CSS Gallery – Showcase – Inspiration

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to either of the OTH Series races this year. I hope that next year they are able to do the summer series as planned. It would be great to finally get to try some of these races and also have a solid race series in Orange County. Jason from High Rev Photo made it out to shoot photos and sent me a few samples. If you want any of his photos, please contact him through his site – www.highrevphoto.com.

Sid Taberlay ended up taking home the series crown for the men and Tonya Bray ended up with the women’s title. Congrats to you both! Mykyta Yurtyn took home the crown for the mens sport title, congrats! I should have been out there racing against him darn it! Enjoy the pics and be sure to head to Jason’s website to checkout the rest. He should have a full gallery up soon.

Finally, we have some local Orange County racing back! Over The Hump Racing is a new series that started out last night. The course is around Irvine Lake in Irvine, California. I was hoping to make the race but works been crazy this month so I opted to carry the camera around and support my friends. It was great seeing all the regular race faces and even a few new ones. The temps were high but the faces were cool and everyone had a blast out there. Here are a bunch of pics I took, enjoy them. For more info on the series, visit: http://overthehumpseries.com/. You can bet I will be racing number two!

If you are looking for a pic of you or want one of the ones below, drop me a comment with your info so I can reach you. Or you can email me at lostmanifesto (at) yahoo (dot) com.

My fav pic of the day, Sid Taberlay haulin the mail!

Chris haulin some mail rockin the tongue

Danielle with all smiles

CeeDubb leadin the pack

more…

Well, since the live streaming feed SUCKED, its nice that some of the sites are now playing their own Leadville videos. Here are some that I have found so far and some pics I dug up via twitter.

Superhumanmag Leadville Video

Denver Post Leadville Video

Lance vs Dave vs Manny vs Travis vs the rest… Who is going to take it? My money is on Lance. He is in shape this year and has been doing a lot of mountain bike training. It’s always hard to count out Dave though as he is THE MAN when it comes to Leadville. Manny placed third last year behind Dave and Lance and will show a strong podium again this year depending on the performance of Travis Brown. Travis may be an unknowed rider to many but he is a former national champ and should not be taken lighting. Here are some sneak peeks of their bikes for the race courtesy of VELO NEWS.

If I was betting, it would be on Lance. Who do I want to win? Manny Prado. He is a local guy and also a really nice guy that I have run into on many of my local trails. Even when he is training (blowing past me so fast I feel like I am standing still) he still manages to get in a “Hey man you’re doing great keep it up”, and doesn’t even know me. Go Manny!

First up is defending champ Dave Weins, Rotwild full-carbon RR2 HT hardtail. He is running a Magura MD80 SL fork, DT Swiss carbon wheels, Continental Race King 2.20 UST tires with Stans, full Shimano XTR goodies, Magura Marta SL brakes, Ergon GX-S Team Series Carbon grips, and more.

Next up is Lance’s 2010 Trek Top Fuel. He will be running the full compliment of SRAM’s new XX lineup. That includes cranks, cassette, fork, brakes, shifters, etc… Wheels and tires include Bontrager XXX-Lite carbon wheels and Bontrager XR-1 Team Issue 2.20 tires. Armstrong has all of his cycling shoes custom made for him by Nike. They are one-off, meaning you cannot buy them, sorry. They are pretty sweet check out all the pics below.

As I mentioned above, Travis Brown is no slacker. Dave and Lance will have their hands full with this guy. He may be the only rider out there running road bike bars on a mountain bike as well. He is running the same bike as Lance a 2010 Trek Top Fuel but he is sporting the SRAM Red road groupo, a Dura-Ace crankset (triple) and Avid BB7 mechanic disc brakes because the road levers will not allow the use of hydraulic brakes. His rear der is SRAM XX as well as the cassette.

Now, checkout Manny’s 18lb Specialized S-Works HT found on his twitter page! 18lbs! Hard to tell what all of the parts are but it looks like the carbon Specialized cranks, Crank Bros eggbeater pedals, carbon Roval wheels, full XTR group and Specialized tires and saddle from what I can see.

Bikers always have that next bike on their minds. What am I missing in my collection? What frame will be an upgrade to what I already have? What will carry me around the race course faster next season? For me, the wait is almost over. Specialized is about to launch their all-new 2010 Epic 29r. I cannot wait! I have already been teased having seen a few of these around my local bike shops as test models for store employees and supported pro riders. My Niner Air9 is an extremely efficient race bike for me but during long endurance 12 hour races the hard tail tends to beat me up a bit. My last lap at the 12 hours of Rim Nordic I changed bikes and went with the Evolve which did help the back pain I was having. However, the Ells isnt the most efficient climber in the world. Will the new Epic 29r be the perfect combination of both bikes for me? I will definitely be throwing a leg over one as soon as they hit stores… at least to try… Here is an image and some info I found.

Now I am going to have to stop at my LBS on my way home from the office to see if the bike they had there a week ago is still lurking about. Maybe I can get in a quick ride and snap a good pic for you all. Stay tuned.

