Monday, December 07, 2009
Geared Crank Excites the Commuter Market
With all the attention that commuter bikes have been getting lately (there was even a report on NPR this very morning) it is no surprise that more commuter oriented products are being released. Below is an article from Bicycle Retailer about a new two speed, internally geared crank. Geared cranks are nothing new. There is the Schlumpf system where you strike the center of the crank to change gears . The SRAM option, designed for all-mountain/freeride bikes. And now the newest option from FSA specifically designed to add durability and reliability to transportation bikes. It will be operated by a handle bar mounted shifter. (Sorry no good pictures at this time)
Patterson Drives Ahead with FSA
Sam Patterson has his eye on urban commuters. And he’s betting that a new crankset he designed will intrigue product managers looking to give 2011 commuter bikes a new look. Pattersonisno stranger to the industry. He helped put SRAM on the map with his work designing Grip Shift and other key SRAM components. He spent 14 years at the company before leaving in 2000. Back in the mid-1980s, Patterson had been working on exotic fuel injection systems at a boutique R&D lab in San Diego. He met SRAM’s Stan Day while skiing at Park City. Day had gone to school with Patterson’s brother. Patterson, tired of sucking in gasoline and diesel fumes, began kicking around product ideas with Day and eventually they came up with Grip Shift for road bikes. Day, a triathlete, wanted to shift from the drops without reaching for downtube shift levers. The 55-year-old mechanical engineer has now teamed up with FSA to introduce the Metropolis Patterson Transmission (PT), a new internal two-speed planetary-geared crankset. It seems Patterson has harbored a long-simmering dislike for front derailleurs. And this crankset eliminates them. From a manufacturers’ standpoint, installing the Metro PT is a snap on the assembly line. It’s compatible with most conventional frame designs. Forget installing and setting front derailleurs. No need for a chain guard to protect pant legs from grease. Shifts are lightening fast. And you can shift under load at will. It has a 1.6-to-1 gear ratio with drive gears of 28T and 43T. Use any rear cassette you like or internal-gear hubs. It’s a cast aluminum crankset with an eye-catching, brushed alloy silver finish. If there’s a downside, the unit weighs 1,780 grams, but Patterson said it can be trimmed to about 1,500 grams. As for pricing, Patterson said his first year’s goal is to produce a modest volume at a high enough price to keep him in business. Year two, as demand ramps up, pricing will come down. This was Patterson’s first public unveiling of the system. Douglas Chiang, FSA’s managing director, said he’s optimistic about the new addition to FSA’s Metropolis group, a line of city-style handlebars, stems, seatposts and cranksets. Patterson has a multiyear agreement with Chiang. Judging from the number of people test riding the Metro at Saturday’s Ride On event at the Freshfields Resort and Conference Center, Chiang and Patterson have reason to be optimistic. At one point, a European product manager interrupted a conversation to ask whether the system could be used with a belt drive. Patterson assured him that with some minor modifications, a beltdrive option would pose few problems. The Metropolis PT was installed on a sleek Giant city bike. It looked great. A test ride confirmed Patterson’s boasts. It shifts instantly and there’s no balking when shifting under load. If there was a disconcerting moment it was the three-speed shifter. I initially kept searching for that third shift, but there was none. After a few minutes, it wasn’t an issue. Patterson said the system should appeal, at first, to the European commuting market. “It’s a functional replacement for a front derailleur, the internal shifting is fast and works under load, it never derails and will fit any bike with downtube cable routing and fixed chain stays,” he said. — Marc Sani Bicycle Retailer and Industry News Dec. 7th 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Santa
Friday, November 06, 2009
More Work to be Done
The WHEN: Saturday November 14, 9am
The WHAT: The park has wanted to bypass the lakeside trail that the fishermen use for a considerably long time. It was flagged some time ago, and we had waited on approvals which are finally here! So we are going to start building this trail!
The WHY: The lakeside trail is unsustainable, and really not that much fun or that long. It is the small narrow segment on the south end of the lake that goes between the dam and the campground touching the lake side. Fishermen crowd thenselves along this narrow trail for extended periods of time. The bypass will connect the end of the dam with the orange trail further up the hill, which will bypass the lakeside trail leaving it to the fishermen and the perennially wet areas of the lower orange trail. Eventually the orange and this new trail will be blazed red, and the hugely steep and eroded portion of the red that drops off the escarpment will be permanently closed. This will make the red longer, sustainable and more fun. The race course will use this new trail, so we would like to finish it by spring.
