Likin’ Bikin’ News

Last I post(ed), we were just gettin’ goin’ from SoCal. That was Monday. Since then? We’ve been having fun being tourists, seeing sights, visiting friends, driving slowly, detouring often, and generally marveling at the country out here.

Monday, we went through Las Vegas and into Utah. We found a cool little place to stay in Springdale, near Zion Nat’l Park.

Tuesday, drove through Zion and Bryce, then backroaded-it for about 100 miles back to I-70 for gettin’ back on track to the next stop, Moab.

We rolled into Moab Tuesday evening and stopped by our good friends’ house there. I met Rich when he worked at Foes…. in the late 90’s? We used to ride in the San Gabriels a lot before he moved to Moab. It was great to finally get out there and catch up with him… or as Bri called it, “geeking out on bikes and computers all night”. (Incidentally, Rich was the guy who created the cool flash-animated Likin’ Bikin’ logos too.)

Next morning, Wednesday, we took the day off from driving and explored Moab some more. It had snowed a bit, and as grippy as slickrock is when it’s dry, it just wasn’t rideable with snow/ice. So we went for a winter hike in Arches instead. Pictures don’t quite capture it… so go see for yourself sometime if you get the chance. Moab IS ‘Planet Awesome’.

Wed night was dinner and more chillin with the Rich and Katie. And we left Moab Thursday morning… for Colorado.

From Moab, we decided to backroad it again, via UT-128 along the Colorado River. More amazing views, until the weather rolled in and made things… white.

Stopped in Vail for lunch, then decided to keep going until the snowing picked-up. Which was in Frisco, CO.

Frisco is a cool little town, at about 8,200 ft. elev. It’s along the Colorado Trail and not too far from Leadville. So I’d been wanting to scout it out anyway… Our return there is inevitable.

Great mountain town vibe with, ironically, the best sushi restaurant we’d ever been to… and at only about 1,000 miles from an ocean?

Friday morning, after de-icing the car, we headed down the eastern slope into Denver… which was traffic’ee, big city’ee, and not calling to us for a stop.

Then, into Kansas. Which is where we are now, in Hays.

Kansas is….

Ok… The entirety of L’B’s inventory in in a container somewhere between the here and the there.

Now, for our drive. It looks something like this:

View Larger Map

Why does it start in Covina? That’s where we spent lastnight. Mom’s house hanging out with family and friends. Sigh….

First night, Rockville (Zion). Because it’s neat!

Who: Likin’ Bikin’

To where?: New Hampshire

When: Feb 2010

Why: Because, NH is all purdy and country and stuff.

Of course huge changes will accompany such a massive undertaking. I mean, not many have ever relocated an empire such as L’B', though we presume it’ll inflict major upheaval within the nation’s economy.

But really, why? Some might think we are just moving to be closer to Toronto. Where we can get in the car, drive to Dingle, and get first-hand diSSent updates.

Or perhaps we’re so impressed with the local MTB park that a season pass and plane tickets just weren’t enough. Or….?

Well how’bout, we just really like it there!

Sure there are some obvious differences in the two locations…

vs.

… but we’ll miss the SoCal-good too. Which is mostly our friends whom we’ve met through bikin’, trail workin’, and L’B'in (local customers).

And the Kernville group! (we’ll keep doin’ the FTF so we’ll still see y’all in October)

Also, though we’ll be a UPS delivery away, we’re gonna miss visiting our local SoCal suppliers. Hoss, BlkMrkt, CadenceWorks, Geax (rep), VSI, Morningstar Tools, NLZ… I might not’ve mentioned it before, but we’ve become friends with these people. We go riding.  We hang out. THESE are the types of companies we all should support. “Bike-Passionate” = them!

Then there’s “Le Cirque”/”The Wilcox Circus”/”The Big Top”/”LB West?”… but that’s a whole other blog post.

Ok, that’s all for now. Much to do! More news and updates from the road….

Just finished last week, this Wildcard platform may be the best “all-arounder” gravity build we’ve cranked out.

Using up to 6.5″ travel combined with low standover (16″ seatube x 14″ BB height for the Large) and weight (7.5lb frame), this thing is where big hit meets agility… It’s as capable a dirt jumper as it it a freerider…. all of which should make it the perfect park bike and/or Calif DH racer. And we can’t wait to get one to either venue for some serious… um, “testing”. (read: fun)

As built: 34.6 lbs and available at Likin’ Bikin’

We just received our first bit o’ 2010 BlkMrkt inventory.

31.8 Bars and stems are in the house. Including BadaBooms in WHITE, and are lookin’ sexy… in a Soprano kinda way.

Also, NEW FOR 2010, the Contraband 24″ jumpin’ frames are now available in TT lengths of 21.5″ and 22″.

Pricing is $399 (frame) and colors are Orange (not pictured), Black, or Neon Green.

Give us a holla if you want one, or just head on over to the site o’ love. We’ll get you rollin’ on 2-4’s.

Watch for more 2010 BlkMrkt stuff ariving this spring… Including the Killswitch Frames.