Taken care of

So I was out for a ride last weekend on a rare day that allowed for skinny road tires in February. About five miles into the ride I was climbing the col d'overpasse when the paddle on my rear shifter suddenly broke loose. Hmm...

I stood on top of the col and wiggled the paddle around, which seemed to be held in place only by the slight tension in the rubber hood. It was too cold to fidget much more and there was no obvious solution, so I proceeded home with one gear. Surprisingly the shifter didn't altogether fail and dump me into the 12 for the trek home, but my 16 wasn't terribly comfortable either at this point.

When I got inside and could feel my hands again I started to look more closely at the problem. I've heard of people tearing out the innards of Sram shifters in order to run a 1x10 setup for 'cross, but I have never been bold enough (or had reason to) inspect the guts of one. After removing the shifter from my bike and took off the hood I could see plainly what had happened.

The inside of a Sram shifter is remarkably simple in design. The paddle is connected to one central post via two circular collars, allowing it to rotate on that axis. Quite simply both of the collars (metal) fractured, allowing for the paddle assembly to fall out. Interestingly, the mechanism that holds the gear up on the cog was not affected by this, hence the broken shifter being able to keep the gear I was in at the time of the break.

So the good news was that I diagnosed the problem without having to completely rip apart the shifter. Now I was prepared for the bad news - trying to get this taken care of by Sram.

My phone conversation lasted 2 minutes 38 seconds. It went something like this:

Me: "Hi, I have an issue with my rear Rival shifter, is that something you can help with?"

Sram Guy: "Sure, what's the problem?"

Me: "Well I was out riding yesterday and the shift paddle came off - it looks like the collars snapped. This shifter isn't 11 months old and I wasn't at the top of my gear range when it happened."

Sram Guy: "Not a problem, we'll take care of it."

Me: "Really? Just like that? Where should I send it?"

Sram Guy: "Take it to your LBS and have them give us a call, we'll get a new one out to you asap."

Two things struck me about this. First, I expected to be transfered eight billion times to the next department trying to find someone that would help with the problem. My phone call was short and sweet, speaking with someone after two rings. No elevator music while I waited for a customer service representative in some foreign country to help. Second, this arrived THREE DAYS LATER:

So long story short, the problem was taken care of in record time. It is sad that my initial reaction was negative, as I assumed this would be like every other warranty claim I've made in my life, trying to get the company to take care of what's wrong. Not this time. Sram was all over this, and consequently re-earned my business. Not only are the based in Chicago, but they take care of their customers. Four total days from break to new shifter is amazing. I couldn't expect more from a company.

Ariel Footage

You've got to be kidding me...I can't go this fast on skis going downhill.

Shorty Ultimates

Interesting find here on Stybar's bike (care of CX Mag): Avid Shorty Ultimates. Claimed target of 115 grams per wheel, and the unique ability to be run both skinny (see pic) OR wide, like a traditional 'cx brakeset (TRP, SRP, Spooky).

Just too fast

Apparently too fast for the UCI despite communication back and forth during development. I've heard some crazy people blaming this on Lance, since Alberto now rides on the big S. I would love to ride one some day, despite the fact my last road time trial was over ten years ago. Who knows, maybe 2010 will bring a paved TT into my future.

Busy

On Saturday Kristie and I decided to head to Burchfield in Holt to try skiing a new trail. The conditions were just ok...not great but not too bad. At least we were on snow! The temps kept warming throughout the trip and two hours was about all I could take.

And who would have thought that Kona is such a GVA fan. She watched Wellens ride away from the favorites with relative ease. She will be the first to admit she didn't stay awake for the entire race, but I know inside she wanted to. I still a amazed by the fact that ten years ago we had to wait six months to get a VHS copy to the states. Now we can watch as the action unfolds.

But to end the day on a sour note, my shifter blew up today on my ride, leaving me with only one gear to get home. First issue I've ever had with any Sram-made part, so I will have to get this fixed asap. Of course we're supposed to get hit tonight with more snow, so the roads will once again prohibit any outdoor rides. At least my 37 year-old snow blower is finally fixed!

XC

Kristie and I managed to get out to Deerfield last weekend for some snow time. This winter has been outlandishly hectic so far. Fortunately things should slow down in the short while. I went out again on Wednesday night and it was great to try night skiing with my headlamp. Downhills are a tad sketchy at night but fun nonetheless. I can't wait until I'm on these trails again on my 29'er...

Stybar rises to the top

Stybar and Albert bring it to the last lap... One point separates the world champ from Albert to bring the series to an end. Page managed seventh today on a course that looked more suited for hockey skates than bike tires. CXMAG has a write-up and point breakdown HERE.

BRX

Rough time of the year for biking in Michigan. That is unless you've found some magic way to keep your toes warm while riding outside. Regardless, I bit the bullet and registered for this year's edition of Barry Roubaix. Last year Mike Seaman and Wayne Cook represented in the SS class, so I figured I'd jump in with them for 2010. However, as soon as I dropped my check in the mail I remembered that this would officially start my season... Ugh. I guess that means at some point I need to get a bit more regular with my rides. Fortunately a snow day on Wednesday helped get the party started. Kona watched me (slept...) on the rollers while Kristie was out. Maybe this weekend we'll get on the skis again and make use of the weather.

