six or nein

Racing is in full swing, riders have logged many race miles by now and the cream has been rising to the top. Favorites are starting to be tipped for the 'Games', for what is sure to be a fast, road-dirt mountain bike crit in the land of the Great Wall. While to pick a woman might be a bit foolish, on the men's side a clear favorite is bit safer. Absalon has run the table on the World Cup and has been equally dominate in other races.

Simply the best.

But Absalon might just bring his own element of suprise. Sources close to the World Champ say that he is considering running a 29er setup for the Olympics. He has been testing a custom carbon 29er from Orbea, and has requested some custom Tubeless tires from Hutchinson.

Rumors have been abound for several riders allegedly pursuing the use of a 29er for the big showdown this year, especially considering if there were ever a course to favor the bigger wheel, this will be it. But if Absalon were to mount a 29er, then maybe even the locked traditionalist gates of the European mountain bike scene might be cracked for an influx of bigger wheeled bikes.

US Road Trippin

Back in the US for two weeks, Colin, Sandi & I have been doing a road trip through Colorado and Utah visiting friends & family. The remnants of an epic winter were abound, and made us realize how big this past season really was. I was even tempted to throw on some skis and make my way up CB, how they will have the Wildflower Rush is beyond me. It will take a series of very warm days to melt off the large remainder of 400+ inches.

After experiencing the lingering winter in Gunnison, we headed to Telluride to visit our good friends Mike & Soph. I took mike's 29er for a spin w/ he & Soph up to a mine above Rico. Snow kept us low and off any trails. After a couple days of indulging in their hospitality, we drove on to Moab for some camping and more riding. We had picked up some nasty crud during our travels, and it kept us feeling a little ill.

our first night in Moab was a wash, literally. A heavy downpour flooded our tent, which we abandoned for a motel room at the Bowen. The next day we returned with a rental mtb, a 30lbs piece of junk, that only Sandi rode as I was still reeling from my cold. She did the tourist thing and rode Slickrock, which was straight out of our campground.

Then it was onto Fruita, where Over the Edge set us up with a much better bike, the Ibis Mojo. I have always wanted to ride this bike, so I rode it out from the shop to our new home on 18 road. Prime Cut, Joe's Ridge and a few other buff singletracks where on order for our two days in the GJ area. Popped by DT Swiss to see my guys Paul and Kenny, Paul was in the house while Kenny was somewhere between Jamica and Mallorca, living the dream.

Colin has been awesome on this trip, he is so easy to travel with, and puts a smile on every one he meets (and sometimes his weary parents). He loved staying the cabins, playing the bunkbeads, and also rolling around in the tent. It is so fun to share all of this with him and to see how he reacts. It will be fun sharing so many more experiences with him in the future!

One day left and it is back to Germany, riding clinics and our first event for IF!

DM

We made the drive to Bischofsheim for the Deutscher Single Speed Meisterschaft '08. It is the mid-region of Germany, but lies in Bavaria, therefor was part of a weekend of racing from the Bayern Cup. The event was very low-key, I mean think of your local series race, and go even lower than that. Pity really, we were hoping for a bit more action, and atmosphere, but the scene over here seems to lie in the controls of those looking to keep things on the more, um, let's just say relaxed side. I was being heckled for my shaved legs and putting my number plate - er I mean left over food plate with USA BOB 2 on the front of my bike. I am all for having fun at races, that is why we do it, but I am there to race. So I think an event like this could be much more. The upside is what the field lacked in quantity, it made up in quality.

In typical fashion, organizers made a dogpile out of our bikes, which we ran a few hundred meters to. Sandi's was up front, mine? It was buried. I think they intentially did that to the the 'fitfuckers', na-ja. After being the third person to the dogpile, I was about 7th out, and was into third as we made it back up hill to the 'start'.

From there I tucked and rolled my way down the downhill start for the first kilometer, and had picked the first two riders by the first climb. I was feally good considering I felt like crap. I was cleaning the steeper climbs and rolling along strong when I was picked up by the second place rider. Also with shaven legs, he made fairly easy work of me, but did not get too far out in front. Entering the start/ finish area, there was some tape down, I chose to ride the course it was meant to be, but several others didn't. Quickly I went from 2nd to 5th like that.

