got mine from Performance and they matched a price for me, i got it 60 bucks less with free shipping. a sweet deal i couldn't pass up.

happy muddy frozen trails,
th

2 Years Later!

    Wow, it's been a super long time since i posted a blog entry. Within that time, my lower back healed nicely and the wifey had 2 beautiful, healthy twin boys.

    the boys are now 14 months old, walking, somewhat talking and got teeth and some hair. they have been a so much fun to play with but a lot of work as well. I was able to ride more than i thought with the boys around. i remember the first time i escaped, i contemplated on whether to just sit in the suv in silence and take a catnap or go out on a ride. i enjoyed the silence but went for that ride. i think within that first year i got out 2 to 3 times a month, which doesn't sound like much but it was more than i ever expected.

    it seems like my bikes last for 6 years. i don't think i'm hard on the parts or the bike but 6 is the magic number for me. the Turner is still around, nothing wrong with it but i have been itching for something new. the way i see it, i got 2 options. The first is the Turner Rebuild Program includes re-powder coating the main frame and rear, complete pivot rebuild kit installed, new down tube decals and a stainless head badge. They offer any color from their custom color list and the complete process takes approximately 3 weeks. All this for a mere 275 dollars. option 2 is to buy a new frame and transfer some parts over to the new frame and sell the Turner frame and parts together or separate. i mean who'd be interested in the last year Turner used the Horst link suspension?

    i initially wanted a light build of a xc bike. i wasn't planning on purchasing a Turner nor considered it until i got that great deal. i like the ibis mojo sl or the Yeti ASR Carbon or even the Santa Cruz Blur Carbon. i tried a 29er but only liked the front wheel being big but that's it, otherwise i'm not crossing over to that side.

    b4 i drop a chunk of cash i'd like to test ride the bikes on actual trails and not the parking lot ride. so i guess that will be my next step for right now.

    no more snow. more sunshine and sum heat to dry up those trails.

~happy muddy trails

So Close

    I haven't been writing because i haven't been riding. although i rode on black friday at one of my favorite spots, 6 mile. it was nice out, some wind, lots of sun and mud. for some reason i didn't expect it, nor did i pack fenders but i did pack a change of clothes. i just rode for an hour, rode the loop i wanted to do, nothing more or less. i took breaks and listened to the trees screeching on other trees, listening to the wind gust thru the trees and leaves rustle on the ground. it was a good ride.

    so, the babies still haven't come. the wifey is pregnant with twin boys and the c section is scheduled for december 15th. the wifey is large, maybe a quarter the size of kate from the opening of that show jon and kate plus eight. i think she looks good and is still functioning day to day by herself. the babies room is done, the mural is painted, all their clothes are washed, her bag is packed, the bouncer and swing are ready but i think we will never be ready.

happy trails,
~db

Time Flies When Yer Having Fun

    whoa, it's been a long time since the last post. I haven't done much riding because i was letting my back heal. when i got word i could ride again, i went out and tried it. it probably wasn't the greatest idea but i needed to get it out of my system. i lasted only an hour the first time and only noticed sharp pain when i pulled up on the handlebars, trying to get over logs. the second time i went out, was for an hour and had a little less pain from going over logs but a strong tight feeling in my lower back, at time it would be unbearable but a sign i need to wrap up the ride. so i gave it some time and didn't ride for a few weeks.

    well i just went out recently and the lower back hurt a lot less but i'm so much out of shape, from not being active. i have been a lot busy doing home projects and prepping the home for the new babies. my wife is pregnant with twin boys, so there has been a lot of work done in the house. last month, all i did was spackle, sand, prime and paint for a month.

    i dragged my wife to an after hours bike shop pizza party, sale at Halters. i bought winter gloves, Giordana Silverline lobster style. i also got woolie boolie my favorite winter socks AND i finally purchased Light & Motion Stella 200L bike lite for nite riding.

happy trails,
dirty bert

Make It a Double

    Whew, so much has gone on since the last time i posted. let's see if i can make the long bad story short and the good stuff fun.

    first up, i took a bad fall on may 31st, that landed me in the hospital for a week and home on disability for 6 weeks in a back brace 24/7. i fracture all 5 lower vertebrates in my back. i'm much better, but i'm still ache. 2hrs is the longest ride i have taken and i was in agony from it, so right now an hour is what i can do.

