Happy Birthday Ricky Carmichael
Thanksgiving Ordering and Shipping
Stylish Stocking Stuffers
Midlife Moto Crisis
WHOOPS!!
Featured Sale Products
Inspiration Gallery on RacerX Website
Holiday Call Center Hours
Lee Likes Bikes
Ask Andy
Still Noteworthy
From our Fans
Customer Testimonial
Quote of the Week
Betty's Boy
Changing Your e-Mail Address
Request a FREE Catalog
Fox Racing Brazil
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL
"Hello:
I have some Fox Racing mountain biking gloves and they are some damn good gloves!!! I spent about nine hours working in the woods and later making a huge bonfire with my gloves. It sorta got cold and those were the only gloves I had with me. Well...getting to the point...you guys should make an insulated set of gloves ...with the plastic stuff on it to protect you knuckles and stuff."
-Jason Scrag
WEBMASTER NOTES:
We hear you! Fox Racing now makes two snow gloves to keep your digits warm and dry:
Omni Snow Glove #59013Waterproof nylon shell. Removable Microfleece liner with hook and loop attachments. Rubber thumb goggle wiper. Adjustable wrist strap. One-hand operation elastic shock-cord opening with leash.
Navy, Black, or Grey
Size S,M,L
$45.00
Pipe Snow Glove #59022Waterproof stretch Spandura shell. waterproof stretch side finger gussets. Rubberized Clarino palm. Embossed neoprene knuckle panels. Rubber wrist tab with hook and loop closure.
Black or Red
Size S,M,L
$39.00
Visit your authorized Fox Racing dealer, shop online 24/7 , or call Toll Free 1-888-FOX-RACE Monday to Friday 6:00AM-6:00PM PST and Saturdays 6:00AM-2:00PM PST to place your order.
FEATURED SALE PRODUCTS
You can get the young motocross riders in your family outfitted in a Fox Racing uni at great sale prices.
Check our website for up-to-date availability on colors and sizes.
Junior Flite Helmet #01005
Kids HC Jersey#02031
Kids 360 Racepant #04024
Visit your authorized Fox Racing dealer, shop online 24/7 , or call Toll Free 1-888-FOX-RACE Monday to Friday 6:00AM-6:00PM PST and Saturdays 6:00AM-2:00PM PST to place your order.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
BETTY'S BOY
Here's a photo of the grandson of Betty, one of our most beloved employees. This kid is so cute, so tiny, and all decked out in his Fox Racing gear, head to toe. He's a future motocross star for sure, Betty!
ASK ANDYAndy:
I recently signed up for the newsletter and find your answers very informative. My son is a huge FOX fan! I bought my 10 year old son a used XR 70 as his first dirt bike thinking it would be a good first step. Of course mom was wishing he would just get over it!
To make a long story short he loves it, has trail skills, and now wants to go to the next level of bike and start to get on tracks. He is strong enough to easily handle his buddie's XR 80. I have been looking at XR 100's as that next step. Is this the right move or should I be looking at a more performance driven bike? He doesn't care about brand of bike. We are on a budget and are shopping used. Please help.
Take care,
Mark
Dear Mark:
Your son should be about ready to try out a 85cc 2-stroke machine. Especially if he wants to start riding at the tracks where there are jumps and much more intense terrain. I don't know how big of a 10 year old he is, but I started riding them around that age. I am currently training an 11 year old, but he is a pretty stout little guy and throws his 85cc around with ease. Being that your son already has the basic riding skills down, he should find the extra suspension and power to be a lot of fun. There always seems to be some used 85's floating around the dealerships, so head out to your local shop and see what you can find. If he can touch the ground, he is the right size.
If you do have luck finding a 80 or an 85, make sure to take him out to his familiar riding area and have him get familiarized with the new bike. It will have a lot more torque and he will need to get used to using the clutch more often.
Good luck and ride safe!
Hi, Andy:My husband and I read your column in every issue of the Fox Racing Newsletter. We always enjoy reading your responses and certainly get a kick out of some of the "interesting" questions. Well, this really isn't a question; just wanted to send you a pic to show you that you're never too young to start learning to ride. My husband races ATV's in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter, so my seven month old daughter is bound to have a few "toys" as she grows.
