Magic Gear...maybe?

I completed my new single speed build this evening, although I neglected to take a photo of the entire bike. That and a complete build list will be in another post.

For now, I stuck with the same gearing as the Monocog, 32x18. However, I also picked up a new Sram PC1 which I plan to use as my dedicated 32 x 20 chain when I anticipate more climbing. A difference from the Monocog is that instead of a dedicated single speed free wheel, I used a kit to convert one of my back up wheels, a WTB Laserdisc laced to an XT hub. I topped the kit off with a Surly 18T cog.

I plan to pick up a 20T cog at some point as well.

Since I’m using a Sette Razzo 29er frame, I lost the chain tugs and horizontal dropouts on the Monocog. I anticipated needing a chain tensioner. But, when I installed the chain, this is what I saw:

The chain tension actually looked close. I installed the chain tensioner, but it was parallel to the chainstay and wasn’t added much to the tension, but was adding a lot of noise. I removed it and took a spin around the driveway and it seemed to work. Perhaps I’m close to the single speed “magic gear.” I’m planning on a test ride before work tomorrow so we’ll see how it holds up.

Oh, and this bike is light! Makes the Monocog feel like a bus. The only heavy part is the RS Tora. I can neither confirm or deny that I am considering a search for a black and white rigid carbon fork….

French Lick DINO Race Report

Well that was fun.  I would say that French Lick was the most technical course on the DINO series.  The result? One badly cut up arm and a screwed up rear wheel. But still, fun was had.

My wife and I arrived in French Lick on Friday night and stayed at the West Baden Hotel, a true architectural marvel and a historical landmark which was a less than five minute ride from the race start. If you are in the area at least stop by and see the dome at the center of the hotel. Quite spectacular.

 

 

I also finally got a chance to ride the French Lick trails for the first time. The trail started with a “green” loop which was fairly easy and then to the “blue” loop which was noticeably more difficult, including a long extended climb. Lots of fun, and numerous cool trial features including several rock features and caves.

 

On Saturday morning I did a nice warm up by hitting several gravel road hills near the hotel. Of course, my heart rate was still going to be back to normal at the start but oh well.

I lined up on the inside line of the Cat 3 30-39 group, right next to a single speeder, who following a quick chat I found that he was using a 32 x 17 ratio. He had also ridden the course Friday night, but with a 32 x 16. After the preride, he decided to bump up the ratio to 17.  I wouldn’t want to ride these trails with either of those ratios.

My start was good and I got into the singletrack in third place, with the aforementioned singlespeeder in first. The course starts on a steady, uphill with rocky singletrack. The singlespeeder started to slow and he had to drop back.  I was in second when we came to a narrow and rocky section of trail which was fairly level. All of the sudden my back wheel washed out and I went down hard on my right arm. It didn’t hurt too badly, but I had to haul myself off of the trail to avoid riders behind me and was passed by several.  I got going again and caught up with two riders who had passed me just as we left the “Green” beginner trail and entered the Blue trail, which is the more advanced section. Immediately things got interesting. The already numerous rocks multiplied and the trail became quite rough.

I stuck with these two riders until one bobbled on a tech section which allowed me to pass. The next guy bobbled going through a creek crossing and a series of unfortunate events occurred. First, I couldn’t around the fall rider on the bike, so I dismounted and tried to walk around him. I then slipped on some mud and fell right on top of my bike. My right knee went straight through the rear wheel and actually impacted the ground. I extracted my knee from the spokes and got up and without really looking at the wheel leapt back on the bike to try to get away from the chaos at the crossing. I was expecting to have all sorts of nastiness, including rubbing discs, a wiggling out of true wheel, and crap shifting. But I found nothing. The wheel was spinning just fine and everything seemed fine. So on I rode.

Following this crossing was the largest climb in the course, a seemingly never ending climb of almost 300 feet. I tried to accelerate, but was gassed. I was starting to wheeze and the legs felt heavy. However, I was able to gap the riders behind me, and noticed another rider well ahead of me. I used him as a carrot and despite feeling absolutely wasted, I continued to gain ground. The climb tops out near where the trail crosses a utility easement and travels through a pine forest. Just before this I within about 20 feet of other the rider when we started a descending section. As in the past, I was slower on the descents and he got away. However, the trail turned upward again and I spotted him and continued to chase, got close again, and then watched him slowly gap me on the final descent. I pushed hard, and put in a nice sprint coming out of woods towards the finish, but catching him was not going to happen.

