Cycle Idaho

Cyclo Cross Hurts so Good.

2011-10-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Not sure why so I went out for my second ever Cycle Cross event on an old 1994 or so Kona rigid mountain bike. Like Paul from Meridian Cycles said-"sucking 2 hours of air in one hour" or some such just means it is go all out as fast as you can...ouch but feels so good when you stop.

See y'all at the next one !!

Big Bike -Big Ride

2011-09-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday September 4, 2011 Started a big ride in Ketchum. We met at Java on Fourth around 9:30am. Drove out Warm Springs Road about 10 miles to the Frenchmen's Hot Springs and the Red Warrior Trail Head. From here the plan was to ride up the road another 7 miles to the South fork of Warm Springs. We got shuttled these 7 miles to conserve time and water. We forgot to bring a water filter for this big ride.

Came out at Red Warrior near the Hot Springs for a happy ending to a great big ride.

Total time about 6 hours.

Slide show of trail intersections here.

What a great Day!

Mountin bikes in Idaho, 1986

2011-08-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today for my birthday I got a nice present. My friend converted a super 8mm movie shot by me of my friends and I trials riding mountain bikes. I uploaded it to You tube. Have a look at what we did for fun around Ketchum and Sun Valley Idaho in 1986:

2011-07-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

At approximately 10 am this morning I started with 5 other Category 3 riders in the 50-54 year age group. In about an hour the National Champion would be determined by the skills available to negotiate the course. Heart, lungs, legs and gears all worked together this day for me and the Energy Return Bicycle to take a stand on the Championship Podium and bring home to Idaho this Bronze Medal.

Fifteen years ago I relocated from the Ketchum Sun Valley area to Boise where I completed a graduate degree in Educational Technology, met my fine French wife, married her settled down to a life of technology innovation while developing a bicycle education program for the Capitol city of Boise.

Why race after more than 15 years? Last year I was shamed by former friends who said they would rather not ride with slow, fat me. Well for me they are still my friends even if they chose not to invite me out for week long rides anymore. Who else but a friend would be up front and tell you to your face you were not keeping up? I don't want to rain on anyone's parade. No one seemed to want to ride with me so I began training to see how fast I could go in the cross country race held in my old back yard.

Today's Photo Album of the Event

Qulification for the National Mountain Bike Championship

2011-05-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. Started out at 9 am with SWIMBA to pre-ride the course for the Coyote Classic - a qualifier race for the National Mountain Bike Championships this July in Sun Valley.

Went back out and raced at 3 pm. Long hard single track climb and a very fast downhill with a few shorter climbs near the end-two laps and nearly cramped to the point of not being able to walk let alone ride. did plenty of walking on the second lap. finished in about 2:05 min good enough for first place in the over 50 age group for Category 3.

I'll go to Sun Vally and see how I do with the rest of the national competitors. The Energy return Bicycle was Great !

Where to go from here...

2011-05-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

A new year has sprung. Finally great weather for the 7 mile commute to work on the 1978 Motobecane ten speed inherited from my step father.

At age 53 considering a run at the National Mountain Bike Championship race in Sun Valley. Qualifying race this weekend. Wish me good racing and God's speed!

First Day of Cycling Season

2010-04-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last day of the Ski season begins the first day of the cycling season. Sunday April 11, 2010 Bogus Basin Ski area had one of the best end of ski season closing days. The conditions were fantastic for the snow was soft as butter. After a day on the slopes I stopped by my friend Curt's house to spot him a front derailleur he needed for his NRS Giant MTB getting set up for his wife Tiffany. No less than 30 seconds after telling him I needed an 80 mm fork to complete my build then my wife calls to let me know Cary emailed to say he had 2 forks to GIVE me !!!
Wow- what a great community of cyclists we have here in Boise. I love to give away to those who need something I have - then mysteriously God provided all my needs as well.

So, Here is the build ready to get out and ride.

For more photos click here.

Fall build

2009-10-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well after 3 hard years on the Tangerine ERB-This week I got the FedEx delivery of a disk only Blue Frame.

