Demi-Dirt 200 August 18th, 2013 @ 3:30 a.m.

Just wanted to clarify that the Demi Dirt 200 is Happening August 18th, 2013 @ 3:30 a.m. 
There hasn't been too much hoopla about this ride since we just want to get out there and burn some demons. The bike season has been good and busy and we need a break. We will be leaving my house at said time. We should be hitting the Fox river before 5 a.m. and we should be arriving at my old house in Sycamore around 7 a.m. From there we will hit 64 and start heading west all the way til we make it to Polo. On the return,after re-supply at Casey's, we will stop at White Pines for a rest and then head home. 
Most of the ride will be pavement but we will be returning on Gravel once coming back from Polo. Bring lights if you come early, bring a jacket cause it might be cold. Bring water and food, cause you will be hungry and thirsty. Bring a camera and shoot some photos. If you need to contact me shoot a comment. Iwill be checking the blog. I will be working tonight at the restaurant. 
Ari 

Crash and Burn

I have to get this off my chest because the next time I hear about this I will loose control. Last Sunday I was unable to participate in the Sunday morning ride. Thanks to Smart Phones there was confusion as the start time. Part of the group left at one time and one of our co-workers left before on his own. 

The rest of the group followed suit 15 minutes later and after some nice riding came upon a bicycle accident scene. There was ambulances, firetrucks and a big group of rider surrounding the injured rider. 

One of our men somehow noticed that perhaps it was one of our own but he wasn't sure. We later found out it was one of our own. They were riding in a pack going about 26mph. It was warm and humid. Our man was riding without gloves as he usually does. 

At 40+ he has over 20+ years of road riding and racing experience. He is a seasoned mechanic, salesperson, manager and is currently a Rep for one of the largest Rep companies in the midwest. The careless group did not signal or call out a huge crevass in the road. Our man hit the crevass, his hands came flying off the bars and he landed with his chest on his handlebars. He raised up again and tried to regain control. 

The front Vittoria tire had exploded from the impact with the sharp edge. His front wheel wandered all over the road until it decided to T-bone and throw him over the bars. 

He landed on his right temple area. The hinge in his prescription glasses tore a gash 15 stitches long. His arms got  deep road rash, his hands never lost grip of the bars and got skinned deep. His elbow and forearm ended up breaking 4 of his ribs. 

This situation really pissed me off. Our man is in a lot of pain, will not be able to ride for a long time and is unable to work. Why don't riders call out hazards? Why don't we care?? What happened to riding etiquette?? 

Let's slow down and keep our riding partners safe. 

Otherwise we won't have anyone to ride with. 

Sorry Chris. I am sorry you must hurt. 

Ari 

Dreaming of Iowa Gravel while stuck in the Suburbs

This is from a recent trip with the wife and daughter. Riding out there is life changing. 
Ari 

August Happenings

August has been a busy,busy month for us at the shop. We have done endless repairs, flats and builds. WE are headed for a beautiful week of weather and I think the trend will continue. The only thing that has suffered has been our riding. Arriving home dead tired is a hard motivation to get out. I am excited to get out and do the Demi-dirt and burn some demons. 
best, 
Ari 

This 46cm Spacehorse did not fit the wife right so we are going to sell the frame. 

Our shop guys gettin out for a group road ride. 

The most overbuilt 1x1 ever. Rohloff, suspension. This thing is a tank and it rides awesome. 

Custom wheels for the bosses new C-dale. 

NOS cannondale six-13 Alu-carbon frame, ultegra, 

Dereek Von Weider and I riding towards Batavia. That's the night I went to turn on my blinker that was on my forkblade and my hand got sucked into the spokes. OUCH!

We received a new Moonlander before other shops would hoard them. 

Special K and I at Trans Iowa 9 

Derek Von Weider (Center) finishing Trans Iowa 9 on his first attempt

Trans Iowa V9. I had nothing on the bike except a saddlebag with repair stuff. 

Gumby hanging out in the fields. 

Nothing hits the spot like Pizza. Trans Iowa V9

My chili got Chili electronic shifting. You squeeze the Chilis and the bike shifts. You can also color coordinate.

Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational Ride July 14th, 2013

Hello folks, 
I just wanted to add some links to flickr photos that Mauricio Babilonia and I have posted. 
Enjoy the photos and if you have any out there send us a link!
thanks and we hope to see you soon again.
Ari

Here are Mauricio Babilonia's Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mababo/sets/72157634670335618/



Here are my photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20897064@N02/sets/72157634712356016/

The Slender Fungus Cycling Association Announces The Demi-Dirt 200

The Slender Fungus Cycling Association is happy to announce the 

Demi-Dirt 200

It will take place on August 18th, 2013

Departure will take place

from The Slender Fungus Headquarters

in 

Westmont, IL. 

Departure time will be 

3:30 a.m. 

ride will head west targeting the White Pines forest preserve, Oldest in Illinois, and then head towards Polo, IL for re-supply. 

IF you are interested in joining us please leave a comment below. 
We will be arriving to Sycamore around 7:00 a.m. and then continuing west. If you like to meet us there let us know so we can arrange our route. 
thanks. 

We will be riding cross bikes with Touring tires since this ride will be a blender with Asphalt and Gravel mixed. Self supported ride with stops at gas stations and other establishments. We plan on riding all day and getting some good miles in before the summer is over. Bring good attitude, a camera and some food. 

As a lot of you can remember we had a most excellent ride called the Fruit Loop a little while ago. 

This ride is in remembrance of that. 

We never tire of this view

Summer Happenings.

It sure was nice to ride the Death Ride. It was an amazing time and I really enjoyed meself. I think about that day as I stand at my work station and tune up department store bikes, fix flats and trouble shoot creaky carbon road bikes. I have tried, with little succcess, to stay away from my gravel bikes. 
You see I have a nice collection of road bikes that have been gathering dust. So for a little while I have been stretching out the legs on my Surly Steamroller and My Rivendell Heron. 
The guys at the shop and I are trying to meet up on Tuesday Mornings and Sunday Mornings. The rides are fast and they really shake up the legs. 
So, the next ride that Dereek Von Weider and I are thinking about is a long assault road ride. We are thinking of a 200 mile range all done in a day. Probably leaving my house at dark thirty in the morning and riding all day.
more to come as things solidify. 
best, 
Ari 

We visited this single room school and learned  quite a bit on how things functioned back then. 

Night rides are so enjoyable in the summer. 

Sunday road ride

Sunday road ride. 

Our container garden. 

Light pollution. 

It never gets dark where we live. 

Flowers on EPO. 

Sitting outside until late. 

I rode this 29er cruiser around the garden center in Walmart.
Not bad. 

Dereek Von Weider dressed as a roadie. 

My co-workers Mikey and Snake

The girls burning some wood. 

Some of these toys still amaze me. 

Night photos. 

My Trans Iowa rig hanging out alone. 

Soon, soon it will be gravel time again.