ALLISON MANN

Thank you, Angela for the blog title!

Thursday started like any other day (if you aren’t a working stiff, that is!), and ended as a figurative dump truck of awesome.  Justin and I slept in after getting around 9 hours of sleep and I got up to make us my new favorite “weekend” breakfast of shredded chicken, avocado, and yams.

Well-rounded and tasty

Justin was out doing bike prep and set up because I have the most awesome support structure in the entire world thanks to collaboration with him, Rock N’ Road, and Bikes for Boobs

After a lot of discussion with Justin, and basically everyone else in So Cal suggesting it – I decided to go with a 29er hard tail for 2012 racing. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly.

Luckily for me, Rock N’ Road has quite a fleet of test bikes, and so over the course of the last month I managed to demo both the Epic Comp 29er (full suspension) and the Stumpjumper Comp 29er (hard tail).  As I noted in my last post, it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a 29er, and have very little experience with hard tails.

Due to my crashing issues throughout November and December, Justin was more hesitant than ever to put me on a bike that might hold back my descending capabilities (or make them even worse – the horror!).  I, too, was hesitant on the hard tail idea, even though with the 29er there is the bigger contact patch and more rotational mass.

I had thoroughly enjoyed my test ride on the clown bike that was Dumbo’s Feather back around New Year’s.  Those 2 days on the test bike from Rock N’ Road allowed me to fight the fear, face my cougar in the front seat, and find my fast again.  Well, ok, at least I stopped crashing.  For almost an entire month!  It felt awesome to not be sore everywhere, and be able to sleep through the night.

So, back to the bike… after demoing the Epic 29 I felt that it was a super cool bike and just begged to go downhill fast.  I didn’t really open it up on the climbs, but it felt somewhat similar to my 26″ Epic in that regard.

We found out that a hard tail 29er was available, so Justin and I headed west to test it out, see what it did or didn’t do for my descending.  I was stoked last weekend to make 2 technical spots climbing Holy Jim that I haven’t in years (if ever).  While I maybe wasn’t ripping quite as fast as on the Epic 29, I still was moving out and having a blast descending with Justin and Rusnak.

After 3 hours on the bike I really felt that the hardtail wouldn’t hold me back as much as it would help to improve me as a rider.  I think I have gotten away with a lack of skills and some laziness because I always had suspension to make up for it.  I enjoyed hopping the bike over rock obstacles and ledges and trying to pick cleaner lines.

We had some more conversation, and I decided the 29er Stumpjumper hard tail was likely the way to go for me in 2012 (which also means due to logistics Justin will be racing one as well – watch out: I think his fast just got faster).

We found out a bike was available Wednesday night, and what with our super exciting ride plan for Thursday, Justin drove all the way to Anaheim after work to meet up with mechanic extraordinaire Chuck to get the bike dialed in.

Viola!  2012 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er (SRAM!)

Yes, I realized I am extremely spoiled, but I’d like to point out that a) I’m aware of it, and b) I am super thankful and grateful for everything I have and am able to do.  I can’t wait to get this race season underway!  I’ve had good days and bad the last 12 months, but I am HERE now and all I want is to continue to progress, grow, and improve all while enjoying what I’ve got while it’s here.

The plan is to race this bad boy all over So Cal, head to Nationals, and let the chips fall where they may.  The race series’ are all different this year (Pro XCT starts March 3, the same day as our local Rock N’ Road Cup at Vail Lake, and then is on hiatus until mid-June, Sea Otter is a UCI non-factor, etc.), but that’s okay.  It’s time to ride and race and not worry about anything else.

So, Thursday after breakfast we set out to go on a few hour mountain bike ride; like bike racers, instead of desk jockeys.  It was freeing.

We had some super cool plans to ride with some, er, fast people: Catharine Pendrel, Catherine Vipond, and Matt Hadley from the Canadian MTB team.

Yeah, those are rainbow stripes. They are legit. Like Cavendish, Macca, or Emmeline Ragot.

Am I bragging? Not trying to. I am just stoked to have been along for the ride!

I spent most of the day on the edge of redline and control chasing the fastest group of people I’ve ever ridden with

And, I enjoyed every second of it!

Somehow, at one point, I found myself leading the group down a singletrack descent. I thought numerous times, “Why am I leading this group?” and eventually I biffed it hard in a corner. No worries, everyone was super cool and I returned to my rightful position as the caboose, motoring on chasing after the rest. So fun!

Nice day for a ride!

It was awesome to talk bikes, set up, feel, etc. on the trail riding with everyone. So much knowledge and such helpfulness just right there at my finger tips. I tried to soak in everything I could following lines, wheels, and attack positions up and over obstacles and through the winding singletrack.

After the ride we hung out and chatted about racing and enjoyed 76F at the end of January, in the mountains. Couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Justin and I got home and grilled up a delish dinner, and enjoyed the last of our beer stock, his Oktoberfest Wiesn from winning the 35+A Master Men’s category in So Cal Cross.

I have a lot more to say about the new steed, but that’ll have to wait for next week. I’ll get in another ride on it and have even more good things to write!

In 2010 after Justin broke his neck, his doctor gave him a book on tape – “Younger Next Year”.  That saying keeps going through my head, only it’s been “Faster Next Year.”

But, that’s wrong, too.  Next year is THIS year.

Faster This Year.

2012!  ”It’s go time!”