Support Your Local Bike Shop

I am sure we as cyclist have heard that phrase a million times..keep the money in your community..support the local bike shop...and I agree...to a point...with the invent of internet shopping years ago businesses sprang up and some have thrived by offering us cyclist parts and gear at unbeatable prices...Jenson USA and PricePoint along with Nashbar and Performance Bikes to name just a few..seldom can the local shop match the prices these companies offer...and yes I still order stuff on line...especially when I know it is not common to find at the shop or the shop says they can not get that part or not a dealer for that company..or if I find a closeout deal that is killer...

So when do I use the shop...when buying a bike..of all the bikes I have owned I have bought all but 2 at the local bike shop.....when I need something right now to fix a mechanical..I do my best to keep the coin in the shop..several reasons...a bike shop is like the mall for us biker types...we go in just to look at stuff over and over...we know the people that work there...we hang out and talk bikes..gear..and other stuff..most shops now have gotten huge...tons of stuff and tones of gear..kind of hard to hang out and talk shop...the days of the little shop are going by the wayside...we still have one of those here in the area...Bicycle Center Of Fort Worth..it is a cool place to hang out and talk bikes..the owner (Rocky) is a great guy and knows bikes..it is competing with the bigger shops and yeah he may have to order stuff for you if he does not have it in the shop..no biggie..he usually gets it fast...but the main reason I rediscovered this shop was customer service...and knowledge..the dude can flat out work on bikes and work on them right...he did my latest build and was as stoked about it as I was..the attention to detail and final build was above my expectations..I hung out and watched him work on the bike some..was cool to sit there and see it come together..and though some of the parts I gave him to use where used the bike looked brand new when he finished..he took time to clean the used parts before assembly...he could have placed it on the floor and you would have thought the entire bike was brand new..and it was pretty much..but even the used cantis we used looked new...he takes pride in his work and it shows..so as an appreciative customer I feel I should give a shout out to this shop...if you live in the Fort Worth area do yourself a favor and check it out..Rocky built a mountain bike up for me years ago..frame up...the thing is still rocking and is still as solid as when he built it..if you do it right and ask the right questions you will be surprised that building your own bike with the parts you want and built right here can be rewarding and cost wise can be a great alternative to buying a bike and then realizing you should have got this or that on it and the upgrading starts...

And for those of you that read this..before you buy a bike at Wal-Mart or Target check out a bike shop..they have entry level bikes for kids, adults, that are affordable and are of better quality..plus you support the local economy and develop a relationship with the shop...experience the entire cycling experience..ride..talk...dream..bikes...the best place to do that is at the bike shop.

Surly Cross Check Ride Review-From My Persepctive

So I got the pedals and and have put about 60 miles on the Surly...keeping in mind I built it up as a traditional cross bike...so after reading some reviews about the bike being a great deal..but there where better steel frames out there...ok....that some people would notice little difference riding this steel frame vs say a aluminum frame...ok....those where really the only knocks I could find anywhere on the bike...so I went into this with a open mind and told myself I would be honest with my opinions on the frame...no one wants to ever admit they made a bad purchase...if i spent 5g on the bike I would be singing its praises all day long...even if it was a dog...but minus the parts I already had I have like 600 or so in this bike...if it was a dog I would throw the bone and toss it with it...

Truth of the matter it is a great bike..as soon as I got on it and hit the road I could feel that classic ride of a steel frame shining through over the little bumps and imperfections of the road...with the carbon fork and very little rake it steers and responds to my input instantly..so I did some rode miles on it and to be honest I am sure the 700x35c Kenda SB8s helped absorb some of the road as well as the frame..but the steel feeling was there...it is hard to explain that feeling...a buttery smooth but solid feeling ride..you almost loose the sensation of speed due to the plushness of the ride..true dat!

Next I hit some gravel roads and the bike sprang to life the cross tires came to live and away I went...once again the smooth ride was there..plush...kind of similar to my carbon cross bike for comfort..no comparison when comparing it to my aluminum frame..where that frame you feel every little bump..rock..rut...this one smooths it out and you get that feeling of gliding over the gravel...a nice change of pace...and honestly I am not sure if I will ever own another aluminum frame for cross...

But the big surprise still awaited me...and surprised I was...I hit some smooth xc type trails with it..I am not sure it is the fork...with very little rake and where I have the rear wheel sitting the wheel base on this bike is short...so it accepts input from the cranks and gets to up to speed pretty quick...it handles..the only comparison that comes to mind is it reminded me off a hard tail 26er....weird but there it is...it railed around the corners..tracked great...what little obstacles there was it rolled over them with very little frame chatter and kept on rolling..comfort wise it was on par with my Carbon Cannondale Super X...speed wise as both bikes are pretty much set up the same I think I may be faster on this Surly...not sure and I am going to test that theory at Gateway soon by doing a full out lap at speed on both bikes and compare..but the thing handled like a spot on cross bike....

So in conclusion one could go out and spend thousands on a high end cross bike and it would do an outstanding job...or one could save that money...buy one of these frames and build your ultimate bike...your way..your specs...and if I get bored with it being a cross bike I will throw on a flat bar and some uber wide tires and roll it on trails..or throw some racks on it and go for an adventure...it truly is a do all bike and the only compromise is what you decide to build it with...

I have owned a lot of bikes...some where awesome...some never lived up to the potential ...the Surly in my opinion will be one of those bikes I hang onto....I will ride it everywhere...love it for what it is..and to me it represents that spirit of cycling that has seemed to be lost to the new industry of lightness vs durability..bling vs functionality...dudes it is a real bike...meant to be ridden and ridden hard..

