Thursday, April 30, 2015

Terry Adams - History in the Making Diversion


Bobby Carter sat down with Terry Adams 10 years after he first appeared in Diversion Video Magazine series in 2003. Since that time, there has been a long list of events and videos that were out of the ordinary "riding edit." We discuss some highlights over the years including a previously unreleased performance at a red carpet fashion show in Los Angeles for Jennifer Lopez.

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2013/10/terry-adams-history-in-making-diversion.html

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BMX Society Reunion & Show 2014 | Re-cap

Another excellent BMX event hosted by Steve Brothers and his crew from BMX Society. With all of their hard work and dedication, especially in the little time they had to switch locations and get everything […]

Source: http://www.bmxoutsiders.com/blog/bmx-society-reunion-show-2014-re-cap/

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So, I've been riding the BMX a lot lately...

...and I have Strava data to prove it!

Seriously, I've been enjoying the hell out of riding my 20" and 24", so much, that the MTB's have been kinda hanging lately. I've done some upgrades to make my Stolen Saint 24" more freestyle, by adding 4 pegs, a front brake and a detangler.  That being said, here's my bike check. 


2013 Stolen Saint 24"


Frame: 100% Chromoly main frame w/ integrated seat clamp, mini 5mm dropouts, Campy head tube & MID BB shell. FREESTYLE GEOMETRY
Geo: 21.5" TT / 15" CS / 74.5� HT / 71� ST
Fork: 100% Tapered Chromoly, 36.9mm offset
Handlebar: STLN MID Bar, 7.25" rise, 28" width, 10� back, 2� up
Grips: Pryme Square Knot, Vortex Nylon Bar Plugz
Stem: STLN Convict III, Alloy Front clamp, 50mm reach
Headset: Integrated Alloy (Campy)
Brake Levers: Odyssey Monolevers - Medium
Rear Brake: Odyssey Evo2 U-Brake
Front Brake: ACS BOA Caliper with ACS Doubler Mod
Cranks: MOB OE 3-piece, Tubular Chromoly w/ pinch bolts, 175mm
Cables: F) Stolen Whip Linear R) Odyssey Gyro Cables
Bottom Bracket: Sealed MID, 19mm spindle
Pedals: STLN Thermalite w/ Chromoly axle
Sprocket: Coaliton 23T
Driver: 10t, 1pc Chromoly
Chain: KMC Gold
Rims: F) Revolver, double wall, 36H R) Revolver, double wall, 36H 
Hubs: F) 3/8" axle, 36H R) 14mm axle, Semi-Sealed Cassette, 36H
Seat: STLN Fat Combo
Seatpost: STLN Combo, 25.4mm x 112mm Alloy
Tires: F) Innova 24x2.125" R) Innova 24x2.125"
Detangler: Snafu Mobeus
Pegs: Tree Trick Aluminum


Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2013/02/so-ive-been-riding-bmx-lot-lately.html

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Bringing 1986 into 2013 - REVIEW of My "Modernized" 1986 Specialized Rockhopper Comp


In early-September, I was itching to build a rigid, steel 26" MTB, and began perusing Craigslist for something in the likes of a Redline MonoCog. I was on a pretty tight budget, so I narrowed my search to a max price of $100.

I already had my On-One Inbred 29'er, but not yet entirely convinced that the 29'er was the ultimate for rigid riding; I thought that a 26" version would be fun. After all, 26" bikes whip around very well and the wheels spin up pretty quickly. And, back in 2007, I had a Redline Monocog (and now regret selling it!). Through the years, I've built up 26" rigid singlespeeds, so this project wouldn't be anything new in terms of approach.

By using the search function on Craigslist, I stumbled upon this ad:

Two 1980's Specialized Bicycle Frames - $60 (Hollister)


Date: 2012-09-04, 1:18PM PDT
Reply to: see below


Two rare Specialized bicycle frames from the 1980's. Both are straight with no dents. All cable and brake holders and are in great condition too. 
The yellow frame is 19.5 inches and the blue frame is 18.0 inches. Each frame comes with a Specialized head set.
Taking the haul down to Hollister from my home in South San Jose, I purchased the yellow frame for $30.

Over the last few months, I've been able to gather parts through what I had in the parts bin, trading with friends and cheap stuff on eBay. What has come together has been one of the most fun, most efficient, most reliable and care-free, go-to bike I've had in awhile. 

The goal was to enjoy the Chromoly frame without dealing with old technology - like a weird quill stem and narrow flat handlebars with noodle'y bar ends. I also wasn't interested in old, crappy cantilever brakes (although I have been riding with Tektro C720's until today), outdated gear ratios with Biopace chainrings, or skinny wheels and gumwall tires.

No... I wanted to modernize it as much as I could. 

