coComments related to mmeiser

Believe it or not I've never h

2009-11-02T03:16:45.453+01:00

Believe it or not I've never had one try to take a chunk out of me despite thousands of chases. I did however catch one right at his fence line and he jetted straight at me as I was still coming, head on, kamikazee style. I was going 20+mph and there was no way I was going to stop or swerve. Luckily he veered off at the very last second. His owner was getting the mail and saw the whole thing.

lol, I've been feeling this wa

2009-11-02T03:12:18.588+01:00

lol, I've been feeling this way lately. Way more dogs on the gravel/dirt/ back roads I like to ride in the fall. Anymore I just encourage them to chase me having realized that pretty much all dogs are to out of shape to case you down at 15-20mph. I sometimes even slow down to encourage them. Sort of a game to see how long they'll follow me for. p.s. My encouragements are more a psycological game. I do hate to see any dog running in the road (even a backroad that gets no traffic) but once they're on the road I just try to wear them out. I've noticed many will stop on a dime if you yell "where do you belong" right as they reac the edge of their property and not a second before. I think hey usually recognize the natural boundry and when you reinforce it with a stern and timely warning you catch them in a moment of hesitation. My encouraging "atta' boy!" references seem to disarm them in a different way, catching them off gaurd and calming them... if only because it confuses tem. What's more it's easier on my voice. Anyway, the whole thing is very in-conclusive, but you have to have someting to yell.

That was an amazing afternoon.

2009-10-23T06:15:31.057+02:00

That was an amazing afternoon. Storm clouds moving out sun coming out over the lake with lots of color. Congrats!

Awesome! I'm so jealous. I se

2009-10-23T06:13:58.635+02:00

Awesome! I'm so jealous. I seriously can't wait for some snow.

I still want the recipe. :)

2009-10-23T06:13:36.049+02:00

I still want the recipe. :)

Tuscobia sounds awesome. Like

2009-10-23T05:58:32.993+02:00

Tuscobia sounds awesome. Like a Iditarod Invitational of the Midwest. I long for some multi-sport riding. Something not so much about winning but about surviving first. :) Quoted from the site: Gear Requirements 3.5 fl. oz. fuel Pot to melt snow 64 ounces of water containers 3000 calories of food Firestarter Stove to melt snow Headlamp or flashlight Whistle 10 square inches of reflective material 3 Flashing red LED lights both on front and back 75 Mile Race Minus-20F degrees sleeping bag or colder rating Insulated sleeping pad Bivy sack or tent The big question is the Minus 20 bag. I wonder if they'll accept layering a zero and a 15?

Based on what you're saying (j

2009-10-23T00:02:41.910+02:00

Based on what you're saying (just over 2 hours with 5000mAh using five C batteries it's pretty apparent just how much more efficient LED's are. I bet you could switch the light in that thing to a Cree if you found a good source. Mine also runs on 6volt, but on that battery setup it'd run for days. Hopefully I'll see you around. BTW, that documentary "Race Across the Sky" is playing tonight only at the theatre on Jackson just west of Wagner at 8pm. I'm headed up there now in fact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUol4meP9H4 Goodrich Quality 16 3686 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI - Map 8:00pm If you up and decide to go give me a call: 312-523-1066 Peace, gotta run, -Mike

Yeah, I've been dreaming of th

2009-10-22T22:09:57.333+02:00

Yeah, I've been dreaming of the "pickuptruck of bikes" for a long long time. Thing is, like a real pickup you'd have to make sure the back was well loaded otherwise you'd never get any traction. There was a sweet custom bike at NAHBS a couple years back that perfected the pickup truck idea. I forget who made it, but it just looked like it belong in an orchard hauling apples. P.S. great to see jdmitch posting here. I think his was one of the earliest posts I saw with an actual fat tire long tail. The "riding the spine" guys used one on their alaska to tip of south america tour as well.

@doubclick: I wouldn't give up

2009-10-22T15:11:30.583+02:00

@doubclick: I wouldn't give up on your cross. It's probably the perect round town bike and still very versatile. I lived in Chicago for 14 years or so and commuted by bike pretty much the entire time. In fact it should be good for year round. There are usually only a very few days when the roads are covered with snow. Small patches of hidden ice is really the only thing you have to watch out for in the winter. What's more winter riding thrashes bikes. I don't think you'd want to thrash a new fargo and all it's components during the winter months so I'd recommend keeping one of your old bikes. What I might recommend if you feel you need it is keeping the cross and keeping a fast road tire on it during the summer and putting a studded tire on it during the winter. There are many studded cross tires, plus it's actually pretty easy to make them if you like. I have a couple of Ritchey Speedmax that I studded and some Schwalbe studded snow tires. In many ways the home made studded Speedmax work better as they're lighter and more supple. As for your other questions I think I'll leave them to someone else. I've not yet checked out the 2010 Fargo. Didn't realize there was a difference.

