Brake issue

2011 Trek Paragon Hello mountain bike racing fans.

I was doing a little service on the Paragon (Trek 2011) and came across something weird with my brakes. They are Avid Elixir 5 that came stock on the bike. I was rolling the bike on it's back wheel and pulled the brakes a couple times. Then the levers ended up going all the way to the bars.

I don't know much about hydraulic brakes, so I have no idea why it would do that, or how to remedy it. Seemed as tho no matter what I did the brakes would not "firm-up." I was fearing that I'd have to bleed the brakes which wouldn't be a problem, 'cept I don't have a bleed kit.

I somehow ended up laying the bike down on it's side and when I pulled it up, I squeezed the brake lever of the end of the bar that was sticking up and could tell there was a little more firmness in the lever. I squeezed it again and a little more. A couple more times and it was back to normal.

I then laid it on it's other side and did the same thing. Sure enough, both brakes are back to normal. Whew!

I may still end up ordering a bleed kit but I don't think I need to do it for a while. Or maybe I should. How often should you bleed brakes?

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2011 Trek Paragon Hello mountain bike racing fans.

Tread and RE-Tread movies to be re-released

There is a video embedded in this post that you may not be able to view. Click through to the blog to watch it. Hello Justin Bieber fans.

Were these the glory days? I don't know. But I do remember them. These were some of my 'heros.'

After sitting on the shelf, collecting dust for many years, we decided it was time to re-release the films. There seems to be a renewed interest in these oldies. Should you choose to watch these films, again or for the first time, consider this: These movies were made in the mid 90’s. If you think they’re dated... well they are. If you’re looking for disk brakes, rear suspension or a 100 ft free fall, those things didn’t happen in 1994.

Technology had changed, music has changed and thankfully, fashion has changed. We didn’t have hi-def lipstick cameras; film cameras were mounted to the sides of a bikes, cars, helicopters and our heads. We didn’t have rear suspension or disk brakes on our bikes; who needs them?

This is the best of film making and mountain biking from back in their heyday. From the treadthemovie.com website

I'm gonna have to order me a set of these.

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Got me a new pump - Zefal Husky

I've had a Zefal Husky for over 17 ears. It's been a great pump. Finally the other weekend, my youngest knocked it over and the top cap broke, and the pump became useless. After some hemming and hawing, I decided to get the same model in the hopes it would last as long.

New Husky on the left, old faithful on the right.

The basic design is the same, nice gauge, wooden handle, sturdy base, durable metal (steel) tube. It has a slightly different head, in that it is the same as the Zefal HpX frame pumps - reverasble from schrader to presta. But the pump still comes with the push on presta adapter.

I went and pumped up most of my bikes and it made me realize that the old pump was just barely hanging on. This new one airs up tire so quickly. Even the Paragon.

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Races to think about - Sandwich 50 Enduro {Update - Registration Instructions!}

Basically, reserve noon of March 14 to send in an email with proof of RASC membership, what category you intend to race in, and the answer to a question posted in the info post. Sounds easy enough.

Get the real scoop here: http://sandwich50.blogspot.com/2012/03/registration.html

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This is cool

Here is something that just came out from Minneapolis messenger bag company, Trash Messenger Bags. It's a cycling specific winter bomber cap. Now I'm not a big fan of some cycling specific wear, but there are some things that do need to generally be cycling specific. This looks like one of those items that could be worth it.

Custom Garbage Lid - $36.00
A winter biking bomber hat with the warmth to keep you riding from 20 F to -20 F, no prob.

Features:
-Cordura outer & Polartec Windstop liner gives you durability, water resistance, windproofness, and most importantly warmth and comfort in bitterly cold conditions.
-Strap down tight side flaps, cut with the need for lateral visability in mind
-Nearly as thin as a traditional cycling cap -- fits underneath all helmets with ease and comfort.
-Available in one color for $36, or with a second color striped in the center of the hat for $40.
-Hand made to order in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

I currently use a military surplus helmet liner that I removed the bill from so it fits under my cycling helmet.

Military Helmet Liner

The chin flaps can be folded back behind the liner, which is how I usually wear it. On really cold rides, I have a neck gater that my wife knitted that allows me to breathe extremely well, but protect my face and neck. On really-really cold days I velcro the chin flaps in front of my face AND use my neck gater.

Anyway, I think the garbage lid cap would take the place of my helmet liner on all but the most extreme of cold rides.

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Races to think about - Sandwich 50 Enduro {Update - Date Announced!}

I just happened to notice that a date has been posted for this years Sandwich 50 Enduro (link: http://sandwich50.blogspot.com). If you want to reserve the date, it is Saturday May 5.

Sounds like they are upping the rider limit from 75 to 100. So may have to be ready for registration on March 14.

2012 date for MN's Enduro State Championship!!
Here is the deal, same format as last year. Categories are Man, Not Man, and Du0 (mixed or all female only).

Date for the race is May 5th. Limit is 100 racers, 25 more than last year.

Registration is set for Pi Day, March 14. Similar style as before, more details to come. - from the Sandwich 50 Enduro website (link)

Can't wait to do 50 miles of tight-twisty-Eastwood (Rochester, Minnesota) singletrack.

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Current training load/ramp rate

Been riding fairly steady on the rollers lately. Mostly zone1 and zone2 for base work.

The drawback to this kind of training is that you don't see much rise in CTL. ATL will rise and fall a couple of points with each day training.

Long term CTL is raising, but no worry about it raising too fast. The 7 day rate is only 1.

I'm at 9 1/2 hrs so far for this month vs. 11 3/4 hrs last year and it's about 1/2 of the 18 hrs ridden in 2010.

Of course, you need to be flexible with your training plan (cough-cough). I was hoping to get 5 or 6 hrs of riding over the weekend. Now I'm not sure if I'll be able to get that much in. Maybe I can split it up over 2 or 3 rides each day, but even that I'm not sure how I'll fit in. Oh-well. Maybe instead of training, I'll just order some EPO injections and a couple of Clenbuteral steaks. Hmmmmm.........

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