The first order of business was to get the steering correct. By using a thread-less stem quill adapter, it gave me a wider variety of stems to choose from. And, since I knew old frames had short top-tubes, I opted for a 110mm 25.4 stem from Performance Bike. 



I have pretty much guzzled the wide handlebar Kool-aid, and with the 30" wide Azonic World Force DH handlebars I had in my parts bin, I concluded they would fit my build nicely. Typically with such a wide handlebar, you'd have to use a short stem (say, 70mm), but the old Rockhopper's top-tube is short enough where the longer stem and wide handlebar work very well together without slowing the steering or making the handling poor.

I had envisioned a single-speed for this frame, and that's what this bike was built up as originally. But - with some afterthought about the convenience of having some gears - I opted for a 1X set-up. At first, a 1X8, and then after digging in the parts bin along with the purchase of an inexpensive Deore 9sp. shifter - I ended up with a 1X9 set-up, naturally.


XT Cassette, XT Rear Derailleur, Deore Shifter, SRAM 9sp chain, and a Truvativ Stylo Crankset with a 32T single chainring make the wheels go round-and-round. The Paul Chain Keeper holds it all together, too. My feet stay planted with traditional Crank Brothers Candy pedals.



For the trails I ride, I typically don't need a granny gear, especially with the 26" wheels. My Inbred is equipped with a granny gear, but that bike is reserved for more challenging climbs. I've found that the 32T X 11-34 gets me up most hills without having to walk.

I really don't know how people used to rail around on skinny, hard, gum wall tires, but that's what this bike probably had in its glory days. I was a little apprehensive about tire selection knowing that this frame was probably designed to be used with skinny tires, but a 2.1 squeezes on the rear and a 2.3 squeezes on the front. The old, steel fork absorbs the bumps surprisingly well, so combined with the 2.3 tire at a lower pressure, I don't feel like I'm chattering down a staircase riding the trails. 

I've reviewed the Fort� tires in previous posts, so I will not reiterate the positive things I can say about them.



If you've ever gone back-and-forth between modern disc brakes and old school cantilever brakes, you will find yourself at a handicap with the canti's. Even with high-end cantilevers, they pale in comparison to discs. Modulation is non-existent and brake chatter is common. I've been riding this bike with Tektro C720 cantilever brakes but scored these Shimano XTR v-brakes through my riding buddy, Ken. The C720's worked fine, but the XTR upgrade will pay huge dividends in the braking department. Some claim that the XTR v-brakes work just as well as mechanical disc brakes when set-up properly. I've only had mid-level v-brakes before, and was impressed. I am sure these XTR's will make stopping issues - well - stop.

Lastly, I will need to mention weight since steel bikes are criticized in this department. I am sure an aluminum bike would come in at a few pounds less than this build. But, with nicer wheels, the old Rockhopper could probably squeak under 26lbs. Currently, with the old, cheap, heavy Vuelta Zerolite wheels, my bike weighs in at a respectable 26.86lbs. 


My next upgrade will be wheels, which I think will help in the speed and climbing department. Rim brake wheels are difficult to come by these days, so my choices are limited.

Ride quality and handling of the Chromoly Double Butted tubing is fantastic. Incredible. This bike is buttery smooth and it makes you forget you are riding a 26 (soon to be 27) year old frameset. I am extremely impressed with how well it handles, and I have no problem riding it with people on modern suspension bikes (especially when climbing). 


I wouldn't take this bike on gnarly downhill or freeride trails, but for my local, everyday lunch rides, this old bike proves to be a sure winner.

If you have that old steel bike rotting away on the side yard, don't let it die. With a little creativity, you can revive it to bask again in trail glory.



Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2012/12/bringing-1986-into-2013-review-of-my.html

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Midwest BMX: In My Neighborhood


MidwestBMX.net Midway Skatepark Jam from Zak Gruber on Vimeo.

Source: http://actionvillagebmx.blogspot.com/2010/11/midwest-bmx-in-my-neighborhood.html

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Dennis Joiner & Mirra Komar ? Split Spring 2015 Edit

Share Here’s a solid split edit from Dennis Joiner and Mirra Komar who went to work on some of their local street spots over the course of the past few months. Both of these guys aren’t scared to do some … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/dennis-joiner-mirra-komar-split-spring-2015-edit/

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Jake Petruchik – Kink BMX 2015 Part

Source: http://www.kinkbmx.com/jake-petruchik-kink-bmx-2015-part/

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Kink ? One Hit Wednesday: Darryl Tocco

Share Kink released this weeks One Hit Wednesday that features Darryl Tocco having a battle with spot he filmed at for the “Squash It” BMX video. Sometimes things don’t work out first go, but it makes it that much better … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/kink-one-hit-wednesday-darryl-tocco/

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OGBMXn Summer Show & Swap 2014 | Re-cap

Sorry for the late post, but we have been all over the place this past week. Two Saturdays ago, our boys from OGBMXn had their 2nd annual Summer Show & Swap in Lemon Grove, Ca. […]

Source: http://www.bmxoutsiders.com/blog/ogbmxn-summer-show-swap-2014-re-cap/

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Bad news, good news

Harvest trails in their prime.


