My Mountain Bike Co-dependency Fix
by Travis on January 11th, 2008
So here’s my Problem as a large guy, racing semi-pro. I stand at 6’3â€, weight in at 190-195 ad long legs for more torque. Why am I boring you guys with these details? I break more Mountain Bike equipment than anyone I know. Just the short list includes 8 various full suspension, and hardtail frames; broken, cracked, snapped, unglued, unhinged or otherwise folded in half. Then we could talk about the numerous chains, cranks, bottom brackets, wheels, blown tires, so on and so on.
Now Im no scientist but there has to be a formula for this problem. I was thinking something like, Angry Gorilla+ Bikes+ The way I ride bikes= $$$$$$$. So how do you get proper training without blowing your kids college fund on bikes every year? I’m open to suggestions, but I found a way to make road training way more interesting.
I know what your thinking, but about 5 months ago I was behind on training and felt like riding a road bike about as much as doing five years of Hard Time in the “Sex Offenders” ward of San Quentin. So with that motive in mind I started looking at road bikes. Since I couldn’t afford something new and blingy, I looked for something lowbrow and painful, talking with the local shop and weighing the options I decided to try a fixed gear road bike. Yeah I know all the cliché’s about hipsters and other random stereotypical douche bags come to mind when I thought about fixie’s also.
So here’s the setup. I got a Smokin’ deal on a new 2008 Cannondale Capo in Retro Red. I ran 48 tooth front chain ring and a 14 tooth fixed cog on the back. It came with Shimano a Sora front stopper, Heavy duty 2,400 gram wheels, Heavy Duty 700×25 Maxxis Fuse Tires. If that wasn’t enough I added thorn resistant tubes and Slime Tire liners. Yeah its not built for speed.
Then just in case I “Crackâ€, default mode is a 16 tooth freewheel I can flip. I do run a front brake for safety reasons. So everyone is on the same page the 48/14 setup comfortable pace around 24-26 Mph. The 48/16 is comfortable between 17-21 Mph. Of course I am geusstimating since I don’t actually have a computer on this Bike.
I’m sure everyone’s wondering why do it? And how does it help training? I had fairly low expectations when I got the bike. But there are two areas it ready helped me be a better rider. The first way is in pedal stroke. For instance there’s no freewheeling at the end of an interval, to a red light or when you run over random construction debris. It trains you to just plow through, over, and on top of all the obstacles littering the roads here in AZ. Its actually a handy technique, that really converts to momentum on a Mountain Bike. The second is pedal stroke efficiency, for example its really trained me to not only mash the pedals but to pull up from the down stroke, and when I get on my Mountain Bike I have allot more even, circular pedal motion. As you can imagine riding one gear up hill, down hill, into headwind, tailwind all makes for some interesting training scenarios, and don’t get me started on the many close calls related to soccer moms making right hander’s five feet in front of my face. No Mercy is the rule.
That’s the Beauty of a simple, clean, ass kicking, that send’s you home crying to Momma, and probably cost you less than the last wheel set you bought.
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HOTTIE with man boobs… i LOVE it! ah yes, the secret of pedaling in circles is key to all things efficient. embrace it my friend.
Those are some HOOooooT pics!!!
I need to get myself a pair of shorts like that…. lol. =D
Yeah I wish this was actually my body. This guy is a God of making sweet love on a bike.
Hold on that’s what you told me I was last night.
I feel like I might vomit all of a sudden…………….at least your thong wasnt showing.
Yeah Brent vomiting was my first reaction also.
On a seperate note. One of my students says she knows you from the wounded warrior project. Her name Is Tiffany Calhoun her husbands name is Heath? I dont know if that rings a bell. I guess her husband is the first double amputee above the knee to be able to walk, and he lost a hand. Makes me greatfull for the country we live in, and the self sacrifice of people like her husband and herself.
I think I just threw up in my mouth!!! Nice! I think some payment is due to Brett… he has a patent on those shorts… If you didn’t get permission from him to be photographed in them, you owe him some $… I’m sure he’ll accept payment in the form of Captain Morgans!