Well, I'm back in buisness with the internet connection. So now I can post (easily) again. This week, I have a three- day weekend off work. I took Katie to her friends' house at three o'clock this morning, so they could drive to St. Louis to catch a flight to Las Vegas for the friends' birthday. What I'm trying to say is, I'm all alone with nothing much to do this weekend. Sounds like a good chance to get some time in on the bike! So I met Mike at the Koke mill trails this morning. I had a hard time getting out of bed for the second time, so I was a little late. He was too, so it worked out fine. We 
rode the trails for a while and then headed out on the road to Lincoln Park, where we rode the cross- country course around the outskirts of the park. After one lap and a stair run- up, I was pretty tired, so we rode back to the trails. This is my second ride on the new Alpha Q fork, and I have to say that I am very impressed. The problem I had with the stock fork was that it dove so much under braking that it was almost impossible to control. I found myself unable to use the brakes heavily into corners, causing me to enter corners very slowly or risk crashing or running off the trails due to excessive speed. I swapped it out for my brothers Specialized tricross fork, which was much stiffer, but it had too much rake and 
handled poorly on my bike. It was also fairly heavy, which was why it didn't stay on his bike. I think he weighed his bike with carbon wheels on and it was around sixteen pounds! My bike won't get that light, but it got a lot lighter with the new fork on it. Plus it's got this curved, weapon- like look to it that makes it scare other riders off the start line. At least that's what I'm hoping for. Now I'm debating weather I should put the dura- ace crank and shifters on it to lighten the bike even further, but I might be too worried about crashing it, then. Which happens a lot in 'cross. To other people, not me.
Sunday, Dru, Mike and I are heading up to Chicago for the ChiCrossCup race. I know I'm out of shape and practice so I'm hoping for a little luck and a lot more cowbell.
rode the trails for a while and then headed out on the road to Lincoln Park, where we rode the cross- country course around the outskirts of the park. After one lap and a stair run- up, I was pretty tired, so we rode back to the trails. This is my second ride on the new Alpha Q fork, and I have to say that I am very impressed. The problem I had with the stock fork was that it dove so much under braking that it was almost impossible to control. I found myself unable to use the brakes heavily into corners, causing me to enter corners very slowly or risk crashing or running off the trails due to excessive speed. I swapped it out for my brothers Specialized tricross fork, which was much stiffer, but it had too much rake and 
handled poorly on my bike. It was also fairly heavy, which was why it didn't stay on his bike. I think he weighed his bike with carbon wheels on and it was around sixteen pounds! My bike won't get that light, but it got a lot lighter with the new fork on it. Plus it's got this curved, weapon- like look to it that makes it scare other riders off the start line. At least that's what I'm hoping for. Now I'm debating weather I should put the dura- ace crank and shifters on it to lighten the bike even further, but I might be too worried about crashing it, then. Which happens a lot in 'cross. To other people, not me.Sunday, Dru, Mike and I are heading up to Chicago for the ChiCrossCup race. I know I'm out of shape and practice so I'm hoping for a little luck and a lot more cowbell.
1 comment:
I have a feveor that only more cowbell can cure...... Low bottom bracket my eye. Did you look at the link that mike sent with the guy hopping a barrier on his dessel? The fork does look sooooo coooooool though.
d
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