Leesburg Bakers Dozen 2013

Posted on April 15, 2013 by tom

A clear and crisp Saturday morning greeted over 500 hardy racers on hand to compete in the seventh annual Leesburg Bakers Dozen race held on Rockland Farm. Organized and hosted by Plum Grove Cyclery and Go Time Racing. Course conditions were as good or better than we have ever experienced. Friday’s rain shower kept the course from getting dry and dusty and increased traction in some very fast corners. Campers came prepared with lawn mowers to trim the piece of pasture they picked and shovels to clean up after the cows who had just recently vacated the field. Seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves during the day and the big fire, band and pizzas were a big hit once the sun went down. Thanks to Rob and Kelly at Go Time Racing for pulling off the logistics seamlessly, to Plum Grove Cyclery for manicuring the trail and to Betsey Brown and the whole Brown Family for allowing us to enjoy beautiful Rockland Farm.

Leesburg Bakers Dozen 2013 Start

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Cannondale SliceRS, Narrow is Aero!!

Posted on March 15, 2013 by tom

Just finished building up a brand new SliceRS which is Cannondale’s super narrow Time Trial bike.  Internal cable routing keeping the cable housing stationary with relation to the handlebar.  Integrated v-brakes hidden  behind the front fork and under the bottom bracket.  Hinged front end affording an extremely clean and narrow profile for the leading edge of the bicycle.  Sleek, stout and comfortable this thing looks fast just sitting still!SliceRS4 SliceRS3 SliceRS1 SliceRS

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Updating Independent Fabrication Ti Deluxe with new SRAM XX1

Posted on December 13, 2012 by tom

I have been riding my trusty IF Ti Deluxe as a single speed now for more than two years.  It’s sleek and beautiful frame fits me like and glove but the lack of gears limited my ability to enjoy some rides.  Specifically I could not see myself racing the Shenandoah Mountain 100 without gears.  With over 14,500 feet of climbing I knew that even if I finished it would not be fun.  When I read about the new 1×11 SRAM XX1 drivetrain coming out it seemed like a match made in heaven.  I pre-ordered the drivetrain and waited impatiently while I assembled the new wheels.  The unique 10×42 cassette uses a new attachment to the hub to accomodate the small 10 tooth cog.  Currently only SRAM and DT hubs are compatible.  I chose the DT 240 and decided on the new Stans ArchEX rim for its durability, relative lightness(I am a clydesdale rider) and ease of setting up tubeless.  Also the new ArchEX rim is wider to provide a better foundation for the wider tires people are running at low pressures.

Finally the new bits arrived and I stayed late one night to install.  Weight of my ride before with pedals was 22 7/8 lbs and that includes wheels running with tubes.  Weight after installation with a tubeless set-up was 23 1/4 lbs.  Only gained 3/8 of a pound to add ten gears!  Ridden it a few times so far.  Impressed at how quick and easy it is to access gears.  One ride was gravel road and the other was two laps on the race course here on the Farm.  Have not hear the chain slap yet so it would seem the clutch mechanism in the Type 2 derailleur is doing its job and keeping the chain nice and taut.

 

Tom Stokes

IF Ti Deluxe 29er went from one speed to 11!

IF Ti Deluxe 29er went from one speed to 11!

New rear wheel; DT 240 hub with XX1 driver adapter laced to Stans Arch EX 29er rim

New rear wheel; DT 240 hub with XX1 driver adapter laced to Stans Arch EX 29er rim

Sram XX1 11 speed crankset GXP

Sram XX1 11 speed crankset GXP

SRAM XX1 Type 2 11 speed rear derailleur

SRAM XX1 Type 2 11 speed rear derailleur

XX1 10x42 tooth cassette!

XX1 10×42 tooth cassette!

XX1 11 speed grip shifter

XX1 11 speed grip shifter

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A Titanium Single Speed is Born

Posted on February 24, 2012 by tom

First The Wheels!

The foundation of any bicycle, the wheels represent not only the connection to the ground but the piece of the bike that takes the force from the pedals and turns it into the speed that squeezes tears from your eyes.  Picking the proper spokes to do the job matching the gauge to the rider.  Choose the lacing pattern and appropriate nipples all contribute to a wheel that disappears underneath the rider but also launches with a little squeeze at the pedal.  Lacing over and under, threading the nipple and crossing the spokes is a process that combines the disparate parts of hub, spoke and rim into one critical component.

Front wheels are usually easier

Very pretty Chris King Hubs in the pewter finish, DT Swiss Champion spokes in black with alloy nipples connected to Stans NoTubes ZTR Arch 29er rims is going to make a wheel that will make any bike just point and shoot!

Rear wheel is coming together with the help of King Street Coffee

The rear wheel isn’t even done yet and it already looks fast!  Tomorrow when I finish the build, we are going to ride the race course on the Farm to shake the new rig down.

