Wanted: DOA

Wanted: Dead or Alive.

Now, before we jump to the assumption that said Black Bird deserves such a penalty one should expound on why such a sentence is valid. Back tracking to this past Friday night, Adam Lorenz worked his normal 12-8 shift at the shop and then was told by his roommate to meet him downtown to watch the Detroit Red Wings game. Since the game started around 8, he was already running late and decided to take his new bike out for another spin. The ride downtown is a simple trip that takes Mr. Lorenz down an access road along the 131 highway [as seen on the map below, the road being called 'Century Ave SW']
As he went under Franklin St SW and entered the final stretch on the road, he passed the only building on the eastern side of the road [as marked with the Red X on the map], when he heard a crow making 'it's normal crow call'. Mr. Lorenz then felt a slight tap on his hat, which he did not considered until he looked over his head and saw said Black Bird flying close over head. Seeing this he rode swiftly out of the area. On the return home later that night, there was no incident.

As Mr. Lorenz said in his sworn statement 'I really didn't think much of it until then next day when I was riding down to meet up for the Saturday night ride. My route to Founders takes me along this same path and what do you know, the black bird made another appearance.' This time hitting his head a bit harder than the previous attack. After this he took off as it appeared the bird was preparing for another 'dive bomb type of attack'. As Mr. Lorenz rode home after the group ride, he states that was much more aware of the birds presence and saw it perched on top of the building mentioned before. As soon as the bird saw saw Mr. Lorenz, he watched it descend down towards him, to which he promptly road out of the area.

If this bird is seen, be aware that it appears to be a creature full of hate for fellow mammals with opposable thumbs and the ability to ride 2 wheeled vehicles. Approach with caution, it is not armed but is able and willing to use force.



* Please note: portrait above was an artists rendering and riders should be on the look out for a Red tipped BLACK bird [not albino as the picture might lead one believe]

* Please also note: NDJR does not condone or support violence against our feathered friends.

Saturday Night Ride: The Return

Sorry for the short notice, I was trying to get a Facebook event to send out invites for the last two days but for some reason it's not sending them even after multiple attempts... So if you're down, let me know hopefully the rain will hold off but it's back to the normal schedule for the Saturday rides...

I'll be showing up at Founders around 5:30p. Getting some food and drink, then we'll be heading out at 6:30p and cruising around I'm thinking about a Westside route but nothing is finalized. Hope to see you out there!

Check this beast out!

Before we go any further, today's can be fully enjoyed by turning your speakers up [to 11 if yours can handle it] and pressing play below...



Oh yeah! You feel it? I know you do... and for that very reason it gives me great pleasure to present to you the completed Night Monkey project...

Here's what it's outfitted with:

_Frame: Surly Karate Monkey
_ Wheels: Salsa Delgado rims, Front hub: Shimano 600 32H, Rear hub: Shimano Nexus 7-speed internal with drum brake 36H. Built up using DT Competition 2.0 to 1.8 spokes, Tires: WTB Nano Raptors
_ Crank: Race Face Dues XC 175mm with a Rocket 32T chain ring, Crank Brothers Mallet pedals
_ Seat/Seatpost: Honey Brown Brooks B17, Thomson Elite 400mm 27.2
_ Stem/Handlebar: Thomson Elite, 25.4 mustache bar, Salsa bar tape

Now a top view... Can you tell anything that might be problematic with the set-up I'm running?

I highlighted it below so you can see my shifter cable line...

I'm running a teflon coated cable but am only really concerned with the sharp turn right as it hooks up with the hub... But so far it shifts fine with this cable routing...

There are two things that might end up changing as I get some ride time on the bike. One of them might be the front brake to a canti or switch out the brake levers to something that has a bit more 'spring' in it. I'm also considering playing around with a true barend shifter and running it friction and seeing how it goes.

But for now, it's time to put some miles on this beast!

Weekend thoughts.

This weekend was interesting to say the least. Saturday was a mad house at work [a great thing to have but definitely takes the wind out of your sail to say the least] but I was basically running on no sleep and come closing time I was out of it. The idea of an impromptu Saturday Night Ride sounded great but my legs probably would have had nothing to do with it.

Today was definitely a lazy Sunday, but I did make some headway on the Surly 'Night Monkey' project...

I got the handlebars dialed in for now. As you can see I'm rocking the mustache bars which I have been extremely thrilled about doing so, that is until Friday. Friday, I got a hold of the Nexus 7 speed grip shifter I was intending on running with the 7 speed internal. Upon attempting to install it, I found that the mustache bar would have nothing to do with such a shifter. The plan was to set the grip shift on the end of the bar so not to take up much of the usable bar space. I was able to get the clamp to expand to fit the bar but then the interior plastic of the grip shift was interfering. Like any custom project... submission will be mine! Well, let's just say, a hammer and block of wood will break plastic very easily. Not to mention have the ability to break pinkie nails when ones hand slips [I will save you from further explanation on that]. That's why you see the trigger shifter in the picture now. Mounted in the place I wanted to grip shifter to be, but for now I will see how this works before jumping to any other methods.

So I've got the bike nearly complete... all the housing is cut, all that needs to be done now is running and dialing in the shifter and brake cables, which should be tomorrow since I forgot to grab those Saturday from the shop. It's exciting to say the least.

In other news, a little over a year ago I discovered a web-show called 'The Bicyclist'. I've been keeping up with it since then and still highly recommend checking it out. For the last few months they have been taking a break from the webisodes and putting together a full length movie... called 'The Bicyclists'



'Boy meets girl'

'Boy gets the girl'

'Boy loses the girl'

'Boy get's the girl back.'

'A love story on wheels. If it were that simple.'

Brilliant! Now I just have to figure out how to either get my hands on a copy of it or get it to be played in Grand Rapids.

Please kick me...

... if I ever become like this guy:

Tom Mosher Bike Check - Volume Bikes/Skitch Clothing from Tom Mosher on Vimeo.

Seriously, just run up to me and kick the boys as hard as you can because there is no reason for me to have any part in bringing another person into this world if I ever become like this guy.

T-minus 1 week...

Project 'Night Monkey' is coming along well. Over the course of my days off I have been able to get both the wheels laced up and also got Shimano to send me some parts of the 7 speed internal hub that I'll be running so it's looking like a completion date of some time next week is in the works for this beast. I'm sure I'll add a few things to it as I get some ride time on, maybe some fenders of some favor [any suggestions?] or switching out the tires from the 29x2.1 Nano Raptors that I've got on their now. But we'll have to wait and see.

Sorry I haven't had much content as of late and more pictures but haven't had a much to rant or rave about, but here are some pictures of the Monkey...

That's right, rocking the mustache bars, only one side wrapped right now as I wait to find a
7 speed internal shifter [probably of the grip shift variety, which will be mounted 'differently' unless someone knows of a way to make a 7 speed barend shifter work]

The rear wheel, I laced this up today with very little issue as opposed to the front.



Both wheels are laced up on Salsa Delgados, the front is a 32H machined side wall and the rear is 36H disc specific that I'll be running a drum brake on. The front was interesting to lace in that I ended up getting to lace it twice because I entered the wrong measurements into the spoke calculator. It's amazing what 5mm long will do.

Just a great Monday night ride...

Tom and I decided to go for a good ride today, I must say it was exactly what the doctor ordered... a little over 20 miles on the fixie, great weather, little traffic... maybe one of the best rides so far this year...

A few pictures for you from the ride...

Prepping the bikes before we headed out...

Downtown GR... No traffic, great sunset

Had to walk the bikes for a few block because of road construction...

Tom like 'epic' bike photos...

Here's the route...