tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73145110778071905022024-03-19T03:51:52.400-07:00The Handbuilt PerspectiveMosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-17552804737366068042011-04-09T18:04:00.000-07:002011-04-11T18:51:21.527-07:00Behold: The Mosaic Custom Ti Coupler Tagalong<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made two Titanium Coupler Tagalong bikes for an adventurous family through <a href="http://www.salvagetti.com/">Salvagetti</a> in Denver. More info and <i>hopefully</i> a video to come...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-DNPHS88FdwyYZgfwK4yUu-IjWZH2_cKUsUHEzZ1j1sw1yhlVhife__sDWEny7fgrK_-xBRX0rXlwHPnBgo51LRsD6tYnnyKkNCb-Y-_ddB93AMdSLPT2ow81PsrmhNi2-jVSqAcRNJb/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-DNPHS88FdwyYZgfwK4yUu-IjWZH2_cKUsUHEzZ1j1sw1yhlVhife__sDWEny7fgrK_-xBRX0rXlwHPnBgo51LRsD6tYnnyKkNCb-Y-_ddB93AMdSLPT2ow81PsrmhNi2-jVSqAcRNJb/s400/DSC_0041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQQms-8mTjE773zgFVNIyvVwL9tjfgGIqCPl9ox8jkp1yTsqzk4qycwsu3Zg64anl7uRG9j2D86GDAEFGN74xwe_aji8eIuwqaaHbcF1I_-0S7BDOjrGQ2glML_N4njuJ6tYsseSmSHZX/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQQms-8mTjE773zgFVNIyvVwL9tjfgGIqCPl9ox8jkp1yTsqzk4qycwsu3Zg64anl7uRG9j2D86GDAEFGN74xwe_aji8eIuwqaaHbcF1I_-0S7BDOjrGQ2glML_N4njuJ6tYsseSmSHZX/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr8z4nLFaqyUbWatiOmyyyuJHI5UViwy2MOKX6x7SbzxvBDiJfuU8aRDLLZ5Kv71_9T0Uy05DC4HGVQzqUNRYjkVnyTwLmeDdFdofYDWjLiR7wPv6wHgBfXLuCJSWIlWAbDoiUBIQAan1/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr8z4nLFaqyUbWatiOmyyyuJHI5UViwy2MOKX6x7SbzxvBDiJfuU8aRDLLZ5Kv71_9T0Uy05DC4HGVQzqUNRYjkVnyTwLmeDdFdofYDWjLiR7wPv6wHgBfXLuCJSWIlWAbDoiUBIQAan1/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYK8lg8BBpK0qPCvdUTKMF5TmUA8h1xiwzSY1qwCNlmK-2ErpnUu9dlK15V1lpEAAYlUFvDcCrFu56OaaMtTTREtt6JqPWXixuj3BcLjYHWna-M-o6rYFUUHyIk-nZPvERLQ2bVVnd9vz/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYK8lg8BBpK0qPCvdUTKMF5TmUA8h1xiwzSY1qwCNlmK-2ErpnUu9dlK15V1lpEAAYlUFvDcCrFu56OaaMtTTREtt6JqPWXixuj3BcLjYHWna-M-o6rYFUUHyIk-nZPvERLQ2bVVnd9vz/s400/DSC_0047.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-19243375517417290392011-03-23T10:25:00.000-07:002011-03-23T10:25:22.071-07:00Bike Polo, Anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UtVu6xd_WgZg8Rsz8Kv2Bq-77v4r0Tgzc5Nf0yM8xWSJcihM6TpEp_hFs0sbS5HjVeHUCOMZTTpueOMLNHToISRHb7XdEVy4DSg0b3IMy1PSUeQLH1NWpHYTsKZ4ojp9HBd2Di4octZy/s1600/polo+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UtVu6xd_WgZg8Rsz8Kv2Bq-77v4r0Tgzc5Nf0yM8xWSJcihM6TpEp_hFs0sbS5HjVeHUCOMZTTpueOMLNHToISRHb7XdEVy4DSg0b3IMy1PSUeQLH1NWpHYTsKZ4ojp9HBd2Di4octZy/s400/polo+bike.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="http://geekhousebikes.com/about.html" target="_blank">Geekhouse</a> is featuring a custom polo bike this spring. This beautifully coupled ride is ready for a traveling team, has an integrated one sided double cable brake lever to control with your left hand, disc rotor guard and spoke protected front wheel, fat tires and custom velcro to hold your mallet while riding to a scrimmage. I am so thrilled to see my favorite sport represented so well. <br />
<br />
Polo season is upon us! Stay <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=322819553077&ref=ts" target="_blank">tuned</a> and join us for some fun! <br />
<br />
Keri, 32 - (nature enthusiast) rides, lives and works in Boulder COMosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-49679891053764499542011-03-14T20:03:00.000-07:002011-03-14T20:10:21.664-07:00Is Riding My Custom Bike Cheating?<style>
@font-face {
font-family: "Times New Roman";
}@font-face {
font-family: "Arial";
}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span>When people I race against get caught for doping, it ticks me off. Mostly because I was left out of the loop-I feel cheated because I didn’t know what was going on. We all want to be as fast or as good at cycling as we can be. But we also want to achieve our goals legitimately. So what qualifies as cheating? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Is riding a custom fit bicycle cheating</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">? If I show up to a local race or group ride and all of a sudden I don’t get tired like I used to, people get suspicious. There are several developments that can attribute to my higher level of performance. One obvious improvement is my new Mosaic (a track bike for my love of the Madison!), but it could be my diet (eat massive quantities of spinach?) or that I am well rested. Are any of these cheating? Most people would say no. Both eating, resting, and owning a bicycle are necessary conditions of training. Doping is at the far end of the performance enhancement spectrum. </span><b>Doping can be made legitimate as well, if it is no longer cheating</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>We can embrace doping as a technology (just as we do frame materials or aerodynamics), IF and only if we have these three stipulations: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><b>first</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and most important is a take-off of the Hippocratic Oath- <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;">first,</span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;">do</span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;">no</span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPrimum_non_nocere&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEvdYuWAAuvSQiCRvFVN9BnzDjILw"><span style="color: #000099;">harm</span></a>. If the level of doping (remember the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus" style="color: blue;">d<span style="color: blue;">osage</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">makes</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">the</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">poison</span></a>”) causes short or long term detriment to the athlete’s health, it is not acceptable. This will be the hard to prove, but once it is, the practice will be transferable to the general public for profit. </span><b>Second</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- the process/protocol for doping must be easily repeatable. This means the details of each step are publicly available for anyone to use and doesn’t leave me or anyone else out of the loop. From there, doping techniques can be experimented with like a science