Wanted to remind my upper mid west Minnesota area type friends that this weekend is the Fatbike Frozen Forty. A.K.A. “The Triple F.”

The Fatbike Frozen Forty plan is to have freaky fun loving fat bike freaky type folks racing four, ten mile, singletrack laps around Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove, MN. Lack of normal Minnesota BIG snows and some resulting trail closures MAY have venues chaining but we’re all hoping for the best (keep an eye on their website for last minute info).

Having said all that, my man Ben (you many know him from such classic audio features as the XXC Magazine Podcasts) is heading up from Colorado with an ass load of handcrafted bike goodies from his Twenty2 Cycles and some XXC Magazine gear (IF he didn’t give them away whilst trying to score free java at Starbucks). Worth checking out for sure.

There is still time to register for the event, so scurry as fast as your frozen toes and fat ass tires will take you over to PreRace.com and get signed up for the race.

We will of course be picking Ben’s noggin bout the race upon his return from the Great White (not Canada but some folk think so) North of Minnesota on the next XXC “Pod” as the hipster kids call it. OK, I’m lying, I doubt that any hipster kids listen to the audio assault that we call a podcast or would EVER call it a “pod” they’re too busty riding fixies and getting something pierced.

Speaking of the XXC audio assault… Stay tuned for our next Pod when we talk to Mr. Guitar Ted about all things Fatbike including some of the recent fatty goodness at Frostbike. Plus we get Ben’s take on the 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo where he and the “other” Ben finished 5th in the Men’s Duo race. Good (enough) stuff indeed.

Now go sign up for the Triple F and stay tuned to XXC for more in the coming weeks.

Since I posted the initial review I’ve got in a couple more rides with them in less than desirable conditions: ice, snow, mud and slush. And I am happy to say that these brakes continued to just be awesome. I could not be happier with my purchase. With my old cantis, trying to stop going down hill on muddy gravel/dirt roads could be a tad harrowing. Not so with the TRP CX9s. Very happy with this purchase. Visit www.trpbrakes.com for more information on these brakes.

Joel Titus, a recent score for the new So Cal Endurance team is one to watch. At just 18 years old he is placing among the Pro riders here in CA, recently nabbing a first place at the 6 Hours of Temecula racing against racers with much more experience then this young buck. Maybe you saw him whiz by on the course? With the support of his parents and the speedster teammates he trains with, Joel Titus will soon become a familiar name in the sport.

Recently Joel was awarded the Trek Student-Athlete All Star Award. This award recognizes student-athletes for their outstanding competitive achievements and potential for future success in competitive cycling. Joel was selected because he began his first year racing winning JV, getting faster and faster over the course of the summer at camp and finishing among the Pros in Pro races.

Matt Gunnel, the Executive Director for the So Cal High School League had this to say about Joel: “Joel clearly stood out as a rider with great potential for competitive cycling. He is on an upward trajectory and if he keeps a level head and a strong work ethic he can go far in the sport.”

Recently I had the chance to chat a bit with Joel about racing and his plans for the future.

Congrats on the award, do you feel pressured by the press and acknowledgment?

No, not at all.

When was the first time you rode a bike?

I started riding a 2 wheeler at about 3, I was dirt jumping by age 4.

How big of a role do your parents play in your training and racing?

My parents play a big role. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.

What has been your longest race to date?

The 6 Hours of Temecula race put on by Jason Ranoa and So Cal Endurance.

Is it hard for you to focus that long on a bike?

No the longer I focus the more I relax.

How about longest training ride?

My longest training ride was a mountain ride: 76 miles,12,300 feet of climbing.

When did you realize you had a talent for endurance racing?

The summer of 2011 I started riding with Daniel Munoz who is my teammate now. We started doing longer training rides on the mountain between 50 and 70 miles long and over ten thousand feet of climbing. I really just like to ride my bike, challenge myself and to make myself hurt a lot.

Do you have coach?

I never had a specific coach before but I get most of my help from my So Cal Endurance teammate and pro racer Daniel Munoz.

Because you are pretty young I would imagine you can eat whatever you want, is that true? Do you watch what you eat at all?