3rd Year re-build

2009-06-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

This is the third iteration of the Energy Return Bicycle

First year with a rigid fork
Second year with a Noleen fork
Third year Fox Float 100mm and disk brakes

Slide Show of the evolution

Energy Return Bicycle

2008-08-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Mark Groendal provided this frame for me to evaluate. The first year 2007 I ran a rigid fork. As this year ends I will be writing up my experiences and compare with a 100 mm fork.

Year One: Kenesis Maxlight Aluminum fork. This set up allowed me to focus on the frame ride. Although the fork is not "suspension corrected" the bike handled very well. Total weight 26.4 lbs.

This frame is significantly stiffer side to side than the original flat board SlingShot. The hit angle for obstacles is different with the lower mid-seat tube location of the flex rods. On occasion a direct hit with the front wheel would cause the spring and flex rods to emit a loud bang. This only happened twice while running the rigid fork.

The original SlingShot design did this as well. If the obstacle was higher than the angle of attack in relation to the front wheel axle, the frame would momentarily flex back. This would slightly slacken the cable. As it snapped back it would make the bang sound.

Year two: After installing the 100mm Noleen Fork the angle of attack has changed and the fork absorbs most frontal impacts. I have not heard the bang with this fork set up.

Cornering- This bike has the unique ability to carve a turn while the flex rods and spring load up. This stored energy is released after the apex of the turn. A boost of acceleration is felt exiting a turn.

Suspension-The typical suspension feel experienced in 4 bar, single pivot and the like designs is mostly absent. Friends of mine have asked if there was a way to feel more suspension. The bike rides like a rigid bike- or more accurately a "soft tail". Like the no pivot Moots YBB and similar brands that used this design in steel and titanium. A curved stay titanium has a similar feel. It gives and flexes a bit under load. This gives the bike a distinctive feel. Not the typical cush and squash of a bike with a shock and pivot.

Differences-The SlingShot flex point on the top tube meant that while seated without feet on the pedals the suspension could not work under rider weight. The rider weight had to be on the pedals forcing the load to pull the fame wheel base apart.

The ERB flex point is in the middle of the interrupted seat tube. While seated the rider weight pushes down on the frame spreading the wheels apart.

The effective difference is that the rider can weight both the pedals and the seat to activate the suspension. There was s distinct difference in the old SlingShot design that required the majority of the rider weight to be on the pedals to activate the suspension.

This subtle difference makes for a better handling bike in the rough stuff with the new design Energy Return Bicycle.

50 and still going

2008-08-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I turned 50. Here is a little slide show of the last 20 years or so...

Scotland MTB Tour

2008-07-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have been out and about on vacation, just returning from a tour of Scotland where I hired a Guide and rode the Highlands. Phil, of Scottish mountain bike guides was a great host. The full Picasa photo album of the trip is Here.

Here is Phil leading us up the 4th highest peak in Scotland.

Willow Lane Dirt Jump Park

2008-04-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Moving dirt to facilitate broader use of the Boise City Parks Department sport facility at Willow Lane this week.

Equipment work will conclude Friday.
The weekend we shape and pack.

World IMBA Summit

2008-03-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

We are going to Park City Utah for the International Mountain Bicycling Association World Summit. Check it out:

2008 IMBA World Summit.

Mountain biking enthusiasts from around the globe will gather in Park City, Utah, June 18-21, for the 2008 IMBA World Summit.

IMBA Summits bring mountain biking advocates, land managers, ski resort professionals, trailbuilders, park and urban planners, tourism officials and the bike industry together for collaboration, planning and celebration.

The gathering will be based at the Park City Marriott. We have lots of opportunities for outdoor workshops, guided networking rides, and other field sessions so you can embrace all that Park City has to offer.

Apply online For a World Summit Scholarship

The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2008 IMBA World Summit has been extended to Tuesday, April 8. Those interested in reducing or eliminating the cost of registration to the summit can apply online. IMBA has a limited number of scholarships available and applicants will be notified of a decision in time to register for early bird pricing or canvas their local bike shops, organizations and other businesses for funding. We want to see all of you in Park City!

