Doesn't that picture just saw it all? Amazing what a little bit of mud on an otherwise dry ride will do. A 5 foot patch of mud turned my IMBA sticker all brown and muddy. That's cool though, it probably actually looks better. IMBA helps ensure we all have a place to go out and ride and love our mountain bikes. If you aren't a member, you should check out their website www.imba.com and seriously consider joining. You get a cool pair of socks and help make sure you still have a great place to ride. LONG LIVE LONG RIDES!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
IMBA what its all about
Doesn't that picture just saw it all? Amazing what a little bit of mud on an otherwise dry ride will do. A 5 foot patch of mud turned my IMBA sticker all brown and muddy. That's cool though, it probably actually looks better. IMBA helps ensure we all have a place to go out and ride and love our mountain bikes. If you aren't a member, you should check out their website www.imba.com and seriously consider joining. You get a cool pair of socks and help make sure you still have a great place to ride. LONG LIVE LONG RIDES!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Desert Riding
Hey,
Veterans Day today, and since I am a Federal Employee I was off. In all seriousness, thank you to all the veterans who have served this country and enabled us all to live the lives we have. Not a job I would want to have to do, but I am extremely grateful there are those who answer the call and are willing to serve. THANK YOU!
So for my ride I headed out to the Sweetwater Trails here in Tucson. As the name suggests, sweet. It is about an hour ride out there from my house and I spent about 45 minutes doing a loop. Let's just say my 30 minute ride to work doesn't really prepare you well for a long ride. I was worked by the time I got home and still feel really tired. My legs are pretty tired, but it was great to get out on the trails and as you can hopefully see, it was a beautiful day. Hope you had a great day too.
Veterans Day today, and since I am a Federal Employee I was off. In all seriousness, thank you to all the veterans who have served this country and enabled us all to live the lives we have. Not a job I would want to have to do, but I am extremely grateful there are those who answer the call and are willing to serve. THANK YOU!
So for my ride I headed out to the Sweetwater Trails here in Tucson. As the name suggests, sweet. It is about an hour ride out there from my house and I spent about 45 minutes doing a loop. Let's just say my 30 minute ride to work doesn't really prepare you well for a long ride. I was worked by the time I got home and still feel really tired. My legs are pretty tired, but it was great to get out on the trails and as you can hopefully see, it was a beautiful day. Hope you had a great day too.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sharing the Road
I'm not sure if you have been following the "Road Rage" trial in Los Angeles, but if not, here is a good recap on velonews: http://www.velonews.com/article/99813/road-rage-verdict-victims-speak
Pretty disturbing incident, but it makes me think about the situation of riding on roads in general. I will admit I get mad at drivers often and unfortunately sometimes start yelling, but I don't think that is the right thing to do. I realize my actions reflect on all cyclist to the majority or drivers. I try to foster a positive interaction if possible, so I try to smile and wave when I get a drivers attention. Mostly I just don't want to be hit and ride safely to avoid confrontation. I realize that in any situation that potentially escalates to violence physics wouldn't be on my side. 2 ton car vs. 175 lb me is not a fight I plan on engaging in if possible. I just try to remember to stay calm and ride respectfully when a car cuts me off or veers close because the driver isn't paying attention. I do get mad, but also try to not make the situation worse.
I find that most people don't want to hurt anyone and feel pretty bad when they endanger you when they don't mean too. If you start yelling they feel threatened and feel like they need to defend their actions, but if you don't yell, but indicate that they could have hurt you, then tend to feel bad and apologize. That is a better outcome than both of you leaving angry and mad about the other person. If you can get through to the other person and let them know that you felt threatened and could have been hurt they driver usually backs down, but if I start yelling it just makes it worse. It is hard in the heat of the moment, but like I said, I try to remain calm. It is tough, but we need to share the road to avoid any problems. Nothing wrong with being a good citizen to your fellow man. My point is, don't make it worse for yourself and potentially others by indulging the feeling of anger. It is safer to stay calm and better for you in the long run.
Be safe out there.
