blackfly profile

I would like to give a prop to Hadley.  Not very common nor seen but IMO they put Chris King to shame (no small feat).  They are run out of a garage and are definitely small but the product is like a fine Swiss watch.  At the time, almost 18 years ago, I had to get a set of hubs for my then new 03 Foes Fly.  I just came off Razor Rock Racing hubs, which, if anyone remembers, made one of the few 20mm thru axle hubs for the rear.  This was how the Ellsworth Dare was fitted, and the RR hubs were terrible.  Improperly sealed, minimal drive side bearing support...you name it.  Couldn't get rid of them fast enough.  Enter the Hadleys.  Freehub is titanium and engagement is by pawls.  My original hubs, on the wheels still on my big bike,  have never had a service (and the entire life of the bike has been Shore only).  I took them apart 5 years ago, I think, just to look and nothing was awry.  Bought a free hub rebuild kit just in case, but they keep on going.  When I built up my new bike just over a year ago, guess what hubs I got, and I had the choice.  I found CK to be expensive, and although they are lighter, perhaps. it is not rotating weight.  And to get almost 18 years (and going!) on a set with no need for new seals, bearings or whatever...remarkable.  I mechanic my own bike and have the tools...never needed any side load adjustment...nothing.  To my knowledge, the best place to get parts is through Balle Racing website.  

I cannot say enough about Hadley.  The epitome of a small company that stays tight and small but delivers the goods.

Know of any shops locally that carry it?  I have the exact fork and stroke as you and I have been a Marzocchi (of old) fan for years; decades, actually.  This looks like something I would look into.  In lbs, what is your weight for reference to the spring rate?  I am 200 so if you use 50......

$500?  Not bad.  Should get into fly fishing.  That would be about mid line for Simms jackets.

I have the Magna 40 rims on Hadley hubs handbuilt by Chromag for me.  I was a little leery about the rims at first but after seeing them built I couldn't be happier.  I run tubeless and the rim/tire interface is very good; the tires hold air very well.  In fact, after getting some help in inflating the tires for the first time, the shop mechanic commented on the fact how well the tires "sat" in the rims.  He commented that they were the finest rims he had worked with tubeless tires.  When I built up my hardtail the wheels sat for about a month, inflated, and needed no air after that time.   Obviously, I give the rims the highest recommendation.

I have a Magna 40 set for my Surface Ti laced to Hadley hubs handbuilt from Pete at Chromag and I would put these wheels against what CB is offering hands down.  Moreover, they are cheaper.  I thought the Magna 40s were way too big but now that I have them I love them.  Also, they are very good with tubeless and hold a seal very well; I have had to put little air in the wheels if left for weeks (this was during the built when the bike was stationary until all the parts showed up).  If CB wanted to really impress me they could start with the Mallet C pedals that I have tried to love but....no spring tension adjustor and the soft brass (I think) cleats that wear so fast you find out they are worn exactly when you don't want to....and the wear time is so fast you would think they were made of plastic.   And the top hoop is $2400 US.  At least aluminum gives or dents.  And as for "you get what you pay for"  I still think nothing beats handbuilt wheels from a true artisan gifted in the craft of wheel building.

Amen.

I totally concur that the part about taking the time to take care of ones self is all to true.  You cannot take care of anyone else if you cannot take care of yourself.  I also am a hardened convert to the moto of "Carp Diem"; in that in the end we all don't know when we are going to be called, so you are best to make every day count.  I recently lost a friend whom at 63 worked all his life to never see one day of retirement.  He did, however, make each day count, and like Ingrid, this is something we can all carry forward with.  Ride more, have more fun, make the effort to do what you want to do.  I wish I could go on Friday, but I am sure like many I will be there in spirit.

Reread the sentence, this time with a modicum of understanding english lexicon.  If you read it slower you will notice that it has no sexual connotation at all, and in fact that is not in the least what I was implying.  Read twice, reply once.

I will say this.

Back when I started riding women riding was as rare as hen's teeth, and the ones that did ride...I'm not going there.  Today, for example, when I ride Seymour....I sure wish I was in the dating scene today.  Finding a biker chick as another half......guess I missed that window.

The wisdom Nouseforaname espouses does have some truth to it however.  The only one responsible for one's own happiness is themselves, and no one, no wife, girlfriend or whomever, is going to do that in the end.  But self fulfillment surely will, and for a biker, there is no better fulfillment than satisfying rides.  And also, we never know what the future holds; maybe in 5 years you can't ride anymore due to health or whatever.  Carp Diem.