Keep it up...
Kim Greenwaldt
Hi Andy:
I've been riding for two years but I was introduced to the sport by my uncle who was the "B"-class champ back in the 80's. I started riding on a XR100 but soon was pushing the bike to the max. So I moved to a KX80. We have been riding on any open isolated spaces that we can find, but one by one the police have come and closed done the "tracks" because of some dopes (I use a very tame term to describe them, but would use much more extreme language if this was a private letter) who went there to ride at 2AM.
My question is: How can we promote better rider etiquette and promote our sport so we can get a permanent track.
From f0X_r|d3
(Singapore)
Dear Sirhc:
Hey, thanks for writing in from so far away. Pretty cool to get an e-mail from Singapore. You know, we have the same problems here in the states. All too often the fun for many is spoiled by the ignorance of a few. There is a solution, though. The next time you find a track or a riding area to ride on, see if you can make a gate or simply drive two poles into the ground and stretch a chain across them. Make sure that this gate is very easy to see so there are no accidents, but once you have it built, put a padlock on the chain. Start you own riding club and give a key to the guys you want to have one. This works pretty good for us here. In fact, the track I ride on the most has a gate like I just described and it has done a great job in keeping out the "dopes." Also, try your best to find the owner of the land and explain to him that you have a group of disciplined riders that wosj to enjoy riding safely. You should actually do this in advance to choosing your riding area.
I hope this helps. Keep up the riding over there and please write me back if you have any luck with the suggestion I gave you.
Good luck and ride safe!
Andy:
I look forward to watching your season progress in the pro class. I hope you will read this and answer it soon, because I want to purchase a pair of JAMES STEWART REPLICA boots for Christmas if I receive the "right" answers from you. I am a 52 year old trail rider. I believe I read an article in the Fox Racing Newsletter detailing the new JAMES STEWART BOOTS as having been designed by a shoe designer Fox hired from Adidas. As I recall, the article mentioned the comfort and the fact that the boot is made to fit over large calves. I also thought the boot was sized up to 14. I currently wear Alpinestars, size 14, and they rub a rash over the front of my shin every time I ride. The only reason I purchased Alpinestars is because they were the only boot I found that went up to a size 14. I have not been able to find an outlet that offers the JAMES STEWART REPLICAS in size 14. Do these boots come in size 14? I wouldn't ask except I am fairly sure I remember the Fox Racing Newsletter stating they did come in 14's.
Also, is my memory correct about the comfort being built into the inner boot, especially the part over the shin? And are they made to accommodate large calves? I can wear a 13 in some shoes. So if 13 is the largest size Fox Racing makes, do the lasts the Fox Racing boots are made from run large, or are they small like Nikes?
Thanks,
Mark Noble
Huntsville, Alabama
Dear Mark:
It is with great pleasure that I tell you that the New Forma Pro and James Stewart Replicas have exactly what you are looking for. Not only does Fox Racing offer the completely redesigned boots in a 14, but they have also been crafted to accommodate larger calves. I have been riding in a pair of the New Pro Forma's for about two months now and my feet, ankles, and shins have never been happier. I wear knee braces and my boots from the past used to dig the lower portion of the knee brace into my shin, so I feel you on the shin pain. Although, the Pro Forma's are articulated at the upper portion in an oval shape that gives you a lot more room in the shin area while remaining snug enough to keep out the elements.
The Pro Forma's were indeed designed by a former running shoe developer and this fact is apparent when you try them on. There are no pinches or anything that binds your feet and ankles, and the boot has a very "running shoe" feel to it. I have worn just about every boot made since the early 1980's and let me assure you that these are the most comfortable, long lasting, and best looking motocross boots that have ever been produced. This may sound like a sales pitch but trust me, the Pro Forma's are for real. They are cheaper than the Alpinestars and they offer more comfort features...bottom line.
I just called my in-house Fox Racing associate, Brett Conley, and he informed me that we do have the size 13's in stock but the 14's will be coming in soon. I wear a size 10 shoe and I find the size 10 Pro Formas to fit me perfectly. Fox Racing offers a 30 day return policy so if you purchase the 13's and find them to be too small, you can return them and exchange for the 14's which will be available soon.
