New Wheelset?

I am getting ready to buy a wheelset for my SS Niner One.  

I am looking at the Reynolds and American Classic but can't decide.  If you have an opinion, let me know or if I should look at another wheelset, please recommend.

Ghetto Tubeless

I converted my monocog 29er to tubeless.  I took a 26" tube and used it as the liner for my 29er rims.  I used Stan's instead of bontrager super juice as the sealant.  The process was extremely easy and clean following the videos which I have posted below.  The real test will be if it continues to hold air and a see how it does on a few rides.  

Cost: 1 Quart Stan's sealant, $29 (it doesn't take a full quart - I just wanted extra)

26" tube (if you don't have one already) $3

I would have posted some pics, but these videos are better than any photos that I could take.  

Part 1

The video suggests a metal tire lever--my plastic ones worked just fine.

Part 2

Its been a while

Yah, its been a while since I posted.  I've been doing some riding but not as much as I should.  I think there is a direct correlation between my posts and my fitness level.  I have been working on some bike projects.

I took my trek liquid, which has UST rims, and put on some panaracer fireproXC UST tires.  Then, with the help of some bontrager super juice, successfully inlated them.  They have held air for a week now.  

The next project will be to convert the 29er rims on the monocog.  I was talking to a guy at mad dog who told me that they don't use stan's.  They use a ghetto way for the rim strips--they will take a 26" tube, cut it down the middle and put it on the 29 rim as the rim strip.  Some trimming on the edges is necessary, but he said it works great.  I'm going to give it a try.

I have been doing some night rides on the BST.  The first few nights I only had a handle bar light that barely lit the trail.  Last night I rode with a head lamp.  It helped a ton.  The only downside was that the headlamp slipped off my helped and whipped down onto the crown of my nose.  It hurt, but I didn't think much about it.  This morning I looked in the mirror and I look like a racoon - I'm black and blue around my eyes.

I ordered the lighting set up that Kanyon Kris has been experimenting with.  I am anxious to use it.  The weather has been phenomenal.  3 years ago, I was skiing on halloween at Brighton in waist deep powder.  This year, I plan on golfing and biking on halloween.

I've been quietly accumulating some biking parts for my next project.

SHHHHHHHH

Uno

The Moots Uno.  One sweet looking ride.

No, I haven't bought one - I'm just dreaming and drooling.  29 Ti SS.

Saturday Ride

I was expecting a big snowstorm on Saturday, or at least some rain.  By Saturday afternoon, I couldn't handle the chores any longer and had to go for a quick SS ride.

I went up to the dry canyon parking lot, across the BST to the aquaduct road, up betty's, over to dry canyon and back home.  Not a soul on the trails.

Fun quick ride.

I hope to be able to ride Mud Springs up AF canyon this week.  

Tibble Fork via Pine Hollow loop

I had a nice ride on Wednesday.  I decided to avoid the alpine loop traffic and do a mtn. bike ride.  I parked at tibble fork res. and went up the pavement to Pine Hollow.  I tried my best to ride the uphill on my SS, but ended up walking some sections.  

I had never been down to tibble fork from 157 before.  What an awesome downhill.  It has a bit of everything - banked turns, technical rock and root sections, a few mud holes, sharp hairpins, etc.  It was a bit rough on a fully rigid SS, but not too bad.

The above photo is from the meadow half way down the tibble fork trail.

Red Bull Rampage

Check out some of the highlights of the red bull rampage that happened last weekend.

More videos & photos here

Fat Cyclist Jersey

My fat cyclist jerseys came in the mail today.  

I had bought a couple extra as gifts for some friends. They thought it was funny, but soon appreciated the underlying goal.

The jerseys look sweet.

Fall Colors on the Alpine Loop

I rode the loop today with some friends, Chris and Phil, from the neighborhood.  This is the first time this year that they have ridden the loop.  It was actually Chris' first time on his new Fezzari road bike.  The pace was easy, but we made it over the top.

I had a rock slash the sidewall of my tire on the way up to Sundance.  I changed the tube and it flatted in the Sundance parking lot.  Luckily I had some cash and bought some tubes at Sundance and a sidewall patch.  Problem solved.

The temp was perfect.  The biggest problem was the traffic on the road.  Tons of cars looking at the fall colors.

The leaves on the AF side are more stunning than the Provo side.  Great time to ride the loop.

The credit for these photos goes to Phil.  My camera phone doesn't come close to producing this kind of quality.  I need to start carrying a small dig camera with me.