From the team

Team Blog

Ride reports, long-term bike reviews, and race stories from the Cycle Analysis team, written between 2016 and 2018.

A classic steel road bike in three-quarter view.

Latest · July 31, 2018 · Jacob HammondIn Retrospect: The Gravel Grinders of 2016Jacob here with a trip down memory lane. In 2016, I hosted a series of gravel rides in the Rogue Valley, along with Aaron, a Cycle Analysis teammate and fellow 5&9 Crazy Mofo. I've been wanting to…Read the post →

2018

May 28Now And ThenIt seems like every time I find the two hours of spare time I need to write one of these little stories, I mention how it's been so long since the last one, how I'll try and do better, how I blah,…Aaron Mock

2017

Oct 16Masi Giramondo: Long-Term ReviewFirst introduced in 2015, the Masi Giramondo is the Vista, California-based bicycle manufacturer's flagship "adventure" machine. Intended to serve as a go-anywhere, do-anything bike for long days in…Jacob Hammond
Oct 9So Long, Mr DingmanIt's the end of an era. While our opportunities to ride together seemed to become fewer and farther between over the last year or so, I always knew the days I rode with Shawn would be just a little…Aaron Mock
Sep 25Memory Lane Is Steep!Sometimes I take too many pictures while I'm riding. Okay, pretty much every time. But, this go around was exceptional for the number of photos taken. And, while none of them are really all that…Aaron Mock
Aug 23Up In SmokeNot a very original title. I know. Quite appropriate though, considering it perfectly describes my ride last Saturday.Aaron Mock
Jul 17Hinkle Lake?I'm not gonna lie. I've wanted to post blogs, write about adventures, share stuff. The truth is, I haven't really felt like I've done anything on a bike in such a long while that would warrant the…Aaron Mock
Feb 19Forgotten...But, Not Gone?Wow. I've tried starting this entry probably 5 or 6 different ways, but none of them were working for me. I feel like it's been forever since I've written anything. I know it's been long enough…Aaron Mock

