Unoffically Official 2017 VQ and CC Thread

Some will say go with the HT since climbing is king in this event while others will tell you FS for comfort, really up to you and what your preferences are.

For me, my HT isn’t in my ride rotation enough and also needed too much work before this years race so I did CC on a FS. It was a loaner JET9 too since my RIP was being warrantied and I was glad I rode it. This year I am putting the same Ardent/Ikon tire combo in my 150mm/160mm travel RIP and seeing how that goes.

I have not been on my bike at all in months (ok, 1 ride since early October) due to new baby and fire closures so this will be interesting. Although I didn’t train for it last year and finished CC so hopefully my dad strength game is strong again this year. Still planning on showing up even if it’s my first ride in 6 months, learned my lesson last year not to be a wuss.
 
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pperrelle said:
Any thoughts on bike choice? Trying to decide whether to ride the hardtail or put some faster rolling tires on the Ripley. The HT will be faster up and less tiring on the climbs but the Ripley will be more comfortable for the 60 hours in the saddle and a smoother ride down hill. Decisions, decisions........
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I have two hardtails in the garage... Light and heavy. I'll most likely go with the lighter Highball, even though the Chameleon is so much fun downhill. Part of my strategy, though, will be to ride the heavier Chameleon as much as possible leading up to the event.

Other than that, I'm not going to overthink it. I have a couple "VQ level" rides under my belt. I'm just praying for dry trails. If it rains, I'm staying home. :p
 
Cornholio said:
I was able to pedal through most of the mud and after that BS climb the mud shed off and the weather was actually favorable for me the rest of the day. I’ll take rain over wind.. and aren’t you from the East?
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Yes, I'm from the armpit of the world... Buffalo. I've seen -50 degrees, the worst blizzard in US history, ice diving, ice storms, yearly flooding, and any other shitty weather you can imagine. And I'll be ok if I never see that again! :p
 
shawndoh said:
I'd rather have the Ripley. Depends on your point of view. I'm a confident descender, so I'd rather make up time with the suspension DH.
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See, I'm the opposite. I'm a very confident descender, so riding down Motorway/HJ/Trabuco isn't really any different for me. Plus you generally aren't going to make up that much time on these descents. You have to factor in traffic on Motorway....last time I did it there was a conga line stuck behind a rider that wouldn't pull over to let us by. Yeah, we lost a few minutes on that. Holy Jim is not technical, so a HT is just as fast.

However you spend so much time climbing on this ride, that the lighter bike is a benefit.
 
It looks like the 2017 thread is becoming the 2018's......
I'm doing the CC this year. Now that VQ is off my bucket list, why do it again?

At this point, I'm mentally committed to riding a 21lbs SS carbon hardtail (unless I can figure out a way to make it lighter).
I'm thinking that a 32x22 ratio might golden.
I'll be spending the next 3 months trying to find the right setup (and fitness) that would help me avoid too much mashing without over spinning.
Ultimately I just want to finish (under 6 hours) without too much HAB.
 
HBkites said:
It looks like the 2017 thread is becoming the 2018's......
I'm doing the CC this year. Now that VQ is off my bucket list, why do it again?

At this point, I'm mentally committed to riding a 21lbs SS carbon hardtail (unless I can figure out a way to make it lighter).
I'm thinking that a 32x22 ratio might golden.
I'll be spending the next 3 months trying to find the right setup (and fitness) that would help me avoid too much mashing without over spinning.
Ultimately I just want to finish (under 6 hours) without too much HAB.
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The only over spinning you will do is on Trabuco Creek Rd at the end.....otherwise you will be either mashing or coasting.
 
HBkites said:
It looks like the 2017 thread is becoming the 2018's......
I'm doing the CC this year. Now that VQ is off my bucket list, why do it again?

At this point, I'm mentally committed to riding a 21lbs SS carbon hardtail (unless I can figure out a way to make it lighter).
I'm thinking that a 32x22 ratio might golden.
I'll be spending the next 3 months trying to find the right setup (and fitness) that would help me avoid too much mashing without over spinning.
Ultimately I just want to finish (under 6 hours) without too much HAB.
Click to expand...

I'm considering the same thing on my SS. Not sure of gearing yet.........
 
HBkites said:
It looks like the 2017 thread is becoming the 2018's......
I'm doing the CC this year. Now that VQ is off my bucket list, why do it again?

