Pre-TransIowa Equipment Changes...

After an incredibly dry 2012, we've resumed a more abundant precipitation pattern thus far in early 2013. This increase in moisture is of particular note for those of us planning for TransIowa v.9, as it increases the likelihood of encountering mud during the event, which will be held April 27-28.

While I can't speak for anyone else, the increased likelihood of a "moist" T.I. has caused me to completely re-think my equipment setup for the 2013 event. To that end, this past weekend I took my singlespeed Singular Gryphon and stripped it of its drivetrain, replacing it with a fully-geared setup, optimized to take on the Iowa mud. And with a 43c Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road on the front, and a 42c Continental Cyclocross Speed on the rear, the bike has more than an inch of mud clearance at any point around both tires. I think this setup will be a key to getting to the finish this year.

Of course, my training has to be on-track, but I feel good about where I'm at there. And now, I feel great about my equipment as well. I know I'll be on a bike that can go the distance.

So, with that said, here are some shots of the evolution of my TransIowa v.9 race bikes...

The grey Singular Kite was my first choice for TransIowa. It has fantastic clearance in the fork and seatstays (for a CX bike), but lacks the massive clearance of a true 29-inch mountain bike like the Gryphon. It'll make an awesome steed for summer gravel grinders and fall 'cross races though!

With massive mud clearance, a retro 8-speed rear end and inexpensive 'parts bin' components I don't have to worry about trashing, my 'V2' Gryphon can roll into muddy conditions with confidence.

Where should we ride today? Regardless of the conditions, I'm fortunate to have a drop-bar dirt bike that's perfect for the job, thanks to Singular Cycles.

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo... Yeah, it was fun.

Sunset on the Tucson desert. Photo: Sean Buckman

The 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo is a race I've always wanted to do, but is also one I honestly never thought I'd do. The necessary 24 hour drive to Tucson for the event is undoubtedly a tough one. This year however, a guest spot opened up on the Colorado-based Oskar Blues/Dale's Pale Ale 4-person singlespeed team, and my readiness to escape the cold for a bit to rip some singletrack gave me motivation to do the drive. Game on!

Lucky for us, the wind blew from the south, as I was 'camped' in the green Subaru at the bottom of the image. Photo: Sean Buckman

After making the long drive down, the Thursday before the (Saturday) race, I pulled into the camp my Colorado-based friends had chosen (conveniently located near a bank of Port-a-Potties). My teammate, Jordan Carr (tech editor for Mountain Flyer magazine), had already arrived with co-pilot and pro solo racer, Jari Kirkland. The balance of the crew was made up of Lyons, CO locals, Doug Mers, Keith Johnson and the always entertaining, Sean Buckman. Mers, Johnson and Buckman were riding on a 4-person team and were trying to figure out who would anchor their team.

Carr and I wouldn't see our singlespeed teammates, Chad Melis (marketing guy for Oskar Blues Brewery and REEB Cycles), and Jeremy Rudolf (brewery manager at Oskar Blues Brewery), until late Friday evening. That's all I'm going to say about that... I'll let them tell whatever stories they want about their adventures getting to the event. Heh heh heh...

Pre-race hangin' in camp. Photo: Sean Buckman

But Jordan, Jari and I had a great time checking the course out Friday morning. I could tell the 2-to-1 gearing I was running (34x17t), while a bit tall in the headwind, was just right when the wind was at my back. I rode my drop-barred Singular Gryphon on this lap, but later in the day decided I'd race my flat bar Singular Swift hardtail for its slightly more forgiving ride (mostly due to the suspension).

Chad (in the Dale's Pale Ale jersey) and Tinker Juarez run together at the front during the start.

On race day, Chad led us off, Jordan went second, Jeremy was third while I rode the anchor leg. It was one of the first times I'd not been the first rider when riding a team 24-hour event, so it was a decidedly different feeling not having to even begin getting ready to ride for more than three hours after the start of the race. In fact, I got just one daytime lap on Saturday before having to put the headlights on for my second lap, at around 8:45pm.

I didn't mind this at all, as I love night riding, and was also rewarded for my effort with the sunrise lap, so I can't complain at all. It was an absolutely awesome experience, as our team, while not the absolute fastest singlespeed team, was at least competitive, and we alternated between second and third place during the night. Ultimately, some interesting team strategy on the part of the other team gave them the upper hand late in the event, and they ended up taking second place by one lap. Apparently they came in about six minutes ahead of us and since that was six minutes before noon, they were allowed to go out for another lap.

