Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Cream Puff Update
Results are up: http://www.mudslingerevents.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/creampuffresults09.pdf
Could have been better; 13th of 22 finishers in the singlespeed 35+ catagory, 70th of 167 overall.
Pictures to follow later in the week.
Could have been better; 13th of 22 finishers in the singlespeed 35+ catagory, 70th of 167 overall.
Pictures to follow later in the week.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Cascade Cream Puff Race Report
Cascade Cream Puff Race Report
Conditions: Cold and rainy. Very cold on the ridge, no warmer than 60F at the bridge.
Gear:
Quiring Ti 29er, 34x20 gearing
Rockshox Reba Fork
Industry 9 wheels with Kenda Small Block 8 tires
Summary
The Cascade Cream Puff is a very challenging 100+ mile mountain bike race with 18,000 feet of climbing near Oakridge, OR. I chose to run a gear that was too big for the course; 32x21 or maybe even 32x22 would have been better. I also chose the wrong tires for the conditions that existed on the course; the rain made several of the singletrack descents quite treacherous.
What Worked
Eating Real Food - Instead of Hammer Nutrition products, I decided to eat whatever was stocked at the aid stations. This included sandwiches, homemade cookies, a cinnamon roll, trail mix, Gu packets and bottles of Gu2O. I had plenty of energy for the race. As a bonus, my stomach in not in a state of revolt which would be the normal outcome of using race food.
New Seat – I have worn out all my Selle Italia SLR saddles, so I put a WTB seat that came with my geared bike. Today, my ass feels GREAT! No chafing, no soreness, no patches of skin waiting to die and peel off.
What Needs Improvement
Gear Choice – When Corndog says 34x20 is too hard for the course, listen to Corndog.
Suspension Fork – I might have been better off with a rigid fork, a fat front tire, and the Jones bars. The Reba didn’t seem to offer much help on the fast singletrack downhills, and I would have appreciated losing two pounds and gaining stiffness while climbing.
Conclusion
It was good to complete an endurance race! My last long race was Spokane 24 Hour in 2008. Considering my preparations and planning for this race, I am pleased with the result.
This is by far the most challenging 100-mile course on which I have raced. 18,000 feet of climbing is no joke, even when most of it is on dirt roads. The weather was a big challenge; it was extremely cold, at least for July. Even so, I felt good all race. I also successfully tested some new nutrition and equipment options.
One final note; a post-race massage given by someone who really knows what they are doing is INCREADABLE! Although my knees are sore, I have almost none of the normal soft tissue problems that I have come to associate with endurance racing.
Pictures and final results to follow.
Conditions: Cold and rainy. Very cold on the ridge, no warmer than 60F at the bridge.
Gear:
Quiring Ti 29er, 34x20 gearing
Rockshox Reba Fork
Industry 9 wheels with Kenda Small Block 8 tires
Summary
The Cascade Cream Puff is a very challenging 100+ mile mountain bike race with 18,000 feet of climbing near Oakridge, OR. I chose to run a gear that was too big for the course; 32x21 or maybe even 32x22 would have been better. I also chose the wrong tires for the conditions that existed on the course; the rain made several of the singletrack descents quite treacherous.
What Worked
Eating Real Food - Instead of Hammer Nutrition products, I decided to eat whatever was stocked at the aid stations. This included sandwiches, homemade cookies, a cinnamon roll, trail mix, Gu packets and bottles of Gu2O. I had plenty of energy for the race. As a bonus, my stomach in not in a state of revolt which would be the normal outcome of using race food.
New Seat – I have worn out all my Selle Italia SLR saddles, so I put a WTB seat that came with my geared bike. Today, my ass feels GREAT! No chafing, no soreness, no patches of skin waiting to die and peel off.
What Needs Improvement
Gear Choice – When Corndog says 34x20 is too hard for the course, listen to Corndog.
Suspension Fork – I might have been better off with a rigid fork, a fat front tire, and the Jones bars. The Reba didn’t seem to offer much help on the fast singletrack downhills, and I would have appreciated losing two pounds and gaining stiffness while climbing.
Conclusion
It was good to complete an endurance race! My last long race was Spokane 24 Hour in 2008. Considering my preparations and planning for this race, I am pleased with the result.
This is by far the most challenging 100-mile course on which I have raced. 18,000 feet of climbing is no joke, even when most of it is on dirt roads. The weather was a big challenge; it was extremely cold, at least for July. Even so, I felt good all race. I also successfully tested some new nutrition and equipment options.
