Das Rant
By C.G.

Muddy Thoughts

The dictionary defines mud as the following: noun: water soaked soil; soft wet earth

But we mountain bikers could really add to the definition with such terms as “clogger of cogs”, “sticker of cables”, and “unwelcome lubricant of brakes.”

I was given an opportunity to coin such concepts while cleaning the MBT crew’s bike fleet throughout the month of July. For summer, as short as it may be, we’ve sure been getting hit with a lot of rain!

The pattern has gone something like this: Rain for three straight days, sunshine for two (but mud to the nines), cloudy the final two days of the week, repeat.

Since the editorial calendar waits for no one, we’re forced to press on regardless of the conditions and more often than not; this means bikes doing their best to impersonate statues the next morning.

Bottles of Fast Orange, Simple Green, and Purple Gunk have begun occupying shop shelf space that was once reserved for cable lubricants and tire sealant. Tarps have been laid out to collect the oozy discharge of riding shoes, pedals, and gloves. The water bill has been raising right alongside the nation’s unemployment rate. In short: This sucks!

I suppose the positive spin on it all is that the sloppy conditions really add an element in our testing repertoire. I mean holding up in these conditions really says a lot about a given component’s durability.

In the mean time don’t be surprised if I continue adding to the definition of mud with such winners as the “ruiner of jerseys”, “destroyer of expensive riding shoes”, “speckler of shades.”