Thursday, January 12, 2012

the singlespeed RIP9 is faster than Don Powers

After I posted the link to the singlespeed RIP9 on facespace yesterday (where people seem more willing to discuss), some friends were skeptical. 

More specifically, Don Powers was skeptical: "I can't wait to beat you while you're on that bike," he said

Don Powers never beats me. I do everything I can to crush him, because if I don't he'll shout his tale of conquest in a loop for a three-hour car ride, then post about it on the internet until the next race he loses. 

"I'm Dahn Pahrs and Dahn Pahrs does what Dahn Pahrs does to win becasue Dahn Pahrs is the best. I'm old. Dahn Pahrs!" 

Imagine listening to that for hours and hours. It's awful. Fortunately, I don't have to hear it very often, because like I said, I don't lose to Don Powers. I told him he would not be beating me.

Which made him bring up my last two races, where I lost to Don Powers. Both times. 

"Fact 1 - That tensioner will fail within 5 races. Fact 2 - I'm on a two race win streak against you," he said.

Feeling backed into a corner, I turned to the debating skills that I've picked up from watching Fox News. If you can't challenge their ideas or prove their facts inaccurate, derail the conversation by calling them a name.

"Fact 3 - You're a Neanderthal," I said.

But he turned my tactic against me by calling me a name, then adding another fact. "Fact 4 - You're a hobbit who is upset about facts 1 and 2," he said.

Shit. He had me. I had to end the conversation quickly and get out of there. "Fact 5 - I shaved my toes last week," I said.

No response to that. I guess that means I win.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Singlespeed RIP9

Despite feeling terrible from the resilient 19th-century respiratory illness that I contracted in Hell last month, yesterday Ole Cinder Bloch Lochner and I went riding at Roaring Run in Apollo. It was a beautiful day, and I needed to test the new race machine. I've had it put together for a few days, but I didn't want to say anything on here until I was sure it wasn't going to fall apart.

It didn't fall apart.

120mm of travel front and back, one gear. Rad.


I wasn't riding well yesterday but I was still cruising away from Ole Cinder Bloch, who was on a rigid SIR9. The bike makes everything so easy. I can stuff it into jagged rocks, and it goes forward. Into big logs, and it goes forward. Over the end of a very low park bench, and it goes forward (with it's dizzy and disoriented rider only half attached.)


I'm used to bouncing around on a hardtail, and compared to that the Rip is totally undramatic. It just smooths everything out and goes. Since the loop at Apollo is so twisty, I was expecting the bike to be a little to big for the trail. But I was wrong. It feels quick and handles tight stuff as well as my One9 did with a 120mm fork.

It's geared at 36x19, and I had no problem standing and mashing up the steep hills. Even in such a big gear, the suspension didn't squish too much.

I finished the loop feeling as fresh as when I started it (which wasn't actually very fresh. But I did finish the loop with consumption, cholera or diphtheria. That has to say something.) My back didn't hurt and my hands weren't sore. This bike is going to make a huge difference in the last 20 miles of a 100 miler, when every bump on the trail feels like falling ass first onto a giant hedgehog.

I'm excited about the Rip. It's fast, it's fun, and it runs real good.

I'm using a Paul Melvin to tension the chain, which is basically a short cage derailleur with an extra strong spring. It's quiet, and there's very little chainslap:

I couldn't get an 8 or 9 speed chain to work without skipping (I think my cog was too worn), so I ended up with a KMC single speed chain:



Some mud, no skipping. Bueno.

The I9 guys rebuilt my wheels again, this time with Stan's Flows. So I'm running a full Enduro wheelset. I still have an Ultralite back wheel that I'll throw on for some races.



I can't wait to race this thing. It's gonna be fast.

Here's the full build list:

Frame: Niner RIP9
Wheels: Industry 9 Enduro 29er
Grips: Ergon GX2 Carbon
Fork: Rockshox Reba RLT Ti with 20mm thru axle
Brakes: Formula RX
Rotors: Forumla R1
Crank: Raceface Turbine
Bars: Raceface Atlas
Stem: Thomson 50mm
Seatpost: The one that was on closeout

A hearty thanks to me Mam.