Carlyle Brewing Company, Rockford, IL.

The Carlyle

On Monday we decided to take a trip out to Rockford, IL. and try to discover some localish treasures. We took Giugi to the Kid's Discovery Center and she has a blast there. Then afterwards we were guided to the Carlyle Brewing Company right in Downtown Rockford. the atmosphere is super-quiet and believe it or not there is no annoying T.Vs.

They brew all kinds of beer there. They were Freshly out of the Stout so we tried the Scottish Ale and it was fantastic. Sorry you were not there Giggles and Charlie. The wife and I kicked some back while Giugi ate Pizza and homemade warm pretzels. Then we took the long way home and hit some great Gravel Roads while the Pantani-mobile just floated over the stuff.

A great time and not too far from home. We would like to try out the Coronado Theatre, The Burpee Natural Museum and a great Italian Restaurant called Maria's.

Ari

Pain Free Ride

Flooded Kishwaukee River

1x1 on initial Gravel Grinder

Note antique Rock Shox Post

Next change will include longer stem

Today I celebrated two things. First was my initial ride after having gone to the oral Surgeon. For the past year I have been riding and living with a lot of pain in my mouth. A poor insurance system and a lack of funds kept me from taking care of business. I was also a bit afraid of having to deal with such a catastrophe in my mouth. My dear wife took it into her hands to end the procrastination and made the appointment for Dec 24th. I suffered like never before and I am still getting used to the temporary bridge aka "The flipper". So today I saddled up on my new bike and decided to not return home before I had whipped 30 miles into those cranks. I rode out in the fields and fought the terrible winds of winter. I went to the food coop for Tempeh, brown rice, some organic soy sauce. Then I went to visit the blokes at NCC.

While at the shop I realized that after entering the store and being there for a while in the warm are that my frozen mouth did not hurt. I was fuckin' pain free!! Pain free!! So I really enjoyed my stay and then boogied home with a 25mph tail wind that took me home in a jiffy. I arrived home and again NO Pain!!

So while I ride this I am grateful to my dear wife for getting this stubborn mediterranean into the doctors office. As to the Surly, it just plain rode beautiful. I will change out the 110 mm stem for a 120 or 130 mm since I feel scrunched up. I also love the 180mm cranks on the bike. My new Craft Storm Tights were great. It was a new experience riding tights that did not have massived crashed induced holes in them.

Miles for the day: 30.

Pain for the day : 0

out,

Ari

Fresh Build @ Flandria Velosport

Lots of sun this afternoon

Paul rear hub. Paul= Made in 'merica =Good

Front end of Classic 1X1

Pure cycling pleasure.

In a desperation to keep myself busy I have completed another build. I had a great Voodoo Cycles singlespeed that never fit right. So it will go up for sale and in its place I built up a great Surly 1X1.

What a great machine. I takes monstrous tires, since the Michelin 26x2.0 seem like road tires on it. I built it up by chasing all threads, facing and tapping the BB shell , facing the headtube. Then for 3 long days I frame saved the whole thing. Then I took a dremel and took all the paint off the rear fork ends (mistakingly also known as track drop outs) so the rear wheel would bolt on to metal and not paint.

Installed Chris King headset and spacers in Gold. Truvativ stem and bars, Deore Xt v-brake levers. Marinovative V-brakes, which are incredible and no longer available. Front wheel is a Cane Creek Crono while rear wheel is built around a Custom Red Paul Singlespeed hub on a Mavic Rim. Bottom Bracket is Shimano Square taper with Race Face Forged 110mm bolt pattern 180mm Cranks. Chainring is Specialized with Spot Chainguard. I already changed the seatpost, saddle and Grips to Rock Shox seatpost, WTB Pure V Camo sadddle and Ergon Grips.

Tires are Michelin. Blue: We can now do Team Lime Green Surly!! Are you up for it??

Hope you likey,

Visit North Central Cyclery for all the Surly bikes including the 2009 frames and completes that are trickling in. They are 3 Pirate flag dealers and to note the only 3 pirate flag dealers in Illinois!!

Support your Local Bicycle Shop

Ari

Another Flandria Velosport Build

Custom Gunnar Ruffian 29er Single Speed

This beauty is riding around Syracuse N.Y. and is one of my favorite MTBs.

I used King Components for the headset and hubs. Cranks are converted Sugino XD with Surly stainless chainrings. Brakes are reliable and easy maintenance Avid BB7's. Rims are Dt Swiss.

STem and seatpost by Mr. Thomson. Bars by Easton and currently riding studded tires. Pedals are Crank Bros. Candy Sl's. Pogies produced by Parts unlimited. The baby blue color was a color of the month that Gunnar offered. Their Stock colors are Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, Silver.

Ari

The Elusive Salsa Cycles Fargo Lands in Flandria

This is the bike that will carry Dr. Giggles in the Trans Iowa in 2009. It has not been easy to get these frames since production is limited for the time being. The frame arrived from a small shop in Vermont to the Flandria Velosport headquarters. We are deciding on colors and components and will slowly start to build it. It has every imaginable braze on. Frame material is Steeel and it will accomodate 29" wheels. Can't wait to start on it.

Ari

Merry Christmas to everyone, I mean everyone

Less than an hour after Oral Surgeon

This Christmas salutation extends to all my family in Argentina, Greece, Germany, Italy, Paraguay and to all my family and friends in the United States of America. I hope that 2009 is really good to all of us. We had a lot of hardship for 2008 and I hope that with a new President in office and a new government that we will be able to bounce back. I am most grateful for my wife since she ran such a tight ship this year and we were able to stay afloat on all our bills. My daughter Franny got accepted to Kendall College and she will be pursing a degree in Culinary Arts. I dream of her opening a restaurant some day and me checking in coats with a shirt buttoned all the way to the top. My little daughter Giugi is doing great and her funny antics always gives us joy.

