Project Leadville - Niner Air 9 Carbon RDO

So I've been thinking a lot about my Leadville race, and what I'd like to do differently for next year. One big consideration I've been toying with is the idea of building up a super lightweight hard tail, something sub 20lbs. I could go with another Specialized, but I love custom builds. My heart is slowly leaning towards the Niner Air 9 Carbon RDO.

Why? I've already got a great set up for general trail riding and cross-country racing, but I've learned that my strong suit is climbing, not descending. If anything my Epic is too fast for me to handle going downhill. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing climbing machine, especially with the Brain platform, but dropping another 3-4lbs would be a huge advantage, especially for a race like Leadville where it's not entirely too technical.

The Niner Air 9 Carbon RDO frame is in the 2.5lb range, coupled with a Rock Shox Sid XX and some super light wheels I could easily get it under 20lbs. The company itself specializes in 29er geometry so I'm confident it handles like a dream. I'm going to wait and see what they release in the next month or so after the trade shows have passed. In the meantime I'll be posting regular build specs as I continue to research parts.

Project Leadville - 2013 Race Rig

It hasn't even been a full week since Leadville, and I'm already thinking about next year. Overall I think it's a wonderful race series, so I'm hoping to do all of them. That means a lot of expensive traveling, but having done the Tahoe qualifier as well as Leadville I think it's worth it. I'm realizing I'm more suited for endurance/marathon racing. I also realized that races are won in the climbs and lost in the downhills, having most of my downfalls going too fast downhill. Having said that, I'm thinking about changing my Leadville/2013 race rig back to a hard tail. I'm hoping to get something sub 19 pounds. Right now I have my eyes on two bikes, a Santa Cruz Highball Carbon and a Niner Air 9 Carbon RDO. Both frames come in at 2.5 pounds, and have both received great reviews. I'm gonna do a custom build, hopefully with the new SRAM XX1 drivetrain and perhaps their new SRAM Rise 60 wheelset.

It's just a thought right now. I'm not looking to build one up till next spring, but it's always fun to build a virtual dream race bike. Having done Leadville I think having an Epic is perfect, however it is a bit more weight to carry up and over the hills. It's super comfortable and reliable, but I think I could shave off considerable time if I were on a light hard tail.

What say you? What do you guys think of either brand? Any other frame sets I should keep on eye out on?

Jersey Contents - Race Day

I'm putting the final touches on my race day prep. I've got my tools and nutrition all laid out. There are plenty of aid stations along the way, so it's not crucial I carry everything. I'm racing with bottles rather than a hydration pack. I want to be as comfortable and light as possible over the course of a 100 miles.

I'll have Hammer energy drink as well as GU Brew for sodium/electrolyte replenishment, GU Chomps to snack on and maybe a Clif Bar or two to tide me over before I get to the Twin Lakes aid station where I'll swap for fresh bottles and restock my food supply. It's also the perfect place to bring my lunch to the top of Columbine where it's the best time to eat solid food. No point in making my stomach work overtime, taking precious blood flow away from my legs. The descent down and the relatively flat section on the way back will be enough time to digest without feeling weighed down.

I've decided to race with my Rapha kit instead of the one provided by Carmichael Training Systems. It just has a better fit and  I haven't ridden with the other jersey before, and I'm somewhat superstitious of racing with new gear for the first time. This means I won't be able to rely on their support, but honestly the entire race is well stocked with everything I need.

My support crew will be waiting at the Twin Lakes aid station where they'll have extra food, water, clothing and tools if need be. It's a first time for everyone, but I'm pretty happy with our way of identifying each other come race day. Since my bike and kit are an all black & white color scheme, we've coordinated in which they'll be wearing white with black polka-dotted shirts. I'm so grateful and excited to share this experience with them.

Packed and Ready

After getting well wishes at work I finished packing up my race-rig, cycling kit (which includes a new Carmichael Training Systems jersey), as well as everything I'll need during my week in Colorado. I've got a plethora of tools, bottles, bags and spare parts tucked into my Evoc travel bag. My flight isn't till tomorrow, but I've slowly been preparing and packing throughout the week.

