Category: XTERRA
XTERRA Midwest. Battle Creek, Michigan
Winning smile & story time. During a week like this, so many things happen, its impossible to keep track of it all. I’ll try to give some perspective here.
My new race kit is officially here. It arrived from Hong Kong on Friday. My mate Gary Mandy hooked me up sweet with LUMA kit. I have a white kit, a black one and a red one (pictured) to chose from. And cycling gear
X mas came early!
TOP PRO MEN
1 ) Conrad Stoltz 2:03:16
2 ) Mike Vine 2:04:13
3 ) Josiah Middaugh 2:04:27
4 ) Dan Hugo 2:05:27
5 ) Nico Lebrun 2:06:00
6 ) Seth Wealing 2:06:31
7 ) Brian Smith 2:08:20
8 ) Branden Rakita 2:10:10
9 ) Craig Evans 2:10:20
10 ) Ryan Decook 2:13:09
XTERRA West- Las Vegas video
Yes, that is me crashing (only a small one) at 3.00.
Earlier in the race I was quite rattled after losing the chain and bending it. I thought my race was over, but I bent it back (about 90 degrees!) and it worked perfectly. I could see Josiah charging from behind, and with my mind all over the place, I wasnt cornering that well along the “single track” along the lake side. Braked too much and at the corner in question- the last one- in front of some spectators, I was determined not to brake. The soil (no, “dust”) was loose and ridden out and the Fast Trak tire just didnt have enough bite. The Captain would have railed it.
Anyway, hardly lost time, but it throws one off, and creates interesting video…
The making of a video. For www.i-am-specialized.com
This video was made for the “triathlon” part of the i-am-specialized website.
The a href=”http://www.i-am-specialized.com/triathlon” target=”_blank”>i-am-specialized website is aimed at being the public’s way of following Specialized riders’ racing and stories online. It is a new site and will mostly aim at internet video content. Internet video is the new TV.
I am honoured to be the 1st triathlete to have a video on the site.
Terrenzo and Macca will have videos soon…
The shoot started with swimming.
Bobby Behan – our Marketing Manager (and a few other things) used to be a pro triathlete himself, (we lived and trained together in Stellenbosch in 2000) so he knew exactly what needed to go into this movie. He sat in the director chair for 2 days.
Aaron Vogel just realized his dream job by becoming Specialized’s first in-house videographer. He says it wasnt really his dream job- he couldnt dream of a job where he could ride bikes and make movies AND get paid for it!
Anyway, Bobby decided we’ll kick off with swimming. And posing. Lots and lots of posing. I hate posing, but it was one of the many things I learnt about acting that fateful day….
Posing to da max. Oh yes, on the speedo issue- I’m old school (ie started racing tri in the late 80s) so I wear a speedo. End of story. At least its not lime green or pink. Like it was in
this picture from 1992!
XTERRA Las Vegas 2009
Viva Las Vegas!
Pic by Rich Cruse . Check out more race pics on Rich’s Twitter.
I had a good season opener, despite a few hic- ups on the bike. (a small crash and a twisted chain)
Josiah Middaugh from Colorado had a 1.15 lead after a phenomenal bike, but to my surprise I slowly reeled him in on the 1st (of 2) super hilly run laps. On the 2nd we dueled head to head, and with 2k to go I attacked and got a little gap on Josiah. I told him afterward if he had worn the Avia AVI Stoltz racing shoes, he would have won…
29er Mania… Found this XTERRA South Africa (Grabouw) pic of beloved Specialized Stumpjumper 29er
If you dont know it yet, I LOVE 29ers! (29er = Big wheels)
– Handles rocky, sandy, bumpy terrain better than 26inch.
-Larger contact patch= better traction.
– More comfortable.
– Better rolling.
– Keeps momentum.
Sure, the bike weighs a bit more, but we’re* working on it…
My dad, (also 6ft3) has this saying- “A good tall man will always be better than a good small man.”
I feel the same about bike wheels. And I agree with my dads saying, of course.
