"Blends" "Blends" "Blends"

Jamie on her Rivendell Bleriot with 650bx44 tires.

Decorah, Iowa 2008

It has been a while since we have been lookin for the above term. A "Blend" is a type of ride that incorporates riding on Pavement and also on dirt. This type of riding challenges the rider with more than one type of surface and in most cases as one uses a road bike you will acquire some better handling skills and strength. The road bike is not a fragil piece of machinery. Remember that all those Madones, Cervelos, Merlins and other candy bikes are ridden hard at such races as Paris-Roubaix and the spring classics.
Ever since I moved out to DE Kalb county I have taken to riding this style of ride and I am pretty much hooked on them. Each one is an adventure in itself.
My Cyclocross bike is equipped with Marathon Racers in 700x35c. These tires can handle all conditions. I have also ridden my legnano with Michelin 700x25c Pro Race tires. My other bike of choice is the Quickbeam with 700x28c top touring tires.
In any case the Flandria 100 Ride in August will definetely be a "Blend" ride and I hope to help out anyone that needs some help setting up a bike.
Don't be afraid of getting your bike dirty since soap, warm water and a splash of Dawn will get you spanking clean again. I would like to add that we plan on giving out cue sheets and perhaps small printed maps to all riders. You may also use your Garmins if you are so sofisticated.
At some point in July we will firm up the amount of riders so we can do some printing. I will be working double shift on Saturday so the ride will for sure take place on Sunday.
Any questions let me know.

Ari

QBP's Frostbike February 2009

Tobie and Joel at Pizza Luce, No flash

Pizza Luce

The incredible, incredible Salsa Fargo.
Giggles notice the tektro levers



Squirrel and Dorkus Maximus

One On One Studio, Minneapolis

Bike shop at 11:00 p.m. Saturday Night

Cronological order of the Bianch Single Speed

Jay looking lost and confused

Snowing in Minneapolis, of course

The Trombon Player Mr. Mark S.

The Sheraton in Minneapolis

Tobie, Jay and I made the hike up to the wonderful city of Minneapolis to Attend Frostbike 2009. We were lucky to have dry roads and little traffic as we headed north and made record time. We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and we were very comfortable there. We also attended the seminars in the same place so it was good not having to move around too much. QBP fed us and watered us a plenty. It was a good opportunity for me to get away from the mundane world of my work area and open the mind a bit. I met wonderful people and gained a lot of insight. I brought back a lot of ideas and a renewed freshness that I had needed for a long time.

I was pleasantly surprised to meet my old pal Mark from the old days at the CBOT. I also was able to chat a while with Guitar Ted , met G-Pickle and Cody. WE ended up one night at Gene-O's ONe on one Studio in Minneapolis and that was a great visit. I ran into Squirrel and we had a photo opportunity.

The Expo at the QBP headquarters was grand and it was a great opportunity to meet a lot of vendors and as a million questions that i had floating in my head. I met with the guys from Salsa, Surly and Civia. I also checked out some great Ridley frames which QBP will start to carry soon.

All in all the visit was way beyond what I had expected. The employees at QBP, the people from minneapolis were all great and showed us great hospitality. I was surprised to see such a big bike culture and also had never seen so many beards under one roof.

I would like to visit this great town again in the spring or summer and spend some time riding around and discovering more of it.

This coming Sunday the wife and I are heading down to Indianopolis for the North American Handmade Bike show. That also will be Grand!

Ari

Nasty Commute and Wheel Building

Fargo with done wheels and headset

Rear Wheel, King and Dt. only the best.

My horrendous ride home. Ugh!

My new digs at North Central Cylery, Dekalb, IL.

Sorry for the large print but my eyes are burning. I rode into work today and it was kinda rainy but mild. We worked all day and had a chilled day. Got some projects done and as it was getting closer to leaving some flakes started to fall. By the time we left we were in a winter storm and riding on a very icey surface. I made the right towards the trail and things got worse. I was underdressed for what I was riding in and of course on my Ira Ryan with the slick tires. I had taken that bike to work to measure up some fenders

The wind was blowing fierce and the tame snow flakes got angry at me and made me hurt. My face was burning despite the balaclava and winter hat. My gloves felt useless since all my digits were frozen solid. I wanted to walk but I was underdressed. I wanted to break down and throw up but did not want to stop. I felt hypothermic and I just kept riding.

I finally made it home after 1hour and 15 minutes. My total distance travelled was 6 miles. I arrived and it took me a long while to get my senses back. Dinner, Tea, and just finished building the rear wheel for Gigggle's Salsa Fargo.

Speaking of Salsa Cycles tomorrow we are off to QBP (Quality Bike Parts) in Minneapolis to attend Frostbike.

Hope to see some of you there.

Ari

Today's ride.

Oregon, IL.

Oregon, IL.

That loop has left me wiped out and it was really good to get out there and gauge how much fat has to come off. I had decent strength in the legs but felt like I was towing an airstream trailer behind me. I was saddened to see Lowden State Park closed. The signs were up warning that going in was tresspassing. Thank you Mr. EX Gov Blago.

I hope our new governor will make everyone happy in that area by opening up the park. It is a great place to camp, go there for a picnic, Go see the statue of Blackhawk and a great goal for us leaving from Sycamore. There is a wall where it is most pleasant to take a break in the summer.

Today the ride was cold and some of the hills got me working pretty good. I would warm up on the uphills and then hit 35mph on the downhills and feel that cold air go right through me. There were some slick spots where the sun don' shine and one had to watch it there.

I later took a road trip to Byron (cause I have never been there) and found more hilly roads. It looks like that whole area has decent hills. I wish we did. Had a sandwich at the local subway and then headed out to Mt. Morris to complete my day of "Me". I had some chocolate and listened to NPR on the way home and I could still feel the Jell-0 in my legs. I hope next time I go there and start the ride its not in the teens.

Ari

Hilly Oregon, IL loop courtesy of Brian C.

A Fargo with Soft Voice (Sotto Voce)

Dr. Giggles' Trans Iowa Monster is coming to life!

Initial build of the Fargo. Chris King headset is first in order. Rims and spokes have arrived and will build wheels this week. The new King headsets are fabulous, gorgeous, fantastic and I am totally in love with them.

Ari

Century Update.

I am thinking that the Century will take place sometime in August. Of course it will be on a Sunday since out here we don't work on such a day. The ride for sure will include Asphalt, Gravel (quite a bit of it), Hills, long moments of no car action, cornfields, Hawks, Dogs, hills, and Gas Stations as rest stops. The loop will most likely go towards the west and touch Oregon, IL where the hills will be waiting for you.

Riders will be advised to be prepared with tubes, pumps and such. We will solidify such details in the future. Each rider will receive a map of some sort since a lot of the sign posts out in the country do not exist. You can use a GPS, map, compass, pouring sand or which ever method you like. We will Not mark the course and we will not have sag wagons. This is an informal gathering of riders. There will be no rest stops with cookies and ice cold Gatorade. The whole point of this ride is to be self sufficient.Fancy time trail bikes with 18mm tires will most likely not make this ride. Some bike ideas will be given in the future. More to come and oh by the way I am going to name this ride:

Flandria 100

questions and so forth let me know.