Cyclocross BC Cup #1

Early in the race Bob and I took a lead turning ourselves inside out in the heat! Photo-Dylan Doubt

On September 4th, the first BC Cup Cyclocross Race took place at Aldor Acres in Langley. The weather was insanely hot in the high 20's, which is a drastic change from former years of heavy rain and mud. Luckily rules allow for water to be consumed during the race which was a necessity in this one!

This year Cycling BC decided to split the Masters field into two groups, Masters 1/2 and Masters 3/4. The Masters field had increased in size to over 50 racers per event and was becoming overwhelming to co-ordinate for organizers and racers alike. The new format allows for a more competitive structure and makes the event more fun to watch as well!

In my race, Masters 1/2 we started just after the Pro Elite Men at 1pm...hottest time of the day! The sun beat down as the whistle blew and the 21 of us hammered off the line. The starting gravel road was super dusty and along with the fertilizer smell from the farm we were racing on, made for some extra cloudy lungs. As we came to the forest after the first kilometer, I was leading and the pack and feeling good. I decided to lose the gloves as the temp was so high and thought this would be a way of staying a few degrees cooler. Close behind me was Brad Collins and Bob Welbourne on the first climb / run up. Brad and I put the hammer down and bunny hopped the log at the bottom of the run up and pedaled to the top! Bob dismounted and ran, going almost the same speed as us, except the time it took him to remount.

After the first lap there was a group of 5 or so of us railing along the dusty farm road. I pulled the group around the first bit and again road up the run up but the heat was starting to get to me and Bob stayed with Brad and I once again. 

By the third lap Brad dropped back and Bob and I were alone. The rough ground was starting to take it's toll on the skin on my hands as I gripped the sticky rubber brake hoods. I looked down and a big flap of skin on my palm was flapping. The sun was beating down and the dust in the air was heavy. I held onto Bob but I was starting to question myself on riding the run up. 

On the 4th and 5th lap I ran the run up and followed Bob who was trying to drop me on the straight away farm road. We had a big lead on the rest of the group and wanted to keep it. I matched Bob's every attack, but feeling weary and my hand feeling more raw by the second (what the hell was I thinking going gloveless)!!!

The last two laps I dropped back but tried to stay at a good tempo, Bob got away from me and beat me by over 50 meters. 

Good times at Aldor Acres though, thanks guys!!! All the results from the race here.

-Kimbo

First Impressions: Fox 36 Talas 180

I originally spec'd my Santa Cruz Nomad with a Rock Shox Totem Solo Air front end. I liked the way the Totem felt, the air spring and single crown were a nice combo for an "all mountain" rig and it proved to be a good crutch for my lack of descending prowess. Just to be clear, I handle gravity better than a Schleck, but riding with Kimbo, Dave Nordman and Mike Guns makes almost anyone feel like they descend with a purse under their arm. 180mm made my purse feel a little smaller and I could grunt it up almost anything.

Two years of Woodlot, Squamish, Whistler and NS riding later, the Nomad was due for a makeover. Coincidently, my regular partner Mike had just swapped his Nomad for a TranceX which left me thinking I was about to get schooled going up as well as down now. Enter the Fox 36 Talas 180...

Briefly, its got the same great air spring and single crown as the Totem and as the name suggests 36mm stanchions, 180mm of travel adjustable to 140mm. Same great slack and squishy front for the downs but now without that pesky wheelie inducing lack of control on the ups!

By "same great squishy front", I actually mean "far better than my totem ever felt" and "smoothest fork I've ever ridden". Objectively speaking, the high- and low-speed compression dampers have a far wider range of adjustment and something about the air spring's design make it far less finicky to set up. I'd always felt the Totem had a 3psi sweet spot: anything above or below and the fork felt completely rigid or non-existent. One of my previous favorite forks was the Fox Float 32, and the 36 Talas 180 is like it on steroids. Silky travel with beefy stiffness, perfect travel options for the steepest ups and downs.

Jono

Boogieman Trail Day #4 :: Final Day!!!

(Write up and Photos by Conor Coen)
Sunday September 11^th brought the fourth and final trail day on Boogieman for the 2011 season.  Backed by Steed Cycles and Giant Bicycle Canada, local builder Sean Gerke took on the task of maintaining Boogieman through the NSMBA Trail Adoption Program, and has since hosted four trail days mostly oriented around repairing structures which are on the verge of failing.  This trail day’s goal was to replace two bridges after the swamp log which were beginning to rot, not to mention they were bad news in the wet.

