Electronic suspension - the future of MTB?

Slowly but surely electronics are making their way into mountain biking. Recently Shimano released their Di2 Dura ace electronic groupset for road bikes. It wasn't long before mountain bikers started experimenting and now the term Di2 hacking is used for an aftermarket version of the electronic shifting mechanism for mountain bikes. Ki2 has commercialised this and is offering what they call a new standard in high performance.

The first real OEM mountain bike electronics were announced by Fox this month. Fox unveiled what looks like the future in mountain biking suspension with their 2013 ICD ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION REMOTE SYSTEM. With acronyms like iRD (intelligent ride control) and iCD (intelligent decent control) MTBs are starting to sound like 4x4s. This system has been on the bikes of the team pro riders like Geoff Kabush for a while now. So now there is no more speculation about the mysterious battery and wire leading from the bar to the fork. Essentially it's an electronic switch to toggle between Climb and Descend modes on the fork and, on full sussers, the shock. A rotating switch activates this on the bar. Eventhough this technology has been unveiled now before the new bike season it is probably too late for 2013 bikes as they will have already have been specced last year and gone into production.

With more and more single speed rigid bikes hitting the trails, the arrival of 2X10 and now 1x11 XX1 from SRAM, it makes you wonder if all of this is electronics is necessary. With many riders looking to go back to the simplicity, reliability and lower cost of these basic machines well have to see if increasing the cost and complexity is going to be the right route.

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More online training fun with Strava

So what now? With Sani2C coming to an end this weekend the racing feast that kick started this year is now finished. So now its time to get off the race track and hit the trails. A while ago we posted about a free online tracking system for your rides, Endomondo, where you can track rides via a GPS phone or GPS and see your ride history online. Well we came across another system www.strava.com that is gaining popularity as it has some new and interesting features.

The main difference is that Strava is slightly more performance orientated as it keeps track of your ride and allows more analysis of your performance measurements from the ride. It also keeps track of who rides where and allows direct comparisons of entire routes or segments of routes. So there are leader boards of the various segments making it really fun to see how you compare to other riders on the same routes. But be warned it can become a bit addictive as timed segments become mini races and quests for KOM status, some call it "Stravacide".

Strava is compatible with Garmin GPS units and has downloadable apps for iphone and Android. You can also import gpx data so if you are on Endomondo just export files and then import into Strava, quite easy really.

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Sani2c getting bigger and doing more

Farmer Glen and the Sani2c team are hard at work as the Sani2C race series kicked off yestertay with the Trail event, then today its the Adventure and tomorrow the Race riders set off. Its no small operation moving almost 4000 mountain bikers from Underberg down to the sea in Scottburgh over the 5 day period.

 

As the event grows so does the amount and variety of community support and the development of the region. More than 1500 trees will be planted along the route thanks to rider donations this year. There is also construction of a cycle and walking path "Charlies catwalk" in the Highflats area to make commuting for the locals safer. Its a win win situation for all, the riders love to ride this unique route with its legendary singletrack and the community welcomes them in, knowing that they have contributed to making life better.

 

This year there is TV coverage on supersport every evenning at 10pm with a highlights package starting tonight. So look out for that if you are not one of the fortunate ones to be experiencing it all on your bike.

 

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--
Alan
www.mtbonline.co.za
Mountain Biking in South Africa - MtbOnline

Do you think cyclists look strange?

If you answer yes to that question then you are probably just entering the rabbit hole.  But if you answer no to that question then you are probably already really far down the rabbit hole. So far down in fact that you are completely oblivious to how strange we really are once we are all dressed up. To get a reality check you just have to talk to someone who is just entering the sport and getting to grips with all the gear, what to do and what not to do and all of the unspoken stuff. On the surface it is easy to work out many things, like lycra shorts, cycling tops, helmets, cycling shoes with cleats, bottles, camel backs etc. 

However when you look a bit deeper then there are some of the "unknowns" that to a newbie may seem very strange if not absurd. Bib shorts is the first, the resemblance to a Borat outfit is too close for comfort for some. On a more practical side is how do you pee once you have these bibs on, pretty obvious for those who wear them but a mystery to those who don't. Then there is bum cream, say what? yes bum cream or chamois cream or anti chafe cream if you prefer, that friction aid that prevents, here is the next one, saddle sores. Now that is something that you really don't want to experience so you do what ever it takes to avoid getting even close to being in that situation. And so tight fitting bib shorts that require skill and technique to take a pee out of and copious amounts of chamois cream applied liberally to avoid even a hint of chaffing become the norm and something that you don't even think about anymore. Its all part of the natural progression of becoming a cyclist. Of course many mountain bikers don't think they are cyclists but they are just in denial.

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Singlespeeders - Who needs gears?

Grant Usher and Nic White are proving again that its not all about the bike (or is it?) as they ride the 9 day 900km Joberg2C race on their rigid singlespeeds. They are doing more than just riding like singlespeeders like to, dressed up and fooling around at the back. 

They are doing this all in the front of the race. Sitting comfortably in the top 10 overall they must be getting some serious stares from riders with seriously expensive bikes with more gears and suspension than they know what do do with. These two are no slouches having raced at the elite level so you would expect them to do well. 

