Spot Brand 29-er bike

There are few things as exciting as building up a new bike, especially one that you've been waiting and waiting to build. The journey to my first ride on my own Spot Brand Longboard 29-er begins about eight months before, when I first rode the Longboard belt-drive bike at the Interbike dirt demo in Boulder City, NV.

I love the way it handles and corners. I fall in love with the belt-drive, which translates to instant engagement and propulsion forward with the slightest pedal stroke. The belt-drive is beautiful in its simplicity. In the months to come I will go back and forth arguing with myself about whether I should go belt-drive or geared bike.


I am impressed with the ride quality, handling capability, the fact that it is high-quality steel, and importantly, because the size small actually fits me. I just barely reach the sign at the 29-er amusement park that says you must be at least this tall to ride the ride. At 5'5" and female, my torso makes me too small for most 29-ers. By virtue of the larger wheels, the top tube lengths and standover heights are larger than they are for most bikes. The Spot Longboard 29-er has a shorter toptube and lower standover height than many other bikes in its class.


I ride the Spot Longboard first thing on Monday morning at the Interbike dirt demo, and then am repeatedly drawn back to their booth to ask questions and pet the bikes. I meet the company president, learn more about them as a company, and like everything I see.

Back in San Diego, I continue to think about this bike, corresponding with Jen from Spot for three months before finally deciding to get one. In late January I contact Spot Bikes and order my bike. The small Longboard is not even in production yet, and it's looking like demand is greater than anticipated. Although I'll have to wait an anticipated 6-10 weeks, I will get one of the first ones off the line. Jen tells me the first frames should be back from weld by March. I decide to go with the geared bike, since I struggle with hills as it is, and I don't need calves that frighten people. I make my first payment and giggle inwardly in anticipation.


I choose the blue color scheme instead of the green, and decide I will build this bike up with red accents: red Chris King headset, red Hadley hubs, and red spoke nipples on Stan's Flow rims. In mid-March, Jen contacts me to say that they are experiencing unexpected delays. This is their first year of production on this bike, so I am not surprised. I've seen things from a manufacturer's standpoint, and know how often delays take place for any number of reasons.

The month passes, and she contacts me again, keeping me apprised of the progress and letting me know what to expect. She apologizes for further delays, this time because the larger frames went to weld before the smaller frames. I jokingly tell her they can make it up to me by stamping my name into the bottom bracket. Jen laughs at the idea, and admits she's never heard of anyone doing that. To my astonishment, she says she thinks she can make that happen. I hold my breath and tell her, "No way. That would totally rock!"

Meanwhile, I'm busy amassing parts so I can build this bike. I order my headset from Chris King, and hubs from Hadley, and match them up with DT Swiss RWS ratchet thru-bolt skewers.


At the end of February, my mechanic buddy Steve notices that someone online is looking for a set of blue RaceFace cranks, which I happen to have in my garage. They came off my very first DH bike, a Turner RFX, that is now built up as my XC bike. I contact the guy, who tells me he'll trade me his set of XT cranks with 2 rings and a bash guard for my Race Face cranks. Wow. Just wow.

It's now the last week of March, and I'm at the series finale race for the Southridge downhill series. Donny Jackson always has a great raffle at the series ender, and this time is no exception. Although I did not take first place on the hill that day, I would like to thank Shimano for the XT brakes I won at the raffle. You have no idea how happy this makes me (and my mechanic).

The weeks pass, and I wait for my frame, getting regular updates from Jen at Spot. Things continue to fall into place.

At the end of May, I get an email from Jen saying that my bike is at paint and should be ready soon. The amount of paint on the frame will obscure the name "DREXLER" that is stamped in the bottom bracket, but we will all know it is there.

On July 11, 2008, I hear the FedEx truck pull up to my house, and I literally spring from my chair and bound out the door. Mr. FedEx is at the back of the truck pulling out a box as I bounce on my toes beside the open door. He looks up to see me and laughs. I suppose he's not used to seeing grown people bouncing up and down and clapping like a kid on Christmas Day.


I slowly pull out the frame, wanting the moment to last. It's been almost 7 months since I decided to order this bike, and it's totally worth the wait.

