tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38770203553654890312024-03-17T18:29:07.241-07:00Mountainbike Epic RidesThis is where I will share mountain biking epic rides. Such as the IMBA epics. Riding the coolest trails on the planet by bicycle. Ride Dirt!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-18304159981866908652024-03-08T20:09:00.003-07:002024-03-09T22:44:46.844-07:00Black Oval chainring, Crank Breaker?<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> So, eight years ago, when my 3x9 was wearing out and 1 bys were becoming all the rage, I opted for the Shimano XT 42-11 cassette and needing a no drop chainring I got a 32t from Black Oval. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">See hear for the install:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.mtbepicrides.com/2016/06/one-by-eleven.html">https://www.mtbepicrides.com/2016/06/one-by-eleven.html</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjmC6b2KfH7aFX-iWvhTUI2xqWHm6i6_JS8__Q1ebZwbwcSrjJ3F-pvvCwFj8M2li6KLpDYIuaDlPcWN4upv_WrYGTuH2tQzCZ74AiwWOvjGgMpMNdUB09HeiofM6XwinG0EuLL_7mtQ4qZ6ON_KPwUGWW9tJkdZAhzCX2OVPIkxPn1H51tdgsJTCtBJ/s4032/IMG_5876.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjmC6b2KfH7aFX-iWvhTUI2xqWHm6i6_JS8__Q1ebZwbwcSrjJ3F-pvvCwFj8M2li6KLpDYIuaDlPcWN4upv_WrYGTuH2tQzCZ74AiwWOvjGgMpMNdUB09HeiofM6XwinG0EuLL_7mtQ4qZ6ON_KPwUGWW9tJkdZAhzCX2OVPIkxPn1H51tdgsJTCtBJ/s320/IMG_5876.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes, I kept the package for Eight years!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-D5AuXybsWQCw0CXvFTE7Q1JHLNy1Th2TNvN-xU7dPIQ7q1lHr1y_XF4oN4LrO7Tbvj0EMVT8HHDxt3CeKQ1H9PmBNXs90MMDqw9zPRmTGuP9jNdVgWOS3DdBUKkUn8DQYg9aRFHzhevfkcgW2A1_O34VJFaW1qOTvhTO8vnea_TJSM5sXXq1M1SoFhA/s4032/IMG_5752.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-D5AuXybsWQCw0CXvFTE7Q1JHLNy1Th2TNvN-xU7dPIQ7q1lHr1y_XF4oN4LrO7Tbvj0EMVT8HHDxt3CeKQ1H9PmBNXs90MMDqw9zPRmTGuP9jNdVgWOS3DdBUKkUn8DQYg9aRFHzhevfkcgW2A1_O34VJFaW1qOTvhTO8vnea_TJSM5sXXq1M1SoFhA/s320/IMG_5752.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOqKGL7g-mZUGA_cY9EyOvOwnpGQHI2VrladXtQSZPWiEbtlYZRrKJwJ7GVbAPtYicqgUe3IB3KUiJSvHMe0KVWNlpd212NtBeU-QGfNMPNpNS0RnlzfgqFFYOT5UGYF1wupPkaov193wxRVrp0_euEidBc1TGsN_LQGU5acNb1qvy28dG69Oy2leAHcC/s4032/IMG_5751.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOqKGL7g-mZUGA_cY9EyOvOwnpGQHI2VrladXtQSZPWiEbtlYZRrKJwJ7GVbAPtYicqgUe3IB3KUiJSvHMe0KVWNlpd212NtBeU-QGfNMPNpNS0RnlzfgqFFYOT5UGYF1wupPkaov193wxRVrp0_euEidBc1TGsN_LQGU5acNb1qvy28dG69Oy2leAHcC/s320/IMG_5751.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">My First ride on this set up was May 24th, 2016. And While I did not ride much after May 2017 Strava says I logged 212 rides on that set up since. I am not prepared to do the data mining yet for the miles and elevation gain, LOL! Needless to say, it was a lot. I did replace the chain in October of 2019, when I got back on the horse to ready myself for some friends that were visiting in February.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, as I was JRA anticipating getting my single speed together going up a short steepish climb in the 32/21 I believe and bang, I thought I broke the chain, not so lucky, while the chain did get twisted a bit, I looked down to see a mangled mess of twisted chainring. Thinking to myself that’s odd, but I have more at home. But before I could contemplate the walk out to the road, I realized a much bigger shock, three of the ears that held the chainring on the crank had completely snapped off!!!! and the 4th was ripped open? This is an XT crankset and yes, I have put umpteen miles on it and I tipped the scale at 240+ pounds and my legs were getting strong after a few months on the bike (After 4 years off) and lifting many kegs at work, but jumping Jehoshaphat! Me and My buddy just stood there not quite comprehending what had happened. My friend, who worked in a bike shop for quite some time said, "That's a new one" and between us we thought we had seen broken or broken ourselves, everything on a bike. I also worked at a bike shop for several years and one of my friends wife use to call me "everything is broken Man" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But I digress. So was it metal fatigue, was I too fat. While my friend rode to get the car and I walked to the nearest trail head, (we were halfway through a 14-mile ride) I had time to ponder and wonder if the Black Oval chainring, which was light weight (maybe too light) and the material around the bold holes got nowhere near the lands on the crank was the culprit. All the bolts were still tight in the threaded chainring holding on the three ears from the crank, suggesting that the chainring fold/twisted under the load and twisted off the ears of the crank.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There was a silver lining though, we thrashed that evening and converted My Lynskey with a Black Sheep fork, back to its single best destiny... a </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Single Speed</span></b></span></p>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-13695624578544461782024-03-02T22:50:00.000-07:002024-03-02T22:50:54.101-07:00I'M BACK!<p> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> I
have been gone for a while and oh so much has changed I pulled a Forrest
Gump about 7 years ago and just stopped riding. Yea no one saw that
coming not even me. About 4 years ago My Friend Tom Kruse was doing a
training camp at Mc Dowell MT Park in February so I did Ride for a few months
so I would not completely blow. But then Covid hit and I did the opposite
of everybody else and stopped riding. Besides I hadn't adapted to summers
in the Valley here in Arizona yet anyway Yada Yada Yada. Fast forward To
November 2023 when my buddy George came to visit. We had no plans to
ride. But my seeing him was the spark I needed. I procced to to
break my Powertap hub at the gate, so we hiked. I had laced up a
wheel several year, so I tensioned it and we were off to the races..... Whoa
slow down, man did I blow Ha, Ha,Ha.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-61524791278947500252016-07-05T21:47:00.000-07:002016-07-05T22:16:37.543-07:00Colorado Trail Durango Segment 28Well the description on <a href="http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/3856307/ct-segment-28-champion-venture" target="_blank">MTBProject.com</a> says "<span style="background-color: #ded9c4; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Drive (or ride) approximately 18 miles up Junction Creek Road to the junction with FS 171N. This intersection is well marked with a sign to the Colorado Trail."</span> Well challenge accepted! I had been going a little further up FS 204 (Junction Creek Rd) each week or so, at least up to where the snow hadn't melted yet. Then I put it off another week, as a visitor from Thailand, of all places, came to Durango to ride Kenebec pass, which he was told was still snowed in. Looking at the map, I was not sure which section of the Colorado trail that was on. I did some killer rides up at Hermosa creek in the mean time. <br />
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I hit the Forest Service road for a little threshold training at the beginning of the couple hour HC climb. I keep riding up past the upper trail crossing of Log Chutes 2, (last ride this is all I had), gaining 2000 feet in about an hour, past the Animas overlook, ( a common drop into unnamed single track for me). I continued up past Log Chutes 3 and Downhill trail head, past Rand's Point and Cape Horn. I caught a glimpse of Kenebec pass, (as pointed out bu a local I meat on the Extended ridge trail over looking Durango) and if I understood him correctly, it still looked snow locked to me. But I never seemed to get above it and actually started to descend a fair ways to 171,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOgGx_U0zfPRJCM167fmy4fr_0zhOw9u9bFn49NN5fHoH6KdULuJWEMchvKyMP5aPEVp1JILyIft6OBhyphenhyphenDvvDqVy9Z7aBWOx_ugE5f9D57r1LzS8WAzjmUOg6QxNSbD1iHdUNNPs-l-qa/s1600/IMG_9239.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOgGx_U0zfPRJCM167fmy4fr_0zhOw9u9bFn49NN5fHoH6KdULuJWEMchvKyMP5aPEVp1JILyIft6OBhyphenhyphenDvvDqVy9Z7aBWOx_ugE5f9D57r1LzS8WAzjmUOg6QxNSbD1iHdUNNPs-l-qa/s640/IMG_9239.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
which climbed a little to the Colorado trail Crossing. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo6jzEuFr8SWRkeF0pP1ozEacT8I1o364K3ZIgYSPFKtH9Txry1nxkmbqNyGiaIvzF6N2w5w12vF0NyGebxdt61dyXEDJng0LrJZA6SnYPMNETxCLO0fpGocNPuOhKfTSmHE6ROC-6hgo/s1600/IMG_9246.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo6jzEuFr8SWRkeF0pP1ozEacT8I1o364K3ZIgYSPFKtH9Txry1nxkmbqNyGiaIvzF6N2w5w12vF0NyGebxdt61dyXEDJng0LrJZA6SnYPMNETxCLO0fpGocNPuOhKfTSmHE6ROC-6hgo/s640/IMG_9246.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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While the Strava file shows mainly a descent (Lower Kenebec, not the pass) for some time it seemed like there was a lot of up and down even before the last brutal climb to high point.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/622973953/embed/1a643842100a980b0303b6b619096adc48eff1f1" width="590"></iframe><br />
There is a beautiful waterfall about 2 miles down:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2E3f9UI_-eXLFSkhgDxFJ53O7nqLj1eyebyViYNTR1iYTa4hL04c7eqaXaDTiQ-hdSenWfJ7RplKNEmLo9-7qjKbT2J5SnOMYL6NCAWT1LPoBWybGJv_5M-4HVg8XoMsLyUYd8o9TdP8/s1600/IMG_9253.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2E3f9UI_-eXLFSkhgDxFJ53O7nqLj1eyebyViYNTR1iYTa4hL04c7eqaXaDTiQ-hdSenWfJ7RplKNEmLo9-7qjKbT2J5SnOMYL6NCAWT1LPoBWybGJv_5M-4HVg8XoMsLyUYd8o9TdP8/s640/IMG_9253.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Followed by a smaller falls that you rode right along, about 3 miles down:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="630" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EieR5br7mCs" width="840"></iframe>
