n_maher

I wonder if some past event didn't cause damage to the trafo (before the current ownership) and it's now no longer capable of performing properly even under the best of circumstances?

Mike,If you're looking for a less expensive option now is definitely time to talk to dealers about not only the leftover stock that they already have but what is available to order. I think my LBS had a leftover Flash 29'er Carbon 3 for around $2,000, about a 30% discount off full retail. Another one to look at would be the Jekyll 4. There's a boat load of those left in Cannodale's inventory and your LBS should be able to negotiate a very good deal, maybe a few hundred more than the Airborne but pretty damn close. The 2012's 4's had the fully adjustable suspension but the 2013's don't for some weird reason. [edit] There's a pretty good review of the Jekyll 4 online as well and the case is made that the 4 is worth buying for just the frame and is worth upgrading more over time. I'd agree with that statement.

The thing that I like about this area is that there are many obstacles that have multiple lines so you can sort of challenge yourself by choice and take a less technical line. Granted, there are still some areas where you're chosing between gnarly and insane... And as I said it my little writeup, I'm man enough to admit that I walk some sections that just aren't in my comfort zone.

There is some disturbing discoloration on that transformer, in my non-professional opinion. I would make sure that the amp is setup for the proper line voltage (assuming it's adjustable like other Stax amps) and after that get a known good set of cheap tubes to try in there. Could be that one of the 4 tubes is going bad and drawing more current than it should be. Otherwise, I don't know enough about that amp to be really helpful.

Ugh, disappointing week. Several odd no-shows: Roethlisberger with fracking 10 points against KC, Decker with 3 against Carolina, the 49ers D with 3... shit, if I'd just started Dever's D I would have won.

It still wouldn't have been funny. Maybe you know Vicki better than I think you do although I would have thought that if you knew Vicki well at all you'd understand that she worked her ass off prepping for this ride and to have a random (non-cycling related) injury prevent her from participating is killing her.

Happy Birthday, Dinny. I know it hasn't been the easiest year but this signals the start of another, hopefully better year.

Holy shit this much fun shouldn't be legal... So I got the trailhead around 2pm and got rolling quickly. My usual riding partner had other things going so this was a solo trip. The first section is a short, gravelly downhill followed by a pretty decent, rocky, rooty climb (called Hamburger Hill). Being the excited idiot that I was I forgot the start the Garmin until I was nearly at the top of the climb. Anyway, my initial impression is that even a somewhat well setup and sorted suspension makes a giant difference. Holy smooth ride. Good tires help too. The stock Hans Dampf tires gripped great in the loose stuff and held well even on the loose leafy crap that is all over the place post-Sandy. I took it pretty easy for the first few miles getting to know the bike and just how different it reacted to things that I'd ridden a few times on the Gary Fisher. But towards the end of the getting to know you period it was clear the bike and I were bonding. I came up to a tight, technical uphill turn that is very rocky and I was going too slow. So slow that when my front time hit the last rock I just stopped. But rather than unclip I simply paused for a second, adjusted my line and rode through it. HOLY SHIT! I would have eaten it hard on the GF or at least been forced to stop, dismount and then continue. So I gained a bit of confidence and was promptly bitten in the ass for it. Approaching an obstacle that I've previously had no issue with, a short segmented-stone water crossing I eased up to it. Too easy. Burried the front wheel in a divot and smacked down on my left side. Oh well, the bike got its first scratches. I was fine and laughing at the stupidity of it. So I lined the obstacle up again and rode through it with little difficulty. Most of the rest of the loop was a ton of fun. I was riding over stuff that I previously would stop and walk over. Which isn't to say that I conquered everything. There are still a few things on this trail that I won't even try. But I was really happy and having a hoot of a time. I was doing great until I was on the final downhill section. I was flying, eating up the bumps and even taking a few jumps when I looked ahead and saw that there were two hikers coming up the trail at me. They started to head off to their left side of the trail so I did likewise. In this section there's a small rock jump in the middle of the trial and there appeared to be a similar one on the left side of the trail so I took it. Oh fuck. Right as I was about to go airborne I saw the 4" diameter tree that was across my side of the trail a good 6' beyond the jump and 12" off the surface of the trail. Fuck, fuck, fuck. So I put as much as I could into it and managed to get the front wheel over it. The rear, not so much. You can see this even on the ride data below. It's the abrupt lowering of my speed in a otherwise high speed section at about 5.6 miles. I ate it hard going full ass over tea kettle. Thankfully I managed to unclip in mid-departure so the bike didn't get tossed any worse. Doubly thankfully I landed in a pile of leaves. Minor scrapes on my knees, a bruise on a forearm and a cut on an ankle were the sum total. I pretty much rolled out of the fall and got back up. Much to the surprise of the 80+ year old man and wife staring at me. I muttered something like, "the wonderful thing about tiggers..." and the guy said, "What'd you say?" I moved the tree out of the trail and took a second to wonder if Sandy or some asshat put it there... at least I'll be the last one who hits it for a while. Anyway, I finished the last little section without further drama and there was no real damage to the bike and it definitely still ranks as the best time that I've had out there. I'm really hoping to get one more ride in after some rear shock tuning. Ride Data