And on a side note...the thing is super easy to bunny hop...just saying!!      

Just A Thought

So with this weather we have been having how can one not ride a bike...I mean...one must..no excuses...well unless work and life get in the way...but really this is a oddity for us North Texans..so with that thought in mind I loaded up the rig and headed to the Trinity...where I noticed several things..if we ride our walk by ourselves we are pretty much obeying trail etiquette with out even trying..I mean we are riding in a single file line...to the right..pretty much using our space in the correct way..so a biker almost takes me out at a trail intersection...he was merging onto the main trail...failed to look left and when I announced myself he ignored me...the nerve I thought...as I swerved to avoid the collision I noted his earphones in his ears..hence why he could not hear me...wanker!

Several people waking side by side and as I announced myself they refused to get over..move into single file..pretty much refused...like I was invading a foreign country and they where going to defend it no matter what...so here are two examples of riders/hikers..both guilty of real bad trail etiquette..and you know what it reflects on all of us...perhaps they refused to get over because they almost got freight trained by the wanna be peloton that rips through the Trinity on a regular basis...I know they have almost taken the wife out once on their race for glory near Benbrook...the ones with the MBBC Jerseys...so perhaps the walkers are making a statement and stand against all bikers...kinda sucks...on one point I really can not blame them..on the other hand safety should always be first among all of us trail users...which brings me to the dude with the earphones..bro you almost took me out...simply because you chose to ride with some tunes floating through that space of your left and right ear...tuning out all activities going on around you..bad enough you could not hear anything but did not your mommy teach you to look both ways before merging onto a street or main lane of traffic..but I guess you do not have to because in your mind your special...people get hurt doing crap like that bro...if you want to ride with your Ipod cranked up so loud you can not hear whats going on around you I guess that's your right...if you want to leave the helmet at home..once again your right...but when you get freight trained do not be pointing fingers..and when you cause someone to get hurt...well that's is on you...to the rest of us riders/runners/walkers that obey the rules...thank you..as they say you can not fix STUPID!

Bike Set Up-Trend vs Real World Application

So I was reading on a forum about bar width...you know how wide your bars are on your bike...stem length...I started thinking back to my first mountain bike..pretty sure it had flat handle bars and they did not seem to be that wide....as long as I can remember I have always run my bars as narrow as I can get them...I mean sill narrow like in the 540-560mm range or 40-42cm on drop bars...I have never had a issue with steering control..never had a issue with the front end feeling squirrel y.. maybe I just learned to ride that way..I use 90mm stems on all my bikes except my 6 inch bike that has a 50mm stem...as a matter of fact I have run wider bars and found little to zero change and actually to me it made the bike feel weird up front...not to mention the possibility of clipping trees and other obstacles on the trail....on a DH run that is not a factor..but as I sat thinking I started wondering how much of this stuff that is evolving in the bike industry is fuel by actual improvements versus the need to push products on us to continue to generate income..

I have read where people as what size bike they should ride...the bike feels a bit small or large and it is suggested get a longer or shorter stem to make the bike fit..my thinking is if it feels a bit small or large than maybe it does not fir...just saying...go to a shop and get a proper bike fit and when they nail the size down then they can adjust stems and such for personal preference..

It seems there is now a 11 speed drive train on road bikes now...I am sure somehow this will trickle into mountain bikes at an affordable price point at some point...now I will admit the 2x10 system to me is one of the best things to come along in some time when it was introduced...I mean you hardly hear about the DYNASYSTEM anymore...or maybe it is just me...

Tubeless systems are another thing which I applaud as a great thing for the sport...I hardly deal with flat issues any more since switching to the tubeless system years ago...that is a good thing...

I am always down with innovation when it comes to clothing and gear the better protected and comfortable we are is a good thing also..

I dig clip less pedal systems...only because I have been using them for several decades now...a flat pedal lets you rock about any shoe you want and when you are off the bike you tend to be able transport yourself a little better with regular sole shoes...just a thought..

I pretty much gave up on spending money on gels,bars,beans,waffles or whatever the latest thing going these days..some Fig Newtons, cookies, a candy bar, or whatever can still deliver some nutrients on a ride..and on the cheap...I still use a energy drink from time to time but these days good ole water still seems to do the trick at least for me...I think it comes down to what we train our bodies to deal with and we evolve with that training..

Buying your bike can be a daunting task and very confusing to new people in the sport...be realistic with your needs vs wants..just because it looks cool does not mean it will serve your needs as a cyclist...if your not sure what you are doing go to a bike shop..develop a relationship with the shop and ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable with your purchase...and when it comes to bikes always buy the best bike you can afford...as you begin to ride and put serious miles on your rig you will get the upgrade bug and start sinking money into a bike to get it to a point of a bike you should have bought in the first place...

Around here I still ride hard tails on every trail we have sometimes..does it beat me up sometimes..yep..does it rip..yep..does it climb..yep..does it make you a better rider..debatable to some but to me..yep...makes you choose your lines a little more carefully..thus you start learning to read trails and how to negotiate obstacles..then get on a FS bike and just flat out rip through stuff...again maybe it is just me..

Don't get me wrong I love all things bling and all things bikes..but I think there is a fine line that gets blurred between what I need and what I want..no doubt a good bike is gonna cost more than a few hundred dollars...but it is going to be worth it..and yes...you can tell the difference from riding a proper set up good bike vs the ones you may get at a department store..

