Aurora-Batavia Prairie Path Triangle

New Blog - Snow Biker Chicago

Just started a new blog Snow Biker Chicago - SBC
This one is to document the build on my latest bike a Chain Reaction Cycles - 9:ZERO:7 snow bike
from the ground up, every piece needs to be hand picked and researched.

coyotes at dusk in fermilab

Quick ride at sunset in Fermilab. I was heading home when I heard what sounded like a puppy mill going crazy, pulled over and heard LOTS of coyotes playing around or maybe just eating something, because on the way out of Fermilab a police man pulled me over to ask if I had seen any small dogs running around. Some were missing in the neighborhood and the owners were upset.

"Maybe a dingo ate your poodle"

Hot Weekend tour

Heading back to the Hennepin Canal Trail this weekend for about a 100 mile ride with one night of camping. The Moots is coming along and its uncharted territory for him so is should be very good. Its going to be super hot though, heat index into the 100F+ range and a chance of thunderstorms. Its the same route from our 4 day tour and it was my favorite stretch of trail. Chances of seeing anyone on the trail have to be low in this kind of weather stiuation, a relaxing ride to the Geneseco Campground, which I think is just awesome. The cleanest showers at any campground I have ever been to, it should be a great end to a very hot, long ride. Cant wait!
I will update everyone on this ride and I know, still owe everyone the Tour Across Illinois ride posting. Soon-scouts honor!
Ride On!
UHC

LHT loaded for touring

LHT loaded for touring
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

Tour Across Illinois 4-Day 300mile adventure

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/trans-illinois

Hey Everyone - Follow us on our tour across Illinois. Morris to the Mississippi and back.

Test Ride with the Albatross Bars

First test ride with the handlebar set-up went better then expected. Fermilab and boy was it windy. First impressions - you are more upright and exposed to the wind and elements without the drop bars, but the ride is delightfully fast and more comfortable then with my Nitto randonneuring bar. It has a weird "dancing on the pedals" feel and the trucker feels like a champ in this arrangement. It would be one bad ass commuter bike.

Down side: is that you really can only get 2 or so hand grip positions. I did start to feel a little twitchy in my hands after an hour or so. I like the front "naked" bar spot for stretching and a little bit of an aero position for this set-up. Thinking that moustache bars would also be really nice on the LHT.

Good Things: I love the new cork grips!! After 4 coats of amber shellac they feel great and look super sweet. Another huge plus with installing the grips and bar-end shifters was I needed to use the "Dremel tool...yea!!!"
Jagwire Cable -B+ With the new set-up I needed to re-cable and replace the housings. The rear derailleurs cable now needs to be a tandem cable! Which is no biggie because of my Rans Stratus XP recumbent. But down side is that tandem cables cost more and are harder to find. Approx $12 each!! The jagwire sets are great, more then enough cable, great color/texture options and good smallwares. Little pricy but worth it. The color chosen for the LHT was "Titanium" and they are tough looking.

Really looking forward to my first test ride with Jack and the Burly trailer. Test Ride number 1 " ...great success..."

Ride On!

old school set-up

old school set-up
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

LHT new handlebar set-up

LHT new handlebar set-up
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

LHT rando set-up

LHT rando set-up
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

Doesn't this go any faster?

Doesn't this go any faster?
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

Jack's new Livestrong Helmet

Jack's new Livestrong Helmet
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

Jack is getting ready for the summer riding season with his new-used Burley trailer and Giro Livestrong Helmet

Brooks Flyer Special Saddle for the LHT

Finally broke down and purchased a new saddle to replace the stock one. After so many years off a diamond frame I was not sure how my butt would handle a new saddle. And based on some information from friends and the Internet and well basically looking at a million picture on Flickr, I went with a Brook Flyer Special.
When it really comes to saddles its hard not to be sitting on a Brooks. But one of that main challenges is the long and painful break in period.
Brooks are a fabulous company that has nothing but awesome products in their line up. For touring and pulling around JAK in the burley I went with a sprung saddle. Hoping if afforded be some extra chushing. Although I am a bigger dude, i have a tiny boney ass. The Flyer Special is based on Brooks workhorse B-17 but with 2 heavy duty springs and hand hammered copper rivets. The quick specs are a saddle width of 170mm and length of 280mm and topping the scales at 870g (1.9#).

The Purchasing Story (My LBS is 25 miles away)
So after weeks of searching and reviewing saddles online, I get down to business and pull the credit card out and search with intent to purchase. Cheapest one out on the market is in the UK and with shipping its still cheaper then getting it anywhere local or in the US. So, on the way home from business trip I stop in North Central Cyclery in DeKalb. Great shop, bought my Trucker there, love the joint. Talk to Toby at the desk, they didn't have one out in their Brooks section, so he offers to get one in, I then tell him that I was still just researching and "found one real cheap online", he's like "well i don't normally match online pricing, but tell me what it is?" I tell him my crazy story about the UK bike shop etc and he was so shocked and thinks its such a great deal he felt he had to match the Price (LOWER then $125). He pulled the shoppe's website up on the Internet and Bing. New saddle baby!!
$40 less then REI and most other places.

While waiting for the new piece gear to arrive, I spoke to some friends and read a few reviews and stories on the best way to break it in. I currently am going with a heating with a very hot hair dryer, combo'd with Brooks Proofide. I have heard stories that it could take months to break in the saddle and after my first ride I hope my extra love with "heat & massage" shortens that time.
Just like in life...rub something long enough, something hard will become soft!!

More updates on the break in process to come

"Get on your bikes and ride"