Bike Blog

Warm Showers.Org - Hospitality For Touring Cyclists

2012-05-23T18:49:25Z

This site rocks! It is a community of bike tourists. This is a hospitality site for touring cyclists.

2012 650b Suspension Fork List

2012-05-22T16:24:17Z

Found this list on the 650b Palace site:

Official 650B Fork List

(not 26" Convertibles, but true 650B forks, approved by the respected manufacturer)

White Bros
   Loop 80 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 464mm
       Loop 100 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 484mm
   Loop 120 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown =504mm
   Loop 130 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 514mm
   Loop 140 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 524mm
   Loop 150 TCR tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 534mm
All WB forks use 15mm Thru Axle interface named QtapeR15

X-fusion
   Enix RL2. 80,100,120 travel modes, internally set, 1.125" Steer tube, . A to C= 499mm@120
   Enix RL2R, 80,100,120 travel modes, internally set, 1.125" Steer tube, A to C= 499mm@120
   Velvet RL2 DL, 130mm, tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 509mm
   Velvet RL2R 80,100,120, 130mm, tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 509mm
   Velvet RL2 80,100,120, 130mm, tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, Axle to Crown = 509mm
   Vengence 140/ 170 travel settings, tapered or 1.125" straight steer tube, A to C = 565mm@170

Magura
  TS8 R 120  XC/AM DLO2 damping, Maxle Lite 15mm axle, tapered steerer,
    TS8 R 150 AM, Albert Select+, 15mm axle, tapered steerer,
    TS8 R 150 LS AM, Albert Select+, 15mm axle, tapered steerer,

Rock Shox
   Revelation 120/130/150, Tapered Steer only, 15mm Maxle Lite interface(2013 Release)

...FOX has two models in the works as well. You can read about them and all other things 650b at the 650b Palace

Dirt Rag NAHBS Fotos

2012-05-20T17:10:55Z

Some pix of AD Bikes @ NAHBS can be found here

Shop Online

2012-05-20T04:51:51Z

Boxes are being opened and merchandise is coming out - take a look at what is available for sale here....

Paypal quote will be e-mailed to you upon request.

Items ship 1 - 5 days after purchase. Via Fed Ex or USPS in most cases.

We ship world-wide.

Contact me for further details

New Bike Route Feature On Google Maps

2012-04-28T00:03:05Z

On March 10. 2012 Google unveiled its first version of bike routes for the Google Map site. They have added biking directions and extensive bike trail data to Google Maps for the U.S. Google's product manager Shannon Guymon had this to say about the exciting new feature "we wanted to do it right: we wanted to include as much bike trail data as possible, provide efficient routes, allow riders to customize their trip, make use of bike lanes, calculate rider-friendly routes that avoid big hills and customize the look of the map for cycling to encourage folks to hop on their bikes." And it seems that they have provided just that! I just went to the site and plugged in the basic coordinates for a bike trip I have been planning and voila! a viable route with loads of details displayed on the screen right before my very eyes. This is a very impressive feature added by Google and will surely be very popular. It will remain to be seen if this will make map services, such as Adventure Cycling Association provides, a thing of the past but for the time being and forseeable future Google has nailed it.

For a discussion of the Google Bike Map click here

To go straight to the new Google Bike Map click here

Mosquitoman Loves His Phat Cat

2011-11-20T20:20:24Z

Check out this review from Mosquitoman on MTBR.COM he posted it in Spring of 2007 but I just came across it now. As of his writing in 2007 he had been riding his AD full suspension bike for 11 years and was planning to update the frame with all new components so he could keep it rolling on. Check it out.

Take good care of your bike & it will take care of you...

Custom Bike Project: XS 26" Flat Bar Road Bike

2011-06-01T22:26:54Z

This project is in the works for a long time AD Bikes customer and this will be her family's sixth bike from us. The frame is a custom geometry road frame that is basically a 26" wheeled version of the 1x9 Element model we build. The future owner has a very short inseam of about 28" and a height of about 5'2" so when she started looking at 700c (28") wheeled road bikes the bikes that fit were nil and anything that came close allowed only for up to a 23-25c tire width. For her daily commute she needs at least a 28c and a 32c would be nice! So off to the drawing board and voila! an 26" wheeled element with a custom fork.

