tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65583681247458923532024-03-19T07:13:18.724-07:00Chris Kostman's Rough Riders Blog: Any Bike, Anywhere / Classic CyclistWelcome to the internet home of the Rough Riders. Our slogan is "Any Bike, Anywhere" and we believe in riding any distance, in any conditions, over any terrain, at any time of day or night. Rough Riding is not defined by the type of bicycle or type of riding surface. Rough Riding is a state of mind, a riding style with limitless freedom and an all-pervasive sense of adventure.Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-26930050889859413612007-09-28T18:54:00.000-07:002023-11-15T21:41:24.501-08:00Fifty Mile Ride Exceeds Expectations<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UP_l_574ewqERknQxc0AddwrM5GVGLFYZUAQpIQ-Xb4C9-TO_Kt83qDVKd6r05izIA-NIggOcVq3bJn-lIgXqV0_hVi3Q0wE2YVd5NHo7IZrBNdVmPBpb_er3jzUCRriPOg0WDIZj4k/s1600-h/DSC00436.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115440632265932002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UP_l_574ewqERknQxc0AddwrM5GVGLFYZUAQpIQ-Xb4C9-TO_Kt83qDVKd6r05izIA-NIggOcVq3bJn-lIgXqV0_hVi3Q0wE2YVd5NHo7IZrBNdVmPBpb_er3jzUCRriPOg0WDIZj4k/s400/DSC00436.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fifty Mile Ride Exceeds Expectations</span></span></span><span class="DRcopy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By Chris Kostman</span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Originally written for the </span></span></span><a href="http://www.projectrwanda.org/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Project Rwanda</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> website.</span></span></span></span></p></span><span class="DRcopy"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Exceeding expectations is always a good thing and Trabuco Canyon, in the dirt-covered backcountry of Orange County, CA was the place to be for that and more on December 30, 2006. </span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Commercial printer and long-time mountain bike enthusiast Doug Grant wanted to do more than just ride and celebrate the conclusion of the first half-century of his life with his Fifty Mile Ride. His goal was to support Project Rwanda, an organization founded by cycling innovator and manufacturer Tom Ritchey, who, coincidentally, was also celebrating his 50th birthday in late December. Project Rwanda’s goal is to provide durable bikes to coffee farmers as part of a micro-enterprise venture that will make a hugely positive impact on the lives of the local family coffee growers in Rwanda. It turns out that only one in 40 Rwandans owns a real pedal bike and many of them are literally hand-made “scooters” or push bikes hewn out of solid wood. Ritchey, who helped perfect the mountain bike back in the 70s and 80s, has put his design ingenuity into creating a heavy-duty, single- and multi-speed bike with an integrated hay bale-sized rack which Rwandan coffee farmers can use to get their beans to market faster and thus earn more money.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grant’s specific goal in creating the Fifty Mile Ride was to get 50 riders to participate and raise enough money ($7500) to provide 50 of Project Rwanda’s special “coffee bikes” to Rwandan farmers. As the saying goes, “word spread like wildfire” and volunteers, sponsors, BBQ cooks, and lots and lots of riders stepped up to the plate to support the effort. They all assembled before sunrise on December 30 at Cooks’ Corner, a traditional “motorcycle hangout” restaurant and bar located where urban OC and the Cleveland National Forest meet in Southern California.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Astonishing everyone, even us riders, an incredible 247 mountain bikers showed up that day for a first-time event in the middle of holiday season with a 33 degree start line temperature. After a well-organized check-in and pre-ride talk and prayer (yes, prayer; it was Doug’s party, after all, not a corporate-sponsored NORBA race), we headed out for a few miles of paved warm-up riding. Then we headed up, and up, and up for nine solid miles of climbing on a rocky fire road. We had the whole place to ourselves and the view kept getting better and better. All of us non-locals were astounded that “The OC,” so near all that urban sprawl, has a beautiful National Forest with fantastic mountain bike trails. The camaraderie was fantastic and the friendly, thankful enthusiasm for the ride, and the cause, was palpable.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Arriving at just below the peaks that form Saddleback Mountain, we were greeted by a friendly ride volunteer with a pick-up truck full of donated food and drinks and amazing views in a 300-degree panorama. There was lots of idle chit-chatting and checking out of bikes and story-swapping: almost nobody was in a hurry to race back down the mountain as the entire experience was just too special to rush through. I was riding a Ritchey-equipped, fully rigid, steel Moots from 1989, which drew positive comments all day long, and was excited to meet two riders on fully rigid, steel Ritchey mountain bikes from 1983 and 1984. (See photos.)</span></span></p></span><span class="DRcopy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then it was a glorious cruise back down the mountain to Cooks Corner. There, some called it a day, while most of the field headed quickly out onto the second, ostensibly 25-mile second loop. This was one of the most diverse and curious excursions through the backcountry of an urban landscape I have ever enjoyed. Seriously, the number of parks, open spaces, connector trails, creek crossings, dirt-covered freeway underpasses, and more that this loop featured was fantastic. Volunteers appeared out of nowhere to mark nearly every turn – surely some of them were at their post for five hours or more – plus little home-made signs and blue flagging dotted the landscape. As a result, it was nearly impossible to get lost, despite seemingly 100 turns over the 25 (or maybe 35) miles.</span></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Arriving back at Cook’s Corner, a roaring BBQ awaited every rider and volunteer, with the $5 fee going straight to the cause. A very lavish raffle was also held with bikes, bike gear, shades, pro sports tickets, and much more being given away to the enthusiastic crowd. The dramatic conclusion to this wonderful day was Doug Grant presenting Tom Ritchey with a big, giant check for over $28,000 for Project Rwanda, a significant step towards Tom’s goal of helping establish 100,000 “coffee bikes” for the folks in Rwanda. Something tells me that even Tom’s goal will be exceeded. Pedal on!</span></span></p> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For my full slideshow of this event, </span></span></span><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/chronicles/2006/2006fiftymileride/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">click here</span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To read this story as it was published on the Project Rwanda website, </span></span></span><a href="http://www.projectrwanda.org/50mileride.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">click here</span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For info on the December 29, 2007 edition, </span></span></span><a href="http://www.50mileride.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">click here</span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hPnjaSfxQRMSKybdBEbpmQcGVeau2JPJSMI5kT4i3CfRvmG0mHxiiJCdbfEbgC4EVuZevSdV2kd8hBfeHX_G0_eOGS64E5iWRMpOot55R1a6dmg1HBP1tiKqxck6yIVPr2yorsCbVs8/s1600-h/DSC00433.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115440997338152178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hPnjaSfxQRMSKybdBEbpmQcGVeau2JPJSMI5kT4i3CfRvmG0mHxiiJCdbfEbgC4EVuZevSdV2kd8hBfeHX_G0_eOGS64E5iWRMpOot55R1a6dmg1HBP1tiKqxck6yIVPr2yorsCbVs8/s400/DSC00433.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.blackmtncycles.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mike Varley</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and Sky Boyer with Classic Ritcheys!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgr8n2UqJgOSp-J_IJz4b9LSrm2Wdw2uq0nBifqKmOv-Kkywu7NWZtf2cvad03EQQfxA7_t2pO_PcK7IRhHCroOCOreKr63sznARfgI7u1wyAM7_s8ngb0wC9FEJBmhHSD-ZVrAWfVn8/s1600-h/DSC00432.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115446121234136322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgr8n2UqJgOSp-J_IJz4b9LSrm2Wdw2uq0nBifqKmOv-Kkywu7NWZtf2cvad03EQQfxA7_t2pO_PcK7IRhHCroOCOreKr63sznARfgI7u1wyAM7_s8ngb0wC9FEJBmhHSD-ZVrAWfVn8/s400/DSC00432.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Posing with Sky Boyer of </span></span></span><a href="http://www.velocult.com" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Velo Cult</span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in San Diego. We met at the top of the epic climb. Besides both of us riding classic steel, we both had Bridgestone wool jerseys from 1994.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwdVHx2KtmVSb6gA7BKx2FCE47dIdPKhts2wNyRfupo2mEaJaNo25r_B3Yxj5NdHEhR2_rMDYzCXQNJoVVETGOxYJ52frXjBOhjZdEdGKPmcBVMOtZ81ONxY5YW7_eNVjHyn2RbFSjLE/s1600-h/DSC00465.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115446774069165330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwdVHx2KtmVSb6gA7BKx2FCE47dIdPKhts2wNyRfupo2mEaJaNo25r_B3Yxj5NdHEhR2_rMDYzCXQNJoVVETGOxYJ52frXjBOhjZdEdGKPmcBVMOtZ81ONxY5YW7_eNVjHyn2RbFSjLE/s400/DSC00465.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tom Ritchey (R) gets a fat check from Doug Grant</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-61771208997067892032023-10-30T11:03:00.004-07:002023-11-09T09:12:56.731-08:00My 1993 Bridgestone RB-1, a Piece of History, is For Sale<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of my most prized bicycles is for sale. It's an incredible piece of history and an amazing performer. Includes a Letter of Authenticity from yours truly, too. </span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQN7riL5ynaUwBH_DpcxV9tMgx4jUMVX7L_v1pjYGVROJ_JLbSxtIYrNOyPae9hb6Jah5J0UU6y6XeqG2X9P6W4MF1RWDKpLt3tcjVFcHZOhuElJ6Y8NbSHDF3Z60vHYuENt8TfRFR182qfHeYFuJmBY3WMcorkH-W-1edLHi5Wlnzffaq5YpoGX6OOM/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28804__74650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQN7riL5ynaUwBH_DpcxV9tMgx4jUMVX7L_v1pjYGVROJ_JLbSxtIYrNOyPae9hb6Jah5J0UU6y6XeqG2X9P6W4MF1RWDKpLt3tcjVFcHZOhuElJ6Y8NbSHDF3Z60vHYuENt8TfRFR182qfHeYFuJmBY3WMcorkH-W-1edLHi5Wlnzffaq5YpoGX6OOM/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28804__74650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://bikerecyclery.com/1993-bridgestone-rb-1-57-5cm-suntour-superbe-pro-7s-chris-king-hubs-ritchey-biplane-nitto-lugged-bstone-sponsored-racers-bike/" target="_blank">Click here to check it out</a>! </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the description: </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"This <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>is among the finest builds I've seen on an RB-1, and it's owned by then Bridgestone sponsored racer Chris Kostman. Chris's red 93 RB1 he was racing was stolen, and Grant Petersen gave him this one to replace it (full story in letter of authenticity in images). The build starts with a period correct 7 speed last gen Suntour Superbe Pro groupset including the rare hidden spring brakes & Avocet R1 saddle. It gets a little less period correct from there but stays towards classically styled (ish) top level parts. Highlights include Chris King Classic hubs laced to Campagnolo Montreal 76 rims, Nitto Lugged quill & Dream Bars.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The RB road bikes were special beasts for their time. They took styling cues from classic Italian racing bikes and made it more functional and practical. The frame/fork fit up to 32mm tires (perhaps 28mm with fenders), and slack-ish angles for a more comfortable ride, and fender eyelets front and rear. Plus, they feature that gorgeous biplane fork crown!</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The frame and components are in lovely condition, and Chris says both have about 1,000 miles total. Always stored indoors and maintained by a pro mechanic. Decals are pristine or very close to it with exception of some wear on the seat stay RB-1 decals. Components are in wonderful mechanical condition, with some light cosmetic wear."</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Visit <a href="http://BikeRecyclery.com">BikeRecyclery.com</a> to check it out - and make it yours!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Below: That's me with my mentor, Race Across America founder John Marino, astride my 1993 RB-1 during the 2008 Solvang Century:</span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs7ALC0zRTSIHOPWc1hFgFFoJwTHGgPMoRQ220BSb8n4eXmosXCBwtUxzK-T8iRH1ts_aEq1uLQpM5V9YLAH6Y4WxqY-cbXpt8xv4nbOmnqtGI4qO9HyaWDigiyMPaHpLLEcoe4lqhc0Kw6SoPoXsudKAMlT0bJGdcNo3J4BfvaeuV4jvWdm5G5P6pVc/s3264/DSC05806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs7ALC0zRTSIHOPWc1hFgFFoJwTHGgPMoRQ220BSb8n4eXmosXCBwtUxzK-T8iRH1ts_aEq1uLQpM5V9YLAH6Y4WxqY-cbXpt8xv4nbOmnqtGI4qO9HyaWDigiyMPaHpLLEcoe4lqhc0Kw6SoPoXsudKAMlT0bJGdcNo3J4BfvaeuV4jvWdm5G5P6pVc/w400-h301/DSC05806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUOgBM2XrKG8u8AXfVrOh4sxTvRGOPhyphenhypheneA8pKwBChQjsT19Gt8gFPEDlAKJaPYvIy6vpg1ZsYvuRwA9hmJAuCZEFQ96REVyztvqfT6wUdJ67LM8GPeMHdpHc9DaYwYGT9bc4oAKAXCBjPTH60N15tbmZL2ib6L6Bf1PsXLZjUDaZN7cHaISZCP2vVNN8/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28809__77369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUOgBM2XrKG8u8AXfVrOh4sxTvRGOPhyphenhypheneA8pKwBChQjsT19Gt8gFPEDlAKJaPYvIy6vpg1ZsYvuRwA9hmJAuCZEFQ96REVyztvqfT6wUdJ67LM8GPeMHdpHc9DaYwYGT9bc4oAKAXCBjPTH60N15tbmZL2ib6L6Bf1PsXLZjUDaZN7cHaISZCP2vVNN8/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28809__77369.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iETWHSnGosYCq_1JIxLFSZJQuufoTelrP9dPNfV5p-fw6yQfkSjIv_QUnNwSb7aA3Jd4EChb5uPTlVPrcyHHn1tbq961pluP6oVXYTs8zxtWqxZnqmp8MJjmSQYVvVXry7se2gyifjY2VLmKI2L12sfywbSG1fcINVhqQSkltv64VR8n_SylmBobdzc/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28788__96538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iETWHSnGosYCq_1JIxLFSZJQuufoTelrP9dPNfV5p-fw6yQfkSjIv_QUnNwSb7aA3Jd4EChb5uPTlVPrcyHHn1tbq961pluP6oVXYTs8zxtWqxZnqmp8MJjmSQYVvVXry7se2gyifjY2VLmKI2L12sfywbSG1fcINVhqQSkltv64VR8n_SylmBobdzc/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28788__96538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-298983074112012009-01-20T21:00:00.000-08:002015-06-16T01:36:05.928-07:00In Search of Epic (2009)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UP1Ifh3OwcwkrVirnktUd3yKoArpMFrVBKEI6KUnXq_cj_jg3ym5Fg6M8v2mMgy9c0ri6tn0LARD31cpY6ROJSKsj86DpnNtmIrfZZGIYTBaOuIuw4gbaV-H5bf4ne6FvV-rVPRUvd0/s1600-h/DSC01277.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293412688294445858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UP1Ifh3OwcwkrVirnktUd3yKoArpMFrVBKEI6KUnXq_cj_jg3ym5Fg6M8v2mMgy9c0ri6tn0LARD31cpY6ROJSKsj86DpnNtmIrfZZGIYTBaOuIuw4gbaV-H5bf4ne6FvV-rVPRUvd0/s400/DSC01277.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Above: Searching for epic adventure on Figueroa Mountain above the Santa Ynez Valley. Photo by Chris Kostman, March 2008.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">In Search of Epic</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">By Chris Kostman</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/EN/EN61/ENIssue61.html#epic">Published in Endurance News, V.61, January, 2009</a>.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">(Original version published here on this blog in April, 2008. This is the updated 2009 version.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Epic" is defined at www.dictionary.com as "heroic; majestic; impressively great" and "of unusually great size or extent."</span><br /><br />To live on the endurance path is to live in search of epic experiences.<br /><br />What does it mean for a ride, a run, a swim, a ski, or other type of athletic endeavour to be epic? Here are some thoughts on the subject:<br /><br />First and foremost, to be epic, the experience must be a memorable adventure, literally. That may result from one or more of the following factors:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Distance: </span>The longer the adventure, the more "out there" it will likely become. But words like "far" and "ultra" are relative to one's experience and training level. How far is far? Farther than you’ve been before, perhaps.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Difficulty:</span> The more difficult the experience, the more likely it will be memorable. "Difficult" is also relative; if it's difficult for you, it's difficult. There's no magic cut-off, distance-wise, or in terms of elevation gain, or anything else, which defines “difficult.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weather, especially Unexpected Weather: </span>Rain, wind, snow, hail, sandstorms, heat, and many other things we often call "weather" can turn "an ordinary outing" into an epic outing. Likewise for related phenomena like floods, road washouts, and the like. Of course, sometimes we go deliberately in search of intense weather, like cycling in the dead of winter, or running across a desert in summer, or when tempting fate during monsoon season with only a t-shirt on our back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mechanicals / Breakdowns:</span> Cycling is about the body-bike interface. When the bike breaks down, so can the whole system and pretty soon we're no longer a cyclist, but a bike-pusher or hiker instead. But more often that not, mechanicals don't completely disable the bike, they just make it a whole lot harder to ride. Similar fates can befall running gear, swim goggles, XC skis, and other equipment “necessary” for the endurance athlete. Can you turn adversity into an opportunity?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Going Somewhere New, especially Unplanned:</span> "Hey, I wonder where that road - or trail - goes?" can be The Seven Magic Words just before an ordinary workout turns epic!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Getting Lost: </span>See point immediately above, a closely related subject.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Running out of Food and/or Water:</span> There's nothing like the bonk, or a good thirst, to make things interesting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Getting Sick or Injured:</span> Such a list must, of course, being with throwing up and related GI distress from either end, along with blisters, blown out joints, thrown out backs, and the myriad possibilities which can result from crashes, falls, and other accidents. Can you push through?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Encountering the Unusual:</span> Crossing paths with deer, giant turkeys, bobcats, snakes, or millions of grasshoppers, to name just a few examples of the animal variety, can make things memorable. Unusual varieties of people, places, and more are also out there, too. Don’t ride or run right past them!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Racing the Sunset:</span> Running out of light, when you don't have your own lights, can be simultaneously exhilarating and frightening. No matter how tired you become, at the end (or near the end) of an epic ride, run, or ski, the adrenaline usually kicks in when the sun is nearing set and there are still miles to be covered.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Road / Trail Surface:</span> If smooth, beautiful pavement were the only good place to ride, we should just all ride velodromes! Mix it up. Ditto for running and every other kind of human movement over the landscape: Are you an outdoor athlete, or just recreating your usual indoor treadmill workout, elliptical jaunt, or lap swim?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Using the "Wrong Bike" for the Ride:</span> This is a topic, and concept, which is near and dear to me and which inspires my blog slogan "Any Bike, Anywhere." I love to pedal, and I love to pedal anywhere I possibly can (or can't). Mountain bikes: who needs them<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html" target="_blank">?</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unlikely Routes:</span> Linking roads and regions together with trails and other connectors that most people wouldn't think of is an exciting and enlightening flight of fancy. The end result is a one-of-a-kind route, a tour of disparate regions, and a ride or run that is perhaps half dirt and half paved. Cycling version nickname: "Rough Riding."<br /><br />Adventure-seekers on the endurance path aspire to be prepared and ready for any circumstance, but when they're not, they get the job done, while reveling in the opportunity to have new experiences, to explore the inner and outer universes, and to learn new things about the world, about their endurance sport of choice, and about themselves.<br /><br />What defines EPIC for you? When was your last epic experience? When will the next one be?<br /><br />How about today? See you out there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;">Click "Comment" below and share your story!</span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/downloads/en/ENissue61.pdf">Click here to download the 48 page Pdf of Volume 61 of "Endurance News," featuring this story</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QHBZix-jmKQy4m2Lt_zBCADzwGVn0Y-3e-YAsNeoyA95nFTWcintRAoG-cV63Loe_0snUy9QLWbfatV8RVj7Tu9gMTIMfdgxuQ4fdOdoPVVY0SUxj5_fEAcKu2tJB_2btyhFg3Rnmn4/s1600-h/2008latimes04.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293412683028492738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QHBZix-jmKQy4m2Lt_zBCADzwGVn0Y-3e-YAsNeoyA95nFTWcintRAoG-cV63Loe_0snUy9QLWbfatV8RVj7Tu9gMTIMfdgxuQ4fdOdoPVVY0SUxj5_fEAcKu2tJB_2btyhFg3Rnmn4/s400/2008latimes04.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 265px;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Above: The author on Canyonback Trail above Brentwood (Los Angeles) on his Ritchey Break-Away with 650B wheels and tyres. Photo by Al Seib / LA Times, January 2008. <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/ritchey-breakaway-conversion-to-650b.html">More on that bike in that configuration</a>.</span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-75248119149065139092014-08-22T09:44:00.001-07:002014-08-22T14:21:29.997-07:00Talking Rough Riding, Rawland, and more on the Vinnie Tortorich Podcast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E9Tg58q04qei_vsdm9fNbi10EyWz42NJ5cdXFdODj-rZorfbwX0ZAQ5kMeUEE_NCIwDKMJ4EQoIe0oWsliLJCrgOzfyT4nOcPsSvHIGpueZ3EOr1QUq6Cu0tvuxTGOfwyfmAHifEZK4/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-08-22+at+9.29.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E9Tg58q04qei_vsdm9fNbi10EyWz42NJ5cdXFdODj-rZorfbwX0ZAQ5kMeUEE_NCIwDKMJ4EQoIe0oWsliLJCrgOzfyT4nOcPsSvHIGpueZ3EOr1QUq6Cu0tvuxTGOfwyfmAHifEZK4/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-08-22+at+9.29.02+AM.png" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am honored to be a guest on Vinnie Tortorich's "America's Angriest
Trainer" podcast this week, talking cycling, Silver State 508, Badwater 135, the NSNG lifestyle, Rough Riding and my
