War Axe Bicycles - Thrashing into a Brave New World

Motivator Memory

2012-01-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

For those of you racing XC in Nebraska...

2012-01-04T11:33:00.001-08:00

The 2012 Race Calendar is here!

Sat March 31: Jewell Time Trial & Fat Tire Criterium, Bellevue, NE
Sun April 1: Swanson River City Shootout in Bellevue, NE
Sat April 21: Lewis & Clark Time Trial & Tranquility XC, Omaha, NE
Sat May 5: Battle Royal at Platte River SP, Louisville, NE
Sat June 2: Maskenthine XC Classic, Norfolk, NE
Sat June 16: Ponca's Revenge, Ponca, NE
Sat Aug 11: Manawa Mayhem XC, Council Bluffs, IA

From your friends at Psycowpath.

Sorry!

2011-12-24T08:34:00.000-08:00

Two's Company

2011-12-04T15:52:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, It's As Simple as a Good Picture

2011-12-04T08:29:00.001-08:00

Like a two year old who can't quite read, simply looking at pretty pictures makes me "Ooo and Ahh." Adults would probably rephrased it as motivation.

The Embrocation Cycling Journal currently has two sets that, as they say, "Do it for me."

A Weekend in Belgium Part I

A Weekend in Belgium Part II

Then there is this. A starting point, with motivation to have this single back have three or four War Axe WMD's around it. All ready for the weekend. Ready to Thrash.

Hitting a Reset

2011-11-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is often a season of lists for the avid cyclist. I tend to be more guilty than most of this little habit. Grand plans laid out and, in the last couple of years, little of them actually achieved.

This holiday season I'm taking a different approach. Keeping it simple. Keeping it week-to-week, month-to-month. Instead of paying for race registrations that end up wasted dollars when race day finally arrivals, I'll take a chance on missing out and focused on being better prepared when I do make the starting line.

Off season config. Made for Miles.

So what's up first, how about simply getting some solid miles in, some rides with friends, restart a few 'bromances.'

In the process, I'm using a few tools to help me stay on course and be accountable to myself, if nothing else.

Strava

I like my data... to a point. Strava let me know what I want and I can ignore the details that geek out the paralysis by analysis crowd. Plus, I can tell what my friends are up to and feel a little peer racing pressure.

MyFitnessPal

Yes, it's a calorie counter. But, it's a well-designed calorie counter that works for me. Ten pounds down so far. Hoping to be a light heavy weight by Jan. 1.

I also plan to post a bit more about the effort. Prepare to be bored.

Lastly, as a reference point. The Velomanti. Rule 71.

(Yes, I am willing breaking a few of the Rules in the picture above.)

Mother Cover

2011-11-05T07:48:00.001-07:00

For DK and Marc W

The rest of you may enjoy as well, sorry about the ads, there's no way around it.

Wye Oak covers Danzig

Fork 395_47

2011-10-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

You can't see it, but it says Grindcore.

How to Create Propaganda

2011-10-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

So if you count back from Nate, you'll find the fat guy in the War Axe kit in a battle for the top ten, right? I also heard that guy also took out Matt T, Belgian-style.

Signed, The War Axe Minister of Disinformation.

The Parabellum in Photos

2011-10-17T18:38:00.001-07:00

Nate Woodman: 8 Seconds of Butter

2011-10-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

It's just that easy...

The Goods: CX Season 2011

2011-10-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

If you didn't make the launch party, there are a few new items on the War Axe Bicycles menu that you've likely not seen. Here's a quick look at what we've put together for our relaunch.

While a few people have commented that our new embrocation smells like cloves, we are sticking to our guns. Essence of coffee, rum and a touch of vanilla highlight this little bit of skin care love. Currently available in a mild heat to match the early CX season, we experimented until we found a slightly heavy, easy to spread blend we were happy with. With the coffee aroma seeming to grow over time, perhaps we will have to add "extra shot" to our descriptions soon.

The Parabellum T-Shirt. Si vis pacem, para bellum or If you wish for peace, prepare for war. Our friends at Screen Ink put the specs to a parabellum cartridge to good use, designing a shirt that was being ordered before the ink had even dried. Printed on American Apparel quality for the hipster in you.

||| $20.00 Available in Small thru XXL. |||

With a subtle shout to iPhone icon graphics, the WMD shirt came together quickly. American Apparel pleasantly surprised us by having a color they call "Poppy" which nicely mirrors our own "is it red or is it orange" color way. BAM!

||| $20.00 Available in Small thru XXL |||

The Fascist Killer Tee. From the Hoss Creative, featuring Sam's super calves both front and back. Great deal in the sock with a War Eagle standing out in the crowd. Also printed on American Apparel and mosh pit ready.

||| $20.00 Available in Small thru XXL |||

"The turntables might wobble but they don't fall down." This is the old school design in our t-shirt stable. Tultex apparel with the obvious shout out to RUN DMC's timeless design. What more needs to be said?

||| $20.00 Available in Small thru XL |||

Death by Cross

2011-10-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

If I am honest with myself about the first five days of cross season, the admission I would need to make is that 'gears' keep coming to mind. It is what it is. Whether being too spun out on a road section or enjoy a cadence of thirty due to a bad cog choice, the idea of trying a race with the ability to shift is pecking away at my head.

Case in point, Omaha CX Day One, 3's race. I was a bit nervous and very uptight as we lined up for the start. So much so in fact that I just planted myself in last position. 'Why slow other people down,' was the thought process. We start, I ease into the race, ease my way off the back and end up doing the course solo from nearly start to finish. Got lapped by the leader right before going thru on my last lap. Came away feeling like I'd worked hard but still gone through the motions more than truly laying it all out there. Disappointed with myself.

The highlight of my race was the hand up provided me by Liz and Rhino, smooth initial hand up, refreshing swing, then Rhino yelled "Throw It!" instead of simply taking it back. I obliged and waited from the spray but he pulled it down like Willie Mays. Great play, fun moment.

Kevin and Jay whizzed by while John was breaking off "Guns Are Drawn." Seriously...

