Cross country adventure for a cause!

This is my friend Jake, we met while we were going through nursing school together. He ha since moved from San Luis Obispo back home to El Segundo. Jake and I have remained friends over the past few years through our mutual love for cycling. He’s actually responsible for reigniting my passion for cycling. I had never been on a road bike until Jake convinced me to start riding with him so he could train for triathlons, i had rode bmx bikes in my late teen to my mid 20’s and was very involved in the bmx community. Fast forward several years, i hadn’t been on a bike in years and id never been on a road bike, After hunting on craigslist for a couple weeks i found an old specialized allez epic, carbon tubes bonded to aluminum lugs with down tube shifters and 7 speed cassette. It wasn’t long till we became training partners riding several times a week, logging mile after mile and and climbing hill after hill. Like all good things this too came to an end when Jakes girlfriend (now fiancé) graduated from cal poly and was moving back down south to go to grad school.

Jake ended up riding back from San Luis Obispo to El Segundo when he and his girlfriend moved back. While down there he ended up working an office job he didn’t like too much while his girlfriend finished school. During that time he made a deal with her that when she finished school and go a job he could quit his and ride cross country. He had mentioned this to me a while a go but when i was In LA visiting this past winter he told he he got the go ahead from his now fiancé to quit his job and ride cross country. So in just under 2 weeks he will be flying to Boston and from there heading to main to start his epic 100 day journey back to LA.

With the support of his family and friends Jake will be riding to raise awareness for diabetes specifically type 2, Jake was diagnosed with borderline type 2, durning his time at his office job his diet and exercise routine went down hill. This trip is also for him to get back where he was before fitness wise. He’s riding un supported the entire trip. He’s also not going the traditional touring way, he not running panniers going with a frame bag, a stuff sack in the bars and a rear rack with a bag and a hydration pack. Traveling this light he hopes to do 70-80 miles a day, forgoing a traditional camp set up he bringing a hammock tent and small alcohol stove just big enough to boil water for coffee and oatmeal

Modeling his set up after this Jamis renegade he hopes to be a little quicker and more aero on the road than a traditional touring set up. Jake bought a new Kona Jake the snake cx bike and made all his frame bags by hand! Jake also set up an Instagram account so people can follow his progress go follow him at @bike4diabetes he’s also got a gofundme page set up to help offset costs an donate to Tour de cure check it out here, He’s also looking for people who would be willing to host him along the way he has a profile set up with warmshowers.com user name is bike4diabetes, or email bike4diabetes@gmail.com, or even call or text him if you want!  310-597-6901

Jake is deep in thought about his upcoming trip, Im super stoked for him and wish i could be there with him along the way. I hoping to meet up with him at some point to do a leg of the trip. Be sure to check back periodically as i will be updating his progress and location. Thanks for checking out this post, this by far has been one of my favorite posts I’ve written

100 followers!

wow thank you all so much, i have some cool stuff in store for the upcoming weeks, a lot of product reviews and some interviews as well. I’m stoked to be back and firing n all cylinders!

Thank you all again~FBTC

heres a few pics from seaotter to hold you over till my next post

Seaotter 25th anniversary recap part 1

It’s that time of year again, the seaotter took place last weekend up in Monterey for the 25th time. This year was the biggest yet with over 400 venders and over 1500 athletes and 6500 people camping this is the biggest cycling event on the west coast. The seaotter is one of my favorite events I go to each year and this year was no different, having upgraded from campsite H, pretty much a dirt lot with porta-potties to the deluxe campsite C which had full hookups for an rv along with nice showers and bathrooms which was greatly appreciated.
The venders pit area is where I usually start. A lot of my favorite bike company’s are displaying their new products, SRAM alone was debuting 2 new drivetrains, the affordable Gx 1×11 and the GR 1×11 road gravel adventure group, along with the new zipp aluminum disc wheel set that is marketed as a do it all wheel set they describe it as Tubeless-ready. Wide rim. The 30 Course Disc-brake is ready for everything.

•        
• The absense of a left shifter is pretty apparente but it will surly grow on you.

