Slavery, I ran a 34x19 2 years ago and 34X20 last year. 34x20 is what I would use again. It was perfect because I could climb almost everything including the one heinous climb. (Kind of like Dozer hill at Hitchcock only steeper and way way longer and loose rock and you've already ridden 30+ miles.) Gravity does nearly all the work on the decents in this race so running say a 34x18 wouldn't get you to the end all that much faster unless you are strong as hell and can push a big gear and not fatigue. As a reference I ran a 34x17 or a 34x18 at Platte and thought that was pretty good for racing. There is one sustained slight downhill section where a geared bike would have it in the big ring and on an SS your spinning and bummed. For the most part the ability to climb will get you to the finish line faster that the ability to spin slightly faster on the few flats.
The race starts out with a long climb, so if you want to be in the front for the start of the single track you'll be able to. Jesse and I were both in the top 10 or 15 3 or so miles into the race when the single track started. You won't get stuck behind a bunch of slow people (like me this year) just because you dont' have gears. In other words, there's no holeshot.
One other hint. Front Supension=good.
Last year the payout was $150 for 1st in SS and he paid 3 deep. This year he told me he's increasing the SS payouts. 1st in geared I think got $400 and he pays deeper. Jay from Sioux City (the Coke guy) got 2nd to my buddy Jon in the geared.
Don't know about the 29er thing. Makes the bike heavier and harder to accelerate. Limited on tires somewhat. I've heard they are faster and smoother which is probably true. I thought about getting an Intense 29er 5.5 full suspension. It would have taken a coon's age to get it and the Spider wasn't enough travel. The 26" Blur LT is fast and sweet. Having a 5" travel bike makes riding so easy. It's kind of like cheating.
8 comments:
Yeah, he looks that way because Kashenkin is trying to goose him. Look at the lean away.
Plus, remember that Evans got his start in the dirt. That's the way all them off-roaders look.
that's sweet.
safety first on the podium! don't want to get knocked out by a bottle of bubbly.
Hey, Carp, tell me again what gear you were rockin' at the Dakota 5-0?
Slavery,
I ran a 34x19 2 years ago and 34X20 last year. 34x20 is what I would use again. It was perfect because I could climb almost everything including the one heinous climb. (Kind of like Dozer hill at Hitchcock only steeper and way way longer and loose rock and you've already ridden 30+ miles.)
Gravity does nearly all the work on the decents in this race so running say a 34x18 wouldn't get you to the end all that much faster unless you are strong as hell and can push a big gear and not fatigue. As a reference I ran a 34x17 or a 34x18 at Platte and thought that was pretty good for racing.
There is one sustained slight downhill section where a geared bike would have it in the big ring and on an SS your spinning and bummed. For the most part the ability to climb will get you to the finish line faster that the ability to spin slightly faster on the few flats.
The race starts out with a long climb, so if you want to be in the front for the start of the single track you'll be able to. Jesse and I were both in the top 10 or 15 3 or so miles into the race when the single track started. You won't get stuck behind a bunch of slow people (like me this year) just because you dont' have gears. In other words, there's no holeshot.
One other hint. Front Supension=good.
Last year the payout was $150 for 1st in SS and he paid 3 deep. This year he told me he's increasing the SS payouts. 1st in geared I think got $400 and he pays deeper. Jay from Sioux City (the Coke guy) got 2nd to my buddy Jon in the geared.
you're gearing is 2-6 right?
26" wheels for me.
Carp, you need a 29er. Seriously. You'd love it.
always new you were fast carp, now the world does too..
see ya at the dakota 5 ohhhhhhhhh
Don't know about the 29er thing. Makes the bike heavier and harder to accelerate. Limited on tires somewhat. I've heard they are faster and smoother which is probably true. I thought about getting an Intense 29er 5.5 full suspension. It would have taken a coon's age to get it and the Spider wasn't enough travel. The 26" Blur LT is fast and sweet. Having a 5" travel bike makes riding so easy. It's kind of like cheating.
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