I don’t get ot ride new stuff so much anymore, in the past I could go somewhere for the weekend (or week) and explore new trails solo out of the tent, just getting into town for coffee and foods. Little bit of bagel, some oatmeal and a fresh gallon of water and another 5 hour day on the bike was over before I knew it. Roll to the tent, eat a premade burrito and sleep it off. Not much beats that, life shifts and victories are elsewhere, today days away are shorter missions when work and family allow. Smaller days, better training.

The Demo truck was in Quebec last week. Riders came to try the Fuel EX, the Remedy, the new Session, the HiFi Carbon, and everyone was looking at trying anything 29er we had. The curiosity of riding a 29er was on everone’s list, most were very surprised about the great ride, what were they expecting?? I guess they would have like to say they didn’t like it, so they can scratch this option on their next bike purchase list… Well I guess not! If I go with the comments I heard, 50% of the sales can be 29er before we know it! The superfly was of course the bike everyone wanted to try, the Paragon was the compare to bike with their actual hardtails, and the HiFi Pro 29 was the underdog that surprised everyone! Great ride! Unbelievable! Amazing! Just to name a few words I heard, well actually it was in French… Sounds more like, Vraiment cool! Incroyable! Ecoeurant!

More comments:

- Shop guy in Chicoutimi: “I  was just curious to try… I never thaught I would have to consider buying a double suspension 29er… Now I don’t see why I would buy something else.”

- Girl attending the Demo in Quebec City: After she came back from her test ride with the HiFi Pro 29 I asked her if she wanted to try another model, she replies “I dare you  take that bike away from me now! I am going back for another loop!” I finally convinced her to try the Paragon… But nothing else than 29er!

- “That bike just fly over everything!” I guess that’s why it’s called the Superfly…

 I could go on and on about the great comments. I have a great one to make myself… Thanks to Dave O’Connell for his time in Quebec! It was great to have you  up here!

With 2500 competitors Mountain Mayhem was one big 24hr race! Now in it’s 11th year (and my 7th time) everytime you think you have it sussed it throws a curveball to keep you on your toes. Even with that many competitors though, when it starts raining in the middle of the night making half the course unridable it can get pretty quiet out there…

Battling through the cloud, drizzle, deep mud, rain and darkness, with high winds a drying course and sunshine to finish, the UK 29er crew managed 7th place in the elite mixed category against some seriuously stacked opposition with a little help from fellow xcracer.com sponsored rider, Maddie Horton. Just to rub salt into the wounds, we were also schooled by the 69er Collective, riding high on their singlespeeds (and highest placed singlespeed team for the second year running).

In previous years, international endurance racers Natt Ross, Tinkez Juarez and Jenn O’Connor have won the solo categery. This year Anthony White and Sally Bigham take the honours in some grim conditions for the soloists. Big respect to them.

And if you didn’t have the luxury of your own jet wash, it was a case of joining the hour long queue for the bike wash if you wanted a clean steed between laps… Ouch!

 There are some races that you just pray for a flat tire or mechanical. You know, the race where your legs feel like lead, people are passing you like you are standing still and you are just out there suffering…….Well, the Ashland 12 mile Super D was not one of those races. I felt great. I was slicing and dicing, moving like a red rocket down the 12 mile mostly downhill race. I caught my minute girl within the first 10 minutes of the race. I was in the zone and I was still coming up to my favorite parts of the course. My Superfly felt great. I felt great. Then, I flatted. I rarely flat and this was one of the most disappointing flats I have ever had. Extremely deflated (me and the tire), I rode off the single track and stood by the course for a moment. After a couple of minutes and no riders I thought where are the women? I decided to try and change my flat as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this is not the type of race that you can change a flat and still catch back on. But, I wasn’t seeing anybody for a while so I was trying to be quick. Finally, I saw the leading women come through and cheered them on. Fifteen minutes later I was back on my bike and rolling the single track (I definitely need some practice changing a flat quickly). Even though I was disappointed with my flat I couldn’t help but smile down this course. It was an awesome course and I will be back for sure. The course is a 12 mile super d that starts at the top of Mt. Ashland and descends 5,000 feet in 12 miles to the town of Ashland. It also serves up a stiff 600ft of climbing that doesn’t sound to bad, but is deceiving and caused many to blow up and have a hard time recovering for the rest of the pedaling sections on the course. I would encourage any of you 29er crew members to do this race next year. It is the second largest super d in the country and is fabulous. We could all give Mark Weir a run for it. It would be fun to have a 29er showing out there. Think about it.  

After skipping it last year due to racing too much, I finally got my cowbell fix on the singlespeed this past weekend. In the past, the race has been held at the US whitewater center, but for whatever reason this year’s race was held at Fisher Farms in Davidson, NC. The course only had 4 miles of singletrack, but included 3 miles of grass/field sections to increase the mileage. The singletrack was mostly tight, twisty and rooty, with quite a few techie sections of skinnies, rock gardens, bridges, log piles and the like. Overall, it was super flat, with only one short steep climb and 2 or 3 longer uphills. On a side note, this race is the only one in the southeast that has a “King of the Mountains” competition on the first lap. I just find it funny that one of the flattest courses I’ve raced on in years crowns a king of the rollers. (more…)