You drive this:
Ride The Divide Movie Trailer from Ride The Divide on Vimeo.
This ride redefines what is humanly possible. The Tour de France has less climbing, less miles, and these racers are finishing it faster by riding literally all day. This may actually be the most difficult race in the world. Road bikes are not rugged enough to handle this terrain. You can see the equipment choices are mostly hardtail MTB. The hardtail is efficient simplicity rugged, strong, and reliable enough to traverse the length of the entire country.
When you are a road racer, you warm up, eat, and sleep all the deliver a peak performance over 100 miles. In this, it is all done alone.
There are no EPO scandals, no blood samples being discovered in a vault, there are only real men, and one woman, proving their worth and strength both mentally and physically.
This is bike racing.
RideTheDividMovie.com
Check out the official website
http://tourdivide.org/
and memorium to Dave Blumenthal, a brave individual who passed away while doing what he loved. I’ve always said if I go I want it to be my heart exploding as I make one last final attempt at a sprint to claim victory in an XC race. Rest in peace Dave, you are an inspiration even after your passing.
http://tourdivide.org/blog2010/memory_dave_blumenthal
My Tarmac and I have been through some good times. In lieu of bikesnobnyc’s book chapter about how your bike doesn’t have a soul, I have decided not to be too sad about it. In fact, I am rather happy at the chance of getting a new frame put together and having some great times on it.
I bid farewall to my old friend. We shared a lot of miles together. I’d say we shared nearly 10,000 miles of riding on these terrible chipseal roads.
Now, looking to what’s next: Specialized crash replacement? If it wasn’t already apparent, I have weird proportions (that bike was actually fit to me by a pro) and a custom frame might actually work out nicely for me. I also happen to think that a nice durable steel or titanium frame would be a lifelong companion and a blast to ride around on.
Oh the possibilities.
(Also, you guys get to check out a sweet build thread: stay tuned)
Fixie freestyle has been the new hotness for a while now, but after seeing this, I can forsee everyone switching to a fleet of lightweight trek madones for their sick tricks.
I’m still waiting for penny farthing freestyle, though.
via bikeradar.com