|   two speed single speed? oxymmmoron? | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 10:59 PM | | No, for me, it was a matter of survival. Or at least having some fun.
Been scopin out some trails in the backcountry of the GPNF, which is backcountry in and of itself. However, these trails have a certain up component and anyone, short of general coonskins, would not enjoy trying to climb these things in a "normal" SS gear. Well, I'm hoping I'm not too whimpy of a climber, but, a smoker on a SS ended up pulling me to the top of the last climb. So...
Ken (IDM) and I finally showed up at Council Lake near the edge of the Mt Adams Wilderness thursday around 3pm. Pitched camp and drove a couple more miles over to the High Lakes Trail #116 to see what it was all about. Ken had added to his drive train a 26:30 option in addition to his normal(?)36:21. I had a 24:30 and 34:19. High Lakes trail turned out to be beautiful... |
| Horseshoe Lake | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:03 PM | | just a nice view of Mt Adams...
however, all this scenery came with a price. (sorry not more pics, was too busy riding, and trying to breathe)
Since this was to be an out and back, there was a long, loose, rocky, DUSTY descent into a valley that had a rushing stream fed from a glacier on Mt Adams. Then a climb back out of that valley... |
| Ken and Lava | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:13 PM | | stopping for a breather...
We were able to test our low gear option. After a bit of play with chain tension (the BrewSSki has an ECC BB) and even nudging the ECC more to the right to get better chainline I had a ridable gear. The climb was far more than I could handle with a 34:19 and the 24:30 worked quite well. It does throw my bike handling skills off tho...just don't get as much oompf for getting over uphill roots. These trails are mainly motorcycle trails, so are quite chewed up and loose and dusty. Being able to sit and slowly spin up the grade was a more comfortable option than standing and having the rear wheel break loose too easily.
Perhaps the true essence of SS was still there. I mean, we had to make a conscious decision to change gears, which took a few minutes to accomplish. So we did not change gears often, just attacked everything until we couldn't go any further. |
| Bob at the Rocks | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:08 AM | | This is Bob at the same place.
I have to say the best thing happened to us was that not getting hurt there. The views were so good probably because of the suffering. After this point, it was like the first transpolar flight explorer, "only certainty was uncertainty." Both of us were still capable of smiling at this site. |
| What the......! | Jared
Jul 13, 2003 10:00 AM | | I gotta know, what kind of hydration pack is that you are wearing in the picture below? Looks a lot like a vest of sorts.
Best,
Jared |
| What the......! | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 10:09 AM | | I modified the South African Army issue Scout Vest. This thing still has dust from East Africa. It has four small pockets for 30 round 5.56 M-4 clips and two open side pockets. Two small pockets at chest and large storage area at lower back where I put water bag.
Ken- |
| What the......! | Jared
Jul 13, 2003 10:12 AM | | Where can I get one? |
| What the......! | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 10:35 AM | | I got mine at an Army Navy in Portland, OR. I do not know whereelse has one. Generally speaking it is really difficult to find non-U.S. or Euro military surplus gears. As usual for the Commonwealth or NATO surplus items, they either rip some part to mark them as surplus items or some parts were already ripped. I found mine had the seam at the bottom of the back strage space already ripped. I made an extension bottom when I repaired it. I like a vest better than backpack since the weight is supported by the area with sholder pads and front fastners. The meshed back also helps to breath through.
I began seeing US Army issue commando vests in surplus. It looks little different from mine, but maybe you can find things like this. Keep eyes open at surplus. They are not that expensive as name brand outdoor sports gear. (If you do not have a problem with this green) I paid mine for $19.
Ken- |
| Sometimes ya just gotta carry the bike | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:19 PM | | Nice little stream crossing at Keenes Horse Camp.
It was a pretty hot day, even at 4500+ feet. The gps and bike computer disagree on mileage, bike reported 14.5 miles total, and the gps/topo program gives me a total of about 11 miles. And 2300' of climbing. Felt like lots more.
After we returned to camp it was time for a quick (very) dip in the lake to wash the dust and grime off. |
| Boundary Trail | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:27 PM | | We woke to a beautiful morning, clanged some pans around getting breakfast, just to (hopefully) irritate the only other campers in the area, from whom we were kept awake late at night by humanoid mating activites that sounded like she had been practicing from watching pornos. yeah, she was a screamer and moaner.
ANYWAYS...
We left camp about 8am, riding down the gravel road looking for the trailhead. Ride, consult map/gps, ride, climb some hills, go back down hills, startle a herd of elk on the road, consult, ride, oops, ride some more, finally find a trailhead about 9 or 9:30. Commence to climb, ok, I can't see anymore, mebbe my screen name is appropriate, time to stop and use the low gear option. Much better... |
| M*A*S*H* | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:39 AM | | The night at the camp site was memorable in many ways. The voices of hard work (or pretending hard work) was echoing in the woods. It reminded me a scence from M*A*S*H*. Hotlip and Major someone was adding in the tent and someone put microphone there. The whole interaction was broadcasted through PA system. (Here, it is was acostic.) The nextday we saw that guy. But we never saw his partner.