2016

Dec 30Looking Back. Looking ForwardWow. It's been so long since I've done one of these, I wonder if I remember how to do this? We'll all find out soon enough I guess! That's right. Much to your possible chagrin, I'm still around!Aaron Mock
Oct 3Masi Giramondo 27.5: Adventure Is Its Middle NameLooking for that do-anything bike? The Masi Giramondo 27.5 is the perfect fit. Comes with 27.5 wheels, but capable of taking 700x40 road wheels/tires. Five water bottle mounts. Shimano 3x10…Jacob Hammond
Sep 30Clement X'Plor USH: Long-Term ReviewThe Clément brand was founded in 1878 in France by Gustave Adolphe Clément, a young bicycle racer-turned-builder, who would later go on to expand his business empire to include tires, motorcycles,…Jacob Hammond
Sep 28Gravel Epic(ness)I promise, after this report, I will do my very best to avoid the topic of the Gravel Epic race. It's finally come and gone so this should be my last time writing about it for awhile. And, not a…Aaron Mock
Sep 19Get LostWell, here we are at the end of Summer. Seeing as how I'm about 1000 miles behind pace to hit my year's goal of 6500 miles, I guess I should be satisfied with my other goal. And, I am! My…Aaron Mock
Sep 6Sore Knees And Big TreesThe Gravel Epic is only 3 weeks away and with that in mind I dove into last week intent on burying myself in cycling pain for the next 2.Aaron Mock
Aug 29Doin' It Right (Almost)!It looks like the smoke has finally made it's way to the Valley. So far it hasn't been bad, but this morning I was riding the motorbike down I-5 to work and thought it was raining. I wasn't…Aaron Mock
Aug 23Like Old TimesBut, when I was forced to wait nearly 2 weeks for my new internet service, I had to bail on last week's report. I'll try and make up for it today.Aaron Mock
Aug 1Let's Try This AgainOh yeah. Oh yeah. 3 weeks in a row. Boom. I'm on a roll. Or, I'm just doing what I'm supposed to. That's probably it.Aaron Mock
Jul 25Who Wants To Climb?Whaddya know? Two weeks in a row! I told y'all last week I was re-committing myself to reporting on my adventures more faithfully. I may not always have much to say, but I'm not afraid to say a…Aaron Mock
Jul 18I Still Ride My BikeYeah, yeah. I skipped another week of writing last week. I've already been scolded by a couple people so I'm going to redouble my efforts to be more dedicated. It's not that I didn't ride. I…Aaron Mock
Jul 5Four For The 4thAfter giving my highly questionable storytelling skills a break last week, I'm back. You guys didn't really think you could get rid of me THAT easy, did you?Aaron Mock
Jul 2Summer Swing 2016, In PhotosToday's Summer Swing route brought 12 intrepid riders through the backroads outside of Lake Creek and Butte Falls. With temperatures in the 90s and lots of steep gravel of varying texture, plus a…Jacob Hammond
Jun 20Freedom Of ChoiceI'm not going to bore you guys with all the regular stuff like, "Hey, I rode 17 miles on Tuesday" (I did). Or, "It was really dumping rain during the race Thursday and I was sliding all over so I…Aaron Mock
Jun 13Breaking The ObenchainAfter last week's big mileage, I was looking to keep it going and maybe, accidentally, get back on track for reaching my goal for miles this year. Yeah. That didn't happen. But, what did happen…Aaron Mock
Jun 8Better Late Than NeverAnother week, another batch of excuses for being late with the recap. I'll save you all the whining. Most of the last couple days have simply been spent recovering from Sunday's race. I'll get to…Aaron Mock
May 318 Days A WeekWhew! Clearly, nicer weather and staying close to home over a holiday weekend means I get to ride more. The biggest problem with that is I barely have enough time to get a blog entry done. Since…Aaron Mock
May 22Going Off The Rails Of The Swasey TrainThings started off pretty good last week. Choosing a road ride over a mtb race at nearly the last minute on Tuesday, I found myself in a group of 9 riders when I had thought there would only be 4…Aaron Mock
May 16Group It UpShnikes! Every Sunday, in preparation for my bloggage, I look back through all the photos I've taken from the previous week. It wasn't until I was in the middle of the process this week that I…Aaron Mock
May 10Touring the Unknown CoastBordered by rugged coastline and isolated from the rest of civilization by miles of narrow highways that twist along canyon walls like serpents, Humboldt County, California is unique in many ways.…Jacob Hammond
May 9Just Another DayHuh? What's that? For those that don't know, it stands for Short Track Cross Country and for the first time in several years, we have a local series again. The STXC series put on 3 or 4 years ago…Aaron Mock
May 4We Love the Masi CXR CompCheck out the new Masi CXR Comp disc brake cyclocross bike. This cyclocross/gravel bike sports a Shimano 105 drivetrain, Stans No Tubes rims, TRP Spyre brakes, Clement MXP tires, a Ritchey cockpit…Jacob Hammond
Apr 25Wildcat FeverI think I may have figured something out last week. Call it an epiphany. I dunno. Maybe call it what it is instead. Check it out. I've finally decided to listen to ALL the people that have said…Aaron Mock
Apr 18Spring Fling Ding-A-LingGood grief. Lately it seems like my life has been in overdrive. Or, more appropriately, like I've been driven over. I thought maybe I could kick off a good week of riding Tuesday by meeting up…Aaron Mock
Apr 17Spring Fling 2016 - Short Course PhotosSaturday, April 16 was the first edition of the Spring Fling, a gravel ride that took place in the Little Applegate valley and explored the slopes of Anderson Butte. Roughly 25 riders showed up for…Jacob Hammond
Apr 11Evolving With The EvoluzioneLast week was about homecomings and the first one involved my return to the Cycle Analysis team. After a little over a year of riding for another shop, I realized I was still spending most of my…Aaron Mock