Author: Bill

So I was fat biking home after work. On board inside my frame bag I had a pound of pork, a bushel of celery, a bunch of rosemary, and a half pound of butter. Kind of loaded down but on a fattie I couldn’t tell. Heading home to make squash and pork pie don’t you know. Plus there was this mishap.

I have had a ton of mishaps but this one was new to me. A couple weeks ago Mo and I were walking in this area where Bridger Creek runs alongside a path. There is this embankment and some debris had clogged up and made a small dam. The path gets close to the water and then goes up this steep riser. The area had previously washed out the main trail and this temporary cut around was made by some locals. Mo mentioned how deep the water was and I attested how horrible it would be to jump in there.

I hate water … even have a fear of it.

So then yesterday I was ‘takin er home’ and just flying through the local trails. Yes, loaded down with that night’s supper. Some great snow track for fat bikes. I launched down this embankment and it occurred to me there might be ice. Too late. I grabbed a fist full of brakes only to slide even faster toward the bank. My tire caught last minute and I launched into the air with 30 pounds of equipment quickly trailing behind me. I dove into a deep pool of water head first but with only one had out for some reason. My left arm hit some ice and broke through and the entire ensemble splashed down into and then under the water. Like a space capsule entering the atmosphere and crashing into the ocean.

It didn’t take me long to get everything out because the water was freaking cold. Moments later I realized I was standing in the winter totally soaked to the bone. Good thing I was only a mile and a half to the house.

On the plus side I always wondered what it would be like to fall into water in the middle of winter to see how long before I would start to get into trouble being wet. Turns out pretty long. My pogies were fish tanks and my clothes froze. But I was able to retain heat beneath it all … but only because I was biking so fast to get home and thus generating heat. Not something I do all the time but sometimes I have these mishaps. Each unique and sometime new. I love new adventure.

My journey with Ruby’s repair began on Thu, September 10 when I Texted Spyder Composites about my broken 2014 Salsa Beargrease.

I had a trail mishap so routine that I didn’t think nothing of it. For some reason I wondered wide on a turn and went over the bars. Amazingly we discovered a crack in the seat stay. Why wait 48 days … well I tried to get it warrantied. No such luck. I will make no more comments on what followed from day 48 on; just want to post the data for others that are in this situation.

Day 48 – Thu, September 10: Texted Spyder Composits

Day 48 – Thu, September 10: Spyder Composits texted back information

Day 49 – Fri, September 11: Shipped to Spyder Composites

Day 54 – Wed, September 16: Delivered to Spyder Composites (0 day with spyder)

Day 60 – Tue, September 22: Bill From Spyder Composites (6 days with spyder)

Day 61 – Wed, September 23: Paid and confirmed (7 days with spyder)

Day 70 – Fri, October 2: Frank conversation (16 days with spyder)

ME: “Hi, hope all is well. I hate to bug you and I know you’re super busy. But I’m wondering if there’s any word on if my bike frame was shipped. My invoice is INV-3038. The salsa fat bike. Have a good weekend.”

FRANK: “I will check with the shop. It was finished last week but I have been out of town. ”

Day 80 – Mon, October 12: Frank conversation (26 days with spyder)

ME: “Hi, hope you are well. Just wondering status of Salsa Fat Bike INV-3038? ”

FRANK: “Let me check I thought I shipped it”

Day 82 – Wed, October 14: Sent question to Spyder Composites (Frank)(28 days with spyder)

ME: “Good morning! Is there any tracking info on the Salsa Fat Bike INV-3038? I suspect it got lost in transit. Thanks.”

Day 83 – Thu, October 15: Discussion with Frank at Spyder Composites (29 days with spyder)

ME: “This is for Salsa Fat Bike INV-3038. I have a planned bikepack this weekend and just found out I can’t rent a fat bike in Bozeman Montana, go figure. Is there any tracking information?”

FRANK: “There was three delivery attempts ” … “And will be back in San Jose tomorrow. I put I. another label request to have it rerouted can you confirm the shipping address ”

ME: “1233 Story Mill Rd, Bozeman, MT 59715 … Thanks for looking into this.”

FRANK: “I’ll check the label ”

ME: “Let me know if there’s anything I can do on my end. Like I can call the shipping company. But no I didn’t get any kind of notices on my door or anything.” … “Thanks again”

FRANK: “We’re on the phone with them now”

ME: “If it helps we are going over to our local USPS office tomorrow morning. Was it through USPS? Thanks.”

Day 83 – Thu, October 15: Called FedEx, UPS, USPS, and BikeFlights (29 days with spyder)

No one reported any deliveries from Frank’s business address. BikeFlights did say Frank has shipping issues all the time.

Day 87 – Mon, October 19: Called Frank at Spyder Composites (33 days with spyder)

My partner called Frank. He said that something went wrong with the shipping and FedEx could not deliver the frame back to him since he was gone. In the meantime after 3 attempts they just kept it in the warehouse. I guess someone at FedEx sat on it and crushed the box. Nothing was hurt according to Frank who mentioned that they were re-boxing it and sending it out today. Should have it by Friday he said.

Day 90 – Thu, October 22: Called FedEx and BikeFlights (36 days with spyder)

FedEx did not have any records of anything in transit. BikeFlights confirmed that Frank did make a shipping label but when asked if they could pick it up he declined. They gave us a tracking number of 940068415662076. He still has it.

Day 90 – Thu, October 22: Text Conversation With Frank (36 days with spyder)

ME: Hey frank just touching base to see if u have a tracking number 4 the fat bike frame going to 1233 story mill rd, bozeman mt 59715? Thanks!

FRANK: [sent a photo of the shipping label 3 minutes later]

Day 94 – Mon, October 26: FedEx Reported Pickup (40 days with spyder)

Day 95 – Tue, October 27: FedEx Reported Movement

8:39 am Departed FedEx location, SACRAMENTO, CA

Day 96 -Wed, October 28: FedEx Reported Movement

6:59 pm Departed FedEx location BILLINGS, MT

Wed, 9/16/15 9:47 am Delivered to my door.

Spyder Composites Carbon Frame & Wheel Repair
http://spydercomposites.com/
https://www.facebook.com/spydercomposites
Frank Mohr
Spyder Composites
901 Camden #6b
Campbell, CA 95008 US

As requested here you are.

• Race Start => Friday 5PM MST
• Race Tracking Website => http://trackleaders.com/fatpursuit16
  Note: This is tracking the 200k (120 mile) and the 200 mile so use the filters
• Race Updates => https://www.facebook.com/fatpursuit/
• Race Map => http://fatpursuit.com/wp-content/uploads/Fat-Pursuit-200mile-Course-and-Elevation-Chart.pdf
• My Updates => https://www.instagram.com/boneshakerbike/
• Facebook => https://www.facebook.com/boneshakerbike

Our annual holiday dinner with the Buckeys, who we all know as mom and dad. This year we did a entirely traditional feast without using anything processed. sugar or sweeteners. No carbs without nutrients. Really nutrient rich. At the center was dressing  made out of plantains. Also included a local free range turkey. Yummy times.

Interesting thing this time of year. We have more opportunities for campfires. Being old we usually are in the sack by 9.

Well .. not that we are old. Just smart and know about health. We just have to say that to fit in with the night junkies.

But this time of year we get to sit around the campfire more. Not only does the sun go down by 7 but it is so cold you need it to survive. Again code for; we cant stand outside with our shorts on.