These are just some ramblings as I sit here and dream about a tricked out rig while watching the Tour De France..oh yeah I would so rock one of those rigs.....just saying!    

Surly Cross Check Completed

So Rocky from Bicycle Center Of Fort Worth called today and said the bike was ready...well almost we need to get a set of pedals for her...he ordered a set and should have them soon...the picture does not do the thing justice...in person it rocks...what really surprised me was we tossed it on the scale and with the build we went with it weighed 21.06 pounds...

Took it for a little ride around the shop with some flat pedals...the thing feels smooth..real smooth..it accelerates well under power..the fit feels perfect (54cm). Rocky's attention to detail was superb..everything is squared away on this rig and it just looks like a piece of art work in person.

Of all the bikes I have owned I think this just became one of my favorites...it felt kind of strange sitting on it looking down at the steel tubes vs the over sized tubes of most bikes these day..it has a old school look and feel fused with modern bits and pieces that just give it that look of mmmm..mmmm.mmmm.

I will post up some impressions once I get some good miles on it. Once again my thanks and appreciation to Bicycle Center Of Fort Worth.

All Mountain-Cannondale Moto

I remember way back in the day like the early 90s I use to see Cannondales at races and always thought I would love to have a Cannondale...they where made in the US and their aluminum frames looked so clean...the welds where superb and they just looked great...I never got a Cannondale road bike as I used Specialized as that was the bike a lot of us where steered to and used and honestly in the early days even some of the Specialized models where awesome bikes...when I started really getting in mountain biking I went with a Specialized Enduro...and the bike was a great bike but the geometry and I never got along...so my search for a suitable replacement began.

Now some folks may say a six inch travel bike for the DFW area is a little over kill...and I would tend to agree with them..but there are some advantages...one heck of a plush ride to began with..pretty much tames every trail we have around here..and they are fun to ride...now the down side...heavy..yep..they will make the thighs and lungs work a little harder on the climbs..but I always tell myself I am getting a great work out...so I ended up a few years back getting a carbon Cannondale Moto..35 pounds...switched to a 2x10 11x36 drive train...slapped a dropper seat post on it and threw some Sun Ringle Charger Pros on there as well...final weight ened up being 35.7 pounds..the bike will climb and climb well...one just has to approach the hill in a methodical and deliberate cadence...going down..just point it and hang on..choose a line..slam it..air it out..roll over stuff..through stuff...it is like being on a tank...longer travel with a 20mm fork feels so connected to the trail...on the turns and curves it stays connected and planted to the trail...the choice of tires has a lot to do with that on any bike..but I have run several tire combos and always had positive results..

The Lyric 115-160 U Turn adjustable fork is great..this thing soaks up bumps and is confidence inspiring on the rough stuff...I hardly ever run it below the 160mm setting but when I do it does aid in the climbs by lowering the front end some...the fork provides great feed back and is fairly easy to set up..I have mine worked on by Sram and have had the internals upgraded..small bump compliance is great and when the hits get big the fork responds and soaks the stuff up...

The KS Dropper...allows me to drop the seat post on the fly for better control on down hill stuff...hardly use it...I suppose when you get use to a riding style of leaning back over the rear tire you stick with it...plus I have had to send the thing back as the first one was defective and would not stay completely extended (developed play) in it..took them 3 weeks to get it back to me..I think there are better systems out there..

Sram X9 drive train..in my opinion works great..sharp clean shifts...gotta dig that..looks..just a good system..

Sun Ringle wheels are awesome for the price..they came with everything in the box to go tube less and all the adapters for the three common axle sizes..they are solid and been bomb proof pretty much..

I have ridden the bike in New Mexico and Colorado..and all over Texas...one of the reason I chose a long travel FS bike...it pretty much allows me to ride almost any trail anywhere...when getting a bike like this weight was not a deciding factor for me...durability and function was..

And now for the Cannondale part...the Crack-n-fail...well mine has held up..no issues..I know others have had problems with Cannondale bikes..when Cannondale tried their hand in Motocross they pretty much doomed themselves...they have gone through the rebuilding process and being bought out their parent company is now Dorel I believe..not sure...I know they are one of the few companies left that offer a life time warranty on their frames and they used to have a trade in program where you could return your used frame and purchase a newer one at a discounted price..not sure if they still do..I also bout a Cannondale cross bike and have no issues with it either...would I buy another Cannondale...I do not think so..no reflection on Cannondale..but I will not buy another Trek or Specialized either..at least for now or the near future..there are a lot of alternatives to the major players in the bike industry and I have been exploring those alternatives and their products..I am seeing as far as bang for the buck I am coming out ahead going that route...as we consumers began to educate ourselves about the products we use and want and do our research I think a lot of us are looking for alternatives to the increasing rise in bikes and at least IMO the prices seem to be going up while they selection of components seem to lowering...when bikes are costing near 2g and have a Sram x5 partial drive train seems a little pricey for entry level type equipment on mid level type bikes..seems these days to get the real good stuff you better be prepared to shell out the coin...when prices start getting up there in the 3-5 grand area I think I would rather do a custom build and get the bike just the way I want it with what I want...maybe it is just me...but I think I would rather support the little guy as they vs the giants in the industry..I think we all evolve in out thinking in anything we are passionate about..maybe I am just evolving...later dudes!    

Surly Cross Check Update

So the bike is still in the build process...I did stop by to check it out though...several things stood out..the pictures do not do it justice...in person the thing looks tight...has an old school feel to it with just a smidgen of class but over haul screams build me the way you want and I will not be like any other bike around....just saying...perhaps some counseling could help me with...not sure..

