Moots MootoX Single Speed 29er

Do I like it? I know the picture speaks for itself, but let me tell you. THIS BIKE IS SICK. The Fox shox is awesome, it seems stiffer than my Reba which means it goes where you point it. The hope brakes, sweet as pie. The frame is soooo sexy and it is a great combo of stiffness and forgiveness. It's quite nimble and is easy to hop over stuff. Did I mention the bee buzzin sexy sound of the King Hubs. I have had them before, on road bikes and cross bikes and the sound just isn't the same. When on a single speed part of the beauty is the silentness of the ride. When you are winding through some technical stuff and you hear the bee's on and off its soooo sweeett. New Quarter was very dry. Babycakes found her mountain bike zen and had a great ride. We busted out 3 laps before some mexican food at Tequila Rose. Peace.

Moots MootoX 29er Uno

Here she is. I have waited 3 months to pull this together and in reality about ten years. I have looked at Moots, sold them, fondled, and drooled. For whatever reason (mostly my obsession with IF), I hadn't purchased one. I even went to the extent of filling out an employee purchase form years ago and never did it. Well its time this dream came to fruition. The housing on the sexy ass brakes are a little long and will be remedied next week, but I'm riding tomorrow. The wheels were a challenge. I've built most of my wheels, but when it is a rear disc wheel and your push pull spokes gotta be laced opposite on the non- drive side. Well; lets just say it wasn't clicking at first and some very expensive stuff almost got thrown across the room. Huge amounts of patience went into this project. Half the stuff I ordered in the beginning of May wasn't available and the original fork plan DT Swiss rigid still isn't available. Well anyway; its late and I need some alone time with my new lady. Peace

SUPPORT TEAM AND POST RACE FUN

Thanks to my extended family for all the fun and support. My inlaws not only came out to the race, but they brought the grandparents and Jeff and kids(friends) out to the race with the camper and food. I been racing most of my life on and off and I don't think I have ever received so much support. Thanks again.

Now, on another note. I have always lived near water and can appreciate it, but never cared one way, or another about water sports. Well, not in this family. My mother in law practically pushed me out of the boat. I have to admit it was fun. I did jump off of a thirty foot cliff into the water as well. Skiing I will do again. Jumping off perfectly solid ground, not so much. I only wish the expression on my face when I jumped had of been capture on film cause it ain't happenin again.

Little Beaver Mountainbike Challenge

Went to West Virginia to visit family and race bikes. Little Beaver State Park right outside of the New River Gorge area is were the race was held. The course was one of the more challenging that I have raced on. If you like rock gardens and roots then you will love riding here. It is by far one of the more technical rides I have had. About five minutes into the race I bent my cog set and therefore could not ride in about three of the five gears I would have prefered to use. I stopped twice trying to figure out what the hell was going on and finally gave up. I thought, "this race is over". I couldn't believe it, I was going to DNF, I never DNF and then with a few choice words I just got more pissed, and then I thought well no time like the present to figure out the whole single speed theory. (Actually I used about two gears that were not my first choice, but ya gotta make do sometimes.)

If you have ever done a mountain bike race you know once the pac spreads out and unless your on a straight away you often loose track of where you are in the pack, or in the woods for that matter. I had only ridin the course once the day before so both off these effects were in play. I figured I paid my money I may as well ride. It is amazing the mental rollercoaster you can go through when you are pushing your body. I was very lucky. This course was dumping people left and right. I don't believe I have ever seen so many fiddlin with there bikes, walkin, or brushing themselves off as I did at this race. The rock garden were betting us to death. Anyway I figured I wasn't the only one who had problems, so lets have some fun.

I got the finish line and thought, "well, If I ain't gonna win I may as well look cool so, I did a wheelie across the finish line." Come to find out I looked cool gettin 1st place. IN YOUR FACE, ROADIES.

Speedy's Hot Sauce

Anyone wanting sauce, or t-shirts just e-mail me your address to www.rooster790cc@yahoo.com . The sauce is $5, and the shirts are $20 plus shipping. It seems that the standard for shippin a couple of shirts and/or 2 ta 8 bottles of sauce has been around $8. At this point snail mail, or paypal is the way. Thanks for all the support.

Speedy's Hot Sauce

You asked for it and now it is a reality. There is a new batch of sauce and it is official. Bar coded, nutritional facts and all legit. The athletic fit t-shirt is available as well. It is tobacco brown w/ robin's egg blue silk screen. To all those non-metro sexuals thats brown and blue. Just e-mail, or message me if your interested. Look for it all in local restaurant soon.

The AT in Virginia

There were blisters, insects, unusual cold weather, rain, wind, hunger, heat, hills, down hills, crapping in the woods, weight on my back, aching feet, aching back, aching ankles, hunger, thirst, sleeping on the hard cold ground (in the 50's with shorts on) pure joy. Did I mention hungry and thirsty for cold beer. Pictures speak a little more. It's all worth it. I get board easily, and nature could care less. I am admittedlly a little bitch about comforts, but this final picture is what its all about.

P.S. I bought zipp off long pants and new hiking boots the next day. F merrell foot wear. It doesn't work for me.

the end of the journey

Or the beginning of the next.

On the Edge

"On the edge", can be scary in multiple ways. I ironically feel comfortable with either

The bug soup was delicious

Camping tip No.1: I the evening when you are chillin' and the lantern is on we discovered some pest control. The bowl was just sittin near the lantern and the bug just kept flying into it. I guess cause it was reflecting the light. So, after a while they will get on ones nerves. So, I poured some water in it and sure enough they would land in it and splash around "alot". So, I took this death machine a little further and put 4 or 5 drops of dishwashing soap in the water. Well they kept a comin every night and they don't spash around but for a second. This reduced the problem by about 85%.

Camping tip No.2: Go camping on Sunday. Most campgrounds have a 3 o'clock check out so get there around 4 o'clock. Everyone is leaving and you can scavenge all their left behind firewood and like I said we were the only folks in the whole place until about 12:00 midnight on Tuesday.

P.S. There are advantages and disadvantages to being the only people in the middle of nowhere.

Like when people cruise through at night late at a camp ground when you and your woman are the only ones around for miles it is a little unsettling. Another reason to pack some heat. I would hate to use it, but it brings me peace of mind.