Phat with Pat
Penn Cycle hosted a Fat Bike race at their Eagan store. It was a good time for all; my dad raced and finished a respectable third out of three in the recreational class. New to the fat bike scene, and his first time on a fat bike, my dad decided that 20 pounds of air in his tires would be about right. Turns out that he was the fastest on the one hundred or so feet of pavement. Due to the rock solid nature of his tires and no suspension, my dad took home the iron balls competition as well.
BMC TE29er Review
Last season, I rode the BMC TE01, a carbon 26” bike. My transition to a big -wheeled big rig was easier than expected. The TE29er is aluminum but it is honestly hard to tell with the expanded footprint of the 29er.
With around twenty-five hours on the TE29 between Colorado and Minnesota, I have a good feel for the bike. Without getting carried away on Colorado trails, I will just say that it handles the fastest rocky sections with no frills and at the same time is a bike made for climbing. Nevertheless, I am still partial to the twenty-six inch wheels because of the nature of Midwestern trails and having had mixed feelings while riding 29ers in the past. BMC has addressed most of the awkward characteristics associated with many 29er’s, making it a breeze to ride through tight trails such as Elm Creek, Lone Lake Park, and Theodore Wirth. These trails derive their technical aspect due to the speed they are ridden, not the innate nature of the trail.
The Avid Elixir 7’s are great brakes and it really shows their strength when paired with the stock 180mm rotor. However, as a cross country racer, I prefer the 160mm rotors which helps with brake modulation under a hard braking load while also having a light touch in slow, technical sections. I noticed quickly, that the cockpit is long. The seat tube is angled rearward from the rear wheel’s closet point to the seat tube. I am using a 90mm, 17-degree rise stem even though I usually use a 110mm stem with negative rise. For me, the benefit of having a slightly shorter stem allies with making the front end feel lighter while being able to get over the rear wheel easily. The TE29 fits that bill while having a short wheelbase yet no foot overlap with the front wheel.
After a couple rides on the stock Cross-Marks, I switched to Hutchinson Tora’s in a 2.15. The Cross Mark is an all conditions race tire, and the Tora is right there with it, being slightly better in the wet stuff.
When you ride the TE29er, expect a responsive drivetrain stemming from the Sram X-0 group, Easton EA70 wheelset, a triple butted frame and a 15mm through axle Fox Talas fork that has no noticeable flex under hard climbing or cornering. In stock form, the TE29 comes as a bike that is ready for the toughest trails out there. Take a minute to bolt on some smaller rotors, trim the 720mm bars, easily convert the UST rims and tubeless tires, and you have a very competitive race bike, weighing in at twenty-three pounds.
2012 BMC TE29 at the shop.
Brendan and me after the race. I do not endorse Freewheel, but they are a really good group of guys.
Fat Bike Race Murphy Hanrehan 1-22-12
Freewheel and Three Rivers put on a great race. Check out the video below to see what the Fat Bike craze is about. I will try my best to have audio in future videos.
I miss you, Captain Jack
If you live in Minnesota, a trainer ride is inevitable, if you want to be prepared for Spring Racing.
When confronted with the all too often moment of deciding to cut a one-hour indoor ride in half, I try to remember why I ride bikes. Thinking of Captain Jack’s trail in CO Springs provides a fair amount of motivation.
My BMC Team Elite 29er hard tail was the perfect package for the free flowing, hands-off the brakes Colorado descending. I am also working on a complete review of my newest mountain bike, the TE29.
Below is a video of Upper and Lower Captain Jacks; my hands down favorite trail. Conditions were ideal; a light dusting of snow over dry, unfrozen ground provided a fast rolling, twenty grit worth of confidence trail.
Enjoy this single-track video while escaping the Minnesota wind chill.
Thank you for reading… and watching!
One last note, a shout-out to my BMC teammate Kerry Werner who is our 2012 Collegiate D1 USA National Cyclocross Champion! Congratulations K-Dubz!
Guess that Group Ride…
It was eight degrees last Thursday night. I went through the day hoping the outside temperature might increase for a more comfortable evening ride. As ride time approached, I drove to the Minnesota River Bottoms in complete cycling wear excluding my helmet and goggles. Within five minutes of riding, the better part of the ten or so of us had already taken a dirt sample. More of an ice sample actually. The trail had its slick spots, but the four-inch wide Surly Nate’s were predictable and kept me mostly on two wheels. Being a first timer on this group ride, I am still not completely aware of the “point system.” I apparently scored a point upon attempting a “skinny”[1] and coming to rest with my bike on top of me in the bushes. Mr. Goat would not divulge the inner workings of the point system to me. Maybe another day I will learn the game…
If you have not figured it out yet, I went on my first LCR[2] River Bottoms group ride; it was cold, and awesome. The pace was energetic but still allowed plenty of time to test ones skills at each obstacle.
On paper the LCR team would look like an extreme sports team. The background of most of their riders is fascinating. They have elite- level Superbike Racers, body builders, an Olympic level ski jumper, countless motocross and hare- scramble racers and, even better, they all like hockey! I wouldn’t be surprised if some Red Bull stunts are based on inspiration from these guys.
[1] “Skinny”
-A ride-able surface which poses a challenge or inherent risk in successfully riding “the skinny” in entirety. A “skinnies” surface is of varying width, height, and distance off the ground. A “skinny” is often constructed of dimensional lumber or from a fallen tree.
[2] LCR
-Larson’s Cycle Racing is a do- all motorsports shop located in Cambridge, MN. They have dirt bikes, ATV’s, street bikes, side by sides, snowmobiles, and more. They stock everything you need to be on the trail tomorrow. Their service and sales staff is hands down the best in the Metro. LCR owner, Mike Larson, a mountain bike racer while not participating in Motorsports, sponsors the LCR mountain bike team.
Rest in Peace Packers. Giants 37, Packers 20 
My sister Kato taught me how to use her sewing machine last friday night. It was likely the most useful friday night I have ever had.
My dad on his new BMC Fourstroke FS02! He loves it and he seemed to have magically got faster on the full suspension 26er'.
My Oma and Opa took me out to eat at my favorite restaurant, Roat Osha. I decided to dress up the Stone Elephant in my clothes. The restaurant manager undressed the elephant upon seeing its outfit.
My dad helped me to wash my BMC bike fleet during the packers game.
