Thanks to everybody for the Santa Clara shops birthday wishes.
Busy week this week. One of my favorite patients came in for some implant crowns.
Nice huh?
You’ll be proud of me that I finally figured out how to take pictures in the 500KB range, not the 6,000KB range so it does not take 3 minutes to upload each picture. After all, I am a doctor with a fancy education.
And I almost forgot to mention that this post is coming to you almost live from Santa Clara via our new interweb connection. Personally, I thank Al Gore.
I must apologize now, for not remembering to post the flyer for the Squealer…in Tempe. Its a great event, and big thanks to brother Jim and his darling wife Kim for making it happen. This is all I had in the inbox from last night…I believe the person who sent it to me was intoxicated.
In cycling news, the Paris-Roubaix is today. If it wasn’t going to be 80 and sunny out there, I’d be on my second pack of cigarettes, my 2nd round of waffles, and a 12er into it, watching Boom Boom Boonen do what he does best.
For those of you who may not know, that “King” Sean Kelly, the pride of the Emerald Isle, deep in the pain cave on the cobbles.
Busy at the shop. The Kona’s are selling like crazy. Great bikes and the right price for a lot of people.
At the Santa Clara shop, we’ve “adopted” Mika.
Yup, its true….its been a year…exactly one year today. Happy Birthday Dharma Wheels South…
Its funny to think back to the first night here. We closed on the property, and then came back to a rainy, soggy old house that was so full of dust that at breakfast the next morning, MRSDRE and I were coughing the entire time….tasting what the air smelled like in the musty, dusty house with every hack. We wondered about the “vehicles” out back….and the 100 gallons of paint – I’m sorry – 1/2 used up and dried up paint on the back part of the property. Then there were the cockroaches and scorpions….And by scorpions, I do not mean this at all…
You should just let that clip play over and over while you read this post.
So time passes and you put work into what you do….it doesn’t matter if its a bicycle shop, a dental office, or your family. And it grows if you are honest and consistently good.
Sometimes you take chances…
And the outcome is good. I must say its been a busy year. All the projects of the new shop with the already present tasks of our main shop and dental office have really taken some late nights and focused energy.
Last year we had a large dumpster of trash hauled away. Big thanks to all the Dharma Wheels Team people, especially Ric and Polly for helping us with all the trash around the place. We added HVAC to the place – since the old swamp cooler wasn’t really going to cut it….it had dead mice in the bottom anyway floating in a science project.
Look, I even got a Joshua Tree planted when the landscaping was done.
If you look at the numbers, the shop down south is still way in the red, but the course is pointed upward. You can’t get a return without an investment.
So it was time to celebrate last night….just the owners. We thought back on the year and were happy. Its been a lot of work, but we truly feel the place is worth it.
We’d like to thank our brands/fabricators/distributors. Honestly, we couldn’t do this without your support. Big thanks to Hi Caliber construction – Steve, you are the man. Big thanks to my industry friends and famliy – your support and advice keeps me from doing stupid things….and sometimes just watching you guys mess up keeps me from doing stupid things…
Things are blooming in the desert….
By the way, happy birthday to other bicycle endeavors who share this day as a birthday…..Phil Wood and Ibis seem to be on my mind today.
Are you ready for an awesome post.
Because if you are…this may or may not be the place.
So lets talk about bicycles….
Because its so unseasonably warm, there has been a lot of talk about bicycles and what to buy. I’d like to go out on the proverbial “limb” here and define a few things here.
What I call a boutique bike is a bicycle that is made to have its tolerances in terms of frame straightness, travel and overall quality at a higher level than is set as a (good) “standard” by larger companies….whose bikes are still wonderful, ride well and provide the rider with enjoyment. Its that simple. A Turner frame is $2700 because 100 Turner frames are straigher than 100 Treks. Yes, I know Cannondale is a “high value” bicycle, but is not an Ibis…and if getting the best performing bike that you can is how you “value” your time, buy the Ibis….and put Enve wheels on it.
And your Niner, most certainly is not…a boutique brand.
Speaking of ENVE wheels, let me give you a piece of a little email I received….just in case you say “who the fuck spends $3000 on a carbon set of wheels”? Man, those Enve wheels are awesome. I really put them to the test, bombing down stuff on Little Creek & Gooseberry, & rode some stuff that I hadn’t made before. It’s amazing how solid, sure-footed & planted the bike feels. I was a little dubious that I’d really be able to feel much difference, but you really can. Especially quick, short bursts. Checked them this evening when I got back, they’re the straightest wheels I’ve ever had. Even after a weekend of pounding through the rocks on Little Creek & Gooseberry, you have to get so close to the rim that the decals rub when checking for trueness. No pinging or spoke unwinding sounds at all.
I couldn’t agree more. I build wheels for a living, and the feel of the carbon rim is straight up goodness.
