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James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Hi All-
As I spend 98% of my RM time in here, thought this would be the best place to post up news. So here's what's happened so far this year:
Got married! :)
Going to be a father in August! We found out two weeks ago that we're having a little girl!

And...I'm moving! Moving back east, to Connecticut! Before you start warning me about winters/etc, know that I (and my wife) grew up back East. I'm from Montreal originally, lived in Westchester, and Long Island, and my wife is from Long Island (I went to HS out there too). So her family will be a ferry ride and a short drive away.
We haven't found a place yet, but I'm looking pretty hard, it'll be in the Bethel, CT area, and yes, I will be staying in the bike biz. Working with a brand with over 100 years of history, and less on the super-high-end stuff, more the recreational products. You can probably guess the brand. It's a step up for me, from part & accessories to complete bikes, and I'm stoked about it.
Also happy to get back East, near family and some of my oldest friends.

And yes, this means another garage sale...one of the downsides of my profession means that I can't always choose any brand of bike. So if you are a size 56cm or 58cm, and are looking for some chi-chi stuff, lemme know! :D

James
 
Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
Jeezuz...

Aight...so frames are out for me...

What you got in tires, chains (sram or shim), rear ders (shimano), front sprockets (53 DuraAce only!!! I'm a whore...sush!), and um....uh...oh yeah, BB's (Ceramic standard outboard...)????

I'm sure there's a few more things I "need"...just can't think of them right now...


Oh yeah...congratulations on the marriage (going on year 6 myself) and the daughter (going on year 3....god help me....)..it's gonna be fun.


AHHHHAAhahahhhhaaaaaa!!!!


;)
 
TreeSaw

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,670
1,855
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
Congratulations!!! Warning: little girls OWN their Daddies!!! ;)

My hubby is a 56 and his roadie is in need of some love...PM me some parts (drivetrain mostly). If you have a CX laying around that could be an option too.

CT isn't too far from us (Saratoga Springs, NY) and we have a growing road racing scene so perhaps I'll get to meet you one of these days.

Oh, you could also make an appearance at Monkeyfest?!
 
Heidi

Heidi

Der hund ist laut und braun
Aug 22, 2001
10,184
797
Bend, Oregon
Nice work, congrats James! Now that you're moving back east we will never meet. Good luck with everything.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Congrats.

Despite the cold, my best racing years were in Connecticut. Considering the amount of farmland and that most of the popular is centered around the urban areas, it is pretty easy to get some traffic free miles.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
I Are Baboon said:
Congrats, James!

You'll be about an hour from me and MtnBikerChk.
Click to expand...
Tame Ape said:
An me! I'm super stoked for you!
Click to expand...
Dammit! I'll have to re-think the move now, even though it does get me further from Heidi...


TreeSaw said:
Congratulations!!! Warning: little girls OWN their Daddies!!! ;)
My hubby is a 56 and his roadie is in need of some love...PM me some parts (drivetrain mostly). If you have a CX laying around that could be an option too.
CT isn't too far from us (Saratoga Springs, NY) and we have a growing road racing scene so perhaps I'll get to meet you one of these days.
Oh, you could also make an appearance at Monkeyfest?!
Click to expand...
Yes, I fully expect to be completely taken over come August. I already have a frame building buddy working on a design for a fillet brazed steel trike. Can never start too early...
I'll take a look at the garage this weekend, and send a PM with what I have. I know I have a bunch of 39t DA inner rings, but don't think I have any 53s.

Monkeyfest would be nice to check out, yes, it'll just mean getting back on a mountain bike again, but I plan on it...
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Secret Squirrel said:
Jeezuz...
Aight...so frames are out for me...
What you got in tires, chains (sram or shim), rear ders (shimano), front sprockets (53 DuraAce only!!! I'm a whore...sush!), and um....uh...oh yeah, BB's (Ceramic standard outboard...)????
I'm sure there's a few more things I "need"...just can't think of them right now...

