What have you done to your bike today?

That's why you need protection
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So this is a different kinda new bike day, some of you may have seen my Strava post or we talked about this in person, but I wanted to also share it here.

The company I work for sponsors an employee only charity bike event every year September-October for the last 11 years, dedicated to raising funds for cancer research via the Jimmy V Foundation. When I started this job 1.5 years ago the event was already underway and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of immediately.

The event is by application/lottery only each year, and is very selective requiring you to demonstrate your connection to the event and why it's important. The event consists of 9 teams riding relay Coast to Coast from Oregon to NJ, with each team riding 3 days covering ~60-80 miles per day. I applied to ride in 2024 but didn't get selected, most likely because I was pretty new to the company. This year they had 1500 applicants with only about 120 spots available, and I was fortunate and honored to be selected. My segment is considered the hardest one, I will be riding from Salt Lake City UT to Denver Colorado from Sept 14-16, 2025.

The company sponsors the riders end to end, with a bike, indoor trainer, full kits, hotels, airfare, meals, SAG/mechanical support during the ride, professional training & coaching staff, etc... All I have to do is follow the training plan and show up to ready to ride in Sept. And well I have to raise $5000 in donations ;-) (more on that to come soon).

Anyway, this is the bike they sent me for my local training, but this will not be the bike I use for the event (we will ride much better high end Canyon bikes for the actual ride). This was from my first shakedown ride about 2 weeks ago, hence no bar tape just yet but its a work in progress.

Official training starts April 7th but I have been working on my overall fitness already this year, so hopefully being coached by a pro will help me identify bad habits or improve on things I am already doing. Fundraising begins late May/early June. If you want to read more about the event you can check out last year's web site, it will be refreshed for 2025 soon.



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This should be fully documented in your blog.
 
This should be fully documented in your blog.
Thanks Steve I thought about setting something up here for it, but being a MTB forum and all wasnt sure how much roadie content would be interesting. There's a prescribed training plan with goals I have to meet each month and certainly when I get out to UT and CO i will be filling up my phone with pics and videos.

I could start with the stuff I am doing myself getting the bike setup, like trying to get the handlebar tape wrapped for the first time ever and the bar end plugs in LOL.
 
Sounds like a great thing to do. You were at my house recently to pick up a wheel. I’m not remembering if you live close by or not. If you do and need help wrapping the bars and fine tuning the bike lmk. I’d be happy to throw it in the stand and go over it for you if needed.
 
I'm sick as a dog, so finally getting around to some parts swapping.... Didn't get quite as much done as I wanted...but it's a start:

This Fox 34 Performance Elite is going from my Izzo to the DV9 & am installing a new 36 140mm Factory...(kinda wish it was PE for the black stanchions...) Pretty sure my Izzo headset is toast.

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Pulled this SID & am gonna do a lower service & install a new 3P Race Day Damper & will go on a Signal Peak build

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34 installed & bled the front brake...looks like I have a couple sticky pistons...but too tired to fix right now:

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Swapped a Reverse components Ti stem for an Enve alloy 42mm

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Bike related activities.

Scored this 1030+ about a month or so ago for a good deal and finally ordered and installed a screen protector and got a few silicone covers for it. It’s a bit brighter shade of red than the online pic showed but it gets the job done.

Also finally got some new spd sl cleats for my bad weather/gravel shoes (yes I ride road shoes on my gravel bike like the pros ). This was a tad bit overdue.

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Was swapping tires on the Maniak HP
(Forekaster’s F&B) and noticed the state of my drivetrain… so off comes the chain for some shake shake shake action, and out comes the brush n suds for the rest of it. 🙄

Well… since everything’s about as clean as it’s gonna get, might as well convert yet another bike to wax.

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Added a strip chip to compensate for what I assume is yet another crap degreasing job by yours truly. 😳

Couldn’t let it go without performing the ubiquitous Shimano Lever Bleed doe. 😉
 
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Was swapping tires on the Maniak HP
(Forekaster’s F&B) and noticed the state of my drivetrain… so off comes the chain for some shake shake shake action, and out comes the brush n suds for the rest of it. 🙄

Well… since everything’s about as clean as it’s gonna get, might as well convert yet another big to wax.

View attachment 258629
Added a strip chip to compensate for what assume is yet another crap degreasing job by yours truly. 😳

Couldn’t let it go without performing the ubiquitous Shimano Lever Bleed doe. 😉
How does the forecaster compare to a rekon? I have the DHF 2.6 front and Rekon 2.3 on my bike, but the DHF kinda looks like too much tire on a Ripley.
 
How does the forecaster compare to a rekon? I have the DHF 2.6 front and Rekon 2.3 on my bike, but the DHF kinda looks like too much tire on a Ripley.
Will let you know. Till now, I’ve only had one up front (and that was recent, soooo).
 
How does the forecaster compare to a rekon? I have the DHF 2.6 front and Rekon 2.3 on my bike, but the DHF kinda looks like too much tire on a Ripley.
New design Forekaster looks like the Dissector and Rekon had a baby. Rolls well and good grip. I still have a few OG Forekasters in the parts bin in 2.6 and 2.35. The new Forekaster is available as 2.6 and 2.4.

Running the new Forekaster 2.4/Rekon 2.4 combo on Pivot T429v3 and Scalpel SS. OG Forekaster 2.6/Rekon 2.4 on rigid SS.

You'll be good.
 
New design Forekaster looks like the Dissector and Rekon had a baby. Rolls well and good grip. I still have a few OG Forekasters in the parts bin in 2.6 and 2.35. The new Forekaster is available as 2.6 and 2.4.

Running the new Forekaster 2.4/Rekon 2.4 combo on Pivot T429v3 and Scalpel SS. OG Forekaster 2.6/Rekon 2.4 on rigid SS.

You'll be good.
So less aggressive looking than the DHF?
 
New design Forekaster looks like the Dissector and Rekon had a baby. Rolls well and good grip. I still have a few OG Forekasters in the parts bin in 2.6 and 2.35. The new Forekaster is available as 2.6 and 2.4.

Running the new Forekaster 2.4/Rekon 2.4 combo on Pivot T429v3 and Scalpel SS. OG Forekaster 2.6/Rekon 2.4 on rigid SS.

You'll be good.
Wish they had the Rekon 2.4 in EXO+. Any issues with the regular EXO in the rear? Are you running an insert?
 
Wish they had the Rekon 2.4 in EXO+. Any issues with the regular EXO in the rear? Are you running an insert?
I shredded a brand new Rekon 3C Maxx Terra 3CT/EXO+/TR (triple compound) tires on the rear in 150miles at TSE in '23. Switched to dual compound and tire still looks good after using it in '24 and it's still on the bike. No inserts.
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Current setup of NG Forekaster 2.4 and dual compound Rekon 2.4
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