The HOW: There will be corridor cleaning, bench cutting, and rock aligning. The trail is going to have to go through some pretty rough areas, so some special things need to be built. There is a rock garden which we will need to build a rock path through. Think the new blue reroute in the watershed. Similar, but not nearly as long.
The BENEFIT: No new trail has been built in Greenbrier in a long, long time. Over a year ago, I submitted a proposal of several trail segments that will link up existing unused trails, and extending into currently unused area. The proposal is in several phases. This would be the first phase. The park agreed to move ahead in this phase. A good showing of quality and swift trail building will show the park that we are serious about moving forward with the other phases of the proposal. A decent turnout of hearty workers is essential to this success. There are some incredible areas that we can hopefully expand into.
The WHERE: Directions to the park are here: Instead of meeting in our usual location by the boat ramp, we are meeting at the south end of the parking lots across from the Visitors Center. Not the tiny parking lot forthe VC, but in the big lot towards the beach. Enter the park, bear left at the split, and turn into the big lot just before the campground gate.
There will be tools to use, please bring the usual water/snack/gloves/warm clothes, and be ready to get dirty! RSVP's appreciated email: phil_vw(at)yahoo(dot)com
The WHAT: The park has wanted to bypass the lakeside trail that the fishermen use for a considerably long time. It was flagged some time ago, and we had waited on approvals which are finally here! So we are going to start building this trail!
The WHY: The lakeside trail is unsustainable, and really not that much fun or that long. It is the small narrow segment on the south end of the lake that goes between the dam and the campground touching the lake side. Fishermen crowd thenselves along this narrow trail for extended periods of time. The bypass will connect the end of the dam with the orange trail further up the hill, which will bypass the lakeside trail leaving it to the fishermen and the perennially wet areas of the lower orange trail. Eventually the orange and this new trail will be blazed red, and the hugely steep and eroded portion of the red that drops off the escarpment will be permanently closed. This will make the red longer, sustainable and more fun. The race course will use this new trail, so we would like to finish it by spring.
The HOW: There will be corridor cleaning, bench cutting, and rock aligning. The trail is going to have to go through some pretty rough areas, so some special things need to be built. There is a rock garden which we will need to build a rock path through. Think the new blue reroute in the watershed. Similar, but not nearly as long.
The BENEFIT: No new trail has been built in Greenbrier in a long, long time. Over a year ago, I submitted a proposal of several trail segments that will link up existing unused trails, and extending into currently unused area. The proposal is in several phases. This would be the first phase. The park agreed to move ahead in this phase. A good showing of quality and swift trail building will show the park that we are serious about moving forward with the other phases of the proposal. A decent turnout of hearty workers is essential to this success. There are some incredible areas that we can hopefully expand into.
The WHERE: Directions to the park are here: Instead of meeting in our usual location by the boat ramp, we are meeting at the south end of the parking lots across from the Visitors Center. Not the tiny parking lot forthe VC, but in the big lot towards the beach. Enter the park, bear left at the split, and turn into the big lot just before the campground gate.
There will be tools to use, please bring the usual water/snack/gloves/warm clothes, and be ready to get dirty! RSVP's appreciated email: phil_vw(at)
Ribbon Cutting
Press Release:FREDERICK, MD, November 1, 2009 - The City of Frederick, MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), a non-profit representing thousands of Mid-Atlantic mountain bikers, and IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) have committed to enhance the existing trails in the Frederick Municipal Forest. MORE has been providing volunteer trail maintenance in the Frederick Municipal Forest for more than 15 years.
The Frederick Municipal Forest, 7,000 acres of forested land in western Frederick County, has been a popular destination for hikers, trail runners, hunters, equestrians and mountain bikers for many years. The Catoctin Trail, a 26 mile natural surface trail connecting Gambrill State Park, the Frederick Watershed, Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin National Park, bisects the Watershed and is currently the only blazed and mapped trail in the Forest.
MORE and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) have recently completed phase I of a trail work project that rerouted a severely eroded section of the Catoctin Trail. After more than 650 volunteer hours, this new one mile section of sustainably built trail is now open to all users.
“The City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA met to discuss this endeavor, developed a plan, included all the stakeholders and made a significant improvement for recreation and the environment at no cost to the taxpayers,“ said Tim Davis, City Transportation Planner. “This sort of collaborative effort where the public resources and private non-profit agencies work together is how publically beneficial projects will come together in the future.”