Pretty disturbing incident, but it makes me think about the situation of riding on roads in general. I will admit I get mad at drivers often and unfortunately sometimes start yelling, but I don't think that is the right thing to do. I realize my actions reflect on all cyclist to the majority or drivers. I try to foster a positive interaction if possible, so I try to smile and wave when I get a drivers attention. Mostly I just don't want to be hit and ride safely to avoid confrontation. I realize that in any situation that potentially escalates to violence physics wouldn't be on my side. 2 ton car vs. 175 lb me is not a fight I plan on engaging in if possible. I just try to remember to stay calm and ride respectfully when a car cuts me off or veers close because the driver isn't paying attention. I do get mad, but also try to not make the situation worse.
I find that most people don't want to hurt anyone and feel pretty bad when they endanger you when they don't mean too. If you start yelling they feel threatened and feel like they need to defend their actions, but if you don't yell, but indicate that they could have hurt you, then tend to feel bad and apologize. That is a better outcome than both of you leaving angry and mad about the other person. If you can get through to the other person and let them know that you felt threatened and could have been hurt they driver usually backs down, but if I start yelling it just makes it worse. It is hard in the heat of the moment, but like I said, I try to remain calm. It is tough, but we need to share the road to avoid any problems. Nothing wrong with being a good citizen to your fellow man. My point is, don't make it worse for yourself and potentially others by indulging the feeling of anger. It is safer to stay calm and better for you in the long run.
Be safe out there.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Check This Out!
Check this out:
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interbike-gt-causing-a-ruckus-in-2010-23449
It shows the awesome looking 2010 GT Ruckus. That is one awesome looking bike. Once of the cooler things is the Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR transmission. I recently sampled a bike with the HammerSchmidt transmission at is was amazingly cool. It basically gives you the benefit/simplicity of a single chain ring up front but the benefit of two rings. You can shift while pedaling or not pedaling or pedaling backwards and it doesn't matter, it still shifts. Freaking cool. So you get to use less chain, less chance for mis-shifts and better chain line. All good things. I guess the only down side is that it is heavier, so not really applicable for cross country. But speaking of cross country I recently also got to try SRAM's new 2x10 XX drivetrain. It is the new two ring set up in front with 10 gears in back. I was super impressed. It has a ton of gears but shifts with authority. The front shift was especially positive and fast. I think it offers a true performance advantage, and I would love to race it next season if the opportunity presents itself. I guess we'll see.
If you get a change surf on over to the GT website:
http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/
All the 2010 bikes are up and they look great. Have fun!
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interbike-gt-causing-a-ruckus-in-2010-23449
It shows the awesome looking 2010 GT Ruckus. That is one awesome looking bike. Once of the cooler things is the Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR transmission. I recently sampled a bike with the HammerSchmidt transmission at is was amazingly cool. It basically gives you the benefit/simplicity of a single chain ring up front but the benefit of two rings. You can shift while pedaling or not pedaling or pedaling backwards and it doesn't matter, it still shifts. Freaking cool. So you get to use less chain, less chance for mis-shifts and better chain line. All good things. I guess the only down side is that it is heavier, so not really applicable for cross country. But speaking of cross country I recently also got to try SRAM's new 2x10 XX drivetrain. It is the new two ring set up in front with 10 gears in back. I was super impressed. It has a ton of gears but shifts with authority. The front shift was especially positive and fast. I think it offers a true performance advantage, and I would love to race it next season if the opportunity presents itself. I guess we'll see.
If you get a change surf on over to the GT website:
http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/
All the 2010 bikes are up and they look great. Have fun!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
CROSS TRAINING
Hey,
With a title like that I bet you think I'm going to talk about Cross racing (which is very cool, by the way) but in fact I am talking about a different kind of cross training: RUNNING. That last couple of weeks I have been running in addition to my commute to work. It's been fun doing something else for a little relief in the off season, such that it is. The reason I say off season such that it is, is due to the fact the off season in Arizona is not what I am used too. I grew up in Albuquerque, NM and lived in Ohio for a number of years. In those places the off season was from October till March give or take. Because it is cold at those times so there isn't much racing. Except cross racing that was mentioned above. Anyhow, I moved to Arizona in 2004 and am still not exactly used to the weather here. I mean it is October 4th and was 86 today, and this past Monday it was 101. To someone living some place cold that must sound glorious, but seriously, there can be too much over 100 after awhile. Actually, 86 is pretty dang nice, so I'm not complaining. My point is that the race season begins in January in Arizona and hangs on pretty much year round in some form or other. So come October, I can feel a little weary of training rides. So I look for some form of cross training. Bringing me back to running.
