And just like that!

They're here!

After a paint delay, and what seemed like eons at customs, the Singular Swift's and Hummingbirds have arrived! Taking orders NOW! Call or email. If'n you need parts, I'll be happy to set you up with what ever cures your lust for shiney bits.

From singular

The first ones are already out the door and built. Reports are filtering back that the ride is just what they've been expecting.

I just got mine back from Dirt Rag. I'm eagerly awaiting seeing this review. The bike came back a bit beat up, but no worse for the wear. Just goes to show that they really do RIDE the bikes they test. Awesome.

Next up, Mountain Flyer? Would love to get one tested there too! Got my feelers out. Hey, gotta get one to Mark over there at The Cyclist Site too.

Listening to: Hank III
Drinking: Dales Pale Ale from Oskar Blues

Supercar Friday.

So there I am, good intentions filling me up on Friday morning. I have lots of work to catch up on. Some wheels to build, repairs to finish up and get out the door. A bike or two to build. A new employee to break in(really!). A full day. So I skip the morning road ride, and head to work, only to round the corner and be fronted with roughly $750,000 worth of cars sitting in front of my shop.

In my past, long buried by two wheel transport fandom, is a history littered with combustion. My Dad used to race sports cars at some of the regional race tracks. For 10 years, my summers revolved around changing tires, watch Dad rip around Elkhart Lake, Brainerd, Black Hawk Farms, and various auto cross courses. It was cool for sure, seeing all these fast cars. I remember watching Paul Newman walk right by me up at Brainerd. Saw Indy Cars and IMSA protoypes at Elkhart Lake. Up to about 15 or 16, it was awesome. Then something happened. Instead of girls and cars, I found bikes. Wierd, I know.

But there has always been a lurking motohead in me. Cars can indeed be cool.

And there was LOTS of cool sitting on the street outside the shop on Friday. First thing I see is a Corvette. Average enough. A Pontiac Solstice. Meh. A Ford GT. Another Ford GT. Nice! A Lotus Exige. REALLY nice! A Louts Elise, another Corvette, and right out the door of the shop, a Ferrari 430 droptop.

And the trophy wives to match.

So there went my good intentions of getting to work early. And they all sounded awesome driving away.

Anyways. On to the pics. Of course I took pictures!









Listening to: Bon Iver and Arcade Fire on iTunes.

Good morning! Good morning! Its time to rise and shine!

That there's lyrics from a wake up song that we sing to the girls in the am's. When we sing that song, the day almost always ends up being a really good one. Lately, we've been singing that song alot.

As a result, the mornings have been really, really blessedly wonderful. Warm, sunny, inviting for an hour or so tour on the bike[s].

This is one of the reasons why there's been a dearth of updates here. Just having too much fun on the wheels, and keeping very busy in the shop itself.

Enough with the pleasantry's. That's not what you come here for.

First order of business: Singulars! They are indeed finally on the water after a small paint/sticker delay. Its still hard to call it as to when they'll be here. Best I can figure is a week to a week and a half on the water, then a day or three in customs, then two to three days on a truck, then here. I AM having a few air mailed over, but they're for the folks that have been kind enough to put down deposits. Parts for those who've ordered items are starting to flow in. Wheels will be built this week. Cranks will be fondled. Headsets imaginarily adjusted. Life will be good!

Two: Picsures. I like pictures, YOU like pictures. So lets get on with it!

Wonderfull section of trail:


Day two on trail:


Day three on trail:



OH! and one last thing: I've never been much of a moto-head, but I found something this past week that is sending my heart all a flutter. I can SO easily imagine fully and completely enjoying one of these Mac Cafe Racers on the roads around here. 500cc Buell engine, light weight frame. Flat out gorgeous looks. Gotta get over the $16k price barrier though...and that pesky UK thing too.

Listening to: Beastie Boys/Paul's Boutique.....kickin' the gnu k-nowledge!

Project: Mary A

I've had this Mary since way long time back. I've ridden it, abused it, and generally treated it like any bike should be treated. Not these last couple years though. Its been languishing on a hook in the garage, awaiting parts.

A sale popped up that I thought could give new life to Mary. A complete Alfine wheel was offered at a great price, so I bit. All the necessary bits were purchased, including a few to increase its usefulness in its intended goal. Trail building macheen.

