kevin

Aug 7, 08 - 12:20 PM

LANCE ARMSTRONG

How about Lance doing the Leadville 100 this weekend. They said it's the biggest thing there since the discovery of gold.

Hammer

Aug 7th, 2008 - 1:34 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

It would be if he ran it and left the bike home.

kevin

Aug 7th, 2008 - 2:56 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

He is leaving it home. He's running it.

kevin

Aug 7th, 2008 - 4:59 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

I guess he is biking but it is a very tough mountain bike course though. He'll probably miss the tour and be back in France next summer ala Brett Favre.

Becki

Aug 7th, 2008 - 6:46 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

Landis did it last year (I think it was last year anyway) and narrowly lost. Supposedly on all the roads and dirt roads he made up ground, and lost ground on all the more technical stuff. I don't believe there's anything super-techy on the Leadville course, as far as drops/jumps/rock gardens/baby heads/etc...from what I understand, the technical on that course comes from the altitude and mountains. Landis did start out as a mountain biker though.

I'm sort of curious as to who said it's a huge deal. I mean yeah, it's cool, but I'd personally much rather watch someone like Brian Lopes ride than Lance (not that Lopes would have any interest in a 100 mile non-technical course). Though supposedly Trek just built Armstrong a super light full suspension for it (23lbs including pedals, bottle cages, etc), which will be cool to see. Should be interesting to see how he fares against the mountain bikers.

Nate Z.

Aug 7th, 2008 - 6:58 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

I was hoping he'd keep running marathons and we'd see him go sub 2:20 sometime.

Chaz

Aug 8th, 2008 - 12:06 AM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

Trek has a production full sus. comming out this year that is just over 20lbs. so I'm sure the one they build for him for this will be a hard tail that's 16lbs then.

Becki

Aug 8th, 2008 - 3:01 AM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

Chaz, the bike you're talking about is the bike he'll be riding...the 2009 Top Fuel. Sub-21 lbs for the bike itself, and sub-23 when you include pedals, bottle cage, computer, and saddle bag. Odd seatpost design, but supposedly it cuts a lot of weight. Really gorgeous bike, but also pretty expensive...its MSRP is almost twice as much as my mountain bike cost, and my bike wasn't all that cheap. The fact that Treks tend to not fit me very well is keeping me from drooling over it though.

Supposedly Lance had it down to this and a Fisher 29er hardtail (Fisher was bought out by Trek a while ago) and decided to go with the dual squishy. My guess is they were probably around the same weight, and even if the Fisher had a frame weight advantage, the fact that its weight disadvantage is in rotating weight makes it more significant.

Here's the bike:

Chaz

Aug 8th, 2008 - 8:07 AM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

I have a Fisher Super fly that I ride. It's the lightest 29er right now. 23lbs. The shop I race for carries Trek and Fisher and I thought they said the new bike was 20.2 with candy pedal, but I'd imagine with bottles and the bag your right about the weight. And price? It's all relavent to what your into. I was at the shore last week and I saw 100K fishing boat everywere. I wouldn't pay 10 bucks for one. So really we get off cheap buying bikes and kayaks. At least that's how I justify it. Chaz

Becki

Aug 8th, 2008 - 11:40 AM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

23lb 29er? Nice...do you like it? Is that pretty much as low as you can get it, or could it be upgraded further? Fishers are nice...I have a Tassajara as my hardtail, though I think the Genesis geometry stretches me out a tiny bit too much. The fit issue became more apparent when I bought my FS, a Yeti AS-R. I could probably drop some weight on the Yeti, but right now, it's just not practical for me to drop $3000+ on components for maybe 3 lbs. I will keep the boat thing in mind though (particularly if a new fork or hydros that will fit the Tass show up on Craigslist)...after so many years of sports like running, cycling seemed ridiculously expensive!

Speaking of ridiculously light bikes...have you heard of the Ibis Mojo? It's a 5 inch travel FS that weighs in at 23 lbs!

