New Downhill/freeride bike built... ('05 Norco Shore)

While the fam was away up in Seattle, I kept busy with projects in the evenings... One of them was to build out a new downhill/freeride bike to replace my "aging" '04 Kona Stinky (which I'm selling for $900 to a local or $1,000 to anyone else - see my ad on pinkbike.com). I'd bought a used '05 Norco Shore frame/shock last week from Thom at Santiam Bicycle, and then a full-suspension '03 Norco Team Shore bike from another local rider... Swapped most of the stuff over with help from friends at the shop, ran out of time so had the master "bike surgeon" Ben at Santiam take care of finishing it up for me on Saturday. He even did a bit of fabrication to get a chain guide to fit on there.

So, now I have an '05 Norco Shore with a FOX DHX 5 rear/Marzocchi 888 front shock. It's an 8" travel full-suspension beast that's gonna let me progress further - hit some bigger stuff ("safely") at Blackrock (Falls City), Post Canyon (Hood River), and Whistler (BC). It's gonna be an AWESOME year! My main goal for 2006 is to fly the Granny's Kitchen road gap (which I attempted twice on my Kona but wrecked badly both times) and make it up to Whistler twice.

Here's more pics of my new bike...

(drive train view) Blackspire C4 bash guard...



(front view) Marzocchi 888 front shock... (8 inches of travel baby!)

Trip to Seattle...

Wendy and Kaylee were up in Seattle this week visiting "Autie Erika". I rode up on the train Friday night to spend the weekend. Above is picture taken on the Edmonds ferry - we searched for a geocache on the other side (didn't take long to find it - hopped right back on the next ferry coming back... had to run to catch it after the whistle blew but we made it!)

Earlier in the week they visited Pike's Place Market, Pacific Science Center, the aquarium, and saw an I-MAX movie (Kaylee slept thru the movie).

Seattle Trip - January 2006 (password protected) (use the family password)

There's also some (public) pictures in the "Family and Friends" folder from the Seattle trip...

Seattle Trip - January 2006 (public)

ALSO have a short video clip...!

"Kaylee's first ride on a ferry"

Enjoy!

Looking at a butterfly...

Looking at a butterfly at Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

Kaylee "driving"...

Wendy and Kaylee are visiting Erika in Seattle this week.   Above it a picture of Kaylee "driving" that Wendy took with her cell phone.

House sure was empty and quiet last night when I came home from work. (even with 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bird!)

The "Kaylee Show"! Laughing...

It's been amazing to watch Kaylee's mind "boot up". There's an unbelievable amount of learning that takes place in even the first couple months! Just a couple days ago we were amazed by Kaylee's LAUGH... she has giggled and coo'd and stuff before, but this was full belly laugh out loud reaction to Wendy tickling her feet...

Got some short video clips up... MPEG-1...


"Kaylee Laughing part 1"


"Kaylee Laughing part 2"

(Wendy was laughing so hard herself that she cried!)

Building a new freeride/downhill bike...

Buying some used parts to build up a new (bigger/better) freeride bike. It'll be more of a downhill bike (gonna have 8 3/4" of travel for rear-shock and 8" of travel on the front fork).

Going to sell my Kona Stinky to pay for most of the new bike.

Bought the '05 Norco Shore frame and Fox rear-shock yesterday (saved almost $1,000 off what cost would have been new)! Here it is moments after getting it home...



And here's detail of the FOX DHX 5 shock...



I plan to build it myself from parts from an '03 Norco bike I'll be buying this weekend. Wendy will be in Seattle (with Kaylee) most of next week - visiting her sister, so I figure I'll have some time in the evenings to devote to this project.

Can't wait to get it finished and try it out at Blackrock!

New logo for In the Zone Photography...

Finally finished the new logo for In the Zone Photography. Put together some business cards for Wendy and I that include the logo, and also updated the banner on the home page at http://inthezonephotography.com.

Here's what the business card looks like:



Going to get a batch printed up at a local print shop here in Salem. Also thinking of doing a more professional banner for our tent/booth.

We're starting to line up bookings for the coming season of dog agility and herding trials. We're already booked for 4 events as the official photographer. Also keeping an eye on the different Downhill and Cross Country mountain biking events (there aren't any local Freeriding events).

Christmas/New Year trip to Montana...

We made it back to Montana for Christmas and New Year's. Everyone got to see Kaylee. Even made it over to Glendive (did a quick road trip and came back same day). Stopped in Great Falls for a couple of days before heading back to Oregon.

There's pictures in the Family and Friends gallery here:
http://itzphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/923496/6/49249029

And a few Christmas videos here:
http://itzphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/998565/1/49958825