“What has been sold, not strictly soul, Please remember, it’s flesh and bone… Down here at the PON shop.” ~ Sublime, PON Shop.

This is SBTISAOAF so I’m not going to write about mountain bicycle banalization, strip-mining brand equity, long time companies closing, or the well proven fact that from meat-packing to media and well beyond, less competition and fewer choices is never good for the consumer or the community.

But I am going to write about people. Because we the idiots, risking injury and ridicule digging, talking, and riding our oversized two-wheeled toys in the forest for fun like it’s a serious thing to do are what makes the activity of mountain bicycling awesome. And a whole lot of folks losing their jobs at bike shops and bike businesses this year, are awesome idiots just like us. I mean, who that doesn’t love bicycles would want to work in this industry?

So here’s a shout out to every awesome idiot who can say that mountain biking feeds, or fed, their family. Who spec’d a unique tone instead of going off the colour-psycology approved corporate palette generator. Who min-maxed some interesting spec instead of following the factory form. Who sold a rider the best bike, for them, in their budget range with a focus on finding their optimum contact-point-products. Who built trails for peanuts compared to most every other construction gig. Who fought for better performing chain lube in the shop stands because it improves everyone’s experience. Who gave their staff some extra days off in “The Season” to restoke their love of riding mountain bicycles. And, you know, an infinite number of other examples.

Happy trails fellow two-wheeled forest-frolicking idiots, happy tails.

All Time, Fall Time

We’ve had a lovely October thus far, and I’ve been trying to make the most of it. Walking a bunch. Riding as much as I can. The last few days that I’ve been on the trail have been a mix of the perfect temperature, moist dirt, dry rocks and roots, and just the right amount of traction to deliver a few spicy moments.

Hockey has calmed down enough, as well, that we managed to grab some after school single track this week. It feels so weird to be throwing lights into my pack just-in-case when it’s so bright out but of course the long shadows don’t hang around at this time of year.

This week’s excuse for the SBTISAOAF lateness is that Friday was a province-wide Pro-D day for teachers. Claire and I made the trek out to Gramma’s house for a BLT and a beer and took her younger cousins out for a couple-or-few laps each in the Thornhill trail network.

Thornhill has a couple of jump lines, but most of the network is smooth low-angle green-to-blue descents that are accessed by a, at time steep, gravel road climb or an excellent switch-backing climb trail that runs parallel to it. It’s a great place to take groms and newer riders as long as they have a bit of jam.

A Day’s Edification

If you didn’t happy to see it, this week my byline appeared on Pinkbike.com next to an editorialized listicle featuring mountain bikes that come equipped with CUES U6000 drivetrains*. It’s called: 9 Shimano CUES-Equipped Mountain Bikes That Won’t Burn Up Your Bank Account.

From a writing perspective, I’m pretty happy with how the piece turned out. From a personal perspective, I’ll admit it was pretty edifying that the comments were extensively positive and/or constructive and it was nice to be made to feel welcome there, even if I’m sure most of shoutouts were from the tens of folks who also read MEATmag.

To answer a few variations of the same follow-up question, I much appreciate the opportunity to write my piece for cycling’s biggest publication and would jump at the chance to do it again, and again, but I think we all recognize the nicheness of 50,000:1 club, single-speeding ruining everything, and maybe even more basic mountain bikes, so it’s ‘business’ as usual here at MEATengines.

*{Including CUES/LinkGlide cassettes, because that’s where the magic happens.}

Creative Processesing

I love stickers. And, if you’d asked me yesterday, my favourite, and it’s no easy choice, would have been Endless Bike Co’s “No Boring Trails, Just Boring People.” I mean, it’s subversively positive, proclaiming the joy of riding mountain bicycles anywhere, anytime, whilst also being a solid dig on anyone whining about a lack of jank or, etc.

But it’s fall. It’s dark in the morning. It’s dark at night. It’s been beautiful but we can feel the rains are coming. Look, it’s just a bit dark, okay? I’ve been writing a lot and as a visit to the homepage will clearly show you, don’t have a ton to show for it. Anywho, this sticker by artist & more, Hannah Finegold really speaks to me. How is it bicycle related? Well, I write about bicycles in about the least efficient way possible and I like it that way.

