Bike spotting...

Looks like a Sponsored rider got his hands on a yet to be announced Carbon 29er Hardtail from "S". He says it currently weighs in just over 20 lbs.I was hoping the "S" would use their own FS forks on their new 29ers, but this one has a Reba, does kind of look like the bottom of the head tube is flared out? Maybe RockShox is coming ouut with a tapered steerer tube fork... Or maybe it is just shimmed down, or it could just be me wanting it to have a tapered 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 inch headtube. At any rate it appears The big Red S is bringing Carbon to their bigwheels for 2010.

looking forward to a test ride...

edit:  origianl posters blog has been changed and any mention of this bike has been removed....

Product News...

So I have been wishing for some wider tubular rims for cross. Not only did I find out there is something available now but there are options...

Wisconsin locals - Sun Ringle have a new aluminum tubular rim out called the Vista Cruiser, I am guessing a nod to That 70's Show. It is a 32 Hole Black 21.2mm wide 14mm deep 385g tubular rim and retails for $45.

Another northern Midwest company has their C2 rim profile now available in a carbon tubular - HED Stinger 6 23mm wide 60mm deep carbon tubular wheel set. Retail $1500


From HED -
"The C2 tire well secures the tire in a wider and slightly deeper “cradle”. With increased support of the tire carcass, sidewall flexion is reduced, and less flexion vastly increases cornering stability and general handling. It also improves tire efficiency. One hard corner at speed will show you just how much the C2 well decreases tire wash under heavy loading."

Sure they are talking about typical road tubular widths, but the same should apply for cross tires as well. I am intrigued by the idea of a larger gluing surface for tubular cross tires. The idea makes sense especially with the increased casing size of a 32mm cross tire. A wider rim is going to better support the wider tire and allow for better handling, a larger contact patch, and better rolling. Just look at the evolution of 29"er MTB rims guys were using 19mm wide road rims in the beginning, but now the standard has been pushed into the mid 20mm and even into the 30mm wide range all to support the larger casing size and give better handling.

I think I may have to have one of each this year. I love trying out new technology and every season it is something different. Wider rims may be just the ticket this year.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly...

Got out for a sweet sunny Saturday sunshine ride. New route, new kit, and good times.

MWI team member and good friend Paul "Chili" Warloski was involved in a bike meets truck accident on Saturday afternoon. Resulting in some new Titanium hardware in his left Femur.

I started this post a few days ago and just wasn't feeling in the groove yet this year, I was thinking about getting some structure from coach Crusty. I haven't been motivated and haven't been sticking to any sort of routine. I am over the winter weather!

Today I went out for a solo ride for a couple of hours and now I feel like the batteries are finally recharging. I can feel the internal wheels starting to move. I am looking towards the fall and getting excited. It is coming....

Heading out..

Coming Back.

One for Chili.

Stopped by and saw Chili today at the hospital, he is doing well and his spirits are up, and already talking about traveling to Kentucky, Ohio, and Iowa for cross races. He has some serious rehab in his future, but Paul is one seriously motivated guy so I am sure he will be ahead of the curve and back on a bike sooner than expected.

enjoy every ride, you just never know...

Watch the equipment...

Spending a week at Specialized was great...

Riding some sweet bikes was nice, the BG Fit class was amazing, but the best thing I saw...

A live penile blood flow saddle demonstration. Yep Dr. Roger Minkow hooked a sensor up to one of the male instructors "equipment" to measure blood flow and had him ride a few different saddles while a monitor showed the real time blood flow loss. I have never been overly picky about saddles and have always told customers if it doesn't hurt go with it when it came to picking the best one. Those days are OVER. After watching the blood flow drop to almost zero in less than a minute while he was riding a very popular saddle without feeling any signs of discomfort or numbness I am fully on board with the Specialized BG Saddle program! They had data from all of the major saddle brands and majority of them had similarly astonishingly poor results. The Specialized Toupe is the best tested saddle, but it still restricts up to 20% of blood flow. The kicker is guys can not tell that blood flow is being restricted and are totally unaware. It's one thing to have someone tell you about the study, it is entirely different to watch the number plummet while the rider is telling you that he actually finds the saddle to be quite comfortable! I am all about keeping the blood flowing.

Looks like the weather may finally break here in cheeseland...

...keeping my fingers crossed.

The Rider...

