Danielle Goes to Independent Fabrication...

At the end of January, in fact, the last hour of January, my sister-in-law give birth to a little baby girl (see 1st photo on the right). This joyous occasion made me purchase a plane ticket and fly to Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts where my new niece and her parents reside. The awesome thing about this neighborhood in Boston is that it is about 6 miles from Somerville, MA a.k.a. home of Independent Fabrication. So, during my stay in lovely Boston I traveled by subway to 86 Joy Street to see what exactly goes on in that place where the finest handcrafted frames are created.

Lucky me was picked up at one of Boston's many Dunkins Donuts by Mr. Matt Bracken, President of IF, and whisked away to the IF compound. Matt and his dog, Charleston, gave me a very thorough tour of the workshop. He started at the wall of tubes (see picture under the "Live the Dream" sign) where each tube is hand picked to fit a customer's individual needs. I then followed Matt around the shop as he explained each step of the bike-making process. I, of course, noticed the interesting contents in the trash can and had to take a photo. The can was filled with Dunkin Donuts coffee cup after coffee cup proving that "IF runs on Dunkins."

I met most of the fine men and women on the back of the IF catalog and had the opportunity to stand and stare at them while they worked (I am sure they loved that). Under the picture of the array of Dunkin Donut cups you see Finn holding the one and only custom comfort bike designed for a show that IF will be attending. I think I may put that bike on my Christmas list.

Below the custom step-through frame you see Cliff working on an XS frame. Below him is a white arrow pointing at another XS. This frame is a special work in progress that, when completed, will be featured in Wired Magazine.

I took about a million pictures while I was at IF, some of which are on our Flickr page.

I am completely amazed with Independent Fabrication. Not only do they make absolutely stunning bicycles always paying attention to detail and handling each bike with loving care but they totally rock in the customer service department. They most certainly score bonus points with The Bicycle Escape for inviting me into their "home", teaching me about what they do and making me feel welcomed.

Stop Swap and Save

Yesterday was the Stop Swap and Save bicycle swap meet in Westminster. For the second year in a row we spent the day inviting attendees to play the “Wheel Game” for a chance at one of many great prizes. The fixed gear bikes that we brought sold almost immediately.
My favorite part of this event is being surrounded by so many different riders and getting a chance to speak with lots of them about there cycling experiences. It also provides a opportunity to see people from other shops that I seldom have a chance to hang out with. All-in-all it was a great event that we plan on attending next year.

Fixed Gears, Frederick, and Indie Rockers

With the Westminster Bicycle Swap Meet fast approaching I finally got around to converting two old road bikes into fixed gears to sell at the event. I always enjoy doing these conversions. I love the simplicity of a fixed gear bicycle. I also love the nostalgic throw back to the early years of cycling, both historically and personally (after all my Big Wheel was technically a fixed gear). Gradually, riding fixed gear bikes has become a cool thing to do. More recently it has morphed into the "ultra-hip-indie-rocker-high-school-kid- in-tight-jeans" way to separate from the crowd. Aspects of this are great. Few elements of cycling find their way into pop-culture. Other factors however, are less appealing. A select number of these youths recently latched onto the term "Critical Mass Ride" and altered the meaning to fit their musings. They somehow believe the intent is to ride 4,5,6… abreast through downtown Frederick on epoxy-made fixed gear bicycles as a prank on the community. Now I enjoy pranks and have done my fair share of joking around especially in my teen years. My two concerns are that the actions of a few will paint cyclists in a negative light and these few young people will never fully respect the bicycle in all of its glory.

Here is a video about the fixed gear craze.

Deuter Race X Air I Review

About 7 months ago I purchased a Deuter Race X Air I hydration pack. The German company had always been of interest to me but I had never experienced their products firsthand. I selected the Race X Air I mainly because it has a unique mesh back. This is referred to as the “Advanced Aircomfort” system which allows near uninterrupted air flow. Poor airflow had been my primary complaint with other packs. It should also be noted that this model was awarded Mountain Biking Magazine’s Editor’s Choice award. The pack holds a 3 liter reservoir and has 850 cubic inches of storage. The empty pack and reservoir tipped our scale at 2.24lbs.

My first impression of the pack was quite positive. I immediately noticed the additional air flow across my back which was a very welcome improvement. I found the amount of storage space in the pack to be ample enough for all my gear, a thin jacket, and room to spare. The pack distributes the load comfortably even on long rides. This is helpful because the overall weight of the pack is a bit heavier than one of their non “Advanced Aircomfort” systems. The reservoir is great. It has a very smooth texture which is supposedly so bacteria can not cling to the bladder. This seems to work effectively even through my abuse. I enjoy the fact that I can get my entire hand inside the reservoir when I want to give it a though cleaning. I tend to drink water and I can not comment on how the reservoir holds up to sports drinks. I do not typically remove the bladder to fill it but when I do it takes a bit longer to remove than I would like. My primary complaint is that the bite valve sometimes drips a little when it slides forward off the hose.

