2012 Pantani Ride

Once again the forecast was bleak going into the weekend. Friday weather forecasts ranged from an inch or two to half a foot. Given the steep nature of the routes gravel climbs it would be treacherous to get caught out in the mountains west of C-ville, and if you are real lucky you might get dragged out of the snow by some tooth challenged locals for 'who knaws whut'. Luckily we have a number of optimists in the RVA who like a good challenge / beat down.

If seriously long and steep climbs feed you need for pain, the Pantani ride delivers.

After the obligatory stop at Bodos for some great bagel sandwiches and coffee we made our way to the race start on route 666. David R, Toddy G and Myself exited the Mazda and got our bikes ready for some gravel and steep grades. A very civil start of the ride kicked the day off and I settled in with Todd for an honest days work.



This ride has some very nice scenery if you decide to stop concentrating on holding a wheel and enjoy the landscape.



Numerous sections of winding paved and gravel country roads compose the 1st part of the ride and allow a nice warm up for the silly steep fire roads that are in the "Lollipop" loop.

As the 1st major gravel climb tickled my quads, I heard what I thought was a bunch of dirt bikes coming up the road. That raspy thumping crack of a single four stroke has an unmistakable brraappppp! Soon, a gaggle of quad ATV riders passed me just as I made the right turn at the hill-billy hideout. I must say I was disappointed, dirt bikes are cool, ATV’s are for dorks! Anyway, I thought of how silly this climb would be on my Kawasaki and how honest it was keeping me on my Giant.

Todd and I ground out this climb and then bombed the mountain's backside on very steep fire-road descent. It was a bit quick in sections as I tucked in and hit top speed. My bike computer confirmed my suspicion that I was moving along at an honest forty plus.



At the bottom, we turned right and made our way to the start of a big, steep, climb on BrokenBack mountain road.



Eventually this part of the "lollipop" sends you back up the very steep fire-road descent that you rode earlier. It's very steep during the last few switch backs and can really give you an idea of where fitness is at.



After the big climb there is a long fast set of downhill gravel turns. As we headed south I could see the snow coming in with a gray and white fog engulfing the distant ridges.







As we pounded out the road back to the finish a few good snow flurries kept the scenery interesting. We were lucky to roll up to the Mazda just as the snow really started.






We packed everything up in a rush and got on the road just as it started to get pretty thick. Another great winter ride in the VA Mountains!

Schwalbe Racing Ralph Review

I just completed my first ride on the new Racing Ralph (26x2.25 TL PaceStar).  In one word these tires are incredible!!!

I mounted them using Stans No Tubes rim strip and sealant..  Mounting tires with a floor pump has always been hit or miss for me.  I could not get the beads seated on the new tires so I finally broke down and bought a cheap air compressor.  With the compressor they aired up on the first try.  There were hardly any pin holes to seal which is pretty amazing for a sub 500 gram tire.  Inflated to just over 20 psi in the rear and just under 20 psi in the front (according to my pump) and I was ready to roll.

The difference in the rolling resistance was obvious in the first minute.  These tires roll so fast it took me a while to get used to it.  Some of the downhills were scary fast vs what I was used to with my old tires.  It definitely took less effort to get up to speed and keep it there.

In the corners I felt like I was velcroed to the ground.  I have never ridden a tire that had so much grip.  I was railing corners at full speed that I used to slow down for.  When the trail got loose the tires would predictably break into a control-able drift.  Of camber roots....no problem.  Let it slide.  Once they hit dirt again they were stuck on the ground like glue.

With this increased confidence in the corners and  increased speed I threw down the two quickest laps on JRPS and FHP I have ever done!  Schwalbe has proven to me that sometimes you can buy speed!
  

BTS #19: WOW!

What an awesome ride today. The weather could not have been any better. After the frigid weekend, it was nice to roll a loop around JRPS dressed in nothing more then my kit and summer shoes.

I hope everyone was able to sneak out and enjoy some of the sunshine.

50 Point Week

That is right boys & girls - ALL RIDES THIS WEEK ARE 50 POINTS.  It is time to catch up on your points.  Some group rides, others any rides.  Let me know if you rode on an any ride day so I can update accordingly.

DING DING - the preme bell has rung.  Up for grabs this week is a case of Fruit 66.  The more you ride the better chance you have of winning!

BTS #17: Cold!!