It is quite amazing to see just what is possible on a very simple bike. They are doing a great job creating some publicity for the Singlespeed World Champs 2012 taking place in Winterton later this year.

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Race Reports from the Absa Cape Epic

The stories during the epic and after the epic are not always the same. During the event its all about the pain and suffering but afterwards its about the achievements and the memorable moments as the bad memories fade away and the good times surface. Team OFM had a roller coaster ride in the masters category and you can see how it went from day to day in our race report. We also put together some experience and tips about our experience after returning to the 2012 Epic after a 4 year layoff.

Another interesting report is from first time rider and journalist Max Gebhardt who rode the event in one of the ABSA charity teams with Joel Stransky. Max summarizes the overall mood of Epic 2012 and his experience as a novice very well in his race report article.

Team Plascon Trojans who rode for the wheels4wheels cause did a great job of documenting their experience. Finishing his first Epic as well, Mike kept a daily report of how it was going and the summarised it all at the end with his Top 10 Tips to have a successful and enjoyable epic. There is also a great photo gallery of what the race looks like from a supporters perspective.  

Renay Goustra teamed up with former road pro and Tour de France rider Rene Haselbacher. Check out his blog summary of a memorable experience.

This year more than ever it was a race of extremes and it does not matter if you are a pro or a back marker you all follow the same route and come away having had great highs and bad lows. 

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Its not all about the wheel size

The results from the latest World Cup XCO race at Houffalize Belgium threw the cat amongst the pigeons in the ongoing wheel size debate. With the majority of the pro-racing field moving to 29ers a year ago already, and winning on them, it seemed like this was a done deal. Clearly they saw the advantage of the bigger wheels.

 

But then at the first XCO in Pietermaritzburg last month Nino Schurter won the race on a 650b wheel size, that's the in between size between 26" and 29". After riding both sizes he felt that this was the best suited wheel size for him. At Houffalize on Sunday Julien Absalon 5 time World Cup winner won the race on his 26" bike and Nino was second on 650b. Absalon has never changed to 29" as he feels comfortable on his 26" wheels. This particular course had some very steep climbs which may well have favoured the smaller wheel size. Either way it shows that at the very top end of the sport where every piece of technology counts to win by a second or split second the rider on the day is still the most important component, so clearly "Its not all about the wheel size".

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An Epic of all Epics

The ABSA Cape Epic is expected to be Epic, but would you expect Epic Epic? Well if there is one thing you can always expect from the Cape Epic then it is to expect the unexpected. 

That is just what we got in 2012 as our Team OFM battled the route and the weather to cross the finish line at Lourensford. In one of the toughest if not the toughest Epic yet we had a good ride and luckily had no major incidents although there were a few close calls but we held it together. Our Morewood Zula 26" bikes powered by Shimano 2x10 and serviced by the Shimano service crew performed without fail and we covered the 760km without a single flat thanks to Batseal Tubeless sealant.  

Checkout some of the OFM podcasts from our interviews during the race.

Defending champs Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser held off a brave assault by South Africans Kevin Evans and David George to cross the finish line for their second win. Burry's onboard GoPro camera captured the awesome moment as they crossed the finish line.

2013 sees the 10th edition of the ABSA Cape Epic and they are promising something special, lottery tickets are available now at www.cape-epic.com

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Epic Month for MTB in South Africa

The MTB spotlight is still clearly on South Africa as it should be. Last week saw the UCI MTB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg. The organisers put on a world class event attracting all of the worlds best riders. Greg Minnaar won the the downhill, Burry Stander came second in the XCO and the womans downhill was won on a Morewood downhill bike made in Pietermaritzburg, all South African. 

This weekend is the Cape Epic, the most prestigious MTB stage race is the world, once again the worlds best will be on the start line in Cape Town along with hundreds of amateurs taking up the challenge for various reasons. Many teams take up charity entries and ride for a cause. More average guys trying to make a difference on their MTBs. Team Trojans is just such a team, Their Wheels4wheels cause is aimed at raising funds to purchase wheelchairs or other mobility equipment for under privileged brain damaged people. You can find out more or support them via their website www.wheels4wheels.co.za 

MtbOnline will be there riding as Team OFM Radio, if you listen to OFM then make sure you tune in in the afternoons from Sunday 25 March to get live updates from Absa Cape Epic 2012. You can also follow us on twitter @live2ridemtb or @mtbaverageguy . Or else check out our dedicated Absa Cape Epic page on the website.

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An Epic Tale - The Movie

Cinemas around the country have been a buzz with mountain bikers as the feature film "An Epic Tale" from Sinamatella productions had premier screenings. The full length feature film starts two of South Africas most successful cyclists, Kevin Evans and David George from Team360life. 

No South African team has ever won the Cape Epic, nor has any South African mountain biker worn the coveted World Marathon Champion's Rainbow Jersey. In 2011, David George and Kevin Evans of Nedbank Team 360Life set out to remedy this. In their quest to compete with the very best, they would have to overcome obstacles and setbacks more daunting than they ever imagined. This is their story.