Over all I really like this hydration pack. You can tell it was designed by a backpacking company the way it fits on your body and the German engineers loaded the pack with lots of great little features

Sidi Winter Shoes

Got a set of Sidi Diablo GTX Winter Shoes for Christmas and figured I'd post up my impressions thus far.

As with most Sidi products, the shoes are very comfortable. My first ride with these shoes was a 23 miler in the mountains around Frederick and the shoes caused me no discomfort. I have noticed that the traction on rocks is lacking but this is a common characteristic for Sidi mountain shoes since the tread compund is made hard for added durability. The top of the shoe, around the ankle is very comfortable but I've found that no matter how tight I make the ankle strap, there is still a gap between the back of my ankle and the shoe while riding. This gap, acts as a catch-all for the little bits my rear tire throws up while riding. On most days I find myself either stopping to dig a rock out of one of my shoes or emptying out bits of leaves and dirt at the end of the day.

The shoes are 100% waterproof as you would expect with any Gore-Tex product. I've forded several streams and not a drop of water enters the shoes. There is however a limit to the protection and it's not when water crests the top of the shoe. The upper most, ankle area of the shoe is not protected by Gore-Tex, it's made of a neoprene like material. If you step in water, up to the top of the ankle, you have about 5 seconds before water starts finding it's way into the shoe through the neoprene like material.

Today, was the first day I was able to spend any prolonged time in the cold wearing these shoes. Temps were hovering around freezing for most of the day and about an hour into the ride, my toes started to go numb. I hoped this wouldn't happen but I sort of expected it since my initial impression upon opening the box and inspecting the shoes was that they were lacking any real insulation.. That being said, the winter shoes seem to be cut a little big in order to allow for thicker socks. The socks I had on were Wool, and were winter socks but I still had plenty of wiggle room inside the shoes. Next time out I am going to wear much thicker socks and see how things go. 2 1/2 hours into the ride we reached the car. Peeling the ice covered shoes from my feet was a painful process. Tomorrow, I'll be shopping for warmer socks and seeing how winter seems to have finally arrived, I'll post a cold weather update soon. Below are links to the shoes and socks I was wearing.

http://www.defeet.com/products/product.php?sport=bike&c=36&PHPSESSID=19ba7c6f679b468a711b3daed04d5ecb

http://www.sidiusa.com/winter.html#a

Winter finally came to Frederick. With a nip in the air and a dusting of snow on the ground I made the decision to ride indoors this weekend. For me this is a tough pill to swallow. With all the great roads and mountain bike trails surround Frederick I always feel that I am doing myself a disservice to spinning indoors like a hamster on a wheel. But this was my fate this weekend. As boring as it is I still felt better after moving my legs a little. Still… my next ride will be outside no matter what Mother Nature has is store.

The Bicycle Escape Gambrill Night Ride Jan. 18th

The latest edition of the Gambrill Graveyard Shift (Gambrill State Park night mountain bike ride) took place last night. The temperatures were low but attendance was high (23 at ride start). A few participants backed out not long into the ride leaving us 20 riders strong. In spite of the cold temps I think most of us were comfortable after a few minutes of pedaling. The major technical issue of the ride was a ripped off derailleur. Since Sir-Pack-A-Lot did not have the appropriate derailleur hanger (he did however have about 5 hangers from various manufactures) I converted the bike into a makeshift single speed. Like a trooper the newly converted single speed outlaw completed the ride shift-free. It was an enjoyable night and many thanks to all who attended. Sorry for the lack of a picture documenting the ride, I forgot my camera. I will try to bring it next time and shoot a picture of the shimmering lights of Frederick from the overlook- it is a beautiful sight.

Bike Commuting and Grumpiness

This Sunday while trying to relax and enjoy a rainy day watching movies, Danielle called my name from the basement. Her bellow was in an all too familiar ominous tone. The kind of tone that can only mean there is trouble. I prepared myself as I made my way down the stairs. Was it a spider, a leaky pipe, the air conditioner…? What I found when I reached my decline to the basement was water leaking from the ceiling tiles. After some investigation we determined that the previous homeowner sliced the flexible conduit that directs our drier exhaust outside. This was creating tropical conditions above our drop ceiling which was causing our pipes to sweat like a can of ice cold Coke sitting in the sun. After cursing the previous home-owner who apparently did all of his home “repairs” drunk and blindfolded I made my way to the hardware store to get the necessary supplies to correct the problem. I briefly considered grabbing my fixed gear and messenger bag and riding to the store but I was far too grumpy to do anything fun like ride a bike (Danielle will attest to this last point I’m sure). When I got to the hardware store I noticed a regular guy on a very ordinary bike. He was doing what I should have done- bicycle commuting! This sight brought a smile to my face and I made a personal vale to ride my bike next time I am in this circumstance- in spite of grumpiness.

