Skinny

Still in progress. It is portable as it can be broke into 2 sections and will also be height adjustable. See it in person Sunday and also ride it!

Setting Up The Ice Bike

Since it was 5 degrees when I woke up with a -10 windchill I thought tonight might be a good time to get the Ice Bike setup. My Ice Bike is built off my old 1997 Specialized Rockhopper FS. It is now setup as a single speed with a Surly Singleator tensioner and the rest is kinda tossed together. The tires were made by MORBID Member Minnesota who moved to Texas where they have no need for studded tires. Thanks Chris! Here are the pictures:









She isn't the prettiest but she works well. Only minor cuts while mounting the tires.

Drinks & Dirt!
Pete

Karate Monkey Build

Picked up a Surly Karate Monkey frame the other day and will be building it up. Wheels, tires, and tubes are on their way. Also some Avid BB7 brakes, and tensioner. I plan on keeping this post updated with the build as it progresses. Stay tuned!

Pictures:




:::UPDATE #1:::11.02.2007:::

I got my Chris King headset from Hiawatha Cyclery this afternoon and they popped it into the frame for me while I waited. The pictures don't do the green headset justice. It looks rad. Thanks Jim and company!





Also the Santa in the brown truck brought me my wheelset, tubes, and a tire. Why just one tire? The second one was back ordered. No big deal, can't ride it yet anyway.







So I put the tire and tube on the rear wheel and put a little air in it. I had to toss it on the frame to see what it looks like. I also threw a stem on there just to keep the fork in place, that one isn't a keeper on this frame.




:::UPDATE #2:::11.05.2007:::


Received in the mail a nice Chris King Cog Set. So nice and shiny! Loaded it up on the XT hub to see what it will look like but didn't tighten the lock ring down yet since I don't know what the chain line is going to be. Took some pictures anyway, enjoy!





I can't wait to ride this thing!


:::UPDATE #3:::11.06.2007:::


Getting closer! Got the Salsa Pro Moto XC Riser Bars, Moto Ace S.U.L. Stem, and the Lip-Lock seat collar. The stem had a different stack height than the temporary Bontrager I had on there so I needed to get some different spaces. Scott came to my rescue. He had a 1cm spaces all ready to go for me, I stopped over and he was kind enough to give me that and some other nice items that will help with the build. Gotta love Phil Wood.

Here are a few pics:










:::UPDATE #4:::11.08.2007:::


So because I am a moron and don't know my new zip code my cranks and seat post didn't arrive when I thought they were going to. So a day later they found me. Then I put them on the bike. Boy you really have to tighten that crank bolt down, they aren't kidding.

Pictures:










:::UPDATE #5:::11.12.2007:::


The bike is ridable but not 100% complete. I was able to put on the front tire, the levers and grips pretty quick. Then I mounted the disc rotors, threw on the flat pedals. Added the chain and the Surly Tuggnut tensioner, it was starting to look more like a bike and less like a project. Mounted the BB7 brake calipers and ran the cables to them. Used the rubber band trick to get them adjusted and then gave it a test ride up and down 25th Ave. She is a fine bike. Still waiting on a few little touches like skewers and grips since I stole the ODI Yetis off my Stumpjumper FSR.

Enjoy some pictures:











:::UPDATE #6:::11.27.2007:::

I finished 'er up a while ago with some nice Salsa Flip-Off Skewers and took it off road at the River Bottoms to test it out with MikeyB. It is awesome. I will update this at least once more with info about where I got everything and how the service was. See you out there!



-pete

Ft. Snelling River Ride

Location: Ft. Snelling, Mpls, MN
Time: 9pm
Bikes: Check
Lights: Check
MORBID Members: Mikey, Pete

After two weeks of rain and every trail in the metro being closed Mikey and I couldn't stand it anymore. We needed to get out, even if that meant grabbing the lights and riding from 9-11:30pm.

We headed up to the Minnehaha path over to the falls and then on down to 54th Street where the trail heads down to the base of the Fort. Along here are some nice little hiking and biking trails that can be a little sketchy in places but still offer some ass kicking. We dropped in near the dog park and rode around a little in there. Then headed over to where the HFF had there Feats of Strength. Checked that out a bit. Even with the moon out it was dark and tough to follow most of the trails. T'was a good time.