    now the good news. my wife is pregnant!! very exciting news, our firsts, the twin boys are due to arrive in the beginning of december. yes, i did write, twins and yes they are boys. i'm pretty excited about that and i can't wait to buy them bikes, i already got my eye on something at the bike shop.

    life has been good lately, i know it can sneak up on you and make it bad but the wifey is feeling good, as expected and there is more food in the house now. while sitting at home for 6 weeks, i have looked around and saw all the things i neglected over the summer, in order to go riding instead of doing the things i should have done. well now, i'm making other jobs a priority. all the things i neglected are getting done and that includes some biking issues.

    i finally convert my 1991 Klein Rascal into a single speed. i will take pics this weekend to show you. it's pretty light, i kept the xt levers and SE scott peterson brakes on their for a bit but are removing them soon. i guess i'm a weight weenie, i want the bike lighter, like my 5.5 pound turner frame (why did i think i could make a 5spot light). anyway, i'm replacing the brakes with avid single digit 7's and brake levers and i need to find a 5 bolt bash guard. anyone know of any?

ride for me!
happy trails
~dirty bert

Daily Rituals

    since i haven't been working for 5 weeks now, i have a ton of time internet surfing AND most of it is spent on looking for bike stuff or deals.

    one of my new favorite sites to check daily is ChainLove. it has some pretty good bike deals daily, from bike sox's to winter gear. lately i have been seeing a lot of gurls stuff on there.

    my other favorite site to watch is Steep and Cheap. at Steep and Cheap, they sell premium, core outdoor gear and clothing at prices that are downright criminal. they sell one screamin' deal at a time until it's gone. the deals are fat (up to 80% off and no less than 50% off), so they sell out fast. you have to act fast or you'll miss it, but don't stress-as soon as one deal sells out, they kick off another.

    today, i saw this bumper stick on a car it said, save the ta-ta's. sock guy is selling the sock but here's the official ta-ta site... save the ta-ta's.


cancer sucks.
~dirty bert

House Arrest!

    so you'd think after 4 weeks of being home, i'd make at least 1 post on this blog. 2 weeks ago, i felt like i was on house arrest, instead of having that bracelet on my ankle, i have a brace around my back and chest.

    you see almost 5 weeks ago, on May 31st, i fell mountain biking, a freak accident is what i like to call it. a friend and i were riding chimney rock and decided to do 1 more trail. i usually don't ride that trail because its physical with the roots, rocks and ruts. so as i was climbing this hill, i lost my steam (i think) and wanted to unclip, with my right foot but i didn't do it in enough time. so instead of falling to the sides, like we most do, who ride with clipless, i fell backwards, with great speed and force. i landed, back first into a huge fallen tree on the ground.

    i remember screaming in pain, a wave of nausea, sweeping my body and i didn't want to move because the pain was that bad. my friend wasn't to far behind me, but didn't see me fall, because the fallen tree was that big and was laying in the apex of the turn. i had fallen backwards and smashed my lower back into the tree. i had a camelback on and THANK GOD i did because it cushioned my fall and back. but where the camelback didn't cover, my lower back, is where the pain was.

    after maybe a half and hour i was on my feet, in some excruciating pain and i used the bike as a crutch to walk out of the forest. i honestly thought i broke or bruised some ribs and maybe even my kidney because the pain had gone to my groin. i think it took us about 45 minutes to walk out of the woods and back to the car, where my friend put the bikes back on the car and i painfully got back into the car to drive home. yes, i drove home. 45 minutes later, i dropped him off and called another friend to see if he'd drive me to the hospital but first meet me at my house.

    at the hospital, i waited an 1 hr and 15 minutes to get an x-ray, in all that time i stood up because it was to painful to sit down. i got a CT scan and minutes later, my wife and i found out i broke 5 vertebrate's in my lower back and had internal bleeding. SUPER, FANTASTIC, AWESOME, BRAVO, GOOD JOB!!

    well this whole time, since i was laying on the ground to now, all i could think is, my wife is going to KILL ME! recently my wife and i were told, that we were going to be blessed with TWINS in december. yes, wonderful news but she'd didn't need this stress.

