2011 Calander

here is a rough glimpse at the 2011 season

4/30-5/1 Balls Ride.170miles of gravel in 2 days
the following weekend is graduation, however if i can squeeze in the sandwich 50 part duce i will
5/14 Alamonzo 100 or Royal 162. same time same place. one is a gravel century, the other is a standard plus metric century. Looks like im going to man up, log some miles this winter and make my first alamonzo a royal one.
7/30-7/31 Waussau 24 part duce, awesome course, thinking 2person, maybe solo

all summer: various MNMTB Series races depending on health and aviabliity. i will for sure make it Afton
all summer: various WEMS races

Fall 11: Night Nonsense Part Duce, date TBD

watch gravel grinder news for more dates

winter commuting

i have two rigs set up for commuting this winter. I plan on primarly riding my trek with 50x20 gearing, fenders, and 28c tires. i wish i could squeeze a 32c cross tire in there, but there is just not the clearance. i also am rocking flat pedals on this bike. its comfy, quick, and i have no issues climbing hills on this setup.

my other ride is my bianci muss. i have it set up with 32x18 and kenda klondike 2.1 carbide studded tires, and flat pedals. it is great when the roads are crap. the 32x18 works really well when we have snow on the ground. but is way too spinny the rest of the time.

i got layering figured out last winter. thick socks, leather boots, silk long underwear, a wool shit and a wind breaker. medium weight ski gloves, balaclava and a helmet round it out.  this set up keeps me surprisingly warm. on really cold days i will just  throw on a layer or two more of the good base stuff.

people tell me that im crazy for riding all winter. they just cant seem to understand it. for me, its a sanity issues. i am a very active person. if i do not get the chance to get regular exercise. i get mopey and moody. because of my hectic schedule between school and work. commuting is my only option. when i ride some were. and its cold, snowing, wet, slick, and dangerous. i get were im going, and feel on top of the world. for all you Minnesotans that bitch about the cold. get the fuck out of my state.

El Mar or Xcal?

i have my search narrowed. i will either be getting a new salsa el marichi 2x10 or the new trek xcal 3x10. both come with rebas, large wheels, x7 shifting, and hydraulics. im currently sold on the elmar. steel. single speed capable. but at the same time more expensive. ill have to weight my choices and figure out costs. both seem to have similar geometrys.

	Fisher Xcal	Salsa Elmar	specialized stumpy comp
Size	17.5	18	19
Head Angle	69.3	72	70.5
Seat Angle	72.5	73	73
ETT	23.7	23.6	23.2
Chainstay	17.5	17.5-18.1	16.9
Wheel base	43.9	42.5	43.1
Standover	30.1	30.3	31.9
MSRP	$1,539.99	$1,750	$1,850
Build	X7 3x10	X7 2X10	X7 3X10
Fork	Reba	Reba	reba
Brakes	juicy 3	Elixr 5	Elixr R
R.Der	X7	X9	X9
Chainring	44/32/22	27/40	44/32/22
cassette	11 36	12 36	11 36
Tubeless	no	yes	yes
single capable	no	yes	yes