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-47920923354428689082016-06-15T23:01:00.004-07:002024-03-08T19:15:18.384-07:00one by elevenWhile I have original flavor SRAM Red on my road bike now, I am mainly a Shimano guy. XT is my "Go To" on a mountain bike, I have used 105 on a road bike and drool over DI2 for either. Even so I covet that SRAM 10 to 42 tooth cog. My 9 speed is getting a little long in the tooth <i>sic</i>, the last chain I put on had to be "Ridden in" some before all the gears worked. I recently tried to repeat this feat and she was just not having it. Well it has been two years (I have ridden my single speed and road bike a fair amount of that time). I have ridden my 9 speed straight through the existence of 10 speed. The last chain that rode in was around when XTR released 11 speed and SRAM was introducing a second level, all boo koo bucks. Fast forward to today,,, Finally durable, affordable, raceable XT was came along and now that I need it, it is high demand of course.<br />
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I am concerned that 32/42 will not be low enough in the the long High mountains of Durango, I have been practicing using a similar low gear, which showed promise. On the flip side I am wondering if I will miss that high gear inch that the 42/11 rolled out. I am from the old school when the standard CR was 48-38-28 with at 12-28 6 speed cassette, but I never road that in the actual mountains.<br />
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I finally sourced all the parts, but had to get an XTR shifter, due to availability. I hope the pretty carbon parts hold up to my abuse. First ride tomorrow, here are some pics of the parts old and new.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Out with the Old</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In with the New and Uncluttered</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trio of Shimano goodies</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Add in the Ablolute Black Oval Chain Ring</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-yux5Bww2y7qsMBOfIxixLa6Z2hm433MlGfuJjfBP1tDWzoIlaZkHj_PG1SDhkWu1s4GK4sxcyZWzXPTNoSiflxh0JD2s3bY8X0DL0z11MHh9TNh3TVPb1ms72cI9oRKv5BL1DYphq52/s640/blogger-image--1606485818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-yux5Bww2y7qsMBOfIxixLa6Z2hm433MlGfuJjfBP1tDWzoIlaZkHj_PG1SDhkWu1s4GK4sxcyZWzXPTNoSiflxh0JD2s3bY8X0DL0z11MHh9TNh3TVPb1ms72cI9oRKv5BL1DYphq52/s640/blogger-image--1606485818.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shifter</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Derailleur, Good in a clutch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big as my 160 brake rotor</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Oval Office</b></span></div>
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Hope it makes up for that low gear I will not have</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>All Shiny and ready to Rock</b></span></div>
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Doing this on the cheap meant using my perfectly good old 104 BCD XT 175mm crank.</div>
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I am running a SRAM 1190 chain, until it wares out, then will probably switch to KMC as they seem to take for ever to stretch out.</div>
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Dialed in the chain length and B tension and everything seems ready for a real world test.</div>
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I like the threaded chain ring bosses on the Absolute Black, time will tell if it holds up. But I got to go back to steel bolts. I used the long ones from the old granny ring. I was using aluminum CR bolts and nuts so I could use an Allen wrench on both sides. Mute point now.</div>
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The Derailleur cage is stiff with that clutch on, I have been drooling over that since I got my 9 speed shadow derailleur just before the clutch came out. We will see if the clutch and the Narrow Wide CR actually keep the chain and reduce chain stay slap, on in the conditions that I ride in, rough and rigid. That 11t is still really close to the chain stay.</div>
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I am so looking forward to not having a front derailleur. I can now move up my rear wheel in the sliders and not drag rocks across a derailleur. And of course you loose the weight, the shifting and the shifter. </div>
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I took this opportunity to use a lock in to limit the inward movement of my grips. Even wire tied they migrate in, I hope this solves this problem. Lock ons are to thin in the cushion department and not work on my bars anyway.</div>
Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-56740111357769208422016-05-24T21:33:00.002-07:002024-03-08T21:08:09.952-07:00Gudy's Rest Durango ColoradoPretty cool Lolly pop, the handle starts from the Colorado trail TH just inside the San Juam National Forest with Dry Fork and Hoffheins as the loop. Very nice, single track follows Junction Creek for a few miles and then up some serious switchbacks to Gudy's rest(which you get to go down on the way back). Mostly climbing until you either go down Hoffheins to an up Dry Fork or visa versa. I did the former and the Dry forks descent was pretty fun and the climb back up Hoffheins was not to bad. The description from <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/colorado--hoffheins--dry-fork--junction-creek.html">Singletraks.com</a> described it going other way and I saw several riders going that direction. I will have to try it that way, but I like getting most of the climbing done in one chunk. So climbing Dry Fork last would give a break in the climbing. Judging form the going down Dry Fork, the climb up would be a doozy and the DH on Colorado Trail would have a lot of root drops that would feel like stairs.<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-55853732659103029662016-05-16T15:41:00.001-07:002024-03-08T21:21:48.564-07:00Sandia Park Cibola National Forest.. Snow!Albuquerque New Mexico was the last place I rode on our journey from Pisgah Forest North Carolina to Mesa Arizona, which had terrible WiFi, making uploading video impossible. <br />
A lot was going on with travel, new digs and job and all, so I am just getting to this now on a rainy day in Durango Colorado.<br />
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10,250 feet was, by far the highest elevation that I had ever ridden to. The ride up was mostly in the sun and warmer than the 50 degree temps suggested. Nice stiff climbing with some technical features that were a challenge as the climbing added up and the air thinned out, There were some spectacular view on the way up and at the top in the Scandia Peak Ski Area. The descent was the polar opposite, pun intended, as I plunged, so did the temps, down to almost 28 degrees by the end as I chased the light. As I started, I could see the shadow of the mountain meet the sunlit valley, but at each and every chance I got a glimpse of that line, it was receding, faster and faster. I was descending in the snow shadow and at times the snow riding was tough or even required a little hike a bike. Needless to say, my descent was not nearly as swift as anticipated, but my Bulldog fleece bib knickers and long sleeve jersey and jacket (carried to the top in anticipation of chilly descent) kept me warm until time ran out. I exited the ski area and bombed the road back to the trail head, quickly exceeding my kit's insulating rating! Nearing hypothermia, i made it back to the car with little light to spare, started the car and shed my wet clothes for dry ones, making it back alive one more time.<br />
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Route description:
Climbing; Sulfur Springs, Faulty, Oso Corredor, Tree Spring, 10k, Golden Eagle. There was some snow before Golden Eagle, but it was sparse. Golden Eagle had alternating sections of snow and melt, both slowed me down. All of KOM was in the snow shadow and there was plenty of powering through/walking on the uphill parts of the mostly DH, down KOM and then it was getting dark, so finished on the road.<br />
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View from the Top</div>
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Full Frontal for the Pups</div>
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Different angles</div>
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On the way up</div>
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Zoom Zoom</div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-61377447546938611302016-03-31T15:41:00.002-07:002016-05-09T17:04:00.818-07:00McDowell Mountain Park, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Fountain HillsPreserveThis is McDowell Mountain Park, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Fountain Hills Preserve, just east of Scottsdale, AZ. And there is plenty more to the north that I have not seen yet, This place is ginormous! This is my go to long ride area. Along with at least a few killer mountain passes there are miles of rolling desert trails and even a mile long trail that was mainly rock garden techy. Just found Paradise, that is the name of that tech trail. Been missing true tech, Although there is a tech climb at another park, but that is a killer. Killer views abound as well. Come on down I will show you around.
