Picked up a couple new Bontrager toys over the past week. A pair of The new 29-3 Tires and a sweet pair of the Rhythm Team Issue World Cup Gloves (Shh, the “World Cup Team” version don’t show up on the Bontrager site, but I have it on good authority that your local Trek dealer can get ‘em for ya even if you’re not a team rider) To put the gloves to the test I first took them up to Highland Mountain Bike Park for six hours of Free-ridin’ craziness on a Trek Session 88 Demo bike. (more…)
Gear Reviews, Observations
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Participation in sport is like seeing life in HD versus black and white.
After a hectic, but awesome weekend of celebrating my daughter Sadie’s Bat Mitzvah and dropping the kids at sleepaway camp, I made my way to Putney, Vt with my wife for round five of the Root 66 Series, with a half hour to spare. I got a short warm up in and made my way to the line for the Cat 2 40-49 highly competitive class. In a blur, we took a sharp right into a field and then into the cross country ski trails where I found myself with the holeshot. [See cyclingdirt.org] My high lasted for 5 minutes until I was passed on the first slight incline and then started to move backwards in slow motion. Guys where asking me if I was alright, but I had no response. I could have blamed it on the alchohol, lack of sleep or a stupid mechanical,[no such luck,] but the truth was I just didn’t have “gas in the tank.” The course was a mix of fast flowing CC ski trails that demanded your attention, all of the time due to the slippery conditions. The hills would wear you down and made me fatigued. Kudos to the rear Mud X Rear Tire for keeping me from spinning out and the XDX in the front for steering me straight. The bottom line is that I limped in for 10th place and the last 35 points.
No trip would be complete w/o stopping at the VT Country Store for their pulled pork sandwich w/ cole slaw. Another great weekend and adventure we call life.
Holeshot at the Hill
They may look like fun but it turns out that this little contraption is actually NOT a good idea. After hours and hours of “practice” still no one can roll them, only walk with them. On the plus side it turns out that they are a really great way to break your wrist. I think I’ll stick to two wheels fixed on the same plane.
So the last few weeks the doc has been changing and adjusting my heart meds and for the most part it has not been good till this past week it seems my body may be adjusting ok it may take a few weeks to know for sure , Its been really hard to stay in my upper zones for long . So last week I did the B 2 b 150 mile ride and just rode in my upper comfort zones for 8 hrs on my madone . This week I have riden around the weather this morning I spent 1-1/2 hours on the s-fly then took my 8 year old son matt to the bmx track to race he stuck it out and made it to the main and came in third his first podium so cool , o yea some how I managed to make it to the main .So for now thats what is going on and hope to get it somewhat dialed in the next few weeks and get back to mt bike racing .Also I have been running the new 29/3 tires and they are awesome .
On Wednesday of last week a handful of us went for a ride to preview the course being used for today’s TORC Tarwheel XC Race. The group included myself and my wife Kirsten, our friend Greg, and the local Trek rep Travis and his wife. The guys where rocking 29ers and the ladies their Fuels. About half way or so through the ride we happen upon a skills area with a skinny, log piles, and a nice rock section. While we were screwing around there, Kirsten takes a big fall of the skinny and lands square on her forearm. Not good. The next day, we are in the Urgent Care center getting some xrays. Nothing broken, but the arm (and other assorted body parts), as well as the Fuel 9.9, are pretty trashed.
While trying to decide if Kirsten is going to be able to race, we get a call from our great friend and fellow 29er Crew member Marcee. Marcee offered the use of her prized and good kharma laden Superfly to Kirsten for today’s event. SWEET! Kirsten was so stoked at the chance to go racing on the Superfly, and suddenly the bodily injuries don’t feel quite as bad. (Marce - you ROCK!!)
Women’s Sport class started at 9:00am, and was a 2 lap affair. Kirsten’s plan was to roll sans water bottle, and depend on her pit crew (basically our 4 year old son Jensen) to hand her a bottle after lap 1.
