Tweaks

I decided to take the Kite on a more "traditional" loop today. I started out with the first couple legs of my "cross" loop to make sure I got enough log jumpin' and bike liftin' practice, but then I headed up to the ridge.
Amazing how much rockier it seems with 32 mm tires.
Not only did the terrain slow me to a uselessly pedestrian pace, but it also knocked my headset out of adjustment, which I didn't think was even possible.
I was getting bummed out.
I was wishing I was on my Swift, but having a race on Saturday, I felt I could use all the time on the Kite I could get.
I decided to pull the plug.
But on the way back to my truck, things began to turn around for me. Riding on trails and fireroads more suitable to a cross bike was letting the Kite shine once again.
Horses for courses I guess or some such nonsense.
Turned out the starnut in the fork was slightly crooked, so after a few good whacks, the top-cap settled in. I added a spacer to hopefully prevent this.
I also swapped out my super sweet Raceface Turbines for my beat to hell FSA Energy cranks. Yes they are lighter, but the main reason was they are 170s (Turbines are 175s). I went through a 175 phase; the leverage is nice, but I think the shorter ones work better for me.


I've also decide to race my age group this weekend. Not only does the time work better for me, but I won't have to race 24 year olds with Pro MTB licenses (just guys my own age who are as fast as 24 year with pro mtb licenses).

Stratton Brook CX

I had a bunch of woulda coulda shouldas that I just deleted; no one wants to hear that.
So let's just get right to it shall we?

I was talking with James and Josh from 503 Cycleworx after they finished the Elite 123 race (4th and 7th respectively, great job guys!) when all of a sudden guys are lining up. I run back to my truck, loose my bottle and arm warmers and stage behind Kerry and his Biker's Edge posse.
Whistle blows and I'm off well, in the top 10, as we go over the first set of barriers, and into the weird tape curly Q they set up.
I'm feeling pretty good on the descent to the bike path, and pleased to be holding position on the flat, stone dust path.
But then as we start climbing the almost mountain bikie trail people start passing me.
Did they not get the memo? I'm supposed to be something of a climber!
We get around to the bitch, I mean the beach, and it just sucks. I make it half way around and have to run the second half. Right after the beach is the third set of barriers followed by one last power sapping little climb to the start finish. The barriers are wicked tall (unlike me), and all 3 sets are set up in triples.
Not cool.
Second lap I think I have a gap on Kerry but all of a sudden after the curly Q, he's on me like white on rice...and then he's around me.
He's riding strong and getting a gap.
Then he makes a wrong turn at the beach and I get around him and ride the sand.
The beach / barrier / hill combo is an ass kicker!
Third lap I'm holding my position, but Kerry is methodically reeling me in. Again I ride the beach.
Coming into the start / finish, I'm praying for the sweet relief of the bell lap.
Silence.
Shoot, two more!
Forth lap Kerry passes me before the sand, I tell him to stay to the right and stay on his wheel to the start / finish.
I begin to plot my last lap strategy.
Over the last 3 laps I've gotten pretty good at riding the sand. The plan is to keep Kerry close, and try and get around him before the beach; who ever gets through the sand first, will win our little battle.
But then in the singletrack, at the worst possible spot, Kerry drops his chain!
I get around him and begin to close in on a Paradise Racing rider.
On the bike path to the beach we pass a Colavita / Sutter Home rider, but the Paradise rider gets to the sand first.
I close the gap, and am right on his wheel having to soft pedal my gear staying on the one rideable line behind him.
James is there cheering me on like crazy, telling me to keep pushing and get around him.
I pass him in the barriers, and head for the last climb.
But he easily spins past me as I'm grinding my 36x16 out to the end.
14th out of 30something.

Notes:

• I felt good, but thinking maybe I should have used a 17. Would a 3" smaller gear make a difference? Maybe, maybe not.
• I was a little disappointed with my result. After finishing 7th out of 33 in my debut I was expecting more out of myself. But different course, different conditions (it wasn't freakishly warm), different racers. Gives me something to shoot for.
  
• On the other hand, my time would have put me into 5th place if I raced the 45+. Is it sandbaggy to race my age group?
  
• About those barriers: They were like 15" tall; is that normal? Must have been comical watching me get over them. I know it was a hoot watching the kids in the kid's race lifting their bikes up, throwing them over the barrier, and then scaling the "walls".
• Kerry was definitely stronger than me today; without the wrong turn, or dropped chain he probably would have placed a couple places ahead of me.
• My Mom and Dad came out and the curse has been broken; no mechanicals (I haven't had good luck when they've come to watch me race)!
• The Singular Kite performed admirably. Balanced, neutral handling on a course that would favor a mountain bike. Being 2 pounds lighter than my Swift in race trim was definitely a plus every time I had to summit a set of walls.
  

