Product Review: Wolf Tooth Drop Stop Chainrings

Distributor: Direct from wolftoothcycling.com or through Revolution Products Ltd.

RRP: $82-$110

Let’s be honest; front derailleurs aren’t perfect. Deliberately dropping your chain in the hopes that it lands correctly on another chain ring doesn’t really sound that good, does it? Until recently, your choices were limited when it came to doing battle with the front derailleur; live with it, run a chain guide and tolerate annoying chain rub, or join the seedy world of single-speeders. None of these options are ideal for many riders, so when SRAM announced they had found a solution using a specially machined front chain ring, the mountain biking world got very excited indeed.

But SRAM’s solution through another factor in to the equation; cost. Shelling out $600 for the privilege of this new technology seems unrealistic to most riders, but thanks to some loopholes in the patent and a number of small engineering shops tooling up to work with the new technology, the alternating profile “thick thin” chain ring was brought to the masses. Wolf Tooth, with their DropStop chain ring, are one such company.

Currently keeping stock of 10 different ring designs for different model cranks, chances are you will be able to find a model in Wolf Tooth’s catalogue to suit your current ride. Tested here is the GXP Direct Mount model. Weighing in at 74 grams for a 32 tooth model, running this ring will save around 250 grams just from weight saved by removing 2 front chain rings and a spider. This does not take into account removing front derailleur, shifter and associated cabling. In my case, with these taken into account approximately 400 grams were put into long term storage in the shed, more than enough to make any weight weenie look up and take note.

So, it is a cheap way to drop a lot of weight, but does it do what it says on the box? (Or in this case, website). In short, yes it does. In 2 months of riding a hard tail over some rather steep and bumpy terrain, this tester has had exactly one dropped chain. One, and that was after a very messy dismount that would have seen my previous 2x10 system home crying. But wait, there’s more! Without a front derailleur or guide for the chain to rub and bounce against, the drivetrain is almost completely silent… Trail ninjas rejoice.

Light weight, reliable and inexpensive. All very well, but can you actually ride the thing? That depends on you. With a 32 ring fitted to a 29’r this test spun out on the top gear at around 44kmh, so fast enough for most riders. For a strong rider, a 32-36 gear combo will get you up all but the steepest hills, but if you live in exceptionally steep terrain rings are available right down to 26 teeth in some designs.

So is it worth it? The ability to give the single ring craze a go for around $100 seems minuscule compared to shelling out for $1500+ for a single specific drivetrain, and it works exactly as claimed; the sheer number of them out on track at Nationals this year is a testament to their value. As with any single ring drivetrain, the Wolf Tooth will keep you honest about your fitness, but then again, we don’t mountain bike because it’s easy…

A quality product with an option for everyone. 

To buy direct from Wolf Tooth just click the pretty picture below...

Product review: Orca Killa Kompression Leggings

RRP: $169

Auckland based brand Orca is known in the triathlon world as being the brand to have; their wet suits and triathlon kit adorns some of the sport’s most successful athletes. Orca is also one of the few brands that offer a range of high end compression garments, including the new “Killa Kompression” line.

Before you banish the idea of compression garments to the realms of snake oil and pagan ceremonies as performance enhancers, consider that compression stockings have been in use in the medical world for over 50 years to help treat poor blood flow in patients. That, and multiple studies have suggested that not only do they improve performance by measurable amounts when used correctly, compression garments can also lower the perceived level of pain and aching post exercise, with increased recovery times reported along with this. Not just hearsay.

Having tried the Killa Kompression leggings my first impressions were that they were tight. Second impressions were that I couldn't bring myself to take them off; not because I was in love with them and didn't want to, but because I physically couldn't. I had to enlist a bit of help to free my legs from their elastomer embrace. Third impression, Orca’s sizing was a little bit off. Try before you buy, folks.

However, once fitted with the proper size the fit was comfortable but not restricting, with plenty of movement possible and just a subtle tugging reminder from the garment that it was there. They certainly felt very springy and energising, although that could have been the caffeine talking.

