Likin’ Bikin’ News

Well this year’s Kernville Fat Tire Fest has come and gone, and the 2009 edition was as great as ever.

First off, the trail conditions were the best we’ve seen in all of our (3) years of attending this event. Last week (Wednesday) the sky above K’ville provided some badly needed rain to the whole area. Thursday was cool enough to allow the newly wetted trails to settle-in without the instant evaporation as normal dry socal style. <– This made for perfect, dust-free, tacky, trails during the festival’s cloudless and warm Fri, Sat, and Sunday. Epic!

Also, as tho the extraordinary conditions weren’t enough reason for crazy cheek-achin’ all day smiles, the founding Poobah of this shindig added a couple extended rides to the already classic menu of shuttle-me-ups.

First, on Friday only, a ride to the top of Sherman Pass. We were dropped off at 9,400′ for a little extra credit singletrack descending to the “start” of the legendary Cannell Trail… and the subsequent Cannell Plunge. Quick note here, this year I brought my Misfit diSSent to this mostly downhill event. And I couldn’t have been happier with the decision. “Juan” was absolutely hooking-up in the fast, flowy singletrack AND skimming trough the rocky stuff right alongside the big-travel bikes. And it’s always cool to have riders check the bike out afterward with comments like, “wait, you were doing all that on a hardtail?” Good job Juan!

Friday evening was Bike Rodeo time. I found my perfect technique to be completely ineffective in Wheel Bowling (an event brought to you by your favorite bikin’ site). However, new and natural talents were discovered in the Rim Toss! And as for the Bike Limbo? Even though I thought I’d have an unfair advantage on the limbo-stout Nummers, I just couldn’t get low-get low.

Friday night was all about the campfire. We had Christina, Dave, and Jason stop by for some dinner (stew ala dutch oven), beverages, and satelite searching.

Saturday morning brought more rides with full shuttles leaving in all directions. However I had been scooped into a 14 man plan to traverse a few of the regular rides, combining them into one loooong, all-day journey that would push all 14 of us to our technical descending and upward hike-a-biking limits.

(7hrs of riding and I got this single picture)

We all survived the 7hr ride, though not a sip of water remained in any of the 14 Camelbaks, and we were met at the finish by the very patient Kelly (we were 2 hrs late) and a van stocked with pizza and frothy-cold beverages! I love these MRA people!

Finally back to the campsite at 5:30 pm (we’d left at 9:00 that morning), we caught the end of the hill climb comp, where one daring climber went naked? I’m NOT sorry for not having photos of that.

After a shower it was time for the Saturday night fiesta! The MRA crew put together an outdoor party worthy of nightclub status. It was sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, so the FREE BEER may have played small a part in the huge success? But the dj, bike giveaway, food, and general pumpkin’ee decor made it a first class partaay!

Now during the Sat night “gala”, a sort-of talent show broke out. The winner of which received a New Belgium beach cruiser. The guy who won did so with a Red Hot Chili Pepper dance wearing nothing but a single sock… not on his foot. Again, glad to not have a photo for you. And for those of you keeping score, yes. That’s 2-0 (naked dudes to naked ladies) for the weekend. Sigh… moving on!

Sunday morning breakfast served-up by MRA and the “big give”. Everyone at the festival received a button upon registering. On the back of the button is a number. On Sunday morning, while you enjoy pancakes, John grabs a mic and… you get the idea. This is where we come in. We always add the usual t-shirt, jersey, shorts, water-bottles, tool,… but this year we also supplied 2 wheelsets. A lightweight DT Swiss 240 Disc set AND an All Mtn set by C-4 Components. I know, I know, we’re like Santa!

Sunday, after breakfast, Bri and I were spent. So the Mrs. and I waited for the shuttles to head out and then sneaky-sneaked off to go find our own ride. Just the two of us. Awwww….

After this ride, we headed back to camp, packed up, said our good-byes, went to lunch with some good friends, more good-byes, and reluctantly headed down the mountain for home, already talking about next year’s trip on the way… and SO looking forward to it.

After two days of perfect riding, it’s party time in Kernville. Dave and Bri chillin’.
Lots of pics and stuff when we return.