beloved Rawland bicycles. <a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/2014/08/angriest-trainer-291-1-1-chris-kostman/" target="_blank">Here is this link to listen</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlCsZZf7kJrvATS-_dvmudihyl6AqAgrGA0FtFXT4gqtZ9BPtgP8WhCvbQV42pMqcDDzcL8X8l51uzUZ9wgLMLi_gQZjbW7iurnFiIVgv9k5F5j6f6RfL-Jw30ImEDFzb4xBq6znn8Sw/s1600/_A052577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlCsZZf7kJrvATS-_dvmudihyl6AqAgrGA0FtFXT4gqtZ9BPtgP8WhCvbQV42pMqcDDzcL8X8l51uzUZ9wgLMLi_gQZjbW7iurnFiIVgv9k5F5j6f6RfL-Jw30ImEDFzb4xBq6znn8Sw/s1600/_A052577.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yours truly with Vinnie at The 508 finish line in 2008</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/" target="_blank">Vinnie</a> is a several-time Furnace Creek 508 veteran, <a href="http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualHistory.php?p=783" target="_blank">as you can see here</a>, and a life-long cyclist. He is the author of "<a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/fitness-confidential/" target="_blank">Fitness Confidential: Adventures in the Weight Loss Game</a>" (a book which heavily features The 508) and one of the smartest, clearest thinking people I know, especially in the world of health and fitness. (If you think you are going to lose weight from working out more, or harder, read his book and learn the error of your ways.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are links to topics discussed in the conversation:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.badwater.com/" target="_blank">Badwater 135</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.the508.com/" target="_blank">Silver State 508</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.yogatuneup.com/" target="_blank">Yoga Tune Up@</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" target="_blank">Rawland Bicycles</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/bo17.htm" target="_blank">Grant Petersen's "Just Ride"</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://ritcheylogic.com/mountain/tires/shield-mountain-tire.html" target="_blank">Ritchey Shield 650B Tyres </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.challengetech.it/products/road/paris-roubaix-016/en" target="_blank">Challenge Paris-Roubaix Tyres</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bicyclesafe.com/helmets.html" target="_blank">A rational discussion of the reality of bicycle helmet use</a></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-14278327354193490752013-12-24T12:55:00.000-08:002013-12-24T12:57:22.872-08:00New Year's Day Ride: All Are Invited! Santa Monica Mountains: three distance options & start/finish spots<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's kick off the New Year in style, doing what we love! Please join me on a road ride around and over the Santa Monica Mountains on Wednesday, January 1, 2014! There are three possible starting points and times, so your route can be 78 miles, or about 60 miles, or about 45 miles. This is an excellent route with a nice, easy first 1/2 to 2/3 and then a goodly amount of climbing in the final 3rd, up, along, and over the Santa Monica Mountains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Got a steel bike? Ride it! Even better if it's a classic steel bike!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming? Post a comment below, and tell your friends. All are invited! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>Map, schedule, and start/finish/distance options:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Route is as depicted above and on <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/35235733" target="_blank">my Strava link from New Year's Day 2013</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: 4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/xqMjg" target="_blank">Google Map of the location</a>. Departure: 800am sharp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>60-mile Version: Start /Finish in Calabasas</b><br />Meet-Up: 820am, Starbucks off Las Virgenes at 26521 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302. Departure: App. 840am, or, more specifically, once the main group arrives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 900am, East Coast Bagel at intersection of Agoura Road and Westlake Blvd in Westlake Village. Departure: App: 915am, or, more specifically, once the main group arrives.<br /><br />Rain cancels (at least for me). Please come prepared with a wide variety of clothing, food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, map or GPS, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">NOTE: The ride is unsupported and all are on their own. We take no responsibility for anyone or anything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further updates will be posted here and to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-82423469945768087502013-12-03T09:20:00.001-08:002013-12-04T11:55:30.998-08:00Fan Mail for "Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?"<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wrote "<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html" target="_blank">Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them</a>" over twenty years ago now: it was originally published in the February 1993 issue of Bicycle Guide, then the coolest bike magazine in the USA. That article has been on this blog since it went live in 2007, and still generates comments and emails direct to me. This first email came in today, proving, once again, that the writer didn't really read what I wrote. (Boiled down simply, I wrote: What most people call "mountain biking" doesn't require a mountain bike. Likewise, as our ego-bruised writer states, and as I wrote, real "mountain biking" does generally require a mountain bike.):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>You sir, are the most ignorant ass hat I have encountered on the internet and single-handedly represent everything that makes road cyclists come off as self righteous douchebags. Just because your idea of mountain biking is a chicken shit ride down a sandy road doesn't mean that road bikes are appropriate or even safe to recommend for most mountain bikers. Virtually every mountain bike ride I take involves some sort of terrain or impact that would disintegrate my Foil faster than you can say something stupid. The idea that the 30 foot doubles or jagged rock gardens that can be conquered at speed on my M9 could even be ridden on a fully rigid road bike is nothing more than your lack of perspective at what is being done on mountain bikes, your hubris at your own skills, and the tremendous ignorance and arrogance that would allow you to post this stupidity online for all to see.</i> - <b>TB, 12-3-13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adding extra irony is that TB's Facebook background photo shows him on a road bike, even though, in his own words, apparently everyone who rides a road bike is a "<i>self righteous douchebag</i>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK, since I'm writing this post, I'm going to take the time to post the emails I've received over the years about my article, so here you go, in chronological order, completely unedited:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I really hate the way you dis mountain bikes. I dispise road bikes they are very (no extremely) primitive. I ride a full suspension ATB. I wouldnt ride anything else. Do you have a problem with technologie?????</i> - <b>RP, 5-10-98</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />You're funny!<br /><br />Come to Phoenix and ride our rocky, sandy, harsh trails on your road bike so we can laugh at you. You said in your article that you might only need an mtb for something like Slickrock trail. Slickrock trail is a freakin' sidewalk compared to my nearest trail; which I RIDE to on m full suspension GT with 2.35 tires.<br /><br />I started riding on an unsuspended Cannondale in 1986. Trails that were impossible for me then are cake now. Believe me I'm thinking for myself. No marketing hype is going to snatch $2000 from my pocket for a new bike. I checked them out, rode it and decided the comfort and control advantages of suspension were worth the investment. I wouldn't go back to riding a hardtail let alone take a road bike on the trail.<br /><br />Have fun riding cuz after all that is what it is about.</i> - <b>MC, 12-9-98</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Are you the same Chris Kostman that wrote "Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?" back in 1993? That great article had a dramatic effect on my cycling, and all I can say is "thanks you!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>At the time that article came out I was starting to ride off road with an old road bike and loving it. When I read your piece, I couldn't believe any mainstream mag would print it, and the tips really helped. because of that piece I really went all out, and eventually god rid of my mtb's all together (I won't be riding the Iditabike any time soon). Now I just own one road/bike for everything - and my bike handling skills and the types of terrain I can cover on it have grown exponentially. Your piece really snapped me out of the money-draining, must-have-the-latest-hi-tech-gizmo thing. As I recall there were some pretty amusing letters that followed that piece - along with that great follow up article you wrote (in the BOB mag?).</i> - <b>GK, 5-13-99</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Dear Mr. Kostman,<br /><br />I chanced across your self-defense rebuttal about mountain bikes. I'm not a biker myself, but I want to pat you on the back for standing up for yourself. It is truly sad when ignorant people beat up on another person's ideas which they do not understand.<br /><br />When you speak from experience and others complain by theory, I'll believe the guy with experience every time. Like you said, if you're biking on a road, then use a road bike. If a person is biking across broken rocks and fallen trees, THEN get a (highly mortgaged) mountain bike. <br /><br />I'm too old to bike now. I did grow up in the country and rode a "road" bike to school from grades four through eight. Did own a baby "hog" (Harley) for a short time.<br /><br />Mr. Kostman, you seem to be doing all the right things. Head forward. Don't spend too much time "throwing rocks" at the complaining dummies. Maybe, issue some open challenges, some "put up or shut up" dares: my bike and my skills against whatever you think you've got. Get witnesses, too.</i><br /><br /><i>To a winner from <b>CM</b></i><b>, 9-14-00</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I couldn't agree more, when I was a kid we built trail bikes from 19'" frames and had no gears, one speed, one brake, street tires, and modified short stick handle bars, and I'll bet those bike would smoke any mountain bike on the market today, even without alloys, they weighted nothing, we could pull almost any incline, and fly down any hills at crazy speeds without worry of blowing shocks,,, shocks....? I like to feel the ground. Love the article, bet it pissed off everybody...... lol </i><b>EK, 5-10-01</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Great article about "Mountain Bikes- Who needs them?," though I just came across it in August 2001. Have you written any updates? <br /><br />I'm sure that all of your views have stayed fairly firm, though I'd wonder if you, like me, have embraced more suspension as you get any older? Granted I don't have the skills to set records on 24 hours/ distance races, but for the intermediate/advanced rider who has hit 30 years old and would like to take the shock out of drops, washboards, roots, etc. have you looked to more comfort as you have gotten older?<br /><br />I don't intend this to be a topic for another article, but I'd like to see your views on the advances in technology/weight loss for some of these 21lb. full suspension bikes and if anything has changed with age. Thanks, </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EV, 8-21-01</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I have been relieved of my job at the local bike shop for 'being too roadie.' I am living in a fairly pavementless area on the northern shore of lake superior, where I ride forest roads and trails on my rb-1 or my steel bianchi cyclocross bike. When I feel like pavement riding I usually grab my old Bianchi Pista.</i> - <b>CJ, 5-22-02</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I think you have a serious attitude problem and feel sad that you have so much anger towards a truly wonderful pursuit. Perhaps a bit of therapy or a change in ethnicity might make you a happier and less critical soul. Have a nice day.</i> - <b>Y, 7-30-02</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Chris Kostman invented under-biking, first in Bicycle Guide on an RB-1 and, later, in the '94 Bstone catalog. I singletrack my Romulus because Chris told me it was possible.</i> - <b>JB, 4-21-04</b><br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>It occurs to me I need to thank you for writing all those years ago about riding road bikes on unpaved surfaces. Inspired by your writings, I've developed a love of dirt and gravel road travel on my Mercian fixed-gear.</i> - <b>RF, 5-3-04</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That link was a jumping off point for a bunch of weekend reading in the <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/way/" target="_blank">Way</a> subdirectory of your web space. Much great stuff, thank you.<br /><br />One Nit: You say "trust me when I say I'm just an Average Joe, not a Superman."<br /><br />Ahem. someone who will go out for 125 rides with two bottles of water and a energy bar?<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Someone who will do the triple iron-man thing in France? Someone who races RAAM as a 20 year old?<br /><br />Helllooooo!! Reality knocking! "Average" is not an accurate adjective.<br /><br />Now, if I complete the Cascade 1200 this June - less than two years after my first century ride, less than three years after ending 20 years of sedentary living with becoming a bike commuter - I'll stand up as your "Average Joe". Until then you need to find another "average" stand in.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Done with the nit.<br /><br />Thanks for the training advice on the site. I'm applying it.</i> - <b>MR, 2-29-05</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hey Chris... Its nice to hear from the author himself. What I meant by flushing it out more, is that you tell us to develop skills so good that technology becomes meaningless. You don't dig further and tell us how to maneuver a skinny tire through 2" of sand. You take the approach of "Go for it!". Which is great, but takes a giant leap of faith for someone who isn't accustomed to the idea.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I'm willing to take my 23mm up and down a nearby fireroad, but I also have trails near me which require creek crossing (will hitting an unseen rock produce a pinch flat faster than a knobbie), or sand patches, or wide singletrack with deep ruts from the knobbies before us.<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It seems you gave birth to the idea of US cyclocross, early! Last month, I was planning on quelching my bike desire by building up a go-fast, a tourer, a singlespeed/fixte, a grocery getter, a you name it. Then, I realized, I could do all of this with a change of wheels. Specialized bikes are for specialized people. If all I did was tour, I think I'd want to get a tall touring frame for myself (I'm 6'6"). But, if all I did was MTB, I don't think a tall tourer would work for the agility needed of some trails. Perhaps I'm mistaken, I'm still new. :)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />Anyway, I've got my eyes on the surly cross-check and acquiring a couple set of wheels. I look forward to experimenting with different options. Thanks for writing your article!</i> - <b>DB, 2-28-05</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to you also for your efforts over the last 15+ years. I was really psyched on you and the B-stone boys <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/when/1993canaan.html" target="_blank">rallying XOs in the dirt</a> when I was in college and on your lightning rod "road-bikes-on-the-dirt" article. There was a whole crew of us at that time in North Georgia riding beat old 700c roadies on these great epic dirt loops, some of us on tubs. Anyway, it was a big influence on me. After a short trip into MTB style equipment in the late 90's (still rigid onespeeding with cantis), I ride nothing but skinnies in the dirt (35s). Later on pal,</i> <b>MC, 3-9-05</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Well, if the photos on your site are an indication of the kind of "trails" you ride, then no, you don't need a mountain bike. Come on out to the Rockies and see how long your wheels last.<br /><br />Beautiful rides, by the way. They remind me of my commute. I'd take my Atlantis on them.</i> - <b>HCH, 9-5-05</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyone who is seriously into mountain biking, knows that training on a road bike in addition to trail riding, is the key to mountain biking success. In other words, to be good on a mountain bike, especially where endurance events are concerned, spending more time on the road bike than the mountain bike is often necessary.<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would not, however, designate one as "better than" the other, they are just "different". Which many people will not hear in their rush to "defend" since becoming defensive is a normal reaction in human nature, when people perceive that their beliefs are being questioned or attacked. There is a definite place in any cyclists arsenal for a mountain bike. I sure wouldn't take my carbon Cinelli with flyweight carbon fork up any mountain bike trail, and the mountain bike allows us to ride where the road bike doesn't, but for pure conditioning, the road bike is essential as AN ADDITION, not as a replacement.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Here is an interesting fact I discovered quite by accident. When riding El Moro a few times I used to see people hiking with poles, and asked them what they were training for. They replied "Whitney". OK, well I'd planned to do the Whitney hike before meeting those people, went forward after my encounters with the pole hikers, and did the hike solo, without any sort of "hiking training" whatsoever. I pretty much aced it up and back in less than 13 hours, since it is not really hiking, but more like stair climbing, two steps at a time. Much like the leg movements we make when cycling, and using the same muscles. I never once trained by hiking, and I am quite sure, as I passed all those people with hiking poles on the trail, that all of my road and mountain biking prior to doing the Whitney hike, was the key to my success.<br /> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Why polarize people with the idea that "my ride is better than your ride"? Each bike has its own function, the applications are simply different, not better or worse. </i>- <b>BM, 3-30-10</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was amused in Chris's article re "mountain bikes." During the early '60's I was known, to the Oakland East Bay Regional Park Service, as that crazy "Mountain-man": IF I couldn't ride it (over the terrain) I carried it. Me and my trusty English-made traditional 10 speed!! There wasn't a fire road or mountain trail that ever slowed me down. If it was there ... I traversed it. On another note, six years ago, I encountered an hysterical mountain-biker: he was riding DOWN a trail that only a mountain goat would ever attempt ....... of course ........ I was going UP:) It seems that he felt that his $7,000 mountain bike (I bought my first house for less than that) would take him, safely, anywhere. Wrong! But for this old guy (me), he and his $7,000 "magic carpet" would have ended at the bottom of a jagged rock filled ravine. I saved him and his trusty steed from total carnage. I did everything to put him back together except wash his "dirty laundry":)) I remember this well because I still have two torn rotators that, periodically refreshes my gallantry:) Ah, yes: $7,000 for a luxury ride to near total destruction. I may not be able to enjoy the trails any longer but at least I don't have to worry about saving some nut ass pedaling a $7,000 hype. My old ten speed had Dunlop Road Speed radial tires with heavy-duty inner tube. I rode this bike thousands of miles ...... NEVER had a flat!!!<br /> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>So, my enfashionados/demons: reread Chris's old article re: '<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/03/any-bike-anywhere-rough-riders-way-of.html" target="_blank">Any bike Anywhere</a>' .... get real and save yourself some $$. By the way ..... I ride, daily, 30 miles of 'Alpine Pass' mode, on my $3000 Star Trac recumbent stationary bike:)) But, if any of you, out there, with an old "clunker" AND a healthy pair of gams ....... I'll gladly trade you ....... just kidding. I wouldn't ask that of anyone. In the meantime ..... I'll just peddle my ancient hulk to no-where. And .... I'll be happy in knowing that I'm still able to grunt, huff, pant .... AND complain:)) The signature of a true jock.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The worst incident with my old 10 speed was when I was tooling down College Ave. in Berkeley, California ..... some IDIOT opened his, parked, car door in front of me. I had no choice but to grab the door frame. My bike ended in some shrubs. I got a big grass stain on my posterior. The car?: popped windshield, broken door hinge, and a smashed hood where this 250 pound muscled cyclist bounced from the hood onto a lush green lawn. The driver?: wet pants .... as I read him the riot act!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys have been there so you know how good it is to ride the trails and away from two tons of steel with a loose nut behind the wheel!!!<br /><br />Yours in the sport of friendly humor along with just plain common sense.</i> - <b>AA, 3-3--10</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over this winter I think I will finally scan and post all the letters to the editor which were sent to Bicycle Guide back in 1993, many of which were very supportive from those who "got" what I was saying, while others were just hilarious. That 1993 article is truly the gift that keeps on giving, when I consider how it still evokes knee-jerk responses from people whose identity is tied up in the width of their bike's tyres, along with positive, friendly emails from those who got my point and appreciate the adventurous way of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile, enjoy the ride, everyone. Life is short!</span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-52382605821723847182010-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:002013-12-04T11:53:31.955-08:00The Classic Cyclist, Part One<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYW3q6tlsAI7kiuuQa3mkh7xOnJPv4W0_dlytkIdc6HID4DmUDiqGYiCmsmIf-01x_kzEuaCQP3TABYjvDxxJuSRH710rd3M4yEYr3vFw4kBNYU4a6p4m9ljb8eCR1IrQaUDFVjlN36A/s1600/Picture+4.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489165097355327794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYW3q6tlsAI7kiuuQa3mkh7xOnJPv4W0_dlytkIdc6HID4DmUDiqGYiCmsmIf-01x_kzEuaCQP3TABYjvDxxJuSRH710rd3M4yEYr3vFw4kBNYU4a6p4m9ljb8eCR1IrQaUDFVjlN36A/s400/Picture+4.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 307px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Classic Cyclist, Part One</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">By Chris Kostman</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Originally published in Endurance News #70, June/July 2010</span><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Photo above of the author (L) and <a href="http://velocult.com/" target="_blank">Sky Boyer</a> by <a href="http://paleovelo.com/" target="_blank">Dustin Sharp</a>. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Road Cyclists entering the sport over the past fifteen or so years have tended to come in by way of mountain biking, triathlon, or fitness, rather than pure road cycling. As a result, most of these “cyclists” lack the knowledge which makes up the foundation of the classic cyclists’ repertoire and which builds upon the backbone of the sport. Here are some things the classic cyclist knows and does:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROPER WARM-UP</span><br />The best way to start a ride, or conduct any aerobic activity, is to warm up properly. “Warming up” is not just about elevating heart rate, however; it’s also about gradually warming up the entire body and bringing one’s attention to the matter at hand. This takes time to do it properly. A classic cyclist will take the first ten to twenty miles of a ride, or even a race, to warm up properly, usually staying off the big chainring and two smallest cogs. As a result, he or she will actually ride better and more quickly than the current jackrabbit style of cyclists who catapult onto every training ride or event. Frankly, it’s shocking to me that riders today just take off “like a bat out of hell” even on a training ride, or social ride. Back in the day, at a double century or a road race, riders would all cruise together for the first hour or more, socializing while warming up properly. They’d end up becoming fitter, setting faster PRs than riders today in the same events, getting to know one another better, AND having more fun.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WORK TOGETHER</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most
cyclists nowadays not only don’t know how to ride in a paceline, but that they
don’t even understand why they should. In ultras, or even club rides, where
drafting is allowed and the overall intention is to get down the road ASAP, one
thing should be kept in mind: Work together, and when it’s not your turn up
front, covet that rear wheel of your buddy! In the moment, you may think “it’s
too hard to keep up at this speed,” but the classic cyclist knows that riding
solo instead of with another means more work and less speed. Where’s the logic
in that? Equally important, there’s a beauty and a grace to working with one or
more fellow cyclists with an “all for one, and one for all” attitude. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
effort to keep the group together is specifically continued at checkpoints
during events; those who arrive together, leave together. (Riders today will
often sneakily slip out of a checkpoint a minute or three ahead of the riders
whose wheels they were just drafting. Riding solo, or with just one or two
others, they will then ride more slowly than they had been in the group. Why
not just keep the group together after the checkpoint, too?)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>EMBRACES SUFFERING</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allow
me to let Tim Krabbé, author of “The Rider,” explain: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"The greater the suffering,
the greater the pleasure. That is nature's payback to riders for the homage
they pay her by suffering. Velvet pillows, safari parks, sunglasses; people
have become woolly mice. They still have bodies that can walk for five days and
four nights through a desert of snow, without food, but they accept praise for
having taken a one-hour bicycle ride. 'Good for you.' Instead of expressing
their gratitude for the rain by getting wet, people walk around with umbrellas.
