tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post5998971019837001633..comments2024-02-06T10:31:24.491-07:00Comments on Watching the World Wake Up: 2010 Helmet-Cam RetrospectiveWatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-54623017598468833682011-01-03T10:32:04.260-07:002011-01-03T10:32:04.260-07:00That was a fun review. You've been a lot of pl...That was a fun review. You've been a lot of places and discussed many topics this year. I've enjoyed being along for the ride, literally a few times. Just because you're talking about stuff you've done doesn't make it pretentious - well maybe, but what's the alternative, talk in 3rd person all the time?<br /><br />My wife likes SM8 tires, and I used to like them until I discovered Ignitors and Crossmarks - fantastic Utah 29er tires.<br /><br />Sorry Enel, for many of us a 29er is the destination, not a gateway drug to single-speed fanaticism.KanyonKrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954169751206336705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-48265737673562023012011-01-02T09:55:09.981-07:002011-01-02T09:55:09.981-07:00Thanks for the bike set up info. Great weight on y...Thanks for the bike set up info. Great weight on yours. I'm very close to purchasing, so I'm trying to figure out the setup I want. I will definitely not put small blog 8s on it though. Had those for two rides on my Blur and hated them. They are dangerous, in a bad way.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896006691904225007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-65909335744992182642011-01-01T21:18:57.917-07:002011-01-01T21:18:57.917-07:00Enel- "...first step toward a rigid single sp...Enel- "<i>...first step toward a rigid single speed bike, followed by Jesus.</i>"<br /><br />Well, I don't know about that, but at least I'm not <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6LWjP0sZ22w/TRTY84X0jEI/AAAAAAAAJGw/LuFpo-k0sic/s1600-h/stickercut4.jpg" rel="nofollow">making him cry</a>.<br /><br />Thanks, Sally!<br /><br />Rabid- Truth is, I have wanted to do the Mother Of All Form Letter Christmas Cards for several years now, but AW has forbidden it. (So I started this blog.)<br /><br />The Hot Mountain Bike/Naked Lady analogy is a great one, but now I feel weird about keeping her in the garage. It. I mean keeping it in the garage.Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-15676869295212843672011-01-01T09:32:36.330-07:002011-01-01T09:32:36.330-07:00First, in the name of science, it seems appropriat...First, in the name of science, it seems appropriate that someone like yourself would dye that full head-o-hair (you seem to be so proud of) so as all of us can witness this night vision phenomenon. That whole hair thing has me freakishly interested in owning one myself.<br /><br />Second, do you send Christmas Cards? (Capitalized on purpose because The Cards are the best part of Christmas.) It seems A Card from you might be one in which people would race to the mailbox for.<br /><br />Third, everyone is talking about your bike, so I will too: My Spouse has a Tallboy (in XL if you care. I care, 'cause it's giant and I feel like a clown when I ride it. Speaking of giant, Shawn Bradley rides bikes these days. Many have witnessed the largeness of his bike, but no one has yet to produce a photo.) Before he bought the bike, the Spouse talked about that damn thing, as if it were a naked lady for, like, ever. I told him to buy the bike, even if it costs a million dollars, just quit talking about it! I didn't realize that he'd talk about his naked lady bike more once he owned it.Rabidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01910636993163166976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-69584272308806913852011-01-01T08:09:16.497-07:002011-01-01T08:09:16.497-07:00I can't say anything remotely intelligent abou...I can't say anything remotely intelligent about the bike choice, but I REALLY like the Jones' Trail clips and hope you'll finish it this year!<br /><br />Happy New Year, W... keep on bloggin'.Sallyhttp://foothillsfancies.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-5710347117111335082010-12-31T20:12:24.064-07:002010-12-31T20:12:24.064-07:00And also:
Going to 29" wheels is just the fi...And also:<br /><br />Going to 29" wheels is just the first step toward a rigid single speed bike, followed by Jesus.Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-63140243947354092102010-12-31T19:59:05.880-07:002010-12-31T19:59:05.880-07:00Ha! Very true. It just tells me you probably don...Ha! Very true. It just tells me you probably don't fly pell mell into corners at the limits of adhesion very often. In other words, you ride safely within the limits of adhesion most of the time. In other words, you don't ride stupidly....like I tend to:)<br /><br />The 29" version will make that limit even higher, and more predictable in my experience.Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-33184725887577416442010-12-31T19:42:25.665-07:002010-12-31T19:42:25.665-07:00Enel- I tell you, the SB8 is like abortion or the ...Enel- I tell you, the SB8 is like abortion or the Middle East: folks have strong feelings one way or the other! I've run them on my previous bike for 2 years and loved them. But I was running the 2.4 up front (not avail in 29) and in fairness have mortally wounded sidewalls twice.<br /><br />Previous bike = Ellsworth Truth, orig '04, then warrantied w/'05 frame. I've loved it- climbed, handled beautifully. Then I made the mistake of riding friends' bikes with big wheels and thru-axle forks...Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-71697080577432675802010-12-31T15:28:43.473-07:002010-12-31T15:28:43.473-07:00Great weight on the bike.
Grip shift rulz.