Over at Steve's house, we begin assembling the bike.


The finished bike.

My mechanic Steve and I go for a ride in Rose Canyon.


I begin getting to know the bike, and know I made a great choice.

Many thanks go to Jen Gersbach at Spot for all her help and many updates, and to the guys at weld who stamped "DREXLER" into the bottom bracket. Thanks go to Mom and Dad for giving me the frame as a birthday present and helping me make up for lost "play" time all those years I was a serious child. You're the best! Thank you's are in order to Suzanne at Hadley for all the help with the hubs, to Jim at Shimano for taking care of the racers at Fontana, to Bill who traded crank sets with me, to Mike at Stan's for taking care of us at the shop, to Paul at DT Swiss who spent time with me on the phone giving me advice about hubs and skewers, and a big thanks to Ron for lacing up my beautiful wheels. Huge big thanks go to my mechanic and good buddy Steve who advised me on parts and helped me put the bike together.


I'm a very happy girl.

A Clean Bike is a Happy Bike: The Maintenance Clinic!

I'm happy to report that our recent Luna Chix Bike Care Clinic "A Clean Bike is a Happy Bike," was a great success. This is probably only remarkable on a personal level, because none of the women I was teaching really know my history. It was only three short years ago when I was still fumbling through my own bicycle maintenance and repair, and would never have dreamed of conducting a clinic on my own.

It was January, 2005. With my bike in the repair stand, the Big Book of Bicycle Maintenance open on top of the washing machine and a large tool in my hand, I carefully read the steps for removing the crank arms. The little picture in the book didn't look like what I saw in front of me in the bike stand. After re-reading, and still not getting it, I sighed and looked at my watch. It was already 9:30pm. I paced back and forth, then decided to call Greg, my mechanic.

I apologized for calling a bit late, then described the situation to him and asked, "So, do I need a special tool to remove the crank arms?"

He spoke calmly and deliberately, "Laura, I want you to put down the wrench and step away from the bike."

"But," I protested, "I think I have it here!"

"Laura," he said with a slight chuckle, "I promise you, I will do this first thing in the morning. Just, please, let me do it."

I sighed, "OK."

Fast forward three and a half years, and here I am in front of a group of women teaching them how to identify parts of their bike, what to look for in terms of wear, how best to clean their bikes, and answering their questions about general maintenance issues. I want to call Greg and tell him that I never gave up and that although I still require supervision, I can now pull and install cranks, adjust my derailleurs, and teach anyone how to change a flat tire.

When I thought about doing a Bike Care Clinic for Team LUNA Chix as a fund raiser for the Breast Cancer Fund, I went to B&L Bikes, a local bike shop that has been really supportive of Team LUNA Chix in the past. Scott at B&L was happy to give us space and host the clinic. I asked what cleaning products they used there in the shop, since many of the girls coming to the clinic would then have their bikes serviced at B&L. He said they like Muc-Off for a cleaner, and Dumonde Tech for a lubricant. I purchased both to try them out, then contacted both companies to see if they would be interested in supporting our clinic. Everyone was eager to be a part of it, and readily sent us samples and information.

Actually, the Muc-Off people didn't have individual samples; they sent me several bottles of product and lots of stickers. I went to Target and got little sample spray bottles and a funnel, and created my own little sample give-aways of the product. They came out great!

Everyone who attended the clinic got a goodie bag with sample product as well as a mat (doormat) for her to place the handlebars of her bike on when she's cleaning it. This is what the goodie bags looked like:


The day of the clinic, we met at 7:30am at the Solana Beach train station for a ride beforehand.





Our ride up the coast toward Carlsbad was mild and lightly cloudy as the marine layer kept the sun from beating down on us.


When we returned to Solana Beach and got to the shop, our team leader Rhonda had already set up a tent and chairs. I was a bit nervous about things going smoothly, but already things were going smoothly!

I had intended it to be a "hands-on" clinic in which all the girls would clean their own bikes, but it seemed everyone preferred to sit and relax.

I pulled out the doormats I had got for the girls to rest their handlebars on, arranged the Muc-Off bike cleaner and Dumonde Tech lube in a readily accessible display, looked around for the bike with the dirtiest drivetrain, and proceeded to explain how to clean and lube a bike.

