Lanceville 100, the Fuel and the Flash

Last night was the premier opening and final curtain for "Race Across the Sky", a documentary recounting the 2009 Leadville 100, (which I've mentioned before).

The movie was probably more 'exciting' than the actual race, what with the booming music and all, but I guarantee the movie was a lot less painful. Armstrong seemed to be racing the clock more than against Wiens, but Lance didn't get his 6 hour wish, instead hammering for closer to 6 1/2 hours. The slower riders were treated to rain, hail, a lot more time on the course, and all at above 10k feet in altitude.

Lance got a flat about 6 or 7 miles from the finish on his Trek Top Fuel, and rather than fix it rode in on the flat. I demo'ed the Top Fuel at Interbike. It was easily one of my favorite bikes...ever. I always figured the concentric pivot/rear axle thing was basically a gimmick, but it really works.

I rode the Fuel shortly after the Cannondale Flash, a full-carbon hardtail. It look like Tinker rode the Flash at Leadville. The lightest Flash is very very light, the one I rode was only very light, and still very quick. The handling was almost exactly the same as the Scalpel, but of course no rear suspension.

It was fun to ride these two back to back because it highlighted what I think is a philosophy difference between Trek and Cannondale. Cannondale likes their head-angles steep and steering almost twitchy (at least on the race bikes). Trek likes the angles a little mellower -- more work through quickly winding singletrack, but more stable.

I think there are some myths around MTBs and head angle. At lot of people think steeper head angles are better for switchbacks, but I have not found this to be the case. In fact, I don't even think a long-wheel base is a problem in switchbacks. Even my 29ers all do switchbacks fine. Most people assume steep head angle is important for racing. Again, at least in the west, I don't find this to matter at all. Instead, I think the steeper angles are nice for what in skiing would be edge-to-edge transitions.

Flick, flick, flick ... yep, that feels good on the Cannondale.

Turn down some steep, rocky terrain at high speed...ooooh where is that Trek? On the whole I'm kind of a masher downhiller and like the Trek - to each his own.

Anyway, I got diverted there. Lance's flat. Well, I had the 'opportunity' to change the rear tire on the Fuel, twice. It is kind of a hassle and took me a few minutes to figure out the first time. Because of the rear pivot system the rear skewer has to come all the way off and then the wheel slides out kind of funny. In the end I guess it works, but I can see why Lance was hesitating. I still think it would have been faster to just change the thing. Maybe he could have carried one of these.

The DVD of the movie is $20.00, and seems worth it for trainer-bound riders. Some might feel jipped, feeling like they payed $20.00 for a really long (but enjoyable) commercial for the Leadville 100. I'll buy it. The race will probably not be on my calendar next year either since after watching the movie there will certainly be like 30,000 people trying to sign up and only a few thousand get in. It is the new dirt LOTOJA.

The movie also featured Matt Shriver, who grew up in Idaho. He and his brother Zack were about the same ages as two of my younger brothers, so they all raced together as teenagers. The last time I'd seen him he was probably 13.

Alex posted 4th in the race and I wish they would have covered him more, but there were a few good shots.

Cameos by Ed Chauner, Chris Holley, a few other locals.

Fun night.