fair project just the way we experiment with diet and supplements. </span><b>Finally</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a financial limit to how much can be spent per year on each professional athlete (it is normal for the UCI to regulate restrictions on other things such as bicycle weight) should be in place, lest we create a gap between riders from richer and poorer organizations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>So, riding my custom bicycle is not be cheating </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">(whew!), because the creation and implementation of my bicycle follows these three guidelines. It does not cause harm-rather, it makes you ride more-generally considered a healthy activity. Second, the materials, building techniques, and fitting process are not a secret. Any other company or individual can attempt to replicate the final product (the difference here would be the actual skill at implementing the whole process). Finally, the the bicycle is available to anyone- it has a price, but compared to other racing bicycles, it does not create an economic limit to who can use the technology. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">-Derek Loudermilk, category 1 cyclist with the Horizon Organic/Panache elite cycling team, endurance coach, and cardiac researcher.</div>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-4703535545344831322011-03-06T11:37:00.000-08:002011-03-06T11:38:48.182-08:0048 Hrs in Austin: Ready, Set, GO!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-cgvE0L7upMsGcIA1E-7M8Q3pGxFiJNCwSZgwVCkm8dItr9vNphawYzTrCjaOX4J8N_KPG0KIjvmwZSdUiPXHdxWpcTLNBLAfKnTjNQFPpvrbRSEieJ-9v2gOgqhMTgl6pnII-i8Zlk/s1600/0228111152-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-cgvE0L7upMsGcIA1E-7M8Q3pGxFiJNCwSZgwVCkm8dItr9vNphawYzTrCjaOX4J8N_KPG0KIjvmwZSdUiPXHdxWpcTLNBLAfKnTjNQFPpvrbRSEieJ-9v2gOgqhMTgl6pnII-i8Zlk/s320/0228111152-00.jpg" width="320" /></a>Already two days in the hole on sleep, I departed Boulder, CO on Friday afternoon to board the now akin-to-Greyhound Southwest flight to Austin, Texas--yeehaw! I left Boulder on a snowy 15 degree day and got off the plane in Austin, a balmy 60 degrees! <br />
<br />
I found the <a href="http://www.mosaiccycles.com/">Mosaic Cycles</a> crew at their Super 8 motel. We piled in the Mosaic van and headed for the SoCo (South Congress) neighborhood. Out the back of the van I could see the crowds of fellow bike nerds in town for<a href="http://www.2011.handmadebicycleshow.com/"> NAHBS</a>. We found our friends at the Continental Club. The bouncer had an amazing Texan accent- I could not help but comment on it. Cheap or free music poured out of almost every bar we walked by. We got pizza and beers, ran into friends, then piled back into the van and arrived at <a href="http://donnar.home.texas.net/">Don's Depo</a>t (a honky tonk piano bar full to the brim with cotton heads in what I'll call "Texas goin' out clothes"). Many of the 60 and 70 year old women wore cheetah print boots or dresses--some with fringe. My favorite from the guys were outfits of leather pants, a button-up shirts, cowboy hats and of course, mustaches. After a couple drinks there we stopped at <a href="http://www.austinbikes.com/">Austin Bikes</a> where the party was winding down. I worked on some tricks on their little fixed gear on the shop floor while Aaron and others talked bikes and NAHBS. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYQ2fwGTVUV38zxCcwdUUZCPjrvr4MciJXHnYfW3l925zaZT2RTPAw1mva6v1sUOB1GxvR3gKsNA7bPFoQvX46hBOdFLdLDQOayu9JAZ-LzwwHq0TMkoPll9twthYKeDXsxY9eowBmEsz/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYQ2fwGTVUV38zxCcwdUUZCPjrvr4MciJXHnYfW3l925zaZT2RTPAw1mva6v1sUOB1GxvR3gKsNA7bPFoQvX46hBOdFLdLDQOayu9JAZ-LzwwHq0TMkoPll9twthYKeDXsxY9eowBmEsz/s1600/-1.jpg" /></a>At 12am I went to meet up with some of the <a href="http://www.rapha.cc/">Rapha</a> crew at the <a href="http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/">Mellow Jonny's</a> party (a bike store owned by the one and only Lance). On the way to meet them I found a metal bar called <a href="http://www.headhuntersclub.com/">Head Hunters</a>, which, of course, had free live music. A death metal band called Cerebral Desecration was about to start their set--bad ass! After listening for a while I found my friends at a gay bar called <a href="http://www.kissandflyaustin.com/">Kiss and Fly</a>. Inside the bar we hung out with some locals, danced and drank. By 2:30am we made our way to the street, ate slices of pizza and laughed our asses off by smelling each other's armpits--a day of humidity, traveling and bike riding will do it. When the guys realized they were leading the gentleman's ride at 6:30am (in 3ish hours) we had to split. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN_7CUH3dwyvKWJeiykyQ4XB1X-3UQKJFGihSCX0eDY_HzqWMeXYG8sVYdbvNTPzR8xvQUNxcGnqZ2uOfmLg_mry9O8YY-wolzWgVPKWYa_qCmH6z3WEdBJE-mLuWXBcXoQYuSKx0R6gU/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN_7CUH3dwyvKWJeiykyQ4XB1X-3UQKJFGihSCX0eDY_HzqWMeXYG8sVYdbvNTPzR8xvQUNxcGnqZ2uOfmLg_mry9O8YY-wolzWgVPKWYa_qCmH6z3WEdBJE-mLuWXBcXoQYuSKx0R6gU/s1600/-2.jpg" /></a>In bed by 4am, I slept until 7:30, got up showered, ate and went the NAHBS where I deliriously "volunteered" for 4 hours. I did actually work for about two hours but then the distractions of visiting friend's booths began. By 1pm my head was in a cloud and I walked around and absorbed as much of the show as I could. After a nap, I went for a bike ride and tried to get lost. Austin was 70F by then and I was LOVING it! Back at NAHBS with more energy, I had a chance to take more time at the booths. I'm a sucker for trendy, clever aesthetics so I couldn't help but drift to <a href="http://vanillabicycles.com/">Vanilla Cycles</a>. I spent some time talking to those guys and drooling over details. Things that caught my eye: <a href="http://www.cyscocycles.com/">Cysco Cycles</a>' twisted downtub, <a href="http://www.dreambike.com/pegoretti.htm">Dario Pegoretti</a>'s frames, <a href="http://www.gaulzetticicli.com/concept.asp">Gaulzetti Cicli</a>, <a href="http://www.richardsachs.com/">Richard Sachs</a>, <a href="http://store.sheilamoon.com/index.php">Sheila Moon Apparel</a>, <a href="http://sixelevenbicycleco.com/">Six Eleven Bicycles</a>, <a href="http://www.sylvancycles.com/Cover.html">Sylvan Cycles</a>, and <a href="http://www.bishopbikes.com/">Bishop Bikes</a>. I wish I had the chance to stay one more day and chat with more of the builders, particularly Richard Sachs. As the clock struck 6pm, the show ended for the day and my evening festivities were in the works. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f_Bv5RTrgTpdAKNwAmeKHMsmuzuzOks7AkaPQBgdZx2u4QtlUKrPO__CxaHwNzQLwTxx1tZjZcx2kxF5E_1KdaixnaQCE6infyrcYs9DxcRmzZnZzx5-zXafqBSnep0k58aAyfk4jjiZ/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1f_Bv5RTrgTpdAKNwAmeKHMsmuzuzOks7AkaPQBgdZx2u4QtlUKrPO__CxaHwNzQLwTxx1tZjZcx2kxF5E_1KdaixnaQCE6infyrcYs9DxcRmzZnZzx5-zXafqBSnep0k58aAyfk4jjiZ/s1600/-3.jpg" /></a><br />