SRAM also debuted their new affordable 1×11 and 2×11 mtb group the GX, said to be available for sale next month and shipping on 2016 bikes, this will be a game changer for SRAM at a price point of around $550 this will surly be a big hit

  

  

I’m not quite sold on the reverse rs-1 but if weight saving is what you’re into this one piece carbon steer tube and race crown might be worth looking in to, for me I’ll be sticking with a traditional fork

Shimano couldn’t let SRAM have all the fun, they also debuted at seaotter their new 1×11 deore xt which was turning heads, this could give SRAM’s Gx a run for their money

    

To keep all those new parts and wheels safe kryptonite had a cool new version of their classic messenger u lock with and integrated shackle for the front wheel along with locking rear axle, this is definitely on my wish list this year

Stopping by one of my favorite booths chris king had some of their r-45 hubs with cutaways to see the internal workings, i built a set of wheels with these hubs and can’t wait to put some miles on them. Chris king offers custom in house wheel building along with their hand made cielo road cross and race frames you can now build a whole bike using mostly chris king parts

        

I have a lot to share with you guys so keep your eyes peeled for part 2 of my seaotter recap along with reviews for esi’a new race grip and a cool new product designed to help climbing for mtb, and I’ll be putting some photochrmatic glasses to the test, so look for those reviews in the upcoming weeks

Back from the dead!

So I’ve been a little quiet lately, I took most of the fall and up until a few weeks ago I was in school doing my pre-reqs for nursing school, I already have a vocational nursing license so becoming an RN would be about another year or so of schooling.

So what have a been up to you ask?!? Well I’ve still been on my bike and got to participate in a few cool events this past few months. In November I got to ride side by side with Tour de France 4th place finisher Christian Vande Velde and team BMC rider Peter Stetina who finished 6th in the tour of California whic had a finishing stage 10min from my house!!!

Ian very fortunate to live in such a great area for cycling! Last weekend in Paso Robles ca, about 20 min from me, was the first l’eroica held in the United States there were about 100 pre 1987 bikes one of the oldest ones being from 1898 it had a giant 62 tooth front ring and wood rims, along with all the amazing bikes on display they also had a vintage ride of 30, 60 and 120 miles, the 120 miles course had almost 10k feet of climbing!!! That is way to much and with vintage 5/6 speed cassettes.

        

Along with all the fun I’ve been having on the road I also was fortunate enough to get a 2014 giant trance sx at a great price just in time for the seaotter that starts this tursday! I’ll be there checking out all the booths along with some sweet races! This is defiantly one of the highlights of my year! if any one plans on going I’ll be camping all weekend and your more than welcome to come by the camp site for a beer! Unfortunately I won’t be riding in the fondo this year due to a knee injury I got snowboarding back in early feb. the knee is doing better but I have only put about 25 miles on it at a time and I’m in sure how it would fare the full 55 of the coastal fondo at the seaotter.

So keep an eye out for more frequent updates to come along with more product reviews on their way!

cinelli hobo

 

 

So I’ve been kicking around the idea of building a touring bike for sometime now, i was pretty much all sold on the surly long haul trucker until i saw the cinelli hobo when i was down in santa barbra at crankys bikes on state street, they are the only cinelli retailer between LA and SF, and living in san luis obispo half way between the 2 taking a day trip to check out this bike was well worth it.

 

Cinelli came out guns a balzin’ on this one, you really get a lot of bike for the buck! The hobo come stock with tubes front and rear cargo racks as well as front and rear fender and wellgo platform/spd pedalsWhich means that this thing is ready to go out of the box! Just slap on which ever panniers (chrome industries make some cool ones) and some lights and your ready to hit the road and at a price of around $1549 its basically a steal!!

For that price you not only get the legendary cinelli name you also get a Columbus steel frame, the surly LHT uses 4130 chromoly which is a great material but nothing beats Columbus steel tubes in my opinion.

 

Cinelli really hit the nail on the head with this bike, they paid great attention to details with the spoke chainstay protector to the moleskin hobo journal with embossed logo and hobo symbols on it. With a mix of shimano deore and tiagra parts this is a stout build. weighing in at just under 30lbs its a bit of a beast but if your concerned that much about weight touring is not really for you.

 

There isn’t much i would do to this bike if i was setting it up for a touring excursion with the exception of adding a brooks B17 or cambium saddle to grind out those miles on. cinelli in my opinion really out did their selves one this one, i have been on a mission for a while to own a cinelli frame and touring bike for some time and this meets both requirements, this will be my next bike purchase for sure, i was hoping to build a bike from the frame up but why mess with perfection this bike is awesome! good news for 2015 the hobo remains unchanged, so go out and pick one up today!!!  click the link to check out the new hobo (cinellibikes)

seaotter Classic 2014 part 3

 

So its been a hectic few weeks but i want to wrap up my coverage of this years seaotter, above is my newest addition my wheel holder for my seasucker rack, makes traveling distances so much nicer to put the front wheels on top of the car.

Giant had one of the biggest booths at the event this year showcasing all of their MTB and Road bikes, they are one of the best bangs for your buck when it comes to complete bikes, their all mtn trance was quite a nice looking bike i was pretty impressed!

