Updates

-Next Race:  I'm planning on racing in Rudolph's Rampage in Harbison SC on December 16th, I'm really excited to get out there and see where I am and race.  It feels like forever since I've done a race.

-Fitness:  My cycling fitness has come back much more quickly than I thought it would and feel really strong, I think it has really helped that I'm no swimming or running and concentrating just on cycling.  Really excited to see what I can do this year just training for mountain biking.

-Weight:  I was able to keep my weight in check during my ankle recovery, but after I started getting back into training hard I started to put some extra weight on, not a whole lot, but about 5 pounds.  I realized that I was still eating the same size portions that I was when I was swimming and running, (and while even though I'm riding more it's not enough to compensated for the calories burned swimming and running).  Since I've made that realization and made small adjustments to my portion sizes, I've lost a couple pounds and know I won't have any trouble getting down back down to my weight last year during race season.  It's really weird to talk about 5 pounds like that when almost anyone would say I'm already really skinny.

New blog title needed

Giving that I won't being doing any Xterra triathlons (or any other triathlons for that matter) I think I need to change the name of my blog so that it is more appropriate for what I'm focused on.  Nothing in terms of names has come to me . . . and now I'm looking help.  If anyone has any suggestions (funny or serious) please just a comment with what you think I should call my blog now.  Your help is much appreciated.

 

Thoughts on Sram XX1 group

I have very mixed feelings about the new Sram XX1 group that will be available soon.  All of my comments should be taken with a grain of salt as we haven't actually even seen the group, that being said it is now being shown in distributers catalogs (so we shouldn't expect much to change in the next couple months from what we've seen).

-I think it is awesome that a component manufactuer (and a big one at that), set about making a 1x10 (or in this case 1x11) group, so that instead of having to try and retrofit a 2 or 3x10 set-ups and make them work as 1x.

-What I think is most impressive is that they came up with a way to make it work without a chain guide in the front.  Sure it's cool that this will save a few grams, but the bigger benefit is that if you drop a chain you don't have to fight with a chain guide to get the chain back on.  Yes, a chain guide is supposed to prevent you from dropping a chain, but it doesn't work 100% of the time, and when the chain does get dropped it is a PAIN to put it back on.

-They were smart to offer it both as a grip shifter option and a trigger shifter, giving people the choice of what they want.

-By going to a 10-42 cassette (and multiple chain ring sizes) just about anyone regardless of type of riding, steepness and number of hills, wheel size, can run a 1x set-up without have to sacrifice top end speed or low end climbing gears (an issue that many endurance riders/racers and those riding in the mountains).

Now for the part where I sound like the old man yelling "get off my lawn:"

-What's the deal with them calling it XX1?. . . XXI in Roman numerals is 21 . . . not 11.  Why not call it Xi, I understand they wouldn't want to call it X1, since that would indicate it was below their other groups (X3, X4, X5, etc). 

-Was there really a need to go to 11 speeds, couldn't they make a 10-42 cassette with 10 speeds?  Yes I know that would mean losing a step along the way, but is that really that big of a loss.  Now people are going to have to deal with free-hub compatability since the 11 speed cassette won't fit on a 10 speed rear hub.

-Why are they only releasing one cassette size?  I use a 11-34 cassette this year, and didn't once run out of gears on either end.  So by going to the 10-42 cassette I wouldn't use the 10, 36, and 42 tooth cogs.  So essentially I'd be going from 10 usable gears to 8 (out of 11).  This doesn't really seem like an improvement for me.  I know for sure I'm not the only one this would apply to, as most of our racers also used 1x10 set ups with either a 11-34 or 11-36.  Why not make 10-42, 10-36, and 10-32 cassettes?  This would give people the option to get a cassette that matches their needs.

-Or if they don't want to make several 11 speed options, just stick with 10 speed cassettes, even if that means they couldn't put a 10 tooth cog on the outside.  Wouldn't a 11-42 or 11-44 be a big enough range, especially since they have a wide range of interchangable chainrings?

-They've also created another standard for bolt pattern on chainrings 76mm, so it'll be hard to use their chainrings (which I think is the biggest advantage development of the new group) with anything other than their XX1 cranks.

Overall I think the XX1 group is a good development, but I wish that they had done some small things differently.

Here are some articles on the Sram XX1 group:
Sram
BikeRadar
Bike Magazine
BikeRumor

Shortly after posting this BikeRadar posted a new article on the development of the XX1 group.
 

Variety of Cycling Links

Over the last week or so I've seen a number of interesting cycling related stuff (no Lance stuff included, I will be posting about the Lance situation and doping later on).

