Well, winter weather is now truly upon us with temps barely breaking double digits this weekend and a foot or so of the whiteness predicted for tomorrow.  So I've gotten busy building up the snow rig and despite a few hiccups it's actually going ok.

New brake hoses are required to replace the ones that came with the slightly used brakes I bought (too short) then just a shifter cable housing and some brake caliper adapters are all that's really missing. A friend has some basic SPD's that I'll use for now and I'm pretty sure I've got a spare saddle to throw at it.  Hopefully all the bits still arrive this week and I've got a message into my local shop to give it a thorough looking over before I start riding. I'm hoping to have it on the trails in two weeks or so and the inbound snow should make for some entertaining rides w/ the studded tires.

 

I think that in a few days I will be able to start working on my Biachi. I have to check the rear brake mount. I think it only supports 140mm Disc/calipers and I use 160mm on both wheels. 

There should be adapters available to accommodate different diameters.  Even on my 2018 Scott Genius it runs post mount adapters to mate up with 180mm discs which were the default standard by that point.  Same with the 2015 frame that I'm working on building up now and one of the reasons I haven't been able to get it wrapped up this week.  The adapters and new brake lines should be at my house when I get home so with a little luck I'll drop the bike off at my shop mid next week for a thorough check over to make sure I don't die the first time I ride it.  

I have gotten Shimano adapters for the new style of calipers (flat mount) and have had to modify (with sandpaper and dremel) the rear adapter. I think I can place it these days.

I'll swap the wheels this weekend for the ones with the studded tires already mounted on them, but the COVID hardtail project is complete(ish).  I probably need new brake pads but I'll deal with honky brakes for a little while.

Are honky brakes the ones with the white pads?

Initial testing this morning went very well.  Conditions aren't ideal but were good enough for some fun.

That bike needs a moose horn. Oh, wait...

Got back out for a longer ride today, on packed snow it's a total blast. On loose stuff, not so much (as expected).  Really looking forward to riding these trails in the spring on this thing.

More mid-fat snow testing in preparation for a longer ride tomorrow morning. 

I know, originality score of zero but winter appears to be departing rather quickly so I got out this morning while it was snowing a bit.  It sadly turned to rain before I was done and has been doing that steadily for the last two hours. Still, much fun was had.

For cycling, should be take full face helmet or open face helmet?

american you are maybe not?

Unless you're doing some really extreme trail riding, open face is more than adequate. It'll also allow a bit better visibility. 

2 hours ago, swt61 said:

Unless you're doing some really extreme trail riding, open face is more than adequate. It'll also allow a bit better visibility. 

Risky click?

A couple of years ago my wife went in for wrist surgery, and while we waited a guy in his early 20s was waiting for the next surgery in a journey as a result of a MB accident. Downhill into a dip, came off, and noticed one foot was rotated by 180 degrees. Compound fracture with bones sticking out.

Fortunately he had a phone and enough signal to call for help. Helicopter extraction.

First surgery was 8 hours. Next one was 8 hours. Etc. Weeks in hospital.

I have no idea if he was wearing  a helmet.

Full face helmet for bike parks and other primarily downhill trail systems which are served by chairlifts or lift shuttles, open face helmets for almost everything else.

^ +1.

I'm clumsy and don't want to make my face any worse than it already is.  That's why I only own full face helmets.

USA Nationals are in oak ridge this week. 

 

 

 

The usual insane Red Bull stuff

 

Attempting to prep for the usual century at the end of the summer.

Today's work:

Decided to put in some speed work this morning since I was up at the crack of dawn seeing half the house off for a weekend (or more) of baseball in CT.  Weather was pretty much perfect, warmish , no sun, virtually no wind.

8 hours ago, n_maher said:

Decided to put in some speed work this morning since I was up at the crack of dawn seeing half the house off for a weekend (or more) of baseball in CT.  Weather was pretty much perfect, warmish , no sun, virtually no wind.

31.26 miles in 1:31:52 with 1109ft of elevation. When did you get a Class 1 Ebike?

 Posting these for Brent's entertainment.