Any doubts were dispelled, however, once I started using these leggings after long training rides and races. Note the inclusion of after, as these leggings will slide down the waist a little if used while riding, leading to the crotch area catching on the nose of the saddle when standing. If you want compression whilst riding, one of Orca’s cycle specific, bibbed, chamois equipped options might be better.   

Slipping the leggings on after training created what I can only describe as a cooling effect to my aching muscles. The fabric might have something to do with it, as it is moisture wicking, thermo-regulating and SPF 50 to boot. After just over an hour my legs, which had up until then been stiffer than a fully rigid with the tyres at 70 psi, were actually feeling good. Feeling normal. Feeling like they were almost up to do another round of the 50 km race I had just completed…

While the rest of my body rebelled against these thoughts and begged for another slice of post-race cake, this experience with Orca’s leggings has left me a firm convert to the benefits of compression garments. You can throw around all the statistics and studies you want, but in the end it comes down to real world performance and in this the Orca’s certainly deliver.

A top quality product from a local company; perfect for those looking for that extra edge over the competition.    

The Calm Before the Storm...

As the last rays of sunlight retreated over the horizon, the clouds began to assemble en mass. Billowing and bellowing they came, swelling in the sticky summer night like bruises on the face of the sky. The trees sway slowly, barely a breath compelling them to begin with, but oscillating with every increasing urgency at each push. The first drops of rain are beginning to fall, the solitary tears down a cheek before a heart wrenching sob is released by the thunder...


                                            (Photo courtesy of National Geographic)
  
So what does a strange descriptive piece about a coming storm have in common with a blog about bikes you may ask? Well, first I am going to release my repressed inner meteorology nerd and tell you a bit about storms.

The typical tropical storm begins when warm ocean water heats up and turn to vapour. Rising rapidly from the surface it forms a storm cloud, which is continuously fed by more warm water until it grows in size. It grows and grows and grows, until it interacts with the jet streams and trade winds flying around the earth and, with a bit of help from the Coriolis effect, begins to spin... If all this happens and the water remains hot enough, you get a cyclone (Hurricane for all you North American readers).

Particles of air and water rub together creating huge amounts of friction, sending jagged bolts of lightning through the air. Thunder rolls through the sky and waves assault the shore, causing widespread flooding. And, there's the rain. It never seems to stop. I was dumb enough to sit through the windward arm of one of these storms in a tent once it was even less fun than it sounds), and so I figured it made a good metaphor for where I have been in the last couple of months.

As you may or may not be able to infer, there were times in the last 3 months that were miniature disasters. My Nationals season was one such example. I moved to a new age group, I tried some new stuff, a bit different to what I did last season, and it didn't work out so well. I spent some time travelling and racing with some wonderful people, but unfortunately they were outweighed by a number who I wouldn't mind never seeing again. Unfortunately, Mountain biking is a tight community and one that people do not readily leave, so the latter individuals will be seen around for quite some time yet. But on the flip side, so will those wonderful people I feel privileged to know so I guess it balances out.

I guess it's not so bad though. I had the opportunity to follow the New Zealand National circuit for the first time in my life. I went to Oceanias in Mount Hut to find out what it was like to live life behind the lens instead of out in front, and even tried my hand at making a movie (it failed due to some strange compatibility issues with equipment and a stubbornly laggy laptop...).

I hiked the Milford track in the south island over Christmas, and not only was the track fantastic but I had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people from all around the world there too.

I spent a summer actually doing things with friends for a change instead of just slogging away on my bike; I learnt how to be a normal teenager for a change.

The storm metaphor doesn't stop there in its description of difference and occasional disaster. Storms are full of energy and have the potential to bring about change. Well, I have been buzzing around recently like greased lightning and the winds of change are blowing through my life as I type. I recently started working a bit more closely with NZMTBR magazine, and had a few more bits and pieces published by them. They have taken me on with offers of more writing and reviewing, and are helping me get in touch with dealers and suppliers around the country to take my reviewing to the next level.

So what does this mean for you, dear reader? Well, get ready to see way more product reviews than I have ever done, on a wider range of stuff, and some of it is going to be pretty cool. There will even be some bikes that aren't from Giant! Be prepared for a veritable tsunami of stuff over the next few months; reviews, articles, advice, introspection... the one thing you will not be seeing as much of is race reports.