Great...Great weight on the bike.<br /><br />Grip shift rulz.<br /><br />Great wheelset. For the upgraded one, at your (normal) size I wouldn't recommend Crests, Arches are a lot more sturdy. I personally prefer Flows, but don't care about weight and am a little (ahem) rough on stuff.<br /><br />Great cranks.<br /><br />SB8s suck beyond belief IMO. They are very lightweight, fast and that is about it. Paper thin sidewalls, next to nothing grip. Good luck, but mind the front end for death understeer. <br /><br />For your own safety I would swap at least the front for something grippier. For race style 29" tires, the Specialized and Bontrager tubeless ready offerings are hard to beat. For you I recommend a Specialized Captain control 2Bliss 2.2 for the front anyway.<br /><br />I will be interested to hear your ride impressions with the switch to big wheels. I have been on them for everything for about 5 years now and would have a hard time going back. I think they are perfect for someone your size.<br /><br />Remind me what bike you are coming from?? I think it was an Ellsworth Truth iirc.<br /><br />PS: I like bikes.<br /><br />29" bikes especially:)Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-36312933659904055472010-12-31T14:53:38.828-07:002010-12-31T14:53:38.828-07:00I heartily approve of choice of a new bike (though...I heartily approve of choice of a new bike (though admittedly I am biased).Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690981291104861282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-42353136813640298182010-12-31T14:16:39.725-07:002010-12-31T14:16:39.725-07:00SBJ- Glad to hear it. Oh, and BTW- I intend to go ...SBJ- Glad to hear it. Oh, and BTW- I intend to go <i>faster</i> on this bike. (Which is here and which you can see this afternoon when you pick up JunkieGirl.)<br /><br />Jube- I hear you re:kids-only cards. Worse yet is the <i>pet</i>-only card. (While I'm eager to see how you and your kids have changed, I was already fairly certain that your dalmatian still was white with black spots...)<br /><br />I bought the Tallboy at Guthrie's- the only dealer in SL Valley. They were fine to work with. I could've saved a couple hundred in sales tax with CO Cyclist or Speedgoat, but preferred to support (and be supported by, if needed) a local shop. My frame is XL, which fits me perfectly (I expect you'd ride an L) and I went with the standard SPXXC build with the notable exception of the drive-train, which I did 9-speed SRAM X0 with XT cranks and LX 12-36 cassette, so as to get grip-shift with the gear range I wanted. I hemmed and hawed forever on the wheels, but eventually stayed stock (DT 340 hubs, Mavic TN719 rims) mainly because they're pretty bullet-proof. In the Spring I may get a 2nd, lighter set so that I have 2 pair of 29" wheels- using lightweight rims like the Stan's Crests would knock off >1/2 lb of rotating weight. With Kenda Small Block 8's (non-UST, set up tubeless) and my old Shimano M540 pedals, it weighs in at 26 1/4 lbs.Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-74533181670451067142010-12-31T13:21:02.023-07:002010-12-31T13:21:02.023-07:00I'm happy to helmet-cam you anytime, even if i...I'm happy to helmet-cam you anytime, even if it does require riding faster than I may have otherwise and the associated fear in hopes that I keep you in the frame. <br /><br />Can't wait to see the new bike. When does it arrive?Ski Bike Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295969126174565599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-1588762694755591272010-12-31T09:08:53.719-07:002010-12-31T09:08:53.719-07:00Lots of great videos there, Watcher.
You have my ...Lots of great videos there, Watcher.<br /><br />You have my bike! I am shopping for that very same one right now. Where did you get it?<br /><br />My Christmas card pet peeve is when cards only have the kids on them. Although I like to see how the kids are growing, I'm not friends with the kids; I want to see our adult friends and relatives. I don't care if they are fatter, or grayer, or have a really ugly sweater on, I still want to see them. When the parents are not on the card, we make up all kinds of funny and terrible stories about why they didn't put themselves in the picture.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896006691904225007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-7591694549496679432010-12-30T18:09:08.277-07:002010-12-30T18:09:08.277-07:00Aleisha- Thanks!
Enel- I had no idea of your supe...Aleisha- Thanks!<br /><br />Enel- I had no idea of your superpower and now regret not having consulted you, but of course am glad to have selected a steed that meets the Enel high standard of approval. Happy New Year to you and the “nel” clan as well.<br /><br />Dave- Yes, I heard about the flooding. I probably won’t pass by there again till March/April, but am curious to see what it’ll look like. And oh BTW- 7K? <i>7K??</i> I thought I’d heard the worst backcountry towing horror stories, but that takes it to a whole new level...Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248341788957416471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-51548625371118457572010-12-30T13:18:55.135-07:002010-12-30T13:18:55.135-07:00Love the Beaver Dam Wash clip. When I used to work...Love the Beaver Dam Wash clip. When I used to work in that area, at the end of the day, I would drive to the middle of the wash, take off my boots, and soak my feet out the car door and indulge myself in the utter riparianess of it all. <br /><br />That's near where I had my worst stuck ever (dump truck full of salvaged Joshua trees, backhoe, and a $7000 tow bill (not paid by me thankfully)). That's a story for another time....<br /><br />Anyway, Beaver Dam Wash just had a huge flood last week and I was out there with a hydrologist looking at the carnage. Neat area, nonetheless...Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16794671152150647056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-25158447546490535682010-12-30T10:31:37.973-07:002010-12-30T10:31:37.973-07:00I want to congratulate you on a choice of a fine p...I want to congratulate you on a choice of a fine production 29 inch wheeled bike.<br /><br />If you had asked me for a recommendation for you specifically, that bike (or the Specialized Stumpjumper) would have been at or near the top of my list.<br /><br />If....you had asked. But you didn't and made a fine choice all on your own!<br /><br />I don't know if you knew, but I have a savant like ability to put people on the correct bike for them. Just saying. It is like a super power or something.<br /><br />Have a great new year and thanks for all the great posts and work this past year.Enelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967981896718833776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199848742267562587.post-59809532102214464212010-12-30T09:22:54.880-07:002010-12-30T09:22:54.880-07:00top whatever lists may be a bit pretentious but as...top whatever lists may be a bit pretentious but as i get older they also help remind me of my favorite things that i did all year:) new follower, love your blog!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17591935626477755273noreply@blogger.com