The Funemployement Line

For the past couple of weeks, MEATmag’s felt a bit like sailing the Nautilus into the Moskenstraumen. I mean, it’s been a drag*. And along with everything else going on, that’s meant I haven’t kept up with my publishing commitment. Sorry. The good news is I have a bunch of time over the next little bit to catch up on half-finished pieces, ‘draw’ some Dumpster Bear Says, write about the process of choosing my new helmet, and pedal some of the moist hero-dirt on the horizon.

The other side of this pancake is that I’m also looking for work. On the tools or on the keyboard, from home or from somewhere, in the world of bicycles or doing something else entirely. I mention it in case you’ve heard someone lamenting their inability to find good people. Within my jack-of-some-skillset, I’m the best and worst employee. I care deeply about what I put into the world, the people I work with, and their experience; my parental responsibilities always come first, and so my availability is unapologetically part-time or casual. If something does come to mind, my appreciation in advance, and you know where to find me.

In the meantime, it’s a beautiful day here in the Shore-to-Sky region. NJP & The Clairebarian are finishing up their first week of back-to-school. We pedaled bikes on Wednesday with Penny; hockey tryouts are ongoing; we’re having Nina’s deluxe deconstructed chicken-Caesar {with Greek yogurt based dressing} for dinner, YUM, and then I’m going to enjoy a Guinness, because it really does feel like fall is here.

 

*{Although, who doesn’t love Toccata and Fugue in D Minor?}

 

{All photos by Andrew unless noted.}

 

On the bicycle front, a few folks have asked me how I missed including Marin’s CA$1500 Madrone Trail in SBTISAOAF. “Did you see the handlebar?!” they say. “It has a CUES/LinkGlide compatible thumb shifter!!!” they say. “The long lever Alfine brakes in silver look amazing!” they say. Yeah, I was initially pretty stoked too. Maybe I’m just jaded? But modernized to disc brakes while still sporting a 27.2 seat post? Fork clearance is also already looking fairly tight with that 27×2.25″ tire spec.

The biggest “meh” of all for me is the lack of a horizontal dropout, or even a slider. Yes, combining a forward loading semi-horizontal dropout like the original Madrone Trail used with a disc brake is famously difficult. See Surly’s horrendous Straggler dropouts if you’re not sure what I’m talking about.  I know, I know, not everyone wants the option to run their ATB or MTB as a single-speed. And, it’s totally self serving because we’ve been very light on community content About a Single Speed pieces lately. But, anyway, that’s my story. The Madrone Trail is cool but I think it could have been awesome if it combined exactly that sweet retro aesthetic with a bit of Kona Unit-Y purpose.

All that said, I do think the Madrone Trail has some retro-awesomeness as an ATB choice. Especially for folks that want that classic ’80-’90s-ish hardtail vibe with the benefits of disc brakes sans having mounts and supports added. I also know a fair few folks for whom buying and rebuilding a thirty-to-forty year old bicycle is simply not realistic and rigs like this are a neat way to grab onto that vibe without the input.

{Photo by Bike Rumor.}

{Photo by Marin Bikes.}

 

Willy’s Wordle

I am sort of at a loss on what to say here. I’ve never been a big WORDLE person, but I’m stoked that this exists. It’s a nice example of “Mountain Biking is more than…” where the answer to the follow up question – more than what? – is rooted in the can’t-hide-how-nerdy-we-are community.

Anyway, I only know the answer to Willy’s Wordle because it takes pity on you when you’re wrong at the end, but I’m impressed in advance if you make it through in one shot. Oh, BUT DON’T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON’T WANT A HINT!!!

I would have dropped a suggestion but “Alt Bars” is too many letters {hahahaha} but I am hoping that enough people give it a shot that new ones are posted.

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{Wordle by Chromag Bikes.}

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Honzo Rumours

Despite a handful of attempts, I’ve not managed to have MEATengines included on Kona’s media list. To be fair, they’re far from alone in the litany of brands who I like* that I’ve contacted. On the one hand, if my New Year, New Unit dreams ever do come true I’ll be finding out along with everyone else. On the other hand, I feel empowered to share rumours that I’m positive would be covered by a media-blackout if I was receiving embargoes. For a variety of reasons, it’s long been one of my favourite bicycle brands.