Went with the Easton Carbon fork on it vs the Surly...mainly because I already had one and did not want to just see it sitting there...dudes and dudettes that thing looks tight on that frame...kind of a race look to it but not road bike look...not sure how to word it...the shizzle seems like a good word..

I had read the CC has a short head tube and I can confirm that...I have enough steer tube left to hang hats and coats on...will be cutting it down to appropriate length and fit...the welds look great and the paint looks great..I did the fonts on the stickers as it gives it a certain attitude...had the frame treated before build to ensure I could stave off any rust down the road as it is a steel bike...

As I stood there looking at the bike on the stand..half built..bits hanging off of it..waiting to be completed I could not help but stare at this bike...I have several cross bikes and road bikes that cost well over what this bike did..based on frame only..and for some reason I envisioned myself riding that bike everywhere..it has been a long time since I had a steel frame bike...and it was almost like I was seeing an old friend from days gone by...and I was watching life being breathed back into a classic that a lot of us bikers have forgotten about or written off...steel...in this day of high zoot carbon and aluminum it is not unrealistic to have bikes in the 15-16 pound range..light and fast...full of colors that almost rivals a nascar paint job...the ultimate cool....and behind someones barn is sitting a neglected old steel frame bike...rusting away...living out its last days being broke down by the elements of nature....maybe as I am getting older I am getting kind of nostalgic in my ways...not sure...when I decided to build another bike my goal was a steel frame..there are plenty of high end and budget minded steel frames out there...my research kept bringing me back to Surly..hardly any bad reviews on them..price really can not be beat for a frame and fork...you can change the way the bike is built as often as you change your morning coffee flavor...

I have never dealt with Surly and only sent them one email with a few questions and they got back to me the next day..just like Airborne Bikes that says a lot about a company and as a long time rider I feel compelled to start spending my money on companies like these...I still have bikes from S/T/C and they are great bikes...but I shelled out some coin for them..and after my experience with my Goblin I wonder where all that money went and how much profit someone made...and one company in particular stood out...the Big S...last year I emailed them about a part for my older Enduro that the bike shop no longer carried or new how to get...when I emailed Specialized and clearly stated I already tried the bike shop...they had no idea how to get the part and was wanting to know if I could get the part directly through Specialized...several weeks went by and I received a 2 line email telling me to check with my local authorized dealer for assistance with any issues I had with my Specialized bike...I wonder if they even read my email..oh well...I did end up getting the part from another Enduro owner..my last count I have owned and still own (some) close to 15 Specialized bikes..thats a lot of money I have given to a company as well as a lot of us who ride and race bikes..this is not about bashing bike manufacturers as there are a lot of great bikes out there by a lot of companies..and yes most all of them are made over seas now...but my thinking led to me think outside of the box..I ordered a Goblin..mail order..worked out great...I ordered the Surly through a authorized dealer and it worked out great..I am using a shop that I like and I trust the owner to build the bike right as he has done on every bike I have had him work on..the Surly is being built in a shop that is owned by one man..he sells and works on all bikes..he is his only employee..the shop is small and you can go in and hang out and talk bike stuff..surrounded by new bikes and old bikes a like..it has sort of a vintage feel to it..not a shopping mall feel..I have never been one who needed instant gratification so I can wait for the right bike...I told him to build it the way he wanted and how he wanted...that is how much that dude knows about bikes..and I know it will be great...and in the end that is the part of the process that makes that one bike..that one build unique and special..it represents more than a great deal on a great frame..it encompasses the whole bike experience..when I am out riding the bike I will know what went into getting it built from a frame to a rolling piece of art...built by someone I know...knowing I supported the LBS...because that is what supporting the LBS is to me..yeah something tells me the Surly is going to be a special bike..Thanks!          

Road Bike Alternative

My first bike..real bike...the kind you get at a bike shop was a rigid steel frame mountain bike...that was a long time ago..my thought process back then was I knew nothing about bikes..had a pretty limited budget..new wife...new life...I had always owned some sort of a bike a pretty much rode one everywhere..when I was a kid I had all sorts of incarnations of bikes..as kids our bikes where like cars..we used them to go everywhere...so when I got my first real bike I carried on the tradition of using it as a do all bike for everything..pretty soon I got bitten by the bike bug and started doing long endurance rides on my steel frame rigid...not the best tool for that job...but did get in shape..

Next I got a road bike and the race was one...long rides..racing...I had morphed into a roadie..shaved legs and all..skinny tires equated to speed...aluminum and carbon equated to lightness and stiff harsh rides at time...geometry of the frames equated to sore shoulders and lower back pain sometimes..oh yeah it was awesome..

Several things lead me to the world of mountain biking...the first was the ever growing population of the DFW area..roads I once trained on in seclusion started to become crowed with vehicles...open fields I used to pass out in the country where now becoming neighborhoods...all these things equate to people..and safety on the roads started to become a concern at least for me...I learned to ride certain roads at certain times..low traffic times..I also found at times the rides where boring...long road rides..flat roads with a few hills here and there..same thing day in and day out...with trail riding I found challenges...met some cool people..and pretty much feel in love with mountain biking in the late 90's. I still was racing the road bike some and until the early 2000's still putting in the road miles..then it all changed and I strictly went to knobbies..where I stayed for years..the only downfall was having to drive to a trail..when places like Samson and Gateway are close it is really not a issue..but the other trails are generally 30-50 miles away..so other things come into play like gas and time..but I loved it so much I kept on going to all the local trails and did a few trips to New Mexico and Colorado to experience the trails there...

