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Yes you read correctly. Not only will you get to see some sweet racing, you also get to hear me lay it down on the 1s and 2s. Legit. In case you didn’t know…. I kill iT. So, come on down to come and get down… and race your bike a bit.

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Dear World Wide community on the web, I wanted to share some recent news that I find exciting. If you are familiar with the internet and our blog and awesome dudes then you may be familiar with a couple of local guys of that ilk named Matt and Nick. Well Matt and Nick were recently over in the French Alps hurtling themselves down the mountainside amidst a throng of like minded lunatics. What were they doing you ask? Racing the Megavalanche

Out of 328 folks Matt finished 97th and Nick finished 107. BOOM. Its probably true that these guys are not to happy with their results. They are both born winners, honestly I don’t even understand how they can be friends, its like in Time Cop when you have two versions of yourself trying to occupy the same place (in this case they are not the same person rather both are the physical embodiment of the notion of a champion). Despite what they may think, I am thinking ticker tape parade. They took it to over 200 people most of which at least had a leg up in terms of being adjusted to the timezone. Pretty awesome.

Matt also has a new video out.

Schrapling!

On our most recent Thursday night ride, to which you are all invited ( moderate road ride leaving around 6-6:30 on, you guessed it, Thursday nights) , we had a discussion about a particularly astonishing turning technique that the fast boys seem to be throwing in all over the place. Its call the Scandinavian flick and is something the four wheel powered crowd has known about for ages. Witness Colin Mcrae doing his best in a Nissan.

I have been trying these things for the last couple years, since the next gentleman of conversation decided to show us the true and shining path. I have yet to master the technique but when it does fall in to place its a guaranteed face ripping smile.

The man who introduced me to the mountain bike adaptation of a Bergman movie is none other than the quite thunder from Team Eddy Merkin , Mr. James Crowe thought he was going to be able sneak what we believe to be his first appearance on the silver screen past us, and like everything James does he does this well. Method acting at its apogee, move aside Di Nero, stay on the waterfront Brando, don’t bother transforming Labeouf, your time has come and gone, there’s a new kid in town.

PS. We all dropped to espresso shots into our coffees this morning and I think I can speak for all of us in that we are experiencing an unexpected transcendence.

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Let’s Ride! Join Trusty Switchblade this Wednesday, July 13, as we kick off the first of a series of monthly rides. We will meet up at 21st Avenue Bicycles (916 NW 21st Avenue ~ Portland, Oregon 97209) at 10 am, and roll out at 10:30 am. Expect bad road surfaces, traffic, unrideable trails and lots of shenanigans.

 

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Day two of my first experience being a race mechanic and it was rad… my head might explode. Today was neutral support so after last minute adjustments before the race started, we headed out in the car and drove up and down the course looking for people who were broke down on the side of the road. We would stop and fix their problem and they could continue their race. It was a half Ironman meaning we were out there for awhile. It was a lot of fun and I know it’s something I want to do again. Fo sho. It’s really exciting to do something that I love to do so much and in the same time help someone continue their race. You kind of form a bond with that person and you get to cheer them on every time you pass them. I think I’m in love….

I don’t need a bracelet to tell me what I already know, but apparently it helps other people identify me as such. Not everyone is as perceptive as I am.

Wow, doesn’t Muck look super intelligent in this picture? I think so, and super fit to boot.

This is just one half of the bikes in this corral and Muck and I were the only two mechanics on duty. Uhhhh… we crushed it.

This is Meredith. She pretty much DOMINATED the woman’s pro race. That picture I posted from of Muck fishing out that valve extender from that wheel yesterday was hers. By some miracle he got it out, glued up her tubular, and she was able to ride to victory. So…. in a way, we won today too. Although, I win every day.

This is Muck’s friend, Courtney, from Boulder, CO. Super nice lady.

Muck is a seasoned race mechanic and this was my first one. He drove so I could jump out and take care of business when people needed roadside help.

