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Tailfin T1 Carbon Rack - Initial Review

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Purchased a TAILFIN T1 carbon rack to use on my commutes and tours. First thing I have to say is....wow! This thing looks sleek, and simple. Quality and feel are very nice as well. But how well does it work? Step 1: Unboxing Package shipped out quickly from the U.K after purchase. Took about 1.5 weeks to get to me in California. Adequate protection in the box. Packaged very nicely. Inside the brown tubes are the booster bars to accomodate non-Tailfin panniers. The above mentioned booster bars. Easy to attach with just a 4mm key. The Tailfin itself. Comes with a removable fender. Very neat!  Possibly the most important piece...the axle. The rack attaches to this specially designed quick release. Thru axle versions are available as well. Step 2: Install Installation is quick and painless. Just change your axle (quick release or thru) and mount the rack on it. Super simple installation. After connecting to the quick release, the aluminum bar attaches to
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Flashback - 2013 Rishiri and Rebun Islands

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Rishiri and Rebun 2013 Going through old files on the computer and stumbled on pictures I had taken with a phone while in Japan in 2013. These are from Rishiri Island and Rebun Island,  both of which are beautiful hikes. I made the mistake of doing them barefoot.... Mt. Rishiri rises out of the North Japan sea. Accessible by ferry from Wakkanai Getting lost... The peace and tranquility of the forests were a very nice difference to the chaos of Tokyo As you get higher the soil takes on a very nice deep red color Above the clouds the summit of Mt. Rishiri It had been a steady downpour for the whole day. I was wet, cold, and exhausted Emergency shelter - luckily I only used it a bit to change my clothes. The hikers behind me must have used it as the weather took a huge turn for the worst very quickly. Yum....2 day old Konbini dinner Beautiful morning after the storm had passed Island hopped to Rebun - breathtaking sights
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New Year, New Plans!

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New Years Teardown Took the time today to tear down the whole bike. Some things need to be replaced or changed. This bike did a good job in 2016, and I'll be pushing it again this year in Japan, and possibly South Korea. Things to fix: - New hoods for shift levers               - MicroShift offers replacement hoods on their website for only $9. You get 2 pairs with that! - New Bottom bracket               - I made a mistake of buying an FSA Crank. The crank itself is great. But the bottom bracket has caused me loads of trouble. I've spent 2 hours before in front of home hardware store in AizuWakamatsu stripping down the bottom bracket and reassembling it. Not fun in hot weather! -New Crank (maybe)               - Instead of buying a new MegoEXO BB I've though of just replacing my whole crankset with Shimano or Sram. The cranksets compatible with the MegaEXO BB are not very compatible with a Shimano BB, without using some force or alteration. This Years Pla
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More pictures from Japan May 2016

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First night on the road in Utsunomiya. Comfort food after a rainy day  Horrible weather outside of Nikko, Tochigi prefecture Haven from the rain and cold. A cafeteria inside that serves up a decent curry! Just north of Niigata West Coast Honshu Obaachan pretending to race a bike Monkey after leaving Yonezawa The road down to Lake Hibara Nice bike stands posted around the small city of Kitakata Departing to Mito. 241 km to go! Getting into Ibaraki prefecture East Coast Honshu....200 km in to my ride to Mito. The pain was starting to set in. Dinner after Kitakata to Mito haul....241 km is my PR for now Two bike are better than one On the sands outside of Kujukuri
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Flashback to 2013 - Wakkanai and Rishiri Island

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This was my first solo trip to Japan back in August September of 2013. I fell in love with travelling outdoors in Japan, mostly because of my experience in Hokkaido. These photos were taken in Wakkanai and Rishiri Island. I'll go back by bike one day...
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