Nature is an old lady with few friends these days, and those who wish to make use
of her charms, she rewards passionately."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
classic cyclist accepts suffering as an intricate part of the experience. He or
she certainly doesn’t whine in person, nor blog about “how tough that was”
after the fact, nor just “call it a day” like some child collecting up his toys
from the sandbox to go home and pout with Mommy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ESPRIT DE CORPS</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whether
he or she rides as a lone ranger or a dedicated club rider, the classic cyclist
shares a bond with all fellow cyclists. As such, other cyclists are always
acknowledged along the road, usually with a tip of the head to riders in the
opposing direction, or a cheery hello when passing or being passed. Classic
cyclists never ride hi-lessly, wavelessly, and nodlessly by. Likewise,
categorizing or deriding other cyclists is a pursuit never considered. All on
bicycles are appreciated and respected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>EQUIPMENT IN SYNCH WITH ABILITY</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until
about 20 years ago, it was relatively easy to spot a good cyclist. Simply put,
good bikes went with good riders. Sometimes good riders went with so-so bikes,
but the opposite was almost never true. Unfortunately, that's not the scene
today as cycling has become trendy, hip, and stylish. (Note that stylishness
is, of course, the absolute antithesis of style.) Cycling has also become a
status-related activity, so much so that when one sees a really fine machine
humming down the road or trail, it is almost invariably being ridden by someone
whose ability doesn't come close to matching his or her checking account. Of
course, the classic cyclist can spot the poseur right away, regardless of his
or her equipment (but is still nice to him or her).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See the original publication of this article in the scans above and below.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/09/classic-cyclist-part-two.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part Two</a>. | <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/02/above-author-on-17-mile-drive-in-carmel.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part Three</a>. | <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/06/classic-cyclist-part-four.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part Four</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmZslBPilYItaPjuXpfJOYpum-xDuLvS9RtNgvAKaawtwSZyAEy1gpgrlr6C-NpdtADzo7O-TS7LgZW1nVhhQkqyhzRecvporIiV5wQLDBLH3f9ObnPsV4jS_qdK-FERcOrro9iHAiiY/s1600/Picture+5.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489201260571271538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmZslBPilYItaPjuXpfJOYpum-xDuLvS9RtNgvAKaawtwSZyAEy1gpgrlr6C-NpdtADzo7O-TS7LgZW1nVhhQkqyhzRecvporIiV5wQLDBLH3f9ObnPsV4jS_qdK-FERcOrro9iHAiiY/s400/Picture+5.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 311px;" /></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxx6ZM4gRXPLlkvokhO7huQ6AO4ipU4cys2D2K7bFTErpfqami1AUIXnV62CdmdIytJsxyW2jvOI6RaHGrG1f_kpEo7stSvIMUzaSXAzzySmRtD4hiU4wJM-zeFXzoAyZBS6_CMFpPA8/s1600/Picture+6.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489201264069458114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxx6ZM4gRXPLlkvokhO7huQ6AO4ipU4cys2D2K7bFTErpfqami1AUIXnV62CdmdIytJsxyW2jvOI6RaHGrG1f_kpEo7stSvIMUzaSXAzzySmRtD4hiU4wJM-zeFXzoAyZBS6_CMFpPA8/s400/Picture+6.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 309px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chris Kostman has been a classic cyclist since 1982. Besides competing in races as diverse as the Race Across America, the Iditabike Mountain Bike Race, and the 24 Hours of Canaan, he also organizes the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 races, a series of four century rides, and the Rough Riders Rally. This is his fifteenth article for Endurance News. Learn more at his blog, www.XO-1.org, and at <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/">www.adventurecorps.com</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-37692362681094986142013-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:002013-12-03T19:01:14.166-08:001993 24 Hours of Canaan (Rhymes with Insane)<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1993 24 Hours of Canaan (Rhymes with Insane)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By Chris Kostman</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Originally published in Bicycle Guide in 1993, although they basically ruined it when they edited it. This is what I really wrote.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rClgOUwm8RdLq-Z-ipf_iren0TuY1k0xpy0KqnPDXR599R8Qz-L9MdKydAi_NsfCdYEoYvVqAw2Ks7I8sYKUOW7mqLnOh8wCx3XqQI0AkaJOU2O-VCGXSJLhiVb4CGKrz_OoHoYH1HE/s1600/CKcanaan93_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rClgOUwm8RdLq-Z-ipf_iren0TuY1k0xpy0KqnPDXR599R8Qz-L9MdKydAi_NsfCdYEoYvVqAw2Ks7I8sYKUOW7mqLnOh8wCx3XqQI0AkaJOU2O-VCGXSJLhiVb4CGKrz_OoHoYH1HE/s400/CKcanaan93_cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Above, L-R: Harry Winand, Gene Oberpriller, John Stamstad, and the author, Chris Kostman at the 24 Hours of Canaan. Photo by Grant Petersen</i></span></span></span>.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was in the shower with one shaved leg. Suddenly my teammate Harry Winand bursts in the door and tells me that I've been bumped up from fourth rider out to third. I've got five minutes until I have to hit the trail. So with one hairy leg and one shaved, I throw on my clothes and head over to the start/finish line. What an auspicious start it would prove to be. Not having had the luxury of pre-riding the course, I had little idea of what to expect. Let's just say that 11.5 miles of mud, swampy bog, puddles, rocks, five crashes, and six river crossings was not what I'd expected.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In common parlance this 24 hour four or five rider relay race held in the Canaan Valley of West Virginia is called the 24 Hours of Canaan, but it's more like the 24 Hours of Insane. Why? Well, there was a LeMans start with the first riders out all lined up across a river from their bikes. At the gunshot, they sprinted across the river, scrambled up the bank to mount their bikes, then turned around and pedaled straight back into the running masses to ford the river yet again. Each lap would start and finish with this river crossing. Got the picture?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 11.5 mile loop was something like The Longest Mile, eleven point five times in a row. There's mile after mile of solid mud fireroad (how could there be a fire with this much water on the ground?) and singletrack that's worn down and rutted out with every passing rider (factor in 98 teams doing from twelve to nineteen loops each). Puddle after puddle of indeterminate depth would force two options: ride high on the edge of the trail and risk having your tyres slide right out and dumping you in the water, or blasting hell be damned through the puddles. Sometimes you'd plow through like Moses in the Red Sea, other times it was an over the bars projection lesson. Oh yeah, some of these "puddles" were 50 yards long and up to three feet deep.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then there were hills so steep that crawling up on all fours would be difficult. With a bike, in the mud, in a race, turned one of the hills into a medieval torture machine. I glued Ritchey Z-Max tyre treads to my Vittoria shoes to try to get more traction. Teammate Gene Oberpriller, who passed up a ride in the CoreStates PRO Championships to join the rest of us from Team Bridgestone in this mayhem, swears that the tree roots were glowing flourescent green when he scrambled up The Hill on his last lap. In daylight, no less... (Of course, he did post the fastest lap average of the event, so maybe he just pushed a little TOO hard...)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then there's Moonrocks. Huge expanses of slab rock on this downhill stretch had water eroded ruts covering it that never headed in the desired direction. It was all but unrideable and I for one didn't even try. I just shouldered my bike and sprinted down, down, down. The 300 yard mud bog prior to Moonrocks sometimes added twenty pounds to my XO-1, making this stretch even more brutal and treacherous</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the six river crossings? They were actually the highlight of the course, for they cleaned the gobs of mud and blood off of the bike, making it lighter and functional again. It got to the point where we couldn't wait to ford the icy waters, even if we did face plant occasionally. Heck, when else would we get our face clean, anyway?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That brings up the best part of the race, the four hour stints between rides. Some camped out in the mud, cleaning themselves and their bikes in the river. Some of us had the luxury of cruising back to a hotel, showering, putting on clean clothes, eating warm food, having our bikes cleaned, lubed, and tuned by Grant and Ernie from Bridgestone, then napping or watching Beavis and Butthead on MTV. What a life!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I'm just paranoid the whole time I'm out there," said teammate John Stamstad at one point, summing up the common theme of the weekend. There's paranoia about crashing. Paranoia about getting lost. Paranoia about a major mechanical necessitating a long walk out. Paranoia about getting passed. Paranoia about losing the baton that needed to be handed off each lap. (You get to go back out and look for it!) Paranoia about all of the above happening to the teammate that's out riding while you're trying to relax and get ready for another 70 to 90 minute interval session. Paranoia? INSANE!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh yeah, about the race... The local heroes, Teams Black and White and Nukey Boys, edged us out for first and second. They're tough riders with the homecourt advantage of knowing the best lines, not to mention the alternate routes to avoid some of the more impassable sections, but they claimed to have won fair and square. (Late in the race, both teams passes us without actually passing us...) Still, we're happy with third, considering that we're composed of a crit racer, a roadie, an ultra marathon weenie, and a triathageek, and that we rode bikes (XO-1's with Moustache bars) that one magazine called "suitable only for riding to and from the trailhead, but not on the trail." To slightly modify Arny Schwarzenegger's famous line: "We'll be back, and so will our 'road bikes.'"</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-82876206324749348252008-12-20T16:54:00.000-08:002013-12-03T18:51:03.446-08:00Rough Riding Northern San Diego County: Nate Harrison Grade up Palomar Mountain<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CjLD4Gp4MmU3ci9aMIzXpPOmQxCtFsLYLO8QLdK13vMxt6-NsGpmz6k0CcckuwML_Fu-zgUk2gtd3gH0LRXjUIRcXS8iCA65Slrg6QrBw5KIwxWy-2O2IB7KKCupd3Ylw2eUV_AEDh4/s1600-h/DSC07104.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282046898413030450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CjLD4Gp4MmU3ci9aMIzXpPOmQxCtFsLYLO8QLdK13vMxt6-NsGpmz6k0CcckuwML_Fu-zgUk2gtd3gH0LRXjUIRcXS8iCA65Slrg6QrBw5KIwxWy-2O2IB7KKCupd3Ylw2eUV_AEDh4/s400/DSC07104.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">The view of just the lower part of Nate Harrison Grade.</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"One of the roads up Palomar Mountain has been known for five decades as 'The Highway to the Stars.' The road named after Nate Harrison might well be known as 'The Highway Back Into Time.' If you listen, besides the sound of the wind and hawks wheeling effortlessly overhead, you can hear horses straining against their leather harnesses, wooden wagon wheels creaking, and teamsters swearing and cracking the whip over the necks of the sweating beasts." </span>So said David Ross in "Making the Grade: NATE’S ROAD HAS STORIES TO TELL" in a very lengthy and interesting article published in the Valley Roadrunner. <a href="http://www.valleycenter.com/grade1.htm">Click here for the full story</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">After two years of staring at the squiggly line on my Auto Club map of San Diego County which depicted an intriguing alternate - and unpaved - road up Palomar Mountain, we decided to go check it out in person on Thursday, November 6, 2008.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">The dirt road itself, which goes literally all he way up Palomar Mountain, is 9.5 miles long and ascends about 4000 feet - from about 700' to about 4700'. Once you add in the last, paved, climb to the Boucher Fire Lookout, you've climbed 11.1 miles and ascended to 5438'. Then you have some rolling paved miles across the top of Palomar Mountain </span><span style="font-size: 85%;">through the State Park to Mother's Kitchen, the General Store, Post Office, and bathroom. There you head over to the stop sign where you can take South Grade back down to where you started, for a total of 40 miles. Plan on five hours, to allow time to enjoy the views along the way and especially from the top, plus the water / food / bathroom stop at Mother's. Though the route can be climbed by an accomplished rough rider on a road bike with 28mm tyres, definitely I wouldn't recommend descending Nate Harrison without a full-on mountain bike. South Grade can have a lot of "crotch rocket" motorcyclists on weekends, so go on a weekday if you possibly can. This is really a phenomenal ride and we highly recommend it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugyveSNDTDc11xuPbM1PXxUcHiXTKCNvyXy4Qh4nrLUp8M8H6wfSOTko5UXKdl25kSfD7Mp7MTj1OAJYpAgfG2kVVjGQfoV1dx4uGwNOdflW61z8YAH3OPB5DPICsRQMnSTvTn1AIXVU/s1600-h/DSC07109.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282046898123814866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugyveSNDTDc11xuPbM1PXxUcHiXTKCNvyXy4Qh4nrLUp8M8H6wfSOTko5UXKdl25kSfD7Mp7MTj1OAJYpAgfG2kVVjGQfoV1dx4uGwNOdflW61z8YAH3OPB5DPICsRQMnSTvTn1AIXVU/s400/DSC07109.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Above: Just a few miles up, you can see the road quality:<br />Pretty good. I could do it on 700by28mm road tyres easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7hOhqeOtlwXyTlu0A2YBku-dNSpixgM4YRODSinmKzpA9Oi1FrU10cbJvk2iYO-iaASK7BwoNK0xiYn9P3NIbRgoPg9iC1eKFVTkL1fHKtbd3F1OAdLHIT69wZrXwQ3ncZcKG-kA_s/s1600-h/DSC07112.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282046915761489986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7hOhqeOtlwXyTlu0A2YBku-dNSpixgM4YRODSinmKzpA9Oi1FrU10cbJvk2iYO-iaASK7BwoNK0xiYn9P3NIbRgoPg9iC1eKFVTkL1fHKtbd3F1OAdLHIT69wZrXwQ3ncZcKG-kA_s/s400/DSC07112.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Above: Most of the climb is very wide open, until you hit the tree line.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwG0HeuIsU4EiC23NbCWPkY9dBhHhcy43qffc6WZ-25PJta7ApVagwWjI_Wh_qOnxWVJUgNb4Z5rac_rtEIzwqiiaqF8YaN2dwmyaJMYLakPuEdcXU_rGPYe6kElC4S4_ng_VCWN0bCI/s1600-h/DSC07119.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282046914931240882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwG0HeuIsU4EiC23NbCWPkY9dBhHhcy43qffc6WZ-25PJta7ApVagwWjI_Wh_qOnxWVJUgNb4Z5rac_rtEIzwqiiaqF8YaN2dwmyaJMYLakPuEdcXU_rGPYe6kElC4S4_ng_VCWN0bCI/s400/DSC07119.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Above and Below: Entering the forest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAuS5SmuxxIowLc2OSI2Uklh5GFFqLDjKJYUB17Sai0xqKxC5b5zmVyuszkqIAKcEweeQv03bgl0NnbG9d4Ze-qfmrdezeEQqeDbuAAgCUDgJqLX4GEBYbbyQYMyHrD9YBgvmok-jhJk/s1600-h/DSC07124.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282046924672772418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAuS5SmuxxIowLc2OSI2Uklh5GFFqLDjKJYUB17Sai0xqKxC5b5zmVyuszkqIAKcEweeQv03bgl0NnbG9d4Ze-qfmrdezeEQqeDbuAAgCUDgJqLX4GEBYbbyQYMyHrD9YBgvmok-jhJk/s400/DSC07124.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSkA_dN7vKfA1Kd-BP373sxb-pfBtjjviACb8jjFkXF1akt-7SwflGC-YhTIcJTCXBm9OuouCjuN_oho__UYu7z3SXsQM7lE7rxcHBnmxFOUQuDcweavXvssQx4WNBKuVB6KBqEXtTHo/s1600-h/DSC07130.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282047788214040370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSkA_dN7vKfA1Kd-BP373sxb-pfBtjjviACb8jjFkXF1akt-7SwflGC-YhTIcJTCXBm9OuouCjuN_oho__UYu7z3SXsQM7lE7rxcHBnmxFOUQuDcweavXvssQx4WNBKuVB6KBqEXtTHo/s400/DSC07130.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Above: Near the end of the unpaved section, a lot of trees have been cut down - probably being cleared from the fires of recent years - so there is a lot of wood chips on the road, making it a little bit sketchy to ride for about 50 yards. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6479H2pg08w8Mpg6Q6LypeGyQic4hyphenhyphenStCdaLvjAPT2L5fSIHPgmAsMx2YmZPdMjxJRK44FpGfFnPICnasQQ8fkI_UELwRw4xP6S2XfYQGBjnb1XAMm7YS2W40mcHtinp8zWyyOVn0Dzg/s1600-h/DSC07151.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282047792019785154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6479H2pg08w8Mpg6Q6LypeGyQic4hyphenhyphenStCdaLvjAPT2L5fSIHPgmAsMx2YmZPdMjxJRK44FpGfFnPICnasQQ8fkI_UELwRw4xP6S2XfYQGBjnb1XAMm7YS2W40mcHtinp8zWyyOVn0Dzg/s400/DSC07151.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: The fabulous view from the top, looking south by southwest, from Boucher Lookout. My title for this ride and for this photo in particular is "All That You Can Leave Behind" - a reference to that idiotic casino down there, and the traffic associated with it and the other casinos which decimates the back roads of San Diego County.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Useful Links and Info:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">From <a href="http://www.socalmtb.com/socal/trails/nate.htm">SoCalMTB.com</a>:<br />"Nate Harrison Grade is on the southwest side of Palomar Mountain in the north end of San Diego County. Parking is best at Pauma School about 1/4 mile south of Highway 76 on Cole Grade Road. To reach this point take Highway 76 east off of Interstate Route 15 for about 15 miles, or Valley Center Road out of Escondido through Valley Center to Highway 76 in Pauma Valley and go west for about 4 miles. Thomas Guide page 1050 H4." (You can only park at the school on a weekend. We parked at the Casino Pauma which is amazing hard to find. It's at 777 Pauma Reservation Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=777+Pauma+Reservation+Rd,+Pauma+Valley,+CA+92061&ie=UTF8&z=15&g=777+Pauma+Reservation+Rd,+Pauma+Valley,+CA+92061&iwloc=cent">Google Map of the location</a>.)<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.mountainbikebill.com/NateHarrisonGrade.htm">MountainBikeBill.com</a>:<br />"Nate Harrison Grade is on the southwest side of Palomar Mountain in the north end of San Diego County. This is one continuous climb that will certainly test your climbing strength. It has an average grade of 8% over 11.1 miles with some parts being much steeper. With almost 4700 feet of climbing this is a great workout ride with the reward of stunning views and a real sense of accomplishment at the top."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Trails/NateHarrision/NateHarrision-Map-LR.jpg">Here is Mountain Bike Bill's map of the route</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Trails/NateHarrision/NateHarrision-Profile.JPG">Here is Mountain Bike Bill's topo of the route</a></span><a href="http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Trails/NateHarrision/NateHarrision-Profile.JPG"><span style="font-size: 85%;">.</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><a href="http://www.mountainbikebill.com/NateHarrisonGrade.htm">Here is Mountain Bike Bill's route description</a></span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(talk about a consistent gradient!)</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><br /></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-69350414790183066332008-12-29T23:29:00.001-08:002013-12-03T18:49:00.994-08:00Rough Riding Eastern San Diego County: Viejas Grade, Pine Creek, Mt. Laguna, and More<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPEc-86YpaAlwTnbG8HlNd2nm1pXMem1Ra6ts0YK1nMYhN-LfX2pwhOOsINOyTi6lmPxI9Wnpzil-aBk2qDG5_8w9rUcvy6oDX08-qMvcJPAlHI8yfHjvbsOQnyvbPisLlLD-dE3RZdQ/s1600-h/DSC07175.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285493001877763026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPEc-86YpaAlwTnbG8HlNd2nm1pXMem1Ra6ts0YK1nMYhN-LfX2pwhOOsINOyTi6lmPxI9Wnpzil-aBk2qDG5_8w9rUcvy6oDX08-qMvcJPAlHI8yfHjvbsOQnyvbPisLlLD-dE3RZdQ/s400/DSC07175.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We love the whole Mt. Laguna region for cycling on- and off-road, for its beauty, its diversity, its flowers, its waterfalls, and so much more. It's truly an outdoor paradise, and it's located just 50 miles east of San Diego, along the I-8 freeway. We've ridden every road out there, and many of the trails, but we never tire of creating new ways of connecting together the various pieces we know, interspersed with some new treats along the way.</span></span> <span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Such was the ride we did on November 8, 2008, a 59.5 mile loop which started and finished at the relatively new Starbux located at </span><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">2963 Alpinie Blvd in Alpine, CA 91901. (<a href="http://www.starbucks.com/Retail/Find/storedetails.aspx?sid=99460&coords=alpine,%20ca%7C32.78737685728982%7C-116.85631400000001%7C11&fs=1">Start location and mapping here</a>.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">This route included the fabulous Viejas Grade ascent (pictured above), a gravel and dirt road which is a wonderful alternate to riding on I-8 just to the south (the corridor that 99% of all cyclists use out here for some reason to get between Alpine and Descanso). Viejas starts behind the Viejas Casino and climbs up to the top of the mountains immediately west of Descanso. It's a great climb, not that steep, and doable on road bikes with 23mm tyres if you're careful, though 28mm or wider is advisable. This ride then goes through Descanso, Guatay, and Pine Valley, then climbs the little known and truly EPIC Pine Creek Road (again, 99% of cyclists bypass this road and just climb Mt. Laguna on Sunrise Hwy for some unknown reason). Pine Creek is one of the very best climbs anywhere on the planet. At the top you go south on Sunrise Hwy, either directly to the summit - where you'll find a nice little Forest Service visitor's center, bathrooms, store, and rental cabins - or you can have some extra fun and a bit more dirt by cutting through the campgrounds instead (as we did, which you'll see in the slideshow and below), still ending up at the store and bathrooms.