I finished our team's 20th lap at noon, right on the nose (which was the plan for us). I'd actually ridden the longer "skip the bitches" route, so it added a few minutes to my last lap time, as insurance I wouldn't come in ahead of noon. Chad didn't want to go out for another lap... We were content with third and had a lot of beer to drink.

Dropping in at the end of my final lap, headed for a 12:00 noon, third-place finish. Photo: Sean Buckman

Overall, the experience of the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo was fantastic. I got the opportunity to ride for the first time of the year in shorts and short sleeves, and with a bunch of friends I haven't ridden with in a long time (or ever, in some cases). Even with the super-long drive, it was still totally worth it. I won't do a lot of crazy drives like that each season, but for an event like that, every once and a while, it's worth the effort... and the trip really isn't that bad.

Thanks to my awesome teammates: Chad Melis, Jordan Carr and Jeremy Rudolf, and to Oskar Blues/Dale's Pale Ale for sponsoring our shenanigans at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Thanks also to Marty Larson, The Prairie Peddler, and to Sam Alison at Singular Cycles for the fantastic bikes I am blessed with riding this season. Edit: Thanks also to everyone involved in our 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo effort this year, including our camp-mates, the FILFy Bastards (who finished 19th place out of 151 teams in the 4-man open class -- stellar!!).

Cheers!

First ride: Singular Gryphon...

I had nearly forgotten how much I like riding singlespeed mountain bikes, but the recent build-up of a new Singular Gryphon reminded me how much fun singlespeeding can be. In fact, I've been enjoying it so much, it's got me thinking about which 2013 events I might be able to ride on a singlespeed.

Classic steel lines, drop-bars and a clean singlespeed setup = a good looking bike!

First introduced in 2009, the Gryphon frameset bears a striking resemblance in profile to the Salsa Fargo (a bike that itself is very close to my heart for a number of reasons). And while it's true there are some similarities in geometry and fit, the ride quality of each frame is determined largely by its intended use. For while the Fargo is designed to be used for long-haul bike packing, the Gryphon is designed as more of a standard mountain bike. So, while the current version of the frame does include a rear rack mount, it's not designed as a bikepacking rig. As such, the tube diameters and wall thicknesses have not been beefed up to accommodate the increased load of a cyclist plus a week's worth of gear.

Color coodination... When the parts are here to make it work, why not?

This manifests itself as a distinctly smoother, faster, more compliant ride on the Gryphon frame, when compared head-to-head with a steel Fargo. When you ride a steel Fargo, you are constantly reminded of the "bigness" of the bike. You never get the feeling that the bike is particularly fast, but you do feel like it can take whatever you can give it, in terms of terrain or load. Conversely, the Gryphon feels like a light, fast, lively frame that just so happens to be able to accommodate fat tires. The difference between the two frames can be felt in first five pedal strokes. It's that distinct.

A fantastic fork... Reynolds 520 steel fork blades deliver a ride quality that must be ridden to be believed. Carbon? Pfffffttt...

The fork is a specific area where the Gryphon positively shines. It is perhaps one of the finest riding chromoly forks I've ridden. It simultaneously tracks accurately and offers a fantastic ride quality -- notably smoother than a Fargo fork.

I built my Gryphon using a mix of parts including the wheelset and saddle/seatpost from my old Salsa Vaya, some TruVativ downhill cranks, some Avid BB7s and an old Salsa bar/stem I had in the parts bin. It all went together super smoothly, and the cool Phil Wood-style EBB made achieving perfect tension on the chain very easy. Cool...

Comfortable cockpit -- Long days in the saddle will be spent here.

Long-story-short, my new Gryphon is a keeper -- one I intend to ride and enjoy for a long time to-come. Of course, I'll be posting updates on the bike down the road as I get more miles on it, and will let you know how the relationship progresses. Also, keep your eyes peeled for 'first ride' reviews of my new Singular Kite cyclocross/gravel bike, and my Singular Swift 29-inch hardtail.

Thanks to Marty Larson at The Prairie Peddler and Sam Alison at Singular Cycles Ltd. Marty is the U.S. importer of Singular Cycles and is my 2013 bicycle sponsor. Visit the Prairie Peddler site or e-mail Marty for more information, pricing or availability of Singular framesets.