Vik’s Fresh Stridsland ATiB

“The Beachcomber is a sports car compared to my other mountain bikes. The short wheelbase and steeper front end mean if you think about changing direction it has done it already. This creates a very engaging ride…especially on singletrack. It’s a bike that wants to be hopped, jumped, skidded and generally hooligan-ed around.“

Vik’s fresh 26+ dreamboat is a beautiful forever bike and it will be interesting to see where it’s settled, if it’s every settled, in terms of handlebar height and sweep and whether it is destined to be driven #1FG or to be a multi-speeded master piece. Plus, we know it looks fantastic now, but just wait until it’s fully befendered with perfect lines and dry behinds.

I’m so stoked on this bike. It oozes fun. As always, Vik put a ton of thought into this buying and building this bike, so chase this link for much more information.

HMPL Tribute Top Tube Pad

Matt from HMPL has answered the endless calls for a Roach-remake top-tube protector and it looks to be a future classic. Whether it’s protecting your top tube from a bike lock or from yourself, it’s one of those things that every steel hardtail turned ATB needs.

I purchased one for Claire’s Project Blue ’92 and for Steve’s Ruined Talbot, so I’ll share some photos once those are setup. In the meantime, you can check them out at HMPL. Thanks for making these Matt, I know I’m not the only HMPL fan who is stoked!

Devinci DH Rig + Rumours

Well, this has been coming for a long time. It’s been what, five seasons since the aluminium bike builders from Chicoutimi had a flagship World Cup DH rig? Little in the way of details to date, and the photos are a little too much of a tease for my taste. Stevie, Smith, Forty, the Chainsaw name is taken by one of their other models already, so what will they call it? Oh, and rumours abound that they’ll hit the course cruising as the frame sponsor for an existing WCDH unit. Now to wait until spring for more information?!

Dig The Shore with Penny

Our SBTISAOAF Fall/Winter reminder for Shore-adjacent folks that you can show up, grab a tool or too from our friend Penny’s pile, and head into the woods fill your soul and dig some holes.

Penny’s next two days are on Mt. Seymour’s Severed Dick:

October 31^st – 9am-to-1pm – Severed Dick {Meet at the top of Hill Drive}.

November 8^th – 9am-to-1pm – Severed Dick {Meet at the top of Hill Drive}.

In addition to Penny’s days, you can check out the whole NSMBA Trail Day Schedule.

If you can make it out, don’t forget to sign up in Eventbrite.

Climbmax

My MEATengines highlight for the week was definitely the feedback and conversation around the first part of my Deore M6220 brake review. I really appreciate the conversation both in the comments here on MEATengines.com and over at the r/MEATengines reddit page.

I have a fair amount of review updates to chew through this fall, particularly some multi-year follow-ups, so for folks who enjoy that side of bicycle-writing will hopefully be satiated. Beyond that, I’ve been slow to find myself on the trails after dark thus far this year, but I expect there’ll be some night riding updates around the corner.

Take care,

Andrew

Larry Talker Tunes: By Terry Walker

Thanks for last week’s Pearl Jam recommendation. I will admit to not being a ‘grunge’ fan; however, the album had me revisit the mid-eighties and back into Classic rock n’ roll era baby! That era led through the list of ‘big name’ rock musicians over the decades and ultimately to this week’s recording:

Black Country Communion – V

Formed as a Supergroup in 2009, the band includes drummer Jason Bohnam, the son of you-know-who.

Hard. Heavy. Bluesy. It starts off strong and gets better right through to the last track.

Tracks:
The Open Road – might be my favourite*
Red Sun – another favourite
Restless – enjoyable ‘slow blues’
Love and Faith – yet another favourite, something familiar about this track classic rock fans may notice**.

*{Drewitors Note: great suggestion Model-T. I enjoyed the more-metal track You’re Not Alone.}

**{Terry Walker and his Hammond Organ intro-and-outro action, right?}

Ask A Bear Mechanic

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If you’re interested in supporting the MEATengines community there are multiple ways to help out. You can submit an About a Single Speed or Bicycle Valentines piece, or fire me an e-mail if there’s some other ATB or mountain bicycling topic you’re passionate to write about. I’m interested. You can engage with a comment below, join the crew at r/MEATengines, or, if you have a couple spare bucks {ha!}, you can always buy me a coffee. Thank you.