The Owners' Blog for the Dharma Wheels Cyclery

I”m here…..to make your Monday better….with this.

And this.

Oh, I can see you’ve had enough cat pictures.

Lets get organised here.

Perhaps you were in Flagstaff this weekend? Did you attend the NAFBE?

Did you wear funny glasses with Garro?

Did you have a blast?

I”ll bet you did.
Summer is here in the mountains and valleys and St. George saw 108 yesterday. When summer comes there are many questions about tubeless setups.
Tubeless bicycle wheels are a funny thing. I believe that in many people’s minds they are simple, bolt on solutions to flat tires and “improved traction”. I will say this…it is a VERY delicate science.

There is plenty of snow on the crest trail.

Lets move right into Dharma Wheels Shop stuff.
Look at the coordination of these two bicycles.

Look at what happens when people buy their brakes online and I fold and tell them, Okay, since you bought a $4000 frame from me, I”ll put them on.

You know what the next line in the story is? Don’t you?. Its Give me your credit card….I’m overnighting and XTR rear brake to the shop and its going to cost WAY more than you thought when you were trying to save $40.
We’ve had 1 gear be all you need up front.

And Enve be all that you need to rest your hands on mile after mile.

Matt has his custom Moots in hand.

And look, even my blushing bride got a bike. All carbon and fancy.

Retail sales is a strange beast.
And the beast is usually fairly tame.
Fun week at the shop. Everything from traditional sales to jackoffs.
Traditional Sale – Super nice fella from Jackson comes down to pick up his Kona DH/Park bike. He’s got the light in his eyes. Its his first really big bike. It fits him perfectly. We square up and he’s ready to take his bike home. We talk shock and fork adjustment. He confides in me that he’s not very good at taking off his front wheel. Of course I take a few minutes and show him how I do it. Its a pleasure. Its what I love doing as much as I love fixing people in the dental chair. Good people like that are the reason I have a bicycle shop.
Jackoff – 50 something male walks into my shop. Everybody who walks in gets squared up and my standard operation is to be friendly, but not give out very much information or pricing unless we have a sales order….because I could do that all day long and go out of business. “I’m looking for a torque wrench” he says. Hmmm, going through torque wrench options is a pretty high end endeavor and exactly what Dharma Wheels is designed to do. I gamble and look for his outs. I tell him about different kinds and the fact that I can order him one that will be here in a few days. He decides on a model and memorizes the part number.
“Well, I’ll just go down to REI and see if they have it” he concluded.
Fuck you man.

So thats how it is out there. Strikes and gutterballs.
On another retail note, Congratulations to Kris Gray who had his Lucid Cycles opening party last night.

The square I am, I showed up an hour early….but at least it was post ride and I had to get to a Moots sale….I’ll take it.
Well, its Sunday – hope you all get to ride….and relax.

Downhill season is right around the corner….and I”ll be ready.

Super amped.

And ready to rock.

If your going to watch anything today…watch this…..especially at 2.

http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/LiveStream.aspx

I”d like to start the post with my take on technology.

Then, a promo for this.

Rough Rider Promo from Wildfire Films on Vimeo.

And you thought there was tension in my shop when some dipshit racer asks me to fix stuff for free….sheesh.

In 180 degree happy news, Please read and listen to this interview about STEVE.
Which also reminds me of the article about THIS.
I’ve been asked my opinion about the matter and it is this….The area is private. They have the right to keep cyclists out. No, I don’t think its unsafe…..but its their land. End of story.
On a much happier note, please read THIS about the first amputee to complete AAS. IT is Memorial Day weekend…isn’t it?
And since its Memorial Enjoy some Wine. And enjoy this…because ever since the somewhat enjoyable movie Sideways….white trash style people in the United States of the Americas have been frowning on Merlot Wines…my personal favorite. Don’t believe me, open a bottle of the raven, after you watch this.

Big props to Tim who got to take his picture by the Canibal’s team car is Belgium.

My friend Paul is in Ireland.

Here is the bathroom at Matt and Molly’s wedding….Jim never looked so good.

Me, I’ve been having a lot of doctor meetings.

Stay outta trouble!

Thats right friends, on this day many moons ago Smokey and the Bandit was released…..and I for one can tell you that the world is a better place.

And if your under 40, and don’t know who Jackie Gleason is, let me introduce you to one of his finest roles…..Buford T. Justice.

Alrighty, the TOC is in the books.
This photo by “hollywood”, with Van Garderen in the yellow.

