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Bikes at NORBA
By Jeffrey Zelek at Mount Snow
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The buzz at Mt. Snow is that Filip Meirhaeghe is in town. This weekend's men's XC pro race is shaping into a battle between Meirhaeghe and the in-form Ryder Hesjedal. I caught up with Meirhaghe at the Specialized Team camp. Filip is reportedly using Mt. Snow as a tune up race before next weekends World Cup at Mt. Saint Anne. I asked Filip if he planned to save himself for Quebec and he replied that he is going for the win at Mt. Snow.
I asked Filip how he planned to set up his bike for this weekend's race. He explained that he was not travelling with his bike and that Specialized had set him up with a new ride to be used at Mt. Snow and Mt. Saint Anne.
Filip quickly pulled his new bike off the rack and he was proud to show it off. I will tell you that Filip is one very polite and accommodating statesman. When I asked Filip for his comments about the Mt Snow course, he invited me to pre-ride the course with him and another teammate to gather his comments first hand. I politely declined because I did not want to disrupt his pre-race training and avoid having to go anaerobic trying to keep up.
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Over at the RLX Ralph Lauren tent, team mechanic Dan Crean was building a titanium Tomac hardtail for rider Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. Dan was outfitting JHK's ride with the latest SRAM Blackbox components. Blackbox is SRAM's product development program, which passes the latest and greatest goods to its top riders. JHK will be riding on a set of Panracer TrailBaster UST tires this weekend, filled with Stan's No-Tubes puncture sealant. JHK apparently punctured 5 minutes into a ride at Moab early this year and the sealant patched the hole within seconds and saved the day.
Jimena Florit had just returned from a training ride on the road and showed me her Tomac team bike. I don't know what is more impressive; Jimena's athletic abilities or her stunning good looks. I asked Jimena about tire choice for this weekend, as the course has dry climbs and muddy descents. She showed me a set of Panracer FireXCpro 2.1's which she has picked because she wanted a tire with more volume. Jimena states she is also going for the win this weekend. I asked her who her competition would be, she immediately replied "Chrissie Redden".
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Wade Boots looked great in Mountain Cross practice and was in good spirits when I spoke with him at the Trek Team camp. Boots described the course as sandy having a flat start with a few simple jumps; very well groomed without a single rock. Wade feels the Mountain Cross course favours someone with a BMX background. Perhaps we will see some new faces on the podium this weekend.
Probably the coolest looking bike at the races will belong to Kashi Leuchs. His carbon fibre Trek Hardtail sports an incredible flame paint job done up in candy apple colours that would make any hot-rodder jealous.
Riding the course.
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It has rained or snowed in New England the last 19 out of 22 weekends so I expected the worst conditions on the trail. I was surprised to find the climbs up the fire road to be dry. The roads are packed-sand and gravel, and have drained almost to the point of being dusty. The black gnats are out in full force and swarm over riders as they slow during their climbs. The trails through the woods however are slick with mud. The first single track ascent has been improved with a fine crushed gravel to improve traction. This should keep the riders speed high as they hit the next muddy technical section, which has been left in its natural slimy state. The course is lined with front-wheel-size holes just waiting to send riders over the handlebars if they don't pay attention.
The course is completely rideable; however, the final long decent to the finish line is choppy and slick, and will be a challenge during the final laps when the riders are tired and focusing becomes a problem.
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The weather is currently humid and the forecast calls for rain. However, this is New England and like Mark Twain said, "If you don't like the weather in New England then wait a minute". One junior level rider from Orlando, Florida told me that Vermont is now hotter than Florida.
So if you are heading to Vermont this weekend bring 3 things. Sunglasses, bug spray, and a rain coat just in case.
Photos
Images by Jeffrey Zelek
- Wade Bootes and his 2003 Fuel
- Bootes bike up close.
- Chrissy Redden's Gary Fisher
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski's titanium Tomac getting built
- JHK's bike in bits
- "Yeah, it needs a bit more work yet"
- Allison Dunlap's VPP Santa Cruz
- Filip Meirhaeghe gets on his bike
- Meirhaeghe gets ready for an epic on his Epic
- Jeffrey Zelek and Filip Meirhaeghe
- Jeffrey Zelek and Jimena Florit
- Jimena Florit's choice of tyre for the weekend
- Florit and her Tomac
- Time to run off and get ready
- Kashi Leuchs' flaming OCLV Trek
- Another look at Kashi's Trek. Check out his bouncy bike
- It does look nice doesn't it?
- You have hit the big-time when your name is painted on the bike
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