…But! No sooner had we unpacked, that we found ourselves re-packing for the Kernville Fat Tire Festival.

So, the NH stuff will have to wait. Here’s a preview:

New England MTB scene is alive, well, and just awesome. Highland MTB Park? Most other parks I’ve been to could take a lesson from this place. They have trails for everyone. Slope-style, DH, DS, DJ Pumptrack… even a combo DH/Half-pipe type thing.  Not to mention amazing views from the lift. Oh, and ladder drops everywhere!

Now back in Calif, we are heading right on up to the Kernville FTF… like last year.

We’re lookin’ forward to seeing our good  “bak-o” friends, enjoying some shuttling and downhill trail riding, and just relaxin’ outdoors at the MRA campsite.

Will update more from the fest.

Out the door now….

Well in case you haven’t seen the Home Page of Awesomeness, Bri and I are enjoying some downtime in the here in the Granite State.

Of course we (I) forgot the cable to load the gazillion pics we’ve taken with the “trail camera”, so the photo journal is gonna have to wait.

For now, let’s just say, we’re having a great time participating in the local DH scene.

More of this serious business to follow…

Well as hinted before, we were doing our usual far-n-wide snooping for stuff that’s just as good as (and occasionally better than) those high dollar, “you gotta buy this if you wanna ride fast” magazine brands, and we’ve put together another lovely blend of the top-notch-yet-less-talked-abouts that are sure to impress even the most skeptical brandie-branderson.

Yes, I’m talkin’ about custom wheels. Nice wheels. Strong meets light wheels. High precision bearings meets well built wheels-wheels. Just darn good and affordable wheels.

Recent examples: (Links take you to the pages to see pricing and larger photos)

I’m talkin’ Novatec hubs lovingly laced to DRC rims via Wheelsmith spoked wheels. How ’bout them apples? Yeah, I know, it’s kinda the U.N. of wheelbuilds. But consider this:

Novatec hubs – Taiwanese shells (with well thought out, tension balancing flange sizings and impressive weight reducing material allocation), filled with 4 Japanese precision sealed bearings (those bearings? I’m not going on record, but let’s just say even the bearing upgrades from some of the big guys come out of this factory – Google “EZO”, if you must), 4 crisp clickin’ pawls, blingin’ anodized colors, and even some aluminum axle options for some impressive digits (LOweight!). Here’s what you’ll have to choose from:

Also from Novatec, we’re stoked to have a lightweight option for Single Speed XC racers… or riders wanting to shave some weight off the SS. (Pssst… I hear it helps with the climbs <– DL)

The 135g fronts can, of course be used with any QR Disc setup, and do sell separately, but we kinda think they go nicely with the matching aluminum-axled SS rears, which come in at 290g!! (Which, in the world of SS hubs, is really friggin’ light.)

AND… Check out the third picture below. With this hub, you get: skewer if you like QR, blots if you have horizontal d/o’s (or just like bolts), and a practically weightless aluminum lockring and spacer. We even trhow in an 18t cog. (But for this hub, we recommend upgrading the also practically weightless Misfit COD cog).

How’s the durability of the aluminum axle, you ask? See the post right below this one. Yup, that big galoot racing XC on the Misfit is doing so on this exact hubset.

…Moving on with these builds.

DRC Rims – Highly respected in the road wheel market, these made in Italy MTB hoops have a forever of cycling history and a classic look to match. And the single eyeletted versions are lighter than plenty of noletted hoops out there. Laser etching and clean ano also add to the “this is a dernn fine rim” factor. Our DRC options are here… But continue to grow (as in more MTB tubulars available soon in Red color…Bah-ling!)

Wheelsmith – When you look at alot of spokes and nipples, it’s easy to tell which were produced with the most attention to detail. Consistent quality, size, threading, and anodizing make these Cali products (started in Cali anyway)  the choice for our MTB builds. Wheelsmith forged nipples are also used. Whether they’re the deep black brass or the colored lightweight alloy, your wheels will be holdin’ strong while lookin’ sexy.

As usual, if you’re after something specific, why not just contact us and get all custom n’stuff.