So I have to begin by saying -- No, I don't have any pictures from the actual ride 
but I will definitely have the camera next time.
I have been building up a SS throughout the winter and spring and it's finally finished!!! Actually, the wheels I ran yesterday I stole off of another bike and quickly realized that I need to get the right sized spokes to build up my new wheels (some tubless wheels -- thanks Echo).
My basic parts run-down:
Frame: Zion 853 EBB (thanks to BussaFrame
)
Fork: Manitou Black Elite (thanks to Shrymp)
Wheels: Mavic x819 tubless (thanks to Echo) are soon to be finished laced to rocky mountain front hub & WTB rear hub w/gusset 1er & Michelin UST tires.
Brakes: Hayes HFX-9 disc
Cranks: Truvative FireX SS w/bash guard
Pedals: Time AtacZ
It's been raining for days in our area and I have a 24 hour race next weekend. I have already cleaned up my XC race bike (bored one rainy evening) and didn't want to gum up the drivetrain again, so I stole the wheels off of my other bike and fixed them up to run on my SS.
We knew that the trails would be pretty muddy and Sq-Earl didn't want to kill me on my first SS adventure, so we planned a fun loop at our SMBA trails. We started in and I realized right away the beauty of a SS...it's so simplistic. I didn't find myself thinking about whether or not I was in the right gear and when to shift. Instead, I found myself thinking -- dig in, get out of the saddle, that's it. The trails were SO muddy & slick that it was easy to get frustrated, but I kept plugging on. We managed a great loop (for the locals, we rode entrance behind the stables --> powerlines --> Pilgrim --> 107 --> Carriage --> Inner Loop --> 107 --> Powerlines and out the gravel road). About half way through (when we got onto the Carriage after 107) Sq-Earl congratulates me on riding the first two trails well and pulls out his flask of Jim Beam to toast our ride thus far and get my psyched up for the next big climb.
He definitely knows me well :love:
It was such an empowering experience for me. I know that I can ride my XC bike pretty well and I know the trails quite well, but the silent performance of my SS was amazing. I wasn't sure that I had enough strength to make any of the climbs as I generally have the ability to shift-down, but I did it! My arms and legs were tired after the ride, but my cheek muscles were the most tired from the perma-grin on my face. I am officially hooked and am anxiously awaiting my next SS adventure
I do have these pictures of my mud coated bike to remind me of my first SS adventure
but I will definitely have the camera next time.I have been building up a SS throughout the winter and spring and it's finally finished!!! Actually, the wheels I ran yesterday I stole off of another bike and quickly realized that I need to get the right sized spokes to build up my new wheels (some tubless wheels -- thanks Echo).
My basic parts run-down:
Frame: Zion 853 EBB (thanks to BussaFrame
)Fork: Manitou Black Elite (thanks to Shrymp)
Wheels: Mavic x819 tubless (thanks to Echo) are soon to be finished laced to rocky mountain front hub & WTB rear hub w/gusset 1er & Michelin UST tires.
Brakes: Hayes HFX-9 disc
Cranks: Truvative FireX SS w/bash guard
Pedals: Time AtacZ
It's been raining for days in our area and I have a 24 hour race next weekend. I have already cleaned up my XC race bike (bored one rainy evening) and didn't want to gum up the drivetrain again, so I stole the wheels off of my other bike and fixed them up to run on my SS.
We knew that the trails would be pretty muddy and Sq-Earl didn't want to kill me on my first SS adventure, so we planned a fun loop at our SMBA trails. We started in and I realized right away the beauty of a SS...it's so simplistic. I didn't find myself thinking about whether or not I was in the right gear and when to shift. Instead, I found myself thinking -- dig in, get out of the saddle, that's it. The trails were SO muddy & slick that it was easy to get frustrated, but I kept plugging on. We managed a great loop (for the locals, we rode entrance behind the stables --> powerlines --> Pilgrim --> 107 --> Carriage --> Inner Loop --> 107 --> Powerlines and out the gravel road). About half way through (when we got onto the Carriage after 107) Sq-Earl congratulates me on riding the first two trails well and pulls out his flask of Jim Beam to toast our ride thus far and get my psyched up for the next big climb.
He definitely knows me well :love:It was such an empowering experience for me. I know that I can ride my XC bike pretty well and I know the trails quite well, but the silent performance of my SS was amazing. I wasn't sure that I had enough strength to make any of the climbs as I generally have the ability to shift-down, but I did it! My arms and legs were tired after the ride, but my cheek muscles were the most tired from the perma-grin on my face. I am officially hooked and am anxiously awaiting my next SS adventure
I do have these pictures of my mud coated bike to remind me of my first SS adventure
