Comments on: What Should I Ride at Leadville This Year? How About I Let YOU Decide?

By: MattC

MattC — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:57:48 +0000

I have to think the Hammer will beat the Monster by a good bit, likely more than an hour (even if you aren’t pacing Hammer). The reason I say this has nothing at all to do with the Monster being an awesome strong biker. It’s simply that younger people aren’t typically as ‘gifted’ for endurance sports (ie: the Grand Tours and such). Younger riders do better at shorter events…and Leadville, while being only 1 day, is a HUGE day. AT ALTITUDE. I think Hammer having ridden Leadville many times will have a huge advantage in her amazing endurance over the Monster in this long and hard of a race. But hey…I could be wrong too…I’m guessing Monster will be motivated by anybody telling her she can’t or won’t beat ‘mom’…who is a pretty amazing athlete…and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as they say. That all said, I’d LOVE to see Monster ride in w/ Mom around 9 hours…that would be pretty fantastic!

By: UpTheGrade, SR, CA

UpTheGrade, SR, CA — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 04:30:44 +0000

I’m all drugged up as I recover from collarbone repair surgery due to falling off my bike. That’s my excuse for totally mixing up Melisa and Lindsay in my mind as I voted, which I just realized as I reread the challenge.

I still feel that Melisa can stay within an hour of the Hammer, but I hope she enjoys the ride and doesn’t feel pressured to take too many risks – endos can be painful ;-)

By: MattC

MattC — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 01:26:04 +0000

Hey Fatty, a serious question if you please…you mentioned you plan on 3 fundraisers this year…can say at this point if one of them will be for WBR? (I’m only asking as I have very limited $, and they are the one charity I save for every year…now that you’ve gotten me hooked on them). If not then I will add my $ to them now while it’s all doubled (the month of July).

Thanks for your question. The answer is yes. Specifically, here’s what I plan to do this year, fundraiser-wise:

1. NICA Voting-Style Contest (happening now)
2. 100 Miles of Nowhere for Camp Kesem (planning now, more info soon)
3. Grand Slam for WBR (happens in December during fundraising-match period)

- FC

By: NDE

NDE — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 22:18:45 +0000

isn’t the hammer being 1 hour faster and the Monster being 1 hour slower the same thing?

I can see how that is confusing. The choices are:

- Will the Hammer be MORE than an hour faster than the Monster?
- Will the Monster be LESS than an hour slower than the Hammer?

So
- If The Hammer hits her goal of 9:30 and the Monster gets a 10:35, The Hammer wins.
- If The Hammer hits her goal of 9:30 and The Monster gets a 10:25, The Monster wins.

Does that help? – FC

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:37:44 +0000

Thanks for the update! I’ve been going back to my feed time and time again with the “are we there yet?” excitement of an 8 year old on a road trip.

By: PNP

PNP — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:08:45 +0000

I voted for you to be the Hammer’s domestique, but given the opportunity, I’d have voted for you to get that hernia fixed. I hope that’s on the schedule somewhere.

Right after the season’s over, assuming I can put up with it that long. – FC

By: Rob & Joanna Szrama

Rob & Joanna Szrama — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:32:12 +0000

Why not ride a geared bike so you can better work with the Hammer. You can better be the elusive Nail which the Hammer is chasing?

That’s a terrific question. If I’m working with gears, I’ll be dropping her in exactly the places I need to pull her. By being on a singlespeed, I can pull at a pace she can hang with.

Plus, we’ll look ADORABLE riding with our matching kits and bikes.

Even more plus, my machismo couldn’t handle riding with her and HER being on a singlespeed while I’M on a geared bike. – FC

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:27:40 +0000

You’re no Queen of Pain, but as the Hammer’s domestique and a hernia, you may get to be at least the Prince of Pain……

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:24:25 +0000

I raced as a domestique for my girlfriend’s first ever race (73 miles, 8000 ft of climbing gravel/dirt/rock roads) and it was a blast. Have fun and help her get her best time ever!

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:03:19 +0000

Im with Jeff. As soon as Powerline Climb rounds the corner, he will be dropped by both the Hammer and the Monster, only to become The Anchor.

FC, I only say this out of Hernia experience and seeing the determination in H & M compared to the distractions you have had this year. Not to far from mine in the past year which has caused my bike to miss out on many a lovely day.