To MTB or Not to MTB... not really the question.

A couple of weeks ago, I borrowed a mountain bike from the local shop's huge demo collection of two bikes.  It is a slightly battered 2012 Specialized Camber Comp 29 with Fox fork and rear shock, a nice 2x10 drivetrain, and those wonderful twenty-nine inch wheels and tires.  My wife already has a Fisher 29'er, and she likes the ride.  I set up the sag on the Camber, we loaded the bikes on the car rack, suited up, and then drove to the park.  Although we rode around the woods for only about an hour or so before daylight began to run out, we had a blast.  It was quite nice.  

Over the years, I have owned a few mountain bikes, and although road cycling has always been my primary mode, I have always enjoyed riding around in the woods.

It is a great way to get a ride on a blustery day when the trees can offer a little shelter from the winds, or to get in some pedaling time when I don't feel like being out on the same old roads on a particular day for no particular reason.

Perhaps because of my affection for high end bicycle gear and the way that it just works so well, or perhaps because of the competitive nature I once possessed, the off road bikes that I have owned have always been pretty good bikes.  One thing that my former mountain bikes all have in common is the twenty-six inch wheel size.  Back in the day, I always kept away from the 29'ers because tire selection was limited, and many bicycle shops did not even stock the inner tubes for them.  Today, I find that not only have 29'ers become common on the trails and paths of this country, but that replacement and upgrade tires, tubes, and even wheels are easily found in most bicycle shops.  Awesome!  So I am now considering the purchase of the very demo bike that I had borrowed a couple of weeks ago.  What causes my hesitation?  Well, for one thing, it is still a used bike.  I could purchase the demo bike for a very low price since it is already pre-scratched, and no doubt has already been pre-crashed by at least one person.  There is the possibility for me to purchase an aluminum hard tail 29'er equipped with very similar high end components, brand new for about the same price.  On paper, this appears to be the logical choice.  New, so it doesn't need anything to be replaced, lighter weight, and a factory warranty.  But then again, the Camber Comp is a more expensive bike new.  It is also a full suspension bike, and I simply cannot afford to get a new one of those.  Then it dawned on me.  I really don't think that any of those criteria are all that important to me. What is holding me back from pushing the button, is the rear axle.  The Camber Comp has a proprietary rear axle system known as 142+.  Most mountain bikes currently under production use a 135mm rear wheel dropout width along with a traditional quick-release axle.  The 142+ system uses a 142mm dropout width and a proprietary through axle.

The greater width allows the rear hub flanges to be spaced in a manner that allows the spoke tension to be more even on both sides of the back wheel, resulting in a stronger wheel build. Neat-o.  The thing holding me back is the apparent limited selection of after market wheelsets that are compatible with the 142+ system.  Some other wheel systems exist with a 142mm spacing, but the type of axle and the manner in which they  are affixed to the bicycle frame is slightly different from 142+.  Perhaps, I am over thinking the decision.  Hmmm.... hardtail 29'er with 135mm (not as strong, but more common), or dually with 142+ (stronger, and less common..for the time being)?  Tough call.  I wonder if 142+ will one day be common as the twenty-nine inch mountain bike tire size is today.

 Update: 12/21/2012  I pulled the trigger on it. I purchased the Camber Comp. It is an awesome bike, and now that I have put in some trail time with it, I love everything about it including 142+.  

A visit from an old friend

Yesterday, a good, old friend of mine drove into town and stayed to visit for a day.  We went for a short road ride and passed the miles by talking shop, catching up on what is new in each of our lives, and talking about the old days as well.  It was a good ride, and after refueling with fish n' chips from a nearby bar and grill, we kicked back for Middle Aged Former Bicycle Racer Dude Flick Night.  On the 120ish inch living room HD screen, and in 5.1 sound we watched "Ride the Divide" followed  by "Race Across the Sky 2", and of course the episode of "South Park" where everyone has to stand in line at the pharmacy to have their yellow rubber bracelets safely removed.  Great fun, and even though I have already mentioned South Park, guess what?  I am not even going to discuss it here today. Hah!  For my fellow cyclists who are not familiar with the two films mentioned above, I do recommend that you watch them.

Ride the Divide is a documentary of the Tour Divide which is a fully self supported mountain bike race during which the competitors will ride 2745 miles(yes miles not kilometers, hours, or minutes) over all sorts of terrain, and through all kinds of weather conditions while discovering or reaffirming what they are really made of.  The race routes the competitors from Banf, AB Canada to The U.S./Mexico Border at Antelope Wells, NM, USA.  There are no medals, no prizes, and in fact the last time I checked, the event website was two years behind on posting race results.  Nonetheless, in my opinion, the men and women who have competed in this event are quite possibly the world's toughest mountain bike riders, and most definitely have earned the right to feel as if they have conquered the world.

