Yesterday headed over to the Geneva Bicycle Center and headed out with a few new riders to hit the old Wheelman route. It’s about a 38 mile ride with a few rolling hills, nothing major though. I added a few miles by riding there and back.
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Yes there will be a few Canadians on the 29er Crew! Races are not yet begin here because Mother Nature gave us a lot of snow this winter. There is a small possibility to ride the trails for the first time this coming week-end and get those 29″ wheels spin a bit! The first xc race in Quebec is schedule for May 3rd in Bromont. They took away the snow from the ski slopes to make it happen. The first Canada Cup in Charlevoix for May 10th has been cancel 2 weeks ago because they had over 13 feet of snow still on the ground! Now they are down to about 3-4 feet… Not too bad… That now leaves the first Canada Cup race to Bromont, May 17th. Bromont is further south in Quebec and the snow is now gone, exept for the ski slopes. They will use the same course as the World Cup in August, I’ll let you know how this goes. In the meantime I’ll wake up my legs in a road race this week-end and watch the Montreal Canadians working towards the playoffs! Go Habs Go!
OK, ski season is officially over, although by the amount of snow outside my window you would never think so, but— it time to start riding. So why not start with a great trip to Fruita. Oh and bring the new ride and a training log that has a big fat 0 in it for base miles. The trails around Fruita are very cool and put to shame the 4-wheel scene and condo scramble that is Moab. The Marys trail area is so awesome ! Lots of cool comments on the Superfly by other riders, and a few were probably wondering about the rider ( fish belly white legs and arms, covered in winter fur and a ski season of beer belly). Zero training miles to 6 hour rides overnight, why dont I ever learn ? But the riding was to good to pass up and I just geared down and enjoyed the view. And now back in the NW and into a sensible training routine. But it is snowing outside and the trails are still under the white stuff. Break out the cross bike and stick to the road for a while. I dont need to post to this site about how nice the 29er rides, but my riding partner is not happy with it. I let him ride it a little and now he is doing the husband-wife grovel as he tries to convince her of his need for another bike. If you are a road rider, do not go to the Pyrenees to ride, if you ski, do not go heli skiing and if you mountain bike do not ride a Superfly– you will be forever doing chores and being extra nice to your partner so that when she looks in the checking account and says ” What was this for ?” you will not need to give a rational answer.
Winter is holding on like grim death at 9000 feet. The more the sun shows the more the snow wants to fight it. 3 inches last night made for an icy ride to work. Studded tires for niners are where it’s at. Almost here. This is only two hours away. Wanna drive?
Big changes for this season. Big equipment changes for me, and Travis’s latest post about JHK’s new set up triggered me to write about my new triggers. JHK’s cranks Awesome! (check out the photos) Why is it taking so long for companies to bring back the 94mm bcd? OR what I’m using, and JHK apparently, the 110mm/ 74mm bcd. Well, they have brought back the 110mm bcd. (Bolt Circle Diameter) IT is now called”Road Compact” SO. Here is a photo of the crank set up…(it is on its 3rd year) and why…..
The small ring is a 28tooth which falls in between the “normal” baby and middle. Nice for those climbs around here, I can just get up them seated comfortably when they get really steep. The Big Ring is a 39t. Plenty of top-end for the sections of straight that we have around here in Western PA. The additional clearance gives a little more flow of the rocks, dogs, etc. The clutch thing is however, and you’ll also see in JHK’s set up, is that the small ring is in, and the big ring falls where the middle ring usually is. Making the entire chainline extremely straight, even when doing the combo of big-ring / two-down in the back (my cassette is an 11-34) Having the chain-line that straight helps with everything regarded as a “drive-train-issue” I use the old XTR’s for this reason… I am tall. I need 180mm cranks. Also, I can use an Ultregra V1 spline, super narrow 109mm bottome bracket and keep my Q-factor (how far the pedals are from one another) at 158mm. 
Seems like you never run out of ways to hop up your ride. Case in point. The custom 2×9 spider creeated for the Subaru-Gary Fisher mountain bike team. This genesis for this whiz bangery started with Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and his Superfly carbon hardtail 29er.
The first round of the G2 12hr series happened last weekend, in Sherwood Pines UK. The 29ers entered the team event and won it with a lap to spare! Course designer Paul Errington put together a superb course, fast and flowing. He was also a member of the winning team along with Matt Lewis, James Hampshire & Myself ( Who by the way set the fastest lap of the night Woo Hoo! )
Back to XC racing now in a couple of weeks at the Next round of the NPS in bonnie scotland.
The Cohutta 100 started off on a great note, as we awoke to pouring rain on our tent at 2:30 in the morning. Luckily, the rain stopped around 6:00 as we were getting up, so we at least started the race dry. I spun the Rig up to the start and got a spot around 30 riders back or so. I decided to rock the Dry-X tires for a fast ride on the 65 miles of fireroad.
Back home, travel weary, little tired and sore. Still processing the events of the weekend. Happy to have gotten that first race effort in, and also to have gone on a nice pre-ride Saturday am, with Gary Fisher himself.
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