Harvest today.


As so often happens with trail spots Harvest trails are no more. This was the third and best effort for trails in this location but once again met the same fate as the previous attempts. Always a bummer to see so much time and hard labor go down in just a few hours. On a happier note, the trails we do still have are getting more lines dialed in. Our favorite San Diego transplants were out dialing in the new over/under. Paul takes the over while Garret and his newly healed(?) elbow takes the under. Thanks to Tex Diesel for the photos.

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/06/bad-news-good-news.html

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The Carter's


I caught this in my email this week. Todd Carter is a super cool friend and this video needs to be shared. This is what its all about the next generation of riders. Thanks to John and Conor Yull.

Words By John Yull

Watching Todd, Camden and Colin ride and compete in Anderson was such a great experience! Taking turns in the practice area with the boys put a smile on my face. Then watching Todd get more nervous that the boys during their runs was priceless! Here's to the next generation of flatlanders...Filmed and edited by Conor Yull

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2013/07/the-carters.html

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Jared Chilko Bike Check

Share United dropped a new bike check with Jared Chilko giving us a closer look at his current Dinero setup that he’s running up in Canada. Head over to their website for a full parts list and some more photos … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/jared-chilko-bike-check-2/

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

First Impression: Haro Zebra Frame

I turned 38 this month. Yesterday, in fact. 

I got birthday cash (yeah, still at my age) - and I bought a new frame with that cash.

I had one of the best BMX rides I've had in a long time, yesterday.

I've been eyeballin' the Subrosa DTT (double top tube) since they announced it - and boy, I really wanted one. In particular - the street frame in size 21". Although I ride mostly flatland, I love street. I can ride flatland on a street frame, but riding street on a flatland frame just plain sucks. I've owned flatland frames in the past; they have extremely short top tubes (18" generally), high bottom brackets with tiny Spanish bearings, twitchy geometry... just a very specific design for a very specific niche of riding.

So, having had my mind set on a 21" street frame, the Subrosa was on my list of "want" items. Well, it is tax time - and I usually pay every year (I've had to pay taxes for the last 10 years). The total birthday cash I got was $270 (yeah, not bad!) and the Subrosa DTT goes for $379. Even Kip at Master Blaster Planet  offered me a great deal on shipping - but I just couldn't justify it. Because with that new frame, I would have to get a new BB (because my GT Pro Performer was an American BB, and this takes a mid-BB), headset, and I also wanted a new stem (Subrosa, of course), pivotal seatpost and a comfy pivotal seat. With the Subrosa DTT frame and all the fixin's - I would be well into the upper $400 range. Going that far away from my birthday cash wouldn't be a prudent decision during tax time.

The other frame I've been looking at was the Haro Zebra frame. Reviewing the specs, it is  full chromoly and the geometry and weight matched the Subrosa DTT street exactly. The difference was the price - $159.99 at DansComp. Other features of the frame were removable brake mounts and gyro tabs. And boy, do I need both! I was able to get the frame, BB, headset, Shadow seatpost, Kink Sexton seat and Subrosa stem for $275, shipped.

After riding my mid-school 2000 GT, I really thought I just sucked. I lost my 360� bunnyhops, high bunnyhops, wall rides, etc. Flatland didn't come easy, and forget about decent street riding. Really, I thought it was just me. And while my BMX skill level isn't that grand by today's standards - I can throw down as good as an old BMX'er does. Not so much on that GT, though.

I left a couple black rainbows.

Well, well, well... the Haro "woke up" my riding. Not only could I hit every flatland trick I know, but street was absolutely flawless. I was able to bunnyhop, jump, fastplant, manual, g-turn, half cab, nose manual, etc. I spun my 360� bunnyhops, and yes, on my birthday, I re-learned bunnyhop wall rides, which I haven't done in years. It was as if I was 16 yrs. old again.

I will be attending the Old School BMX Reunion down in Woodward West this year, and with the new equipment, I feel A LOT more confident going there.

The weight doesn't bother me at 29.66lbs. Yes, I know we live in a world of weight weenies, but hey, I'm no stranger to heavy BMX bikes. You just kinda get used to it... I figure if I stripped it down to one of the brakeless, two pegged, slammed-seat BMX bikes the kids are riding nowadays, it would come in at around 25lbs - but for me, that just wouldn't work.

