Surly Long Haul Trucker and Specialized Enduro Expert For Sale

I've put two of my bikes up for sale.

1.  Surly Long Haul Trucker

• Purchased new in mid 2008, mainly used on the GAP and C&O Canal and some road touring.
• 56cm Green Long Haul Trucker.
• 48 spoke Phil Wood hubs laced to Velocity Dyad rims (built by Peter White). 
• Tubus Tara front rack, Tubus Cargo rear rack. 
• Ortlieb Rear Bike Packer Plus Panniers, black...front Ortlieb Sport Packers, black. 
• Ortlieb Handlebar bag. 
• Black fenders.
• Pitlock locking skewers and headset cap.
• No pedals
• $1700 O.B.O.

2. Specialized Enduro Expert, Large, 2011

• Extremely low miles, very good shape
• Fox Talas 36 upgrade
• More info shortly
• $3000 O.B.O.

Pics and more info soon.

Cross Country Skiing in Pennsylvania

So we got hit with a little snowstorm this past weekend, and we had to take advantage of it.  The city only got few inches, but Seven Springs and Forbes State Forest got at least a foot of dry powder.  It was  a bit cold and windy, but made for some great skiing.  I was able to use both my Rosignol BC70s, and my Madshus Epochs.  The BX70s are obviously 70mm at the widest sidecut, the Epochs are 99mm sidecut.  The Epochs are just a rebranded Karhu 10th Mountain ski, since Karhu went out of business.  The Epoch with 3 pin bindings were awesome yesterday.  Floating over all the powder as we broke some new trails through the North Woods.

Enjoy a gallery from Seven Springs: http://www.jonpratt.com/2012/XC-Skiing-0211/
and North Woods: http://www.jonpratt.com/2012/XC-Skiing-North-Woods-0212

All photos taken with the Nikon AW100

finding new trails in North Woods


skis at the warming hut in Forbes State Forest


warm and toasty


North Woods pine forest


safety break


justin heading off on the horse trail in seven springs


great day with the dogs cross country skiing at seven springs


heinz approved of the ski at seven springs

Nikon Coolpix AW100 waterproof camera

I've spent a good amount of time with Nikon's waterproof, GPS, shock proof, freeze proof, dust proof durable camera and I like it.  It doesn't take the best action shots, as expected...and I see some dust inside the lens, but overall it's held up pretty well to my lifestyle.  Mud, dirt, salt water, rain, sweat, drops...my other point and shoots would've been dead by now.  For sure.

Keyword link to all my Nikon AW100 photos and videos - http://www.jonpratt.com/keyword/aw100

Nikon Coolpix AW100 video sample from Longboat Key, Florida -

A few photos taken with the Nikon Coolpix AW100

seagull along longboat key, florida

cormorant on the beach in longboat key, florida

Jake at sunset on the beach

dolphins swimming off longboat key, florida

sailboat at sunset off longboat key, florida

downtown pittsburgh

the pittsburgh civic arena, stripped

2011 Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen Race

Saturday was the perfect day for Pittsburgh's most iconic road race, the Dirty Dozen.  300 riders spent the day climbing 13 of Pittsburgh's steepest hills, including Canton Avenue which, at 37 degrees, is known as the world's steepest road.  The race covers about 54 miles, mostly neutral riding between the hills, but in Pittsburgh this guarantees you're going to be climbing more than just the 13 timed hills.  Danny Chew was on hand, of course, to see his baby get a record number of participants this year.  You can check out Danny Chew's Dirty Dozen website here.  I got to tag along in Gary and Kathleen's vehicle which was carrying the leaders' wheels and assorted other clothing dropped along the race course.  Thanks!

A gallery of photographs from the 2011 Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh - http://www.jonpratt.com/2011/2011-Dirty-Dozen-Pgh-1126

Enjoy a couple of pictures from the Dirty Dozen -

Danny Chew addressing the racers at the 2011 Dirty Dozen

The rolling streets of Pittsburgh

Drying out the gloves at the first rest stop along the Dirty Dozen

Blowing away the field coming up Rialto Street, aka Pig Hill, during the Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh

Cobblestones, cobblestones everywhere

Scott Bricker of Bike Pittsburgh taking a breather on top of Mount Washington

Canton Avenue claims another victim during the 2011 Dirty Dozen race in Pittsburgh

Don Powers mashing the singlespeed up the steepest street in the world, cobblestones of course

taking a nap on Canton Avenue during the 2011 Dirty Dozen

Stick, singlespeed champion of the 2011 Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh

Another year of downhill mountain biking comes to a close at Seven Springs

Sunday marked the last day of downhill mountain biking at Seven Springs bike park.  As has become custom, a race followed by a train down 007 closed up the mountain.  Great weather, and fantastic trail conditions greeted the riders...and the broken handed photographer.

Enjoy a gallery of photographs from the downhill practice runs and race http://www.jonpratt.com/2011/Seven-Springs-Closing-Day-1023

A couple of pictures from the day at Seven Springs Bike Park

The last downhill race of the season at Seven Springs Bike Park

hitting the rock under the lift at seven springs bike park during the downhill mountain bike race

coming through helen's woods during the downhill race at seven springs bike park

seven springs downhill bike park in the fall

dave brunger motoring through helen's woods during the downhill race at seven springs bike park

heather hitting the rocks at seven springs bike park

exiting the rock garden at seven springs downhill bike park

A very muddy Month of Mud cyclcocross race in North Park

There was another Month of Mud race this weekend...and this time, it was muddy, very!  When I first heard that the course was going to be at the corner of Wildwood and Babcock, I thought it was going to suck for photos and for the racers.  But who really cares about the racers, it's all about me and my photographic enjoyment, right?  Well, I was wrong.  The course looked super fun, and there were tons of vantage points for some great pictures at this month's Month of Mud race.

Here's a gallery of photographs from the day - http://www.jonpratt.com/2011/North-Park-Cyclocross-1002

A couple of pictures from the day -

There were a couple of trees that provided just the right light and color for some cool photographs at the Month of Mud cyclocross race in North Park

A few puddles at the North Park Cyclocross Month of Mud race to make things interesting

Fans braving the elements to cheer on the racers at the north park month of mud cyclocross race

Some spots required a dismount and a run

hitting the mud at the north park month of mud cyclocross race

Josh Patterson muscling through the mud at the month of mud cyclocross race in north park

Month of Mud, Brady's Run, 2011

I hadn't taken any race photos for a while, so I decided I'd hit up the first Month of Mud race at Brady's Run on Sunday.  Turned out to be pretty incredible weather, and a fun course.  Not too much mud though.

Enjoy a gallery of photographs from first 2011 Month of Mud race, at Brady's Run - http://www.jonpratt.com/2011/Month-of-Mud-at-Bradys-0918

And check out some pictures from the Brady's Run Month of Mud Race -

Stunt It Man, Dirt Rag at the 2011 Month of Mud Race at Brady's Run in Beaver Falls, PA

2011 Month of Mud Race at Brady's Run, Beaver Valley, PA

Hitting the Descent of Death at the 2011 Month of Mud Race at Brady's Run, Beaver Valley, PA

Emily Walley on the Descent of Death at the 2011 Month of Mud Race at Brady's Run, Beaver Valley, PA

Justin Steiner showing the log pile who's boss at the 2011 Month of Mud Race at Brady's Run, Beaver Valley, PA