Equal Opportunity Slander

The other day a fellow cyclist commented on a bad experience she had with a motorist. While any road cyclist can recount a similar experience, I find that this is the exception rather than the rule. I have been riding the roads in the Frederick area for over 14 years and have only experienced a few truly rude drivers. One such incident is simply unforgettable. While on a ride my father and I waited at a stoplight in rural Carroll County. A pickup truck full of teenagers pealed out and screamed the N-word at my father and me. We found this comment both confusing and offensive. You see I am a lily white boy from Mount Airy (just note the zip-up sweater) and my father is arguably lilyer and whiter than me. Unsure of just how offended a white person should be in this situation we simply pedaled on. Well, there you have it folks. That is my most bizarre encounter with a motorist and I assure you it is true.

The Bike Site

Some of you may have noticed the link on the left hand side of this blog directing you to The Bike Site. If not I would encourage all of you to check it out. The site was developed by some local riders to unite like minded cyclists. Much of the rides organized on this site take place in the Frederick area. The goal is to have a simple and fun atmosphere for cyclists to organize rides and socialize. I have met several people and enjoyed lots of rides with other’s active on the site. I am not a computer friendly kind of guy so when I was first introduced to the site I was unsure if it would be something that I would enjoy. However, I quickly came around and now look forward to chatting with other riders on the site. Since I like to share things that I enjoy with others I am sharing this you right now… so come on sign up. It’s fun and free.

Gambrill Graveyard Shift Jan. 3, 2007

Another great night ride was enjoyed at the Graveyard Shift! We were 17 strong at the ride start but due to a mechanical and one hard dose of lactic acid the group was whittled down to 15 within the first 10 minutes. The pace was a little slower last night. This was in part due to two flat tires and a few other mechanical/light issues. I was happy to ride slower because I was navigating like a drunken chicken, a technique I display frequently when my lungs are on fire. The weather was great and the moon was burning bright which add to the already beautiful atmosphere of Gambrill after dark. After the ride we ended up at Brewers Ally and enjoyed a little conversation before calling it a night.

For anyone interested hooded sweatshirts will be available with the Gambrill Graveyard Shift logo. Email tom@thebicycleescape.com to reserve one.

R&R In 2007

I hope you all had a safe and pleasant New Year. Danielle and I enjoyed some time with some good friends and some much needed R&R. When we are not riding on our time off it is a safe bet that we are enjoying movies. We recently signed up for a service called DVD Avenue, a Maryland based online DVD rental company. This is a service that Danielle and I love. So on our days off this holiday we vegged and watched episodes of Sopranos, The Office (BBC Version) etc. It was a relaxing way to spend our time but my lazy rear-end will certainly suffer on the Wednesday night Ride!

Wii Need Bicycles

Well here we are on Christmas Eve. Just about all of our Christmas layaways have been picked up and a few last minute shoppers are purchasing their final presents. An interesting thing happened this year. Both Nintendo and Sony sold out of their hit new gaming systems. This is worth mentioning because frantic parents are coming into Ye Old Bike Shop in search of a “second choice” gift. Many of them were a little uncomfortable with spending more than $70 on a bicycle for their child. The value of a quality bicycle is something that I have explained on a daily basis for over a decade. It seems to me however in a nation of obesity, the bicycle may be exactly what “junior” needs. I will make it a goal for 2007 to make children want and ask for a shiny new bicycle in lieu of the latest game console this time next year. Until then, may you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Gambrill Graveyard Shift 12/20/06

This past episode of the Gambrill Graveyard Shift yielded lots of rocky fun. 17 riders joined in the off-road trek and 7 of us went to the brew pub following the ride for pizza and drinks. Ride leader Joe was home sick so his presence was missed. The group stayed together and we were fortunate enough to have no flat tires and only a few minor spills. The weather cooperated once again making a great ride even better. Thanks to all who joined in the fun. See you next time!

Bike Fun Run

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There is something about riding a cheap bicycle in jeans and tennis shoes that I find extremely nostalgic. Last night Mike and I meet up with four other friends and pedaled a short distance to a local pub for a beer and chili tasting. We had a great little ride and pleasant conversation. Mike and I rode the "Shop Bike" and the "Shop Single Speed" (name not yet determined). In the future The Bicycle Escape will be hosting Fun Rides to local destinations. The rides will be Lycra-free and a lot of fun. Stay tuned for details!