Thanks for reading! Now get out and ride!!

For Sale: Salsa Ti El Mariachi Frame - Size Large -- SOLD!

Here's a good case of never say "never". Today I'm doing something I said I'd never do -- in the process of making room for my 2013 bikes, I'm putting my beloved Salsa Titanium El Mariachi frame up for sale. It's a 2010 version of the frame. I raced it for one season before basically putting into active retirement, where it's been ever since. Because of sponsorship obligations and the fact that I simply have a lot of bikes, I can count on two hands how many times I've ridden the bike over the past two seasons. It's a total garage queen that needs an owner that's going to ride it the way it was meant to be ridden! This is the exact same frame that has been ridden to victory on the Great Divide Route! Its pedigree is unquestionable... It's one of the best hardtail frames I've ridden, hands-down. It's ride quality and handling are amazing! Here are some photos:

Typical of titanium, this frame is absolutely clean and free of nicks, dings, dents or flaws. The "Salsa" and "El Mariachi" graphics have been muted somewhat over the years from cleaning with ScotchBrite (the preferred method of cleaning titanium) -- a process I didn't dissuade.

A 1.75-inch down tube and 1.375-inch top tube deliver excellent stiffness and the fantastic ride quality for which titanium is renowned.

The welds speak to the quality of care and craftsmanship this frame was hand-built with by the folks at Lynskey Performance Titanium Bicycles in Tennessee.

Hooded, Breezer-style dropouts have a replaceable derailleur hanger. I will include an extra hanger with the frame.

Super-clean welds on the rear disc mount. Perfect alignment means squeal-free brake performance.

More clean welds... this time at the seat stay/seat tube junction.

A view inside the headtube reveals the measures Salsa went to in order to save weight. Notice the vertical breather slot on the downtube? It matches the manipulation of the down tube, removing as much material as possible. On the bottom bracket shell, the breather is a horizontal slot, matching the tubing manipulation at that end of the down tube. Very cool...

Did I mention the welds on this frame are clean? And the frame itself is so clean, you could eat dinner off the surface.

See the previous caption...

So, I guess my question is, does $1,100 seem like a bargain or what? If so, get a hold of me.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my frame! Hope to hear from you soon.

Cheers,
MG

For Sale: 58cm Salsa Vaya Frame/Fork -- SOLD...

To prepare for new 2013 bikes to-come, I've decided to part with a couple of my favorite framesets. First up is my 2010 Salsa Vaya -- a 58cm frame, with matching fork. I have been the only owner, and if you know me, you probably also know this bike. It is in very good condition, overall for a three year old frame. Here are some images that I took this morning:

The view from the drive side... Note: the King headset shown is not included. I am only selling the frame and fork.

The non-drive side view. Note the custom PCL downtube sticker. That goes with the frame at no charge. ;-)

Overall paint quality is good throughout the frame, with just a few small nicks, consistent with a nicely kept three year-old frame.

I used thick adhesive-backed Mylar material to protect the frame on a number of paint areas that were subjected to wear, such as this bridge that often had a plastic and metal SKS fender clipped over it.

Post-mount disc brakes front and rear are easy to set up and are designed for 160mm disc rotors. These are far better than the (cheaper to manufacture) "International Standard" mounts Salsa uses on the current Vaya. Ask an engineer...

Three water bottle mounts allow you to choose whether you carry your water on the bike, or on your body, even on adventure-length rides.

This frameset has been sold. Thank you for looking!!
 
Please note: I am selling just the frame and fork. The pictured headset, stem and seatpost are not included, nor are they negotiable to be included. Thanks again!

Thanking The Folks Who Made 2012 a Success...

As 2012 winds down, it's time to take a look back and thank the people who contributed to the successes I achieved over the season, as my 22nd season racing bicycles was perhaps my best yet, overall.

The season's highlights started with the opportunity to volunteer at TransIowa v.8, and I'd like to thank Guitar Ted for the opportunity to do that. Being able to experience this fantastic event from the "other side" was an unforgettable experience and is a big reason I've decided to jump back into the event as a TransIowa v.9 participant in 2013.

Standing atop the Marathon podium at Platte River State Park

I had a great season racing my mountain bike as a member of the Cycle Works/Moose's Tooth team, much credit due to the awesome Giant Anthem X-29 0 mountain bike I was able to race. It was a huge factor in the victories I earned over the course of the season, including wins in the marathon class in the Psycowpath event at Platte River State Park, and the Nebraska State MTB Marathon Championship at Ponca State Park.

