Jungle Habitat Air Show

I wanted to go to Blue, but they were having a race so I drove out to Jungle Habitat only to find an air show in progress at the lil' airport next door. From five miles away (in the car) I was watching planes falling out of the sky and not sure what was going on at first....duh. They had people park in the old Jungle lot and that was kind of weird...made it look like Jungle Habitat was in business again! Those are some noisy events! I was waiting for a plane to crash in the woods near me during the whole ride. No plane crashed though. Killer trail. Love that place. No air shows in my near future.

Acrobatics

Stewart Airport

Had a run of Stewart rides lately and love that place! We saddled up with Chris S. from the shop and rolled up to Stewart on our way to Windham for the World Cup DH Race! What a great day on the trail and mountain! Perfect weather for riding, racing, and ice cream. Next Stewart ride was Labor Day with Sam and his crew from Jeff's shop Bicycles Plus/NYC. Bregtje and I led those fellas around for a few hours and had a grand time of it.

Chris on the trail at Stewart

At Coneheads. Our regular post ride stop.

Yep....good cones.

Sam and crew....

Yes there were some technical difficulties...
and double wheel truing got things rolling

A lounge was created and we relaxed

Rocky Point

Got a few Rocky Point rides in lately out on LI. Very fast...especially on the singlespeed 29er. Now that the Tranny's flown to Japan, I put a shifter and rear deraileur on Powder II so I have 1x9. Good on the street, but seemingly slower on the trail....strange. Ready to go back to SS, I think...my new El Rey has landed in NYC so I'll be going full sprung 29 for a while I'm sure.

Darius shielding a damsel from deviants at RP

Ringwood!

I love Ringwood..especially in the middle of Summer! We ripped it with Frank and Dan and of course the shop crew....Paul, Chris,and Jeremy. Great ride!

Getting ready

Paul fixing a flat before the ride...

Specialized 2011 Keystone, CO

I had a great time at Keystone riding and learning about the new 2011 Specialized bikes. My favorite.....the new Camber Pro 29er. I rode many rigs out there...ripping the new Enduro and the new Pitch....the new S-Works Stumpjumper Carbon 29er (hardtail). All good, but the Camber Pro 29er was the one for me. Had some inspiring raps with Mike Sinyard. He believes in bicycling. High altitude, dry and sunny. A superb time.

The Camber Pro 29er on the mountain at Keystone

and on display with all the new 2011 bikes...

The new 2011 Pitch.....ripper.

Enduro

Hanging out with Mike Sinyard

Durango

Well, what can I say about one of the epicenters of mountain biking? Dry, hot, sunny, dusty. delicious, and lots of chiles. 4 Days of riding with my cousin RW! Over 75 mtb miles. What a killer time. Ridin The Gulch.... Phil's World and the Rib Cage.... Dutch Creek Trail to Hermosa. All epic. So great to hang with RW and Christine. And most important....Zee W is on the way!

RW as we prepare for Phil's World

Christine Ripping at Phil's World on her new Ibis Tranny SS

RW and 2 Ventana's

Loving Phil's World

Gasping for Air at 12ooo Feet
After an 8 Mile Climb

Fireworks!!!

Erybody loves a fire... July 4th weekend in So. MD. Over 60 mtb miles logged on the revamped Hammer 29 with new carbon Lefty! JW as The Mayor and Camp President of Camp W. EW, BHW, JC, French, Helen, and Splash all in attendance. Special guest Herik from Merlin! JC breaks rib on first ride...ouch! Great riding and great fun as always with my favorite people in the world...

Herik & EW Clowning Around as usual

JC, Herik, and JW before the first ride

Herik, BHW, Helen & Splash warming up for ride 2

Carbon Lefty 29er.....Yes, Please.

2.6 pounds of air suspended carbon Lefty installed on my Rocky Mountain Hammer 29er with new Project 321 front hub (with ceramic bearings!) laced to Stan's Crest rim. New rear wheel with Hadley hub next. Had the first ride on the fork and it's super light and supple! Loving it.

Powder Rides Again!

Cannondale 2011 Park City, Utah

I went to Utah to see the new Cannondale 2011 bikes and products etc... We stayed and rode in Park City at The Canyons. They know how to put on a good event and they have some great bikes. I rode the new 2011 carbon Jekyll with the fancy Fox Pull shock. and the Flash carbon 29er with the new SRAM XX 2x10 drivetrain. and the Rize carbon 120 and 140 mm bikes. All good. Wicked fun riding...gondola up and shredding down. More descending than I'm used to and still a big workout. On the second day we got to ride with the pros....Aaron Chase and Hans Rey. They were really cool and they can both rip it up on the trail! The new 150 mm Lefty aka: Simon is coming soon...

