Once again folks managed to get Raptured in the coast range without getting sucked off into the heavens.  In my estimation is was a great day, but I was more concerned with people getting lost or hurt than anything else.  I had one particular moment of panic when I saw a helicopter heading into the range – thank god they were just spraying the riders down with toxic chemicals and not rescuing anyone.  The only big bummer of the day was floating the keg before it even got dark.  2 kegs next year, 2 kegs…

As far as the results go, we might as well just re-post the results from last year.  Nelson managed to crush everyone again, and made it look easy.  To beat Justin, the next fastest rider, by over 40 minutes in a 5 hour race is just insane.   It’s a good thing Nelson’s such a nice guy, or people would probably start hating him.  We’ll see how the Stampede goes, he hasn’t dominated there as he’s done at the Rapture.   Hopefully someone can give him a run for his money – he doesn’t need a third spur, does he?  Full Rapture results will be posted here soon.

We’d like to thank everyone who came out.  We always appreciate how respectful everyone is, enjoy meeting and bullshitting with everyone, and we’re glad everyone had a good time.  We also need to thank our sponsors, 21st Avenue Bikes and Cream of the Gods.  They make it possible to put these events on for you, so you can always show your thanks by buying stuff from them.  And thanks to Gabe for bringing out the pinata so we could celebrate cinco de mayo in style.

One other side note – while adding last minute riders wasn’t a big deal for the Rapture, for lots of reasons it’s not possible for the Stampede.  The Stampede is full and we have a significant waiting list.  If you really want to ride, drop me an email and I’ll add you to the wait list.  Odds aren’t good of getting a chance to ride this year.  Thanks for respecting the hard work we put into these events and helping us keep the ride viable.  If we get shut down because too many people show up, that’s the end of that…

I’ll post links to photos and write-ups as I get them, or just add them to the comments below.  In the meantime, here’s a few photos taken by Tekla and Gabe (more photos here).

(c) Tekla

For those of you who’ve never seen him – the legend himself, Nelson:

(c) Gabriel Amadeus (more photos here)

Velodirt

Got a new toy in the mail recently – all the way from Canada!   After a lot of hemming and hawing, I decided to give the Salsa Anything Cage a chance, combining it with Porcelain Rocket’s new Anything Bags.  It’s a cool combination, and I am hoping to use this setup to increase my carrying capacity for longer multi-day trips when there are long distances between services (e.g. OBCDR).

I’ll do a complete review once I get some miles on them, but here are my initial impressions:

• I wouldn’t buy two again.  If you’re rolling with a frame bag and two of these, you’d only have room for one water bottle on the downtube.  I never ride with a camelback setup, so this leaves me with almost no water carrying capacity.  I’ll definitely roll with one, but I doubt I’ll ever use both of them at the same time.

• I wish the opening of the bag was flared.  I had a hard time packing them because the opening is the same size as the bag, which is on the small/narrow size.  I have small-ish hands – big hands will make this hard to stuff properly.

• Quality looks really good – we’ll see how they hold up.   I’ve never used any PR stuff before, and I suspect they’ll take a beating in that location.

• On the spendy side – $75 for two bags plus $15 shipping = $45/bag.  The cages are another $20/each.  It’s a lot to pay ($130 total) for just a bit more carrying capacity.  I also noticed the bags are now listed at $100 on the PR website.

Looking forward to another great summer of exploring on the bike…

I will love you forever.

Proving the prognosticators wrong, it appears we’ll all be around to celebrate another running of the Rapture route in 2012.  Personally, I wish the real rapture had happened – I would have liked to see all the zealous jeesus-types disappear giving us free reign to fuck shit up for a few months before we all went to hell.  Since that didn’t happen, we might as well run another version of the Rapture through the coast range.  Expect more-o-the-same as last year.

PLEASE NOTE – this ride is NOT for the faint of heart.  And not because it’s a long, hard route.  This route travels through remote areas of the coast range and any mechanical or injury will be serious.  And if you get lost – you’re fucked.  No two ways about that – this ain’t no Dalles Mountain ride.

