Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
Don’t discount the amount of knowledge and skill you have. I’m impressed.
Gary Helfrick is a legend. Owning that Ti IBIS is almost like a myth. Truly a dream bike.
I was at work and very bored so I did a search on Ti IBIS Mountain Trials thinking that nothing would ever show up. Kinda shows and indicates how positive thinking can shape reality because I was presented with an auction that was one day from closing on EBAY.
I was heart-broken when I learned that I got out bid and lost the auction, then a day later I was contacted by the seller and offered a “second-chance” at my high bid.
This I think was a bit of a miracle. Also a sign of divine intervention.
The Fat Chance Yo-Eddy has wheels that are on a death spiral. The Yo Eddy will be fitted out as a single speed and for convenience I will just do laps locally nearby at Blue Mountain on the roadway and pedestrian paths.
The idea is to make it easy and regular practice to maintain myself over the next few years. For strength training I can also do intervals on Reynold’s Hills: kinda comparable to Harlem Hills in Central Park, but is an out and back. These two rides are so near the Baby-Victorian and literally are kinda my back yard.
There also is a fire road within Blue Mountain Preserve that is a kinda long climb that traverses the park. Pretty much long intervals. Reynold’s Hills is short and steep for standing climbing. The fire road is a long and gradual climb. The out will build a lot of strength, but the back presents a place to build momentum and spinning out a 63 inch gear.
No excuses… I also have the Concept 2 and I can also do max sets of “burp-E’s.” I don’t want to become fat and lazy…
Cal
Don’t discount the amount of knowledge and skill you have. I’m impressed.
Gary Helfrick is a legend. Owning that Ti IBIS is almost like a myth. Truly a dream bike.
I was at work and very bored so I did a search on Ti IBIS Mountain Trials thinking that nothing would ever show up. Kinda shows and indicates how positive thinking can shape reality because I was presented with an auction that was one day from closing on EBAY.
I was heart-broken when I learned that I got out bid and lost the auction, then a day later I was contacted by the seller and offered a “second-chance” at my high bid.
This I think was a bit of a miracle. Also a sign of divine intervention.
The Fat Chance Yo-Eddy has wheels that are on a death spiral. The Yo Eddy will be fitted out as a single speed and for convenience I will just do laps locally nearby at Blue Mountain on the roadway and pedestrian paths.
The idea is to make it easy and regular practice to maintain myself over the next few years. For strength training I can also do intervals on Reynold’s Hills: kinda comparable to Harlem Hills in Central Park, but is an out and back. These two rides are so near the Baby-Victorian and literally are kinda my back yard.
There also is a fire road within Blue Mountain Preserve that is a kinda long climb that traverses the park. Pretty much long intervals. Reynold’s Hills is short and steep for standing climbing. The fire road is a long and gradual climb. The out will build a lot of strength, but the back presents a place to build momentum and spinning out a 63 inch gear.
No excuses… I also have the Concept 2 and I can also do max sets of “burp-E’s.” I don’t want to become fat and lazy…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I saw chipmunks today by my garage.
Bought 3 pairs of sneakers out of the clearance rack at DSW, all universally 40% off plus a $20.00 savings coupon if I spent more than $100.00. Black low Converse, White leather Pumas, and New Balance. I wanted to enjoy at least $10.00 off, but when I saw the 40% off I tried to load up the truck and also inflated the coupon from $10.00 to $20.00.
Visited AJ, and I think the woman who came in was one of his stalkers. Lucky guy he has several. LOL.
I bought pads to refurbish the XTR brakes on the Fat Chance Yo Eddy and stainless steel cables. No need for housing because I have that in bulk.
“Maggie” had problems getting into and out of the Audi A4 with her injury. I mentioned that Andrew and Joan, who are in their upper 70’s, both drive mini-vans because of the added height, then I mentioned that when I restore the truck (1966 Chevy C-10 Fleetside longbed) that I could adjust the height to be lower and the height of a minivan, and I kinda got a positive response.
AJ says his dad had a truck with a 383 (stroked Chevy 350 with a 400 crank) and his father found it to be impractical: too much torque and horsepower; and it also guzzled gas.
So now I’m thinking of downsizing the engine to a ZZ6 Chevy 350 crate engine to be more practical…
BTW AJ has a 1955 Chevy step side show truck besides having 2 1/2 Porsche 356’s. The half is a parts car that is not worth restoring. Pretty much he hoarded mucho Porsche parts like engines.
Know that AJ’s dad was a greaser from the Bronx who was a car nut who’s specialty was bodywork and paint. In fact AJ’s shop was once his father’s paint store. AJ’s car collection is stored near the Berkshires at his dad’s warehouse.
