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Fall Transition = Boredom |
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Written by Jason Mahokey
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Thursday, 19 October 2006 |
Not too much going on these days. I'm in between the end of my race season and the beginning of my off season training. Basically I've been doing some low key mountain bike rides, some spins on the trainer and some mild weight work just to remind legs know what they're there for and not to get too used to relaxing.
 | | Cateye MSC-HR10 |
In preparing for winter training- I finally broke down and ordered a new heart rate monitor from Bikeman.com. Went with the Cateye MSC-HR10 . The last heart rate monitor I had blew out on me during the Wilderness 101 in 2005. Been going on perceived efforts for over a year now. I like to use a monitor for indoor workouts to keep my motivation up, focus on the planned workout and prevent mindless spinning.
For me, the Cateye was the clear winner out of the many that Bikeman.com had to offer. The Cateye won in price vs. function vs. simplicity category. Some of the monitors are like super computers on your wrist! I'd love try some of 'em someday, but for nowI think I can get by with important info that the HR 10 provides. Plus It's kinda cool looking, and since I don't own a watch, I can use it for one. I did notice that the Cateye HR20 got a sub-par review here on the Bikeman.com site, but I'm reserving judgement on the HR10 until I try it out for myself. Look for a review or some comments after I receive it and have some time on it.
Lately I've been fooling around the Dos Niner's Rock Shox Reba. I've been happy with my current settings, but I thought I'd experiment with some settings that some folks on mtbr.com boards said they had used.
One dude said he's 180 lbs. and raved about the plushness of using 80 psi in the +/air chamber, Eeesh! I tried it and it was like going from 80mm to 40mm of travel. I'm using 125+/120- and find it firm and responsive to both big hits and small chatter. I have the rebound on the faster side of half way.
Just like underwear I'm sure that everyone has a personal preference. I guess I'm a boxer guy with my fork. I like to feel my fork moving, but not go "commando" on me! I think it pays to read up, and experiment with your fork for your weight, riding style and overall comfort. Who knows, I may change it again soon and it's nice to have options options that the Reba allows with positive/negative air pressures, and rebound adjustments. Not to mention a lockout for climbs and the ability to switch the fork over to 100mm with some time in the repair stand. Something I may try out over the winter and see how it handles.
Also been hitting eBay pretty hard, selling off my 26" wheeled gear and frames. I'm totally smitten with my Dos Niner and with news that Salsa is coming out with a light weight Scandium/Carbon 29er hardtail in the form of the Mamasita, I'm totally stoked to possibly be rolling two Salsa 29ers in '07!
If you want to check out some photos of the Mamasita or to get some insight into the testing and designing of the Salsa Mamasita check out this post on MTBR.com. And you thought that bikes were just shlopped together by egg head engineers and factory robots in Taiwan! Think again! The folks at Salsa put a lot of time, thought, energy and passion into making sure they get it right.
Oh well, the Autumn rains are falling and the chilly air has arrived in Western Pennsylvania. While most of the Bikeman.com team is enjoying CX season, I'm enjoying a beer, laying out an off season training plan and waiting for 2007 race dates to be released.
Thanks for reading.
Jason
"The Soiled Chamois" |
; "Cateye MSC-HR10")