It seems that my friend Levi has made his retirement official. I don’t follow doping scandals, and couldn’t care less either. If you want to win, you dope. If you want to race NeoPro and watch your family starve, do it your way. Anyway here is what Levi says…
“It’s not about professional cycling, it’s about sharing the love of the bike,” he said. “That’s what it’s always been about.”
I’d do a Levi Grand Fondo in Santa Rosa….you should too.

In Giro news, the Galibier was climbed….and in the snow.
Look at these ballers.

And here I was whining about a little cloudy raining weather this weekend.

I hope you all had a nice Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

In the mailbag from the weekend is what some might call the creepiest cycling basement around. I was mighty proud of the Santa Clara SPR/GHB room, but this, my friends take the cake.
I’m not even 100% sure they are posing for said picture.

Bouncing straight to news from Indian Country, it should be announced that Elijah Harper has died. A leader who had the courage to stand up and block the Keystone pipeline, Elijah is best remembered for voting in government chambers with his eagle feather…..standing tall and using it to draw strength from the spirit world as he swam against the tide of big business and resource mismanagement. You’ve honored your country and tribe sir.

Alright, off to work.

Busy week last week.
Its getting warm here in the southland (mid 90′s).
The Tour of California has begun and I bet it’ll be hot in Palm Springs tomorrow.
Anyway, here is the victory of the day.

For others, it was race day this weekend.
Take Opie for example…

Saturday was Armed Forced Day.
I’d like to give a big HOO RAH to the 355th for their Ruck. For those who don’t know, as a symbol of reverence, DOD staff load up a ton of gear and march to remember the effort of those who have come (and gone) before.
Good on yas.

I was also sent this from the dudes in ColoRADo who fly helo’s.

And here is a shot from Sand Land.

Bikes….a lot faster than walking.
Hey, check out this rockstar, Matt D and a very special outfitted Di2 bike.

Are you tough? Tough enough to bomb downhill with 2 prosthetic arms. I didn’t think so.
On to Utah mountain biking. Here is a shot of Thunder Mountain.

And here is my favorite rider in the Dana Point Crit.

Here are some photos I meant to post for Cinco de Mayo


Oh, I’ve got more.



That was from Steve Garro….happy 45th trip around the sun Son.

It is my understanding that Mothers Day was Yesterday.
Motherhood is Sacred.


One more.

It was a nice Sunday, got out there on the Touring bike to investigate more of Kayenta, Red Mountain Spa and Red Cliffs.


Got to ride with the good Dr. E last night.

Sunset on Gunlock Reservoir.

May is always a special time.
The Giro is happening. And Sky looks rather strong. Must be the Rapha Jerseys.

And the Tour of the Gila also happens in May. The Gila, the only real pro road race I’ve ever done. Great course, great race.
I may not know what it feels like to win it…but I do know exactly what it feels like to cross the finish line….like this.

Lets move on to more local pics and things.
From the last post, people wanted to see pictures of my mule Sheeza…..here she is.

And yes, they do have a disco ball in their barn.

I have no idea how it got there.
May is also the month that the prickly pear cactus’ bloom in the desert….I know its cheesy, but I enjoy it very much.


Let me wind up with an interesting story that happened to me on the way to the zen trail….which by the way, has this large golden barrel that the local landscapers haven’t yet poached.

So I’m riding the shops new Kona Cadebra…..wait….let me put a picture of it in here.

Thats better. More on the bike after I finish dialing it in and such….but I’m riding to the trail and your typical Carbon Hardtail 29er-I’m down from Bountiful for the weekend – my wife gave me a hallpass to ride – and I have to put in 45 miles a day or its a failure – was pedaling figure eights at the crossroads of a trail.
“You look like you know where you are going” is what the cyclist said to me.
“Sometimes I do?” I replied.
Anyway, I rode with the man toward Moe’s Valley to get him back to his place of origin in Bloomington and we talked a little about bikes.
Its a lot of the same stuff. “I didn’t know there was a bike shop in Santa Clara?”.
“Yes, its very small. Its in a 113 year old pioneer house….we operate by appointment only”.
I was getting a lot of questions and trying to be polite until I saw the mans frameset and was reminded of an article I had read in the BRAIN just a day earlier talking about $350 carbon framesets available online straight from China.
And there right in front of my eyes was a full XTR, Rockshox SID tapered fork……on a bike who’s logo I could not even discern.
“What brand is your frame, buddy?”
“Its a no name brand from China I got online”.
I wonder how the market will go? Will there be failures….will people loose brand identity? Fake rolex watches can look beautiful, if they are $1000 fakes….is that as good or not as good as the real thing? Audience and purpose? Selling your soul?
Well, I support shops and the brands that are sold at shops. My feeling is that you should buy a bike from a dealer, not online, and ride what you can afford. I’ve sold bikes to independently wealthy people and people who have saved 2 years for a $2000 bike….and each one of those sales had the same love and commitment from our shop that goes into every transaction.

