Finding Your Path™

I Want Your Biking Pics and Stories…

Hi Gang…

I received an email (posted below) from Charles in Indiana. He found my blog after Sanchez won the Gold on an Orbea in the Olympics road race. I also ride an Orbea. I will share this…

That is where similarities between Sanchez and myself ends (our bikes were made by the same company in Spain).

Believe me when I say, I can relate a whole lot more to Charles than I can Sanchez. I also ride the “NBO” trails (a new acronym Charles taught me) “No Big Obstacles”.

I love to hear from everyone who has found joy and better health through biking.

I’ve posted his email and the pic Charles sent me of him and his bike. I’ve also posted a pic of another guy who likes our type of riding. Recognize him?

Please, if you have biking pics and/or stories you would like share, send them to me; I would love to post them.

Mitch

I found your site after checking out Orbea bikes when the
Olympic gold winner was on one. ie:google. Never heard of them until
then. Alot out of my price range. I bought this Giant about five
months ago. It's my third bike, they seem to be progressing upwards in
quality as I go. Anyway, I love biking on both street and "NBO"
trails, "no big obstacles". I'm in the process of riding the wheels
off this bike. I'll be checking out your site, been fun reading some
of the things on it so far.

Charles

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

 

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

Newest Urban Prodigy - Orbea Alma 29er

Here's a closer shot of the bike. See the post below for my report on this awesome bike.

A Dream on Two Wheels

Well, it's done - the newest Urban Prodigy!!!

This is my own personal ride.  To start off, it’s a 29er. The frame is the ORBEA's carbon

Alma

29er carbon fiber 18" Frame.  To my knowledge, this is the only full carbon 29" frame made.  Here is the company slug for it:

“Are you ready to join the 29er revolution? Now is the time to take a look at a new generation of 29er – Orbea’s carbon

Alma

. Orbea has created the lightest, fastest, most technologically advanced carbon 29er ever. A mix of 80% T700 and 20% M30s high modulus carbon is molded into a frame that is laterally rigid with its oversized downtube with integrated fender. And the Four Point rear end, with its unique parallelogram design and integrated, molded-in dropouts is vertically compliant. Get all the advantages of 29-inch wheels – more stability on downhills, better cornering, more traction – without the weight.”

Bottom Line from me:

It weighs in at 3.4lbs necked.  I’ve taken it on two awesome rides and can’t wait to put more miles on this beast.  Before I go on, I’ll give you my build out.  Here are the specs…

Frame:                            Orbea - Alma 29er 18” carbon

Fork:                               One On Carbon

Crank:                             Bontrager Race X Carbon

Cassette:                         Shimano CS-M760 XT

Shifters:                          Shimano XTR M970

Front Derailleur:               Shimano XTR M971

Rear Derailleur:                Shimano XTR M971

Chain:                             Shimano XTR CN7701

Headset                           Kane Creek Intergraded

Pedals                             Bontrager King Earl Platform

Saddle:                            Cloud 9

Seat Post:                        Ordea Carbon

Handle Bar                       Bontrager XXX Carbon Riser

Stem:                              Bontager XXX Carbon

Grips:                              Ergon

Brakes:                            Shimano XTR M975 Juicy

Blake Levers:                   Shimano XTR

Spacers:                          Bontrager Carbon

Tires:                              Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 29x2.0

Wheels:                           Mavic A317s

Hubs:                               Shimano XT M765.

I know, I know!  How could this not be a great ride?  It’s as cool to ride as it is to look at… it’s the best. At least the best I’ve ever had. At a little over 24lbs built out, its pretty light for an urban ride.

It's very stiff, but with all the carbon it takes bumps relatively easy.  It’s faster and the handling is quicker then the Motobecane, but I have to say, even though I love those Marathon Supremes, the cornering seems a bit more stable with Schwalbe’s Big Apples on the Motobecane.

It climbs like a cat and descends just as quick.  This is the first time I’ve ever used juicy brakes and I’m very glad to have them. Going fast on tight curves and head-high steep hills, sometimes you’re just not quite sure what’s ahead of you.  Stopping with ease is a blessing.   

That’s it for now… I’ll give you an update after I get a few miles on it.

I hope to be able to show you some pics this week or next on the first three Urban Prodigys we’re building out to sell.

Keep checking out my blog to find out how to get your hands on your own Urban Prodigy dream bike.