Bicycle Helicopter from BikeRumor
Definitely worth checking out: cool, funny, stupid. . .you name it this has it. What's most amazing even beyond it work is that something as big as that only weighs 80 pounds, if you check out only one link this is the one.

New Fox CTD fork and shock from BikeRumor
Fox has changed how the rider adjusts the suspension, having three setting: "climb", "trail", and "descend".

Infinit Nutrition Pre-formulated Mixes from BikeRumor
Infitit (which is what I've used for nutrition) is coming out with pre-formulated mixes, in the past they've done exclusively custom mixes, no word yet on how they will be distributing these mixes.

Jeremy Powers 'Cross Bike from BikeRadar
Really cool cross bike from Jeremy Powers, which leads us to the next item.

Behind the Barriers
Cool behind the scenes perspective from probably the best American 'cross racer, especially after his incredible performance in a recent World Cup that he finished 7th.

Cost vs. Aero from BikeRadar
Interesting comparison of Aero advantage verus cost, great if you're a triathlete on a budget and are trying to maximize your Aero dollars.

Comparison of Aero Road bikes from Velonews
Bike comparison of Litespeed C1, Cervelo S5, Specialized Venge, and Scott Foil, looks at aerodynamics, stiffness, and comfort.

Power comparison from some top pro's at Kona from Slowtwitch
Interesting look at some top pro's power profiles from Ironman Hawaii.

Ankle Update/Plans for 2013

My ankle is slowly getting better, but it is still a very slow process and one that's had a couple set backs over the last couple weeks.  It feels better but it still hurts some, it's still tight, it's not as strong as my other ankle, it's still a little swollen. . .mind you this is still an improvement over where I started: not being able to walk at all and riding around the shop on a cruiser bike wearing a big plastic boot.

I'm able to run some (I've built up do doing some 3 mile runs, all on pavement), but in the last couple weeks I've twice turned my ankle, not a sprain, but it doesn't bode well for not spraining my ankle again in the near future.  Given that I can't consitently get through even a 3 mile run on pavement, I don't think it's reasonable to think that I'll be able to race off-road any time soon.  As a result I'm going to take a year off from triathlons and focusing on mountain biking.

I'm not sure exactly what my goals will be for next year, but I know one of my big goals will be to get my pro mountain bike license, more on that as I think about what race or races I'm going to focus on.

Pro license or not?

Unfortunately USA Cycling, declined my upgrade request for a pro mountain bike license.  As I said earlier about the request itself, I'm didn't really think my results on the whole didn't really deserve an upgrade.  I'm a little disappointed I wasn't upgraded, but at the same time it will serve as extra motivation to get better and faster.  Having to wait and earn it will also make it more fulfilling accomplishment.  I already really excited about getting back into racing in the Spring.

Epic Experts and Epic Marathon

In my previous post I talked about the look of some of the new Epics. . . now for something more important:  what's different about the 2013 models from the 2012 versions:

-All of the 2013 Epic will come equipt with Specialized Autosag system which allows a rider to more easily set up the rear shock and will give it improved performance.
-Epic Expert Carbon 29er:  after a couple year of Sram drive train components the Expert will use Shimano shifters with an XTR rear derailleur.  The brakes will be Magura instead of Formula's.  The Expert will continue to use a carbon front triangle and alloy rear, and come with the Roval Control 29er wheels and a Sram carbon fiber crankset.
Full Specs
-Epic Expert Carbon EVO R 29er:  This bike continues to be gear to XC racers, who don't need quite as large a gear range as more recreational riders.  Same as the last two year it will come with a Sram 1x10 drivetrain (this switch alone sheds about a pound from a bikes weight versus a 2x10 setup), just like the Expert, Specialized has switched from Formula to Magura brakes.  The big change for 2013 is that the seatsays are carbon fiber, which will increase rear end stiffness and also shave about half a pound off the frame weight of the bike.  This change from last year takes an already great XC race bike and makes it even a little better.
Full Specs
-Epic Marathon Carbon 29er:  A completely new component package from Specialized for 2013.  The frame is the same as the Expert Carbon EVO R 29er:  carbon front triangle, carbon seatstays and alloy chainstays.  The bike's drivetrain is the Sram XO gripshift group. The wheels are Specialized new Roval Control Carbon 29er wheelset, while not quite as light the Control SL Carbon wheels, they are lighter than most alloy rims and will provide the exceptional stiffness (for improved handling) of carbon wheels.  This bike gets you very close to the quality of the Sworks version with still a few grand in your pocket.  For those who aren't a fan of gripshift, you don't have to worry, all you would need to make it a trigger set-up would be a set of 10 speed Sram shfters (I'm sure that you'd have no issues selling new never used XO gripshift shifters on E-bay).
Full Specs