2007 XTR Crank Bash Guard

2007 XTR Crank Bash Guard

We received the much anticipated 2007 XTR crank set today. Many of my riding partners have been asking if it will accommodate a bash guard. From the pictures I have seen I said “yes” but I gave Shimano a call to be sure. All I could get out of Shimano was “well it’s not a freeride crank why don’t you spec a Saint…” So I decided to find out for myself. Well I am happy to report you can run the 2007 Shimano XTR crank with a bash guard. I should note that the first bash guard I attempted to install was by Dangerboy and that guard did not fit. However, with a few passes with a file (on the guard not the crank) the Dangerboy product could be encouraged to fit just fine. Now all you have to do is find a good home for the $180 chainring you just took off ;)

Planning Commission Meetings...Everyone Should Attend at Least 1 in Their Life!

Last night (December 11, 2006) I (taking the picture) along with Tom (arrived after I took the picture), Mike (guy on the left in the picture) and his wife, Hayley (too hungry to be in the picture) joined a group of Frederick Pedalers in support of a proposed bicycle route connecting MD144 to the east with MD40 to the west. We all attended the planning commission meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m. to express our desire to see this route come to life..............................................

........................................3.5 hours later, after losing half of our cycling mob, the hardcorest of hardcore supporters got the chance to speak out in favor of this bike route proposed by SHA a few years ago.

Fortunately our hours of sitting patiently through discussions on how high people's hedges should be and how it is possible for residents to have 1.5 parking spaces each, the committee agreed to vote again (a few years ago they voted no) in January to possibly move forward with the bike route.

This is a great opportunity for experienced cyclists who ride through the city for commuting, enjoyment or both.

In January The Bicycle Escape will be back at City Hall to show our support again...No matter how long the meeting runs!

Super Sexy Spanish Splendor

In my 10+ years in the bicycle biz I have been privileged enough to assemble and work on some incredibly high-end bicycles. Many of these bikes are as beautiful as they are functional. Recently we received the newly revised Spanish-brand Orbea Orca and never in my life have a seen a sexier bike frame. I mean it! Not cool, pretty, beautiful or neat but downright sexy! My heart raced as I removed the bubble wrap. Each piece of wrapping came off easier than the next to revile a curvaceous carbon fiber chassis of which I have seen no equal. She had the curves of Penelope Cruz and the class of Ines Sastre. Anyway, I had to share this beauty with you all. Note the headbadge/cable stops- very slick!

Gambrill Night Ride

After several months of coordination and planning, everything finally came together on December 6th for The Bicycle Escape and MORE to hold the first of many night time mountain bike rides at Gambrill State Park in Frederick Maryland.

Considering we are getting well into December the temps were surprisingly mild, hovering around the lower 40's for our 7pm departure. Waivers were signed, parking passes were handed out and Joe, who was kind enough to lead the first ride gave everyone a quick brief on the intended route and what to expect along the way. From the lower parking lot we headed up the yellow trail towards the overlook. Anyone who has ridden this trail before knows that this climb can be a pain due to the lack of any time to warm up the legs and lungs. My job on this ride was to bring up the rear and make sure no one got separated from the group. About halfway up the climb, I ran into a small log-jam of riders. As everyone sorted out I noticed Joe was left behind fiddling around with a jumped chain. That was the first of a few mechanicals.

After regrouping at the top of the climb, we headed for some of the nice singletrack that parallels Gambrill Park Road. Although I didn't witness it with my own eyes I heard reports of Joe doing a superman on one of the gnarlier rock downhills, followed up by Kevin going down as well. No casualties were suffered except for a fresh scratch on Kevin's new IF. Shortly after that, Mehdi grinds to a halt with his light pointing straight down towards the ground. He lost the rubber shim that keeps the light clamp tight on the bar so we jammed a few sticks in the mount, tightened it up and continued on. Meanwhile, the rest of the group got a pretty good flow going.

After a good bit of uninterrupted riding the group came to a halt once again when one of the riders flatted. The flat was fixed and no more than 500 yards down the trail, someones light went black.(sorry I don't remember every ones name) Fortunately, Tom just happened to bring along an extra Light & Motion Arc HID so he hooked it up and we were on our way once again. A way down the trail I came upon Joe, fiddling with his chain once again. After a quick inspection it was discovered that he had a bent chainring. With a small adjustable wrench Joe tweaked the chainring enough to finish up the ride.

After ride festivities were held at Brewers Alley in downtown Frederick. I myself gave the Oatmeal Stout and Cask IPA a try. For my taste the Oatmeal Stout was a little bland but the Cask IPA was excellent packing a nice aroma and flavor. I'm really glad we were able to get these rides going and I can't wait until the 20th to do it again.