Here is the drawing for the custom 26" wheel road fork

More photos of the fillet brazed and custom chameleon painted frame and complete bike soon come!

Custom Bike Project: 29-er Sliding Dropout MTB Frame

2011-03-18T00:00:34Z

Custom 29er: Bike setup drawing

Rider Dimensions:

Inseam: 31.5"= 80 cm
Torso: 22" = 55.9 cm
Arms: 24" = 61 cm
Shoulder: " = cm
Height: 70" = 177.8 cm

Shoe: Sz 9 Mens US

Weight: 170 lbs

Reccomended max standover height: 30.5" = 77.5 cm

Reccomended saddle height: 27.8" = 70.64 cm

Reccomended effective top tube length: 23.0" = 58.3 cm

Reccomended bar width: " = cm

Best Fitting Bike Dimensions:

some measurements of current "Niner" "One9" 29er bike in cm.
saddle height: 74 cm
nose to rear: 54 cm
set back: 5 cm

stem: 9 cm

NEW BIKE SPECIFICATIONS:

Frame: Custom geometry, Hand-built in USA, Double butted

T/T: Zona OS 31.7mm, 7/5/7

D/T: Nova CRMO, 35mm, 9/6/9

S/T: Nova CRMO, external butt, 28-6mm, 1.2/6/9

H/T: Columbus OS 36mmX1.0

C/S: COLUMBUS MAD MAX 36/18OVX8/6

S/S: ZONA LIFE MTB 17/0.5

BB: Paragon 4130 CRMO, 68mmx39.6mm, English

Dropouts: Paragon Sliding Dropout: 0.875" Flange Height, Single Speed, Stainless Steel

Braze Ons: Paragon

Braze Ons:

Triple stops: 2 6:00 t/t (f/d,r/d,Hyd.Disk)

Single stops: 1, s/t (f/d), 2 s/s (r/d)

Cable Stop: Large Miter, Single Saddle, Zip-Tie, Steel, 1 t/t @ 6:00

Cable Stop: Small Miter, Single Saddle, Zip-Tie, Steel 3 @ 12:00 s/s

Water Bottle Boss: 1/4" Hole, Blind, 11 mm Flange, Stainless Steel, 1 pr d/t @12:00

Frame Color:

Decal Color:

Disk Brace: 16mm crmo, (c/s,s/s)

S/S Brace: 16mm crmo

C/S Brace: 16mm crmo

Fork Compatibility:

Steerer: Alloy 1 1/8"

Axle/Crown: 508mm

Dropout width: 100mm

Wheel Compatibility:

Rims: 29"/700c

Tires: 29 x 1.95-2.2 (optimal)

Front Hub:

• Mtn 100mm

Rear Hub:

• Mtn, 135mm, SS, Cassette

Brake Compatibility:

Hydraulic disk

This project is "frame-only" meaning that the customer is providing all the rest of the components and build up. Full bike assemblies are always preferred for us because that way every part that will be hung on the frame will be analyzed and exact specifications are known at the time of design. And it gives us a chance to work out any small details before the final delivery/first ride. But frame-only deliveries are also fun because boxing them to be sent off is so much easier! Either way this singletrack hound of a bicycle will be not only a tight handler with the real feel of steel but will also absolutely mow down any and all obstacles in its way with its big wheels and cushy fork.

Each custom ordered bike comes with its own unique one-off personality that you just cannot get with a stock model off the showroom floor. So the exact personality of this bike wont be known until this customer puts the last part on and torque's the final bolt down. Then another part of the custom bike process begins... riding your ass off!

Custom 29er: Final drawing for frame fabrication

Custom 29er: Final auxillary drawing

29-er sub assembly in jig

El Gordo - custom seat stays

700c Custom Bike Project: Cross Boss CX DD

2011-03-17T22:19:57Z

The Cross Boss has always been a popular bike due to it's versatility. This particuar Daily Driver CB will be used for weekday commutes, country tours and a bit of CX training and racing. The Paragon dropouts on this pup are so sweet. The ISO disc tab is integrated, the drops themselves are relieved nicely and the hanger is a replaceable 7075 alloy. Yes, sick indeed. Did I mention they are stainless steel, which will be polished to and impressive lustre. Disc brakes, handbuilt wheelset, the works. This BikeCAD drawing shows many of the crucial fit dimensions for the rider.