Chaz

Aug 8th, 2008 - 11:49 AM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

After riding a 29er I can't even see why they make 26" bikes still. Maybe if your really small it might be hard to push the extra but it's almost an unfair advantage. Trek has a light 5" bike now too. They all will soon since that's the lazy persons bike now. It gives you an excuse to not climb fast. Just kidding. I was talking to the guy that built my boat the other day and he was making it out like kayaks are alot and I laughed because compared to bikes it's cheap. Especially since you NEED a road bike, Time trial bike, Mt bike, and of course a spare just in case someone else needs a bike or one might break. I only have 2 kayaks and 4 bikes. I even bought a pair of trail running shoes but that was hard for me to spend on a 2nd pair of shoes. See it's all how you look at it. Chaz

Becki

Aug 8th, 2008 - 12:11 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

The problem with being small isn't pushing the bike...it's standing over it. I know standover isn't of chief importance, but I do like to have a tiny bit of standover space, and I can't stand over a 29er. That's also why I didn't get a bike with more travel...I originally wanted either a Yeti 575 or SC Nomad, but on either bike, had I done the foward but not over-the-bars fall, I'd have been screwed. I only maybe have 2 inches on my extra-small AS-R too. Also small bikes are more flickable, which is kind of nice. My friends who ride 29ers can usually roll over stuff I have to either pop my front wheel or walk the bike over though, and most of them say they wouldn't bother with a 26er ever again. Which I guess makes sense, since I can't imagine putting gears on my 20" BMX and trying to ride that on trails.

Jim Pate

Aug 8th, 2008 - 1:03 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

"I only maybe have 2 inches on my extra-small AS-R too."

Don't worry Becki! A couple of years working a desk job and that will change!

Chaz

Aug 8th, 2008 - 1:30 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

The other problem with 29er ( until Fisher fixed it) was your feet rubbing the front wheel when turning but this year Fox made a special 51mm offset fork that makes my bike handle just like a 26" does. It's really neat how much better things get each year. Longer chains stays on the bikes also make them climb way better, but like you said takes the "flicking" out of the handling. So you do give alittle but for me who only XC rides than it's perfect. I had a Haro Steel frame HT last year that was nice but the Carbon bike this year is way stiffer but yet a better ride too. It's amazing that they can get a bike to do both those things now. What will they be like in 10 more years. I can't wait to see. It'll be 10lbs bikes. My kayak is 21' long and weights 26lbs. So how light will they make them too?

Becki

Aug 9th, 2008 - 9:59 PM

Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG

Looks like Lance finished second to defending champ Dave Wiens. And they both obliterated Wiens's previous course record. Pretty impressive.

