The Bike Transplant

OK, I tried to post this the other day and it wasn’t happening, alas blogger crashed and lost my post. So now this might be my last post on this blog and a new site maybe forthcoming. I will let you all know.

Also our laptop died very recently, enter our new macbook. All I can say is, apple rocks and OS-X is way faster than MS Winblows. The macbook also syncs faster with our iphones and the new router with 802.11n is fast at 5mbps.

Ok so now on to the bike porn. A couple weeks ago I posted on the Taurine SL. Here’s my initial impressions after a few rides on her.

First off she’s fast. My first couple of rides were stuck on paved bike paths and the open road. My general impression of the bike on these rides was that it was hard to go slow. For a mountain bike it seemed to take off unlike any bike I had ridden before. It was very reminiscent of my C’dale road bike, and also didn’t feel like I was riding the fat tires. I was generally elated and excited by the feeling but cautious that riding on a trail would be distinctly different and maybe not as good.

So last weekend following the Twin Bing road race in Climbing Hill Iowa I finally got the first dirt ride of the year. Taking a chance on lots of mud, I gave into temptation and took the took the Taurine as I was too eager to try her on the trail. Trail was in good condition and somewhat rideable. The bike, well the bike was beyond belief. My legs were tired from the previous days race effort and still full of LA yet the bike was eager to please and quick to show off its prowess.

So the first little bit Farrell and I tooled around scoping the trail conditions and after Dahlbeck joined up and we headed out to check the hills. The Taurine rockets up hill. Its speed is not just different and better uphill than the other bikes I’ve ridden, its in your face. With a simple kick of the legs the bike was off to the races. Uphills feel like floating.

So uphills no problem, what about technical? No problem the bikes stearing is super sensitive, but it handles whatever line I put it too. Handling is super intuitive and switchbacks are handled with a breeze; turn approaching, move wide, look into the turn; lean bike, brake hard before the apex, apply power past the apex and accelerate. Going through trees, think up the line and the bike follows it. Yes a good bike should do this, but the super sensitive xc race bike handling take it to a new level through in the speed of a race bike and it feels like your doing it at light speed.

So all in all here’s my conclusions. Speed speed speed. The tuned carbon frame both dampens trail vibration and creates a superstiff rocket ship that transfers all my power to the wheels. Light bikes make a difference going uphill, and finally this bike gives me smiles from ear to ear.

I’ll have more to report in a week or so after the first race. Cheers to everyone race season is here.

Ok, it’s here. On Friday I took delivery of the new race bike. a 2009 Cannondale Taurine SL1. This is a race bike. The specs

Taurine SL Hi-mod Carbon Frame
Headshock Fatty DLR with 80mm of travel
BB30 FSA crank
Sram and shimano part spec.
Shimano XTR wheels.
Size large
Weight 21 pounds (omfg light)

Here are the picks from the shop:

From Cannondale Taurine

From Cannondale Taurine

From Cannondale Taurine

From Cannondale Taurine

From Cannondale Taurine

From Cannondale Taurine

Since the trails are a soggy mess right now and for the next 2-3 weeks as the thaw is happening, I was forced on the road for the initial ride with Becky on Friday. All I can say is this biatch is fast. I got a chance to open it up with full on sprints to chase down some other cyclists and yes every surge of the pedals was tranfered to the wheels. In my aluminum C’dale and the fisher I can feel the frame flex under high efforts, this bike has none. It is fast and climbs like a monster. Definitely looking forward to its first bit of action on trail. I will be posting more later after I do.

Happy riding!

First, if your not following it yet…this years Cycling Protour should be on your too watch/follow list. Arguably this could be one of the biggest years of late for cycling. New teams, returning vets marred by doping scandal, and yes dare I say his name Lance Armstrong. But thats not all, as always the spring classics are just a month away and Paris-Roubaix is never a disapointment, combined with what looks to be epic fields for the Giro and TDF. Then we have team Astana looking to dominate the calendar with arguably the strongest team of all the Protour teams. Anyways I could go on and on…but long story short…you need to watch…!

And the second thing…I’m 29 hours away from having the new weapon I have been saving for and dreaming of for years. Kudos and much love to Becky for approving the acquisition. Stay tuned for more details…but all I can say is its Big, awesome, and involves a crap load of fraking Carbon!

So I’m now into week 8 of the 12 week base training plan…with 4 weeks remaining this is no longer just about aerobic base. The next 4 weeks call for short moments of intense hurt followed by longer periods of sustained hurt all of which will be self-inflicted.

That said, the first 8 weeks have gone fairly smoothly without much incident, but I have definitely felt the difference in intensity from previous years base training (err I mean lack there of). The next 4 weeks are now about getting the legs to be able to respond to hard sustained efforts required for the intensity which is bike racing. That said the first races are right around the corner…they are so close I can smell the adrenaline.

First up will be a road race in the end of march followed by the first mountain bike race in April.

In April the real training will begin as the base program is done and from there on out it will all be about building intensity…Intervals and hurt…here I come….

‘09 Season begins now!