"Why?" I hear you ask, "race reports are pretty much all you ever do Robin!"

The reason for this is that over the past few months I have come to realise something; race reports are kind of pointless now. I am moving away from the point where my readers are all just club members wanting to know how their mates got on over the weekend. Once upon a time, that's exactly what Turning Pages was; a club notice board written with my perspective on things. With that came a demand for covering every facet of a club; to praise people I might not want to praise, cover races I might not want to cover and behave and write to someone else's rules for fear of petty censorship (a fear that became all too real near the end of last year thanks to other peoples squabbles). I refuse to walk that road any more.

Do not fear, there will still be race reports, but only when I feel they have a story that is worth reading. I will not bore you with constant recounts of riding in circles. That is a promise.

So where does this leave me at the end of a long, disjointed essay of thoughts, feelings and rants? I think what I am trying to say is that I haven't thrown in the metaphorical, sweat stained post race towel just yet. It's always darkest before the dawn, and you cannot know victory until you have tasted defeat. I have had enough losing for a while, and as the storm passes the rays of sunlight from the early dawn are peeking over the trenches of the horizon. It's time I started fighting again.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Turning Pages is back.

-R

J-Squad Assemble! Lake Taupo Huka Cruiser 2013

One thing I have not seen much of in Auckland since I started Mountain Biking is a Junior Race Squad. Not just any squad though, but one that takes developing riders and turns them into national level athletes. Road? Bajillions of the things. Same goes for track. If skinny tyres and handle bars with curves big enough to make a super model envious are your thing, then chances are if you have the legs there is a squad for you. Whether that be through school, BikeNZ or a private team is up to you, but the point is that they are there. But when it comes to Mountain Biking, we are surprisingly lacking in teams focused on high end performance.

So, as you can imagine, I was delighted to discover that a squad was being formed here in Auckland with the intention of doing exactly that; taking a small group of riders and making them into nationally competitive athletes. I thought that it was a brilliant idea and that whoever was chosen for the squad would have access to some great coaching, training, riding, racing and an even greater time doing it all. Having been on break for a few months travelling, it was much to my surprise that I was chosen to join what would become known as "The J-Squad".

Having had the chance to spend a few weeks to train together, we had targeted the "Cruiser" event of the Lake Taupo Huka event as our debut race as a team. 33 km of fast, open tracks and roads, with tight, windy single track and pinch climbs near the end just when you thought you were home safe. It was here we would push to the limit and find the chinks in our metaphorical Suits of Armour to begin our training for Nationals in just under 2 months time.

Friday was a preparation day. Running through stretching exercises with our coach Jesse Voza exposed all our week spots when it came to flexibility, with more than a few grimaced faces witnessed during the session. I am sure many of us were quite pleased when it was all over. An earlier night than usual was in order for all of us as we had a big day the next day, as we set out to try and take the course record.

The Race.

Saturday morning and it was all systems go. An early breakfast before rolling in convoy into Taupo. For those of you that haven't raced at any of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge events, getting into town early on race day is a must. With over 8000 people showing up for the different events in a town that usually only holds 34,000, parking and traffic are a nightmare. Unfortunately, due to the huge numbers of riders, no-one was entirely sure when and where our event, the Huka Cruiser, was supposed to start so warm ups were a tentative affair that involved not straying far from the start line lest we miss a call up for our event. With everyone we asked giving us a different answer, this was not a risk we wanted to take.

Eventually, we made our way to the front row and prepared for an hour and a half of pushing as hard as possible. When the start horn went, the entire squad shot to the front of the pack for the hole shot. By the time we were off the road and onto the grass, 3 out of the 5 front riders were J-Squad representatives including the lead rider, Isaac Schuurman. Within the first 3km the field had separated out and the real racing began. Isaac, Josh Riley and Coach Jesse held the fort out front in a pack of 4 riders, while I pushed the lead of the next couple of riders shortly behind, with J-squad rider Peter Bethell hot on my heels. Then came J-squad "Associates" Alex Beavan, and Hayden Schuurman pushing a blistering pace ahead of the rest of the pack, with the J-Squads female contingent, Harriet "Hatty" Beavan and Coach Sophiemarie Bethell rounding out the top 10 or so riders.

