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