My Shop Is Moving...Sale!

Im lame...I know.  Havent posted in a while and when I do its this self serving promotion for my shop, Creekside Bikes, and the sale we're having because we're moving locations.

Dont worry, its only about a 1/10 of a mile move, but the digs are sweet, and much needed.  So, this is from the owner...

"CREEKSIDE BIKES IS MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION!

The shop is moving next to SPROUTS in Parker this June.

We are having a MOVING SALE:

Remaining Specialized apparel, rubber, shoes, one ladies bike, (except air products) 50% OFF!

ALL EDDY MERCKX BIKES in stock:  15% OFF (some have Lifetime Limited Warranty).

Selected Pinarello closeouts:  15% OFF.

Selected bikes and frames from 'The Steel Shop':  Masi, Carrrera, SOMA (15-25% OFF).

Also, Creekside just received new additions to The Steel Shop from Colnago, CIOCC, Tommasini."

The new digs will be up and running by the end of June I believe.  Thats the date we've set for ourselves.  Hopefully sooner.

We're moving more into the boutique realm with our frames, and will be expanding the service and fit areas.  

...boots out.

Catching Up, Instragram And Pics

Ive been outta touch lately.  Work got super busy a couple weeks ago, and that means Im worked when I get home, which had been via bicycle, and by the time I clean up, eat dinner and sit down, Im completely done.  Then we took a belated family vacation to Chicago to see my wife's family last week.  We were originally supposed to go last Thanksgiving but the whole family came down with some sorta funk and we couldnt do it

The photos here are from the trip...via Instagram, and Instaport.  Instagram came out with an Android app recently and the trip was the perfect time to try it out.  Today I saw an article on a couple sites that hook up to your instagram account and then download your photos to a .zip file on your computer for use.  So, thanks Instaport!

Now Im back at work and looking at having to work 6, possibly 7, days a week, for a few reasons.  The big ones are that its full on bike season here in Colorado and Im the only mechanic.  Then there's the simple fact that the wife lost her job recently and for some reason unemployment isnt playing ball.  Couple that fact with the one thats she's 7mos pregnant, and the fact that means that no one will openly hire her, and you have the reasons for why we need the loot.  Wish I could go in to more detail, cause I know id love to, but my hands are "tied" due to some pending "things" we're dealing with.  

So for now, enjoy the photos...

the boys at DIA stoked for the plane ride

I saw with my oldest, and he was a champ the whole way. Nice to get compliments on your kids, especially on a plane!

Mom and brother behind us 

my dad taught me to always ask for the "can" of coke, otherwise you just get that stupid lil glass

thats a no brainer, but I suppose someone needs to be reminded

landing in chicago

Midway

lunch was at Mannys Cafeteria! Damn that meatloaf was the bomb!

view from the Hyatt McCormick Place

I have a huge fetish for alleys.  Big city ones are always fun

Navy Pier

going to the Lincoln Zoo

my boys and i at the zoo

spring was kickin

happy easter fools

Waffles breakfast joint on Indiana

I saw these "new" bottles and had to take a pic

gave a shout out to some guys racing in the Boulder Roubaix back in CO

boys had easter egg fun with friends of the wife and kids

the place setting for Passover Seder at the in-laws place

Cafe Society is great lil place to eat and chill

the Jane Addams house and gardens right down the street from Cafe Society 

this was too good to pass up.  my kids will never know what this thing did for us

the day we left it was so nice we had to stop by the park before flying back

my oldest fell asleep on the way to the airport...

but was wide awake for the entire flight home

...boots out

Chicago Time

We've been here for a day and half so far.  The weather has been great, except for the notorious wind Chicago is known for.  Im sure the locals think its nothing, but its a bit of a nuisance since we've been dealing with lots of wind back in Denver this early spring.

Yesterday we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a free zoo.  I suppose its good for kids and people to see animals they normally wouldnt, but my own opinion leans towards its a pretty damn nasty place of a zoo.  The big animals were pacing back and forth in their cages.  The stench of feces and urine was everywhere.  The sea lion "pool" was more like a toilet.  In the underground viewing area I could see trash in the pool, straws and garbage floating in the water and other debris that shouldnt be there.  In the end, it wasnt the best experience for me, but the kids had fun, and I suppose thats what matters.