As the race began to stretch on the Squad held its own throughout the field. Isaac still lead the race, pushing through the head winds to hold first, with Josh and Coach Jessie right behind. Peter and Alex slid in behind me and together we began to punch out the miles, holding our own ahead of the rest of the pack. Slightly further back, Hatty and Sophie were having a race of their own, putting many of the male riders to shame. At around the 12km mark, I had a bit of a moment of energy loss due to my lack of recent racing experience, where Alex, Hayden and Peter got passed and shunted up the hill to pull away from me. It was here that the race could be made or broken, which Hayden and Alex showed by pulling away from Peter and racing together for the rest of the event. Once we hit the flats I managed to reel Peter back to within a drafting distance and together we rode the rest of the race; alternating leads and working together to keep the pace up.

And so it continued until the last few Kilometers.

Alex and Hayden had put a decent lead on Peter and I, to the point they finally slipped out of sight. Peter and I rode hard through the final sections of tight twisty singletrack before emerging out onto the side of the road to head back into Taupo. Around about then Isaac and Jesse were sprinting for the finish, with Isaac just edging ahead of Jesse to take 2nd place over all. Josh followed through almost exactly a minute later in fourth place. Well done guys! Peter managed to get ahead on the last real downhill section, but I caught him on the next climb as we started on the road towards the finishing straight.

The facts were as follows; we were both cramping, tired and hungry. Peter had the advantage of being in front and a triple crank set to gear him up for the finish, but I could draft and "slingshot" my way past if timed correctly. Rounding the final corner, we went to sprint, but as I shifted up...

...Nothing.

My chain had over shifted onto the crank. Turns out a worn big ring is not a good thing to have for a race. Peter began to pull away as I downshifted and tried again, with my chain shifting up into the big ring and...

...overshooting again.

Peter was getting further away, about a quarter of the way down the 400m finishing straight as I tried to shift one last time. Chain up, onto the big ring, and...

...it stayed.

And so began my hardest sprint this year. Bike swaying beneath me like a flax bush in a hurricane, I surged forward with everything I had. Cramped calves, heaving oxygen deprived lungs and exhausted mentality were all forgotten in those few moments of blind ambition and desire to win the sprint. My senses returned as I crossed the line, greeting me with clapping and cheering from the crowd and sweat rolling down my riding glasses. It was not in vain; somehow I had pulled 5 seconds on peter in the space of a little over 300 meters to finish in 7th place. Moments later, Peter crossed the line in eighth. The race was over.


The Results


Second Place overall was taken by J-Squad rider Isaac Schuurman. After leading from the front for most of the race he was overtaken by Endura rider Nathan Johnston near the final section of the course. Nathan went on to win the race by a little over 3 minutes thanks to some clever drafting earlier in the race keeping his legs fresh.

Coach Jesse took first in his category and third over all, a mere 3 seconds behind Isaac at the finish.

J-Squad "Associates" Josh Riley, Alex Beavan and Hayden Schuurman took 4th, 5th and 6th overall respectively, with Hayden winning the 15 and Under category. A strong performance by three riders that was reflected in the results.

Peter and I were to follow shortly after with yours truly in 7th and Peter in 8th.

Harriet Beavan rounded out the field with 10th over all and as first woman home, taking the category win, as well as smashing the course record by 10 minutes! Coach Sophiemarie Bethell took first in her category as well, only a few seconds behind Hatty.

7 out of the top 10 riders were representing J-Squad, 2 out of three overall podium positions were held by J-Squad members and four category wins were recorded, with a new course record to boot.

It is hard to imagine a more successful outcome than that.

On its very first outing, the J-Squad has shown itself to be a formidable team capable of delivering results. I look forward to seeing how we develop and improve as we build towards the Nationals season. The future looks bright for Youth Mountain Biking here in Auckland.

Long May it Last.

