Thursday, April 27, 2006

The Summary Link

Hello all. Long time no blog. Sorry about that. Not a whole lot new here. Still trying to decide on a new mountain bike frame. The Trek Elite 9.9 is the frame that I really want, but they are having problems with the design on the head tube, so they won't be available for at least another 6-9 weeks. I am also considering the Trek 8500 and the Gary Fisher Ziggurat. I may be able to get the Ziggurat custom painted through the warranty dept for only $68 more, so that is an option. I may also just ride the IF for another season, since my first mtb race is May 7th, right around the corner. We'll just have to see what happens.

I did a crit in Madison last Sun. Wasn't too bad, but I was correct in my assumption that it would hurt. I don't know what the deal is with me and crits, but I can never do well in them. Maybe I will stop doing them and just concentrate on road, mountain, and cross races. :) The race started off fine enough, but after about 5 laps, I got dropped off the back with a small group of riders. The main group wasn't too far in front of us, and we maybe could have caught them, but the riders that I was with kept pulling out of the race, one after another. There were 5 or 6 of us at one point, then all of a sudden it was just me. I started reeling in riders that were being dropped from the main group as the laps went by, but we never caught up to the main group.


No races planned for this weekend, so I am hoping to get in a couple of longer rides. The following weekend I think that I will try to do the race double. A road race on Sat and a mtb race on Sun. Both races are so close that it is do-able. I will probably be hurting in the mtb race, but I would like to get WORS series points regardless. Should be interesting.

It was just announced today that both Sioux tribes are now in support of the UND Fighting Sioux nickname, which not only means that they can continue to use it, but also that the NCAA may allow them to host more playoff events like they did this year.

An email invite was sent to 4 lucky cyclists to be the fourth member of a team for the 24 Hour National Championships, joining Trent, Vino, and myself. One invitee has already responded with interest, and so far has the inside track to making the team... Good luck to Vino this weekend as he races across Iowa! Hope you and Poprad kick some butt!

American Chris Horner won today's stage of the Tour de Romandie, and put himself into the leader's jersey. Good to see Americans having such a successful season thus far. Here is Chris celebrating at the line:

And here is former Tour de France winner, Jan Ullrich, having a subpar day, as he gets dropped from the main group:

7 comments:

Lars said...

No offense but the 8500 and Ziggurat are pretty bland compared to the 9.9 and the IF as well. Are you disillusioned with steel? Is it not snappy enough for race purposes? I say hold out for the 9.9.

Brooks Leedahl said...

i love both the 8500 and ziggurat complete bikes. the frames aren't too pimpy though. what about the 9.8? or why not a fuel?

did you read horner's comments on cycling news? he's a cocky bastard. i love the way he races though.

Brian said...

Agreed that neither of those frames is nearly as cool as the 9.9 or IF. But I have to make do with what I have available. ;)

I love steel frames. I plan on having a whole stable full of IF's when I no longer work at Trek. The 9.8 is in the same boat as the 9.9 -- headtube issues evidently. Alot of the ones that have been already shipped out are being recalled back. I'm sticking with a hardtail for now, holding off on the FS for a few more years.

Agreed on Horner. The man is an arrogant SOB, but he backs it up with his riding.

Brooks Leedahl said...

you should just race the IF until the 9.9 is ready

Brian said...

Being how the 9.9's availability has been "two weeks out" since last Nov, but yet has never been available during that time, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not available until Fall.

At that rate, I might as well wait until next season's 9.9 -- and that would also ensure that all the kinks are worked out of it.

Brian said...

Uh-oh.

An unexpected development on the search for a bike happened today...more on that soon...

:)

Brooks Leedahl said...

i'm dying in anticipation. what is it?