Category: specialized 29er
Caveman, on Specialized 29er Epic, finishes 3rd at Bend Super D
Conrad Stoltz on Specialized 29er Epic at Bend Super D by www.allsgood.com
This is the 2nd of the 29er trilogy. XTERRA USA Champs report next…
Bend Super D. A “Super D” is a long somewhat technical downhill race which involves some pedaling. When I heard Bend is having a Super D down Funner and Storm King from Wainoga ski park, I just couldnt resist. Funner is just such a fun trail, plus you get to shuttle for 2 days. Unfortunately I cold front rolled in, and it POURED with rain for 2 days straight. So I didnt do any shuttle runs.
Even though I have a garage full of long travel Specialized bikes (2010 Stumpjumper and 2010 Enduro), I went for my Specialized 29er Epic. Only 4 days after the Cyclo Cross race (on this same bike) I only had to make a few small equipment changes to race two wildly different races. But it didnt stop the guys at the start gate from laughing at the white paint job, Renegade rear tire and 140mm rear rotor. He who laughs last…
This race appeals mostly to the trail rider type- which is 80% of Bend. (As opposed to the tight red spandex type) I did try to tone it down with baggy pants, booties, my Specialized Vice helmet and Oakley Moto Cross goggles. In the process I learned that that white
Caveman on Specialized 29er Epic, finishes 2nd at Thrilla Cyclo Cross
Conrad Stoltz -my 1st Cyclo Cross experience. On a mountain bike. Ok, a Specialized Epic 29er, but still a mountain bike.
If you were expecting the XTERRA USA write up, its coming. Actually, this is the 1st of a 3 part series of the 10 days leading up into XTERRA Nationals, explaining my interesting preparation, but mostly just mouthing about how amazing my 29er Epic is- which I did all 3 races on.
When I rode my 1st 29er it was love at first sight. I was so impressed with its rock riding ability I put this bad video on youtube in 2008 and it has over 36 000 views already. Wish I was smart enough to put some voice or music over it.
Then I was all fired up for 29ers, I wanted to race them. 1st time I did was at XTERRA South Africa in 2008.
Then I got onto to those poor MTB engineers at Specialized, I started nagging at them for a race 29er for over 4 years, and I bet when they see me coming they quickly duck behind a planter or into the ladies toilet. But finally the bike came, and frankly, it blew the doors offa my expectations and Specialized is yet again, THE leader in the industry.
Back to the story:
I decided to jump into the 3rd leg of the much lauded Thrilla CX Series in Bend, OR. Bend is a bike crazy town- half the community watches these midweek ‘cross (that the cool way of saying it) races and the other half races. And I leanrt that a true ‘cross fan can be a scary thing….
I felt like a bit of a doofus on the start line with my mountain bike with balloon tires, Command Post and water bottle. Suspected I’d be booted into
Big weekend for Specialized
Ned Overend won the Single Speed National title. (the big race, not the old man’s race) And he did it on a Specialized Rockhopper 29er! (mid range aluminium frame)
I took this pic at the Specialized 2011 bike launch in Keystone, CO. Not quite sure how he went up that mountain at that altitude with 1 gear?!? (I needed all 20 gears) Maybe that’s why they a call him “Deadly Nedly” or “The Lung.”
One of my favourite Ned quotes: “I only stretch when I’m injured”
