Thanks,

Jack

jack.hinkens@gmail.com

The better I get to know anyone, more often then not, I find similarities between us. This is especially true for TJ. TJ is a do-it-yourselfer like myself (smile).

TJ began gutting out the spare bathroom before I arrived. He warned me that I might be put to work with installing tile. I like projects (Double smile). If I have learned one thing about projects it is that you can plan on multiplying the timeline of the project by two then adding three days. That is roughly how long it will take. After a few half days of work on the bathroom, the studs are finally covered in vapor barrier and it is almost time to install cement backer board in the shower. The plan is to get the tiling done before I leave.

Now, here is a story of TJ that especially makes me smile. Before moving onto the next step early on in the bathroom project, some extra plumbing and soldering was in order to accommodate the new shower fixtures. TJ made a trip to the plumbing store. While there, he met a fellow shopper who happened to be a professional plumber. For a $50 charge he offered his service of removing the old plumbing and installing the new copper tubes, and preparing the fixtures for the new shower. TJ declined and instead opted to purchase the $150 of necessary equipment needed to do the job himself. That is how you know when you have a true D-I-Y-er’. The plumbing did not leak when we tested it and the solders were A+. TJ is a cycling coach but now has a back-up plan as a plumber if needed. I hope TJ gives you the motivation to put your mind to doing a project you are uncomfortable with and just going for it!

TJ makes me smile, especially when the easy way was $100 cheaper and would have taken no time out of his day. The pride associated with each shower he takes will be worth every penny.

On a final note, new bikes are a sure way to crack a smile in me. I am being lent a BMC Race Machine for this season complete with Sram and Zipp Componentry. It is definitely a sweet ride and I will post a review on it in the near future.

Have a good day and TRY to have the little things make you smile (no matter how hard it can be).

Chloe is a very creative cook and she is my mom away from home (except that she is only four years older).

I am the meanest bike path warrior there is in Tucson.

TJ getting his plumber' on.

Have you ever seen one of these? Thanks Ben Johnson!

Now, with vapor barrier installed.

My Oma and Opa took me out to eat at my favorite Thai place a couple months ago. This sign I saw at my most recent visit may have been a result of me dressing the elephant in my clothes.

Race Machine (has yet to see a race).

TJ's man cave/ garage (not pictured are the ten or so sets of wheels).

To me, building with logs or timber is about bringing back tradition, the detail of the work, and most of all the natural beauty. Click on the links below and see for yourself what timber framing is all about…

Northern Lights

Goshen Built

Peeling Logs

And some pictures of my class!

Laying out and test fitting a timber.

King Truss and Jack.

14x16 finished frame built to be an outdoor kitchen.

Two 8x12 timbers formed this massive Ridge at a house we visited in Lakeville.

Lego Mania.

Lego humor!

            Last season, I rode the BMC TE01, a carbon 26” bike. My transition to a big -wheeled big rig was easier than expected. The TE29er is aluminum but it is honestly hard to tell with the expanded footprint of the 29er.

With around twenty-five hours on the TE29 between Colorado and Minnesota, I have a good feel for the bike. Without getting carried away on Colorado trails, I will just say that it handles the fastest rocky sections with no frills and at the same time is a bike made for climbing. Nevertheless, I am still partial to the twenty-six inch wheels because of the nature of Midwestern trails and having had mixed feelings while riding 29ers in the past. BMC has addressed most of the awkward characteristics associated with many 29er’s, making it a breeze to ride through tight trails such as Elm Creek, Lone Lake Park, and Theodore Wirth. These trails derive their technical aspect due to the speed they are ridden, not the innate nature of the trail.

The Avid Elixir 7’s are great brakes and it really shows their strength when paired with the stock 180mm rotor. However, as a cross country racer, I prefer the 160mm rotors which helps with brake modulation under a hard braking load while also having a light touch in slow, technical sections. I noticed quickly, that the cockpit is long. The seat tube is angled rearward from the rear wheel’s closet point to the seat tube. I am using a 90mm, 17-degree rise stem even though I usually use a 110mm stem with negative rise. For me, the benefit of having a slightly shorter stem allies with making the front end feel lighter while being able to get over the rear wheel easily. The TE29 fits that bill while having a short wheelbase yet no foot overlap with the front wheel.

After a couple rides on the stock Cross-Marks, I switched to Hutchinson Tora’s in a 2.15. The Cross Mark is an all conditions race tire, and the Tora is right there with it, being slightly better in the wet stuff.

When you ride the TE29er, expect a responsive drivetrain stemming from the Sram X-0 group, Easton EA70 wheelset, a triple butted frame and a 15mm through axle Fox Talas fork that has no noticeable flex under hard climbing or cornering. In stock form, the TE29 comes as a bike that is ready for the toughest trails out there. Take a minute to bolt on some smaller rotors, trim the 720mm bars, easily convert the UST rims and tubeless tires, and you have a very competitive race bike, weighing in at twenty-three pounds.

