White Cycling Shoes

I've been thinking about white cycling shoes lately. For some reason I have become obsessed. This is slightly embarasing to me, so of course I have decided to share. Interesting in that I don't really like white shoes in other contexts, but somehow on the bike that look awesome. I have come to decide that white mountain bike shoes would look great with the GT Dirt Coaltition kit. I realize they are probably multiple sound arguments against white mountain bike shoes, but I won't hear them. I mean come on, what would rocket up a hill faster then a GT Marathon carbon then white shoes?

The main stumbling block is price and fit. They pair that springs to mind is the Sidi Dragon SRS that is available in white, but they are spendy and I don't know how they fit. I know you can get Rocket 7 in white with black stripe, but man, they are even more spendy. There must be some other option, but I don't know it....................we shall see.

I found out last week that I have qualified for the 2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships scheduled for July 16-19, 2009 at Sol Vista Basin in Granby, CO. That is some cool news. I have never been to Granby, Colorado, but I think July will be a fine time to visit. Living in Tucson does not prepare one to race at altitude, but never-the-less it should be worth the trip. I'm sure many other Dirt Coalition members will be there.

Unfortunately over the past week I have had to cut my riding back a bit. It is starting to get hot here in the old pueblo and I have been feeling low energy. Figured it was time to cut back a bit and recover. There is another MBAA (Mountain Bike Association of Arizona www.mbaa.net) race upcome this weekend up in north-central Arizona. I have never ridden this particular course, but I hope it is fun.

Take care and have fun riding!

Stiff like a........railroad truss?

Hi,

Hope all is well. I just returned from a wonderful camping trip to Aravaipa Canyon (http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/art1946.html) northeast of Tucson. I went with my wife, father and best friend Dave. How's that for a great group?

Aravaipa canyon is a beautiful amazing place with way more water then I am used to seeing in the desert. It is a perenial stream located in a wilderness area that has a lot on endangered fish in it and bighorn sheep. I actually saw my first wild bighorn sheep herd on the trip, a crane, and a bunch of leopard frogs in various colors. Very cool.

So since my last post I had my first race on the new bike. It was the Prescott Punisher up in Prescott Arizona. I came in 9th. I would have obviously loved to have gone top 5, but that is racing. It was actually cool, which was a first for the 20 plus races I have done in Arizona. That was nice, so I didn't get dehydrated like I often do. Beautiful course, and of course great bike.

Speaking of the bike, the more I ride it, the more I like it. It is a fantastic bike with so much good about it. The on thing I want to focus on this time if front end stiffness. The lateral stiffness of the frame it fantastic. I would call it subtle, because it doesn't beat you up, but it goes where you lean and point it without complaint. I didn't realize how much my other bikes flexed at the head tube till I started riding my GT Marathon Carbon. I love how stiff it is. I have been trying to come up with the appropriate analogy for the front end. I like 'Strong like a Gorilla' as a phrase, but that doesn't really do justice to lateral stability. Strong and stiff are not the same thing. What I am talking about is how much the front end resists twisting when you lean on it. So stiffness is what I think I am talking about. I don't know a lot of appropriate stiffness analogys. So lets go with "Stiff like a box truss" I know it ain't great, but it will work for the moment. Thanks for reading!

First Race

The new bike arrived last week. I chose the GT Marathon Carbon. It is awesome. I have had it out for several multi-hour rides and it is going really well. The suspension works very well and is smooth and fast. I am excited to see how it will be at the first race this weekend. The venue is up in Prescott Arizona and should be pretty fun. It looks like the weather might be rainy, so that will be even more fun. It so rarely rains in Arizona and I have never been to a bike race where it has rained, so that would be cool. Hopefully the bike sheds mud well.

Back to the bike. I am a little surprised the reveiws haven't been more over-the-top enthused. I have ridden a lot of high-end full suspension designs, and this one works really well. In fact it is the best full-suspension bike I have been on. It works so well that is just makes you feel fast and smooth, not bouncy. I'm very happy with it.

Hopefully the race will go well this Saturday.