Finding Your Path™

Welcome!

My name is Mitch Raymer. I am an author, small publisher and avid bicycle enthusiast. Two of my biggest interests are:

• Helping people find work they love.

Getting healthy through bicycling.

This is what my blog is about (and a few other things along the way.) Take a look around. If you have any questions, contact me. My newest post is below.

Your Brother In The Word

Mitch

May... It's Gonna Be Busy

Well, after almost 15 years in the same house DK and I will be moving 45 miles north to Springfield.  God has really blessed us with this awesome new home.  Not only was it built by DK's favorite builder (Michael Dobbs) but it is in the neighborhood we have been wanting to move to  (three block from the trail head that I ride every week.)

I would like to thank all of you who were praying for us as we worked to put this together... and for those of you who didn't know, we ask that you keep us in your prayers as we pack and move over the next couple of weeks. My blog will be a little quiet until we get settled in.

Your Brother in the Word

Mitch

Introducing the 3rd "Urban Prodigy"

This bike is also a Motobecane Fantom 29, the second 29er.  It’s a 19” frame for those wanting a little larger bike. Our next bike will be a 20”.

Here are the specs:

01 Frame	Motobecane 29er
02 Fork	Rock Shox Metro
03 Crankset/Bottom Bracket	Shimano De4ore FC 540
04 Cassette/Freewheel	Shimano LX CS-M580
05 Shifters	Shimano XT m750 Rapid Fire
06 Front Derailleur	Shimano XT FD-M761
07 Rear Derailleur	Shimano XT RD-M761
10 Headset	Cane Creek S-6 Black
11 Pedals	Bulletproof BMX
13 Seat Post	Bontrager Race X Carbon
14 Handlebar	Bontrager Race X Carbon
16 Stem	Bontrager Race Lite 120mm
18 Brakes	Hayes MX4 160mm Disc
19 Brake Levers	Tektro
Other Stuff	Skewer - Spacers
Tires	Schwalbe Big Apple
Wheels	Bontrager Ranger Disc

We’ve had several folks test ride the Fantom 29 and they loved it.  A few of our test riders said they would like a little cushier ride, so I went with a Metro Rock Shock fork on this one.  I’ll tell you, it sure takes away the jarring you get on rougher roads. I still feel it takes away from acceleration, but I guess it’s all a matter of choice.  I will be going with another Metro Fork on our next bike, plus a shocked seat post for those looking for a more comfort ride.  That’s the neatest thing about the “Urban Prodigy” - you can do almost whatever you want.

This bike has all the performance of the first 29er, it’s just a tad less stiff.

I did an 18 mile ride Monday with 2 pals from Springfield. The 3 of us are all in our early 50s and in pretty good shape. 

One of my buddies was on his year-old Giant hybrid comfort bike; the other was on his older Trek MT bike.  They are both great bikes, but neither could keep pace with me, so I slowed down and just enjoyed the ride.  We were going to do 20 miles but after 15 my buddy on the Trek was about all in, so we cut 2 miles off the last leg. Back at the trail head they had both ridden all they wanted that day. I was a little disappointed because I was ready to put a few more miles in. 

These guys ride just as well as me – heck, one of them is better than me.

They want to meet with me next week to talk about getting an “Urban Prodigy” for themselves.

If you’ve outgrown that hybrid or your old mountain bike is just not quite the ride you’re looking for, it’s time to get your hands on an “Urban Prodigy.”

Our price on this bike is $1399.00.  So if you’re interested LMK.

 

Fantom 29 Motobecane: The Latest "Urban Prodigy"

Late Easter night, I told everyone the first “Urban Prodigy” was ready to go. 

Now the second “Urban Prodigy” is ready to hit the road, followed closely by a third.

This second bike is also a Motobecane; it’s the Fantom 29.  Yes, that is right - a 29er just as I promised.  This is one SWEET RIDE.  It’s a 17.5” frame for those mid-sized riders. 

Here are the specs:

01 Frame	My Motobecane 29er
02 Fork	New Origin 8 29er
03 Crankset/Bottom Bracket	Bontrager Race Crank
04 Cassette/Freewheel	SRAM 950
05 Shifters	Shimano XT m750 Rapid Fire
06 Front Derailleur	Shimano XTR
07 Rear Derailleur	Shimano XT
10 Headset	Chrsi King Silver
11 Pedals	KINK TRANSITION WELLGO
12 Saddle	Bontrager Race
13 Seat Post	Bontrager Race X Carbon
14 Handlebar	Bontrager Race X Carbon
16 Stem	Bontrager Race Lite 110mm
18 Brakes	Avid BB5
19 Brake Levers	Tektro RS360A
Tires	Schwalbe Big Apple
Wheels	Bontrager Race Lite

As you can see, there’s no skimping here. Most parts are OEM. I took this bike for a test ride on the county road behind Craig’s shop and I didn’t want to come back. With the Big Apple’s you don’t miss the shocks; these tires more then make up for that, but still roll like a street ride and they corner like they were made of glue.  I also really like the New Origin 8 : 29" Black Ops Blade Chromoly Steel fork.  It sure absorbs what little the tires miss. 