Race Across the Sky 2 is a documentary that covers the 2010 Leadville 100 MTB race.  The race covers fifty miles and some change across some of the most challenging trail and road in the U.S. peaking at an altitude of 12,424 feet above sea level as riders arrive at the Columbine Mine, then guess what?  They have to turn around, and race the same course backwards to finish at a nudge over 100 total miles.  There are also time cuts, so if you ride too conservatively, officials will stop you at the designated time, and your race is over. The cut off times are for safety reasons.  They can't have people out there in the dark.  The race is already challenging enough without having to worry about missing your turn and riding off a cliff, or having to avoid being mauled or eaten by some predator.  Rad stuff.

What prompted the Ultradistance Mountain Bike Movie Marathon?
During our road bike ride, my friend mentioned that he is considering the logistics of racing the Tour Divide.  I think that he ought to do it. My friend is a great bike rider. The guy has mad mountain biker skills, and I believe that he is in possession of the necessary mental toughness.

My friend also frequents a place that has been known to be a hang out for a fairly large number of beginner(not if you ask them), okay I'll say amateur(ish) triathletes, many of whom pride themselves on their accomplishments of having run in an assortment of small time half marathons and marathons.  So full of pride that they not only feel the need to plaster the front and backs of their rather large SUVs with white, oval shaped stickers featuring the numbers 13.1, and the occasional 26.2, but they also must remind anyone who attempts to socialize with them at any time or place of their latest 13.2 time, how many blocks they do in a week, and his or her "personal best" in the danskhorninnerathlon. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing if they were to only mention it once in a while.  Well, one day my friend got tired of hearing it, and told "the crew" that he was going to run a big thirty miler up in Dallas.  I am told that his statement was met with a few encouraging words and a few arrogant smirks.  Not only did my friend run that race, but he placed quite high.  Some time went by and the same crew of folks happened to be talking long distance, so my friend vowed to run the 50 miler at Leadville.  Once again, his statement was met by skepticism.  Once again, he did it. In fact, he completed both the fifty mile run, and the fifty mile mountain bike race.  Returning home tired, sore and sporting a nifty silver bracelet given only to finishers.

The part of this little story that is difficult to convey here is that my friend has never boasted of his accomplishments.  If you ask him about them, he will be more than happy to tell you about his races, but boastfully?  Never.  He is one of those guys who will take an unpaid day off work, and drive 100 miles to help you move.  He is one heck of a nice guy, and I am proud to be able to call him my friend.  I've given it some thought, and I think that my friend ought to go out there, and do the Tour Divide, if that is what he truly desires.  If he does, I am confident that he will do well and emerge stronger of both body and mind.

Welcome to my blog!

I'm a complete noob to the blogosphere, so please be patient with me as I develop my skills.

I am not new to the world of cycling.  I became addicted to BMX riding and racing during my pre-teen years in the 1970's.  When I was a junior in high school, I began working part-time at a bicycle shop.  Soon after some bad man stole my precious 1978 Redline Pro-Line bicycle, I purchased my first real road bike.  The year was 1980.  It was a sport touring model.  A Raleigh Gran Sport.  I rode that bike to school every day, and most days, I rode it to work right after school, then home from work at night.
A couple of years later while working full-time at another bicycle shop, I became acquainted with a man who to this day I refer to as my road cycling mentor.  Alan taught me how to do cycling right.  I learned how to measure my efforts, and fuel myself so that I can go the distance.  He taught me about the importance of a proper bike fit, and how to determine just that. Alan B. was a cycling guru who was ahead of his time.  Alan helped me to set up my first real racing bike.  A Raleigh RSL (The Professional rebadged for sale by Raleigh USA).  I was in my early twenties, and I spent much of my time cycling the South Texas Hill Country with "old guys". They were REALLY OLD....like 35!
It has been years since I've seen or heard from Alan.  Quite a few years, occupations, jobs, and human relationships have come and gone since then.  Other sports, and fascinations with other types of wheeled mobility have come and gone.  Roller Speed skating, both on inlines and quad skates, and even motorcycles.  But I keep coming back to the bicycle.
As of this writing, I am 48 and rediscovering my love of being up on two wheels and clipped into the pedals.

That's all for today.

Keep the rubber side down, and your mileage up!