COMOtion Team Meets To Plan Season

The first 2010 team meeting was held at the Retul Fit Studio in lower downtown Denver where master bike fitter Todd Carver offered up an update on the ever evolving Retul Dynamic 3D motion fit system. The system is used by pro teams around the world for precise evaluation of bike fit replacing the carpenter's level and plumb bob with infra-red LEDs and dimension calculating software. Todd recently set up the new Radioshack Team and convinced Lance Armstrong to move his saddle up 1 cm.

Once the correct dimensions, angles and set-up are determined, the rider is given the critical data to use on other bikes or to compare to changes in equipment. If Lance trusts Todd, I imagine I would. Check out the company's site on the sponsor links to the right.

Team owner Stephen Lechner presented the encouraging outlook for the season and surveyed each racer for his/her priorities and commitments for the year. Sponsor support is essential and many of the team supporters have again committed to the 2010 season.

As always, the Mountain States Cup Series http://www.racemsc.com/ will be the focus. COMOtion racers will also compete in the Winter Park Series, http://www.epicsingletrack.com/default.asp, Firecracker 50 http://www.mavsports.com/?id=8 , fall cyclocross events and other competitions throughout the Rocky Mountain region and country.

The team set March 25-28th as the date and Moab, Utah as the site for the annual team training camp. A Sports Illustrated associated action photo shoot will also take place April 7th among the red rocks.

Permission via the hand raise was required prior to excusing one's self to the beer drain facilities.

Lots of work to be done before we test the speeds of rival teams in the many race venues across the region.

ASRc Starting To Come Together.....2010's XC Ride - Brakes ready..

When you're already riding the greatest brand and model for your riding passion, it's hard to make improvements. The 2010 cross country racing choice once again, is a brand new Yeti ASRc carbon framed lightweight XTR'ed to the hilt. This week we're working on the stoppers and shifting cables.The Shimano system is not the easiest hydraulic brake to bleed. Special tools make the job simpler but patience is required.

What can I add? Viewing custom Yetis on http://www.yetifan.com/ a particular ASX in Europe caught my eye because it looked like a true custom job. One reason. White shifter cabling and hydro hoses. Genius!! Gotta have it.

Cables were easy with Jagwire offering kits through Bike Source in Colorado Springs. Got enough for the ARCx next time I feel like wrapping cables under bar tape.

White hydraulic brake hose proved to be a little tougher. Jagwire had offered a match to the shifter housings but were back ordered or "we'll let you know-maybe status" on the Internet.

First bad experience ordering bike stuff for nearly a decade. A jerk off shop in Michigan, Harbor Country Bike claimed they had them in stock for twice the MSRP. I filled out the order form and gave them a credit card number. My bank account was immediately charged. No auto-acknowledgement or word for 3 days. Suspicious, I Googled the firm. Crap, lots of complaints on this shop. Finally a reply comes from the owner. He doesn't appreciate my insistence on a status update and now I am not going to get my order because of perceived "threats". The Wells Fargo Fraud Division is watching but my refund does come days later. Jerry, you are a bad egg in a good industry.

Part of the 2010 improvements include full shifter cable housings to keep crud from entering through the traditional bare cable split sections.

Friends in the UK vouched for Chain Reactions Cycles at http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ . They had the GOODRIDGE brand of hose and fittings. Shipment was immediate and assembly was dummy proof.

The end results are eye-pleasing......

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Are they going to make me faster? I think so.

WINTER LIGHTEN'S UP FOR A NIGHT RIDE

The COMOtion senior citizen committee broke out the miner's lights Wednesday and made a run up Green Mountain. Gary Peterson and I were actually the only riders to show up. The other guys are full of talk until it's time to hit the trail head and do some PM climbing. They start talking union trash and drinking beer and never seem to shed the suspenders for Spandex.

It was a pleasant 48 degrees with no wind Wednesday and it made for a perfect start to February's ride-when-you-can season. Jackets and leg warmers were required but as always, too much clothes climbing...not enough on the downward fly.

The trails were dry over 90% of the park and I was actually eating dust on the north side descents behind Gary's LARGE ASRc.

Trying to make Wednesdays our regular weekly night ride weather permitting. Come join us.