[Yo Sake]

<p>DH has been racing his first year of MTB point series.  Did total 7 races, including the last one last Sunday in a steamy hot 90F weather.  He finished 2nd on that race, and won the 1st in the point series!  This gave him a free entry to the infamous Iceman in Northern Michigan in Nov.  I am so excited for him!   He is in the 'beginner' category - usually MTB race there are 'beginner', 'sports' and 'elite/pro' and AG categories within each group (not like 5-yrs AG like tri, much wider AG).  At the last race, beginner did 2 laps of this challenging singletrack, sports did 3, and pro/elite did 4.  The term 'beginner' is totally not fair to the riders in this category.  They may be beginner in terms of racing, just like my DH, but these guys, especially those get on the podium, are experienced and very fast riders in my opinion.  He had his shares of challenges during some of the races.  Last race, he rode last mile on the rim.  A few crashes involving blood and muscle strain and all the excitement. </p>
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<p><img alt="SAM_0081-1.jpg" class="bbcode_img" src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh237/ytischler/SAM_0081-1.jpg"></p>
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<p>DS also jumped in the kid race.  It was too short, he said after the race and declared he would be doing the 'adult' race next year!  DH took him to the singletrack I ride all the time the other day which is mucher harder the one he somestimes rides.  He finished uplight in 50min - just for ref. DH rides there 31min or so and I do 37min.  So he did great. </p>
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<p><img alt="SAM_0073-1.jpg" class="bbcode_img" src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh237/ytischler/SAM_0073-1.jpg"></p>
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<p>I am planning to ride more MTB races next year along with the two boys in the house.  First thing first, though. I am looking for a new MTB just for ME!  </p>

 

[jroden]

<p>Hey that's great! </p>
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<p>I know a local shop with a nice size 17 Felt with 26 inch wheels they would be happy to get off the floor.  It's a nicer model with hydrallic disks, no rear susp. decent wheels, etc.   Let me know if you want particulars I can stop by.</p>
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<p>I think something in a 17 inch or WSD hardtail, tubeless tires, rockshox reba fork, aluminium frame, decent wheels like Shimano would be a good setup for you.  You can save a lot of weight on just wheels, tires, and fork alone, maybe 5 pounds or more.</p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>jr - 17 is probably too big.  I realized my son's bike I was riding was 13 (I thought it was 14.5) and it doesn't feel necessarily too small.  I visited three bike shops now and talked to many people riding/racing the trails around here.  I think HT around 15.5 is the way to go and I haven't ruled out 29er - many said the bike mfrs made great improvements in the last few yrs for 29er for smaller rides.  The reba front, sram x.7 are the levels of components I would like to have, at <$2k.  I still don't know what to ride at Xterra Natl.  I haven't found any bike shops near Salt Lake City who have a good HT small for demo/rent.  I don't thik I can make an informed purchasing decision within the next 2 wks either (2011MY bikes are slowly coming into the shops).  Anybody you know of is willing to rent her nice mtb?</p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>Congrats to your husband!!!  And to your son, and to you!  Man I love mountain biking.  I should probably race.  So many races, so little time...</p>

 

[Tracy74]

<p>If you are looking to rent Brickwheels in Traverse City rents high end Treks starting at a 13 frame.</p>

 

[Dougie Fresh]

<p>Awesome.  Congrats to DH and DS.  You are the off-road clan!</p>

 

[jenotter]

<p>Wow...that's super cool!!! Nice job by the fam!</p>

 

[Tri-Tammy]

<p>Great job!!!!!!!!!!</p>
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