So now/today I kinda set the hook into my 1966 C-10. I’ll be looking into that ZZ6 crate motor. BTW the crate motor I had in my 84 Jeep Scrambler with a half-cab was a Chevy ZZ3 crate motor that came with a dual plane intake for a 4-barrel double pumper. The newer ZZ6 comes with fuel injection, serpentine belt, computer and wiring harness.
Both engines produce 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque.
I’d buy the “Turn-Key” setup that comes with a tranny and clutch. I want that T-56 cast iron monster tranny that is a close ratio 4-speed with two overdrives that is rated to 750 HP.
I’ll be replacing the stock axel with a Ford 9 inch with a posi.
A full sized truck with an 8 foot bed set at a mini-van height should be mucho evil.
Cal
Bought 3 pairs of sneakers out of the clearance rack at DSW, all universally 40% off plus a $20.00 savings coupon if I spent more than $100.00. Black low Converse, White leather Pumas, and New Balance. I wanted to enjoy at least $10.00 off, but when I saw the 40% off I tried to load up the truck and also inflated the coupon from $10.00 to $20.00.
Visited AJ, and I think the woman who came in was one of his stalkers. Lucky guy he has several. LOL.
I bought pads to refurbish the XTR brakes on the Fat Chance Yo Eddy and stainless steel cables. No need for housing because I have that in bulk.
“Maggie” had problems getting into and out of the Audi A4 with her injury. I mentioned that Andrew and Joan, who are in their upper 70’s, both drive mini-vans because of the added height, then I mentioned that when I restore the truck (1966 Chevy C-10 Fleetside longbed) that I could adjust the height to be lower and the height of a minivan, and I kinda got a positive response.
AJ says his dad had a truck with a 383 (stroked Chevy 350 with a 400 crank) and his father found it to be impractical: too much torque and horsepower; and it also guzzled gas.
So now I’m thinking of downsizing the engine to a ZZ6 Chevy 350 crate engine to be more practical…
BTW AJ has a 1955 Chevy step side show truck besides having 2 1/2 Porsche 356’s. The half is a parts car that is not worth restoring. Pretty much he hoarded mucho Porsche parts like engines.
Know that AJ’s dad was a greaser from the Bronx who was a car nut who’s specialty was bodywork and paint. In fact AJ’s shop was once his father’s paint store. AJ’s car collection is stored near the Berkshires at his dad’s warehouse.
So now/today I kinda set the hook into my 1966 C-10. I’ll be looking into that ZZ6 crate motor. BTW the crate motor I had in my 84 Jeep Scrambler with a half-cab was a Chevy ZZ3 crate motor that came with a dual plane intake for a 4-barrel double pumper. The newer ZZ6 comes with fuel injection, serpentine belt, computer and wiring harness.
Both engines produce 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque.
I’d buy the “Turn-Key” setup that comes with a tranny and clutch. I want that T-56 cast iron monster tranny that is a close ratio 4-speed with two overdrives that is rated to 750 HP.
I’ll be replacing the stock axel with a Ford 9 inch with a posi.
A full sized truck with an 8 foot bed set at a mini-van height should be mucho evil.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A ZZ6 “Connect and Cruise” engine, tranny, clutch, wiring harness, and computer for an EFI system costs under $21K with free shipping. This comes with a 30K mile or 5 year warrentee.
The specs are upgraded to 420 HP and 408 foot pounds of torque. Comes with a compressor for AC.
My old ZZ3 had 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque, but with a 4 barrel carburetor.
Learning how to jet and set up a manual double pumper Holly 750 cfm was lots of fun. Real hot rodding.
Know that I swung that ZZ3 engine into a Jeep over 30 years ago.
A custom Ford 9 inch rear with posi and disc brakes is priced around $4.5K. Effectively the entire drivetrain would be all new.
Looking forward to my new/old truck.
Cal
The specs are upgraded to 420 HP and 408 foot pounds of torque. Comes with a compressor for AC.
My old ZZ3 had 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque, but with a 4 barrel carburetor.
Learning how to jet and set up a manual double pumper Holly 750 cfm was lots of fun. Real hot rodding.
Know that I swung that ZZ3 engine into a Jeep over 30 years ago.
A custom Ford 9 inch rear with posi and disc brakes is priced around $4.5K. Effectively the entire drivetrain would be all new.
Looking forward to my new/old truck.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Last year I grew feral cantaloupes that grew from buried kitchen mulch. Basically free cantaloupes ghetto style. I let them grow on the ground and I found some got infected with insects and other animals like chipmunks found free food.