2012 BMC TE29 at the shop.

Brendan and me after the race. I do not endorse Freewheel, but they are a really good group of guys.

When confronted with the all too often moment of deciding to cut a one-hour indoor ride in half, I try to remember why I ride bikes. Thinking of Captain Jack’s trail in CO Springs provides a fair amount of motivation.

My BMC Team Elite 29er hard tail was the perfect package for the free flowing, hands-off the brakes Colorado descending. I am also working on a complete review of my newest mountain bike, the TE29.

Below is a video of Upper and Lower Captain Jacks; my hands down favorite trail. Conditions were ideal; a light dusting of snow over dry, unfrozen ground provided a fast rolling, twenty grit worth of confidence trail.

Enjoy this single-track video while escaping the Minnesota wind chill.

Thank you for reading… and watching!

One last note, a shout-out to my BMC teammate Kerry Werner who is our 2012 Collegiate D1 USA National Cyclocross Champion! Congratulations K-Dubz!

If you have not figured it out yet, I went on my first LCR[2] River Bottoms group ride; it was cold, and awesome. The pace was energetic but still allowed plenty of time to test ones skills at each obstacle.

On paper the LCR team would look like an extreme sports team. The background of most of their riders is fascinating. They have elite- level Superbike Racers, body builders, an Olympic level ski jumper, countless motocross and hare- scramble racers and, even better, they all like hockey! I wouldn’t be surprised if some Red Bull stunts are based on inspiration from these guys.

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[1] “Skinny”

-A ride-able surface which poses a challenge or inherent risk in successfully riding “the skinny” in entirety. A “skinnies” surface is of varying width, height, and distance off the ground. A “skinny” is often constructed of dimensional lumber or from a fallen tree.

 

 

[2] LCR

-Larson’s Cycle Racing is a do- all motorsports shop located in Cambridge, MN. They have dirt bikes, ATV’s, street bikes, side by sides, snowmobiles, and more. They stock everything you need to be on the trail tomorrow. Their service and sales staff is hands down the best in the Metro. LCR owner, Mike Larson, a mountain bike racer while not participating in Motorsports, sponsors the LCR mountain bike team.

 

Rest in Peace Packers. Giants 37, Packers 20

My sister Kato taught me how to use her sewing machine last friday night. It was likely the most useful friday night I have ever had.

My dad on his new BMC Fourstroke FS02! He loves it and he seemed to have magically got faster on the full suspension 26er'.

My Oma and Opa took me out to eat at my favorite restaurant, Roat Osha. I decided to dress up the Stone Elephant in my clothes. The restaurant manager undressed the elephant upon seeing its outfit.

My dad helped me to wash my BMC bike fleet during the packers game.

I had not seen my buddy Lars since last winter. He was in town from Bend so I picked him up at the airport. He stayed with my family for a couple nights. He took me skiing at Elm Creek where I reunited with Eric and SamO and saw the Hopkins Nordic Team at one of their conference races. Sarah Benton and Harris Dirnberger both juniors at Hopkins handily won their respective races. Coach Fuhr, Ari, Megan, Kos, and Zach are still the best out there for high school coaches and in the next two years I would not be surprised if both the girls and boys teams are on the podium at the State Meet.

Last but not least, the other best part of my christmas was seeing Peter Johnson on his new TTR90! There is a video below!

I am just waiting on snow to begin training with the Fat Bike... Never thought I would say that!

Kerry and I leaving Colorado together. K-dizy!!

December count down to Christmas at the Hinkens house.

A spinach Omelette that I spruced up a little bit. @Finsty.

Merry Christmas from BMC!

Two Saturday nights ago, I had the honor of playing in the Tom Plotkin memorial hockey game. Hopkins graduates that had been on a team of Tom’s were invited to play. It was an emotional day and evening for many people including me. It had been three and a half years since I last suited up in full equipment; that was sophomore year of high school. I am trying to think of my last memory of Tom … It was probably him in the front seat, laughing, while Johnnie Hicks was doing donuts in the Pavilion parking lot on a snowy evening.

It is hard to shed light on a death of a teammate but on one hand it brought many people together. Tom’s brother gave a teary, but meaningful pre game speech. “Everyday is a gift.” I also remember he said, “If you love someone, don’t wait, tell them you love them.” The locker room became super hot as we watched video of Tom playing hockey and some pictures from high school. Matt Kallas and his dad made the video and pretty much set up the whole night with the help of Zuks and Emma Henke.

There is nowhere else I would have rather been that night. I skated as hard as I could for Tom. With the exception of Zuks, who is a professional referee and future NHL referee, I think all players were sore for a few days. Everyone wore number three.

RIP #3

It would be really cool to get an annual hockey game over the holidays to honor your short life.

Hockey stick salute to Tom.

I am number three...

We all signed Tom's jersey and it was presented to his family.