The J-Squad.

  

Review: Giant Trance SX 27.5

RRP NZD$4799

A few weeks ago I entered the Giant 2W Enduro down in Rotorua, and after asking around at my sponsor's store R&R Sport Auckland I was lucky enough to get hold of a bike for the weekend, as I didn't fancy riding hard down hills for hours on my super stiff hard tail. Enter the Trance SX; a 160/140 mm traveled downhill destroyer that was my steed for the weekend.

Image courtesy of Giant Bicycles

The Spec
Dressed out in a faintly sparkling golden paint job that has to be seen to fully appreciate, the Trance SX is decked out to the nines with everything you could want out of the box; there is nothing you would immediately think was substandard or worth replacing. A largely Deore spec drivetrain gets an SLX Shadow Plus derailleur and Zee crank as noteworthy upgrades, and comes set up as 1x10 with an MRP Chain guide holding the chain on through the rough stuff. I did have a little bit of trouble setting the correct number of spacers to get the chain guide perfect, but once set up it performed perfectly for the duration of the test.

The in house Giant branded components punched far above their surprisingly reasonable weight, with the P-TRX1 wheels the highlight of the package. Light feeling, stiff, and capable of being set up tubeless should you so desire. The DT Swiss based hubs were responsive and offered a nice smooth feel, but missed out on the jackhammer sound that other options possess, something some riders may or may not miss. Combine this with the Shadow plus derraileur though, and you have one stealthy ride. It was also nice to see Giant supplying a 60 mm stem with 730 mm wide bars, plenty wide enough for this tester and offering plenty of control. The new generation Contact Switch dropper post now has internal routing and performed on par with the rest of the components, with its internal cable routing going a long way to preserve the clean look of the bike.

The real highlights, though, were the tyre and suspension choices. Schwalbe's Hans Dampf and Rock Razor tyres made a perfect match for all round trail bliss, in a healthy 2.35 width for better traction. They were both in the "Evo" compound too, which means they can be set up tubeless with minimal preparation; a nice match for the wheels.

The Fox suspension came loaded with goodies; TALAS, CTD, 15QR and other acronyms graced the lowers of the 160mm fork that had 34 stanchions for extra stiffness. It did miss out on the top end FIT damper and Kashima coat though, making do with the open bath Evolution damper that was still smooth and controlled throughout the test period. The TALAS did come in handy during some of the steeper transition stages, although for the most part I just left the fork in its longest setting.

The Ride
From the get go, I was impressed with the Giant. It passed the car park wheelie test with aplomb, feeling very neutral and balanced beneath me. Getting up to speed was easier than expected given the weight (it is a solid bike designed to be ridden hard), with the middle sized wheels rolling quickly and efficiently. I was surprised to find myself passing riders of similar ability and fitness on some of the climbs; many of them on shorter travel rigs of varying wheel sizes. I attribute this partially to the great tyre selection, with the Rock Razor on the rear looking stupidly fast rolling whilst still having meaty side nobs for getting rowdy in the corners. This has piqued my curiosity regarding the 'tweener size and I will be following its development closely.

Once the trail started pointing downhill, the Trance SX really came into its own. It remained composed through the bumpiest trails I could offer it and took it all in its stride. Yes, it may lack a little bit of the zing that its predecessor the Reign had, but in return it sticks like plasters to leg hair in the corners and really encourages the rider to dip the bars a little lower in each turn; really pushing the limits of traction.

Smooth would be the best way to describe the Trance SX in the rough stuff. Although there is only 140mm travel in the rear, it doesn't feel unbalanced with the front and soaked up whatever I could throw at it. Giant's maestro system really is a great design, remaining neutral when pedaling but opening up when things get fast. It was nice to see the inclusion of a 142mm rear axle to stiffen things up even more as well. For all but the steepest climbs I left the CTD shock in the descend setting and just let it rip. After all, it is rare to see a VPP System on anything other than a boutique brand such as Santa Cruz or Ibis, so for Giant to include it across their entire range is a real treat.