In a round about way running got me into cycling. I ran cross country back in high school and loved the competition and being on trails. I wasn't terribly fast and was too busy in college to have the time to put in to be on the cross country team at University. The first mountain bike race I entered reminded me of a cross country running race and I was hooked. It was on trails and had the same competitive feeling. I actually find the two types of racing pretty similar and offer much of the same pain and fun.
As such, I ran for an hour and twenty minutes today to see how it felt. Surprisingly good actually, but I was going at a comfortable pace. I think part of why I like running is that since it isn't my competitive sport of choice I can just run without considering how fast I am going. When I ride I realize I am always somewhat considering how I feel in relation to racing and what I can do to optimize my fitness to get ready for races. Obsessive I know, but that seems to be how it is. When I run I worry about none of that. I am just out for a run and enjoying the scenery and the weather. I know it is a good way to get in a decent workout with less time than the equivalent type bike ride.
That and if I get to a cross race and I will be ready for the running parts :)
With a title like that I bet you think I'm going to talk about Cross racing (which is very cool, by the way) but in fact I am talking about a different kind of cross training: RUNNING. That last couple of weeks I have been running in addition to my commute to work. It's been fun doing something else for a little relief in the off season, such that it is. The reason I say off season such that it is, is due to the fact the off season in Arizona is not what I am used too. I grew up in Albuquerque, NM and lived in Ohio for a number of years. In those places the off season was from October till March give or take. Because it is cold at those times so there isn't much racing. Except cross racing that was mentioned above. Anyhow, I moved to Arizona in 2004 and am still not exactly used to the weather here. I mean it is October 4th and was 86 today, and this past Monday it was 101. To someone living some place cold that must sound glorious, but seriously, there can be too much over 100 after awhile. Actually, 86 is pretty dang nice, so I'm not complaining. My point is that the race season begins in January in Arizona and hangs on pretty much year round in some form or other. So come October, I can feel a little weary of training rides. So I look for some form of cross training. Bringing me back to running.
In a round about way running got me into cycling. I ran cross country back in high school and loved the competition and being on trails. I wasn't terribly fast and was too busy in college to have the time to put in to be on the cross country team at University. The first mountain bike race I entered reminded me of a cross country running race and I was hooked. It was on trails and had the same competitive feeling. I actually find the two types of racing pretty similar and offer much of the same pain and fun.
As such, I ran for an hour and twenty minutes today to see how it felt. Surprisingly good actually, but I was going at a comfortable pace. I think part of why I like running is that since it isn't my competitive sport of choice I can just run without considering how fast I am going. When I ride I realize I am always somewhat considering how I feel in relation to racing and what I can do to optimize my fitness to get ready for races. Obsessive I know, but that seems to be how it is. When I run I worry about none of that. I am just out for a run and enjoying the scenery and the weather. I know it is a good way to get in a decent workout with less time than the equivalent type bike ride.
That and if I get to a cross race and I will be ready for the running parts :)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
BMX Racing
So I tried out BMX track riding last night for the first time in my life. My friend invited me to try out his 24" GT Cruiser and to check out the whole BMX scene.
Man those 24" wheel are squirrely the first time you try them out. I rode the bike around the parking lot then took it up on the hill to the course. I didn't race, but took it on a few practice laps.
