“Spurgeon decided to take up single geared bikes because he thought it was crazy.”
One bike is an Ira Ryan frame. I met Ira @ NAHBS. Cool guy. Nice looking bikes. The other is a Vanilla. Now here’s me talking out the side of my ass: If you’re going to ride a one speed, with fenders no less, across the country, why switch bikes? I guess it’s still insane.
-M
Well, one out of three ain’t bad
Who’s going? What you riding? When we leaving? I know I can’t breathe steam on the tails of the freeriders, but I can ride the hell out of some 33.3 miles for shizzle.
-M
“The bad idea had now become an ill advised plan.”
Fitz Cahall
Just listened to The Dirtbag Diaries, which I learned about on The Cleanest Line. This is something you’ll enjoy.
It reminded me of a silly adventure of my own I embarked on the summer after high school when a friend and I floated the Kern River from Heart Park to CSUB through the metropolis of Bakersfield, CA on semi inflated sno-tubes. It involved a bit of walking around dams and sections too low to float, sometimes barefoot sometimes with one sandal because Jerry forgot his.
What we saw was a whole different Bako. Not any better though.
-M
If this isn’t TBS material, please tell me. 
Otherwise, enjoy this insightful BBC report (from which this image was borrowed).
Here’s the skinny on tomorrow’s beautiful, magical, maple-covered ride:
ULTIMATE GOAL: Meet atop Peavine @ 6:30 a.m.
PANCAKE SHANGRI-LA: Can be found if you . . . Go to the first set of microwave towers. They’re the ones tucked into the mesquite, off to the right of the main summit road (they’re the smaller, more discreet ones just shy of the true summit).
Cool, CA — Calavera Cycles/Team Bacon Strip, y Huevos ride bikes repeatedly for 24 consecutive hours.
Shawn, Craig, Nate, Jeff (y huevos), Lee, Mikee, Sean and I (TBS/Calavera Cycles) raced @ Cool supported by Coleen, Tennile, and Philip our dedicated team Mechanic. It was a great event no doubt about that. There were issues @ the end, but remember this: We all had fun, it all kicked ass, and we all left wanting to come back to the Coolest 24 hour course and our teams next year (as long as it isn’t raining…). If any other riders see this let us know how the race went for you and where your pics are!
I started the race with a 53 minute lap. Which was pretty good for having to weave through that much traffic. We were all able to keep it mostly under hour laps, except for me. On my 3rd lap I’d spent an hour or two of my transition time converting my San Jose from fixie street to cross trail mode. It went perfectly with the help of team mechanic Philip. I got down to the start/finish at the exact moment I realized I’d forgotten both my race numbers, as I was voicing that oversight, Lee rode up, looked at me and said, “does the word fucktard mean anything to you?” What could I do? I went back and got my number.
Other notables: Bacon Kickstart @ the Cafe in cool, Nooner had trouble keeping his crank stuck on his bike, Gris got his fastest lap on a cross bike, finished a lap w/o lights, nobody puked.
We stayed around to hear the results and take a shot at winning some raffle swag. Both were dissappointing. Team Bacon Strip/Calavera cycles (mike,mikee, sean and lee) did 6 laps each and were don by 11:30. Not sure if we got 2nd of 3rd because the second placers also had 24 laps, but the 3rd placers had 23 laps and we didn’t place at all. So we think that the lap Nooner had his grank fall off in the first minute and went back for a wrench and restart must have been the screwup. But we didn’t get a chance to protest as the results were not posted prior to announcement.
But we know we kicked ass!!! It was hard keeping up with you guys! Thanks for coming out!
-M
– update–
Found some photos @ James Pratt Photography Post more in comments when you find them.
My plan now is to ride to our thanksgiving dinner in Wellington (76 miles according to Google maps). From home. Here’s the plan:
1)leave the house @ 6:00 AM.
2)bundle up best I can cause it’ll be cold.
3)Ride my Bianchi in normal commuting mode (42:15, fixed, (17t back-up freewheel), 32mm tires)
4)stop at least once for coffee no sooner than Java Joes in Carson.
5)I should have 6 hours before my ride catches up.
I’m taking bets. Post in the comment your bet(non-monetary) and the point you think I’ll make it. Asuming it’s not raining/snowing when I wake up bets range from “you chicken out in your PJs, (1:1)” to “You ride all the way including the last two miles of dirt.(10:1)”
Happy holidays!
-M
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