Do the Double?

Okay, I'm signed up for the 3/4 race at Stratton Brook in Simsbury on Sunday, but should I sign up for the Masters 45+ on Saturday in Mansfield Hollow?
I chose the "B" race in Simsbury because Mommy and Daddy are coming out to see their only son race his bicycle, and the 12:00 PM start time is oh so convenient for all involved. Maybe not such a good idea since the last time they came to one of my races I had an air retention malfunction brought on by a nail, and the time before that I crashed and broke my plastic bike frame.
But do I go get beat up by the boys my own age on Saturday too? In this case the 10:00 AM start works out well with family pumpkin pickin' plans.
I know some guys would race a couple of races both days, but that would take away the hit and run aspect that is appealing to me about cross. I can warm up, race, hangout, and still only be out for a 3 or 4 hours.
Decisions...

Millstone Kicks

The shoes I won at The Millstone Grind Showed up on Monday, and I have to say I am impressed.
Mavic Razors.
I love the super pimp white with the red trim, and the sole feels pretty grippy too.
They fit real well. The toe box is more traditional than the cavernous one on the Specialized BG shoes, but it is not tight; your feet just can't set up a campsite in there (not a good or bad thing).
Super psyched to try them out, but they are so pretty; I don't know if I want to get them dirty!
Many thanks to the Millstone Grind promoter and supporters, and to Mavic for the awesome prize.

The F word

The "not race wheels" are now the "cross race wheels".
What was originally built as a set of special wheels for long leisurely Sunday fixed gear rides, will now be abused on Autumn weekends, 45 minutes at a time.
They were my cheapest route to light(ish) cross wheels; just needed to buy tires.
I took them out for a test shake down today. I wanted to test both my glue job, and the puncture resistance that the tubulars would afford me.
I glued the tires in my typical manor. I use 3M Fast Tack, putting a layer of glue on the rim (over the existing glue), a layer on the base tape, and then mounting them with a wet layer on the rim. I've read about people having problems with Fast Tack, and about the Belgian tape method, but my way has worked for me for over a decade, so I figured I'd stick with what I know.
But I only had about a third of a tube on hand, and the company I ordered more from sent me some other 3M adhesive by accident. That being said I planned to go as far as I could with what I had on hand without skimping or trying to stretch the glue out.
I got my first layers on the rims, and base tape, and started in on the wet layers. I had plenty for the front wheel, and figured if I ran out on the rear, just look at it as an extra dry layer. I look at gluing tires sort of like roofing; you can put on a few layers before you have to strip it down and start fresh.
So to make sure I didn't skimp, I was really generous with my glue on the rear, and had a tiny bit left in the tube. Having that little bit left made me wonder if I could have used more on the front.
I wanted to give the tires and wheels a good workout so I could race with peace of mind. I went to the res with about 38 psi of air and 35 ml of Stan's in the tires. Lately I've been getting a lot of flats at the res. Saturday I had a little tube patching party after flatting there twice in the morning.
With the rockiness of the trails I banged my rims multiple times, actually even knocking the front wheel out of true enough to hit the brake blocks.
But the air stayed in the tires where it belongs.
I tried to take some corners as hot as possible too, and the glue job held up to whatever "G's" I could generate.
I seemed to be breaking loose a little easier than with the clinchers, but I was also faster, so I guess a little wheel slip on loose, sandy, gravel fireroad climbs isn't so bad.

The Eagle, err, Kite has landed!

After an extend tour of the of the mid-west, a box of goodies arrived from SW England.
A cap, a jersey, a skinsuit and a prototype Singular Kite frameset!
Sam also included some of those fancy Euro cantis that all the cool kids are running.
I'd have to steal the brifters from my Cannondale, or the levers from the Fun Machine, use some crappy old Diacompes from the bin, or heaven forbid spend money on levers.
Or I could just be uncool and run v-brakes with the long pull levers I have for disc brakes.
Well, I didn't want to cannibalize any bikes, or run gears (maybe some day), so v- brakes it is.
Turns out I had to steal the Fun Machine's wheels anyways since even though a giant box can make it's way across the Atlantic in a couple of days, a couple of tires can't get from Indiana to Connecticut in a week.
After a couple of weeks of foul weather, and a migrating cold (started in my head, went South to my chest and hopefully will be flushed out by the weekend) I've got some work to do to do this gem and the accompanying supersuit justice.
My kinda work!
Had no idea I was color coordinating my pedals with the decals
Not Euro cool, but they work
Classy as always

Coming soon...

It's crossed the Atlantic, now it just needs to get from Cincinnati to WH.

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8:00 AM update:
Wait a second, it's in Franklin Illinois now? It's going the wrong direction!