Posts Tagged ‘29er’
Sea Otter Classic XC 2010
2009 Pic from mtbr.com
The suspension on my Epic 29er was so dialled –
it rode like a couch…
Specialized killed it:
Burry won, Todd 3rd and Susi 4th.
Hectic busy with packing and travel – more later.
1 ) Burry Stander 01:23:13
2 ) Geoff Kabush 01:23:13
3 ) Todd Wells 01:23:15
4 ) Christopher Sauser 01:24:19
5 ) Roel Paulissen 01:25:27
6 ) Manuel Fumic 01:25:52
7 ) Jeremy Horgan-Kob 01:26:05
8 ) Jeremiah Bishop 01:26:06
9 ) Marco Aurelio Fon 01:26:30
10 ) Chris Sheppard 01:26:35
11 ) Carl Decker 01:27:57
12 ) Barry Wicks 01:27:57
13 ) Adam Morka 01:28:13
14 ) Conrad Stoltz 01:28:14
15 ) Jason Sager 01:28:14
16 ) Benjamin Sonntag 01:28:14
17 ) Lachlan Norris 01:28:50
18 ) Travis Livermon 01:29:33
19 ) Kris Sneddon 1:29:391:29:47
20 ) Thomas Turner 1:29:47
“Stoltz claims scorching victory” Argus MTB media release
MEDIA RELEASE
(Caveman report to follow shortly…)
For Immediate Release
Stoltz claims scorching victory
(Stellenbosch, 7 March 2010) Approximately 4,500 riders battled it out in this weekend’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge. The 2010 MTB Challenge will certainly be remembered for its unbearably hot conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 42’C on today’s 35km and 55km routes.
Triple XTERRA world champ, South African Conrad Stoltz, was first to cross today’s finish line, winning the 55km race. “I stopped three times to refill my water bottles. Pros don’t stop,” Conrad explained when asked about today’s heat. Also known as “The Caveman”, American-based Stoltz was impressed with the course: “It’s of a high technical standard and really challenged the riders. My Specialized 29er Epic was the perfect bike for this course- the big wheels just floated over the rocks and deep sand”
Meurant Botha, Co-Organiser of the MTB Challenge, is very happy with how the revised format, which saw the event taking place over two days, worked out. “Saturday had a more laid-back family vibe, whilst Sunday was noticeably more competitive with some great racing. This is exactly how we envisioned it.”
This one time, at band camp, I rode 300 Watts for 3hrs
Since I ate my helmet, (and embraced training technology when we started base training about a month ago.) I have been enjoying training with my Power Tap thoroughly. (Rent your Power Tap today from the folks at Saris/CycleOps, South Africa)
For Valentines’ Day, my coach Ian Rodger gave me 3 hrs at 300 Watts. So romantic. I rode to the top of Franschoek pass, and being new to trying to keep a constant power, I’ll tell you, trying to do 300W downhill through the road works in Pniel or down the main street of Franschoek with tourist drivers, speed bumps and couples on Valentines dates, gave a new meaning to “adrenaline”…
Also, going down the pass I tried to shape myself into a parachute, because the 53×11 was not enough. Fortunately those 28mm Specialized Armadillo tires at 60psi helped slow things down and smooth the road a bit.
The Caveman Cometh (and he’s on a 29er)
So, you are a trail mashing mofo; gnarliest of the gnar. Yes, you are a fit machine and can ride. You have skills. Skills, eh? How about swimming, mountain biking and running — as in consecutively… in one day… at race pace?
Whaddya say? That off-road triathlon stuff — Xterra — isn’t for true mountain bikers? It’s so easy even a caveman could do it?
Straight-up fact: The Caveman does make it look easy. And the Caveman will make it look easy as he smokes you out on some technical singletrack — on a big-wheeled bike, no less.
He isn’t racing Xterra — yet — on a 29er, Conrad Stoltz rides his Specialized Epic 29er the rest of the time. CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS IN THE SLIDESHOW BELOW Photo by Seth Lightcap
A couple of weeks ago I did an interview and shoot with Singletrack.com editor Jamie Bate (and photoman Seth Lightcap) in Truckee. We talked 29er, kicked some ideas around and I have to say I’m quite stoked with the result. This website has some real meat to it. Informative, technical material for the serious trail rider.
Here is the complete article from SingleTrack.com
Visit Stoltz29.org for my 29er manifesto
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.