I was just working here and sa

2009-10-22T06:32:41.403+02:00

I was just working here and saw a message regarding an update on the Salsa Fargo thread on MTBR... suddenly your username popped into my head and with a quick search I found you. Hopefull I got the username right. Based on skimming your posts (haven't viewed your many pics yet) I think I have remembered your username correctly. Again, nice Karate Monkey. Well spec'd. Would love to see more pics of your battery and light mod. You really seem to know what you're doing. I must admit my electronics skills are pretty week. (I'm no engineer.) Your lighting mod reminded me I have FOUR sets of Specialized Fireballs. They're beautiful light mounts and enclosures. I have the batteries as well. None of it's worth a dime for lighting, completely obsolete, but I dream one day of repurposing it with superbright and efficient LEDs so I've been hanging onto them. P.S. here's that thread on the River Rock light I'm using: [url]http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=198589[/url] Several people have followed my lead on converting it to AA. What's more toward the end of the thread there are some pictures of the modded light. Sadly though they're no longer available at Target. Haven't been since spring when the last ones closed out for only $7.xx a piece. I keep my eye out whenever I swing buy Target for something new, but nothing yet. I had some friends who picked up one on my recomendation for an 320 mile endurance race in Iowa this spring. (The TransIowa.) Once they realized how bright it was they went back and bought six more. They were estatic. Like I said though Cabellas and Lowes both have similar products. Lowes only uses 3AA but claims 150 lumens. I suspect it doesn't have the longevity though. Cabellas has 4AA if I'm not mistaken and claims slightly higher lumen then my current 136 lumen one. I'd recommend the Cabellas one as long as it uses four AA. It also seems to be extremel well speced with different brightnesses, colors and a diffuser. Not to mention smaller then mine. THe thing I've really got my eye on right now though is the Fennix HP10 [url]http://www.fenixtactical.com/fenix-hp10.html[/url] They claim 225 max lumens for 2.5 hours and 7.5 hours on 120 lumens. It has really lit up the discussion boards. My only problem with it is $65 is to much considering it's only an incrimental improvement over what I've alread got. Still, I expect a few people I've pointed it out to will be getting it soon. Finally, be sure to check out that Karate Monkey Junkie group on Flickr. [url]http://www.flickr.com/groups/karate-monkey/[/url] Would love to see pics of your Monkey up there... Karate Monkey that is. ;)

I was just working here and sa

2009-10-22T05:38:54.996+02:00

I was just working here and saw a message regarding an update on the Salsa Fargo thread on MTBR... suddenly your username popped into my head and with a quick search I found you. Hopefull I got the username right. Based on skimming your posts (haven't viewed your many pics yet) I think I have remembered your username correctly. Again, nice Karate Monkey. Well spec'd. Would love to see more pics of your battery and light mod. You really seem to know what you're doing. I must admit my electronics skills are pretty week. (I'm no engineer.) Your lighting mod reminded me I have FOUR sets of Specialized Fireballs. They're beautiful light mounts and enclosures. I have the batteries as well. None of it's worth a dime for lighting, completely obsolete, but I dream one day of repurposing it with superbright and efficient LEDs so I've been hanging onto them. P.S. here's that thread on the River Rock light I'm using: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=198589 Several people have followed my lead on converting it to AA. What's more toward the end of the thread there are some pictures of the modded light. Sadly though they're no longer available at Target. Haven't been since spring when the last ones closed out for only $7.xx a piece. I keep my eye out whenever I swing buy Target for something new, but nothing yet. I had some friends who picked up one on my recomendation for an 320 mile endurance race in Iowa this spring. (The TransIowa.) Once they realized how bright it was they went back and bought six more. They were estatic. Like I said though Cabellas and Lowes both have similar products. Lowes only uses 3AA but claims 150 lumens. I suspect it doesn't have the longevity though. Cabellas has 4AA if I'm not mistaken and claims slightly higher lumen then my current 136 lumen one. I'd recommend the Cabellas one as long as it uses four AA. It also seems to be extremel well speced with different brightnesses, colors and a diffuser. Not to mention smaller then mine. THe thing I've really got my eye on right now though is the Fennix HP10 http://www.fenixtactical.com/fenix-hp10.html They claim 225 max lumens for 2.5 hours and 7.5 hours on 120 lumens. It has really lit up the discussion boards. My only problem with it is $65 is to much considering it's only an incrimental improvement over what I've alread got. Still, I expect a few people I've pointed it out to will be getting it soon. Finally, be sure to check out that Karate Monkey Junkie group on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/groups/karate-monkey/ Would love to see pics of your Monkey up there... Karate Monkey that is. ;)

Weird I think the forum is scr

2009-10-20T06:56:39.410+02:00

Weird I think the forum is screwing up. It sent me a response but linked it to another thread, the wrong thread. What's more the response I'm responding to is not showing up here. I guess I'll just quote it.

burner said: I liked the Borough, fit fine, but had the same issue with its toughness... took a stick right through the casing and killed it. Switched to the Bonty DryX 1.75 which is about as big as will fit in there (bigger than the Borough) and is a more substantial offroad tire with a sturdier casing.