Give the boots a try. I personally guarantee that you will be impressed with them.
Good luck and ride safe!
Andy:
A little about myself. I have been racing moto X for about 20 years now, since I was 5 years old. I grew up in Syracuse, New Yor, so our local tracks consisted of tracks such as Binghamton, Unidilla, and Frozen Ocean. I have even had the pleasure of racing against Carmichael back in 1989 in Gainesville, Florida, although I only saw him for a few seconds - once on the starting line and once when he lapped me.
I noticed a number of your questions come from younger, up and coming riders. So I thought my story and question would benefit. Back in June I was at a local track practicing for an upcoming race. I started running a few hot laps. Everything was going well until the 6th or 7th lap. I went to hit an 80 foot triple. I thought I was carrying too much speed into the launch, so I eased off of the throttle. I ended up coming up short, very short. I broke both my legs in two places (see photos) and got a pretty cool ride in a medivac helicopter.
Click for larger image.
So my question is: at this level of riding, how do you practice things like triples and large doubles without killing yourself while at the same time riding with in your ability?
Thanks,
Chris
P.S.The medics thought I was nuts because I wouldn't let them cut off my Fox Racing gear. But they did it anyway. Then my parents thought I was even more nuts because I replaced it before I could even walk. I guess some people will never understand!
WEBMASTER NOTES: I posted this letter and unique photo at the last minute, just before newsletter production deadline. Andy will respond next week, Chris.Hi Andy:
I have a bit of a dilemma before me. I'm really stoked about the new Yamaha YZ450F and the KTM SX450, but I'm not quite sure what to think of the four speed transmission. This is the part where you come into play. I ride a 50/50 mix of MX track and tight wooded trails and have rarely found myself in 5th gear. 6th gear is unthinkable! Ideally, I'd like to be able to put the bike in 3rd gear, rip off the shifter and never have to worry about it!
Ha!
Can you provide some insight to this new "Wide Ratio" transmission mystery? Thanks Andy, love your column in the newsletter!
Barry
Dear Barry:
I have yet to ride a YZ450 or a KTM 450, but I have ridden a CRF450. It also had a four gear tranny (I think) and all I can say is that was enough! I don't even know why they have a first gear, because second has enough torque to uproot a Redwood. My old friend Gary Emig has been riding the trails on his KTM520 and he says it is the best trail bike he has ever ridden.
When I was riding the CRF450 I found myself in third gear most of the time. I only used second in tight corners. You already mentioned that you would like to throw her in third and rip off the shifter...well, with the YZ450 and KTM450 you can just about get away with it.
The broad power curve of these brutes only needs the four speed tranny. And shaving those two extra gears cuts down on weight. If you ride primarily on a tight moto track and trails, you should be right at home on either of the bikes, and the 4-speed transmission. The 4-strokes are the bikes of the future. I think you will have equal luck with either of your bikes of interest.
Good luck and ride safe!
Hello, Andy:
I know you all are mainly about dirtbikes, but I have a problem. I race four wheelers. A Raptor. Yes I know...a mistake. Anyway, it did fine and I never broke anything frame wise until I widened it with plus 2" on the "A" arms and 3 inch offset rims. Yea...it's wide, around 49 inches. Well I was using stock tie rod ends three times ago. They keep bending and breaking. I mean SNAP! and over the handlebars I go, rolling down the MX track. LOL...for real.
I would like to know if you or anyone you know can help me??? Please...I am about to dump my craptor in the trash.
Thanks for your help,
Ryan
Dear Ryan:
I have an easy remedy for your problem. You see, a "Raptor" weighs about 100 lbs. more than a YZ250, so if you were to trade that badboy in on a two-wheeled machine you could immediately rid yourself of your broken tire rod problem...then you won't have to worry about cartwheeling down the "Motocross track".