But first, its gotta be tested, right? And that I did this am. We got about a .5" of rain last night. Enough to make everything slippery and fun. And oddly ridable, but considering the sand we have here, its ok. fwiw, the Kenda Karma's [I]suck[/I] in the mud, but we all knew that already, right?







Initial set up was a bit tricky because there were no instructions, and no additional parts included with the wheel purchase. A bit of fumbling around got me the parts I needed, and asking a pointed question on MTBR got me shifting right.

The first ride was good. Everything worked and shifted like it should. Once things dry out a bit more, I'll take it out again for a longer ride up at Yellow River. Should be fun!

Listening to: Plans and conspiring and goals.

Sunday, May 3 trail building session.

Over here in Pdc land, we've got a new trail building toy. One of the local riders/builders runs a small CSA farm, and he likes euro stuff. This combination gets him some really cool euro toys to play with. the tractor is a two wheeled BCS with a diesel conversion. The attachment is an Italian flail mower. The result is a much more capable DR trimmer. You'd be surprised what this thing will go over. And through.





The result is a perfect width trail. about 36" or so wide. All thats left to do is rake and ride in most cases. Yes, trimming the edges needs to be done to get ride of prikker stuff.


Yesterday, in about 4.5 hours we mowed in roughly 2.5 miles of trail.


I'll be going out later today to finish up trimming the corridor, and get a few passes in.

Listening to: KDEC 100.5. Broadcasting online, finally!

Decorah Time Trials = Fun!

Cranko Flow from Marty Larson on Vimeo.

So last weekend was the Decorah Time Trials. Its always a fun time. The crew in Decorah has built an awesome set of trails through the hills, in town! This is the first of two video's that I have composed. Ryan, Eric and I all took our Pugsleys over to through through the trails. There were certainly a lot of looks and sideways glances at the start line. We could almost hear the comments.

"what are these guys thinking!? Haven't they seen the mud?" "Don't they know its rained?" Those tires have NO tread!".

And to tell the truth, I kinda though that too.

Then I rode. And it was simply awesome. I love my Pugsley.

Listening to: The Noise Downstairs. //WIfes Band. It was awesome.

Singular Pricing and new toys in the shop!

Yeah! Here's the long awaited post, letting y'all know what the Singulars are going to cost. Those who've been so generous as to put a deposit down already have an idea, but this is definitive!

First a brief rundown of the models:
The Swift is the mountain bike of the bunch. 29" wheels, Eccentric BB for SS duty, Cables stops and hanger for geared duty. A nice versatile bike. And good looking to boot!


The Gryphon is much the same as the Swift above, but is designed specifically for drop bar off roading. The Gryphon is also designed to be run rigid, as can be seen with the short fork.


The Hummingbird is an interesting one. Nominally a 26" mate to the 29" Swift, but it can be run with a 26" wheels and a suspension fork, or as a 69er with the supplied rigid fork and a 29" front wheel. This MAY be able to accept 650b wheels too. We'll have to wait to see if they truely fit though. No promises there.


These three bikes come as a frame, fork, and Phil Wood eccentric module. The head tube is faced/chased before leaving the door, and the frame is JPWiegle'd.

Price? $465

The Peregrine is the true chameleon of the bunch though. Lugged frame, clearance for BIG tires, rack mounts, eccentric bb, Disc brakes, cable stops and hangers, fender room, drop bars, Nitto North's, flat bars...you name it. The best lable is probably going to be a monster cross. This is the one you want to take with you all the way.




Price? $635

Nice prices for nice bikes. Of course taxes and shipping apply where applicable and all that jazz. Check out Sam's flickr page for more shots of each of these bikes.

I've got a few wheels that can be sold with these bikes too. Just rolled in yesterday from the man in blue, Easton came through with 6 sets of the XC-1 29" wheels. Single speed specific, but enough room on the cassette carrier for at least 4 cogs if you float that way. Taking a set out here and playing with them gives a very nice first impression! Super smooth bearings. Seriously light. Perfectly round/true. I could give you the schpeal from Easton direct, but that's no fun. Since I just got 'em, I don't have any ride time on a set, but Cap't Bob over at 29inches has been riding a set, and seems impressed. Check it out!





Price? With a Singular: $490. Just want a set? $550.