Losing the Mojo

As a more mature, older cyclist I have come to realize a few things. Last year was a year of transition for me as I had left the bike industry after being in the trenches for over 30 years. 

I have no regrets about it since I have gained so much from it. I have lifelong friends that I will grow old with, knowledge, lots of miles ridden,people I have met. I supported my family and earned respect from my fellow workers. 

As the business changed a lot of the small shops did not follow suit. This caused a lot of turmoil and the demise of a lot of bike shops. I have already mentioned this phenomena in another post. I slowly started to lose my cycling mojo. I came to realize other important things. I came to realize how I spent all summers cooped up in front of my workstand. Customers would walk in and tell me how beautiful it was outside. 

It honestly started to affect me. I had spent a lot of years doing this. I had spent a lot of years in there. My family waiting for me a the end of a long day to enjoy the last rays of the day. 

After leaving the industry a weight has been lifted. Something has changed and I cannot put my finger on it. I miss the shop, the people and the bikes. Then there is a lot I don't miss. I am still trying to figure it out and I have a hard time doing it. 

I have been off the bike for over a month. I have not taken such a break in over 40 years and after a while I started to get used to it. I had lost my cycling Mojo. My body and mind needed a break, and intermission, a reset. 

Tomorrow the weather will crack. It supposed to be in the 50's. I will get dressed and start my new season. I hope to enjoy cycling like I did before. I hope to ride with family and friends. I hope to meet you for a ride. I hope to run into you out there. I have a lot to catch up with many of you. It has been a long time coming. 2020 might just out to be a pivotal year for a lot of things. 

thanks for reading, 

Ari 

Hope to catch up with you this year! 

The Changing Times they are

RE-Cycle, Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL. 

Been keeping and eye and ear out on the bike industry even though I have sort of stepped out for a while now. More and more Bike shops across the country seem to be closing their doors. Some people might think that it's mom and pop shops that did not keep up with the times. 

Unfortunately it's a combination of both. A very high tech shop in the L.A. are closed its doors. Small shops in smaller towns are also shutting down. A lot of it is blamed on the internet. Well that's part of it but the Bike industry in itself did nothing to get ready. 

The small shops just were not able to compete and slowly but surely they started to lose business and sales. If they owned the building they probably lasted longer but if there was a rent to pay it was over with. 

So, this topic is not new. What will happen in the future? Where have the skilled mechanics gone? 

I think we will see fewer and fewer shops. We will see repair shops in very small locations with a 1-2 person show. Maybe parts will be purchased online and shipped directly to shop. That's were online bikes will get built, tune ups, flat tires, fitting. 

One will see less inventory in those shops. Stripped to the bare essentials to not create overhead. Need something fast? Next day Shipping? A lot of people suggested that everthing was going to go mobile. In some parts that viable but outfitting a vehicle is not cheap. 

It will be interesting to see what the next 5 years will bring. In the meantime enjoy your local shop. Buy something from them. Support them. If the difference isn't great give them the business. Don't go asking for advice and then shop for it online. That's really cheesy.

Thanks for reading, 

Ari 

The Bucket list

The Bucket List

I was at work today and thinking about riding bikes. It has been a long time since I have taken a whole month off of cycling. The reasons are numerous to list for now. There were a lot of aches and pains, fit issues, and after so many years of riding non-stop I figured it would be a good experiment. 

Cycling can/is good for one's health. On the other hand the person that rides every single day of their lives will attest to and accumultion of tiredness, stress, pain and discomfort. 

I was one of them. Off the bike I felt like a wreck and once back on the saddle all my aches and pains would sort out and I would gently mold back into riding position. I have been working on some ideas and figuring out others. 

I thought a lot about gravel rides and races. They are the rage now! Wow! I also thought about riders that have their bucket list. They target a ride, do it, complete it, mark it off, and then, never again. 

They never help the sport, help the race, help promote, nothing. It's that check mark that keeps them focused. 

As we enter a new era of Gravel road riding and racing we will see some changes. I am already missing the old days of gravel riding in it's infancy. We were friends, we hung out, we kept in touch. 

