Likin’ Bikin’ News

Hello!

This past Memorial Day weekend, as was our American civic duty, we loaded up the cruiser with fuel and bikes and hit the SoCal freeways!

The original plan was Moab, to visit my old friend Rich. But, due to several rethinks, wethinked it better to stay a little more local and go see Moab when rooms are more and highways are less.

Sorry Rich, we’re off to Big Bear. (Fawnskin, actually).

A last minute search landed us here. We literally called the first place on the Google list and scored! We were in such a hurry, we didn’t realize it was a bed & BREAKFAST type place. The inn keepers, Nancy and Bill, their dog Heidi, and Nancy’s cookin’ made for the coolest stay we could have hoped for. If you ever go visit the area, you should stay there!

Anyway, We rolled up Saturday afternoon. (We got a late start due to going to UPS first… your new bike’s on the way Dave!), were greeted at the door by Nancy, dropped our stuff off, and headed out to explore this quiet side of the lake. Yeah, in case you haven’t been up there in a while, Big Bear has become a bit zoo’ish. BB blvd is 4 lanes wide with traffic? <– When’d THAT happen?

Well, after a little snoopin’ around the trails 4-wheel style, we headed back, had dinner near the Village part of BB (most famous for it’s “Chad’s Place), and then back to Fawnskin for a $5 bluegrass concert (also recommended by the innkeepers). Yessereee, bluegrass by The Rambling Rangers! We met up there with our friends Ashley and Anthony (Anthony being the guy behind the lightweight stuff of CadenceWorks). The Rangers are actual Forest Service Rangers, and were really good! Especially Molly, on the fiddle! I dare anyone to keep from moovin’ when she solos.

After the concert, we met and were photo’d with ‘em…

Yup, “we knew them when.”

(These are some really nice people, and proceeds from the concerts go to nat’l forest.. look ‘em up sometime.)

Sunday morning, after a delicious feast served by Nancy, we headed over to Summit to meet up with “the A-Team” (Anthony & Ashley) for some chairlift assisted ridin’.

Conditions were cool, dusty, and purdy… see?

I had the diSSent all dressed up for Super-D in Santa Barbara next week, and the thang was feeling really solid at high speeds and through the techie, shale’ish descents. Even felt extra confident in the air.

Some Super-D prep included 205mm Oro brakes, BlkMrkt BadaBoom handlebars, Sinz Stemlock to stiffen-up the fork, and of course a tester KinLin XD280 rear wheel. (I hadn’t built the front yet as I was contemplating 20mm or QR)

Although gravity play is obviously not the purpose behind the Misfit (there Peter, I said it!), the bike set up like this was handling amazingly well. Even with that 80mm Reba on there. Watch for race updates in a couple weeks. (Yes, I know there’s no SS class in SuperD…So?!)

Monday, before heading home and after yet another delightful AM meal, we decided to go pack some more dirt onto the car instead of riding again.  So no more ride reporting for that day.

Trails were still lookin’ nice though.

Next up… Santa Barbara