Racing Ralphs Ready to Roll

Tomorrow these wheels will grace a titanium Independent Fabrication frame that will be as sweet to look at as it will be to stretch a leg over.  Stay tuned.

Tom Stokes

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Independent Fabrication Ti Deluxe 29er with a twist

Posted on February 21, 2012 by tom

Inspired by the Paragon Machineworks aluminum slider dropouts on my Ti Single Speed, Nelson decided to build a 29er Deluxe for himself with a unique twist.  Ordering the dropouts with a derailleur hanger, he had me build two sets of wheels.  One has a Chris King ISO traditional rear hub while the other has a Chris King Single Speed ISO rear hub.  By switching wheels, cutting a few zip ties, unbolting the shifters, derailleurs and shortening the chain you have a lean and very clean single speed.  The Slider dropouts allow a huge amount of adjustment for chain tension and allows you to make a cog swap of up to three teeth without having to shorten or lengthen chains.  Truly two bikes in one!

Tom Stokes

Sweet Panel

Sterling Silver Headbadge

Paragon Machineworks Slider Dropouts

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Classic Steel Hollands Road Bike Re-Finished and Re-Born

Posted on February 20, 2012 by tom

I love to work on classic bikes.  Steel, aluminum and rubber with very little if any composites or exotic technologies.  Cleaning and overhauling all the bits I have to go back in the archives to remember working on loose ball bearing hubs and headsets.  Peeling the packaging off of the frame after Tom Kellog at Spectrum Bikes re-painted it was like uncovering a work of art.  A really fine example of a hand made lugged steel  frame and fork sporting one of the finest finishes in the industry.  A real pleasure to re-build and create a machine that is as much art as function.

Tom Stokes

Hollands Bike

Twenty years of use

Hollands New

New paint and clean parts

Hollands bottom bracket

Twenty years of use

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Baker’s Dozen is Five Years Old!

Posted on April 12, 2011 by netqwik

After four years of almost perfect weather for each of the preceding versions of the Baker’s Dozen, Mother Nature decided to test the mettle of both the race organizers and all of the hardy racer’s that plan to spend a weekend matching themselves against the rock and dirt of Rockland Farm.  Fortunately for Mike and myself at Plum Grove Cyclery and Rob and Kelly at Go Time Racing, the racers that have decided to grace us with their presence each year are of the highest caliber and a little cold and wet combined with a sticky muddy trail that was a bit longer and more difficult was a minor inconvenience as they managed to beat it into submission.  I must say that I thought the atmosphere was a bit more serious this time around as people simply buckled down to the task at hand.  The “rendering pot” that we converted into a firepit was a big hit at the start/finish area and racers were taking advantage of the BTU’s to dry socks and warm up cold and aching limbs.  Thanks to Go Time Racing for doing an amazing job organization and after four years of setting up race venues, Mike and I are beginning to get the hang of doing a better job of making the Farm and the race course a more inviting place for racers and their families to spend a part of their weekend.

One of the highlights of my day Saturday was the Mini’s Race at 3 O’clock.  Those kids were sooooo excited and quite a few parents timed their laps so they could be there to push their kids along the course.  Mike had us sing Happy Birthday to Sam who has his seventh birthday coming up on the 29th of this month to keep the kids occupied as we waited for the race to begin.  I haven’t run that far since I was in high school (long time ago!) but I didn’t even notice it as I pushed and cheered the little ones along in the woods and the pines.  Afterwards Mike and I took all the kids and parents on a ride in the Fire Truck with the lights flashing and an occasional honk of the sirens.  I am not sure if the liked the bike race or the Fire Truck better.  Big thanks to River Farm and Fred next door for loaning us his big red Fire Truck!!

I can’t say enough about how genteel and well mannered all the people who came out this weekend were.  Clean-up consisted of only one truck load of trash 90% of which was bagged and neatly deposited at the dumpster.  Looks like everyone was very conscious of recycling and we had almost as big a load of recycling to truck off the property.  From what I have read those manners extended to the racing as people were quite polite about passing safely.

Once again, thanks to Betsy Brown and the entire Brown family for allowing all of us to enjoy this beautiful piece of property and  history.  I look forward to seeing everyone again at upcoming events!

Watch out for the corner!

First bottleneck

He is ready to go!

The next generation of racer!

Kicking back after registration!

Relaxing while waiting for Dad to ride by.

Warming up between laps.

Finish line in sight!

Do I REALLY need to do another lap?!

 

 

Posted in bicycle saftey, bike commuting, bike fitting, bike sales, bike service, bikes and cars, mike dickerson, mountain bike races, rockland farm, tom stokes, wheel building, where to ride | 2 Comments

Moots Mooto X YBB Pimped!