I just got back fro the oral surgeon and I got 4 bad teeth pulled. I am in a lot of pain but I had to take care of this. I procrastinated with this for over two years. I rode in the winter and when I got home I would be in pain because of the temperature change. This went on and on. Now I can start rebuilding my mouth and rid myself of the pain. Soon it will be time to seriously start training for Trans Iowa. If it keeps snowing I will purchase a pair of snowshoes. I have to be outside.

I wish everyone a good holiday and when you have some time shoot me a note. I always miss you guys out there.

B.K and M.K. I send you guys a huge hug.

Who is out there Plowing through the snows of 2008 onboard a fine machine called Rosinante?????????

ARI

Day off riding

Abandoned Farm on Rte 23 going south.

Thursday was a do or die situation since winter decided to take a break and climb up to the 40's. I saddle up with my new Fuji, complete with exposed cables, first generation white and red look pedals and a whopping 7 speeds in back controlled by a minute aluminum lever located on the downtube. I struggled against the wind heading south since the report said 25-40 mph winds with gusts of up to 50 mph. Hummmmm? sounds like what it was in the Trans Iowa earlier this year. I made to the 20 mile mark and turned a hard u-turn to sail Northbound like a big fat boat with huge sails full of air. I enjoyed every minute on the Fuji and was glad to have clocked the magical number of 40 in December. I met my Father in Law for coffee at the 'Bucks and then hit the liguor store for a 1/2 pint of Jackie D.
After coming home from the restaurant I started my tooth incident which finally, at 3:30 am made me cry. It broke me. I was tired and just wanted to sleep and I was not allowed. Luckily at 430 am I found some strong painkillers and knocked myself out completely. I am getting said loser tooth pulled on the 24th of December so I can miss out on all the great food that we are planning.
I guess it could be worse.
out,
Ari

Alternative Cycling

I ran into this video and I am dedicating it to Dr. Giggles and Two Wheel Spot. I know how much we like this kind of stuff.

Ari

A Confession

The most influential movie/ book of my life. I saw this when I was a kid back in the 70's and I swear I cried the whole movie. I cried because Zorba was so full of life and I could feel the intense energy he was giving off in his performance. It has carried me through the most difficult times of my life. Watch this movie when you are not able to go out and ride.
enjoy,
Ari

Winter time,

Surly 1X1 ready to Roll.

Riding Peace Rd trail to Dekalb

Tobie's Pugsley copulating with Rockhopper

Another Snowride at midnight

I have been really enjoying the studded tires. My next step is to sell more junk on ebay and once the Paypal account is up to par start on a Pugsley Project. I will be living out here in the fields for a while and I know I will be using the bike. I am just trying to buy myself some freedom and sanity for getting couped up in the house. I will only ride the Kreitlers when it is the end of the world.

As you can see above I got the Surly 1x1 done. The bike got built with almost all used parts. New parts included were cane creek headset, chain and rear fender. I can build fancy I can build frugal. You name it.

I have a Voo Doo cycles single speed mountain bike that has been roaming around my garage. It is a size 20" and it is too small for me. I am going to take the parts off and ebay the frame. With that money I will throw all the parts on a Surly 1x1. Next I have a Surly Crosscheck which is a 60cm and that is too small also . That is going to go on ebay and with those funds I hope to start by buying a Surly Pugsley.

Winter is a good time for projects, cleaning the garage, catching up with friends and family and winter riding.

Hope you are doing well.

best,

Ari

Rage on Winter.

A Surly 1x1 that Flandria Velosport is Building

The Rockhopper at night with New Nokians. GRIP!

Every year it seems like I am more and more commited to ride in the winter. It is a matter of getting organized and thinking ahead. There are some essentials that are necessary to get the job done. The latest component to enter my winter arsenal are the Nokian Extreme 294's. Yes they have 294 studs and a very aggressive tread pattern. I mounted those on to a trusty old Specialized Rockhopper that kinda came my way. I was out the other night with snow and ice on the trail. I was able to ride through and do the complete 8 miles in under 2 hours. I never once lost traction and it is also very helpful to have a triple in the front to create all the torque you need.

Lately I have also been riding exclusively with my Gore Jacket. It has zippered arms that come off and turn the thing into a vest. I don't know where all the moisture goes since I always arrive home dry and comfortable. Tonight it is snowing again and it is one of those nights where the lights bounce off the low clouds and light up everything. I will be out chasing ghosts.

Ari

Sunday Riding

Great Western Trail in Snow Storm

The Gunnar after 5.5 hours of Abuse

I started off by riding really slow since my back is not 100% yet. After the nasty crash I have been trying to take it easy as to fully recover and resume normal intensity. I was out for almost 6 hours yesterday and it felt great. I rode the GWT first by myself and then met up with the Guys from North Central Cyclery for some riding along the powerlines. It snowed pretty much all day and the wind was fierce. I was very well dressed with the following:

Craft Windfront turtleneck

Gore Winstopper Jacket

Light merino wool Vest

Craft balaclava

Rapha summer hat

Uvex Helmet

Riding shorts

amfib tights

wool socks

lake winter boots

ski gloves

I could have been outside all since since my back started to losen up at around the 4 hour mark. When I got home I mounted the Nokian Extremes on the Rockhopper for tonights ride. I expect all the snow from yesterday and today to have turned into ice. Full report on the Nokians soon.

best,

Ari