Ok, before all of you ATV guys start ripping me a new one, just know I respect ATV riding a lot. In fact, ATV Fury is my all-time favorite Playstation game! I have my reasons for not sharing the four-wheeled love. Most notably are the times I have ate it in a corner that used to have a berm in it, before a guy hanging off the side of his quad sand blasted it the moto before. Then there was the time I landed on a quad that wasn't jumping the infield double, then I about got the crap beat out me by the 230 lb. gorilla that was riding it because I scratched his new fenders. Sheesh.
But, to each their own. I think the professional quad guys are highly talented athletes that deserve respect. I like to ride quads in the winter through the woods and stuff. Heck, anyone that has any form of off-road vehicle and enjoys riding in the great outdoors is cool in my book. I'd love to help with training or diet questions, but that is the extent of my capacity to give advise for four wheeled enthusiasts. When it comes to knowledge about extended axels, or safety nets, or thumb throttles...I have little to none. And when I am the next moto after the quad class, my bitterness intensifies.
Hey, I wish you the best of luck Ryan. Keep all four wheels on the ground and the throttle pinned!
For those of you who are new to the Fox Racing Newsletter, Andy Bowyer is an accomplished motocross racer with 20 years of racing experience. Five of those years were as a professional. Andy has traveled across the United States, earning seven amateur national championships along the way. Submit your questions on riding technique and gear to webmaster@foxracing.com Each week we'll post Andy's answers to a few of the best questions right here.
HOLIDAY CALL CENTER HOURSWe can help get your holiday shopping underway...our Call Center now has extended hours to serve you:
Monday through Friday, 6:00AM-6:00PM PST
Saturdays 6:00AM-2:00PM PST
We'll be open on Saturdays until December 21, so give us a call, Toll Free at 1-888-FOX-RACE.
CHANGING YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
If you plan to change e-mail addresses, or if you prefer to receive this newsletter at another address, please e-mail webmaster@foxracing.com Tell me your OLD e-mail address and your NEW e-mail address and I'll get you fixed up.
STILL NOTEWORTHY
Fox Racing BrazilbrAlo galera do Brasil, apresentamos o site brasileiro da Fox Racing. Agora voce pode ver a linha completa de Motocross, Bike e Sportswear da Fox pela internet. Os itens de Sportswear voce já pode comprar com conforto e segurança, sem sair de sua casa. Veja todos os detalhes em www.foxracing.com.br
Hello Brazilians, we are pleased to introduce our Fox Racing Brazil website. You can now see the complete Motocross, Bike and Sportswear collection online. Sportswear can now be purchased from the comfort and safety of your home. Check out all the details at www.foxracing.com.br
Fox Racing CanadaOur customers in Canada can order online and request catalogs for a modest charge.
Fox Racing EuropeIf you're lucky enough to be living in Europe, you can also shop online and request free catalogs.
Newsletter Archives
If you've missed past issues, don't worry...you can read them all!
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FROM OUR FANS
"Hi, Webmaster!
This is, by far, the most entertaining newsletter that I have ever read. I actually look forward to each one! Usually you just sign up for crap that just clutters your inbox. You have a perfect balance of fun, advice, and serious topics. I'm totally into motocross even though I haven't started riding yet. This newsletter definitely makes me want to start soon though, even if I'm a little old to start. (The story in your October 16th issue on the four year old kid who can rip it up put me to shame).
Thanx again for a thouroughly enjoyable and informative newsletter. Great job guys! Especially Andy!"
-Deborah
Highschool Senior in New Mexico
THANKSGIVING ORDERING AND SHIPPING
If you shop with Fox Racing over the four day Thanksgiving Holiday and choose FedEx ground delivery, please allow an additional three days for your order to be delivered, as this service will be closed during that time. FedEx express will ship as usual.
Fox Racing will be closed on Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving Day), back open for business on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th to take your phone orders. Call Toll Free 1-888-FOX-RACE.
And don't forget, you can shop online 24/7, 365 days a year from the comfort of your home.
Hi, Fox Racing Fans:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICKY CARMICHAEL
Today is Ricky Carmichael's 23rd birthday and there are loads of folks here at Fox Racing headquarters who wanted to send their greetings to our motocross champion:
"Dear RC:
Here's wishing you a Happy celebration of your Birthday.