Fast forward to yesterday, Day One of the Flatwater CX Series at VDR. Ride to the race, break your lungs in two, ride home. Love it. Decided to roll the "B" race, which, while only 30 minutes, was probably where I needed to be. Plopped myself upfront, when out hard, got spun out on the road, but while I had people ahead of me, I was generally bringing it back in the grass and dirt, then I would lose those any gains on the road and the yo-yo business began. Rob Taylor and I enjoyed one of those "races within a race," which was a hell of a lot more fun that riding alone for 45 minutes and I am looking forward to racing with him again next Wednesday.

I turned spectator quickly afterward and watched Kevin and Jay sprint it out for the win. Jay had passed Kevin at about the midpoint of the course. I saw the pass and remember thinking, "Ohhh, smart move," but Kevin came around him on the road. It was sweet.

No question, a great way to spend Wednesday night. Of course, if they reverse the course next week that long road section is all downhill... Hmmm.

I Think That Left a Mark

2011-10-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

I think the War Axe launch party ended up being exactly what it was intended to be. I say I think because I was so wrapped up in it that I have no sense for the overall, the thirty foot view. I saw a lot of friends. A lot of people seemed to be enjoying themselves. Most importantly, a lot of people seem to like the little line of products we've put together.

After arriving in Lincoln later than intended from Omaha CX weekend, we found ourselves still getting set up around 6:00pm. I had hoped to be chilling with an Espresso Martini at that point, but such things happen and shortly thereafter Crescent Moon was pleasantly packed with people with conversations in every corner until around 7:30 or so where things eased back.

For me, it is an mosaic of conversations. Bikes, CX, beverages, the Huskers, 'your Mom,' etc, were all topics that come to mind and while rumors of a 'presentation' were apparently floating around, the only things we were looking to present were drinks and friendly hellos. Mission accomplished. Thanks again to those of you that stopped by. We hope you had a good time.

Think back to the last awards show you watched and those moments when a winner walks through a laundry list of thank you's that are well deserved but unknown to you. That's the moment I am in right now, not that we've won anything, but there are a lot of people who've helped us out along the way and we very much feel a debt of gratitude.

Now to build upon what we've started. It's been a fun ride so far and we're looking forward to pushing on. Thanks again everyone.

Let's Do Drinks

2011-09-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

The folks at Crescent Moon have been incredibly flexible in allowing us to put a War Axe signature on the launch party. Part of that flexibility has included serving War Axe inspired drinks from a separate custom menu for the evening. In addition, they are allowing us provide free beer despite the fact that they serve beer themselves. We really couldn't ask for much more.

Here's a look at the War Axe Inspired Drinks:

Espresso Martini - Matching up nicely with our Espresso Martini Embrocation, this drink is a personal favorite. If you came to Skip's Fight Club inspired 40th birthday party, you saw him pulling shots and shaking things up on ice. Chocolate rimmed glass, espresso, vodka and Kahlua.

Tire Sealant - Save this one for dessert. Created over a Friday late lunch at the Moon, the richness of this drink makes a small serving go a very long way. Espresso and ice cream blended latte with peppermint schnapps. Clearly, not on your nutrition plan, so burn it off in the race on Sunday.

The Snob - A mocha with all the fun taken out of it. Three shots of espresso, steamed soy milk and half of the chocolate of a normal mocha. Espresso love with a hint of sweet.

Our friends at Modern Monks have also embraced the evening by providing a keg of Modern Monks Kolsch. A style native to Koln, Germany, our interpretation has a soft, clean palate that tastest slightly fruity with a touch of acidity. A freshly cooked white bread nose is noticeable.

Please come and enjoy yourselves Saturday night. Thank the people from Crescent Moon and Modern Monks. They've really embraced the event and we couldn't be more appreciative of their efforts.

Sam and Skip

War Axe Espresso Martini Embrocation

2011-09-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

The first reaction to our embro is likely as good as it will get:

"Get down here and rub some on me!"

Did this happen? I don't embrocate and tell. Sorry...

Those of us in the business like to call this "Cool as Hell."

You know that pleasantly warm feeling you get with a good cocktail? Let your legs imbibe as well. Medium warmth, sophisticated aroma, Cross and class.

You'll find this at the War Axe Launch Party and I suspect I'll have some in the War Wagon during Omaha CX weekend.

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

...a prerequisite to Thirsty Thursday, you just gotta ride the hump to get there.

Specs: 420 Axle to Crown, 47mm offset

Here's to Two Months of Pain

2011-09-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

I love cross. I've never made a real effort to be good at it, but I have always loved it. I won't be good this year either, but I plan to do what amounts to a full Nebraska schedule, with a bit of Jingle Cross Rock tossed in at the end. (Single Speedo Race? Not bloody likely.)

Here is a quick rundown of how that looks on paper:

October:

Saturday, the 1st. Omaha CX, Bellevue.
Sunday, the 2nd. Omaha CX, Bellevue.
Wednesday, the 5th. Flatwater Cycling Series. Lincoln. VanDorn Park.
Wednesday, the 12th. Flatwater Cycling Series. Lincoln.
Wednesday, the 19th. Flatwater Cycling Series. Lincoln (Note the Wednesday Night trend)
Saturday, the 22nd. Norfolk CX
Sunday, the 23rd. Norfolk CX

November:

Friday, the 18th. Lincoln CX
Saturday, the 19th. Lincoln CX
Sunday, the 20th, Nebraska State Championship. Lincoln.
Friday, the 25th. Jingle Cross Rock. Iowa City.
Saturday, the 26th. Jingle Cross Rock. Iowa City.
Sunday, the 27th. Jingle Cross Rock. Iowa City. Single Speedo Day

Lastly, I'll leave you with this clip that Sam showed me once. The clip has stuck with me ever since. Not only does Sven kill it with the ditch hop, but watch the riders kick it in after the 180 turn. Mad skills.

Snapping Turtles

2011-08-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

Corey and I ran into this monster near the end of last week. While I didn't start taking video until after he'd threatened us multiple times, as you can tell, this wasn't someone to be messed with.

Shortly afterward, Corey turned into a bit of a snapping turtle himself. We made the mistake of discussing the cheating which transpired at Gravel Worlds and found ourselves keeping a 20mph for far longer than my legs care to remember.

War Axe Launch Party

2011-08-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Launch Party or ReLaunch Party... heck, simply Party works too. Here's the details. Come hangout a while.

Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011

Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Location: Crescent Moon Coffee

Address: 140 North 8th St #10

Lower Level

Lincoln, NE

Friends of yours will be there. Each of our bikes will be there to check out. Our softgoods will be on-hand. Beverages of all shapes and sizes.

Consider this your invitation.

The Fascist Killer T-Shirt

2011-08-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Simply said, working with Chad Hawthorne makes doing things like this a pleasure. He kills it.

Full Frontal

Front Lettering Detail

Rear Lettering Detail

Sock Detail

Inking Skills

And for the shameless plug... This bad boy is now available in the War Axe Online Store.

Oh Yeah... As Hoss pointed out, if you fold it just right, Sam's guns appear. That's worth it's weight in gold.

The Frederick Krull House: A Perfect Checkpoint

2011-08-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

I was sitting by a pool in Miami when Corey first mentioned the Krull House to me. We were texting back and forth about remained incomplete for Gravel Worlds and how we might be able to help with some of that. I was still debating racing, as opposed to 'working,' when Corey sent me the following link: The Fredrick Krull House.

Matt Steinhausen providing an oral history of the Krull House.

Last Tuesday, I decided to ride out to the house to see what I was dealing with. The link left me intrigued and Corey obviously thought it was cool, so I looking forward to seeing the place in person.

After dealing with some questionable directions from Corey, I finally found the turn and checked the place out. I had been trying to think of ways to make the checkpoint memorable, but it was obvious standing in front of the house that it would be carrying the day.

On race day, we were fortunate enough to have Matt stop by and tell us about the house. It is certainly the man's passion and he clearly enjoyed sharing it with all of us.

If you didn't get a chance to really check the place out, make it a point to ride out to SW 2nd and take the place out. During a race we can all be too concerned with getting in and out of a checkpoint quickly or too worked to really take everything in. It's worth a (re)visit when you've got a bit of time to relax.

And if Matt happens to be there, tell him 'thanks.' He's already offered to let use the place again next year. Seems the least we can do.

PCL's Gravel Worlds: The Krull House Secret Checkpoint

2011-08-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

At some point during this year's TransIowa, I started thinking through the idea of doing War Axe secret checkpoints at gravel races. The idea was simple. Once you get deep into a long race, a surprise oasis looks like a utopia, even if you're stopping for thirty seconds for a Coke and a smile before pressing on.

In bouncing the idea off of people, I tossed the idea by Corey, who said that Gravel Worlds could really use a checkpoint late in the game. It really could only be semi-secret, but could we modify the two thoughts and make it work. Of course we could. Throw in the Krull House as a location (separate post to follow) and it was Game On! for Gravel Worlds.

Is this the way to the Renaissance Fair?

Having ridden through my fair share of checkpoints, I, as usual, had opinions about how things needed to go. Easy to find and Memorable, that was the goal. With the Krull House taking care of the memories, Mrs Snob helped me with a few banners that worked well with the posts I had seen in my Krull House recon and we had visibility covered. Despite the fact that this was a CP and not an Oasis, I grabbed a variety of beverages before driving out to the house and a checkpoint was born.

First Across the Line

My intent was to pass out Scratch Offs, throw updates into the world of social media and hang out, throwing in a few War Axe touches as a bit of tasteful PR. Jeff Bonsall came early to help me out and there were almost always five or six people chilling throughout the day. Even though a dying phone kept the updates to a minimum, everything else went down smooth and easy.

Riding is easy, dealing with this cap is not.

Currently, Jeff and I are working on an algorithm that I have tentatively named the "Mullet Theory." In short, the racers in an endurance event can be categorized as, "business in the front, party in the back." The first people in grab what they need and are gone. As you move toward the back of the race, things get loose, people linger and the mindset is a bit different. Neither are wrong, of course. It is just a different approach.

Dale, doing his best to cause problems with the Mullet Theory of Endurance Racing

Of course, every theory has its statistical anomaly. Dale hit the checkpoint in sixth. Was very mellow and friendly with everyone, casually got what he needed, then strolled back to his bike and continued to crush people. I guess it's a working theory...

Ahhh, thanks Scott, that's more like it!

Scratch Offs!

2011-08-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Gravel Worlds 2011: I'll Let You In On A Secret...

2011-08-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

... War Axe Bicycles will be hosting the secret checkpoint at the race this year. If you'll be out on course, keep your eyes peeled, but we won't be that hard to find. If you're playing the home version of the event, check in with this blog periodically. We will be posting throughout the event, sometimes out of boredom, sometimes excitement so hopefully we continue to get service at the CP. Here's to the rain staying away and everyone having a good time.

See you on course.

Gravel Between Your Toes

2011-08-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Gravel Worlds 2011 from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Branding with Iron - The WMD

2011-08-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

When we started walking through the concept and design of our first three bikes, we ended up in a strange place with the second bike. We knew exactly what we wanted it to be, how we wanted it to ride and what we wanted it to be when it grew up.

The only catch... we couldn't think of a name for it.

On the surface, it seemed like it should be a piece of cake. We've seen so many of our friends turn their cross bikes into commuters that the need seemed obvious. The design elements of taking a race worthy rig and simply adding just enough 'bits' to make a transformation to a commuter smart and efficient quickly feel into place. We wanted this bike ourselves, so our confidence was high enough.

The branding spark simply lagged behind, if it was there at at.... We quickly went through the bad and the obvious. I searched the web for a bit of inspiration, made lists, really did write on napkins and still had nothing worth using.

Once the Fascist Killer arrived. I mentally set the CX/Townie 'challenge' aside, but the night Sam, Hoss and I gathered to build and take pictures of the frame, things started to take shape for the story of bike number two.

As we were chatting, it became clear we'd already confused Chad. We already had a name for bike #3 and for a while Chad thought it was for the CX/Townie. As we clarified, I remember saying that we didn't have anything for #2, so if Chad had any ideas, please let them fly.

The next day, Chad emailed us with a few quotes to consider for the chain stay. They were all good, inspiring and, in a flurry of Google searches and emails, we arrived at a winner.

"I am become death, shatterer of worlds."

The philosophy major in me was instantly happy. The words come from the Bhagavad-Gita, which I originally read in a late night reading bender with the Upanishads after finishing Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge. We also selected the less commonly used translation of "shatterer," as opposed to "destroyer." Why? Because in my read, to be destroyed is finite, to be shattered, while close, keeps a glimmer of hope.

