Posts Tagged ‘specialized’
Conrad Stoltz wins XTERRA Grabouw
Caveman wins XTERRA Grabouw. 2012 is looking good so far. 4 races, 4 victories. (some small and some lucky but a win is a win)
The biggest XTERRA in the world! 2000+ participants. Had to be held over 2 days (Lite and Full distances) to fit everyone in! Testament to great organization, sponsorship and media coverage but also South African’s love for adventure, nature and suffering…
Believe it or not, Caveman 1st individual out the swim. Must be that hectic swim training-click for blog.
Stunning bike course. Other than the all rocks and single track, I really like the Fynbos here. (Indigenous Western Cape vegetation) Checked it out on the pre rides as, there are more rocks and sand here than on the back of the moon.
Specialized Trivent TERRA. Caveman’s XTERRA specific cycling shoe available to public.
Specialized Trivent TERRA. Finally! They are here!* Now you too can wear the Caveman’s custom XTERRA specific shoe. Over the past 5 years or so, I have been lucky enough to have Specialized shoe engineer John Figueiredo build me custom shoes for XTERRA use. Basically we needed a Trivent triathlon shoe for quick transitions, but married with a mountain bike sole for those hike a bike sections and also strutting around coffee shops without falling on your backside.
* If I could have $5 from every person who asked me “When will the shoe be production?” Now is your chance to geddum.
Here are a few specific design changes we made, aside from the original S works shoes’ BG features and FACT carbon midsole with 11.0 Stiffness Index:
– Lengthened velcro strap for easier foot entry on the fly
– Thin, super breathable mesh upper. Doesnt get too heavy when wet, cool in hot climates, lets water through. (See ITU Cross Tri Worlds report)
– Thin neoprene liner in heel cup and strap for comfortable sock less wear. Also its thin and doesnt absorb water or sweat. No extra weight or smells…
– Huge heel tab for numb dumb fingers after those cold swims.
– The “piece de resistance”: the Easy arch fixing point for flying starts: See pic below. Its basically a little plastic nub on the inside of the heel/arch area. The production nub may look a little different, (more sturdy) because mine is an early prototype:
How the thing works: You attach your thin elastic rubber band to the fixing point and on your Specialized Brain adjuster knob (sorry non Specialized riders!) in order to keep your shoes horizontal while sprinting out of T1. With a bit of T1 practice, you’ll be pedaling with your feet in your shoes within 5 meters.
Note the huge entry hole- enough to swallow a Caveman foot without the usual squeezing or even aiming…
The replaceable green insole is the Specialized BG+++ foot bed for extra high arches. The stock insole may be the BG+ for “normal feet”, but the front half of the stock Trivent insole is completely riddled with big holes for ventilation and drainage.
Read here about my Specialized Trivent TERRA shoes in action at ITU Cross Tri Worlds 2011.
XTERRA Knysna
I just LOOOOOve Japan. I have raced here maybe 15 times. All ITU World Cups in the 90s and early 2000s.* (Cute results from 1996 below) I love the country, the people, the culture and especially the food. It is really refreshing coming here. So much respect, honour and pride. And now, my first XTERRA Japan!
*ITU Ishigaki 1996 results (SEE! I used to be able to swim!)
Caveman wins XTERRA Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California (just south of San Fancisco) is wacky, its trendy and its also know as “Surf City”. And the place where Specialized test rides bikes and equipment.
I love ocean swims, and even the supposed 53F water (11C- although it felt warmer) did not put me off.
Without traction, power is nothing.
I love the old Pirelli ad with ace sprinter Carl Lewis. It was footage of Carl running on water and then up the Statue of Liberty, before jumping from building to building. In the end he says: – in bad French- “Sans traction, la puissance n’est rien.” [Without traction, power is nothing]
The above pic, Sea Otter Short Track, I was at the back of the start grid with all the other hacks. Caught on SD Card by Flipper, I’m looking ahead figuring out a way of getting to the front before hitting the dirt. Caveman to self: “I’ll elbow this one out the way, then sprint around those two, then dive inside through the bend and cut off about 3, and if there’s a crash up front, I’ll use them for traction!”