    ok, so to wrap this long winded story, i spent a week in the hospital where i was fitted with a back brace. i was told it would take 6 weeks for my bones to heal and this monday will be my 5th week. i also have to wear this huge back brace for 6 weeks and i only take it off to shower. i can't ride a bike, drive a car or lift anything heavy for 2 months and i'm out of work till september with my short term disability. i'm getting an x-ray this tuesday and hopefully a follow up appointment with my neurosurgeon, the following week. i'm keeping my finger's crossed, so that the doctor will tell me, i'm healed and i can remove the brace, no surgery is needed and i can return to work and be able to drive again. we shall see!

happy trails and
please ride for me!
~dirty bert

Taco Bash Guard

    i got this bash guard on my bike from Dark Cycles, called Black Guard. i gotta say it's pretty phat looking and it does its purpose well. it makes me look better in my non-graceful way of clearing logs.

    I just found this on E-Thirteen Taco Bashguard. for 45 bucks you get a quarter of what you really need in a bash guard. i like the idea, plain and simple and definitely puts its self in the ranks of "why didn't i think of that."

happy trails
~dirty bert

Spring Bike Deals!

    i ask myself, is it really spring? it's nothing like last year, where we jump from a very short spring into summer. although yesterday was very warm, i think a high of 85, we haven't hit the 90's just yet. i'm thankful because i got 2 many outside projects to worry about that.

    i found a cool site to do price comparisons called, Spadout. i only search for mountain biking stuff that's on sale but there are other options as well. for example, i found Time ATAC Cleats, for $14.99! so basically you can buy 2 sets of them for the price of one at a bike shop but then again there's the waiting factor and shipping cost.

    another site, i stumbled along is Bike 29, a 29er site for those dedicated to big wheels. i like looking at the shop section, dreaming of what i would buy if i had the loot.

    i like Twin Six jerseys and t-shirt designs. i like the arygle jerseys. although i vow not to wear bike jerseys, i'd wear them if it was a loose performance, coolmax, shirt, maybe 3/4 length design.

    tasty thursday deal, even though it's friday (thank god), is this 6-pack of GU for $5.50. this offer expires today!

get out there and ride!
~dirty bert

Tubeless in Seattle (well not really)

    where did i go? i was here. i didn't forget about you completely. i was just having to much fun and the way it goes for me, i'm too tired to do much at nite. so since the mild winter we had here in NJ, i have been riding faithfully. i think i was out every weekend until i got hit with that crappy flu. 4 days of fevers, chills and aches. it took about 2 weeks for me to finally get rid of that bug, but the whole dam office had got it at that point as well. i think i didn't ride for like 3 weeks.

    well i'm back and i hope i'm more regular than my morning poops. everyone poops or is it farts, like the book says but more importantly since the new year my bike has gone thru some changes and i gotta say right now, is performing better than the day i got to ride it the first time.

    lets see, since the new year, i have replaced my rear hanger. i got it from Derailleur Hanger. 2 for 39 bucks. i had to get rid of my Goodridge front brake & shifter lines because my front brake and shifting just sucked with them. the brake lines were replaced with Magura front brake lines and the shifter was replaced with Gore cable. my rear wheel has been rebuild, re-greased and re-loved. my fat ass cracked the rail on my Selle Italia SLK saddle. so now i'm sportin' a WTB Speed V and i made the switch to tubeless tires. i'm using Hutchinson tires and it's "protect' air tubeless" suppose to be better than stan's because it can be used on all tires, unlike stan's.

i'm tired. i'll post some morrow.

happy trails
~dirty bert

It's Been Awhile, Well Not Really.

    it's been awhile, i said, i'd try to be a better blogger in 08'and i already failed at that. although, i have been riding, getting out at least once during the weekend which has been good.

    i just got over the flu. i'm sure plenty on you out there have had it or know someone that had or has it. it's pretty rough, i can't remember last when i had a fever and the chills as i did last weekend. 4 days of a fever, drained, achin' and just no interest in eating. i was hoping to lose weight on this, but it did nothing for me.