This year I purposely planted seeds that were from a melon I bought (free), and I have feral ones growing from kitchen mulch that were a surprise, so now I’m a cantaloupe farmer.
Last years crop came from not so great yard soil. The melons that reached maturity were about the size of a softball. The only good thing was that the area got full sun, and know I never watered the plants.
So this year they are in my Calvin’s Mix of 50% cow manure, 50% peat moss for aeration and water retention. Also I suspect these seedlings will have a longer growing season.
Did some preliminary research on growing on a trellis. No hammocks needed, so less work. Growing vertically is more efficient too as well as neater.
Learned that when you pick up a fully ripe melon it kinda just falls off into your hand. No yanking required.
I bought 4 Roma tomato plants from our local nursery. They also has some odd cherry tomato plant they called Rapunzel because the fruit/vegetable grows in clusters like a hair extensions. Pretty much I want a less feral garden this year.
Today was like a hot humid summer day. Mucho glad I pulled Knotweed yesterday with cooler temps.
AJ gave me a steal deal on a bike for the granddaughter who only recently learned how to ride one. She got a Huffy as a Chrismas present, but it is just a basic bike that is a throwaway and future landfill. Anyways I talked with “Maggie” and perhaps saving $350.00 on a $500.00 bike is not a good reason to buy it because she is at an age where she would like to pick out her own bike.
Last time this happened Maggie bought a Trek that cost thousands because of online reviews, but soon discovered that even the smallest frame was actually too big for her. Then she had her bike crash.
Eventually Calvin, a man, found her a 10 inch Fat Chance Yo Betty. The reason why I mention that I’m a man is because women with PhD’s tend to be know it alls and don’t like listening to men, especially if his name is Calvin.
So pretty much an 11 year old knows more than a bike shop owner, a man, and Calvin, a man. What does a bike shop owner or a bike nerd know about bikes if they are men.
So anyways, another reason why men have shorter lifespans. Also know that men are very much in touch with their feelings, but smart rnough to know it is no sense to argue, and it is best just to suck it up and be quiet.
BTW the Trek will be gifted to Maggie’s daughter, the mom of the grandkids.
Oh-well…
Cal
This year I purposely planted seeds that were from a melon I bought (free), and I have feral ones growing from kitchen mulch that were a surprise, so now I’m a cantaloupe farmer.
Last years crop came from not so great yard soil. The melons that reached maturity were about the size of a softball. The only good thing was that the area got full sun, and know I never watered the plants.
So this year they are in my Calvin’s Mix of 50% cow manure, 50% peat moss for aeration and water retention. Also I suspect these seedlings will have a longer growing season.
Did some preliminary research on growing on a trellis. No hammocks needed, so less work. Growing vertically is more efficient too as well as neater.
Learned that when you pick up a fully ripe melon it kinda just falls off into your hand. No yanking required.
I bought 4 Roma tomato plants from our local nursery. They also has some odd cherry tomato plant they called Rapunzel because the fruit/vegetable grows in clusters like a hair extensions. Pretty much I want a less feral garden this year.
Today was like a hot humid summer day. Mucho glad I pulled Knotweed yesterday with cooler temps.
AJ gave me a steal deal on a bike for the granddaughter who only recently learned how to ride one. She got a Huffy as a Chrismas present, but it is just a basic bike that is a throwaway and future landfill. Anyways I talked with “Maggie” and perhaps saving $350.00 on a $500.00 bike is not a good reason to buy it because she is at an age where she would like to pick out her own bike.
Last time this happened Maggie bought a Trek that cost thousands because of online reviews, but soon discovered that even the smallest frame was actually too big for her. Then she had her bike crash.
Eventually Calvin, a man, found her a 10 inch Fat Chance Yo Betty. The reason why I mention that I’m a man is because women with PhD’s tend to be know it alls and don’t like listening to men, especially if his name is Calvin.
So pretty much an 11 year old knows more than a bike shop owner, a man, and Calvin, a man. What does a bike shop owner or a bike nerd know about bikes if they are men.
So anyways, another reason why men have shorter lifespans. Also know that men are very much in touch with their feelings, but smart rnough to know it is no sense to argue, and it is best just to suck it up and be quiet.
BTW the Trek will be gifted to Maggie’s daughter, the mom of the grandkids.
Oh-well…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Free books picked up at my local bike shop (LBS).
“Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.”
“Un.Spun” finding facts in a world of [disinformation]
“A year in the Woods” Twelve Small Journeys Into Nature
“One Man’s Journey” A Walk on the Croton Aqueduct Trail
“Wasted” How We Squander Time, Money, and Natural Resources and What We Can Do About It.
“If it is free, it is for me.”
The last line is not a book title. Sorry for the confusion. LOL.