At this point, I'm mentally committed to riding a 21lbs SS carbon hardtail (unless I can figure out a way to make it lighter).
I'm thinking that a 32x22 ratio might golden.
I'll be spending the next 3 months trying to find the right setup (and fitness) that would help me avoid too much mashing without over spinning.
Ultimately I just want to finish (under 6 hours) without too much HAB.
Click to expand...
I have done CC Several Time on 29 SS with exact same gearing 32x22. I am not the monster J is for sure so that gearing was a good balance of work and a satisfying result. I know folks that train in 1 gear then race in another... think that would be a disaster for me.
A J said.. your gonna spin on Trabuco no matter what on an SS... otherwise its All Climb or Descend ... simple equation for me.. what can I climb B*, Maple and To The Peak at the best pace and not blow. On MD between B* and Motorway... I rode what I could and HAB at "Pace" where I could not (which Is actually faster than al ot folks on the gears).
Dang now man you got me thinking again....

Oh an at 21lbs.... you are right at the right spot... don't go lighter at the expense of decent tires... Motorway can cut sidewalls for sure. Depends on your riding style.
 
bvader said:
Oh an at 21lbs.... you are right at the right spot... don't go lighter at the expense of decent tires... Motorway can cut sidewalls for sure. Depends on your riding style.
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My FS rig will be around 27lbs with the tires I’ll put on so all I have to do is lose 6lbs or so of body weight and I am golden!

I’m already 5-7lbs lighter than this years CC so off to a good start!
 
bvader said:
I have done CC Several Time on 29 SS with exact same gearing 32x22. I am not the monster J is for sure so that gearing was a good balance of work and a satisfying result. I know folks that train in 1 gear then race in another... think that would be a disaster for me.
A J said.. your gonna spin on Trabuco no matter what on an SS... otherwise its All Climb or Descend ... simple equation for me.. what can I climb B*, Maple and To The Peak at the best pace and not blow. On MD between B* and Motorway... I rode what I could and HAB at "Pace" where I could not (which Is actually faster than al ot folks on the gears).
Dang now man you got me thinking again....

Oh an at 21lbs.... you are right at the right spot... don't go lighter at the expense of decent tires... Motorway can cut sidewalls for sure. Depends on your riding style.
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I run 32 X 20 everywhere now, but don't know how that will be for the full CC. I rode Silverado to the peak a few weeks back and it worked really well. Beeks to Motorway worries me too. Likely lots of walking..
 
mtnbikej said:
See, I'm the opposite. I'm a very confident descender, so riding down Motorway/HJ/Trabuco isn't really any different for me. Plus you generally aren't going to make up that much time on these descents. You have to factor in traffic on Motorway....last time I did it there was a conga line stuck behind a rider that wouldn't pull over to let us by. Yeah, we lost a few minutes on that. Holy Jim is not technical, so a HT is just as fast.

However you spend so much time climbing on this ride, that the lighter bike is a benefit.
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I hear ya. You and I make a good case study for each point of view. I consider all the little decents along with the main three you mentioned. I don't factor traffic on Motorway, because for me it's pretty thinned out by the time I get there. And mostly, I have more fun on the squish.
 
mtnbikej said:
See, I'm the opposite. I'm a very confident descender, so riding down Motorway/HJ/Trabuco isn't really any different for me. Plus you generally aren't going to make up that much time on these descents. You have to factor in traffic on Motorway....last time I did it there was a conga line stuck behind a rider that wouldn't pull over to let us by. Yeah, we lost a few minutes on that. Holy Jim is not technical, so a HT is just as fast.

However you spend so much time climbing on this ride, that the lighter bike is a benefit.
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Word!
 
Runs with Scissors said:
I need to find a good spot to stash water on Maple Springs. At the junction of Motorway is too obvious. Maybe behind the rock at the EOP (End of Pavement)?

My biggest concern is getting from the bottom of Trabuco back to the tree farm. :eek:
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Whenever you're ready... https://www.strava.com/activities/879799140 :thumbsup:

It was actually better to start at the gate and roll downhill to the tree farm. Then you can use the car as a resupply point after Motorway. Of course, climbing Silverado with almost 10,000 feet under our belts wasn't a lot of fun. :gag:
 
Faust29 said:
Whenever you're ready... https://www.strava.com/activities/879799140 :thumbsup:

It was actually better to start at the gate and roll downhill to the tree farm. Then you can use the car as a resupply point after Motorway. Of course, climbing Silverado with almost 10,000 feet under our belts wasn't a lot of fun. :gag:
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I remember this ride..... like most others ride I bailed out.
 
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