Of course, most people know the quote from J. Robert Oppenheimer and his reaction to the "success" of the Manhattan Project. Watching his reaction to the result of the project made me consider throwing the line and subsequent name aside completely. I decided to lighten up a bit instead.

With that decided, we still needed an actual name to reference. We were using "Death" for about 24 hours, then the ah-ha response took over and it was clear, the WMD. And there it was, full circle.

Our first WMD is set to arrive back from paint tomorrow. I know the owner is looking forward to building it up and we're looking forward to having bike number two out in the world.

As for the name WMD, I'm looking forward to hearing the word play people come up with around those letters. I already have one for CVO or Eric Brunt, Wheels Making Deliveries.

Has a nice ring to it.

What's Old Is New Again

2011-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

I can't remember exactly how John Lefler Jr. phrased his comment when he saw me signing in at the Flatwater Twilight MTB race last Wednesday, but it was something along the lines of, "who are you and are you lost?" It was a perfect hello, because it really has felt like a very long time since I toed the line and really raced.

Frankly, I was a little nervous. I've really only been riding consistently again for four months. That is, the four months since I resigned from my job and dove into trying to move War Axe Bicycles forward. Four months after not truly racing for two years. Four months of saddle time that didn't seem like much time at all.

Plus, I had the newly arrived Fascist Killer on my hands. I didn't want to be the guy who played chopsticks on a finely tuned grand piano.

Wednesday went well enough. The surprised faces always held a friendly hello. New faces introduced themselves and several took a few minutes to look at the bike. The race went fine as well. Not last, certainly not first, but solid enough riding that occasionally had some flow, power but was certainly hitting on fun the entire time. I think I was the only person riding single speed, so I wasn't sure what to think about my gear choice, but I left Branched Oak with a smile and looked forward to Saturday.

Saturday offered both a time trial and XC race and I was cautiously optimistic that I'd avoid the side of myself that takes last place as equaling failure. When the time trial start times arrived Friday night, I was happy to see I didn't go off until 8:55. Happy until I then read that Aaron Gammell was the guy going off 30 seconds after me. I then began to play a game of guessing how long it would take Aaron to pass me, tried to remember my lap time from Wednesday, then decided I didn't want to do that much math.

The following morning, Aaron was one of the first people I saw. We chatted, discussed the TT and warmed up together before heading toward the start gate. Part of our discussion was the classic single speed "what gear?" discussion. Aaron, was running about five gear inches less that me, which means that while I lost most of my fitness over two years, I didn't lose my penchant for overdoing it when it comes to gear choice.

Out of gates, I just tried to go after it. One Lap, Balls Deep. However, the course wasn't in condition for a frontal assault, at least not the opening turns. Greasy and and wet, the trail required some prudence, which I failed to take with me. I blew through the first few turns and continued to slide off the trail even after I was trying to take them slowly. The fact that Aaron came by less than a quarter of the way through the course wasn't a huge surprise. The guy can ride a bike. I got better (and so did the course) as the lap went on, could see Aaron at times through the trees and finished up strongly, telling myself not to make the same mistake when the XC race arrived.

I found Aaron after the finish and we went over/under on how far back I finished from him. I went with 55 seconds and was close, 58 seconds back. A quality Price Is Right estimate.

Waiting for the XC start was a good time. I continued to chat with Aaron, saw EB, MG and Dale Pinkleman, wishing them luck in the marathon class and watching them power through the beginnings a of long day in the saddle.

For the XC race, it turned out the single speed group would be going off on our own, three minutes back of the Cat 2 folks. With my handling in the TT speaking for itself, I thought it best if Aaron lead into the single track, he'd be riding away from me anyway and there was no reason to pin him behind me if I fumbled my way through the turns.

Luckily, the course had really firmed up by our 12:30 start though and Aaron and I went into the first climb together. He gapped me a bit on the climb, and I decided on the next, longer climb I'd do everything I could to stay with him and, if not make a decent race of it, at least not ride solo for two and a half laps.

Unfortunately, we never got that far. In twisting section of trail, Aaron went down and dislocated his shoulder. I stopped. He yelled for me to go on and I called to some people watching to get him some help and carried on. Aaron's a tough guy, so seeing him in pain and grasping his shoulder like that changed the dynamics of the day. The race turned into a hard ride and I just cranked it out to the end. Job done.

Aside from Aaron's injury, I had a great time and it was nice to step back into the scene and have it feel like you haven't left.

Of course, it would be nice if at some point I put the right gear on my bike. I actually used the Beta version of our gear calculator to see how different what Aaron ran was from my 36x18 selection. Considering I now have lap times I can use, I plan to head back out to Branched Oak with about five gear inches less in my set up. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Aside from poor gear selection, it seems I've kept another habit from days gone by... writing long race reports.

See you next race.

The Weight of Can't Win

2011-07-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

One of the interesting aspects of having the Fascist Killer living in the world is fielding questions about a product that is actually 'ours,' as opposed to what you say as an cyclist using someone else's product. Simple questions like, "How does it ride?" have proven to be a bit of a head game.

While the Fascist Killer is really new to the planet, I'm really happy with the way it rides. Sam's fork design has proven to be the best rigid fork I've ridden. It left me smiling after the Flatwater Twilight Race and I'm looking forward to racing the FK again on Saturday.

But to say that (or type it) leads the cynic in me to start putting thoughts in people's heads. Little smart ass remarks that I myself might think or even make depending on the circumstances.

So, for now, I'm going to enjoy the Fascist Killer and look forward to a time when more people are riding our goods. Let people experience War Axe for themselves and see what we are bringing to the table. Once they do, I think they'll be stoked.

Of course, that's what I'm suppose to say, right?

As Vincent Vega Said...

2011-07-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

... it's the little differences.

The Fascist Killer Build: Why the Saint Stuff?

2011-07-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

"With the Way You Ride..."

When we completed the Fascist Killer, we did so with a bit different approach than some people might take. We built it up with a specific rider in mind, me. And if you ever followed the endurosnob blog (it's dead, don't look), you know that I am rider with a wide variety of shortcomings and a large love of aesthetics.

The Shimano Saint selections certainly aren't generally top of mind for a rigid singlespeed, but there were a few reasons for our selective madness.

