San Francisco has had a string of crazy storms roll through this past week, in fact, there were three in a row. Not letting the weather get me down or defeat me I decided to brave the elements early Friday morning. I rode my usual Headlands loop, but it felt completely different with the rain coming in sideways, intense fog while riding in the dark for the first half of the loop. Probably not the safest thing in the world, but it was definitely adventurous to say the least. I think I was the only one out on a bike for the entire day, or at least it felt like it.
Rained Out
Normally the rain won't keep me from riding, but it did hamper my morning plans. I also needed the extra rest from a pretty intense week of riding my mountain bike, commuting in some fowl weather, as well as putting in some quality time on the trainer doing some much hated power intervals. At least I have options and a resounding will to jump on the saddle regardless of conditions.
Open Review - Update
Just a quick update/review of my Open bike that I love talking about so much. Seriously, it's one of the best bikes I've ever ridden. The true test came when I rode some pretty technical single track up in Sandy, OR over the Thanksgiving break. I was mostly interested in how a 72º head tube angle would perform on tight, twisty and somewhat rocky trails. Well, it shined in that respect and then some.
The light and stiff frame and fork combo, mated with a light and stiff pair of wheels, finished off with a set of light and stiff parts makes for… you guessed it, a light and stiff bike. Point and shoot down the trail, stand up and stomp on the pedals, this bike just flies in either direction.
What surprised me most about a bike so light, it obviously can climb like a beast, but I've been descending way faster than I ever was on my full-suspension Epic. Maybe it's the stiff front end, steep head angle or grippy Schwalbe tires, but for whatever reason I feel I can throw this bike into any corner with complete control.
I was really excited about the popularity of 29ers in the last few years, having ridden my first one two summers ago. Starting out with a hardtail, then a full-suspension 29er, and back to a hardtail again I can solidly say I'm most comfortable on a hardtail. Looking at 26" bikes nowadays they seem strange and kid-like to me. It'll be interesting to see how the whole 650b size catches on.
Headlands Horseman
This morning I rode with my usual Dawn Patrol crew into the Headlands. On our way up along Hawk Hill I saw a dude with a horse head mask just soaking in the view aboard his/her bike. I did a double take because it was so startling and strange. It turns out he's for real, and he has a Strava profile to prove it.
Also noteworthy on my ride was that I snagged the top spot on a hotly contested section called the Headland Heifer, a grueling 18% 1/2 mile climb to the top of the Miwok trail. I doubt I'll hold it for very long, considering my friend, Steve, also has an Open bike being built. His will be even lighter than mine! Can't wait to see it on the trail as we continue to duke it out on Strava.
My new bike is definitely a climbing monster. At the base of the Heifer climb I saw a rider near the top. I was determined to catch him, but I didn't feel like I was exerting myself 100%. It's funny, of all the days I go riding without my heart rate monitor I had to pick the one where I kick it up a notch. It'd be interesting to see what my heart rate zone was, but it definitely felt like an 8 out of 10 effort. I'm also in the best shape of my life, and know there's more room for growth as long as I stay focused.
Just Too Amazing
My Monday morning ride through the intense San Francisco fog cleared up on the other side of the Headlands, and opened up to the most glorious sunrise I've seen. EVER.
Ridgefield
I rode with my dad today on one of his usual routes to Ridgefield and back. We put in a solid 50 miles. I was thankful it wasn't pouring, and that the weather was actually quite pleasant for this time of year. We rode through rolling pastures and farmland, past livestock and the changing leaves of winter. I'm always skeptical about the ride on paper, but it's actually quite beautiful and challenging.
I only had my 29er, but it proved to be more than enough for countryside riding. My light wheel setup and fast rolling tires made for a comfortable ride. My kit was still damp from yesterday's downpour, but I never got too cold.
We stopped halfway into our ride for some coffee to catch up and to give my old man a rest. It's always great to hear my dad's cycling stories, and I hope to one day ride with some of his buddies he speaks so much of.
Sandy Ridge
I mustered up the courage to brave the downpour in Portland and headed east to explore the newly minted and highly rated Sandy Ridge trail network.
Just 40 minutes outside of the city Sandy Ridge is where it's at. I only got to ride a few of the major loops, but it was more than enough to get an idea of how incredible the trails were. The locals and the IMBA did a great job.
I got there early in the afternoon but only had a couple hours to explore. I ran into a couple of groups just finishing up their rides as I began mine. The long ride up the road only took a half hour before dropping into some bermed corners, technical rock sections and flowing single track all the way to the bottom.
I had so much fun, but I wished I left earlier in the day and that if wasn't raining. Next time for sure.
Forest Park
On Thanksgiving morning I woke up pretty early to ride up into Forest Park, one the country's largest inner city park. We drove up to visit my family for the long weekend, hoping to squeeze in some old haunts as well as new territory to explore.
Growing up in Vancouver, WA there were only a few spots to ride. Forest Park was extremely challenging for me despite only being fire roads. It was the length and steepness of the trails that got to me. Now, having the fitness and experience, I can comfortably conquer the entirety of the park.
It was really cold, thankfully not rainy, but it was soupy once I get into the park. I rode up Fire Lane 1 and down Saltzman road before my Strava app decided to stop working. I got in a good 25 mile round trip ride before the feasting began. Not bad.
This Is Mountain Biking
SEA OF ROCK from infinite trails on Vimeo. This video gave me the chills! Thanks, Steve.