<br /><br />From the summit you actually climb a bit more, then enjoy a very long descent down Sunrise Hwy back to Pine Valley. From Pine Valley there is a short amount of retracing one's steps in reverse to Guatay, but then we head south towards the I-8, instead of back to Viejas Grade. Then it gets extra interesting again where we investigate an alternate to either riding the I-8 shoulder or Viejas Grade to get back to Alpine. I had seen this third option, a clearly abandoned road, from the freeway over the years and finally checked it out on this ride. You can see what happens in the slideshow/video, but it's pretty neat. You do end up back on the freeway shoulder, but only for a downhill mile or so, before exiting back into Alpine. This was a really great ride and we highly recommend it! Post your comments about your own adventures on this route below!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is the route sheet.</span> Note that not every turn is measured in. Bring a San Diego County map for reference, though if you have a good sense of direction and have plenty of time, you should be able to figure out this ride with what is below. Plan on about six to seven hours, total time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">0.0</span> Start at Starbux in Alpine and head east on Alpine Blvd.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Cross over I-8 at Willow Glen, then continue east on the opposite (north) side of the freeway.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Veer left shortly thereafter into the Indian Reservation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Follow that road until it becomes Viejas Grade and turns to gravel - head uphill into Rough Rider heaven!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7.8</span> Summit Viejas Grade (still gravel).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8.8</span> Pavement resumes: Continue straight and downhill to Descanso.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Turn left at the T-intersection at the store and stop sign.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Turn left at the next T-intersection at the 79 / Old Hwy 80 stop sign.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Pass through Guatay, then drop down into Pine Valley.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">17.8</span> Pine Valley Park (water and restroom; use these facilities!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">U-turn back a half-mile, then turn right on Pine Creek Rd (north); get ready to start climbing in a few miles.<br />After an extremely steep section (see the comments below), you'll cross a cattle guard, then make a hard right straight uphill (not straight onto the dirt there).</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">28.2</span> Turn right/south on Sunrise Hwy (T-intersection; stop sign).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">33.0</span> Visitor's Center at the summit of Mt. Laguna (water and restroom); there's also a store next door.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Continue south on Sunrise Hwy, dropping down towards the I-8 and Pine Valley.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">At the bottom, turn right on Old Hwy 90 to Pine Valley.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Pass through Pine Valley, including Pine Valley Java and Major's Café.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">44.2</span> Arrive back at Pine Valley Park (water and restroom).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Continue west on Old Hwy 80 through Guatay.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Continue onto 79 - not back to the Descanso Store, unless you want or need to.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">51.5</span> About a mile before hitting the I-8, turn right on Willow Glen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">About a mile later, there is a gate across the road and then the pavement starts to disappear: keep going!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">54.0</span> Hike down onto I-8 and continue west on I-8 (this is a bike-legal bike lane shoulder).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Take first offramp, then left over the freeway, then right on Alpine Blvd, continuing west back to Alpine.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">59.5</span> Finish at Alpine Starbux.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;"><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;">Here are some photos (click any of them to see them much bigger):</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasvQtQdhGNVucahifzi3JraDR1-YiI-avF1bV2PVDDqpbOMn0MVdcTrakTSZdbpsYaHq5I5vCnsCEJTp8GvMU4U0eXxY3ml1FrHk_7YCceYL2iCVyKeT-Bne4mvwUTUsYkVHwJy88xqw/s1600-h/DSC07173.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285492994059603746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasvQtQdhGNVucahifzi3JraDR1-YiI-avF1bV2PVDDqpbOMn0MVdcTrakTSZdbpsYaHq5I5vCnsCEJTp8GvMU4U0eXxY3ml1FrHk_7YCceYL2iCVyKeT-Bne4mvwUTUsYkVHwJy88xqw/s400/DSC07173.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: On Viejas Grade, looking west; You'll see lots of "Spanish Bayonets" in this region, as featured in the Rough Riders logo!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTdIURndc5TALeP4qDX3TzAw0WadtJq1YvNvEJ2Zn6kJEm2aFYjiTgzGli3Vt9ZGMh2jgDRHga9o1hpLzqIy_VfgO0aT282wQxYuP9o3duisy7vq78pQTtzONoAjVwrQlX25_1HK9thM/s1600-h/DSC07196.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285491992063081794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTdIURndc5TALeP4qDX3TzAw0WadtJq1YvNvEJ2Zn6kJEm2aFYjiTgzGli3Vt9ZGMh2jgDRHga9o1hpLzqIy_VfgO0aT282wQxYuP9o3duisy7vq78pQTtzONoAjVwrQlX25_1HK9thM/s400/DSC07196.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: Starting to climb Pine Creek Road.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ii87hMUCXgYM-uZTcJaYMRM8r1tVu-eBahIdK7QMGuZ-7JKpdwYTCjc8pAyb8yRzYrp6R872vjFGTkrfh_SYZYJofClIih0zmvgfXc9zwgnYta_hUK_jhk2t5L9APfE6j6d0-6CVTgw/s1600-h/DSC07202.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285491992020021474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ii87hMUCXgYM-uZTcJaYMRM8r1tVu-eBahIdK7QMGuZ-7JKpdwYTCjc8pAyb8yRzYrp6R872vjFGTkrfh_SYZYJofClIih0zmvgfXc9zwgnYta_hUK_jhk2t5L9APfE6j6d0-6CVTgw/s400/DSC07202.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Above: Further up Pine Creek Road. What a view, in every direction!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpVi8_hbioN2yP8oIjKdX_hVDwMF-9daNlHGY1bqdbM155pZ6YyGv_ppcO8rXSssDX_G5wfirubpahuQVPDpZIo_W3xJBKdp7pDYl5Pu_cb6pX3BgLI_4KNzVAi3CxgiDlQAY3CY9w1Y/s1600-h/DSC07203.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285491994300571298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpVi8_hbioN2yP8oIjKdX_hVDwMF-9daNlHGY1bqdbM155pZ6YyGv_ppcO8rXSssDX_G5wfirubpahuQVPDpZIo_W3xJBKdp7pDYl5Pu_cb6pX3BgLI_4KNzVAi3CxgiDlQAY3CY9w1Y/s400/DSC07203.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: Near the top of the first main summit of Pine Creek Road. The previous photo was taken in the far left of this shot, looking up to where we are now. This road rules!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ61VIJ4-yYbtQQUgtdprMU9GKDYfD_qyTh3oXa3-QBJ-KgjJ_8fsrUJyZqjXKocsIjwmspfydg7HDHAaJEGmx-n3C7ggbJjGw5_qwYsM4Wj3YBS6FvvaV8sXEpZlzPUIzm7TjDll7ApI/s1600-h/DSC07213.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285491996107017618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ61VIJ4-yYbtQQUgtdprMU9GKDYfD_qyTh3oXa3-QBJ-KgjJ_8fsrUJyZqjXKocsIjwmspfydg7HDHAaJEGmx-n3C7ggbJjGw5_qwYsM4Wj3YBS6FvvaV8sXEpZlzPUIzm7TjDll7ApI/s400/DSC07213.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Above: Cutting through the campgrounds, and enjoying all the fall colors, as an alternate to part of Sunrise Hwy, on the way to the Mt. Laguna Visitor's Center.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhGaBK2B-C-0s_2xP_LHBUfpfBYGmrmpmTcj8yxEU0GxynIX7dLFnRYg4pDR1xlFjFLmFt9l7e0eycJp8OBHP8RL-cH_3GVtUHVh2RkNMxDB768JfiIvzaKfUH07bzvV_s1p8vEauw8U/s1600-h/DSC07230.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285491998721302162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhGaBK2B-C-0s_2xP_LHBUfpfBYGmrmpmTcj8yxEU0GxynIX7dLFnRYg4pDR1xlFjFLmFt9l7e0eycJp8OBHP8RL-cH_3GVtUHVh2RkNMxDB768JfiIvzaKfUH07bzvV_s1p8vEauw8U/s400/DSC07230.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: Ready to rumble! On Willow Glen, heading to where the pavement turns to dirt!<br />My Bike:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">1994 Bridgestone RB-1 with 700x by 32mm Vittoria Cross XN Pro tyres and 38/28 low gear.</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"> On me: Major Taylor jersey and Moeben sleeves. (Her bike<span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span>1974 Williams with 650B by 35mm Panaracer Col de la Vie tyres and 34/32 low gear.)</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8obqiXArwrxgRsal5Nk2q_oOBqW6MVMDl6sSEsb2QJCI6wjWKdXbqjZD_yhirZ7EDG8igPqHFQ0o4vuNcPFTyyDQ08C9esDrTDeigw0gadurWtxpKbR9l4WFdxVO52g9zGZfFCrxRiR0/s1600-h/DSC07245.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285493002459877698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8obqiXArwrxgRsal5Nk2q_oOBqW6MVMDl6sSEsb2QJCI6wjWKdXbqjZD_yhirZ7EDG8igPqHFQ0o4vuNcPFTyyDQ08C9esDrTDeigw0gadurWtxpKbR9l4WFdxVO52g9zGZfFCrxRiR0/s400/DSC07245.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Above: Willow Glen rough riding - pavement is overrated!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Below: </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Here's a video of the whole ride</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span></span><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">There are 85 images, plus a soundtrack (turn up speakers), so it should be pretty fun and interesting. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let us know what you think by posting a comment below! Thanks for your support and interest!</span></span></span></span> </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='430' height='350' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBZmDnKJtMnoQhP5_RTzsXtdynymTYlyiJ_oNmGw2fbXm-Y8Vjx8mHZ6AW-6fTQRJIbYDFZ7T5DFYPGq5JWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-27048097022873690932010-09-14T16:25:00.000-07:002013-12-03T18:31:15.648-08:00The Classic Cyclist, Part Two<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu98K02MkY1j39nU448dV3yiC9EDEeM0LNKrWGLiasS8yhidtiNs0lRk_poxdU3mj-TUyd5LLlmwUmkLCPymnowr9MrEoGA22lH-1xWAJN3D_rUM8MyXMyhGq1_QNdcvmSpam_xv8o_aU/s1600/Picture+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516915733052677666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu98K02MkY1j39nU448dV3yiC9EDEeM0LNKrWGLiasS8yhidtiNs0lRk_poxdU3mj-TUyd5LLlmwUmkLCPymnowr9MrEoGA22lH-1xWAJN3D_rUM8MyXMyhGq1_QNdcvmSpam_xv8o_aU/s400/Picture+2.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 309px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Image of the author above by Roy Wallack, from the 2010 Rough Riders Rally</span></span></div>
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--><!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The Classic Cyclist, Part Two<o:p></o:p></span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">By Chris Kostman</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Originally published in Endurance News #71, August/September 2010: </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/downloads/ENews/EN71/?page=56">Read the full article online here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I explained in <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/07/classic-cyclist-part-one.html">part one</a> of this article, Road Cyclists entering the sport over the past fifteen or so years tend to come in by way of mountain biking, triathlon, or fitness, rather than pure road cycling. As a result, most of these “cyclists” lack the knowledge which makes up the foundation of the classic cyclists’ repertoire and which builds upon the backbone of the sport. Continuing with the theme initiated in part one of this article, here are some more things the classic cyclist knows and does:</span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPORT</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist rides first and foremost for the pure love of cycling, for the fun and enjoyment that comes from bonding with a simple, beautiful, and ingenious mechanical device and ranging the world. This cyclist rides for the wind in the hair, for the sensation of hot, cold, humid, wet, or dry on the skin, for carving up rolling terrain like riding a roller coaster, for the sensations of a pounding heart, sweaty brow, and heaving chest. The pursuit of adventure, camaraderie, and well-being astride a wheel are the primary driving forces behind every ride. “Training” is reserved only for preparing for specific competitive, or personal challenge, efforts; it is not the only, or usually primary, motive for heading out the door.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">MENTORSHIP</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist learned skills and etiquette from other classic cyclists, usually one or two masters in particular who took the time to encourage and enlighten the neophyte. Over time, the neophyte also becomes a mentor, passing along knowledge, wisdom, and specific tricks of the trade through specific instructions and by example. Cyclists are not born knowing how to trim a front derailleur, how to quickly clip in while starting on a steep grade, how to scan through the back windows of cars for drivers about to open their doors, or how to ride deep in the drops with a straight spine and relaxed shoulders. Mentors imbue new cyclists with these and many other pearls of wisdom, coaxing them along their journey to mastery.</span> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />EMBRACES MOTHER NATURE</span> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The classic cyclist embraces the whole panorama of weather that Mother Nature provides and doesn’t shirk from riding in less-than-ideal conditions, nor cut a ride short just because the weather takes a turn for “the worse.” Au contraire, the classic cyclist relishes the opportunity to feel more alive and at one with the environment because of dramatic weather. Whether rain, cold, snow, heat, or headwinds, it is all respected without judgment as “just weather being weather.” Riding only on sunny weekend mornings in the same matching “kit” on the same route every week does not intrigue the classic cyclist.</span> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />CLEAN STEED, SELF-SERVICED</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist keeps her steed clean and free of unnecessary add-ons. No more than one gadget is attached to the bike, the handlebar tape is clean (and preferably white), there are no garish colors nor logos, and the entire “ensemble” of the bike itself is understated, simple, and stylish.</span> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist also maintains the steed herself, keeps it finely tuned, and knows how to make adjustments on the road. For example, she routinely amazes other cyclists by reaching down to make a rear derailleur adjustment on another’s bike while stopped at a light: a quick flick of the wrist restores that bike’s drivetrain to purring perfection. This deep understanding of the workings of the bicycle allow the classic cyclist to repair, or make work-arounds, for any mechanical mishap encountered on the road. As well, a proper seat pack with a comprehensive multi-tool, two tubes, patch kit, and a small but specific selection of “ride-savers” keeps the show on the road for her and others. Phoning for a ride home is anathema to the classic cyclist.</span> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />RIDES TO THE RIDE</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist acknowledges that driving to a ride start is to be avoided whenever possible. Tacking an extra ten or thirty miles onto any given ride, in order to transit to and from the ride meet-up spot, is a given; these “bonus miles” are appreciated as an opportunity to warm up properly, find a groove, and start or finish any given outing with the proper classic style and mindset.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Click here for <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/07/classic-cyclist-part-one.html" target="_blank">Part One</a>, here for <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/02/above-author-on-17-mile-drive-in-carmel.html" target="_blank">Part Three</a>, and here for <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/06/classic-cyclist-part-four.html" target="_blank">Part Four</a> of this series. </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Chris Kostman has been a classic cyclist since 1982. Besides competing in races as diverse as the Race Across America, the Iditabike Mountain Bike Race, and the 24 Hours of Canaan, he also organizes the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 races, a series of four century rides, and the Rough Riders Rally. This is his sixteenth article for Endurance News. Learn more at his blog, www.XO-1.org, and at <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/">www.adventurecorps.com</a>.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLSebm_OA633UXNKr2DApt40pIEjJS4TSZTGCTASMP0nVDBnCXzjS55Ei28Xi1e4M67O-WChSb6yAefrcvemzjfkRbrb4NBX5j9Jbd3P34feB4lV3J5hmUYNOEJhZDRRpflXr-8FypLQ/s1600/Picture+3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516915744446384514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLSebm_OA633UXNKr2DApt40pIEjJS4TSZTGCTASMP0nVDBnCXzjS55Ei28Xi1e4M67O-WChSb6yAefrcvemzjfkRbrb4NBX5j9Jbd3P34feB4lV3J5hmUYNOEJhZDRRpflXr-8FypLQ/s400/Picture+3.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 309px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-56944334792863779152011-02-07T16:21:00.000-08:002013-12-03T18:28:49.221-08:00The Classic Cyclist, Part Three<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_5qdkNfrXNPRi5W0kEMp3-eTjhwwEmtSyxlNCOdJez8bD0bx0rrphPmeq0zJVW6ueACBjYYjViHk_DxGUZkPtHlWL8UkPN9ySOnZz0ogZcNpXcCg218c4Jfoluo2q3MJWCH2GWPzxtg/s1600/Picture+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571107825024593906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_5qdkNfrXNPRi5W0kEMp3-eTjhwwEmtSyxlNCOdJez8bD0bx0rrphPmeq0zJVW6ueACBjYYjViHk_DxGUZkPtHlWL8UkPN9ySOnZz0ogZcNpXcCg218c4Jfoluo2q3MJWCH2GWPzxtg/s400/Picture+1.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 309px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Above: The author on 17 Mile Drive in Carmel CA during the Million Dollar Challenge, a seven-day, 620-mile cycling event from San Francisco La Jolla in October 2010 on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Photo by Preston Sandusky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The Classic Cyclist, Part Three</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />By Chris Kostman</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Originally published in Endurance News #73, February/March 2011. <a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/downloads/ENews/en73/?page=34">Read the full article online here</a>.</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/07/classic-cyclist-part-one.html">Click here for Part One</a> and <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/09/classic-cyclist-part-two.html">click here for Part Two</a> of this series. <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/06/classic-cyclist-part-four.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part Four</a>.<br /><br />As I explained in the first two parts of this article, cyclists entering the sport of road cycling over the past fifteen or so years have tended to come in by way of mountain biking, triathlon, or fitness, rather than pure road cycling. As a result, most of these “cyclists” lack the knowledge which makes up the foundation of the classic cyclists’ repertoire and which respects the backbone of the sport. Continuing with the theme initiated in the first two parts of this article from Endurance News #70 and EN#71, here are some more things the classic cyclist knows and does:</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />SEASONAL APPROACH</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The classic cyclist takes a seasonal approach to riding style and fitness variability, understanding that the highest level of cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance - and therefore cycling ability - cannot be maintained year-round. In fact, different parts of the year lend themselves to different types of riding. As such, a periodized approach to the year is naturally employed, for example: additional cross-training (on and off the bike) in the late Fall, fixed gear in the Winter, base miles as the new year unfolds, more speedwork and club riding in the Spring, then peak events and challenges in the Summer and Fall. The bottom line is a simple understanding that overall health fitness is maintained year-round, but top-level efforts are only possible a few times per year. Riding with the seasons acknowledges this truth and also lends variety to each year’s program or campaign.</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />OTHER CYCLISTS ARE JUST CYCLISTS, NOT COMPETITORS</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The classic cyclist is primarily self-motivated and shares a deep camaraderie with other cyclists on the road. While out riding, cyclists seen ahead in the distance are often overtaken, but they are never passed as if they are competitors in the same race and the finish line is just around the corner. The classic cyclist doesn’t care to “beat” other cyclists who happen to be out on the same roads at the same time. Instead, the classic cyclist will, at the minimum, greet other cyclists and will often engage in conversation with them. When the time is right, the classic cyclist will politely move ahead, or drop back, depending on goals, schedule, fitness level, or whimsy. For pure performance training, the classic cyclist self-motivates by sprinting to city limits signs or other landmarks, or by joining racing-oriented club rides (or throws down the gantlet at special invite rides with other classic cyclists).</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />TECHNOLOGY IS A TOOL, NOT AN END IN ITSELF</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because the bicycle is used as a tool for exploring the outer and inner universes, the classic cyclist appreciates cycling for the cycling, not for the equipment. The bicycle’s beauty and grace are appreciated for what they offer the rider, but whether there are six cogs or eleven on the rear wheel is insignificant to the classic cyclist. The same goes for shifter type and location. The classic cyclist often “retro-fits” a “modern” bike with down-tube or bar-end shifters to have a more authentic and organic feel for his gear shifting, and to intentionally make shifting less frequent. As well, “race wheels” - which have become ubiquitous as standard equipment on new bicycles today - are saved for just that: racing. Ninety-five percent of the time, classic wheels with 32 spokes and tyres at least 25mm wide are used, providing a comfortable ride, bullet-proof longevity, ease of repair or adjustment (if it’s ever needed) and very small likelihood of stranding their owner while out in the boondocks.