Scott Scale 29 Comp Review

One of our newest customers, Ryan Decker, came in looking for a trusty new mountain bike that he could use for commuting as well. We introduced him to the Scott Scale Comp 29 and it was love at first site!

Ryan was also nice enough to send us his thoughts on the bike so others could get an idea of what this machine can do. Thanks Ryan!

"I just recently moved back to Colorado. Although I am fairly new to the biking world, I knew I wanted two things in a bike: a hard-tail that was tough and powerful enough to handle all of Golden’s trails (APEX, Chimney Gulch, etc), yet one that was smooth enough to commute everyday to work on. The guys at the Golden Bike Shop were super helpful and took me right to the 2011 Scott Scale 29 Comp. I had test ridden a few other price comparable bikes at different shops (Specialized Rockhoppers, etc), but knew within minutes that this bike was the winner.

I had never ridden a 29er before and quickly realized what all the hype was about. I am learning to just sit back and let this bike ride over anything in its way! The Schwalbe Rocket Ron 29” tires have great traction and offer serious smoothness and speed both on and off the trails. I have to admit that I had mixed feelings before purchasing the bike based on things I was told about the Suntour XRC-29 fork (from different bike shops), but for the price I have been extremely impressed with its travel, solid lockout, and responsiveness.

Overall, I have been most impressed with the Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes and the lightweight, strong and stable aluminum frame. Also for the price, the components are quality. This bike is a blast on the trails and on the road and provides everything I was looking for. In just the last 6-7 weeks I have taken this bike out in the snow, rain, and sunshine and highly recommend it to anyone looking to break into the biking world without spending thousands."

Three Days LEFT

Hello,

I'm so excited to get out on the trail. I'm hoping that the race is going to take me six days, but in reality it will take eight. I have ten days total to get the full 350 miles. Once I get to McGrath (final checkpoint) I will get on a plane back to Anchorage. Below are some links for updates about the race.

Leader Board: Tracks Racers times at each checkpoint. http://alaskaultrasport.com/results.html
Message Board: Post messages to racers http://kathih.websitetoolbox.com/
Weather Conditions: http://www.wunderground.com/resources/education/Iditarod.asp
Trail Updates: http://alaskaultrasport.com/latest_news.html
FaceBook Updates: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/pages/Iditarod-Trail-Invitational/169964759708637

Thank You all for your love and support,

Ruda

Rare Sight

Well here's a sight you don't see every year, me riding an exercise bike. Bibs a jersey and running shoes, awful. I'm not sure who designs these things but it's no wonder I never see anyone on them. The seat on this thing is the size of the biggest cruiser seat I have ever seen. I had to ride on the very tip of the saddle just to keep my thighs from blasting off the sides of the saddle with every pedal stroke. The Q-Factor must be 300. For me to whine about Q-Factor is horrible, I spend thirty hours a week spinning on a bike with a 100mm bottom bracket. To make matters even more strange the cranks on this darn contraption couldn't be any longer than 160mm, my knees felt like they were going to explode. I still spent an hour and a half on the dang thing, the price we pay for being super-freaks.

I do feel better after a little whining about the uncomfortable ride I chose to take.

Ruda

E-Mail From Ultrasport Director

Bill just sent me this. Glad I've been doing my homework.

Hello All,
Here are some quotes from articles I read about this years Yukon Quest. Just a reminder of one trail hazzard we may have this year. These guys are very experience top mushers who got in trouble at -40 degrees. Does everyone have a plan for this.

About halfway across what he thought was ice, Gatt’s whole team fell through a thin film of ice into chest-high overflow.

Dan Kaduce came in next at 05:23 with a strong team. He had encountered overflow up to his knees. Seavey checked in at 08:00 and had been up to his waist in water.

Here is a trail note from Michael Schoder about another hazard some of us have faced in this section before. A moose nearly made hamburger out of me in 2008 on the Range Road.

Heard lots of reports of the rouge moose between Shell Lake and Skwentna. One is playing "king of the Range Road" and the other is the "guardian of the Shell Hills trail" Reports of moose attacking most riders. Adam had a close encounter of the bullwinkle kind, and luckily escaped.

Watch out for them Moose!!!!!!

Won't be long now

Bill

Bill Merchant
Iditarod Trail Invitational
trail manager/wilderness guide

Chickaloon, Alaska
(907)745 6680

My First Day Not Riding

I'm going to jump out of my skin. I only rode into work and no more. I'm pacing in front of my rollers and road bike, talking myself down from jumping on. Taking a few days off the bike is needed for me. I strained a few things on Sunday after I had tried to kill Mike on Saturday.

I'm starting to really realize how many different angles we have to attend to to be successful cyclists. From bike handling, nutrition on and off the bike, race strategy and planning to stretching and massage. I've been paying extensive attention to all of these aspects except the last, massage. As avid bikers we should be getting at least one massage a month, I do not. Yesterday and today I have been paying the price.

I went to see Aaron Adams at Whole Body Health on the advice of a few of our team riders. This guy did an amazing job of relieving a lot of the pain in my legs and neck. Got the predicted advice of staying off the bike for the night and maybe tomorrow along with lots of water.

It's only been twelve hours since I've been off the saddle and I'm going to jump out of my freaking skin. I'm going to paint my bathroom.

