Wilmington-Whiteface 50K (and 100K Leadville Qualifier)
2013 Wilmington-Whiteface 100K and 50K shotgun start
The Leadville Qualifier Series made its annual stop at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, NY. The Wilmington-Whiteface 100K and 50K was held Sunday June 16, 2013. I was excited to see that there would be a 50K option for 2013. 50 K (~31 miles) is a nice distance for me. It’s pretty much what I will ride on a day off from work, although this 50K had approximately 3500 feet of climbing. The race course was a lot of seasonal dirt road, too much paved road for mountain biking, and not nearly enough singletrack. I rode solid and mostly strong. I had a difficult 15 or 20 minutes that just needed heavier fluid intake (Heed) and a Hammer Gel. Once I got through that, I was on my way to the 2 laps on Whiteface.
I set out with two goals; finish under 3 hours and do well…whatever that might mean. I did finish under 3 hours, with a time of 2:44.35, and I did do well. I had no idea how many racers there would be or how many in the 40-49 age group. I ended up 13th overall men and 4th in age 40-49.
Full results for the 100K and the 50 K can be seen here:
2013 Williams Lake Classic Results
The Williams Lake Classic, the first race in the New York State Mountain Bike Series, was held on June 9, 2013. With the race being my first ride on a new bike, and after a hard crash, I managed a 7th place finish in age category.
Full results for the 2013 Williams Lake Classic mountain bike race can be found here:
Williams Lake Classic (PDF file)
or
Blackburn Atom SL Cyclometer
The Blackburn Atom SL computer is the most user friendly bike computer I have used. It’s easy to setup and packed with features. The large screen lets you see it at a quick glance. One of the best features is the ability to install it on the handlebar or the stem. But, the BEST feature is the retail price of only $19.99
Blackburn Atom SL Cyclometer
Features:
- Wired
- Super thin and lightweight
- Current, average and max speed w/pace arrow
- Trip distance/odometer
- Ride timer, 12/24 hr clock, auto scan
- Bar or Stem Mounting
Blackburn computers let you geek out to your heart’s content—how far, how fast, how much climbing—there’s a Blackburn computer that will tell you, precisely, so you can quantify your bragging rights. What makes a Blackburn computer? Durability, for one thing—it’s got a lifetime warranty, and with electronics that’s like finding a unicorn grazing on your front lawn. And ease of use, for another—with simple two-button setup, a tall, incredibly easy-to-read display font and a four-screw battery door that’s more weathertight than the usual twist-with-a-coin setup on lesser computers. Some days, you just want to ride. But on days when you’ve gotta know, there’s a Blackburn Atom to data-mine your ride.
Go ahead. Embrace your inner cycling nerd—geek out to your heart’s content.
Visit Blackburn here –>Blackburn Design
Windham U.S. Nationals Mountain Bike Race
Windham Mountain and The Windham Area Recreation Foundation (WARF) are proud to bring you the Windham U.S. National Mountain Bike Race.
The event will take place June 28th – 30th 2013, in Windham NY. Riders of all abilities from all over the U.S. will compete in 3 disciplines: The Monster Energy PRO GRT Downhill, Stan’s No Tubes XCT Cross Country, and KMC Super D.
This event is open to riders of all abilities, from first timers to seasoned professionals. Spectators are welcome.
More information here –> Windham Mountain Bike
ADK 80K Mountain Bike Race – Lake Placid, NY
The ADK 80K will consist of four 20 kilometer loops making race village very exciting for all! Race solo, 2 person, 4 person in the MTB division or bring your Cyclocross bikes and friends!
Duro Miner 29er Tires: 400 miles
Below you will see my initial write up on the Duro Miner 29er tire. Since then, I have put a little more than 400 miles on them. And with the exception of heavy mud (not designed to be a mud tire anyway), these tires are an excellent choice for cross country riding and racing.
Well, I have to say that it’s not the first ride, but I do have only a handful of rides on my Duro Miner 29er tires so far. The first thing that I noticed with the Miner tire was the tread pattern. As I looked at it, it looked to be a lower rolling resistance tread, but it also looked to have some bite to it. Next, it was time to install the tires on my Sun/Ringle Charger wheels. I have encountered this before, but not often…the tires installed with no tools, just my hands. To remove the tire, I did need a tire lever (one) to start the bead off the rim, but then it pulled right off. The Sun rim certainly helps there too.
