Exciting times.
The ideas, thoughts and actions in life are just like riding Skyline at Storm-Lo: find the flow and enjoy the ride!
SingleSpyder.
divendres, de març 26, 2010
Pre - Selection of Pictures: March
Those are the pictures the jury (me and me) had pre-selected for the March Picture Award
1. From Lagranevasio, "Tres Velles Glories"
2. From Lagranevasio, "Bottles"
3. From Lagranevasio, "Drac amb Flor"
4. From Lagranevasio, "Classics al Montseny"
5. From...Betty, "Esforc en Blanc i Negre"
6. From Michael Reagan, "I'm not in the Mud"
7. From Trail, "Turtle"
8. From Xavi Paricio, "Where is my Bike?"
Please made your comments, and remember, we still have some days on March, so more pictures will be welcomed.
Saludos from SC
Pas barrat...
Una pena, perquè abans de la desfeta els corriols eren molt divertits i amb diferents nivells de dificultat tant de pujada com de baixada.
Sort que el temps a estat primaveral, ni fred ni calor, perfecte.
Demà mes, pro per pistes...
New Shoes
dijous, de març 25, 2010
dimecres, de març 24, 2010
29" Ti.
Singular Pegasus.
8,2 kg amb forquilla rígida.
Singular Cycles, Pegasus.
Jo personalment l'equiparia amb una forquilla cònica també de titani, no amb la Niner, però la forquilla Niner de carboni, com diu en Colorado, "xana" molt, per això jo escolliria la cònica, que fa que el conjunt sigui de tubs minimalistes, fet que té sentit si el quadre és d'acer o de titani.
Per aquest motiu un dels dubtes que tinc amb la Vicious i la potència Thomson 4X, i el manillar FSA SLK, els dos 31,8 mm. que fa que la línia de tubs trenqui aquesta visió de la bike que us exposo, segurament és una qüestió de temps, però no sé perquè fins i tot amb la Superlight, que no tindria sentit per l'argument exposat, em passa el mateix.
dimarts, de març 23, 2010
Sensacional.
Diumenge, una sortida clàssica, on hem pedalat entre pistes, corriols, i més pistes. Amb un bon esmorzar, això sí.
Avui, sempre entre corriols i senders. He tret branques, i més branques, però també he rodat i molt, unes tres hores tocades, ben tocades, i en cap cas més lluny d'uns cinc quilòmetres de casa, això sí, quin gaudir, quina manera de passar una tarda de primavera.
Avui he sortit amb nous components, amb la potència Thomson 4X de 100 mm. i 0º, i el manillar FSA SLK recte de 600 mm., les sensacions del canvi, les primeres, les que duia fins ara com són la potència Syntace 105 mm i 6º negatius amb el manillar de doble alçada Monkey Lite SL 610 mm. feien que la bike em donés més sensació de control a les baixades, i a les pujades no hi ha diferència, en cap cas, respecte a la nova combinació. Hauria d'exposar els angles dels manillars, però no els tinc, cap dels dos.
Un dia curiós per sortir, inici de la ruta amb sol, amb molta calor, equipat de primavera a la primavera, ara sí que coincideix, i després de tres hores de rodar una boira densa ha envaït els corriols, he fet una baixada per les torres de corrent, i gràcies a que el terreny està perfecte, la bike s'agafa al terra com les arrels de les oliveres, és una conjunció, una harmonia de tal magnitud que no sé com descriure el moment, el primer mot que em vé al cap és "sensacional", senzillament "sensacional".
Arribada a casa a les vuit, podríem dir que de nit, i tant, i també que en primer terme el que he fet en arribar a casa és deixar la bike perfecte per repetir sortida demà si es presenta la més mínima ocasió per fer-la.
Eines les de cada sortida, menjar dues barretes de 60 Kcal. cada una i un vol de crema de Sant Josep enorme, abans de sortir, i dues barretes més a mitja sortida, i d'aigua durant l'aventura mig bidó de 750 ml. però he begut un litre i mig durant el matí.
Vull insistir amb la baixada entre torres final, un espectacle de descens, quin grip que presentava avui el terreny, el sauló, no era sauló, era un Velcro, quin plaer més gran, no privilegi, poder rodar tota la tarda d'avui.
La imatge no és d'avui, tampoc de diumenge...és de l'estrena de la Vicious a Aiguafreda. L'autor en Colorado.
29" mtbr.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=6721627#post6721627
No sé si tindreu que donar-vos d'alta, però he de dir que és interessant fer-ho, si més no, per a mi.
