Went for a ride with teammate and general homeboy Kenny Saturday at Marshall Mesa in Boulder. His aging Specialized Enduro was needing a new owner that wasn't a weight-shaving, discriminating racer (he was racing well on a 30 lb steed). He ended up getting a 20 lb. (9 kg) or so Gary Fisher Superfly. I hear good things about 29'ers but haven't actually ridden one-until today (Saturday). You really can't take anybody's anecdotal evidence or read about other peoples' research and come up with a conclusion until you actually ride one (not in a parking lot). Gary Fisher prides himself with having geometry that puts everyone at ease at the cockpits of any one of their bikes. When I got on Kenny's (Kenny and I are of similar morphology) the stance my body was in was NOT significantly different than on my Yeti. I felt a bit higher but the angle of my lower back in relation to my pelvis and pedaling attack felt ahhhhite. As I pedaled there was a disconnect with the visual input my brain was registering from the rocky topography I was to expect and instead, my receptors from the contact points on the bike received a circa 1970 Cadillac-esque, buttery ride. In a skiing sense I was expecting hardpack input but all I got was a powder run. Very cool and my pedaling translated to instantaneous watts to the rear wheel. Practically speaking, a 29'er would be great for the majority of terrain I ride around here. On non-technical downhills it would absolutely slay! I would have a hard time on the long, technical downhills at Moab like Top of the World, some parts of Slickrock, bombing the downhill at Klondike Bluffs, and some parts of Moonlight Meadows. It would be okay at Sovereign. It might could be a beeyatch at the Firecracker 50 and some parts of the XC races at WinterPark. Around here though, it would reign supreme. I just got a new fork for my Yeti so it'll be awhile 'til I get one of these bad muthus. Doesn't make the trade-off for a dual suspension seem worth it for around here...
Later, I took Maura to her soccer game where she scored two goals! On one particular play (they don't call offsides at U-9 games), an opposing competitor was driving down the field and Maura chased him down and jammed-up his shot on their goal. She was awesome! The coach kept her in long than usual due to sick teammates and she was great! I love watching her play soccer. I think she has no greater joy than winding up a corner kick or blasting in a goal (and of course hanging out with her Dad). She would've had three if she had better aim. Elk season's here too and there was a big old bull Elk grazing right next to Maura's field (that's when I don't bring the camera). Soccer's not only an international game but has interspecies appeal as well...
Sunday, when the rest of Team M went to church I did the old Pleasant Park/Highgrade standard again. When they got back we went out for a hike at Lower Maxwell Falls in Evergreen. Mason's only 4 (quatre in metric units) but he hikes like a champ. I put him on my shoulders when the uphills get steep and technical but really he can hold his own. We had a snack at the waterfalls and headed back prematurely due to some cold precipitation. Had a lovely dinner with the family to end the weekend. Note to self: this is one technical singletrack! I'd like to ride soon but I'll have to wait until the snow melts.
1 comment:
Oh boy, you've got snow already? This is going to be a looooong winter! Congrats to Maura for her soccer success and a big well done to Mason, the hiking king!
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