Today I want to address the subject of the drop bar for mountain bike use. It seems to be a ridiculous suggestion to some mountain bikers to even consider a drop bar off road, but in reality, drop bar usage off road pre-dated flat bar use off road, even in the beginning of the "modern era" of mountain biking, which I put at about 1977 or so. (Basically when Joe Breeze conjured up and made his first purpose built off road bike)

Guys were using "drop" bars off road and they worked great. When the whole "mountain bike" thing got going; however, there was a movement that rejected anything "roadie" oriented. Drop bars were most commonly associated with road racing rigs, so the whole idea of even thinking about using a drop bar off road was a totally "anti-mountain bike" thing for many folks. Some folks didn't get that message though and were thinking in a whole different manner.  read more »

As I halfheartedly reported yesterday, and as everybody knows by now, the Great Trek Bicycle Making Company has severed its relationship with Greg LeMond . In fact, Trek has filed suit against him, claiming hes done damage to the brand. Trek allege that he did so not only by badmouthing Lance Armstrong and Trek, but also by re-selling bicycles he purchased at a discount directly to customers. According to the suit (a copy of which which was forwarded to me by a reader in the legal profession, along with a bill for $1,500): ... since 1999 Greg LeMond has made numerous purchases of LeMond bicycles at employee pricing from Trek with a suggested retail value of over $2,500,000. Upon information and belief, Greg LeMond has resold, bartered for value or otherwise distributed many or most of these bikes, harming Trek and its dealers. As one example, in early March 2008, a Trek Dealer sold two LeMond Zurich bicycles to two customers. These bicycles sell at retail for more than $2,800, each, and thus are important sales. This Dealer ordered the bikes and expected to complete the sales when the bikes arrived. On or about March 15, 2008, one of the two customers who had ordered the LeMond Zurich bicycles returned and informed Treks Dealer that he and the other customer were able to get LeMond-branded bicycles directly from Greg LeMond himself, at a price much lower than the retail price. The customer explained that since they were saving over 50% by buying from Greg LeMond instead of from the Dealer, they ordered La Victoires, a more expensive LeMond-branded bicycle ($5,279.99 suggested retail price), instead of the Zurich bicycles they had ordered from the Dealer. As his business was harmed by the loss of sales as a result of LeMonds unauthorized and unlawful conduct, the Dealer commented: Why would we support a vendor that is deliberately using back-channels to sell products in our market? As an immediate resolution to this problem, the only fair and practical thing that I can see is to bill Mr. Lemond's account for the lost profit $$ that we have foregone as a result of his action. Furthermore, going forward, I would like an apology and his word that he will not sell around his dealers going forward. Again, these are only allegations, but if this is indeed true, Greg LeMond may be the worlds most famous shop rat. Be that as it may, the Great Trek Bicycle Making Company has lost a member of the family. Granted, losing Greg LeMond might be the same kind of familial loss as when your 45 year old unemployed crank-addicted cousin finally moves out of your basement, but its a loss nonetheless. And the big question is: who will move in to fill this loss?  read more »

Trek World 2008: City bikes, belt drives, singlespeeds, and LeMond replacements

Mark Stevenson is spending the weekend in Madison Wisconsin for Trek World 2008 show, where Trek shows their dealers what they have coming up for the next year. He kindly sent me a lot of photos and information about the show.

Eleven days ago, I posted about a mountain bike wipeout I had. What I haven’t talked about is the agony I’ve gone through since then.
No, not the agony of a separated shoulder, though I’ve had a few moments of exquisite pain — usually brought on when I forget, or do something reflexively (like when I [...]

Despite the fact that it is officially the start of Bike Month today and as cyclists we should all be cycling around some Maypole somewhere singing songs of happiness, it would appear that a certain segment of the readership feels that there's been an absence of acidity on this blog recently.  read more »

New city bikes, belt drives, singlespeeds, and LeMond replacements

Mark Stevenson is spending the weekend in Madison Wisconsin for Trek World 2008 show, where Trek shows their dealers what they have coming up for the next year. He kindly sent me a lot of photos and information about the show.

The PistaDex in New York City is currently at a lofty 550, and it would appear that the superb weather coupled with the Papal visit have conspired to keep the Apocalyptic horses at bay. The Pista market here is in fact so tight right now that only one is for sale: Chrome Bianchi Pista 57cm - $550 (Williamsburg) [original URL: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/638726391.html ] 2007 chrome Pista track bike, decal free!  read more »

Choppercabras 7th Annual Halloween Ride!! Where: Atomic Cycles 17322 Saticoy st. Van Nuys, CA 91406 (818) 609-0113 When: Sunday, October 26th, Noon Sharp! Choppercabras 7th annual Halloween ride is a bicycle event unparalleled in all of Los Angeles, perhaps all the globe! Bicycles bashed, blood spilled, hot dogs eaten (this time tacos perhaps) , 2 wheeled mayhem unlike anything you?ve ever seen! (unless you?ve been to one of these before.) And it?s all free! Did I mention tacos?  read more »

I started this last night but never got back to it
not sure if it makes sense
not sure if it is worth putting forward
just as I figure I took the photo I might as well show the image
I typed the words so I might as well share the rant
there it is...

the season is fall... the trails are buff

it has been dry for steady long time and the trails are most definitely butt and dry
maybe too dry  read more »