En concret a aquesta pàgina 6, hi ha bones i interessants bikes, una amb Rohloff, també una Tallboy, bé millor les admireu vosaltres.
diumenge, de març 21, 2010
The Trek Training Ride
Fox Talas on the road locked out 150mm. The Fox Float RP-2 DRCV Pro Pedal also locked out. As I reach the first climb. On the move three clicks on the Talas drops them to 110mm. I am pedalling hard but the climb feels good. Pro pedal working well with very little bob in the shocks movement. As it gets steeper I get out of the saddle and push hard. The bike feels so solid and responsive even with 26x2.40 tyres on a tarmac road.
As the road changes to mountain track the tyres start to work well with me in the saddle. I get into a rhythm with up strokes as well as down strokes. I am using the stock Custom candy pedals with Sidi Eagle 5 shoes. The difference in being able to pull as well as push my legs is amazing. I only ever rode spd's on the roads so this was a very new experience. Roads and tracks are fine but I was egger to try them out on the trails. As I reach mast the trails start and are in great condition dry with good grip.
The trig point of divis mountain over looks Belfast and this is were the fun begins. Its a short trial but it was great to feel the unity of man and machine in perfect harmony. (As perfect as I'll ever ride anyway) Three clicks back and the talas rise to 150mm lock off and the Float lock off also. As I pedal fast into the first decent I start to feel how good the set up feels. Turning hard into the corners the ride just feels so smooth. The trail climbs a bit again before the first really fast decent.
Bike ready, rider ready, lets see what this bad boy can do.....
Pedalling hard to get the speed I set my self up in full attack position. I feel like an Eagle gliding through turns with ease. Dropping of the small bumps the impact is taken like I am still on the road. I LOVE THIS MOUNTAIN BIKE!!!
(ABP) Active Braking Pivot is a first for me and already I can feel the difference. As I brake on harder corners I can feel the suspension still work to its full. Smooth and fast cornering without loosing the movement required to get around the corners as quick as possible.
ABP from the experts how it works: The ABP allows the suspension to be active and independent of braking by separating the braking and drive-train components. The ABP allows the brake calliper to keep a near constant relationship to the brake rotor, so the calliper doesn’t rotate around the brake disk as the suspension moves through its range of travel.
The trail finishes with only a fast decent on roads home. I am left with a smile on my face but wanting more more more. This is the start of a new relationship that I can already see uniting and bonding well.
Where is the photos I hear you ask. I made a school boy error and forgot the memory card. I was snapping away for 10 mins before I realised. I had a good laugh about that but below is the route profile. It is a nice route for training as I can do it from home and it has a nice climb.
MTB MTB MTB!!!!
Cleaning the bike took longer than the ride. Tooth brush and plenty of care. I love my new bike.
dissabte, de març 20, 2010
El rei és viu. Long live the king!!!!
The new bike feels so good. Today I have just been on Roads with Marga on her road bike. The forks, shocks and frame just feels perfect.
For now I have been setting it up and testing the pedals. Hopefully soon I will have a proper test ride on the trails but for now I am the Happiest man ever. I love the new bike and cant stop looking at it. MTB MTB MTB!!!
Today was the first ride of the season with road bike, after all winter sitting on my ass doing NOTHING.
It was 40km, nothing special and just lite. I have to admit that I'm unfit, I need to get myself back in shape, but well, I think that I deserve a Guinness, perhaps even 2 or more ......
Marga.
divendres, de març 19, 2010
Mar i muntanya.
Una sortida que va ser una ruta entre dos genets, que segons la zona, sense dir-se res, és passaven el relleu de la ruta a fer, segons el tram, si era més proper a la capital del Maresme o més propera a casa.
Ruta inicial propera a l'ermita del Remei, que sempre ha estat motiu d'atracció.
(Xavi dedicada a tu, de part d'en Tr@il).
La temperatura de primavera, que és on som, a punt d'entrar-hi, equipats perfectes per l'ocasió, és que sortir per on vivim és també un autèntic plaer sensorial.
Com ja va passar fa uns dies, aquest encara m'agrada més que l'anterior clàssic.
Moments també per gaudir d'una aturada, puntual, però perfecte per donar encara més de pes a la sortida.
En aquesta ocasió però les destrosses produïdes per les darreres tempestes han estat realment molt greus, jo diria que mai he vist el nostre espai natural tant devastat, arbres i més arbres caiguts, els més grans, els més petits, centenars, milers d'arbres caiguts o trencats. Nosaltres però durant tota la sortida seleccionant la ruta per evitar de deixar d'anar sobre de la bike.