Duro Miner 29er Tire
The Duro Miner tire can be set up tubeless. Not all rims are Stan’s No Tubes friendly, but the Sun rims I have are actually designed for Stan’s tubeless system. So setting up the Duro Miner tires as Stan’s No Tubes tubeless was a breeze. (By the way, the key for setting up Stan’s tubeless is follow the directions. Make sure your wheels are set up correctly and make sure your tires can be set up tubeless. If you don’t set up the tubeless system correctly and you don’t install the tires correctly, it doesn’t matter what your tires or rims are…you will have problems.)
Now it’s time for a test ride…or rides. Riding in the northeast in February is often hard to find terrain that isn’t frozen and as hard as a rock, or ice, or snow too deep to ride. But fortunately, mother nature has cooperated a little bit. I found myself riding on thin packed snow and frozen but soft-frozen ground. The Miner tread design did not fail me. The Miner tire is a smooth rolling tire that held the ground quite well for the winter conditions. Even when cornering, the front held it’s ground. As I rode more and more, I found myself riding a bit more aggressive to see how the tires would hold. And for the conditions, they both held on the to ground quite well.
Hard pack, soft, gravel, tight singletrack and fast descents…The Duro Miner can handle it all. The Miner holds the ground. The sharp cornering knobs give me the confidence to go into a turn a little hotter than I might with many other tires. And this is a fast tire. The Miner has a lot more bite than a semi-slick, and still maintains low rolling resistance. Climbing, descending and hammering through singletrack…the Miner does it all.
Running the tires tubeless with Stan’s NoTube, I wasn’t sure how thay would hold up. I have to say that after 400+ hard miles, I have had zero issues with running the Miner tubeless. I will add, again, that Stan’s NoTube MUST be installed according to Stan’s guidelines. If not, it doesn’t matter what tire you have, you will have problems.
The bottom line: Have the confidence in the Duro Miner tire. It is a great tire in most trail conditions. And remember, if running tubeless, do it right and you will be very pleased with the Miner.
How to Jump a Log on a Mountain Bike
Here are some basic tips on how to go over a log while riding single track. Mark, from Performance Bicycle, demonstrates several different methods to get you and your bike over trail obstacles, from just rolling over to a more advanced “bunny hop”.
Wildcat Epic 100K
My first 100K mountain bike race is in the books. Well, actually it was my first ever my 100K ever on a mountain bike. The Wildcat Epic 100 (100 mile or 100K) was held May 11, 2013. 100 miles wan’t even a though for me, 100K was plenty. The race ended up 70 mile which is roughly 113K. There was a lot of climbing, a lot of great singletrack, fast, oh so fast, descents after the climbs and a whole lot of rain. The course took us through Williams Lake trails and cave (twice), Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park and many points in between.
I wasn’t sure how I would do in a race like this. I’ve race 4hrs and 6hrs, but nothing like this. And I wasn’t sure how I would do, being only the 2nd week of May, with fitness still coming. I actually did well for my expectations. My goals were to finish and at a reasonable time. However, I have no idea what a reasonable time would be. My end result was 37th (56 starters) in the 100K Open Men with a time 08:05:04. This race was also a good race in my preparation for the Wilmington-Whiteface 50K In June.
And a huge thanks to Duro Tire, Hammer Nutrition, Rudy Project and Tri-Flow Lubricants.
Full results can be found at:
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/13/ny/May11_WIldca_set1.shtml
League of American Bicyclists * Bicycle Friendly States
Bicycle Friendly State Program ranks states annually based on their level of bike-friendliness. States receive feedback, technical assistance, training and further encouragement to improve their bicycling legislation, projects, and programs. The Bicycle Friendly State Program is generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle…
Read the full report here–> League of American Bicyclists * Bicycle Friendly States.
It’s National Bike Month – Let’s Roll Together
The road shouldn’t feel like the Wild West. Watch People for Bikes’ National Bike Month video, and then make the promise to travel with compassion. Two wheels or four — let’s roll together.
