CephasGT

Any of you guys racing the MoMBA XC Classic in Dayton this weekend?

Hey everybody! I'm riding in the Young's Bike Tour this year, and I'm trying to raise a bunch of money for local charities. I'll be pedaling for 183 miles in two days, trying to raise $501 for the Alzheimer's Association (Miami Valley Chapter), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, United Rehabilitation Services of Greater Dayton and South Community Behavioral Healthcare. If you've got a minute, read on. From my blog: If you can, please donate any amount you are able. It means a lot to me, and thank you for your time, and support. Click here to donate. Pete

Badass!

IMO, hitch receiver mount>roof rack>strap-on tail mount. Spent last weekend on the trails at Stonewall Jackson Lake in WV. So, so fun! The trails were kinda raw and unkempt, but nice and challenging, and muddy! Good times. Our first ride there we did 10 miles and climbed 2000+ feet!

Nothing wrong with that! One of the things I love about bicycles (and motorcycles too, for that matter) is the variety and self-expression they allow. Also why I want to someday own a half dozen of each.

hob·gob·lin /häbˌgäblən/ - Noun 1. A fearsome mythical creature. 2. A 29er Mountain Bike that's scaring the daylights out of the competition. http://cephas365.blogspot.com/2013/06/157-test-ride.html

I got the chance to demo a Hobgoblin at MoMBA yesterday, as part of a Subaru/IMBA promo event. Expect a write up later.

I didn't include the wheelsets because they're hard to compare. At this level of bike, most all of them are using in-house components, or entry-level stuff from Sun Ringle or WTB, or a mixture of both. None of them are using anything to get excited about, that I can say for sure. The frame designs do vary, but not wildly so, and they're all using equivalent qualities of aluminum.

(Sorry to post over and over... new board won't let me edit my own posts for some reason?) So of the whole lot of them, the Specialized is the only one that's marginally better equipped. And for that price, I could get a Hobgoblin with full XO components.

I should add, I say this as a guy who owns 2 Treks. But my next bike will almost certainly be a Hobgoblin.

Apples to apples, Airborne is using as good or better component groups on their bikes than Trek and the rest, these days. And if they're all having their frames built in China, aren't they all rebranders? None of them are large enough companies to have their own factories, at least so far as I know. Only the boutique/custom bike builders are doing it differently, and I don't know anybody with the coin for one of those. For instance (all aluminum frame, XC, entry level, full suspension 29ers, components color coded for higher or lower level than the Airborne): Airborne Hobgoblin: SRAM X7 2x10 drivetrain, Rockshox Reba RL fork (100mm travel), Rockshox Monarch shock, Elixir 3 hydraulic brakes. $1825 +tax, shipped to your door. Giant Anthem X 29er 1: Shimano SLX/XT mixed 2x10 drivetrain, Fox Float fork (100mm travel) & shock, Elixir 5 brakes. $2875 +tax. Trek Superfly 100 AL: SRAM X7 2x10 drivetrain (w/shimano cassette), Rockshox Reba RL fork (100mm travel), Rockshox Monarch shock, Elixir 1 hydraulic brakes, $2260 + tax Cannondale Scalpel 29er 4: Shimano SLX/XT mixed 3x10 drivetrain, Rockshox Recon Gold fork (80mm travel), X-Fusion E1 RL shock, Elixir 3 hydraulic brakes. $2660 +tax Specialized Epic Comp 29: SRAM X7/X9 mixed 2x10 drivetrain, Rockshox Reba RL fork (100mm travel), Fox/Specialized custom shock, Magura MTS brakes. $3300 +tax

Though to be fair, just about everybody is having their frames built in China, now.

^ I was thinking the same thing, how'd I miss this? I've been hitting it harder this year than ever before. I'm down 18 lbs since March with about 2 1/2 inches off my waist, and hoping to take off 5-7 more lbs before I just maintain for the rest of the summer. I also got into a Year in Pictures project on a dare from my sister, who's also doing one. I've been combining some halfway decent pictures, when I can take them, with a little write up every day. Some of it's good reading, if you're into this sort of thing. Here's today's post: http://cephas365.blogspot.com/2013/05/143-canals-to-rails-to-trails.html

I think that's gonna be a lot of my summer training. Even after I'd caught my breath from the races this Spring though, I wanted to go for another lap. Weird. Anyway I have a 6 hour race this fall to train for, too. Gotta keep that endurance up, and in the mean time keep pushing my VO2 Max and lactate threshold higher with intervals.

I wanna be a better climber. I'm a lot better than I used to be, but I have a long, long way to go. Finished out the spring FastLaps series on Wednesday. So, so close to getting what I was trying for... http://cephas365.blogspot.com/2013/05/135-six-seconds.html

I have a couple pairs of Fox MTB shorts (came with padded liner) for the dirty bike, plus a cheapy pair of HOSS shorts with an integrated liner that I bought years ago when I first got into it. And a couple pairs of PI cheapy shorts for the road bike.

Sooooo do any of you guys need a 32mm seatpost clamp? I bought a nice red Chromag one, without noticing that my seatpost is bigger than that...

Yeah, I'm another minimal/zero drop believer. I spent last year banging out miles in a pair of Brooks Trance 10s, and hurting myself doing it. I just couldn't keep my heels off the ground to save my life, which means I was heel striking, which produces all the shock on your body that ruins your knees/hips/ankles/back. I thought I needed more padding, so I went and got fitted for a pair of Sauconys, but those were so, so much worse. Wrong direction. This year I got a pair of Brooks Pure Cadence 2s, and no more problems. Amazing stuff. It's almost like our feet were designed to run without all that extra padding and "support."

Did a 10k trail race Tuesday night. Felt good, and went 8 minutes faster than last year! http://cephas365.blogspot.com/2013/05/127-trail-race.html

Yup. I'm just coming to the point in my fitness where a 9 mile ride is considered short! I'm used to having to save some for the end, but now that's not such a worry. A new problem, but a good problem to have!

Thanks! Here's my report from last night's race at MoMBA: http://cephas365.blogspot.com/2013/05/128-big-wuss.html

94.5. Was hoping for 100 or so, but got a little beat up by the wind. Still, fun race! I'll definitely do it again next year. FastLaps Race 2 was tonight at MoMBA. It was a little slick in spots. I about tucked the front tire in a sweeper and banged off a tree. Then proceeded to ride like a big pussy for the rest of the race. 11 seconds slower than last week, after a really flying start. Gotta hit it harder next week.

Sounds like a great event! I was already booked for Calvin's Challenge that day, though. Speaking of, is there a road bike thread on this forum, too?

I feel that pain.