I will admit though, that I did miss the liveliness of the Reign a little bit. Sure, the Trance SX feels like it can take just about everything and never knocks a hair out of place, but it does so at the price that you never feel truly unsafe. Much like a roller coaster, it is thrilling and exhilarating, but no matter how fast it goes you feel as if you are never truly in danger, lest someone in the engineering department go and do something stupid. If your aim is to go faster than should be humanly possible, then this is not a problem, but if you like having your heart in your mouth and leaving your clothes a kilo heavier after each ride with fear induced sweat, then the shorter traveled Trance might be more up your alley (more on that another time).

The Bottom Line
The Trance SX is a remarkably capable bike. It takes everything in its stride and keeps looking up at you as if to say "you happy yet? I can go faster if you want." For the price, it is a bargain on two wheels and I can understand Giant's commitment to the 650b/27.5 wheel size. The 26er may not be dead, but as far as I can tell the 27.5 is certainly going to rule the roost when it comes to mid travel bikes for the majority of people.

A wonderful bike that will make a lot of riders very happy indeed.

Baptism by Fire: The Whaka 50

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you something you haven't had from me in about 5 months... A race report! *whistles* *claps* *cheers*.

Having been off racing for 5 months to eat paella, speak in Spanish, ride camels, climb halfway up Mt Fuji, meet some amazing new people and learn some elementary Japanese, I am officially back.

I have always had a love/hate affair with long distance races. The cramps, the climbs, the long week of recovery after the race... They all take a special kind of person to come back for more. BUT, the sense of achievement, the awesome crew behind these events (cheers NDuro family!) and getting to ride my bike for  hours on end are all big pluses. So, with some hesitation from my coach, I entered the 50km Whaka 50 as my debut race back to recover from overeating on wonderful foreign food.

There is one other aspect about distance races I failed to mentioned. Most of the "local" races are in Rotorua, which means up at 5 am for a 3 hour drive down. When we arrived in Rotorua this meant my parents were in desperate need for Coffee to last the rest of the day without nodding off and went off into Zippy's for said beverage; after all, we had over an hour before race start and I wouldn't need all of that time to warm up... Well, Murphy's law took effect and after a 25 minute long 10 minute wait they came gaping back out the cafe, coffee's in hand, with 40 minutes to spare before race start... We were going to be cutting it close.

It felt almost surreal lining up at the start, Camelbak on, glasses set to rose tint (everything looks better through rose tinted glasses), and the first hit of caffeine from my stash of gels flowing through my system. I had no idea how I would do, no idea whether I would even finish and no idea of what exactly lay ahead despite being about as much of a veteran of marathon distance as a 16 year old can be. (Earlier this year, back when I was actually fit, I was crowned the National U17 MTB Marathon champ...) So when the starter horn went, I stuck with the pack and got into it. Race on.

20 minutes into the race and it became apparent that it was not going to be my day to win. The front U19 riders set a blistering pace off into the trails that I didn't try to match; my aim was to finish, not to bonk with 15 km to go and wind up unable to walk for a week. I got my first reminder that this was an NDuro when we hit Bush road climb and the legs began to burn. Unfortunately, we just don't have hills of the same caliber here in Auckland, and the legs suffered because of it. There was one little bit of a competition between me and another rider that lasted for most of the race that confused me slightly. I was on a Giant carbon hard tail, my trust XTC, and he was on a carbon Anthem 29r, a full sus. However, he was climbing faster than me, and I was creaming him on the descents; a complete role reversal of what you'd expect looking at our choice of equipment.

This continued right up until Hot X Buns, where I finally got the gap and pulled away. I also met up with fellow Auckland rider Jared Scollay at this point. He had somehow ended up behind me despite being in front of me for most of the race. Unfortunately the Whaka and other NDuro races are notorious for falling victim to course tamperers, and one of us must have fallen victim too. We are still not sure which one of us it actually was though. Regardless, we hammered down through Hot X Buns and into Be Rude Not 2, sore backs and tight triceps galore.

It is in every single race, and it always seems worse than it actually is. Lion trail tends to be the trail of choice for any cramp to kick in, and it nearly got me this time round. A healthy splash of electrolytes later and it was held at bay, but it was a close thing. The last 10 kilometers were pretty painful, as my lack of long distance race experience in recent times began to show, but I thundered across the finish line in top gear, not in last place, having finished my first race in months.

