HIking, not Biking

I'd been looking forward to an uneventful summer of riding and just doing what I do until I broke my Warden frame in mid June. 

She served me well for over 3 years, but I seem to have a super power when it comes to breaking bikes. I could instantly hear Chaz in my head saying "Woah bro, you're an Animal. What is with you!"

I was seriously JRA too, just doing my normal up old buck with Nic coming up behind me when I heard something like my bottom bracket seating in. I got off the bike to look and there is was. A snapped seat tube!. Yikes.

On the phone the next day with Knolly we got the process under way.

My normal mode of thought however is "Why own the same bike twice?". I asked Ken about the possibility of Demoing the Fugitive. I thought if I like the 29er, I'd just get the same frame replacement and then sell the complete bike and change to the Fugi. If not, then the Carbon Wardens have been on sale lately because Knolly is changing EVERYTHING to 157mm rear wheel spacing.

Ken(Knolly Sales guy) said I could just go straight across. I'd just need to buy all the most expensive bike parts, ie: new Wheelset, Fork and Shock! YIKES!. Curious though I asked for a quote. Roughly $2700 was the number. I'd later learn that Ken has saved me nearly $1500 in deals on the parts. WOW! "OK. Lets do it" I said. The savings account took the hit but I wouldn't have wanted a much bigger hit than that.

I was also sure to ask about timelines. Ken said he had the Wheels and Shock, and the Fork and Frame would be in soon. About 2 weeks later the Frame and Fork arrived, and my Wheels and Shock went out the door to other buyers.

WHAT THE F&@#!!!!!

What should have been 2 weeks off the bike turned into 6. To console me, Ken arranged a demo ride for the canada day long week. Other than that, I was on my own. Not my first rodeo though, but it would have been nice if they could have told me those parts weren't going to be for me.

I did a lot more hiking in June and July than I thought I would. 

Finally at the end of July I had all my parts. I drove them out to my guy on Saturday thinking he'd need a few days to get it built. That evening, while watching the fireworks from a friends high rise, I got a text saying the bike was almost done. I just needed a brake kit which I had to scramble for.

Finally getting it, the last needed piece was delivered to Jordan. I waited while he finished my bike. 

On Tuesday, July 30th, after 6 weeks without a bike, summer could resume. Couple of set up rides on Seymour. Squamish on Sunday with Nic.






Another recent development has been our old friend Aaron, riding with his son. He tried to get us out on Sunday but met us on Monday instead for a Crinkum Crankum  and Bobsled lap instead.

It was great to be out with him and he hasn't lost a step. Still as fast as ever on a 11 year old bike with xc tires that have been mostly sitting in his basement lately.



Sorry for the angle on this. I couldn't get it rotated.

Thanks to Nic for documenting this ride for us today.

That's all for now.