The Mt Nittany Wheelworks Blog

Adam gets his Cake

They say parting is such sweet sorrow, especially when there's cake involved. Its with a heavy heart and a sweet tooth that Wheelworks says good bye to Adam Shrigley, A man known by many names before he started here, but pretty much remained just Adam during his Wheelworks tenure. The Round Kid, Momo, Monkey, The Artist formerly known as the Round Kid, Adam had survived all these monikers since we first met him as a 16 year old bmx punk skipping school on Halloween because it was a pagan holiday. We hired him not long after that to work with us at the Bicycle Shop over some other kid who also went to Bellefonte. Time has proved us right as that other kid turned out to be a loser.

We sent Adam out of here on Friday with a kick ass chocolate cake courtesy of Julia, a bottle of Bourbon from Harry and some Fat Tire Ale courtesy of Tim Steffek. You may see Adam on the trails in the next few weeks as he takes his time leaving town, but what hes really doing is savoring all the bumpy bits of trail he can fit in before he heads to the part of PA where they have this brown stuff called dirt. Crazy, ain't it?

Now that Adam has moved on to the greener pastures of Lancaster, `wee Timmy Darwick has stepped in to fill Adam's boat-sized shoes. Stop by and wish him luck some time.

   

Can't get there from here

Its Bike to Work week here in State College, time for all to consider what it will take to get there by bike.  40% of all car trips in the US are less than two miles, easily a distance to cover by bike. Think about it; even if you crawl along at 10mph, a two mile trip will take 12 minutes. If you factor in finding parking and stop lights into your drive time, you can't really cover 2 miles in a car much faster.
If you'd like to see where two miles from home will get you, check out this site. You'll probably be surprised by whats within that circle. With gas inching towards $4.00 a gallon, can you really afford not to? 

two and out

April 7 – Headed down to Raystown early in the AM for more stumbling around in the woods. Once the work day was done and we had met up with Bill Blythe, the Sewco hired gun, I jumped on the bike for my first spin on the Raystown circuit. Shuey! Those are going to be some fun trails once they are broken in. The down hills were sweet, but the ups were a slog as the ground was super soft after a winter of frost heaves. There is also a ton of blow downs making the riding a little stop and go. Hopefully I’ll be able to do something about that in a few weeks. 1 and a half hour ride.

April 8- Day two at Raystown, and I figured on trying out the trails that we are replacing, the Old Loggers Path. IF by logger’s path they meant skid road, then yep, they got it. The decent from the trail head to the lake was fun in that teary-eyed fire road sort of way, but getting back out was not so sweet. The fire road on the other side was ok until it turned into a swamp, then a side option I took alternated between muck and steep, with plenty of winter deadfall to turn up the suck factor. Did I mention I was racing sunset too? 1 hour and not much more on the bike.

April 9 – I finished at Raystown at about 6pm and planned to do a night ride, only to get home to an oddly empty carport. There was no Single speed where I had left it and also no Nite Rider light, as it was on the now missing IF. Crap. So not only did I end my streak I also potentially was out a few grand. Double crap.

Epilogue – My IF was recovered by a couple of my shop mates, Andy and Tim, playing the role of bike vigilantes. The bike still had everything on it, including the light. My favorite part of the story was Andy (always Mr. Nice Guy) offered the kid a ride since he wasn't going to be leaving on the bike. Its now April 16^th and I have missed a few days, but I think I am going to try and keep it all rolling into May. We’ll see if I can do something 42 in 45 or something equally silly.  

First week down

April 1 – Started the month off right by spending an hour after mid-night typing out the schedule for the PA Mountain bike summit and sending it to everyone who had already committed. Then got up the next morning and went for my first AM ride in a while. I forgot how good it is to start the day coughing up a lung. 1hour advocacy and 1 hour ride

April 2 – Did the morning ride from home, but this time purposely did a much different route from the usual. That was one of my issues last year, got tired of the same old, same old. It was pretty good to seek out the new and odd. There were some places that were pleasant surprises, but others made me go “ yeah, theres a reason I don’t go this way”. 1hour ride

April 3- OK, today I just got a little silly. Wes the Conqueror returned his race bike from last year, which was basically a loaner from us. I eyed up the front end of it (a Paragon 29’er) and figured that it would only jack up the front end of my IF only 5mm. Fifteen minutes of stand time while Harry was out of the shop and I had myself a ghetto 69’er. Took it out after work and quickly realized what the fuss is all about. Trails that I had dialed I now could fly on, launch logs with ease and attack things with way more confidence. Damn that was fun. 1 and a half hour ride.

