Stix & Stones Mobile Bike Service

Excitement is in the air. And, that excitement is for opening day for the bike park. This Tues got a full service on the 40 and Float X2 and a brake bleed. This bike is going to Northstar on opening day followed bu Whistler.
I can do full services on Float X2’s and highly recommend a damper flush and bleed on ALL Grip damper forks. Every suspension service gets the form with settings before AND after service.
Is your DH bike ready for park season? Time is flying by and I can only do so many bikes a day.

I swear you can’t make this stuff up. This bike was taken to a shop with the “sticky shifter,” or “dead shifter” syndrome. The owner was told it couldn’t be “fixed” after the front derailleur was removed AND lost, front shift cable removed and both shifters removed from the handlebars. Said shop also said new front derailleurs are not available anymore. It was also suggested that the owner buy a new bike.
I do understand sentimental value and appreciate “old” bikes. This bike was new when I started working in bike shops, and I do know front derailleurs. It really does seem like front derailleurs require some sort of sorcery these days. After installing a brand new derailleur, tires, tubes, brake pads, shift cables and handlebar wrap and servicing, this bike is ready for hundreds of miles. Yes, with the original shifters.
I have invested nearly 30 years of my life in the bike industry and working on bikes. Restoring this bike put just as big a smile on my face as it did my new customer. As he said, “My God, it looks and feels like it’s new!”

Another mountain bike with a 2x drivetrain, another NX Eagle 1x build kit install. 1x drivetrains simplify riding and make it more enjoyable by allowing riders to think about 1 shifter only. The 1x Eagle chainring does a great job of chain retention, keeping dropped chains to a minimum. It sounds simple, yet a little “extra” of an upgrade. But, riders say they didn’t realize how much more they enjoy their rides with this upgrade.

The NX build kit makes it easy to modernize bikes with a reliable 1x drivetrain. For $404, it comes with the shifter, derailleur, chain, cassette and crankset. This bike’s drivetrain was worn causing “chain suck” (yes, it’s still a thing) with stamped chainrings. The NX cassette is HG compatible, so most likely works with the existing wheel. This has been a common service lately with so many worn drivetrains. This is a better solution than replacing the existing cassette, chain AND cranks with “like” parts. The NX build kit enhances performance and reliability with a DUB bottom bracket and crankset with a Sram 3 Bolt DM chainring.
So, if your bike has a 2/3x drivetrain that is worn, I recommend replacing it with this. Especially, high school racers going into the last race of the season.

It’s Thursday morning at , and the weather couldn’t be better. I’ve been coming to Sea Otter for 25 years and camping here for about 18 years. The nice thing about camping at Sea Otter is waking up and being here. And, not having to deal with this line of cars that starts around 7am. Hope everyone has a fun first day and good luck to those racing today!

Home for next 4 nights at the . Good luck to everyone racing! If the bike gremlins throw a wrench in your weekend plans, you know how to get a hold of me. If I’m not on the DH course for practice or racing, I can help.

Red wire or blue wire? What happens if I cut the wrong wire? Wrong answers only.
The things I never thought I would have to do.

Race pics from Sunday’s XC race. We use these early season races to see where the fitness is, but more importantly to train the mental fitness. Learning racing tactics and race-day prep is just as important as physical fitness.

The first XC race came quick and Stix and Stones Cycling brought home 2 podium finishes. The early season races give us a chance to see where our fitness is. I relied on my CX (cyclocross) fitness to carry me to a P2 finish. The boys raced well with taking a P3 finish with Giordano right behind him. Littles raced well in his first XC (cross country) race with a loaded field of 11 and 12 year olds.
We can’t thank our sponsors enough for the continued support.

I kicked whatever cold I caught enough to ride with the boys on, “The Luge.” Putting the Sun to bed on New Year’s Eve and riding into 2024. The dirt was perfect. The trail is amazing! The crew is strict. Hope everyone rides into 2024 with momentum! Happy New Year!!!

