Training Time!

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For the last few weeks, I’ve been getting back in the swing of things.  My traveling mechanic gigs are over for a while, and I’m finally settling back into the rhythm of the daily grind again.  Family, church, work, and school, are all becoming the norm again.  One thing I’ve been missing out on for the last year and a half, though, is my bike riding.

Since I started back to school last January, I’ve really neglected the time I’ve spent on my bike.  I’m not saying that all that other stuff shouldn’t take a priority, but without an outlet like cycling, I’ve been frustrated, bitter, unhappy at times, and had just gotten out of shape.  Something had to change.

After hanging out with performance athletes for two weeks at the Amgen Tour of California Experience with CTS and sitting in the Team Exergy car during the USPRO Championships, I kind of got the bug to get back out on the bike again.  After Greenville, I kicked it into gear and… signed up for a race.  Why would I do such a thing?  To motivate myself to get in gear, get some miles in my legs, and actually give it a go.

I signed up for the State Road Race Championships on July 7th.  It’s a course I’m familiar with, one I’ve raced before, and a course that suits me: rolling hills and power climbs.  I’m not a skinny little climber… I’m a big dude that does good on flats and downhills.  This course is okay for my strengths.

I’ve been putting in a lot of riding the last few weeks.  I started writing courses to my Garmin Edge 500, and started uploading them to Strava, which is a very addictive training tool.  It’s been fun so far.  Last week, I put in close to 10 hours on the bike, which is unheard of for me over the last few years.  I’ve been riding a lot, and I can feel myself getting stronger.

Meanwhile, I’m missing the 2012 SC Ride 4 Life, which started today in Seneca, SC.  There’s around 60 cyclists and 25 support staff making their way across the state of South Carolina to raise money to help the Foothills Pregnancy Care Center.  It’s a ride that I’ve ridden and supported over the years, and I wish those guys and gals the best of luck as they make their way to the coast.  Right now, I’m going to go ahead and clear the schedule to do the ride next year… that’s a promise.

Got some other cool things in the works, which I’ll talk about later.  Got a ride with a good friend early in the morning, so I’ve gotta get some rest.  I don’t necessarily think that he’s gonna hammer me in the ground, but it is getting late, and I’ve been at it all day, so… goodnight.

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Drooling…

Ritte Bosberg 2012
Ritte Bosberg 2012

If I ever own my own bike shop, Ritte Racing, with all their beautiful machines, will be one of my custom brands. I am absolutely smitten by this bike, the Bosberg.

CTS Amgen Tour of California Race Experience

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Still in the process of getting back home, but wanted to say that the week spent with Carmichael Training Systems at the Tour of California was amazing! I had three great mechanics working for me, and we knocked it out of the park!

A special thanks goes out to Mike Hetrick (http://www.mrgoodbike.com, Gainesville, FL, @mikehetrick1), Steve Donovan (Turin Bicycles, Denver, @bikemechsteve), and Doug Chambers (Golden Belt Bicycle, Great Bend, Kansas). They made my job easy and have all become good friends, who I would LOVE to work with again.

The best compliment I got over the week was “I’ve been to several CTS camps, and you guys are, BY FAR, the best mechanic crew I’ve seen.” Makes you feel really good about your team and that, at least to that client, our mission was accomplished.

I’m going to do more detailed stage re-caps in the next few days, but I’ve got some catching up to do, and I’ve got another gig with Team Exergy next weekend on Memorial Day at USPRO Championships in Greenville, SC.

Fox Racing Shox Service Intervals and Upgrades

A few weeks back, I went to the Park Tool Tech Summit, here in Atlanta.  Several major manufacturers were in attendance, offering tech clinics to mechanics, to educate them on their products and show them all the new goodies for 2012.  Some of those manufacturers included: Park Tool, Cane Creek, FSA, Shimano, Mavic, Campagnolo, SRAM, and Fox Racing Shox.

Of the manufacturers in attendance, one of the most informative and most hands-on, was the clinic by Fox Racing Shox.  Mechanics had the opportunity to disassemble a TALAS fork, learn to service the fork, and re-assemble it.  All that information was great, but it wasn’t the MOST important information that was passed down to us.  The most important thing we were taught was toINFORM OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER’S SERVICE INTERVALS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.

With Fox Racing Shox introducing their Evolution series of forks, and more manufacturers switching back to Fox for their 2012 bike spec, it becomes extremely important that the user services their fork properly.  The schedule listed below is Fox’s service intervals for their air sprung forks.  Pay special attention to the RED column, for service that is required after EACH RIDE/RACE:

Air Spring Forks (All 32, 36: F-SERIES, FLOAT & TALAS)

service procedure item

new

each ride/race

every 30 hours

every 100 hours or annually

set sag

X

      

set damping adjustments

X

      

clean exterior of fork with mild soap and water only; wipe dry with soft towel

  

X

    

inspect dropout thickness (9 mm)

    

X

  

inspect bushings

    

X

  

change oil in lower legs

Visit the FOXHelp service site for service procedures information.

    

X

  

change FLOAT fluid in air chamber 

    

X

  

service damper: 32 FIT, 36 FIT,Terralogic® 

      

X

service air spring: 32 TALAS; 36 TALAS

      

X

Another great bit of knowledge is the Fox Upgrade Area on their website.  If you visit http://www.foxracingshox.com/upgrades.php?m=bike&ref=topnav, and type in the model and year of your fork, a list of possible upgrade parts and their part numbers are listed for you.  For example, if you’ve got a Float 80 fork from 2009, and your new wheels require a 15mm through-axle, you would find two 15QR lowers, black or white options, for you to choose from.  They also have a FIT cartridge upgrade for that fork, as well. For that particular fork, the page would look something like this:

These are very important things to know.  If you properly maintain your fork/shock according to Fox’s service intervals, your fork will last much longer than if you neglect it.  With the upgrade list, you can take your Fox fork and use it on a new bike with new technology, and not necessarily have to replace the entire fork.  For more information on Fox Racing Shox, their products, service intervals, or upgrades, contact me or visit http://www.foxracingshox.com

It’s Been WAY Too Long…

I’ve taken a long hiatus from blogging, due to school, church, and other commitments.  Yes, they’re excuses, but I had to prioritize and get all my ducks in a row.  I’m going to try to type a little more coming very soon.  Thanks for being patient with my typing.

-Josh

p.s. –  I’ve got a 4.0 average since I started back to school.  So there.