Una pujada temible, la que va de Lourdes als cirerés, direcció a la Pedra de la Ferradura.
Un pi únic, el de després de la Font del Malpàs direcció al Santuari, que podreu veure el que en queda.
Dues bikes, doble de XC, 26", i 3x9, i rígida, 29", i SS.
Una ruta de 50 Km. tocats, ben tocats, i de més de 1.250 m. +, de desnivell.
Alimentació, patates braves amb all i oli, Cola, cafè amb llet amb dònut de xocolata, i un bidó sencer de 750 ml. d'aigua.
El recorregut, dels que fan que et quedi una sensació, de ser uns genets afortunats. Quin rodar entre senders, entre corriols, entre pistes, un tram darrera d'un altre, gaudint de cada moment, de cada instant, tenint clar on som, però no sempre rodant per corriols coneguts pels dos, sí per un dels dos, això sí.
Val a dir, que ja fa uns anys que en Tr@il i Lagranevasio, roden dia sí, dia també, amb les seves respectives bikes, i això fa que rodar els dos sigui un rodar, sense dubtes, on decidir quin sender agafar, és senzillament pensant quin serà el més divertit.
Rodant per muntanya, i tornant per la platja. Arribada a casa de negre nit.
No sé si us ho he dit, crec que no, "que bé que va la Vicious!!!".
MTB, MTB, MTB.
dijous, de març 18, 2010
Aiguafreda-Pla de la Calma, hivern 2.010.
Una prova de foc un altre cop per la SS, per no dir directament, per a mi. Des dels primers minuts la pujada, ja em va indicar clarament que la sortida seria dura, dura de veritat. Quina exigència, quina pujada, més sacrificada encara que la de Falgars d'en Bas, els darrers metres abans d'arribar a les zones menys costerudes, hi vaig arribar amb el motor en zona vermella, o això em va semblar.
Després al pla que porta al Brull, millor, molt millor, amb visita sempre obligada al dolmen i al mirador.
Després d'aquest tram la neu ja va fer acte de presència, seria el primer indici del que ens preparava el Pla de la Calma per l'estrena oficial de la Vicious.
De fet, la ruta del cap de setmana ja feia preveure que rodar pel Pla de la Calma seria un dia de rodar per la neu, però també nosaltres per evitar que la sortida deixés de ser rodadora, sempre vàrem escollir les zones menys obagues.
I finalment arribada al Brull, on no vàrem poder fer un entrepà perquè el restaurant estava tancat, així que decidim seguir ruta per carretera fins a Coll Formic, on ja fem un bon àpat entaulats de forma seriosa.
Direcció a Tagamanent, objectiu que no va ser assolit perquè la neu va deixar finalment el camí inciclable, i la Betty i jo el dissabte ja en vàrem tenir prou de neu per aquesta setmana.
Una sortida de tres genets, de tres Dracs, dos dels Dracs molt, però que molt clàssics.
I una Yeti-Betty que marca la distància i la direcció cap a on hem d'anar.
La Moots pel seu color titani amb les lletres de Moots amb aquest blanc nuclear, semblava que es fondria entre l'espai que l'envoltava, i la Vicious entre les seves flors blanques com la neu, i el seu blau com el cel el mateix, crec que bona part de l'esperit d'aquests dos Dracs és encara al Pla de la Calma, de ben segur.
Baixada per les canteres, llarga, però llarga de veritat, amb molt de gel a les zones obagues, una baixada que repetirem, quina sensació més bona, en veure com el dia ens acompanya d'allò més, amb una temperatura perfecte per a rodar, però perfecte.
En arribar a Aiguafreda, tocades les cinc de la tarda, en Colorado va ordenar "neteja general" de les bikes, i jo vaig obeir, la Betty en cap cas, i sobre la neteja, en el meu cas va ser de les SIDI Dragon, no pas de la Vicious.
Una jornada de MTB, on la Betty i jo anàvem d'hivern i en Colorado de cintura a munt anava d'hivern i de cintura avall de ple estiu.
Eines les de sempre, alimentació, macarrons, vedella amb bolets, crema catalana, cafè amb llet, i per veure gasosa i vi de la casa, més el bidó d'aigua de 750 ml. omplert dos cops, en primer terme a Aiguafreda, i després a la pujada a Coll Formic.
Quilòmetres totals 40 tocats, i desnivell per sota dels 800 m. +, dades aquestes aproximades.