A few of us with the Mosaic crew hit up the NAHBS BBQ at <a href="http://bicyclesportshop.com/">Bicycle Sport Shop</a>. I rode around the city and actually did get a little lost before making my way back to the hotel room, unclear of how humidity works. I was ready to hit the pool only to find that it closed at 10pm. After a second shower and a change of clothes, it was time for another night out with the Rapha crew. This time we headed away from the city center to a cafe/bar called the <a href="http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/index.php">Spider House</a>. After two rounds of drinks, it was time to hit the dance floor. Our group of ten had the bar to ourselves and a couple of guys played some old school funk. We finished the night out dancing our asses off as we drank. At 6am I departed for the airport wishing I had the balls to miss my flight and spend more time at the show and ride around the city. NAHBS brings together just the right kind of people and Austin is a gem. <br />
<br />
--Stephanie, 27, rides, climbs, hunts, and tries not to work in Boulder, CO.Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-91584743837754457612011-02-27T12:17:00.000-08:002011-03-09T21:00:45.096-08:00The Show: Highlights<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Digestible Matter: The Head Tube Badge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJsOi4e8BgH2fPC-UktlasfFwdXR8cv2Tjh2hFk_xBOza_wiek_xAOh_8Hp1SixftH_sUHJ61PkD5v0ktYLHSqVTMfKeWxDMmt-Tpt3Zu0GPjbui5zqb_bX7YLxBtOcOJHsRo2qPPDwBZ/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJsOi4e8BgH2fPC-UktlasfFwdXR8cv2Tjh2hFk_xBOza_wiek_xAOh_8Hp1SixftH_sUHJ61PkD5v0ktYLHSqVTMfKeWxDMmt-Tpt3Zu0GPjbui5zqb_bX7YLxBtOcOJHsRo2qPPDwBZ/s200/DSC_0271.JPG" width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XgO8TZWeI95n54LXy1fz2xaG8EoYaPqjbj9Wquv9iXVpC3r3Bov5E5zeNpcKDnewN3CkQcnXlO6hrdCb_xYzgZNATYHFlBYREueFxZOGcpj9QXPKhRP1w6jKxpgtZqIfmeQCEQmS14gn/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XgO8TZWeI95n54LXy1fz2xaG8EoYaPqjbj9Wquv9iXVpC3r3Bov5E5zeNpcKDnewN3CkQcnXlO6hrdCb_xYzgZNATYHFlBYREueFxZOGcpj9QXPKhRP1w6jKxpgtZqIfmeQCEQmS14gn/s200/DSC_0267.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCP8J0KeavgJe6z_qDItynRqX1dpZANGPKyg0BrVKU_2EWdT-87a2_1ZHWocpjTWoHe1aAeFblKl7z99M92TOM2PTFC4QE4qZDyP-d46sSsPSRwTPMZalnXaP_RBRBNXLNa_5gAh9O-VM/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCP8J0KeavgJe6z_qDItynRqX1dpZANGPKyg0BrVKU_2EWdT-87a2_1ZHWocpjTWoHe1aAeFblKl7z99M92TOM2PTFC4QE4qZDyP-d46sSsPSRwTPMZalnXaP_RBRBNXLNa_5gAh9O-VM/s200/DSC_0273.JPG" width="132" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is so much to take in at the show that it's hard to focus on everything. One entity that continues to stand out is the badge mounted on the head tube of each bicycle. I have an appreciation for companies who have attention to detail from end to end. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The custom cut alloy badges that many companies display showcase creativity, personality and serious aesthetic detail that I can digest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">-Liz, 25- Middle School Teacher, lives and plays in Boulder, CO</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">*Badges from Naked Bikes, Black Sheep Bikes, Watson Cycles, Vanilla Cycles and Signal Cycles bicycles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnmgXwVotwmUrcBS-s_stllVMcEiP73S3Cxh_PwUkYQ6ziBSXqWobpGFGCznG0-19Pw4qMXcd5tCYxEXw_3_-ssS4_bkgMQm6LaFJOiWEngnrJ4qu_GalWHb_YmCc0LpwurAqCcGZpfKh/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnmgXwVotwmUrcBS-s_stllVMcEiP73S3Cxh_PwUkYQ6ziBSXqWobpGFGCznG0-19Pw4qMXcd5tCYxEXw_3_-ssS4_bkgMQm6LaFJOiWEngnrJ4qu_GalWHb_YmCc0LpwurAqCcGZpfKh/s320/DSC_0265.JPG" width="209" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo90u0ucyIi3px-pQ-8AX2ha7uhp2bj_PFEWUOJS1pFA2Gq43YufFYrCbenEvulZU95quFTU8aB-dLJ4g7s-dPiZ8uyyXwJKZ-FUeuw5rxQBThFwtaxOkAJz-fJj4FnPMVjrh9VEqPqv3O/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo90u0ucyIi3px-pQ-8AX2ha7uhp2bj_PFEWUOJS1pFA2Gq43YufFYrCbenEvulZU95quFTU8aB-dLJ4g7s-dPiZ8uyyXwJKZ-FUeuw5rxQBThFwtaxOkAJz-fJj4FnPMVjrh9VEqPqv3O/s320/DSC_0277.JPG" width="209" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*******************</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Speed Hound- What's Old Meets New:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBuMX52AclcMtMZ8mNELGW6aNkkwLgNZ9v8JhAg91NMumt_bS_kVDSGSf3Ynidekm4VxxBY35GH3o8rOCgPax3QFVCcE8ZwOsHcuqCp1aEa3g5Yy1dibDJ3ZpuArktKaqUmXhI2BM9JUl/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBuMX52AclcMtMZ8mNELGW6aNkkwLgNZ9v8JhAg91NMumt_bS_kVDSGSf3Ynidekm4VxxBY35GH3o8rOCgPax3QFVCcE8ZwOsHcuqCp1aEa3g5Yy1dibDJ3ZpuArktKaqUmXhI2BM9JUl/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fabricating your own drop outs is an obvious way of keeping one's brand current and topical in the handmade cycling market. It takes lots of experience and time to develop new ideas. <a href="http://www.speedhoundbikes.com/">Speedhound</a> satisfied one of my muses as a cyclist riding since the late seventies by combining their newest custom drop outs design with a restored 1950s vintage rear derailleur by the French manufacturer Huret.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">This entire newly fabricated Speedhound frame is outfitted with c vintage components including the 50's vintage companion down tube mounted lever actuated front derailleur as well. all together it gives me the sweet remembrance of my early bikes and equipment some of which I have maintained and adapted to frames I still covet and ride regularly. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">-Rick, 60- Designer, works, paints, creates and lives in St. Louis, MO</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PEJgi-Y_Nzepcm68MPv_HW5UXJPNH8yi1ZNuGRfI00G8R87aI_VOEli5qFWfory8usXWwkdRubZpHQEyjX6LsyriLcxmTenOginOx7G__Cd30E6E-1zU9QTV7zr2T_MBvkv-CEMFahg9/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PEJgi-Y_Nzepcm68MPv_HW5UXJPNH8yi1ZNuGRfI00G8R87aI_VOEli5qFWfory8usXWwkdRubZpHQEyjX6LsyriLcxmTenOginOx7G__Cd30E6E-1zU9QTV7zr2T_MBvkv-CEMFahg9/s200/DSC_0004.JPG" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwIP3quB6bxJNDBe4pyaGAJ4aYyiv1YItoKYNRhw2oyjgB6SubwVjd0eodvtEKKnHQDBpYXiVr-od1tRQlcDXyGylOAnUoS8gJVPgU7MCj0Ly3d6QE3YhLC4DhytdFIpzLesE40KRfiSE/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwIP3quB6bxJNDBe4pyaGAJ4aYyiv1YItoKYNRhw2oyjgB6SubwVjd0eodvtEKKnHQDBpYXiVr-od1tRQlcDXyGylOAnUoS8gJVPgU7MCj0Ly3d6QE3YhLC4DhytdFIpzLesE40KRfiSE/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="211" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAh0RIBnfMR1LcUXkcoxY0UDxPdGiAjKMlq_NtsKnOlHU1JlrpAe6J2LePCLSlmymXl4RMed4C72a_1V7xCeiA_fRP-bnCsS4BpRqar1H0byI3uc7361n-1sjyhMNYUnr8_OIj0L5sWn_/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAh0RIBnfMR1LcUXkcoxY0UDxPdGiAjKMlq_NtsKnOlHU1JlrpAe6J2LePCLSlmymXl4RMed4C72a_1V7xCeiA_fRP-bnCsS4BpRqar1H0byI3uc7361n-1sjyhMNYUnr8_OIj0L5sWn_/s200/DSC_0005.JPG" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">******************* </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Making International Friends: </span><br />
<br />
The sun shines down on the bus's windshield as a young, well dressed Japanese man boards the city bus from the airport. Wielding a $5.00 bill, our future friend is growing quiet as the language barrier heeds the monetary transaction of paying fare. He looks to me and asks if I can make change for him.<br />
<br />
"I can't, but here is a dollar." The idea that someone would willingly pay another fare was foreign to our new friend.<br />
<br />
In very broken verbage we learn it's his first time to America, he's only been practicing English for 9 months and is headed to NAHBS. He wants to attend UBI to become a frame builder and begin his own business.<br />
<br />
Shinya Hattori, a true inspiration for taking big steps, away from comfort. <br />
<br />
Go see the world, we're all passionate.<br />
<br />
-Big Al, 24- Ast. Dir. of Field Marketing for a national sport nutrition company, lives and works in Boulder, CO. (with his rad dog named Stewart)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslYPFUTdiXr8nR0NR2sLgRLWvCuQQBGBENmV5f_SurakMhQo4rNX8SKvBqB1LvBHg3HtwhaUjb75IP440i3GrZZsjuDtVLHGyACs1MdebDCsfmy7v7hXvH5QM4Dxhbq2DTHQuWGaRWPQj/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslYPFUTdiXr8nR0NR2sLgRLWvCuQQBGBENmV5f_SurakMhQo4rNX8SKvBqB1LvBHg3HtwhaUjb75IP440i3GrZZsjuDtVLHGyACs1MdebDCsfmy7v7hXvH5QM4Dxhbq2DTHQuWGaRWPQj/s320/DSC_0262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
*******************<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">YiPsan Town Bike:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxRAJVFtPG3l_GGcAosT06KpMvql4f6sIabBdNhfmMdpMjtikpOH8z5aL6W_Js4RkORWOA-5HDYZH1XvELwHsyva3Vf6ZDaf0XbfbLjs_c-WSWwJNviy1bl4xFi2MNfEwYVDtX1X_A87N/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxRAJVFtPG3l_GGcAosT06KpMvql4f6sIabBdNhfmMdpMjtikpOH8z5aL6W_Js4RkORWOA-5HDYZH1XvELwHsyva3Vf6ZDaf0XbfbLjs_c-WSWwJNviy1bl4xFi2MNfEwYVDtX1X_A87N/s320/DSC_0258.JPG" width="211" /></a>As a frame builder, I appreciate the time it takes to craft a fully custom steel bicycle. The attention to detail on the YiPsan town bike shows just that. <a href="http://www.yipsanbicycles.com/">Yipsan</a> shows his craft on this fillet brazed bike with custom racks and all. my favorite part; the detail work on the sliding dropouts and the seat tube/ top tube cluster. Mmmm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-Aaron, 27- Mosaic Owner, Frame Builder and Welder, lives and<br />
works in Boulder, CO <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJCWuYmLkOYu_bW6yR13eIA-e9SdyzcR0oWAwU8lXxcbJWsVMhRQvpQP_9ayxumoJ25vQvfYiWFs7cXDy4LakCjAdr9ZdYEmic-vW7YjgV6Y0wg_pzlug2TusQiXypCkAW0JpbYWKYroP/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJCWuYmLkOYu_bW6yR13eIA-e9SdyzcR0oWAwU8lXxcbJWsVMhRQvpQP_9ayxumoJ25vQvfYiWFs7cXDy4LakCjAdr9ZdYEmic-vW7YjgV6Y0wg_pzlug2TusQiXypCkAW0JpbYWKYroP/s320/DSC_0254.JPG" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViy4HpPcRHoCw9yXpVV6cI38iCJeGVBi2RkNlTHrNMqjXMkFptX8et-wsA24cpGwDBb3lcdizKDU5fKLfryX6RyUVkGHqE1yWwSW5DbhjpnpUaW3J3KoRcvdDzecVEl-16Jd2cIs12UOZ/s1600/DSC_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViy4HpPcRHoCw9yXpVV6cI38iCJeGVBi2RkNlTHrNMqjXMkFptX8et-wsA24cpGwDBb3lcdizKDU5fKLfryX6RyUVkGHqE1yWwSW5DbhjpnpUaW3J3KoRcvdDzecVEl-16Jd2cIs12UOZ/s200/DSC_0255.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWoamhWTdWguLRMS2zpknhXIz97aGaL6KQWyUivcOm3wsgFV5yhn5_KHdEuMR2YRNLImXKRbb7nuC_ijQN7K7lC88faE317KsXK1yVVo0JOoGXTiiLjzmZVbPUuCTnFWD6YL8jRVlsYZ5/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWoamhWTdWguLRMS2zpknhXIz97aGaL6KQWyUivcOm3wsgFV5yhn5_KHdEuMR2YRNLImXKRbb7nuC_ijQN7K7lC88faE317KsXK1yVVo0JOoGXTiiLjzmZVbPUuCTnFWD6YL8jRVlsYZ5/s200/DSC_0256.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*******************</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vendettacycles.com/vendettacycles/default.htm">Vendetta Cycles</a>' Track Bike: </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGElD9Y0so1XL_Rbq_2mShK9bgvimB2m63QZnodx1orx0q8CigNXeiNkbwsVqaIE8tcuDHnHz81DNtubnSHcpMBaTKFt4TaL9E1jWPryzuXzeW_M7CdZX5I25vjca2TmrqBL2nzi7MjCB/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGElD9Y0so1XL_Rbq_2mShK9bgvimB2m63QZnodx1orx0q8CigNXeiNkbwsVqaIE8tcuDHnHz81DNtubnSHcpMBaTKFt4TaL9E1jWPryzuXzeW_M7CdZX5I25vjca2TmrqBL2nzi7MjCB/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" width="249" /></a>I have a great appreciation for bare ti and carbon frames, and there are plenty examples of amazing bikes at this show. But what really catches my eye is color!<br />
<br />