When it comes to the cranks, then are certainly heavy by comparison. 200 grams heavier than XT, for example. That equates to just under one half pound. Considering I'm more Fat Jan than Michael Rasmussen, both in body type and a certainly 'pedaling squares' riding style, using one of the stiffest cranks available made a lot of sense against a half pound that could be lost many times over from my own weight. Plus, as a guy who has snapped the occasional crank, the bulletproof nature of the crank offers a bit of security and peace of mind.

Not to mention, they just look sweet.

It's a similar story with the brakes. They are 100 grams heavier than XT, so let's add another quarter pound. As a rider who has dropped out of 24 hour races due to numb hands, the hope is that the performance of the Saint brakes with help offset some of that fatigue and turn a 19 hour racer into a finisher. The same thought process applies to shorter races as well. It's simple. Racing rigid is not easy on the hands, so giving up that small bit of weight for greater performance might simply be a smart sacrifice. Time will tell.

And again, they look pretty damn cool on the bike.

War Axe Bicycles - 29 inch mountain bike

2011-07-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

This...

Machine...

Kills...

Fascists.

R.O.C.K.E.R.S.

2011-07-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

We a Rockers

They a Rockers

Paragon Rockers

A really flat table and a questionable flag

2011-07-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

Things are rolling along now,

Not A, Not B

2011-07-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Just 700 C.

New Convert

2011-06-13T10:36:00.001-07:00

Since the Fascist Killer went to paint, I've been periodically having a small lament over the BKB IF getting demoted to second fiddling in my personal mtb collection. Last week, however, the obvious hit me. Convert it to a fixed gear. Mr. John Kohtz gifted me a fixed wheel two birthday's past and, while detractors abound, I enjoyed riding my previous fixed mtb while I had it. Seems like a good way to keep the IF in action, even if that action will be a bit diminished.

Of course, I couldn't let something as simple as swapping wheels be an easy task. I'm pretty sure I have the least amount of hand strength of any grown man in Nebraska, as I took about 15 minutes to remove tire and tube from one wheel so I could move it to another. It was a sad state of affairs and only reinforced why Johnny has commented that the only tool I should be handling in a shop is a rag.

Email Down

2011-06-13T06:10:00.001-07:00

We've discovered that our recent site changes have somehow broken the info@waraxebicycles.com email address. Until we can get that sorted out, please feel free to email endurosnob@hotmail.com.

Thanks to all.

iOS Developer? We Need You

2011-06-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

The good people at Silicon Prairie News helped us out by posting the following. Seems a bit silly not to post it here as well.

War Axe is currently looking for an iOS developer to assist with three utilities. Each application is geared toward simplifying a common challenge encountered by cyclists. If you are an entry level iOS developer that wants to build your experience and portfolio or an experience developer with a love of the sport and time for a side project, this may be right up your alley.

Please visit us at waraxebicycles.com to see more about our company. Have an interest? Please send resumes and questions to info@waraxebicycles.com.

Deer Play Dead?

2011-06-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

If you ride enough, you tend to end up with a variety of deer stories. They are just that prevalent. However, today's event caught me a bit off guard.

I was riding at a pretty firm tempo through Wilderness East of 14th Street, when I rounded a turn and found myself next to a mother deer and her two fawns. They bolted, I coasted but I had ended up mere feet from one of the fawns and was nearly overtaking it despite backing off the pedals. It took two more scrambled, gangly strides, then dropped directly on to the single track and froze.

I stopped a couple of feet behind it somewhat amazed by what had happened, then said, "It's alright little guy," in a soft voice. (You know, the 'I won't hurt you' voice from after school television.) He just sat there with his long legs akimbo under him, looking a lot like a giant brown spider with white polka dots.

After another beat or two, he hopped up and bounced into the woods. It occurred to me then that perhaps I should have gotten his picture, but it seemed like that was more than enough for the little guy. No photos, please.

Deer play dead. I had no idea.

New Website Launched

2011-06-06T14:26:00.001-07:00

Did you come directly to the blog? Restart with a visit here:

War Axe Bicycles

Time Lines and Napkins

2011-05-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

Lately my life is ruled by timelines and, to a lesser extent, napkins.

For those of you that may have missed the memo, I walked away from my corporate job at the end of March with designs on moving War Axe forward into a company which provides a livelihood for a small number of people yet holds on to the spirit of what we started years ago.

Since then (and prior) I've drawn on a lot of napkins. All the BookFace check-ins at coffee shops aren't simply an addiction gone bad, but have truly served as a time to get things done. Like a hoarder, I kept those napkins as I worked and, with a bit of "editing for television," you'll end up seeing some yourself when our new website launches within the next two weeks.

"Two weeks." That remains the other portion of this doom-struck craziness; putting a time to everything and trying to hit it. Those coffee shop trips usually include my iPhone and leather folder. That folder contains checklists and sub-checklists, which usually relate to Google docs saved online so Sam can see what I am up to and pause, cheer or flip out as needed.

Near the end of last week I was out for a ride and it hit me, "This shit is really going to happen." It would be overstatement to say I freaked out, but I know I did stop pedaling. A lot of those checklists have checks sitting by each line and well, I keep getting busier without really even trying. With that in mind, here's a quick peek at where things stand. (At least the items I am comfortable enough to share.)

The Fascist Killer 29inch mountain bike is due back from Spectrum in roughly a month. Parts for it our sitting with our friends Nate and Eric at Monkey Wrench, waiting patiently, at least more patiently than I am. It's going to come back with what I like to thing of as the "Team" War Axe paint scheme which we created in collaboration with Chad Hawthorne and the Hoss Creative.

Our second frame and fork is currently in the hands of our friend Erik Rolf at Alliance Bicycles for prototyping while the third and final frame in our preliminary line is already designed and ready to be put into process.

When those three are dialed and we've picked our jaws up off the floor, we're going to throw a party. Don't worry... You're invited. Lincoln has been great to us. The War Eagle is well-represented any time I'm around a gathering of cyclists and we want to say thanks. Plus, it only seems proper to show Lincoln the line first.

Keep in touch, but don't be surprised if it takes us a while to reply.

