CBBaron

I just found Diamond Gusset Defender jeans. They are American made which is rare for clothing and have good reviews from webbikereviews.

Probably give them a try for commuting.

Craig

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

Shinko 705 appear to be good dual sport tires for the heavy adventure bikes that see some gravel but not real off-road. They handle well on the street and decent on the gravel and appear to hold up well and are much cheaper than premium brands for little loss.

No experience with the sportbike tires so they may be completely different.

Craig

I have no idea how I missed that they were making a CBR500. Nice looking bike, and it sounds like a Ninja 250/300 killer for sure!

If only I could get some credit... Or had about $6k lying around.

I wouldn't say killer but definitely a good competitor. The new Ninja300 is $1200 cheaper and 45# lighter. Ofcourse it gives up 8 hp along with 200cc.

Craig

I make up for it on the down hills. 29er with a fat kid on top that likes to go fast makes for some good momentum.

Yea that's me on road rides with my recumbent.

I pass skinny roadies like they are standing still going down

And they easily make it up when the roads turn up

Craig

Nothing irks me more than riding with people who not only are fast up the hills, but like it....all happy and shit when they see a big one coming.

The only reason to ever ride up a hill is to enjoy going down it...you're not supposed to enjoy that huffing and shit.

Weirdos.

Im not that fast uphill but I try my best to climb well. Mostly because I like to make the little guys with their light weight bikes feel bad when a fat guy on a fatter bike pass them. Used to ride single speed just to make more of a point but found 1x9 is much more fun.

Ofcourse my skill level is pretty low and I ride a rigid bike so Im not very fast on the down hills

Craig

Plan to hit Royalview this evening about 7.

Hope to do a couple laps before dark.

Craig

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

Old stock is the reason, in Europe they still sell all those models, we have leftover 2008, 2009, 2010 stock of many of the WR250X, CRF230M, KLX250SM, DRZ400SM, because of our economy. until the leftover stock is sold, many manufacturers are not releasing new years of the bike in the USA. Make no sense to export a bunch of new 2013 bikes to us, when several hundred 2009's are still new on the showroom floor in various dealer locations.

Honda did just release a CRF250M in the UK, and I believe they will probably release here in the usa by 2015. http://world.honda.com/news/2013/2130412CRF250M/index.html

This makes sense, however a couple corrections.

It is KLX250SF.

As mentioned the CRF230M is more beginner moto than supermoto.

Supermotos are tough on long high speed rides. However that DRZ400SM was the best bike for me at Deals Gap last year. I need to get myself one as one would also be a good commuter on the crappy Cleveland roads.

It is amazing how different a bike feels when it is thin and light. And for me the ergonomics of the supermotos are much better than the heavier bikes.

I hope new models show up from all the manufacturers again in future years, including the CRF250M which should be a nice machine.

Craig

or collect a bucket o' mice and release them in a field far away..... i feel bad for the mice who drown :-/

Don't release pests. They just come back or become someone elses problem.

Drowning is probably not the most humane way of killing but I like the resetablity of the trap.

However I suspect that a mouse flailing in the bottom of the bucket or floating there rotting warns off the next one any ways.

Craig

I'll post a video in another thread tonight. I dropped to maintenance throttle, weighting the front tire and putting it under too much load. Suspension also played a role, I could feel the front end pushing a lot the next day. Also, less than ideal conditions helped out as well. I'm still surprised it let loose; I was aggressive on the ride to the gap and never felt a slip.

Based on the photos I was going to guess something like that. The front suspension looked to have considerable compression.

Glad you escaped mostly unscathed.

Craig

What under shorts are you guys running?

Think we are taking a buddy that has never been on a short local trail on Wednesday. Hoping to get him to join our riding group when he moves back in a few months.

What ever I found on clearance

Usually something from Nashbar or Performancebike. Though I have learned to avoid their cheapest shorts as the spandex is very thin and the chamois has rough edges.

Just picked up some Performancebike Nevado shorts with included liner that look good. I'll see how they work this week if the weather improves.

Craig

Why not?

Sure its not good for anything but getting attention. But someone showed it could be done.

Thumbs up from me.

Craig

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

These^^^ if you must jog do it on a cushioned track like at a high school. I would say jogging is for people who are already in shape but I think biking, swimming, cross country skiing is a much better option for anyone.

I always thought that running hurt my knees, and that I needed a pair of shoes with lots of support and cushion in the heel.

But instead I found if you use barefoot/zero drop shoes and dont land on my heels my knees are much happier.

Now granted I dont run much and so don't put in big miles but I am about 220 and I run out my front door, so that means mostly asphalt with some grass, cinders and dirt for an occasional change.

Im using these http://www.altrazerodrop.com/fitness/en/Altra/Men/instinct

On the recommendation of Cleveland Running Co.

an excellent store if you are in the area.