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One of my favorite parts is this swooping section of the Sonoran trail, in the Fountain Hills Preserve. The entire trail is great, nice climbs and descents. There are several tight switch backs that I have not mastered yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDaFZGF28Mu5HVb9DCqQ_AAUDWw-8_Y1sED5eLFJyHZR2KhkUUQ4aXjkoWsnqjirA5z4BUUDENTPAmvpkKHCrfnTnalembeJcz1l7zy82m0cx7ak86g7HEl6yVuy-6NfjwB4MAKqrsm6Z/s640/blogger-image--1682760959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDaFZGF28Mu5HVb9DCqQ_AAUDWw-8_Y1sED5eLFJyHZR2KhkUUQ4aXjkoWsnqjirA5z4BUUDENTPAmvpkKHCrfnTnalembeJcz1l7zy82m0cx7ak86g7HEl6yVuy-6NfjwB4MAKqrsm6Z/s640/blogger-image--1682760959.jpg" /></a></div>
Shorter version with the hardest climb at the beginning instead of the end.
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='https://www.strava.com/activities/521452133/embed/f8a73937199091c54c6f92229df141307833fd2c'></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-3224115455660577252016-02-21T18:05:00.002-07:002016-02-21T18:08:56.457-07:00Core Work is a Waste of Time!<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Endless crunches are worse than a waste of time, they can even
create an imbalance and dysfunction!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When I was a barely an adult, I gained a bunch of weight and just
tried to suck in my gut all the time, trying to hide it. This really
messed with my breathing and my mind, due to the breath connecting the
sympathetic and parasympathetic systems (Fight or Flight and Rest and Digest
respectively). I found yoga and the science behind it and stopped sucking
in my gut for a few decades. I did have nice abs from time to time with a
lot of work and strict dieting, usually burning out shortly afterward. I
developed dysfunction in my back and the pain that comes with it. I have
friends with killer washboard abs and terrible back problems. I think that
everyone, at one point or another, wanted washboard abs. The road racing
greats said to let the belly hang to get a more complete filling of the lower
lungs, where there is more O2 and CO2 transfer, due to more capillaries, which
seemed to fit in with the teaching from yoga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Contrary to my title, I do believe that a strong functional core is
vital to riding and most other life activities. The key word is
functional! And I don't mean doing back extensions to balance the abs or
even regular planks, the position between many of the named poses in the yoga
sun salute.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Yoga teaches you how to breath as you move. I may have missed
it in all my years of study, but that was one key piece of information that
eluded me. Years ago, I got a clue. When getting certified as a personal
trainer, I learned about lordosis or sway back. It seemed kind of mundane to
a young guy wanting to get big and strong; how wrong I was!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Fast forward many years and I was mostly keeping my back in check,
mostly. I tried chiropractic for some time. I would get put back in
place, but without strengthening the weak muscles and loosening the tight
muscles, I was doomed to fall out of alignment sooner or later, hence having to
go back and get cracked one to three times a week. That is when I restarted
my yoga and it helped. I stopped getting adjusted after a doctor blamed
my neck degeneration on the repetitive adjustments. Not sure if it is true,
but it scared me off of chiropractic, except for an emergency. I know
this is not their business model. I went along pretty well for years, as
long as I got in at least one yoga session a week. My body would usually
let me know, gently, in a timely matter if I missed a session. Well, there
was a time that I seemed fine and I went a few weeks without yoga, everything was going swimmingly and then the worse pain that I have had in a very long time occurred, if
not the very worse ever. I went in for an emergency chiropractic adjustment
and the chiropractor put me on a machine that checked your alignment. After it lit up like a Christmas tree, he said I was pretty messed up and
would need weeks or months of follow ups, and of course he had a plan.
After the adjustment I did a light yoga session and then every day until
the next visit the following week. The chiropractor put me on the machine and
was astonished that hardly any lights on his machine came on. I learned
my lesson and never went a week without yoga, until I learned and practiced
proper form on certain kettle bell drills and stretches. More on that
later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Again, I thought I had it figured out. Last year I had a
pretty good Single Speed riding, foam roller and Kettle Bell training plan for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/search?q=Cohutta">Cohutta</a> 100. I was
short on time, but I came along really well and did great for a metric century. Unfortunately, I signed up for the hundred miler not a hundred kilometers!
I was geared too high, got cocky from the training, my standing riding
was mostly exhausted and my right lower back started screaming at me, pushing
the big gear mostly seated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Some time afterward, I was cleaning out old photos from my phone
and had one of me bending over, marking a road race course with paint. From the
angle I could see that there had been a problem for some time. There was a
stiff part that forced the spine above it to bend more than it should. I
looked at my program with this lens and removed any suspect movements. It
did not help that I had a crash over a year before that was still affecting the
movement pattern of my left shoulder, forcing some compensation in the right
lower back, particularly overhead, but that is yet another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was developing a program for an athlete of mine.
As I would hardly ever see her, I looked for videos of the drills I
wanted her to do on line. She was going to be doing mostly body weight or
low weight drills, due to time and access to equipment. I wanted to make
sure she was getting the form correct. Some of the best I have found that
are mountain bike specific are from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.bikejames.com/">James Wilson</a>. But during my Youtube
search, videos from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.strengthside.com/the-strong-side/">Strength Side</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>kept popping up. <a href="http://www.strengthside.com/the-strong-side/">Strength Side</a> is
mainly about the core power lifting moves, at least from the videos I have seen,
squats and dead lifts, etc. He talked about Lordosis and what struck me
was the concept of bracing to keep your hips aligned deep in a squat. I
had gotten good, maybe too good at the hip hinge that is associated with the
dead lift and swing and seated riding and all the sitting that life throws at
you makes your hip flexors tight. I knew about the hip flexors, but keeping
them loose was only part of the puzzle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Tight hip flexors tip your pelvis forward, by slightly flexing the
femur/pelvis joint and slack lower abs let this happen. So it comes back to that
mundane Lordosis, Strength Side says it best, that it just comes down to basics
that people would rather skip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But what about the breathing? Luckily, I recently came across James
Wilson explaining<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.bikejames.com/strength/fixing-your-hip-hinge-for-better-body-position-on-the-bike/">Crocodile
Breathing</a>. Crocodile breathing is
still diaphragmatic breathing, but you remain braced and let the sides and the
back expand more than the front, no more hanging belly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So ironically, it seems that I come full circle to sucking in my
gut. To quote the band Cake's song Comanche; "</span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You need to straighten your posture and suck in your
gut. You need to pull back your shoulders and tighten your butt.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">", but with proper breathing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I should have listened to my mother and straightened my posture,
but no one ever explained how to me or I was not ready to hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Great, you may say, but what the hell does this have to do with
mountain biking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Many mountain bikers just want to ride their bikes and have fun
and fitness seems to be a four letter word, read an article that puts it in
perspective<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/bike_news/fitness-why-is-such-a-simple-subject-so-taboo-in-mountain-biking-13">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But really it comes down to bracing to keep the hips and spine
aligned. One of the coaching cues on the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ShdwBGf6kc&list=PLb4f81GeovTxzH9KYRYzZJgyeZSHuLRL2&index=7">Heel
Tap drill</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is not to suck in the
gut, but to press the small of the back into the ground using your abs to tilt
your hips back, or down in this case. I was very weak in this movement
pattern. My back would actually click if I did not practically cramp my
abs to hold my spine down! Now I was on to something! Along with
Strength Sides;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0OzTLFwF-M&list=PLb4f81GeovTxzH9KYRYzZJgyeZSHuLRL2&index=6">Staying
Tight in the bottom of a Squat</a>, I came to understand, train and change
my bad habits and "</span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">You need to straighten your posture and suck in
your gut. You need to pull back your shoulders and tighten your butt.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"
When you pull the front of your pelvis up with your abs, your glutes
reflexively contract, and both stabilize your spine <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I started applying this on the bike and found to my amazement that
it really helped. Particularly toward the end of a climb when I normally
would be gassed, I felt an extra kick. Or when my back was acting up,
bracing would keep it in check. Bracing also helps you keep from bobbing
on the saddle at a high cadence seated spin. I started to explain this to
a friend, who among other things, is a bike fitter and he immediately thought I
was going to say "rock your hips forward", which is the common wisdom
of bike fit. I said no, even though, I have described it the same way
before also, leaving out the bracing to let the belly hang for breathing of
course. There are times that you rock your hips forward, the key is to keep the abs braced to stabilize your platform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is easier to understand it from a squat perspective.