</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />EACH RIDE AN ADVENTURE</span></span> <span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Cycling offers such a wide panorama of opportunity, it’s sacrilege for the classic cyclist to do the same rides week after week on a fixed schedule. As such, the classic cyclist uses a higher level of awareness - and map study - to search out new roads to ride, new ways to create loops in otherwise known areas, and new ways to connect disparate regions. The classic cyclist doesn’t wonder what’s down a certain road, or over that hill, she rides out there and finds out for herself. In the process, a deeper, richer understanding of the landscape, the environment, and the character of one’s region is acquired, offering more opportunities for creating new routes and for avoiding anything resembling a rut or a routine.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ANY BIKE, ANYWHERE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bikes are the ultimate freedom tools: they let cyclists go to more places, more easily, and more simply than any other human invention. But in today’s era of high technology and equipment specialization, they can also seem incredibly limiting. In fact, the common misconception is that without the "right bike," one simply cannot partake in the wonderful landscape of cycling opportunities. “Dirt” must require a “mountain bike,” most assume. But how wrong that is: A “road bike” with tyres of 25mm in width can handle the majority of trails, gravel roads, and fire roads one might encounter. It might be more difficult or challenging to ride those unpaved routes on a road bike, but that is, of course, the point. (Remember, suffering is to be embraced and adventure sought.) Classic cyclists do not choose between "road biking" and "mountain biking" and subsequently let the bicycle determine the route and terrain of any given ride. Instead, creative, "first ascent-style" rides are strung together in one epic route which involves all manner of riding surfaces, sights, sounds, and scenes. Having a memorable, unique, and personal experience of the profound richness of the sport, and of the planet, is what motivates the classic cyclist.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/06/classic-cyclist-part-four.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part Four</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 78%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Chris Kostman has been a classic cyclist since 1982. Besides competing in races as diverse as the Race Across America, the Iditabike Mountain Bike Race, and the 24 Hours of Canaan, he also organizes the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 races, as well as a series of four century rides. This is his seventeenth article for Endurance News. Learn more at <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/who/ckprop.html">www.adventurecorps.com</a>.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gti6LWpcklj8JTvg6VUp4xGzb48GOu4O96n9Q9F7GRX5FKZIZKBAyNZTNImGDKKIWjiRg-9W9WrDeEIz1PrtVnUjgfiRZh-9qSxKDBY7EbtMfXs7l7-8yt5vCbQwjY1XTDZx-ZuRo1s/s1600/Picture+3.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571107830873761506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gti6LWpcklj8JTvg6VUp4xGzb48GOu4O96n9Q9F7GRX5FKZIZKBAyNZTNImGDKKIWjiRg-9W9WrDeEIz1PrtVnUjgfiRZh-9qSxKDBY7EbtMfXs7l7-8yt5vCbQwjY1XTDZx-ZuRo1s/s400/Picture+3.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 298px;" /></a></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-9849569309056543002007-09-17T22:25:00.000-07:002013-12-03T10:44:41.639-08:00Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZotV_WXP3LVGSlNewrjsppTG-TUWkroOrCnziEOeY2NOeVOc73ov5oGS2pKpTvZS_5doS_LJNvc_vg74paoVNgPj6Ucp8y-_v0MRI-5xv0M9iKC0cBlEuBOpJcY9Ut9vBH9amcn0GiXw/s1600-h/1992RoadBikeOffRoad.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111418561879255202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZotV_WXP3LVGSlNewrjsppTG-TUWkroOrCnziEOeY2NOeVOc73ov5oGS2pKpTvZS_5doS_LJNvc_vg74paoVNgPj6Ucp8y-_v0MRI-5xv0M9iKC0cBlEuBOpJcY9Ut9vBH9amcn0GiXw/s400/1992RoadBikeOffRoad.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">An Inveterate Roadie Provides a Techno-Backlashian Perspective</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">By Chris Kostman</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 85%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Originally published in Bicycle Guide Magazine, February 1993. Photos by Bob Schenker.</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">I routinely dust every mountain biker I encounter on the trail. And I ride a road bike.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Furthermore, I think, no, I know, the mountain bike is the most over-rated, most improperly used, most over-built, and most greedily promoted piece of hardware to hit the sport and fitness industry in modern history. Ninety-nine percent of the miles ridden by 99% of the mountain bikes could, and should, be ridden on the first and only real all terrain bike, the 'road bike.' More bluntly, a road bike is equal to or better than a mountain bike if ridden with skill like I have.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Blasphemy, you say? Don't think you could possibly ride off pavement without monster knobbies, suspension, enough titanium for an ICBM, and enough gears for at least two whole bikes? Don't be a trained parrot by thinking this and don't let the greedy hawkers control your thoughts and your pocket-book! Simply put, invest in some skills, some style, some finesse, and some balls (girls included), not more over-hyped bike junk.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Read it, learn it, and live it: 'Technique beats technology any time, anywhere.' And that's what I deadpan to every nimwit mountain biker who asks me how I managed to blow him away without tweaking my wheels and cracking my frame.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">And before you write in that I'm just some elitist roadie with a penchant for ATB-bashing, let me offer my credentials for having a credo worth splashing across this page: I've raced the Alaskan Iditabike three times and have set solo and tandem 24 Hour off-road cycling records. Off-dirt I've raced the Race Across America twice (9th in '87), two Ironmans, and broken numerous distance records, including San Francisco to Los Angeles. Importantly, I practice what I preach.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">And guess what? For 99% of the riding I do off-road, I'll opt for a 'road bike' over a 'mountain bike' any day of the week. And while much of my off-roading is on fire roads (like 99% of you, as you too live in metropolitan areas where single track is banned or non-existent), my dirt rides include gnarly tree roots, sand, gravel, exposed rock slab, insane uphills and downhills, and other 'challenging surface irregularities.' The trick is that I know how to ride and I don't separate myself from the riding surface with a bunch of unnecessary technology.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">You see, unlike most cyclists, I can distinguish between 'want' and 'need' when it comes to choosing equipment for my daily training and adventure excursions. I also have a healthy enough ego that I don't need to try to outdo the next guy or gal by having the latest gimmicky bike gear. (Beauty is only skin-deep, but studly goes all the way to the bone.) By the way, I almost never get a flat and I've never needed to true my trusty Wheelsmith wheels.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Here's why you should park your mountain bike at least some of the time and start venturing out on skinny tyres. If you don't have a road bike to do this, then at least install 1.15' or 1.25' slicks or inverted tread tyres and set your derailleurs so you can't use the wimp ring (granny gear) or the cogs bigger than 23 teeth. (By the way, these tyres, along with bar ends and multi-position bars, clipless pedals, not to mention whole ATBs that weigh only 20 to 25 pounds, are all evidence that mountain bikes are techno overkill. These are simply efforts to roadify the mountain bike!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10 reasons to get skinny in the dirt</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">1) You'll get used to a little slip and slide under your tyres; then when you hit the pavement or return to the trail with knobbies you'll be astounded by the traction and confidence you suddenly command.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">2) You'll be forced to actually pay attention to your line, thus developing better seeing skills and eye-body coordination.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">3) This forced attention span will educate you immeasurably about trail surfaces, sands, soils, erosion, even geology, flora, and fauna. In other words, you'll learn to ride with the land, not over it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">4) Your skinny tyres will leave less of an imprint and impact on the trails.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">5) You'll marvel at how much faster you can ride on flats, rollers, and most uphills, compared to your full-blown ATB, once you shed all that excess weight, rolling resistance, and weird positioning. I.E., you'll dust the fat tyre 'flyers' like I do all the time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">6) You'll realize that you really can soak up the bumps and dramatically alter your bike's riding characteristics on demand, rather than having your suspension (try to) do it all for you. This is called Body English and it's about time that you really became fluent, rather than only packing a few token phrases like some 'Ugly American' tourist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">7) You'll discover that there's more to the fun factor than seeing how fast you can blast a downhill in a park overflowing with hikers, equestrians, and forest rangers. In so doing, you'll dramatically increase our common survival potential in a world that abhors the mountain bike and all its connotations.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">8) Gone will be the days that it's a total drag, literally, to ride to and from the trail head. No longer will you be smoked by the roadies while plodding the pavement, nor will you pollute the ecosphere by driving to the trail head anymore.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">9) You'll actually have the nerve to venture down a trail that you discover while out road riding. In fact, you'll quit even thinking of 'road rides' or 'dirt rides.' A ride's a ride and a bike's a bike. It's what you make of them that counts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">10) Finally, you'll learn once and for all that technology is a crutch, not an asset, and that it truly detracts from your life experience on and off the bike.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Here you have it, my friends. Take off the blinders and see the truth in what I have presented to you here. Become great cyclists and develop skills that you won't believe. Then when you do that 1% of your cycling that actually requires a 'real ATB' (say, Slick Rock or Pearl Pass), you'll have the skills to accompany and match all that over-priced technology beneath you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Get skinny. I dare you!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidebar: Customize Your Road Bike </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Originally published with "Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?" in Bicycle Guide Magazine, February 1993 under the title "Kostmanize Your Road Bike" (That was not MY title; the editor, Roy Wallack, did that, just to get further under the skin of all the mountain bikers. It worked.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Kostmanize Your Bike</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stock: Ride your stock road bike, exactly as is, off-road. Use minimalist technology and maximal skill for ultimate fun and technique development. I did this for a full year with an Alan Carbonio with Kestrel EMS fork, Aerolite pedals, and Scott Drop-In bars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pro-Stock: Slightly modify your road bike with bar end shifters, an extra wrap of bar tape on the drops, clips and straps on regular pedals (remember those?), and 28mm tyres. Your steed will be significantly more functional, both on and off road, and no slower, just like my Bridgestone RB-1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Super-Stock: Trick out your road bike usefully and increase its durability dramatically by getting Wheelsmith wheels (32 hole is plenty) with Ritchey rims, sealed hubs like Specialized or Ringlé; sealed bottom bracket like Grafton; and an equally service-free headset by Chris King. Utilize sensible technology; eliminate maintenance. Get stuff that's built to last. Own technostuff actually worth drooling for.</span><br />
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-32909674712063457342013-12-02T08:17:00.000-08:002013-12-02T08:17:06.411-08:00First Time for Everything: Tyres Grow Tumors<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was just riding along recently, descending Stunt Road in the Santa Monica Mountains, when I started to detect a slight hopping in my rear wheel. As I was on a fast descent with curves, I didn't want to risk my rear wheel sliding out, so I stopped to check it out. Imagine my shock when I saw bubbles between my tyre tread and the tyre casing, something I have never seen in my 31-year cycling career! I could tell there was nothing I could do about it, so I kept on descending, albeit more slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The hopping soon became almost unrideable, so I stopped again after a quarter-mile. At this point, the "tumors" were really large, as you can see in the photos below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I always carry a spare tyre when I ride an event, but not when just out riding in my home turf, so swapping out the tyre wasn't an option. I always carry several Park Tool tyre boots, but those weren't going to help, so I decided to just coast along and get closer to home before the inevitable happened and I had to call for a ride or hitch-hike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But then, not only did my tyre not blow up, but all the tumors miraculously disappeared! Yep, just riding along, the ride became smooth. At the next stop sign, at the intersection of Stunt Road and Mulholland, I looked at my back tyre and there was no sign whatsoever that this crazy circumstance had unfolded. If I hadn't photographed my tyre, I would have almost thought I had been hallucinating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I finished my ride without incident, but then the next day my back tyre was half-flat, suffering from a slow leak. Coincidence, or related? I will never know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The tyres in question are my all-time favorite, best riding, best performing: Challenge Paris-Roubaix, 27mm wide. I love these tyres and will definitely continue to ride them (new ones). In this particular case, perhaps an issue was the age of the tyres. They were originally installed by Velo Cult on <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/search/label/Raleigh" target="_blank">my Raleigh</a> in January of 2011, but after a few rides I parked that bike for a few years. Recently I reconfigured the Raleigh and put the tyres on my Rivendell Roadeo instead. Therefore, though the tread was essentially new, the tyres themselves are at least three years old. Perhaps that's a factor?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQkaiH-JwzVK_080zGyb4GRF75XOpbUtKOO-Ad4t9XRgnvGmpSe5vgsW-IYlvVfY5zZnsXQKqViAwULMYg5QJsMEsrRq51TW1q7aS6alL5RB_mlhklG21ya4nmr7Gz5ihPvEy-FSUvbU/s1600/IMG_5353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQkaiH-JwzVK_080zGyb4GRF75XOpbUtKOO-Ad4t9XRgnvGmpSe5vgsW-IYlvVfY5zZnsXQKqViAwULMYg5QJsMEsrRq51TW1q7aS6alL5RB_mlhklG21ya4nmr7Gz5ihPvEy-FSUvbU/s400/IMG_5353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6q27dNyUFNmlPRFHcb99QmnZqTa3A157asgoT6MQ2zYGjH26_NFrcdS6DYxtk59eYIVg_J7F5WcdCvd_DyhaJ0A_fee2Z6jIEmfLv5Dywtfu7oP7o6PeO_bvBzsj72J95GhfZuwIPCg/s1600/IMG_5357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6q27dNyUFNmlPRFHcb99QmnZqTa3A157asgoT6MQ2zYGjH26_NFrcdS6DYxtk59eYIVg_J7F5WcdCvd_DyhaJ0A_fee2Z6jIEmfLv5Dywtfu7oP7o6PeO_bvBzsj72J95GhfZuwIPCg/s400/IMG_5357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/woodland-hills-mulholland-stunt-road-summit-and-back-96683061" target="_blank">See the route on Strava</a>.</span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-63080804764539097762013-11-21T12:56:00.003-08:002013-11-21T12:56:56.704-08:00"What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIGkV5UIEixaKXY60Qv7eJISeRzhNAsCZAeK4o3bgEdD-Pmqg5GVaGNrg8TbcuIge_pnNRzpNT7bnIYZyQNHmEzDRnZwehQynpW8xutFu0ecLNd0X2MWPYg3tfX9ytDr8PfKj6QxSpaw/s1600/IMG_4636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIGkV5UIEixaKXY60Qv7eJISeRzhNAsCZAeK4o3bgEdD-Pmqg5GVaGNrg8TbcuIge_pnNRzpNT7bnIYZyQNHmEzDRnZwehQynpW8xutFu0ecLNd0X2MWPYg3tfX9ytDr8PfKj6QxSpaw/s400/IMG_4636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2d371c; font-size: x-small;">Above: The host of this blog on the right, Chris Kostman, with 1986 RAAM champion Elaine Mariolle at Tilden Park in the Berkeley hills in 1991.</span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>A special guest post today by one of America's most beloved radio commentators, Paul Harvey (1918-2009)</b>:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved. <br /><br />
There's not a problem in America today - crime, drugs, education,
divorce, delinquency - that wouldn't be remedied if we just had more
Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. <br /><br />
People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. <br /><br />
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth
it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog. <br /><br />
We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our
kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom
they learn how to get along. <br /><br />
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. <br /><br />
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew
they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. <br /><br />
And there were no drive by shootings. <br /><br />
Our values were better when our roads were worse! <br /><br />
People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists
were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper...or the
guy in front would choke you with dust and bust your windshield with
rocks. <br /><br />
Dirt Roads taught patience. <br /><br />
Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. <br /><br />
For your mail, you walked to the mail box. <br /><br />
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best
part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted
marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and
learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. <br /><br />
At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. <br /><br />
Most paved roads lead to trouble. Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. <br /><br />
At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in
August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much
zucchini. <br /><br />
At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income,
from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and
pull them out. <br /><br />
Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road! </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey" target="_blank">By Paul Harvey</a></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-53828198262621319452012-03-18T17:00:00.011-07:002013-08-23T17:12:30.506-07:00My Rawland rSogn, The One Bike To Rule Them All<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW7vDgiw89vaseRsqNfb04THe4th5V8WhvyBgDomyjOI27kL4-8SVOU7nKL-mrT9kR17y7dCsnncrVgXKNdIjzfy9zt6Uete9P0yzFN2fqauXYfCmKN6Pnc19yZvO1OQ9T3UJG0OUJac/s1600/IMGP1189.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401502810159490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW7vDgiw89vaseRsqNfb04THe4th5V8WhvyBgDomyjOI27kL4-8SVOU7nKL-mrT9kR17y7dCsnncrVgXKNdIjzfy9zt6Uete9P0yzFN2fqauXYfCmKN6Pnc19yZvO1OQ9T3UJG0OUJac/s400/IMGP1189.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 238px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ivIUUf7mvkrUPofU00d0Dbl31m2DqeIhIrrYFX54GGDXIG3x3RRaL5IEJetvKsD5IVfAYcGairPC2mrbahUawilotV8ouji9IbCpOIfjM7hH_2eAXTUkrVQqIY1FturCe3kVW35hdbc/s1600/IMGP1221.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721424917410366978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ivIUUf7mvkrUPofU00d0Dbl31m2DqeIhIrrYFX54GGDXIG3x3RRaL5IEJetvKsD5IVfAYcGairPC2mrbahUawilotV8ouji9IbCpOIfjM7hH_2eAXTUkrVQqIY1FturCe3kVW35hdbc/s400/IMGP1221.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 244px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For the majority of my cycling career, I have longed for just one bike that would do anything and work in nearly any circumstance or setting. My slogan is "any bike, anywhere," and I live by that credo, having first brought this philosophy to the cycling world with my seminal "<a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/way/whoneedsatb.html">Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them</a>?" article in the the February 1993 issue of Bicycle Guide. (That article inspired a teenager named Sean Virnig to start riding his Bridgestone RB-1 in the woods near his Minnesoata home, laying the foundation for a bike company he'd later start called Rawland.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtIZRUCY7sOl7DBlkgBaMmVEDc12a565nPc6ktNVtNv6KHiXgchi-LBx8u_Y52qPXne93j-uRcDAdyRUHt_aZKBeFricn9ghtIxfmjBBtIg4S8hZldpOc0OjgbSzWIb2pNxEDSn9qFGo/s1600/_7249712.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401499309089362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtIZRUCY7sOl7DBlkgBaMmVEDc12a565nPc6ktNVtNv6KHiXgchi-LBx8u_Y52qPXne93j-uRcDAdyRUHt_aZKBeFricn9ghtIxfmjBBtIg4S8hZldpOc0OjgbSzWIb2pNxEDSn9qFGo/s400/_7249712.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 270px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I got to know Sean in the summer of 2010 when he and his wife Anna attended our <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/rrr/index.html">Rough Riders Rally</a> in Marin. Besides being the most interesting people to attend, they also won Best in Show for Sean's Rawland Drakkar bike, shown above.</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite enjoying taking nearly any road bike down nearly any road or trail, I'd always believed that one optimal bike could really be "the one bike to rule them all." And so it is, after a 22 year quest, that I am pleased to own and ride such a mythic bicycle, the Rawland rSogn. This bike will go anywhere and do it with style and aplomb. It also has two sets of wheels for presto-chango self-reinvention.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOrJDRWIk8KBDoA3JJVTNY0JfDfI8qo8RcNxrjaTqY79gJW5yqwensQogKkZSjkjOJuN316xq-cQmoUNlKGjsObpbHdm1zXjoA73VjRBEXAy86BuH572Xlk4Z3DgWpxhti0NyFJNGxp0/s1600/IMGP1216.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416736945215218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOrJDRWIk8KBDoA3JJVTNY0JfDfI8qo8RcNxrjaTqY79gJW5yqwensQogKkZSjkjOJuN316xq-cQmoUNlKGjsObpbHdm1zXjoA73VjRBEXAy86BuH572Xlk4Z3DgWpxhti0NyFJNGxp0/s400/IMGP1216.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Above: I prefer down-tube shifters in most circumstances. These are 8-speed era Dura Ace shifters which Sean had in his stash and kindly donated to me. Because these don't normally mate with modern Shimano derailleurs, the cable is attached at the rear with the Sheldon Brown routing.</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4U9ZqLpPtuEWNeJV2Rb0vRyHDJcRuvjFTa5AR3VCQCI0O1jYrZXgFR1mz4o5Jro8_BL8jmiHAG5lS-PsNrYcsE3kz-M_Mqa-sTtlLXVJGx87nUUlP-HXXHm6kGNnBJ5rzu9uDIiJehM/s1600/IMGP1194.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401507821527538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4U9ZqLpPtuEWNeJV2Rb0vRyHDJcRuvjFTa5AR3VCQCI0O1jYrZXgFR1mz4o5Jro8_BL8jmiHAG5lS-PsNrYcsE3kz-M_Mqa-sTtlLXVJGx87nUUlP-HXXHm6kGNnBJ5rzu9uDIiJehM/s400/IMGP1194.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG_b9uYGmxJpuw8qvAb1Z0n3SYRQbTWcVhBCeI9UhV2W1nL54zzCt34Kjw_BDSVkQQYNv7XKcvsDCyUBKVoodKMq80mwenSJZQrsVHLtO-CSmCcMcFYEO4qCAOny1cKbPLGL98XJxREw/s1600/IMGP1218.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416740309265234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG_b9uYGmxJpuw8qvAb1Z0n3SYRQbTWcVhBCeI9UhV2W1nL54zzCt34Kjw_BDSVkQQYNv7XKcvsDCyUBKVoodKMq80mwenSJZQrsVHLtO-CSmCcMcFYEO4qCAOny1cKbPLGL98XJxREw/s400/IMGP1218.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15_RaJ60avJIwRgF5tO4hvOb_kTGW4UhCQGQhOxi8MBPB1X1zZGCxxiTZ34MHCZfcueru_RYwvWAGX4jNZj3pxUW_ir8ElAoGdmUUHonDR75RtZ4Dmg2VnHbllDNqLyyR8A_kFXaYO4c/s1600/IMGP1196.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401512762932098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15_RaJ60avJIwRgF5tO4hvOb_kTGW4UhCQGQhOxi8MBPB1X1zZGCxxiTZ34MHCZfcueru_RYwvWAGX4jNZj3pxUW_ir8ElAoGdmUUHonDR75RtZ4Dmg2VnHbllDNqLyyR8A_kFXaYO4c/s400/IMGP1196.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 390px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Massive tyre clearance, front and rear: Above you can see the Rawland set up with 38mm wide Pacenti Pari-Moto road tyres, and below you can see it with the 2.1"/51mm wide Pacenti Quasi-Moto knobbies.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBYQVagpkvXC1smynQVbjZ3pjzN2QVO1WXvdycVGumBDX-6olkx4d8W3Z23W0DC9LftmO4URqTQHxwBuIMQuM1vt_3Y8ahBau5cp8FFRgJi6oJopoVwmWvkxZkXFjtwovGR0TdiluPK0/s1600/IMGP1226.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416750615338370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBYQVagpkvXC1smynQVbjZ3pjzN2QVO1WXvdycVGumBDX-6olkx4d8W3Z23W0DC9LftmO4URqTQHxwBuIMQuM1vt_3Y8ahBau5cp8FFRgJi6oJopoVwmWvkxZkXFjtwovGR0TdiluPK0/s400/IMGP1226.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRPSKrYROH1jNz1HpTvC2rODwbaXJNu6PCRVLCmcTPvOR2Hlg4xgBn7-R49UyVNDoRve_O74JJlLHHsnz7Pa9Y9a9ICbCo-CTHtpO_13BvT_BpY2rHW0ZXer2ZqCZE3DNmoq0Hhzd_F0/s1600/IMGP1225.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416746018950530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRPSKrYROH1jNz1HpTvC2rODwbaXJNu6PCRVLCmcTPvOR2Hlg4xgBn7-R49UyVNDoRve_O74JJlLHHsnz7Pa9Y9a9ICbCo-CTHtpO_13BvT_BpY2rHW0ZXer2ZqCZE3DNmoq0Hhzd_F0/s400/IMGP1225.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8NKXaN_TgiypZZoyzTUOn3LCP4Bv-Y3eehokzzrAOlMer-hjx1TH842r5FL3u4IqSHfFSTW1NWltbsnrQMogn9BPw42YQd_V9cV-iFis5Wkj5nkv7zSmWPClAZIZA7uC-Hx9ru1wnQ0/s1600/IMGP1224.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416744610641266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8NKXaN_TgiypZZoyzTUOn3LCP4Bv-Y3eehokzzrAOlMer-hjx1TH842r5FL3u4IqSHfFSTW1NWltbsnrQMogn9BPw42YQd_V9cV-iFis5Wkj5nkv7zSmWPClAZIZA7uC-Hx9ru1wnQ0/s400/IMGP1224.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the </span><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" style="font-family: arial;">Rawland Bicycles website</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, the rSogn is a contemporary lightweight steel all-arounder. Carrying on the success of the cantilever Sogn (cSogn), the rSogn is a reissue of this versatile all-arounder, hence the moniker. The rSogn was conceptualized and then specified through a month-long, open-forum process. Optimized for 650b wheel size without toe overlap in any tire size, the rSogn features the following elegant features many have come to appreciate, in no particular order:</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 8/5/8 standard-diameter tubing: MD and ML</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 9/6/9 standard-diameter tubing: LG and XL</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Non-heat treated tubing</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Pacenti biplane MTB crown</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Fits 58mm tires (e.g., Pacenti Neo Moto 2.3)</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 63mm rake for low trail; ideal for top-load</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Low, graceful fork bend</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Takes double-ring, spindle type cranks</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 68mm bottom bracket shell width</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 1-1/8” threadless steerer</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Stainless steel cast dropouts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Head tube reinforcing rings</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Metal head tube badge</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Rear and front rack mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Equidistance fender mounts facing the wheels</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Lowrider mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Seat stay frame pump peg</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Triple water bottle mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Star water bottle braze-on reinforcements</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Seatstay rack mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Split brake cable stops at 10 o’clock</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Stainless steel chain hanger</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Down tube shifter mounts</span><br face="arial" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 132.5mm rear spacing for use with either 130mm or 135mm hub</span><br face="arial" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 27.2mm seat post diameter</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regarding the wheels:</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The stock wheels on my rSogn are 32 hole, front and back, built by Mark at Rivendell. They have Shimano 105 hubs laced with straight gauge DT spokes to Velocity Synergy 650B rims. The tyres are 650B Pacento Quasi-Moto 2.1 (51mm) knobbies. Cassette is Shimnano HG40 8-speed 12-30. I have used these wheels with various tyres for quite a few years on various bikes and 650B conversions.</span><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The alternative set of wheels were custom built for me by Dave Prion (below), the general manager of <a href="http://bicycleoutfitter.com/">The Bicycle Outfitter </a>in Los Altos, CA and my friend and wheel builder since the mid-80s. These are custom "event" or road wheels. The rear features a 24 hole Chris King R45 cassette hub laced with 24 butted Wheelsmith spokes to a 36 hole Velocity Synergy rim. 12 spoke holes in the rear rim are not used. The front features 18 butted Wheelsmith spokes laced between a 36 hole HB011 6-volt 3-watt dynohub and a 36 hole Velocity Synergy rim. 18 spoke holes in the front rim are not used. The tyres are Pacenti Pari-Moto 650B 38mm. Cassette is Shimano HG40 8-speed 12-28.</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVexVLkjNXvaoD3GbK1OGl_oaPmINln2P3_ov34OlU-RkiZW1lDUDAN60S677F72J9p7acEGr3XvhoStwn80nTW5HYnuRgRw9mB5UGU1KhuouP9zUSTBf3FcvMpXnNKgxwRpF0Apq2Q/s1600/0730112233a_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721445714617436050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVexVLkjNXvaoD3GbK1OGl_oaPmINln2P3_ov34OlU-RkiZW1lDUDAN60S677F72J9p7acEGr3XvhoStwn80nTW5HYnuRgRw9mB5UGU1KhuouP9zUSTBf3FcvMpXnNKgxwRpF0Apq2Q/s400/0730112233a_01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's the full build-up of the bike:</span></span><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 101%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Brand</b></span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Rawland rSogn 2011 (Size ML; see size chart below) Saddle height: 77cm; Reach: 80cm</b></span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Serial #</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">M11051227</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Headset</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Chris King</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Bars</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver: 44cm width, 31.8mm O/S center section, 128mm Drop, 73mm Reach</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Stem</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver, 9cm</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Brk Levers</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Sram S500 road brake levers</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Brakes</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Paul's Neo-Retro cantilivers with Paul's Moon Unit cable hangers, Paul's Rack Adapter bolts, and Paul's Funky Monkey front cable guide (and Nitto rear cable guide)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Saddle</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Berthoud Aravis, titanium rails</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Post</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver, 27.2, 350mm length, 25mm Offset, 43x38mm cradle</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shifters</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Dura Ace 7402 8-speed down-tube</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Front Der.</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Dura Ace 7700 (9-speed era)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Rear Der.</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano XTR M971 (Recent 9-speed era) with JagWire inline cable adjuster</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Bottom Bracket</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Isis</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Crankarms</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey 175 with 34/50 rings; Arms custom polished and laser-etched by Tom at <a href="http://www.perfectperforations.com/" target="_blank">Perfect Perforations</a>.</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Pedals</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Peloton (Look Delta style)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Chain</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Sram 8-speed</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Cages</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Nitto R (3)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Tape</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey "cork"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm45uqy6Wtxwpmk1ei_LEs4gTUY68S72ui5KX79BIZ5M_hh-RpG8tcAsZ0nspk8PFZOXqDzqsJ2OVn9IGd8Jgg4PJPVNp3xQFVGqS_gtOQUMl8MXUWyq7JYJyf8GZ1isYXIIFywdvSoM/s1600/rSognGeometry_resized.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721423579988635090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm45uqy6Wtxwpmk1ei_LEs4gTUY68S72ui5KX79BIZ5M_hh-RpG8tcAsZ0nspk8PFZOXqDzqsJ2OVn9IGd8Jgg4PJPVNp3xQFVGqS_gtOQUMl8MXUWyq7JYJyf8GZ1isYXIIFywdvSoM/s400/rSognGeometry_resized.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/chronicles/bikes/rawland/index.htm"><span style="font-family: arial;">Click here for a full slideshow of the bike with nearly 50 images.</span></a><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for the amazing bike, Sean and Anna!</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-48829438573273182462013-03-21T15:12:00.001-07:002013-03-21T17:00:14.611-07:00Ridge Route Ride on Saturday: YOU Are Invited!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please
join me this Saturday for a 6<span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span>-mile road ride in the mount<span style="font-size: x-small;">ains </span>north of Los Angeles
which features the Ridge Rouge, 3 Points Road, and Lake Hughes Road.
It's a clock-wise loop which will start and finish in Castaic. There's a
lot of climbing, especially in the first third, <span style="font-size: x-small;">with</span> about <span style="font-size: x-small;">8</span>000 feet of
total elevation gain. The Ridge Route has been closed to cars for quite
some time, but, to the best of my knowledge, it is totally passable.
(But if you read this blog, and/or know me, you know that I like a bit
of rough stuff on my road bike.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDtG7hcWeDhRGdXWIxJh3duyxVwnUiF94KDKvjMBDmwhlEdb-HJlpPTkeLKC9KOYayqYXm4H_NDf7GNuR22Z8z1y_0WK0Ie3mmgZR826Hj6B_mBIfsP7WjqdnG_TIfYdU7AWWdrBm78I/s400/2001400km.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pictured, L-R: Paul Sparrow Hawk Byron, Chris Kostman (me), Mike Miller, and Peter Penguin Pop on the Ridge Route in 2001 during a 400km Brevet which I hosted.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2257171" target="_blank">Here's the RidewithGPS Page <span style="font-size: x-small;">for the Intended Route</span></a>. | <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">Here's the</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank"> </a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">route on Google M</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">aps</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's s<span style="font-size: x-small;">napshot <span style="font-size: x-small;">of the<span style="font-size: x-small;"> map <span style="font-size: x-small;">an<span style="font-size: x-small;">d elevati<span style="font-size: x-small;">on profile</span></span></span>:</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7WqahHOKx3VWzZqAo-pNT0M42whAkt-DPumxxuA5UrES7zDRX-FLRrEUrk1L9FUoG0VwchJfoCCquH6vtEz1h3Xp0UnKEXYRcygpRZakAY8ZdRFDfW52ZSpdoTFSlJS9DHu_YIuVl7A/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-21+at+3.09.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7WqahHOKx3VWzZqAo-pNT0M42whAkt-DPumxxuA5UrES7zDRX-FLRrEUrk1L9FUoG0VwchJfoCCquH6vtEz1h3Xp0UnKEXYRcygpRZakAY8ZdRFDfW52ZSpdoTFSlJS9DHu_YIuVl7A/s400/Screen+shot+2013-03-21+at+3.09.29+PM.png" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note that RidewithGPS is known to heavily overstate elevation gain!) </span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Route Description:</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The route heads north along I-5 (not literally), and the climbing begins immediately. We'll head northbound on the appropriately
named Ridge Route, climbing higher and higher into ever more beautiful
and remote territory up above I-5. After crossing Templin Highway at
elev 2960, we'll have an 18 mile "epic adventure" as the Ridge Route
becomes an "unmaintained road." Don't freak out, though: based on my experience in 2001, 2002, and 2003, it's easily
doable on a standard road bike. (And it's as true here as everywhere
else that 19mm tyres are a bad idea.) We'll climb about 500', then roll
along through an incredible set of rolling hills that vary between 3400'
and 4000'. A few patches are very ripped up, some are gravelly, a few
are hard-packed dirt, but 95% of this stretch is perfectly fine. The
other 5% is never scary or dangerous. When scouting the route originally back in 2001, I
drove this at full speed in my low-to-the-ground Saturn SL2, then rode
it on my Kestrel with 28 hole wheels and 23mm tyres. I had no problems,
just lots of fun! At the top is the checkpoint and incredible views of California
Poppies in the surrounding gone-back-in-time valleys. At this point
you'll have done about 4000' of cumulative elevation gain. From here we head
east on Pine Canyon Rd and Three Points Rd, then south on Lake Hughes
Road back to the start/finish.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rout<span style="font-size: x-small;">e <span style="font-size: x-small;">Directions (approximate):</span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">0.0 H<span style="font-size: x-small;">ead east <span style="font-size: x-small;">on Lake Hughes Road</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">0.3 Go left / north on Ridge Route<span style="font-size: x-small;">, continue </span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6.9 Cross Templin Hwy</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8.6 <span style="font-size: x-small;">"End County Maintain<span style="font-size: x-small;">ed Road<span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span>.0</span> Maintain road r<span style="font-size: x-small;">esumes</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2<span style="font-size: x-small;">6.5</span> Right / east Pine Canyon Road/N2</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3<span style="font-size: x-small;">4.5</span> R Three Points Rd. (SS, T-Int) - There at least used to be a bathroom on right around back</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4<span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span>.0 R Lake Hughes Road - There at lease used to be a market on right after turn</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">67.0 <span style="font-size: x-small;">Finish at McDonald's at L<span style="font-size: x-small;">ake Huges<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Road and Castaic Road.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Schedule: </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meet at 730am at the McDonald's at <span class="pp-place-title">27701 Lake Hughes Rd</span>, Castaic, CA 91384</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Depart at 800am sharp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Return time? That's up to you. I am planing about a 4 to 5 hour pace wit<span style="font-size: x-small;">h a few stops for photos and to e<span style="font-size: x-small;">njoy the view. There are almost NO services along this route, so com<span style="font-size: x-small;">e prepared!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please come prepared with food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, route sheet, map and/or GPS, etc. NOTE: The
ride is unsupported and all are on their own. Further updates will
be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj78V6qzHNd-MNMmA1y6DOVx3UI7uJwO0owMDqxI67QFpOB3-I-YvPgPtWPCFGsSEBgbfpWMCeo5BkOf9cywH4HHkZHlOib5zkFCN9Rk-jwQZMmGR6u-qq0jzWUIxdxPPdKHHt6ms5Xo/s1600/ridgeroute.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj78V6qzHNd-MNMmA1y6DOVx3UI7uJwO0owMDqxI67QFpOB3-I-YvPgPtWPCFGsSEBgbfpWMCeo5BkOf9cywH4HHkZHlOib5zkFCN9Rk-jwQZMmGR6u-qq0jzWUIxdxPPdKHHt6ms5Xo/s400/ridgeroute.jpg" width="265" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ridgeroute.com/" target="_blank">Read more about the Ridge Route</a> / <a href="http://www.scvresources.com/highways/ridge_route/" target="_blank">Take a Virtual Tour of the Ridge Route</a> </span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More Phot<span style="font-size: x-small;">os of the Ridge Rou<span style="font-size: x-small;">te, from the 2002 400km Breve<span style="font-size: x-small;">t I <span style="font-size: x-small;">hosted there<span style="font-size: x-small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </i></b></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured above: </span>Ann Crossland, Kerin Huber, Big Ring Dave, and yours truly in '<span style="font-size: x-small;">02</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">See you "out there"! </span></span></i></b> </i></span></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-79190595764464683492010-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:002013-02-09T20:05:08.394-08:001992 Bridgestone XO-1, 55cm, with Cyclart custom paint and restoration<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">This Blog's Namesake WAS For Sale!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJadBzC9DckpF5ldMfESwcmywPQYrewyombDYHxJeOFiFVjXsFLZ-Y11cgr-PeKmk2qIouBRQ81JFFXlOIgrjxK-1EB1sPFpR0PgmDD4Ce88Gz4bARp4Ii7PxYs7JPKwE9rCAJoRVnC4/s1600/DSC05560.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547646767046352914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJadBzC9DckpF5ldMfESwcmywPQYrewyombDYHxJeOFiFVjXsFLZ-Y11cgr-PeKmk2qIouBRQ81JFFXlOIgrjxK-1EB1sPFpR0PgmDD4Ce88Gz4bARp4Ii7PxYs7JPKwE9rCAJoRVnC4/s400/DSC05560.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/forsale/xo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Since I have only ridden it once in a decade, I decided to sell off my 1992 Bridgestone XO-1. It's a size 55cm and was custom repainted by Cyclart in the same "tusk" off-white with the pearlescent clear-coat as it originally had ("Cat. 2" level paint job). At the same time, I had a third set of bottle braze-ons added to the bottom of the down tube. This bike is better than new, truly. Grant Petersen gave it to me in 1992, when I was sponsored by Bridgestone Cycles USA. I raced it in the Triple Ironman in France and some other events, but quit riding it about 1996. I had it repainted by CyclArt in about 1999 and only rode it once after that. It's been taking up space (indoors, always) ever since.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Asking price: <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOLD</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">This bike has been heavily upgraded. In fact, the only original part is the moustache handlebars! All the components listed are new/unused, having been ridden just once since installation (except for the cranks, BB, and post):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">- NEW/UNUSED Chris King headset in "3-D Violet"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">- Two sets of wheels: A set of NEW/UNUSED custom 650c wheels with Ringlé hubs in "3-D Violet" with matching nipples (28 hole front and 32 hole rear Sun ME14A Rims) which you can see in the photos below. Also included are the original 26" wheels which have been respoked and the hubs regreased (not pictured).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">- NEW/UNUSED 9-speed shifting: Dura-Ace down-tube shifters are mounted as bar-ends, with 105 front derailleur and Ultegra rear derailleur and chain.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">- Used Ultegra 9-speed era 170mm cranks and BB with 39/53 rings. (These are the only components on the whole bike, except for the handlebars and seat post, with any miles on them!)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">- NEW/UNUSED Tektro brakes of unknown type: allow sliding the brake pads up and down six mm's to use either size wheels.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">- Circa 1985 Dura Ace non-aero brake levers give ideal cable routing with moustache bars (almost NOS condition).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Other parts include the original Nitto moustache bars, a 27.0 American Classic seat post, Concor Rolls Due saddle, Michelin tyres, and a 10cm Nitto stem which Grant Petersen gave me on a visit to Rivendell HQ.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Note: There are two flaws in the paint job: Some paint has flaked off on the very top edge of the seat lug, adjacent to the seat post. Also, there is a bit too much clear coat on the head tube, on the bike's right side, above the lower head tube lug. You can see both of these flaws in the photos, if you look closely. (Note that the seat post is installed to just above the limit line, which is why it looks high or tall.)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">- Chris Kostman</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">La Jolla, CA</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/when/1993canaan.html"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Team Bridgestone member: 1992-1994</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Rivendell Owner/Rider: 1995 to the present (All-Rounder and Roadeo)</span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-37545510285237803902012-12-28T20:54:00.000-08:002012-12-28T21:11:28.289-08:00New Year's Day Ride: All Are Invited! (80, 66, or 48 mile options)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">L<span style="font-size: small;">et's kick off the New Year in s<span style="font-size: small;">tyle, doing what we love! </span></span>Please join me on