I have wide feet and these fit much better than NB, Merrell and Five Fingers.

Craig

You'll make more time blasting up a hill that takes 5 minutes than you will blasting down a hill that takes 1 minute. Ride on!

lol,

At this point in my MTB skill Im barely faster going down than going up. Atleast for hills that are not steep. My skill level is more limiting than my fittness

But what you say is very true. And a crash or breaking something takes much more time than you can save

Craig

Just saw an article that the Metroparks is hosting a race (time trial) series at Royalview trail in June.

http://strongsville.patch.com/articles/mountain-bike-race-series-set-for-june

I know the trail is beginner friendly so this might be a good chance to get my feet wet with a race.

I know the fatbike and I will not be fast but should be fun

Craig

IIRC There's a sign at the bottom by the bridge but none at the top by the overlook.

BTW changed the seat on the Gaurdian to the wtb Speed V Pro Gel and it like night and day. Amazing.

Glad you found a comfortable solution.

This weather has been so nice, and I have been having so much fun riding my fat bike with the new front tire I just had to work in a evening ride once I saw they were open (from Ohiosingletrack.com link to Cleveland Metroparks

Craig

I ride in the rain all the time, but for some reason it always looks worse afterwards.

But hopefully it's true that storms work better dirty because mine sure is.

Craig

I see that Royalview is officially open.

I think I will give it a try after work tomorrow.

Probably be there around 6-6:30 if anyone else is thinking the same.

Craig

Tour Master Transition 2

Caliber pants

Fox Comp 5 boots

Bell Vortex helmet

Liking all 3 but found the shell on the L helmet is quite a bit bigger than the HJC I used to have. It doesnt fit in my top case.

Craig

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

Rode the Royalview trail yet again. There were tons of mud ruts on the yellow, seems everyone in Ohio was beating on the track Tuesday. Needs to dry out for a few days yet. On another note the new Gaurdian was tits

If it is, ain't no body caring and riding it anyways. Saw several others on it

Your description above is why it is supposed to be closed. It takes alot of work to repair a trail that has been ridden wet.

The Canalway center has gates/fence that is easily closed to indicate a trail closure, sound like such a thing does not exist at Royalview. Is there any signage near the trail head?

You cant really blame riders for using the trail if there is no indication its closed. It wasn't even easy to find the status on the Metroparks website.

Hope someone fixes that problem and the trail holds up OK despite the abuse.

Craig

Rode the Royalview trail yet again. There were tons of mud ruts on the yellow, seems everyone in Ohio was beating on the track Tuesday. Needs to dry out for a few days yet. On another note the new Gaurdian was tits

I thought those trails were still closed.

http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Royalview-Mountain-Bike-Trail.aspx

Canalway Center is open so will be doing a couple loops today at lunch.

Im going to need to figure out a better way to carry the bike on my Beetle. The trunk mount rack I have does not seem very secure. OK for a short run to work but I'm not sure I'd trust it to haul the bike to Mohican.

Craig

Ended up using Aieesoft to generate ipod and android videos for my daughter.

One step to generate the required format from DVD. Pretty easy to use. And have not had a problem reading any DVD.

I dont have experience with any others but this seemed to cost less than most of the other similar programs.

Craig

Nope. Still gets 12mpg (10mpg when towing) and barely gets driven (put 3k miles on it in the last year). Selling it after vacation this summer.

^this!!

Well thats the easiest way to save fuel costs... Don't drive much

My car (VW Beetle) only gets about 28 mpg but I drive it < 3k a year so I dont care.

You would think a tiny econobox with an underpowered 4 could do better

The good is that it takes up very little room in the garage leaving room for the bike

Craig

The topcase would definitively come off

Motoseries seem to have a little tighter requirements for rider gear as full zip is required on leather 2 piece or full textile suit.

Nelson is pretty close so that is probably where I would go. The trunk would be good for getting my gear there but it is easily removed.

Damn, I'm going to have to do this.

1) Need leather suit (wouldn't mind one any ways)

2) Free Saturday

3) Sign up

Doubt I'd have nearly as much of a problem with too much speed on the straight. A DL650 is not exactly a power house

Craig

Well crash bars dont affect clearance.

Would definitely "novice" or "beginner" or whatever is first time on a track

I would want a more appropriate bike if doing anything more serious.

My suit does not qualify as is because the zip together is only about 8" in theH back. I guess I could consider a rental if I could find my size (6'2" 200).

Hmm may have to think about this a little harder. I know I could always stand to improve my riding and practicing on a track is sure to be safer than hitting curvy roads in southern ohio.

Craig

So how bad would it be for someone with modest experience to take a Vstrom 650 to a track day?

Would I have to remove the crash bars?

Would my adv tires be too limiting?

Crazy idea any ways. I don't even have a track worthy suit.

Craig