New Hotness

So I have been mulling over such minor geared related details as to which cassette to run. An XTR doesn't save that much weight overall, and is still pretty expensive. Well now SRAM has come to answer my concerns of lightweight and 9 speed compatibility (I actually really do like XX, just not the current price tag, or it's unproven to me durability and ability to perform in the nastiest of mucky situations). The XG-999 brings us steel cogs with one aluminum one that is replaceable. Supposedly 175 grams, which SRAM is usually accurate with, it sure looks like a gem. Time will tell, and hopefully will I.


On other fronts, a good friend wrapped up his new SWorks Stumpjumper HT 26er build. Needless to say, it came in under on weight and price compared to the complete version. The build is straight forward good stuff. It tipped the scales at 19.19lbs with pedals and a bottle cage. Specs are XO rear derailleur, XT Cassette, XTR Crank with 28-42t TA Chainrings, XX Front Dereailleur, XX Brakes, etc. Wheels are Kings on the new Alpines. Seatpost is a Thomson Masterpiece, Syntace F119 Stem, Syntace Duraflite Bar, seriously nothing over the top. Just goes to show, if you build intelligently, you can get lighter than stock, have something original, and have it be lighter and faster. It takes some work and planning, but it will be exactly what you want.

Now to keep waiting for my SWorks. I have my old crank with newer chainrings, and that is about it so far. I am still waiting on my Edge wheels, handlebar, stem, seatpost, of which Edge is waiting on seatposts, handlebars, and hubs to come in stock. I am piecing together the drivetrain currently as well. I will hopefully have an XX front derailleur on the way beginning of next week, as well as making a little trade for an XO rear derailleur. I am still deciding on what to do for shifters.

The other big thing I am waiting on is the brakes. Hope Technologies is still waiting on their shipment of the new Race X2 brakes to hit our shores. The guys down in Texas have been super cool to get me the scoop so I can score them before they hit the major distributors. I rode and owned my first set last season, and they simply work without notice or surprise. I love the fact that the levers are bushing based and that the play can be removed. I love the attention to detail. I think their floating rotor is as light as a performance based rotor should be. Their stopping power with even smaller sized rotors are impressive to say the least.

Well that's all I got.

Brutalized.

So I have been doing a fair bit of working out this winter outside of riding. The workouts call for warmups of strength stretches, squats, sit-ups, back raises, push ups and pull ups. The three rounds of 15 each of those are enough to introduce some muscle back into the system that was lost, but this is where things are getting started.

The rest of the workouts vary greatly. Sunday it was sets of deadlifts followed by sets of pullups, then repeat. Yesterday was the killer though. Thrusters followed by rowing. I have never really rowed on a C2 before, but it is intense. I made it three rounds of this workout after my warm up and then I shut down. On the floor, completely inert for around 5 minutes. My arms felt like they were going to either burst into flames, or just fall off.

Some have been telling me these workouts are going to catch up to me. And I think they are right. I am just interested to see which end of the spectrum I catch up to.

Whirlwind Week

Well after having a crazy time selling things on MTBR (and I mean that in the best way possible) I am rid of almost all things race mountain bike oriented. Plans are in full swing (and parts on their way) for the creation of the next race bike.

On a side note, the gears are turning and will possibly be soon set into motion on superlight SS project. My "Monster Truck" aka the Titanium Townie is gonna get a revamp as long as everything works. I have been dreading not having a superlight SS to smash Sugar Bottom on, but I think I have a solution for that. It is going to involve a fair bit of carbon (nothing too overboard), some titanium, and some inbetween-sized wheels (with the off chance of one being bigger or smaller than the other).

Some have called me crazy, and it is officially true. But really, who needs a titanium commuter?

Decisions made, sometimes poor.

Well for some reason I decided it would be a grand idea to take an 8am class this semester. What's the issue you ask? Are you lazy and hate getting out of bed? Well only sightly on that one. More importantly, I live in Iowa. We have a little thing called winter that for the most part, enjoys messing with the residents of this fine state time and time again.
So today I was up at 6am. I got up that early to hit the pavement of the Zombie Monkey, and get in some winter riding. I knew foul weather was on it's way, I just had no clue when. I checked the Kirkwood website right before I left. No updates whatsoever on whether or not school was happening. So I took on the ride.

The incoming front brought a strong east wind which is strange. Gusts were strong and luckily my ride is about 50% east and 50% south. I got to work to change out of my sweaty gear and get into my class clothes. I thought it might be a good idea to check the website one more time. Sure enough. Cancelled! I was on my bike for 45 minutes only to find out I had to go back home. On top of that, the freezing rain started about 5 minutes before I got to work.

I worked out, then headed home. The pics are the aftermath.

A little love for Iowa.

The boys at Edge Composites threw out a little love for the IC scene as well as Iowa as a whole. I hope I represented everyone well. Now time to do some homework after working out. I'm telling you, Crossfit is where it is at.

May I present...

My semi, not so finalized, but quite possibly finalized plans for my 2010 race bike*. I present to you the 2010 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er Hardtail.

After the utter crushing blow was dealt (that I totally had a feeling was coming), I have decided to switch my prior insane plans to remain on a carbon SS, and give the dark side of gears a try. I am very excited to have the opportunity to still score one of these framesets for 2010, and even more excited that it should be here around March, which couldn't be any better.

The build is going to be an assorted mix of components I already have, but there will be some shining star highlights. Edge Composites will be providing the wheels, stem, handlebars, and seatpost. In conjunction with the specified fork, the custom SBC Reba with tapered steerer, the combination of oversized carbon bars, superlight carbon stem, and Edge Composites wheels, this bike is going to be a rocket ship that should take me straight to the ER.

