The Monday Grind....

I love having Monday as my day off! It allows me to get out on gravel roads that are near completely empty of vehicles. Occasionally I will see farm implements, or mail carriers, but for the most part, its all mine. This gives me the perfect opportunity to catch up on podcast's or tune everything out and listen for the gentle whisper of God. (1 Kings 19:10-12)

I must admit that when I first moved to this area, there was a bit of sorrow for what would be a disconnect from singletrack riding and the whole MTB scene. Then I realized that within two blocks of my house that if I planned my route carefully, I could jump on gravel roads and literally ride hundreds of miles without ever having to ride on asphalt.

The counties do a good job of keeping the gravel fresh and chunky, so it is almost necessary to use a bike that can take a large volume tire for the cushion, yet have large hoops to keep things rolling at a reasonable pace. The 29er platform works really well for this since the bike can serve dual duty. There are still the occasional times when I get to load up on the car and drive to the trailhead for some singletrack work.

Bike Specifications:

• On-One Scandal 29er size 19.5"
• On-One Carbon Monocoque Fork
• On-One Smoothie Mixer headset
• FSA V-Drive 180mm MegaExo Crank
• Classic Time ATAC pedals
• 1x9 Drivetrain with MRP guide
• Easton XC-Two wheelset
• Clement LXV 120tpi tires
• Avid BB7 brakes
• Answer 20/20 Enduro bars
• On-One CNC stem
• Ergon GS2 bar end grips
• Easton EC70 seatpost
• Titec saddle

There are future plans to switch to a more quiet and smooth Shimano Alfine 11 drivetrain since the On-One Scandal frame features the SwapOut drop system to allow tensioning of the chain. Otherwise, I love this bike.