One final note; a post-race massage given by someone who really knows what they are doing is INCREADABLE! Although my knees are sore, I have almost none of the normal soft tissue problems that I have come to associate with endurance racing.
Pictures and final results to follow.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
American Classic Wheels for Sale
For Sale, $800
American Classic Carbon 58 Wheels
Tubular, 700c
Tufo S3 Lite, 21mm front, good to very good condition
Tufo S3 Pro, 21mm rear, two rides, glued at River City last year.
Includes wheelbags, AC Skewers, 11-25 10-speed cassette, and two sets of carbon-specific brake pads.
These are wicked-light deep-dish carbon tubular wheels. I used them twice; once for a training ride and once in a race. I bought them used last year. They are in excellent shape.
I'll deliver them to within an hour of Portland, or you can pay for professional packing and shipping.
I'd keep them, but I have been out of work for 5 months and need the cash... :(
Friday, May 08, 2009
Doing what we Do
Nick, Tommy and I rode in Oakridge yesterday. 5000 feet of climbing between mile 3 and mile 11.
What is worse: dragging a 30-pound full-sus bike up that climb? Or pushing a 34x20 on a 29er? I can't answer that question, but I do know this: the descent was amazing!
Oregon, I (heart) you so much it hurts!
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Monday Funday
I went out for a nice road ride with a couple of the boys from the Yakima team yesterday. There had been talk of 100 miles, but the reality of the route combined with some shaky legs and the threat of pissing-down rain shortened the ride to a mere 100 kilometers instead.
Great roads and minimal traffic on the route mean I will revisit and extend this course. Right around 5000 feet of climbing, and that with the bailout option for the last 10 miles. I suspect this could be a 100 mile route with 10,000 feet of climbing. Oregon, I (heart) you!
So, what was the weather like? Two hours of cool and overcast followed by two hours of steadily dropping temps and steadily increasing rain. The last 10 miles were flat, but the price for that was lots of cold rain and riding along a major truck route. That is to say, lots of road spray and swerving semi rigs. Love it!
Rumor has it that there will be a trip to Eugene/Oakridge later this week, and perhaps some XC racing over the weekend. Thinking long range, another trip in/over/through Moab/Fruita/SLC/Boise is in the works. I just can't get enough of that desert riding...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Bear Springs Trap XC Race Report
Bear Springs Trap XC
April 25, 2009
Conditions:
Cool and Sunny; significant snow cover in spots
24ish mile course on Mt. Hood
Bike Setup:
Steel Quiring 29er, Steel Salsa Fork
Specialized 2.3 tire front
WTB Nanoraptor rear
I9 Wheels
32x19 gearing
This blog started as a way for me to record information about my races. Since I am doing a few more XC races this season, I’m going to restart that practice.
I did not have a great start to this race. It wasn’t clear when the singlespeed race was going to start. A group of us were clumped together as the Pro and Cat 1 racers were starting. Although we had agreed amongst ourselves to wait until after those racers were away before beginning our race, we saw other singlespeeders take off and were forced to follow suit.
The race started out going up a long, steep ATV trail. There was quite a bit of snow on this hill, and most racers were forced to walk. I never start well, and this race was no exception. I saw a group of singlespeeders find a line to the far left, but I was committed to a line on the right and watched them move off into the distance. I spent most of the first mile running and dealing with traffic. By the time I got to some snow-free singletrack, I was a bit annoyed and had to focus on having fun and enjoying the ride. This mindset made for a better day on the bike but isn’t the proper mindset to win a XC race.
I spent the first four miles or so stuck with a group of about six riders. They were just fast enough that I couldn’t easily pass them, but they were slower than me in all the technical and uphill sections of the course. At the end of the start loop I was able to power up a long, technical climb and pass these riders. The rest of my day was spent chasing down the riders that had put time on me at the start.
I noticed that many of my main competitors suffered flat tires on this course. I saw at least three riders that I recognized from other races sitting on the side of the trail fixing flats or dealing with other mechanicals. The course was quite technical, with wet roots, sharp rocks, and a shale field that all provided the opportunity for problems. I was fortunate to have no mechanical problems on the day.
I was very pleased with my bike setup. Although the course was rough in spots, my decision to run a rigid fork was the right one. The combination of a fat 29er tire and my technical riding skills got me through almost all the tricky spots on the course. In fact, there were several spots on the course where I was forced to dismount because riders ahead of my on full-suspension bikes were unable to continue, although it was clear to me that I could have maneuvered over those obstacles with little difficulty. I think I could have run a gear that was one tooth harder; there were very few climbs on the course and I was able to sit down and spin up most of them. One tooth harder would have allowed me more speed on the road sections. I think I could have carried more speed in the bermed singletrack sections as well.