A few years ago I read where a new discipline in the sport was gaining in popularity..gravel grinding..taking cross bikes..mountain bikes that have been modified and riding long distances on gravel roads...this peeked my interest for several reasons..I remember back in the day training on my road bike and seeing a gravel road off of a paved road...I always thought it would be cool to ride down it to see where it went...for sure traffic would be less and most cars are not traveling at the speeds they do on pavement..but riding a road bike with 700x23 slicks down a gravel road is just an invitation for sitting in the ditch changing out a tube...having the ability to ride a bike pretty much anywhere seemed pretty cool also...so the research began for a decent cross bike...

I ended up buying a aluminum frame cross bike and road it for a season or so but decided I wanted to try a carbon cross bike and saved up and bought one..the geometry is a little like a road bike but more relaxed..the ability ro run wider tires also helps take up trail and road chatter..but the main difference is having the ability to ride down a paved road...hit a gravel road and follow it to see where it takes you...no longer limited by the beaten path but able to go off of it is a blast..I have used my cross bike on a majority of the trails around here except for Samson...maybe one day..maybe..

Since getting a cross bike it has pretty much been my go to bike for almost all riding...I can put 700x23 tires on it and presto...road bike..put the 700x35 tires on it and presto..grinding gravel and hitting some trails..plus when riding on trails with it you have to choose your lines..read the trail...and skill it through stuff...it has made me a better mountain bike rider in the long run..after riding the cross bike on trails I get on my mountain bike and the same trails do not seem like they did before.

There are all kinds of variations to cross bikes and the set ups only seem limited by what a person wants out of their bike..dudes are converting 29er mountain bikes into drop bar gravel grinders and trail bikes..bike companies are beginning to offer gravel grinding specific bikes and frames..the cool thing about these bikes are that one bike can suit the needs of many riding styles..it is kind of like having a Swiss Army Knife bike...

I still like to take my road bike out from time to time but since getting a cross bike the old roadie sits pretty lonely these days...I still ride my mountain bikes a lot..but if I get the chance to go hit some unknown gravel roads it just screams adventure to me..and who is not up for an adventure..      

Airborne Goblin 29er-Long Term Review(Final)

I have had the bike long enough now to come to a few final conclusions on the rig..having ridden it on varying trails around here from easy xc stuff to semi technical trails the bike has performed within my expectations and even exceeding some of them.

Anytime you buy a new bike you hope you made the right decision and most serious bikers are like me..we research and read until it all becomes a blur of specs and parts and price...hoping we get a trail worthy bike at a price we have set for ourselves.

I paid right at 1200 dollars for the bike and 300 dollars for the Sun Ringle wheels...I upgraded the seat post and handle bars to FSA carbon bits. So far I have not found the need to replace anything else except the saddle. Though I really like X9 stuff so far the X7 stuff has performed well on this bike...though if you are used to using higher end drive train bits you can tell a difference..deal breaker..no..at this price point bargain..yes..to have a full Sran X7 spec'd bike is a steal...what really shines on this bike is the RS Reba fork it is equipped with...the Reba is a great fork and it shines on this bike...it soaks up the bumps..easy to set up...and is dependable...once again another great piece of equipment on a bike at this price point...this is my second bike with a Reba fork and I have never had a issue with them..

So you get a full Sram X7 group and a Reba fork at a great price point....the saddle however...the thing is as hard as a rock on long rides...pretty much a entry level saddle..but most riders tend to change things like this out anyway on bikes...so if I was building a bike I would put the good stuff where it needs to be a skimp on things like saddle, bars, stems..knowing they will be changed out anyway..Airborne seems to have done this and it seems to have paid off..I changed what I like to my own preferences while leaving the meat of the rig alone..

On the trail the bike rides solid...the frame while not the lightest around it is not the heaviest either.. form reading others experiences with 29ers I was expecting the thing to roll over stuff easier...it does...I was expecting it to be somewhat clumsy on tight switch backs due to the larger wheels..it is not..the harder you pedal the faster it goes and it seems to like fast...once up to speed it can hold the speed and begins to feel like a lighter bike...on smooth XC type trails it just flat out can haul if you have the engine to push it...climbs great and descends well...the bike excepts riders input well and is a blast to ride...once the trail gets technical you see the the advantage of a 29er...it does roll over stuff easier and does tame the trail some what due to the larger tires...but keep in mind it still is a hard tail and you will feel a lot of the trail like any other hard tail...

I often read others referring to this bike as an entry level 29er...I disagree..it is a intermediate level type bike..entry level to me refers to cheap components..  cheap fork..then again the whole entry level thing seems a little misleading...sounds like if you have never ridden a bike before there is no way you could ride a bike beyond entry level because well you just do not have the experience to pedal and shift better components....but entry level will fail in the long run as ones experience increases and you began to push your equipment...things will start to fail...the Goblin seems like a bike a new rider can grow into...for sure will get you into trail riding and hang in there with you as you learn and grow as rider..an initial investment that will require few upgrades to get the bike you want...

Airborne has delivered a great bike at a great price...their customer service is top notch..the company seems to run by a group who loves the sport and is dedicated to bringing a quality product to the table that appeals to a wide variety of riders...and delivering it at a price that makes you feel like you got the best bang for the buck...