Afterwards we split up and the kids went over to their Aunt's place and slept and ate.  I chilled in the room trying to catch up on sleep and let the drugs wear off from the day before.  Those things are evil!

The evening was pretty chill.  We had dinner with Grandma and Aunt then came back to the hotel and the kids passed out with little to no effort.  They slept so well, mom and I were so proud of them.

Today is family breakfast day with some friends of the family and this place called "Waffles"...not quite sure what they sell(pun intended), then easter egg painting and Seder dinner at Grandmas.

Ok, off to get ready and hit the road again!

...boots out.

Flying Sucks...

...for me.  My fear is irrational, I know this, but that is the thing with fear, never is a rational thing that creates fear.  We're going  to Chicago tomorrow for a "make up" family trip that was canceled last Thanksgiving due to the fact that we all came down with the flu.  So, tomorrow we're heading to the windy city.  Its also the last time the wife will be allowed to fly before popping out that 3rd spawn of ours.

Luckily this time I got prescripted...legally...some anti anxiety meds which should help...im hoping they help.  My wife is praying they help.  The good thing is the flight is first thing in the morning.  So we get up, load up and head out.

Yeah...

...boots out.

Day 94...Alchemy Hubs

Ive talked about these hubs for a bit, and have recommended them ever since having a sit down with the owner of Alchemy and getting a tour of the rear ORC hub.  The front is just as impressive.  Now there are those out there who are die hard fans of Chris King, DT Swiss and others, but IMO these are the most well thought out hubs on the market and made with the intent being built to a rim from the ground up.  Alchemy just didnt set out to make a great hub, they set out to make a great hub that builds into a great wheel.

Im trying to set up an interview with Alchemy and get an actual video interview with the owners so they can explain every single aspect of the hubs.  Lil things like flanges that are angled in at an optimal 6 degrees for building. Oversized pawl/ratchet engagement system that helps to transmit maximum power input for maximum power output to the wheel. The front ELF hub has bearings that sit outside the hub flange making it 30% stiffer than any hub on the market in lateral stiffness tests.  2 bearings dedicated strictly to supporting the freehub body which in most hubs is simply compressed onto the hub shell making it sticky if overloaded. Many many other features as well.  When I get that interview Ill post it up here, but until then, enjoy these glimpses into the ORC hub.

this is the unpolished version, they come in Anodized Red, Black and Silver...all hand polished here in  Colorado

the cut away of the ORC hub.  

the 3 pawl system, with ratchets set at an optimal 10 degrees apart for almost instantaneous engagement. 

You can see 4 of the 5 bearings here. 1 at each end of the axle, directly against the end caps, 1 on the axle at the base of the freehub body, and the super BIG one at the driveside flange which directly supports the pawl/ratchet mechanism.

There's the 5th bearing directly underneath the pawl/ratchet mechanism, again optimally placed to take load from the freehub body

preload is adjusted with 2 5mm hex keys at the ends. there should be enough play that when clamped in the dropouts the play goes away, so as to avoid over tightening which overloads the cartridge bearing internal races

this nifty hidden bearing sits between the pawl/ratchet mechanism and the oversized outer bearing on the freehub body, again taking load off the freehub body

the oversized freehub bearing, directly on top of the ring drive and directly in line with the drive side flanges

another look at the pawl/ratchet system and 2 of the 3 bearings that help support it

the non drive side outer bearing. as you can see its placed outside the flange which makes for a super stiff wheel on the lateral plain.

Now there are many more features of these hubs that I haven't gone over, mostly because I want Alchemy themselves to tell you about them.  If you look up some wheelbuilder forums on interweb and search for Alchemy hubs, you'll find nothing but awesome comments about them.  Also, their website is going to get some love in the near future.  Currently its more of a word doc made into a webpage.

In addition to hubs, Alchemy also makes some awesome wheelbuilding tools, hub tools to work on their products, came up with an amazing bearing press kit(currently available through Wheels Manufacturing) and is currently working on their MTB Disc version, which should be out this summer!

Until next time...

...boots out.