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As an added bonus there could be some wild huckleberries left around on the side of the trail!

We will meet in Oakridge at 11 AM at the Trailhead Cafe which is on your right (south side) just as you enter Oakridge (47434 Hwy 58). We will leave the Trailhead *PROMPTLY* at 11:05.

The ride will be a few hours long. The actual mileage will depend on the pace and wishes of the crew that shows but there will be plenty of folks to assist with guidance and lots of regroups. If there is a desire we will break into multiple groups, based on ability, and run it that way, but on a ride like this I like to just have fun and enjoy the day and everyone's company.

Please get in touch with Brock (ireman_1@yahoo.com) or Bill (bil_col@msn.com) and let us know if you are planning on coming.

All you need is a helmet, trailworthy bike, water and a snack. A sense of humor is not required, but it may help.

Brock...]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=54 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:46:50 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=53
I'll be around the shop quite a bit less as I raise this little raisin of ours, but I do hope to keep my face around as often as realistic and keep the mountain bikes running smooth-ish from time to time.

I figure I'll give Grace a week or two to get used to her new home and then teach her how to take drops and corners.

Brock...]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=53 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:01:03 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=52
Maybe it will happen again...soon!

Everyone had fun and there were only two casualties: Keith's leg and Gary's self respect.

Mountain biking...try it folks. You have nothing to lose but traffic noise and stress.

Brock...

null]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=52 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:29:01 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=51
I've not often seen reviews of parts that folks have broken in which the overall tone of the review is positive...but hold on.

I love the Sram PG 990...despite having broken two of them in the last couple thousand miles of singletrack. I've had them on "lightweight" hardtails that see all day epic rides and long-travel full suspension rigs that get sent off ladders, drops jumps and shuttle fests and everything in-between.

Now, I know I said I've "broken" two of them, but truth be told...I've still got one on my main rig (RFX) and it first "broke" a few hundred miles ago. I guess I have to define "broken" in terms of the PG 990's failure points. I've folded (bent if you prefer a more delicate word) the bailout ring and second ring on one to the point several teeth were too far gone to bend back and shifting was pointless...or impossible more to the point. Understand, I am a bit of a whiz with a drift and hammer and one of the best things about the PG 990 is that they can take a beating and have the rings bent back, but at some point the teeth can take no more. It tends to be a delicate procedure, but it's very nice being able to bend cogs back into alignment after a rogue stick (or rider error induced mis-shift) tosses a wrench into a ride and bends a ring. As all mountain bikers know: there is often poop on a trail waiting to get run over and when you plow through the middle of a fresh steamer...it's nice when there is a creek around the next corner to clean things up in. Well, sometimes the poop is actually a stick (or brain cramp) and a ring bends. The quality materials, engineering and solid build of the PG 990 are the equivalent of that well placed stream in today's lovely analogy. There are other cassettes out there that use similar "spider" designs that just don't have the same resiliency as the Sram product....and they cost a few bucks more.

I've fixed my current PG 990 three times and it still rocks! They are built around a lightweight aluminum "spider" which holds the majority of cogs and the cogs are secured quite well to the spider. The spider is especially nice for folks (like me...) that have rear hubs with aluminum driveshells (why a 255 pound rider has an aluminum driveshell on his 35 pound long-travel bike is a question for another day) since lesser cassettes can chew up the soft metal when they slip or blow up. I have the 11-32 and it weighs 275 grams. The 11-34 is 305 grams.

They are not cheap at $99, but buying one over the time I would normally go through 2 or 3 $55 ones makes sense from a purely fiscal standpoint let alone a time and frustration view. As previously noted, they are a pretty good weight...a few ounces less than the $55 ones if such things as grams matter to you.

If you have a mountain bike with gears...ride hard...and appreciate true value...take a long hard look at the Sram PG 990...then look no further. On the wayward wrench scale I give them 4 out of 5 wrenches.

Brock...
]]> General http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=51 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:22:56 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=50
So this isn't the "real" baby shower for Lee Anne, but it will be the best non-shower, baby shower around...I think.

It's more of a BBQ than a shower. We don't want gifts, your presence and friendship is gift enough.

July 12, in the afternoon (I can give you an actual time if you RSVP, probably like 3 or 4), we will have folks down for the Festival. I know that it's during the Kountry Fair. I'm OK with that... Some of my riding buddies and I are going to do a quick type ride before we descend upon Rancho del Brocko. If you like to ride MTB come on down. We will likely have some sort(s) of bike related games at the place as well. The tentative schedule of games:
Teeter-toter ride
Rock Crawling competition (up and down)
Delight Valley FreeRide run
Cazler Driveway hill climb
Jump contest

Food wise, I will be smoking some sort of meat, probably a brisket as that is my favorite. Maybe a ham or turkey as well. You can help out by bringing a side dish and whatever beverage you prefer. We always have Coke, coffee and Kool-aid around.

Please let me know if you are down to come down. Families are welcome, children are welcome. If you bring a bike...bring a helmet. I am very serious when I say: you will *not* be riding if you do not have a helmet.

If you need directions to Rancho del Brocko contact me either at the shop during my expanded hours (now that school is out!), M-S 12-6, or at ireman_1"at"yahoo.com (obviously, hopefully, use the @ sign but I like being clever and the spammers are well...pukes...).

Brock...]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=50 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:46:51 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=49 General http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=49 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:59:40 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=48
Brock...

ireman_1"at"yahoo.com

or come into the shop and chat it up.]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=48 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:45:24 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=47
With the price of gas, let's split it and LET US RIDE!

Brock...After a hard day of work...

]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=47 Tue, 27 May 2008 12:35:36 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=46 Road Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=46 Sun, 25 May 2008 11:54:37 -0700 http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=45
We will be meeting at the gravel pile at 9 AM. We will very likely hang out at the pile for post-ride festivities (read: peanuts, dark brews, V8 for me, brownies, etc). If you have never been to WhipeAss and you know how to ride a mountain bike, come on! This isn't really a beginner's ride due to the planned route, pace and terrain involved for Saturday, but everyone is welcome. Newbies should bring a (good...dark) brew (coffee or beer).

If you don't know where you are going give a shout to me, Brock, at ireman_1@yahoo.com. I can meet you in Lorane at 8:45.

Brock...

PS: If you are a beginning rider keep watching. We will be having a ride very soon!]]> Mountain Rides http://e-wheelworks.com/blog/index.php?itemid=45 Wed, 21 May 2008 08:26:34 -0700