But fortunately, it is going to be to let the good doctors at said hospital use, because this thing is going to be a scalpel. Also the transition of power through the drivetrain should be pretty incredible, considering the down tubes massive transition into the uber-wide 84.5mm wide BB shell. That and the near 45mm tall chainstays...

Ok, I will shut up there. I couldn't even imagine a bike/frame that could remotely compete with the Superfly after racing it this season. I knew components could be improved to gain marginal improvements, but the technological advancements put into this frame versus the 2010 Superfly absolutely blow it out of the water. Custom tapered carbon steerer crown assembly, Shimano BB-91 bottom bracket allowing the downtube to be increased in diameter in comparison to tradition 68 or 73mm threaded shells, even BB30 doesn't allow a downtube of this size.

*All future plans and specifications subject to change dependent on product availability (as well as the insanity of the future owner.)

Ok, I know...

All I talk about is bikes. But imagine if you were in my brain. You would go crazy. Trust me. I have some serious bike issues. Not the kind of issues like gambling or smoking crack where you spend ALL of your money, but I think it may be something of a combined sickness.

I thought riding singlespeeds would cure the whole "I need" or "I want" syndrome. Well it could. It starts all nice and well, learning to ride your mountain bike all over again. Eventually you ditch your suspension fork and have to relearn once again. Then you come to the astounding realization that you need a bigger tire to compensate for the lack of suspension. After getting adjusted to that, you realize that your 17lb 26" machine is a little harsh. The weight of it is actually part of the problem too.

After a summer and fall's contemplation (and further destruction of a Litespeed mountain bike head tube..oh well at least when bought used they are cheap) you realize that maybe 29" wheels could be the wonder you were looking for as far as extra comfort and steel would bring "needed" durability. Research, research, then pull the trigger on a budget priced frame. Take the time to ride it geared, ultimately pulling them off in favor of the original SS setup. Spend too much money on nice, but burly-ish parts to ensure HTI (Head Tube Integrity) as well as cheap but over priced wheels.

Start realizing after a coupld of races that the bike is too heavy. Damn. Well it rides like a dream, but when you are trying to go all out, it comes up short (as well as realize that you are lacking fitness as well...I know what you were thinking). In the mean time a once in a lifetime opportunity (yeah f*ck*ng right, I've heard that one before...alas there is money to be made) and dreams seem to be coming true.

That dream brings upon ultimate realization. It doesn't matter if it has 1 gear or 30. Bikes can be and will be expensive. In the graduating syndrome that is racing, you get faster. Being more fit almost 100% demands better equipment, or simply just more new crap. Then after it all you realize that you are addicted. Crack. Carbon Fiber Lust. The performance. The speed, the ride, the precision. And ultimately, the failure. Whether manufacturing, or accidental, it inevitably happens.

And as with everything else in life, the addiction lingers, and as human desire and planetary forces dictate,

The cycle starts again...

Winter Commuting Time

Well it is that time of year to get back on the bike. I have put it off up until this point, but now it is time to stop putting so much gas in my tank, and start putting some miles in the legs. I will hopefully still get to ski 2-3 times a week. Since the new commute is over two times longer than the one last year, it will be pretty epic. At this point I've really been enjoying skiing, but it just feels wrong to not put some time in on the bike.

The whole thing is being partially spurred by the fact that my car needs work again. It seems to be never ending the whole car repair thing. With my bikes, it seems worth-while to spend the money. On other bike fronts, it looks like I will be riding gears for 2010. I have to get a crash replacement for the Superfly. I have the chance to get another SS or get a geared version. Looks like the window of opportunity has opened. Now I am going to have to gather some parts to make it happen, but hopefully it will be worth it.

Well that is all I got.

Unsorted.

Well after wiping down my SSuperfly, I found a couple potential issues. I am now left kind of bummed knowing that while in Mexico, I'll be wondering what is happening to my frame. I have more than loved that bike. It is hands-down the single fastest bike I have ever owned. That bike legitimately made me faster. I loved riding it which could have been part of it, but I know I would not have been as successful as I was last season if I weren't on that frame.

With the impending upgrades, I was looking forward to racing on it this year. How do you make a bike faster? Train harder and make it lighter and stiffer. Both of those were well on their way, now to wait and find out what the Big T says.

Hoping.

Sorted.

Well for the most part, plans for the 2010 race bike are tentatively finalized. I talked to the fine folks at Edge, and I am getting their amazingly sweet set of XC carbon clincher wheels featuring King hubs and Aerolite spokes instead of the carbon tubulars. That also pushed me to order up their new Sweep bar, 75mm carbon stem, and one of their seatposts. Considering their generous prize and willingness to change the prize, I want to represent them to the fullest. All of those fine pieces of equipment will be landing on the Superfly.

Other finalizations are going to include that "little" revamp. A lot of the parts will be hitting MTBR's Classifieds as soon as I get them stripped off the bike. I'll have wheels, crank, bb, well just about everything that is currently comprising that build. I am planning some big upgrades to achieve full on ridiculous SS status.

Speaking of which, I am going to send my Fox fork out to the boys at Push Industries for a full Factory Service and System upgrade. I figure that the aid of suspension will help with fatigue during races. I rode it during the last part of the season, and it treated me very well. It will be especially awesome after the guys at Push get it all tuned up, I'm sure it will run even better than it does.

That means a busy off season again (not that it wasn't going to be already), but I will need to keep focused leading into the spring. Well, off to start the season right, I am going to head out for a couple of hours on the XC skis, and then get in the CF workout of the day.

5 days 'til Mexico.