This week it feels like I have deleted more words than I’ve written. Published and unpublished. I remain my generally hopeful self, watching the last throws of the Confederacy smash itself against the world while most of the USA’s political class cowers to avoid Caligula’s wrath. But when I sit down at the keys, it’s proving difficult to maintain a certain tone in the face of events ongoing.
When the definitely dementiated don of the USA started the process of undermining Ukraine‘s future territorial integrity, folks immediately, rightly, thought about China and Taiwan, Israel and Palestine, and of course NATO’s eastern flank of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, and Finland. In a world where borders can apparently be re-written on some mad king’s whims, it feels like a real possibility that Canada could be called on to stand with NATO’s eastern flank {and make no mistake, we’d be there honouring our commitments}.
But now it also starts to appear that, here on the other side of the Atlantic, we’re going to need the, at least moral, support of the superlative alliance in saying “not one f*cking centimetre Elonald“ as our Southern neighbour considers tearing up treaties far beyond our trade agreements, that establish our border and shared resources like the Great Lakes.
In this light, writing about bikes. Who cares? Shimano’s new Di2 wireless mountain groupsets are dropping before summer? Whoop-de-doo, BC’s forestry industry is getting tariff’s on the bullshit tariff they already pay. Wireless dropper posts are becoming cheaper {but not cheap} by going to Wintek cartridges – like most other dropper posts – while also finding uglier looking ways to mount their batteries? Meh, I’m dreaming of a simpler time with Thomson posts, Chromag quick releases, and a Canada-USA relationship based on a shared history and international norms.
Anywho, it’s Friday and, despite all that, here are six bicycle things that I am actually stoked about.
The New-New
I own four bikes. Steve’s Talbot was brazed in Vancouver in 1981. My Waltworks V1 ATB/Commuter was first built up in early 2018. Will’s Arcturian is a 2019 Mike Truelove frame. I’ve been on my truculent V2 since the last month of 2019. Two of those bikes are single-speeds, one has a friction shifted 1×6 drivetrain, and the most modern setup is a hardtail sporting a SRAM 1×11 drivetrain {that was first released in 2013}. Only the latter has a suspension fork.
So, despite my well-cultivated Luddite reputation and retro-grouch credentials, it might surprise that I am genuinely excited about the piles of the newest new components and bikes that are hitting the market this spring-into-summer. There are a few specific items or rigs, that I know about, that have me jazzed, but the real stoke just comes from the feeling that mountain biking is escaping the doldrums of the last couple of clear-out years.
I’ll note here that I have some material roughed in for new products that I know are coming, but I haven’t managed to beg MEATengines onto the press lists for most bicycle brands, so embargo dates and so on will likely find me a bit behind the 8-ball for my editorialized takes.
{That said, I’ll have first-look reviewitorial pieces for new products up on March 11th and 13th if you want to check back.}
Project 321 G3
New Hydra, who cares? It sounds harsh but since the day that Industry Nine launched their updated hub {which looks to have many thoughtful improvements}, it’s been the genesis for several unsolicited conversations at work and with friends about the Canadian-made Project 321 G3.
Most of them begin something like: “Hey, Drew-Bob, I see I9 has a new hub, are you still loving your Project 321s?“
I usually respond with “Which ones?” and then elaborate that I have hundreds and hundreds of hours on G2, G2.5*, and G3 versions. I’ve replaced bearings in the G2 and just did a driveshell bearing in the G2.5, and the G3 hubs, which are the Canadian-made version, have been excellent even if the faster engagement (from 1.66° to 1.25°) is take-it-or-leave it for me.
*{G2.5 is what I call the Stan’s version. It uses the drive system from the G2 but the significantly upgraded axle system of G3 in Stan’s aesthetically quiet hub shell.}
The magnetic pawl system is awesome and updated features like captured pawls, axle wrench-flats, and easy to access bearing pre-loader make service faster and easier.
More and more of my friends are all-in fans of Center Lock rotors and I do think that, like the march towards mineral oil for all brakes, 6-bolt and DOT will both be the minority options within a year or two. For the holdouts like me, the Six-Lock system has been faultless on my hubs. From a bike mechanic perspective, just be wary that the M4 bolts can’t be hammed in as hard as standard M5 rotor bolts.
Whichever generation, nothing on the market runs as fast as the magnetic driver and I’d highly recommend the hubs. In the shop, my couple of customer service needs have been settled incredibly quickly. They are an investment, no doubt, but out of any high-end hub I’ve tried, or serviced, they’re the ones I put my money down on.