Pedal Prohibition

Recently some of our new bicycles came with pedals flaunting an important message that reads: Warning: This pedal is prohibition to be used on the spinning and exerciser bike. Judging by their use of all capital letters as well as the ominous presence of the triangle-enclosed exclamation point it is obvious that the manufactures mean business! We felt obligated to bring this caution to the attention of our readers. I know some of you may be tempted to remove your stock flat pedals and install them on the spinning and/or exerciser bike but please do not. While I don't know exactly what will happen if you throw caution to the wind and try it but you can bet the results will be tragic!

Sunday's Bicycle Commute

Well begrudgingly we are now open on Sunday’s through the month of December. Since I have sacrificed my only day off I decided to commute to work by bicycle. The ride dulled the pain of working all day for the "tyrant." As I pedaled I was reminded of two things: One- I am out of shape and Two- I love bicycle commuting. I find that riding clears my head and I am able to come up with great ideas... nothing of immense value but I did come up with a few good novelty T-shirt slogans.

Bikes and Cars in Harmony

Thanks to a friendly person on the MORE forum I learned of a cool invention in Europe. General Motors is incorporating an integrated bicycle rack into some of their vehicles. This idea is way over due and hopefully it will hop the pond sometime soon! Speaking of MORE if your are not yet a member sign up today! It only costs $20 to help support our beautiful trails!

The Bicycle Escape hosted our Single Speed Conversion Party last night. The pizza was great the drinks were cold and we all enjoyed the evening. The group watched a demonstration on how to convert a multi speed bicycle into a one geared wonder. We were delighted to have Single Speed Outlaw Joe Whitehair on hand to offer his expertise on the subject. The event was as much social as it was technical which provided a nice venue to talk to other riders and make new friends. Thanks to all who attended I look forward to seeing you at the next event…

Thanksgiving Anniversary

Danielle and I have a great deal to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. In addition to celebrating good health, supportive family and great friends we have reached the one year anniversary of The Bicycle Escape. As we reflect on one year of business we also reflect on the friends and family that have helped to make this endeavor possible. When Danielle and I took position of the big empty shell that you know as The Bicycle Escape it was friends and family that hung the drywall, laid the floor, assembled the fixtures, and helped to complete all of the tasks necessary to bring our vision to life. We have been so touched by your support. It seems impossible to express our gratitude. For everyone that enjoys having The Bicycle Escape as a resource we hope that you too will appreciate the hard work that these people have volunteered and continue to volunteer, without these efforts this store would not be in existence. We are equally grateful for those of you who patronize The Bicycle Escape, we will not remain in business without this support. Thank you all so very much and may you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Tom & Danielle

Greenridge, Mountain Bikes, and New-Blood

This past weekend a few of us at The Bicycle Escape accompanied by a good friend Kevin (Man of Steel) went to Greenridge for a mountain bike camping trip. The trip was a great way for me to get away for a while and enjoy riding and good friends. Upon our arrival we ate and quickly prepared for a night ride. This ride held significant importance for Rob the youngest member of our entourage. This was one of his first mountain bike rides on his new Jamis Dakar as well as his very first night ride. The ride was not without incident we experience three flat tires, one crash, and Rob’s battery died about a mile from the campsite. The thing is it was a great ride- to see the excitement on the face of a new cyclist and to be able to share something that I enjoy so much made it a great trip.

Most Likely to...Open a Bike Shop

Tom and I both graduated from Linganore High School in 1998, in fact, that is where we met and became good friends. It wasn't until college that Tom swept me off my feet and we began dating but that's another story...

In high school we were both average students who hated math, loved music and had nothing to do with football, pep rallies or the FFA. You won't find our pictures in the superlative or student government sections of the yearbook but rather the art club, track team and, for Tom, in the Women's Issues club (you could always find him wherever the ladies gathered). So, little did we ever imagine that one day we'd be featured in our school newspaper 8 years after receiving our diplomas.

But NOW, we are officially the coolest Linganore High School Alumni ever! In the October issue of the school paper, The Lance, you will find an article featuring 2 LHS grads who opened a business in Frederick. Those 2 grads are yours truly, Tom and Danielle Rinker (that's me). It is a nicely written article with an adequate photo of us (I look like I am chewing on straw or something). The article talks about our favorite (or least favorite) classes in school but more importantly about our beautiful bicycle shop itself and the advice we would give to anyone thinking about opening their own business. We really wanted today's youth to know that, with hard work and committment, even average students can achieve their dreams (I know, I know...I sound like an after school special.)

Read the Article

P.S. - You will still find Tom wherever the ladies gather...

