Kims got the pics on the office/shop computer. I”ll post them next time.
But I was thinking about the bike, as it is in the stand, muddy and in desperate need of a major tune/clean. Today, I will definitely ride the road…as it is a clean machine and the MTB is unridable.
For Leadville, I rode a Turner 5 spot.
Turner is our newest brand, and I like them a lot. It was either the 5 spot or a Moots 29er (rigor or YBB – I actually had the choice).
Now, you all know that I’m a ti guy, a huge Moots fan and the whatnot….and if you read any of the Leadville blogs, you always hear how great a 29er course it is.
Well, the choice came down to rule #1 of racing…which is, don’t change up ANYTHING the day (or days) before your big race/destination ride.
So, since I had a couple miles on the Turner and liked the geometry, I went with it over the XC’d out Moots…which Kim rode by the way in Leadville and loved.
The 5 spot was set up trail style. Fox 36er 160mm fork, Avid elixr brakes, gravity dropper seatpost.
Yes, the 28lb beast was a little heavy going uphill (not unlike a 29er) but going downhill was a dream. I passed so many people on the downhills and felt 100% confident in the ruts going 35mph.
An added bonus is that when you drop the seatpost of a gravity dropper, you straighten up you back which adds to the relief factor during a 100 mile mountain bike ride.
There were many 29ers at the race. I was impressed….there were a fair amount of single speeds too…and many women on single speeds….good lord.
My man, Travis Brown rode drop bars. Fascinated by this, I arranged anAO interview.
AO: Travis, my man.
TBrown: Jonny, good to see you at Leadville.
AO: Yeah, let me get down to it, why the pussy ass drop bars?
TBrown: Well, it seemed like a good idea due to the long road sections and mostly double track nature of the course.
AO: Did you stretch yourself out on the bike?
TBrown: I did. I wanted to get as aero as possible for the road section. The wind out there can and was pretty brutal.
AO: It looked like you and Matt (Shriver) were pacing Lance along…was that the plan?
TBrown: It was. From the gun, the plan was to get Lance to the Columbine climb, or further to the Powerline climb. Matt pulled for about 40 miles, and then I pinned it as best I could, but Matt ended up passing me in the end because I kinda ran out of gas.
AO: Yeah dude, it a long race, isn’t it? Was it fun working for Lance.
TBrown: It was, we had a neat little team and it was great to help set a new course record.
AO: Did big tex throw you down some coin?
TBrown: You know I can’t discuss that.
AO: Thats cool, I’ll slip you some E when I’m at single speed worlds next month and I’ll drug it out of you.
TBrown: Are you coming down for that?
AO: Travis, I’m staying at your house!
TBrown: No your not?
AO: I”m just kidding man, well, congrats on a great finish, it was fun racing with you again.
TBrown: Yeah, congrats, that was your first Leadville, right?
AO: It was.
TBrown: Are you going to do it next year?
AO: Honestly, I don’t know….it was super hard on me, and I’d like to give LOTOJA a try maybe.
TBrown: Well, I think that you should do both…and also, let me recommend at Leadville next year starting at the front with the fast guys instead of being a total pussy and packing it in 1400 people deep….just so you know.
AO: Thanks Travis, I”ll give you a call whenever I need a pep talk.
That was the course. more pics later.