Mikey took us up some dear path and something took his ass out. I helped pull him outta the thorns and we looped back. There were some nice drop offs that were a little freaky in the dark but there were plenty of fun trails.

Made our way back home via a nice little skate park that we hit some ramps and jumps. It wasn't big enough to get any good speed on the 26" but it was still fun.

Hey, Hey, Hey!

With a break in the rain MikeyB and I decided to do a little urban session near my house. We suited up at about 8pm and went on our way. I had been scoping stuff out in my area for a while and found a few pretty nice spots that had some potential. We were to investigate. First up was a school about a mile from my house. It had a set of 4 nice humps that I saw from the road and some nice looking stairs.

When we got there we found the humps not to be very fun but hit them to their full potential. After that we did find some other fun. A nice little drop off a set of benches provided tens of minutes of fun! Mikey eyed up a nice little 6" skinny we messed around on for about 20 minutes. He was clearing it pretty well at the end, I was still having a little trouble. It was about 20 feet long and a foot high at the tallest point. I am going back to practice next week. :) We hit a few more sets of stairs, cleared the drop again and then decided to checkout another location nearby that I didn't have a chance to scout.



We rolled across the street to a church we rolled by the front and went around to the other side. MikeyB gets paged so we stopped. As he is calling in I spot some stairs and ride them. Then I see a nice little drop on the grass. I get cruising and hit it while MikeyB is talking on the phone. I jump a little early and get shit for air. Again. Second time was better, on the third I nailed it. Felt good. :) Mikey hung up and proceeded to try it. He got some nice air too. We head back around to the other side of the church, I decide to ride the double set of stairs, it was a little narrow and pretty steep but was a lot of fun. We mess around out front for a bit and then I can't find Mikey. I bike down a nice little grassy hill and air it out on another.

Then I hear a distant, "Hey!". I think it is Mikey so I look around for him...nothing. I hear it again and see a larger lady moving toward me. I decided to get outta there. She shouts again, "HEY, HEY, HEY! You! Come here!, HEY! HEY!" in a voice I could only describe as raspy, smoky, and crazy. I ride up to the opposite corner and wait to see if I can find MikeyB. I wait for a minute and see him round the corner. He says, "Let's get outta here before they call the Popo on us." I agree and we head North to Minnehaha.

It is starting to sprinkle and we head back to my place. Got back, grabbed my last two SurlyFests out of the fridge and drink them down while bullshitting about bikes and stuff. Fun night, next time I think we will head to the skatepark and rock that.

Work Time

Rainy day once again and my bikes were in need of some attention. So I grabbed a beer and went to work. I finished up my single speed conversion on my old Rockhopper. It is now setup perfect for the trails around here at 34x18. I had to add the Surly Singleator back on to the bike since 34x18 isn't the magic gear and I don't have either horizontal dropouts or a eccentric bottom bracket on that bike. It is setup in the push down position since I destroyed the spring that is used for the push up position. I may have to order a new one if the chain starts skipping.

Cleaned up my work bench area a bit too and sorted chain chunks into areas with their similar brethren. This week looks equally crappy in the weather department with rain from Monday through Friday with Wednesday being a maybe for a nice day but trails would be closed. Road Ride. Looks like MORBID is going to turn into Minnesota On Road Bikers Into Drinking. Eh, at least I would be riding.

See ya out there.

River Trail Ride

We inducted a new member into MORBID tonight. Kris wanted to test ride an '03 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR that someone at his work is thinking about selling. We did a little bike path riding along Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Creek over to the Mississippi River to test out the bike with a little off-road. I have been on a few of the trails near the dog park but haven't explored the full extent of the trails on either the Minneapolis or the St. Paul side.

They were fun, not manicured like most of the trails around the metro and you could tell they weren't ridden too often. Most likely they are hiked on more than anything else. The trails are pretty rooty and have quite a few chunks of limestone and some big rock outcroppings. I think Kris got a good idea of how the bike handles so we headed back towards Minnehaha Falls. There were quite a few people out around the falls, it was really nice out.

When we got to the falls we decided to stop at Sea Salt for some tacos and a beer. We hung out on the patio and had our dinner. After we finished I turned the light on and we headed back home.