The Goblin comes in two complete builds...X7 and Sram X0..the X0 model has a FSA carbon cockpit and of course the bling and performance of X0.and compared to other X0 equipped bikes it is not just a deal but a steal...I chose the X7 because this was my first 29er and did not want to sink that much money into a bike to decide if I liked the 29er plat form..plus I have a habit of changing things on my bikes a lot..for instance I am currently debating changing my Goblin to a drop bar 29er with a rigid fork..just because it seems to be a great platform for that as well....

I have long left the group of riding the latest greatest thing to come out of the bike industry..I do not need to have a big name dripping off the tube of my bike that everyone recognizes...I am at a point in this day and age where value is just as important as performance...and if Airborne can deliver a bike like this why not the others..sure they have some that are close..but they mix the components..yeah you get a X7 rear mech..but like x5 shifters...I mean deliver a complete X7 drive train and Avid brakes..Reba fork... that opens up a another debate..mail order vs LBS...everyone has their opinion on that...I use both to suit my needs as a rider and a consumer...

As riders we like to think and know we got a great deal on our purchase..I have bought bikes that cost three times what the Goblin cost and left the shop hoping I made the right decision..I never even thought this on the Goblin..once I received the bike and rode it I knew right away that I made the right decision and got a steal of a deal...

These are just my observations as a dude who loves to ride bikes...sharing my own experiences and observations...I by far am no expert or guru of mechanical things...but I have ridden and owned enough bikes to know a deal when I see one...the Goblin is a deal... 

Texas Heat

So I have been riding for....well for a long time lets say...I used to be able to handle the heat here with no problem..ride in the morning..afternoon..whatever..not a issue...as my riding years go by I seem to be less tolerable of the heat...I have noticed it now takes me 1 day of recovery every time I ride 2 days consecutive..I do all the things one is supposed to do...plenty of fluids...back off the throttle..blah..blah...the only thing I can not to do is turn back that hand of time that seems to be slapping me in the head to remind me that I am not the youthful rider I was in days past...yeah I can still hold my own and even put the hurt on some young guns every now and then...but when those days occur I am heading home to hit the hay while they are planning tomorrows ride...

I find I dread each summer that comes along now and feel it puts a real cramp on my riding...oh well it seems as we get older there are a tons of things out there to remind us we are getting older...I guess I will keep spinning what I can when I can and keep enjoying the ride...but it does blow.

Tour De Trinity Trail

Almost there...a few more parts and done...there will be no yellow...in person the bike blows the image away...can not wait to get her out there on some trails and put some miles on it...I think it will serve me well on the Trinity..being steel perhaps one the hard core racers from a group of riders out there in there red/white/blue race kits will feel it when they hit me head on like they almost have the last three weekends on the section that starts in Benbrook...you know the section that says 15 miles an hour..the section where there are people walking..slower riders obeying the rules..the twisty sections that when you carry speed and cut corners you end up almost hitting the people coming from the opposite direction..we racer types refer to this type of riding as a pace line...to be efficient and carry speed...I usually do not point things out like this as it is what it is...but when you have new people riding bikes and they look up and see a freight train going well over 20mph heading at you on your side of the trail said new riders tend to over react as they are not sure what they should do...but today was the real exception as I was heading out...said freight train with red/blue/white jerseys where heading towards me behind a couple who was walking....I knew we would meet where the couple was walking but had no idea the said freight train would go to pass the couple instead of slowing down to allow me to continue as I had the right of way on my side of the trail...head straight at me almost hitting the couple and forcing me off the paved trail onto the dirt on my road bike...said group seems to be out there all the time and apparently have no regard for other walkers/riders rights or safety..we experienced riders know how to read and handle these situations but lesser experienced riders have no clue and it causes confusion and puts their safety in jeopardy as well as others around them..

When I raced road bikes we trained on the road...where there where no people walking their dogs or out for a leisure ride with their family...maybe the times have changed...maybe not...I raced the road.and met some of the most elitist egotistical people I have been around....but there are people like that in everything..I just go exposed to the other side of the sport that I personally thought sucked...

I can see why people walking have a disdain for people on bikes...the action of a few reflect on all of us as riders...there are more cool people out there than negative people...but one little group is a stand out..I thought it was just me..but after my ride I was in the parking lot with about 10-15 other riders where this conversation came up....seems all most all of them had or has had a similar experience with the group of red/blue/white jerseys with the black asphalt road on the back of the jersey....  

Surly Cross Check

So the build hit a few snags...which I kind of expected from looking the Surly frame specs and the bike I was sabotaging for parts...had to order a new head set and front derailleur..also a new hanger for the front brakes...but other than that The Rock has pretty much got it built...just waiting on a few parts to come in...so the maiden ride will have to wait...so far with frame..labor and parts I ordered I am in for around 7-8 hundred dollars..but not bad considering it is built just like I want..

Surly Cross Check Frame
Sram Rival Shifters
Sram Rival Front Derailleur
Sram Rear Derailleur
Sram Rival 11-28 Cassette
Sram Chain
Hope Ceramic Bottom Bracket
Sram Force Carbon Crank
Easton EC70cx Carbon Fork
Fizik Saddle
FSA Headset
FSA 42cm Drop Bars
Origin 8 Stem
Origin 8 Seat Post
Tektro something or another canit brakes
Fulcrum XC7 Cross Wheels-I will be replacing with Easton Wheels later on.
Kenda Small Block 8 700x35 tires

Some stuff I have never tried is Origin 8 stuff..Rocky carries it at his shop and the price seems good and the look of the product seems pretty cool...especially the white stuff...figured I would give it a try..I mean it is an aluminum stem and seat post...pretty sure it is on par with other aluminum stuff...who knows..think people get hung up on name brand stuff to the point of paying more than some stuff is really worth.. that is for another debate later on down the road..my guessing is this thing is going to weigh close to 25 pounds which is respectful for a 4130 steel frame and at this price point..I am sure there are ways to lighten it up...but I really do not want to get into shaving grams by the dollar...keep in mind most all of this stuff is coming off of a bike I currently have...so for the specs and the money I have into it...pretty solid bike at a great price...

