New frame, finally got to ride it.

So I finally was able to get out onto my new frame.  I got geared bike back on the 12th but didn't get a chance to ride it before I went out to Dayton for a friends wedding.  But last Thursday I was finally able to get out for a ride on it.

I charged up my lights and headed out to Frisco.  I'm still not ready to go back out to Erwin (if you want to know why read.  4 Hours of Erwin).

I had the trail to myself.  Once the sun goes down everyone goes home, not everyone enjoys night riding.  I trail was in good shape and the bike felt great.  The geometry of the frame felt a little different but was very smooth and fast.  I could tell it was a little lighter and rigid.  It was very responsive.  It was a great ride.  I'm sure if it has been a day ride there would have been some PRs set.

4 Hours of Erwin

When I signed up for this race, I had intended to ride my Cannondale (geared) bike.  I hadn't been on my single speed but a couple times since February and I am not really in SS race shape.  But since I broke the frame on my Cannondale I went decided to race on my SS with very low expectations.

Leading up to this race the weather forecast was troubling.  There was a call for ran the morning of the race.  It wasn't a huge deal because the trail needed some rain but if it got too much the trail would close.  The race director setup an alternate race route on the park roads and gravel roads surrounding the park so the race would happen on way or another.

Still now knowing whether we were racing on dirt or gravel, I decided to setup for dirt and bring my tools to change my gearing if they decide to run gravel.   Luckily, the trail ended up in pretty good shape for the race and the "cold" front that brought the rains dropped the temps into the mid-80s.

This was a 4 hour race and slightly different than some of the previous endurance races I have done.  This race ended at 4 hours.  Any lap completed after the 4 hour mark would not count in the standings.  That will be important later.

I got out to Erwin park around 3:45pm, checked in, and found a nice spot to setup my little pit area.  I got there early enough to snag a picnic table.

I ended up setup my SS with 32x21 gearing.  I would be slow and would be completely screwed on an downhill sections but it would be a lot more knee friendly.  What I didn't anticipate was the initial roll out would be on pavement and I would be immediately dropped by the entire field.  It was just me, a couple other single speeds and the fat bikes in the back.  By the time I got to the trail, some slower riders ended up in front of me and for a little while I had to play follow the leader but eventually worked my way around.

• Lap 1 - "why the fuck do I sign up for these races"
  I went out too fast and almost blew up (and threw up).  I was chasing another single speeder with the thought that if I pass him at least I won't be DFL.  Pretty stupid.
  Lap Time - 45:22
  Pit Time - 2:35
• Lap 2 - "everything hurts and I want to die"
  By this time I was hurting from Lap 1 and was in a bad place mentally.  I struggled with heart burn and almost threw up a couple times.  I really wanted off my fucking bike at this point but I was able to control my pace better and recover some.
  Lap Time - 58:23
  Pit Time - 6:48
• Lap 3 - "hey, I might actually finish this"
  I forced myself out for lap 3.  I kept telling myself there wasn't any good reason to quit other than being a pussy so I pushed out.  I had to put my lights on for this lap and the temps started to drop and as the sun went down dew started to form on the grass and roots.  The trail was getting a little slick.  On this lap, my triceps were on fire.  My rigid SS beats the shit out of you on rough courses and Erwin as a shit load (I mean a shitload) of roots.
  Lap Time - 1:01:31
  Pit Time - 3:09
• Lap 4 - "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."
  I knew I barely had enough time to get another lap in and my goal was three laps but I had to try.  I had used up my legs and my entire upper body was on fire so I was creeping along. I was all over the trail at this point, my control was shit.  A couple riders passed me and I would try to jump on their wheel and would get dropped within a couple minutes.  I just couldn't hold the pace I needed.  About a mile from the finish line I could hear them warning about the cut off and then could hear them counting down but I was too far out. I missed the cut off on my last lap by 2 minutes.  :(
  Lap Time - 1:04:16

So my official time was 3 laps in 2:53:39.  My Garmin time was 4:02:04.  I ended up 23rd overall and 3rd Single Speed.  The only did the overall SS winner so no podium today.

The group that put on this race (The Spinstry) are awesome.  The races are well run and always have free food after.  Not many MTB events have food or drinks available.  After the race I grabbed a burger and a mountain dew and watched the podium awards.  By the time I go how I was exhausted and really, really sore.  But pretty happy with my performance and cool t-shirt too.

I forgot to wipe my legs off before I came home and sat on the couch.  Oops.

UPDATE:

The official results were released and they included my 4th lap.  WOOHOO!

I moved up from 23rd to 22nd overall. 

12 Hours of Erwin Park, uh only 4 for me.

Of course, as the race day gets closer everyone has been watching the rain chances.  Can you tell what day the race is on?

The good news about this is that the trail can really use a little bit of rain.  But if we get too much it's going to be a mess and the race would be canceled.

Not anymore!  The race directors have put together a new race route that includes the paved loop inside the park and the gravel roads around it.

If it comes to this, I am not sure what gearing I would need to put on my SS.  And would they allow me to use my gravel bike for this race instead of my SS MTB?  That might actually be a lot of fun. The rain is suppose to come in early Saturday morning so we should know by the afternoon what will be happening. 

Cannondale said "Yes!"

I finally received a call from BikePlus and Cannondale has accepted my warranty request on my frame.  The warranty guy (evidently there is only one) at Cannondale was on vacation last week and that is the reason for the ridiculously long wait time.

Unfortunately, my Cannondale will not be ready for this weekends race.  I will still be on my single speed, my knee is already aching in joyous anticipation!

The frame will probably get to the bike shop early next week and I should have it back by next weekend.  Just in time for me to head out of town for the weekend.  Oh well, I'll ride it when I get back.

When you do a warranty replacement you never really know what you are going to get.  Of course you will get the equivalent or better. But you never know what color it might be.  I was lucky on my last frame because Trek called me and asked what custom colors I would like on my frame.  My twin brother wasn't so luck with his last replacement frame, he got a stark white frame with red accents.

Unfortunately they don't have any of the solid matte black carbon frames like I had previously.  The replacement will be the Cannondale team colors, black, while, and green.  I am really hoping I will get an upgrade to a 2015 F-Si frame (pictured below).  But a replacement with this color scheme would be okay too. Cannondale has some ugly as frames and I am keeping my fingers crossed one of those doesn't show up.

 Since it's a new frame it's like I'm getting a brand new bike!

BIKE! BIKE! BIKE!

Still no word on my broken frame

I dropped off my Cannondale on the 27th of August and still don't have a response from Cannondale about the warranty.  The guys at BikePlus submitted the warranty request on the 29th and expected a response within 72 hour but nothing.  It's really frustrating to be down a bike and having to do all my MTB rides on my SS right now.  My knee is hold up okay but I would be more ideal to work back onto my SS slowly.

I finally sent a note over to the organizer of the race I am doing Saturday to move me over to the SS group since it is very unlikely I will get my geared bike back.

I'm worried about this race but at this point there isn't much I can do.  I'll do what I can do.  The forecast isn't ideal either, there is a pretty high chance of rain on Saturday morning   If the trail gets hit hard they could cancel the race but it will probably just make it slick and messy for the race.  Which will be fun.