James Wilson advocates standing up as the primary power position and not
the pseudo standing/quasi hovering seated position. He suggests literally a squat, one
leg at a time (you push away the pedals instead of the ground). You need
to brace your abs while you apply force to the pedals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bracing your abs also helps, in the seated position and even more
important in the quasi standing hovering over the saddle position. Unlike
Bike James, I will not argue the value of each, because I think each is an
important weapon to have in your arsenal. It is easy to let the let the
abs slack off and be over powered by the rectus femoris (part of the
quadriceps) and a tight psoas. Both flex the pelvis, leaving the pelvis
unstable, wasting energy and causing a problem in the lower back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I have a friend that told me to squeeze my abs when I lift heavy
objects. Now I know how! When I lift a
heavy object, I visualize scooping it up, with my pelvis as the scoop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Just apply these principles to pedaling a bike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-57827398224860641202016-02-06T07:03:00.002-07:002016-02-06T07:03:17.164-07:00Just WOMBLEing alongWe left NC in the rain and the rain followed us most of the way to Arkansas. It was gray and gloomy, but the there was a break in the rain. I took advantage of the day and rode the 27 miles the point to point of the WOMBLE trail, early November of 2015. The WOMBLE is leaf covered this time of year and it is still humid, but cool enough, not to be oppressive. The trail WOMBLE rolls along,, mostly, with the occasional steep climb, of short to moderate duration. Mostly small rocks under the leaves, like big gravel, which made for a rough slower ride. There were a few sections, though, of smooth and flowy trail too and a really cool knife edge ridge that looked down on the river and out across the valley to other mountains. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW_oCjtngS4nzY_70M-el19x_g_TNhxxJo5OunUfhU0ct1z26HyLPAM7CiAUr-n_GHEEBx9W8AFV9xyfT1hKqnFzM6ilRhz5FHbxaqlYyJ_AgU6qrkzSuOfH3LIsKCtNWC3QIFmIx0WSR/s640/blogger-image--1398684265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW_oCjtngS4nzY_70M-el19x_g_TNhxxJo5OunUfhU0ct1z26HyLPAM7CiAUr-n_GHEEBx9W8AFV9xyfT1hKqnFzM6ilRhz5FHbxaqlYyJ_AgU6qrkzSuOfH3LIsKCtNWC3QIFmIx0WSR/s640/blogger-image--1398684265.jpg" /></a></div>
Plenty of roots and exposure, not the fall off a cliff kind,but in places it could be dozens of feet before a tree stops your fall. That really keeps you focused, there is some tech and switch backs as well. Plenty of creek crossings, most of which were pretty dry, due to lower than normal rain fall this past October. Even though it rained the 2 days prior to our arrival.. <br />
<br />
For the most part the trail is pretty easy to moderate, with it's moments of challenge, far and few between as were the roads, you really felt miles from anywhere! The length does bring up the challenge aspect some and not being a loop means either a shuttle or out and back, which would double the length.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/426516933/embed/abc2ad78b3810e69368cc70a17575ba67e8f24cb" width="590"></iframe>
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Note: The <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/" target="_blank">Singletracks.com</a> phone app does not show the section north of the lake. Cross the bridge and the trail is on the left, just after it. I missed because I had to go from memory and there was construction on the bridge at the time. The north section is just over the bridge on the left or west side of the bridge.</div>
<br />
Trail blaze white and all the major road crossings have a big WOMBLE trail sign. Until you get to mile marker 27, coming from the SW, that is. I am not entirely sure that the section north of the lake is still part of the WOMBLE. I think my Garmin shorted it about 2 miles, due to the twistyness of some sections of the trail. I finally did find the trail head, but had already called my shuttle (Wife) and she was already on her way. By the way thanks Tammy!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-25786405667297426902016-01-10T21:07:00.002-07:002016-01-10T21:07:36.740-07:00Power Meters have no place on a Mountain Bike!"Why would anyone put a Power Meter on their Mountain Bike?" Some might ask.<br />
<br />
Whether you believe this or have been considering powering up your , here are the thoughts of a Mountain Biker that has trained and race with a power meter for years.<br />
<br />
Did I loose you already? If not let's get in to it.<br />
<br />
I had trained and raced for years first using an HR monitor (mostly threshold, because that was where my HR stayed for most of the race! Boy was this not the case! I will explain later) and first used PMs in their stationary form (Computrainer) and switched to mobile PMs once they moved out of the upper stratosphere price wise.<br />
<br />
I was convince about training with power, because I would come out of the off season on the Compoutrainer in great shape, but the threshold power I worked so hard for in the winter would slowly slip away as the season unfolded, as I could not get myself to hit the Computrainer in season, when I could do real riding. I did not realize it at first, but I was slowly de-training over the course of the season.<br />
<br />
Enter the portable on bike PM and you could accurately work your energy systems in the real world. At first I had one of the original Power Tap hubs on my mountain bike (I only had a MTB for some time). This was prior to disc brakes and the bearings on the drive side were crap and the seals left a lot to be desired, especially for off road. But is was a start and my experience grew from there. Now there are other choices, while not inexpensive, are with the realm of possibility for many riders. Pedal and crank systems are probably best suited for road bikes, as you can't entirely eliminate pedal strikes off road. If you have a Mountain and road bike and can only afford one PM, it may make sense to get one for the road bike as it is usually easier to find suitable terrain to work the different energy system intervals and you don't have to change tires to put it on the trainer.<br />
<br />
While I have PMs on my MTBs and race with them, it is not that popular yet and most riders are surprised when they see it. Partly to due to the fact for those early terrible durability issues, weight and then no disc brakes. Saris bought Power Tap and those issues began to be addressed. First they completely redesigned the hub putting cartridge bearings in the freehub body and shaving some grams, then going wireless with ANT then ANT+ and eventually got a disc brake version with some upgrades to the electronics and shaving some more weight. The road version became barely heavier than some performance racing hubs. I still have one of the first wireless hubs on my road bike, that I use manly for training, although I did a few road races with it. Having a bike with a smooth tire and a PM made the Computrainer redundant, if you have a decent indoor trainer. I used a trainer mostly in the winter, when light was short or the roads were not suitable for the energy system I was training that day. I have coached riders that would, on occasion, hit the trainer in the summer due to bad weather or scheduling issues. Many find indoor trainers frightfully boring, but for efficient use of the time you spend on one, a PM will get your session over as quickly as possible, knowing that you accomplished your training goals for the day.<br />
<br />
Now this fine and dandy, but "Why would anyone put a Power Meter on their Mountain Bike?"<br />
<br />
OK, OK<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyJ1U8cjOUSn5DQxGJz006KAasm1xbYlc9DC3jsZ4nP-FNDxJHPyn0QWOJXyfYoOyqQVZIfPT4NILZRi9qBnqp7fJMisxjzvw3GgpOu3pBOxm3iYXbRyFU638y0xgxOza2ojd6Oad5Uei/s640/blogger-image--758220131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyJ1U8cjOUSn5DQxGJz006KAasm1xbYlc9DC3jsZ4nP-FNDxJHPyn0QWOJXyfYoOyqQVZIfPT4NILZRi9qBnqp7fJMisxjzvw3GgpOu3pBOxm3iYXbRyFU638y0xgxOza2ojd6Oad5Uei/s640/blogger-image--758220131.jpg" /></a>If you only own a MTB and want to train with power.<br />
Probably the most important reason is keeping track of your Training Load.<br />
The folks at TrainingPeaks coined the phrase Training Stress Score or TSS.<br />
Why should you care? Wouldn't you like to know how much training is too much or how much is too little, allowing you find the Goldie Locks zone of your best performance?<br />
<br />
The original low tech way to do this is to just multiply your Perceived Exertion times the duration of your workout. This is better than nothing, but is very subjective and really does not take your bodies actual output into account. But you can use a very simple spreadsheet or even just log it on paper<br />
<br />
A step up is using heart rate instead of Perceived Exertion, <a href="http://www.trainingimpulse.com/banisters-trimp-0" target="_blank">TRIMP</a> is and example of this. It is easiest to use HR Training software to accomplish the math. The trouble is that HR is a response to the effort you put out. Power is actually the measure of what you put out, just like Horse Power ratings of a race car engine. Just like strength training is measured by how many reps you do of a particular load (usually weight), PMs will show what you are able to do and if you are improving or just wasting your time!<br />
<br />
The math gets even more complicated and unless you are a real math geek like me, you should use Power training software to track your TSS. Even <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/311885803" target="_blank">Stava </a>has it's own version of training stress measurement, although different from <a href="http://home.trainingpeaks.com/" target="_blank">TrainingPeaks</a>. <br />
<br />
Tracking your training load, can get tricky, but with a PM a simple test and some training software, such as TrainingPeaks (on line) or WKO+ (desktop) you can track your fitness and your freshness and with WKO+ you can see you where your peak efforts are in relation to your training load.<br />
<br />
Now fitness most people understand, but if you are tired from to much training you are will not be fresh when you want to be, that big race, event or that MTB trip to Sedona! Then add to that you can see your 10 top intervals in any duration that you want to monitor, to help you know when you are fit, peaking and the training loads and tapers that got you there. <br />
<br />
In conclusion, a Power Meter will help you build your engine by targeting the energy pathway, read interval lengths that work best for your discipline, but most importantly, accurately track your training load!<br />
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-51239675253664723922015-09-11T17:11:00.002-07:002015-09-11T17:12:54.204-07:00Daniel Ridge/Cove CreekIn last few weeks, I found two of my favorite rides in Pisgah, near Brevard NC and mad it to Bent Creek near Ashville. Here is the one.<br />
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If you want a pretty technical climb and a boat load of single track on the flip side, I think I've got it for ya!<br />