Here's our project for the day (taken in the rain for dramatic effect)

This trail day started as most others, treats and coffee  at Bean Around the World in Parkgate Mall as we assembled our team of volunteers.  This trail day had a turn out of four volunteers in addition to Sean, they include Shawn, Jeff, Josh and myself.  Once we had satisfied our caffeine dependency, Sean dropped Josh off at the Mushroom lot to close the trail, and upon his return we gathered our tools and headed up the mountain.

Sean giving his motivational talk (and safety speech)

Once all the formalities were out of the way we got to work, well at least Sean did.  Before we could dive into building the new bridges the old ones were swiftly dispatched by Sean and his friend the Stihl chainsaw.

Sean cuts down the old bridge to make way for the newer less rotted bridge!

 

After hiding the carnage, the arduous task of bringing in materials began.  We had to move 2 stringers, 2 small footing, 1 very long milled log and countless rungs.

Jeff Tran and Sean Gerke hauling a log through the forest.

After a couple hours of hauling timber, we thought it would be appropriate to dig into our lunch which we acquired at Bean Around the World. We enjoyed our lunch on the bridge which was completed at trail day #3

Footing for the bridge

Josh providing an ample gold supply

After a good break we were ready to get right back to it.  We installed the footings for the milled log by digging holes, then filling them with small rocks and 'gold'.

Maneuvering the log into place.

 

Sean doing some custom cuts with the chainy.

Connor getting right into nailing in the rungs!

After the majority of the grunt work was done on the log, we concentrated on the ladder bridge which would serve as the exit to the swamp log.

 

Jeff putting the final nail in

Mission accomplished, high fives all 'round

The ladder bridge exit to the swamp log

The milled log section which connects you to the rest of the bridge

A big shout out to Steed Cycles, Giant Canada and the volunteers who have made these trail days possible, as well as a big thank you to Sean Gerke who bravely took on Boogieman this season, and will keep chipping away at it for many more seasons! 

If you want to see the full set of photos from the trail day, head on over to Flickr!

-Conor Coen

Island Cross Cumberland

Fabulous, but sweltering hot race last weekend in Cumberland at village park. Went out as a family with a mission, priming our three year old for the kids race, and picking up a shiny new ride at Steed Cycles for Justin, just the day before. Found myself getting caught up in the atmosphere of friendly faces, sunshine on the lush grass, and the exciting events preceding my own. Decided to forgo he comfy shorts early to sport the shammy and partake in a pre-lap ride and watch my son in his own challenge. Chase stole my heart as he lined up with the 15 or so other munchkins who rode the full lap for their race! Number 346, I was hoping for a medal, and there he was, just a month and a half past three years old! Go Chase!!
Nearly missed my own gun shot as I lined up with ten other women and thirty or so masters men at the start line. Hadn't had time to think about the heat or the sprint start before I was already consumed in it. Stuck with the women in the group through the twirly whirly section, one of my favorite for picking up distance on riders ahead of me. But after training the year for my first ironman, I realized I was lacking in any sprint training of this sort. I yearned to stay with the front pack, but secretly hoped I wouldn't be passed by the men. Rolled in fairly at sixth, off a stellar course, so happy to hit he grass without losing any cookies.

Justin's men's open race started right after, so we did a quick kid swap. The field was nearly thirty deep, and with a top 100 finish at the Grand Fondo whistler, the day before, I didn't think he would have anything left in his legs. Unfortunately, there wasn't much opportunity to shine as he pulled in with two separate flats, one garnering an upholstery tack, the other (on my borrowed rear wheel) causing him to sprint the last km to cross the finish line.
"Ne jamais abandonner!!"

Kudos to Norm Thibault for even getting there just five days after the birth of his baby girl, Tessa. Also big bow and thank you Lisa Ludwig and Curtis Saunders for the organization and course design at CoalCross 2011. I hope it will continue to be an annual race in the Island Cross Series, as well as the opportunity to get my awesome CoalCross t-shirt! Great design Lisa!

Cyclocross Clinic #2

(Clinic will be lead by Kim Steed and Scott Mcgregor)

When: Sunday September 18th, 7:30-9:30am

Where: Inter River Park – North Vancouver

(Meet at Jaycee House, 1251 Lilloet Road, North Vancouver, then we will head down to the soccer field for clinic)

Who: Anyone who wants to do a Cyclocross Race (Cross or Mtn bikes)

What: A two hour clinic covering all of the basic skills of Cyclo-cross riding and racing.

(All abilities are welcome and everyone should be able to learn something or at least practice their skills.)

Topics will include:

• Start line plan
• Remounting
• Dismounting
• Picking up and carrying the bike
• Barriers and Run-ups

Anyone interested in attending, please email kim@steedcycles.com