The trouble was I didn't have access to a 21 tooth cog... so I decided to modify some of the existing parts we had stashed in just about every corner of the garage.
I had been running a standard Shimano HG cog for many miles on my SS commuter but knew that the added grunt of off-road and 29" wheels might cause the flat steel plate to have some issues. I figured I needed to stiffen up the cog as well as increase the base to help prevent it from biting into the spline on my freehub body.
Digging around a bit, I found the 21 tooth cog I needed to run as well as a 15 tooth cog I could mate it to. I slipped them both on to a freehub to get the alignment right and broke out the welder. With a few rough beads I was in business.
Proto-Cog:
I removed the lock ring holding the factory spec aluminum 20 tooth to my freehub body but the cog just wouldn't budge. I maybe had 100 miles on this bike since I bought it and knew there was no real way for the two pieces to seize together.
Factory 20 tooth:
After some thought, I surmised that I might have torqued the cog hard enough to start either eating into the splines of the sprocket or cut the freehub itself. Since the freehub was steel, my guess was the cog had already begun to strip out. With a chain whip and some luck, I rotated the cog counterclockwise enough to free the splines.
Upon removal, I was surprised to see the damage. I was honestly glad I had decided to run 21 and notice the problem before it became catastrophic. A majority of the leading edge on edge spline of the cog had been rounded out and with enough time could have failed. This was frustrating, but I was confident the double plate thickness of the"Proto-Cog" would solve the problem and I'd be good to go for the race.
Spline loss:
We loaded the bikes and rolled up to Prescott to meet Andooke for a pre-ride on the 25 mile course. Was a perfect day but with the revelation from Micki that she was planning to push the pace we all got a bit nervous. She had a completion time in mind that would push her over the edge for entry and was determined to find out what she had to give to the course. The slight wavering in Brooke's tone gave away what we all must have been thinking... this was going to be a hammer fest led by a girl wearing a skirt on a shiny new powder blue bike.
On course now we wound through the neighborhood. The last pitch of asphalt sharply biting down on not yet fully warmed up quads. I was liking the 21 tooth cog and Micki had no complaints with her gear of choice either. Andy and Brooke were running the geared bikes they planned to ride for the race and even though the pace was higher than probably expected, things we looking good for us all so far.
First dirt:
Taking the right from Copper Basin into Pearlstein camp, I was excited about the impending singletrack section. Couldn't wait to see how this 1 tooth taller cog would perform. Around the first tight switchback I stomped on the gas to clear the following rock face. With a white flash of pain crossing my synapses, my knee blasted straight into my handle bars. The total loss of momentum almost sent my over the handlebars and before I could figure out what had happened I was hurriedly trying to unclip and plant a foot to prevent the further disaster of falling into the creek bed to my left.
My chain hung loosely on the bottom bracket shell. The "Proto-Cog" had allowed the chain to jump off under load. I hoped this was a one time occurrence and got myself back together. The throbbing in my kneecap frustrating me further as I began to gingerly pedal forward. The next rise was steeper still and assuming the last incident was simply an anomaly... I doubled down and stood up once more.
This time the "pop" was followed by darkness. My left knee this time met alloy and I ejected from the bike, ghost riding it off to the side with furious disappointment. I was screwed. The "Proto-Cog" was absolutely flippin' useless. Perhaps the ramped teeth were to blame, or new chain and older cog, could have even been chain tension but regardless of cause... I was about to spend the rest of this pre-ride either in the seat or sending my knees into the bars over and over again.
I decided to sit and grind it out.
Pearlstein summit:
Brooke same:
After the downhill from Pearlstein we crossed over to Aspen Creek and started the climbs. Andooke's trail maintenance was still holding strong and with the snow removed it was only up to ones will whether or not the trail would be ridable. The trail was in great shape overall and we were all making excellent time.
Aspen Creek:
Andy same:
A somewhat devious smile:
We climbed and climbed. Cleaning water bars and even forced to hike here and there. Overall I was loving the gear ratio and Micki was sailing right along as well. Even though we kept moving, the strong rate was giving us a fair idea of what race day might be like. I was feeling strong and hopeful my fitness would be up to the 50 miles in a few more days. The chain popped off a few more times and was frustrating my efforts to really stand up and grind. The ratio was feeling good though... when I could actually pedal.
Final switch:
Once at the top, the real fun began. A few technical sections had some real lines that had been developed over all the pre-riding as well as trail maintenance. The road after however was still hard to find any flow with lot's of loose rocks and flat corners. The speed was there, but without restraint it was almost impossible to stay on track on not end up in loose marbles or bowling balls.
Tree tunnel:
Andy Elevating:
Once at the bottom, we had to climb back out again. It's a flat climb with a few good stream crossings along the way. In fact, a flowing creek follows the road most of the way. A unique experience to actually see and hear moving water and not be riding in CO or similar.
The last pitch gets much steeper. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Would be interesting to see how this section might feel come race day. At least I'd be making a left and going down while the 25r's would be continuing the climb to the right. Not sure which would be feeling better.
Cresting the 25/50 split:
Now it was up to the Sierra Prieta Overlook. A long 3 mile or so climb with the first section nothing but exposed, dusty fire road. The first big right brings the blessing of shade and a short descent to boot. I was really feeling the 32/21 ratio was going to be a good choice and Micki felt the same with her 33/20.
Even though this wasn't the true "first" ride on Micki's rebuilt SS, we attempted to recapture some pictures that had been lost to the void. How could such a thing happen in this modern age of digital image capture and efficient storage? We shall just warn those that read this BLOG to keep technology away from Andy... especially when he utters the words "fix" and "format" in the same sentence.
Great view:
So nice:
Pedal power:
Head badge:
Geax whitewalls bring the class:
One more for good measure:
Grit:
Rolling on White:
Of course the pedals had to match:
A short while later Brooke arrived. This was not to be her best day on the bike, and the combination of pace, heat and length of the ride were starting to show. In fact, for some unknown reason her middle finger kept spasming when the camera came out. Probably not enough salt.
She's a good pointer:
Last bit of climbing on some singletrack and we began to zoom down the hill. My chain came off once more but didn't really matter as I knew that gravity would be on my side from here on out. At least, that's what my memory was telling me of the route.
Brooke rolling:
Micki splashing:
After the stream I suddenly remember what I had forgot... "Cramp Hill". Stupid hill! Loose red rock and no shade to speak of. Andy did a fine job and was able to grind most of it out. Micki of course floated her little SS like a butterfly for the entire last section. We got to the switchback downhill and let the carving begin.
Apex investigating:
Brooke divided the group at the very end and hit the road back to the park. We took "Creekside" which was a jumbled mess of eroded wash cutting the trail into almost unnavigable chunks. Andy showed us some local lines and the rest we tried to figure out on our own.
Regrouping on pavement, it was up to the singlepeeders to tuck and the geared to go big.
Coast down:
We packed up and hit Bill's Pizza for refuel. I think Andooke out paced us by 2 to 1 and finished their pie before we even got settled in to ours. Was a good shakedown ride for Micki and I to figure out our gearing. Brooke was still smiling despite her frustrations, but thats usually par for the course. Not the frustration... but the happy attitude after a ride. Was a good day with friends.
Hopefully all this "practice" will be fruitfully felt come race day.
The Stats:
Riders: Micki, Brooke, Andy and Elvota
Distance: 30 miles
Elevation: 4175 feet climbing
Ride time: around 4.5 hours
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