brick94513-GoGoGo Mentor Group - Closed For Now! (Page 101)

What place did you decide on for the big event?

Are you planning on test riding any other bikes?

I'm trying to line some stuff up. It's not easy getting people to just let you take a bike worth thousands of dollars and beat it up on the trail. This was my friend Kevin's bike that was built by Speedgoat.com. I found him a deal on this bike he couldn't pass up so he was willing to let me test ride it. I'm working on another friend with a Turner Flux right now. I'd like to find someone local with a carbon trek FS and titanium Titus, but I'm not sure I'll be able to.

I did get to ride a BMC trailfox this weekend too. But I was less than impressed. I'm not sure if it was the bike I didn't like or because the owner didn't have it very well maintained and there were some big issues with the bike

Edited by Meulen 2010-10-18 10:25 AM

Don't you have any LBSs for the demos?  Also, Speedgoat has a demo program.  You have to pay for shipping, but the cost of the demo is applied to your purchase.

not really,

LBS's are pretty much going into hybernation mode right now. They had a few demo days here in there over the summer but only really around their parking lots. They don't just let you take a bike out to the trails around here. Even if they did this area is so urbanized they don't even carry any of the hot XC rigs. You'd be lucky to find an aluminum XT equipped rig in local inventory, let alone get to demo it. Forget about anything Ti/Carbon, you won't find it in a MTB around here. Even the large Trek store in the area doesn't carry them.

I did get to ride some bikes this season. Although, I wish I got to get up to Iola the day before the race this spring. They had a Trek/Gary Fisher demo. I'm pretty good with test rides though now. I got to ride a custom Look 26" race bike, the Niner Air9, my Trek fuel FS, a BMC trail fox, and a new aluminum Fuel ex. I think I got the kind of bike I want to build for Xterra races nailed down after that.

My plan as of now is:
1. My cousin owns a powdercoat shop and is re-welding and powdercoating my Trek swing arm. That bike is staying with me for training.
2. Build a 29er race bike!!

After all the test rides on local trails I've noticed the abundance of technical climbs in this region. I would guess that I can carry a 1-2 mph avg speed higher on the 29er than I could on my FS trek. The handling on the 29er kept getting better as I rode more and more till it was at least equivilent to my FS bike. I took a bit more of a beating, but it wasn't unbareable and I'll make that sacrifice for a race bike. My big decision now will be paying up for a Carbon rig or sticking with the scandium that I test rode. Some of that will depend on price and if I can find a deal on the frame or have to buy a complete bike. I have a friend that may be a Niner dealer. I have to check with him. If that's the case I'll be able to get a lot more for my money building it as opposed to buying a complete bike.

It'll be at The Chateau in Incline Village - it's the 'ballroom' attached to the pro shop/cafe on the Championship Golf Course. Really nice Tahoe lodge feel to the room.

Man, I had a TERRIBLE running week last week. I only did two mid-week runs which both felt like huge efforts at slow paces. I didn't get in any running in Tahoe so I guess I started a steep taper a little early. The marathon is a week from Sunday!

Tonight I'm joining the North Face running club in Palo Alto for a special event. Dean Karnazes is (sp?) running with the group - should be cool to see/meet him.

Lucky!!!  I still read Ultramarathon Man from time to time when I need a little mojo.

Dean was a great sport tonight...





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lucky bastard.  damn dude, what are you, about 6' 8?

I'm 6'3" or 6'4"...Dean is just super tiny. He looks big and bulky on the cover of his book (for a distance runner) but he's not. The guy is shredded - not an ounce of body fat on him. Really down to earth too, told a few cool storied before the run, then ran pretty slow so he could talk to all the people on the run. Afterwards, he hung around to sign autographs and take photos. Poor guy missed dinner with his family to run with a bunch of strangers in Palo Alto.

He's 100% Greek, so he's dressing up as Pheidippides for the Silicon Valley Marathon (on Halloween), which is on the 2,500th anniversary of THE marathon.

Lol, maybe it's the hat and sunglasses that make you look taller.  That's cool that he took the time to do that though.  I'd probably be a dick if I was a professional athlete.

Edited by shmeeg 2010-10-21 11:48 AM

double post

Edited by shmeeg 2010-10-21 11:49 AM

Hahahaha!