    so back to riding, i'm excited that this weekend is daylight savings time. this marks it when i can squeeze riding in after work. last year, i did real well, by riding at least 4 days during the week and either one or both days on the weekend. my addiction was being satisfied. unfortunately, it's been raining a lot so the trails aren't in the best shape.

    i was hoping to purchase a road bike this spring but it seems like uncle sam squashed my hopes for that. i couldn't believe how expensive parts were for a road bike. 300 bucks for shifters, you gotta be kidding.

    well weather permitting and hopefully it isn't so muddy, i'm headed to allaire on sunday. a lil early morning riding before the hellish week that i already know that i'm going to have at work.

happy muddy trails,
~Db

Skinny Wooden Bridges

    i know it's been awhile since the last i wrote. AND i know i said in the last posting that i was going to blog more in 08', but i never realized how much work goes into writing something for a blog. i have no problem rambling in emails or textin' but here it requires so much more time. See, i think i was just rambling.

    so i bought those Lake MXZ302 winter shoes. they make my toes nice and warm and happy. i stepped into a puddle and they were fine, as long as the puddle or in my case the stream crossing isn't over the top of the shoe. my feet were wet and on top of it, i could feel the water sloushin' around inside my shoe, yes i was to lazy to drain my shoe. so we are in mid February and you'd think i would have broken in these Lakes by now, ravin' about how well they fit and oh-so-warm and happy my toes are but how can i when last Saturday was 50! for once, global warming is good!

    i have been riding almost, practically every weekend. i got 2 new fearless riders joining me this winter. i especially enjoyed it when they graduated to clip-less pedals. endless, silly crashes. you all remember all the embarrassing falls. falling just trying to clip in, falling just stopping for a brief moment, falling backwards on your rear tire, while you tumble down a hill, still clipped in and only unclip as you land into the stream (that was me). the 1 guy falls silently, very very stealthy, you have no idea. 1 minute he's there and the next he's laying on his side on the ground. very quick and quiet.

    i got a problem. i cannot ride in a straight line in order to save my life. i panic and psyche myself out before i come to a wooden bridge, forget a skinny. how could i ride that when i can't ride a curb and only last for 3 feet. i need practice. i need someone to build stuff for me to practice on.

happy frozen trails,
~dirty bert

It Must Be the Shoes.

    Well i finally broke down and bought winter shoes. I bought them 1 size bigger to accommodate the thicker socks or multiple pairs that i wear. I got the new cleat attached to the shoe and tried it out last Sunday. It kept my toes nice and warm AND dry for the most part. I had a lot of trouble trying to clip into my pedal. The cleat was in a new positioned so i had trouble searching for it on the pedal. I felt like a newbie once again, minus all the falling.

    The shoes held up well until i stepped into a stream crossing. I'm sure they would have been fine if the water wasn't so high. So from then on, they became a ice block. I mean these shoes are so water tight, i could feel the water swishing around the inside as i rode.

    Fenders are also a key part of winter riding. They keep the slop to a minimal on yer back and butt. I found spraying the underside with Pam spray reduces the mud from actually sticking. I also wear a helmet cap or if it's really cold and windy a face protector or also know as Balaclava.

    So tomorrow, they are forecasting 50 degrees in January. Wow, what a way to extend my riding season. Despite the trails being a tad bit muddy and still frozen by mid morning, it's kinda nice to have global warming.

happy muddy trails
~dirty "frozen" bert

Holidays

    It's been a while but I didn't forget about it. I can't describe in a enough words what work has been like these past few months. In all it's great to be at a busy ad agency. Enough about that.

    Winter has arrived and for the first time, I keep hoping it gets cold. Why, because the ground will freeze and I won't have to ride in the mud. When I first started mtn. biking, I loved riding in the mud. I really never knew the bad effects I caused doing that but thought it was a lot of fun. Now a days, after doing trail maintenance at my local riding spot, I try to stay away from the trails, when it gets muddy.

    I finally broke down this year and bought winter mtn. bike shoes. The day after Thanksgiving, my favorite bike shop, Halter's Cycles had a black Friday sale. 20% off on bikes and 30% off on everything else. I picked myself up Lake MXZ302 winter mtb shoe. Yea, they aren't cheap but I'm sure they will last a lot longer than any other mtb shoe I ever had. They are pretty toasty warm, but I haven't had the chance to actually wear them in a ride because I needed to order an extra set of Time ATAC cleats. If you use these, this is the best price on the internet.

