20-niners are taking the mountains by storm. And why wouldn’t they? It makes sense - as kids, as we grew taller we got bigger wheels. Why would we stop when we become adults? As a six footer myself, why would I ride the same wheel size as a five-footer?

Now there are the 29 inch wheel sets. Originally a speciality concept, now all makers of bikes are including them in their line-up: Specialized, Trek, Gary Fisher, Jamis… And anyone not carrying one better get on the ball because these rides are sweeter and easier plowing through and over anything the mountain has to offer.

It’s time to grow up and go big - on a twenty-niner.

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Rabbits. Rabbits are those other cyclists on the road that suddenly come into your view ahead of you. Somehow you’ve managed to nearly catch up to them. They are now deemed “a rabbit” with which you can chase. Rabbits bring out a competitive nature, with a goal to pass the rabbit ahead. For me, it brings me out of my daydreaming and gives me something to focus on.

Now boy rabbits, which I affectionately refer to as “babbits”, don’t like to be passed - especially by a girl. When I sneak up on them and get the chance to pass, they suddenly are filled with extra-heightened testosterone and slam on the turbo boosters to leap frog past me and get as far in front of me as they can. I merely chuckle, at their embarrassment they must obviously feel from being passed by a chic, and watch as they burn themselves into the ground to maintain their macho status.

One day you babbits will need to beware - I am juicing up my estrogen and stamina to the point where I’ll take the lead and keep it!

-z

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I have discovered the loftiness and what I call “hop-ability” of carbon mountain bikes! I always knew that carbon bikes are great for road bikes, as the lightness of the bike can make it easier to go up hills. I just never realized how amazing a carbon mountain bike could be - to make it exponentially easier to ride off-road. Many hard-core mountain bikers scoff at carbon mountain bikes because they’re easy to damage, as carbon doesn’t hold together so well on crashes. It is true - carbon cannot take a hit like aluminum and steel frames can, but I also don’t ride as hard as the boys do. My guy friends define a successful mtb ride as one with a good crash in it. I do not. So I am not going to worry about trashing the frame into un-usability… yet.

I test rode a women’s Specialized Era, 2009 edition carbon mountain bike on the 24 hours of Moab course. The ease of getting up some of those tougher rock parts on the trail was astounding - even when I almost got stuck in some places, I could easily hop or lift the bike up and over. On the downhills it was also like floating over waves. I call it, “The Magic Carpet Ride”. And I want one.

If you haven’t tested out a carbon mountain bike, please go check one out. Make sure it is tuned to you - I have tested my guy friends’ bikes but couldn’t get the bike suspension to react to me since I’m so much lighter than those boys. Go test and enjoy, you’ll notice the difference even hopping up and down over the curbs in a parking lot.

-z

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The 24 Hours of Moab is an amazing feat by cyclists to hop on their bikes and ride over slick rock and through deep sand over the course of 24 hours. This year I was fortunate enough to help with the computer support for the race as the webcaster posting short articles and updates onto the Granny Gear webcast website during the race.

Friday night before the race, I attended the crowded press conference with the head-honchos from the sport. Laird Knight started up this whole idea of 24 hour mountain bike racing in the ’90’s and continues to run the Granny Gear series of 24 hour races. The conference also starred the top men and women competitors in the solo divisions. Chris Eatough and Josh Tostado, both multi-time winners in 24 hour races, talked about the fire under their butts when competing against each other. Jari Kirkland couldn’t stop talking about her desire to get more women into the sport. Last year she earned first place in the Women’s Solo as well as beat every man on the course except for Josh! If she can do it, then so can the rest of us! Right? Her main competition this year was against Pua Sawicki, who couldn’t compete due to the flu.

Race day was screaming for mercy, with winds reaching 40 mph and threats of thunderstorms that worried the organizers that the race may need to be canceled to prevent riders from getting hypothermia. Luckily the winds calmed down to normal speeds by 4pm with light breezes and no rain throughout the clear skies of evening, ending the race with sunny skies on Sunday.

The course is at Behind The Rocks trail about 12 miles south of the town of Moab in Utah. It’s about a 15 mile track in desert terrain with red rocks in the distance, and along the course were spattered trees and rock spirals in the distance. The trail itself was packed with sticky slick rock that Moab is famous for, interspersed with desert sand up to eight inches deep! The organizers hire water-dudes to wet down the course before the race to help prevent the dust from flying around too much both on the course and in the main staging area. Sections of the course had so much sand that everyone had to hop off and push their bikes through it. Yes, it is a challenge, and although I may not be that great of a mountain biker, I love this race course for its unique flavor and gorgeous views.

Essentially, this 24 hour race is the ultimate race for mountain bikers. Granny Gear uses this course to determine their series champions, those who competed in all their events throughout the year. Luckily, you needn’t be an awesome mountain biker to compete. There are many divisions, including a “Just for Fun” class. You can team up with friends and race relay-style, where only one of your team members is on the course at a time. There are options for all mens teams, all women teams, and mixed co-ed teams. Basically, if you’d like to ride, there’s a division available for you! And plenty of teams looking for one more rider to fill up their team, too.
-z

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