Author	Comment
kevin Aug 7, 08 - 12:20 PM	LANCE ARMSTRONG How about Lance doing the Leadville 100 this weekend. They said it's the biggest thing there since the discovery of gold.
Hammer Aug 7th, 2008 - 1:34 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG It would be if he ran it and left the bike home.
kevin Aug 7th, 2008 - 2:56 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG He is leaving it home. He's running it.
kevin Aug 7th, 2008 - 4:59 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG I guess he is biking but it is a very tough mountain bike course though. He'll probably miss the tour and be back in France next summer ala Brett Favre.
Becki Aug 7th, 2008 - 6:46 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG Landis did it last year (I think it was last year anyway) and narrowly lost. Supposedly on all the roads and dirt roads he made up ground, and lost ground on all the more technical stuff. I don't believe there's anything super-techy on the Leadville course, as far as drops/jumps/rock gardens/baby heads/etc...from what I understand, the technical on that course comes from the altitude and mountains. Landis did start out as a mountain biker though. I'm sort of curious as to who said it's a huge deal. I mean yeah, it's cool, but I'd personally much rather watch someone like Brian Lopes ride than Lance (not that Lopes would have any interest in a 100 mile non-technical course). Though supposedly Trek just built Armstrong a super light full suspension for it (23lbs including pedals, bottle cages, etc), which will be cool to see. Should be interesting to see how he fares against the mountain bikers.
Nate Z. Aug 7th, 2008 - 6:58 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG I was hoping he'd keep running marathons and we'd see him go sub 2:20 sometime.
Chaz Aug 8th, 2008 - 12:06 AM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG Trek has a production full sus. comming out this year that is just over 20lbs. so I'm sure the one they build for him for this will be a hard tail that's 16lbs then.
Becki Aug 8th, 2008 - 3:01 AM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG Chaz, the bike you're talking about is the bike he'll be riding...the 2009 Top Fuel. Sub-21 lbs for the bike itself, and sub-23 when you include pedals, bottle cage, computer, and saddle bag. Odd seatpost design, but supposedly it cuts a lot of weight. Really gorgeous bike, but also pretty expensive...its MSRP is almost twice as much as my mountain bike cost, and my bike wasn't all that cheap. The fact that Treks tend to not fit me very well is keeping me from drooling over it though. Supposedly Lance had it down to this and a Fisher 29er hardtail (Fisher was bought out by Trek a while ago) and decided to go with the dual squishy. My guess is they were probably around the same weight, and even if the Fisher had a frame weight advantage, the fact that its weight disadvantage is in rotating weight makes it more significant. Here's the bike:
Chaz Aug 8th, 2008 - 8:07 AM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG I have a Fisher Super fly that I ride. It's the lightest 29er right now. 23lbs. The shop I race for carries Trek and Fisher and I thought they said the new bike was 20.2 with candy pedal, but I'd imagine with bottles and the bag your right about the weight. And price? It's all relavent to what your into. I was at the shore last week and I saw 100K fishing boat everywere. I wouldn't pay 10 bucks for one. So really we get off cheap buying bikes and kayaks. At least that's how I justify it. Chaz
Becki Aug 8th, 2008 - 11:40 AM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG 23lb 29er? Nice...do you like it? Is that pretty much as low as you can get it, or could it be upgraded further? Fishers are nice...I have a Tassajara as my hardtail, though I think the Genesis geometry stretches me out a tiny bit too much. The fit issue became more apparent when I bought my FS, a Yeti AS-R. I could probably drop some weight on the Yeti, but right now, it's just not practical for me to drop $3000+ on components for maybe 3 lbs. I will keep the boat thing in mind though (particularly if a new fork or hydros that will fit the Tass show up on Craigslist)...after so many years of sports like running, cycling seemed ridiculously expensive! Speaking of ridiculously light bikes...have you heard of the Ibis Mojo? It's a 5 inch travel FS that weighs in at 23 lbs!
Chaz Aug 8th, 2008 - 11:49 AM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG After riding a 29er I can't even see why they make 26" bikes still. Maybe if your really small it might be hard to push the extra but it's almost an unfair advantage. Trek has a light 5" bike now too. They all will soon since that's the lazy persons bike now. It gives you an excuse to not climb fast. Just kidding. I was talking to the guy that built my boat the other day and he was making it out like kayaks are alot and I laughed because compared to bikes it's cheap. Especially since you NEED a road bike, Time trial bike, Mt bike, and of course a spare just in case someone else needs a bike or one might break. I only have 2 kayaks and 4 bikes. I even bought a pair of trail running shoes but that was hard for me to spend on a 2nd pair of shoes. See it's all how you look at it. Chaz
Becki Aug 8th, 2008 - 12:11 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG The problem with being small isn't pushing the bike...it's standing over it. I know standover isn't of chief importance, but I do like to have a tiny bit of standover space, and I can't stand over a 29er. That's also why I didn't get a bike with more travel...I originally wanted either a Yeti 575 or SC Nomad, but on either bike, had I done the foward but not over-the-bars fall, I'd have been screwed. I only maybe have 2 inches on my extra-small AS-R too. Also small bikes are more flickable, which is kind of nice. My friends who ride 29ers can usually roll over stuff I have to either pop my front wheel or walk the bike over though, and most of them say they wouldn't bother with a 26er ever again. Which I guess makes sense, since I can't imagine putting gears on my 20" BMX and trying to ride that on trails.
Jim Pate Aug 8th, 2008 - 1:03 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG "I only maybe have 2 inches on my extra-small AS-R too." Don't worry Becki! A couple of years working a desk job and that will change! Email: jimbowpate@yahoo.com
Chaz Aug 8th, 2008 - 1:30 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG The other problem with 29er ( until Fisher fixed it) was your feet rubbing the front wheel when turning but this year Fox made a special 51mm offset fork that makes my bike handle just like a 26" does. It's really neat how much better things get each year. Longer chains stays on the bikes also make them climb way better, but like you said takes the "flicking" out of the handling. So you do give alittle but for me who only XC rides than it's perfect. I had a Haro Steel frame HT last year that was nice but the Carbon bike this year is way stiffer but yet a better ride too. It's amazing that they can get a bike to do both those things now. What will they be like in 10 more years. I can't wait to see. It'll be 10lbs bikes. My kayak is 21' long and weights 26lbs. So how light will they make them too?
Becki Aug 9th, 2008 - 9:59 PM	Re: LANCE ARMSTRONG Looks like Lance finished second to defending champ Dave Wiens. And they both obliterated Wiens's previous course record. Pretty impressive.