a road ride around and over the Santa Monica Mountains this Tuesday, January 1, 2013! There are three possible starting points and times, so your route can be 80 miles, or about 62 miles, or about <span style="font-size: small;">48</span> miles. This is an excellent route with a nice, easy first 1/2 to 2/3 and then a goodly amount of climbing in the final 3rd, up, along, and over the Santa Monica M<span style="font-size: small;">ountain</span>s. <span style="font-size: small;"><i>(</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Got<span style="font-size: small;"> a <span style="font-size: small;">steel bike<span style="font-size: small;">? <span style="font-size: small;">Ride it! Even better if it's a classic steel bike!)</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the schedule and route options:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5CnZlBqouXqSYa5529_ld3wqzoUyfjq4wCGX39_VmNeYCDmCPyrKkd4AQxIaW3Qb6e65i0ucaEGp3gpCLYrCeMvYbi0o9DazZazzoYT3FAXH3RX9bvokXijXQU5qLFIjO2EPzbJbxRc/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+7.26.37+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5CnZlBqouXqSYa5529_ld3wqzoUyfjq4wCGX39_VmNeYCDmCPyrKkd4AQxIaW3Qb6e65i0ucaEGp3gpCLYrCeMvYbi0o9DazZazzoYT3FAXH3RX9bvokXijXQU5qLFIjO2EPzbJbxRc/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+7.26.37+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">80-mile route<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> Start / Finish in Woodland Hills (<a href="http://tinyurl.com/1113ride" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: <span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr">4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://g.co/maps/s93mc" target="_blank">Google Map</a> of the location.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Departure: 800am <u>sharp</u>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu4C8SN4luQBszaeajOPwEk9nd_Cha8xPZU-2Fp6mGFD9745obqVhSDoXVGkeEduJvh1LDQYspxCod47eBlYDelEGNdkerlR1AlMr53VtLeT5YeNnZgXz8eMezOQW5Tis_OZbe-nXApk/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.47.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu4C8SN4luQBszaeajOPwEk9nd_Cha8xPZU-2Fp6mGFD9745obqVhSDoXVGkeEduJvh1LDQYspxCod47eBlYDelEGNdkerlR1AlMr53VtLeT5YeNnZgXz8eMezOQW5Tis_OZbe-nXApk/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.47.48+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6<span style="font-size: small;">6</span>-mile route<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> Start /Finish in Calabasas (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/tILJv" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet<span style="font-size: small;">-Up</span></span>: 820am, Starbucks off Las Virgenes at 26521 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302. Departure: App. 840am, <u>once the main group arrives</u>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdPmOULAlEW6jECjQCIYm506C9gpZoO8JPBefPi7gqX0J7ho8Mwk6AmNFVNE6Ge8Zh1Qn2edMuXG4dJhmLCSzgE24zk1N_-KCC3oHZkCpzgZzR1GMCRw8nI3dAenkCrmm1OftT5gDWNw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.45.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdPmOULAlEW6jECjQCIYm506C9gpZoO8JPBefPi7gqX0J7ho8Mwk6AmNFVNE6Ge8Zh1Qn2edMuXG4dJhmLCSzgE24zk1N_-KCC3oHZkCpzgZzR1GMCRw8nI3dAenkCrmm1OftT5gDWNw/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.45.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">48-mile route: Start / Finish in Westlake Village (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/jExfP" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meet-Up: 900am, East Coast Bagel at intersection of Agoura Road and Westlake Blvd in Westlake Village. Departure: App: 915am, <u>once the main group arrives</u>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rain<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>cancels <span style="font-size: small;">(at least for me)</span>. <span style="font-size: small;">Please c</span>ome prepared with food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, <span style="font-size: small;">map or GPS,<span style="font-size: small;"> etc. <span style="font-size: small;">NOTE:</span></span></span> The
ride is unsupported and all are on their own.<span style="font-size: small;"> F</span>urther updates will
be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See you "out there"! </span></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-73620942001856568252012-12-06T20:06:00.002-08:002012-12-06T20:08:19.065-08:00Mount Baldy ride this Sunday: All Are Invited!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3O04L2u0qQ4yPMWz9NFixGsSX2Z_Tb5ET-eRRnM7bwgGZgDSMcT703Fs4CrAL3WKTt9tGX5n0NM0XuY3SeQQpiOw56claYhvd5T_XpZc1TdXIUIVvBdM6rv-LMSlINTDDsIi0l9NKhI/s1600/RIMG0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3O04L2u0qQ4yPMWz9NFixGsSX2Z_Tb5ET-eRRnM7bwgGZgDSMcT703Fs4CrAL3WKTt9tGX5n0NM0XuY3SeQQpiOw56claYhvd5T_XpZc1TdXIUIVvBdM6rv-LMSlINTDDsIi0l9NKhI/s320/RIMG0009.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Above: That's me on GMR in 2001. The road was snowed over that year, so a few of us just pushed our bikes and kept on going, and had a fantastic adventure! But this Sunday I am hoping and planning to ride the whole way! I was riding my 1994 Bridgestone RB-1 that day<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; this weekend I will ride my Rivendell Roadeo.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please join me on a road ride to Mt. Baldy this Sunday, December 9! This is one of Southern California's absolutely best rides, and was also the first real ride I ever did, when I got my first road bike at age 14 in 1982! We will depart at 845am from Classic Coffee at 148 N. Glendora Ave. Glendora, CA 91741. (Or meet us en route, at the top of Glendora Avenue, at the intersection with Sierra Madre, at 900am.)<br /><br />It's a 40 mile ride with lots of climbing in the first half: figure 3.5 hours total. The route will be: up Glendora Mountain Road (GMR), continue across Glendora Ridge Route to Baldy Village, then down the front of the mountain and bike across to Glendora via San Dimas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pre- and post-ride refreshments at the above-mentioned Classic Coffee in the Glendora Village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rain / snow cancels. Bring warm clothes, food, drink, and bike repair needs. The ride is unsupported and all are on their own. Any further updates will be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a><br /><br />Map of route (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/Gr8tq" target="_blank">or here</a>):</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&daddr=34.2094283,-117.7761245+to:Mount+Baldy,+CA+to:34.1229602,-117.7071777+to:34.1323443,-117.8204695+to:34.1361087,-117.8328027+to:148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&hl=en&geocode=FXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw%3BFZT-CQIdBOH6-CnZeBQSZCTDgDH3-kXSw3Da-A%3BFd1nCgIdoar8-CmZZfDX6DvDgDF79VSvSEhAOQ%3BFdCsCAIdV-77-CmZ3JSnTjDDgDFRO1l0WUCemg%3BFXjRCAIdyzP6-CnJsv4N-CXDgDFNzQ98DGZn_g%3BFSzgCAIdngP6-Clx1i16BybDgDErhZPR1SNVrw%3BFXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw&aq=0&oq=148+N.+Glendora+Ave.+Glendora,+CA+91741&sll=34.123352,-117.715416&sspn=0.017373,0.042014&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=1,3,4,5&ie=UTF8&ll=34.123352,-117.715416&spn=0.017373,0.042014&t=m&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&daddr=34.2094283,-117.7761245+to:Mount+Baldy,+CA+to:34.1229602,-117.7071777+to:34.1323443,-117.8204695+to:34.1361087,-117.8328027+to:148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&hl=en&geocode=FXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw%3BFZT-CQIdBOH6-CnZeBQSZCTDgDH3-kXSw3Da-A%3BFd1nCgIdoar8-CmZZfDX6DvDgDF79VSvSEhAOQ%3BFdCsCAIdV-77-CmZ3JSnTjDDgDFRO1l0WUCemg%3BFXjRCAIdyzP6-CnJsv4N-CXDgDFNzQ98DGZn_g%3BFSzgCAIdngP6-Clx1i16BybDgDErhZPR1SNVrw%3BFXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw&aq=0&oq=148+N.+Glendora+Ave.+Glendora,+CA+91741&sll=34.123352,-117.715416&sspn=0.017373,0.042014&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=1,3,4,5&ie=UTF8&ll=34.123352,-117.715416&spn=0.017373,0.042014&t=m" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-3948894577788941082012-05-25T18:25:00.001-07:002012-05-25T18:32:55.372-07:00Rough Riding Mt. Diablo with Sean Virnig of Rawland Cycles<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt; text-align: justify; width: 450px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673984/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1966"><img alt="IMGP1966" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7270673984_9aa6fd2c16_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673888/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1967"><img alt="IMGP1967" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7270673888_e5703287d8_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673654/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1968"><img alt="IMGP1968" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7270673654_4f638858d6_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674086/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1969"><img alt="IMGP1969" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7270674086_340148ecb1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674156/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1970"><img alt="IMGP1970" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7270674156_f97861f33e_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674278/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1972"><img alt="IMGP1972" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7270674278_43468b8d61_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675182/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1981"><img alt="IMGP1981" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7270675182_321e90e5b8_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675332/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1984"><img alt="IMGP1984" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7270675332_1dbd40d47a_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675396/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1989"><img alt="IMGP1989" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7270675396_f281ec80b4_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675432/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1990"><img alt="IMGP1990" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7270675432_3441abfcd1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675652/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1991"><img alt="IMGP1991" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7270675652_447fc27e19_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675556/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1992"><img alt="IMGP1992" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7270675556_1631abe0cb_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675758/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1993"><img alt="IMGP1993" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7270675758_07d5d008fb_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675872/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1999"><img alt="IMGP1999" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7270675872_12feca1892_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673598/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2000"><img alt="IMGP2000" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7270673598_daaa644033_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676030/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2001"><img alt="IMGP2001" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7270676030_96e9ed4875_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676148/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2002"><img alt="IMGP2002" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7270676148_d6af63de60_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676066/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2003"><img alt="IMGP2003" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7270676066_a8469319b1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/sets/72157629897892694/">Rough Riding Mt. Diablo with Sean Virnig of Rawland Cycles</a>, a set on Flickr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was multi-surface cycling at it best, in the backyard playground of two of cycling most's innovative and exciting bicycle brands: Rivendell Bicycles of Walnut Creek, CA and Rawland Cycles of Danville, CA. <br /><br />I rode with Sean Virnig, founder and designer of Rawland Cycles and we both rode the Rawland rSogn model. Both bikes have 650B wheels: Sean had Pacenti Quasi-Moto 2.0" (with small knobbies), while I rode smooth-treaded Grand Bois Hetre tyres, 42mm wide. <br /><br />This was a fantastic mix of paved road, single track, and fire road: Rough Rider Paradise! Nearly ever rider we encountered off-road commented favorably or asked questions about our bikes. The folks at Rawland, and at Rivendell, are really lucky to have this outdoor multi-surface paradise right in their backyards. What a great region for fun and adventure, as well as testing new designs and equipment!<br /><br />It was a pleasure to ride with Sean, who, along with his family, is now a California resident. I had ridden many times on Mt. Diablo with Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycles in nearby Walnut Creek, but this was my first time to ascend the mountain from the south side, which is where Danville is located. <br /><br />Sean honored me by wearing his Rough Riders jersey, which was really neat! Sean and I last rode together during the Rough Riders Rally in Marin County in July, 2010, at which event his Drakkar model won "Best Of Show" at the Rough Riders Shindig. Now hopefully we'll be able to ride together more often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/9097661" target="_blank">See the Strava page for this ride</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180943207" target="_blank">See the Garmin page for this ride</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/sets/72157629897892694/" target="_blank">See all my photos</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2012/03/my-rawland-rsogn-one-bike-to-rule-them.html" target="_blank">My review of the Rawland rSogn</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" target="_blank">The Rawland Cycles Website</a>.</span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-60311736368362747792012-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:002012-05-23T17:46:09.604-07:00Rough Riding the Santa Monica Mountains: Ride Planned for May 27<h2 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>You're Invited: Multi-Surface Semi-Epic Ride in the Santa Monica Mountains on Sunday, May 27</b></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH30iB4Mhg6sAAuOQs6am-t7cCMSRb6AG0Fk7du_DCLBXX1g6ec_q5FBHtbNXBpxdbasUx1fetaBLsCQGN80hkfw1DrOqfkkxfHG59ntzr2rHHHHPpopvikWEqtdwLqLofoihoqYyJSZ4/s1600/DSC02875.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH30iB4Mhg6sAAuOQs6am-t7cCMSRb6AG0Fk7du_DCLBXX1g6ec_q5FBHtbNXBpxdbasUx1fetaBLsCQGN80hkfw1DrOqfkkxfHG59ntzr2rHHHHPpopvikWEqtdwLqLofoihoqYyJSZ4/s400/DSC02875.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">I'm planning to string together a bunch of trails, fire roads, and paved roads in the Santa Monica Mountains for a nice adventure ride on the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. You are welcome to join in the fun, so please help spread the word. The emphasis will be on quieter, more remote trails and as few paved roads as possible, to avoid holiday weekend traffic. Stay tuned to this webpage for further details.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Route:</b> It's about 50 miles with about 7500 feet of elevation gain, so figure 5-6 hours. There will be some bail-out options for those who want to do less. We'll start on the edge of The Valley and head up high from there, enjoying views such as those featured on this <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2009/11/rough-rider-semi-epic-in-santa-monica.html" target="_blank">previous semi-epic ride preview</a> and <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2009/12/rough-riding-santa-monica-mountains.html" target="_blank">post-ride report</a> from the same region.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here is the intended Route:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">South (uphill) on Topanga to "Top of Topanga".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Right on Summit to Summit Motorway, taking it across the summit of Old Topanga Canyon Road, then straight onto Calabasas Peak Motorway.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This drops down to Stunt Road, then ascend Stunt Road to Schueren. (<b>Bail Out Option 1</b>: turn right on Stunt instead and then right on Mulholland, back to the start) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Take Schueren to Piuma, and descend Piuma.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn right, briefly, on Malibu Canyon / Las Virgenes. (<b>Bail Out Option 2</b>: continue on Las Virgenes to a right on Mulholland and back to the start.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn left, UPHILL at Tapia, straight up Mesa Peak Mtwy to the Backbone Trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Go west across the ridge on Backbone Trail, crossing the top of Corral Canyon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Continue west on Backbone Trail, then descend Bulldog Trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">At the bottom of Bulldog Trail, turn right and traverse east through Malibu Creek State Park. (If this seems too full of hikers, we'll instead go left and exit the Park via Malibou Lake and then Mulholland.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">At Las Virgenes, go right towards the coast to Piuma. (<b>Bail Out Option 3</b>: go left on Las Virgenes and right on Mulholland, back to the start.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn left on Piuma, then left on Cold Canyon Road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Continue on Cold Canyon / Dry Canyon as much as possible, otherwise Mulholland, back to Topanga Canyon and our start/finish at the Dumetz Starbucks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Here is a RideWithGPS preview of the route (Thanks to AllRoy71!): <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1187100" target="_blank">Click</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Note: </b>On May 17 I rode a loop that featured the first ten and the final eight miles of this route with 2500 feet of elevation gain. <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/8736215" target="_blank">Here is the Strava page</a>. Based on that brief recon, I am going to raise my guesstimated elevation gain to 7,000-8,000 for the day and six hours total time. My low gear was 34x30 and I could just barely hold traction (while necessarily seated) with 650B Grand Bois Hetre tyres on the super steep uphills at 60 psi. I am probably going to run 50 psi on the 27th, at least for the dirt stretches. Here is a shot of Stunt Road in the distance and the downhill part of Calabasas Peak Motorway (fire road) which leads down to Stunt:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7216578242/" title="Down down down then up up up by Chris Kostman / AdventureCORPS, on Flickr"><img alt="Down down down then up up up" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/7216578242_4e0c979166.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Meet-Up (start/finish):</b> 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: <span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr">4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://g.co/maps/s93mc" target="_blank">Google Map</a> of the location.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Departure:</b> 800am sharp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bring:</b> Three water bottles and/or hydration pack, plus food, two tubes, patch kit, tools, and more. It will probably be hot out there and water only occasionally available along the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>:
This ride is unhosted, unsupported, and everyone who shows up is on
their own. Neither we, nor anybody else, is responsible for anyone who
rides. If you ride, YOU are responsible for YOU and YOUR bike. This is
not an "event" - it is just a ride on dirt and paved roads for
like-minded people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Remember:</b> We Rough Riders enjoy getting "out there" by riding roads, dirt roads,
trails, and paths on whatever bike we happen to be on or have handy.