It’s Christmas Eve, and the dirt is all-time right now and all 4 boys are home and riding. I pretty much have everything I could want.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!
🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎁

The series closed out with a technical and fun course at Granite Beach. The sand pits challenged every racer’s technical skills and fitness with wheels sinking 4” deep. While I’m glad the season is over, the internal ma*****st can’t wait for next season.
📸 by
*****st

Pedals make great stocking stuffers by giving the gift of grip! These PA03A pedals provide plenty of grip in a light weight nylon package. I have 2 pairs left at $30, normally $55. If you want a pair, you know how to get a hold of me.

Built the matching front wheel to the rear wheel I built a couple of weeks ago. Now, both wheels have matching hubs, spokes and lacing patterns. Not to mention, spinning on super smooth and fast hubs. It is surprising how fast the new Hope Pro5’s spin.
Happy Friday!!!

A couple of race pics from last weekend’s double header races at Johnson Springview Park. The back-to-back days of racing adds a whole new dynamic of racing. Racers fiercely compete on Saturday, then come back Sunday to compete as fierce if not more. Those that race both days find out how much deeper the pain cave gets.
The 2nd pic highlights my bike, a custom built Crux with custom built wheels (by yours truly of course) with Violet R45 Disc hubs, matching purple ni***es and 55mm carbon tubular rims. Yes, tubulars. Because, the performance advantage is undeniable.
Can’t wait for this weekend’s finale!
*****st

First race of the double header weekend is in. I’m not sure if I left anything in the tank for tomorrow. But, the only way to find out is to show up tomorrow. Cyclocross racers are a special breed. Most of us will sign up and show up tomorrow.
*****st *****stic

Forgot to include the very first pic of this Highball CC as a bare frame.

Assembled this speed demon of a bike today. No expense was spared, with spec highlights including XX1 transmission, Factory 34 SC fork, XTR 4 piston brakes, XMC 1200 wheels, Lev Ci dropper, headset and handlebar. The Highball CC frame is black, but the “Santa Cruz” is a pearl, flourescent green that makes this frame look amazing in the Sun. This Highball weighs just over 23.5 lbs with real world tires and saddle, pedals and bottle cage.
My schedule is filling up with more bike assemblies. Which is proof that people are creating their own holiday cheer. I just deliver and assemble the cheer, which I can do for you, too!

Happy Thanksgiving from ours to yours! We have lots to be thankful for, like the Thanksgiving morning ride to Deer Flat with a bunch of friends.
Let the eating commence!

PSA!
There is A LOT more to being a bike mechanic than simply calling oneself a bike mechanic. I went this rider’s house to assemble a new e-bike. Upon arrival, I was informed that a “bike mechanic” he found online came to assemble the bike because this rider got too excited to ride his new bike. Which, I completely understand.
The scheduled appointment with me was kept, because the assembly didn’t seem “right.” The front brake caliper was installed AND bolts tightened without any mounting adapter, the headset compression wedge was not installed PERIOD, the headset preload bolt was tightened so the fork wouldn’t turn, the pedals were threaded in by only 2 threads. There were a number of other items not installed correctly. Most people won’t understand what these details are nor mean. But, this made the bike not only unrideable, more importantly extremely unsafe to ride.
Any professional bike mechanic and I make the rider’s safety the number 1 priority. We also take tremendous pride in our work. The self proclaimed “mechanic” who assembled this bike said, “I know bikes, but I’m not that familiar with e-bikes.” Nearly 99% of e-bikes and their parts are the same as non-ebikes. The 2nd big question I have is, who the eff charges someone for a bike assembly and leaves with the bike like this?! Sadly, this happens more often than not. A number of “bike mechanics” can be found on local, online market places like Craigslist, among others.
For lack of a better term, “real” bike mechanics are truly professional. Whether we work in traditional brick and mortar stores or are mobile. We have distribution networks AND have access to technical resources for just about everything. And, access to these resources is limited to authorized dealers and authorized technicians. Authorized dealers are vetted and MUST meet certain criteria before receiving an “Authorized” designation.
With so many bikes being purchased and needing assembly, please have it assembled by a PROFESSIONAL bike mechanic. Your safety, the safety of the rider (most of the time our loved ones), the investment of a new bike are all too important to risk by hiring anything else.