Shaking my head and laughing it off, I went back to work, again picking off riders. Son I was back to chasing second, and was pulling everyone back on the climbs. Like Muensingen, the speed on the flats, and slight uphills was giving me problems. Going into the last lap I dug in, and was soon back in second. On the second steep climb, a bobble forced me off the bike to run, and the 3rd place rider snuck through. The chase was on over the top, but without any more climbs, i didn't have it in me to pull him back and was relegated to my 3rd place. Not bad for where my condition is, much better that how I ran in Muensingen.

Sandi on the other hand, flat out dominated the women, taking charge early and never looked back. I heard the second place woman say that Sandi's pace was "zu Heiss" (too hot). As Deutscher Meisterin, Sandi received a lovely Roubaix looking stone with a discbrake disc mounted on top. Some schwag was tossed out, and a local band would play into the night. Due to our flight back to the staes on Monday, we were unable to stick around and enjoy the good vibes.

Unfortunately for this event, the organizers claim this is the last one. Too bad. I understand the sub/ counter-culture of single speeding. But also I have been part of( not to pat myself on the back- but was one of the main catalyst for the growth of single speeding in the Mountain States Cup) some really fun, yet competitive single speed events. Besides, who really 'owns' and event like this. I see it as community property, which is guided by the will of the community. As long as there is a passion for mountain bike, getting together, and maybe even riding fast, then it should be the interest of the community to see such an event grow and flourish, not to be smothered out because it doesn't match a select few agendas.

Technique

The Man & Me.

Went out for my evening MTB Technique Riding Clinic that I am doing through Der Laufladen last evening with Paul & Wolker. They are 55 and 58 years young respectively, and are doing the TransGermany in the 110years old combined class. A life time of rnning has taken a toll on their bones, so they have turned to mtbing, specifically doing marathons for their active endeavors. It was a lot of fun to show them some skills, we are going to do a weekend clinic with them when I get from the states. They say they lose all of their time on the technical sections, but I am sure they will get that dialed in, i saw an improvement last night, not too mention they had some fun.

Sandi showing the boys how it is done.

We did a clinic last weekend with another group, which was also a good time. Everyone picked up some valuable skills and we rode some great singletrails. This weekend is the German Single Speed Meisterschaft, Sandi & I are as ready as we can be with all of the stuff (life) going on around us. We are not where we used to be racing wise, not that it matters. We ust want to be somewhat competitive and have some fun. Rode with Colin in the Chariot on Monday, that was fun. I found sweet sandy-smooth forest road I took the 'cross bike down. It was good for Colin and it didn't shake him around like a cement mixer.

I miss the pump track, I am trying to get the town here to let me build one. Then maybe a mtb park...

650b vs. 29er

HMMM, did I make a mistake in buying that 29'er or should I have gone 650b...

Needless to say I am surprised that 2 of the first three bikes we have sold in Germany are 29-ers. All of the 'experts' I have spoken to over here, would not give a 29 better odds the a cube of ice in the fiery depths of unholiness. I myself am not fan either, but this is not about my nor others unwanted opinions, but rather the validity of 650b and 29 and their viability in a market constantly screaming for the latest and greatest.

Finally a high-performance fork for the 9er crowd

It was nearly ten years ago I was exposed to 29er as the TuneUp picked up two identical Viscious Cycles 29'ers, which I was able to ride. While I was not impressed, I watched with the rest of the cycling community as the big wheel revolution grew. First it was a band of small framebuilders and component manufactures, that grew over the last ten years to encompass virtually all major bike and component manufactures. And it is rumored that if Jeremy Horgan Kobowlski gets his Bejing ticket punched, he will be on a Fisher Superlight 29er for the Olympic Games. It has been called a cyclocross course. Also seen sporting a 29er is TwinTowers Ryan Trebon.

Shimano 29 wheels

The last two years during the NAHBS the spotlight has turned towards 650b, offering a more manageable size, less toe-over lap, lighter weight, strongerwheels among other benies. However, 650b is experiencing the same growing problems as did the niner revolution ten years ago, lack of of available components.