Oh yeah...congratulations on the marriage (going on year 6 myself) and the daughter (going on year 3....god help me....)..it's gonna be fun.

AHHHHAAhahahhhhaaaaaa!!!!

;)
Click to expand...
I'll look this weekend at what's in the garage, what's staying, what's going.
Ceramic BB for Shimano I assume?

Westy said:
Congrats.
If you have a spare job lying around let me know.
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Well, my old old job will be available I would assume...

Heidi said:
Nice work, congrats James! Now that you're moving back east we will never meet. Good luck with everything.
Click to expand...
That was kind of my plan honestly.

I'd still love to get out to Bend for a riding vacation at some point, so you never know...
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
Sounds good. Riding in CT is pretty nice, both road and mountain. I don't know what Bethel itself is like, though; it's over an hour from me.

But I won't be here for that much longer. I think I am going the other way- probably getting engaged soon and moving to SoCal.
 
MtnBikerChk

MtnBikerChk

Squeaky Wheel
Aug 3, 2001
5,478
38
Southern New England (where there ain't no TITUS d
JRogers said:
Sounds good. Riding in CT is pretty nice, both road and mountain. I don't know what Bethel itself is like, though; it's over an hour from me.

But I won't be here for that much longer. I think I am going the other way- probably getting engaged soon and moving to SoCal.
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Congrats to you AND JAMES!

maybe if you're time here overlaps we can have a joint welcome and goodbye ride! :thumb:
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
JRogers said:
Sounds good. Riding in CT is pretty nice, both road and mountain. I don't know what Bethel itself is like, though; it's over an hour from me.

But I won't be here for that much longer. I think I am going the other way- probably getting engaged soon and moving to SoCal.
Click to expand...
My wife went to college in Hartford, I'm pretty familiar with the Danbury/Southbury area, though it's been a few years. Looking forward to finding the riding there too.

Funny, congrats on the imminent engagement and move, where in SoCal?
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Heidi said:
I'd show you the best stuff.

:thumb:
Click to expand...
It'll happen, just a matter of when. Next year is more likely, this summer it's moving and baby, more time next.
Really, really want to get out there.

Secret Squirrel said:
yeah. I've got DA cranks w/standard bearing ultegra currently.
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Too bad it's not Italian thread, I've got a badass ceramic BB for Italian.
The only ceramic BB I have for DA I think I'm going to keep and mount on the next bike, hopefully a CAAD9. But I've had AMAZING luck with the Wheels Mfg normal steel bearing BBs. I have their ceramic now, and it's nice, but their steel is amazing, esp. for the price. You can even just get the bearings and install them in your Shimano BB.

GravityFreakTJ said:
Is that offer good for other monkeys? I will be out to do a lil racing later this year
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No, it's only good for me.
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
James said:
My wife went to college in Hartford, I'm pretty familiar with the Danbury/Southbury area, though it's been a few years. Looking forward to finding the riding there too.

Funny, congrats on the imminent engagement and move, where in SoCal?
Click to expand...
Claremont......likely to be living with my girlfriend...and her parents...and other people...
 
B

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
PMing you now...

Need wheels and a group, likely. Damn shame you're leaving the best coast, but congrats on the new gig!
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Danbury, CT is where we are ending up. Found a condo, not in love with it, but I had 4 days to find a place on my trip, and the movers come Tuesday, so shotgun for sure. After we get there we'll probably start looking for a place that's more "us." But in no rush.

4.9 miles to the office, w00t for bike rides to work. 1/10th of my last commute.
 
CBJ

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,881
4,226
Copenhagen, Denmark
You should start down hilling again that is an easy drive to Plattekill and not to bad to Diablo either. I am sure Todd could hook you up with a nice carbon GT Fury.
 
ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
Congrats James! Having a kid is definitely a change of pace. My little girl is about 5 months now and its weird to think back to what life was like before she arrived.