Yeah, I do watch what I eat and I could eat whatever I want but I like to eat the food I’m use to- burgers and burritos. It seems to work for me.

What’s your race fuel like? Pop Tarts and Cheese-Its?

One or two eggs, a bagel or cereal.

How many hours a week do you train?

10 to 15 hours a week.

What’s your biggest goal for 2012?

The 6 Hour Solo Temecula Series would be a good one for me to win.

Congrats on your recent 6 Hour Solo win. What was the hardest part about that race mentally?

Probably answering this question, ha! Getting stuck behind slow riders is the worst thing for me.

Spec out your race bike for us:

Frame: KHS Team 29er Carbon
Fork: Marzocchi CORSA SL 29r
Crank Brothers Cobalt 11 bars, Cobalt 3 stem, Cobalt 11 seat post
Eggbeater 11
Cobalt 3 29 wheel set
Shimano XTR brakes, shifters front and rear derailleurs
SRAM XX crankset,
SRAM XX cassette
KMC chain
SLR saddle.

Favorite tires for So Cal riding?

Maxxis Aspen tire.

Have you done any 24 Hour racing? Any plans to do that?

I’ve never done any 24 hour racing before, but yes, I definitely want to do those races.

Where do you see your racing in 5 years?

Way faster.

Five-times Austrian National Marathon champion Alban Lakata (32) will participate in this year’s Absa Cape Epic with Robert Mennen (26) as team Topeak Ergon Racing. Lakata was unlucky at the 2010 Absa Cape Epic, when he had to carry his bike for the last two kilometers of stage 3 of the race. This year’s event takes place from 25 March to 1 April and will once again take 1 200 riders through 781km of some of the Western Cape’s most beautiful terrain.

Lakata, who will participate in his fifth Absa Cape Epic this year, is thrilled to have Mennen as his racing partner. Says Lakata: “We’ve been team mates since 2009 and have a very good relationship.” Mennen, doing his first Absa Cape Epic this year, says that Lakata is an experienced rider who knows the race. “Our advantage is that we know each other really well and get along wonderfully. In this kind of stage race, it’s very important to know how your teammate feels, without him or her having to say it. It’s also important to complement one another,” explains Mennen.

Mennen (from Noervenich, Germany) is very excited to participate in the Absa Cape Epic for the first time. “After I finished 9^th at the Marathon Worlds and 2^nd at the Kitzalp Bike Marathon, many of my opponents asked why Alban and I don’t compete as a team in the Absa Cape Epic – I had no answer to that question. I’m very excited to participate with a former World Champion and hope to learn a lot about the race,” says Mennen. According to Lakata, the Absa Cape Epic is the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world and a must for every marathon rider.

In the 2010 Absa Cape Epic, Lakata participated with one of South Africa’s favourites, Kevin Evans. They were in the lead when they started having problems around halfway. They had about four punctures and started running out of tubes and bond. Lakata had to run with his bike on his back for the last two kilometers of the race as his rim exploded. Says Lakata: “When I hit the tar I could feel that it wasn’t going to make it – it was already that bad.” Nevertheless, Lakata feels that a podium finish for the 2012 race is possible. He says: “Because it’s our first stage race together, our goal is to finish in the top five and get a stage win.” Mennen, on the other hand, is not so sure about a podium finish. “I’m not sure about our abilities of getting stage wins or finishing on the podium overall. It’s a very long race where many things can happen. The race is also very early in the season, and last year’s season didn’t start well for me. Furthermore, the Absa Cape Epic will be my first stage race that is longer than four stages. I have a lot to learn about the race and my body,” says Mennen. According to Lakata, Mennen is an intelligent guy who knows how to handle a multi-day race.

As they live in different countries, Lakata and Mennen almost never train together, but feel that it is not really a problem, as they know each other really well. “Usually we only see each other at race weekends. I don’t think this is a handicap though. Alban is six years older than me, so he needs harder and longer training sessions to get adequate stimulus. In preparation for the Cape Epic, we participate in some of the same races and in March we’re doing the World Cup in Pietermaritzburg to get uses to the climate,” explains Mennen.