Your birthday marks the completion of an awesome year. A record breaking season in your professional race career. And a momentous year in your personal life as you and Ursula committed yourselves to one another in marriage."
Congratulations,
Geoff & Josie Fox
Founders
Fox Racing Inc.
"Happy Birthday RC! Congratulations to you and Ursula as well. The wedding was so awesome. Amy and I had a blast. I can't wait to hang out with you and watch you rip up the supercross series in a month. It's almost that time again. Keep up the hard work and the upside down pans.....IT'S WICKET!"
-Scrap
(John Fox, youngest of the four children of Fox Racing founders Geoff and Josie Fox and member of the Design Team at headquarters.)
"RC: I'm sure that we will be spending a portion of your birthday at the Mini-Olympics in Gainesville, just like we have for the last 13 years...now that you are 'The Man' you can do a drive by, sign a few autographs, check out the latest crop of super fast amateurs and head to the house to continue your training for the supercross series. Remember when you were 10 or 11 and we would head to the mall to go birthday shopping? We would always hit the sporting goods store to check out the latest Nike shoes...then hit the food-court so you could see the little cuties in town. We always had to have you back to the track so you were ready for the supercross portion of the Olympics...some things never change.
The great news is that you are still the same guy...we still hit the malls together, only now the cuties in town chase you for autographs!!
Happy Birthday Ricky! It's OK to get older...just don't ever grow up!"
Scott Taylor
"Happy 23rd Birthday and Aloha from your friend, Todd Hicks."
STYLISH STOCKING STUFFERS
The little things are fun to buy...you should order doubles, because you're probably going to keep some of these for yourself!
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| Visit your authorized Fox Racing dealer, shop online 24/7, or call Toll Free 1-888-FOX-RACE Monday to Friday 6:00AM-6:00PM PST and Saturdays 6:00AM-2:00PM PST to place your order. | ||||||
MIDLIFE MOTO CRISIS
Motocross is big these days among Baby Zoomers - Middle-aged riders nostalgic for the thrills of their youth.
By Art Carey
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Bill Colihan (Fox Racing Newsletter subscriber) lifts weights five times a week and often slips out of his office at lunchtime to ride a mountain bike in the nearby Valley Forge park. On days when he can't get to the gym, he pumps iron at home.
Colihan, 43, is proud of his lean and muscular physique. But staying fit has nothing to do with vanity and everything to do with his passion: Motocross. Cross-country racing on motorcycles. Fox-hunting on a dirt bike, except instead of chasing a fox, you're chasing the maniac in front of you and trying not to get "roosted" by the mud spewing from his tires.
"It's a combination of boxing and ballet," Colihan says. "It's like boxing in that you're getting the crap beat out of you, and it's like ballet in that you're trying to do it as smoothly and gracefully as you can. At the same time, you're having so much fun, you're so completely in the zone, the moto zen, that it doesn't feel like exercise."
Motocross, also known as MX, offered some of the most spectacular thrills at this summer's X Games here. Who can forget the high-flying acrobatics of Mike Metzger? Travis Pastrana, the sport's superstar, is renowned for his airborne motorcycle minuets - and is the idol of many death-defying dudes with rubber skeletons.
"Wild Bill" Colihan is different. For one thing, he's about twice as old and half as limber. For another, he has a more visceral sense of his mortality. But his zeal is no less intense. And in that, he is just like many of his peers.
Indeed, the big MX story these days is not the crazy back flips being executed by brash young hot-dogs, but the rekindled infatuation with motocross among veterans and seniors - men and some women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond who have come back to a bygone pastime with fresh enthusiasm and a wicked thirst for adrenaline.
Call them the Baby Zoomers.
"As motorcycling becomes more popular in general, the motorcycling population is aging," says Tom Lindsay, spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association, which boasts 270,000 members. "So it's really no surprise that more middle-aged people are riding, both on- and off-road."
"Sales of new motorcycles have grown by about 20 percent in each of the last four years. The e-word fits: exponential. What is clear to us from the growth of the sport, and is clear to those who participate, is that people can enjoy motorcycling whether they're 22 or 52."