Birth of an IF

The Man of Steel did some fancy photo work when he assembled his Independent Fabrication Steel Deluxe which I wanted to share with our readers. Note the cable installation taking place in stages…Nice touch Kevin!

Man Of Steel

This is Kev, my friend, TBE customer, racer and the proud owner of a new steel IF Deluxe. Kev's a self proclaimed weight-weenie, putting light weight before everything else. A condition that now seems to be in remission thanks to his new IF. Not that his IF is heavy coming in fully built at 24lbs.

I was going to write this long winded blog entry about aluminum vs steel and weight savings vs durability/performance and how Kev arrived at his purchase but then Kev posted his review of his new ride on a local message board. I decided to let his post speak for itself.

In Kev's own words

"Mike is going love this one.

First things first, this is the best bike I've ever ridden. The steel does make a difference. It has a very solid feel to it that inspires confidence. Those of you that ride with me know that I'm big chicken when it comes to catching air. When we were at Schaefer and Patapsco the other day and I found myself jumping off small water bars and humps in the trail. It also rides lighter than the 24.4 pounds that it weighs. It's really easy to climb, I was making stuff at Patapsco that has given me trouble in the past, even on my Klein. It might be due to the lower front end of this bike with its 80 mm travel fork. It also has a dampening charateristic that you can't quite put your finger on. It seems to take a slight edge off. I can't wait to take it out on an Endurance ride.

All in all I'm very happy. Thanks to Tom for the hook up. The only problem I have now is that the Klein might be gathering dust for awhile."

Shop Goofin

Things were a little slow one evening so Tom and I blew off some steam by setting up an impromptu obstacle course in the shop area and riding it on Tom's Titus. Pretty generic, but as you can tell from the video footage, we sure had fun doing it. Undoubtedly you will see that the skills of one of the riders shines through....and the other ehhh...not so much. ;)

Mountain Biking After 50

Some of The Bicycle Escape staff member’s hit the trail this past weekend. This is not an uncommon occurrence but on this ride Danielle, Mike, and myself were joined by Roger. Roger, as some of you may know, is my father. While we cycle on the road together often it has been about ten years since dad has been on an off road adventure. We went to Schaeffer Farms and enjoyed fair weather and good company. It was a great reintroduction to mountain biking for my father. By the end of the ride he was crossing logs and streams with a smile. Glad to have you back Dad.

Trail Work at the Frederick Watershed

Yesterday some of us at The Bicycle Escape (Mike, Danielle, and I) worked with the fine folks at MORE to do some trail maintenance at the Frederick Watershed. The day was great. We installed some water bars to redirect the flow of water and preserve the trails for the years to come. If you missed this go-around but would like to help out meet next Sunday at Greenbrier 9:30am. Thanks to all who participated and the organizers.

Bicycle Fittings

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As I alluded to in my last entry the colder months cause forward-thinking athletes to schedule a professional bicycle fitting in preparation for next season. If one is considering the purchase of a custom bicycle this works out great because they are sure to have their new bike well before the trees are green again. I enjoy this period of the season. During the bicycle fitting session (which typically takes 2-3 hours) I have time to meet each client on a more personal level and make sure they get exactly what the want. One of my clients was ahead of the curve and just received his custom Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel. I found his finish selection to be extremely beautiful and I wanted to share it with blog readers everywhere. The steel fork and panel paint job give this Crown Jewel a classic elegance. With each custom bike I sell I have to suppress my urge to order myself another one… that is until next season! Check out more pictures on our photo site.

Victory at 52.7

Well the leaves are now colorful and there is a nip in the air. Personally the changing of the seasons is also marked by an increase in sales of bike trainers, lights, cold weather apparel, and an increase in bicycle fittings. There is a special sub-season for me (and by default Danielle) of which you may not be aware. This is the period between the blistering heat and the freezing cold I call the period of bliss. This is the phase when we run neither the A/C nor the heat. Each season I have a personal goal of holding out longer than the previous year. The colder it gets the greater my personal sense of achievement. Last night the temperature dropped to 52.7 degrees… inside my house. I am reminded each year that Danielle does not get as big a kick out of this game as I. However, she is a trooper and is still hanging tough. As I flip through my catalogs to pick out a new wool jersey I can’t help but wonder how much longer I can last. Or more accurately how much longer I can play the game and still keep the peace at home.

A Date at Black Hills

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Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape.

This past Sunday, Tom and I went on a little "date ride" to Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds, MD (near Germantown). Neither of us had ever biked these trails before so we thought it would be fun to explore the area and take some snazzy photos for the website.

Its was truely a beautiful October day. The park was filled with families and the trails were dry and quiet. The Black Hill Regional Park trails are a mixture of surfaces ranging from paved and hard natural to rocky and rolling.

