KA-BLAM!

so, this is the beginning of the 4 month long gut-check that i like to refer to as period training. Most people are in the thick of it, i am starting my base mileage and resistance training. That's cuz i'd way rather kick total ass in the cross season than any other race season in existence.

Got my bike and promptly put 'er on a diet. 21 pounds out of the box (YIKES). now i got it down to just a scooch under 18. yay.

Let me just say, i have never been a weight weenie (truth), and i have never even weighed any of the other bikes i own (also truth). That should give you some idea how serious i am about kicking some ass this cross season. I decided to keep it real and get a steel cross bike this year come hell or high water, so right away i was nervous about the weight. Also, i don't feel as if i have committed any weight weenie specific crimes. No booster kits with 27 different ti and lightweight alloy fasteners. Minimal carbon parts, and the ones i do have i bought on the cheap (150 gram seatpost 35 bones!). My main point of contention was the wheelset.

Let me start off, for those of you who don't know me, by saying i hate shimano. However, this year i decided to forgo the gluing of 90 dollar tubulars, and try out this new fangled tubeless that the kids seem to be so hip on these days. It seems like a good way to run whatever tire pressure i want, get a sweet ride quality, and very pragmatic to boot. In the world of tubeless road stuff, we have shimano, campagnolo, and fulcrum to choose from. If you run anything that campy makes, off road, it voids the warranty. My shop doesn't deal in fulcrum. Sorta thinned the herd of choices so to speak.

Now, hutchinson MAKES a cross specific tire. Could i wait for us to get one in? Hell no! That's what stan's is for! So i opted to do a stan's kit on my new dura-ace/bontrager jones cx combo. Took a little cajoling for the rear tire to seat, but the front was very cooperative. In order to get everything sealed properly, one has to use a high pressure that is not conducive to ride with no tube. Of course one back's off the tire pressure before one tikes this tubless setup for one's maiden voyage.

Well, not this one. I got about 3 blocks and, well, just read the title of this post.