2009 Vision Quest/Counting Coup - March 7th, 2009

[kev]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

My SS is a 29er with 32/18 gearing.

Given Kev's 26" conversion, that would be 32/16?

Ouch

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

My SS is a 29er with 32/18 gearing.

Given Kev's 26" conversion, that would be 32/16?

32:16? Is your name Cameron Brenneman? I'd gear down personally. There's no flats till the finish.

[Zippo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by KonaDupee
My SS is a 29er with 32/18 gearing.

Given Kev's 26" conversion, that would be 32/16?
Ouch
__________________

yeah, I usually ride 32x18 on one bike, and 34x20 on the other (both 29ers). I rode The Traverse on a 20 lbs rigid El Comandante at 32x20 and was longing for another tooth or two in the rear. However, I'm not sure I could spin up The Wall in a 32x22 anyway. And the ride out on Trabuco just plain sucks to the point that I may ride the VQ with a Reba & the pop-loc...but climbing with a rigid fork is so much nicer (I'm torn).

Kev - yes, we rode the Traverse together halfway up to Beeks.

[kev]

Originally Posted by Zippo

Quote:
Originally Posted by KonaDupee
My SS is a 29er with 32/18 gearing.

Given Kev's 26" conversion, that would be 32/16?
Ouch
__________________

yeah, I usually ride 32x18 on one bike, and 34x20 on the other (both 29ers). I rode The Traverse on a 20 lbs rigid El Comandante at 32x20 and was longing for another tooth or two in the rear. However, I'm not sure I could spin up The Wall in a 32x22 anyway. And the ride out on Trabuco just plain sucks to the point that I may ride the VQ with a Reba & the pop-loc...but climbing with a rigid fork is so much nicer (I'm torn).

Kev - yes, we rode the Traverse together halfway up to Beeks.

I've been riding rigid so much now that anything else would seem like cheating.

Yep, half way to beeks is right, then you dropped me like a hot potato.

[KonaDupee]

I bought my 29er with the 32/18 gearing. Frankly, I'm hesitant to change it out to anything else; it's all I've known when it comes to SSing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...or something like that (it really isn't a macho thing at all).

I figure if Kona thinks I should be able to do it, I should be able to do it.

There have only been a few climbs I have not been able to do with that gearing. Hell, climbing is so much easier on my SS than on my geared.

For me the real issue would be fitness level in order to be able to string together ALL of the climbs into one 8-hour sufferfest.

[JOx2]

Reading your post about single speed is painful enough for me.

[kev]

I hear ya. When I first got into singlespeeding I was changing cogs all the time depending on what event I was doing. It always took my legs awhile to get use to the new spin. If finally got sick of this and just stuck with a gear. I was running a 32X19 when I was living on the East Coast and switched to a 20 when I moved out here.

You just get used to a certain effort level (and pain level) and when that changes it throws off your mojo. So yeah if it works stick with it.

[davidB]

speaking of rigid, how's it hold up there? I love my cf fork for riding up here in the San Gabes so I can't imagine the singletrack down there can be much worse. Then again by mile 30 I could be hating life so....

[KonaDupee]

Originally Posted by davidB

speaking of rigid, how's it hold up there? I love my cf fork for riding up here in the San Gabes so I can't imagine the singletrack down there can be much worse. Then again by mile 30 I could be hating life so....

Rigid is perfect for the amount of climbing that the CC & VQ include. I've never had a problem riding Blackstar or the Main Divide with my carbon fork. In fact, it's probably a lot easier.

I'm guessing that both courses include Trabuco. Trabuco would be hell at any time without suspension, let alone on mile 40+. Regardless, if I go for the CC I am leaning towards riding my rigid SS.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by davidB

speaking of rigid, how's it hold up there? I love my cf fork for riding up here in the San Gabes so I can't imagine the singletrack down there can be much worse. Then again by mile 30 I could be hating life so....

Think about this, when you ride the San Gabes, you're not trying to make a cutoff. As for me, I'm much faster on descents on my FS than my HT. If you do the VQ, you'll have 3 descents, Silverado Trail aka Motorway, Upper and Lower Holy Jim and Trabuco.

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

I'm guessing that both courses include Trabuco. Trabuco would be hell at any time without suspension, let alone on mile 40+. Regardless, if I go for the CC I am leaning towards riding my rigid SS.

You will NOT descend Trabuco on the CC, only VQ participants will.

[kev]

Well for me the choice is easy all my bikes are singlespeed and all my bikes are rigid.

[davidB]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Think about this, when you ride the San Gabes, you're not trying to make a cutoff. As for me, I'm much faster on descents on my FS than my HT. If you do the VQ, you'll have 3 descents, Silverado Trail aka Motorway, Upper and Lower Holy Jim and Trabuco.



You will NOT descend Trabuco on the CC, only VQ participants will.

my butt is doing CC. So, easily doable?

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by davidB

my butt is doing CC. So, easily doable?

Ya IMO, Trabuco would be the one that is "rougher" because of the rocks and shale. On the CC, once you've come down HJ, it's 4.5 miles of that brutal access road out to the finish, which everyone has to do, even those who DNF.

[KonaDupee]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Ya IMO, Trabuco would be the one that is "rougher" because of the rocks and shale. On the CC, once you've come down HJ, it's 4.5 miles of that brutal access road out to the finish, which everyone has to do, even those who DNF.

That access road is brutal on any bike, rigid or with 8" of travel. Honestly, I'd rather have to do the Wall again after 40+ miles than that damn road.

[sdyeti]

32:16

I had a 2:1 combo on my SS before I sold it...it was so hard!

[KonaDupee]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

32:16

I had a 2:1 combo on my SS before I sold it...it was so hard!

It's not a true 2:1 on my SS. It's 32/18, but on a 29er. I'm sure if I ever swapped out for a larger cog I would feel the difference. However, ignorace is bliss!

[Padre]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

Rigid is perfect for the amount of climbing that the CC & VQ include. I've never had a problem riding Blackstar or the Main Divide with my carbon fork. In fact, it's probably a lot easier.

I'm guessing that both courses include Trabuco. Trabuco would be hell at any time without suspension, let alone on mile 40+. Regardless, if I go for the CC I am leaning towards riding my rigid SS.

Have you forgotten the Motorway?

Oh yeah...rigid is perfect for the Vision Quest. Make sure you also gear down to at least 32x16. Don't want to be spinning out on all the flats.

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by Padre

Have you forgotten the Motorway?

Oh yeah...rigid is perfect for the Vision Quest. Make sure you also gear down to at least 32x16. Don't want to be spinning out on all the flats.

Isn't the Motorway a fire road now?