Finally!!!!

after what seemed like forever, my new pedals finally arrived yesterday, and boy does it feel nice to be clipped in again!!!!
i'm thinking these pedals will make riding in the winter just fine with my Rocky boots, that is until i can talk the better 1/2 into letting me get a pair of Lake winter biking boots!! :)
I've been working 12 hours shifts 7 days a week, (although i took last weekend off), so my riding has been to work and then right home to help out with the family, and hitting the sack at around 9 p.m. to be up at 4 a.m.
hoping to have a few weekends off to really break in the pedals and give the Pugs (haa haa really me), a good workout!!!!

Peace.......

Today was a Good Day!!!

Up at 4 a.m.,
got to work at 4:55,
worked til 3:00,
punched out at 3:15.
hit up the dirt at 3:25.
pulled into the driveway at 5:30.

just short of 20 miles and i felt pleasantly at peace!!!
man i needed that ride today!!!

boy, i just gotta say, the Pugs has really brought back the joy of biking to me in a BIG, BIG, BIG way!!!
yeah it's made for the sand and snow......... but i gotta tell ya this thing is just one super sweet ride!!!

i did a little geocaching on my regular biking route, and the Pugs is one sweet machine in the woods without any true trails to be had!!! this thing goes where no other bike has gone for me.
a guy on the MORC website told me I'd love this thing in the fall, just for this reason, you can go through the woods, without a trail, but damn this spring has really been an eye opener on my new "fun machine!!!"
Here Here Dave!!!

it's a far cry from my full squishy Trek 90D, but isn't that the point?? i don't know if I'll even touch the poor Trek at all this summer!!?? she needs a rest anyway, hey???!!! LOL

i can really tell I've pedaled all winter long, damn if i say, I'm in some kick ass shape already!!!
i can't wait to hit up the local cycling club here in a week or two. some chins are gonna be on the ground when i pedal up with the "Fun Machine", and my big shit-eatting grin on my face!!!
OK boys and girls, I'm ready to ride.....how about you???!!!
when i first showed up to ride with them in 2003, i got some shit for not riding a road bike, but after two weeks of me hanging with the lead group, my mountain bike with it's fat tires (ha ha) were accepted!!
I'm already chuckling to myself when they get a load of the Pugs!!!
sorry no pictures, but i'll be damn if i was stopping at home before i started my ride today!!! LOL

Peace.............................

The Pug and The Eagle

my dad had hip replacement surgery in the cities this past week, and i went to check on their house a couple times while they were gone.
the last time.... i snapped a couple pictures.......................
it's getting pretty sloppy here in the northland, but it's all good!!

Peace...

My Pug Specs.

Here ya go, for the people who asked.

i guess I've never done a brake-down of the parts i choose for this build, i went with better parts for the drive train, for obvious reasons. the rest of the parts were most definitely middle of the road in price.
i did get an expensive headset, again for obvious reasons.
doing this kind of feels like I'm bragging, which makes me feel uncomfortable.

a bike is a bike, is a bike. I've never been one to look down on people because of what they ride. ride the bike that is the most comfortable to YOU, because I've seen and heard it a 1,000 times.........."i want to ride my bike, but it's just so damn uncomfortable after such and such a time."

i blame the bike shop they bought their bike from, for just throwing a bike on them without really taking the time to fit it to them the way they should!!! a bike shop that says "you can't test ride our bikes", is the bike shop you want to run away from as fast as you can!!!!

ride your bike as often as you can, and as far as you can. push yourself beyond what you think is possible for you. before you know it, you won't even think, you'll just do!!!

I've always thought that a reliable drive train is the most important part of any bike. if you can't move forward then what's the sense??

Peace, Joe

Frame: 18" 2009 ThunderHead Metalic Grey & fork.
Wheelset/Tires: 65mm Large Marge, and Endo tires.
Hubs: Surly front hub, XT rear hub.
Crankset: Surly Mr. Whirly triple crank (175), and 100mm BB.
Drivetrain: XT E-type front derailer, and XT rear derailer.
Brakes: Avid BB7's mech., Avid Elite brake levers, mongo large rotors.
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Seat: WTB Speed V
Stem: Ritchey Comp
Headset: Hope Elite
Shifters: Shimano SLX rapid fires.
Handlebars: Titec H-bars (thanks Doug), the best bars I've ever used!!!
Pedals: whatever my LBS had in the Blueberry bucket, i will be trowing my Time clipless pedals on as soon as the snow is gone.

1/2 Day of Work =

A great ride on the "Fun Machine" that is the Surly Pugsley!!!
Damn what a great late morning ride.
Started work at 5 a.m. and was done at 9 a.m.
Gotta love a flexible work place, and an understanding better 1/2!!!
I love you Cindi!!! ;)

10-15 miles in 2.5-3 hours, all done within 5 miles of our house. i was home in time to clean up and pick kids up from school. the bank temp said 36 at 2:45, so earlier today was just perfect!!!



The trail less traveled was my favorite of the day!!


The double lane.


no one had been on this gem for about 5 days, this was in the woods shaded by the trees.



The snow machine super double lane highway 1/2 mile north of town.


From one Fat tire to another!!

I wasn't going to do this.....

but i was in the garage after work today and i just couldn't help it!!!
when i saw my small tired bike, it was like a slap in the face!! LOL

WOW!!!




that iron ore really stands out against the snow.








Peace

Spilt Shifts, SUCK!!!!! BUT.......

I made the most of my time off with a ride on the Pugs on my way home...... well it was kind of on my way home!!!lol

these picture were taken with my iPhone, so the quality kind of blows!!! but i think you get the point.

i made a couple not so quick laps around "Pill Hill", here in the middle of town. the snow machines have made some nice trails around the hill. -9 and the trails were perfect, and almost like i was riding on asphalt. oh, and Doug, i was giggling the whole time!!!! ;)

this is the first time I've had a chance to really hit some trails with this "Fun Machine", and it did not disappoint!!!! i'm sure the walkers will be wondering what the hell made the big ass tire tracks when they go for their morning and nightly walks. lol


i just need to take a minute here, and say a big THANK you to my much better 1/2 Cindi....................... thank you dear for putting up with me these last few weeks, shit who am i kidding, months while my bike was getting done.......you truely are the best partner a guy could ever hope for and i'm very lucky to be with you!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!

Peace.................





on my way down.



somewhere in the middle.



before heading up.