There will be many exciting things in todays post. Are you ready?

I can’t wait to get an email….”is that you and blackie on your motorcycle”. “No” I’d say….”is that cat black?”
This weekend my life partner had her wonderful parents in town for her mothers birthday. And what a lovely time it was.
I was also On Duty Saturday in Richfield which led to the conundrum of trying to figure out transportation. We solved the issue by me taking my first highway motorcycle trip on the VStrom. Let me say, just like anything….I learned a lot. Basically, when your going to be going 80 mph for 2.5 hrs, you need to check your bike and your gear. I checked my bike, but neglected my gear. I packed gloves….but not warm enough gloves. I had to stop a few times to warm up my hands….but that is better than not stopping and risking losing control of you vehicle. Overall the ride was beautiful, the VStrom performed wonderfully and powerfully, and I made it to the Reservation with no problems at all. After a lovely health fair, we took the crew to Dr. Bob’s and Freddie’s for the evening.

And let me tell you friends, a ride in the open air through Zion National Park is as close as you’ll get to Heaven on this earth….if you believe in that sort of thing.


Lets switch over to Bicycles.
As the summer draws near, MrsDrEvil and I are still trying to figure out travel plans…..we know this…..there will be a trip to the great midwest…..we just don’t know if we’ll be making to to MPLS to drink beer and light fires down by the river with people who should really shave twice a day.

Alas, we will be unavailable for both Dealer Camp (held in our very own town none the less) and this event, which I highly recommend attending.

RAGBRAI, the greatest event in cycling history, who’s course this year is exceptionally suited for my needs of flying in and out of major cities with direct flights, will also happen without me. But since Zeke moved to Iowa last month, you can bet your bippy that he’ll be there.

I am also 87% sure that Jeff Thrasher will be there too.

Also, for a very good time on your single speed type bikecycle, Let me recommend this event which we will also miss.

Note to Sov: I am still holding out hope for the dirtburger….
Lets move right on to very fancy bike pictures.
Its been great to see the Turner Czar getting so much excellent press. You know me….I don’t care for press…..I care about results. Want to see a truly excellent picture of a race bike with 10 times the durability of what is out there…..Here it is….with XX1.

Damn.

First, lets start off with humor…
In Heaven…
the mechanics are German
the chefs are French
the police are British
the lovers are Italian
and everything is organized by the Swiss.

In Hell…
the mechanics are French
the police are German
the chefs are British
the lovers are Swiss
and everything is organized by the Italians.

Isn’t that nice…like the roses at the shop.
Yes dear friends, the Mucker Rose, from Old Town Park City.

The Henry Fonda Roses are almost ready to go.

The yucca’s are blooming.

And the Cholla’s are almost ready to pop.

At the shop, its been Konaworld.

Its time to talk cycling things.

Right now, the Fruita Fat Tire Festival is happening…and by happening, I mean hangovers are happening.
And people are getting ready for the Whisky in Prescott…..this is also happening in Prescott.

I bet some studs will be there.

Before I make you see ridiculous images, know that things are humming along at the shop. We’ve been placing orders with Ibis, Turner and Kona. The Custom Moots Bicycles ordered up a month ago are nearing completion. Enve wheels are about 4 weeks out. We’ve been doing a lot of shock and fork service (well done people) and the trails are going to be dry in Park City pretty soon.
Now, back to boobs.

I was told 420 happened….it just passed me by.

Alright, be safe out there.

And if your in Fruita, stop by Troys deck for a Dharma Wheels Shot Glass.

An event I’ve never been to has happened….yet again….the Sea Otter Classic.
And I hear its good time. Its a trade show style event with racing and booths and guess what, its open to the public.
Feedback sports was there.

Microbreweries were there.

Bicycle people were there.

Some bicycle people were not there.

For some reason, that photo reminds me of this photo.

Look Tom Ritchey on a fat bike!

I”m sure they had music at the venue.

And Partying.

You may have even seen a creepy thing or two.

But hey…..

Well, before I pedal off into the sunset….

Let me remind you that the Fruita Fat Tire Festival is happening this weekend.

And just like Sea Otter….I won’t be there….not because I don’t like getting drunk and riding bikecycles…..but mainly because its been busy and its going to be 80 and Sunny in Santa Clara.
Look for me in spirit…and by spirit, I mean stickers and shot glasses at Troy’s house.