PRIMARY BENEFITS
Low Weight – Every extra gram has been shaved from the Epic 29er’s overall weight thanks to an insane attention to detail. The Epic 29er’s 90-mm travel M5 aluminum frame has been designed from the ground up for performance without additional weight. Critical suspension components were integrated to the greatest extent possible and wheels and Specialized Fast Trak LK 29er tires were specifically developed to shave weight while enhancing control.

Maximum Efficiency – Thanks to the integration and refinement of the Epic 29er’sBrain damper and custom tuned forks,the Epic is the most efficient performance mountain bike available. The Brain damper can instantaneously transition from firm to fully active to match changes in the terrain.

M5 ALLOY CHASSIS
More refined than ever, the Epic 29er’sall-new M5 alloy frame combines high strength alloy with skillful engineering and state-of-the-art manufacturing to create category-leading weight and rigidity. The new Epic 29er features a geometry and tube set developed especially around the performance demands of a 29-inch wheel.

FSR SUSPENSION
Simply put, FSR is the most effective suspension system for enhancing comfort,control and efficiency in any riding situation or wheel size. Tuned just for our Epic 29er, FSR’s fully active design keeps the rear tire in contact with the terrain, resulting in dramatically increased traction and control. FSR is also fully independent, meaning suspension is unaffected by brake forces or chain torque. At the same time, perceivable pedal “kick back”and “drop away” are eliminated.

FLOW CONTROL MINI BRAIN
A revolutionary development in suspension technology made even better, this Epic 29er’ssmaller and lighter Flow Control Mini Brain allows the Epic’s rear shock to instantaneously transition between firm and fully active settings, enhancing both efficiency and control. The Mini Brain has a lighter spring that enhances small bump compliance, while its firm setting delivers maximum efficiency in smooth terrain— making it perfect for high performance riding and racing.

WHY IT’S GREAT
The all-new Epic 29er is the most efficient29-inch wheeled competitive XC bike available. By designing it from the ground-up,we were able to tune every performance element on the Epic 29er. An integrated approach to design, including a tuned rear shock with Brain technology, and heavily refined M5 aluminum chassis make the Epic29er more efficient, more comfortable and better handling than any other performance XC 29er on the market. The legendary Epic has always been the fastest bike from Point A to Point B, and now, it comes with all the benefits offered by a 29-inch platform.

Increased Control – With a completely custom geometry and tuned FSR suspension and tapered head tube the Epic 29er is the best handling performance cross-country 29er available. Thanks to the integrated development of the M5 chassis, suspension fork and rear shock with Brain Fade technology,the Epic 29er rails trails and race courses like nobody’s business.

Thanks to our Total Suspension Integration approach to design and development, the spring curve and damping rate of the Epic 29er’s AFR rear shock are tuned to match FSR linkage rate, maximizing bump force management by matching travel to bump magnitude so small impacts are supply absorbed, and big hits are handled with aplomb. Proper tuning of the linkage rate and rear shock were an essential part of delivering a 29-inch wheeled bike that climbs and accelerates as well as it descends and carries speed.

You can’t have a high-performance 29er without a purpose-built, high-performance suspension fork. We’ve teamed with Rock-Shox to develop the custom Reba S29 fork that offers unsurpassed steering precision,ultra low weight (it’s 100 grams lighter than even the lightest stock Reba) and our Reba features a custom Specialized carbon crown/steer combined that boosts stiffness and steering precision. When combined with the oversized end caps found on our Roval 29erwheels, it provides the lightest and stiffest performance 29er fork. Because it features up to 100mm of travel, the Specialized Reba fork gives the Epic enhanced descending capabilities, without sacrificing any handling or performance benefits

Tuned FSR: As with every FSR suspension bike we make, the Epic 29er’s FSR suspension has been tuned for maximum performance in the kinds of riding that 29er pilots seek. With15-plus years of tuning and tinkering we’re able to help 29er riders achieve the best possible riding experience by enhancing comfort, control and efficiency on any terrain. FSR’s amazing versatility gives Specialized engineers the freedom to perfect it for different rides, delivering a wider variety of purpose-specific performance than any other suspension system on the market.Because the Epic 29er’s FSR suspension is active and independent (the same as any other FSR-based bike), it is free to compress and rebound in an uninhibited manner–whether pedaling,coasting, or braking–and functions with no perceptible pedal “kick-back” or “drop-away.”This keeps the tires on the ground a greater percentage of the time, yielding more traction for increased control over speed and direction; more comfort by remaining compliant; and more efficiency because chain torque goes to moving you forward, not up and down.

One of the guys on the Don’s Bikes Race Team wore a helmet cam for the first lap of his race. I thought I would share it here to give you all a glympse of the course! Enjoy!

