Here Comes The Corn - The Soulcraft Newsletter

Here Comes The Corn - September 2009

We’re back from our travels about the western USA and what a trip it was. One the way to Durango we made Peta’sMost Wanted list. Just a tip here, but stay off highway 50 at night. They don’t have fences out there and the elk, rabbits, and cattle have a fondness for hanging out on the pavement. SSWC09 was a spectacle for sure. Two things summed it up for me: The guy behind me hiking up the singletrack (with hundreds of people in front of us) proclaiming that this year’s race was way better than least year’s, and the fact that the organizers had money to buy basketball jerseys but there wasn’t any water at the finish. That being said, we got to hang out with the Soulcraft team, Curtis Inglis and crew, the folks from Lincoln NE, ride sweet trails, and party. Not a bad deal. Oh, and I picked up a little gift for myself while I was there.

Then it was on to Vegas where we celebrated 10 years of Soulcraft and the launch of All Hail the Black Market. Steve P flew in from Petaluma just for the occasion and I lost 4 of my most prized hair pieces. For all you attendees who woke up the next morning with wigs in your back pockets, I want them back. The bouncers at the Peppermill wouldn’t allow hats or headbands, but people wearing wigs and dancing on tables were O.K. Our kind of place for sure. There was business conducted at Interbike, but damned if I can remember what it was. I do have a bunch of business cards here to prove that I did talk to people though, so maybe I’ll call them to see what we discussed.

The gusset. An often overlooked feature, yet one probably most responsible for adding years to the life of a lightweight steel frame. This little guy resides under the head tube/down tube joint on all our models except the Royale road frames. We have them laser cut from 4130 cro-moly tubing and they are welded in place after the head tube/down tube joint is fully welded. By not welding across the bottom of the gusset, the stress is transferred to the sides of the down tube where it can do little damage. The design dates back to our days at Salsa Cycles where, after thousands of frames made with some form of gusset, the benefits of this small reinforcement became clear. This is the most stressed joint on the bike and adding a little meat there makes a huge difference.

For the last few years we’ve been watching the 650B movement from a distance, waiting for someone to ask us to build one. Well, when it rains, it pours. Within the last few months we’ve built 2 and taken orders for 2 more. We call ours the Option “B” (Like the Option “3”, but different). Bridging the gap between 26” and 29” wheels, the 650B is the answer to the question nobody asked. But that’s not a bad thing necessarily. Bacon is in the same category and look how that turned out. No one ever remembers asking for a salty meat product made mostly of lard and the lips of a pig’s anus, but here we are. Not saying the 650B deal is destined for the same superstardom as bacon, but for the few Soulcraft customers riding the Option B, the middling wheel size has received rave reviews. You should definitely buy one.

Every bike team wants to be sponsored by a beer company, and Team Soulcraft is no exception. Lagunitas Brewing here in Petaluma started in 1993, and since then they’ve gone from brewing 2800 barrels the first year to 75,000 barrels last year with no plans to slow down. “I would say the quality of the beer comes first, and having fun is a close second,” says Ron Lyndenbush, general manager of the brewery. Sounds familiar to us here at Soulcraft. I can’t list all the beers they make, but our perennial favorite is the IPA, which, in addition to tasting great, is the logo that graces the butt of the Soulcraft shorts. We appreciate the support Lagunitas has given us and wish them luck in the years to come.

Mitch Kline
Team member, our web guy, and all around solid human. After an outing like the race in Durango, you hear all sorts of things said at the finish. “Dude, that was the hardest thing ever!”, or, “I’m worked!” Most likely both true. But when you finish and 10 minutes later find yourself surrounded by medics and a sweaty fat guy holding your I.V, it’s hard to say anyone dug deeper than you. That’s why Mitch is our Team Member of the Month. That, and the fact that after he was released from the hospital, he made it to the party later that night. Nice effort my friend.

We would like to thank all the Soulcraft Team members who made it out to Durango for SSWC09. As one of my mountain bike heroes, Joe Murray, put it, “Soulcraft was well represented out there”. I almost cried when he said it. Dallas, Lincoln, Denver, Flagstaff, and Sonoma County represent! Thanks guys (and Linden and Vanessa) for making the trip.

It’s fall and that means Biketoberfest! 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 10 in downtown Fairfax next to Iron Springs Brewery. Looks like a pretty good line up of Nor-Cal builders and brewers so come on out and enjoy a pedal and a pint. Or 5.



Tall Black Wool Socks $12 Order Now	New socks are here (but they almost weren’t). While in Durango some of the SSWC09 crew intercepted our box of socks and whilst watching the awards ceremony, I was taken aback at the announcement of, “Free Soulcraft Socks!” and watched with a mixture of amusement, horror, and rage as multiple pairs of our yet unseen socks flew into the crowd. I rushed the stage and salvaged the box so you should buy some so we can make up for the ones we lost. Looks like we were SSWC09 sponsors after all!