Infectious

2011-05-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

In a perfect world, this post would have been a return to my overly long race reports, filled with details of Syllamo's Revenge and how I was pleasantly surprised with my form and the result that followed. Obviously, this isn't that report. Considering I spent a good majority of last week coughing up wet concrete when I inhaled deeply, the prudent but frustrating call was to DNS. My breathing has begun to sound much less like the Predator everyday and the base miles have continued to stack, so my hope is to look back and see a short-term disappointment but a long-term gain.

In the meantime, this thing called War Axe is moving forward and morphing daily, sometimes hourly (like this morning). So while the false starts of the past have us playing the details somewhat close to the vest, the optimism and excitement is more than palatable. For those of you who'd like to receive word on events in the world of War Axe, send an email to info@waraxebicycles.com. We've begun the War Axe Insider newsletter for spreading the word. Feel free to sign on for updates.

Of course, you'll likely see some more frequent posting here as well. Blogs are dead? Maybe, unless you want to use more than 140 characters, in which case, maybe they're just keeping it on the down low until they've got something real to say.

Mohican 100 is next up on the calendar. I need to head out for some added base miles.

and this

2011-05-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

is the bike that will be back-handing Skip at your local 100 miler this summer

From OKCupid, so it must be true

2011-04-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

From BikeLugs.com

2011-04-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Investment Group Buys Pacenti Cycle Design

04.06.2011 - Bicycle Retailer And Industry News
CHATTANOOGA, TN (BRAIN)—Kirk Pacenti of Pacenti Cycle Design sold his 12-year old company to the investment group, Top Five, also from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The partners formed a new company, NuWave, of which Pacenti Cycle Design will be a division. Pacenti will remain with the company as vice president, running day-to-day operations.

“Our Pacenti branded component line is just the beginning. NuWave intends to become a full service composites supplier to markets like the bicycle industry,” said Kirt Pacenti, NuWave’s vice president.

The short-term goals of the new company are to reactivate the Bikelugs.com frame building product line as well as develop a full line of Pacenti branded bicycle components. Long term, the company is going to focus most of its energy on developing advanced composite materials and manufacturing technologies.

“One of our main objectives is to bring high-volume production processes to low-volume production. We plan to manufacture our composite products here in the U.S., and by taking advantage of these new manufacturing technologies, we aim to compete with Asia on price,” Pacenti added.

NuWave will be working in close association with another of Top Five’s holdings, Composite Applications Group (CAG), which is located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. CAG is focused on developing product applications for carbon fiber and other advanced composites.

I am glad that there will be Pacenti Lugs and Fork Crowns available again. Check out the Pacenti gallery.

Forkage

2011-04-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

Segmented 29er

Spring Cleaning Swap Meet, Food, Beer and Live Music

2011-03-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

Big-time event, be there.

Click the poster yo!

Speaking of Erik Rolf...

2011-03-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

He's been doing a bit of work for us as well: Get Excited!

Handmade Bicycles

2011-03-02T16:41:00.001-08:00

Good friends Matt and Nate, from Signal Cycles, won "Best City Bike" this year. Rumor has it they would have won last year, but the bike in question didn't have a rack. Brutal criteria? I'll let you decide.

I met Erik Rolf, full name Eriksen Rolf - which is why he can't/won't put his name(s) on the downtube, at the 2009 show in Indy. He was an apprentice at the time and is now the builder/owner of Alliance Bicycles. His bikes looked great and this one happens to be for sale.

Local GB Chris Urbauer got a new Kish 29" single speed. After plowing snow in Lincoln, he drove straight through to Austin for the show.

The conversation went like this:

Nate Woodman, "I brought you a shirt, I hope you like pink."

Richard Sachs, "The pinker the better."

ATMO!

I love it when things are in the works.

2011-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

From Twitter

2011-02-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

Dots are coming

More round threaded thingys

2011-02-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's a down tube...we'll not yet exactly. Just a thin-walled cheater bar with H2O cage capabilities.

Anything Cage?

2011-02-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

Modified Pete S's Pugsley fork to accept Salsa's Anything Cage(s), as if a Pugsley fork didn't have enough braze-ons.

This fork also had the sad fate of a freewheel backing itself off into the dropout. Guess which is harder? Yup, freewheel. Missed/forgot the before shot, but here is the after and the after-after shots.

Luckily, the grove wasn't too deep. Brass ought to do the job from here.

While we're on the subject, I can add bosses to 'most' any fork, especially V1 Fargo forks, to run the Anything Cages. Contact me if you're interested...

Greensprints tomorrow night! Bricktop, sign up at 8pm, race at 9pm. Facebook info page.

Day Job

2011-01-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

It's not everyday you get to work with your friends and get paid for it. The MWC has some new signs.

Corrugated tin will finish the awning.

South side.

In War Axe related tom-foolery, I've been messing around with building segmented style forks. This allows a lot of freedom with the design of the fork, with both tube diameters and wall thickness. After mocking up a few, I've decided to design some dropouts specifically for this and will be getting them cut out soon. Hopefully, this will satisfy the aesthetic I'm going for and I can pump out some fork orders.

Calendar of Events

2011-01-23T07:40:00.001-08:00

Not really a calender, but there are some fun events coming up...

Friday January 28th:
Lincoln Ve-Low Winter Sucks Party

Here are photos from last years party.

Thursday February 3rd:
GREEN SPRINTS w/ Greenstreet Cycles @ BRICKTOP

Here are photos from Greensprints @ The Nomad Lounge (scroll down)

See you there?

Fork work

2011-01-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

Doppelganger Grudge Match!

2010-12-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

Since people have been confusing us, Matt Setzer challenged me to a grudge match at the Greensprints in Omaha a few weeks ago. He kicked my ass...

Which one is me?

Socks ready for action.

Shot and a sprint?

RAW

2010-12-12T10:13:00.001-08:00

Materials.

New from Primal Wear...

2010-12-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

... feels vaguely familiar.

Sam on the Concept of Doing a War Axe Embrocation Blend...

2010-12-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

"I love it.

Schmedium heat.

Wind barrier, sure.

Light bronzing.

Spermacide.

Just kidding on the last one. This actually makes me excited. I feel very inadequate on the embrocation front..."

Ka Blam!

2010-12-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

And I Thought I Was Having A Tough Day...

2010-11-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

I think this little guy has me beat.

The long weekend saw a continued effort to add more base miles to the cause. Overdressed and surprisingly tired from the day before, Sunday saw Sam drag me South on then back again. It's shocking to see how much work I have in front of me to get back to what was my mediocre best. Long rides, here we come...