I was a little nervous going into this race as it was my first 12 hour solo. That definitely didn’t help the mental side of race preparation. I started my normal routine of hydrating and fueling for the race mid-week. Friday morning, Chris and I headed up the mountain and met up with Stephanie and Dan to setup our pit. Stephanie had VIP pit access which meant our pit was going to be in a sweet location right up front by the finish line, yes! Just like at the 12 Hours of Temecula we pit next to Traci, Neil, Weyland and the rest of the STR gang. Chris (Boats) headed up mechanic duties as per usual (thanks again for the help my friend). After we got all setup we made the trek into Big Bear city and crashed for the night at Jen’s pad.We didn’t get any pics but we had some sweet Dance Dance Revolution going! Turns out I DO have rhythm

6:30am and off to the event we go! Here I am doing some pre-race tuning while Steph gives me some course notes.

Front row pit spot!

Setting up the fuel for the day

Jason does an amazing job putting on these events. He is also a racer which means “he gets it” instead of just being a race promoter who doesn’t ride. 8am, Jason waits for everyone to gather for the pre-race meeting.

About an hour before race time I finally started getting mentally ready for the day.

Steph and I ready to shred some singletrack. The womens Pro and Exp classes were combined which meant you was going up against some really strong Pro ladies. Although she wasn’t super stoked on that she did an amazing job and took home 3rd place!

Getting ready to go

Jason and his daughter getting ready to lead up on our double parade lap

and were off!

Nekit coming in from his first lap and going strong! The Troupe guys asked him to ride for them and he was stoked to be sporting the team green colors.

Steph and Dan have a great system for making sure she is well fed and hydrated throughout the day. This is something I need to work on. After seeing how they worked things I definitely picked up some tips. She started and finished strong turning in right around 1 hour laps most of the day.

Neil came around looking good but something was wrong after Lap 1. He jammed his wrist pretty bad and may have broken it. He is definitely no quitter though, he through on some bandage and headed out for a second lap.

I am pretty sure this is me coming in after Lap 1. The cluster of people on the first lap really slowed me down. The course was amazing, 80% singletrack with some fire road mixed in. Each lap was a little over 9 miles with 1300 feet of elevation gain. This would make for a long 12 hour solo day.

Steph coming around to the finish zone after her second lap passing people left and right!

Tim from Troupe took home 10th place in the Open/Expert Men. Good work man!

Nekit coming around for another one of his 7 laps or was it 8?

Bandaged up, Neil still pressed on for a second lap. He was going to be done for the day, until….

Lap 2 was definitely my best lap. The course opened up some more and my legs started to warm up. The Niner was treating me good but my back was hurting early on.

Lap 3 was in the books and starting to wear on me a bit, can you tell? I was pretty tired and my back was hurting.

As I sit there suffering, Steph heads out for Lap 4 looking like she was fresh.

You mean I have to do more? Okay, off to complete Lap 4.

“Hey Steph how you feeling? Just great Chris thanks pal!” Justin and Alison Mann made an appearnce and did a lap with Steph. I think she just wanted to remind Chris what podium place she wanted!

4 laps in the books, Im tired, hungry and ready to sit down for a while. Could someone hold my bike for me?

Fast fwd to the completion of Lap 5. I thought I was done, I was pretty tired and my breathing was sucking. After checking out the leader board and realizing I was sitting pretty in 3rd place I started to think about another lap. Chris, Neil, Traci, Dan and everyone convinced me to get back on my bike and get out there. I am very thankful for my friends and I am happy they helped push me on! Wounded and bandaged up, Neil got back on his bike and rode my last lap with me. I cannot thank you enough Neil for getting back out there with me!

I believe this is around Lap 6 time for Steph. Finally, this machine of a women shows some signs of wear and tear. Knowing that the 1st and 2nd place girls ahead of her were going strong she had no intentions of quitting!

Westsiiiiiiiiide! Even after 7 laps she still held a smile and a sense of humor.

Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd as everyone thought Justin and Allison were going to be competing. There goes everyone else’s chance for a 1st place medal!

“Chris, if you don’t get this camera out of my face you are going to do Lap 8 for me!”

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8! Keep going girl!

“Seriously Chris, what did I say? You are SOO doing Lap 9!”

Locked and loaded with lights and off to complete lap 9. Now, if she can only figure out how to work those lights (you had to be there)

Let the sun come through and shine down upon me! haha! Lap 6 in the books and I am done! Considering my last few laps times there was no way I was going to make the 9pm cut off for one more. I cannot thank Neil enough for showing me how strong he is on his SS, I mean riding my last lap with me!

I’ve done more elevation gain, but never been in the saddle for that long, done that much climbing all over 7000ft or burned that many calories in one day.

As here is your womens Pro/Exp 3rd place winner!

Dan and Steph followed us back to Jen’s pad for a hot shower and a real bed. The weather started turning south around 8pm. It got cold, like 35 degrees cold. That tent they were aiming for was looking pretty rough.

Stephs Garmin = A Machine!

All of the SOLO riders got a special placard to hang from our seat posts. This was really awesome to have during the race. As people passed me they all said “Good job Solo keep on going man” it was really great. They also knew that because we were riding SOLO to cut us a little slack in corners.

I now have my first bike medal! Overall, it was a lot of work but well worth it. I pushed myself harder than I ever have. I learned a lot and got to ride with some great friends. It sounds weird to say considering how much my butt and feet hurt right now but I can’t wait for the next one!