Pacenti

Kirk Pacenti can be sited as the epiccenter of the new 650b movement, having been the most recent builder start back up with this design, as Ritchey, Bontrager and others have toyed with this design before. Pacenti with Panracer produced wheels and tires for this new set, and since Kenda and other are on borad as well. But you have to wonder, it took many manufactures time and money to ramp up their 29er production, with 650b is all of that just going to be obsolete? I doubt it. And what about the local hipster-duface that just bought his first 29er? Dohhh!

But don't run out and place you order for a new Sycip (enter any other manufactures name as you wish here) just yet. Companies like White Brothers claim their 29er forks are just fine for 650b applications, huh? Say what? Needless to say there is still a big void of forks, rims/ wheels and tires.

Big wheels make the world go around.

I personally have yet to ride, let alon even see a 650b bike, but as always am eager to give it a ride.

Big Wheel Sites:
Twenty Niner Forum
650b
bike29
FOX F29
Niner
Everybody needs a good beer
Pacenti
BikeRadar

Media vs. Cycling

Sabine takes on the media and doping. Photo: Ralf Scheuble
The relationship between cycling and the media is a delicate one, cycling lives fromthe visibility generated for sponsors and events, and the media enjoys dramatic story lines to fill their pages and broadcasts. Unfortunately the latter has become all too common, a constant tale of drugs, lies and story that has all but villainized the entire sport.

Here in Germany the damage done by the press is catastrophic. Team and events have all packed up and left a vacuum void of competitive opportunities. "It (the media's attack on radsport) is just another reason for sponsors to pull their money out," German pro roadrider Frank Dressler Lehnof (Mitsubishi-Jartazi-Protech) says about the current climate in German cycling.
Frank went on to say, "Nobody wants to do anything, team wise or race organization. A lot of events have just gone away because of these conditions."



The latest in media's spotlight on doping was a Rheinpfalz article on Sunday about the new stricter controls from UCI and how riders are dealing. The article featured former World MTB Champion Sabine Spitz, where she commented on her own experiences with the new doping mandates, along with an extensive line of questioning on other riders.

The author specifically asked Spitz her take on the pending suspension of the Lado and Manuel Fumic for missing a couple of out of competition tests. Most riders I have spoken to won't even candidly take on position on such a line of questioning, but Spitz took it head on saying, "We all know the rules and have to live by them. Obviously if the Fumic brothers are having trouble with this, they have something to hide."

The article went on to elude to the speculations that the Chinese women are doping, once again Spitz in her reply acknowledged these suspicions, "All of the sudden the Chinese women were there (on the front of the World Cup), Ren Chengyuan won Houffalize last year out of no where."

Spitz went on, "We will have to see what kind of controls the UCI will have in place leading up to the Olympic Games, and how the Chinese women will fare in competition. But it surely has raised more than a few eyebrows."


Photo ©: Luke Webber

Spitz has long been a critic of the BDR (Bundes Deutscher Radfahrer) and it "lack" of sufficient doping controls. During the World Cup this past Sunday in Houffalize, Ren Chengyuan repeated her victory from last year, by coming from far behind to win, while Spitz finished five and a half minutes back in 10th. On the men's side, both of the Fumic brothers raced despite a doping charge from the UCI and a possible 1 month suspension from the BDR, with Lado finishing 35th and Manuel 67th.



Photo ©: Fumic Brothers Int.

Hops, Wurst & Eingang

One of the pleasures of taking a title like a national championship is that for the following season everytime you line up at a race, you get to wear your nations colors. But what if you were able to wear the forever???

The 2008 German Single Speed Championships are offering the title for good, as it is being promoted as the last one. Two weeks down the road on the 3rd of May the last ever German Singlespeed Championships will take place in Haselbach/Rhön (Haselbach, Bischofsheim an der Rhön).

In an email from Phaty, one of the events founders and webmaster for the Eingang forum wrote:

"For years and years we try to burry this event by running it in The Netherlands or on a 1k lap in Nürnberg, giving the title away in a drawing and not to forget last years event that included a 2k Le-Mans-Run to your bike followed by a 300 Meter (that is 900 ft. or so) downhill to the finish line ... and that was it!

