Saturday – Since the club was only doing 35 miles, I decided to hook up with a teamie for a ride out to Sauvie Island, where most of the rest of the team was out practicing for the team time trial at the end of the month (4-man teams). I won’t be able to race that day, so I am not participating. So we rode out there and met up with another 2 riders who live for hill climbing. So we went up Logie Trail and Rock Creek. Oh holy holy god. My heart rate was 180 the entire way up Logie Trail. I thought I was going to die, and I have to say that I’m glad I went, as that’s pretty much exactly what Elkhorn is going to feel like. We rode back on Skyline and I could barely turn the pedals over.
Sunday - A bunch of us went out to Roger’s Camp for a ride on the Historic River Trail. I got my ass handed to me as per usual, but I am ever so slowly getting better with my mtb skills. I still suck pretty bad, but I guess I’m not as bad as last year. The wet slippery rocks and rocks just kill me.
What tire pressure are you runnin’ in the Redline? Perhaps part of the problem is you have too much. I would be someone like you could get away with 26 to 28 lbs in those Maxxis Ignitors. You will climb better and the tires will grab the slippery stuff a bit better. I run 26 to 28 pounds in my tires and I weigh quite a bit more than you. That is one of the main reasons I can do the full rigid thing and still go fairly fast–low tire pressure in the 29er tires. Oh, and softer tires beat you up less; suspension fork or not.
If you are already running low pressure–I got nothin’.
Well, I was running 40 yesterday, I’m a little hesitant to run much lower then that, since they feel quite squishy at 40…it says that 35 is the minimum (although I used to run my old 26er bike at 20, so there ya go). I might try 35, see if that makes any difference…I think the biggest thing is just that I need to work on weighting the bike properly and not being such a wuss.
I promise you can run lower than they say. Squishy is good. Try it. 40 PSI in those tires is waaaayyyy too much. At least go to 30 psi. As long as the tire isn’t folding underneath you when cornering you are fine. I have run those tires and I thought they were great at 28 to 30. I am 200 lbs. A little squishy is good, mo’ betta for speed and traction.
Those minimum tire rates are full of crap on 29ers. If you slice a tube or pinch flat from doing it I will buy you two tubes to replace it–Performance tubes of course though.
The handling skilz just take time.
I have been running 29ers since 2002. It took me about 3 years before I learned the low pressure secret. It is also why many go to Stans NoTubes so that they can run closer to 20 PSI with some tires.
I’m not saying my way is the only way or that it is right for everyone….but I do not have any problems climbing or descending out there at speed. YMMV.
Geesh, I sound like a damn know-it-all. Sorry.