A Bike, From A Brand
It turns out the quickest way to my heart for any bicycle is two bottle mounts on the downtube. Give me a rad purple paint option, slack-enough angles, and a firm Tech-C ride and I’m trying to figure out how to squeeze one more rig into my life {Sorry, Mandrew, it’s not happening.}
I can’t really say more than that until sometime this summer {I don’t know exactly when – see notes above}. I’ve not ridden the bike, and likely won’t ever even parking-lot test it. But, I just know it’s going to be awesome on the trail. So if you’re the Canadian company preparing to launch your super sweet Shore-Country sag-wagon with two bottle mounts on the downtube then just know that I’m clapping for you like Shia LaBeouf at the end of Rob Cantor’s fantastic live performance.
Bravo! Bravo! I’m smitten. Not since Transition released the Spur has a carbon bike so called my name.
Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
The local bike industry is hiring. Particularly shops are looking for mechanics, but either way I’m taking it as a positive after what felt like an extra-hard winter.
A few friends messaged me about a neat looking opportunity from the nice folks at Landyachtz Bikes, turning wrenches on their custom metal. They make some beautiful machines here in BC so I figured I’d share in case there are any experienced Vanjacent wrenches looking for a different opportunity:
“Landyachtz is a bicycle manufacturer making Titanium and Steel frames right here in Vancouver. We need a Head Mechanic to help us put these bikes together and keep them on the road. This is not your every day bicycle mechanic position as you will be working directly with production and the customer to bring beautiful custom bikes to life. DM us for info on how to apply.“
{Take a minute to checkout the Landyachtz bike gallery!}
Skating Into Riding & Digging Season
The Clairebarian had a fantastic hockey season, the highlight of which was the way all the kids on the team supported each other. Win and lose, this crew lifted each other like an idealized advertisement for the benefits of team sports.
As with last year, Claire’s decided she’d like to hang up her skates until next season, so while other kids prepare for spring hockey we’re cutting down rakes, bleeding brakes, and preparing to spend a ton more time in the forest riding and maintaining trails.
The commuter bikes are ready to go as well, although it’s a haul to Claire’s school so we choose fair days for our groad adventures. Either way, between hitting the trails after school, Fromme Friday, family rides, chasing Uncle Crash Test around, and so on, I’m excited about all the pedaling in our immediate future.
Confidence
It was surprisingly greasy on the rock armoured trails I was riding today. I would have been good to go on the V2 but with the 170mm DVO D1 SL fork up front my Will’s Arcturian moves along at a much faster clip and monster trucks harder into sections.
{I know, riding a multi-speed bike on Fromme Friday – what’s up with that? I knew I was solo and it seemed like a great day to ride the Chromag.}
I’ve been running 3″ tires on both my mountain bikes for a couple of months now, but had I known I would have swapped out to my other wheels with a 2.6″ Magic Mary Ultra Soft in front and a 2.8″ WTB Vigilante High Grip for the rear rubber.
Still, there’s something about knowing a bike, especially when that bike is long, and slack, and just hums with confidence. I was slip-sliding-sideways as I two-wheel-tangoed down a couple of tight, steep, rock moves but I’m pleased to say it was all calmly controlled. At the end of the day, I was as smooth as Mr. Bean dancing but my bike saw me to the other side.
I repaid it in the last five minutes of my ride by driving hard through a line I regularly ride on my single-speed and scraping away any aesthetic appeal left in my 11-speed SRAM derailleur. Still shifts fantastically, mind you.
Larry Talker Tunes for the Week
Before we jump into Model-T’s epic {50th Anniversary epic} scofflawing of our decade-maximum first-distribution date, I wanted to share this beautiful rendition of the Scottish National Anthem that Claire and I came across while listening to covers of her favourite Katy Perry song. Roar.
Take it away Terry Walker:
Well, I’m about to break the “past decade” rule, however I appreciate my gracious host allowing me this one transgression.
It came to my attention last week, this masterpiece album below had its 50th anniversary on February 24th, 2025.
Physical Graffiti (Led Zepplin 1975)
No matter where you sit on the Zepplin spectrum, everyone should give this double album one more listen: right from the opening track, this is a band is at their peak.
The day I bought this album was one of those life-changing moments. Word was out on the radio the album had dropped at A&B Sound on Seymour Street, I’m running out the door to catch the Blueridge bus heading into downtown Vancouver.
The music institution for several decades: A&B sound. I stood in line at this music store entrance more than I care to say.
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