Upgraded a CX bike with new Force XPLR AXS drivetrain and disc brakes. For unmatched consistent brake lever feel, unrivaled shifting performance and gear range, Sram’s Force components give CX racers an edge over the competition. I did have a bit of bike envy when I was done with this job.

The only thing more challenging than cyclocross racing is back-to-back days of cyclocross racing. served up 2 really challenging and fun courses with Rusch Park on Saturday and Lembi (a personal favorite) on Sunday. Lembi is always challenging. But, when Mother Nature sprinkles some of her elixir on the course, the technicality sky rockets.
Fun was had by all, and Lady Misery dished out plenty of suffering. Can’t wait for the next double-header weekend of racing.

It’s that time of year again! This Christmas gift is now properly assembled and ready to he ridden on Christmas day. I am scheduling bike assemblies for Christmas. All bike assemblies include properly fitting the bike and suspension setup. The assemblies are being scheduled between now and Christmas. The fitting and suspension set up is being scheduled for the week after Christmas. This Spectral Young Hero is a SWEET bike!!! The bikes available to kids right now are absolutely amazing!!!

Nothing like sending it into the weekend with a new Transmission installed on your bike.

Initiating another bike and rider with a Zeb Ultimate! This rider rode this Zeb a day after riding with a top of the line fork his bike came with. While installing it, he kept asking, “Am I going to like this?” After riding this fork, he said, “It’s noticably better! And, I didn’t have to make a single adjustment.” When buying a suspension product from me, the install includes suspension set-up. Which means I sag the suspension with the rider on the bike and set the adjusters accordingly. Are you upgraded for max stoke?

From one extreme type of bike racing to another. always provides quality cyclocross racing, especially at Orangevale Park which is one of my favorite courses. My face makes the 1st pic quite hilarious. It's the biggest of 2 logs I was riding over and most racers were dismounting. And, by most, I mean just about everyone else. Riding and racing downhill bikes on downhill trails builds skills that makes features like this rideable. As for the result, I finished 7th, possibly my best finish in a CX race ever.
📸 by Jeff Vander Stucken

Choosing hubs for your custom wheels can be overwhelming, for your wallet, too. The 350 hub checks all the boxes. Respectable weight (actually pretty light and lighter than most), durability, reliability, service-ability, performance AND budget friendly. I recommended this classic fl**ge hub to open up the choices of spokes, allowing the use of D-Lite and Laser spokes to maximize the weight savings. As for 6 bolt vs. centerlock, centerlock hubs and rotors are always lighter than 6 bolt counterparts. 6 bolt was chosen for this wheel to keep the rotor options open. Yes, there are “sexier” or lighter (not many) hubs at double the price. But, the 350 might be the best hub at the price.

Installed a major upgrade on this S-Works just in time for the weekend. This Red AXS group is the most advanced drive train for road bike available. Wireless bluetooth shifting combined with the most useful and smoothest gear progression on the market. Super consistent brake feel at the lever provides the stopping power. And, possibly the most important feature, the rainbow cassette and chain match the frame perfectly. More upgrades on the schedule for tomorrow.

Celebrated my Grandma’s milestone 100th birthday this weekend. To reach 100 and still be sharp as a tack is so inspiring. When asked, “What’s the secret to living to 100?” she replied, “Always think for yourself.” If you know my Grandma, that’s what you’d expect her to say. She is a child of the Great Depression, resident of the Japanese internment camps and matriarch of our family, including 7 grandkids and 12 great grandkids. So glad to see so many people celebrate her birthday. And, it was great seeing everyone.

Day 8 of 10-Day “Senior Parent Challenge.” I will post 1 pic a day of our senior, then nominate a fellow senior parent. 10 days, 10 pic, 10 nominees.