Got back in the pool yesterday.  It actually felt pretty good.  I decided to work on my backstroke between some other stuff to keep it pretty mellow.  Funny thing is, it actually turned into a productive session.

When I was first learning the backstroke, my coach wanted my to back kick with both arms extended overhead.  Sounds easy enough, but for the life of me, I couldn't get more than 10 yards without sinking.  Well, yesterday, I spent some time on this and stuck with it.  After a few sinkings, I got the feel.  It was all in pushing my hips to the surface.  Once it clicked, it became routine to where I was able to do 25 back kick, 25 free as drills without effort.

You might be thinking so what.  But, not only did I get a better feel in the water, I felt like working on a different stroke really opened up my shoulders.

I wish there was enough of an out season for me to do a lengthy focus on each discipline!  Sounds like a good time.  I only know freestyle, do you think it's beneficial to learn another stroke to help w/ freestyle?  I've tried some pathetic version of breast stroke when I needed a little more time to sight in a race, but never actually practiced anything in the pool.

Edited by shmeeg 2010-10-22 12:21 PM

Does it make you faster?  I don't know.  Howevr, I've been told that incorporating other strokes into your workouts helps minimize injuries, especially to the shoulders.

Nice work Tim! I'm actually really looking forward to getting back in the water after all this damn running. I like doing backstroke kick, where you rotate from one side to the other...one arm over your head, the opposite shoulder out of the water, almost on your side...5 count, then rotate.

Backstroke is the most similar to freestyle...they are both long-axis strokes. Butterfly and breast stroke are short-axis.

Headed to the gym this AM with the intention of doing 10 x 50m to work on the swimming.  On the way, thought "I feel good, I'm going to do a 'gym' triathlon".  So....  Did the 10 x 50m.  Quick change and on the bike for 33 minutes that it took to register 12 miles (92 rpm steady).  Quick switch to the treadmill for 3 miles at 8:30 pace.  Felt great through out and afterwards. 

While my swimming still sucks, fitness level overall has made huge improvements since I started back in April.  Looking forward to the off season training / being ready for next year.  Goal is to be able to do 500m in open water at a 2 minute / 100 pace, 22 mph for the 12 miles sprints, and sub-8 minute pace for the 5k.  Won't be on the podium with these times, but would be very happy with that sort of performance for year 2!

OK.....

So, the trek is in the shop getting re-welded and powdercoated. I'm debating whether or not to break down the rest of the frame and get that powdered too. I had to give up some training time this week to run around and get that all set up. But I think it's worth it. I ended up taking the swingarm to my cousin. He owns a powder coating shop next door to my uncles metal repair shop. I'll get that done for cost. I also scored a free Fox RP23 shock that had already been serviced by Push Industries for my height and weight! I'd still like to try a more modern FS bike, but with '10 SRAM X.0 components, Push shock, 2010 Manitou R7, I think my trek may be a pretty good representation. It's not more than a couple lbs's heavier than the carbon bikes either. The new, lighter shock should get me close to 26lbs. Hopefully, the welding works out and I can hold on to this ride while I build my race bike this winter.

I also meandered over to the challenge forum this month. I committed to 80 miles running and 10 hours in the pool. While I'm nicely over shedule for the run, and may even hit 100 this month , I'm short on the swim. I just can't keep motivated to go to the damn pool!!! I've got 5 days left to make up some time. Hopefully, I can at least get close.

Get it all repainted.  Some sick custom flame job or somethin!  That would be dope.  That's a ton of running, nice work.

Tim, you comin down this way any time soon?  I might be selling the wife's Cervelo to somebody in SF and I'd LOVE to pay you for delivery service instead of breaking it down and having to ship it

LOL...it's powder, not paint. Flames would be pretty difficult. I'm not going to do that to my cousin who's doing this for me at cost. He's busy enough. I could get a solid color and get some vinyl work done though! We'll see how much time I have this winter with my other build going on.

Oh, I was meaning paint after the powdercoating.  Is that not possible?

probably not the best idea. I guess it's possible. But paint needs a stable surfice to bite to and proper chemical bonds. I'm not sure powdercoating fits the bill for a good primer/base coat.

Ah gotcha.  I know nothing of these things :D