 

 

I was really close to buying a tcr advanced 3 and you can see why giant makes some really nice road bikes, the tcr being the race frame, the defy being the more relaxed endurance frame and  the propel the super aero frame thats been turning heads! Giant is one the top bike companies in the world for a reason they make amazing bikes!

 

 

Another amazing bike that caught my eye was this DH rig from pivot that weighed in at just over 33 lbs for a dual crown down hill bike that pretty freakin light, they use a lot of carbon on this big for a down hill bike but the guys a pivot say it can take a beating

 

Next on my list was to check out the scott booth, being a new addict owner i had to go and show some brand loyalty and check out what they bought with them this year to seaotter

 

Full carbon xx1 drive train, ill take 2 please! scott prides them selves on being bike weight and their MTB  line is no exception these thing are like feathers but can take a beating!

 

The foil just looks fast standing still and those dura ace wheels would sue look nice on my addict!

 

Give me all the wheels you have please! the zipp booth did not disappoint showing off all its carbon goodness, id love to have a set of zipp wheels on my bike

 

 

My last pic for tonight will be from fezzari, if you don’t know who fezzari is you are missing out they are an online direct to consumer bike company the sells bikes from $500-$6500 MTB road and every thing in between, this happens to be an ultegra 11 speed hydraulic disc set up that wasn’t available to the public yet but the had the hook up from shimano and i had to snap a pic and put my tongue back in my mouth because this build was way cool! by being direct to consumer these guys and save you some big money too, all bike are custom fitted to you my a process of measurements they ask you and if the bike dosent fit well return it in like new condition and they will send another. i still have a bunch more pics to post so stay tuned i promise ill won’t make you wait so long this time!!

Till next year seaotter… 2014 recap part 1

 

Well the years Seaotter classic is in the bag, but boy was it a hoot! Tons of good riding mtb and road! Ill be doing multiple posts bout the cool stuff i checked out this year but this one is about about me. On Sat i took part for the second year in a row in the half fondo a 50 mile out and back mostly coastal ride along the picturesque monterey peninsula, while having not have a lot of time in the saddle the past 6 months i faired pretty well due to the fact that there was a 2000ft climb at the last 2.5 miles of the ride. the ride was a fully supported with fulling stations and mechanics if you needed a quick tune, the weather was a little chilly in the morning being overcast and in the mid 50’s but as soon as i hit a couple climbs i got my blood flowing and a sweat going. This was the longest ride on my scott addict it rode well and climbed like a goat, me on the other hand….

 

On your marks get set go!!! The century riders were up first to the starting line, 96.4 miles through the carmel valley

 

Strava kept my ride time perfect and even running pandora i still had 30% battery left

25 miles down and 25 miles to go the aid station was great fully stocked with cliff barf and gels and osmos electrolyte drinks along with bananas and other carb rich delights.

 

wish i could of snapped more pics but the was a one i managed to get on a quick break whiled checking my drive train, great weather and awesome riding conditions

SEAOTTER!!!!!!!! 4/10-13

Ill be attending the seaotter classic all weekend fro thurs 4-10 to sun 4-13 if your headed to the event and want to meet up and hang out stop by my camp site for a beer or a gatorade, its going to be an amazing event. Last year was my first time and i had a blast!

 

Seaotter Classic preview…

So its Seaotter time again, i will be going again to this years seaotter classic it will be held again at the laguna seca race way in the picturesque monterey ca. Last year was my first time attending the event and it was on of the funnest event I’ve even been to. Over 350 bike and bike related companies will be at the event, there will be riders from all over the world competing in mountain road and cross events this is the largest cycling event on the west coast!!!! I literally had no idea what to expect last year and ivar have been looking forward to this year ever since. I met so ma totally awesome people and got a bunch of schwag that it was totally worth the price of admission and camping. Getting to talk with reps from all major bike companies and even smaller bike company and accessories was super fun! everyone there was was super cool and wanted to talk bikes for as long as you did. i entourage any serious cyclist to make the pilgrimage to this amazing cycling event, I am very fortunate that it almost takes place in my backyard, only a short 2 1/2 hr drive and I’m in lovely monterey, i can’t say how stoked i am for this, if any one following me will be in attendance come by my camp site for a cold beer and some bike talk!

over view of the dirt course

more of the dirt course and vender area, they also had a air bag to jump in to

vender area had some killer deals one what ever you were looking for

spectating can be a contact sport at the seaotter but you get close to the action

the grand fondo takes you 54 miles around the monterey coast and you get to ride on the world famous laguna secs race track!

starting line of the fondo my goal this year is under 4.5 hours, wish me luck!