This year we decided give it in the hands of some real XC riders who are all members of the SRAM Factory Racing Team from Schweinfurt. They make sure you get a real Mountain Bike race not some kind of a "Christopher Street Day meets Oktoberfest" Event
Entry fee is like 5€ plus maybe a donation for the local band - I heard they suck! I love it ...

There is no flyer, website, timetable and sure enough there is no sponsor - just pack your stuff drive there, race fast and win ... can't be that hard - really ... !
It is your last chance to win this prestigious title, it will stick with you for ever!"




Sandi & I are hitting this event for sure, it will be sweet to meet up with some disgruntled German MTB'er and have a shot at an eternal title. If you can read German, go to: http://www.eingangradforum.de/

EDGE Composites XC wheels

One of the better developments I have enjoyed as of late, is the development of the carbon mountain bike wheel. Reynolds, DT Swiss, Tufo, Fulcrum and EDGE composites have all their own versions of this. And it not just the weight and svelty looks that have me excited - it is more the ride quality.

matched up on KING ISO disc rear hub


My wheels: EDGE Composites has developed a full line of MTB rims, and I have been riding the first generation 32mm profile ones, one set on Chris King ISO hubs and one set on 240s DT hubs. Both are clinchers setup w/ a tubless kit, 28 hole, disc only and the DT's are about 30g lighter - both top out at just over 1300g (1340 vs. 1310). I have also been riding a set of the Reynolds Topo Tubulars which weigh a whopping 1242g, and are gloued up w/ a set of the Dugast Rhino XL's.

DT 240s version w/ CenterLock Shimano discs

If you have ever ridden carbon cyclocross wheels, you know their benefits, they seem to 'float' on rough terrain, and yet are very deliberate in navigation, cutting with surgical-knife precision the direction they are pointed. This is the exact feeling the carbon mtb wheels deliver, without being difficult to handle. Smooth is the word that comes to mind in their overall performance. The buff out the trail in perfect harmony with well tuned suspension and matching tire pressure (25-28psi). These characteristics rand out even louder on my DT's with their stout 15mm though-axel, providing an even more positive, solid front end. I am all for a possible new through axel standard.

The whole package

Tubeless compared to Tubular, they both have strong arguments, however, for day-to-day riding, or in a mountainous/ rocky envionment, tubeless not doubt. The weight is all but forgotten with the added security of flat protection on tubeless, and what I feel is a slightly better performing setup. Go tubular if you have no children to save up for college for, and just need to have that sweet set of 'race only' wheels. Women would also benefit from the superlight weight, so low rolling resistance of tubulars as well.

This is one of the best applications in the bike industry for carbon. Its strengths are glorified and far out shine aluminum or other materials, and its weaknesses are well guarded and hidden. Besides, who can argue with the sheer sexiness of their appearance. Bonus points for psyching out the competition on the starting line with a set of these.

MTB Fahrtechnik

mittwochs abends

Bundesliga Bilder

My Ride
the conditions
MTB Park Muensingen
The Run-UP
PRO Number Plate

Bundesliga

Having spent the last ten years honing my skills in the Colorado racing scene, I have raced some very fast, strong riders. It seemed like all of those experiences/ skills where lost on Saturday when I took to the line at round one of the MTB Bundesliga in Muessingen.

Foul spring weather had been soaking the course all week like most of Germany, so in my pre-ride, my bike doubled its weight in mud. The course was crazy slippery, riddled with roots and rocks, tight twisting sections and some steep climbs. It felt great to be back after a sabbatical last season from racing.

After being called up to the line, I took position behind the German National Masters Champion, someone who obviously doesn't have a day job due to his ultra-fit appearance, and dark tanned skin probably courtesy of some training in Mallorca or the Canary Isles. Did I mention he has a PRO German Champion kit from the Dolphin Trek squad???

From the gun it was 100% on the gas, f-ing fast. We slammed into the first major obstacle of the race, a 100 meter run up, and I was going backwards fast. I was thing of Greg as this would be something he would enjoy. At the top we hit a half-kilometer pave section that saw us draw out in a long drafting line. The speed on display was mind blowing, these guys were FAST! Once we hit the woods, I was moving back in the right direction, but I could feel the legs weren't there for any serious contention, so I set out for a descent finish, or atleast to finish.

