The Angry Owner Blog

I know, you people like photos. So here…

The single speed world champioship 2008 is near. In Napa. Not to sound like an asshole, but Kim and I are thinking about making the trip. Of course, the only hotel left is $400/night (more expensive than interbike), but hey, the shop had a great summer so far (thank you everybody) and our overhead is super low compared to the rest of the industry.
I learned about terms like ‘fixed costs’ ‘overhead’ ‘getting fucked by Trek’ from the oldn’ days. Seems like a thousand years ago.
Talked to Troy today (www.otesports.com). He may be up here for the OR, the Outdoor Retailer Show. I, myself, have never been - though it IS in SLC. The reason. I don’t really care about the rest of the outdoor world. I know I may be shooting myself in the foot a little, but I don’t see myself expanding to include Yoga Pants and Reef flip flops in my store - of course I never thought I’d have a retail sales floor at the shop. All that stuff is great, but not my market. Maybe I’m stupid, but its so much fun doing the custom build thing (from $800 steel single to $10,000 Moots) and service/repair I don’t think I want to change a thing. Human nature. Am I lazy? My friend Mike once sad ‘innovate or die’. I love that slogan. We’re working on shop signs for the inside today that add more ’soul’ to the shop. One of the perks of going to the OR is that you get sweet deals on stuff. That’s all behind me too. Oh yeah, I rode the shops Knolly today, but I could care less about keeping up with the joneses (unless it that sexy man Jason Jones, whom I”ll never keep up with going downhill) but the industry for me is about getting people to enjoy cycling. If that means the industry is a knitting circle, I’d pick up my yarn and go to town. Let the 25 year old shop rats who are only doing this for a couple of years do the EP’s and stuff. I’ll stick to my 1980 salsa cross bike and the Kimstress will stick to her One One Inbred with the dent in the top tube…bitches.

So much has happened this week. And I meant to write earlier.
We’ve changed over my 2000 desktop computer with cathode ray monitor for a slim laptop, wireless modem, the works. Why? Well honestly, I have this little business plan that says DON’T SPEND IT BEFORE YOU MAKE IT…and also I”ve been spending all of the shops income right back at the shop buying inventory and stock. Being conservative has served me well at the shop and at the office.
Speaking of the office/shop (its like a mullet…business up front - party in the back) for all you bitches who think Kim and I don’t work, we put in 70 hrs this week including a 9am-7:30pm day on Friday. But who’s complaining.
Hey, my band is back together. The Sons Of Lee Marvin is back. Really just a formation. There are many sons all over this great country, but Damian and I are set to rock main street Aug 10th. There will be tears, shouts of joy, and bras thrown on stage. Then I will go get drunk at the alamo.
Repair of the day yesterday. What would you do? Super nice dude comes in with a (brand omitted) and says, ‘yo, one of my rear brake pads is worn a ton, and the pad has rubbed the rotor since day one. Nobody has been able to fix it though I’ve had it at a shop across town several times.” What do you think? Pulling the caliper revealed facing marks from a park tool indented on the caliper mount. A good effort, but facing the bolt holes without grinding down the whole mounting plate doesn’t do a lick of good since the caliper mounting plate sits flush with the frame mounting area. Its like trying to dig a hole by taking out plugs and leaving the surface unchanged. Oh well, after 15 minutes of a hand file (let me tell you, I have no interest in frame building), that shit was tight. Should we blame the shop - fuck no - you do what you can to the best of your ability…and certainly, no ill or damage had been done to the frame. It is nice to make a loyal customer by fixing a somewhat complex issue. Hows that? Its been a while since I”ve brought a repair to the blog. Maybe you wanna get me started on why I”m going to start charging $20/wheel for installing Stans - and no, I will never show anybody my technique - not even my own mechanics.
Anyway, lets talk about the tour. Carlos….total class. Total sauce too. I loved his finish. It brought tears to my eyes….such effort. I pray for Carlos that the vampires don’t come tonight and test him +. That would truly suck.
Big thanks to Jason Jones for not killing me today. Took out the Knolly and rode things I never thought possible. Super Fun. Really, one of the most fun days I’ve had on the bicycle. And its funny, I was totally padded up, mouthguard in. Jason wore a sleeveless T. God I suck.
You know what, It was a total blast. I even rode a little teeter-totter. I’m passing on the Flying Dog tomorrow and going back to DV. Maybe I’ll wear my full face.
Alright, here’s a pic from Wed’s race. Top shelf to Tim, who rocks and actually knows songs by the Germs, X and Black Flag.