Many Zoomers got their first motorcycles - minibikes with wheels the size of a dessert plate - when they were 6 or 7 years old. Their MX lust was fanned by On Any Sunday, the 1971 documentary that features Steve McQueen and is the sport's Ur-movie. "That was their introduction, their indoctrination," says Davey Coombs, 37, editor-in-chief of Racer X Illustrated, an 80,000-circulation magazine. "They said, 'I got to get me a bike.' And they spent their teen years riding and racing. Then they grew up and went to college. They got married, got jobs and mortgages and kids, and the bike got sold."
"This new movement, this new spurt, is the same guys, older now, with some free time and spending money. They see motocross on TV, and they say, 'Hey, I did that when I was a kid, and I can still do that.' So they're treating themselves to a new bike, or buying something used. They're finding each other on the Internet or at the local track, and they're forming clubs and spending their weekends riding again."
No one knows for sure how many over-30 MXers there are today. Coombs estimates that about half a million people of all ages participate in the sport nationwide. One clue: a full quarter of the 19,000 entries for the most recent amateur national MX championships came from vet-class racers - riders over age 30. Extrapolating from that, the number of Zoomers could well surpass 100,000.
Colihan is one of them, and in many ways exemplary. At age 5, he got a minibike, and advanced to bigger bikes. By the time his family moved to Atlanta, when Colihan was in ninth grade, MX had become his favorite sport. (So much so, his father purchased a house near three MX tracks.)
Colihan rode when he was at the University of Delaware (on a makeshift track behind the Chrysler plant) and even while studying for his MBA at Villanova. For a while, work and family responsibilities eclipsed his MX mania. But today, Colihan, who lives in Kimberton, Chester County, and is president of Knowledge Express, an on-line research company that serves the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, is "out hammering again."
He does much of his hammering at Pagoda, a public racetrack and private club in Birdsboro, Berks County, and at the Southern Chester County Motocross Club. SCCMX has about 45 members, all over 18, who practice on a private 1.2-mile track tucked behind the New Garden Airport.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, about a dozen middle-aged, high-testosterone men showed up, hauling their Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis and Kawasakis in pickup trucks and trailers. They suited up - pants, jerseys, boots, helmets, goggles and chest protectors - and took to the track.
Within an eye blink, they were soaring over peaks and tabletops; picking a line; riding the high side; shredding berms; ripping the whoops; catching big air, with the throttle WFO (wide flat open).
After a "moto," a set of six to 10 laps, with their hands numb, their forearms and legs burning, they pulled in for a breather. Sweat rolled down their brows, but their faces glowed with ecstasy.
"It takes you fully out of yourself. Your mind and body are totally into it," said Mark Satterly, 47, of Landenberg, who runs an art gallery in Kennett Square. "You have to be 100 percent there or else you'll land in the dirt. . . . And when things click, when you really nail a good run, everything is released, all your pressures and worries. You're completely at peace."
Several riders used the word "blast" to describe the experience, because the rush is so explosive and enthralling. The course remains the same, but the terrain changes every day, every lap. Mental acuity is as necessary as physical agility.
One thing that makes MXers mad is the assumption they're just riding motorcycles, that it's a passive pursuit in which the machine does all the work."Half the time you're riding the bike, and half the time the bike is riding you," quips SCCMX president Steve Phillips, 42, a mushroom grower from Kennett Square who has the build of a linebacker and has played his share of rough sports.
Some Zoomers train for amateur races and to better their performances. But most are content to compete against themselves and the track.
"I ride at about 80 percent of my maximum ability because I want to be able to do this the rest of my life," says Colihan, whose ribs were still smarting from a recent rendezvous with the rigors of MX. "The best day riding is a safe day."
"It's like skiing, touch football, or tennis," says editor Coombs. "You play to your means. The older you are, the more responsibly you ride. Unlike when you were a kid, you have to go to work in the morning. And if you twist an ankle or break a leg, you're not going to be much good on Monday when you have to clock in."
"Everybody here took a break," says SCCMX member Chuck Kobosko, 45, of Newark, Del., who dropped out of MX in the '90s. "But you can't get rid of the itch."