However, all was not well. One of my friends, Kim Wright, had not crossed the line yet despite having been ahead of me most of the race. Half an hour passed, and he didn't finish. Dad went and rode the last section of the course backwards to check if Kim had crashed, while Mom and I stayed with his Dad keeping an eye out in case he came in. One hour later, and still no sign. An ambulance had headed out on course, but we doubted it was for him. Even more time passed.

Then, we received a call from the marshals out on course; the Ambulance was for Kim.

As facts slowly emerged, it became apparent that Kim wasn't dead. He had headed out on the 100km course near the end of the race by mistake, without adequate food or water, and had fainted roadside from exhaustion and severe dehydration. They put him on a saline drip and rolled him off to Rotorua hospital where he made a full recovery and was discharged later that afternoon. A dramatic end to a great event.

A big thanks to all the crew at NDuro events for putting the Whaka on, and serious Kudos to all the guys doing the 100 km option. Even more so to the guys on single speeds, rigids, and rigid single speeds. You guys are tough/insane!

It is good to be back. See you all out there!

-robin

Product Review: Stan's Crest 29'r Rim and 3.30 Ti Hub.

Stan’s Crest 29’r Custom Build.

RRP: $1330

Many racers nowadays make the mistake of judging a bike purely by its weight. When it comes to a race I have seen far too many riders at the side of the track cursing their $14000 wonder bikes; you cannot win if you cannot cross the finish line. So when it came time to invest in a set of lightweight wheels for my 29’r, I faced the famous phrase of one Keith Bontrager; “Strong, light, cheap. Pick two.”

After some research I found myself narrowing it down to 2 choices;

1     The newly released Easton EC70 29’r Carbon wheels. Strong, light, but over $2000 and unlikely to be in the country for another 4 months.

     A custom build of Stan’s Crest 29’r rims on Stan’s Ti hubs for $1330; a hell of a lot less than the Eastons and Tubeless ready. Light, cheap, but I had no idea towards their strength.

I, being a racer boy on a budget and with a slight sense of naivety, chose light and cheap. I can hear you crying out now but, for the average “race ready” set of wheels, anything less than $1400 is considered a pretty good. This is especially true when you consider there are wheels floating around the $4000 mark on some bikes. Would I be making the same mistake as every other racer with stars in their eyes? I would soon find out.

When they first arrived I was impressed. At 1500g they were over half a kilo lighter than my previous wheels and tubeless ready. My Schwalbe Racing Ralphs mounted first try with a floor pump and held their air perfectly. They held so well in fact I had trouble getting the bead off the rim again to insert sealant. Stan has done his research into designing these rims.

Their debut (aside from a spin around the block) was at a race. From the get go my Giant instantly felt… energized. The AC/DC song Thunderstruck played on the start line might have been an omen as they rode like greased lightning. The wheels were plenty stiff with no wind up or noticeable lateral flex. The Ti hubs engaged wickedly fast sending me flying through switchbacks with ever increasing vigour. The hubs also had a nice, solid click to them that my previous wheels lacked. The trail Ninjas may frown at this but there is nothing like the buzzing of a loud hub to reassure you of your speed (or lack thereof). I dominated the race in a way I hadn't for a long time. So far so good.

Fast forward 5 months and these wheels were about to face their ultimate test; XC Nationals. They had required no truing, no maintenance, and were still running like new up to this point. It was on this day I would find out what the Crests were really made of, aside from 6061 grade Aluminium. Unfortunately, out on the trail, a high speed crash occurred with another rider and in his haste to get going again, he stood on the spokes of the front wheel. The wheel was more taco’d than a food fight in a Mexican restaurant and it seemed that Keith Bontrager was right. I couldn't have strength as well as affordability and light weight.

But then something happened that gave me new found respect for Stan and his team of engineers; the rims held their air. Despite barely fitting through the forks and wobbling like jelly in an earthquake the wheels were holding their air. Tentative at first, I began to ride. And they held. They didn't collapse, they didn't explode in a burst of sealant. They just kept working.

