Doug Grant kicks off 25 mile ride, and introduces Mtn Bike Legend Tom Ritchey Founder of Project Rwanda

Here’s a quick note from Doug Grant, founder of 50 Mile Ride, which Supports Project Rwanda.

“Hi gang:
What a day!  To quote Mary Poppins (that famous downhill racer) our 4^th annual event was “practically perfect in every way”.  We are blessed, and God was truly smiling down on us Saturday.  Terrific riding weather, smooth and flowing trails, friendly and encouraging volunteers everywhere you looked, yummy bbq on a sunny patio, TONS of fabulous prizes, and huge support from our 485 riders and their friends and family.  I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life.

Check out this story that will appear in Tuesday’s edition of the OC Register (OC Outdoors page, back page of the sports section).

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ride-243701-grant-artates.html

David Whiting has indeed caught the Rwandan fever.  He’s got the bug, big time – and he’s done a terrific job of capturing the essence of our event.  Each of you should be proud.  It is because of your unselfish care and commitment, the hours and the energy you have invested, that this event is successful.  Thank you.  And thank you again.  We need to do a big group hug.

Sandy has tabulated where we stand so far – and we’re now over $52,000 in funds raised (including that generous Allstate 15% match – thank you John!).  I heard we may have even more donations coming in, so that number could go higher.  This is so humbling.  So far beyond our wildest expectations, that it can only be a God thing.  I love it when He does this.

Treve, could you please forward this email to all of the volunteers in your list?  I want to be sure they know how much we appreciate their help and support.  I say this every year and I really mean it – our planning team and our volunteer team are the number one reason why this event is so fun and so organized and so safe and so successful.  I am so very grateful for every one of you, and I’m honored to call you my friends.

God bless you,

Doug Grant-

www.wagraphics.com“

Six months ago I decided it was either a new bike or soup up my 2007 Stumpjumper with a new wheelset.  Price a the determining factor ($3,000+ for a new ride, or $800+ for a wheelset). I opted for wheels.  Jeff at RockN’Road told me the best money I could spend on my bike was on the wheels.

I’ve probably “needed” new wheels for two years.  I essentially learned how to mountain bike on my current bike, throwing it on the ground as many times as miles as I’ve pedaled. It’s seen 3 years of 10 to 20 rides a month, been catapulted end over end down Los Pinos and similar trails more times than I care to admit.  She’s been abandoned on climbs I could not clean, to roll side over side down a rock face, left behind as I buried the front end in a sandy corner and “Supermanned” over the bars, My old wheels are tired.

I’m not the guy to take an $800 wheel purchase lightly.  When I bought my bike in 2007

I convinced myself first, then my wife, that I NEEDED it (she was just hoping when I bought it I’d stop talking to her about Fox Shocks and hydraulic disc brakes).  I did some minor arithmetic that made the bike FREE. My math:

1. Close my gym membership immediately (didn’t go anyways) $1620 saved over 3 years.
2. Never buy a Starbucks ($50/month x 3 years) =$1.800.00 (note – still spend $30/month, and never really stopped, but sounded good then)

The early days, my Stumpjumper and I were in heaven. And every time I cut through the singletrack trees of lower Holy Jim, or descend through rock gardens, or climb technical single track at San Juan Trail, I would smile and realize how much I loved her.

Original Specialized / DT Swiss wheelset

After some hard riding the early signs were there.  A year and a half ago, after Vision Quest, I started blowing spokes. My not-so-rigid wheels needed truing every month.  Ride quality changed.  Single track did not feel like I was on rails any more. The bike seemed “flexy” pedaling and rolling over rocks, pedal response from a stop didn’t create instant rear wheel engagement, as the hub was starting to get tired too.  It wasn’t unrideable, but it was not as good as “the early days”.  And because I know it’s a great bike, I decided it was her wheels, not her heart, that needed replaced.

details, details, details...red nipples

Research is important to me when spending money on big purchases.  I poured over reviews, articles, message boards, and checked out ads for killer wheel deals.  Hours have been spent talking to shop guys who ride about: the best, how long a wheel lasts, weighs, service needs, and how much they improve ride quality.  Who makes the best hub, spokes, hoops, hand built versus machine assembled, Chris King vs. DT SWISS 240?  Then…. price, weight, durability, tubeless, wide rim, Mavic or other proprietary spokes, versus the standard universally available spokes?

Bottom line: I wanted a wheel set that was lighter than I currently rode, more durable, at as reasonable a price as I could find…without compromising the ride and quality.  My wife rallied the troupes for birthday cash in December, so I could stop talking to her about wheels (a selfless move?)….I took it as her nudge, “shut up and do something about it”. So I did.

axle caps plug into the front wheel for 3 sizes

Rock N’ Road ordered me my weapon of choice, the Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset. The website pitch: “For  aggressive trail riders who aren’t afraid to take risks and go big, this wheel gives you the durability to traverse the whole mountain, without compromising low weight.” I felt fast already. And the red nipples were sexy.

My rationale for a big dollar set of wheels: The versatility could last me some years and a couple bikes. The front wheel comes with 3 choices of quick-change 20mm/15mm/QR axle caps. So though I currently have a 9mm quick release, when I upgrade to a 15mm/QR I’ll be able to swap the caps and keep the same wheels for added rigidity in the front end. Serviceability was important to me so I made sure I’d find my wheel’s spokes anywhere I ride, in or out of town.

Jeff at the Aliso Store, was pretty confident that this was my best bet for the money. He’s been riding them…and  so do most of the guys in the shop.  They claim no need for truing, “they are sturdy, stiff, fast”.

