SRIC Mountain Bike Crew!
04-20-2008 | 09:55 PM
#3166
Registered User
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,221
From: Peoples Republik of Kalifornia
Car Info: 05 H2 SUT, 45 GPW, 10 Murano, 13 Boss 302
We got started way late so I missed Chandon, but the ride was awesome. Very pretty up there. We started in Yountville, then rode up to Oakville Grade, rode over that pass, down Dry Creek Rd, cut over to 29 and came back up to Yountville.
Lessons learned:
Hill of doom.
The full ride:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5454937#
Lessons learned:
- The Tarmac is made from pure awesome. The descents following the past were incredible. I was down in the drops, going a little over 30mph, leaning slightly for turns and absolutely carving the road. I felt like Boonen.
- It's a lot easier to pedal and be comfortable when you're not getting bounced all over the place from your stiff *** aluminum frame. CF = WIN.
- Riding real hills on a road bike with a standard double chain ring is not fun. I was wishing, praying for a compact but it never came. The hill was so steep I had to stand just to put my weight down on the pedals to turn them.
Hill of doom.
The full ride:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5454937#
04-21-2008 | 01:05 AM
#3169
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,017
From: Sac/Dublin CA
Car Info: Silver 09 STI
We got started way late so I missed Chandon, but the ride was awesome. Very pretty up there. We started in Yountville, then rode up to Oakville Grade, rode over that pass, down Dry Creek Rd, cut over to 29 and came back up to Yountville.
Lessons learned:
Here's the hill I'm talking about. I took 3 breaks I think, but I rode the entire hill.
Hill of doom.
The full ride:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5454937#
Lessons learned:
- The Tarmac is made from pure awesome. The descents following the past were incredible. I was down in the drops, going a little over 30mph, leaning slightly for turns and absolutely carving the road. I felt like Boonen.
- It's a lot easier to pedal and be comfortable when you're not getting bounced all over the place from your stiff *** aluminum frame. CF = WIN.
- Riding real hills on a road bike with a standard double chain ring is not fun. I was wishing, praying for a compact but it never came. The hill was so steep I had to stand just to put my weight down on the pedals to turn them.
Here's the hill I'm talking about. I took 3 breaks I think, but I rode the entire hill.
Hill of doom.
The full ride:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5454937#
as for the crank thing, ide look into getting a compact.
im currently running a 50/34 compact with a SRAM 11-26 cassette. it gives me damn near the low end i had with the tripple on my Allez and the 50x11 is taller than a 53x12 believe it or not. so ide have to be going damn near 44mph to spin out the 50x11 (if i could do that ide be riding with the pros, LOL). basically a compact really is the way to go unless its on a TT bike or youre racing with the big boys, IMO.
04-21-2008 | 12:00 PM
#3170
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 25,095
From: Funtown
Car Info: A limousine with a chauffer
Yeah I might do a compact. though I'm tempted to stay with the standard and just make my legs stronger to deal with it. I don't ride hills often (since there aren't any in Sacramento) but it would be nice for the Napa rides lol.
04-21-2008 | 04:34 PM
#3175
When are you guys doing a fat kids day?
In other news, I crashed hard twice at GB the other day. =) I was laughing my *** off both times. Second time was into a HUGE pile of PO. I somehow escaped un-PO'ed.
In other news, I crashed hard twice at GB the other day. =) I was laughing my *** off both times. Second time was into a HUGE pile of PO. I somehow escaped un-PO'ed.
04-22-2008 | 04:21 PM
#3179
That depends on the week of the race and your class. So far this year, the courses have been just about 3 miles long. Occasionally, if the organizers feel it's necessary, they'll build in an alternate section for the beginner class, which will shorten their course length, usually by about a half mile. They did this in the first race, but not the second. Each week, the courses are supposed to get a little harder (maybe a bit more climbing/tech) and a little longer, but I think the longest course is ~3.5 miles. For laps, beginners do 2, sport/clyde do 3, expert is 4.
me+1 if I can convince my buddy. Beginner 30-39.
