Journey to Silver City and Mone Bikes
“How the heck do I get this rack to fit on my bike?” Every bicycle tourist and bikepacker has come across this conundrum. Often, it is not possible to fit a specific rack to a specific bike due to lack of mounts, frame material, clearances, etc. I recently encountered this classic scenario. I have a Monē Biplane Fork (which is an awesome fork, btw) and a Surly 8-pack front rack that I wanted to use together. The two simply are not compatible. My solution? Travel to Silver City, NM and have Monē Bikes braze new mounts to the fork. The plan was perfect because it also gives me the opportunity to ride/explore a warmer region in the middle of winter.
This story begins with me contacting Monē Bikes via Instagram to see if brazing on mounts for my Surly 8-pack rack would even be possible. Cjell responded quickly and enthusiastically about this endeavor.
The following week, I packed up, grabbed ye ol’ camper van, loaded my bike, stashed my fork, and journeyed down to Silver City, NM. The road to Silver City became surprisingly mountainous passing through the Gila National Forest, summiting Emory Pass and then dropping into Silver City.
Silver City is a wonderfully funky town. Cross continental trails collide in this dusty, weathered town lending an adventurous spirit to the city. The mainstreet is blooming with character. Brightly colored buildings contrast with Victorian architecture. Western aesthetics clash romantically with modern cafes and galleries. I spent a chunk of the afternoon walking around, taking photos, checking out used book stores, bike shops, galleries, etc.
Late in the day, I met up with Cjell. After a brief tour of his operations at Monē Bikes, we embarked on a sunset ride through town and around the Boston Hill Trail System.
Cjell’s wicked cool bike
Serendipity is the governing law of fortunate travel. This truth was imparted to me whilst returning from our ride. Cjell received a phone call towards the end of our ride. A segment of this conversation went along the lines of “I am finishing up a ride with a guy you may know from Santa Fe.” My curiosity was piqued. It so happened that Cjell and I have a mutual friend, Jeremy, who was also visiting Silver City. We finished our bike ride and convened as three friends and spent the evening in communion of dirtbags.
The following day, we nerded-out over bikes. Cjell and I discussed the rack, fork, and mounting situation. I left the fork to be worked on and Jeremy and I went riding around Gomez Peak and road parts of the CDT. The ride was properly icy, muddy, snowy, and generally sloppy in the most glorious way. Trail conditions did limit our riding opportunities, but not the fun.
We returned to Monē Bikes where I received my modified fork (very happy with the result) and squared up on labor. I packed my belongings and hit the road. That night I camped out in the desert enjoying a cold night of quietude before completing my journey back home to Santa Fe.
Passions wax and wane. No doubt my interest in bikes has been in a diminished state. Before this trip, I had not ridden in nearly 3 months (I have favored trail running as of late). My fascination with the bike has been rekindled in my soul… Now if only my local trails were rideable…
Big thanks to Cjell, Erika, Jeremy, and Monē Bikes for being awesome people, for refreshing my interest in bikes, and for providing opportunities to explore new places and relationships.