The posted picture was taken at the boat dock area right after I lost our trail map. No problem though, we followed the road until we came to a trail entrance and continued on.

Afterwards we stopped by a place in Germantown called Jaspers where we loaded up on fried shrimp and mashed potatoes - yum...

It was a good day with the old man :)

The Original Shop Bike

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Many of you have seen the single-speed project bike that had the honor of being our first blog entry, but few of you have seen our original shop bike. This is the skinny-tired single speed that is used to navigate the shopping center to retrieve food, make change, and run other errands. The history of this frame is special to me. It was traded to me from a former co-worker/bike mechanic and friend. Before that the bike was traded to him in the same manner. The bike has seen many reincarnations as a multi-speed, single-speed, and fixed gear bike. It has belonged to at least three different shop employees in at least three different bike shops. The funny thing about bikes like this is that they get as much if not more attention then the super “Gucci” new bikes displayed around the shop. I have to agree these old project bikes are neat- especially when they have passed through the hands of good friends.

Road Trip

Just wanted to make a quick entry before I head out for a weekend of mountain biking at Douthat State Park in Virginia. The trails in the park are supposed to be incredible! I setup a mobile blog as a little experiment. Pictures will be sent directly from my camera-phone to My Mobile Blog. Essentially, it will be a live photo feed of the happenings. No text will be added to the photos until I return from the trip. Have a good weekend everyone........

Update: 10/15/2006

OK, so the mobile blogging thing didn't work out exactly as I had hoped. Turns out Douthat State Park is located in a valley and has absolutely no cell phone service. Maybe I'll have better luck next time. ;)

Spot Bash Guard

Spot Bash Gaurd

The Guys and Gals at The Bicycle Escape are quite fond of running a bash guard in place of the big ring on our mountain bikes. Recently we documented one of the installations (on Danielle’s bike). The benefits of a bash guard are: increased clearance, a tighter chain, and protection for your chain and rings.

After the installation Danielle increased her clearance by 34mm (about 1 3/8” for the metrically challenged). Since the big ring was removed we were able to take 3 links from the chain and still accommodate the two largest rings. Because she used a light weight Spot Brand bash guard, the weight of the bike was almost unaffected by this modification (she saved .04 lbs).

Riding at Gambrill and the Frederick Watershed (our usual stomping ground) we do not find the big ring necessary. If you are considering installing a bash guard on your bike first determine if you ever use your big ring. This modification is not for everyone. However, if your big ring causes you to sin (or stumble) cut it off!

Industry Nine

Industry Nine Rear

The other day Industry Nine wheels landed in Frederick, MD. We were very excited about this arrival. Industry Nine makes premium mountain (and soon road bike) wheels with some unique characteristics and lots of options. Their proprietary spoke/nipple combination threads into their beautifully machined hub. I chose black spokes with a red hub but lots of options are available. You can also select your favorite rim to further customize the wheel. Our set tipped the scale at a light-weight 1670 grams. The hub is butter smooth and the six pawl freehub engages almost instantly. Industry Nine has options for the single speed and 29er crowed too. Now I have to find a way to justify a pair for myself, even though I just laced up a set of Chris King hubs.

Follow Your Dream

Independent Fabrication... Living the Dream!!

I just found this video and wanted to share it with our readers. It shows our friends at IF crafting beautiful and functional machines. This crew has made a lot of sacrifices to bring you and I the finest bicycle frames in existence. They truly are living the dream.

The Ultra Salute?

Bicycling Mag.

Well folks we’ve made it! A beer manufacture has labeled us one of America’s Best Bike Shops. We were listed in this month’s edition of Bicycling Magazine along with 20 other shops. The criteria the manufacture used to establish this list is unknown. Just in case this is a ploy to get me to Blog about their beer I will not mention the company by name. However, if you are curious flip to page 59 of the November edition of Bicycling.

Born Again

You may remember this post from a couple months back. Well, the beast is done. Originally we thought it would make a good fixie but in the end, the parts we had on hand dictated the final result......a single speed. The goods? Shimano LX hubs, Sun Big Fat Mamoth rims, Race Face Cranks, Salsa Chainring, Gusset SS Spacer and Oury grips round out the build kit. Due to the attention this bike has attracted in the shop over the past couple of months we have some fun plans for it. Stay tuned... Here is a pic to hold you over.

Today I Rode like a Girl

Ride Like a Girl 9/30/06
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape.

Today I went on a Ride Like a Girl group ride at Seneca Greenway with a bunch of really cool ladies! Honestly, this was my first time mountain bike riding with the female gender and it was pretty nice. I found myself chatting with the others about the different breeds of dogs and sharing silly husband stories which is a far cry from my usually mountain ride conversation. Actually, I don't do much conversing when I am out the guys on account of my inability to breath.