April 4 – Almost fell off the wagon, but so glad I didn’t. I spent the morning chaperoning a field trip which required standing around in sub-40 degree rain with a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds, then headed to the shop which was slammed. Did I mention I was out at Otto’s until almost 1 the night before? I Didn’t get home until after 9 and really considered going to sleep. Instead, I hooked up the lights, and did a big loop of the sort of bandit trails in town. I forgot how much fun night riding is, that edge between being way creeped out and totally calm. Good times for sure. 1 and a half hour ride.

April 5 – If one day bleeds into the next, it still counts right? After finishing the ride so late the night before and with rain starting at midnight, I decided to sleep in and plan on another night ride. Well, after one of the busiest days in Wheelwork’s history, I had dinner plans. I was an invited guest at an awards banquet for the Recreation, parks, and Tourism management department at Penn State. I received an award for my contributions to the department, which mostly consists of me coming in a couple of times a semester in being a guest speaker in whatever someone feels they can shoehorn me into. It’s always a good experience and I appreciate the chance to talk to students and see what the future holds. Unfortunately, over the course of the night, I probably put away 5 drinks and heading to Otto’s afterwards didn’t help. So when I finally went for my ride, it was a little closer to midnight then I had hoped for. I did mention that this isn’t really a training exercise as much as a motivation, right. 1 hour ride and not much more.

April 6 – after reviewing the options for what promised to be one of the nicest weekend days so far in 2008, I decided to load up the dog, the bike and the chainsaw and head up to Black Moshannon and the Rock Run trails. These are some of my favorite trails, and I only make it up there about 5 times a year. Unfortunately I had a little run in with “the Man” (in this case, a lady), a forest ranger who had a slightly different interpretation of state regulations than I did. After a fairly civil discussion, I handed her my IMBA business card and left it with “I look forward to getting the citation so we can actually get this settled” and continued to ride. I spent 2 and half hours riding and sawing, but didn’t get as far as I would have liked because I snapped my derailleur hanger. It was a great day, but more frustrating than I had hoped for. As an aside, the Dakine Builder Bag is awesome! 2 and half hours bike and advocacy time.

30-30 in April

So last year I did the 30 rides in 30 days thing and April and although it was cool, it seemed a little self indulgent (the whole recovering Catholic thing). So this year, I am going to do 30 rides, but I am also going to do 30 hours of advocacy to offset my guilt.  This will include clip and ride-rides, volunteering at a couple of charity rides, hours spent hassling people on the computer for better trails, attending some questionable PR event (I'll clue you in later on this one) and at least 10 hours of busting my ass building trails. I am the state IMBA rep after all, so it shouldn't be hard, but I think if I focus on it and have other folks waiting to bust my chops if I fail will make it happen. So not only will I be better come May, this might just be a better place to ride.
 

Spring has Sprung

Just wanted to give any of you who are interested a brief heads up about goings on in Rothrock this year.
1) The big news is that the long feared expansion of the gasline has begun. Clearing crews from Dominion Energy have begun widening the right of way, to be followed by crews putting in a new pipe line this summer. We have already recieved one report that Detweiler is a disaster. Hopefully the area will be cleaned up soon, but I would avoid the Detweiler until you hear otherwise.  It is going to be a constant mess as the company is using Thickhead and then the upper portion of Detweiler to access the Gasline between Long Mountain and the next ridge.
2) Spring gobbler season Starts April 26th. Hunters will be in the woods in the mornings until noon. Please give them their space and please do not use the camp road to access Tussey Mountain Trail until May 27th.
3) Nittany MBA has a trailwork day on April 20th. Tentatively, the plan is to do some work in Shingletown. Check their website for updates.
4) Mt Nittany Wheelwork's Beginner ride will start on Monday  April 14 at 6pm. 
I think that covers the bases, so now lets all get out and ride, shall we?

