Category: fargo

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Same Spot, Different Bike

Local trails, Fargo this morning.

Lowered the saddle once I settled into the singletrack. That made a huge difference, especially on the technical bits. Tweaked the bar position.

Think I’m getting it dialed for both gravel and trail. This morning was – make adjustment, ride a lap, rinse, repeat.

The Vulpines roll well on the gravel and dirt – but they are definitely not a wet, snot, rock tire. Would love to have a 2.2 or 2.4 up front – and something sticky like a Nevegal. Would give me some more confidence in the slick. That said – rolling on a knobby isn’t fun – so the Race Kings or Vulpines will do for now, until I set up a second wheelset for eaiser changes. Riding trail on essentially a large cross tire is fun – and I can’t complain – I used to ride these same woods on 35s and 42s back when the CrossCheck was my ‘all-terrain-a-saurus’

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Recent Snaps

Mellow weekend. Farmer’s Market, morning rides, flowers in bloom, some industrious kids up in the woods, flood damage, more rain, gray skies, good fun.

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Father’s Day Fargo Mixed Terrain

Completely wonderful day, even if I felt fatigued (still) on the bike. ~45 of dirt, gravel, single track, bike path, and paved riding.

I rode out of town on some dirt, hit the wonderful Governor Chittenden gravel, rocky descent, then Johnnie Brook, which ends for cars and carries on for bikes as single track. Into Richmond proper, passing at the chance to stop at On the Rise, then up through the gorge on Dugway. All roads I’m familiar with.

Then Texas Hill and Economou Rd. Economou is silly steep, and it dead ends into the Hinesburg Town Forest trails – 18 miles of mountain bike goodness (less now from the blow down and damage from winter storms…). I met a rider wrenching his bike at the trailhead and he guided me up the old logging road (dodging trees, boulders, rocks, roots, and puddles). He split off (full suspension machine… would have been nice!) and I carried on to ‘Missing Link’ and then to ‘Backdoor’. A few minor navigational issues (not all intersections are signed) – and I was twisting and turning down the ravine to Lincoln Hill Rd.

The trail puts you out about 2/3s of the way up, so I climbed over the top and bombed into Hinesburg. Out of water and calories I puttered through town, and connected through Leavensworth Rd. I was late for lunch with my sweeties, so Jen and Ava met me inbound on Dorset, as they were heading to our meet up spot anyways… and I was pretty much spent.

I didn’t map my exact route through the woods, but traced a rough outline based on my recollection of the terrain. The large spike starts in Richmond and heads up Texas Hill and Economou Rd.

When I got home there was a box of Lake Champlain chocolates waiting, and a card with a note and some green colored paper labeled as ‘for TD gear’.

Perfect Father’s Day (except now I have to find the energy to lug an AC unit up from the basement to the second floor and get it installed in Jen’s office (and the guestroom)).

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Salsa

These guys and gals…

…are simply incredible. They have answered countless (likely inane) questions about the Fargo – sizing, geometry, stem flip-ability, availability, etc. etc. Then they made sure my local shop had access to the bike I needed, and took care of a glitch when the stock bike was missing some parts.

All good and great customer service, as one would expect, but a pleasant surprise.

But, when I sent off an email to double check what part # I needed for the replacement derailleur hanger… this fine gent sent me one straight out, so I’d have it in my hands prior to Father’s day. And I didn’t even ask. Wow.

Good folks. And now I get to ride.

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New(s)

New sneaks arrived for on the Fargo and Pugsley. My Specialized shoes have finally given up, with the sole @ the cleat pushing into the bottom of the shoe. Looks like they are delaminating. 5 year old shoes, ridden in mud, snow, rain… I really can’t complain. I opted to replace them with some Pearl Izumi X-Alp pro shoes. Carbon sole that is supposedly good for hike a bike… I would have gone for another comparable pair of the Specialized shoes – but they have a very stiff sole now, and a local rider told me they are great for on the bike, not so good for even short off the bike pushes.

