Dirty Enduro

Raced the Paul's Dirty Enduro. Job done and will post a report in the next couple of days.

East Don

Some pic's from the Don on Friday and Saturday.






Bike took the long way.


Freight train


East Don

Mentality and The Mental War

In the last few weeks on MTBr.com a forum I peruse. There have been discussions about pedal types, smoothing of trails, and so on all leading to the usuall internet sniping.

Yet when you put aside all the physical arguments for all these sides it really boils down to one simple issue. As a coach the mental aspect is by far the biggest challenge we face when trying to teach a new skill, correcting mistakes, or even simly getting an athlete to relax.

When I speak of the Mental War it's not just our individual self doubt I am referring to. It is the Mind Body Conflict I am talking about. Which put in simple terms... our mind makes us feel good when we do things that conserve energy and is basically taking the easier choice. So when one is faced with a trail challenge that requires us to use more energy get over then the ride around. If we take the ride around our mind without us even realizing it makes us feel good about it because it took less work.


The reality is that we have this body that can ride flat pedals, clipless, and so on. Yet it is all controlled by an operating system (The brain) who's number one goal is to use the least amount of effort possible.

Unless one puts the mental effort in we will always choose the easier option. Another example is the whole which pedal is better argument. Science has proven that riding flat pedals take more work mentally and physically. While riding clipless pedals uses less mentally and physically. So the mind rewards us again by making us feel good when riding clipless. And in the end the whole Clipless vs Flat pedals argument is not about what works better. It's about what our mind unconciously tells us is better based on energy conservation and requires the least amount of work.

At the end of all arguments, jabbering, and such it boils down to choice. The choice being,

A. Take the easy way and be happy with things as they are

or

B. Accepting the challenge to do new things and learn new skills.

Pick one.

Dirt Bag Tech

Took a little work at the shop to fabricate a mount for the rear.

Came up with this.



Added a spacer on the upper bult to stop the caliper from rubbing on the disc.



And it all works.

Price of Weight Weenism

My buddy Lee was a follower of weight weenism for a while.

His bodged together rear derrailleur.



Fixing his light weight chain....again.


Age and youth.

Enduro

This arrived Friday. A pair of Hope Enduro brakes via Ebay. After getting them could tell they needed a bit of work. After pulling the levers, checked to see if the internal spring at the lever was good it was. Next checked the brass bushing within the lever... siezed as suspected. After digging through the brake part bin found another lever with a still good bushing. A rebuild and one working rear brake.



Now to try and mount the rear tonight. Let the fun begin. Fisrt to make tea.

Road painting Fail

Saw this earlier in the summer. Took a pic of it finally.

Bike lane is now against the curb so now one has to dodge cars turning right.


Interestingly the paint crew got the other side right.


Oh look..