Surly lands a huge Dump

When the world of the inner-web just gives you a bunch of bologna on a daily basis Surly just sits back and does its work quietly. Testing, riding the crap out of stuff until it is just right, until they become instant classics. Check out the latest post to just get an idea of what is going to happen in the cycling world. Moonlander, Truckers with Disc Brakes, the Ogre, up-dated Monkeys, new tires, rims, colors. Man, I am just losing it.
Here goes the link. Go Nuts. See you tonight for the Gypsy Caravan.

Ari
http://www.surlybikes.com/blog/

Gypsy Caravan is this Friday 5:00 pm.

5 pm at the back of the shop. No jerseys allowed. Bring food, drink, a guitar, a horn, whatever you want. Will ride 40 miles on gravel, pavement, dirt. Bugs, rain, flies, darkness, bring lights.
If you really need more info contact the guy on the picture. He can "guide" you the right way.

Gypsy Caravan is where everyone wants to be!


thanks T.J, thanks B.B. for the Artwork.


out,

Ari

Trans Iowa is on my mind. Oh Boy!!!!!!!

Trusty BMC is ready for more adventure

As most of you endurance freaks have read or heard the Trans Iowa Version 8 has been announced. Affectionately known as V-8 and not to be mistaken with no juices or cars. This is V-8 that will turn your body inside out and make you numb for months. So we are now in the planning stages as to how to tackle this monster. We have gone to DK200, we have done long rides, we have done the Fruit Loop, and we think and we have nightmares. I have an enourmous passion for this race and just to be lined up for it gives me the chills. Iowa is like no other. She is beautiful, calm, remote, brutal and peaceful. The hills are relentless and make your bones hurt. The weather turns on a dime and makes your life miserable.
I have dreamt for many years to finish the race. I have thought about it and analyzed it for days on end. The Fruit Loop was and incredible ride and clocking 255 with all those hills, gravel and heat was truly an experiment in survival. I still have some numbness in my foot and my right hand. As I approached the 255 mark I became very excited to know that I still had another 70 miles in me to complete the 325 which is Trans Iowa. That ride proved to be a great measure of where we are.
This winter will be brutal as I will embrace the Pugsley and my snowshoes and tackle those tough days when it becomes near impossible to venture outside. There will be no excuses but hard work ahead. V-8 might be the last version and it might be my last chance. I will be checking on equipment such as new frames, wheels and components. My plan is to go uber-prepared.
Training rides will commence September 1st, 2011. In the past I have commenced in October but this year I am altering my plan. I will post training rides and if you wish to join you are welcome. A lot of the rides will take place at night, also during rain, snow, and cold.

thanks for reading,

Ari
Slender Fungus Cycling Association.

The Gypsy Caravan is August 26th, 2011

The Gypsy Caravan Pugsley ride will take place on August 26th, 2011 at 5:15 pm from the back of North Central Cyclery. Please no Jerseys. Wear something fun and bring food, drink and music.

Ari

This Gypsy Video is dedicated to B.B. since he is considered a prince amongst the gypsies because of his beautiful blue eyes. Enjoy it B.B. and dance on!

It has been announced

http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/

Here is the route for Pugsley Ride #1

Still working on the date since August is such a busy month at the shop.
Ari







Thanks for sending this T.J.
You Rock!

Salsa Cycles Selma Titanium

Ovalized Downtube for an efficient drivetrain

Internal Bearings for a larger diameter headtube thus a larger downtube possible since

there is more surface to weld on .

Selma Ti with alternator dropouts. Set up single speed but possible to run 1x9or10 with different dropouts.

Race face Turbine, White Industries hubs, Blunt rims, Misc stem bar, Stem

Gave up on the idea of running my surly 1x1 with 29er wheels and opted for this great frame.

Been riding it a couple of days and will trim the steerer tonight to finish it up. Ride quality is spectacular and weight wise around 21 lbs with a bunch of used heavy stuff. Frame size is XL

Selma Ti 29er Xl

Vamonos!

Pugsley Ride # 1 announced. Pugsley Ride #1

This is what happens when you get cocky and you just don't want to let go.

The Slender Fungus Cycling Association
is
Proud
to
announce
Pugsley Ride #1
to
come
soon.
The event will be run
on
Dirt
and
Gravel
and
will
be a
Fun
ride
not
a
race.
Bring
A
fat
bike
and if
you
dont
just bring a
moutain
bike.
Fat bikes
are
not
just
for
snow.



T.J. is working on the route which will be under 50 miles, so a short event. Promptly we will announce the time and date so you can get clearance from your respective Towers. We plan on everyone bringing some food, drink and desserts to share. Again this is not a race.
yours Truly,

Ari

Please let us know if you are interested in the comments below.
We are also still planning the Superfly 100 and the Flandria 100. Possiby another 200 miler will be planned riding via Bloomington, IL to pick up Cookie and riding back to Dekalb. We are also exploring and idea of a century down in Bald Eagle territory and also down by Paul's neck of the woods in Sterling, IL.
more to come,

Ari

Introducing the latest member of the SFCA

Russell

Directly from Berlin, Germany.

