The Great Shop Ride

I filled up my card! 4hrs 41 minutes, 52 miles, 2500 feet of vert. 

The Great Shop Ride is a unique Spokane bike event (see also the Stairmaster and Midnight Century) where riders visit all the bike shops in Spokane and Spokane Valley to collect a sticker. Then, meet up afterwards at Brick West. There is no official route, just  riders crisscrossing the area and trying to do it as efficiently as possible. Getting out to the valley Wheel Sport is a long hike. Argonne Cycle and MoJo are close together but who wants to ride a bike on Argonne between the two. Getting to the South Hill shops requires a fair bit of climbing. Getting to North Division by bike could traffically be a nightmare, but if you get creative through the neighborhoods there's a safe route. Then there's the fun moving target of the Velo Fix van. As local bike shops change the routes change too. Fortunately Spokane has bike lanes, paved trails, neighborhood connectors and in town singletrack. Spring weather in the spoke can be variable. Last year it was afternoon high wind warnings, this year was off and on rain. Happening the second Saturday in April from the clock tower at 10:00am. 

The Gold Standard

        Setting the gold standard in hand built bicycle wheels.

 

MT CDT

Multiple days of hour long climbs up to the CDT. Then, ridge riding with views of MT to the left and ID to the right. Ending the ride with2000 foot discents. Camping on cheif Joe Pass. Good times! 

The sky is really big in MT!

Great Spokane Shop Ride

I finally got to do the Great Spokane Shop Ride, and put up a post about it. The object is to visit all the shops in the area and collect a sticker for your card. Store hours, afternoon winds, elevation, traffic... need to be considered when picking your route. I went clockwise this time. Allies, neighborhoods, bike paths, less busy streets, some gravel. Between Spokane and the valley I went up and over Beacon too. Not because it was shorter, because it wasn't, but to try and get the most climbing while also getting the fastest time. Only the fast time worked out this year for me. The beer afterwards was still just as good.

Winter Time

Yep, its winter. At least that's what the calendar says, but I haven't shoveled snow yet this year in the spoke. I've gotten in a few rides here in the lowlands. I don't fat bike but I know all that rotational weight adds up. Carbon rims and tubeless tires are a game changer for the fatties. The wider rims get the more weight savings there is to be had with carbon rims instead of aluminium. I've helped many fat bikers make the switch. You could be next! 

Why don't I fat bike? Cause I ski! I like this time of year to mix up my activities and see some other places. So far there has been just enough snow up high to make the skiing good. 

In the Kettle Range

Just because I'm not biking doesn't mean I'm not building wheels. Whatever the bike the wheel building physics are the same round, true, spoke tension, dish. I've been building wheels since 2007 as MLW and before that... I hand build each one so you can enjoy the ride!

 

My Summer

I have had some great summer days both on and off the bike. I haven't ridden as much as usual but rock climbed and paddled more. There is still some great fall riding to do. Wheel building continues to roll along. There's been more incoming carbon. Spoke prices are up. Product testing quality is strong.  

The view on Buck Mtn above Winthrop

Continental Divide Trail

Earned ice cream

                                                                            
                                                                

Spokane HOT!

Its been forever since we saw any rain here in the spoke. This has made for some boney local tails. Thankfully I spent the early part of July getting my fix, or maybe it was the end of June, either way I was mountain biking my way around the fine state of OR. See Hy 204, MERA, Ochocos, Bend. Then, when the heat started proper in Spokane I was graveling in the Okanagon Highlands of WA. The post ride dipping in an alpine lake, morning yoga and daily paddleboarding were all refreshing. Now, back in the spoke with the heat of summer to recover for the next ramble over to mountain bike in Butte. Stay tuned for that adventure...

Bend, trail roundabout art  

Pan Ram

I found out about Pan Ram (Panhandle Ramble) when I got two calls in the same day from riders doing the event. They were both looking for a quick turnaround on some wheel servicing for next weekends event. Needed parts were on hand and I was able to get these two ready to roll. 

I hadn't heard of Pan Ram but a quick net search and I understood what riders were in for. I have ridden most of the route on different day long rides but never linked them up with overnights. ID has some awesome terrain! 

Have fun everyone! 

Ya, bikes!

 This is going to be fun! My first drop bar disc brake bike. The requested color was PK Ripper blue. 

 

Elephant Bikes custom frame, Velocity Blunt SS rims, DT Swiss 350 hubs, Campy Ekar group. Current tires Schwable G1 700x38mm tubeless. 

New Space

The new space is coming together. Today was roof vents and some trim. Yes, I'm still taking orders and building wheels. I've been watching the bike industry new too. Challenging times out the for sure. Ride bikes, stay happy.