I picked up more speed and began to race again. I blew through Grinder at full speed and they didn’t break. In the final lap of the race I hammered inelegantly down the spoke smashing stairs and rim denting drops of Rotorua’s exit trail in my fastest time of the day, and they still kept working.

Strong, light, cheap. Do I really have to pick 2?

Fast forward again to April where, having had new spokes and rim laced to the front wheel, I competed in the Mountain Bike leg of the Xterra in Rotorua. I was involved in a sprint finish and as I entered the finishing chute, at 30kmhr, a spectator jumped onto the course and I hit him at full speed. The front wheel suffered no damage whatsoever.

So it seems I have found something special. A wheel set that is pretty damn light, terrifyingly tough, comparatively cheap for a set of race wheels, have fast engaging hubs and a great tubeless system. Strong, light, cheap. It seems Mr Bontrager’s words are more like general guidelines. 

Stan, you the man.     

Reflective Introspective

Having emerged from a season not entirely unscathed, and also having had two months to recover from said season, it's time to fire up the muscles for a new year of racing, rocking and rolling (over bumpy stuff). As another rider showed me, sometimes it is good to take a look at what I have learnt through my time as an athlete to better myself in the future. So that is what I have done. This is my Reflective Introspective.

Back in 2012 I raced the Huka Challenge 85km MTB race in Taupo with a group of friends. I did not have a huge amount of endurance but was fit, and was one of the few members of my group to carry a CamelBak. We sure didn't win, but we had a great time and were exhausted by the end of it. Also, my fitness got a little boost from it.
Lesson; It pays to do something different and have a bit of fun.

Come February this year and Short Course Nationals beckoned. I lined up ready to race in Rotorua and, up until the third lap, was killing it. Then an unfortunate incident occurred with another rider. It cost me the podium by the drop of a chain, started up a whole lot of emotional trauma, a lot of playing the blame game amongst many people and the occasional shadow of "shoulda, coulda, woulda, gonna" that slips over my mind when I'm off guard. That day still haunts me as a tarnished glory that will take time to fade.
Lesson; some people cannot be trusted, and shit happens despite the best preparation possible.

Marathon Nationals rolled around after this and, despite a lack of participation and some administrative errors from a certain governing body, the race stayed on and I rode my second ever 80km race. I took the National Marathon title for U17 and lightened up for the first time since Short Course Nationals. Even though I hadn't truly trained for this event, and I sure felt it, I still posted a formidable time and had a fun race.
Lesson; Redemption comes from the unlikeliest of places.

In April, shortly before my birthday, I rode in the MTB leg of Xterra Rotorua. After an average race, I sprinted for the finish and crashed head first into a nutty spectator who had ignored the over head crossing above the track and decided to go for a walk through the finishing chute. My bike survived, but my confidence didn't and I was convinced that someone, somewhere, had it in for me.
Lesson; Shit happens more than once. Deal with it.

The last noteworthy lesson came around when I chose to compete in the National Multisport Champs as part of the 3D Rotorua. I came fifth in U19 as a 16 year old, in my first Triathlon ever. I smoked almost everyone else on the ride section, but a substandard run pulled me away from the podium. I did, however, absolutely love it and will do a lot more triathlon in the future.
Lesson; What you are doing might not be the only thing you love. The world is full of wonderful things. Cross training is great.

After all this, I took a break, traveled the world, and returned with my confidence, determination and focus renewed.
Lesson; A break every now and then doesn't hurt, it does the opposite.

So ends a Reflective Introspective on a year in the life of Robin Page. In a year with more ups and downs than a session of hill sprints, I have learnt so much. I have learnt that a rest can do wonders for body and mind, that life is tough so you have to be tougher, and to look for fun in all the corners of life.

I know that this blog is slowly turning away from reports and reviews, and that's because there is more to writing than that. This blog, in it's description, is a journey through my life as a Mountain Biker and athlete, so I want it to do that. And part of that is my thoughts.

Thanks for reading, see you out on the trails.

Robin.