Traveling with your bike isn't cheap. United charges $100 one-way per bike for domestic flights, but it's the best option I have for getting to and from Colorado.

Like New

Since my mountain bike is temporarily out of commission I decided to fix up my road bike with an all new drivetrain, cables and handlebar tape. I had this extra gear kicking around for quite a while because I wanted to eek out every last mile of my previous drivetrain. This morning I took it out along the ocean's edge to work out any kinks.

I went with Ultegra chainrings (9-speed), a new XTR/Dura-ace chain and cassette.  As for bar tape I opt for black Cinelli cork. It's amazing the difference it makes when putting on new components, especially a drivetrain. Everything is running smooth, quiet and quick. Like new.

Got a Grip?

I got my new S-Works Fast Trak tires just in time for the Skyline Park Mountain Bike race this weekend. I went with a beefier 2.2" in the front and a 2.0" for the rear. I've had them before, but just in the front. I noticed the difference between these and the Renegades instantly, more grip and the roll just as fast. I can feel the slight weight gain, but in all honesty I'd rather make up time descending with more confidence and speed than chugging up a hill. Check back to see how they performed.

SF Commuter

My wife and I split the cost of this lovely Public bike when we first moved to San Francisco. We haven't ridden it that much since we got it, so I decided to change that and will use it as my commute bike. It's great because of the front rack for carrying things, and I don't have to bring an extra set of shoes to work. It's a smooth ride with just enough gears to make it up the hills.

Riding Buddy

I've been taking Marlow to work three times a week, but today was the first time we rode in by bike. We have a couple of bags for carrying him around, but I prefer our Sherpas backpack. There's a flap for his head to stick out and enjoy the ride. He doesn't squirm much or seem agitated, so I guess he enjoys it.

Worth Every Gram

I put this brass bell by Public on over the weekend. Imagine that, a full-suspension carbon race bike with a heavy bell like that, but let me tell you, it's worth every gram. I bet it weights close to a 1/4 pound, but that's beside the point. After riding across the Golden Gate Bridge a few times I've learned that yelling at people isn't the best thing to do, it's stressful for both sides and bad karma, not to mention all the hikers and trail users I come across in the Headlands, especially on the weekends. At least it's painted black to match.

Race Rig Recap

I did an event and race recap already, but feel the need to do a briefing on the race rig itself. My Epic 29er performed flawlessly the Sea Otter Classic. I dialed in both ends of the Brain for full firm, giving me the stiffest pedaling platform available. It handled really well considering the amount of climbing and speed involved on the course. There were even a few downhills that had me rattled at the bottom, but the Brain opened up and transitioned from stiff to plush smoothly. I couldn't imagine doing that race on a hardtail.

My only concern was the amount of grip the S-Works Renegade provided in the front. I think having the Fast Trak would have been the better choice given the sandy, loamy terrain.

It wasn't at all surprised to see the amount of Epics on the course, mostly S-Works models. It was hands down the perfect bike for this course.

That New Car Smell

Oh man, my wife and I got a new car this weekend! It's a 5-door Subaru Impreza Sport Limited. We've been researching cars for a while now, and thought this was the perfect car for our new California lifestyle. It features all-wheel-drive, 36 mpg, a bumpin' sound system, 17" alloy wheels and leather interior. It's been redesigned for this year, and they're super hard to get apparently. We lucked out with having the exact car package on the lot and then some. Can't wait to drive this baby to my next race, and more importantly our next road trip!

Sea Otter Prep

As you may know, my first race in 10 years or so is tomorrow at the Sea Otter Classic down in Monterey, CA. I'm a bit nervous, as one should be, mainly because I'm racing a tough category and age group (Cat 1 30-34). I've been training consistently for almost an entire year now with the help from Carmichael Training, and I've never ridden better in my life.