Before we get into the remaining details, let me tell you what this is NOT.   Due to the vagaries of the folks who own these roads, bike races are not allowed in this portion of the coast range.  However – individuals are allowed to ride bikes as they please.  Therefore,  in order to avoid raising the ire of the “man”, this is not a race.  This is not a group ride. This is not a bike event.  You get what I’m saying?  This is nothing but a gathering of like-minded folks who like to ride bikes and drink beer, each of whom will go on their own individual ride into the coast range.  You may just happen to be starting and finishing at the same place, and likely riding the same route.  We will give out maps and cue sheets of a particular ride we like to do – you can choose to follow it or not…

Because this is NOT a bike race, there are some things you should know should you choose to ride.  You are riding as an individual.  That means YOU are responsible for YOU.  No one else is responsible for you – especially not us.  If you choose to go riding, you should also be aware of the following:

• The route is very remote and the majority of these roads are blocked to vehicle traffic so don’t rely on a rescue.  There is no easy way out of the coast range.
• There are NO services en route.  This means you are carrying ALL your food for your ride.
• There is potable water available at one location, at ~23 miles.  Beyond this you will need to either carry all your water or plan on bringing iodine tablets or a small water filter – there are numerous creeks and rivers en route.
• There is no support available whatsoever – if your bike breaks down you need to be able to fix it.  Remember you are responsible for yourself – this is an individual ride after all – so you cannot rely on another rider to bail you out.  We have neither the desire nor the ability to save your ass if something goes wrong.
• You will need an accurate bike computer or a GPS to follow the cue sheet.  We highly recommend a GPS.  We will have a downloadable GPS file of the route available.
• Optional items:  lights, compass, spare tire, good navigation skills, cell phone (there is likely no service available en route), SPOT transceiver.

Details:

• When:  May 5, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
• Where:  Super secret location near Yamhill, Oregon
• Bike-ing:  70 miles, 95% dirt, 7,000+ ft of climbing
• Beer-ing:  As always, there’ll be a keg-o-beer for all your drinking pleasures
• Camping:  Camping is available the night before and the night of – May 4 & 5.  Camping is $17 per site, per night – limited to one family or 4 individuals.  More details on camping when you register.
• You can read more about the route and last year’s edition here.

Registration is MANDATORY this year.  Sucks, I know – especially for me…  We’re restricted to hosting 100 people – so if we get over 100 people signed up, we’ll do as we did for the Stampede – you’re automatically in if you rode last year, rest of you get waitlisted.  You’ll get a registration confirmation email with lots more details after you sign up.

Registration will only be open until midnight April 20, 2012.

Shawn Linehan came into the shop to snap some pictures of Sean, me, and the new guy (Kurt). Wow, we look amazing! Check out the rest out HERE

James Wilson‘s latest and greatest video: CROSS UP!!!! I am so excited about this video because every time I watch it, I get to relive the race over and over again. Amazing!

As you out there on the internet may already know our beloved boss and pal, KV, has moved on to Chris King. He was the first manager of 21st and he spent 5 years making this place the household name it is today. The torch was passed onto a nice young man by the name of Nick “Cash Wrap” Wood. Not only is he a great guy, he knows his shit, and you can get lost in his eyes for days. Days! Well, since he’s been here 21st has been undergoing a lot of changes and since I posted shop tour photos not to long ago, I thought I would keep everyone out there up to date. Isn’t that nice of me? They don’t call me Amanda “Helps Old Ladies Across The Street” Sundvor for nothing. It’s because I’m nice. Not sure what the “Cash Wrap” thing is all about. You’ll have to ask Nick. Seriously…. ask him. I’m too scared.

Welcome to 21st! Come on in, hoser.

As you can see we took out some of the wall bike displays, moved the bikes to the floor, and used that space for the register. Word on the street is we are going to put “sweet art” up on the big empty wall. I don’t know why I am learning about the goings on in the shop from people on the street. I mean, I know we are the talk of the town, but… come on…

Our trusty Buccaneer is still here and Taco Sean still has #1. Kyle’s score is holding strong in the #2 and Papa Tong is still #3 despite Muck’s idel threats.