GravityFreakTJ said:
Is that offer good for other monkeys? I will be out to do a lil racing later this year
Click to expand...
Let me know if you make it over to Salem and we'll ride.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
MMcG said:
Congrats!

Best of luck to you at C-Dale. Lots of good riding to be had in this state IMHO.

Cheers,

Mark (another CT Monkey)
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It's actually Schwinn, but it's in the CSG (Cycling Sports Group) office along with Cannondale, Mongoose & GT. A nice symbiotic setup.


splat said:
How did I miss this thread till now

Congrats ! closer to Me too :D and I Ride a 58cm whatcha got ?

Not necessarily, there is always the Burke Mt toll road :)
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That's why I moved! :P

I've got some road bikes, check any of my "James bike" threads, as I will be offing the Felts for probably Cannondales.
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
From: http://www.northeastcycling.com/Mtn_Climbs.html
"Burke Mountain is located in the Northeast Kingdom area of Vermont. This climb starts from the village of East Burke on Rt 114. You can park at East Burke Sports. The first two miles of climbing are mellow. Then you hit the toll both and you start to feel the burn in your legs. Around the 2.5 mile mark, you hit a half mile of 18% grade! This really hurts and you think it’s never going to end. The toll road is only 2.7 miles of the 4.7 mile climb, but this 2.7 miles averages 13-15% grade. The entire route up has recently been repaved, so the descent is not as white-knuckle as some of the others. The potential for on-coming cars, very narrow road, steep grade, and tight switchbacks will keep you on your toes. You will need to reduce air pressure and/or let your rims cool on the way down."


It's in the same place as Monkeyfest. I did it once. It was tough. Doing it after 2 days of hard MTB riding didn't help, nor did an 11-23 cassette (with a 36t front). The first part isn't too bad, pretty nice really. But once you get to the toll part, it is ridiculous. I think I blew up 10 times. It was raining a bit when I did it and I remember the rear wheel slipping some on the pavement when I pedaled hard seated. Hardest road climb I've done in terms of sustained steepness.
 
ska todd

ska todd

Turbo Monkey
Oct 10, 2001
1,776
0
You will be more than welcome on the lunch rides. I've ridden 10x in the last 9 days. I'm getting in-shape.



-ska todd
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
ska todd said:
You will be more than welcome on the lunch rides. I've ridden 10x in the last 9 days. I'm getting in-shape.



-ska todd
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BEEFCAKE!
Good to hear, I need it, I've turned into a bowl of mashed potatoes driving 50 miles each way to work. Riding to work is a much better use of my time. Have you been doing dirt, or road?
See you on the 26th...
 
ska todd

ska todd

Turbo Monkey
Oct 10, 2001
1,776
0
I'm still doing the mega-commute from LI 3-4 days/week. I've been sneaking out for 1-1:30hr rides on the road every afternoon, w/ mtn bike rides on weekends or if home during week. Just jumping right into hills. Screw this "base" stuff. BEEFCAKE!

-ska todd
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
ska todd said:
I'm still doing the mega-commute from LI 3-4 days/week. I've been sneaking out for 1-1:30hr rides on the road every afternoon, w/ mtn bike rides on weekends or if home during week. Just jumping right into hills. Screw this "base" stuff. BEEFCAKE!

-ska todd
Click to expand...
Good god, how long does that take? When are you moving up? We found an ok condo about 5 miles from the office, should be good for commuting.
Road rides sound oh so sweet, I'm in. Screw "base," just go for it, I'm sure I'll be in for a rude awakening...

I will admit that I haven't had tires on dirt in probably 2 years, at least. :eek:
Be gentle...
 
ska todd

ska todd

Turbo Monkey
Oct 10, 2001
1,776
0
Takes 15-20 mins from home to ferry, 1:15-1:20 on ferry, 45-50 mins from Bridgeport to Bethel...so, the better part of 5 hrs/day commuting.

I'll be making the move as soon as I can get this house in Rocky Point sold...

-ska todd
 
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