That said, look, it doesn’t take a private investigators license to go on KonaWorld.ca/Honzo and see that the only two Honzo models currently listed have 20″ and 24″ tires. That’s down from a high of at least six rigs not counting different spec options {ESD, ST, DL, Big, 24″, 20″}. And I know you’re thinking “Mullets?” but despite our love of MX hardtailing chez MEAT, and the Unit-Y/Unity {which can take a 29×2.6″ rear tire if you want}, I doubt we’ll see stock mixed-wheeled Honzo rigs from the biggest-little-bike-brand.

But, having ridden the ESD and many generations of ST, I’ll bet you a tall-can of Crannog that the actual seat tube angle on the next steel Honzo rig will be slacker. A hybrid of the two. I’m less confident that we’ll see stock fork travel max-out at a decidedly less-Chromagy 140mm, and that there will be only one steel model {with sliders}. I have a good feeling they’ll continue to be available as a frame-only and I hope the complete bikes continue to be a solid value.

On that note, if you know the ESD is for you, there have been some solid deals on used rigs and there are still shops holding some sizes, brand new, in Canada if you hit your preferred search engine. And, if you heard any healthy Honzo rumours, fire me a message.

 

*{PPP Policy.}

 

{Photo by Kona.}

 

Torrent Time

I have lots of reasons, historically, to not be a fan of Norco bikes – the company or the machines – but it’s impossible to argue with their efforts to bring rad geometry to lower price points with hardtail and full suspension bikes. The example I repeatedly drag up here at MEATmag is the Charger A2, which is a killer rig for an SRP of CA$1500, and here I note we are coming into the stuff-on-sale season. The X-Fusion fork and Manic dropper post aren’t sexy but they’re very decent and combined with the Deore drivetrain, 24mm crankset, Shimano brakes, and workhorse rear hub it’s really a matter of buying some decent pedals and then, as soon as possible, some tubeless-ready folding bead tires.

{Photo by Norco.}

 

Anywho, sale season becomes extra-sale-season for stuff that’s already discounted and if you ride a small or an XL, and want something a little meaner than a sweet Charger 2 for a similar investment, Norco is clearing out the last of their Torrent A2 hardtails for an extra CA$50. That extra investment adds a Shimano Deore crankset and bottom bracket, a 150mm SR Suntour Zeron fork, some decent four-piston Tektro brakes, and tubeless ready, folding bead, Schwalbe Performance tires*. Just add pedals.

 

*{I’d consider buying something much softer/stickier for the front and burning out the stock tires as rears.}

 

{Photo by Norco.}

 

NSMBA Trail Days with Dan & Penny

September’s here and if you find yourself with a bit of extra time {HAHAHAHA} and you’re Shore-adjacent enough, why not meet some awesome folks, and do some good work, at an NSMBA Trail Day? I mean, for that matter, wherever you’re located your local trail organization is probably doing some dig-days.

I know plenty of folks who’d love to help on the trails but are nervous about their knowledge base and here I’d like to shout out my friends Dan and Penny. Whether it’s armouring with rocks, building wooden features, perfecting drainage, or tossing dirt, they’re not just both excellent at their craft but they’re solid teachers too. You can join Dan on Boogie Man this Sunday, September 13th, and Penny’s next day is September 19th, on Dale’s Trail.

To sign up, and to see more events, check out the NSMBA’s calendar.

 

Climbmax

There are a plethora of powerful reflections published about 9/11 every year, and this 25th anniversary was no exception. I certainly don’t have anything of real value to say on top of them. But, in our current times, I would like to take a hot minute to mention the also important day-after-anniversary of September 12th. That is the first and only time NATO’s Article 5, the core of history’s most significant military alliance, has been used. If that’s news to you, I’d highly recommend taking a little bit of time to cut through the rhetoric around the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and who contributes morally and materially to it.

On a significantly less serious note, a quick reminder from last week’s SBTISAOF about this week’s bicycle swap meet in Woodland Park in Vancouver, BC {I hadn’t considered last week how many places could be named ‘Woodland Park’ in the home towns of the tens of folks reading MEAT}. I’ll hopefully see you there!

And, of course, a few more pieces to follow next week. Thanks for reading.

-Andrew

{Photo: F!RST L!GHT & HotdogsOnWLZ.}

 

Larry Talker Tunes: By Andrew

This week I was at a total loss for an LTT recommendation, but then I was inspired after reading about Mama Stanley and a pile of other long time ‘Coilers’ fans telling their team to grow some culture.

Anywho, not the first time I’ve shared the Too Attached album Angry, but given the subject matter and the fact that the artists are Edmontonian it seems like a fitting repost. It’s a six-song EP, but if I’m just throwing one out there as a taster it’s ‘Bare Minimum.’

{Photo by Too Attached}

 

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