I plugged along each lap, my victory was in being able to clean most of the sections on the course while everyone else was portaging their rides. I even threw a couple of cross-ups over the doubles back down in the mtb park in the race village. On the pre-ulitmate lap things went really wrong. I lesser-skilled rider tried an impossible pass to my inside, losing control. The consequences sent me hard over the bars. While trying to get my breath back Paramedics attended to me. I saw blood, and couldn't feel my left hand. After the leaders made their way by I was able to get to my feet, but it was long over. I limped back to the the base area, and retired my number.

It was not to be, but I still enjoyed the experience and look forward to future races. My homework is clear, speed over here is the trump card, something I didn't need in my vertically challenging world of Colorado. I am training with a local road pro, he will surely help lead me to the promise land and I look forward to round 2.

Eingang

Sometimes its hard to see the forest through the trees, and so it is with training this time of the year. So many days, kilometers, downloads from the HRM onto the laptap, it is hard to tell where you are. The feelings are good, but until you line up against others, you don't know.

For me this season is an extra challenge. Last season I took off, with Sandi pregnant, our pending move, racing, let alone training was out. Upside was that I rode a lot new trails... Since moving to Germany, nordic skiing also has fallen victim, normally I am coming off a long nordic skiing season, this year it has been a lot of riding - I am not complaining. Last couple of weeks I have wondered where I am, sometimes not feeling that good, but lately I have felt strong and like I am getting stronger. April 12th is my season kick-off, the first German Bundesliga Cup race in Mussingen, "Das Fruhjahres Klassicher".

Looking forward to getting out to dice it up and see really where things lie, and to know what work needs to be done. Haven't decided on Houffalize World Cup, but the first weekend in May is the German Single Speed Champs, that would be a nice jersey for the collection.

Continuing to build the IF Brand over here, 29'ers are of particular interest for the Euro's - steel none the less, I thought we would be peddaling ultralight ti-lugged/ carbon race bikes...

I have some projects to consume my time, some you all will see soon.

ifbikes.de

www.ifbikes.de

Our new website is now up! We will have an English version to soon follow at www.ifbikes.eu. Give it a spin.

Xterra Winter Championships

So you think you are a badass???

Light bikes and forward thinking

There are some interesting sites out there dedicated to the pursuit of the lightest bikes in the World, and the Holy Grail of websites has to be Light Bikes.com.

On one side I am thinking "would I ride or race that bike?" Honestly, a lot of them I question their durability. Some, are inspiring and I think, "where are Shimano, Sram and others with products like these?" Owners modify and cobble even their own parts and bits to shave weight, take things to the Formula-1 degree. No piece is left to chance. The sum of all of these parts are stunning examples of minimalism and innovation. These bikes are equally intriguing and beautiful.

Here is one of my favorites, SPIN EPO Alpcross, owner Jose Luis Lobo.
Photo courtesy LighBikes.com
The vintage Rock Shox MAG21Ti is the crowning touch on this ride, weighing a scant 849! That is nearly half of a SID World Cup. The Ti cranks are nice piece of bling, but where this bike goes scary for me is with the carbon front and rear ders, along with the front chain rings. Ever had a cross-shift or piece of big debris go up into the drive-train? Two things I noticed he did not go for, which I know would have lightened this thing up more were a carbon chain, yes there is one. And carbon Nokon cables. I pretty sure there are lighter pedals out there as well.

Here is the crazy part on this bike, even at 11.69lbs, it is not the lightest mtb! This one is:

Owner: Heinz Wittmann, 11.22lbs

Devils work is in the details.

Beautifully Fragile

I admire these peoples tenacity to create some one-off machines. I have long been an advocate for a bike show like that of car or motorcycle shows, and these would be great pieces for such an event, even have a light weight category. This would also make for a great reality show, documenting the build of one of these bikes and even showing when things go wrong and they crash or blow some parts up. It happens.

Whatever may come, these guys should take pride in their pursuit, and I will for sure be one who keeps tuning in to see where things go from here.

Sauwetter

Winter is a distant memory of a deafening white landscape, replaced by musty moist scents and stark earthy tones of a maritime early spring. Wind pounds the water through everything, the ground displacing percipitation it can't absorb.