This is a public service announcement

We don't often just pass along clips from other websites, but with the time change and the milder weather, there are more cyclists on the road. Click on this photo and see if you can pass this awareness test.

Glover's long, cold winter

Just to mock those of us who have been showing up for trainer night, Glover sent this in for another update. I am very jealous as I have been hoofing it through the snow rather than sitting in the saddle, which I would much prefer.
So last year Frank accomplished his goal of riding 30 days in a row. (Check back to May 2007 for his blog entries.) For something new, my goal this winter is to not ride indoors. Of course, I could simply not ride and meet my goal but that seemed too easy.

It's been tough but so far I've been able to get in a ride or two a week. Considering that I rarely ride more than three times a week in good weather I'm pleased to have gotten out as much as I have so far. Having said that, my last three rides have started when it was below 20 degrees. Unfortunately, two of those rides were completed in sub-20 degrees. Hopefully as we enter March it'll warm up a little.

As usual, a few bits of equipment made things better: puncture resistant tires because even the thought of changing a tire made me feel cold; some dedicated winter clothing to keep some heat in my body. If I could only figure out how to keep my toes warm for more than an hour I'd be set.

We have plenty of ideas on how to keep your feet warm for Jim, but being the grump that he is, he probably won't listen.

Mt Nittany Babyworks

Cyclists are a bunch of fertile myrtles. Yet another data point in the swimmers debate, Mt Nittany Wheelworks would like to welcome Luisa Nicole Becker to world. After a post birth helicopter flight, Papa Kyle reports that both Mom and Baby are doing fine.
I do think this is going to cut into Pam's hours at the shop this spring... So we have now gotten some up dates from Pops. Baby Luisa had to take the Heli flight by herself, but Kyle and Pam followed when they could. After a birth story that can only be described as "not what we expected" Everyone has made it home safe and sound.

And much to many people's chagrin, she will have a birthday every year. Birthday was the 26th.

Gore to race NUE series

Joe Gore has accepted an invitation from the National Ultra-Endurance (NUE) MTB Series to compete in their eight-race series in 2008. Heading into its third year, the National Ultra-Endurance MTB Series features a schedule of 100-mile races held across the United States.

"We are pleased that Joe has accepted our invitation to come out and race at our events," said NUE Series Director Ryan O'Dell, "These are the kinds of events where everyone is welcome, all ages and abilities. Having Joe means we can generate additional exposure and attract sponsors that will help us further build our unique brand of racing."

In 2007, Gore raced the Shenandoah Mountain 100, which was the NUE Series finale. Riding for Mt Nittany Wheelworks, he finished well behind Jeff Schalk (Trek / Volkswagen East Factory) and Harlan Price (Independent Fabrication). He also failed to finish at the Wilderness 101.

"The great experience I had last year was a big part of my decision to commit to the whole series," said Gore, "I had a great time and felt very comfortable. It really gets you connected with why we all chose to ride bikes. The races are fun, healthy and very competitive and the racers, staff and sponsors for these events are truly great people. I can't wait for the first race in April."

Gore rode Paris-Brest-Paris in 2007, and despite minimal training in Fall 2007 he has been repeatedly quoted as "focusing on recovery" for the coming NUE series.

A source close to Gore told Cyclingnews that Gore was fully committed to the NUE Series regardless of the outcome of his spring training. "He's commited to his sponsors and the NUE Series will be his primary competitive forum for 2008. Whether he trains or not, it doesn't change his competitive focus for the year. The NUE series is an opportunity for Joe to keep himself in race form and to continue to provide value to his sponsors who have stood by him."

In addition to attracting many local and regional grassroots racers, the NUE series' growing profile is drawing over time more elite level racers, many of whom are subjected to anti-doping testing out of competition and at other competitions.

When asked if there were any plans to add anti-doping testing for the NUE series, co-organizer, Garth Prosser said to Cyclingnews, "No, we don't have that kind of money. And frankly, if Joe is doping, it sure as hell isn't helping!"

The 2008 NUE Series will open April 19 in Tennessee with the Cohutta 100 and will wrap up on September 6 in California with the Tahoe-Sierra 100. See the full NUE series schedule here.

The 2007 series was won by Chris Eatough (Trek / VW), who is expected to defend his title in 2008 although he could not be reached for confirmation.