Aaron Chase, I&I, Hans Rey, and Double J

The Sospital - Leg Meets Brake Lever Blade

Well well....It started innocently enough as a trip to East Setauket on LI with Darius and The Sos. Neither of whom had ridden this great twisty xc trail. Darius and I picked up the Sos on the way out to the trail. We got it together and hit the trail ripping. I was in front with Darius behind me when we heard a crash behind us about 12-15 minutes into the ride. After a delay of several seconds we heard The Sos screaming for help? Why would he need help (I thought)? Shoes stuck in pedals? Bear or snake got him? We turned around and went back to find him stuck between 2 narrow trees where he had crashed and somehow he was on top of the bike with the brake lever blade completely buried inside his leg. It was crazy! He couldn't lift his leg high enough to get the blade out so Darius and I (on the count of 1-2-3) pulled his leg off the blade. It was a mild gusher and very nasty. We turned back and took him directly to the Sospital for treatment. It was quite an event...luckily he's ok. After dropping him off for medical attention, Darius and I popped over to Stillwell for a loop. Great ride and crazy day....

Pre Puncture

20 Minutes Later Post Puncture

Ouch!

Ready For Ride #2

Ibis Demo Day

We had a demo day with Ibis at Graham Hills on Memorial Day and it was a chance to ride the new Lopes inspired 160 mm Mojo HD. Yes, the bike is bad-ass. It rails turns and climbs like a chief for a bigger trail bike and it's still very light....

Paul with Tom from Ibis (El Presidente)

Ready to rip....

US Open at Diablo

My pal Chris Costello from The Hive - e*thirteen - Formula Brake USA came to town for the US Open of Mountain Biking on the heels of the announcement that e*thirteen would merge into their group By The Hive which features Chub Hubs, Fifteen G, and REVL. Fifteen G cranks will be rebranded e*thirteen and a new DH crank is coming out. We watched the Giant Slalom race down near the bottom of the course and it was real cool to be 10 feet away from the riders ripping. And they were ripping. Saw Brian Lopes flying (and crashing) on his orange Ibis Mojo. I also got to see the new Formula prototype brakes with oval pistons, the new Chub rear hub prototype, and the new e*thirteen DH crank....and the new Santa Cruz Carbon V10. Some wicked gear.

Trailside

New e*thirteen DH Crank

Future Formula Brake


The new rear Chub geared hub....coming soon.

Carbon V10

Birthday Ride

My Specialized rep Chris Facas and I have been trying to get in a dirt ride for months and it finally came together on his birthday! We tore up Ringwood yesterday and it was the maiden voyage for Chris and his new SW Works Epic Carbon Disc with SRAM XX. That is a very fast, nimble bike. I rode it...and it hauls ass. Wicked light yet solid....and only $8800.

Chris gets full suspension for his birthday!

Brian Lopes

We had a surprise visit at the shop from Ibis sponsored MTB racer Brian Lopes and his mechanic Joe. They were in town hanging for a few days before the US Open of MTB at Diablo. Both very cool guys.

My Tranny hanging with Lopes' Mojo HD


Lopes

Stillwell Sos Ride

I busted off a solo Ringwood ride last weekend and mixed up my regular loop. Turned off the Propedal on my RP23 rear shock and let it rip wide open. Great fun especially on the descents. Super cush. Then I scooped up Bregt, switched bikes and we headed out to the Sos Den on LI for a BBQ and sleepover with a Sunday morning Stillwell loop. Yep.

Syosset at the beer store

Stillwell's Ewok Forest

Hammer Time

Mickey decided he was back after the Glacier Ridge ride with Bregtje, Darius and me. He decided to come visit his old friend Ringwood with Pauly and I. It was a Hammer fest and we were all killing it. Very fast ride especially the new trail. Ringwood's been real good lately...

Mickey at Lot C

Mickey and Paul


Ringwood Race Course

Merlin Trip

Big weekend trip through PA for a visit with my pal Ross and Bob & Mike at Wolfe's VW/Audi for some preventative maintenance on the Dubmobile. Rolled out of PA Saturday at about 1 PM with new timing belt, water pump, brake rotors front and rear etc...and onward South to Merlin (MD) for some riding and family visitation. Drove straight to Schaeffer Farms in Germantown for a spin. Nora and Aaron were running a lil late to meet me so I dipped in for a solo loop first. Conditions were great. I doubled up and did the second round with those guys (Team Rocky Mtn). Got a solid 20+ miles and it felt great. Sunday morning big Patapsco ride in Baltimore with EW, JW, Dave Allen, Pape, Nora, and Aaron. Killer ride. Lots of fun with the crew. Got in another 20 miler...yeah!

Schaeffer Ride

Patapsco Posse in effect

Pape and his new Tallboy!

Me, Aaron, and Nora

Blue

Another successful mission to Blue Mountain with Chris, Austin, and Frank. Killer ride. Monster reverse, My Favorite Trail, assorted singletrack, and Monster back. Finishing with a superb meal at the Ecuadorian deli!

Me and Frank

Austin, Frank, and Chris at the top