Tracers fade out behind my wheels as we course through tiny villages and back roads over here. I love to ride in these conditions, thinking of the Spring Classics, or the history of the paths we have chosen. The climbs are a harsh reality of Newton's theory, steep, out of the saddle, grunts, sometimes stretching on longer than we had hoped.

Upon retuning home, my German Grandfather says, "Das ist kein wetter zum radfahren."

Genau haben wir gefahren...

NAHBS - Independent Fabrication Track Bike

I'm going back to Cali...

We usually made a migratory trip to Cali each spring for the Sea Otter, which was always a good time. We would make a 'compact' vacation out of it, usually spending time around the Bay area, doing some riding there, then on to Santa Cruz, once again some riding and watching surfers. There is a great State Park on the beach there, with some good riding just around the corner in Aptos. Then it was on to Monterey and Laguna Seca for some racing and riding.

Last couple of years Cali has an even earlier kick-off to the cycling season, TdC. It is great to see such an event on TV w/ the beautiful back drop that is California, however there is an inevitable dark cloud creeping in... No, not the smog from the big cities, but the proverbial cloud of doping & scandal. La-la-land has kept this cloud at bay for the first few years with only a hint of scandal during last year's edition w/ Basso, but this year, MBall & Co. (aka Rock Racing) are going to make sure they are not out done by anyone. Already 3 of his 8 (8 Ball, get it?) are out w/ their OP ties. And while I was a Cippo fan back in the day, what the hell??? It's a circus meets car crash. Cycling media and websites look more like tabloids in the check out isle these days...

Cyclingnews.com

First Edition Cycling News - Rock Racing - and Cipo - ready to roll in Cali after all...

Cycling News Extra - Tour of California holds firm against Puerto-implicated riders as Rock Racing considers options...

Cycling News Flash - Rock Racing announces Tour of California roster, including riders rejected by race organiser...

The VeloNews website was balled up when I went to post this, but it has been just as bad as any other with RR leading many headlines.

Damn, it feels good to be a gangster.

The kickoff for cycling in the US deserves so much more, the sport deserves so much more. TdC bound by its sponsoring agreement w/ RR has to let them start, but I say dump them. It is a distraction to what should be a jubilous occasion. I believe in second chances and all, but what RR is doing to the sport is a cross between the East vs. West Coast Rap Wars and the ongoing Baseball Congressional Hearings.

Enjoy the pictures of California as the beauty of the peloton roll over the green, waving hills and coastal highways, savor the spectacle that is cycling, and block out the bullshit that is Rock Racing.

Behind the Bars

Like many, I do a lot of mind dumps while riding, especially when riding on my own. I can clear my head, solve problems, come up with ideas, maybe even paint a masterpiece if I had a canvas and paint palette mounted to my bars... hey wait, that's a great idea for riding the rollers or trainer! But mostly I make observations, not funny ones like Seinfeld, well OK sometimes funny, but mostly just observations.

I don't always voice them for the sake of not sounding stupid or crazy, but I have always dumped some of them here. Hell the most of what I write hear are brain farts and dumps - what is up with associating our thinking process with a natural bodily function? At least we could associate our thoughts with something more pleasant than poo, like sex. "Oh, that was a real brain orgasm!" or "You really hit the G-Spot with that thought!" Much more pleasant don't you think...

Anyway, with the NAHMBS directly in our rear-view mirrors, and forging ahead in the German market with IF, I have been evaluating the state of cycling over here, and it is interesting to say the least. Custom bikes all but do not exist. Their a couple of really small builders, but not even close to the scale as in the US. I think looking at the vitality of these builders is a great barometer for the health of a market. Germans make good money, have a high-standard of living, but the industry in the late 90's early 00's experienced a race to the bottom in the cycling market, everything for nothing. Wholesale companies cut the legs out from under the industry, leaving a vacuum void of boutique, high-end builders. Even large companies struggle on price over here. The up side is that Germans have an affection for quailty, high end goods. They want the best products out there, and I have seen some crazy bikes.

Will we make it? Time will tell, but I believe so. Threading the needle of quality, precision, lightweight race-inspired designs, with cult-like, sub-culture coolness will be the winning recipe.

IF Image dump from NAHMBS

All photos ©James Huang/Cyclingnews.com