    Christmas has come and gone (Merry Christmas to you!) Santa brought me a nice long sleeve Fox Jersey, a cool 2008 mtn bike calendar, a Price Point gift card and Roam dvd. I also got the green light to purchase a road bike. I have no idea what brand to get but I want to get a good frame and fork, that way, I can always upgrade it from there.

    Many thanks to those who have listened to me rant in 2007. I want to be a better blogger in 2008 and HOPEFULLY design a new blog/site in the new year.

Have a safe New Year!

happy frozen trails
~dirty bert

Upgradin'!

    i'm look to do a lil upgrades on my bike. when i first set out to build my bike up, i selected all the parts that i wanted and knew that were good. so i basically got my dream bike and parts to boot. after riding it for 2 years, i finally figured out that i need a new stem. it's not like i broke my old stem but it's to short for me to climb with. the front end of the bike pops up on steep climbs. it has nothing to do wit weight distribution but for the fact that it's a 90mm and i want 110 like i have used in the past.

    i saw this stem, called Rotor S1 stem. It's being sold by Speedgoat. the 110mm weighs 108 grams and cost 160 bucks!! i mean i'd like a light stem. i'm no huckster, nor smooth on my bike but the price of the stem out weights the actual cost of the stem.




    i'm sure i will need to replace the cassette soon, as well as the chain and the rear tire has seen better days. i will try to get the XTR cassette, i got the chain already and new tires, i'll ask around and see what everyone else is using and liking or dislikin'.

    i went to local bike store and bought 3 tubes for $19.50!! jeeze! u got to be kiddin' i just saw online at Price Point, 10 tubes for $19.98! yes i know, i'd have to pay for shipping and then have to wait for it to come, but the mark up at the shop is insane! support yer local shop, yea yea yea, i know but come on!

happy trails
~dirty bert

New bike friend!

2008 giant yukon fx

    so one of my friends wants to jump into mtn biking. "find me a bike between 5 to 600 bucks wit full suspension and disc brakes!" finding a bike in that price range can be difficult, if you ever notice all the bikes are the same parts and different colors. yer looking at a bike at least 35 pounds, a coil shock, a low end front fork and disc brakes and maybe some flashy colors on the frame with a fancy name. i'm not trying to be a snob by saying negative things about these bikes but, when it comes down to the long run, these parts will fail you quicker than you expected AND with mtn biking being so addicting, you will want to head back to the bike shop and buy something better.

    as you can see above, this is the 2008 giant yukon fx. it's equipped with a RockShox Dart 2 100mm suspension fork, Giant air shock, SRAM SX-4 trigger shifting, SX-4 rear derailleur, Hayes MX-4 mechanical disc brakes and a WTB Dual Duty XC rim/Formula disc hub wheelset. honestly not a bad setup for a beginner bike, the way i look at it, it's something to build from for a year or 2. swap out the shifters and rear derailleur for SRAM X7's or X9's and maybe go with a lighter wheelset and you got a great transformation of yer bike.

    i'm going to try to get more close up pics soon, i saw it in person today and i gotta say it's a sweet looking bike. I'm sure he'll love it and soon we can hit the trails together (as soon as the mud dries).

happy muddy trails
~dirty bert

911

    i remember my parents talking about when they first saw the man land on the moon or when JFK was shot. they ask each other, "do you remember where you were?". Well today marks 6 years since 911 and i will never forget where i was on that day...

never forget.
~dirty bert

NEW Favorite Site!

    so i was lazy today. the first time in a long time that i actually did nothing. it was beautiful outside, in the 90's and i didn't ride. i couldn't find anyone to ride with and usually that doesn't stop me to ride but their was a lil urge to go but was deflated when i saw i had a flat rear tire. UGH! i HATE changing the rear tire, it causes me some many issues, i feel like i need another set of arms to change that tire.

    so i pretty much spent the day on ebay, surfin' the web, looking for a good deal on bike lights and reading posts on mtbnj forums. It has become one of my favorite bike site/forums for New Jersey. I can now find new people to ride with and share my experiences, opinions and hopefully make new friends.

happy trails,
~dirty bert