Time to Hit the Trail

Mitch

My CK: Part 2

I’ve been telling you about my Clark Kent. The newest attraction to my CK are the Marathon Supreme tires.

Here is the company slug on the tires…

Marathon

Supreme has a new tread compound from Schwalbe called "Magic". It has better grip on pavement with low rolling resistance. The very flexible sidewall also reduces rolling resistance. For some reason, Schwalbe considers a dynamo strip to be "unsightly", so they've eliminated it from the Supreme. But there's still a reflective sidewall. And the best part is perhaps the Vectran fabric used for puncture resistance. It's extremely tough, with a very tight weave, making penetration of the casing very difficult for glass and nails.

These are one tough set of tires and a little pricey - somewhere between $55 -$65 a tire, but I think they are well worth it. Bottom line: the rubber that goes into this tire is the same compound that was used on the balloons that deployed on the Mars probe for landing.  I’m getting a set of these for my newest 29er build out. 

That’s right, I’m building another 29er for my own use.  I know several guys who are interested in my Motobecane.

Now there is nothing wrong with my Motobecane… I love the bike and it is the first I’ve ever built out completely.  So why do another?

I just got a great deal on a ORBEA

Alma

29er carbon fiber 18" Frame.  To my knowledge it’s the only full carbon 29 frame made. I’ll give you updates as it progresses.

I’ll also be sharing with you news about the first Urban Prodigy being built to sell.  Yes, we should have three Urban Prodigies within the next month.  Oddly enough, the first is a 26 - not a 29er. This bike will be built around the Maxxis Hookworm Tire; that only comes in a 26”. I’ll post about the tires later, too.

WAY COOL!!!!

Time to hit the trail -

Mitch

My CK: Part 1

In my last post, I told you I would give more details on my Clark Kent F-14.

It’s my protégé for the Urban Prodigy.

First of all... The Clark Kent (or CK) went out of business in 1994, so the frame is a 1993-1994. My CK is 17.5. The frame is light but solidly built, being stiff in all the right places. It’s a very easy ride which handles my 5’11” 200 plus nicely. It climbs like a dream with a zippy descent. It’s not your ordinary titanium frame; these were hand built. The CK has an oversized downtube and s bend seat and chainstays. It has reinforcing gussets at all the important weld junctions by Ivo Vinkralek... one of the most respected welders in the industry.

As I said in an earlier post, my CK is set up for urban riding but I can switch out the fork, wheels (they are set up with a rear cassette, disc brakes and Bontrager Big Earls), and remove the carbon spacers and have it ready for some true Mountain Riding in about 10 minutes. 

Here are the specs for my urban riding set up. The Ti frame and carbon fiber components make it a very stiff ride, but it still absorbs shock like crazy.

FRAME:                            17.5” CLARK-KENT TITANIUM F-14

FORK:                              One on Ridged Carbon

BAR:                                Bontrager XXX Carbon Riser

SHIFTERS:                        SHIMANO XT M740SL 8SP

FRONT DERAILLEUR:          SHIMANO XT M751

REAR DERAILLEUR:            SHIMANO XTR M951

BRAKES:                           AVID MECHANICAL DISC -BBDB

BRAKE LEVERS:                 AVID ULTIMATE Ti

ROTORS:                          AVID WAVY DISC

STEM:                                       Bontrager XXX Carbon

HEADSET:                        CHRIS KING 1 1/8 NOTHREADSET

SEATPOST:                       26.8

Easton

Carbon  EC 70

SADDLE:                          Bontrager King Earl

BOTTOM BRACKET:           FSA PLATINUM PRO

73x113 ISIS DRIVE

CRANKS:                          FSA CARBON PRO ATB TEAM ISSUE 175MM

RINGS:                             FSA 44/32/22

CASSETTE:                       SHIMANO XTR

FRONT WHEEL:                 MAVIC CROSSLAND BLK

REAR WHEEL:                   MAVIC CROSSLAND BLK

TIRES:                                     

Marathon

Supreme, 50-559 / 26 x 2.00 595gr

SKEWERS:                        SHIMANO XT/ MAVIC

CHAIN:                             SACHS PC-91 8SP

DISC CONVERTER:             BRAKE THERAPY

COMPUTER:                      Cateye micro wireless

GRIPS:                                       Ergon with horns

The Ergon Grips are awesome and very comfortable.  I also have a set without horns on my Motobecane. If you have a wrist or hand injury these are a must.

More on the CK in my next post.

Happy Riding – Mitch