Yes dear friends, I could care less about the politics of the tour. Really. Doesn’t matter to me if people dope or not….actually, they all do. I’ve said it a thousand times. If I could have doped to get into med school/dental school you bet your sweet ass I would have done it and found a way to pay for it. Seriously. People at the shop and at the office ask me all the time “how could they do that”. Well, when you make $10,000/year as a pro racer and there are a thousand people in line to take your place if you slip up, the stakes are pretty high. You do what you gotta do…or you turn the other way when the doctor says ‘this is a vitamin shot’. You do. Cyclists have a rancher/farmer mentality. And so do I. If it fails….you fail. You kill yourself. Seriously. Suicide rates among ranchers/farmers are higher than dentists….which are actually lower than the national average. Dentists and other doctors usually tend to turn to substance abuse, which is easier and happier. I’m happy right now. When a rancher looses the farm, they fail personally. When a technology company goes under, the CFO says ‘ha, well there’s a way it doesn’t work”….and they try something new. Well I’m a farmer, and an optimist…so fuck you all.
Stage 15 on Sunday was epic. Monumental efforts. Simon, Schleck, good lord. Shit’s on.
That may even be enough for me to rise and shine early to catch the live broadcast tomorrow.
Just to give you something to laugh at. I”ve seen the Obey the Giant on the sidewalk in SLC, but WTF?

When I moved to Utah, I said a couple of things. I’ll never work in a bike shop again. I’ll never own a bike shop. I’ll never need to ride a bicycle with disc brakes. I’ll never own a single speed. I’ll never need to ride a full suspension bike. I’ll never get married. I’ll never own my own dental practice.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…….how wrong I was. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Well, today was a fun DH day. The shake down is complete. The Knolly Delerium is ready for demo. It cracks me up to see the youngsters eye the bike….little do they know that I came down the fire road to the chair lift. Me and my 6.5 inch bike. Oh well. Actually I did ride fire swamp - a section I avoid like the plague on my trail bikes. More people need to let their inner DH out. You can ride down a fire road or a double black diamond. Its all fun. And watching the cat 1 climb on the tour, downhill seems a lot more fun. And no doping.

Oh, dear friends. The Eagle has landed. We built up our demo Delerium T. Yes….it is a big bike. And by big, I mean like 40 lbs big. So, today I pedaled it up the mountain. There was a lot of time spent in the 22/34……..as in almost the whole ride. You know what? It didn’t suck. It was slow, but steady, and I got to look at the flowers and the sky. When the trail leveled out to take the link over to deer valley, things were super fun. And then, let me tell you, the downhill kicked ass. I took Devo (DEBO) down. Lance and I built the bottom part of that trail. I usually don’t ride it because honestly, I can’t. Its too hard. I can with this bike. Oh baby. Oh, this is neat….so I’m on the link trail and there is a pyramid of logs in the trail. In 15 years, I have never rolled over a set of logs. Those days are over. It was so easy on a big bike - just great.
Big thanks to the folks at Knolly. They are great bikes. And it will be a pleasure to sell them at the shop.

The team kits have been reordered. A big thanks to the team people and the town for stepping up. It is really satisfying to see the town (and people out of town too) supporting the local custom shop. Seriously….thanks everybody. And there is a chance I ordered a few extras…so if you are saving your pennies and dimes, you may be in luck in September when the re-order shows up.
We got to chase down the UPS truck today. We are on vacation and the shop is closed, but of course Kim and I worked a little. The custom wheels for the out of state person was built, boxed up like a champ and then we figured we’d try to track down our man. Didn’t track down Chris, but a super nice dude in a UPS truck was stopped and Kim put on her best ‘hey, big boy’….and all the guy said was, ‘dude, you’re the shop with the Xtracycle, you bet your ass I’ve got room for you wheels, and I’ll put them on the top so they don’t get crushed on the way to Salt Lake”. Super awesome.
Alright, this is from my former gay lover, lance. Who is very stylish and sexy.

Let me tell you whats neat. Cannondale is in town having a little sales meeting or something. They brought their whole demo fleet. Fox is here, and let me say that it is a pleasure having some cool industry people in town. I feel like I”m making up for the fact that I was buried by work during IMBA and NORBA. Oh well, better too busy then not busy at all.
The park city race series starts tomorrow. I’m excited. We’re going to sponsor one of the races and most likely show up to all of them with our tent….I’m thinking. Will I race in it. No. I’ll let those sexy people who ride for the shop take care of business. Its safer that way.

Greetings to all.
On the shop front, the only news is that finally after several weeks of REALLY busy days, things have mellowed. I’ll take it.
We’re still way stoked on Knolly bicycle frames (www.knollybikes.com). We’re stoked and they aren’t even in the shop yet. I overheard Robert Downey Jr. at a sundance party talking about an indy film he did. Small project,and the guy he was taking to was a total asshole. He said “You haven’t seen it but you love it” and went right on going. I thought to myself….what a great line.
Reordering Voler Team Kits. Many have said that they are the best looking in town. I think they look great and honestly, am just proud that people ride them with pride.
OK, I’m going to drink beer now.

Lots of requests for this one. When your tooth breaks, and its time to get a crown….why not get a skull and crossbones? I would….bitches. This crown went on a super nice guy and man does it look good.
I”d write more, but I”ve got to order parts.