Haven’t been riding much this summer

meh, fuck getting older.

Trainer workout 8/1

Yesterday’s training session was par for the course, another short endocrine system blaster. The (possibly misguided) thinking behind it was that the cross races I’ve watched (limited sample size…) in the past seemed to consist of a lot of lower intensity efforts interspersed with short, near max periods. The last part of the workout was just to try and smooth out my cadence and not pedal in squares as much. In and out in about a half hour, BOOM!

10×1 minute on, 1 minute recovery spin
5×30 seconds on, 30 second recovery spin
10×30 seconds left leg, 30 seconds both, 30 seconds right leg, 30 seconds both, all at about a recovery pace.

Team Sky is close

reaaaal close

Great quote by Foes

Saw this quote in the interviews Bikerumor ran on carbon bikes.

We’re not into carbon. I don’t know how to make carbon frames, and I’m not going to go overseas just to have someone put my name on a frame. I could easily go to Asia and have a frame made for $300, but that’s just not who we are.

Crank Brothers Sale on The Clymb

Saw The Clymb is having a Crank Brothers sale today. Most stuff appears to be over 50% off so some good deals to be had if you’re in the market. It’s one of those ‘make you feel special and part of a private club’ type sales sites so you’ll need to create an account to see the deals.

We’re back

Sorry about that. I hate Godaddy.

This blog isn’t dead

yet. Yeah, I realize I haven’t posted in a month, maybe longer, I get it. It’s just that I hurt my fucking knee and haven’t been able to ride a bike or indoor trainer without considerable pain for awhile now, so I’m mostly just ignoring biking and pretending it doesn’t exist. Fox and the grapes type shit. Will return to my usual babble once I’m riding again.

Whistler announces new “Top of the World” trail

This looks like it’d be the best $15 you’d spend on riding all year.

The Whistler Mountain Bike Park will be opening its first lift-accessed alpine mountain bike trail to riders this summer. The alpine trail named “Top of the World” will be accessible from the Peak Chair at the summit of Whistler Mountain and will lead riders into the Garbanzo Zone of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The opening of the new trail will increase Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s vertical by 1,091 feet bringing the total vertical to 4,946 feet. With over 60 trails and 4,946 feet of vertical Whistler Mountain Bike Park offers more trails and more vertical feet than any other bike park in North America.

Click here to see the official release. Pretty sure the busket is going to be camped out in Whistler for a week this summer!

First Impressions: Fox Sergeant Shorts

Upfront disclosure:   These are 2011 models. As they changed considerably from 2010 (longer cut, velcro cargo pocket closures in lieu of the magnetic ones on the 2010 shorts) the 2012 model may be substantially different than the below.

Company:   Fox Racing (or is it Fox Head now? Not sure which they go by these days, when my old roommate worked there it was Fox Racing) is ubiquitous among flat billing motorcrossers and their style biters, Fox Racing () has been around since 1974. Initially focused exclusively on motocross parts anc clothing they’ve since branched out into MTB, BMX, surf and other action sports. If you want their full story click here, otherwise let’s move on with the understanding that these AREN’T the same guys that make your fork and RP23.

First impressions:   My first impression when buying a pair of Sergeant shorts was ‘these feel like they’ll be a ball sauna, but I’ll try ‘em anyways’. They have a heavy hand to them that would keep your everyday XC whippet from picking them on the rack. However, if you’re looking for a short to do everything else these have some nice details.

  • Stretch fabric with a generous cut
  • Removable Pro-Form chamois (low rent piece, pics coming tomorrow)
  • Velcro waist adjusters so you can buy a size larger for room but still keep your inner MC Hammer contained
  • Mesh lined pockets so you can open ‘em up for venting
  • Detachable sunglass chamois in top left pocket

As mentioned above have used a 2010 version of these shorts for over a year, and these will likely have the same positives (durable, comfortable) and negatives (garbage chamois, heavy when wet, fade quickly), but rather than assuming I’ll give ‘em a go and report back in time.

Full frontal

I think this colorway is called 'brain'

Mesh lined pocket, removable sunglass wipe

2011 shorts use velcro instead of magnets, which I could never figure out how they worked

FRIDAY POLL: Frame Material


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