My focus is doing the Leadville Trail 100 under 9 hours, so anything beforehand will be good training. I'm assigning the  Sea Otter as a C race, meaning winning isn't my highest priority, but perhaps finishing in the top ten would be great. The course itself is rather brutal coming in at 40 miles and roughly 7,000 feet of climbing. Thankfully moving to San Francisco and riding the Marin Headlands have given me a good idea of what to expect.

I've given myself a proper rest day today, doing a light spin around town the other day. I'll probably do a lot of deep stretching this afternoon. I've learned my lesson from the past of riding too much before a big race, giving myself enough time to recover.

My bike was filthy, so I wiped it down and gave everything a good once-over. I don't like to fiddle with my bike too much before a race, just making sure all the gears and brakes work, cleaning and lubricating the chain and checking to see if my tires aren't about to split open or explode.

The most important thing I have to keep remembering is to have fun, because then what's the point?

Wish me luck.

Our Public Bike

Today my wife and I bought a brand new Public Bike to share, something for her to ride in the meantime till she got her own mountain bike, and something we can use for grocery and coffee runs. It's nice to have a bike I don't have to worry about getting stolen. It's the perfect utility/city bike that's designed in San Francisco. We bought ours at their flagship/office store in the SOMA neighborhood.

We got the Public D8, which I felt was an upgrade from their base model. It features chromoly steel frame, internal 8-speed hub, painted fenders and a front rack with a detachable wire basket. The components are okay, but it does have decent rims and dual pivot brakes.

We immediately took it out for a spin along the Embarcadero and into Crissy Field. With our dog, Marlow, in tow we pedaled down along the beach and enjoyed the sun before making a quick stop at the Rapha Cycle Club on way back home.

All Packed Up

My Evoc bike travel bag came in the mail this week, and it's pretty amazing. I was skeptical at first, but it packed my full-suspension 29er Specialized Epic with room to spare. Not only is there ample room for a big rig like mine, the construction of the bag itself is exceptional. There are two wheel compartments, which fit my big wheels, even fully inflated. I'm not taking chances with bent rotors so I decided to take them off just in case. It's my first time flying with a bike, so we'll see how it goes. I shouldn't be too worried about my bag being chucked and damaged like most bags, should I?

Have Bike (Bag), Will Travel

I decided to get an Evoc bike travel bag. Considering how much it would cost for a shop to pack, ship, unpack and assemble I would use it towards a quality bag for future rides and races. This bag has been highly reviewed as easy to pack with a lot of space even for a full-suspension 29er like my Specialized Epic. All I have to do is take the wheels, pedals and handlebar off. There are separate compartments for the wheels and plenty of padding and straps to secure the frame and parts. It also folds up nicely when not in use.

This will be my first time flying with a bike, so if you have any tips for me please let me know.

Roval Wheels

I've been riding two sets of Specialized Roval Control 29 wheels for some time now, one set on my former Stumpjumper hardtail and currently on my Epic. I haven't had any problems with them so far. They feel very light and stiff. Having been a Chris King hubset user for years now I appreciate the quality of the DT Swiss hubs and the fact that they're hand-built vs machine-built.. They're feature straight-pull spokes and interchangeable end caps for different suspension fork dropouts. I run them tube-less with about 23-25 psi.

I'm curious about carbon rims. Being a relatively light rider I think I could manage not destroying them for a few seasons. However, they only offer them in a race-red color option, and I'm very picky when it comes to matching color-ways. Rumor has it that they're developing a black & white option later this year. I could easily drop a pound in rotation weight.

23

Like I said, it all adds up. After a handful of upgrades and part swaps I managed to drop about two pounds off my stock Epic Expert 29er. It sits in at just above 23 pounds. Some of the major weight savings came from going tubeless, switching over to the SRAM XX cassette, carbon post, carbon bar, and carbon-railed saddle.

Upgrading your bike can be an expensive hobby, but you learn and appreciate the details about your ride, fine-tuning every last bit so it fits to you and your riding style. Two pounds may not sound like much, but you definitely feel it when accelerating and climbing, especially if it's rotational weight.