The flowers are up in Santa Clara…
And MRSDRE was moving earth
She stayed safe, mostly because the instructions for the bobcat told her what not to do…
I think some of the stickers is missing…the part where you drink 13 beers to think that standing on the bucket is a really good idea…but who knows?
Me, I rode a little…
Alright, off to work I go…
It was nice to see the town…or rather the patients in the dental chair….happy on Monday. It snowed short, sweet and deep Sunday night and the results were taken advantage of Monday morning….even by me….for an hour….and really, thats all my legs could handle.
Flagstaff got a bunch of snow…
As well as the brotherly red rocks of Sedona…
Anyway, its nice to see the town really excited about spring and cycling again. Its fun being a 100% cycling year round shop in a ski town, where you only get 80 frost free days a year and its (usually) ski season 6 months out of the year…..I never tire of the looks I get from more novice bike people when they hear I sell bikes in the dead of winter…I’m sure I give them some strange looks to because for me, its as right as rain.
In philosophical news, MRSDREVIL and I were hanging around at our lovely shop in Santa Clara with no sign and no customers around, drinking wine like the world was about to end when we realized this…
So sad because we both bought pedigreed educations with our parents money when we could have simply thought up ideas like this…
And silly me, I’ve got the real thing inked in…..who knew?
On to cycling type events…
Least importantly, “Hollywood” Jeff T is making the Evil “Team” or “Dance Squad” look good by riding around in 100 mile intervals all over Palm Springs and such….he looks like this when seen from the back with his “Boyfriends”…
Jeffrey gives lots of good advice…like this.
In Pro Cycling news, I’m so very excited that the classics are almost upon us. Its the time of year that I’m actually glad to have a TiVo and cable TV.
Its a time to see action in the peloton…
We’ll conclude with local race news. In MN news, the Slick 50 happened and Hurl got drunk…..that is all I know….I can’t really decipher the phone messages except for the words “fuck” and “fuck”. There may also be an “I love you” in there.
In St. George, the True Grit Happened. And it was fun. Dharma Wheels Rallied to provide an “aid” station that was exactly 1/4 mile from our shop front door….loved it.
Most of the racers appreciated us being there….especially the guy who’s bike I put in the stand and who’s fading tubeless setup we saved. We had one guy pissed at us because we did not have any water…just beer and whiskey….I don’t think he’ll be buying a custom Moots from the shop anyway…he was on a cheap ass carbon 29er hardtail that was creaking and groaning like a WWII battleship.
The weather held off nicely. Last year its basically rained all day for this event and it was nice to see temps cool, a little windy..but 100% dry.
The big downer to the event was the fact that in the middle of the night, some course markers were moved to confuse racers and send them down the wrong trail….effectively ruining their race. There were many upset riders who were shorted 20 or 40 miles out of the 50 or 100. I’m all for a good natured prank or sarcastic comment, but please, who messes with other people’s couple hundred dollar race trip as a joke? Its like vandalism….I really don’t get it. But the conclusion of the race saw happy faces and satisfied riders, and in racing, you have to be prepared for anything. I believe people who prerode the course or had it locked into their GPS’s stayed on course.
This weekend looks exceptionally nice down south. 75 and sunny all weekend. We’ll be around….just listen for a bobcat wheeling around the parking area of the shop….we’ve got a little more landscaping to do and shop will be good for a while….and by that I mean until the next weekend, which will be the 1 year anniversary of DWC South.
After a lovely weekend down south, MRSDRE and I returned to a small snow storm in the northern utah area. So, rather than post a post, I”m going skiing….because its awesome.
The weather is awfully nice out there. Maybe you’ll do a little dance…
In funny news, I”d like to show you the video that BL made that showcases my “secret” loop…the Top of the World Loop in Laguna Beach….right in back of my In Laws house….its nice.
Pretty sweet huh? I must say its really a nice little loop.
Nutty, huh? How fast do you think I could snap that twig in half going down Wolf Creek pass at 70 MPH. Pretty fucking fast I say.
In custom framebuilder news, Ventana has a new webtypesite…and you should see it.
Speaking of websites, let me direct all of my potential bicycle buyers to the Kona website…because Kona and The Dharma Wheels Cyclery have just linked forces to destroy the universe. Yes, at long last, and after mighty thought, we have decided to pick up a brand that can bring the pleasure of riding to the masses….kids bikes, road, mtn, all mtn, DH, Cross, Commuter, Touring…all without having to plunk down a ton of cash, or feel like one of the herd riding a Trek/Specialized/Cannondale/et al.
Plus my buddy Barry rides for them…
I can’t think of one…and the post will have no real direction anyway.
Here is a great picture folks….I call it “The Righty”
In Politial news, super tuesday happened…and I have no idea the outcome…
Life can be so confusing sometimes…I’m glad somebody brought it into perspective.
Its enough to drive you to the nudie store.
Don’t be afraid to take a stand out there.
For something awesome.
I’ll conclude with this.