This DH Bike
The All New Santa Cruz V10c for 2013 from santa cruz bikes on Vimeo. I'm not much of a down-hiller type, but if I were to get my feet wet in the discipline this would be my bike of choice.
Bike Magazine
Every month I look forward to getting my Bike subscription in the mail. I also subscribe to Bicycling, Peloton and Pro Cycling, but Bike stands out on its own as having a distinct voice and great photography. It's one of those magazines I've read throughout the years that has a nostalgic feel with every page. I only wish my print subscription translated to an iPad version, but I appreciate having something tangible and real to flip through.
Tam Epic
Sunday was the perfect day for a long ride to the top of Mt. Tam. It rained most of the day on Saturday, and I was itching to hit the dirt. I ended up doing an indoor interval session instead. Having fully dialed in my new bike I wanted to see what it could do on an extended ride through the Headlands, Muir Woods, to the top of Tam and back down Coastal View, over to Dias Ridge, back through the Headlands and back. I was solidly impressed to say the least, having set some personal records as well as segment top 10 standings on Strava, both up and down.
What surprised me most about my new bike is that I felt faster going down than I ever did on my Epic. Maybe it's due to the steeper head angle or stiffer front end or a combination of everything up front, but it just felt like I carve my way down more easily. The ENVE wheels never wavered from their line, and the frame and fork just soaked up most of the trail chatter.
The Racing Ralph tires also proved to be a surprising upgrade from the last few sets of Specialized tires I've owned. They have this interesting reversed shouldered side knob pattern that really grips into anything and everything. As a rear tire I can feel it gripping for an edge, but not in the best way. Maybe too much traction for a rear tire. We'll see. I'm going to try out their fast Furious Fred tire on the rear to see if it strikes a nice balance.
The rain the day before made most of the trails nice and soft. A little damp and soupy in spots, but overall dried out and perfect for riding. I didn't make the usual mistake of not packing any food with me, which helped me get to the top of Tam and back in time for a late lunch, a beer, and an afternoon screening of the new Bond movie. What a great way to end the weekend.
Dirty Details
I took some great closeup shots of my new Open bike after getting it caked in Nor Cal dirt. It's amazing how dirty can also be beautifully clean at the same time.
SID Blackbox carbon steerer/crown.
Arundel water bottle cages.
Chain-stay mounted SRAM X0 Trail brakes.
Rotor 3D+ crankset.
15mm Maxle fork dropouts.
Power Time
It's that time of year where I hunker down and grind it out indoors on my trainer. I started the dreaded training block of doing power intervals. While the workouts are short they are very intense. It took me a while to get used to them a year ago, but now I find them to be kinda fun and rewarding. Sure, I could be out with my buddies shredding some sweet single track right now, but it's important for me to stay focused, especially as winter sets in.
My Tarmac SL4 is way more comfortable for these workouts than my trusty old IF. Right now my PowerTap G3 is sitting in the closet, gathering dust. I've got a new cassette on order, which I'll swap to my current wheel set, then use my old cassette on the G3 build. For now using my heart rate is enough to get by.
Wet Ride
My Friday morning ride ended up being a soggy one. The rain started fairly light early on, but picked up halfway through. Luckily I don't mind riding in the wet. I've accumulated a nice collection of functional riding gear from living in New York to keep me happy. My new bike didn't falter or miss a beat through the puddles.
Figuring I'd be the only one out on the trails I was surprised to see two guys in t-shirts and shorts chugging away on the first climb. I passed them quickly and made my way to other side of the loop. This mornings ride reminded me of growing up in the Northwest, where it's always raining and cold.
Rapha Supercross
Rapha Supercross Series 2012 from RAPHA on Vimeo. Looks like fun!
Open Weight
The other night I managed to cut down my rather long steering tube for a much cleaner and slightly lower riding profile. I also weighed the build, which comes in at a feathery 19lbs 1oz. Not bad considering I've got a 15mm front axle, X0 Trail brakes along with an X0 drivetrain. Despite the super light weight it feels way more solid than you'd expect, especially the front end. What's interesting is that the front end feels heavier than the rear.
All the lovely ENVE components brought even more stiffness and major style points. I just love the X0 GripShift and PushLoc combo. Such a clean and comfortable cockpit. I've ridden the bike now for four straight days, and from day one it felt like I've had it for years. Maybe it's due to the steeper head angle it just feels and handles like a 26" wheeled bike. Very responsive.
My Ride
Morning Headlands Loop from Andrio Abero on Vimeo.
I made this really quick video using my Nikon COOLPIX AW 100 affixed to a modified water bottle as my camera mount, which works quite well. It's the Marin Headlands loop I do all the time, but this time in reverse. It's 6:30am in San Francisco. The air is cool and crisp, and the sun is just beginning to rise. I caught up with my friends as they were making their way to the Headlands. I'm aboard my new Open O-1.o.
Dawn Patrol
Woke up early this morning for my weekly dawn patrol ride with the boys. It was great to put my new bike to the test, riding in a fast group. So fast that I set a personal record going down the backside of the Headlands. With my new tire setup I can really carve into the turns.
What another gorgeous morning. Clear skies, hardly any wind, and not too cold. Absolutely perfect.
XC Carnage
Some of the most entertaining race footage I've seen in a while. What's going on here? So much carnage.