Reign or Shine

This is my new 2009 Giant Reign 1! and this is the story of its first ride. My new bike is so photogenic.

This is me trying to do Yoga outside the Planetarium at Kits point. I could use to do more Yoga as you can see the metal crab is more flexible than me.

This is my friend Mike Tryon. He was nice enough to come ride my new MOUNTAIN bike on the ROAD with me. But, really he's always up for a ride.

This is at Kits pool, on Kits beach. The pool was frozen on top so the sea gulls in the background were actually walking on the water. Reminds me of Jesus...

Our road based cycling trip also took up to Jericho beach. I don't know what I was going for here? Jumping into the water? not a smart move. I would have tried the Karate Kid crane kick thing, but there I definitely would have fallen in the water.

Further down towards Jericho beach, off of Point Grey road in the rich water front houses district you can see all along Kits beach to down town, and the North Shore. I guess I can see why one might pay $19 million for a house here. Not much of a yard though, just the entire Burrard inlet.

Yep, its definitely a Giant. It's a really nicely finished bike. No smoke and mirrors here just a nicely detailed simple design that works. Great bang for the buck on the reign 1 especially.

As reported in a previous blog I'm trying out this KS i900-R adjustable seatpost. As you can see it was in full form, set up on the bike. I did use its features to ride down a couple or stair sets. Works like a charm!

Outside Benny's Bagels on Broadway at Larch, we figured that we earned a couple beers, and some fuel. Two really good bagel melts later we were headed back home via Granville, and then to Stanley Park. Cassidy Freeman, starring actress on the superman TV show Smallville was nice enough to take this photo for us. She had a very nice dog named Shasta, a rare Swiss mountain dog that seemed to be interested in our food...not so rare for a dog.

Although I didn't get to ride my Mountain bike on the Mountain where it belongs, I did get to feel out the bike for any adjustments I might want to make to it. I also got to get some excersise and enjoy a wicked sunny day with a buddy. The one this that I didn't really notice at first was how good the bike pedalled. I suppose it just worked, and I had nothing to ignore. We were on the road for quite a while pedalling all the time, going up hills etc. and never once did I engaged the propedal lever on my Fox DHX 4.0 air shock. It never bobbed or felt slow, it just went. Even when I decided to put the power down over the bridge it lost nothing. At least I know when I get it to the trail it's going to rip!

Now please join me in a prayer to melt the snow...

-Scott

Don't be an AIR head

The new Troy Lee Designs Air helmets just came in! We've got some wicked styles in the crow (left) and Detroit (right) colour schemes. The air helmet is a new revision of their SE motocross helmet, made lighter and cooler. The D2 is the model that Troy Lee is most famous for in the mountain bike scene, but many riders especially racers are now choosing to wear motocross helmets like the Air for added protection.
Yes, there is a weight difference between an Air helmet and a D2 but anyone can see the added protection just by looking at the two helmets side by side. Your head is one body part that you can't skimp on protection. Troy Lee tried to make the Air helmet more interesting to the mountain bike crowd by making it vent better, and reducing the weight.

For me there is no reason not to run a motocross helmet for more extreme riding such as racing, or at the bike parks where you are pushing it harder, and would tend to crash harder. If you have had any concussions, especially bad ones, you should consider the added protection of the DOT rated motocross helmets. Every time you get a concussion it happens easier (less of an impact can cause a concussion), and the affects are more severe. Think about it!

-Scott

What Goes Up...Must Come Down, Quickly

Most people have started to see adjustable height seatposts popping up these days, but most have probably not heard of the KS posts. As you can see they look great! but there's more to them that makes them tough to beat for the competition...
This model is the KS (Kind Shock) i900-R, which is the remote adjustable model. The system comes with the remote lever, cable and housing to set it up. There is a barrel adjuster on the remote lever to tighten up any slack that might develop in the cable.
The seat post measures a full 400mm length allowing tall people to get full extension. The key to this post is it's 5 inch (125mm) available drop. When you have to run your seat post very high out of the frame 3 inches of drop does not get the post low enough to ride aggressively with confidence.
As a pneumatic system the post can be set at any height between full drop and full extension. Compared to some brands the clamp on the KS i900-R is forged and solid. No slipping here! The KS posts also move up and down on three ball-bearings that travel in machined groves so that there is NO play from side to side!
At 576g, with all the accessories there is about 200 gram weight penalty to use this type of post. However, anyone that has used one will tell you it is an asset that you will use every ride. It is ideal for aggressive XC to All-mountain use. You will use this type of post like you would use a shifter to chain gears (or modes) from up to down, and all around.
The KS post comes with a service guide to keep the post happy. Everything needs maintenance to be happy, but the maintenance on the KS post is simple and easy.
The KS posts come in three varieties, 3" drop in 350mm length ( better for people with shorter legs, and post extension), and 5" drop in 400mm length (better for people with longer legs, and post extension). There are both remote and lever operated models, and a lever operated model with no seat clamp offset.

I'll be lucky enough to test the KS i900-R to see how durable it is, and how well is operates. I'm really excited for my Giant Reign 1 to show up so I can throw this on and ride! Look forward to a review in the future.

For now check out this You Tube video of the KS in action
-Scott

Rebuilding an Oldie

Dave McHenry just rebuilt this classic Schwinn frame into a "light weight" cruiser bike. New fenders, cranks, drum brakes, and Alloy rims make this bike under 40lbs, instead of over 50lbs. These REAL steel bikes have a forgiving ride you'd only find on a Cadillac. Cruiser bikes are one of the most enjoyable bikes to ride. They don't ask for much, but give you a wicked ride in return!

-Scott

New Look for Chromag Chairs

Here are a couple wicked new 2009 Chromag saddles!
Cromag is a great local company located in Whistler, B.C. What better place to test parts? Chromag has been well known for their attention to detail, unique style, and quality. Chromag has recently expanded their line of saddles. One of their most popular models is the Trailmaster which comes in a perferated leather cover, it's the cat's ass, and a DT or Durable Top version with kevlar sides.
Chromag represents the mountain bike lifestyle, check out their wicked Chromoly hartail frames at www.chromagbikes.com

-Scott

2009 Fox TALAS 150 QR15

The new 2009 Fox Talas 150mm travel fork just came into the store! This is a really exciting fork for me, as I ordered the same one. Light weight at 4.18lbs, this fork will kill the all-mountain range!
Hangin' in thin air...
Fox has never made this fork before which is also exciting. This fork although not as stiff as the Talas 36 is almost a pound lighter, to the 36's 5.04 pounds. This would not have been possible without Fox's new 15mm quick-release axle.
Travel is adjustable on this fork from 150mm (6 inches) for full on rippin', down to 130mm (5 inches) which will make a nice all-terrain setting, and further down to 110mm (4.3 inches) for the lung burning climbs.
I'm super pumped to put this on the front of my Giant Reign 1! Look forward to an update in the future.

-Scott

Graffiti at Steed!

Stealth Boxxer

With no riding to do right now, especially downhill, I needed something to do with my bike. You can buy a decal kit for your Rock Shox forks, the Boxxer one comes with silver, red, or black decals to freshen up the look of your fork. I was into the stealth look of the black decals, I can't wait to see how they look on my V10 again! Sick!

-Scott

A New Steed is Born

We have with some help, developed a new image for Steed Cycles. You might have already seen it with our decals and T-shirts in the store, now we've got comfy Merino wool socks to show off. The socks are the Defeet Classico Merino wool model, just in time for this winter we're having!

You'll see more of our new logo popping up in, out, and around the store.

-Scott