Now for the intended use..Surly makes some pretty versatile bikes and though they have frames designated as cross..touring..and such they all seem to have the ability to pretty much build them up however you want to within reason of intended use...mine will be primarily a gravel grinder..Trinity Troller .. Light Trail Rig..my current cross bike only allows for 38c tires..at least with the Surly I can slap some 42c on there for the more gravely gravel grinders..plus I am not to keen on rocks smacking a carbon frame...again another debate for later on...

There is a certain amount of intrigue and fun in having a bike built frame up the way you want it from jump street...reality you do spend more money doing it this way..I imagine if I did not already have most of these parts this build would easily go into the 2000 dollar range and maybe a little more..a person can buy a heck of a cross bike for 2gs...but it is just like the bike it is sitting beside on the floor...every now and then you have to build your own...one of a kind(sort of)..a true custom it is not..but the next best thing....are there better steel frames out there...oh yeah...Salsa..Gunnar...Milwaukee Bikes..just to name a few..in line with Surly..there is Soma and All City..so there are plenty of choices out there to research an plan a build..but in the end I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa to deliver that present I have wanted all year...

My blog is not based on some great knowledge of cycling..though I have been riding seriously for almost 30 years...throw in a few races here and there..owned a ton of bikes...work on them when I can or want...but you learn stuff when you have a passion for something...I have always noticed new people to the sport can get intimated easily by people they perceive as  better or smarter than they are...and there are some out there that make sure you know they are better and smarter than you are...but for the most part the cycling community is filled with a bunch of great guys and gals...I write this stuff for fun and sharing and maybe one person will read it and think....cool..I would like to try that...as always the important thing is to ride...be safe...have fun...and help the sport grow...

  

Surly Cross Check

So the frame is in the shop....I went by to check it out and pick some parts for it that it will need to be completed..the work is being done by Rocky at Bicycle Center Of Fort Worth...who by the way can order the frame right from his shop.

For a low cost steel frame it actually looks great...detail work is real good and the drop outs are the bomb...I have read the frame and fork are heavy..around 7 pounds...after feeling the frame..it is true..but that is one of the trade offs of building a steel frame...especially a 4130 cro-mo steel..one could always opt for a more expensive grade of steel to build a bike...but that kind of defeats the purpose of building a budget type frame up....and as this is not going to be my primary bike weight does not factor into the decision to go with this frame....

I am going to use a Sram Rival drive train I already have...I am using a Easton carbon cx fork I also already have...I do not think it will save a lot of weight but should help absorb some bumps a bit..I had to order a set of 42cm drop bars as I did not have any extras....went with a new stem and seat post as well..white in color to add a little bling to the black frame...using a Sram carbon crank..Fizik saddle and sprung for some new Kenda SB8 700x35c tires..I am hoping the weight comes in at around 22-23 pounds..which I think is respectable for a steel frame cross bike.

Once the bike is complete I will post up a ride review after a few rides to see if my plan of buying a steel frame bike and building it up was worth it...

For those of you in the Fort Worth area looking for a shop that has the old school feel of a mom and pop shop you need to go by and check out Bicycle Center Of Fort Worth...I have used a lot of shops in the DFW area and one can post cons and pros about almost anything they use these days..every time I have had a issue with a bike Rocky has always sorted it out...right..the first time..even if I did not buy the bike from him he still takes the time and pride to do the work and do it right and at the right price...If he does not have it in his shop he can order if for you...I have read where people slam shops for not having inventory on hand...I have customized bikes before and almost every shop I have used ended up having to order the stuff I want because it is not cost effective to keep high end parts sitting on shelves...it is what it is....I do not mind waiting for a part that I want...because in the end I get what I want...built the way I want..and done right...I like to support the LBS when I can and remember you are investing in more than a bike or parts...I still use mail order sometimes...but I try to strike a balance when doing that...

Old School Steel

So I have enough parts to build another bike.....except the frame...so I have been researching frames and several stand out Salsa,Soma,Gunnar, and Surly. I have been holding out in the hopes that Airborne introduces a steel frame but the itch to build is overtaking patience,

So I decided I will go with a Surly Cross Check...the ability to run 700x23-700x45 tires..the ability to set it up as a single speed..drop bar..flat bar..rack mounts..run a mountain or road crank and mountain or road hubs...and it is steel.

I had a few steel bikes in the past and one thing always stuck out in my younger mind of riding...they where all heavy. Enter the world of the weight weenie and the search for the lightest and greatest latest bling...fell for it hook line a sinker...nothing wrong with that as a dedicated racer a full zoot carbon rig is hard to beat.light..fast..responsive..eye candy heaven..same with the mountain bike world...as a friend often reminds me..."right tool for the job" to steal the words of John The Wrench.

