Training is coming along

Training is coming along. Last weekend I hit my furthest running distance, so far. 9.6 miles. The morning temperatures are getting cooler. I am starting to nail down my nutrition and pacing. 

While running I focused on keeping my heart rate in my Zone 4 and 5. 

I was able to get out on the mountain bike trail yesterday for the first time in awhile. 

Rode the race loop, trying to get some things dialed in on my bike. Starting in the 105 degree heat was hard, but finished my loop in the time I was expecting. 

Need to replace some tires here, which I have just sitting in my garage. Nothing urgent, but the tires I rode on last night were showing some wear. 

While riding I focused on keeping my heart rate in my Zone 4 and 5. 

After the summer monsoon storms, the trails are still messed up. There are a lot of washes along the route that have deep sand. Swapping out my front tire with better tread, while help navigate some of these deep sand washes better. 

I have some work to do on getting my time down, but I know what I need to do. There is time to improve and get faster. 

                                                     

Focused on some running while bike is needing repairs

The last week I have started up getting back in to running. I need to start getting a good base under my belt, as I am looking at a trail running race in the fall. 

Not to mention I am waiting on a few parts to get both my road and mountain bike tuned up and ready for a good year of riding. 

Friday afternoon, I came home and started to prep my road bike for a group ride on Saturday. Both tires were flat. I swapped out the bad tubes for new ones. I inflated them and prepped the bike on the car rack for Saturday’s ride. This would be the last weekend for later start group rides, with the summer heat arriving early. 

Saturday morning, I woke up got dressed and grabbed my gear. I happened to check the tires before leaving and both were flat again. The tubes were good as well as the tires, but I’m thinking it was the rim strips, even though I checked them before.  With the great weather outside, I loaded up a water bottle in my Orange Mud Hydra Quiver, put my running shoes on and got out the door.  I went for a six mile run, not really focused on speed, but just the long steady distance. 

I felt great the entire time. Slowing down and walking a few times. Watched my heart rate so I didn’t get it too high and explode myself out there. 

I will continue running and have some repairs/tune ups to do on my bikes went the parts get shipped. 

New MTB rims, prepping for race day

New tubeless rim set up Bontrager Mustang 29in Elite TLR wheels with Bontrager  XR4 Expert tires. The front tire is 2.4 wide with the rear at 2.3.  The aggressive tread on the rear tire, rubs on the front derailleur at the bottom of the seat stay. I am then only able to use either the largest chain ring up front or the smallest, of the three. 

The middle chain ring is not usable as the tire rubs when it is in this position. With the tire pressures being 24psi in the front and 26psi in the rear, I was able to knock out a very good training lap at race pace of the course for early next month.  A few more changes and tweeks, and I will be set for race day.  I have some tubeless ready tires, that are 2.2 that I will swap out in the rear, and the rubbing on the derailleur won’t happen. 

On this mornings test lap of adjustments, I felt strong and am impressed with the wheel and tire set up.  

Not as easy as it looks, going TUBELESS

I knew about a lot of the things it would take to swap out tubes in my mountain bike for tubeless.  The right tires, the right rims and valve stems. I took all in consideration before taking on this task. 

Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires 

I've used a few different brands of sealants.  Placing them inside my tubes to get the most life out of them.  Not being bothered by small thorns or pieces of glass I may come upon while riding on the road or trails. The straw that broke the camels back and made me want to do the conversion of my mountain bike tires, was after getting two pinch flats in one evening while riding. The ride ended up with me walking back about two miles to my vehicle, just as the sun was going down. 

Orange Seal is the brand I am using and sticking with.

I ordered a nice set of new tires that are compatible with being tubeless, Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires. I found a set of Presta valves, with the removable core, so if you want to initially put the sealant in that way you can, or down later on add more sealant if needed without compromising the seal created at the rim.  Also with the core removed, you can get that full blast of air needed to seat the rim. I knew that in order to inflate to tire, an air compressor would need to be used to seat the tire on the rim. My first attempt, I thought I had all the right components to make this transition. I measured the rim and cut a piece of Gorilla Tape to seal off the spoke holes. This was pretty easy. I started the tape about 3 inches on one side of the valve hole and wrapped the tape two times around. Then installed the Presta valve, with the washers and seals it came with. Tested the tires on the rim, just to make sure it would seal later on when the sealant was placed inside. With an air compressor and some dish soap to help the installation, I couldn't achieve the right seal. 

I used another air compressor later on to achieve the "blast"of air needed to seat the rim. A seal was achieved except for where the valve stem was. Leaking was occurring near the Presta valves I had installed. The hole already in the rim was larger, as the rims originally had Schrader valves in them.  I got the tires to seat and the sealant to take hold, but not for long. I had a good ride out on the trails with my daughter and was amazed at how good the tires where contacting the trail. It wasn't until about a week later that the front tire came off the rim.  I ordered a set of Schrader valve stems which should solve the leaking around the valve stem.  I think I have it figured out, but it has kept me off my mountain bike and has me out riding my road bike for the time being.   

  

Note: Not all rims are tubeless compatible nor are all tires. 

Arisun and CHAOYANG road tire test

I have loved the contact as well as the rolling resistance of Arisun’s lightweight Vitesse road tire, as well as Chaoyang Fly Fish road tire.  Both tires are 700 X 23c.  I tried and tested them both out in both front and back wheels as well as swapping them out and finding out the best combination to use them in.  

First off the Arisun Vitesse is a great smooth treaded tire. The tire is created with a hard compound in the center to help with the rolling resistance while the outer edges are a little softer for better cornering. The tire is rated with a 120 TPI. The tire has a Nylon Defense Plus puncture protection, the company says. I have ridden hundreds of miles on the same tire and have had no issues with punctures. 

Next up, the Chaoyang Fly Fish. These tires have a little bit of texture to the outside edges, for helping in cornering. These are also rated at 120 TPI and are a very smooth rolling tire. There is a Kevlar anti-puncture layer in these tires.  

Both of these tires have great rolling resistance and could be used or either racing or training with. 

New rubber for the road

New rubber on the ride.  I slapped on a pair of Michelin XCR road tires on my mountain bike for my indoor training rides on my rollers.  These tires are slick and are really nice. With the weather and more rides outside I will be switching these out for a pair of knobby Michelin tires soon. I also look forward to bringing these out on the road and testing them on the asphalt and how they feel cornering.

Long time from posting

I have been pretty busy with work, but my training still continues.  I am feeling much stronger on the run and swim portions of my bricks I have been doing.  This weekend, I am tuning up the bike.  I have suffered from bad tire issues.  These will be behind me now I know.  Looking forward to a weekend of training and dialing in myself for the race nearly 3 weeks away.