Cal
“Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.”
“Un.Spun” finding facts in a world of [disinformation]
“A year in the Woods” Twelve Small Journeys Into Nature
“One Man’s Journey” A Walk on the Croton Aqueduct Trail
“Wasted” How We Squander Time, Money, and Natural Resources and What We Can Do About It.
“If it is free, it is for me.”
The last line is not a book title. Sorry for the confusion. LOL.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Back in the day I was a weight weenie. Understand that only weighed 145 pounds so a light bike had a compounded advantage.
The Ti Basso originally was a show bike and was displayed at some big bike trade show in Anaheim California. My friend Rod worked with this big bike distributor, and pretty much my Basso was a rebranded Litespeed. I kinda got an insider deal on a Ti bike.
It featured Suntour Micro-Drive, and at that time it was just released. Eventually I upgraded over time into a Dura-Ace 8-speed 12-26T using the seven-speed XC Pro shifters, and I used a Grafton crank with a 42/32/20. The 12-26T I still have and it has titanium cogs and Hyperglide ramping. Still also have that Grafton crankset that resemble a Cook Brothers crank.
Oddly the Fat Chance Yo Eddy is a hodge-podge of parts when Fat Chance was struggling and they used whatever parts they had laying around to outfit a bike. That time in the late 1990’s explains the mix of XT and XTR parts, but it does not explain the Shimano 42/32/22 chain ring set from many years prior.
Hmmm.
The crankset is a Shimano and the rings are kinda south, but I have other compact-drive capabilities, and other cranks to run a u-drive triple.
Then I also have a 9-speed Dura-Ace drive train on hand and mucho Dura-Ace cassettes that include a huge stockpile of 12-25T cassettes plus mucho spare cog-clusters for 12-25.
So I could do something only a weight weenie would do, and that is do a micro-drive 42/32/20 triple along with a Dura-Ace 12-25T.
It would be weird, but at this point out on Lawn-Guy-Land only one guy was known for this setup, and that was me, but it was with an 8-speed Dura-Ace. I still have this all kitted out…
But I’m tempted to update this with a 9-speed Dura-Ace Compact-Drive triple.
Also have spare 11-speed drivetrains, both long cage and short cage. Could easily do a 2x11 XTR and save the 9-speed Dura-Ace for the road bike.
I need new wheels for the Yo Eddy though…
Hmmm…
I mounted that Ti Stelle seat on the Yo Eddy. No padding or cush. Phil was right, kinda like sitting on a cinder block, but only 125 grams. You know me, I’ll try anything, and if it is free, it is for me.
Cal
The Ti Basso originally was a show bike and was displayed at some big bike trade show in Anaheim California. My friend Rod worked with this big bike distributor, and pretty much my Basso was a rebranded Litespeed. I kinda got an insider deal on a Ti bike.
It featured Suntour Micro-Drive, and at that time it was just released. Eventually I upgraded over time into a Dura-Ace 8-speed 12-26T using the seven-speed XC Pro shifters, and I used a Grafton crank with a 42/32/20. The 12-26T I still have and it has titanium cogs and Hyperglide ramping. Still also have that Grafton crankset that resemble a Cook Brothers crank.
Oddly the Fat Chance Yo Eddy is a hodge-podge of parts when Fat Chance was struggling and they used whatever parts they had laying around to outfit a bike. That time in the late 1990’s explains the mix of XT and XTR parts, but it does not explain the Shimano 42/32/22 chain ring set from many years prior.
Hmmm.
The crankset is a Shimano and the rings are kinda south, but I have other compact-drive capabilities, and other cranks to run a u-drive triple.
Then I also have a 9-speed Dura-Ace drive train on hand and mucho Dura-Ace cassettes that include a huge stockpile of 12-25T cassettes plus mucho spare cog-clusters for 12-25.
So I could do something only a weight weenie would do, and that is do a micro-drive 42/32/20 triple along with a Dura-Ace 12-25T.
It would be weird, but at this point out on Lawn-Guy-Land only one guy was known for this setup, and that was me, but it was with an 8-speed Dura-Ace. I still have this all kitted out…
But I’m tempted to update this with a 9-speed Dura-Ace Compact-Drive triple.
Also have spare 11-speed drivetrains, both long cage and short cage. Could easily do a 2x11 XTR and save the 9-speed Dura-Ace for the road bike.
I need new wheels for the Yo Eddy though…
Hmmm…
I mounted that Ti Stelle seat on the Yo Eddy. No padding or cush. Phil was right, kinda like sitting on a cinder block, but only 125 grams. You know me, I’ll try anything, and if it is free, it is for me.
Cal
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