As you can see from the pics (above and below) this bike is definitely a head turner. 

Our price on this one will be $1499.00.  If you’re interested LMK.

A Closer Look at the Fantom 29 Motobecane

 

Do The Test

This great little video, produced in the UK, is used to test a driver's ability to detect surprise objects - particularly bicyclists. Do The Test. It's pretty cool - and I have NOT met anyone yet who passed it the first time through. Thanks, Cathy, for the video.

Meet Our 1st Urban Prodigy - The Bike, Not the Guy

Well, the first “Urban Prodigy” is ready to go. 

If two skinny tires and dropdown handlebars are not your thing… if you’re not hitting those rough mountain trails but you find that a hybrid or comfort bike is a tad too tame… and you’re not wanting the typical commuter, then we have an answer!!!  The “Urban Prodigy”.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that Craig (bike guru and owner of Downhill Bikes in Branson, MO) and I have been working on this project all winter. I’m happy to announce we have the first bike ready to go.

We thought that regular cycling Joes - like you and I - should have the option of a performance ride and still have the stability that is sometimes lost with a racing bike.

We start with a topnotch mountain bike frame and go from there.  Most but not all Urban Prodigies (IE our very first bike) will be built on a 29er frame.  We then throw in OME high-end components and add the stopping ability of disk brakes. When all is said and done you have one very sharp Urban Ride… hence the name “Urban Prodigy.” These bikes are made for the vigorous trials of most pot-hole filled roads, uneven sidewalks and curbs, and biking trails that sometimes are not too friendly.  They are made for fun, speed, stability, and all rate high in the eye candy category. 

Even though our first bike started with the stunning 26er polished aluminum Motobecane 700ht 19" frame, make no mistake - this bike was built around the Maxxis Hookworm 2.5" tires.

Maxxis Hookworm: “The original urban assault tire, designed to take the abuses of the most aggressive street riders. Huge air volume softens the drops, while the inverted tread design makes rolling resistance minimal. Bead-to-bead tread provides durability and traction whether you're dropping staircases, grinding rails, or riding in your local skatepark.”

The write-up above is just one of many on this tire.  I was so enthralled with this tire I knew it was going to have to go on at least one of our Urban Prodigies.  The only down side is it’s not made in a 29er, so our first bike is a 26er.

Here are the specs:

01 Frame	Motobecane 700ht 19"
02 Fork	SR Suntour MG90
03 Crankset/Bottom Bracket	Race Face XC Crank/FSA ISIS BB
04 Cassette/Freewheel	Shimano LX HG70
05 Shifters	Shimano XT m750 Rapid Fire
06 Front Derailleur	Shimano XT FD-M751
07 Rear Derailleur	Shimano XT RD-M761
10 Headset	intergraded cane creek
11 Pedals	Truvativ Pedals
12 Saddle	Velo VL-1162
13 Seat Post	Trans X
14 Handlebar	Zoom Lite Silver
16 Stem	Ritchey Comp Lite
17 Tape/Grip	Serfas Gel Grips
18 Brakes	Hayes MX4 160 MM disc
19 Brake Levers	Tektro
Tires	Maxxis Hookworm 2.5"
Wheels	Mavic 317 Shimano XT

As you can see from the specs and the pics, this one awesome ride.  The price on this Urban Prodigy is $1399.  We can take it down and professionally pack and ship it insured UPS for an extra $105.  I do take Paypal.  So if you think this is the bike for you, LMK.  I have a feeling it won’t be on the bike sales floor very long. 

Time to Hit the Trail

Mitch

Pics of Our 1st Urban Prodigy

Here are some detailed pics of our first Urban Prodigy. The specs are listed above.

Contact me if you have any questions.  - Mitch

Easter Greetings

Thank you, Brenda, for forwarding this to me. Happy Easter!

Custom Halo Figures - Or Mini Me's

It’s been a while since I wrote a post on my custom action figures, so I have a few to catch up on.  Though most of my custom figures are 1/6 scale or around the 12” size, these two figure are closer to 1/8 – 1/9 scale or about 8” tall.

My nephew Mike (on my wife, DK’s side) is a BIG Halo fan - the X-box game, not the kind you wear above your head, though he is a great kid and a young Christian. Anyway, he plays on a team with his church buddies and he and I play every time we get a chance. He also loves all my custom figures.

I got the idea to get him a custom Master Chief for Christmas, one with a likeness of his own head.  It did not take long to find out a 12” figure was out of the question.  So I contacted my source in Hong Kong to see what the most feasible way to do this would be.

They asked for a couple of head shots and a figure to put it on. That’s all they’d need.  After I got everything together to send off, I thought, Why should he have all the fun? So I got the stuff together and had a figure made of me, too.

Mike loved his custom Master Chief.  Mine is pretty cool, too.  Before he open the gift, I told  him it took me a long time to find this but it was the Halo Master Chief without his helmet - maybe the only one made - and I was sure surprised to see who he looked like.  SO WAS MIKE!!!

So here are both Mike and I, as our very own Master Chief from Halo.

P.S. Mike’s other Christmas gift from DK and I was a new Trek Mountain Bike.

Imagine That!!!

Time to hit the trail.

Mitch