I started by talking about the parts of the drivetrain, the importance of knowing your equipment and not being intimidated by it, and how to know when you should clean or lube your chain.

I talked to them about chain stretch and checking your chain for wear.

After thoroughly scrubbing the chain, I showed them how to clean their wheels and cassette. I have a handy bucket (thank you, Mittens) that I use to carry my brushes. It can also hold water for rinsing the detergent off my bike and components.

By the time I got ready to apply the lubricant, the girls were refreshed and motivated to clean their own bikes. They pulled out their mats and got to work.



We talked about only applying the lube to the chain, and the importance of not over-lubricating.

It was a great clinic, and everyone was happy to learn and participate. I felt especially happy that I could actually pull it all together and answer almost all the questions that were asked.

Special thanks go to my mechanics/teachers over the past few years: Chad, Greg, Ryan, Ron, Steve R and Steve K. Thanks for believing in me and teaching me.

Thanks to B&L Bike and Sport Solana Beach for hosting our "A Clean Bike is a Happy Bike" Clinic and Breast Cancer Fund fundraiser. You can donate to the Breast Cancer Fund any time by clicking on the link to their homepage.

A shout-out and big thanks go to Kenny Souza, our San Diego Clif Bar rep, who provided us with some great swag and prizes. In case there's any confusion, Clif and LUNA are the same company.

Big thanks go to Muc-Off bike cleaner and Dumonde Tech Racing Oils Bike Lubricant. Ask for them at your bike shop. If they don't have them, ask if they can get them.

Tales From the Bike Shop - Last Days

Well, I've put in my 2-weeks notice at the shop, and my last day is Monday, June 30. I'm leaving for the very reason that most people get angry and frustrated in their jobs: My job is too small for my spirit. I need a bigger job.

There are still the people who continue to energize me and inspire me to teach, and theirs are the stories that should be told...

Jake - My Customer of the Day

Jake came in today with his grandparents. Jake is eleven, and has not yet had his growth spurt. He's a good-natured, kind, loving kid, witnessed by his encouragement and support of his younger sister who also learned to ride a bike tonight, and his respect and love for his father. Jake is my customer of the day.

When he first came in with his grandparents and they told me that he needed a new bike, I turned and talked directly to Jake, and asked if he would like try an size extra-small adult bike rather than a 24"-wheeled kid's bike. He was certainly big enough.

"No," he insisted, "I like this one better," he said as he moved timidly to the smaller bike that was clearly too small for him. Jake is a little pudgy, and probably not very active. I found out later that his grandfather, who is here on vacation from Montreal, rides a bike every day. I create an image in my mind of the grandfather who comes into town, discovers his sedentary overweight grandson, and determines to do something about it. So he drags him to the bike shop determined to get the boy on a bike. This is where come in.

"Well, if you like this [smaller] bike, let me take it to the mechanic so he can get it ready for a testride. How about that?" I ask Jake.
"Oh, no. I don't need to ride it. It'll be fine," he tells me.

He's afraid of riding the bike.

"What's the thing that's keeping you from riding the bike?" I ask.
He hesitates, then confesses, "Um, I have the wrong shoes."

I look at his shoes. He's wearing Crocs.
"OK, so if you had better shoes, would that be OK?"

"Well... not really. I don't need to ride the bike..."
I drag his main hesitation out of him.
"I might fall," he says.
"Well, what will happen if you fall?" I ask.
"I dunno, I get hurt a little," he says.
"And then what?" I ask.
"Um, maybe I bleed..." he says, almost as a question.
"Then what?" I ask, prodding him to look further.
"I dunno..." he shrugs.
"Do you get back on the bike?" I ask.
"I dunno... I guess," he says, confused.
"So, the worst that can happen is that you fall, you get hurt, but then you get back on the bike. Right? Has that happened before?" I ask.

"Well, yeah, and it was really um, kinda scary," he confesses.