2013 Haro Zebra

Here's the bike check!
  • Haro Zebra Frame 21"top tube
  • KGB (??) Flatland Fork with adjustable dropouts
  • United Integrated Headset - Campy Spec
  • Odyssey Gyro
  • Odyssey EVO Front and Rear Brakes
  • Kool Stop Pads (rear)
  • E-Clat Clear Pads (front) 
  • Subrosa Hold Tight Stem - 50mm
  • Bone Deth Deadman Bars 9" rise, 28" wide
  • Chang Star brake levers (came off my GT)
  • Animal Hamilton Grips (soon to update to Odyssey Aaron Ross Grips)
  • Shadow Conspiracy 320mm seatpost
  • Kink Sexton seat
  • GT seatpost clamp
  • Sun Big City Lite/Taska U-Free Freecoaster Wheelset (10t driver)
  • Haro 30t sprocket
  • Fit FAF Tires 20 X 2.1
  • Rant Mid BB
  • Colony 8 Spline Crank Spindle
  • Poverty cranks 175mm
  • Odyssey PC Pedals
  • KMC 1/8 Chain (soon to update to Shadow Conspiracy half-link chain)
  • 3 Colony Jam Circle Pegs
  • 1 Generic steel peg (left rear for grinding)

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2013/04/first-impression-haro-zebra-frame.html

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Not your typical day of digging...

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-your-typical-day-of-digging.html

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Slimy Donuts ? A Day with Matt ?The Sez? Leviege

Share You never know quite what to expect when Matt “The Sez” Leviege drops a new BMX video, but you can always count on there being some real good riding in it. Here’s some footage from some time he spent … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/slimy-donuts-a-day-with-matt-the-sez-leviege/

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Bike Riding is just Not Climbing...

For the past year, I've been pondering how and why being a fast climber is the pinnacle of MTB riding and road riding. At least, outside of the loose-jersey DH guys, this seems to be what many are striving for. Many times I've read - and experienced myself - people's "fitness running out of talent"; you know the folks who haul ass uphill just to white knuckle and on brake a descend? I also understand people's fear and risk trade-off's - although with some focus on skillful descending, many (if not most) people can overcome this.

A lot of people talk about working on their fitness for climbing - and granted, most of us can use that sort of focus. Myself, I've been trying to get faster on climbs for the past 5 years (since I started MTB'ing seriously). However, why not take a few rides out of the week to focus on downhill skills, cornering, obstacles and flow? These skills, at least in my Cat3 point of view, are equally as valuable to being a great climber.

I appreciate it when I see fast riders at the top of Strava on both uphills and downhills - but also find it strange to see fast climbers WAY behind me on DH segments. I ask: What happened there? Even though I get smoked at races, it amazes me how much faster riders will hold me up on the downhill sections.

People use the old clich�: "Races are won on the climbs..." - but what good is that if you're not racing?

I get that many people ride for many reasons - and some people will just huddle-up to their strengths. My strength is downhill, technical and flow (God Bless BMX) - so I work on my climbing to try and balance my riding... but I still work on my downhill a LOT. Not only is it fun, but to me, it makes sense to be a well-rounded rider.

Now that I got that off my chest, here's Chad Degroot's segment from Baco 10...

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2013/03/bike-riding-is-just-not-climbing.html

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Interview: Balazs Ivanfi (2nd time around)

“I finally had time to re-upload the Bazsi Ivanfi interview (originally from 2009.08.05), after the server crashed… Classic interview… So for anyone who missed it the first time… Mr Ivanfi” - VS
“When I first meet Bazsi he was not able to jump up two stairs -� But he was riding everyday and got better and [...]

Source: http://www.valleysidedistro.com/wordpress/?p=927

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Scene check: Crewe Track/Skatepark?

… A little while back I got to check out Crewe Skatepark/Race track. In short, it’s worth a look! Even more so if your into your “tech” street riding. Take a look at the photos, to get a better idea - VS����

Source: http://www.valleysidedistro.com/wordpress/?p=964

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4Down 1Up ? Team Smillie ? Full Section

Share Here’s one we’ve been anxiously waiting from the 4Down 1Up video contest… Team Smillie’s section featuring Devon Smillie and Matt Roe with filmer Peter Adam! This one has really fun vibe to it and the intro is pretty funny. … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/4down-1up-team-smillie-full-section/

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BMX Society Reunion & Show 2014 | June 7th Long Beach

Alright folks, it’s that time of year again when Southern California hosts the biggest and raddest Old School BMX Reunion & Show by BMX SOCIETY!! This year, the location has changed from Whittier Narrows to […]

Source: http://www.bmxoutsiders.com/blog/bmx-society-reunion-show-2014-june-7th-long-beach/

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BMX Society Reunion & Show 2014 | June 7th Long Beach

Alright folks, it’s that time of year again when Southern California hosts the biggest and raddest Old School BMX Reunion & Show by BMX SOCIETY!! This year, the location has changed from Whittier Narrows to […]

Source: http://www.bmxoutsiders.com/blog/bmx-society-reunion-show-2014-june-7th-long-beach/

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Jeff K Spotlight

Pro- Profile 

Name:  Jeff Anthony Klugiewicz
Age: 26
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wi
Resides: Eastside of Milwaukee
Year started bmx and why: 2000, all my friends in HS were riding so I decided to grab a bike and join them.