As I have aged over the decades of riding I have found my riding style and desires have changed. I ride for fun...seldom worry about speed or distance..a lot of this I owe to my wife who recently picked up the itch to ride...being less than athletic she just loves to ride her bike...and I love to ride with her when she is on her bike...the bike in her words has opened up parts of the world around her she has never seen...she has lived her in the DFW area her entire life. Recently I introduced her to the Trinity Trail..she was like a giddy little girl riding her bike down the trail to the down town area..she saw Fort Worth from views she had never seen.

Another thing that stuck out to me about a steel frame...the ride..smooth..compliant..classic..so I will be getting this frame and building her up..another adventure at hand! 

Texas Parks And Wildlife

Now more than ever we as riders should support our Texas Parks and Wildlife...with cuts being made across the board in these economic times it is sad to see our parks receive cuts as well...the services they provide we as mountain bikers benefit from greatly...there is always a trail to ride near DFW..other than the few trails around here like Samson and Gateway and a few others the parks offers us great trails in a secure environment..the trails offer something for everyone from beginners to hard core seasoned riders..and when your done riding there are other things to do in the park as well with the family or friends....the state parks are like my second home and to see them struggle is painful..

If you are new to mountain biking or a seasoned rider please take the time to visit a state park and see what they have to offer us as cyclist and if you feel inclined to do so help in anyway you can..Thanks 

Going To Build A Gravel Grinder

Well there seems to be a new discipline in the bike world...not so much new as it seems to be catching the eye of many riders..gravel grinding...basically riding bikes on gravel roads..the gnarlier the road the better..the longer the roads and ride the better...the colder and wetter the weather the better...pretty much a sub culture of dudes who like to ride and suffer...like the down hill of road biking...a couple advantages to this discipline is fewer cars to deal with...you pretty much can do it with any bike other than a traditional road bike unless you are so hard core you like changing tires and hearing rocks clunk off of you high zoot carbon road frame..actually you just can not run tires wide enough on the road bike to get a decent tire set up to accomplish riding serious gravel roads..

I got into the gravel grinding thing as kind of a fluke...I was wanting a bike that I could use for everything..road..off road...commuter...and ended up getting a cyclocross bike..other than the geometry and brake set up these bikes look pretty much like a standard road bike..I am currently running some 700x35 Schwalbe tires on mine and have ridden trails around here like Gateway..Isle Du Bois and Johnsons Branch..Gateway was fun..the other 2 trails not so much fun and  I rode them because a few dudes I know said it could not be done...blah..I did it..and paid..sore..beaten down and it took me twice as long compared to my mountain bike..

Riding the cross bike on gravel roads has worked great for 90 per cent of the roads I have done..but even a cross bike has it limits as far as how wide a tire you can fir in there..so this was my first year to try a 29er and as I have been riding the 29er this reoccurring thought keeps going through my head...like a mad doctor...I want to merge a 29er and a cross bike into one ultimate gravel grinder...I have a spare cross bike that is to big..so I am going to get a 29er hard tail frame..build it up with every part I can off of my spare cross bike...drive train..crank..handle bar..everything..get  rigid fork and slap some road disc brakes on the new frame...29er wheels...and see what I come up with...the goal is to build a bike that is still gravel grinding capable..keep the weight down some..but will be more comfortable than my cross bike..will still be trial worthy by slapping bigger 29x2.1 tires on it if I desire..think this may either look so cool or so hideous that either way it will be something out of the norm and will serve the task at hand great!

Airborne Goblin 29er

So I have had the bike for several months now and have had time to put some miles on it and draw some real world conclusions..The only things I have changed on it is upgrading the wheels to Sun Ringle Black Flag wheels and a FSA carbon handle bar and seat post..I have always tried o put carbon on hard tails to help reduce vibration from rough terrain..it does help some but I am not going to say it is one of those things that is an eye opener upgrade..but every little bit helps.

The bike overall has been a stellar performer and at the price point of roughly 1200 dollars I would be hard pressed to find another bike with the components and fork on this anywhere around that was new. I will say once up to speed this thing rolls and on flat and smooth surfaces it wants to go fast and if you got the legs you can scream on this bike..

The larger wheels means more control over rocky stuff...less fiddling with finding the exact line to plow through and more confidence inspiring over certain technical terrain..my experience so fr is leading me to think a 29er is a little more forgiving in the error of rider input..and one thing I have not suffered from yet is the inevitable front wheel stall like a 26er..you know that pint where the fron wheel hits an obstacle and just stops usually forcing you to get off the bike or really power the thing up and over the obstacle...this thing just rolls over stuff like that..

Is it light..hmmm..what is light..race light..like a full carbon with xo stuff...no..then again it would not be fair to compare this bike to a bike in that price range...is it light enough for the budget minded rider or racer who wants a good solid piece of equipment to serve them well...sure is..if I still raced I would have no problems using this bike to compete with...as racers we always change stuff anyway to meet our own personal preference..

Airborne is the only company I know of that is active on forums and talking directly to their customers and people who ride their bikes...they provide accurate and prompt answers to questions asked and seem to be into the biking culture like the riders who purchase their bikes...would I recommend them..YES..my next bike purchase will be another Airborne...they have addressed many of the issues we as normal everyday riders face..quality product...great price..and most of all customer service....try and get that from some of the big names and you will be sending and waiting for a lot of emails or a area rep to decide the fate of your bike..I know as I am currently dealing with a bif name company on an ongoing issue with a bike that I recently purchased...I hope Airborne is here to stay and if you have not decided on a 29er yet..give it a try..as a long time 29er hold out all I can say id there is some credence to the so called hype.