Epic fun had today. More later, time to make enchiladas. I love this bike.

Good eye Steve. I was wondering who'd be the first to notice her. She helped,e pick it up before grocery shopping. I'll give shock tuning a try before punting to the LBS but signs are good that'll I'll get the real maiden voyage on it tomorrow.

Not a great first picture but all I've got.

Shit, piss and corruption Vicki, that sucks. Good news is that it isn't worse and there will be other rides.

are you off your meds again?

I got the bike this morning. The shop did setup the suspension per the manual for my weight but there appears to be an issue with the rear shock when in long travel mode. It thumps at the top of the stroke. I'd think something was loose if it didn't function perfectly in the lower travel setting. Regardless I took it home to give it a shakedown ride sometime this weekend and then I'll bring it back Monday or Tuesday so my LBS can get in touch with Fox.

Happy birthday, guys!

What little we got earlier in the week is pretty much gone and on top of that it's supposed to be near 70 on Monday. Yay global warming.

Blarg, ecstasy delayed. The bike was actually ready to be picked up yesterday when I got there but won't fit my rack without an adapter. So I'll go back and try my other rack this morning or just buy the adapter. I did get to ride it around the parking lot and it'll be a lot of fun on the trails.

You're clearly over thinking this.

This. Holy frack that's hot.

I'm going to try to swing by the LBS on the way home and say hi to my new toy. The weather for the weekend is looking like it'll support an outing if I can find someone to go ride with. If I have to I'll do a solo trip and ride conservatively.

Excellent, Vicki. It's always nice to see the fruit of one's labor and be able to be proud of it. Shelly/Chris, bummer. I've been there off and on for what seems like 2 weeks now and it's getting really old. Me - emergency site visit to Boston this morning to look at storm damage to the USS Constitution Park for the NPS. Turned out to be pretty minor damage to a fender system so that was good. Now I get to go back to report writing and fighting other fires. This three day weekend is timed very well.

I'm interested, schedule at work/home pending. I have jack for headphones anymore but miss my NYC buds.

It's not a custom. It's not carbon. Hell, it's not even a road bike. Nonetheless I just got shipping confirmation on my purchase of a leftover 2012 Cannondale Jekyll 3. With a little luck it'll show up at my LBS tomorrow in time for them to start the build and then finish it on Saturday. With even more luck today's snow will melt and I can get a ride in on Monday or the following weekend. I wanted to hold out for a Trigger 29er but the economics were insurmountable (30% cost premium). It's way more bike than I need but at the price I paid it's untouchable value compared to anything else I could find.

Very, very cool, Chris.

It's just a sign from the Forum that it wants more posts from you, Indra.