tired of being tired? race/ride report. tire review.

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“Sure Lance what should I do?” How about race your bike on a single track course with 18 of Michigan’s finest riders using Bontrager Dry X tires after a rain storm. The key words are “Dry X,” “rain storm” and “single track.” I suppose I should give credit where credit is due. Michigan, with more home foreclosures than anywhere in the country and an obesity problem like no other, is actually home to some of the best trails in the United States and Bontrager makes good tires.

Jones AC X modified without knobs for semi-muddy condtions (bottom) and the orginal Jones AC X for perilous condtions (top). The wider spaced bigger knobs shed mud yet grab the earth. If you are new to cycling, just try different things.In Michigan there is soil for carving out turns and great rolling hills left over from the glaciers thousands of years ago. This past weekend just outside Detroit lays Brighton Michigan and yes…a mountain bike stage race every year at the DNR park, Brighton Recreational Area. Imagine a mountain bike time trail, a few hours of break and then a cyclo-cross event but on mountain bikes around flags in a hilly, grassy field the same day.  The next day is followed by 40 mile pain festival cross country event.  Being a Fisher rider on a 29er crew at that, I’d be lying if I said it did not take some getting used to the 29 inch wheels, like a whole lot of rides, but overall there is no other bike like Fishers. My Superfly is the weapon of choice in the Mid-west and rumor has it that the 2009 is OCLV made in Waterloo, but no one will say either way.

So it rained the night before the cross-country, really hard, like monsoon; while there was no real standing water on the trail there was a never ending film on top that when cornering was like driving a car on ice no matter how many bikes went through. Everything was dicey. I had a couple of extra wheel sets for mud, they consist of,  X-Lite wheels mounted with Jones AC X (mud tires essentially). One of the two sets I took wire cutters and cut the side knobs off; this actually when done right makes a lower rolling resistance tire while tracking in semi-mud conditions. Think of this as a Dry X on steroids—true Gary Fisher (A legendary King of mountain biking) style who himself use to modify tires when they did not make what he needed.  I left the knobs on the other set for really nasty conditions or heavy rocks.

 “On your mark, get set, go!”   And I was off quickly to realize I had the wrong set of wheels/tire combo. It was hot around 94; the Polar heart rate monitor told me that and that I was breathing like big shaggy dog with a heart rate of 182 beats per minute for a long while. I quickly found myself in 11th out of 18 riders in the Michigan Elite field. On lap one I look and see trail mile marker 6.  I think and swear the pre-race briefing said the laps were 6 miles but I’m at mile marker 8—I knew I was in for a long day.  It was so hot and dangerous I thought of withdrawing for about the longest 3 minutes of my life. But that is not who I am. I am trained and ready. I plow on trying to stay injury free for it is a long season to be over zealous if only in this race. I would have preferred my modified Jones AC X on the front for added control via bigger knobs even if i did cut them down on one set the conditons did not warrant the full on AC X tires.  The knobs are great through the soup and a quick rolling Jones Dry X in the back to get me out of this sauna of a race sooner would be great. I had to make do with what I had, two Dry X tires in muddy conditions. If you are tired of being tired, just ride Bontrager Dry X tires on slick trails that will really wake you up quickly. Never DNF even if you have the wrong tires. The race is long and people crash, stop and get tired. Those that passed me, I caught and passwed many of them. That feels great. Never give up even if you are tired after working the midnight shift as a bartender and find yourself in a race of attrition on a hot sunday morning, stick with it. Just think that it is cool. Wish you were on a 29er if you aren’t. And do play with your tires; it is a lot more fun than it sounds. Walk in to your local bike shop, ask and buy. Check out the Bontrager line up of products and Upgrade (your ride)!  Adjust the pressure and ride into 8th place then 5th and then, “the only thing stopping you is you,” so I have been told. – Your brother – as always.  Dan k.

P.S. kick it with your boys from l’Equipe France in NYC two days before a race to calm you down if need be. This guy has driven in 15 Tour de Fance events.