Caveman, on Specialized 29er Epic, finishes 3rd at Bend Super D

Conrad Stoltz on Specialized 29er Epic at Bend Super D by www.allsgood.com

This is the 2nd of the 29er trilogy. XTERRA USA Champs report next…

Bend Super D. A “Super D” is a long somewhat technical downhill race which involves some pedaling. When I heard Bend is having a Super D down Funner and Storm King from Wainoga ski park, I just couldnt resist. Funner is just such a fun trail, plus you get to shuttle for 2 days. Unfortunately I cold front rolled in, and it POURED with rain for 2 days straight. So I didnt do any shuttle runs.

Even though I have a garage full of long travel Specialized bikes (2010 Stumpjumper and 2010 Enduro), I went for my Specialized 29er Epic. Only 4 days after the Cyclo Cross race (on this same bike) I only had to make a few small equipment changes to race two wildly different races. But it didnt stop the guys at the start gate from laughing at the white paint job, Renegade rear tire and 140mm rear rotor. He who laughs last…

This race appeals mostly to the trail rider type- which is 80% of Bend. (As opposed to the tight red spandex type) I did try to tone it down with baggy pants, booties, my Specialized Vice helmet and Oakley Moto Cross goggles. In the process I learned that that white jacket is not really water proof like I always thought.

I left the start gate 1st and water ski’d down the mountain. There was so much standing water on the flatter parts of the trail, I didnt know if I should ride through it or bundu bash around it. Also, the problem with starting 1st is you cant read the terrain so well. The guys behind me would just look at my tire tracks and spot the slippery places from the grippy places.

In the meantime Ian really went to town with the final prep for XTERRA USA Champs and my legs were broken. The CX race, then some 5min hill reps at 450W, then long hill reps at 420W followed by 2km runs to failure, so by Super D day, I was happy for gravity, and relied on the big wheels and fast rolling tires to do the pedaling…

Then on race day I became a bit of a wuss-  I had pre ridden the course in dry dusty conditions and the wet just made me realize: “this is just for fun,  XTERRA Nationals is next week, dont do any crazy log rides or boulder jumps.”

We started 1 min apart and close to the bottom I was caught by eventual winner Timmy Evens. When I heard his breathing, I asked myself, “is THAT what one should be breathing like on a downhill race?!” So I put some effort in, and made 20 sec back. Chris Sheppard was 2nd, a handful of seconds up on me.

29er Sworks Epic set up as a Super D bike. (It was basically 28 minutes of down hilling with some pedaling.)  The Command Post, Captain front tire, custom Caveman mudguard and dirt bike goggles were key.

The only changes I made from my Cyclo Cross setup 4 days ago was:

– 2.00 Captain tire in the front. (Couldnt be bothered to change the back tire- stayed with Renegade)

– No bar ends

– Added a few psi to front and rear suspension

Oh yes, and this cool Caveman mudguard I made 10 minutes before the start from  the lid of Chinese take-out from the trash can and 2 cable ties… Its been done before. Expect that time it was a plastic drink bottle. I just love “fixing” a $8000 bike with 5c worth of material.

Used all the travel (check red ring around left fork stanchion) MX goggles, Specialized Contour grips and Command Post with bar mounted “Oh SHIT!” button.

At the finish you could steam yourself dry.