I was surprised to see how many people who were just out riding their bikes on the race course…. especially since there was a bike path that ran parallel to it. Although, I wish this guy was racing and I wish he would’ve won. Nice flags.

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This weekend I will be at Blue Lake doing race support for the Rev3 Triathlon. Today we spent the day doing race tunes/check overs. Tomorrow we will be neutral support. It will be interesting to ride in a car while the race is right beside me. Then I get to jump out anytime there is a problem and do some quick fixin’. Uhhhh, yes…. It’s pretty bad ass. I was surprised to see how many people traveled far for this race. I am not familiar with Tri races so I didn’t really know this was a big deal. Who knew? I wasn’t the only one from our shops who went to represent. I brought the newest member to our family, Muck. He is wrenching over at our sister shop, Fat Tire Farm.Muck has had a lot of experience as a race mechanic and does the Hawaii Ironman every year, so it was great to have him to work with. My friend, Jason, also joined us and checked in bikes as they came and handled the general order of the repairs Muck and I had.

The year I was born…. I raced out of my mother’s birth canal and into the world. What? Ok, I will be the first to admit, that made me sound like a weirdo.

Muck, fixin’ shit.

Jason, being awesome.

These wheels were the Embrocation colors. I love them.

One minute I am fixing bikes and the next…
….I am stand mashing. What’s that? Oh, just this thing you do to where you mash your face off while the bike is still in the stand. Hence the name “stand mashing”. Geez…. it’s like I have to spell everything out for you.

Muck and the timid valve extender. Come out extender…. we won’t hurt you.

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• 95 miles
• ~8,000 ft elevation gain
• 50% dirt
• 3 days, 2 nights
• Start/End: Dufur, Or
• Services: Dufur, Tygh Valley, Wamic
• ~ Route map

I don’t think I’m one to hyperbolize - so hopefully I’m not exaggerating when I say this is some seriously good riding. As noted in more detail below, several of these roads are on par with the best riding I’ve done in Oregon. [click to continue…]

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Greetings cycling lover.

My name is Pete, I am the new-grade mechanic at the 21st Avenue Bicycle Shop. It has been great working with the rest of Portland Oregon in the bicycling commerce and service industry. Be it bicycling about the region or hanging out, these lands have what I can only describe as whole-hearted ‘living on up’. Great times here PDX, it is an honor to help service your bikes and talk with you about your cycling addiction needs; world peace there. You also have incredible talent for all your bike component problems: thanks to all the crew-dogs at 21st, you are so amazing to work with! Thanks for showing me how to keep our townsfriends happy on their bikes, and be awesome in all things life. Thank you also to our parent shop Fat Tire Farm. They have seriously famous mountain bikes, and know exactly how to treat them all. Real cool to meet so many of the fellows who work there.

Ok everyone, ride safe this summer, as well as every day until the next summer. This city got some magic.

What follows are views of a splendid traversal from town here in Portland OR, to Arcata CA this past June. It began as a chance to share the road with great people/cycling creatures. We also appreciated the healing benefits of physical therapy; what kinks and knurls from the daily shaken have pressed on our carriages. Roll out your knots and stretch the legs round.

Openness, mad openness totAl. West coast Route 101 rallies. And you know who else rallies? Matt Hall and Steven Hunter for devouring the miles and hour’s fuel debt to triumph their way to San Francisco CA.
Vive la Ultraroad Road2011. Stupendous friends, and one must not miss SAS style in the riggings; consolidation of gear and effects made me look like the rattled hoboVet with a food bag that I am. So there was the jealous from me. Props dudes. Thank you for letting me ride with you.

So press on out there. Best wishes to all those friends with new children, or marriage in their smart-phone.

Peace,
Peter Rubijono,

mechanic and friend of Captain Solo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Some of you may know our pal Jeremy Dunn from his work in front and behind the scenes at both Rapha and Embrocation. Well a new video surfaced with more spot light action from this man among men. Really getting after it in this one

Galibier – Who Are You? from RAPHA on Vimeo.

Ladies this is heartthrob business am I right?

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