Leah has been busy writing as time permits on her blog (which can be accessed from the button at the top of the page), but I’ve been pretty quiet for the last two months.  This is not a sign that I’ve been sitting around contemplating the existence of belly-button lint.  It’s been a pretty fast moving time. 

Leah has been getting all her check marks on her list towards ordination, and I’ve been busy working on the house, the cars and try to maintain some form of fitness even with uneven time availability and unpredictable Washington spring weather.  On top of that, work has been sporadically intense, as it has been the last couple of weeks. 

Things are pointing up.  The temperatures are inching towards short sleeve weather, the M5 is almost back in the garage (to be torn up again), track season has started, and the great bathroom project of ‘07, and ‘08 and ‘09 is almost entirely put to rest.  I’m hoping it will be a balanced, restful and fun summer.  We’re looking forward to more time with friends and a few small trips.  Less stress and busyness would be nice.

But, even with everything going on, the bike fanatic in me has to make time to work on cutting edge gear whenever the chance presents itself.

It’s been well established that I have lots of bikes.  This is only a small sample.  However, these aren’t particularly high-tech rides.  I’ve never owned a carbon frame.  Only one of my road bikes has been updated to 10 speeds.  I only have one mountain bike, and it doesn’t even have gears.  In other words, even with N bikes laying around, there area a lot of gaps in the collection and plenty of goodies that have never entered my basement.   At least until now.

For for the first time, a dualie.  Boo-yah!  What we have here is one crazy advanced downhill frame.  Just like the new big-hit bikes are starting to employ, it has a fully protected drive-train, not to mention two brakes, bmx influences and a custom saddle.  Unparallelled suspension travel, with the weight of a cross-country bike: only 37 lbs!  Laterally stiff and vertically compliant.  You’ll be sure to get yourself in trouble with this one.  NEXT Rascal Mini Honcho indeed!

But let us be honest; sometimes races call for the utmost in speed, with no room for comfort or amenities.  You need a truly paired down bike for that dirt crit or short-track race.  You need the Hurry Arrow.  At least I did.

Freestyle geometry babeee.  Full rigid.  Now with a certified track chain (hey it’s what I had laying around).

Even straight from the factory, race teams need to make changes to make top-end bikes race ready.  This bike’s owner had decided to follow the most recent trend in tire technology and shave down the center tread for decreased rolling resistance on fast surfaces.

Sadly these bikes couldn’t stay in my collection long.  They were needed by the original owners so as to continue tearing up the local Ballard racetracks and playgrounds.  And now, that the forks are correctly mounted, they might even be safe.

So parents… if you want to get your kids into the healthy and rewarding pastime of cycling, it behooves you to find a bike that weighs less than your child.  Additionally, don’t assume that the 16 year-old who put it together at Target knows what they are doing.  I’ve seen more bars on wrong than right.

Stay lean, stay mean, stay safe!