With regards to his training, Lakata says that he does a lot of strength and cross training during winter, and currently eats a lot of protein. Mennen does a lot of running and spinning during winter. Says Mennen: “As the season starts getting closer I increase my riding times and the intensity of my training. I also try to follow a balanced diet. At the end of the day, I need to follow my own training regime as I know my body better.”

When asked what the most important ingredient is to complete the Absa Cape Epic successfully, Mennen responds: “I believe it’s important to know your personal, as well as your teammate’s limits. You need a partner that you feel comfortable with and with whom you can communicate well.” Lakata feels that mental power is the most important factor. “In terms of advice for other participants, I would say don’t start out too fast and keep some energy left for the ‘king’ stage,” says Lakata.

Mennen, who spends his free time with his girlfriend, family and friends and who enjoys watching motor sports, says: “My advice for young athletes is to respect nature, respect other people, enjoy your ride and always have fun.” According to Lakata, who enjoys reading and cooking, “one should always set high goals for yourself and work hard to reach them – never quit a race”.

In terms of other achievements in 2012, Lakata would like an Olympic qualification and a medal at the Marathon World Championships. Mennen would like to focus on finishing his studies in Business Administration, apart from his career goals on his bike.

Mountain biking enthusiasts not participating in the Absa Cape Epic are invited to enter the Vineyard Races, which consist of the Vineyard Ride and Vineyard Run, both sponsored by Cape Times. These races promise participants breathtaking scenery and spectacular mountain biking terrain. The Vineyard Run offers a fun run (6km) and a trail run (15km) and the Vineyard Ride offers a 27km and 50km race. Interested riders can register online at www.vineyard-races.co.za.

Visit www.cape-epic.com for more information.

Photo by Gary Perkin.

Two racers sprinting to the finish line always makes for a good photo, but catching a photo of two racers sprinting for the line after racing 135 miles, 15 hour and 51 minutes in the bitter cold, snow and darkness of Minnesota’s Arrowhead 135 Ultra is pretty freaking sweet!

Kevin Breitenbach beat fellow Alaskan Tim Berston by one fat wheel length in a time of 15:51:46 at this year’s Arrowhead 135. Who knew you could sprint to the line on fat bikes loaded down with 15+ pounds of gear? What an awesome finish! Congrats to these guys and ANYone who finishes this bad ass of a race.

Look for more on the Arrowhead from Women’s winner and new Women’s course record holder Eszter Horanyi in XXC #15 which is due to hit the digital mag racks later this month.

Pic lifted from arrowheadultra.com.

LUST

Because of all the riding I do on dirt and gravel roads aboard the Jake, I started thinking about lusting for a disc brake equipped cross/road bike like the Salsa Vaya, Specialized CruX Comp Disc Apex, or Foundry Auger. All fine steeds that come with bad ass disc brake stopping power that could make gravel riding even more fun. BUT as XXC’s Paid Reader Department lets me know every day, none of those bikes are in the financial cards right now or in the foreseeable future.

REALITY

I started thinking what it is that could actually improve my gravel grinding, shit road and UltraCX type riding/racing. I like my Jake. It’s comfy, fairly light and could probably get lighter if its rider wasn’t gaining 10 pounds a year since he turned 37 (sadly the rider is 40 now… ug!). Anyway, I have no qualms with the fit and ride of my bike, it came down to the brakes and their inability to stop with confidence in the dry/rain/snow/ice/etc. I convinced myself I needed disc brakes to be happy. My wallet said otherwise.

OPTIONS?

OK, a new bike is out of the question right now, what do I do? I hate canti’s and I don’t race cross, so I don’t have to justify myself to the cross-snob crowd. Years ago I used v-brakes set up with a Problem Solvers Travel Agent. It was OK, but there were issues at times with the brake cable not running smoothly through the adapter. Hmmm….

THE SOLUTION?

While I can’t afford $2,500 for a new bike or frame I was able to “cook the books” enough so as to afford trying out TRP’s CX9 brakes ($150 per set including hardware). I had heard some good things about the CX9s and figured that they couldn’t be much worse than what I was already using, so I went to Terry’s Cycles in “Scotland U.S.A.” Alma, Michigan to order up a set. Several QBP back orders later they finally came in.