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The Daniel Ridge/Cove Creek combination is pretty killer. You can park at the Fish hatchery on 475 off of 276 north of town of Pisgah Forest, which is next door to Brevard. NC. Ride out of the the Hatchery and turn left on 475 and in a few the Davidson River trail will keep you off the road and get you a taste of easy single track to get you warmed up for the 1500 feet of climbing to come. Take a left back on 475, just before it turns to gravel for a short while before the Daniel Ridge Parking lot. Cross the Bridge and stay left when Daniel ridge splits. You will gain some elevation as this trail slants gradually upwards, with just a few tricky spots. That is, until it turns abruptly right and up, where the bridge use to cross the creek. This is where the fun begins. Very technical and some hike a bike will be required my most folks, enjoy the cascading creek to your left when forced off your bike or taking a break. Continue right where Farlow gap comes in from the left.you get to descend a bit as the trail rolls, instead of going straight up, like before. But it is still plenty technical. Watch for a trail that comes in from the left after a period where the trail levels off before the descent of Danile ridge starts. That left will take you to Cove Creek rd, take a right there. This rolling mostly DH single track becomes a Forest Service rd. Watch for the Cove Creek Trail head to come up on the right. While manly DH, it does roll up and down on it's way back down to 475. Fast and flowy, with banked turns and new bridges (as of this writing) as well as some gravel filled mud holes, that rode nicer that the hike over them the day before suggested. A few techy parts and off camber roots here and there that can get sketchy at speed. Shorty after the fastest section you will see the camp ground on the left. Turn left after you cross the creek, there is a sign but you come up on it quick, just when you have to navigate over a few log steps, up out of the creek. Take a right on the FS road. The creek crossing can be deep, so take the bridge to the left, just as you see the creek. Take a left on 475, and take the Davidson River trail back the way you came in to 475 back to the Hatchery.<br />
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1500 feet of climbing and less than 14 miles and 2 hours (for me).<br />
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I kind of gave up looking for that perfect 3ish hour ride, in this part of Pisgah. Anytime I tried, ended up being 5 or better hours, with either way to much gravel or some ridiculous hike a bike or death march. I like nibbling on Pisgah, cause when ever I try to take a mouthful, I always end up<br />
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Enjoy<br />
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<a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/383569027" target="_blank">https://www.strava.com/activities/383569027</a><br />
<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/cove-creek.html#r38544" target="_blank">http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/cove-creek.html#r38544</a><br />
<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-61335967659030858682015-05-26T18:32:00.005-07:002015-05-26T18:50:51.551-07:00Pisgah Kicked My @$$ Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Turkey Pen Gap was was much better in the DH direction. See <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2015/05/wtf-i-need-beer-or-4.html" target="_blank">WTF I Need a Beer or 4</a> for details! There still was plenty of hike a bike up Black Mounrtain from Claw Hammer Road. Some on TPG itself and Cantrell (Can't Tell If if is a creak or a trail) Creak had a fair amount of Hike a bike as well, particularly with the 34X19t. Funny it did not seem so steep on the way down, just the other day. Squirrel Gap was pretty fun, but I was shot by then, but could still turn over that big gear, more like a slog. Even the gradual South Mills River and Buck horn trails back to Claw hammer would probably have been more pleasant on a lower gear, though. Broke a chain early and stopped to borrow a tube and pump to a guy from Indiana that left his in the car. "Don't leave home with out your gear" goes double for Pisgah. I carry two tubes a big air, a pump, plugs and boot material, chain links, tool w/chain breaker, Leatherman, Hanger fixer for when I have gears etc. </div>
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Overlook on The Black Mountain trail</div>
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Waterfalls on the South Mills River trail</div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="https://www.strava.com/activities/311885803/embed/0d089333206c0788936e7083dad986860d450360" width="590"></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-61856187342892143242015-05-13T07:18:00.005-07:002015-05-13T07:18:50.514-07:00Roth Rock Ride Epic State College PAThis is a long lost post. We were just getting moving, for real this time. We had no internet or cell reception for a hot spot at Greenwood Furnace Campground. Then my PC went out. So it got lost in the shuffle. But with this years <a href="http://outdoorexperience.org/tse/" target="_blank">TRANS-SYLVANIA MOUNTAIN BIKE EPIC</a> looming I thought I would drop it.<br />
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Even though ROCK is in the name, I thought North Jersey has the rockiest trails that I have ridden so far. I reached out to a local, cause the guy at the shop hurt his back last fall after hitting it too hard on his brand new fat bike. Wider Q factor and chasing around youngsters, he said.<br />
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So I show up a little early and and get a warm up in with the president of the local club. I guess Tuesday is the day regardless if the official shop ride is on or not. Most thing are up from the Tussey trail head. Ironically there was enough cell signal for my wife to work a the trailhead while I rode.<br />
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I headed back to the trailhead for the arranged time. I was happy to see four single speeds coming off of cars.<br />
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Plenty of climbing, be it on fireroad or single track, most of which could be considered a rock garden. Kinda like Wawayanda on the New Jersey's north border with New York, just with more up! The landscape has some spectacular groups of rock outcroppings to navigate<br />
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<a href="http://www.imba.com/epics/roth-rock-ride">http://www.imba.com/epics/roth-rock-ride</a>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-76224353418424098682015-05-10T20:09:00.000-07:002015-05-10T20:09:25.641-07:00WTF I need a Beer or 4<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">About half way through, what was supposed to be a 28 mile ride, I figured, if the climbing the stats of 5700 ft, were correct on the file for the route I was taking, that I would be paying for it all on Turkey Pen Gap (TPG). As I approached mile 22, those feelings grew. Then that first look up the stairs should have had me and my 34X19 gearing, scurrying to the road back to the car. 2500 feet in 6 miles is just silly. The file I had said 28 miles. I had a little out and back here and there, plus the 3 miles on Squirrel Gap and Cantrell (cant tell if it is a creek or a trail) . To top that off TPG was so steep, even with the speed coming off the rear wheel, the Garmin read 0.0 MPH and did not gain 1/100th of a mile during the walking sections, which was most of TPG. The garmin got 33 miles,compared to the 40 from the phone. Felt like 40. The file I followed was probably made with a Garmin using GPS for speed and distance, which under states, while the phone app usually overstates, particularly the more you stop or go painfully slow. So it is probably some where between 33 and 40 miles.</span></span>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-50805829072400139192015-05-05T19:59:00.001-07:002015-05-05T19:59:45.567-07:00Cohutta the 2nd Half<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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See the <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2015/04/2015-cohutta-100.html" target="_blank">first half here</a>. On the subsequent climb a woman came by. Most of the girls were gearies, with that and long endurance event being the great equalizer between the sexes, I have humbly accepted the occasional pass by the fairer sex. Not this girl, she left her gear bike at home because of the muddy conditions. She ultimately got 6th among the women. When <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/10/moco-epic-65.html" target="_blank">Bonsby </a>came by a little later he said he has seen her race before and she was a force to be reckoned with. I dropped her on the next descent only for her to dance away up one of the succeeding climbs. She seem to climb about twice as fast as me, a feat I could not match on the DHs.<br />
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Now back to the numbers game. I was still averaging about 10.5 mph at this time. My metric century was done in 5:44. Thing were still looking up. But that damn rest stop #5 would just not materialize. Mike came up just before the crest of a hill, we both lamented over the 35 miles between rest stops, he was out of H2O. I told the full suspension riding Bonsby that I would follow him on my rigid bike for the descent. He said he was not going to go to fast and let me pass. The fire road turned up again and some time had passed, as well as a few other rider and I started to worry about Mike. Hoping that he did not crash or flat. But shortly before the climb out to rest stop #5/4 he passed me. I had another fast pit and left as Mike was getting his camel back filled, only for him to pass me on, what I call the bonus climb.<br />
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My average speed from 62 to 77 miles had started to drop. There were several riders walking up the bonus climb, I think they were stragglers from the 65 mile Big Frog version of the race. At least I was going faster than walking pace!<br />
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Finally back back at rest stop #3/6. A volunteer asked how I was liking the single speed now. I felt a slow grin come across my muddy face and sad the bike hadn't given up yet, but my body may have.<br />
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The final climb. It would end just over the next rise or around the next bend, but it seemed like it never did. A short false flat or small dip and I was sure it was down hill from there. After all Mike said the the last Single track was all down hill too, Great I thought. But first I had to climb the same hill we first came down on the fire road. Blue sky, That is a good sign we are near the top right?, Not! The road would turn and keep on climbing. We had to dodge the occasional car on these narrow gravel road from time to time, as well. <br />