When I got on the start ramp for the first time I was pretty nervous and would have sworn it was a straight vertical drop to the first jump/ ramp. Make no mistake, I jumped nothing last night, so I only call it a jump based upon what other people were doing :)
It was pretty fun, but the rhythm section was pretty unrelenting. I started to eventually get the hang of it, but I can see the potential to really hurt yourself. Hopefully not, but if you get carried away, it can be a pretty unrelenting course with the bumps coming at you pretty fast. I have no idea how people wheely thru the jump sections, but I started to feel how to pump through the dips.
Fun. Not sure if I'll get one, but pretty fun. I would like to ride one some more to really decide. Maybe next week......
Man those 24" wheel are squirrely the first time you try them out. I rode the bike around the parking lot then took it up on the hill to the course. I didn't race, but took it on a few practice laps.
When I got on the start ramp for the first time I was pretty nervous and would have sworn it was a straight vertical drop to the first jump/ ramp. Make no mistake, I jumped nothing last night, so I only call it a jump based upon what other people were doing :)
It was pretty fun, but the rhythm section was pretty unrelenting. I started to eventually get the hang of it, but I can see the potential to really hurt yourself. Hopefully not, but if you get carried away, it can be a pretty unrelenting course with the bumps coming at you pretty fast. I have no idea how people wheely thru the jump sections, but I started to feel how to pump through the dips.
Fun. Not sure if I'll get one, but pretty fun. I would like to ride one some more to really decide. Maybe next week......
Monday, September 14, 2009
The 26" bike is dead, eh?
I'm not sure if you saw what Matt Panocha of Velonews fame had to say on the subject of 29" wheel bikes vs. 26" bikes, but it is worth taking a look:
http://singletrack.competitor.com/features/from-matt%E2%80%99s-mind-not-really-a-final-word-on-29ers/
Anyhow, I agree with him in some ways, and don't agree with him in many ways as well. I know a lot of people that ride 29" wheel bikes and with all of them it seems like it is the second coming or something. Some even going so far as to say they will never ride a 26" bike again they are so good. Well, I took the bait and had a 29er for a bit. Then I jumped back on my 26" bike a realized how great it was. To me, the 26" wheels feel much faster and more maneuverable. Yes, the 29" wheel roll over rough terrain well, and certainly feel stable on a downhill, but that stability leads to feeling sluggish to me. I don't think a bike can respond too quickly. I personally prefer a 26" wheel bike and especially like a full suspension 26" bike such as my lovely GT Marathon carbon.
My other issue with 29" bike riders is that for some reason most of them seem to have a huge chip on their shoulders about how bad 26" bikes are. I don't like to make generalizations about people, but so many of them I have run into seem to feel the same way. Somehow for them for the 29" bike to be good the 26" bike has to be horrible. I just don't get it. I say ride what you like and think is fun. That is the most important thing. Get out and ride and stop worrying about if your 29" wheel bike is better then my 26" bike. So that's my two cents worth on wheel size........................at least for the moment.
http://singletrack.competitor.com/features/from-matt%E2%80%99s-mind-not-really-a-final-word-on-29ers/
Anyhow, I agree with him in some ways, and don't agree with him in many ways as well. I know a lot of people that ride 29" wheel bikes and with all of them it seems like it is the second coming or something. Some even going so far as to say they will never ride a 26" bike again they are so good. Well, I took the bait and had a 29er for a bit. Then I jumped back on my 26" bike a realized how great it was. To me, the 26" wheels feel much faster and more maneuverable. Yes, the 29" wheel roll over rough terrain well, and certainly feel stable on a downhill, but that stability leads to feeling sluggish to me. I don't think a bike can respond too quickly. I personally prefer a 26" wheel bike and especially like a full suspension 26" bike such as my lovely GT Marathon carbon.
My other issue with 29" bike riders is that for some reason most of them seem to have a huge chip on their shoulders about how bad 26" bikes are. I don't like to make generalizations about people, but so many of them I have run into seem to feel the same way. Somehow for them for the 29" bike to be good the 26" bike has to be horrible. I just don't get it. I say ride what you like and think is fun. That is the most important thing. Get out and ride and stop worrying about if your 29" wheel bike is better then my 26" bike. So that's my two cents worth on wheel size........................at least for the moment.
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