Posts Tagged ‘Conrad Stoltz’
GU photo shoot
John Segesta did a photo shoot for GU here in Monterey. A freezing wind blew and my official race kit was still somewhere between Hong Kong and Cali.
Some cycling pics were faked,
Riding with the champions, NorCal High School racing league & Specialized.
Northern California has a booming High School racing programme. It is run a by a non profit organization and Specialized enthusiastically pitched in with a huge truckload of demo bikes for the kids to try out, and 3 World Champions on loan. Hence “Riding with the Champions.” Ned Overend, Rebecca Rusch and myself.
The kids could choose between the Specialized Epic, Stumpjumper, Stumpjumper 29er and the
Specialized tire testing video on i-am-specialized
Specialized tire specialist Frank Stacey and I talking tires at the Stellenbosch testing in January 09.
Photo by Gary Perkin.
I have been incredibly busy since my arrival in the US 2 weeks ago. Moved to Reno NV from Bend OR, did 3 days’ tire testing with Specialized and I bought a car. (yes, the legendary Red Rocket fizzled and died, now I have a 95 Toyota Previa- I like last centuries’ cars)
Of course there is training too.
And the 112 unread emails! As I plowed through most of them this morning I bumped into this great video for our Specialized Tire testing camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa earlier this ye
Specialized tire testing II
In search of the holy rubber…
Following up on earlier tire testing in Stellenbosch*, Specialized’s tire whiz guys came up with 5 new prototypes to test. The goal is to make a tire that is very puncture resistant, but still rolls well and doesnt weigh as much as a tractor tire.
*Read earlier blog Tire testing Stellenbosch.
We know we have great tread patterns in the Fast Trak LK and The Captain, its a matter of making a strong, light, flexible casing. With an emphisis on STRONG.
Yesterday we tested rolling resistance of the 5 prototypes and also a few competitors’ tires. First I rode the rollers with a Power Tap and took Wattage outputs at 25km/h and 35km/h. Some tires needed 560 Watts to go 35km/h, and with the cold legs, the unfamiliar rollers, and keeping the speed at exactly 35 at 1500m altitude took some huffing and puffing!
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.