This eye-popping lime green track bike glows from twenty feet away. And it has been beautifully pin striped by hand by a seventy-two year old man by the name of Carmickle who has been pin striping since the age of fifteen. His signature, visible in the picture, is so small it could just about fit on your thumbnail. It it wonderful to see a hand-built bike that is also so masterfully hand-painted, not just covered in decals.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFQi_z_v7wPp10_WhZXF3TgpsnNRIK03xwh0XK_OnQk7jDZSUkfgNePH2_R_JvogGzmDOHwFn2aMVvMdA5SaIQMnmGXlUIjGoks9mTGw-N1BbfZXaTag9ABtw_SIx73qPxNZezELi2RXx/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFQi_z_v7wPp10_WhZXF3TgpsnNRIK03xwh0XK_OnQk7jDZSUkfgNePH2_R_JvogGzmDOHwFn2aMVvMdA5SaIQMnmGXlUIjGoks9mTGw-N1BbfZXaTag9ABtw_SIx73qPxNZezELi2RXx/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" width="211" /></a>-Grace, 22- Seismology Researcher Assistant, lives and plays in St. Louis, MO.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dNwLbsKO5i4VhSNyaSaVD3pDZPF_GuVlpUSK8BQ0oX7pCFp32OjjSGysphLRwzjafvfavyog_ZapPCrHfLcd6-kiRs5i55NS8uyUbf6AGEEsrUCK5kmIrpNVD9HR7VWp-E_5n9iCzWAn/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dNwLbsKO5i4VhSNyaSaVD3pDZPF_GuVlpUSK8BQ0oX7pCFp32OjjSGysphLRwzjafvfavyog_ZapPCrHfLcd6-kiRs5i55NS8uyUbf6AGEEsrUCK5kmIrpNVD9HR7VWp-E_5n9iCzWAn/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" width="211" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-32720546680501702912011-02-26T15:27:00.000-08:002011-02-26T15:27:55.063-08:00The ShowAustin, TX: The North American Handmade Bicycle Show.<br />
<br />
The Austin Convention Center is abuzz with bikes (and bicycle lovers). We've been here almost two full days and still have so much to see. The basic gist of this show is the same- we've convened to appreciate the craft of handmade frames and niche accessory companies. However, there's something special about Austin. This city is extremely friendly; a little southern charm goes a long way, especially for those of us who have traveled from all over the country to collectively drool at some of the most beautiful bikes out there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_s8PEFE9YAWlRYrbH2aYbEduUbcjxptSdysCjKagFhwCqj4iMSD9_3V1SrIs1E5qeobTm6f4hWbUYL8F6ub5iNxG9rRNiY3YM8aSozhIwhEhgC_VT3MM94a7x_EyewkeiGUyzutc0tAH/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_s8PEFE9YAWlRYrbH2aYbEduUbcjxptSdysCjKagFhwCqj4iMSD9_3V1SrIs1E5qeobTm6f4hWbUYL8F6ub5iNxG9rRNiY3YM8aSozhIwhEhgC_VT3MM94a7x_EyewkeiGUyzutc0tAH/s320/DSC_0052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kk20J7MWDStrtXEnrkTUY-SW7Fy5uDiuNsm3QKA8FPp8aCeDiciqouECGSiAY6zAOh5G9YuQ6ouSCpKS5wHrMpW_HHhMALEt7LmzmeqnoNL7lXTHocdJuCI4SnegaCkTwMP1w114NDxl/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kk20J7MWDStrtXEnrkTUY-SW7Fy5uDiuNsm3QKA8FPp8aCeDiciqouECGSiAY6zAOh5G9YuQ6ouSCpKS5wHrMpW_HHhMALEt7LmzmeqnoNL7lXTHocdJuCI4SnegaCkTwMP1w114NDxl/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo-5-eXG9NIiw1qoTQjHMX1dxZhqUhjCidyYq6GHd14HPczVdNIs7q4U2wD6jfQ_2FGI7H-W-xy6y0rKX2EZreETDBbOpvTW7Qa8OtAKxy9wrU0jHyQN2wHkIBeP94hkg_v5BYWTJ0ksu/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo-5-eXG9NIiw1qoTQjHMX1dxZhqUhjCidyYq6GHd14HPczVdNIs7q4U2wD6jfQ_2FGI7H-W-xy6y0rKX2EZreETDBbOpvTW7Qa8OtAKxy9wrU0jHyQN2wHkIBeP94hkg_v5BYWTJ0ksu/s320/DSC_0109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgtnfJabW_QiXiLWPwgOtnE97NcgYg34hmNfXRVRQkAVMZavtDg5lFe9LAuKrmQLjGAFu29LJx4fE4wcElwggclJMDKUAuDeOVzrUzyeNdp4sM9YRl9TJnlBIPu0odLTGwP4_n2s1Q-Wf/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgtnfJabW_QiXiLWPwgOtnE97NcgYg34hmNfXRVRQkAVMZavtDg5lFe9LAuKrmQLjGAFu29LJx4fE4wcElwggclJMDKUAuDeOVzrUzyeNdp4sM9YRl9TJnlBIPu0odLTGwP4_n2s1Q-Wf/s320/DSC_0141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU8zHkiTaYuSH9nnw9yifv81PWvK4azAznXU-Iy6lPX1I9AdwGwIkw821Tch7tuubqCljbNvJFBUk0QdohvmBQg5fTrT8TEBRBYQXbgDefPivhbQtT_im5B5TxTYo5hzujV5juDNgVHPD/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU8zHkiTaYuSH9nnw9yifv81PWvK4azAznXU-Iy6lPX1I9AdwGwIkw821Tch7tuubqCljbNvJFBUk0QdohvmBQg5fTrT8TEBRBYQXbgDefPivhbQtT_im5B5TxTYo5hzujV5juDNgVHPD/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXRV2OHLL0OukN1eZky9i17eMwkUttvZRcl7CSZ-mKiz5ycTLcM7a7nzP9J3GlYJW9a6qgoAICw5-EELbr9Wx6IVOOfUxhy69CporIA07wB9EA8H9pM0RK3wHd30lgHBEDnBjARUd_zUY/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXRV2OHLL0OukN1eZky9i17eMwkUttvZRcl7CSZ-mKiz5ycTLcM7a7nzP9J3GlYJW9a6qgoAICw5-EELbr9Wx6IVOOfUxhy69CporIA07wB9EA8H9pM0RK3wHd30lgHBEDnBjARUd_zUY/s320/DSC_0157.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4w6snpH0PqvR_cbH_W3GPQaoKp9hq0L_prs-qb-jvNfqo-I89yzIzjHvqBHfeNzOjN5dPibc8b6cnb-YtID4142hAYPBw8CJ5bA0LQeZqgw-WEGOEjNeS55AHFM6rbGGdl2v8kSqSynr/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4w6snpH0PqvR_cbH_W3GPQaoKp9hq0L_prs-qb-jvNfqo-I89yzIzjHvqBHfeNzOjN5dPibc8b6cnb-YtID4142hAYPBw8CJ5bA0LQeZqgw-WEGOEjNeS55AHFM6rbGGdl2v8kSqSynr/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeERWBPWTnSPtdSFuCFoyZe6uuXjKZgsB-hfcM4tWH20z5r5-t-CXJsAhB_Egi8n397BaHeFdo6hkA3wJvs8px9S0gzuPkOnpUZyuLuf9k-U2M4PgFWA3GJGV2Pch-rjEC1sQfsPkqRVg/s1600/DSC_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeERWBPWTnSPtdSFuCFoyZe6uuXjKZgsB-hfcM4tWH20z5r5-t-CXJsAhB_Egi8n397BaHeFdo6hkA3wJvs8px9S0gzuPkOnpUZyuLuf9k-U2M4PgFWA3GJGV2Pch-rjEC1sQfsPkqRVg/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>There's so much to take in, both here at NAHBS and in this amazing city. We will feature both in the next blog updates. Stay tuned...Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-48554127511740403302011-02-22T21:41:00.000-08:002011-02-22T21:50:32.284-08:00'Tis the Season<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuSpe7i6xDxw5sB98UpLVX6uZpMHF8WP30Yn6_dBgQDCg6QkkETWqu2DfU5LltXLIDe1Uj79zu7x3hThLvAkFJpsb69-nv4bcjvvHU-RAIk9j6FY7EPKTE34a2O7DPvomt1K-08SQYyLX/s1600/DSC_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuSpe7i6xDxw5sB98UpLVX6uZpMHF8WP30Yn6_dBgQDCg6QkkETWqu2DfU5LltXLIDe1Uj79zu7x3hThLvAkFJpsb69-nv4bcjvvHU-RAIk9j6FY7EPKTE34a2O7DPvomt1K-08SQYyLX/s320/DSC_0510.JPG" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">October, November and December are rough for me as a builder. The warmth from summer riding fades with the sunlight and my creative edge dulls with every waning day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then, January hits. And with it the realization that I have less than two months before the North American Handmade Bicycle Show- by far the most important event of my year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This invigorates me. For the first two months of the year, I devote almost all of my time thinking, building, and welding for this show. I give up exercise, lazy weekends, time with my friends and sleep to make this deadline. I work into the night polishing lugs and cutting tubes, ordering parts and making reservations, designing logos and redesigning my work space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is what I love to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8znwsUGbON-4ZKwGdbtJbovAe8ZAcYK0ff_QihxQ996vEB3qcScZndhKgbgl2XvP_qF2d1NGh9UWKIlCXPSflUbvNwaTx3QZSjl3zkvMWGDQ77V0PxW38wBjYeOZJac5jwM1LtGze4-n/s1600/DSC_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8znwsUGbON-4ZKwGdbtJbovAe8ZAcYK0ff_QihxQ996vEB3qcScZndhKgbgl2XvP_qF2d1NGh9UWKIlCXPSflUbvNwaTx3QZSjl3zkvMWGDQ77V0PxW38wBjYeOZJac5jwM1LtGze4-n/s320/DSC_0398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The excitement I have felt about building over the last few months became palpable last weekend at Mosaic's Winter Open House. Through word of mouth and the brilliance of facebook, we had a proud showing of local friends, family and bike enthusiasts. The fact that so many genuine people shared their support and enthusiasm for what I do makes me proud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seeing people come out to appreciate handcrafted bikes makes me think that we're doing something right. And it motivates me to keep going. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tomorrow morning I'm heading to Austin with a van full of bikes, hope to keep this momentum alive for the long haul.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-Aaron </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs05JgQPkRw2A_z3kdI8stI7D1IPsYDbdaKKycAhkCEZk38CToMR68JusgjKTxfyuXnzA9sOOPHz9vqWa0mIJHmRUbk_IooXESbUsbgCYezT3kTHtJzE236HhVRVkk8jS37PuFf9dlr25i/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs05JgQPkRw2A_z3kdI8stI7D1IPsYDbdaKKycAhkCEZk38CToMR68JusgjKTxfyuXnzA9sOOPHz9vqWa0mIJHmRUbk_IooXESbUsbgCYezT3kTHtJzE236HhVRVkk8jS37PuFf9dlr25i/s320/DSC_0636.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n7zFnzWW0YAn9C3l3l4BEA6edAksgf4afT8WcAAXXb_Bm00qCTeT3YWu8hj40rnhEYI4gGXluVLX3kYQQZAwA9vfWW4EpOaMZJv_X8z3X5vm0XaQ3LpqeQC_6EYckv3vTy8KCAiURlxS/s1600/DSC_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n7zFnzWW0YAn9C3l3l4BEA6edAksgf4afT8WcAAXXb_Bm00qCTeT3YWu8hj40rnhEYI4gGXluVLX3kYQQZAwA9vfWW4EpOaMZJv_X8z3X5vm0XaQ3LpqeQC_6EYckv3vTy8KCAiURlxS/s320/DSC_0555.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKkyMUXwEssmHTLXjv6ne2HgKOsFgZCQrn2RvJVg6y_HSKx0M7768Kp_D8NQCt_DWT5eF34hg3o1Q3VeOISDHavn3PRfR5Pp0X8FPV6V7Cek2fO1Hjt7D8tZGBUIUiBDEH7syqx7R6_HF/s1600/DSC_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKkyMUXwEssmHTLXjv6ne2HgKOsFgZCQrn2RvJVg6y_HSKx0M7768Kp_D8NQCt_DWT5eF34hg3o1Q3VeOISDHavn3PRfR5Pp0X8FPV6V7Cek2fO1Hjt7D8tZGBUIUiBDEH7syqx7R6_HF/s320/DSC_0531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqyiSxS_y-H73nGBYlFKWhboJ6hqLYwNmUZEWjOkSBiQ_OHkidcCISOi8EQET8ceBB_zYf-_OnQMxmFMLjxUK9i1yWcyPqykDEJI2Hv86bVozm3Q-JNsrENgratfXf5ccNJ0wDk2meLYU/s1600/DSC_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqyiSxS_y-H73nGBYlFKWhboJ6hqLYwNmUZEWjOkSBiQ_OHkidcCISOi8EQET8ceBB_zYf-_OnQMxmFMLjxUK9i1yWcyPqykDEJI2Hv86bVozm3Q-JNsrENgratfXf5ccNJ0wDk2meLYU/s320/DSC_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1NcnoMBn0dG7kBXv8aLF88WTc-aCX8DzFRiIsBljgAknRS0ELTrlSzb-vHuDuOTrn4vD6apIQ_vtKWIhpqnPfpmPoihsArCWGhDn9G9okqFoehyphenhyphensQUjfE_vTLtH_ycYcQNbibKeMHAkG/s1600/DSC_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1NcnoMBn0dG7kBXv8aLF88WTc-aCX8DzFRiIsBljgAknRS0ELTrlSzb-vHuDuOTrn4vD6apIQ_vtKWIhpqnPfpmPoihsArCWGhDn9G9okqFoehyphenhyphensQUjfE_vTLtH_ycYcQNbibKeMHAkG/s320/DSC_0485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-47560502484440330052011-02-15T18:34:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:42:29.045-08:00Single Track At Sunrise<span id="goog_1038811430"></span><span id="goog_1038811431"></span>As I roll around in bed this morning I think my alarm must be about ready to go off, it has to be close to 5:30. I check my phone- 3:44... I'm in and out of sleep until my alarm finally goes off. Last night I decided to ride at <a href="http://www.stateparks.com/lory.html">Lory State Park</a>. There is a weekly race series held here at the end of summer where single speed riders consistently destroy me. Now it's my turn to roll a single speed along these trails and see how I do. After wrangling my gear, I'm on the road heading to the trails.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-73XXu8PyrywzQOcksBmqkWDcVSt0ULu6OrRye_AB3UxSL1p4oBD1HzBchE-eW9IhQaeDYeMTGt1mHnLyLPBzBV445OKvyLO68qUO-VsQKBZJ8UuwsY2tCoH91ZNmNGcTeC_o6C7YYkxo/s1600/Lory_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-73XXu8PyrywzQOcksBmqkWDcVSt0ULu6OrRye_AB3UxSL1p4oBD1HzBchE-eW9IhQaeDYeMTGt1mHnLyLPBzBV445OKvyLO68qUO-VsQKBZJ8UuwsY2tCoH91ZNmNGcTeC_o6C7YYkxo/s320/Lory_1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I pull into the Timber trail head parking lot and get myself together. My Subaru tells me that it is almost 30 degrees this morning but it feels chilly. I get myself together and realize that I left my cold weather booties at home... hopefully all of the climbing will keep me warm. I get my lights on the bike and my helmet, zip the jacket, and start up the trail. The Timber trail starts climbing immediately and my legs are not yet warmed up. Luckily I'm riding Mosaic's Single Speed 29er again, and it is handling the trail beautifully, again. I am amazed at how well it climbs.<br />
<br />
This climb is not as technical as what I rode the other morning but it is long with a number of tricky switchbacks and lots of little pull up moves. It's definitely a solid start to the morning. Much to my surprise, the long consistent grade was no problem. I distinctly remember rolling up these trails on my Titus Racer X last season and feeling pretty rugged by the top. I also remember having some issues with the switchbacks and holding my line.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4M-d0j4lsm77TpWhAscZd6_xIiXjQ862IfsJtYvUiol06W3y0-wVg12bHE2lAhQkqwJ9JIkLTj-MHrG6C-shIeaVFicHWxNcaGsgYI7_88zOlGR3HijZIO3sEI1HPCeNw_211KeJB-vZ/s1600/Lory_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4M-d0j4lsm77TpWhAscZd6_xIiXjQ862IfsJtYvUiol06W3y0-wVg12bHE2lAhQkqwJ9JIkLTj-MHrG6C-shIeaVFicHWxNcaGsgYI7_88zOlGR3HijZIO3sEI1HPCeNw_211KeJB-vZ/s320/Lory_3.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Mosaic leaves me feeling great at the top, despite not being warmed up, and I make it through all but one switchback without popping off. The bike holds its line perfectly, all I have to do was point it and pedal. Am I really riding this at 6:15am? I get to the top of the Timber climb and look back toward Fort Collins. It is still quite dark with a glint of sun on the horizon. I roll along the Timber trail on flowing single track, some still covered with snow and ice, and random rocky sections until I come upon the Kimmons trail descent.<br />
<br />
