So you've seen these bikes before in different forms and set ups, but after much thought I believe I've landed on the best possible set up. Here is a quick journey through where these bikes have done starting here to here to here to... [sorry for the picture quality]
My camera died so here is the best I could do for a time lapse of Saturdays project...
So as most of you know the Surly Karate Monkey is a 29er, big wheeled goodness. The Xtracycle kit that I had purchased a good 2 years ago now was for a 26" wheel. I decided to keep the rear wheel from what was on the Giant frame and so you guessed it kids, I'm running a 69er Xtramonkey as I'm calling it. I'm sure it has been done before but the set up is amazing! I can't believe I put up with such an aggressive position previously. Obviously with the larger front wheel it moves the bar positioning up but it's good, dang good! If you're looking into putting a Free Radical on an older bike running 'traditional' geometry or a completely rigid that doesn't have a suspension corrected fork on it it's the least you should do. Your body will thank you!
I might add that the thrill I'm having at running this as a 69er by no means that I support the confused line of bikes offered by a few companies that come stock in this set up. For the mountain application you cannot beat a 29er.
I stumbled onto this video a few minutes ago and well... it's one of those that just proves that there is multiple ways to skin a cat. I will forewarn you there is some language in it...
A few thoughts from it from right after watching it...
_he's taking a part a freewheel, not a cassette. _he wants to be 'careful' when clamping down a pipe wrench to the gears not to 'ruin' them. _I love youtube, it teaches so that we can sell people new parts!
Tuesday Nights here in Grand Rapids there is group of guys who do a little Urban Assault on some mountain bikes and since I know a few of them, I figured I'd tag along. Not too mention I'm helping out with a urban race called King of the Streets being put on in here in a few weeks... be checking out that website as all the details start to get hashed out.
I was more of a camera man than anything, given that I was on the Cannondale cross bike... enjoy some pics from the evening. Most are in black and white for your EPIC viewing pleasure...
So I've decided. I would say I'm around the 93% sure mark on whether I'll go through with this or not. But if I had to say yes or no right now, it's definitely a yes.
I'll be getting a 2010 Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er 1.
Over at Twentynineinches.com they have the full line of '10 Cannondale 2ers shown and given probable specs and some have rumored that this will be a sub 20 lbs bike! Crazy, given that the Fisher Superfly without pedals came in at 23 lbs. I guess seeing is believing in this case but regardless, I want to get my hands on one. I know, suprise suprise, I'm not going single speed.
Here's what G.Ted wrote for spec on this beauty...
Carbon fiber comes to Cannondale 29″ers: We’ve been reporting this for a couple weeks now, but here are the details as we know them. First, the spec sheet I have seen is saying that the Flash carbon 29″ers are “Hi-MOD”, which one would asume means that it is “high modulus” carbon fiber. The story is being told now that this isn’t the case, and that “standard modulus” carbon fiber is going to be used in these frames to keep the cost down. (Reportedly between $2500-$3000 for the Flash 29er 1) At any rate, even with the confusion there, the rest of the spec is exciting. The fork is a Lefty Carbon SL with DLR set at 80mm. The stem/steer tube is Cannondale’s SI (System Integrated) set up. The frame is also a BB-30 frame with FSA K-Force Light crank and BB-30 bottom bracket. The drive train consists of SRAM X-0 rear derailluer and shifters with a Shimano XT front mech all working to turn the DT Swiss 240 rear/Lefty SL front hubs laced to Stan’s NoTubes ZTR Arch rims with DT Swiss Aerospeed spokes.
The frame itself is very interesting with flattened chain stay sections mated with minimalistic looking seat stays, presumably to give better vertical compliance. The junction of the top tube to the seat tube is also curiously tapered. The seat post is a Cannondale branded piece that is reportedly using S.A.V.E. technology gained from working with the Synapse line on the road side. Note the flattened, thinner section at mid-post. This is again in an effort to provide more rider comfort. Avid Elixir CR Carbon brakes with a 180frt/160r rotor set up, Fizik Gobi XM with Kium rails, and TruVativ Stylo World Cup 10 degree bar round out the spec highlights here.
I'm already imagining it with a little bit more red on it...
Only a few months ago Brian and I attempted Trans Iowa v.5 and since the moment that we called it quits we started talking about how we were going to train and finishTrans Iowa V. 6. We've slowly begun the conversation as to what we want to do each month to get there and so far here is what we've come up with...
_A century a month (dirty or clean) starting August.
Remember, Brian and I are normal guys, simple shop rats for the time being and training for us typically just means getting out on the bike and riding and riding a lot. I am debating investing in a training program come November that will give me direction in the fall.
So far here are a few rides I'm debating doing, hopefully this list will grow longer in the next month:
Brian and I are hoping to meet up a few times and go for a few day or days rides if our schedules work out, which may be a bit trickier since Brian and his wife have a baby on the way! All I know is it's good to have the ball rolling.
Now yesterday was an interesting day... I started out the day by calling in sick to the shop and by the middle of the day finding out that the one and only BikesnobNYClinked up No Drive and the Veloship crew and pointed out some thing quite interesting...
Words can always have different meanings to the person reading them, especially in the case of 'creating' new terminology such as 'veloship'.
Case in point [made by Bikesnob]... velo shipping or the velo ship? I actually think that all that he is correct when he says:
'I have a feeling that the "velo ship" conversion is going to become the next big thing. Forget horizontal dropouts and fixed cogs; soon it's going to be all about the pontoons. Not only will this come in handy for flooding, but it will also mean that you won't have to use any of the bridges; instead, you can just ford the East River wherever you feel like it.'
The only thing I might disagree with him is that forgetting about 'horizontal dropouts and fixed cogs'. Why not merging of these two niche cycling genres, the fixed gear and pontoon bike. Just step back and image what all the hypsters will do [if it catches on have you] for gearing and the incorporation of the fixie tricks... I could see it becoming show of epically long skid competitions and tricks that are similar to a gymnast on a pommel horse. Granted there would be a pretty big uphill battle in getting a hypster to gain the upper body strength to have to ability to perform such an act. But one can always hope.
All in good fun though... I did stumble onto this video for a movie called Veer, that's been played at a few Bicycle Film Festivals around the US and from just the preview, I think it really shows what 'veloship' can be and is to a lot of people whether they call it that or not.
On the Veer website, it says:
'Veer explores America’s fast-growing bicycling culture by profiling five people whose lives are inextricably tied to bicycling and the bike-centric social groups they belong to. The film follows these characters over the course of a year, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their personal struggles and triumphs. Veer examines what it means to be part of a community, and how social movements are formed.'
On a side note, Wes and Veloship crew are unaware of this as of right now but I've begun drawing up a few designs for potential Veloship/No Drive shirts [I told you I had other designs up my sleeve]. Just an idea right now and I'm sure Wes will have thoughts but you've always got to get the ball started somewhere.