Before I go into todays post, let me give you a funny story from the VA hospital in FLA:
Plantation, Florida:
Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed robbery: The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two presidents. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, and he works out every day. Mr. Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night.
According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove Mr. Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money, but then Mr. Lovell pulled his handgun and opened fire. He shot one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head.
When police arrived, they found one of the men in the shop, K-9 Units found the other in the bushes of a nearby business. They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop according to Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.
Both men were taken to the Broward General Medical Center , where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition.
Mr. Lovell was a pilot in the Marine Corps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines.
He is not expected to be charged authorities said. ”He was in fear for his life,” Detective Rettig said, “These criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70′s have military backgrounds and aren’t intimidated by idiots.”
Something tells me this old Marine wasn’t ‘in fear for his life’, even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could be charged with is participating in an unfair fight. One 71- year young Marine against two punks. Two head shots and one center body mass shot.
My favorite bumper sticker for the Marine Corps is “To error is human, to forgive is devine, neither is the policy of the USMC”. Semper Fi.
Jesus, I can’t believe I’m old and sappy enough to write Semper Fi.
Lets talk about the bike weekend. The forecast looked a little bit cold and sketchy for this weekend. That didn’t stop us. It was an absolute pleasure to stop off in Hurricane on our way into town and see Quentin and DJ. In good karma news, when we stopped by the washing machine repair place, they told us that our $200 motor was not needed…that there was just a busted wire in the machine. Then I got the grand tour of Red Rock Bicycles from Fixie Dave along with some urban riding before dinner.
Saturday saw temps only reaching 60, but that was perfect for the Zen trail. I headed out to the racecourse to see the Desert Rampage folks doing their race things and then met up with Woodie to hit Zen.
Then Bear Claw to Stucki to Santa Clara…
Then it was back to the shop for unwinding.
Big thanks to MRSDRE for working on the backyard all day while I rode around and fixed one bike.
In breaking bicycle news, Crank Brothers has introduced to me their new dropper seatpost. As many of you know, I really dig Crank Brothers…but do not care for the Joplin. This post is suppose to be the cats meow.
Thats all I got….when the hangovers fade away from the Handbuilt bike show I”ll post about it. Until then, here is Erik and Don.
Based on the cold and possibly wet weather in Southern Utah, there will be a few changes to this weekends “race weekend”.
As in NO PLANS at all on Friday (since many people will be driving down Friday rather than spinning out at 11pm on Thursday night).
Well, there will still be cocktail hour at the shop Friday at 7:30. The weather has no bearing on that….
Saturday – Pancakes at 8:30, race at 10….and by race I mean attend and then go ride Zen. Then do the race course and pick up gel wrappers.
Sun – Barrel Roll at 11….and then cry as the temp hits 66 as your driving home.
Thats the gameplan son.
BTW, happy birthday Gene. Your more of a roll model to me than you’ll ever know…and its funny that JMac puked on your birthday.
Here is a great picture of a Fat Tired Bike not in the snow….just in case you thought they were gay.
Whats the term the kiddies use today? Epic. Not sure what the aero bars are all about, but with tires that big…you run what you want brother.
Steve sent me an idea for my next halloween costume….
Back to Bicycle news, many of you know that I absolutely love EVT.
Let me give you a picture of Bretts work bench…just in case you thought mine was the best in the world….
100% impressive.
Also impressive are the KC sprints that happened last weekend. Here is Zeke (officiating) in my favorite picture.
Alright, off to work I go…but let me leave you with this….
Its been an odd couple of weeks. As you know from this blog, last week, we took a well deserved vacation to relax…and work on the Santa Clara shop
….and to ride bikes.
….and to look at cactus’
When we had our “time off”, our trip down south was punctuated with tasks….we had to do a bit of yardwork to compensate for the entire years worth of rainfall that fell in Washington Co. the day after our landscaping was completed….but to be honest, the timing was great. The only problem is that it didn’t feel like a vacation…and as we left, the spirits told me that there was still a little water leak on the outside of the house.
As always, they’re right. So after working Thursday of last week saving the world from tooth decay and gum disease, we pointed the Dharma Wheels Team vehicle southward and went back to finish our vacation….proper. And it was rather satisfying…
Got the leak fixed..
Got the vineyard planted…
Finally went to the firehouse bar (closest “bar” to the shop), where I witnessed a handshake drug exchange (meth I assume – the payoff was only a five spot) – sad –
On the way to red cliffs, I found the biggest yucca spike I’ve seen in St. George.
Big props to my better half, who could outpace an amigo with yard work…
So the weekend was productive with projects an even taking in a movie…
Classic, I know.
So in real bike news, our vendors are working hard to get bikes in their warehouses…so get your orders in before the spring when everybody else does. There is a race on Saturday in St. George and then again on the 17th (True Grit). Also, the North American Handbuilt Bike Show [sic] is this weekend in Sacramento.
