So I finally got my parents on some bikes. They mentioned last year that they were thinking about getting some and I told them as soon as they were ready I had the perfect bike shop in mind. Don’t we all have our own perfect bike shop. Anyway my parents are going to retire in a few months and wanted a inexpensive hobby to fill up there free time. What better way to do it than riding a bike and the cool thing is they have a whole trail system a few miles from there house. MCT trails. So I got my mom on a 29er Fisher but my dad went with the Trek he has always been kind of hard headed. I did mention he was going to have to ride the bike home, everybody laughed I didn’t but don’t worry my mom will help him see the light. All kidding aside I am really stoked to see them riding its going to be a fun summer.
Archive for February, 2009
Ode To My Single Speed Bicycle for SSWC09
By Shanna Powell | | 8:04 PMSingle Speed Bicycle
Green Pisgah Transporter
Master of Fun in the mountains
Your simplicity
Is made for Me
There is no reason to doubt
Through the woods
Across the trees
And commuting in the town
Your one gear, is all I need
To keep the wheels spinning round
Sometimes it gets tough…
Sometimes I walk…
But I grip your bars and I push
You say “Look at me!
I’m petrol free!
But…
How much can you eat?”
I looked at the picture
and what I could see
a bicycle…you!
a smile…me!
Endless logo…our company!
Heading to Single Speed World Championship ‘09
Gear Reviews
Follow through RSS 
Not quite ready!
By Eric Watson | 26/02/09 | 8:57 PMRace season is upon us in Georgia and the Southeast. I wish I could say I was ready for it, but I am a little behind in training. I have enjoyed some time off the bike to coach my daughters basketball team. BTW they were 8-1 for the season! 4th overall in championship. Hope to see some of you soon at the upcoming races in the South.
See ya, Fastfuel
Colorado Sunshine
By jhilimire | 25/02/09 | 9:47 PMSo while everyone else seems to be buried in snow, it’s been amazingly great weather here in Colorado and looks to continue. Please hold the hate! I lived in NY and have dealt with many a frozen toe rides! Like all of you, my dream of riding thru the winter has finally come to fruition, so gotta take it while I can 
Unfortunately, my Superfly is having some fork work done and my powertap wheel is getting some servicing at the same time. This leaves me to put my days in on the road bike and dream about ripping up singletrack. Though it’s not a Fisher (I won it otherwise it would be!) , my singlespeed is a 29er and I’ll be looking to hit the dirt tomorrow and again possibly this weekend.
Otherwise, been getting my dirt fix on the roadie!
Observations, Training
Follow through RSS
Teaching the Truth to the Youth: 29ers in the Classroom
By Tim Finkel | | 8:31 PM 
I was 16, dazed and confused, aimlessly wandering as most adolescents do. I don’t remember much about gerunds, how to graph a sentence, Hamlet, or possessive pro-nouns but I do remember those bikes propped up against the wall. My English teacher used to ride his bike to school. I think the commute for him was something like 26 miles round trip. At the time, it seemed unfathomable that someone could ride that far without being motor assisted. He used to share his ride and race stories with us and I remember listening in wonderment and intrigue. I even remember seeing him leave school one day adorned in lycra. I recall a feeling of “trans-barassment” as I had never saw a grown man in full lycra before, and assumed that surely he did not want any students to observe him in such ludicrous attire.
Fast-forward to 14 years later and I now have become that man in the eyes of my students.
Presently I teach High School Physics and Biology to a High School population who fall under the Special Education label of Emotionally Impaired. They are not bad kids; most of them are not malicious or intentionally defiant. They simply for whatever reason, (genetic factors, home environment, historical trauma, etc.) can have a tendency of struggling with keeping their emotions under control and responding to situations in what textbooks refer to as “normal”. For this reason, they require a little more specialized educational setting and a few accommodations here and there. This is what they pay me to do. In a way, I guess as an educator I have always naturally gravitated more toward the challenging students. Perhaps I myself was never the poster child of an Honor student and identify more with this population. It’s not that I was a bad kid, or had a dysfunctional family setting; I simply always remember having more energy than I knew what to do with. I think in a way, this is why I became so passionate about cycling. To me it is the ultimate outlet for energy and concentration…two wheels give me something more than balancing chemical equations ever could.