I just recently bought a Chromag Surface Ti, and have it built up and have put 3 rides on it, and it is better than expected.  There is something about a Chromag that transcends simple material.....it rides in a way nothing else does.  You can tell it has soul.  And I have had boutique bikes for 20 years and know what to expect....it is all in the details.  Yes, some will say they are expensive, for a hardtail, but quality costs money and believe me you get what you pay for.  If only I could find a way to not have to work and ride every day....working on it......

Those Mavic 321 rims I ran for many years.  521 Ceramic when I was using XTR V brakes.  In speaking of the Honda, I wonder why they made it and then POOF.  Nothing.  Seems like a waste of R+D dollars to do something so good then not produce a product.  Patent violation perhaps?

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: earleb

Metro has stonewalled the NSMBA on many initiatives. 

Why do you think that’s happened?

Liability

Posted by: MaxRockatansky

Posted by: icullis

I had a re-read of Metro Vancouver's Strategic Trails Plan (http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/ParksPublications/LSCRTrailsStrategicPlan.pdf). Apparently, they have their eye on lower Dales too...From the plan:

Dale’s Trail Improvements:

Consider upgrading lower sections to flow better with

section 1 of Dale’s to provide a cohesive user experience

from top to bottom. Upgrade the Mushroom Lot Access trail

to provide a safe exit point from the more challenging

section of Dale’s trail and to enhance the connection

between the LSCR and CMHC.

This is terrifying. Unless they are talking about getting rid of the crappy flow trail at the top. Dales is the last true sanctioned challenge on Seymour and it would be a major loss the the riding experience for that to have major changes made to it.

No.  Metro is about limiting liability and the crappy flow start is only the start.  It will see the rest of Dale's become this and removal of the jank in keeping with the low liability mandate.  As per Neds and CBC.   The best hope is they do nothing at all and it stays as is, but if anything is done it will not be good.

Posted by: Ddean

God I love Pipeline. It’s a real MTB trail! Janky in parts. Rough in parts. Roots and rocks in all the inconvenient places. Love it. 

Thanks Silk.

Amen.

Posted by: tungsten

Posted by: blackfly

every problem in society we have can be distilled in its purest form to overpopulation.

Nope. Red herring. Throughly debunked.

Try capitalism.

https://www.sierraclub.org/washington/blog/2020/01/overpopulation-myth-and-its-dangerous-connotations

I agree about the capitalism part but thinking the Sierra Club has debunked a critical thread in human issues is BS.   They will push any green agenda at any cost (and like any group, the more converts the more clout in implementing said ideas).  More people equals more use equals more resources (and concomitantly the RATE of use).  Takeover of land for habitation, use of land for growth of food crops.......

Overpopulation as the root cause is labelled as a red herring since fixing the problem would lead to issues no one REALLY wants to tackle (whom lives, whom dies etc.....).  I am sure the NWO has already figured this out.  Notice how little help Africa gets compared to Japan in time of crisis?  In the seven years I studied Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering at university no course I took in environmental science or ecology denied the population issue as being number one.  Every one agreed the fix was too sensitive an issue to address.  

The real question is how many would have to be removed to help the problems.....of course, if we found another habitable planet and could get there it would help the issue, wouldn't it.  But we spent out time, resources and brainpower not on space travel but nuclear weapons.  IMO we have missed the boat.  If the issue of recolonization was addressed in the 60s instead of the fear of the Reds there is no telling where we would be now, or the solutions we would of found.

If I remember right the Sierra Club wants to get all mountain bikers out of the back woods in the US.  Strange reference to bring up considering the host of this forum.

Most people are blissfully ignorant of the real impact humanity has on this planet, especially if it is not directly affecting them.   I saw the doc a while ago and I cannot recall if they went into the population debate but if you want to be really disarming at a gathering bring this up and point out how most every problem in society we have can be distilled in its purest form to overpopulation.  And what are we doing about it?  Nothing.  In fact:  you need a license for most everything, even to get married, but not to have children or have any qualifier to bring one (or two) into the world.  Every time you have sushi ask what the styrofoam boxes do, or the mining for the metals for ours bikes......on it goes.

The part at the end about the monkeys is truly disturbing, and I am thankful for the filming of it to hit home the real impact.  Brought me to tears, in fact.

My late mother was a true Newfie.  She was born before NFLD confederated into Canada, and I have pictures of her as a youngster with snow as high as the telephone poles.  In fact, in old newfie houses, there were 2 front doors.  One on the ground floor and another on the second floor in case the ground floor got buried.  They use to dig tunnels to school and used Newfie dogs as sled pullers to get around.  I would not of believed it but I went to NFLD many times as a youngster and saw it for real. Went one Easter and there were icebergs in the harbour (she lived in Cape Broyle).  People here in Lotusland think a foot of snow every once in a while is a big deal.......I must say I do miss the ride right now......In rural NFLD the quad and snowmobile is more valuable than the car or truck.  You can guess why.   Interestingly enough, you would think that there would be more issues of SAD or seasonal affective disorder, but I have been told the bright Newfie outlook came out as a way to combat this.  Explains a lot.