"You know how, if you don't have sex for a while, you start dreaming about it?" Colihan asks. "Same with motocross. You start dreaming about hitting the big jumps, floating through the air. And you wake up the next morning with a burning desire to get back on the track."
reprinted with permission of the Philadelphia Inquirer
INSPIRATION GALLERY ON RACERX
Of course you all read Davey Coombs's weekly "RacerHead" column on the RacerX website, right? Like we've said before, this is mandatory Friday afternoon reading for Fox Racing employees and all serious motocross fans. In the November 15th edition of Davey's "RacerHead" column he mentioned (and posted the artwork of) our latest Inspiration Gallery winner, Todd Moniz. Todd won our contest for submitting a truly excellent handdrawn piece featuring James Stewart.
So, thanks Davey, for highlighting this!
We have recently received a few new pieces to add to the gallery which will be entered into the November '02 contest.
If you have an artistic side when you're not riding, send your Fox Racing-inspired artwork in .gif or .jpg format to Kelly Rupp at mxkel119@aol.com Each month we award a prize to the most unique and creative Fox Racing-inspired entry. Check out all the current entries at the Inspiration Gallery.
The November '02 contest closes on the 30th, so send your artwork to Kelly soon!
WHOOPS!! If you have a funny, embarrassing, or humiliating story from the track, send an e-mail to webmaster@foxracing.com Each month, our WHOOPS!! judge, Mike Miles, will choose three winning stories that will be sent out to over 200,000 newsletter subscribers, posted on the Fox Racing web site, and eventually archived for future reading enjoyment. When you send in your story, be sure to include your full name and address so we can contact you if you win.
The author of the winning story will receive a $100 Fox Racing product shopping spree, and the two runners-up will each enjoy a $50 Fox Racing product shopping spree.
Get your creative juices flowing by reading some of the hilarious stories we've received over the past year and a half at WHOOPS!! Pick a story or two to read - it may remind you of your own bloopers and blunders.
We have already received several dozen stories for the November '02 contest (which closes on the 30th), so get your story to webmaster@foxracing.com ASAP.
LEE LIKES BIKES
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| Artwork by Rich Steels |
(p
-n
l
t
-mt)- adj - next to last
Only two weekends remained before my shoulder surgery. The doctor planned to screw a torn muscle back onto my arm bone, grind 5-8 millimeters from one of my shoulder bones and remove a bunch of tattered cartilage.
He said it would be three months before I could move my arm normally - riding would come some time after that. In the past 12 years I haven't been off the bike for more than a week. Cycling has provided me with commutes, exercise, fun, competition and, to be honest, my self identity. I had no idea what would happen if I couldn't ride. The very prospect made me sad, confused and apprehensive. As I wrestled with the transition from riding to resting, the first winter storms swept through our local mountains.
AccuWeather.com predicted it would pound all week then clear up Sunday. We planned a big ride in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the summer dust would have cured into loam, and the sun would make for a perfect day.
Sunday dawned dark and wet. Rain poured in sheets, and wind toppled trees. But with only two weekends left pre-op, you can bet the ride was still on. We met at my buddy Rob's house and dipped into the forest at the end of his street.
Side note: The URL for that weather site should be InAccuWeather.com
slog
(sl
g)- v - to make one's way with a slow, heavy pace against resistance.
In dry weather we can spin right up the seven-mile climb. But today the fire road was more like a mire road. The ground accepted our penetrating knobs, then refused to release them. As I strained to pedal I imagined tendrils of glop pulling from the muck to my receding tires.
As we climbed it got windier, wetter and slicker. As we crossed channels of wet clay, our rear wheels spun twice as fast as our bikes moved. Here's an impromptu tire comparison for mud climbing:
- WTB Mutano Raptor: Rob's superb hardpack tire clogged up and spun as if on ice. It was more like a Brian "Boitano" Raptor.
- IRC BackCountry: My small knobs were losing grip in the slickest of slick, but their wide spacing kept the tire clean.
- Specialized Enduro: The best of this test. Impressive considering it's also a great hardpack tire. Brandon's smooth strength probably didn't hurt any.
