Posts Tagged ‘specialized 29er’
Caveman wins XTERRA South African season opener at Buffelspoort
Caveman wins XTERRA Buffelspoort 2012 despite a broken zipper.
Stoked to kick the season off with a win. The Festive Season on the farm is over, so is the twice weekly splash in the dam, but the never ending honeymoon is full steam ahead.
Even though its the start of the season, I’m happy with a solid performance – set up by a reasonable swim. I’m busy fixing my swim stroke (again) and just started real THRICE weekly swim training- tailor made by Mikael Mendonca.
The bike leg was quite eventful early on- about 10 minutes in I was pumping it, and there was no one in the rear view mirror. I then came upon a closed gate as the road forked. The arrow pointed towards the gate, but in my disbelief I went the other way. It was a 6ft game fence with bladed wire rolls on top. How can the route go there?! But I knew it saw the right way, and turned around, opened the gate, just as the 2nd guy and Dan rolled up. 5 Min down the road there was another closed gate- this one had a lock on it. I got off the bike and started to look for a place to throw my bike over. Was still pondering the consequences of climbing a bladed wire fence in white Lycra. (and how 500 other guys in Lycra would fare) I took a last look at the lock- the shackle was not clicked in. A loud “BLIKSEM” helped it open quicker – a minute gone – I hopped on, just in time to have Dan and Theo velcro onto my wheel. Ah, a pretty swim wasted. I had to rebuild a new lead, and got off with a 2 min 30 gap.
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
Sea Otter Cycling Classic – Triathlete and Inside Tri coverage.
Sea Otter Short Track. (20min lap race)
Photo by Jay Prashun
Did a ride with Jay Prashun on the new Specialized 29er and then a cool interview for triathlon.competitor.com.
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.