Observations
Follow through RSS
It’s about to BREAK!!
By Jim | | 7:30 PM
Can you feel it in the air? It’s staying light out a little longer, it’s warming up a little bit, and soon enough the trails will be ready for 29 inch wheels to shred them into submission!! If you’re anything like me you’re probably tired of churning out hour after hour after hour after hour indoors on the trainer. Road riding is even becoming exciting at this point!! I feel sorry for my poor SuperFly just sitting in my closet, neglected and clean. Soon enough my friends…SOON ENOUGH!! The weather WILL break, and all those hours of base, pain, and frustration on the trainer will be unleashed on our unsuspecting competition. All they’ll see is the XXIX on our booty’s as we pass by!! I can’t wait any longer!!
-Jim.
Finally…
By Travis Mullen | | 9:53 AM
The weather in Lexington has NOT been kind to Moutain Biking. Finally, for the first time in weeks we have 2 days in a row above 50 degrees wihtout RAIN. Hopfuly I’ll be able to get that magical ride 1st real OFF ROAD ride on my new Superfly. The road rides have just not done it justice.
New to the Crew!
By Foley | 24/02/09 | 10:41 PMHello Everyone! My Name is John Foley and I’m new to the crew and pretty pumped about it! I have been racing/riding on a 26in wheeled bike for appox 14 years. I’ve been riding on a Hi-Fi 29er since Jan 1st and lovin it! I don’t see any need to ever own a 26in wheeled bike again!
Is it spring yet?
By tprice | | 9:36 PM
The weather here in Kansas City continues to tease. Warm and sunny followed by freezing, damp, and windy days. At least when it’s frozen we can hit the trails. I finally got out on my Superfly and I am stoked. It first I thought there would not be much of a change over last years Paragon, I soon found out I was wrong. The bikes handle the same but the weight difference makes the Superfly much easier to flick around and hop over obstacles. After just two rides I feel like I’m ready to race but I know I’ll need a few more rides before the first race in a few weeks. It’s gonna be fun!
I’m In!!
By Andrew Freye | | 8:16 PMI am officially in for the BC Bike Race!! I am super stoked to be able to participate in this event! My roommate and best friend John Burns really wanted to do this event. He has been trying to convince me to enter. My only set back is the cash money. Well Burnsy made an offer I couldn’t pass up, he offered to pay for the entire trip. It has taken me a week or more to accept the offer and as of today I finally did!
Below is a post from my web page. (from www.andrewfreye.com)
Yup thats right it is official. Burns and I will be teaming up as Team “The 497 Crew” for the BC Bike Race. What is the BC Bike Race? Well the BC Bike Race is a 7 day mountain bike stage race in British Colombia, Canada. No other race in the world compares to this race. This race is made up of 7 days of some of the best single track in the world! Ok so maybe that is a little to much to claim in terms of best in the world, but none the less the BC Bike Race is going to be kick ass!!
Now I only have less than 4 months to prepare myself for this race. I need to be in a phsyical condition I am not used to being in plus I also need to make sure all the logistics are planned out. I am a cross country racer, someone who trains for events lasting 2 hours with maximum effort. Yes I have done endurance events lasting from 6-12 hours solo, but those don’t require special training. Those are one day efforts. The BC race is going to be different. It is going to be 7 consecutive days of 4-6 hours in the saddle. I am pretty sure I am going to have to somehow train differently for this race. I also need to figure out do I need extra wheels, do I ship them or fly with them, what to bring for parts, where the hell do I find 7 pairs of new shorts, etc etc…. I cant wait for day one of the race!!
In other news I am working on the web page. I updated 08 results and will have a prelim 09 sched up. Also check out the photo alblum as I updated winter photos as well.