US Made Paragon Dropous are stainless steel

This drawing displays frame geometry such as: effective t/t, h/t length, s/t length, wheelbase, c/s length, h/t & s/t angles, bb drop, s/o height and axle to crown height

Frame Specifications:

Geometry: Custom

Fabication: Hand-built in USA, TIG weld

Tube set: Double butted Columbus Zona Cyber CX Tube Set with CX optimized rear end featuring more bend than shallow road s-bends, but less bend than super curvy MTB s-bends.

T/T: Columbus Zona 28.6mm X 8/5/8 wall SKU: COL-KXTT Raw length: 858mm

D/T: Columbus Zona 31.7mm x 8/5/8 wall. SKU: COL-KXDT Raw length: 757mm

S/T: Columbus Zona External Butt Seat tube 28.6 x 29.3 SKU: COL-KMST Raw length: 620mm

H/T: Columbus Zona 36.0mm Raw length: 200mm

C/S: Columbus Zona S-BEND 22.2 oval x 0.7wall

S/S: Columbus Zona S-BEND 16.0mm x 0.8 wall

Dropouts: Paragon Machine Works: Low Mount Disc, Eyelets, Stainless Steel, Bolt-On Long 6061 Hanger,

Braze Ons:

Disc guide: Large Miter, Single Saddle, Zip-Tie, Steel & Small Miter, Single Saddle, Zip-Tie, Steel
Cable guide: Triple, Front, 1 1/4" Miter, 2 Slots, Through Hole, Steel & Triple, Rear, 1 1/4" Miter, 2 Slots, Through Hole, Steel
STI: Downtube, STI Stop, 3/8" OD, Mitered, Steel
Water Bottle Boss: 1/4" Hole, Blind, 11 mm Flange, Stainless Steel

Frame Color: Metallic silver

Decal Color: Metallic dark blue

This drawing displays the essential information needed for the frame-builder to be able to cut, jig, weld and align the frame.

Fork: Ritchey Comp Cross

Blades: Carbon

Dropouts: Forged

Steerer: 1 1/8" Alloy, threadless

Crown Race:

A/C: 391mm

Dropout width: 100mm

Fork Color: Carbon

Wheels: Hand-built, 3x

Rims: Velocity

Front Hub: King

• Hub Shell Material -
• Bearing Type -
• Axle Diameter -
• Axle Length -
• Over Locknut Dimension -
• Spoke Holes -
• Pitch Circle Diameter -
• Center to Flange Right -
• Center to Flange Left -
• Flange Width -

• Spoke Compatibility -

• Weight -

Rear Hub: King

- Hub Shell Material -
• Axle Diameter -
• Axle Length -
• Over Locknut Dimension -
• Right Axle Protrusion Length -
• Left Axle Protrusion Length -
• Spoke Holes -
• Pitch Circle Diameter -
• Center to Flange Right -
• Center to Flange Left -
• Flange Width -
• Spoke Compatibility -
• Sprocket Teeth -

• Chain Line:

• Weight -

Gear Ratio

• Overall Range -

Spokes: Stainless steel, 14/15g

Nipples: Brass

Rim strips: Velocity

Tubes: Presta p/v

Tires: Panaracer

Brakes: Disc

Headset: King

BB: King

Crankset: Ritchey

• Number of Teeth - T
• Chainring Material - Alloy
• Removable Chainrings - Yes
• Crank Style - Cross
• Crank Arm Material -
• Crank Arm Length - 175
• Chainring Bolts & Nuts - Alloy
• Bolt Circle Diameter -
• Chainguard Outer - Yes
• Chainguard Inner -
• Suggested Bottom Bracket -
• Spindle Length -
• Chain Line -

• Total Weight -

Pedals: Time Atac

Chain: Wipperman stainless

Handlebar: Ritchey

Stem: Ritchey

Grips:

Seatpost: Ritchey

Saddle: WTB

Length:

Width:

Height:

Weight:

Frame:

Much more to come..... please check back and follow the design and build of another custom cycle from Alpine Designs.

Over The Hill...

2011-03-08T00:23:47Z

The kid in the air is a Fury Lane local and the guy in the foreground is 41 year old "Tako" who went over the hill from El Cajon to La Mesa, Ca. recently to hang out and hit a few jumps.