2008 - In with the New

2008-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

New job; Computer Systems Analyst technical support for HP.
New Snow, shoveling almost daily.
New VeloPark construction progress.
Focus on contributing to the greater good.

Hope your year brings new focus as well.

ThanksGiving 2007

2007-11-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Much to be thankful for. Safe return from California visit. New job. Progress on the Cycle Idaho web site and MapMojo technology. Friends and family. Dogs as companions and unconditional love. A cool 34 degrees today just right for a cruizer ride with my dog Harry. Cooking up the side dishes of mashed potatoes and yams for dinner later. Hope yours is good too.

Go for a ride !

Home again...

2007-11-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up in my parents house, Redwood City California. This trip to visit my family and friends comes before starting a new job next week.

We are looking forward to seeing old friends in Marin researching the resurgence of Vintage Mountain Bicycling- Klunkerz; Bombers and how it all started "back in the day".

Aging has never been so fun. Looking back and forward to find ways more people can experience fun and fitness on a bicycle.

How high to go?

2007-09-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is my current set up. The stem is above the head set using 4 spacers of 20 mm each. Now add the stem and the leverage on the steer tube is a cause of concern that the force will cause a break. Currently the spacers move around some as I ride, making noise.

I started on my quest for the answer by talking to Josh Coaplen Director, Research and Development for Cane Creek Components. He suggested using the part of a Cane Creek head set that holds the steer tube tight against the head set bearing. This is a tapered split ring. (compression ring) Other head set makers like Chris King do not take advantage of this feature. The benefit is a tight interface between the top bearing and the steer tube. I was already using an S2 with this feature and am glad because it works very well.

Next we discussed the slight but perceptible amount of flex in the steer tube and the effect it has on the 4 head set spacers stacked on top of each other before the stem.

We discussed how interlocking spacers would help and perhaps 4 interlocking aluminum spacers would also add structural integrity. Adding 4 interlocking spacers will be my next task when they arrive from Cane Creek.

Then we agreed that the issue is really one for the fork manufacturer. I am running a Kinesis Max Light After a lot of internet searching I was able to find two for my ERB bikes.

I tracked down the engineer of Kinesis at Interbike and he told me the fork I am using is about 3-4 your old model they no longer make. Because it is aluminum it should be run at less than 80 mm from the head set. If using a chro mo fork/steerer then 100 mm should be the max hight. Aluminum would crack or sheer all at once causing a catastrophic failure when steel (chro mo) would bend first before breaking.

On the plane ride home Martin Stenger (engineer for Bob Trailers
and NORBA Pro #10 1990) and I talked about the physics involved.
This set up by VooDoo bikes is a great way of solving the problem:
So when the new Cane Creek interlocking spacers arrive I will put them on and cut down the seer tube to get it under 80 mm.

07Interbike

2007-09-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

Swag from the show.

For all the photos go to my Album

Idaho loves Bicycling

2007-09-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

As the Cycle Idaho dot com site evolves my hope is to include community ride events for all types of bicycling. Road, mountain, BMX fun and charity rides will be included.

Next week I will attend the Interbike trade show. From 1986-1996 I attended this bicycle industry annual event as a buyer for Sun Valley Company and as a manufactures representative for SlingShot and Caramba cycles.

I look forward to attending after a 10 year absence. A report will follow later in the month.

2007 Cycle Idaho

2007-02-13T22:28:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of a new direction for Cycle Idaho. We have handed over the Boise to Idaho City MTB Tour benefiting SWIMBA to the capable hands of Darren Lightfield who now owns Wildrockies.

Look for a new site in the coming weeks.

If you would like your favorite cycling experience listed, you may contact me at:

harleyparson(at)gmail.com

Cycle Idaho re-defines self

2007-01-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

This 3rd day of the new year is the day Cycle Idaho begins to develop a new business strategy to be THE index of cycling opportunities in the State of Idaho.

Stay tuned as this develops...