INITIAL REACTION

I am a firm believer in getting things installed and set up right. This is why I forbid myself from trying to install things like new brakes on my bike. Some people just should NOT work on their bikes. I am one of those people. So, I let that up to Napper at Terry’s. When I questioned him over the phone on how the installation went, he said there were no issues, but he was a little disappointed with the initial feel of the brakes and that they were a little mushy to engage in his opinion, so he did play around with that a bit. I was slightly concerned. Turns out I had no reason to be.

Upon feeling the engagement of the brakes in the shop I was pretty stoked, I perceived no mushyness and the brakes gripped the rim the rim like a champ. Then again, this could just have been a reflection on how lackluster my old brakes were. Plus, I think I just have a picky wrench, but that’s a good thing!

FIRST RIDE

The first ride was not all that much of a test; a cold 25 mile loop on pavement and frozen dry dirt roads. But what I can say is this….

1. The brakes STOP.  I mean STOP compared to the cantis I had. Not that I do a lot of one hand braking, but it is something that could never have been done with the cantis, but the TRP’s were more than capable of doing so.
2. Since I was so used to grabbing two handfulls  of brake, I had a couple stops that were abrupt to say the least. But it was easy to get used to even while wearing big ass winter riding gloves.
3. Once I was used to the stopping power all was good and I had no issues with getting used to the modulation.
4. NOTE: TRP recommends the CX9 brakes for Shimano levers and the CX 8.4 for SRAM.

This year I opted for a print when I registered for the now sold out race. In my opinion it’s a nice alternative to a race t shirt or pint glass. In the past year or so I’ve started to see more and more trophies, prizes and race gear that is less typical and often made by local artists. Have you seen any that caught your eye? And if so what were they?

The March 24th Barry-Roubaix is the 2nd stop in the American UltraCross Championship Series. The first race  is coming up on February 24 in Dahlonega, GA at the 2012 Southern Cross.

I’ve seen a few crazy fans and supporter at endurance races over the years including a forest road climb at the 2009 Wilderness 101 featuring a man dressed as a Trojan soldier banging a drum as we passed. At least I’m PRETTY sure that was for real. For all I know I was having some bonk induced hallucination or something.

The 2012 Black Forest Ultra takes place on June 15 thru 17th, 2012 with 5 different races for riders to choose from, ranging from the 43km short track all the way up to the 117km Ultra. you can check out black-forest-ultra-bike.de for more information on the race.

While the rides are great, they are not without their challenges. What snow we have had, combined with warm-ish daytime temps and freezing nighttime temps has left the roads a smorgasbord of conditions: dry, tacky mud, mud, peanut butter mud, slush and solid ice. “Why wouldn’t you just ride on pavement?” you ask. I could list a bunch of reasons why I choose to ride the dirt (mud) roads rather than paved roads, but it pretty much boils down to the fact that every time I got out with the plan to ride pavement, I find that the road turns to dirt, so I might as well just ride the dirt.

Amazingly Stupidly, I made it almost 20 years of riding without using fenders. Seriously. And I have no idea why other than I am cheap to the point that I did’t care about my back and chamois getting soaked with cold water and mud. That changed about a month or so ago when I was down at Terry Cycles in Alma picking up a rebuilt wheel and spied the fenders on the wall. The prices didn’t seem bad and a recent foray onto the cold, wet gravel roads left me “chapped” enough in places to nudge me over the line and hand over the cash.

There were a few options in stock and the prices were all similar. “Napper” (co-owner of Terry’s) recommended the Blackburn Dirt Merchant ($24.99 MSRP) based on his experience with the others slipping and getting all catttwampus when things got rough. The Dirt Merchant uses a Quickclamp that fits secure and snug to seatposts 22.2mm to 34.9mm in diameter.

The fender is sold alone or as a combo with a front downtube fender for just few bucks more ($34.99 MSRP). I figured while I was throwing the plastic around, I might as well splurge.

Well a month or so later I couldn’t be happier with the performance of the fenders. I mean when you get down to it, it’s just a fender all it has to do is keep my caboose dry and stay put. It does both. The quick release, er I mean “Quickclamp” is a breeze to set up and stays put. Win.