Top 3:

Reasons to like ActionVillage:
1. Amazing Team.
2. They have everything!
3. They have and continue to support Bmx threw Events and Contests.

Bike Spots:
1. Estabrook
2. 4 Seasons Skatepark of Milwaukee

People to ride with:
1. BK
2. Cohl
3. Lil Jon

Favorite Foods:
1. Sobelman's (best burgers)
2. Ian's Pizza
3. Comet Cafe


People to Follow on Twitter:
1. @Etniesbmx
2. @its_Jeff
3. @GaryJBusey
And make sure you follow me...  @jklugiewicz
(Ed note: and us @ActionVillage)

Things you don't know about me:
1.  I Love building things...
2.  I love throwing events and contest.
3.  Play way to many video games in the winter season.

Parts on your bike:
1.  My Mankind "Forward" Frame
2.  My new Profile Racing "dusted Purple" sig color hubs.
3.  My ODI "O" Grips...  They're Amazing!



Fill in the Blanks--

[www.Midwestbmx.net] is my favorite website besides ActionVillage.com

I would [do something stupid] for 100 dollars.

When I was 16 I was [just getting into BMX].

To me BMX means [everything].

Everyone should take time to [look at the world around you, it's amazing].

My favorite thing besides BMX is [film/photography/editing]

The last person I called was [my Mom]

[Michael Jordan]  was my hero growing up and [My Dad]  is my hero now.

The best advice I ever got was [the best way to predict you future, is to create it]

Source: http://actionvillagebmx.blogspot.com/2010/11/jeff-k-spotlight.html

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Dan Nielsen ? Woodward Copper

Share We don’t see a ton of footage from Woodward Copper, but here’s a rad BMX video featuring Dan “Danimal” Nielsen getting down on some of the ramps there! Dan will be at Woodard Copper all summer, so if you’re … Continue reading

Source: http://bmxunion.com/daily/dan-nielsen-woodward-copper/

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The Baltic Games after-party snaps!

… The Baltic Games was a banger, and the after-party that follow did not disappoint…�”Read More”�to see the after-party snaps; see if you can spot yourself! - VS


Source: http://www.valleysidedistro.com/wordpress/?p=1041

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

I Got Me a New Bike... This Time Not a Frankenbike: 2012 Cannondale Jekyll 4

Yup. 

I joined the rest of the world and bought a complete. After showing off the pictures of my new bike, people posted comments, like, "This is not a Dion bike..." or "I thought you were too hardcore for full suspension..." Ha. 

Honestly, I've been riding pieced together frankenbikes as long as I've been into bikes. I've never owned a high-end complete, even when I was a kid. I guess my last few completes were bought online, but I've never bought myself something off the floor like a normal human. I've never got to enjoy "free maintenance and repairs" from the shop. I've always done it myself. 

I spotted this thing at Sports Basement in Sunnyvale, Ca. after having lunch at our usual Vegetarian Asian restaurant. I really wasn't "looking" to buy a bike, just browsing. I've had, in the back of my mind for a few months now, a thought to consider picking up a full suspension bike - to be more exact, a trail bike. Something that rails the flow. I mean, I've been riding these rigid bikes or hardtails for so long now. The last FS bike I had was a Motobecane DS Comp. Not a bad bike, and at times I regret selling it. Oh well. 

Sports Basement is a sporting goods store with a good bike shop, but it leans more towards the roadie and townie crowd. The MTB's look like they've been sitting on the floor for some time, and if they were shelter dogs, they would've been put down by now. The two that caught my attention were the Ibis Mojo and the Cannondale Jekyll 4 ("The Jek" is what I call it). The Mojo was a lower end build of a high end bike: through axle up front with a 9mm QR in back, XT and SLX components. The Jek is an X7 build, through axles both front and back with the Cannondale proprietary Fox DYAD RT2 rear shock and a RockShox Sektor TK coil fork up front. 




I what initially got my attention of the Jek was the price. It's only a year old and it was marked down from the MSRP of $2,700 to $1,800. Dude, I could afford that - just got to let go of a bike or two to offset the purchase.