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Just when I just about had it, A bearded single speeder with a full hip pack passes me on what was really the top of the Fire road. I caught him back on the descent, but confused the entry into the single track, which turn immediately up, not down and he was on my wheel, so I let him pass. I headed into the Quarry loop as Bosnby headed out. I was dead tired and parts of the quarry did not care. As for the rest of the single track, I am sure it would have been great fun an hour or two earlier, but now it was anything but the DH single track I was hoping for! A girl on gears passed me on a particularly SS unfriendly stretch. I thought she was gone until the hard left hander, that pointed up a moderate to steep climb with rooty technical bits. She was walking about a couple hundred yard up. I asked how she liked the DH single track, she replied that she did not have anything left in the tank. I was walking before I got to her and pulled off as a guy on gears was coming up. He saw why I got off and got off as well. He said "after you", so I remounted after the big root that I was too tired to to attempt and was on my way past the girl, with the guy in tow. He and I replayed that same scenario a few times, before a definitely pro gearie section came up, where I stepped off to let him do that gearie thing they do. This Single track may have been loosing elevation, but it was not giving it up with out a fight at every turn, literally. When it finally did pint down, it was like, "Wait What, that was it?!" and we were out at the power station, not the finish line like TK and I had thought. Nothing left and nothing left to do but pedal the very slight grade on the pavement back to the start finish area. Pedal I did, painfully slowly. I have never really needed a cheering section to motivate me, but here on this plain old, nearly flat stretch of pavement, going about 7.5 miles an hour, through the parking lot, I soaked up every cheer and clap and good job that came my way.<br />
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I ended up 15th out of 21 single speeders that signed up, but was the 2nd to last that finished on this day, at ten hours and thirty eight minutes. I would have been 13th out of 34, with only 21 finishers.<br />
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As slow as this was, just two weeks prior to the event, I would have happy with 11 hours, and consider it an improvement over the eleven hours and nineteen minutes that the Tatanka 100 took me, with similar elevation gain, but a completely different profile.<br />
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I was happy with my start and the first 20 miles of single track and even the early fire road climbing and I was super happy with my fire road descending through out. I was good until about 10% over my training duration and miles and I finished and got that mug. Over the last 10 miles I was thinking I got to finish to get that mug!<br />
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TK had to take this Picture quickly before I fell over!</div>
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Recovery ride with Tom</div>
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Lunch the day after....<br />
We Crown thee the Hundred Miler</div>
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0Americas (null)35.213627 -82.628748tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-42244199019979797552015-04-26T21:10:00.001-07:002015-05-13T16:26:28.633-07:002015 Cohutta 100I am starting to write this more than 24 hours after the finish of the race and parts of my legs are still sore. This race is the probably most suffering I have ever done, the most on a bike for sure!<br />
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Tammy handed me off to Tom near Asheville, I drove to give him a break and let him work from his mobile office, he is always being productive, that man is. The GPS was a little off and we stopped at Ranger station first. I hollered down to some guys riding crossing the bridge to ask them were registration was. It was one of those small world moments as it was Michael Bonsby, he showed me around the <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/10/moco-epic-65.html" target="_blank">MOCO Epic</a> a while back. I would see him many more times, several during the race as we were yo-yoing back and forth for a while, late in the race.<br />
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We get to registration, sign up, pick up our SWAG bag and number, some complementary pre-race pasta, confirmed no course changes with impending inclement weather, drove the opening road climb and walked down to the first hairy bottle neck, checked in to the hotel and had a little pizza to supplement our fuel and protein stores and were in bed a quarter past nine. This is normal for Tom, I on the other hand had to move my bed time up gradually over the last several days, just so I could manage at 5am. I was getting a head ache, probably a remnant of my 38 degree race tune. I took some aspirin a and buried my head in the pillow until my hydration caught up to me at 3:30. I little more fitful sleep, I could not let Tom have all the fun I guess.<br />
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The weather man was not wrong and we got up to rain and not quite 50 degrees out. I foam rollered and stretched, suited up, packed up and headed to the start. I lined up with TK on the line, just for good measure, at the front. After a short prayer from the race starter, the race started at 7:02. The start pace was pretty brisk. I fell to about mid pack early and re-caught several riders towards the top after they were fading from the 10 plus minute effort. I felt like I was just warming up. I only saw 3 single speeders pass me, but it was hard to tell for sure in the sea of gearies. I caught one and got on the wheel of a gearie behind behind him, just before the single track. I aimed to mark him as long as I could. We made several passes in the tight single track, until we came to a long train and rode it out until one punchy climb where someone went and several of us followed. I had 2 good saves in that first single track; my front tire caught a rock just wrong on this narrow rise and pitched me sideways, towards the abyss, I unclipped and stabbed the ground with my foot, righted myself and was clipped back in, miraculously without losing any moment or stalling the guys on my wheel. The next was crossing the creek before crossing the suspension bridge. I tried to follow a guys line but he bobbled. I was forced on to some big slabs that everyone seemed to be avoiding. They very slick and under several inches of rushing water. My wheels slide hither and fro and somehow I managed to right the ship. I rinsed the mud off my glasses only to have them completely fog up for the a decent climb out of the river, Then my brakes went out. I just put new pads in for the race and the grit wore them down some much that I had adjust my mechicals. The self adjusting nature of hydraulics was looking pretty goo right about then. I lost some places a couple times until I got it right, stashed my glasses in a pocket and got back to it. I did not stop for rest stop one, as #2 was so close. I passed several that did stop, including that SSer that I marked. "Now on to the fire road portion of today's activities', That SSer cuaght and passed me, commenting on the size of my gear, we were both standing. I was feeling pretty good, though, with a just a few twinges of cramps around mile 40. From 50 on they were increasing. The rain stopped and the sun made its way out. But the damage was done, my bike and I were covered in mud. I switched from my cool weather fueling and tried to get more water into the mix. I was happy with pretty much all my rest stops, as they were quick and the volunteers very helpful. I dropped my vest and long gloves at #4, filled my bottles and heard them say it would be 35 miles till i got back there. It took a while for that to sink in, when about 20 miles into that 35, I see a pop up at a "T" intersection, thinking it was and aid station, I asked for water. They said they were not an aid station, they topped me off anyway and said the real one was still 15 miles away.<br />
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My average speed was bouncing between 11 and 10 MPH, I was starting to have hopes of a sub 10 hour time, 9:40 even maybe. Things were looking up as long as I could keep the cramps at bay and now this queasiness in my stomach.<br />
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This is really long already and I need to go to bed. Look for part 2 soon, I should have my results by then as well. <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2015/05/cohutta-2nd-half.html" target="_blank">See Part 2 Here</a><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-40528016829991126792015-04-19T13:48:00.001-07:002015-04-19T19:41:37.586-07:00Cohutta Prep<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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So on February 11th, I get a phone call from my good friend Tom Kruse, Spelled with a "K" not that other guy. He is taking on the <a href="http://nuemtb.com/" target="_blank">National Ultra Endurance Series</a> this year. His first one will be Cohutta, which just happens to be only three hours away from Brevard. Does this sound familiar? Well the same thing happened for <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/06/tatanka-100.html" target="_blank">Tatanka</a>. You guessed it; he asked me to consider doing Cohutta on April 25th, just a scant 11 weeks out. I had hardly been on a bike since early December and my first MTB ride since November was just February 1st. It was my first single speed ride since October.<br />
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I know, sounds like every racer on the start line right?<br />
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Single Speed is my favorite way to ride, but I went down pretty hard on my left shoulder back in early <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-i-did-over-summer-vacation-by.html" target="_blank">September</a>. It has taken several months to get it to 95% and I was not willing to risk most of Pisgah on a SS. Up until early <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2015/04/trajectory-adjustment.html" target="_blank">December</a>, I was doing a ton of endurance work exploring the forest service roads and back country single track of Pisgah on my geared bike. Still pretty harsh on a rigid, but I was learning the area and it was pretty cool. <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2015/04/trajectory-adjustment.html" target="_blank">And then...</a><br />
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With all that, I was pretty sure Cohutta was a non-starter. I had already planned to refocus on my kettle belling and <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2015/04/trajectory-adjustment.html" target="_blank">hikes with Tammy</a>. But I had until April 1st to decide, if registration did not fill by then. Following TK's call, I did several endurance rides on the road through our few weeks of winter, but then I decided to try something completely different. Just two rides a week (one long, one short), only on my single speed and only mountain biking, two kettle bell sessions, some yoga, a hike and /or the occasional walk per week and log it all on my special TSS spreadsheet. TK noticed all the SSing I was doing and said, "You're not thinking about doing Cohutta on a SS are you?", like I was crazy or something. I said if I was doing it, it would be on my favorite <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/p/my-lynskey-pro29-sl.html" target="_blank">bike</a>. He said I could put gears on it. I said "Uh Uh".<br />
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When I started, I was on a 34X22 and North Slope was <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/01/darn-tough-socks.html" target="_blank">darn tough</a>,<br />
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I added Lower Sycamore for a little fun. That first ride was 11 miles and it was rough.