The little man in the 29er Crew jersey and I waited at the entrance to the narrower track following the fire road start. We heard the first group coming, and Kirsten had grabbed the hole shot and lead the class into lap one! Jensen and I ran back to the half way point to see her again, and Kirsten was now 30 seconds up on the rest of the field. Of course it was the spectacular water bottle exchange 
that helped to extend the lead and sealed the 4 minute victory!
It was really cool to see Kirsten win in a XC class she hasn’t raced before, on a bike she has never ridden, especially following the injuries she sustained just 4 days prior. I was super proud of her, and was really excited to see her win. I think Marcee may have a hard time getting her Superfly back (don’t worry Marcee, I’ll grab it while she isn’t looking). Kirsten is a 29″ convert now for SURE! Anyone want to buy a XS Fuel?
Races, Ride Reports
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Is what I blurted standing on the podium in first place for the women’s SS class at the 2009 Cowbell Challenge Marathon. After posting a race time of 6:30:51.861 (whatever the .861 is) just 30 minutes before cut-off, in the hottest most humid weather in which I have ever ridden, ”I won a Cowbell!” Those who know me very well recognize my excitement; some that I meet at the races soon learn my silly often childish ways. What can I say I’m easily amused and rarely serious. Seems almost like the SS way, or at least where I relate to it. The race was awesome with my partner and fellow 29er crew member as my support. Dependably filling bottles of icy energy or bottle ice water for my jersey pockets just to keep me cool enough to keep riding and maybe complete the adventure to event standards. Believe me, some really good riders didn’t finish this event even with announcer Bruce Dickman spilling ice water on riders between laps. Thanks again Bruce! I realized on Saturday just how stubborn I really am, this time awesomely working out in my favor!
photo credit: Emily Brock
Sunday’s Kenda Cup XC was really fun too! I was sooooo glad that the SS got to race for two laps=16 miles. Hey, I was exhausted from the 54 miles in the heat on Saturday. I rode my fastest lap times on Sunday and again placed 1st in the women’s SS class with a time that would have placed me 3rd in the men’s SS class. Cool! I want to send a shout out to fellow crew members (check out their blogs) who were in it for the long hot weekend haul or just Sunday….Sam Haskett , Brent Lester, Denelle Grant, Marshall Hance and Sam Koerber. It was awesome seeing some very familiar faces and meeting new ones. I look forward to ringing my new Cowbell for you at an event soon, if I’m not playing with you of course! Smiles!
The web site is simple. The concept large if not long. The event…it is spectacular. Rick Plite rivals A.S.O. in his ability to run a cycling event. A.S.O, the people who do the Tour de France and many other events as well as http://www.letapedutour.com/ (stage of the tour) where 9,500 road riders line up and go all at once; imagine the event management that is needed with that. The http://www.lumberjack100.com/ is more than an event it is an experience and Rick tops A.S.O. Can I do it? Who is there? Where do I stay? I need water. Sniper shot cramps to the legs (potassium deficiency perhaps) at mile 70; crap. Why me? Award presentations? Where is my girl? Do I have a girl? Food? Medical facility? How much longer? These are all questions that run through your mind, at least my mind, at some point before or during the race? 100 miles of racing gives you plenty of time to think. (more…)
The best: 2009 Powerbar Midlands XC Champs. What summer racing is all about, blue skies, super dry trails (even an American style sand trap half way round!) and lots of happy riders. (more…)
Bad breaks, set backs, natural fact is, I can’t find my chapstick. Ended up taking a little bit of a mid-season break over the past couple weeks. Started with a nearly paralyzing back spasm which was likely the result of some major body-misalignment issues. Now I’m addressing those issues and taking it kind of easy on the bike for the moment. I usually commute on the road bike but to get myself out of the funk that all this not-riding has left me in I hopped on the Ferrous to put the fun back in it. (more…)
The 29er Crew is a grassroots team of mountain bike racers from all over the country and world. Be it endurance, cross-country or XTerra events, they all share a common passion for standing on podiums and the 29ers that put them there. Read more about the 29er Crew.
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