Sometimes the pavement's long gone and we're still on our "road bikes"
or some bike that would be commonly considered inadequate for the job -
and that's just fine by us! Rough Riding is not defined by the type of
bicycle or type of riding surface. Rough Riding is a state of mind, a
riding style with limitless freedom and an all-pervasive sense of
adventure. <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2012/03/my-rawland-rsogn-one-bike-to-rule-them.html" target="_blank">I will be riding my Rawland rSogn</a>, probably with knobby tyres or possibly with treadless 42mm Grand Bois Hetres.</span></span></div>
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</div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-38691577522653354142012-04-11T17:56:00.008-07:002012-04-14T13:11:29.096-07:00Keeping It Light<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6CvfXebmmDLUmqm6be9mudVunI6ALeYlyJ3ubEkU-Iktt3T4CVBORBFKpAydRpFOcNfwNPQAMDrMaqmGPTuyMtfetR0N80lo4mJHjpkO9cpFO0rM7Z97JEZnaXSJM0VGtkKZI4CXlJk/s1600/GUMBY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6CvfXebmmDLUmqm6be9mudVunI6ALeYlyJ3ubEkU-Iktt3T4CVBORBFKpAydRpFOcNfwNPQAMDrMaqmGPTuyMtfetR0N80lo4mJHjpkO9cpFO0rM7Z97JEZnaXSJM0VGtkKZI4CXlJk/s400/GUMBY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322193226307826" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;">The author with his mascot, Gumby, during the 1987 Race Across America. What could be more fun than having my sister-in-law crawl inside my inflatable 6" tall Gumby to surprise me?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">It astounds me how overly seriously so many people take their cycling and endurance sports. It's like they just literally want to suck the life and the fun out of the whole experience.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Not me!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">I honestly believe I enjoy cycling, and getting "out there" under human power, more intensely, and more intently, than just about anybody. I do this largely by "keeping it light." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">When I'm out on my bike, when I'm "out there," I make a point of taking everything in, all the time. Some people stare continuously at the white line, or the butt of the rider in front of them, all the time. I don't get that. I prefer constantly using my peripheral vision to soak in as much enjoyment, information, inspiration, and light as possible. Not ony is this fun and smile-inducing, but it helps me to notice little roads or trails off to the side of the road, or way off in the distance on some hillside, giving me inspiration for more places to explore. I'm also more likely to notice weather changes in the offing, or aggressive drivers, or historic markers, or viewpoints to check out. If I don't pay attention, I'm liable to miss that glimpse of wildlife along the way, or a waterfall, or a dolphin in the ocean, or a classic car in somebody's yard or driveway, or a funnily decorated mailbox, or a funny sign, or a funky café or mini-mart. I've got to take it all in!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIWumJRqc-7Kutr-8AZNxQUcHAyamUqKiGtiJiYX6RxCgyOyhcvquvkfrJeU4-0jYbbqGwTDeszeN3awBva_J6_ZzKoaY4c3cCzQAxFXxvTFfxDMVxQn_WokX-YaSS283p3OHM73AVwM/s1600/DSC01182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIWumJRqc-7Kutr-8AZNxQUcHAyamUqKiGtiJiYX6RxCgyOyhcvquvkfrJeU4-0jYbbqGwTDeszeN3awBva_J6_ZzKoaY4c3cCzQAxFXxvTFfxDMVxQn_WokX-YaSS283p3OHM73AVwM/s400/DSC01182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322198837029250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">You noticed those wild turkeys over there to the right, on the way to Lake Cuyamaca, right?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Yes, I really do stop during my rides. It amazes me how many people just blast right over the summit of a big climb, without even stopping to enjoy the view or take photo at the summit. Seriously? Likewise for those who have ridden past some historic marker placed by the county, some historical group, or the Clampers a million times, but have never stopped to read it. I pretty much always stop for those signs. In fact, I want to find an area in California that is thickly covered in historic markers and viewpoints and then create a cycling event that specifically involves stopping at all of them! (Any suggestions?)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s1600/DSC01247.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s400/DSC01247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322201826208562" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >California Registered Historical Landmark No. 858, along Sunrise Highway on Mount Laguna.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s1600/DSC01247.jpg"></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">If cycling isn't about embracing the world around us and getting to know it, why not just ride indoors on a trainer? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Naturally, I at least nod at all the other cyclists I see, and sometimes I wave at them. Amazingly, I even verbally greet those riders that I catch along the way! (I know, I know, that's so uncommon anymore. Sad.) Of course, I don't discriminate based upon their type of bike, clothes, or anything else. Anybody on two human-powered wheels is fine by me, and automatically "on my team." (I make a point of chatting it up with motorcyclists, too, treating them as fellow two-wheeled lovers of the world. Being a human is the best way to be respected by another human, I believe. However, if one slides off the pavement because they are driving their motorbike like an idiot, I will ride on by.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">When I meet somebody to go for a ride, I am actually there <em>to ride with them</em>. I know, call me crazy, but it's not my idea of fun to "half-wheel" a friend. The friendship, conversation, and mutual enjoyment are paramount when I ride with somebody. I also keep it light by talking a lot - generally about <u>non</u>-cycling stuff - with my friends when I'm riding. All that sullen silence so common in group rides is not for me. (Quite boorish, that is.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Of course, I enjoy a silent jam with friends sometimes, too: Let our pedals do the talking! But when I really want to "train," which isn't often, I join a racing type club ride, enter a race or timed event, or I just go ride on my own and use my heartrate monitor and personal records on various stretches of road to push myself. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">My late friend and mentor, <a href="http://www.boostdam.net/1963TOUR/bascom_bio.htm" target="_blank">Willard Bascom</a>, said "The whole point of life is to enjoy it." By keeping it light, I do that as much and as often as possible.</span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmtrL91ug0lwTfmM0G7IogDhTbLWDUzIZV5NkFNaQVP09slZrD4PvISB81t8NCtAeP-cdeUs-LHlnTZcnHUE7AR4rd_RblhbdOR8xBTgv2mDb10C35hhQYz5FOGFdRug7ZBHRKhNnSp0/s1600/DSC01288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmtrL91ug0lwTfmM0G7IogDhTbLWDUzIZV5NkFNaQVP09slZrD4PvISB81t8NCtAeP-cdeUs-LHlnTZcnHUE7AR4rd_RblhbdOR8xBTgv2mDb10C35hhQYz5FOGFdRug7ZBHRKhNnSp0/s400/DSC01288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322208734821442" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Yeah, I stop to check out these kinds of signs, too. That's my Ritchey Break-Away. In this case, they explained the devastating, but natural, fire which had swept through this area of Mount Laguna.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br style="font-family: courier new;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfp_hMbUJjGeHuUJPook7ObvMXdpG5moNoEN-D88U5ymuqW_N46EnX5izyrWYmjmtA9tjbxDwVnH7WlmjxMQUmvrAmT6k8LZ8mcFVNjVST9oCUlY9iGcWSc3TJbXoxhZcsOGa4vrk6iw/s1600/DSC01433.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfp_hMbUJjGeHuUJPook7ObvMXdpG5moNoEN-D88U5ymuqW_N46EnX5izyrWYmjmtA9tjbxDwVnH7WlmjxMQUmvrAmT6k8LZ8mcFVNjVST9oCUlY9iGcWSc3TJbXoxhZcsOGa4vrk6iw/s400/DSC01433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322206294120482" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >OK, we all stop to get water at National Forest Visitors' Centers, but how about going inside? They often have neat pins, postcards, books, and maps which I'll buy during a ride. Nice volunteers, too!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXcwH1i49t9ek8H3HvOxDqgwqHmrmfmz-BS7WrH1hCbslPXLIkW-id2jMp2mveZJsoouewS0GGNTlXAmt44wVB8UVqVBLV4UZA6Iux8ASTqAqR4CE1zslqzrIIbXyRK4Mf1HK4ENtbVk/s1600/DSC01437.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXcwH1i49t9ek8H3HvOxDqgwqHmrmfmz-BS7WrH1hCbslPXLIkW-id2jMp2mveZJsoouewS0GGNTlXAmt44wVB8UVqVBLV4UZA6Iux8ASTqAqR4CE1zslqzrIIbXyRK4Mf1HK4ENtbVk/s400/DSC01437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322316193096306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Just one of many displays inside the Visitor's Center shown above, atop Mount Laguna. Want to visit this amazing Mount Laguna? Come ride our Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic in April! <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/mlbc/index.html">Info</a>.</span><br style="font-family: courier new;"></span></div></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-84477204028746082992009-06-15T09:45:00.001-07:002012-04-12T15:48:07.932-07:00Nate Harrison Semi-Epic Ride on June 14, 2009: Ride Report, Images, and Video<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNEgBwenoGSZm2u0A_G_urUaKSFD5D8MD6YZhe2AQYiZWDuQ26OgqD9CE9dlth0N6fdEfvj7x2uVbYWNEVWw2MfGj7HbYhYprdXNNYWFNtrROmIeNEn4xRE7_3cY1e6EY2uO9wyElLQ0/s1600-h/DSC01520.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNEgBwenoGSZm2u0A_G_urUaKSFD5D8MD6YZhe2AQYiZWDuQ26OgqD9CE9dlth0N6fdEfvj7x2uVbYWNEVWw2MfGj7HbYhYprdXNNYWFNtrROmIeNEn4xRE7_3cY1e6EY2uO9wyElLQ0/s400/DSC01520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347579810000769362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">After first riding this route on November 6, 2009, we invited others to join us for a Rough Riders Semi-Epic Ride up Palomar Mountain via the unpaved Nate Harrison Grade on June 14, 2009. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Twelve riders showed up for a fantastic day of cycling in uncertain weather. Below is a video slideshow and selected images of the day.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3e-98TSeJo">See the 11-6-08 video on YouTube when the weather and views were much better than today</a> and the 11-6-08 ride report <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2008/12/rough-riding-northern-san-diego-county.html">elsewhere on this blog</a> with far more detail about the route and the road itself.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br /><span>The dirt road itself, which goes literally all the way up Palomar Mountain, is 9.5 miles long and ascends about 4000 feet - from about 700' to about 4700'. Once you add in the last, paved, climb to the Boucher Fire Lookout, you've climbed 11.1 miles and ascended to 5438'. Then you have some rolling paved miles across the top of Palomar Mountain through the State Park to Mother's Kitchen, the General Store, Post Office, and bathroom. (We all hung out at Mother's.) There you head over to the stop sign where you can take South Grade back down to where you started, for a total of 33 miles with 5500 feet of elevation gain. Plan on five hours, to allow time to enjoy the views along the way and especially from the top, plus the water / food / bathroom stop at Mother's. Though the route can be climbed by an accomplished rough rider on a road bike with 28mm tyres (as one did as you will see here), we definitely wouldn't recommend descending Nate Harrison without a full-on mountain bike. South Grade can have a lot of "crotch rocket" motorcyclists on weekends, so go on a weekday if you possibly can. This is really a phenomenal ride and we highly recommend it!</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A00fUVL3FoyEW9s5HTa23fVqSJqr57l6e56wehqSq7dnPlFlAIt2A66IvcpMDbYyk_zeDw7HlCqumtr4lGUMLr8BvIJ4EWIbbdLi6z7CV7eSD35wAOjuBNGgXqRiT9W3fVgU1ZMmRjo/s1600-h/DSC01523.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A00fUVL3FoyEW9s5HTa23fVqSJqr57l6e56wehqSq7dnPlFlAIt2A66IvcpMDbYyk_zeDw7HlCqumtr4lGUMLr8BvIJ4EWIbbdLi6z7CV7eSD35wAOjuBNGgXqRiT9W3fVgU1ZMmRjo/s400/DSC01523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347579811863786690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"Heading out to where the pavement turns to sand."</span> - Neil Young<br />Above: All three of the actual "mountain bikes" in the group: L-R: Greg on his Bridgestone MB-1, John on his GT, and Brad on his Miyata.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXsDrkt7drMv8B0tcF2HrFiP43N7ujtVg2Wt5VGNaLoxdzJhfwc-esxZBoExD3wQK6KJH5voURUn8x4VPL_xZD-Pl-OIJWQEa8U3GZKuRHgwHOIGy1FBGe8UHDbCcDDFV7Wg5Sowm6q4/s1600-h/DSC01532.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXsDrkt7drMv8B0tcF2HrFiP43N7ujtVg2Wt5VGNaLoxdzJhfwc-esxZBoExD3wQK6KJH5voURUn8x4VPL_xZD-Pl-OIJWQEa8U3GZKuRHgwHOIGy1FBGe8UHDbCcDDFV7Wg5Sowm6q4/s400/DSC01532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347579825899217346" border="0" /></a>Above: Andy on his Atlantis by Rivendell<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS30cD83-LeS1j5esDWg1WcQ6TlgjSUZBUPLpoIrsaanTl8yVaCawjpsQtfCREmRRh4Bqh6nvAt-P3apYoVtGScenhFQCuKh61texF3ELs-GO5HpLb4yQxLlRE9Mdap5MmzFyIrMRUu6U/s1600-h/DSC01530.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS30cD83-LeS1j5esDWg1WcQ6TlgjSUZBUPLpoIrsaanTl8yVaCawjpsQtfCREmRRh4Bqh6nvAt-P3apYoVtGScenhFQCuKh61texF3ELs-GO5HpLb4yQxLlRE9Mdap5MmzFyIrMRUu6U/s400/DSC01530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347579822019103730" border="0" /></a>Above: Peter on his Merlin Extralight road bike with 28mm road tyres.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bQJMCW4cK83WkVGUWOy4t_CdHpTrzUCj9vwDN0G2NU-Mokzm5sT_unlSPZmT4ZKpaXulpAqOJMsp5HttFF3wCJWGYPQ6u5V3PSgeX4y6B3ZWXysTf77BLjH6ATa0LUWGxHlxf2Vq11g/s1600-h/DSC01529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bQJMCW4cK83WkVGUWOy4t_CdHpTrzUCj9vwDN0G2NU-Mokzm5sT_unlSPZmT4ZKpaXulpAqOJMsp5HttFF3wCJWGYPQ6u5V3PSgeX4y6B3ZWXysTf77BLjH6ATa0LUWGxHlxf2Vq11g/s400/DSC01529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347579815142893698" border="0" /></a>Above: Esteban on his Protovelo (a Rivendell prototype) with Acorn bags<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFyvZwXQxaeHXNEcpoLnB1qRkQcPGzfnoCQxSTV3X_Z_n-W-4BRPYYqu-CHDme2ApoXd_lW-wOuz5omKn_hG79yrckogRGm3H4ByfgAaVPym-Jo0-eU1I5TPvLYE5fKEi0DZ3ysMat-g/s1600-h/DSC01537.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFyvZwXQxaeHXNEcpoLnB1qRkQcPGzfnoCQxSTV3X_Z_n-W-4BRPYYqu-CHDme2ApoXd_lW-wOuz5omKn_hG79yrckogRGm3H4ByfgAaVPym-Jo0-eU1I5TPvLYE5fKEi0DZ3ysMat-g/s400/DSC01537.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347581453968072402" border="0" /></a>Above: Dustin on his ti Black Sheep with Rohloff rear hub with internal gearing<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1iuKcG6SjcCJ31WYuATwMjryOjUPFiIx8QLpLFXthdioEU318w0XrPgYoNjbSZdyR_WqCQqhi15lLuZnzVrfuGwWcUmCJnrKAYdKbcLiaFhjRliXS0q3kH-yvelImM8IzhWv03oD888/s1600-h/DSC01550.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1iuKcG6SjcCJ31WYuATwMjryOjUPFiIx8QLpLFXthdioEU318w0XrPgYoNjbSZdyR_WqCQqhi15lLuZnzVrfuGwWcUmCJnrKAYdKbcLiaFhjRliXS0q3kH-yvelImM8IzhWv03oD888/s400/DSC01550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347581897141819986" border="0" /></a>Above: We climbed into the forest and into the fog as we approached the summit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSezeGuMWXPlSUb07bfLloVR0UWaQ8QhQntRAnmEQNHLPZuWpovfpfeoXyCZ3qDl10-fojQJhgP9eiMbgq1IbFQ8N88Z8Ok86yya-IKYY2ERXJzmHUhLhqbb1IgqpYI_wAp1GL8B-oo0/s1600-h/DSC01567.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSezeGuMWXPlSUb07bfLloVR0UWaQ8QhQntRAnmEQNHLPZuWpovfpfeoXyCZ3qDl10-fojQJhgP9eiMbgq1IbFQ8N88Z8Ok86yya-IKYY2ERXJzmHUhLhqbb1IgqpYI_wAp1GL8B-oo0/s400/DSC01567.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347599680845370386" border="0" /></a>Above: Rob M. with his Sam Hillborne by Rivendell<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a2SXqV1PvKNeLc9OObHRHS_vDm_q1FWp24gQ0w58jN-Qo2zzblDS2P0g5Fc2bISrUTAIIuKKPP2oKpZgaLQc1sNH6Q5c5pHkX_VOsg6uiC2dl3bY6OIvpq6GgL3xb4KfiXg4bTFr7L0/s1600-h/DSC01570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a2SXqV1PvKNeLc9OObHRHS_vDm_q1FWp24gQ0w58jN-Qo2zzblDS2P0g5Fc2bISrUTAIIuKKPP2oKpZgaLQc1sNH6Q5c5pHkX_VOsg6uiC2dl3bY6OIvpq6GgL3xb4KfiXg4bTFr7L0/s400/DSC01570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347599680288442034" border="0" /></a>Aboe: Eric with his Bianchi Volpe<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn-ZCa9jCZkLpNtlcIuFCpJ9HhDN-7ynjvQEoA4Nzot9z8nTRuviQnyhjbytEnu06QPcqnX25Z1_hNr0elVejARUIeNqHIssP54j_EkdVphcmzx67O2TqSZ5VrvGVTlCD5PjY8bvAFXc/s1600-h/DSC01572.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn-ZCa9jCZkLpNtlcIuFCpJ9HhDN-7ynjvQEoA4Nzot9z8nTRuviQnyhjbytEnu06QPcqnX25Z1_hNr0elVejARUIeNqHIssP54j_EkdVphcmzx67O2TqSZ5VrvGVTlCD5PjY8bvAFXc/s400/DSC01572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347599690552276114" border="0" /></a>Above: Enjoying food and camaraderie at Mother's, high atop Mt. Palomar<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Route Sheet:</span><br />0.0 Start at Pauma Casino <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">at 777 Pauma Reservation Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061</span></span>. (This is 12 miles of east of I-15 along SR 76: Go north from 76 on Pauma Reservation Road. Don't miss the turn from SR 76: it's at Jilberto's Taco Shop.)<br />0.2 Left down Pauma Reservation Road<br />0.8 Left on State Route 76 East: Watch for traffic!<br />1.9 Left on Nate Harrison Grade Road: Begin climbing. Pavement ends soon.<br />11.2 End of Nate Harrison Grade at a five-way intersection. Make a hard right uphill. (2:04 elapsed riding time | 5100' elevation | 4320' total elevation gain)<br />11.9 Boucher Fire Lookout (2:12 elapsed riding time | 5340' elevation | 4560' total elevation gain)<br />12.7 Back at that five-way intersection: Make a right onto the uphill paved road through the State Park.<br />16.0 Mother's Cafe on left, at intersection with South Grade. Enjoy the great food and ambience!<br />16.1 Head down South Grade (paved road): Watch out for speeding motorcycles! (Merge straight onto State Route 76 west at the foot of the mountain: Watch for traffic!)<br />31.8 Right (at Jilberto's Taco Shop) on Pauma Reservation Road. (3:10 elapsed riding time | 900' elevation | 5190' total elevation gain)<br />32.4 Right into Pauma Casino<br />32.6 Pauma Casino Parking Lot<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ride Data</span><br />32.6 miles<br />5500' of total elevation gain<br />3:15 total elapsed riding time (but plan on a total of five hours to allow for photography and spending time at the Boucher Fire Lookout and Mother's Cafe)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Riders and Bikes</span><br />Brad Zlotnick on his 1989 Miyata Elevation 5000 mountain bike (fully rigid)<br />Peter Bridge on his ti Merlin Extra Light with 28mm road tyres<br />Dustin Sharp on his ti Black Sheep with Rohloff hub<br />Greg on his Bridgestone MB-1 mountain bike (fully rigid)<br />Esteban del Rio on his Protovelo (Rivendell prototype)<br />Rob M. on his Sam Hillborne by Rivendell<br />Calvin Mulder on his Felt cyclocross bike<br />Andy Mari on his Atlantis by Rivendell<br />Chris Kostman on his 1984 Holdsworth road bike with Ritchey 32mm cross tyres<br />Elizabeth Jefferson on her 1974 Williams road bike converted to 650B wheels<br />Eric on his Bianchio Volpe cross bike<br />John Byrne on his GT I-Drive with 6" of travel, front and rear mountain bike (dual suspension)<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3WCPdcJB5g"><br />Video Slideshow!</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ></span>Thanks for your enthusiasm, everyone, and thanks especially to all the Rough Riders who rode today! We look forward to seeing you "out there" soon! (Stay tuned for the announcement of another Semi-Epic Rough Ride in the near future!)<br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-16713146511580262672012-04-10T09:07:00.011-07:002012-04-10T19:55:13.648-07:00Racing to the Light<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf7bLz_eZ4K9liRpfCKMS3Ai-B5lyRwoQaXmJNHWe9m_KHAdb99diDSc5N1KjP9CE9YqatiZeGDvozQOamqgyPOokbztrBeJGEMf2ZF5hlOdXDi7mOjaS8iPkHa4FE46WWKLo9Y-vloA/s1600/0403122142.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf7bLz_eZ4K9liRpfCKMS3Ai-B5lyRwoQaXmJNHWe9m_KHAdb99diDSc5N1KjP9CE9YqatiZeGDvozQOamqgyPOokbztrBeJGEMf2ZF5hlOdXDi7mOjaS8iPkHa4FE46WWKLo9Y-vloA/s400/0403122142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729805499251314306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >Above: A giant painting called "Picture Without Words" by <a href="http://www.getty.edu/news/press/exhibit/ruscha.html" target="_blank">Edward Ruscha</a>, as currently on display at the Getty Center, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >the inspiration for this post</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >. This photo of the painting is by the author.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">I've been thinking about "light" a lot lately, on a multitude of levels. For example, we ultra athletes are all "racing to the light" in many ways: During our ultra challenges, we're moving forward relentlessly, through the night, towards the sunrise, the first break of dawn. Each new day brings forth new opportunities, new energy, and perhaps the day in which we'll cross our finish line.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;"><br /><br />Likewise, when we're racing eastward, as I was for nearly eleven days during the 1987 Race Across America, we're racing right into the morning sun every day. When I did that race, I'd sleep three hours a night, from about 3 or 4am to 6 or 7am*. I always went to sleep when it was still dark out, and then got up after the sunrise, to pretend, in a way, that I had slept through the whole night. After I got up, I'd get back on my bike, and start rolling eastward, usually with some oatmeal to eat while pedaling. Not worrying about my speed just yet, I'd be squinting into the new day's sun. The memory of that daily ritual is one of the strongest of the entire experience. </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">As I'd roll towards the light, I'd set my goals for the day: which state lines I'd cross that day, which other racers I'd pass, where I'd want to arrive by nightfall, and how many miles I wanted to ride before I finally took my three hour sleep break. That morning process of setting goals would repeat until the finish line. <em>"The fulness of life lies in dreaming, and manifesting, the impossible dreams,"</em> wrote Sri Chinmoy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUlkSOgvimq_ReOTypzI3pJIafs3iXEdYtV-YJFK3CSooZG524hu4Vq6Pn5f4E6TqHAfYxNEZbjBUe7O5edgK7iohPwZY8A-30DOiZ3keStfkQ3MJEGhqCnTNk4h-hYSde_y2jIOvsE0/s1600/1987RAAM06WebRes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUlkSOgvimq_ReOTypzI3pJIafs3iXEdYtV-YJFK3CSooZG524hu4Vq6Pn5f4E6TqHAfYxNEZbjBUe7O5edgK7iohPwZY8A-30DOiZ3keStfkQ3MJEGhqCnTNk4h-hYSde_y2jIOvsE0/s400/1987RAAM06WebRes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729805527622744466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >Go east, young man: The author during the 1987 Race Across America.</span><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Crossing the finish line of an epic race in the darkness feels more like denouement than climax to me, so f</span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">inishing in the daylight is always a goal of mine, whenever possible. When I arrived at the Washington Monument after pedaling 3,127 miles in ten days, 23 hours, and 58 minutes, it was just shy of 2pm on a weekday. The whole city was abustle, I felt part of the energy, and the light was streaming down on me. I was alive, and all was well:<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8391fizgMhoroRQQvbvX3PwFNte2FAgsKQTG6CmYcGkGMR_NRRlsPg2T2JG3CRZ_ir93Iaonhc0luVm0wCkoqF0qCDoODQ1xvsFl95nBgv_1yF6Y95kSTTM6QsfGhL2K6s_gx461auM/s1600/1987RAAM09webres.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8391fizgMhoroRQQvbvX3PwFNte2FAgsKQTG6CmYcGkGMR_NRRlsPg2T2JG3CRZ_ir93Iaonhc0luVm0wCkoqF0qCDoODQ1xvsFl95nBgv_1yF6Y95kSTTM6QsfGhL2K6s_gx461auM/s400/1987RAAM09webres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729810124506913154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">"Light" has many other meanings and connotations, as well, and I will explore them more in future posts and articles.<br /><br />* During RAAM, I did not sleep the first or last nights of the race, so I slept a total of 24 hours during eleven days. Amazingly enough, that's considered a lot by RAAM standards. Many competitors get by on half that amount. I consider that stupid, self-defeating, not athletic, and, for lack of a better word, not very graceful. I definitely rode faster than I otherwise would have as a result of sleeping "so much" during my RAAM. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2