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Was I nuts even considering doing 10 times that much in 10 weeks?! I added Upper Sycamore the next week. In a month, I replaced Upper Sycamore with Thrift Cove and then switched out lower Sycamore for Upper. It was a good month and a half before I changed to the 21t cog. 10 more days I was on the 20. Finally Thrift for an FTP two fer<br />
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I had been adding about half an hour each week to my long ride. April 1st came along and we were hosting at <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2015/04/trajectory-adjustment.html" target="_blank">Cascade Lake</a>. I had been thinking about riding up the 6.5 mile Cascade Lake Road to Dupont from camp for my long rides. I was not relishing this on a SS. Long and gradual and then the reverse coming back down with that steep last nut heading up Little River Road. Tammy kept asking me geared or SS. I said "I do not know". At the last minute I decided to stick with the SS game plan.<br />
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Along with the kettle bell strength training, I had been working on standing a lot. My average speed started just below 9 MPH. 11+ hours for Cohutta then! My AVG MPH slowly climbed to 9.5 over the last few weeks. Better but still 10+ hours for Cohutta, if I could hold it. My rides did seem to have more climbing per mile than Cohutta, but still. I had hoped to go to a 19t cog, each tooth meant more speed but harder to turn over on the steeps. It was getting close to go time. I had to switch wheels because a bearing went out on my older <a href="http://www.powertap.com/" target="_blank">Powertap</a> hub. <br />
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It meant a tire switch, so I put on the steeper cog as well and went for my last long ride. Five hours, tapering down from six the week before. I felt faster and slower all at the same time, it was weird. I thought my wheel size setting might be different between hubs, but my AVG speed seemed up. Later, the down load would confirm the 10 MPH AVG. Now I have a shot at 10 hours.<br />
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Compared to the 20t the 19 gave me a little trouble on the steeps, but not much, and some steeps seemed easier. I could pedal in more situations. I could stand more effectively on lesser grades, 4% and up instead of 5% and up. Seemingly contradictory, I could stay seated and maintain momentum, instead of coasting and then standing on rollers. That is where I picked up half a mile per hour from the same ride (except in the wet, plus a bonus climb) as 2 weeks ago. Even with some training effect and I had my <a href="http://www.blacksheepbikes.com/" target="_blank">Black Sheep</a> titanium fork back in place of my Salsa steel fork, some of it has to be the 34X19. Don't ask me which elevation is correct. Just trust me there was more on the 4/17 ride than the 4/4 ride.<br />
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After the Little River Crossing<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-17648733293857884172015-02-23T08:31:00.003-07:002016-04-19T22:19:08.416-07:00Fatty Fat Fat<span style="font-size: large;">Just when it seemed like the bike industry was moving towards standardization, Mountain bikes splintered into several specialized niches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">29ers, Single Speeds, DH, XC, Endurance, Enduro, 650b, each shines (or gets dirty) in a different aspect of Mountain Biking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is definitely nothing standard about a Fat Bike. 100mm Bottom brackets, offset forks, 4 to 5 inch tires. Even though technically based on a 26 inch rim diameter(559 ISO), you can't call them a 26 inch tire though, with those super swamper rubbers, they measure more like 29 to 30 inches!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I like most bikes and don't really hate on any type of bikes, even Road bikes and Penny Farthings! The internet is full of "My bike is the best and yours S@#ks". Sort of an, "If you don't ride like I do then you are not where it is at". Now it is great to love the riding you do but don't knock it until you try it, is what I say! I have more of an X+1 philosophy on bikes. The only limits I have are financial and space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My good friend and the "Terminus of the Buck" at Cycle Craft in New Jersey has a fleet of Salsa Mukluks and was generous enough to hook me and a teammate up for a trip to the New York/Vermont boarder. The guys used my birthday as the excuse. To get a feel for the fatties we rode the small town park of Pine Hill. Three of us brought our 29ers. Our Fat bike guy only rides Fat bikes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had to be careful not to whack trees with the wider handle bars (I am Really old school in the HB width department). The wider bars help fight the extra turning friction, off center brake pull and greater gyroscopic effect of the bigger wheels. Two of us were Fat virgins and were getting more pedal strikes than usual, even though the bottom bracket height was really not that low. The pedals just needed an wider swath, due to that 100mm bottom bracket width. You do have to adjust your lines, you know, 4 inches just won't fit between the same rocks that 2 inch tires do. This is just the same learning curve I went through picking lines way back when with 2 inch knobbys anyway. We had a concern of riding the wider Q factor for so many miles all in one weekend, because I had spoken to a rider that said he hurt is back hitting the Fat bike to hard and not getting acclimated a bit more slowly. But neither of us neofats had a hint of a problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most important thing was to get the tire pressure dialed in to your weight and riding style. For my nearly 200 pounds 8 psi rear and 7 psi front worked well. After that, learning just how much you can rock crawl with all that traction was really an eye opener. It is pretty amazing! They definitely did not seem slow either. We really flew through some sections. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Us neofats originally were going to ride our 29ers some, you know in case we hated the Fat bikes, but we soon changed our tune and stayed fat for the rest of the long weekend. We took on Green mountain in Vermont the next day and Seneca Springs in New York the day after(ended in the rain). All three destinations had very different terrain, from tight twisty fast, to big climbs and fast switch back descents to dry, then wet rock crawling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As someone that lamented the headset standard changing and all the new bottom bracket configuration, I am really glad that we are not still riding 30 pound 26 inch rigid bikes with a 3 by 6 drive trains, 28/28 low gear and cantilever brakes! A fat bike is definitely on my X+1 list!</span><br />
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The Guys</h2>
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<b>Gnome Home </b></h2>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EWFFQ4JhmRc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-45569741063521006512014-11-26T16:07:00.001-07:002014-11-26T16:07:48.580-07:00Carvin's Cove Gamut Stage 2 Day 2Wow, what a way to get in this trail system! And was I mistaken that stage two was anything like <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/10/carvins-cove-ss-ride.html" target="_blank">stage 1</a>. I thought that I would finish stage 2 and get in more of <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/10/carvins-cove-ss-ride.html" target="_blank">stage 1</a>. Even without my detour, stage 2 would have been much longer, with more climbing. I was so glad I chose the geared bike for stage 2. Both stages together make up an endurance event called the <a href="http://www.virginiaenduranceseries.com/p/roanoke-is-2013-best-trail-town-http-www.html" target="_blank">Gamut</a>, held back in July.<br />
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The Gauntlet was definitely better as a DH. I loved old school feel of the Lakeside trail. Araminta really needed to be ridden in. Short and sweet, Comet started a little gnarly, but ended more flowy. Both the old and new parts of the Gorges trail were fun and flowy, switch backing in and out of the coves. A lot of work has been done to armor the trails against erosion and the newer section had some great berms built into it.<br />
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Basically, this system , has everything a mountain biker could want. Bermy trails, flowy trails, blasting and/or gnarly DHs, plenty of climbing if you want and plenty in the valley, if you don't, put it all together for great endurance ride. <br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-84423917432840448522014-11-24T06:19:00.001-07:002014-11-24T06:19:15.708-07:00Wilkes 100 at Kerr Scott 2014Well I finally got all the video edited. It was a busy video week with the <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/11/2014-couch-potato.html" target="_blank">Couch Potato</a> and <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/11/2014-swank.html" target="_blank">Swank</a> the next weekend. We got a late start, <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/10/on-road-again.html" target="_blank">leaving New Jersey</a>, but really wanted to get to Kerr Scott, to support our guys, being as it was in the direction we were heading. We did kind of compress our time in Roanoke (<a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/10/carvins-cove-ss-ride.html" target="_blank">Carvin's Cove Trails</a>). But my <a href="http://teambulldog.com/" target="_blank">Bulldog teammates</a> and friends Tom Kruse and Ryan Heerschap were coming down to North Carolina for Wilkes 100k endurance event on October 25th. Luckily, <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/10/reflections_26.html" target="_blank">Bandit's Roost had one spot</a> that could accommodate us and what a great spot it was, allowing us to cheer on our guys and get some video.<br />