Ruda

Ultrasport Training Complete

As of today my training is done. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all my free time. The last month I've been riding and training around thirty hours a week. I kind of feel like I'm getting laid off. I have nothing left to do but stretch and try not to get fat. I've been eating around 4000 calories a day and loosing 3-4 lbs a week for the last month, I hope I can dial my hunger back.

WOW 12 Days Left

Tonight was Pogie Night. For some odd reason the gear and equipment I desire does not exist. This gives me the opportunity to do what I love, customize one off odd ball stuff.

So, for those of you who have not seen my Pugsley about, I run a very different set up. Super short high rise stem, Titec Jones H-Bar handle bars with Paul's Thumbies and friction shifters at the end of the bar ends. I was not shocked to find that no one makes a production pogie (an over mit that attaches to your handle bars) that fits my set up.

I decided to buy a pair of pogies from DogWood Designs in Anchorage. The mits were very easy to unstitch and separate. With the help of a trusty friend and an ugly jacket from Goodwill I now have a pair of custom Pogies that will only fit my bike.
I'm rely excited about the possibility of me coming home with all my fingers and toes.

Ruda

Thanks Hammer

Wow, after our hell ride yesterday neither Mike nor myself were sore this morning at all. Yesterday we both payed close attention to our nutrition and hydration strategy and it paved off. After a full day at work I'm out hammering away feeling awesome. Hammer really has some great products that work if you set a simple plan and stick to it.

With 14 days left I'm feeling very confident in my ability to finish the Ultrasport.

Ruda

So I Tried to Break Mike

So Mike and I got a great ride in today. We rode from Golden down to Chatfield up to North Denver and back to Golden. I tried my best to break Mike but he wouldn't quit, I think he'll do just fine in the Dirty Kansa if he keeps this up.

So with these longer rides I've been doing lately I've rely been paying close attention to hydration and nutrition. I know it sounds like Captain Obvious, but the more attention I pay to what I put in the better my results are. A lot of times I find that I drink when I'm thirsty and eat when my stomach grumbles, which does not produce the greatest results. For these six to twelve hour days I have to put my self on 20 minute intervals of eating an drinking just a little at a time at 250-300 calories per hour and a little snack out of the Hammer Nutrition Supplements ads a nice level of constant reliable energy.

Today I mixed six scoops of Perpetuem in one water bottle and three scoops of Heed and three scoops of Soy Protein in another bottle. I use the Perpetuem first and use about a quarter to a third of a bottle per hour of both, 150-175 calories worth. Nibble on a Hammer Bar or a Snickers or these new Honey Stinger Waffles at about a 100 calories per hour. I pop an Endurolyte every hour along with an Anti-Fatigue and an Endurance Amino. Three Race Caps Supreme pills an hour before the ride started me out in high gear. A tall glass of milk with four scoops of Recoverite post ride and I feel like a million bucks.

I hope this feeling carries over to tomorrow morning. I hope I don't wake up super sore and feeling like Frankenstein.

If anyone has any interest in working on a fueling strategy for any situation let us know at the shop, we'd love to help.

Here's to fifteen days left before the start of the Ultrasport.

Ruda

Dirty Kansa vs. Alaska Ultrasport

Pop quiz time kids. Which race is more awful, DK or the Ultrasport?

17 Days LEFT.........

Well, yesterday I mailed off my drop bags to Finger Lake and Rhone. Lots of Hammer stuff and bacon and butter and candy and Little Debbies and socks and batteries and hand warmers and coffee and and and big Surly tubes. I'm sure I forgot four things but the bags were at their max weight. It seems like so much stuff but I wanted to stuff more stuff in.

I hope I sent everything I need to survive. But, I have a habit of way overpacking and hauling around a bunch of junk I never use.

My self and a few others are going to do a ride tomorrow morning around ten ish, let me know if you want to meet up with us.

19 Days to Go.

Today I start dialing in my pills. I just got a giant box from Hammer Nutrition. I've been using Perpetuem for the last few years, it keeps me energized for hours and I don't get hunger pains. Now with 12 to 20 hour consecutive race days I feel like I need to step it up. Over the next two weeks I'll be adding a new component from Hammer to my diet and see how it helps.

Today Endurolytes. I know it sounds crazy but I loose a ton of water through sweat on cold days and end up cramping in the fourth and fifth hours if a ride. Today let's see if I can take care if this with a few handfuls of Endurolytes.

Ruda

SSAZ Victory!!

Congrats to our very own Tim Allen for killing it in Tucson this past weekend at SingleSpeed Arizona. Congrats Tim, great work!!



Check out the great article and pics of the event from Mountain Flyer mag at: Single Speed Arizona article

UltraSport Countdown

Well today I start the countdown until to the start of the Alaska UltraSport. 350 miles across the frozen interior of Alaska on the Iditarod Trail from the Knick Glacier to McGrath. 20 days to go.

I've spent the last five years planning this, ever since I saw a Surly Pugsley in Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, MI. Most days you can find my Super Pugs fully loaded hanging out in front of the the shop: Custom Raven Cycle Works Fork, 100mm wide Chrome rims and Epic Designs Expedition Bag System.

Salsa Spearfish in stock!

Looking for a 3" travel 29er race bike at a fantastic value?

Look no further than the new Salsa Spearfish. This is one sweet set-up with all the latest trimmings including Rock Shox Reba fork, SRAM 2x10 drivetrain, Elixer brakes and Stan's wheels all for well under $3,000.

Come in an check out one of the hottest new bikes of the season today!