The down tube fender uses rubber straps to keep it in place and I’ve had no problem with slipping. Although I did accidentally tear one of the bands a bit when I unnecessarily used my kung fu gorilla grip during set up. Bad move on my part. When things get REALLY soupy a front fender like the Topeak DeFender™ FX might be a better choice (although the web site recommends them for little 26″ wheels). On a recent muddy road ride I found myself ingesting more than my share of mud. Mmmm…. mud.

I’m pretty sure my bikes hate me and will get even with me by needing a variety of pricey drivetrain bitz come spring. I wish that the fender combo could keep the gritty Michigan mud of my ENTIRE bike, but I know that’s just not possible. It DOES keep my ass end dry and comfortable when things get wet out there though and there’s something to be said for that. I’ve used the fenders on both my hardtail 29er and my cross bike with dry chamois success.

Wow, who knew I could type well over 580 words about a fender? I think it was just and excuse to post some pics. It is a sweet fender set though. So don’t be a cheap ass like me, get some fenders. Life is too short to put up with a soggy bottom.

Jason Ranoa is getting some well-deserved props. He was recently awarded the QBP Race Production Partner Award. No surprise there. Jason is the mastermind behind the 12 Hours of Temecula, the new Enduro Series and the brand-spanking-new SoCal Endurance Team. I got a chance to catch up with him after his first event of 2012. Clear your calendar: he has some great races on tap.

Heidi: Sadly cycling is not ingrained in our culture. You have some young riders on your new So Cal Endurance team. Is it your hope to cultivate cycling?

Jason: The team concept came about a few years ago when my wife Heather and I were chasing the Nationals and every other race known to man. The bottom line about racing mountain bikes is it has to be fun. Racing and traveling with other folks who love the same thing is way more fun. The problem is that only a handful of elite riders make any money in our sport. So I decided to help out and get good folks together and attack the scene.

Heidi: Why did you want to create a team this year? What are your overarching goals for the team and race series?

Jason: The new SoCal Endurance Team has a bit of a different spin. I have been working with the SoCal High School League for a few years now. I hold two of the races for the league, both at Vail Lake Resort in Temecula, CA. Over the last couple of years I have been getting frustrated with the development of the USA’s top level riders. We created the sport of mountain biking and yet our athletes are often nowhere near the podium for world class events. Please understand that our top riders are awesome and doing the best they can. I do think we have the potential to be on the podiums, but there is very little support and the developmental process behind our programs is severely lacking. While being part of the High School League I have seen a major shift in the right direction for our future talent pool. With that in mind I am trying to gather local talent and help to develop it. Southern California is a hot bed for all X-sports. X-sports are the non-conventional sports: motocross, mountain biking, skateboarding. A lot of the country’s best athletes live and train right here – it makes sense to put a team together and make a go of it! Besides that, with all the talent coming out of the High School League it would be a shame not to cultivate and grow the kids beyond high school.

Heidi: How are you specifically trying to move endurance events forward?

Jason: In the past few years endurance racing has been on an upward swing. I have been promoting endurance racing for close to eight years now and I have seen some major changes. Gone are the glory days of American mountain bike racing, where thousands of spectators lined the tracks and cheered for the racers as they rocked the course. I am not sure why we don’t have the following like the Europeans do. I mean when you go to a World Cup in Europe it is insane how many folks come out of the woodwork to support the events. I love it, the energy and the enthusiasm is awesome! Here in the states it’s more about challenging yourself and doing your own thing. That’s where endurance racing comes in. Americans love to test themselves and show that they are still alive and kicking. Endurance racing is a lonely sport and Americans love it. More and more folks are coming out and testing themselves against themselves rather than against others. I think that is where the shift is with US racing. Even though the economy is in the dump right now, folks still want to have a good time. Endurance racing gives you more satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment than XC racing. Plus you tend to get a little more bang for your buck. Most endurance racing events are non-sanctioned so you don’t have to worry about licensing or qualifying, which is a big deal for most racers. If you are a pro racer here in the states the license itself is almost $200 before UCI fees. How many pros are going to UCI events or traveling the world? The answer is very few. I am trying hard to give the public a great product. I know what racers want and I try hard to make the races a memorable experience. At the end of the day, when the racers are tired and sore they come over and give me a big hug and tell me that I just kicked their ass. That is the buzz for me!