Once home we packed up the test bike back into his Jeep and had another beer on the deck while the dog took a dump in the yard. Good dog.

Holzinger and Bubs

Location: Holzinger Lodge, Winona, MN
Time: 11am
Bikes: Check
Lungs and Legs: Must have forgot them in MPLS
Beers: Bub's (pronounced boobs)
MORBID Members: Pete and lots of MORC Members

9am: I had a car load of people and gear and met Scott at Salem Hills off of 494 and 52.
Caravan we did down to Winona, MN.
11am: We arrive and unpack the bikes and gear.
11:30am: Depart.
11:33am: Gasping for air, legs hate being attached to me and want to leave. After this point I loose all track of time and try not to a) black out, b) puke, and c) fall off a cliff.



We climb, I climb slowly for quite a while, gain around 500 feet in elevation and get an awesome look at the surrounding bluffs, the river, Winona, and a chunk of Wisconsin. Notable happenings while climbing, I cranked my bars on a nice little tree V and fell down about 10 feet of drop about this \ steep. I would like to thank the saplings that caught me and saved me from falling the other 100 feet. I also think I lost at least one lung and possibly most of my leg muscles. I faintly remember it being called Wildwood something. I think there was a sign there too but I might have hallucinated that.

Once we got to the top there was a nice loop of single track with some small log piles and little jumps. It was a big change from climbing through a ton of rock and roots. Most of the bluff is the chunky Minnesota Limestone and someone mentioned it was quarried almost 100 years ago. A part of the trail is called "The Quarry Trail" so yeah, it was a bit rocky. Back to the top. We stopped up there to gather everyone and rest up.



We did another loop up top and then down. Wow. It was fast. We were cruising down the bluff and flying over roots and rocks. It was a little trickier of a decent than anything in the metro. A few of the roots and rocks caught me off guard, Scott's wife caught a rock and tree the wrong way and snake bit the tube. I hung out with her, Scott, and another rider while she changed her tube. We flew down the rest over rocks and roots at speeds closing in on 30mph. Going that fast you could get some air if you tried on the last few rollers. It was great.



After the ride we headed over to Bub's(again, pronounced boobs) for some food and beers, oh and popcorn. I had the Bub's Red at first which was great. Josh who helped organized the ride was sitting next to me and suggested the All American Burger. This was no burger, as they say, it is breakfast lunch and dinner all in one. Let me tell you a little more about it, I will work my way up from the bottom. It starts with a normal bun, then a nice slab of beef like a normal burger, add some cheese, a thin slice of ham, some bacon, and topped of with an egg, then the bun. It was awesome. I want another now. I think I saw 7 of them delivered to table. There was a little beer left in Scott's pitcher at the end of the table so I gladly accepted some Oktoberfest which was really good. We let that settle and walked over to Adventure Cycle to check out their wares.



We headed out of town and picked up some Culver's for the ride back. It was a great time, I just need to find my legs and lungs before I head back. Thanks everyone!

These great pictures are from Scott Haraldson and I totally stole them.

Salem Night Riders

Location: Salem Hills, Inver Grove Heights, MN
Time: 6pm
Bikes: Check
Lights: Check
Beers: Check
MORBID Members: Mikey, Pete



She was a good ride, a warm day after the recent cold streak. Two laps around, one with daylight, one without. Lights were charged and ready to go. Lap one was quick, the rocks were loose and there is a ton of sand on the trail, but it was fast as all hell.

Wheelie practice was held until the sun went down and lap 2 was started. Another fast lap was done since there were beers waiting. No injuries tonight but the boys were spent after some heavy riding the last few days...

Some Rouge Mocha Porter, Spotted Cow, Mothership Wit, and Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen were consumed. There was talk of The White Castle but that was called off since one of the crew had it for lunch. (Dick!) If only The Castle made wool jerseys...

Ride/Beer Photos

Brought some Kettlehouse brews back from Missoula for some post ride options. Really tasty after rides. If you are in Missoula, hit the Kettlehouse, skip Big Sky Brewing and spend your time and money there.

The ladder bridge is from one of the best trails in MN, Murphy Hanrehan on the Savage/Prior Lake border. Ride a bike and drink a brew sucka.