I crossed the line at 48:10 and placed 13^th overall and 5^th in the 30-39 age group. An inspection of my wheel showed one broken, and two badly bent spokes. Still impressed that it held together, but when I took it into the shop to have it checked out I found that the rim was cracked. One of the spokes which had not broken actually partially pulled out of the rim, warping and cracking the area around the spoke hole. The shop had a Stan’s Arch rim in stock so the wheel will be rebuilt in time for Muscatatuk in a week and a half.

Overall I was happy with the result, which is my best overall finish in a DINO race to date. A top 10 finish and a podium place was likely if I hadn’t had my little encounter with the ground, but still a solid effort. I was a bit more winded in the first half of the race than I would have liked, but I settled down in the second half and felt pretty good.

So to sum it up:

The Good: The French Lick trails, my sturdy rear wheel, and my new IndyCog jersey.

The Bad: My torn up arm, needing to get my wheel fixed, and 19-29 age group riders who will do their best to impede a pass

In a week and a half will be the races at Muscatatuck Park in North Vernon. Saturday includes a short track and downhill race, while Sunday is the XC race.  I’m planning on participating in all three. The downhill event should be…..fun?

Race week, new frame, and snakes, oh my.

Ok, race week is here and it looks like the weather may actually cooperate. This week’s race will be at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. The word is that this is a rain or shine course, so I was operating under the assumption I would be riding in a downpour and three inches of mud. However, the forecast for the next few days is calling for mostly sunny skies, with race day also being clear with a high of 82. Sounds perfect.

The plan is to leave work early on Friday and we’ll drive to FL and stay the night at the West Baden Springs Hotel.  I’m going to get a quick pre-ride in on Friday night and then enjoy the hotel and relax Saturday morning before the race.

I went for a ride this past weekend at Fort Ben and used my geared bike there for the first time in several months. I almost always use my single speed, but want to make sure the geared bike was working well on the more technical Ft. Ben trails (geared bike has been fine at the flat and easy Town Run). All was running smoothly, and even though I felt slower than when I’m on the single speed, my lap times were all personal records per Strava, even with my yielding to hikers and being courteous to slower bikers. My only conclusion from this? I must be really slow on the SS. Anyway, the bike performed flawlessly and I think it is ready for Saturday.

Speaking of the SS, here is the frame for that project:

                               

Not going to win style points, but the Sette Razzo is light, the price was right, and the online reviews are stellar. Plus, it continues my tradition of building off brand bikes, as my geared bike is built on a Performance Access frame. I’ll probably start building it up next week, or as soon as I gather enough courage to dust off my homemade headset pressing device.

Also, since the “Identify this Fungus” game was so much fun a few posts ago, here is a new one: Name that Snake:

Ran into this guy on a paved trail at Ft. Ben. Due to the large number of families out riding, I attempted to usher him off the path, which resulted in numerous strikes on my front wheel. Ultimately I picked it up with a branch and laid him safely in the bushes. I assumed it was a rat snake, but its color seemed off. Anyone know what kind it is?

A Sign of Things to Come

Had this arrive in the mail today:

 

It is the first step in a new project which will come to fruition in the coming weeks. A larger, more significant part arrived as well, but it is still in its bike frame sized box in the garage. That reveal will be in a later post.

So what is the project? Well, I love riding my singlespeed and I like tinkering, despite the detrimental effect on the wallet (hey, I sold my car and ride my bike everywhere so it kind of evens out).

And while I have loved riding the Monocog, it is an awfully heavy frame, although it parts are quite usable and can be easily transferred to a new, perhaps lighter (albeit not SS specific) frame.

So, the plan is in motion. Just need to get a headset, and a few cogs for the rear wheel to test gearing combos. The plan is for the project to be finished by July for the Planet Adventure Night race series where I will race the singlespeed division.