Heidi: Endurance events seemed to be overshadowing the shorter distances. Do you feel like a bit of a visionary? All of your races I’ve done have been endurance. Have you ever put on XC event?

Jason: I have promoted a few XC events. They are ok – I just like the grassroots feel of endurance events. It’s like a gathering rather than a race. Folks are coming together for a common goal rather than just competing. A lot of people ask me why I don’t offer more prize money. The bottom line is: our events are not about the pro riders. They are about the normal every day rider, the riders who train super hard to do just one lap more than last time. The pro field consists of a very small amount compared to rest of the field. Don’t get me wrong, I love having the pro riders out at our events. The living legend “Tinker” Juarez has been with us since the beginning, and that really adds a flavor to the events. But it’s about the whole burrito, not just the beans! All in all
I just like the vibe of endurance racing – that’s why I
choose to sink my teeth into endurance events.

Heidi: I don’t think anyone would argue with this fact: your races are hard, fun and rewarding. There is a certain vibe that is created at your events. In a nutshell, what are you trying to do?

Jason: I try to create memories. I want to make the safest, most challenging, most FUN environment for people to challenge themselves.

Heidi: You hold most of your events at Vail Lake. How did you hook up with them? Are you allowed to cut new trail for races? Do you run into any permitting issues?

Jason: I have been making and maintaining trails at Vail for over nine years now. It’s an amazing place to be! The owners of Vail Lake have entrusted me to help make a great destination spot for mountain bikers. We have had a few other folks out there digging and creating and they have done a wonderful job as well. I don’t normally run into any permitting issues at Vail. That is the benefit of working on private land. The owner calls Vail Lake his sovereign nation – he is the chief. We are truly blessed to have Vail Lake in our back yards. While other trails are being closed down, we are continually growing. In the next few years we will be putting in a pump track, gravity trails, a skills course and much, much more. We already have over 50 miles of trails in place. I am excited to be a part of it.

Heidi: What’s new and different on the schedule?

The biggest change this year is the addition of the enduro events. I am super excited about these. Over in Europe right now the enduros are the fastest growing type of events. They are mostly gravity type competitions. We are holding enduro stage races which consist of three races in one day, back to back. It is very similar to having three super D races in a day. We are catering to the trail-type bikes. The courses are not gnarly downhills and there is less than 10% climbing. It is more or less for the average rider with descent bike skills. It is super fun and challenging. Anyone can do it, on any bike! I think it is going to be the next big thing in American cycling.

Heidi: Who are you partnering with this year for events?

Jason: I am partnering with some of the greatest minds in the mountain biking industry. Our major sponsors this year are KHS Bicycles, Turner Bikes, Crankbrothers, Marzocchi, B& B Appliance, Nimbus Water, Baja Designs, The Bike Shop Temecula, and Pro Motion Sportswear. We have quite a few partners as well. We have one of the biggest demo venues on the West Coast. There are always dozens of cycling companies who come out to play. It is always a pleasure and an honor to work with these companies. They help support the racers and give back to our sport!

Heidi: What about your job gives you pause or makes you smile?

Jason: Diggin’ in the dirt. I love it when I make a new section and someone rides it! It is a very cool feeling. I also love it when I see someone do something they have trained so hard to do. The emotions in our sport run deep! The feeling of accomplishment is amazing, and I get to share that with people. The one thing in life that I have learned is – it’s not about me!

Heidi: If you had it all to do over, what would you do differently?

Jason: I would have done it all a lot sooner. It would have been fun to be a promoter in the heyday of MTB racing.

Heidi: If there were one thing you could change about the sport with a wave of your hand, what would it be?

Jason: I would change the industry support channels and the developmental process in American cycling.

For more information visit socalendurance.com.

Top photo by Pink Shorts Photography, bottom photo by Alex Barnett. All photos courtesy of Jason Ranoa.