Featured Sponsor – Lawrence Herrera – PES,SWSI

SWSI uses innovation, creativity, and science to form the foundation of thier Functional Sport Training Programs. SWSI trains every client in the fundamentals of athleticism – posture, balance, flexibility, coordination, speed and strength.

24 Hrs. In The Old Pueblo: A full day in the life…

We went into this year’s race as one of the favorites since we’ve podium’d in the last two tries as a 4 man team. Read More…

Final Party of the Year

The team had fun at the last party of the year

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From our Sponsor SWSI

SWSI offers a membership option. The Endurance Memberships are your direct access to SWSI and everything we have to offer. With this membership you receive unlimited access to the facility with a workout of the day (6 am – 5 pm), free access to all our classes*, unlimited access to the computrainer (2 hour blocks) starting in January and discounts on all of our services, testing and specialty classes. The membership prices are currently $35 per month until Jan 1. (usually $50).
*Specialty classes cost extra

The Endurance Strength Class is a specialty class because of the periodization and structure of the class. This class is a structured program designed to get you from point A to point B as safe and effectively as possible. Starting January 4th we will start our next series of classes that will last 12 weeks starting from
the adaptation/stabilization phase leading up to endurance power phase. This
class will be the same price structure; member $150 and non-members $250 for
the entire program. Some of the other classes we offer are the Endurance Circuit class on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 6:30 am. This class is open ended, meaning
there is no set start or end date so anyone can drop in at anytime.

Mike Szabo Wins Another CX Championship

Congrats to Mike Szabo on another cyclocross state championship to back up his NMORS MTB Cat 1 50+

The Specialized S-Works EPIC rocket

Now this is the bike that I cannot wait to rip!
Why?
Because it’s super fast, super efficient, and surprisingly comfortable.

I borrowed a teammates 2010 S-Works EPIC with SRAM XX, front and rear spez suspension with the Brain, on Roval Control SL wheels (1385g). If you’ve ever been sketched out by borrowing a bike you can’t afford to jack up…this is that time for me. This bike is stacked with all the components I could wish for on a full suspension platform that is designed for one thing – speed through efficiency!

My first impression of the bike was – WHAM I’d been transported to early April and my fitness was top notch! It seemed as if it was too easy to ride this fast given my off-season-lack-of-form. Seriously, I felt like I was floating up hills and railing this flyweight bike through the turns as if I had extra fitness and speed to give.
The component mix is top notch (SRAM XX, Spez Carbon everything, lightweight yet sturdy wheels (140g less than my XTR’s from last year), and the best Avid brakes I’ve ever squeezed.
The frame is as killer looking as it is to ride, smooth carbon that inspires confidence. The front and rear suspension need some setup and re-adjustment to get the right combination of absorption and efficiency. Efficiency is the strength of this bike and it often times felt so stiff I had to bunny hop it to make sure the suspension was actually working. After lowering my shock and fork pressures in the front and rear I started to feel the absorption more over the embedded rock sections. The Brain is really easy to adjust with external clicker knobs and noticeable clicks when adjusting. The feeling of an inertia valve opening is different to say the least, I’ve used inertia valve forks before and it was a quick reminder of that feeling. The benefit of the Brain is that you get the suspension when you need it (activated by upward pressure on the wheels) and not when you don’t (driving the pedals down and hammering). I cannot imagine trying to replicate this by locking out/unlocking a fork or shock, it would be humanly impossible. On this bike it’s done for you immediately based on the terrain. I understand why it felt so fast, like a full rigid bike on the smooth hammering section, and a smooth full suspension over the rocks and through the braking bumps.

It’s a leap to lose control over lock/unlock or pro-pedal on/off suspension adjustment. I am betting that this pays off in speed and faster times this season. Hopefully it will work so well that I never want to go back to a fork that I have to manually lock or open again…hopefully. If two days in the foothills are the early indicator, a race season on this bike should be very fast! One question still remains though – If a bike can make me feel this good in the off-season; can I skip intervals this Spring?

Damian

The Stumpjumper Carbon HT 29er

Today I got to ride the new Carbon (bling) 29′r (bling) from Specialized (BLING) with SRAM XX (Bling) and the RockShox Reba (bling). This bike was spec’d to a T with high-end, ultra smooth looking and working components. It’s the kind of bike that inspires the kind of lust that could make you buy without riding it first. At 20.5lbs and the Roval Control EL wheelset (1750g) the weight penalty of the bigger hoops has been cut down to competitive. The Avid brakes are some of the best I’ve ever squeezed and the 2×10 XX group was great.

Here’s my impression of the bike: it climbed very well, much better than expected. Giving up 225g in the wheelset to my current 26″ XTR hoops had me expecting to notice it right away. The handling was good and the front 29′r wheel sticks really well. The front end was set up too low for my taste; it needed a +5deg rise stem instead of the -5 that is stock and that’s an easy fix. Riser bars would’ve been a good upgrade as well. It’s easy to see why so many riders love the bigger wheels, they roll over the rough stuff smoothly (keep in mind this is a hardtail review), and the contact patch really does make a difference in the front cornering traction. Elena Gallegos has decomposed granite that makes cornering a drift affair and that was cut down on the bigger wheels.

If I were a hardtail rider looking for an upgrade from my 26′r… I’d snatch this bike in a second for the rolling XC courses like those we often see here in NM. I’d also buy this bike if I could have two XC race bikes (a full suspension S-Works Epic and this 29′r).
I wouldn’t recommend this bike for the full suspension riders who love to jump/ramp trail features, and really love full suspension and the smooth ride it gives in the roughest stuff.

The bike is fast and the weight penalty compared to a 26′r has been minimized, making it a serious contender on the smoother rolling courses. The jury is still out on the steeps and the tight stuff…maybe that test ride will happen this spring. Until then I’ll be enjoying the amazing speed of the S-Works Epic with full suspension!

Damian

Our Team

Sport Systems MountainTop Cycling is a 40+ member team of road, mountain, and cyclocross riders and racers. As outdoor enthusiasts we compete in cycling events throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Texas, and beyond.
Our team values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, diversity, and respect for the promoters and our fellow competitors. The principles of our team are individual character, cycling performance, and the desire to give back to our wonderful sport of cycling. We are based out of Albuquerque, NM and have riders from as far north as Santa Fe, NM and as far south as El Paso, TX.