The resemblance of M*A*S*H* did not end at the night at the camp. Bob repeatedly mentioned that he changed gear instead of shifting gear. His gear changing looked like a field surgury. |
| thinkin' of a Quick Release ECC BB.... | redhaze
Jul 14, 2003 1:29 AM | | I'm wondering if seatpost quick release bolts could be used in my pinch bolt ECC BB. If I keep up with this silly concept. But, these trails are not, to me, much fun with only one gear ratio. We would be doing SO MUCH walking/pushing up hills otherwise. I mean, 4000feet of climbing in 10 miles of trail, no wait, that 10 miles had flat sections and 4000 feet of downhill too. Seems pretty steep to me. These are the trails I want to ride this summer/fall, and they really don't need a full suspension rig, my hands only got sore 'cause they already were sore from previous injuries. The BrewSSki is my favorite rig to ride 'cause it is 100% predictable and reliable. The trails weren't super rough or anything. Actually they were pretty buff.
So maybe, 2 speeds isn't too silly.
Would a derailler be good thing? The BrewSSki has a hanger. No, I like the SS deal to make it do what you can, attack that climb/root/log/rock.
And I liked/needed the break.
Still looking for a tough wide range 3 speed hub...
bob
bonus pic of Ken riding a wheelie with Mt Adams in background. note position of left foot... |
| thinkin' of a Quick Release ECC BB.... | IDM
Jul 14, 2003 4:46 PM | | How about a set of butterfly nuts? (Instead of QR)
Ken- |
| Snow in July? | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:32 PM | | about the 5000' level there were still patches of snow. We could not have done this ride a month ago, it'd still be under snow. Claire was happy to have an "snowcone" to play in.
Once we reached the ridgeline, going became much easier so therefore it must be time to change to a harder gear. I hesitate to use the term "shift" as that implies quickness, which we were not.
More beautiful forest, broken only by impossibly green small meadows. I don't know why we didn't stop to take pics. |
| Sweet singletrack | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:37 PM | | nice section of a downhill on our way back, this went on and on and on. of course it felt longer because we weren't quite sure that it was taking us back to where we wanted. decided to take a trail that was marked, but not on my map...
We made it all the way to Summit Prairie and decided to turn around there. time was getting on and it looked like the trail started down after that sooo... |
| Turning point | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:15 AM | | We stopped at this point. |
| Turning point Pic | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:18 AM | | I pushed a wrong buttom. |
| The top | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:25 AM | | At the top, there were three vocanoes in the view. It is kind a hard to see, but I think the back is Mt Hood. It was really interesting to see these mountains. I saw this view from the sky when I was coming back from Missoula, MT about ten days ago. I never imagined to see these mountains this way. |
| paying off the debt | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:47 AM | | The decending is a form of energy conversion. The gravity does the job for us. But the acending or climbing is also a form of energy conversion and we have to pay for it. Some parts of this trial was sandy and rooty. It was hot. Pushing bike was one way of recovery. |
| trail with a view | redhaze
Jul 12, 2003 11:55 PM | | down down down this trail dropped, heading for a valley that we were pretty sure was not where we wished to go. "To Boldly go in the face of uncertainty" is my motto.
Eventually we reached a stream and the trail turned away from the valley. Ah yes, turned away; turned UP I mean. However, the grade was just ridable on the 34:19, only just, for awhile. Eventually, I started to feel a headache and dizzy and decided I had better shift, er, change gears. Luckily I fell against a tree stump and waited for Ken. He was having better luck with his high gear and continued on. The BrewSSki became a low gear (which it still is even now) SS and I continued on climbing, keeping Ken in sight thru the trees. sorta. This trail to the top of Council Bluff has more false summits, or maybe our hopes were false.
Our last rest stop ended up being 50' of trail from the top.
Totals: 17 miles, 7 on gravel road. 4000' of climbing on trails, mebbe a couple hundred on stupid gravel roads because I lost track of which road we were on...
Lessons learned:
Chainline: very important, can't just be eyeballed, must be ridden under stress to determine adjustments
Water: drank all of 100oz each day, had water bottle just in case, helmet stores plenty in pads
Mosquitos: they will bite where DEET was not applied, including thru bike shorts and shirts, I have a dozen bites on each cheek (I know, too much information).
I wanna go back...
bob |
| The last Climb | IDM
Jul 13, 2003 9:59 AM | | The last climb was some what scary. It was not the grade. It was because of the direction of the trail. It looked the trail was going to the top of the ridge. We wanted to go to the lake. Without knowing where the end, we took a rest, which became the last rest stop. There is no climb that does not end. I walked a little to look around. "!" The summit was there and there was a jeep road from there. I walked back and I saw Bob and Clare making the final effort to the top.
It was a nice adventure and reality check of my physical condition. I guess I need to spend more time on saddle.