I'm very familiar with this descent but this morning it's dark and I'm on a rigid bike. I let the single speed roll down the trail at its own pace. The tires roll over everything in the way and the spot on geometry of the Mosaic frame let me rail down some serious switchbacks. This is the first time I've ridden down this trail and really been able to rip through the corners. I am able to sit back, push into the outside pedal, and whip the rear end around.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yO0DQfagYvpdsuZcp7pGJWMWid3Gst6Qh213fN3EQ2HaSUx6iV7fDJtokhqfyEG5nqm7ZLPR9dgsXx4UJQ34ByNMmB34Ytqy4vkHCk1InpDhgKvZWKXWz1p7eBGMlCfwFL9xVLa40s26/s1600/Lory_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yO0DQfagYvpdsuZcp7pGJWMWid3Gst6Qh213fN3EQ2HaSUx6iV7fDJtokhqfyEG5nqm7ZLPR9dgsXx4UJQ34ByNMmB34Ytqy4vkHCk1InpDhgKvZWKXWz1p7eBGMlCfwFL9xVLa40s26/s320/Lory_5.jpg" width="239" /></a>I get to the bottom of Kimmons trail and stop to take a pic of the trail sign and the sunrise over Fort Collins. I start rolling along the West Valley trail. This trail is a consistent but gradual climb towards the South and a lot of fun! There's no real technical sections here, just nice flowing single track with a water bar here and there to pop off of. As I climb up the trail at about the midway point I start to notice that there is more and more light and a perfect scene of single track, landscape, and half-moon. I near the top of the climb and the end of the West Valley trail, near the Arthur's Rock trail. I decide to stop here too for a quick picture. <br />
<br />
Now the descent back down the East Valley trail can begin! The East valley trail is similar to the West Valley trail except it goes back down and is a fun descent. Again I let the Mosaic roll at its own pace and flow right along with it. The bike is soo smooth through frozen bumpy trail and soft sand alike.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGBioSqka_akotD-zAg6WAnUu37hvfBeMCci523xCHjyr7WedP94WJCHj0zbwxgquIg0gZH65MTolkz2QTyo1lMyu6bReqBsgNf6pOHQYyUk6n2-pGfAyYQvxul-6jMrh4hq5p1tG6-R9/s1600/Lory_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGBioSqka_akotD-zAg6WAnUu37hvfBeMCci523xCHjyr7WedP94WJCHj0zbwxgquIg0gZH65MTolkz2QTyo1lMyu6bReqBsgNf6pOHQYyUk6n2-pGfAyYQvxul-6jMrh4hq5p1tG6-R9/s320/Lory_7.jpg" width="239" /></a>Now my toes are completely numb from the cold and I'm starting to get close to my car. I start a brief climb back my car and decide to rail back to it as hard as I can, just like when we're out here racing and we're climbing up this last section as if our lives depended on it. It is a great end to the ride and left me huffing and puffing, wishing there was more (even though I couldn't feel my toes).<br />
<br />
It was a great ride this morning but I have to say that I am a little sad that the only wildlife I saw was a couple of birds that I stirred out of a shrub, but maybe that's ok considering that there are mountain lions and black bears residing in this park.<br />
<br />
I only have to wait out one full day until I get to ride again but as I'm putting the Mosaic back on my roof rack I can't help but think that one day is one too many...<br />
<br />
Ride on!<br />
<br />
Chris Herron<br />
<span style="color: #888888;"><br />
</span>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-69292398951050955642011-02-08T20:46:00.000-08:002011-02-08T21:18:53.486-08:00Good Morning, Single Speed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Jj2_4GVc1WN8s8PsUHxxsx4Kf_QRrnqhwPY5h_En1jIw5a6LGtAVZoBd1mbQ6f3CuVtPwu0ZyoUTjnRKjeqp_ytmLeXRn8oUhfReab7mqviqgfl7pWtbZXI2SjqABJsdVI_gjoc5EbvD/s1600/IMG_20110124_072515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Jj2_4GVc1WN8s8PsUHxxsx4Kf_QRrnqhwPY5h_En1jIw5a6LGtAVZoBd1mbQ6f3CuVtPwu0ZyoUTjnRKjeqp_ytmLeXRn8oUhfReab7mqviqgfl7pWtbZXI2SjqABJsdVI_gjoc5EbvD/s320/IMG_20110124_072515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6:00am alarm, snooze...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6:08am alarm, snooze...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ugh...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could get up right now and go for a sunrise ride, or I could keep sleeping.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going riding.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I manage to get my things together without waking my family up and I make it out the door by 6:30.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm off! Spinning at a much faster cadence than I'm used to and going almost nowhere....</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning is my first single speed ride! I am riding Mosaic's Mountain Steel Single Speed 29er, and loving the feel of steel. I haven't even made it onto the dirt yet and this bike already has me riding wheelies off of curbs and whipping around corners. I should be focusing on the task at hand, testing myself and this bike, but I can't help playing on it. I did just wake up, didn't I? As I ride west on the Spring Creek Trail heading to the Pineridge Natural Area I enjoy the simplicity of the single speed. I may not be rolling as fast as I normally do but it's actually relaxing because I'm limited to a nice warm up cadence. But I am really looking forward to that dirt...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The paved trails end and I find myself climbing a gently ascending trail. I am very familiar with these trails, they are very near my house and I ride them several times a week when the weather is nice. I know every climb, every rock and root, and each line that gets me through the technical sections. I know that the first climb is coming. It is short but steep with loose rocks, climbing over the first hogback of the foothills. On my XC bike I normally downshift several times and start to hammer just before the climb starts to generate momentum.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I don't need to shift. I can focus on the terrain and hammering the climb. I pour on the juice at the same point that I normally would and with shockingly little effort I am at the top! I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I reached the top of that first insignificant, but yet significant on this morning, climb. This is going to be a great morning.