Today's ride started out very cold! So cold in fact that I opted to drive over to Pocahantas rather then riding the bike like normal. With temps not expected to break 20* till after 10, I think it was a good choice.

Todd and I started rolling at around 9:30 around the Monster CX course as planned. We rolled a pretty nice pace in an effort to keep warm. Luckily, this plan worked and I felt comfortable after 30 minutes. Jason, Plassman, Mason and the Crofts joined us later in the morning to roll with us as we finished the ride. All in all, a good ride.

I tested out my new Schwalbe Racing Ralph CX tires today. Awesome tires that rolled really well on the gravel. I think these tires were faster and offered better grip then what I have been using.

Bundled up and heading out in the cold!

BTS #16 A Beginner's Perspective

This morning didn't start out looking promising for a ride. It was cold and drizzling, it rained last night and the sky was not looking good. Jim and I had lined up a sitter to watch the kids so we could actually ride together so come heck or high water, I was going out for a ride.

I must have been bitten by the mountain biking bug because for the first time ever, I was the one begging to go mountain biking while Jim was saying that we should probably hit the road. Like any good husband, he gave in, shot Euro Dave an email and found an appropriate place to ride. We hit the road and were on our way to Powhite.

On the way we saw that Euro D and Plassman were already there and Mason and Jason were on their way. We arrived and rode around until we ran into Euro D and Plassman. They said that they were rolling super slow and turned around to head in our direction. Before I had even clipped in they had vanished through the trees. As I tried to catch up, weaving around turns and dodging trees, I thought to myself, "I don't understand how it's possible to go any faster without slamming into a tree and looking like one of the witch decorations at Halloween."  The only way I could make sense of it is that they must have super Jedi powers. It's only then that I can fathom how they could dodge the trees at those speeds.  Then I started to think about it in Yoda's terms.

"Use the force." Turn your front wheel and your back wheel will follow.

"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is." Stop thinking like a mom and worrying about how you will carry the 1 year old if you broke your collar bone.

"The fear of loss is the path to the dark side."  You must commit when riding over logs, up rooty inclines and down steep drop-offs.

"Always in motion the future is." Look to where you want to go, not where you are.

It became clear to me. To become a better mountain biker I must simply become a Jedi knight like Obi-Dave and Obi-Jeff Kenobi.

BTS #16

With the weather we had overnight and in the morning, the feeling were that Powhite would be a better place to ride.  Good choice, it was money!  I think my tires were actually cleaner when I left than when I got there.  Plassmido & Euro D were hanging out (sweet man love style) in Euro D's car since they had been riding for two hours already and were getting cold waiting for me & Mason.  Jim & Kate were also there and said they saw two DP kits fly by them at Mach7.  We spun a lap before the Fishers bailed as they we already over an hour in.  The four of us rode for another hour plus, super chill pace.  Rumor has it Matt j hit up two laps downtown as he did not get the secret location change...  Erik B tried to sneak in some late afternoon points but got snowed on and almost received 50 demerit points... nice try!  Poco fire roads tomorrow morning will be interesting with a wind chill of around 15 degrees.  Bundle up and come on out for some extra points, it is bound to be a good time.

BTS # 13

No much to say about tonight's ride. Perfect weather with an awesome sunset to top it off. I met up with Jason and Mason for a quick spin. Ran into Tyler along the trail as well. It was a good ride.

Snapped a couple pics, one of the Springhill meeting spot where nobody was waiting for us.

Tyler rolling Forest Hill so fast my camera could hardly catch it.



The sunset was awesome!!  Can't catch it with the camera very well.



2012 VA Super Bowl Ride

During the week leading up to this storied event it seemed like half the team was going to make the ride. Countless emails flooded my in-box with declarations of intent and chaotic plans for a rag tag train of DP riders to caravan to the Briery Branch Community Center.



For most it was not to be. The night before the ride my email in-box was filled with declarations of doubt.

Luckily, one other intrepid rider would join me. Toddy G and I had a blast riding in some increadible scenery. Pictures can be worth more than words, I'll let them do the talking

It had to be done...

After the slew of 'I'm Out' emails that came across this weekend, the scales were tipped towards DP representation at the Super Bowl Ride gaining a few extra points.  After serious deliberation, the final verdict is points times (1.5).  So we now have a new BTS leader in Plassmido.  Toddy G also made a big jump up the leaderboard.  Look to the right for this week's rides.