With the big cycling organizations hungry for cash they will take care of that homie feeling and turn it corporate. Then they will lose people, like in road racing, and nature will take its course. The roads will always be there, the dust will settle and the old, creaky guy aboard his Single Speed Crosscheck will enjoy a new sunrise. 

Get'em while you can. 

Ari 

A turn in the weather is about to happen

So today I noticed a few things. I went to move my van and when I got in it it wasn't freezing cold. The sun had warmed up the interior. I don't quite remember the last time I felt that. Mind you that the van is always parked outside since the garage is ocuppied by a few bikes. I also heard a few birds singing and chirping as they were happy to enjoy some warmth and sun. 
I have this feeling that we have turned a corner and that before we know it the winter will turn to spring. I have taken almost a month off the bike. I rode a lot and I needed a good break. I have to work on some saddle issues and fit issues. I have some aches and pains that need to be addressed by my Chiropractor. Too much riding, not enough stretching, a nagging Basketball injury from 1986 that has never, ever healed. 
I have been trying to get my garage and storage in order, cleaning and donating a lot of stuff that I don't need anymore. Clutter is everywhere and it's starting to annoy me. 
I built up a Surly Troll and I will be riding it soon. Waiting to find that right rack so I have nothing on my back. Backpacks, messenger bags and so forth are a thing of the past for me. 
Hope you are doing well. Thanks for reading and I hope you get to ride soon, 
Ari 

I feel this ride happened a couple weeks ago and it was back in october I think. 

Surly Troll

The Surly Troll 

 I was toying with this idea for a while and it just kept bouncing around in my head. I had sold some stuff on ebay and start to save, trade and receive little parts here and there. I ended up pulling the trigger when I saw that that green Trolls were going and only 2 remained in my giraffe size XL. 

26" bikes always looked silly when paired with an XL frame. But this bike was to get some big meats donated by good friend Tomas. They are the Maxxis Hookworms in 26"x 2.5". I had these on the Surly Big Dummy that we built for my wife many moons ago. They roll fast, never puncture and rarely did we ever air them up. 

The frame arrived and I ended up chasing the botttom bracket, facing it, spraying the frame despite its ED coating. Facing headset and chasing all things threaded. 

I removed the cantilever studs since I was going to run disc. I discovered the mounts are threaded 10x1, just like a derailleur hanger. I looked everywhere for something to plug the holes and ended up with push Auto Fender plugs from Ace Hardware for .65 ea. 

I removed a lot of the Barnacles and am waiting for M5x0.8mm plastic screws to install. I used a canecreek 40 headset. Mind you this is a budget bike and not a garage queen. Thus I used reliable, affordable, replaceable parts. I also used a square taper Shimano UN55 Bottom bracket. Those things last me for years. No creaks, noises, nothing. 

The right crank is a Deore Square taper and left side is Sugino Coda arm. Chainring is Sugino 36 tooth. Now I did use singlespeed nuts but the bolt is for a double so it goes all the way thru minimizing any chance of it loosening. Grease and torqued properly. 

Front wheel is a 6 bolt, QR, 32 hole Shimano XT laced 3x with DT swiss Competition, black spokes, black nipples to 26" Surly rabbit hole. White rim strip from Surly. Tubes, Tubes, Tubes, 

Rear rim is a Sun laced to IG Rohloff. Wheel was donated and it was a chore to get this going. Patience, patience. 

Handle bars are Surly Moloko. Avid brake levers move mechanical very inexpensive Avid bb5 brakes. 

8 speed chain gets the drivetrain going and is so inexpensive since 

8 speed is so antiquated. I'm rolling on flat pedals until I figure out what pedals I want on there permanent. I will probably opt for a flip flop pedal so I can clip in on one side and use street shoes on the other. I also want to get rid of my setback Thomson post for a straight post. Saddle will be changed to a Brooks Cambium C17 carved. That seems to be my comfort saddle as of late. This Bike is a work in progress and will have some modifications as I keep riding it. It is super-rugged, durable, heavy, and reliable. It will be cool to get some long rides on it. I am looking for an adequate rack. Not interested in a Surly Rack, maybe a Tubus cargo rack . 

Surly does not make the lightest bikes but I have ridden thousands of miles on their frames with no issues. There stuff is well thought out, tested and very durable. 

Thank you for reading, 

Ari