Regardless, BRX should be a fun time. Can it turn into the new Iceman? Odds are the weather will cooperate... I'm looking forward to it.

Clement Crusade PDX

From Cycling News, Clement's PDX. Looks like a Rhino with slightly shorter knobs. More spacing than the nasty weather standby Michelin Mud. More competition in the mud tire category?

29 inches

Write-up here...

Two new...

First, sounds like Boyne City is getting a mtb race at Avalanche Mountain. Format sounds like it is to be determined, but for those that haven't ridden out there, the 5 mile lap is roughly 4.5 miles of climbing and a nasty fast 0.5 mile descent. From the website:

"The Avalanche Challenge is a mountain bike race that will take place at Boyne City’s spectacular Avalanche Preserve Park the first Saturday in June. Riders will race on the park’s scenic, twisting, uphill single track in a 5 mile time-trial format racing at intervals one at a time against the clock.

Spectators and racers will experience breathtaking views of Lake Charlevoix in a festival atmosphere with live entertainment, food and beverage tents.

Avalanche Challenge is part of Boyne City’s cycling weekend which includes a downtown criterium on Sunday and other activities."

Sounds like a good time...

New Sram group

From ProCyclingTalk.com, a new entry-level group via Sram. Commuter bikes anyone?

First crash of the year

Well that was quick. While out on a ride today an old lady was getting her mail and apparently she let her dog out too. Bark bark bark and I'm in the snowbank, but not in the ditch. She was probably more surprised to see me than I was to see the dog. Kona won't even stand in the snow for more than 30 seconds before curling up in a ball because her feet are cold!

Glad it was a soft landing!

What to watch

2010 Epic Cycle Schedule

Tour Down Under:
January 17, 6-6:30p ET Cancer Council Criterium
January 19-23, 6-6:30p ET
January 24, 6-7p ET
February 7, 6-6:30p ET Highlights Show

Lance Armstrong: "The Next Chapter":
January 23, 5:30p ET
January 24, 3:30p ET

Tour of Qatar:

February 21, 3-4p ET

Tour of Oman:

February 28, 3-4p ET

Paris-Nice:

March 7 & 14, 5-7p ET

Criterium International:

March 28, 5-6p ET

Paris Roubaix:

April 11, Time TBD

Fleche Wallone:

April 25, 4:30-5p ET

Liege Bastogne Liege:

April 25, 5-6p ET

Tour de Romandie:

May 2, 5-7p ET

Tour of California:

May 16-23, Times TBD

Dauphine Libere:

June 6, 4-6p ET

June 13, 3-5p ET

Tour of Philadelphia:

June 6, 1:30-3p ET

Tour de Suisse:

June 6 & 13, Times TBD

Tour de France:

July 3-25, LIVE AM Broadcasts. TimesTBD

Paris Tours:

October 10, 5-6pm ET
*All times subject to change

Roubaix

Two of my favorite races end here...

Ithaca GP!

News here. Thanks for three great races!

Burr

Where did the corn go? The wind really bites once the corn is gone.

Bundled.

1:15 was all I could muster at 26 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the dirt roads out here are in prime condition. Flat and fast = cold and windy.

Davisburg

Recon

From a source unnamed:

"Think of a world cup course. Not very technical and pretty flat for springfield oaks. Wooded section & Flyover is in play about 500 meters from the finish line. One set of planks with a couple stretches of pavement (finish and mid course). Some good off camber stuff. Overall impression is it should keep the racing tigh, think lower huron'ish tactics. Ground is frozen and bumpy."

Busy

Sorry no updates from Holland's Kiss Cross final last Sunday, but things were busy. After the rains all that week the course was soft, and the rain on Sunday morning would prove to be too much for the course to handle. Constant drizzle through the C race made for a lot of slop, but the rain diminished right as the B's/Masters took off. Mike Seaman plowed to a 4th place in the drying slop. His 42t front ring was too much towards the end in the mud that was quickly turning from wet, sloppy mud to sticky, thick mud and grass.

By the time the A's took off there was no rain in sight, which is never a good thing after the course was in the shape it was in. The spiral of death was brutal, not only because of the mud but because you could constantly see everyone else in the race and how far you were ahead of or behind them. With the mud drying out the bike got heavier and heavier every lap. Shouldering the bike up the "option A or B" staircase run-up was brutal but a saving grace compared with the football field death march.

In the end, after a very good start I faded back to 7th. Far from a stellar effort but the Saginaw ride two days before KK was probably not the smartest if I was planning on doing well. Thanks to the Macatawa CC for hosting the party afterwards at New Holland Brewing Company. That was a fun way to cap off a hard day of racing.

Tomorrow is the state championships and there are a few battles that will be great to watch. The B race will be a battle and you never know who else will show up to contest the top five. Danny G dropped a killer 2nd place in Holland and showed some super form last week. The elite race should be a great fight for the top four or five places as well. Hopefully I'll be close enough to the front of the masters race to see the battles up there. To me that will be the best race to watch as there are probably five guys who could take it.

Time will tell, as in less than 24 hours all of these questions will be sorted out.

Man, I love 'cross.