As always, the steel Quiring 29er performed flawlessly. Every time I ride that bike I think kind thoughts about Scott Quiring. The bike is solid; I never worry about the chain dropping and I feel like every ounce of energy I put into the pedals contributes to pushing me forward. Although the steel Salsa fork is heavier than my carbon fork, it was the right choice for this course. The steel fork inspires confidence in rocky and technical terrain; I just don’t worry about it getting damaged in a crash or from flying debris on the trail. I also felt good about the performance of the I9 wheels. While they can sometimes feel too stiff in a 24 hour race, they were perfect for the three-hour effort required for this event. The tires were also a good choice. I was very impressed with the Nanoraptor in the rear; it hooked up in the snow and mud far better than I expected and the low rolling resistance on the road and singletrack was greatly appreciated.
In the end, I was pleased with my performance. Although I was never able to get fully into ‘race mode’ I was able to do well enough to achieve 5th place, about 15 minutes off the leader and within 5 minutes of a podium spot. I’ll take it!
April 25, 2009
Conditions:
Cool and Sunny; significant snow cover in spots
24ish mile course on Mt. Hood
Bike Setup:
Steel Quiring 29er, Steel Salsa Fork
Specialized 2.3 tire front
WTB Nanoraptor rear
I9 Wheels
32x19 gearing
This blog started as a way for me to record information about my races. Since I am doing a few more XC races this season, I’m going to restart that practice.
I did not have a great start to this race. It wasn’t clear when the singlespeed race was going to start. A group of us were clumped together as the Pro and Cat 1 racers were starting. Although we had agreed amongst ourselves to wait until after those racers were away before beginning our race, we saw other singlespeeders take off and were forced to follow suit.
The race started out going up a long, steep ATV trail. There was quite a bit of snow on this hill, and most racers were forced to walk. I never start well, and this race was no exception. I saw a group of singlespeeders find a line to the far left, but I was committed to a line on the right and watched them move off into the distance. I spent most of the first mile running and dealing with traffic. By the time I got to some snow-free singletrack, I was a bit annoyed and had to focus on having fun and enjoying the ride. This mindset made for a better day on the bike but isn’t the proper mindset to win a XC race.
I spent the first four miles or so stuck with a group of about six riders. They were just fast enough that I couldn’t easily pass them, but they were slower than me in all the technical and uphill sections of the course. At the end of the start loop I was able to power up a long, technical climb and pass these riders. The rest of my day was spent chasing down the riders that had put time on me at the start.
I noticed that many of my main competitors suffered flat tires on this course. I saw at least three riders that I recognized from other races sitting on the side of the trail fixing flats or dealing with other mechanicals. The course was quite technical, with wet roots, sharp rocks, and a shale field that all provided the opportunity for problems. I was fortunate to have no mechanical problems on the day.
I was very pleased with my bike setup. Although the course was rough in spots, my decision to run a rigid fork was the right one. The combination of a fat 29er tire and my technical riding skills got me through almost all the tricky spots on the course. In fact, there were several spots on the course where I was forced to dismount because riders ahead of my on full-suspension bikes were unable to continue, although it was clear to me that I could have maneuvered over those obstacles with little difficulty. I think I could have run a gear that was one tooth harder; there were very few climbs on the course and I was able to sit down and spin up most of them. One tooth harder would have allowed me more speed on the road sections. I think I could have carried more speed in the bermed singletrack sections as well.
As always, the steel Quiring 29er performed flawlessly. Every time I ride that bike I think kind thoughts about Scott Quiring. The bike is solid; I never worry about the chain dropping and I feel like every ounce of energy I put into the pedals contributes to pushing me forward. Although the steel Salsa fork is heavier than my carbon fork, it was the right choice for this course. The steel fork inspires confidence in rocky and technical terrain; I just don’t worry about it getting damaged in a crash or from flying debris on the trail. I also felt good about the performance of the I9 wheels. While they can sometimes feel too stiff in a 24 hour race, they were perfect for the three-hour effort required for this event. The tires were also a good choice. I was very impressed with the Nanoraptor in the rear; it hooked up in the snow and mud far better than I expected and the low rolling resistance on the road and singletrack was greatly appreciated.
In the end, I was pleased with my performance. Although I was never able to get fully into ‘race mode’ I was able to do well enough to achieve 5th place, about 15 minutes off the leader and within 5 minutes of a podium spot. I’ll take it!
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