The Mojo was $2,750. That would take a little creative maneuvering of money and selling more than what I feel comfortable with. Plus, after riding the Mojo (they only had a medium) - it felt small to me. the Jek is a large and fit me much better.

For shits and giggles, I test rode a Cannondale Scalpel FS 29'er. Um, no thanks. 26" wheels for a trail bike. Thank you.

With a 10% discount and a purchase of some Crank Bros. Candy 2 pedals, I was out the door with a brand new bike. As wiped out as I was from my buddy's bachelor party the night before, I took a nap and went for a test ride.

Ride 1: Feeling it Out




It was everything I expected. Full-Suspension is just weird for me. So many levers, adjustments to be made, finicky settings, etc. I took the suggestions of what people were saying online about the DYAD RT2 shock and set it up accordingly. What resulted was a plush ride, but serious pedal strikes - so the shock was too soft for what I need it to do. The front fork is way too soft for me and needs a firm spring. That will come soon, and I'll report the results of that on my 3 month review of the bike. Because - as it sits with the medium rate spring for lighter riders - I don't think the bike is "there" yet. 

Fit, color, graphics, ergo's... all very nice. The bike climbs as I thought it would - slow'ish, steady, not XC speed at all. But what really surprises me is the flat-out speed it possesses. I feel this might be a result of the lateral stiffness and rockin' the big ring (yes, it has a triple) is not a knee injuring activity. One would think that the Hans Dampf tires it comes stock with would resist rolling, but they seem to work very well with this bike.

Ride 2: Adjustments and Fine Tuning

Again, I struggled with the full-suspension. This time, I was dabbing all over the place, having to walk sections I normally would glide right over and just having a frustrating day. It was also 96�, windy and dry. I had not played with the suspension settings on this ride, and I was experiencing the same issues with pedal strike. 

I flipped the stem and lowered it slightly. The stock set-up felt like a beach cruiser.

I played with tire pressure, lever reach and seat post height. Between the heat, poor traction and with the past weekend starting to catch up with me, I didn't have much of a ride, but counted it as an "adjustment" ride.

Ride 3: Getting better - The Fireroad Test




Many of us, if not most, have to deal with fireroads in some form or another. Personally, I hate fireroads - but they are a part of MTB'ing and unless you're getting shuttled up the hills or if you only ride singletrack, we must sit and spin up these things. 

Coyote Peak Tower climb at Santa Teresa County park is a decent climb. It's steep, long'ish and sits at around 1,200ft. of elevation (although the elevation gain is 600ft. and is 3 miles long). It feels worse than 600ft.

This day of riding, I did play with the rear shock settings, and set just a few steps below the manufacturer recommendations. That made a huge difference - very plush on the rocks and rough, and efficient for the technical climbs. I cleared everything as I normally would.

The DYAD rear shock has two positions: long travel and short travel. There is a bar mounted lever that allows the rider to toggle between the two. I have played with this setting and discovered that the short travel is pretty much good for fireroads and extremely non-technical riding. When things get slightly rough, the long travel provides better traction and more pedal efficiency. 

For the fireroad climb, I set the rear to "short travel" and deployed the dual-position (DP) feature on the Sektor TK fork which lowers the fork from 150mm to 100mm. I also locked it out.

To my surprise, the Jek motored up the hill without issue. I thought the weight would play into things, but I really didn't feel it as much as I anticipated. The bike also didn't wander - but that could be attributed to the lowered fork. There were no traction issues, even in the loose stuff.

I was +/- 1mph slower on this bike up that climb than my 6lbs. lighter, On-One Inbred 29'er with XC wheels. This was to be expected, but I was surprised the climb wasn't worse.

Positives, Criticisms and Upgrades

Pros:

  • Great bike fit. This varied between riders, but this bike, off the floor, fit me perfect. Just a few minor adjustments and I was very happy.
  • Fox DYAD RT2 rear shock: sweet design and great feel.
  • Ride quality is stable, efficient and great lateral stiffness
  • I broke all my downhill personal records on the first ride!
Criticisms:
  • Limited adjustability of the stock RockShox Sektor TK fork: You must replace the spring tuned for your weight. I am 200lbs, and the medium spring it comes with makes the bike squirrel'y dive'y and just not a pleasant ride. Handling is compromised without getting this dialed. I have the firm spring on order and looking forward to getting it dropped in.
  • Weight. My bike is 32.58lbs as shown, but will likely be over 33lbs after I do the upgrades. However, the geometry and ergos help in this regard and you don't "feel" the weight as much as you'd think you would. 
Upgrades:
  • The immediate upgrade I did was the handlebar. For a trail bike, you would think Cannondale would stock this with a nice, wide handlebar. But instead they give you a 680mm handlebar. I swapped out their narrow bar with my wide Answer DH riser bar the afternoon I bought it.
  • Bash guard. Just a safety precaution, but with the triple, I wouldn't want to come home with a bent chainring. The MRP bash guard is en route, and will add the extra protection needed for big logs and rocks.
  • Dropper post. Found an X-Fusion HiLo dropper post on eBay for $140. While the reviews are mixed on this post, I think it will add a dimension to descending that is greatly needed for my trail bike. I have always been against dropper posts, but now, after riding a true trail bike, I can see the point.
I will update the review of this bike as time progresses. I hope this helps some on the fence about the Cannondale Jekyll 4.