Posted by: skooks

Posted by: blackfly

Amen.

As I have always contended, if you cannot do the up, you cannot do the down.  The down is no more easy, strenuous or requiring any less physical demand or tone.  Moreover, if the ebike allows one to further, but not faster, what happens if there is a "mechanical"  (or now, "electrical") far in the middle of nowhere?  Hope you have the legs and lungs to pedal or push it out.......

Don't try passing me on the uphill, EVER.

I am super curious about your last sentence. If someone was coming up fast behind you on a (pedal) bike, would you let them pass? Why would it be different if they were on a moped?  I would much rather have them pass me than have to listen to the motor all the way up the hill.

Well, if someone is on a pedal bike and going to pass me on No Quarter or GSM on the up, bravo.  Obviously better cardio and legs than I, and this is from hard work on the up.  I find the idea of an E bike on a up climbing trail the epitome of what is wrong with the concept.  

Posted by: FLATCH

Posted by: blackfly

I ride Fromme regularly and see at least one or two zip up the road when I get out of D'yer Maker. I think since most new initiates that would buy them are likely to find the sticker shock too much to handle it would be for a limited few, but of the ones I have seen on Fromme: either older types that would be inclined to buy one; a noob with no idea (or whom zips up only to ride the road back down........seen this twice) or riders that motor up as fast as possible to avoid any heckling as they know acceptance is not common. Eagle, for example, allows motos there......have at it. But not Cypress, Fromme, Seymour, Burke or the Woodlot.

I ride mine at Burke and the Woodlot regularly. I ride a red Commencal, introduce yourself sometime.

Oh, and feel free to heckle, I find it laughable.

I ride Burke regularly myself.  I would of thought the sign at the gun club/yellow gate clearly showing no motorized vehicles would of been clear enough.  Guess not.

I ride Fromme regularly and see at least one or two zip up the road when I get out of D'yer Maker.  I think since most new initiates that would buy them are likely to find the sticker shock too much to handle it would be for a limited few, but of the ones I have seen on Fromme:  either older types that would be inclined to buy one; a noob with no idea (or whom zips up only to ride the road back down........seen this twice) or riders that motor up as fast as possible to avoid any heckling as they know acceptance is not common.  Eagle, for example, allows motos there......have at it.   But not Cypress, Fromme, Seymour, Burke or the Woodlot.

Amen.

As I have always contended, if you cannot do the up, you cannot do the down.  The down is no more easy, strenuous or requiring any less physical demand or tone.  Moreover, if the ebike allows one to further, but not faster, what happens if there is a "mechanical"  (or now, "electrical") far in the middle of nowhere?  Hope you have the legs and lungs to pedal or push it out.......

Don't try passing me on the uphill, EVER.

Having ridden Fromme for 39 years I can tell you that the mantra was always about "whatever do what was necessary for the up to get to the down".  This meant the service road, which is nice now, but has not always been so.  Yes it is boring.  Yes it is mandatory, but if you wanted to go down, it was either that or push up St. Georges or other (for me for a long time I pushed up Lower Crippler/Oilcan and then went up the road).  Not only the bike but where I parked mandated that route.

The climbing trail is a Godsend.  First, it is not really easy, so long as you are not on an Ebike (not here, folks) and it essentially separates the mountain.  Those that ride the West and those whom ride the East (and obviously park at the parking lot).  I notice a distinct difference in the rider.

No, the climb is not perfect.  I find it a bit long winded and tedious at times.  But if you think about a more direct route, whom among you would envy a 30 degree or 45 degree climb?  And the scenery is nice.  Very lucky that we live where we do.  It could easily be desert.

And the climbing trail eases pressure off of the East side, not only in terms of parking but usage.  I remember not long ago that parking on Dempsey/Braemar was easy, no other people around.  Funny and fast how times change.  

I remember the old days of the tech uphill of Old Buck.  I don't mind the work of the up for the downhill but not at the expense of the downhill.  You want tech uphill?  Try Eagle and go up the Lungbuster.  Tell me how it goes.  Even Burke is much more civil today; at one time babyheads was the coin of the realm and the brutality of the steepness was an afterthought.  And I saw a group of gentlemen in their 60s do it (on hardtails) many years ago.  I couldn't imagine it at the time.  

Related, we have it easy and thanks to all for making the climbing trail happen.  Best thing to happen to Fromme in a very long time.