While on our ride it began to rain and kept raining until we were running through mud puddles and sliding on slippery roots and wet leaves. It reminded me of favorite high school cross country and track races when we got to run in the rain. There's nothing like clawing your way up a muddy hill as you pass other drenched runners who couldn't handle a few rain drops.

Anyway, we eventually turned around and headed back as not to ruin the beautiful trails or risk any rain-related crashes.

Afterwards, we hung out in the parking lot and I got to meet a lot more interesting people. Finally, we went to a Caribbean & Latin Cuisine Cafe - a new one for me.

As one of the riders said on the last leg of the ride..."What a great way to start a day." I agree :)

Frederick Pedalers Wednesday Ride

Yesterday I went over to Glade Valley Elementary school to take part in the Frederick Pedalers 6:15 p.m. Wednesday Ride. I had heard this is a great group ride with friendly riders and a pace that an exercise-deprived bike shop owner like me could handle. This all turned out to be true. The moment I stepped out of the car I was greeted by several fellow cyclists.

The weather was a little cool but perfect once we started riding. We did a comfortably paced 15 mile ride down Devilbliss Bridge Road and through the Utica Covered Bridge. I really enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and fellowship of the group. I would recommend this ride to anyone especially folks who are just getting into the sport. You will not ride alone or be left behind. During the ride I was able to chat with some new and some familiar faces. I only wish we could have stayed out longer but Fall seems to be approaching and the sun went down early.

It was a very pleasant evening.

Brothers, Bikes and Ghetto Mountain Bike Trails

This weekend I returned to the old rock quarry where I learned the more basic mountain bike skills. The terrain is less than impressive. In place of beautiful foliage and examples of natural wonder were examples of Man’s stupidity: abandoned cars, old appliances, and plenty of empty cans of Bush beer. But in spite of all this the ride was special. I was introducing my younger brother, age fourteen, to mountain biking. It was a good ride. I got to relive my childhood and expose my brother to one of my favorite activities. Debating whether or not I can complete one of the short steep trails at the quarry is one of my favorite memories. My hope is it will become one that I can share with my little bro.

Civil War Century 9/8/2006

A handful of us TBE guys woke up at the crack of dawn this past Saturday and headed for the foggy mist lurking at the base of the Catoctins. So did appoximately 1,700 other riders who attended the Civil War Century. The Baltimore Bicycle Club does a great job putting this event together. Very organized start, well marked route and aid stations with all the right fixins. If you didn't get a chance to attend this year, put it on your list for next year. Get ready for some climbing, just under 8,000 feet according to the Garmin Edge 305 bike computer/gps. The video above: Kevin, and Mehdi giving a little color commentary at the first aid station/rest stop.

Nature's Roller Coaster

Schaeffer Farm, located about 25 minutes south of Frederick in Gaithersburg Maryland is a great place to ride for beginners and experts alike. The Frederick area has countless miles of trails but most are rocky and have a great deal of climbing. These features, while attractive to more experienced riders can be discouraging to those just beginning. We often recommend a visit to Schaeffer Farm to those just getting into mountain biking or to anyone who is looking for a good time. Riding Schaeffer Farm is as easy, or as hard as you want it to be and because of this you'll see everyone from mountain bike racers to kids on the trails. The rolling terrain and great trail layout are reminiscent of riding a roller coaster. Expect to find a little bit of everything, roots, small rocks, smooth single track, log stacks, log stunts and a couple of small climbs that will get your blood pumping. Another great thing about Schaeffer is that almost all of the log stacks are optional, you can try to go over them if you like, or, you can just ride around them. It's a great place to develop and practice bike handling skills. Schaeffer Farm is a heavily used trail system and it is very sensitive to rain and freeze/thaw cycles in the winter. After periods of heavy rain the trail system may be closed and during the winter it is often closed due to soft soil conditions. Before riding Schaeffer please call the trail closure information line 301-924-1998. Additional information including directions can be found here. http://thebicycleescape.com/wheretoride.html The video above is from a number of weeks back when a few of us got together for a ride. Not the best footage but it'll give you an idea of the terrain.

Flat Tire Repair

Yesterday I taught a class at Walkersville Library on flat tire repair. I enjoy doing volunteer work like this. There was a good showing and everyone seemed to enjoy the session. I found one young man particularly fun to instruct. Midway though the class he interrupted to lecture me on the perils of purchasing a bike from Wal-Mart. He said the bike he purchased had numerous issues including a pedal that fell off! It is always nice to meet a young person who understands the value of a quality bicycle :)