Weight and price was a factor.  Other Trail/All mountain wheels I considered:

Easton Havoc -  Pair: 1930 g / MSRP $750.00

Azonic Outlaw Front: 997g, Rear 1247g, Pair 2244g / MSRP $399.99

CrankBrothers Iodine: Front: 895g, Rear:1008g, Pair 1903 / MSRP $950.00 (very sexy and functional wheel)

Mavic Crossmax SX: Front: 825g, Rear: 930g, Pair:1755g / MSRP $899.99

When it came down to it I wanted a wide stiff rim, so I could run a wide tire, with cross-country weight for the climbs I love to punish myself with, with solid internals and spokes. Enter Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset- with tried and true DT Swiss hub internals and spokes.

Specialized’s website claims 1550g. With the axle caps and tubeless valves mine weighed in at 1680g.  The upgrade put my previous DT Swiss wheels on a diet of 406g diet from 2086g. That’s 0.895076 lb.  Maybe doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you can shave rolling resistance on a bike, that’s the place to shave weight.  Less rolling weight=easier climbing, faster descending.  And with the Traverses I got a good looking set of wheels too. Here’s the stats Specialized lists on their site.

* E5 alloy, welded high-strength disc rim with eyelets; tubeless compatible (26mm W x 18mm H)

* Front hub: includes quick-change 20mm/15mm/QR axle caps

* OS28-compatible for Future Shock forks

* Rear hub: CNC-machined alloy body, high quality Swiss-made internals, ratchet and cassette body, and sealed cartridge bearings

* 24-spoke DoubleDrive front pattern, 28-spoke 3x pattern supports disc brake and loads to the rear wheel

* DT super comp 2.0/1.7/1.8mm round spokes

* DT pro lock hexagonal alloy nipples

* Roval steel quick releases

* Wheelset: 1550g

* Q/R: 125g/set

* Limited Lifetime Warranty

Another cool weight/rolling resistance saving:  Traverse comes out of the box tubeless ready.  I bought a compressor to get the tires to mount ($75 at Target).  My tire choice,Sprecialized 2.4” Purgatory (front), with 2.2” Captain (rear)…add Stans Tire Sealant.

There’s 6 rides on the new wheels now. The rain and new baby in January made it tough to get on the bike frequently.

Verdict: the Traverse Wheels have made my ride solid, again, They hold a line, the wide rim lets the wide tires be grippy and quick to pick up a line on fast, technical single track. Pedal responsiveness: great – immediate engagement.

CAUTION: These wheels aren’t for everybody. When I took the wheels out of the box, one of the sheets included reads: for riders who do not exceed 250lbs. Due to the weight savings shaving Specialized has done my Clydesdale friends need to look elsewhere for your perfect set.

I did have a little trouble going tubeless, however it was my first time doing it myself, and so there’s been a learning curve.  I did get them to inflate…another USER ERROR CAUTION: After I had the front tire blow off the bead when riding the first time I took it into RockNRoad to find out what I did wrong.  They tell me I have to hear it “seat” which essentially sounds like a pop, pop as the bead seats in the rim.  (I did not the first time, but rode it anyway). No problems now that I know. I just took them back home, inflated till I heard the pop-pop, and running tubeless for the last 5 rides incident free.

Two BIG noticeable improvements with the Traverses

1. The wheels are fast….they roll and roll, without feeling any kind of drag while descending, or struggle when I’m climbing. I was starting to feel my old set “spin” towards the end. It’s better if you don’t feel your wheels spinning.
2. Trail precision is more like a sharp knife. True.  As I’ve cut through tight singletrack at speed, my bike is holding a line, no flex or delay in the corners.

Bottom line, best wheel I could buy for the money ($800). My Stumpjumper looks new again (or at least has sexy legs) I’ll get another year or two out of her, before I have to pretend I’ll stop drinking Starbucks to pay for a new frame and fork.

When it’s time I’ll just move this wheelset to the new bike.

Attn: all beginner riders, there’s a great spot to connect with other riders.

I had an opportunity to talk with John, as he picked up his 4Ti Crank Bro’s Pedals at my house a couple of weeks ago. John told me a bit about the rides they do.  Both John and Matthias came out to help us during the trail work days, before the first Over the Hump race, along with some of their beginner riders.  I was taken by the low-key, yet taken-by-mountain-biking enthusiasm they all shared. Jump in, there’s a great group here!

Tonight’s ride is at Whiting Ranch. Click here for Information. They ride every Wednesday, and post links on Monday, to let you know where the ride will be.

ABOUT THE WEEKLY MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE FOR BEGINNERS!

John Dang and Matthias Jezek from SHO-Air / Sonance / Team Velosport organize weekly MTB rides for Beginner to Intermediate Level. These rides are designed to help improve your skills, learn more about the sport, enjoy the local trails, and most important share the fun with other participants! Each week they choose a different location, which helps with diversity and to introduce new trails to people who may just be getting into the sport or are not familiar with all the parks in the Orange County area. Expected ride time is approximately 60-90 Minutes, but this also depends, if riders request short clinics about particular trail sections or riding techniques.

Everyone rides at their own comfortable pace and we will always have trained control riders, so no one gets left behind. There is also always a short introduction to safety rules !

Exact routes, meeting time, and future rides will be posted every Monday morning at www.teamvelosport.com (Team Blog and photos) or www.rocknroadcyclery.net (News and Blog)

For further detailed information, please contact John Dang (jdang158@gmail.com) and/or Matthias Jezek(matthias.jezek@mac.com).