Friday - Wilderness 101

2010-11-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

The park is in prime condition. Large hawks, deer (dead and alive), comfortable temps and the pleasant surprise of riding with Paul Chapman for a stretch. Being the only two guys on the trail certainly had some advantages.

Lucas Marshall reads my blog, sort of

2010-11-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

He looks at the pictures while someone else reads it to him. He also couldn't deal with the inaccuracies of the last post, so here it is, the (almost) correct colors.

New t-shirts, available after black Friday, but before Christmas, we promise.

NECX Day 2

2010-11-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

What a cold weekend. I kept telling myself that the sun was gonna burn through the clouds any minute. It never happened.

A report from the Champ himself on the fast race. Down in the lowly singlespeed category I spent the weekend chasing Rafal around the course(s), never able to close it down. Like him, I'll be re-commuterizing the bike in hopes of keeping most of the slush off during the winter riding. Hopefully, we'll luck out and not have ice on the side-streets for 2 months. Fingers crossed.

New T-shirts will be done any day now. Same design as before, but simplified to a single color. Gold ink on brown shirts will be the recipe. Yes, I know the graphic has a blue background, deal with it, I promise the shirts will be brown. We also have 4 styles of socks, 3 colors of coozies and wicked-awesome belt buckles that make great stocking stuffers!!! (Ouch, that was so cheesy it hurt.)

Alright then. Everyone stuff your faces for Thanksgiving so Skip and I can keep up on the group rides easier! See you out and about.

NE CX Day One: Mark Was Promised a Jet Pack

2010-11-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

As soon as the group came off the road and on to the grass on the opening lap of the "fast" race, today, I turned to ask Sam where MOD was but then Nate caught a pedal and suddenly two Evil Unicorns were off the back. (Do as we say boys, not as we do!)

We could tell something wasn't right, saw Anne peel off back toward the start and, then watched them work their way back up. Mark, "as mad as he can get," just kept coming throughout the hour and managed to work his way back to third on the day. That, is the definition of "Killing It."

This is as close as I got to getting Sam in frame. Pathetic.

Scott maintaining good hydration.

Screw this... we're gonna bridge!

"Say What Again"

2010-11-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

This has zero to do with bikes. Visit TheOatmeal.

Lincoln Cyclocross Weekend!

2010-11-18T05:03:00.001-08:00

Two days of CX racing this weekend at Pioneers Park.

Details here.

It's fun to participate and it's more fun to watch.

Exactly What Would Happen If I Tried It...

2010-11-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

The Isolationist

2010-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

JB: Pure Class

2010-11-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Jeff Bonsall sent the following, reprinted without permission, out to the usual TI suspects here in Lincoln. A class act and great sense of humor.

Subject: TI V 7
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 16:51:31 -0500

Hey fellas,

I would like to apply for the support crew position at the big ass loop in Iowa. I have been to 4 in a row and feel like it's my turn to give back.

My resume includes:

4 TI starts.

0 TI finishes.

I believe my resume speaks for itself.

Sincerely,

Our New 7"

2010-11-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

When we first put socks into the scene, a black/white version seemed obvious. It worked well with our boys at Monkey Wrench and essentially matched everything.

Those socks were 6" and, while sweet, after a while, and particularly after going to 7" inch with the Brown and Blue, we found ourselves wishing they were longer.

Now here they are.

7" Black and White. "Lincoln, NE" for the love of the scene. Watch for them in the War Axe online store soon. If you can't wait, send us a shout.

Don't Call It A Comeback

2010-11-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've joined a group ride. So long, in fact, that I can't even remember when the last time might have been.

After going to the now closed South St Cultiva, I got the proper location from Corey and meet a small group for what I hope is the first in a string of rides returning me to my usual riding habits.

Now Skip won't have to ride so far to get his Casey's fix

2010-11-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_e07f5a20-e766-11df-aaf3-001cc4c002e0.html

Shore the Core

2010-10-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

On Friday I delivered my freshly mended IF Ti Planet Cross to MWC and as I strolled in, saw Sam sitting on a red leather chair looking a little drawn from the week. A little casual chit-chat later and he was asking me how my back was feeling.

"It's getting better. Still a little stiff. We need to go for a short spin some time and see how it feels."

"Maybe you should do some pilates or something similar first so you don't jack it up again."

Exhausted from the week and the guy is still smarter than I am.

Two yoga sessions on Saturday, along with some core work. The back is still tender, but the body is happier for the effort.

Head tube badge and a limestone airbrush

2010-10-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Mopac Warrior

War Machine Sighting: Sir Tony Wilhelm...

2010-10-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

... with a cameo by Dave Averill as well, MWC style. Thanks, Jamie.

New Build

2010-10-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

While I wish I was referencing another War Axe build, in fact, the real work in my immediate future is getting back into some sort of fitness.

Two weeks ago, my back decided to look more like the twisting Highway 17 leading from San Jose to Santa Cruz than I-80's straight run through western Nebraska.

While I wouldn't say I'm completely starting over, there is a long way to go. As of this morning, my third chiropractic visit in two weeks just confirmed the problem. At this point, just getting back on the bike will be nice, since I am only now beginning to walk normally.

Maybe by the time my bike is ready, I'll actually be able to ride it.

Enjoying Sunday

2010-10-17T09:25:00.001-07:00

Intelligence from the Front

2010-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

This might be better titled, 'Rumors and Loose Plans," but that really wouldn't go well with the folks in our marketing department... So, near to far:

Nebraska cross has started and, to paraphrase Sam, 'it'd be crazy if we were both actually racing.' While I am doing my best to ruin that plan with a bad back and lack of a proper bike, Sam's already in the mix.

Look for an updated War Axe T-Shirt coming to an MWC near you. Right now, we've got three XL's and that's it.

The rumor that I've claimed my slot for 2011's TransIowa is true. Not only am I ready to go back, but it is likely one of the few races that work into a busy family schedule.

A more tightly kept rumor is also true... The Evil Unicorns are poised to ride again. You maybe recall a few years ago, Nate, Mod, Sam and I did quite nicely racing Single Speeds down at Landahl. To quote Sam, "I'll actually train this time." Plus, it's been blogged, so it has to happen.

