All the whips, past and present

I was thinking about it and realized I've had multiple bicycles through the years. From my humble beginnings to the multi-thousand dollar super-bikes I ride today, I decided to compile a list. So with no further adieu here we go.

1. Huffy Something or Another

Lots of fun on this thing, it spent a lot of time scraping gravel. Few nice scars from outings with this bike.

2. Red Gary Fisher 20"

Not me but same bike. Supplied almost all of my early two wheeled adventures. Finally met it's end when Cole (little bro in pic) decided to hit a brand new car at 25 mph trying to keep up with his older bros. Classic.

3. 2006 Gary Fisher Mullet

First geared

Then singlespeed (because I broke the drivetrain teaching my self how to be a mechanic). There it is, my first real mountain bike. The bike I used for all self powered acts of stupidity. First crash (hard), first dirtjump, first singletrack. Oh the memories.

4. Gary Fisher Piranha

My first bike I bought with my own money (lots of soccer games were reffed). I would call it the first hook, after riding I was like a newly formed crack addict. I couldn't get enough. *Notice unfortunate little brother after crash*

5. Trek Hifi Plus

Only owned the bike for about a week but it was my first 29er so it makes the list. The day after I got it I did the big one (A.K.A. The Dakota Five-0). I cut 3 hours off my time. Don't make fun of be because I used to be slow. Then just as fast as I got her she was gone.

6. 2012 Scott Spark 29 Team

Oh what the impulse buy you were. The Twin-loc system made me more aroused then Muslims thinking about their 72 virgins. Turned out to not be what I was looking for. So after thrashing, abusing and knocking almost every part off that I possibly could in Moab, I sold it to some sorry sucker in Colorado for way to much.

7. 2011 Trek Superfly 100

 Now the thing dreams are made of, a Trek Superfly 100, the mac-daddy of em all. The only reason I was able to afford such a fine piece of machinery is because the fine fellas at Rushmore Mountain Sports (shameless plug) hooked me up! Now far from stock I will be sad to see her go, but the new SL frame is looking fine. We will see.

8. Singular Swift Singlespeed

Perhaps one of the best finds on the interwebs. A guy had an all steel frame that was cracked at the driveside seatstay chainstay junction, and a kid that knew how to weld. So one free frame later I now had a singlespeed.

9. 2011 Trek Superfly

Why wouldn't I need a matching hardtail to my favorite bike? Then I found out carbon hardtails are less fun then full suspension carbon bikes. Now she's gone.

10. 2011 Trek Sawyer

Now that is a perfect example of form over function super sweet bike but rode like crap, way to slack.

11. Singular Swift Gravel Grinder

Needing a bike for the annual Gold Rush Gravel Grinder, and having a new singlespeed. She was re-purposed into something that was now needed.

12. Trek Remedy

Only thing left was a big hit bike

The remedy filled that void. 28 lbs of Enduro(TM) greatness.

So that just about wraps it up. There have been many more but I just listed the ones I felt were important. Could I get by with just one? Absolutely, but the blog isn't called Zach Likes Bikes for nothing.

Superfly 100 Crack

Ever just have the feeling that something is wrong? Me neither, but Wednesday night I stumbled across a post on one of the interweb forums (warning can be dangerous). It was about a crack in a 2011 Trek Superfly 100, which I own. After reading I thought (also dangerous) hey this guy had some of the same problems I am having, clicking noise that seems to have no source, huge leg muscles, extremely handsome, etc. Sure enough right under the seat stay bridge a crack more apparent then my lack of high level grammar courses.

Shit.

So I took to my trusty bike shop Rushmore Mountain Sports (shameless plug). After being treated with the utmost respect, she is being warrantied. The only thing that is slowing down the warranty process is the lack of original receipt, which shouldn't be hard to get considering my uncle owns the shop. They should be sending it in tomorrow. I hope I get a complete new frame or at least matching stay. I don't really want my bike to look like someone just threw up a bag of skittles on the damn thing.  

I'll keep y'all updated on the for-coming events. 

Over and out.

Realization

Today it finally hit me, hit me like Peter Sagan's hand on that poor, innocent podium girls buttox. 

I am almost done with high school. *Even though it makes me so sad that I can hardly bare the thought of it.* I am super stoked for the coming years; I will finally get to escape the Iron Fist that they call parenting. Meaning I will get to ride when I want where I want. I know this probably doesn't sound that great or that exciting for all the middle aged adults reading this but it is a first chance at freedom. 

So what is the only thing that will stop me from doing the things that I want to do? This damn ACL tear that I had surgery on about 7 months ago. How did I injure it you ask? From playing soccer, something my parents made me do. I don't even like soccer. But what happened is behind me and I can't really change it. Right as I was starting to feel better and get on the bike again, my parents came up with another great idea. Let's make him go out for track! So here I am being forced to do track and I re aggravate the pain in my knee, putting me off the bike for even longer. GRRRRR 

*Oh how hard it is being a spoiled child from an upper middle class family.*

*Read sarcastically