Hot News
Athletes Corner: Gear Check
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March can represent different things to riders, depending on what part of the country they’re in. The emergence of spring, to some, signifies longer riding days without worrying about bringing lights and reflective gear on a training ride. To others, March represents the simple possibility of riding in general, as spring emerges from behind winter’s snowy shroud.
No matter where you’re from, however, the Sea Otter Classic is the reason you suffer all winter. Sure, you tell yourself “It’s riding – I’m just glad to be on a bike!” But really, who are you fooling? Off season training, while rewarding and purposeful, is seldom what most people might call fun.
Whether you’re riding ensconced in reflective tape and flashing LEDs or suffering in your garage-turned-secret Siberian training lair, winter training is like winding up the key on the spring loaded toy car of your racing season. It’s part of the game, but nowhere near as fun as when you place the car on the floor and let it speed down the hallway, leaving a trail of sparks behind – totally worth it!
Well, with Sea Otter peeking over the horizon, your training options are becoming limited. You’re pretty close to your ideal race fitness, with just a couple weeks left to hone your program. But if you train harder, you’ll wear yourself out for the race.
So, what can you do in these last few weeks to make sure your spring is wound up tight for race day?
Two words – Gear Check.
It may sound bush league, and not even close to sexy, but the longer you race, the more you risk taking your equipment for granted. You ride, race and train in order to build a relationship and trust in your bike any other gear you rely on, and as with any relationship, you get back more than you put into it. However, with no care or attention, the relationship suffers.
Are you continuing to ride last year’s bike for 2010, or did you get a new ride this year? The answer to this question isn’t just about if you are on the newest bike. It’s about making sure your new bike is adjusted properly to make you the most efficient rider you can be.
New bike riders would be wise to transfer the exact fit they had applied to last year’s bike onto their new steed. Even the smallest adjustment in bike fit will upset your performance. If you’ve never been professionally fit to your bike, locate the nearest Specialized dealer with a BG FIT studio and get your bike fit to you. You can gain up to 10% more power with a precise fit, and also take care of some of those nagging aches and pains that affect your efficiency more than you realize. You’ll want to get a fit at least two weeks before your race in order to get used to the new position.
Riding a new bike also demands re-acquainting yourself with new controls, saddle, handlebars – the list is goes on. Ride the bike you intend to race as often as you can between now and when your race starts. If you miss a shift leading to a sprint finish simply because you’re not familiar with your new parts, you’ll be pretty bummed, which could set the tone for your entire race season.
If you’re carrying last year’s bike through to this year, or are still waiting for this year’s bike to arrive, you have a pretty long list ahead of you – but you do have the benefit of knowing your bike.
First and foremost, (this may seem obvious) make sure your bike works. Not just functions, but works. There is rarely a time when shifting suddenly goes bad, or your chain and brake pads wear out while you’re sleeping. A bike’s mechanical decay happens gradually, and it’s very easy to not even realize our bikes aren’t working their best.
About two weeks before race day, replace all your shift cables and housing, align your rear derailleur hanger, inspect your brake pads and check your chain for wear. If you lack the tools and skills to do this, have your trusted local shop take care if for you. They can determine what kind of time you have left in your drivetrain, and help you judge if you need to replace a chain, or if it’s the whole chain/cassette/chainring combo that needs replacing.
Most quality shops will give you a realistic estimate on the spot, and will allow you to make an appointment to bring the bike in at a later date, and pick it up within 24 hours of dropping it off. This way, they have time to order in parts if they need to, and won’t have to rush the job because you have a race 2 days later. It will also allow you to cater your training plan to be without the bike for that day.
If you have work done, whether at the shop or at home, give yourself a couple days to ride the new equipment and let it settle in so it’s working perfectly on race day.
Getting closer to race day, whether on last year’s bike or not, check over the basics. Make sure your pedals and cleats are adjusted correctly, check your tires carefully for pressure, wear or casing nicks, clean and lube your drivetrain, check your headset and hubs for adjustment. A small amount of effort now will give you the peace of mind when it’s time to get up and hammer your way to you best Sea Otter ever.
You may even spit sparks out the back of your bike!
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