And lastly, a shout out to friend of the show, Cameron Chambers. He's your new SS 24hr National Champion. We love that guy and are incredibly happy for him.

The Random Singing You've Heard in the Distance...

2010-10-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

... is just me riding through Wilderness with this in my head. Feel free to sing along.

White Socks: Only to be Worn with a Sense of Irony

2010-10-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

If you pay even less than strict attention to the world of Rapha, you will have likely noticed that Rapha UK and Rapha US will periodically debate the merits (or lack thereof) of white socks.

Without argument, white socks have their place. When you are five years old, constantly lose socks and need to buy them in packs of six, white socks are functional and cost effective. If you're Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, playing for the Houston Oilers in the late seventies and eighties, it is certainly a reasonable way to dress. For the well-rounded cyclist, who is equally comfortable in the dirt, on gravel, the cross course and the road, white has little place in your War Axe wardrobe.

Certainly, great cyclists in the past have donned white socks, but do we really want to walk back through the fashion mistakes of cyclists past to show how such an argument really fails to stand up? (Okay, the one orange sock is a nice touch.)

We're finalizing an order of black War Eagle socks with a 7" cuff via Sock Guy today. Think of them as the Quasi Team MWC sock. Same colors. Same Lincoln pride. You'll never see White from War Axe.

After all, White equals surrender. Save the white socks for a Halloween costume, not your next ride.

Putting in the Pain

2010-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

Photography skills from Lucas Marshall

In the Works

2010-09-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Friends in Low Places

2010-09-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

While it's fairly annoying that this kind of a picture is actually held by copyright, it must, must be shared. With love, of course.

Twinsies.

Work continues

2010-09-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

on frame number two. This will be a single speed cross bike (theme?) for Skip. It will use the same lugset and dropouts as the first, but instead of Dedacciai tubing, it will use some nicer (and lighter) True Temper tubes.

This detail knocked a whopping 4 grams off of the BB lug. You may think, "that kinda looks like a flower." Good guess, but it's really so I can get some liquid wrench in there to remove the BB when Skip seizes it in the frame in a few years.

Looking Forward to the Season...

2010-09-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

Mass Effect

2010-09-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry bacon ride. Sam graciously postponed taking the new machine out on it's first non-commute ride until late in the day Sunday. He called Saturday, early evening and took the news that I was already several espresso martinis into damage with grace and we settled on a 10am start.

Despite my inattentive flat inducing riding, we spun a nice tight loop to the South of town. It's hard not to be pumped with a complete War Axe spinning it up beside you. As they say, good times, good times.

Mark the Occasion: The First War Axe is Complete

2010-09-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

So... Fuck off with your sofa units and string green stripe patterns.

Monkey Wrench Cycles (Re)Grand Opening

2010-09-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

One heluva party, rock show and all.

Now that's just silly,

2010-09-03T15:03:00.001-07:00

...and it's Lazer Black, not Laser Black. Obviously.

and one with flash to show the metallic flake from outer space,

(no full-frontal shots until it's built)

UFO Sighting

2010-09-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

Sept 3., 2010 12:16pm

Reports began to circulate concerning a strange object near the location of Monkey Wrench Cycles in Lincoln, Nebraska. Several witnesses described a "Laser Black"object consisting of two triangular structures sharing a fixed side. One witness, who refused to be identified for this article, revealed witnessing disk shaped objects and other mysterious "machined constructions" had been gathered at the site in the days previous to the sighting.

"It's a conspiracy," he said. "It's something big. And they're all in on it."

That's What It's Like To Hurt

2010-08-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

I climbed out of semi-secret training mode over the weekend. It wasn't what one would call pretty. With only a road bike at my disposal, I tried to pump out some intervals on Saturday, then after dropping the ball on the Bacon Ride on Saturday, I decided to do an even paced out and back to Cortland Sunday. Unfortunately, the wind was not so even paced and I died a small death on the way out, then needed more teeth on the return.

Cross is just around the corner. Here's to doing a bit more than making videos this year.

See the tattered ends of those flags? That was me on arrival.

On the business side, you'll find MWC restocked in War Axe finery, so stop by the new local and say hello to the boys sometime soon.

No paint, but the wheels are ready

2010-08-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Work is crazy busy, which is nice for the paycheck, but bad for getting some powder coat done. I was threatened that it'll be done by the end of next week. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime, the wheels are ready. Mavic Open Pro's to some old high-flange White Industries that have been lookin' nice in the top of the toolbox for too long.

In other news, my wife is spearheading a campaign to wipe out blood related cancer. For those that don't know, my brother and I are Hodgkins Lymphoma survivors. We'll be participating in the Light the Night Walk September 30th at Holmes Lake. If you have some extra money burning a hole in your pocket, I'm pretty sure this would be an OK way to spend it. Donations are accepted here, and they are much appreciated. C'mon, Tina Fey is the spokesperson for crying out loud.

Our Friends at the PCL Present Gravel Worlds

2010-08-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

GRAVEL WORLDS 2010 from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

"Because People Aren't Eaten By Wolves Anymore..."

2010-07-26T07:27:00.001-07:00

After an outbound ride toward Princeton that included such evolutionary gems such as the one above, I suggested Sam and I slip off of the Jamaica North and circle back to the limestone trail via gravel. In the end, perhaps we should be thankful people aren't eaten by wolves anymore.

We turned South into a headwind I had largely underestimated and, by the time we were back on South 14th, were completely shredded. You know when the small rise on 14th leading north to Y feels like Ventoux, that you're shot. Still... It felt good to be out.

Our Sales Reps are Slow

2010-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

But we've finally gotten Monkey Wrench restocked with War Axe provisions. Head downtown and pick something up so Nate and crew don't have to turn right around and move them to the new location.

Monkey Wrench Cycles is Moving...

2010-07-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Monkey Wrench Cycles is moving to 19th and Q Streets August 1st, or thereabouts.

Should be a prime location with the added space and the proximity of the new and improved Antelope Valley.

Serial Number 001

2010-06-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Frame number one and fork number twelve.

Now I can finally use the excuse that it's 'in paint'.

Forking around

2010-06-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Just about got the fork that will accompany the frame done. Some brake bosses and some finish work and it's off to sandblasting for the pair.

Hey Brunt, what kind of fork you want? You're up, hit me one time.