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I rode along for their pre-race tune up ride on friday evening and we went out to dinner for the prerequisite carbo loading. I ordered the large calzone and was glad to have help finishing that monster, after all I was not the one doing this long event! Along with the carbs, we strategerized, the start and where to jump to get good position going into the single track. Mission accomplished as they came through 2nd and 3rd. I got video of the first single track, the start of Lower Berry and sections after Dark Mountain, heading back through the Overmountain Victory trail to Bandit's roost, as well as a Post Race Interview and shenanigans with the guys. Both made into the top 20 over all out of 140 finishers. 5:06:40 brought Ryan in at 6th place of 47 in the Open category and 11th over all. With a time of 5:15:54 TK managed 3rd podium step out of 48 in the 40+ category and 19th over all. Go Bulldogs! You can see all the results and more info at the <a href="http://brushymtncyclists.com/event/wilkes-100k-mtb-race/" target="_blank">Bushy Mountain Cyclist Club web sight</a><br />
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I set out to ride the course the next day on my Lynskey Single Speed, Proving I am not in race shape, I started close to 1 pm and did not quite do the entire course, before dark. No neutral roll out and I skipped the last 2 miles of single track leading to the finish. 55 miles at 6:16 rolling, but 7:06 total time. The Warrior Creek section seemed to go on for freaking ever!<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-54870995569901289362014-11-14T08:48:00.000-07:002014-11-14T08:48:13.659-07:002014 SwankThe Course changed from last year. Turns out the well established short connector between FS225 and the top of Daniels ridge does not have the official blessing of the Forest Service. The Forest Service also changed there mind, last minute on up to 200 riders going down Cove Creek twice, two days in a row. <a href="http://www.blueridgeadventures.net/swank-65/course-8/" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Adventures</a> was forced to do two reroutes, very close to race day. What they came up with was arguably even better. Just enough fireroad to string out the pack, before the clockwise assault up Daniel Ridge. The gradual old narrow FS road, still allowed plenty of opportunities for passing, until the right, where the bridge is gone. From there the race is on, up a super gnarly climb, to the top of Daniel Ridge, past the connector, and down what was the timed enduro section of the previous days <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/11/2014-couch-potato.html" target="_blank">Couch Potato</a>. Completing the Daniel Ridge loop. Taking a right back on 475, a long FS road climb up to Gloucester gap. Then a left on to 471 for a little more climbing, before descending to the climb up to the Butter gap DH, up Long Branch, utilizing a little FS road to avoid the rutted part of Long Branch. Where the Couch Potato. takes a right back on 475, the Swank, turns back up hill to the rest stop at Gloucester gap, before really pointing uphill on 229 towards the Farlow gap/Daniel Ridge enduro section, going down the initial climb of the event, Left back on 475 (Couch Potato is the same from here), to the left up the Headwater rd (475B) climb to 225, and down Cove Creek to the finish.<br />
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I worked the gate so I started my video there, about a quarter mile from the start. Then some video at the hairpin coming down Daniel the first time, Wes gives some cornering tips on that video. Before heading to the finish, I got the top 9 descending the last of the gnar on the Enduro section on Daniels ridge and several others on my way back down. They were so spread out I missed the top 5 at the finish, but got nearly everybody else. Everybody that rode the Swank, is on the playlist somewhere, though, several times. <br />
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-50768957099453269392014-11-06T22:30:00.000-07:002014-11-09T11:14:55.870-07:002014 Couch Potato<br />
I really dug last years <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/10/swank-65couch-potato.html" target="_blank">event</a>, so when I got into Brevard, I had to contact <a href="http://www.blueridgeadventures.net/" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Adventures</a>, just the week before their final weekend of the year! It started off with the <a href="http://www.blueridgeadventures.net/couch-potato/race-3/" target="_blank">Couch Potato</a>. Since my shoulder has only been amiable to mountain biking for a couple weeks, helping out the seemed wiser than racing. Todd, Heather and crew, really foster a fun an festive atmosphere! From Tyler announcing every racer by name as they cross the line, furnished from BRA's crack timing <a href="http://www.blueridgeadventures.net/about/" target="_blank">staff</a> and system, to the choice of either a pulled pork sandwich<br />
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or chicken and rice, served with kale, along with recovery beverages, to Nightrider and Industry Nine showing there cool toys.<br />
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I arrived at 7:30 am to snow accumulating on the grassy slope, that serves as parking for the cars. As you could imagine it made getting everyone parked safely, a little tricky at times, but we got it done without any mishaps.<br />
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I brought my GoPro, incase I had some opportunities to record.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLb4f81GeovTy6o6U5yRbi6Xm7ft8kl50H" width="560"></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-32851948230191003852014-10-22T20:53:00.004-07:002014-10-22T21:07:53.116-07:00Carvin's Cove SS RideIt felt great to get back on the SingleSpeed again. In regards to MTBing, I have had fits and starts after I <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-i-did-over-summer-vacation-by.html" target="_blank">damaged my shoulder</a>. So it felt great to get back on the SingleSpeed again. After <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/209348699" target="_blank">Sunday's ride at Stephen's</a>, on my geared bike, I was stoked. I was able to float through the rock gardens again and not want to cry when every my rear tire spun out on a climb. My plan was to follow the Gamut course. The Gamut has many loops that make it easy to get back the TH, making taking the SS a low risk situation. If the shoulder wasn't having it, I could switch to my geared bike. The first hour or so, was fine and I kept thinking I could have gone from the 22 to a 21 or 20t rear cog, mated up to my 34t Rotor ring and been a little bit happier on the inbetweens and still make the climbs. That is until I started up Tuck-A-Way, still a 21t would be fine. But Climbing Jacob's Drop was another story. I had to get off and walk every so often. Then once on Bushy MT you just keep climbing, but at a manageable grade. Down the Trough and up the Gauntlet, led to a few short walks too.<br />
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Once you start going up or down, expect to be doing that for a while, here.<br />
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Carvin's is kind a like Douthat minus the Pisgah like portions. I would have sworn that I was on the switchbacks of Buck Hollow in <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/04/douthat-state-park-too.html" target="_blank">Douthat</a> as I scampered down the switchbacks on Hi De Ho!<br />
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Being my first SS ride in a while, I figured that 21 miles was enough given the 3500 feet. I will bring the geared bike back tomorrow.<br />
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Carter turned me on to <a href="http://www.virginiaenduranceseries.com/p/roanoke-is-2013-best-trail-town-http-www.html" target="_blank">VES website that has a great map and GPX files for the Gamut</a>.<br />
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-34615083838902237102014-10-21T15:08:00.001-07:002014-10-21T15:08:37.154-07:00Stopping off at Carvin's CoveCarvin's Cove is just north of Roanoke Virginia. I heard about it from Carter, well over a year ago, when he came up to <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/04/douthat-state-park-too.html" target="_blank">Douthat</a> to ride there with me. It sounded great then, with like 20 miles of trails. They keep on adding and I am looking forward to 30 miles. Unfortunately I am squeezing in two week day rides, between a rather late departure form NJ and rooting for my teammates at a race at <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2013/11/kerr-scott-imba-epic.html" target="_blank">Kerr Scott</a>.<br />
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877020355365489031.post-30070441058452759412014-09-07T12:37:00.002-07:002014-09-07T12:37:40.132-07:00Strava Live TrackerStrava finally says they are working in a Live Tracker, I am stoked!<br />
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See the Support thread:<br />
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<a href="https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/23882755-Live-Tracking-Feature?page=1#post_23022250" target="_blank">https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/23882755-Live-Tracking-Feature?page=1#post_23022250</a><br />
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Me Too! it and add a comment to keep them stoked as well.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0