And then I found this (for the Enduro model) and this. Kurt’s plug pretty much sold me on the shoe. He’s currently out front on the Tour Divide.

In other news I snapped the hanger on the Fargo. Hit something, and glad I didn’t shift into the spokes. New parts (and a spare for my kit) are on the way. On a separate morning I went over the bars – perfect wheel swallowing divot coming off some roots.

Next week I hope the continuing fatigue is gone, hoping to start a formal training plan to take me into the fall. Will be the first time I’ve done any specific training since burning out when I hired a coach back in 07.

After the burn out I didn’t ride for nearly 8 months. Looking forward to it, as I think I’ve got the largest base in place in a long long time – but need to knock a few more pounds off the body and step up the intensity for climbing. (hmm, when I migrated over from Blogger it seems I lost all my pictures on previous posts… sad…)

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Singletrack

Did some early loops at Sunny Mosquito Hollow this morning. Did a long (relative) loop out on the blue trails, then got turned around on Moose Hill and pretty sure I ended up on the grounds of Camp Johnson.

Still figuring out the drop bar position – currently its great for gravel / local trails – but I can see for extended single track I’d want it a bit higher. Still annoyed with the adjustment / shifting of the SRAM FD… doesn’t stay put after adjustment and gives come chain rub in too many combinations. Salsa sent along some missing inline adjusters… but the one for the FD seems to unwind itself every few days. Might need to tighten it down and add some electrical tape.

Starting to feel like myself again. Still fatigued, with sore legs… looking forward to a decent ride this Sunday.

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Tired

Short ride in the woods and down to the lake. Flood damage is everywhere, and the lake is slowly receding, but taking the bike path, beach, and trees with it. Really fatigued this morning. Hoping to feel better this weekend for some quality time on the dirt.

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Prep

The VT 400k is this Saturday. We’ll have 9+ starters for a 258 mile loop around VT, taking in some of the nicest roads from Waterbury to Putney and back. I’ve been in prep mode – bike, route, cues, brevet cards, etc. The route is spectacular – scenic, hilly, twisty fun descents (after twisty climbs) and following some of my favorite roads in northern and southern Vermont. Our halfway point is the West Hill Shop, in my old stomping grounds of Putney. The shop is celebrating their 40th anniversary – so we’ll be able to drop in on good food and cheer as we pass the 200k mark.

I’m in fast (relative!) touring mode for this ride so I mounted up the Ortlieb bags on the IF.

Also had to recoat the Showers Pass jacket! So much rain here this spring…

Been tweaking the Fargo and using it for errands and early morning rides. Loving the ride so far, need to find a sweet spot on position for singletrack and gravel / dirt roads.

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Fargo

Some snaps of the new Fargo. She was christened on a rainy 45 mile paved, dirt, mud, and trail ride last Sunday. Only way that seemed fitting was to get her dirty. No pics from the ride worth posting – these are from a tour of the local parks.

Stock everything at the moment. Cables are long and steerer is tall while awaiting the wider of the Woodchipper bars. Still working on position. The current pics show a great dirt road / mild trail setup. If this were to be single track only I’d rotate the levers down to make the drops my primary position.

Not sold on the Thudbuster – have to put it through its paces to see how it shakes out on my normal rides. Certainly nice on there for singletrack, although it is odd that I have some cush on the rear and nothing up front…

Really enjoying the SRAM 2×10 drivetrain. Pleasantly surprised, and if money weren’t an issued I think I’d replace the Campy on the IF with the Red or Rival group.

Long range plans include a tubeless wheelset with a dyno up front to run a Supernova E3 and a custom frame bag. I may move over a Brooks or decent WTB. So far the stock saddle is unremarkable but comfortable.

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Something new…

3 or more years in the making…

Quiver is now full. IF, Fargo, Pugsley.
(although I do miss a SS/FG bike…)