1 Season
2 Pro bike riders
3 Operating Theatres
67 Days of racing
112 Stitches
54,105 km's of training

There are two trailers Teaser#1 and Teaser#2 of the movie that show the quality of this production. This movie gives you insight into the dedication, hard work, sacrifice and commitment that goes into being a world class mountain biker. If you haven't made it to the premiers then look out for the the screening on DSTV Supersport 20 March at 20h00 on SS5.

 
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Right tyre for right conditions

Mountain bike tyre choice or preferance is always a topic for robust discussion between mountain bikers. It is very difficult to say that one tyre is better than the other because there are so many different criteria that influence this selection. Tyres are designed for different riding conditions, so essentially you need to match the tyre requirements to your conditions.

 

It depends on what your main requirements are from the tyre. The main criteria are weight, traction in wet or dry, rolling resistance, puncture resistance and cornering ability. To get an idea of what your most important criteria are you need to understand what your riding conditions are typically. Take for example the choice to be made for 3 very different events 1. Absa Cape Epic, 2 Sani2C or 3 Cross country race in the Midlands.

 

At the epic you expect dry, rocky, sandy conditions with long distances. While at Sani2C you may expect mostly dry but possibly wet, firm relatively smooth trails with very few rocks and long distances. At at a cross country race on purpose built smooth trails you could expect wet conditions, smooth trails lots of corners on a relatively short route. So your requirements at the Epic would be mainly protection and rolling resistance possibly at a weight penalty. At Sani2C you would be looking for low rolling resistance with good grip and maybe a bit of a weight saving. While at the cross country championships you would be looking for excellent traction as low weight as possible and no real need for sidewall protection.

 

So the two extremes are for epic choose the strongest tyre with the lowest rolling resistance and ok grip and don't worry about the weight. On the other end of the scale choose the lightest soft compound, traction orientated tyre that you can find for the cross country race.

 

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Why maintaining hydration is so important

This weekends racing in Sabie at the MTN marathon and ultra marathon produced some extreme conditions that really test hydration strategies in endurance events. The high temperatures combined with over 60% humidity are a recipe for dehydration. Many participants of the marathon event took 8hrs to finish and the ultra riders were out for anything between 5 and 9 hours. In these conditions unless you have a bullet proof hydration plan you are going to get caught out.

For a two hour ride you could get away with just a bottle of water, for a 4 hr ride maybe a couple of bottles of energy drink, but for an 8 hour epic ride in heat conditions like this you are looking at 8+ bottles of some quality endurance drink. With water pouring out of your body at more than a litre an hour you have to make sure that you are at least replacing the lost salts and then also try to get in enough fluid and some carbs to keep your energy up. Because once you get on the wrong side of the dehydration curve and your appetite and thirst is suppressed and nausea sets in then you are on the brink of shut down, no matter how fit or strong you are. This interesting article Dehydration insport: why it is vital an athlete maintains hydration levels duringexercise gives an informative and well explained background to dehydration.

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Tubeless 1-2-3

Fitting a tubeless tyre system on a mountain bike is really quite simple. The easiest way is if you have a tubeless rim with a tubeless tyre, then you just need to insert the valve into the rim and fit the tyre. Add tubeless sealant for puncture protection and use an air compressor or a high volume pump to seat the tyre onto the rim. If you have a standard rim and want to convert it to tubeless then you need a tubeless conversion kit. This kit has 3 components, the rim strip to seal the rim, the valve that fits into the rim and tubeless sealant to get that air tight seal. Using this kit you can use almost any combination of rim and tyre allowing for many options depending on your need for durability or weight saving. Either way you will get the best performance out of your tyres and get the best possible puncture resistance.

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Mountain Bike Race and Events Calendar

If you are looking for MTB races or events to participate in then you are in luck we have added a 2012 MTB Calendar to our website. This is a list of all official MTB races in South Africa and is very comprehensive covering the whole year and the whole country. We have used the Google calendar function so you should be able to share it easily. The calendar gives you the date, venue and short description of the events.

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Heart Rate and Power Training Aids

If you want to take your training to another level then you should consider getting some sort of training aid like a heart rate monitor or power meter to assist you. Heart rate monitors have  been the standard for a long time now with the manufacturer Polar really leading the way. They have done a great job in trying to make the monitors more accessible and understandable for the average person. Heart rate is definitely your starting point to getting a better understanding of how you should train and how you can measure your effort and progress.

 

Power meters are a much newer training aid and have been used successfully by most of the pros to reach their specific training goals. But for the average person it is still expensive and debatable as to whether you will be able to get and make use of the full value that a power meter offers. Joe Friel author of Mountain Bikers Training Bible recently posted a great explanation of why a power meter is valuable for training and how it compares to a heart rate monitor. Basically it comes down to input(heart rate) and output (power), measuring one or the other will only give you half the picture, but measuring both gives you the complete picture. Check out his "Why you need a power meter" post for the full story.

 

But overall its best to start with heart rate and if you are just going for one of them then stick with the heart rate, it is more flexible to use on and off the bike, costs less and will definitely improve your performance.

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