Yes, the Bontrager Dry X 1.75" is near the top of my list. But am extremely frustrated in trying to find any product info in it. Indeed there's nothing mentioning it on Bontrager's website but a single press release. http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Abontrager.com+dry-x Oye!

[QUOTE=burner]my take on thing

2009-10-20T05:37:00.424+02:00

[QUOTE=burner]my take on things... for urban LA riding w/ some fireroads. Cross Check Alfine 1x8 w/ 42T chainring Rear tire is a Specialized Borough XC (700x45) Front tire is a WTB Vulpine (2.1) flipped mary's (double) wrapped to the stem for the extra hand positions. (love that Salsa leather bar tape) If you don't mind me asking how do those Borough CX fit on your Cross Check. I have the same bike and am trying to find a good tire. I love the Borough but it didn't love me. The sidewalls tore on me 4x's with the 32mm. Not sure if the 45mm will be any tougher. Was wondering if I could fit even a larger tire. The rear chainstays are the choke point though.

BTW, Also curious how they com

2009-10-20T05:06:46.307+02:00

BTW, Also curious how they compare to the Ritchey Speedmax 42mm. Seems like they have very similar treads. Perhaps the Ritchey are a little smoother rolling. Finally, how well do they hold up. The ritchey are very soft rubber for example and I tend to wear through the 35mm pretty quick. I do love them though and they are cheap.

Excellent. So I have a Cross

2009-10-20T05:00:20.930+02:00

Excellent. So I have a Cross check and I'm wondering the exact same thing. Also looking for it for nearly identical usage. I think I want something a little wider though... i.e. 45mm... or larger if I can squeeze it in. I'm curious as to just how well the IRC fits on the cross and which size you are using. great pics btw!

Brilliant idea with the reflec

2009-10-08T03:35:24.638+02:00

Brilliant idea with the reflector mounts! I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. Those little buggers are really tough and i have no doubt they can more then take the beating. Brilliant!

Brilliant idea with the reflec

2009-10-08T03:35:12.271+02:00

Brilliant idea with the reflector mounts! I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. Those little buggers are really tough and i have no doubt they can more then take the beating. Brilliant!

Brilliant idea with the reflec

2009-10-08T03:34:58.548+02:00

Brilliant idea with the reflector mounts! I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. Those little buggers are really tough and i have no doubt they can more then take the beating. Brilliant!

first comment I've ever bother

2009-08-11T20:21:52.065+02:00

first comment I've ever bothered to make on youtube: what the heck is this... I kept waiting for it to start but the "intro graphics" never stopped. Five minutes and thirty seconds of absolutely pointless graphics.

pics or it didn't happen. :)

2009-08-01T17:02:28.249+02:00

pics or it didn't happen. :)

Videoblogging week has become

2009-04-16T02:58:22.637+02:00

Videoblogging week has become a get together of old friends. Unforetunately I was "on the road" that week, but I did post a few videos as soon as I got back. BTW... that film archive.... AWESOMENESS! It looks so beautiful decorating your living room. Think about it this way... if you were a banker you'd dream of living between stacks of money... you might even want to get naked and roll in it. As a film and video freak you're living the dream, But I wouldn't roll in it naked... you're libel to get some nasty film cuts. :)

Wow, I just got back from NAH

2009-03-01T03:57:23.961+01:00

Wow, I just got back from NAHBS, spent a half hour just chilling out and talking tred with the Continental rep. Was looking for the right tire for the TransIowa. Been loving the Specialized Bourough CX 32mm, but it's just too skinny for riding gravel at 3am. What I like about it is it's high pressure and the subtle fairly slick tread down the middle with just enough on the outside to sort some gravel. It's wicked fast and is amazing on the backroads around here. Anyway... I spotted this tread in your header and with some quick searching found it here. Reading what you wrote about it and intend to use it for I feel pretty vindicated in my thoughts. It looks like an awesome tread. Looks like it will come in 2.0 and 2.25. That's a lot wider then I intend to run, looking for a 38, but that's the sort of thing I'd love to be riding if I were to ride the GDR. :) Backroads are tricky. Half the time they're smooth as pavement, but they do have an occasional washboard, series of potholes, and loose gravel. Then about 5% of the time they're mud that feels like riding in molases. I find mud shedding to be the most important thing, the bourough does that in spades. You only really need the traction when everything goes completely liquid, which is very very rare... except apparently in Iowa in May. :)