(s
k)- v - to be drawn into an interior space because of the difference between the internal and external pressures; to be contemptible or disgusting.
Our filthy chains, unwilling to release the rings on the upside, repeatedly jammed themselves between our cranks and our chainstays. When we were going slowly (= climbing) we could feel the suck begin then backpedal a bit to release our chains. But on the downhill, the chains sucked quickly and badly. Rob's chain sucked so deep we had to loosen his crank to rescue it. Maybe that's why they call those tubes chainstays: when your chain gets jammed between them and the crank, that's where it stays!Tip 1: When the weather gets interesting trade your White Lightning for something more oily. Last year I ran 3-in-1 oil. It's a fraction the cost of bike lube, it stays clean and, best of all, it keeps your doorknobs in tip-top shape.
Tip 2: Rob's chain sucked the worst, and I blame its brand-newness. The oil chains come with is for packing, not lubricating. When you install new links, clean your chain and throw down with some real oil.
savor
(s
vr)- v - to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish.
Ten miles of wet downhill singletrack with a few buddies makes for great living. We slipped through clay, splashed through puddles and carved through loam. Everything was dusky, moist and fecund - like riding in the earth's womb.
The only bummer was vision. The outsides of my glasses grabbed water from every passing leaf, and the insides fogged to opacity. Wiping was useless. I finally gave up and ran naked corneas. 
My astigmatic eyes made everything seem smudged and a little farther away. I normally freak out when I can't see what's coming, but I guess sometimes you just have to have faith. I followed my slip-sliding bro's by feel, letting the bike do its thing and savoring our penultimate frigid, soaked, shoulder-aching adventure. Rocknroll,
A reader responds to last week's column in which Lee described his upcoming shoulder surgery:
Hey, Lee:
Sorry to hear about your shoulder, but as a sports medicine/orthopedic physical therapist I can say that the end result will probably be worth it. The rehab is tedious and no fun, but once the normal joint space is restored (the acromioplasty), and the RTC(supra) muscles regain their functional strength, I bet you'll be a satisfied customer. Here is a key to full return to function; scapular stability !!! Even if that means nothing now, eventually you will be intimately familiar with the concept!
I hope everything goes exceeding well, hang in there! It gets way better down the road.
Brian Coleman, PT, MPT
Quad/Med, LLC
Another reader writes to Lee:
Hey Lee:
I am looking at getting a used 2002 15" Kona Roast but I am not sure if it will fit me I am 5'11" and weigh about 165 lbs. I am going to be doing urban riding, dirt jumping, and some trials. I am fairly new to freeriding. I have always wanted to do this kind of riding but never had the money to buy a freeride bike. If you could respond to this email it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Eric
Eric, dude:
The top tube on that Roast is 21.7 inches. That will probably feel fine for jumping and trials, but it will feel short for more general riding (zipping around town or hitting trails and stuff). I wouldn't be surprised if you bash your knees on the bars once in a while. If you're used to a little BMX bike, the 15 will work well for you. Otherwise I suggest something longer. The next size up, the 17, has a 23-inch top tube. That's more like it.
Good luck, and tell me how it goes,
OUTCOME:
Hi Lee:
I decided to go with the 15" Kona Roast and it seems to do just fine for dirt jumping and trials. I will just have to get used to cruising on a smaller bike when I want to ride from place to place. Thanks for the advice. It was a big help in making my decision. Keep up the good articles and keep those pedals kranking.
Eric
****
Lee McCormack is a bike FREAK - he eats, sleeps, and lives bikes. He also happens to be a top Vet Expert DH and slalom racer in the Bay Area, California. He rides cross country, both on a single and a tandem and commutes to work on a recumbent. Basically, he's been addicted to bikes for twelve years. In addition, Lee is an experienced writer and editor, being a founding contributor of BIKE Magazine. He has written for Mountain Bike Action Magazine and the Contra Costa Times newspaper. Finally, Lee is quoted in a book titled "The Quotable Cyclist: Great Moments of Bicycling Wisdom, Inspiration and Humor", sharing a page with Ned Overend and Greg Lemond.
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