MORE has recently received a $30k grant from the National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and a grant from Trek Bikes and IMBA Trail Solutions and will use this funding as well as volunteer labor to continue efforts to improve the quality of the Catoctin Trail. MORE, PATC and the City of Frederick have begun planning phase II of the Catoctin Trail reroute project in order to make the trail more sustainable. The reroute is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.
“The efforts of City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA have turned eroding trails into environmentally sound trails. We look forward to continuing this partnership,” said MORE President Jason Stoner
Additionally, MORE and IMBA, in partnership with the City of Frederick, have agreed to donate their services to blaze and map a circuit loop of existing trails in the Forest. Once complete, a free online map will be available for all users and the new blazed system will make traveling the trails more enjoyable for all.
MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit representing thousands of area mountain bikers. Founded in 1992, MORE maintains more than 250 miles of natural surface trails in 25 state and county parks in the region. MORE members contribute more than 3,000 volunteer hours annually and have constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trail. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at local parks, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.
PATC, a non-profit, is the only agency that maintains the entire Catoctin Trail. PATC maintains and manages 1200 miles of trails in the Mid-Atlantic region including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail. www.patc.net CFC agency 91413. EIN #53-0187508. Phone: (703)242-0693 x105. 118 Park St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180
The Frederick Municipal Forest, 7,000 acres of forested land in western Frederick County, has been a popular destination for hikers, trail runners, hunters, equestrians and mountain bikers for many years. The Catoctin Trail, a 26 mile natural surface trail connecting Gambrill State Park, the Frederick Watershed, Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin National Park, bisects the Watershed and is currently the only blazed and mapped trail in the Forest.
MORE and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) have recently completed phase I of a trail work project that rerouted a severely eroded section of the Catoctin Trail. After more than 650 volunteer hours, this new one mile section of sustainably built trail is now open to all users.
“The City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA met to discuss this endeavor, developed a plan, included all the stakeholders and made a significant improvement for recreation and the environment at no cost to the taxpayers,“ said Tim Davis, City Transportation Planner. “This sort of collaborative effort where the public resources and private non-profit agencies work together is how publically beneficial projects will come together in the future.”
MORE has recently received a $30k grant from the National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and a grant from Trek Bikes and IMBA Trail Solutions and will use this funding as well as volunteer labor to continue efforts to improve the quality of the Catoctin Trail. MORE, PATC and the City of Frederick have begun planning phase II of the Catoctin Trail reroute project in order to make the trail more sustainable. The reroute is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.
“The efforts of City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA have turned eroding trails into environmentally sound trails. We look forward to continuing this partnership,” said MORE President Jason Stoner
Additionally, MORE and IMBA, in partnership with the City of Frederick, have agreed to donate their services to blaze and map a circuit loop of existing trails in the Forest. Once complete, a free online map will be available for all users and the new blazed system will make traveling the trails more enjoyable for all.
MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit representing thousands of area mountain bikers. Founded in 1992, MORE maintains more than 250 miles of natural surface trails in 25 state and county parks in the region. MORE members contribute more than 3,000 volunteer hours annually and have constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trail. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at local parks, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.
PATC, a non-profit, is the only agency that maintains the entire Catoctin Trail. PATC maintains and manages 1200 miles of trails in the Mid-Atlantic region including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail. www.patc.net CFC agency 91413. EIN #53-0187508. Phone: (703)242-0693 x105. 118 Park St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180
PATC President Lee Sheaffer joins Joe, Phil, David, Clyde and 50 volunteers to open up the new Blue trail in the Frederick Watershed. Photo: Jay Divinagracia
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Gambrill Night Mountain Bike Rides Return
We are once again ready to start the off-season fun! Our Gambrill State Park night rides commence on November 18th and continue on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The rides will continue through the off-season.
Click here for the skinny...
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
New IF Lightweight
We just finished a new stock build. It is a super rad Independent Fabrication Factory Lightweight built up with a Shimano Ultegra kit. The bike tips the scale at 17.15lbs and has the classic steel ride that anyone can enjoy. More pictures here.www.thebicycleescape.com
Monday, November 02, 2009
New Blue
New Blue
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
Thanks to all who helped make yesterdays trail work day a huge success. For those of you who do not know a section of the blue trail in the Frederick Watershed was closed and replaced with a more fun and sustainable section of trail.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Watershed Trail Work
Water Shed Trail Work
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
There is an important trail work day THIS Sunday. If you ride, run, hike, or gallop in the Frederick Water Shed please help the trails you love. Meet at the Sandflats parking area at 9:00am sharp. I will bring coffee and donuts to further entice you. Hope to see you there.