Wow, I just got back from NAH

2009-03-01T03:49:45.804+01:00

Wow, I just got back from NAHBS, spent a half hour just chilling out and talking tred with the Continental rep. Was looking for the right tire for the TransIowa. Been loving the Specialized Bourough CX 32mm, but it's just too skinny for riding gravel at 3am. What I like about it is it's high pressure and the subtle fairly slick tread down the middle with just enough on the outside to sort some gravel. It's wicked fast and is amazing on the backroads around here. Anyway... I spotted this tread in your header and with some quick searching found it here. Reading what you wrote about it and intend to use it for I feel pretty vindicated in my thoughts. It looks like an awesome tread. Looks like it will come in 2.0 and 2.25. That's a lot wider then I intend to run, looking for a 38, but that's the sort of thing I'd love to be riding if I were to ride the GDR. :) Backroads are tricky. Half the time they're smooth as pavement, but they do have an occasional washboard, series of potholes, and loose gravel. Then about 5% of the time they're mud that feels like riding in molases. I find mud shedding to be the most important thing, the bourough does that in spades. You only really needs the traction when everything goes completely liquid, which is very very rare... except apparently in Iowa in May. :)

Howdy Greg, Comments below.

2009-02-03T08:07:33.838+01:00

Howdy Greg, Comments below. > I built up many pairs of 80 and 100mm rims, for both > Pugsley's and my Fatbacks. The 100's are overkill for most > people, especially if Mich. riding is firm at all. If you are > 250lbs, it's not a bad idea. I'm 6'5" / 250lbs. I also do plan to immediately ad racks to my pugsley and eventually even do some multi-day winter touring on it. Who can say if the iditabike is in my future but my riding is moving in that direction. > What is a bad idea is to take a 100mm rim and try to run it > on a 100mm fork. Do yourself a favor and keep the > 135mm fork, regardless of what rim you go with. By "135mm fork", you mean the stock pugs with a 135mm dropout right? I almost certainly will be going with the stock Pugsley frame / fork unless some improbable turn of events allows me to afford a better frame like a Fatback. > Now, as far as that goes, the 80mm rims are 1290 grams. > My new 70mm give you the same tire width and profile > (less than 1mm difference), but is 360grams lighter, and > available offset drilled, so you will save 1 1/2 lbs. with this > setup. Wow, I read your blog post, wasn't sure I understood correctly. 1.5lbs is a tremendous weight difference on a spinning rim. Given that you now know I'm 250lbs would you recommend it though?? On a side note... are these available in 32 and 36 spoke? I assume 36 spoke would be highly recommended given my weight? > Give me a call if you'd like to discuss this further. Being a > shop, I don't want to post this on the thread-people get > worked up about advertising. I understand about the group. I work in a bike shop as well. Everything else is well and good, but business is business. That said, I don't know if this email yet qualifies as business but I appreciate your charity. If you don't mind I'd like to keep this thread in email for a bit longer as I don't believe I yet have all my thoughts on the matter to be of much use on the phone. It is much easier for me to compose them here. That said, thanks for emailing me. I know your name well from the discussions. I've been increasingly aware of your shops contributions to the fat tire scene in alaska over the last six months. I just wish I was currently in a position to properly support your shop the way you support the community. It has been remarkable how fast the Iditabike and winter biking have changed in the last 5 or so years. Seems like a few years ago Iditabike was still all standard 26'r tires. I wish I could afford to buy one of your Fatbacks. Perhaps one day I will, but for now I will probably have to have to stick with the Pugs (shop rat rates are the only way I can afford my habit). Although I probably can't afford it, I am curious what you charge for a basic fatback frame. Even a scratch and dent or used 22+ inch would be of interest. Back on point though, I figure though I may end up going with the Pugs frame I may at least be able to splurge on the rims and had been meaning to ask you what it would cost for a set of properly offset 70's, 80's or 100's depending on your recommendation given my background info below. Specifically I'm thinking three rims. All 36 hole, offset for the Pugsley. Two drilled out for reduced weight (if you recommend) and possibly one backup full weight rim which I may at some later date use as a replacement should I break one of the others. At the very least I would think I could run a lighter rim on the front then the rear. As for width I really hope I cam go 100, but someone mentioned that 100's cannot fit by the brake caliper even with the tire fully deflated? Even if you cock the wheel at and angle as it passes by the caliper?? I don't want to needlessly remove the brake caliper every time I get a flat or switch to my intended alternate 29'r wheelset. If the 100 is to wide I'm hoping the 80mm will fit on the Pugs without having to remove the brake caliper. If the 80 works without removing the brake caliper great. Damn MTBR. I've placed the bacground info in another email. I was trying to ignore many shortcomings of the MTBR site, but if I may recommend we should move this conversation to email. My email address is. [email]michael@mmeiser.com[/email]