"...after the finish all the suffering turns to memories of pleasure, and the greater the suffering, the greater the pleasure. That is Nature's paypack to riders for the homage they pay her by suffering. Velvet pillows, safari parks, sunglasses: people have become wolly mice. ...Instead of expressing their gratitude for the rain by getting wet, people wak around with unbrellas. Nature is an old lady with few suitors these days, and those who wish to make use of her charms she rewords passionately."


Buy the book it is AWESOME: Time Krabbe "The Rider"
If you have it read it again!

it's all about the ride...

Loud and Proud...

2009 My Wife Inc kits are here. They are loud - "deliciously hideous" I believe is my favorite term. I am not sure why I look so pissed in the pictures, I am actually quite happy with how they turned out. However It never fails that there is always something you would do different after they show up, but they turned out how I had planned.

notice the room on the left side for a number...

The sponsor put the nix on the "Cavendish Pose" picture.

I have some extra arm and knee warmers left if anyone is interested. Otherwise the next kit order will be later this summer, unless demand for it comes gushing in sooner.

Can't wait to start getting some miles in the new kit.

Remembered...

I forgot I brought the camera...

Rollin' out. Wanna guess the retail value of our ride?

Over the shoulder "Boulder Holder" - John works at the Cross mecca of the Front Range

Helmet Cam?

Top of the climb.

You know the guy who fit the Saxo guys - you know the one -that's him. Scott Holz

Not a bad ride eh?

My brain is reaching capacity, I am learning new skills, riding some RAD bikes, having a peachy time, and enjoying the ride.

Too many words...

Too many words here lately...leBam made this last week in Illustrator. She was playing around not trying to make anything specific just experimenting with shapes and color (she's six afterall) I was amazed by her creativity in naming her artwork "Little Fairy and the Light of Hope"

you've got to love children's minds...

Okay...

I was cranky! I am big enough to admit it. Travel and lack of sleep will tend to do that. But a couple of days riding and it's all rainbows and unicorns.

We finished up the product training portion of the week here is California, and yes Specialized makes some awesome product nothing earth shattering there, but.. I am amazed every time I have the opportunity to hear about what goes into every product they make - these guys do their homework and don't mess around! There is a ton of technology and solid research that goes into what they bring to market. Specialized does not simply follow trends and make "me too" product these guys oooze passion and it shows, not just the "PRO" culture that is everywhere these days but passion for all things bicycle - kids bikes, commuters, and just plain ole' bike ridin' - do I like everything they make - nope but I have mad respect for them.

The fit portion of the class started today - lots of information to absorb! I need some test bodies when I get back in town, any volunteers? I really like the way that Specialized approaches the fit process, it's is very similar to how Barnett teaches mechanics, it's very procedural oriented. One step leads into the next in a very logical and efficient manner, this not only makes it easier for the fitter to be consistent in technique it also give the customer a very professional experience that is detailed and thorough.

Rode outside today, it was nice.

Random - Disc brakes on cross bikes? It's the off season and the debate has popped again. It appears the UCI is rewriting the rules that apply to this issue. No thanks I like my cross bikes just the way they are. There is no reason why a rule can not exist solely to protect the heritage of a sport. When you begin to allow a cross bikes to morph into skinny wheeled 29ers then you begin to erode the very essence of what make cross racing so special. Disc brakes would change the course design even more than the current UCI trends - into to something more of a MTB short track. Part of the mystic of Cross is the technique involved - the ability to corner, dismount, and maintain your momentum, it's also the equipment it makes the bike different and by different I mean special.

Ahhh bikes so many ones to love.

enjoy the ride...

California is dreaming....

So I am out in California for a week of "Bike Nerd School" as my wife calls it - Specialized Bicycle Company University is what they call it, for some product brainwashing, I mean training and Body Geometry Fit School. I am most excited about the BG Fit school portion of the week which starts on Wednesday. But first - What is the deal with everyone being afraid of the rain?! It rained today not hard, just steady - what we in the Midwest would call a drizzle - sure it was windy, but come on let's ride! Nope no ride today. I feel the best part of the SBCU experience is getting to test ride all the latest bikes so that you can use your personal testimony of the bikes to sell them upon retuning. I mean ultimately that is why our bosses pay for us to go and Specialized offers these classes is for us to be better educated on their product and have the proper tools inform our customers.

I think I am just grumpy about sitting in a classroom all day listening to everyone try to one up each other, it was kind of like the group ride where everyone half wheels each other trying to force the tempo, it got real old real fast.

Tomorrow brings another day - hopefully it will be drier so I can enjoy some riding!