"OK," I tell him, "well, that sounds really normal. Lots of people who fall and get hurt are afraid. I think everybody is. But, you know how that chocolate cream cake in the window of the bakery looks soooo good, but it never really tastes as good as we think it will?"
"Um, yeah..." he says.
"Well, things are always exaggerated in our minds. The desserts always taste better, and the falls always seem more painful, but it's never as intense in reality as it is in our minds. Right?"
"Wow. I guess so," he says.

"So, if i gave you some elbow and knee pads that I have in my car, so it wouldn't hurt if you fall, and if you came back here in better shoes, would you take a test ride?"

He searches for a flaw in my argument, but can find none. I assure him that with elbow and knee pads, he will not get hurt, that I fall all the time and I'm OK. He agrees to come back later in the day with his father.

Meanwhile, his grandmother has stood and listened to this exchange in something akin to awe. She asks me how long I will be at the shop today. I tell her till 8pm.

I help Jake choose a helmet, one with colors he likes, and set it aside for him. He and his grandparents leave, and I all but forget about them until almost 7pm, when they return to the shop, this time with Dad, Granddad, and the younger sister Kayla, who is about seven.

Jake is ready for the ride now. He readily dons the elbow pads and knee pads that I retrieve from my trunk. I show him how to put his pedal at 2 o'clock for maximum impetus. But despite all my coaxing and coaching, he quickly begins to get discouraged, and after almost half-a-dozen false starts, he suddenly cries in frustration, "I can't!" I ask him for one more good effort, and this time, I hold him steady as he pedals a few strokes in the parking lot. He comes to a stop, his eyes wide.

"Wow. I almost did it," he says, amazed.
"Yes! You did! Do it again!" I tell him.

He starts again, and this time, I let go, allowing him to ride by himself. He does it. He comes to a stop triumphant in front of his father. "Dad!! I did it!!" he calls.

This kid has not been on a bike since he was five years old. His dad is really trying to contain himself, while I hold nothing back and literally jump up and down and give Jake a high-five. It is now that I tell him he should try to XS adult bike.

"You think I can?" he asks.

"Dude! You looked so good on the 24"-bike, I think it's really going to be a better fit..." I tell him. I glance at the father, who takes a deep breath and purses his lips. He really wants his son on the bigger bike, but knows he can't push him.

Jake gets on the XS Hardrock and rides it like a champ. "I'm doing it!! I'm doing it!!"

These are the moments that make my job sweet. My day can hardly get any better at this point. A boy who was afraid of bikes now can't wait to go ride the new one he will be getting.

The father looks at me and says, "So, Kayla here has never ridden a bike. Can you teach her too?"

I prepare a 20-inch girls bike with coaster brakes for Kayla. She is fearless, and although she has several false starts, she takes instruction well and is soon riding well, as long as she doesn't have to turn or brake... which will come in time.

Amusingly, Jake has been attempting to coach her with his new-found knowledge as one who has *ahem* been riding longer than her. ;) His dad quiets him, telling him, "Let Laura tell her..."

After Kayla has mastered starting and stopping, and Jake tells her what a fine job she's done, I turn to Jake and say, "Your sister has learned very well from your example." He smiles.

"She probably learns a lot from you, right?" I ask.
"Well, sure," he admits.
"Do you know what you can learn from her?" I ask him.
"What?" he asks.
"She had a number of false starts, and messed up a lot of times..." I say.
"Haha... yeah," he laughs.
"But she never got discouraged, did she?" I ask him.
His smile fades, as he realizes this.
"She knows it's OK to make mistakes. You could try to learn that from her," I tell him with an encouraging smile.
He casts his eyes down, then looks back at me and nods with a tight-lipped smile.

God bless him, I too am a first-born who has to get everything RIGHT the first time!! My younger brother was always messing up, but it never mattered for him. If only I had been able to learn from him early on, and see his flexibility to get it wrong as a strength...


Haha... somewhere along the way I developed this compulsive need to make it easier on subsequent generations, seeking out first-borns and letting them know it's OK NOT to get it right the first time... :)

Today, Jake was my customer of the day, for his spirit, courage, and intellectual fortitude.

I have many more Tales from the Bike Shop that I will post here over the next couple weeks. Although I'll miss my bike shop tales, they will soon be replaced with Tales from Sunny's Safe Commute - teaching people to be safe and confident on their commute to work.