Old guy Roadie for a month or so

April is almost here.  This year April means two things to me.  

First: 
I am moving up an age bracket.  I turn 30 this month.  The big 3-0 has no real mental effect on me other than now racing in the "Masters" class.  Yes the word "master" has many meanings. 
The one the applies here is "an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill".


I started racing young.  As a Junior I always thought of people in the Masters class as the "old guys".  No I am there and am seeing things from the other side of the fence.  Age is but a number.
On the other hand the Masters class tends to be the fastest.  Truly players of consummate skill.




Second:
The only races that are a 100% yes for April are criteriums.  One every Sunday in April except Easter.  Yes I will be a roadie for the month.  The catch is that I do not own a road bike.  I do have a single speed cyclocross bike.  Last year that bike was used in these training crits.  This year I will be racing in the A race.  I want gears to contend.


Yes I am breaking my self imposed vow of not needing to ride gears.  It will be seventeen months without shifty bits.  The thing I told people when they asked me why I was going solely single speed was that it will make me a stronger rider when I do get back on a geared bike.


Well Sunday will be the litmus test of my whole SS vow.

Not owning a bike, I am borrowing on.  A very kind person has four road bikes that will fit me.  One is illegal for sanctioned events, one is a sweet ti bike, one is a super racy carbon bike, and one is a relic.


For the big Pittsburgh race I will choose the carbon bike. It also happens to be a Trek which fits nicely with my MTB sponsor.  For the other local training races, me being me, I am choosing to race the relic.  Downtube shifters, biopace, single pivot brakes, quill stem.  I am choosing this bike simply because I know I will be competitive no matter which bike I ride, and I love causing a shock factor.  Oh ya, it is also a Trek.


Does this mean my poor Fly will be ignored and I will hang up my dark Trek kit for a flamboyant Powder Blue kit.  No.  It just means that on the weekends  will be racing skinnies.  That is the only time I will be touching a road bike.  All other rides will be on the Fly in the woods.


I am a mountain biker with mud in my veins after all.

18 pound what???

I have never been much of a weight weenie.  The parts I have had on my bikes over the years were of the light enough but functional variety.  This has all changed.  After I got the phone call saying that I was selected to ride for the Trek Mountain Co-op the wheels started turning.  I have never owned a carbon bike.   Hmmm, how light could a rigid all carbon MTB end up being?  Enter the Superfly SS from Trek(Fisher).

The whole build centers around an amazing frame.  2010 was my first time riding 29" wheels.  First ride was at Raystown Lake during Dirt Rag's Dirtfest.  The bike was delivered the day before I left, giving me very little time to get it together and fitted.  That first ride had me hooked.  No turning back now.  The way the larger wheels feel glued to the ground, roll over obstacles, and smooth out the tail is something that needs to be experienced.  This love was all on a bike from a competitor of my current sponsor.  After riding the Fly all bets are off.  Fisher truly has this 29er thing down.  Where the other bike felt good, the Fly feels natural.

With that said I can't wait for the snow to melt.  The mud is calling to me.  I dream of riding in it every night.

May is when my MTB season really heats up.  One dirt race in April with a crit the next day.  I do like me some crits.  April is full of them here in Erie.  Nothing like a little nervouse energy for the pack to feed on.  An hour of racing in a circle does wonders for fitness.

The Fly when first weighed was 18lbs 12oz.  That was with tubes, mud tires, brakes off my old bike, old candy pedals, and a steel fork.  I now have CX slicks on it run tubeless (for Barry-Roubaix), Formula R1's, and the same steel fork.  Niner had a machine break and it looks like it will be May before I can install that.  Oh well.  Final light bit will be Eggbeater 11's for and est weight somewhere around 16lbs.  Racing here I come.  As I stated before,

The Podium an I are going to become good friends this year.

After I get some dirt miles on the Fly, I will give a full ride report.

A Happy Ass; A Happy Rider

As promised yesterday here is the happy ass topic.

With a new bike comes many new parts.  I am going to review them one by one.  Today the choice part is Bontrager's Evoke RXL saddle. http://bontrager.com/model/08396  Never have I sat on a saddle that was as instantly comfortable as this one.  Never.  Several rides in and I have to think about comments because I simply don't think about what I am sitting on.  Not that I am ignoring the saddle, I just don't feel it there.  This is a good thing.  The only other saddle to give me this feeling (or not feeling) was the long gone Avocet O2Air.

All but one ride have been two hour road rides where you are seated most of the time.  Comfort until the end.  The woods ride I did with had lots of moving around due to the icy trails.  Not once did the saddle get in my way, or snag my shorts.  I have a new favorite.  Thank you Bontrager.


Had a great ride yesterday.  Temps near 40, sunny skies, slight wind.  36.6 miles.  It was nice to be joined by two others for half the ride.  A person can only take so much of riding alone.  Ever since I started riding a single speed something weird has happened.  I love climbing.  When riding pavement I plan some of the biggest and steepest hills.  Adding different ones each ride.  Perhaps it is the feeling of your muscles straining, or the speed maintained compared to spinning up in a low gear.  With that in mind I apologize to any that join me for a ride.  I am beginning to think that a good flogging is why people want to join me on a ride.  It's all good.  Riding is riding.  Still running the 44-17.  Thinking I might put an 18 on the rear for the race.  Dirt roads do have more resistance.  Weather will tell.  Dry or damp.


If you do join me for a ride please remember this;  I only have one gear.