TransRockies.com

carscott · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

How much use is having a Triple vs a double for TR?

carscott · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

Just want to clarify my previous post.

In fact my teammate (210 lbs) is planning on using a ~34 lb Cove Stiffee FR hardtail with a bash guard, 2.3 tires, and a 4 lb Nixon 145 mm travel fork! Don't get me wrong a nice bike but for the TR?

We are arguing over whether or not he should replace the bash guard with a large chain ring which would require a long cage rd. I mean there are fire roads and asphalt in the race no? He is pretty belligerent. Maybe I'm wrong who knows.

I knew we were going to fight but the race hasn't even started yet. I think our team name may have to change to Inner Turmoil!

p.s.- This is mostly a joke except he is actually using that bike. Looking for some support here!

Teamdicky · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:41 am Post subject: Ring

Tell him to get a big ring. There is a lot of road where it would be useful. You can't take advantage of drafting if you can't keep up.

OR just let him suffer. I am all for doing the race on a bike the way you like it. I certainly didn't have a big ring.:wink:

_________________
woo hoo

Simon · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject: Bike Choice

Last year some guy, a TR rookie, proclaimed that he thought that, "the race would be won on the downhills" and brought a bike to suit his prediction. His prediction did not come true and he missed a few days.

With a 34 pound bike your partner is going to have a HUGE disadvanatge on the climbs, and lacking a big ring will hurt him, to a lesser degree, on the descents. If he plans to run 2.3" tires he'll probably have so much rolling resistance that he won't get into the big ring on the flats.

It sure doesn't sound like the right bike for this race. Are you sure this is the right partner?

Whytebike · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

Might be idea to get your partner to go out on a 60-80 km ride with some big climbs, then see how fast on 2.3 tyres he can hack along on mile after mile on the flat. I think that will help him 'recalibrate his brain'.

If after all that he still feels that he is a bit underweight on the bike front, I'm sure the butcher in our village if you cross his palm with enough silver will hire out his delivery bike. This must be 50 lbs, single speed, with rod brakes and a nice metal frame at the front for holding a wicker basket, of course a further enhancement would be chuck the wicker basket, weld in a nice cast iron wood burning stove for those cooler ascents. Trust that this has all been very helpful Shocked

moose · Newbie Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 6

It won't really be necessary to get the point across, but grab an altimiter and go for a 110km ride, and make sure you do 2300m of vertical.See what he says then. Twisted Evil

mhalwa · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject: Your partner is absolutely right

Fat tires and big weight are what the TR is all about. Especially coming into Etherington or leaving Bragg Creek. The fatter the tire the better. Then there will be more people finishing behind my wife and I and we will feel much better about our acomplishment.

See if your partner will carry some free weights in his Camelbak so he can do reps at the feed stations!

carscott · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

Thanks to all that have replied. Your support has begun to work I think. He may be coming around. He has already mentioned to me that he had "no intention of riding the race on 2.3's". I think it's working but I still don't have a confirmed answer from him regarding the drivetrain setup.

So keep it coming!

I think he is going out to get a scale to weight his bike! I can't wait to hear his reply!

Simon, just to answer your question, yes he is the right partner. Belligerence, although annoying when it comes to argueing about bike setup, is an asset when needing that extra encouragement on a long climb. This guy is determined which unfortunately is a quality I may not have. However I am very competitive so if he can force his way up the hills on pure determination, then I will have to work that much harder just to beat him to the top and get the polka-dots! You can see it is a win-win situation. I win and he comes in second. Wink

Hopefully this post hasn't packed my bags for a one way ticket to the singles bar.

Simon · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:29 pm Post subject: Right partner

Detrmination and perservence are great qualities in a race like the TR, and not to scoffed at. And if the two of you can get along, then that is half of the battle.

My concern would be that with a 34 pound bike your partner is putting himself at a considerable disadvantage. It would probably be fine on shorter races, but after 4 or 5 days he'll be really worn down. My bike is just under 26 pounds and I'm hoping to get it under 25 before the race. I know the lighter weight will help on those long climbs. (But then I'm a mere wisp of man, or as a girl who I see on the ferry describes me, "flimsy".)

tbeattie · Newbie Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 1

I am the partner that Chris is so kindly referring to. Just to clear a few things up, my Cove is 28 pounds including the 2.3 steel bead tires, and my Nixon is 115-145 adjustable. It's built it to be an indestructable high-end hard-tail (X-0, RF Next, Hayes Carbon, etc.). Also, I'm 190 lbs, not the 210 lbs that Chris so kindly listed me at (thanks buddy).

I had no intention of racing with a bash guard and I have bought a new big ring and a couple new long cage derailleurs for the race. I will also be replacing my 2.3's with a kevlar tire to be determined in the next month.

Since Chris is training in Calgary and I'm training in Ontario, we have a bit of a rivalry going, but, in closing, I just want to say, that I'll be the first one to the top of the climbs, but don't worry buddy, I'll bring a camera and take a picture of you struggling up after me!

Cheers,

tmb

(team hard-tail pride)

need TRerapy · TR Super Poster Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 100

I live in the Area and have ridden most of the trails with my 55lbs plus big hit with monster T's and 3 inch wheels. It is a killer and not once have I done a ride of more than 60kms on that pig... Crying or Very sad

Last year I did the TR on a Specialized enduro with 2 inch tires and 27 speeds (less than 28lbs) made life alot more fun Laughing

and was still able to tear up the downhills. This year I will be on an even lighter Sworks epic Carbon Fibre (less than 25 lbs) Very Happy

The most important aspect of the race is however not the bike it is the team. You must respect each others opinions and make compromises for the benefit of your team. You'll never see the winners tearing their partners apart before, during or after the race. A week is a long time to have to listen to "I told you so". May I suggest that you bring the required parts to change his bike to a more reasonable rig for the race and if/when, after his first big climb he changes his mind then at least you have only lost one day and not the whole week. Remember that there are stretches of 5-10 km's of difficult climbing which on the right bike with practice you may maintain a speed of 6-15km/h but walking you may only average 3-4 km/h no amount of downhill speed will make up that difference. (trust me I tried)

I hope this helps. Remember it is about the journey and not the destination... Wink

Dave

team Enter Your Name Here 2005

team Sofa King Fun 2006

jac02000 · TR Regular Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 40 Location: canada

"Teamdicky"

sorry, I can't recal your name from last year, but it was pretty amazing to see someone do the entire race on a HT SS. Must of been damn tough.

Are you doing it again this year?

Teamdicky · Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject:

My name is Rich. I am one of the finalists in the Race Face Ultimate XC Challenge. If we get the most votes before Saturday, July 15th I'll be back and with a SS partner this time. You can vote for us (Bad Idea Racing) at

www.raceface.com/community/uxc/index.html . I really want to come back this year on a SS team and do it up right.
_________________
woo hoo

Teamdicky

MCranwell · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:43 am Post subject:

Hello Rich,

Glad to hear you're back in the TR this year. I read of your exploits on the RaceFace website and was most impressed with your team's performance. My partner & I will also be running SS in the 2007 event. In fact there are 4 of us coming from Ontario.

I'd love to hear more about your experience from last year's event. What advantages / disadvantages did you find with running a SS?

Also what gear ratio[s] did you use? Did to take replacement cogs to switch up trail-side?

Any information [that you're willing to share] would be appreciated.

Cheers,

MC