get ready to get ready

A few rides of note in the next month or so.  A 2 nite backpacking somewhere from the house on either my mountain bike or the cross bike.  FOTP later next month.  A review of the bike is in order.  I am in no hurry.

this headset does what it is supposed to do

this bottom bracket seems fine

form to be filled out and mailed

this geax sure is a long lasting tire

mojo , taking a beating.

oink

 

geocache

On foot /On Bike!

Garmin Dakota 10

Touch screen and big storage.  2 AA batteries make it easy to keep going.  Seems pretty rugged.  Sleek mount on the stem.  Easy to read in sun or dark.

Thanks Karen!

hay bale wall

the benches are usually at the top

We think the usual thing to do is put something in the cache and then take something that is available if you want it.

this one seems to have quite the turnover

it amazes me how accurate gps devices are. they tell you pretty much exactly what is going on.

 

front up

Amazing what a proper tire, headset and brake can do for a bike.

I know what your thinking.  Something new always seems better, but the combination makes, for me, a huge difference.

So the tire.  Original spec on the bike when I bought it.  I wore the first ones out and decided to try a few others like the Panaracer Rampage, Geax Suguaro and the Conti Mountain King.  They really do not compare.  The WTB has a wider profile, more flexible casing and a fast rolling tread that grips and brakes very well for where I ride most of the time.  I think it is a good match for a rigid bike.

The headset.  I always thought that, by default, the Chris King headset was the one to have.  They just plain last.  Recently, I have had issue with the one on the Salsa.  Seems the axle to crown length on 29er fork in addition to  it being rigid, stresses out the top bearing race.  Cane Creek has a special wedge that sets the race perfectly to the bearing.  Chris King chooses not to.  The wedge is key!  No more creaks and no more “loose” feel from the wimpy bearing race/seal on the Chris King.  I choose a Downhill headset that weighs a ton that presses into the headtube about a 1/4″ further, but it eliminated all the issues.

And then the 185mm rotor.  Simply more braking control with less finger effort.  Braking while cornering is improved – tracks better with less fork flex!

yaaaay for new bike!