Slithering through the trees on the way to the Ponca win. Photo: Mike McColgan

The State Championship hardware.

On the way to winning at Ponca. Photo: Mike McColgan

I also won the 6-hour Pedal in the Pasture at Branched Oak Lake. These victories came in addition to numerous top-three finishes in other races I participated in throughout the season. Thanks to Kris and Julie Sonderup at Cycle Works and The Moose's Tooth for their support!

Finally, I'd like to thank Dirty Kanza 200 promoters Jim Cummins, Kristi Mohn and Tim Mohn, as they are great friends and are folks who gave me the opportunity to help them race and promote their event in 2012 as one of the racers they featured with a Dirty Kanza trading card.

My 2012 Dirty Kanza Trading Card -- the front

Laura and I at the finish of the 2012 Dirty Kanza 200. Photo: Kristi Mohn

I backed that up with a 10th place finish in the Veteran class in the race. Talk about a life highlight! I'd never imagined I'd get my own trading card, but now I've got one -- thanks to you guys. Thanks again!! Laura and I are already looking forward to traveling to Emporia for the 2013 Dirty Kanza 200.

Tuesday edit: When I wrote this story, I walked away knowing I would inevitably forget to thank somebody, but I never thought I'd forget to thank Rob Versteegh at Oakley. Over the years, Rob has been not only a solid supporter, keeping me in the best eyewear on the planet, but he's also been a great friend. Thank you so much for your support and continued friendship, Rob. I am so sorry that thanks to you wasn't in my first draft... I owe you more than one.

In closing, I'd just like to say that my race finishes this past season were particularly important to me, and also noteworthy, as 2012 has been the single most challenging year of my life from a personal and professional standpoint. The challenges Laura and I have been faced with have been (and continue to be) significant and daunting, and I especially want to thank the people who have stuck with us and have supported us through this challenging time. These folks include both of my Grandmas (my angels), my two incredible TeamMates, Dan and Loyie Weber, my Mom (Terri), Jesse Petersen, Matt Wills, Jim Cummins, Mark Stevenson, Noah Clayton, Errin Vasquez, Brent Schott, and finally, my incredible, beautiful wife, Laura. I sincerely appreciate the contribution each of you has made to my life over the past year, and look forward to making each of your lives better in the future!

Thanks to everyone who made 2012 great! I'm looking forward to having more fun, and to taking on bigger, more challenging adventures in 2013, both on my fatbike and in life. I hope you'll be with me.

Cheers,
MG

ETA of the PCL Jersey Order...

It sounds like we should have the new PCL jerseys in Lincoln around November 30, as scheduled. For those of you living out of town, I will need to work with you to arrange shipping from Lincoln to you, which will takea few extra days (and a few dollars as well, unless you'd like to pick them up).

Thanks for your patience. I'm really looking forward to our new kits and hope you are too!

Cheers,
MG

Fat-Bike.com Interview with Matt Gersib - Fat-Bike Racer...

Read Interview with Matt Gersib - Fat-Bike Racer, on Fat-Bike.com. Photo: Ben Witt

PCL Kit Order Deadline Extended to Oct. 14...

You wanna' roll with the Factory Pirates? Here's your chance... Order NOW!

The deadline for the PCL Jersey/Short order came and went yesterday, and unfortunately we were short of the minimum order in a couple of categories (short sleeve items -- 6 short; long sleeve items -- 4 short), so after talking through our options with the folks at Voler, they graciously offered us an extension until midnight (Pacific time) Sunday, October 14. Let's get those orders in folks!!

Please take a moment to consider ordering some new PCL gear and roll into 2013 Pirate style!! 

Here's the link to the Voler order site.

We're Ordering PCL Kits soon...

It's time to order up some new Pirate gear!!

Here's the link to the Voler/PCL order site. The order will close Oct. 8 and will arrive at the end of November. The design will be the same as the last batch, which looked like this:

You can choose short-sleeve jerseys or skin suits (you know you want one), long-sleeve jerseys or skin suits (now even I want one), shorts and knickers. It's a veritable Pirate smorgasbord... I have samples of jerseys and shorts at my house you can come over and try... But don't delay. If you wait 'til Oct. 9, you've waited a day too late. You know what to do. ORDER NOW. Aaaaarrrrggghh...