Posted on February 25, 2011 by netqwik

The newest addition to Mike’s Mooto X YBB 29er is perhaps the ultimate wheel set.  With every other component representing the best and lightest Mike decided is was time to do away with the Gold Chris King hubs (sniff) laced to Salsa Delgado rims. We did try to build those wheels light with ultra-light DT Revolution spokes but even Mike who tips the scales at just over 160 lbs. found them to be just a tad too flexy.  The obvious choice for replacement hubs were the DT 190 Center Lock hubs boasting a weight savings of 56 grams for the front and a whopping 124 grams for the rear.  In addition, the 190′s feature not only smooth and fast ceramic cartridge bearings but a very elegant and lightweight adapter that allows you to use a six bolt rotor on these center lock hubs.

For a rim we looked at NoTubes brand new Crest rim which not only comes in at 380 grams for the 29er version but like all NoTubes rims will set up tubeless super easy.  Each rim represents a weight savings of 135 grams for a combined savings of 270 grams!  Since the ultra light ultra butted DT Revolution spokes turned out not to provide the appropriate stiffness in the last build we opted for standard double-butted 2.0/1.8/2.0 DT Competition Black spokes paired with Gold alloy nipples.  Laced together and tensioned the NoTubes rim tape was applied, tubeless valve installed and the Schwable Racing Ralph sealed up right away.  Immediately hung the bike on the scale and the total bike weight dropped from just over 24.5 lbs to 23.75 lbs for a weight savings of just over 3/4 of a pound right where you need it most, rotating mass.  Front wheel tipped the scales at a scant 704 grams while the rear was just 808 grams.  Total wheelset combines for 1512 grams a full 276 grams lighter than the old set and with the extra savings of running tubeless completed the trip down the scale to under 24 pounds.

First ride confirmed the wheels are roughly two gears faster and roll downhill noticeably faster than the old set.  Short of carbon rims we think this may be as trick as it gets for the ultimate 29er wheel set!

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Snotcycle Turns Into Hike/RunCycle

Posted on January 31, 2011 by netqwik

Preparations on Friday for the Snotcycle this Saturday did not go quite as planned. Trying to lay down a tire track on the race course proved too difficult to accomplish. Mike and Harriet then picked up the gauntlet and cross country skied the entire course which took them over 3 hours. At least we thought people would have a track to follow in the woods because the course was buried under 8 inches of thick wet snow. The morning of the race dawned and people started to arrive. We quickly discovered our plans for parking were woefully inadequate. With a line of cars sitting bumper to bumper all the way out Farm Lane and down the shoulder of Rt 15 for at least 1/4 of a mile we knew we were going to have to do something quick. The Farm Manager came to the rescue with his John Deere tractor and managed to clear enough extra space for the multitude of racers that showed up. The Beginners went off first with the unenviable task of breaking a trail and packing it down for the following groups. The total amount of riding they accomplished was the short stretch down Farm Lane before they turned left onto the course. Many hardySunrise Day of the Race souls persevered and trudged the entire course to be rewarded with the largest purse. Unfortunately it took the Sport rider group as well as the Beginners and the first lap for the Experts to finally pack the trail down enough to where it could be ridden. I have never seen such fortitude or insanity exhibited by a group of mountain bikers that I saw Saturday on Rockland Farm. The only thing that confounded me even more was that through all of this people kept their spirits up and seemed to have a good time. The fires after the race and the post-race beverages were a welcome diversion. People would also quickly chip in when cars needed to be pushed out of the snow. It was a very long and it turned out successful day. I would like to thank all the volunteers, Rob and Kelly from Go Time Racing and of course Rockland Farm with a particular shout out to Mark who piloted the John Deere to scrape together the needed parking! Finally I would like to thank everyone who signed up to race, come onto the property amidst chaos and were constantly friendly and enjoyable to be around. You overcame what most normal people would have considered impossible conditions with a smile on your face. You are the reason our events are so much fun.

Thanks,
Tom Stokes

Posted in bicycle saftey, bike commuting, bike fitting, bike sales, bike service, bikes and cars, mike dickerson, rockland farm, tom stokes | 1 Comment

Snotcycle Pre-Ride January 22nd 2011 9AM – 2PM

Posted on January 22, 2011 by netqwik

Following the directions available on BikeReg, come onto Rockland Farm via Farm Lane and park in the pasture. I will have a table set up with the waivers and hopefully a nice big warm fire in the fire pit. Come by to sign a waiver and get pointed in the correct direction to ride the race course. The weather looks like it will cooperate with temperatures well below freezing. However, if the temps raise too close to freezing and/or the sunlight softens up too much of the course I will END the Pre-Ride early. If you are planning on visiting anytime after 11 AM please email shop@plumgrovecyclery.com to confirm that the course is still open. I really don’t think that will be the case but if you are driving from a ways away, you might want to confirm that you can still get onto the course. Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and dress warm!

Tom Stokes

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