MTB, MTB, MTB.
dimecres, de març 17, 2010
Donaldson Center is Back
As every season here in SC, as soon as day light savings starts, the Greenville Spiners organize the Tuesdays at the Donaldson. Yesterday was in fact the first one in this 2010 season.
Donaldson Center is like the Temple of road bike in SC, hundreds of people join every week, and they spread out in different groups as per their level. The main groups, mostly with bikers inboard of different teams, are riding on the road around the Donaldson Airport, those groups are called 20+++ miles, so in fact is like a small competition every week, with people riding on the main group and then others trying to attack every mile. Those two groups are always scorted by a Police car, just to avoid problems with the rest of the trafic, as they are really big ones (more than 40-50 people in each).
The we have also what they call the XC Groups, and again here diferent levels, till the last group were "nobody alone" is the main rule. Those groups rides on roads usually going south from the Donaldson, the area is a combination of flat and small hills acting as "tobogans", so fan is almost sure in every ride.
Yesterday I was excited waiting on this new season, when I was driving towards the Donaldson, I saw all kind of cars with their bikes on the roof or on the back, it is impresive how many people driving on the same direction, and the best, not on a weekend race, during a normal workday.
Once I arrived, I prepared myself and the bike, and joined the main ara where the people wait the start of his group, basically this works through some people from the Greenville Spiners acting as speakers, and calling for the groups as per "average speed". This time I joined the group expected to ride on average between 15 to 17 MPH, where I was feeling confortable for the first day.
The group ride was nice, 25 people on the group, all young except myself and the one going always as "last men" to advise the group was complete on every stop. There was three girls, riding always with the group or even stronger in some points.
Contrary to what usually hapens, the group started to ride really fast, increasing the speed average every mile, and I was thinking that this rithm was going to kill me. In fact, the first 7 milles I was always riding on the last row, with the "closing man" just trying to avoid being cutted....was hard, and when I took a look to my computer, the everage was closer to 19 MPH than the expected for the ride....nice.
The funny thing is that I was riding on the back, because I know that all groups are speeding up on the last 10 miles....and I was right. The second section was a kind of relax if we compare with the initial miles, the group was riding really compact, and nobody was talking...clear sign about the first miles excess.
The last section, with 10 miles returning to the Donaldson area, were as expected, a real race, and this time, I did not want to be cutted on the back group as most of the times last year, so as soon as we appreached this section, I was trying to advance positions on the group, using every small hill to advance one or two rows. Then I realized that I was right going on the back on the first miles, I had more energy that most of the young ones, and after one stop sign, 4 miles before the end, the group was splitted in two, one with 6 people on the front, and the rest, so 19 riders on the back.
I was in the first group, as as soon as I saw the "attack" I speed my bike to be in contact, and avoid to be cutted by the wind and lack of group effect. It was a great experience, I was able to connect with the top 4 guys, having one more with me using my protection. The rest, simply losing distance every time I was looking back. This small group os six riders was then riding really fast, 21 to 23 MPH, it was hard, and every hill look like a great mountain.
At the end, the group was completely splitted, two guys were on the front, I really don't know what speed they were riding, but above 23 for sure. Then four, were I was, reduced a little bit the rithm to achieve the target on the Donaldson, the rest of the group arrived some minutes later, at a the "original speed" the group was expected.
I was feeling great, to be able to fight on the front, with younger riders (sure less than 30) and to feel my training on the last weeks was going on the right direction. Now I need to keep going and have more strenght to resist all the attacks on the last section, were you need more power than aerobic capacity.
Anyway, again, Donaldson is here, and fun times are back
From SC, Xavi Paricio
Estic enamorat...
Si, ja ho se.. es un amor platònic (pro diuen que l'amor es cec).
Sempre he somiat de tindre una Merlin clàssica de titani (es lo que te el fet de tindre el morro fi i la butxaca buida) ...pro aquesta es una criatura que no ha estat engendrada ni parida a l'altre costat de l'Atlàntic:
http://www.amarobikes.com/cardinale.htmlMountain Biking at College
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8548049.stm
A Scottish college is running the UK's only academic course in downhill biking.
Six students at Borders College in Galashiels are training as athletes while working towards a BTEC module. All the mountain bikers on the course are racing at a national level and two have professional contracts.
College principal Liz McIntyre said: "This course allows young people to combine sporting excellence without neglecting their education."
Downhill mountain biking is an extreme sport where riders compete to ride down a specially-built trail as fast as possible.