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrwJlU3VfralJ2oB-EMyUfys4YGqyk9I50t27U41bciHlNqOMyKGlHwk8VX7luueAiInMFE2-CA8UaCdRKLUWLMx-rVMYhZq-OaXDUkUWRljagO0lq_nwIWJrLohQGIoagGEjc_lESsQG/s1600/IMG_20110124_074044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrwJlU3VfralJ2oB-EMyUfys4YGqyk9I50t27U41bciHlNqOMyKGlHwk8VX7luueAiInMFE2-CA8UaCdRKLUWLMx-rVMYhZq-OaXDUkUWRljagO0lq_nwIWJrLohQGIoagGEjc_lESsQG/s320/IMG_20110124_074044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I roll down the back side of the hogback and start rolling South to make a longer connection to the Maxwell Natural Area to the North. As I'm rolling along I can't help but notice how quiet everything is, the morning is peaceful. The only noises I hear are the sound of the wind blowing through the tall smooth brome grass lining the trail and the sound of my tires, rolling. As I look around in the new morning light I see two bucks bounding from a field off to my left, jumping over a 4 foot high fence, and then across the trail 20 yards in front of me. Awesome. I love moments like these. I may have only been a quarter-mile from civilization but I feel connected with nature here, now.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I start another gradual climb along the foothill and roll in and out of Ponderosa pines. The trail in this section is fast and flowy with a number of rocky and rooty sections that always keep my on my toes. The trail sees enough use that the obstacles are always well carved out and can present a perfect opportunity for the unintended endo if you're not paying attention. The bike handles these sections with the greatest of ease. I was really surprised with how minimal of an effort was needed to direct the bike. It seems like I can just look to where I want to go and my body naturally manages the bike to correct for any obstacles in my way. Do I really have to go to work after this? A couple more climbs get ticked off the list and I find myself in the Maxwell Natural Area.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is where I will really test myself and the bike. The A-trail climbs up behind the Colorado State University football stadium, it's steep and technical. It can be tough to clean this entire climb on any given day, even if you've done it many times before. I go forward with an open mind and determination. There is something magical happening with every pedal stroke on the climb. I'm hooking up, every stroke transfers 100% of the power to the wheels. There's no suspension sag sucking up energy, there's no energy loss from climbing in a granny gear with the chain all crooked, just pure transfer of energy. It's kind of an addicting feeling.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like climbing, call me crazy, and this feeling is awesome! Just as amazing, the Mosaic steel frame, White carbon fiber fork, and Maxxis Ardent 2.4 tires are doing an incredible job of soaking up the bumps in the trail. I don't clean the whole climb this morning, and I'm ok with that. The fact that I'm doing this on a single speed is a serious milestone for me! As I make it to the top of the trail I stop to reflect on what just happened and take in the views of Horsetooth Reservoir, Horsetooth Mountain Park, Lory State Park, and Fort Collins. Now I am realizing that I have to ride that rocky technical trail back down. On a rigid bike...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq5P6yD9T2Fpo9VSSXpBOYDMmtsQOE_jFcNjwBKQU4R5NBWVeP9DyAav2daFzGl2qgKMAv8tdwG-EOMzJbCrB5UshkaLIVq6FlqMxaU2Wq7m4mw33t39cubWKxguASeXgqGgnF73E8rpS/s1600/IMG_20110124_074136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq5P6yD9T2Fpo9VSSXpBOYDMmtsQOE_jFcNjwBKQU4R5NBWVeP9DyAav2daFzGl2qgKMAv8tdwG-EOMzJbCrB5UshkaLIVq6FlqMxaU2Wq7m4mw33t39cubWKxguASeXgqGgnF73E8rpS/s320/IMG_20110124_074136.jpg" width="320" /></a>Once again, the Mosaic bike really shined. Whipping around corners and through lines that I take on my full suspension bike, I couldn't tell during my descent that I was on a rigid. Ok, that's not entirely true... I did get jarred pretty good one time and thought that I gave myself a hernia, but aside from that it was great! And I didn't have a hernia. Coming down the final descent on the trail there is a little booter that I always like to hit. This morning was no exception and launching this amazing bike off of it felt like a great way to end the ride.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I start spinning back to my house and wishing that I could have kept going, but I need to get back to the real world. It was a refreshing start to the day. Challenging. Exciting. Awesome.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watch for more stories and adventures in the next couple of weeks with the Mosaic Mountain Steel Single Speed 29er!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ride on!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chris Herron</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Local Bike Enthusiast and Grasslands Research Extraordinaire</div>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314511077807190502.post-80126043668023205012011-02-01T16:12:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:38:45.614-08:002011- The New Year of the Bike<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Welcome to the first of many posts from the Mosaic Cycles factory.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This blog will serve as a place to explore the many facets of the bicycle industry. Various perspective articles, product testing and reviews, and other worthy ideas and products will be explored by myself and others. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The intent of this blog is not to be a marketing bonanza for our company. If you are interested in checking out what Mosaic has to offer, please see the website at <a href="http://www.mosaiccycles.com/" target="_blank">www.mosaiccycles.com</a> and become Mosaic Cycle's friend on facebook.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On occasion this blog will highlight special events that might benefit readers, cyclists and non-cyclists alike. <br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As Mosaic Cycles' head builder, owner, and cycling enthusiast, I welcome your comments, suggestions, disagreements and constructive criticisms. If you like what you see, please share this with your friends and colleagues. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-Aaron Barcheck</span><br />
<a href="mailto:info@mosaiccycles.com" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank">info@mosaiccycles.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Mosaic Cycleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235842867565282465noreply@blogger.com0