Ogle County Fair, Oregon, IL Aug 2011

The family minus Russell our Jack Russell Terrier.

The Rodeo was a Blast.

Wifey keeping an eye on the young one.

Friday night after work we ran out in the Oldsmobile to the Ogle County Fair. What a great time it was. No pretentious people that's for sure. I enjoyed the fact that with paid admission all the rides were free for the kids. The Rodeo was the highlight of the day and shooting pictures was a lot of fun. If you have a chance check out a local fair. You won't be dissapointed.

Best,
Ari

Dirty Kanza 200 Video

My Dirty Kanza Experience from Keith Walberg on Vimeo.

Nice video and well done,

Ari

The Fruit LOOP is over and Done, thank God

Cookie in Full exhaustion mode around 2 am. in Mt Morris. Still around 40 miles to go.

The view for many miles and eternal hours. Thank you Jesus for Velobeats.

The LLama, asleep with his helmet on just in case something fell on his head. Maybe a chucked beer can. Spent the night in a backyard shed at the hardware store and listened to Trucks downshift all night.

taking a break before sunrise Monday morning

The gang somewhere up in hills of Galena

Paul, Cookie, Jelly boy, B.b. and Franny (seated)

My fav photo. The riders seem so small

Cresting a hill

Landslides due to heavy rains 12" in 24 hours.

Picking up Paul in Polo

Franny and Jelly Boy.

Nice cool mist in the morning.

Group break

The kids rocking out on a Salsa Fargo and a Brown (unobtanium) Surly Crosscheck

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to congratulate all riders that toed the line for the start of the Fruit Loop. Here are the total miles for each rider. We all hit personal bests and it was a great day to do it.
Ari 255 Miles
Franny 90 "
Jelly Boy 90 "
Cookie 255 "
B.B. 255 "
Mike B 100 (?) "
Josh 100 (?) "
Tom K 143 "
Paul 130 "
Llama 255 miles


As you might have heard the ride started on July 31st at 4 am from Ari house. We hit straight down 64 towards Oregon. Everyone was utterly on time and ready to go. Everyone had lights and everyone was prepared. Wow!
I have worked double shifts on Friday and Saturday and had little to no time to prepare. My bike was set and I had opted for 900 gram Schwalbes. Same setup for the rest of the bike as DK200.
The weather promised to be cool in the morning but as soon as the burner came out we started to get hot. You would not believe if I told you that there was absolutely no wind that day. Also the sun was burning like Hell and there was 9 foot corn all around trapping us on the road with no air to breath. We made it to Savanna where Franny and Jelly Boy were to be picked up by my ever patient and lovely wife.
We continued on as she was in transit and started to hit some severe hills around the palisades. Scenic Ridge rd was great, so was Hanover rd heading west with some real steep grades. We arrived at Hanover and took a break at the gas station, we then continued on Black Jack but turned on Rodeen and then Irish Hollow, which is way tougher than Black Jack. We struggled with heat, cramps and relentless hills all the way to Galena. There we fixed Paul's tire and went on for burgers, fries and huge cokes.
Stage Coach Trail burnt my legs and I was already fighting cramps for about 4 hours then. I had switched to the new Carborocket fuel mix and I think my body was not taking it. I walked, streched, ate, drank and drank and drank to no avail. I told Cookie I was done and wanted to be alone. I would finish no matter what.
Jay said we would stick together. So as the sun started to hide behind the big hills I started to cool off a bit. The cramps subsided and I started to feel better. At this point everyone was really starting to feel the ride. We arrived around Apple Canyon around 8 something and as the sun went down, the Slender Fungus started to awake. We started heading south and had all of rte 78 to ourselves since a bridge was out. Llama and Paul started to bonk and finally made it to Mt. Carroll. I think as they were getting more and more tired they stopped eating and drinking and that caused them to hit the wall. Cookie, B.B and I stuffed our faces and mounted up as Llama slept on a D.Q. Picnic table and our rider of the day, Paul , waited for a ride. Good Job Paul, you were very impressive!
We started on rte 64 and had a really long way home. 40 miles to Oregon and then another 33 to Sycamore. We stopped at Mt. Morris for coffee and then headed home. Cookie and B.B. went ahead as they wanted to get it over. I chilled, and had a ton of thoughts through my head. I thought about what an amazing day it was, I thought about how brave my kids are. I also thought about how tough everyone was that day. I was truly grateful. All our equipment functioned perfectly. We never flatted, just rubbed a tire down to the casing before we replaced it.
I hope we can gather again for another adventure like this. I am still looking for my ziploc bag that had my license and debit card. My legs are still sore 4 days after the fact but rode on tuesday, wednesday and today did 30 miles with the wife on the crossbike.


Thanks for reading,

Best,

Ari