The Scottish Borders is widely acknowledged to have some of the best trails in the world and cycle tourism is a vital part of the Borders economy.
The course, which is part of the Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence, offers a level 3 BTEC module.
Students combine their training with academic work in subjects such as psychology, sports nutrition and coaching.
Although not a conventional education, both students and staff at Borders College see this type of course as positive for downhill biking development.
Ms McIntyre said: "In order to get to the top of their field in any sport you do have to dedicate yourself and a large amount of your time to your sport.
"We don't want people to neglect their education because of this."
Valuable skills
All the young men on the course compete at a national level and two, Lewis Buchanan and Sam Flockhart, have been signed by professional teams.
Buchanan, 16, competes in 20 races a year. He said: "This course has helped me in so many ways, especially the psychological, mental aspect of racing. I've definitely seen the benefits."
Staff at Borders College are confident the course will equip students with valuable skills.
Ms McIntyre said: "This course allows students to move into a wide range of sports-related careers."
Happy St. Patricks Day everyone
Today the biggest Parade is Ironically not in Ireland but in America. The Irish Americans love to tell everyone of their Irish roots. They celebrate it in a big way like anything American extravigant.
St. Patrick
I promise my next post will be about Mountain Biking. Speaking of which new bike arrives Monday I hope.
dimarts, de març 16, 2010
1,2,3,4,5...Pivot Mach 5
Aquest matí, cap a Terrassa per anar a buscar una Pivot Mach 5 de test.
A la tarda...a probar-la!
Sortida per terreny conegut...Collserola.Poc camins transitables, la passada nevaba ha causat molts estralls.
Les primeres (i darreres) sensacions són extranyes.La postura sobre la bici es molt similar a una bici de rally, especialment l´angle del sillín realment molt vertical per tractar-se d´una bici amb 130mm de recorregut, no així amb l´angle de la direcció que es un pel massa tombat (suposso que el mínim posible per poder adaptar una forquilla de fins a 140mm.La bici de test portaba una Fox de 130mm).
La marca Pivot recomana un Sag d´un 30% i així ho he fet.La bici es mou una mica (molt mica) més que la Mach 4 (100mm de recorregut) que no es mou gens.En cap cas es tracta d´un moviment molest, pero te n´adones que vas amb una doble suspensió, en el cas de la Mach 4, sembla que vagis amb una bici rigida.
El que relament m´ha impressionat el fet de que la bici funciona igual amb propedal que sense propedal, de fet, en algún moment he dubtat sobre si estaba activat el propedal o no.
La bici pedala molt i molt bé (el passat 2009 tant la Mach 4 com la Mach 5 van ser triades "millors bicis de l´any" en la seva categoria), es una bici ideal per pedalar sense pressa, això si, el fet de pedalar bé implica pocasensibilitat...tot no pot ser!
En fi, una bici ideal per algú a qui no li importi el pes (el cuadro+ amortiguador pesa a la vora dels 2.850grs) molt pesat comparat amb els pesos actuals.
Carolina Triathlon
Today again a new post, this time to explain my visit to Carolina Triathlon, the downtown bike shop I felt in love since I arrived to Greenville. For those are more or less aware of my small history in SC, there was originally two locations, one in down town close to the Reedy River Park, and another one in Woodruff Rd, close to my home.
They decided to merge both shops and create only one, again in down town, and very close to the old location. The shop is still on the same street (South Main St), but more on the West End of the city, close to the baseball stadium, and in an area they are recovering from the "old times".
I was there on Saturday afternoon, just to take a look to the material they have, and also for some "triathlon" complements I need...I will explain in another entry...for the events I want to run this year. They have great material, basically oriented to the road and tri, but with some MTB bikes and apparel.
When I arrived, Randy, the owner saw I was in, and inmediatly came to say hello, they are great people, and then I met Thea, great surprise, she had a terrible accident some months ago doing MTB, I already explained, and she is on the way to be recovered, right now she is again doing some road bike, but no running or MTB for the moment as her back is still suffering on doing the recovery. We were talking a lot, about products, about projects this year, training, competitions, but the most important, we were talking about sharing experiences with our blog, and the one they have "there in one corner" on their web site.
This new way will drive us to new experiences, or maybe not, but it's a new open road I want to follow, for the moment, I'm open to work with them in recovering this blog they have. I will explain you more details.
At the end, and as this entry make no sense with some more info, I want to share with you some pics of the shop, in an old warehouse, an amazing environment for the bike world.