Lesson I learnt:
I like 180mm crank.
I like front shocks.
I like my 28.5 inch handle bar.
We should have taken more pictures
We gotta do this again Bob! |
| Great writeup and pics, Bob! | GlowBoy
Jul 13, 2003 12:50 AM | | As you may know I, of all people, don't think a two-speed singlespeed is an oxymoron!
Hey, looks like you and Ken had a great time out there! I'm as green as the meadows with envy! The trails up there sound really nice - I've got to have you do some "tour-guiding" for me out there in September. My only experiences with that area are from my multiple attempts (with skis, not bike) to climb Mt. Adams a few years ago. Finally made it the 5th time, and it definitely was one of the "peak" experiences of my life. Dunno if I wanna do it again, though - it was physically the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.
Looks like your 19t Sturmey cog is holding up great. Any problems with those 3 little splines digging into the FH body yet? I just acquired a similar cog myself and filed down the splines (only took about 60 sec) to make it fit, in anticipation of putting a 35:19 gear on the KHSS once I'm ready to ride it again.
- Dan |
| splines... | redhaze
Jul 13, 2003 9:50 PM | | I noticed that the ears are digging in to the hub spline just a little bit, just enough to make the threads (this freehub is threaded most of the way across) rough in that spot. but other that that, it looks great. this is such an old cog that it is real thick, my chainwhip doesn't fit it hardly at all. I wish I had a steel chainring, as the cog doesn't show ANY wear.
35:19? starting get a bit tall there? oh wait, you are the one with the quads of steel and can cadence in the rph zone. Hope ya get on your mtb SS soon. we'd appreciate knowing what happened.
bob |
| That'll be my high gear! | GlowBoy
Jul 13, 2003 11:44 PM | | Right now I've got 34:20 and 36:18. The 34:20 is too low for a lot of flatter riding, like for example Leif Erickson in Forest Park. The 36:18 is a little too high for long climbs, which also come into play on the same rides. Hopefully 35:19 will be a gear I can stick with on most of my riding in the park - and other "mixed" rides - without having to "shift". |
| Very cool Bob, but.... | Monte
Jul 13, 2003 7:11 AM | | I would have to bring my gears. I'd like to check the area out.
Monte |
| Awesome trip, gentamins | Sparty
Jul 13, 2003 6:51 PM | | I'm jealous.
Ken, nice lookin' saddle. Hope it is serving you well.
Bob, is this the trip I missed out on (more like turned you down for)? How I regret that, but honest, I had no choice... other committments loomed.
You fellers comin' down south for the Ride Fest this weekend (July 19-20)?
--Sparty |
| yep, you missed it. | redhaze
Jul 13, 2003 9:39 PM | | We didn't get quite as far along the trails as I had originally planned/hoped for. But that usually happens to me on these types of trails. It was REALLY good training, at least thats what I kept telling myself.
I'll be up there a few more times this summer, in that area scoping out some more trails, will keep ya in mind.
SSue and I will be down for the Oakridge ride. I though we'd have more Longview folk coming down with us but they've all whimped out. I hadn't registered yet and not sure if we will be able to make the friday even registration as we have reunion commitments in Springfield that evening also. I should e-mail the gen'l about it and see what we should do.
fixed the tube cam cable the other day, so should be good to go for some alpine lefty cam action. just need to prep the camcorder batteries and find the mount. ack, and am on nightshifts all this week.
we are really looking forward to seeing all of ya next weekend!
bob |
| See you Friday or Saturday, then | Sparty
Jul 14, 2003 6:05 AM | | I haven't registered yet, either! Oh well, we'll get in on the action somehow. I hope to get up to the Outpost Friday evening after work to mingle, but I may not be able to show until Saturday morning. Whatever. The riding will be great!
See yoo and SSoo this weekend. Lickin' Forehead!
--Sparty |
| See you Saturday morning | General Coonskins
Jul 14, 2003 11:30 AM | | just come on up to the Trailhead Coffee House, I will be there from 6:30-8:00ish to cover late-reg folks.
If yo uplan on doing the ultra, the ride starts at 8:30.
See ya soon,
Richard |
| Way to go Bob & Ken! | JRA
Jul 14, 2003 7:51 AM | | I'm envious. All I did this weekend was work for beer (volunteered at the Seattle International Beerfest). So ... worked the late shift on Saturday evening and then returned on Sunday for my "free" beer.
I'm looking forward to getting my 2 speed set up and tested out. Only thing is ... how will I be able to handle the ridicule of my riding buddies when I show up with an extra gear?
On second thought ... tough. I'll just rub their noses in the pictures and descriptions of the CdC ride in October! :) |
| Hey JRA..Did you get the cog? (nm) | gpsser
Jul 14, 2003 9:26 AM | | |
| Not just yet | JRA
Jul 14, 2003 9:29 AM | | It may show up in the mail today. I'll let you know when it gets in. Thankx! |
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