After some toerag stole my hardtail last year and my Cannondale started to fail on me (not the frame, just everything else) I needed to get a new bike. But to buy one bike to replace two very different machines was going to be difficult (my CFO wasn't going to approve funds for two new bikes) and so after much brain type stuff and reading of reviews I ordered a new Turner Sixpack (pre loss of horst link). A most excellent bike that I love to ride, but maybe not the best bike for XC racing. Yes, today I took my 35lbs, 6 inches travel all mountain bike to an XC race. Well when you've only got one bike to choose... Luckily the race course in XC terms was [censored], mostly tarmac with an extremely brutal dirt climb (almost everyone pushed, including me) followed by an almost 'downhill' type return to the starting point. Because of the pushing I was easily able to keep up with the mountain goats on their carbon hardtails and because of the knarly return I passed quite a few of them going down. The worst section for me was back on the road where I lost time to the leading pack, only crawling back a bit on each downhill. After three laps in 85+ degree heat I crossed the finish line without a clue of how many riders were ahead or behind me. I had to wait an hour for everyone to finish and for the results to be posted and I came 6th. I was chuffed with my result for two reasons,1, I hadn't raced in ages and this was one of my best results ever and 2, I had to on the heaviest bike in the race and I'd placed in the top ten.
By the way, when I bought the Sixpack last year, I had at the time thought my racing days were over. Maybe I'll have to start saving for a new race bike.
After some toerag stole my hardtail last year and my Cannondale started to fail on me (not the frame, just everything else) I needed to get a new bike. But to buy one bike to replace two very different machines was going to be difficult (my CFO wasn't going to approve funds for two new bikes) and so after much brain type stuff and reading of reviews I ordered a new Turner Sixpack (pre loss of horst link). A most excellent bike that I love to ride, but maybe not the best bike for XC racing. Yes, today I took my 35lbs, 6 inches travel all mountain bike to an XC race. Well when you've only got one bike to choose... Luckily the race course in XC terms was [censored], mostly tarmac with an extremely brutal dirt climb (almost everyone pushed, including me) followed by an almost 'downhill' type return to the starting point. Because of the pushing I was easily able to keep up with the mountain goats on their carbon hardtails and because of the knarly return I passed quite a few of them going down. The worst section for me was back on the road where I lost time to the leading pack, only crawling back a bit on each downhill. After three laps in 85+ degree heat I crossed the finish line without a clue of how many riders were ahead or behind me. I had to wait an hour for everyone to finish and for the results to be posted and I came 6th. I was chuffed with my result for two reasons,1, I hadn't raced in ages and this was one of my best results ever and 2, I had to on the heaviest bike in the race and I'd placed in the top ten.
By the way, when I bought the Sixpack last year, I had at the time thought my racing days were over. Maybe I'll have to start saving for a new race bike.
I had to wait an hour for everyone to finish and for the results to be posted and I came 6th. I was chuffed with my result for two reasons,1, I hadn't raced in ages and this was one of my best results ever and 2, I had to on the heaviest bike in the race and I'd placed in the top ten.
By the way, when I bought the Sixpack last year, I had at the time thought my racing days were over. Maybe I'll have to start saving for a new race bike.
Laters
Marz
Nice work! It probably just killed the weight weenies to see you so far up in the standings on that machine.
