29inches

Just wanted to say thanks. When Vassago agreed to bring me on as a rider last year, one of my requirements was to start a blog and post the results of my races among a few other things. Unfortunately, I’m one generation away from being computer savy and it showed. However, with a lot of help from the Father of MountainBikePath.com (Michael Habenicht), I’ve been able to start up this new site and I’m ready to keep up with my requirements for this season. If any of you are sponsored and looking for assistance with getting started with a blog, this is the place to start. Check out the syndicated blog link. Thanks Michael, I couldn’t have done it without you!!!

If you’re one of those riders that stop riding during the Winter months and wait for warmer temps and dryer trails, this is for you. Every Winter when the tempertures start to drop and the snow begins to fall our local trails become a little less traveled and a little more enjoyable. Since moving to Asheville in 2002 I’ve started looking forward to Winter riding. Often enjoying it more than the Spring, Summer and Fall months. For the last two years my winter mileage has been higher than Spring or Fall and there are several reasons why. I could take the time to list those reasons here, but I want. All I’ll say is that there are 26 days of Winter left. Get your bike out of the garage and enjoy them……

A few months ago Vassago hooked me up with a new 2007 Jabberwocky frame. I quickly built it up with parts from White Brothers, WTB, Crank Brothers and Bike29. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of riding this bike in all possible conditions and have enjoyed every minute of it. Here’s my two cents:

The Build: I’m 6′ 3″ and 175lbs. The 20inch Jaberwocky frame fits perfectly. My wheels were built by George at Bike29. He put together some Stans NoTubes Arch rims with double butted spokes and WTB Single Duty hubs. I placed a WTB ExiWolf in the rear and WeirWolf in the front. I started with the WTB Rock Solid fork which I later traded out for the 80mm Magic and placed the Rock solid on my Bandersnatch . A WTB Silverado saddle, Team headset and lock on grips were also added. Truvativ 180 SS cranks and Crank Brothers Candy pedals finished off the drive train. Other parts included On-One fleegle bars and Thompson post and stem. The bike weighed in around 27lbs with the Magic Fork and 25lbs with the Rock Solid.

The Ride: This bike was a little stiffer than my 06 Bandersnatch and seemed to handle even better. I’ve never been more comfortable on technical descents and tight single track. On the downhills you just point and go. This bike eats up rocky and rooty trails and quicky and effortlessly drives through mud and snow. Technical climbing is made easier with 29inch wheels and a tubeless WTB ExiWolf rear tire. Climbing was a little more effecient with the Rock Solid but I traded it for the Magic in order to get a little more enjoyment out of the long technical descents Pisgah Forest has to offer. I’ve since ridden approx 600 miles on the Bandersnatch set up as a 1X9 with the Rock Solid and love this set up. It makes riding gears enjoyable. Both these forks are a great compliment to the Wet Cat Geometry of the Vassago bikes and I couldn’t imagine a better fit. The steel frame and tubless tire combination is the best feeling ride I’ve ever had. After spening a season on these two bikes I’ve realized that I can ride as fast or faster than I ever imagined with full suspension.

Durability: Last year I rode approx. 2000 off road technical miles on this bike and everything is holding up well. The WTB hubs, headset, grips and saddle still ride like new. The Crank Brothers pedals have stayed tight held up to numerous encounters with rocks and trees in the forest and the frame seems to be getting better. The paint remains seamless and chip free despite all my mishaps on the trail. The WTB tires have worn well and continue to hold air with tire pressures at 20 to 23 lbs. Both White Brothers forks continue to function well and have required no maintenance.

The Verdict: If you’re looking for a new bike, I suggest you try a Vassago before spending hard earned cash on products that are over priced and under perform. Check the Vassago web site for dealers near you. Several stores are carrying demo bikes and if one is in your area, try it, you’ll like….

On the morning of Sunday November 7th I drove out to Cove Creek Campground in Pisgah Forest to ride in the last race of my season. Don’t let the name fool you (It’s metric). The SWANK 65 is a 42 mile race set in the Pisgah Mountains outside of Brevard, NC. Like other races organized by Todd Branham it was very well, marked, supported and organized. Here’s how it went.

The race sold out with 100 riders signing up long before the event and 97 of those who planned ahead showed up for the running start. Approximately 25 riders out of those 97 took off like they were running the 100 yard dash at the local track meet. I started somewhere behind those guys (and girls). After running about a third of a mile of rooty, rocky single track in hard sole race shoes, the ride started.

We quickly started a fairly long steep climb on some technical single track traveling away from the campground. I had ridden my Bandersnatch 100 miles the week before at the TreeShaker and had hoped my legs would heal enough to feel well this week on the Jabberwocky (Vassago SS/Stay tuned for a full review and pics). I quickly realized I was at about 80% and decided to pace the begining of the ride knowing there were several hours left to go. Arriving at the first rest stop, I realized I was somewhere in the top 25 and my legs were starting to feel better. Rest stop 1 and 2 were the same so I skipped this stop and rode on.

This section of the race was rolling SS and double track that was covered with leaves and rocks. It was hard to get into any kind of a groove on the SS in these conditions, but the 29 inch wheels and steel frame definately took off the edge and flowed well through the loose rocks and roots. I rode on, trading spots with several other riders who I would continue to see throughout the race. I arrived back at the rest stop, checked my back pack for a water level, quickly grabbed some food and rode on.

This part of the race was the hardest of the day. The ups were long with intervals of steep sections. For the first time in the race I was forced to walk the SS. This happened on 3 occassions and I shared each one with other single speeders. After reaching the top and briefly riding a ridge line I started my descent down Farlow Gap. In my opinion, this is the hardest trail to ride in the Forest. The beginning and end of this trail is ridable and I rode most of it out, gaining several spots. After approaching the middle section of the trail and seeing 2 riders go down hard I decided to play it safe and walk where it was questionable. In my mind it was questionable for about a mile. This was slow walking with loose rocks, leaf covered roots and steep slippery drops. The trail dumps you out on the easiest and fastest part of the race with a short section of road and double track that took me back to the last rest stop. I quickly ate a few bites and filled up with some water.

The end of the race was much easier than I had heard and I was disapointed in myself for not knowing this. From rest stop 3 there was about 3 miles of gradual dirt road climbing and then 5 or 6 miles of fast single track back to the camp and finish line. I finished the race in 5 hours and 9 minutes which was good enough for 7th in the SS class and 31st overall.

Congratulations to the Open Men’s First and Second, locals Sam Koerber and Marshall Hance of Endless Cogs; First and Second of Open Women’s Trish Stevenson and Paula Burks; and First and Second in SS Jason Chapman and Gary Chambers (who I spotted smoking an after race cigarette by the race postings). Is that there secret?

Thanks to Kris and Misty at Vassago, WTB, White Brothers, George at Bike29 and Cane Creek for a great season. I managed to get through 7 races on products by these companies this season with zero mechanicals or flats. It’s time for winter riding in the mountains. See ya next season…