This is Cash Wrap’s “Blue Steel” look… he makes us call him that. I have no clue why, he won’t tell us. I’ve tried calling him Nick on several occasions and it just seems to piss him off. So, if you want to make good with the new boss call him Cash Wrap, not Nick. He hates the name Nick.

Service is getting buttoned up as well. With the season upon us we’ve updated tools, organized product, and stream lined how we take in service. I am going to speak for all of us and say that we are all pleased with the direction things are going. I don’t let them talk and if they try I just talk louder.

With the register gone there was a big open space that for some reason screamed to the customer “hey follow me back to my workbench and hang out with me while I fix your flat”. I don’t know why, but it did. It’s not that I don’t love our customers and don’t want them to hang out…. it’s that I love them too much and back in service can be a dangerous place. Tools drop and they can fall on you. Trust me, I know…. I’m usually the one dropping them. Now with the service bar there, our customers can get front row seats on their repairs and still feel like they are hanging out. Look at that!

Here’s my bench. There is something very nice about having your own workspace. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like when I am not here the boys don’t use my bench. There are two benches, that would be dumb. Don’t be dumb guys… you can totally use it.

I don’t know if Sean just didn’t believe me when I told him his sign he made was crooked or he just stopped caring, but this picture clearly shows it’s off kilter so if it’s a matter of disbelief… Believe Sean, believe. If it’s a matter of not caring I am urging our customers to come in and give Sean a hug. Not only does he love hugs from strangers, but he needs them now more than ever. Folks, I am moving on from this shop that I love so much onto a different adventure. Sean is happy for me, but I catch him pouting and shaking his head at me throughout my day. He’s sad, I can feel it. Take care of my little guy for me. He’s a sensitive flower and we are very attached.

Working at 21st has been the 3 best years of my life…. despite the fact I broke a bone every year. I’ve met some of the best people that I have had the privilege to know through the shop including my best friend, Sean. I love you, Taco! We’ve made sweet videos with the help of our great friend, James “Baby Face, Jimmy Jam” Wilson. While working here I was inspired to start throwing bike events under the name Backyard Blam and the shop has supported me every event, every step of the way. Thanks Park. Leaving here is bitter sweet. I am leaving for bigger things, but I am leaving a place that I have put so much of my heart and soul into and a place that has given me just as much in return. This is my home away from home and if I could have my dogs here it would be. These are my boys. This is my place. This is my love. The opportunity to move on fell into my lap. It was a big step up and I had to jump on it. I will miss you… but don’t worry, I will still be here in Portland and Backyard Blam will still be killing it.

Bike Snob has a new book out and we’re riding to his BRA from the shop. Meet here at 6:00pm next Tuesday April 10- we’ll be leaving around 6:15 for a meander around town before heading up to Powell’s by 7:15.

 

I don’t know about you, but I love free stuff especially when it rules. Maybe you know this already, but I throw bike events under the name Backyard Blam and Knog has been a long time sponsor. They’ve been good to me. Well, I was stoked out of my mind to get a set of Blinders to try out before they were released.

Press… that’s me.

I like that they are small USB rechargeable, so you don’t have to use the CR2032 batteries because those things aren’t cheap. The first night out with them my friend said she didn’t want to ride behind me because my lights were blinding her and I simply said “they’re Blinders, baby”. With 44 lumens in the back and 88 up front cars are sure to see you. I have been hit from behind before and let me tell you, it’s not fun. Anyone who says different is lying to your face and you deserve better than that. I want a light in the back that no one is going to miss and the Blinder is that light. I tried to take a picture of it on my bike when it was lit up, but it just looked like a bright red and white light. So, enjoy this video instead…

Sick beats, Knog. Sicker lights.
We’ve placed our pre order already and will be stocking these bad boys as soon as they hit the market. Boom.