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2013/05/i-got-me-new-bike-this-time-not.html

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Interview: Balazs Ivanfi (2nd time around)

“I finally had time to re-upload the Bazsi Ivanfi interview (originally from 2009.08.05), after the server crashed… Classic interview… So for anyone who missed it the first time… Mr Ivanfi” - VS
“When I first meet Bazsi he was not able to jump up two stairs -� But he was riding everyday and got better and [...]

Source: http://www.valleysidedistro.com/wordpress/?p=927

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Jeremy Gallant Bike Check

Our Canadian riders Jeremy Gallant shows off his Grim Eternal...

Source: http://easternbikes.com/blog/2011/feb/8/jeremy-gallant-bike-check/

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WTF II

Positive Peetz posted this gem up on the Corvallis/Albany BMX Trails site in response to the fixie post I posted a while back. A big WTF for this one. "I can sit cooler than you!" as a sport? Will NO SITTING signs replace NO SKATEBOARDING signs if this catches on? Had to repost this in case you missed it.

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/03/wtf-ii.html

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Updownsideness

Aussies. WTF? Guess they are just used to being upside down and backwards (note the brake lever). Triple Flips. WTF? Just met Jose Janez in April (first backflip on a bmx), now some thirty years later Jed Mildon steps it up. Think it will take another 10 years before we see a quad? Check it.


World's First BMX Triple Backflip - Watch more Funny Videos

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/06/updownsideness.html

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Dan Coller Eclat Vid!

Source: http://www.kinkbmx.com/dan-coller-eclat-vid/

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I Got Me a New Bike... This Time Not a Frankenbike: 2012 Cannondale Jekyll 4

Yup. 

I joined the rest of the world and bought a complete. After showing off the pictures of my new bike, people posted comments, like, "This is not a Dion bike..." or "I thought you were too hardcore for full suspension..." Ha. 

Honestly, I've been riding pieced together frankenbikes as long as I've been into bikes. I've never owned a high-end complete, even when I was a kid. I guess my last few completes were bought online, but I've never bought myself something off the floor like a normal human. I've never got to enjoy "free maintenance and repairs" from the shop. I've always done it myself. 

I spotted this thing at Sports Basement in Sunnyvale, Ca. after having lunch at our usual Vegetarian Asian restaurant. I really wasn't "looking" to buy a bike, just browsing. I've had, in the back of my mind for a few months now, a thought to consider picking up a full suspension bike - to be more exact, a trail bike. Something that rails the flow. I mean, I've been riding these rigid bikes or hardtails for so long now. The last FS bike I had was a Motobecane DS Comp. Not a bad bike, and at times I regret selling it. Oh well. 

Sports Basement is a sporting goods store with a good bike shop, but it leans more towards the roadie and townie crowd. The MTB's look like they've been sitting on the floor for some time, and if they were shelter dogs, they would've been put down by now. The two that caught my attention were the Ibis Mojo and the Cannondale Jekyll 4 ("The Jek" is what I call it). The Mojo was a lower end build of a high end bike: through axle up front with a 9mm QR in back, XT and SLX components. The Jek is an X7 build, through axles both front and back with the Cannondale proprietary Fox DYAD RT2 rear shock and a RockShox Sektor TK coil fork up front. 




I what initially got my attention of the Jek was the price. It's only a year old and it was marked down from the MSRP of $2,700 to $1,800. Dude, I could afford that - just got to let go of a bike or two to offset the purchase.

The Mojo was $2,750. That would take a little creative maneuvering of money and selling more than what I feel comfortable with. Plus, after riding the Mojo (they only had a medium) - it felt small to me. the Jek is a large and fit me much better.

For shits and giggles, I test rode a Cannondale Scalpel FS 29'er. Um, no thanks. 26" wheels for a trail bike. Thank you.

With a 10% discount and a purchase of some Crank Bros. Candy 2 pedals, I was out the door with a brand new bike. As wiped out as I was from my buddy's bachelor party the night before, I took a nap and went for a test ride.

