Sea Otter Saturday Recap

I'm wrapping up my big day at Sea otter and there's lots of stuff to post in the days ahead. Stuff our readers will find interesting:

-A sweet new cross bike from Rock Lobster
-Swobo's new Baxter and Crosby, launched at Sea Otter, and details on the bikes from their creator, Sky Yaeger
-HammerSchmidt + Niner + some pretty special dual suspension technology
-The Nuvinci CVT transmission
-SRAM's internally geared hubs
-A new rear hub that is absolutely unlike anything you've ever seen
-The KS adjustable seatpost
-Lots more tech articles, faces of Sea Otter, race tidbits, photography and other fun stuff

Stay tuned.

Sea Otter Off-Road Tour

First order of the day on Saturday at Sea Otter was the off road tour. Registration went very smoothly and I was on my way with a goody bag, free spare inner tube, and rider number. If you do this, give yourself enough time to get your number then ride all the way back to your car with your goody bag (or get it later) since I doubt many people want to do a mountain bike ride (or the 100 mile road tour) with a sack full of brochures and energy drink packets. I had initially planned on riding the 20 mile tour but made a last minute decision to do the 10 mile ride. No single track on the shorter loop but I was anxious to get back to Laguna Seca and see the races and expo. On the way back to the finish line, I zigged when I should have zagged and ended up on the XC course! About 100 feet before the finish line people were cheering for me and I stopped and asked "Isn't this the off road tour?" "This is the race baby, finish, finish" some woman shouted. I turned around and hopped the fence off the course to the sound of the announcer shouting over the loud speaker "Where's that guy going?!?!?!". Note to future participants - the off road tour goes off on the same course at the same time as a race. Pay attention! Here's some photography:

Great scenery in the hills surrounding Laguna Seca.

Joined a dual suspension tandem out on the course.

Great single track on the 20 mile off road course.

Now, off to the expo.

@ the Otter

Got my media pass and press kit, ready to go on a little mtb tour.

Thompson Elite

It has arrived.  

Elite.  The name says it all.

Forged, CNC'd, eye candy.

Made in the USA and patented.  Not China/counterfeited. 

Even comes with it's own protective canvas jimmy hat.

Just trying to lend a hand

I went out for a noon time bicycle ride today, the weather was perfect.  On one particularly long hill, I was riding behind someone and their right foot was twitching as they rode.  I got to within 30 feet and I could see the crank was loose, so much so that with every pedal stroke, there was a clunk noise and a lot of lateral motion.  The splines or square taper on this crank were being absolutely ruined.  I also noticed that the rider didn't have a saddle bag and may not be a long way from home without any tools.  When I caught up at the top of the hill I said - "Hi, on your left, do you need a tool to tighten that crank?"  Upheld nose and reply - "No I do not."  This rider clearly did not want my help and preferred to ruin their road bike instead.

If you ride by somebody on the side of the road with a deflated tire in their hands, the cool thing to do is yell "need anything?".  When you don't need anything, the cool answer is "no thanks!".  

We're in this together folks.   People in cars aren't looking out for us, cops aren't looking out for us, we're looking out for eachother.  Be friendly to fellow cyclists out there, whether that's helping out or just a friendly nod. 

All wood bike - Calfee eat your heart out

It seems like eons ago that I saw a bamboo Calfee tandem at last year's Sea Otter but it was exactly a year ago given that Sea Otter is happening again this weekend.  I was reminded of it, however, by this all wooden bike made by a carpenter in China.  How did he make the chain?  He didn't.  He used a four bar linkage.  

If you'll be at Sea Otter this year, post a comment, there's stickers in it for you!!!

Photo swiped from http://www.chine-informations.com/actualite/chine-il-realise-un-vrai-velo-tout-en-bois_12638.html&prev=hp 

Two Abreast

Senate Bill 148 in Colorado would give cyclists the right two ride two abreast where safe, and would give drivers the right to cross the yellow line when safe to avoid cyclists.  

Read about it here and dig the kit on that old guy in the video.

After you're done reading that, check out this great video about the Netherlands - urban cycling nirvana.  No helmets, bike paths everywhere and sweet fiets.