Ride 1: Feeling it Out




It was everything I expected. Full-Suspension is just weird for me. So many levers, adjustments to be made, finicky settings, etc. I took the suggestions of what people were saying online about the DYAD RT2 shock and set it up accordingly. What resulted was a plush ride, but serious pedal strikes - so the shock was too soft for what I need it to do. The front fork is way too soft for me and needs a firm spring. That will come soon, and I'll report the results of that on my 3 month review of the bike. Because - as it sits with the medium rate spring for lighter riders - I don't think the bike is "there" yet. 

Fit, color, graphics, ergo's... all very nice. The bike climbs as I thought it would - slow'ish, steady, not XC speed at all. But what really surprises me is the flat-out speed it possesses. I feel this might be a result of the lateral stiffness and rockin' the big ring (yes, it has a triple) is not a knee injuring activity. One would think that the Hans Dampf tires it comes stock with would resist rolling, but they seem to work very well with this bike.

Ride 2: Adjustments and Fine Tuning

Again, I struggled with the full-suspension. This time, I was dabbing all over the place, having to walk sections I normally would glide right over and just having a frustrating day. It was also 96�, windy and dry. I had not played with the suspension settings on this ride, and I was experiencing the same issues with pedal strike. 

I flipped the stem and lowered it slightly. The stock set-up felt like a beach cruiser.

I played with tire pressure, lever reach and seat post height. Between the heat, poor traction and with the past weekend starting to catch up with me, I didn't have much of a ride, but counted it as an "adjustment" ride.

Ride 3: Getting better - The Fireroad Test




Many of us, if not most, have to deal with fireroads in some form or another. Personally, I hate fireroads - but they are a part of MTB'ing and unless you're getting shuttled up the hills or if you only ride singletrack, we must sit and spin up these things. 

Coyote Peak Tower climb at Santa Teresa County park is a decent climb. It's steep, long'ish and sits at around 1,200ft. of elevation (although the elevation gain is 600ft. and is 3 miles long). It feels worse than 600ft.

This day of riding, I did play with the rear shock settings, and set just a few steps below the manufacturer recommendations. That made a huge difference - very plush on the rocks and rough, and efficient for the technical climbs. I cleared everything as I normally would.

The DYAD rear shock has two positions: long travel and short travel. There is a bar mounted lever that allows the rider to toggle between the two. I have played with this setting and discovered that the short travel is pretty much good for fireroads and extremely non-technical riding. When things get slightly rough, the long travel provides better traction and more pedal efficiency. 

For the fireroad climb, I set the rear to "short travel" and deployed the dual-position (DP) feature on the Sektor TK fork which lowers the fork from 150mm to 100mm. I also locked it out.

To my surprise, the Jek motored up the hill without issue. I thought the weight would play into things, but I really didn't feel it as much as I anticipated. The bike also didn't wander - but that could be attributed to the lowered fork. There were no traction issues, even in the loose stuff.

I was +/- 1mph slower on this bike up that climb than my 6lbs. lighter, On-One Inbred 29'er with XC wheels. This was to be expected, but I was surprised the climb wasn't worse.

Positives, Criticisms and Upgrades

Pros:

  • Great bike fit. This varied between riders, but this bike, off the floor, fit me perfect. Just a few minor adjustments and I was very happy.
  • Fox DYAD RT2 rear shock: sweet design and great feel.
  • Ride quality is stable, efficient and great lateral stiffness
  • I broke all my downhill personal records on the first ride!
Criticisms:
  • Limited adjustability of the stock RockShox Sektor TK fork: You must replace the spring tuned for your weight. I am 200lbs, and the medium spring it comes with makes the bike squirrel'y dive'y and just not a pleasant ride. Handling is compromised without getting this dialed. I have the firm spring on order and looking forward to getting it dropped in.
  • Weight. My bike is 32.58lbs as shown, but will likely be over 33lbs after I do the upgrades. However, the geometry and ergos help in this regard and you don't "feel" the weight as much as you'd think you would. 
Upgrades:
  • The immediate upgrade I did was the handlebar. For a trail bike, you would think Cannondale would stock this with a nice, wide handlebar. But instead they give you a 680mm handlebar. I swapped out their narrow bar with my wide Answer DH riser bar the afternoon I bought it.
  • Bash guard. Just a safety precaution, but with the triple, I wouldn't want to come home with a bent chainring. The MRP bash guard is en route, and will add the extra protection needed for big logs and rocks.
  • Dropper post. Found an X-Fusion HiLo dropper post on eBay for $140. While the reviews are mixed on this post, I think it will add a dimension to descending that is greatly needed for my trail bike. I have always been against dropper posts, but now, after riding a true trail bike, I can see the point.
I will update the review of this bike as time progresses. I hope this helps some on the fence about the Cannondale Jekyll 4.

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2013/05/i-got-me-new-bike-this-time-not.html

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