D2R2 Bikes 2013

[pinkshogun]

i did a post-ride in October of last year on this. 34x34, 37mm tires

[tiretrax]

Originally Posted by witcombusa

Ride is Aug. 24th


Currently 920 pre registered riders!

I guess I spoke too soon. Hmmmm. I wonder how I can justify this trip with my wife.

[e-RICHIE]

Originally Posted by tiretrax

Hmmmm. I wonder how I can justify this trip with my wife.

It's commonly referred to as a prenup atmo.

[Peter P.]

[QUOTE=ergott;1394549]

...the worst sections can be traversed by any bike if you go slow enough. The jeep track at the beginning isn't very long at all. In fact most people have to walk that regardless of their bike/tire choice. It's too technical to clear for most.

True; Old Albany Road becomes a Baatan Death March and funny to watch the conga line as it snakes its way up the hill. I will say however, that the 1.5" tires on my ATB at the right pressure (40-45psi for me) just ate it up.

The long descent before the rest stop is the trickiest part and if you take it slow you are fine.
Ah; Deer Park Rd. I hit 46mph on that. But with the wide flat bars on my ATB I was like Moses parting the Red Sea. With the right bike, tires, and some skill, you'll pee your pants with glee descending Deer Park Road. You can make it down on a skinnier tired bike, but your grin won't be as big.


In fact bigger tires made me bomb the descents faster than I probably should have and had a few near crashes because of it. ... Lots of places for pinch flats unless you are riding monster tires. I would routinely bottom out my Michelin Jets on rocks in the middle of the road.

If I had a dollar for every road or 'cross bike I saw with a flat, I could cover my registration! I think every year I've ridden D2R2 they're carting someone out with broken bones who pile drove themselves into the dirt. Can't say that about your local century, can you?

So yeah; if you're riding skinny tires, scale back your expectations and ride with caution. If you want to throw caution to the wind however, ride fatter tires and maybe get a wider bar for control on the descents.

I've ridden all the distances except the 150k. This is what I've used in years past; more recently I've used my identically equipped Rock Lobster as you'll see below, and my buddy's D2R2 veteran bike is pictured as well. The wider tires don't feel like a liability while climbing and in fact offer a larger footprint for traction, but it descends like a porn star's pants:



P.S. I'll be volunteering this year at the Patten Hill rest stop on the 100km route. Feel free to introduce yourself.

[Cat3roadracer]

Since I started this, I thought I needed to post a picture. My gearing may be a bit high, but when Chuck's walking I'll be riding.

Lugged Bedford, King R45 hubs/ 32 spoke Mavic Open Pro's, SRAM Force/XO rear der, Acorn bag, and most importantly - cream stitched HandleBra.

See you there.

Dave

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by pinkshogun

i did a post-ride in October of last year on this. 34x34, 37mm tires

love that bike! An orange Ram is on my list if I ever run across one in my size...

[vav]

I bought my Black Mountain Monster CX F/F/HS with D2R2 in mind. Outfitted with 700 x 37 tires, a triple crankset and a 11-36 cassette. Better to have the gears and not need them than to need them and not have them

[BumbleBeeDave]

Looks like you could ride up trees with that thing!



BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . I will be wearing my special D2R2 team kit.

BBD

[Cat3roadracer]

The Black Mountain is beautiful. Hope to see it there.

[Cat3roadracer]

The CremBroulette seen above is beautiful.

[sailorboy]

This will be my 3rd D2R2, first on this bike but the last two have been on something similar. Steel frame, standard road bike with possibly a little more forgiveness built into the rear end, but nothing special. Same tires will go into service since '09. Not just the same model, the_exact_same tires--25 mm continental gatorskin clinchers. Never flatted on this ride, battenkill x2, baller's ride and all kinds of other similar stuff. Probably around 80/85 psi on these kind of roads.

For me I didn't worry about the downhills on skinny tires so much, you just slow down if you have to. It was all the climbing that made the day easier more enjoyable with a lighter wheel/tire combo than what many of the cogniscenti on here seem to say is going to make everyone's day easier. I'd rather not climb for 20-30 minutes straight on big chunky cross tires.

[tiretrax]

Originally Posted by e-RICHIE

It's commonly referred to as a prenup atmo.

I'll have to discuss my lawyer's malpractice with him!

Eek, I've used emoticons twice today!

e-R, it would make my travel easier if I could borrow one of your team bikes.

[fuzzalow]

Originally Posted by e-RICHIE

And by extension, why would someone suggest that these threads always bring out the inner cycling stud ?

I posted based on my knowledge of the event and area. And I also am on these roads several times a week, some weeks every day. I made the comment that any road bicycle can be used (words to that effect) and mentioned the tire sizes I choose daily. Gear ratios are another subject. But if I suggest that my daily rider is a D2R2 bicycle as-is, folks assume there's a macho thing, or a racer thing, going on. Far from it.

I am not trying to create drama here. But I will react to the drama that's here since some of my opinions seem to have touched a nerve or three.

To close the loop on this for me, my apologies in advance for the timing of my response as the intent is not to belabor this issue but rather that I haven't log in since yesterday.

Yes, the barb about these threads always bring out the inner cycling stud is from me. It was not done frivolously. Your response was to the question

For those that know nothing of the ride. A little bit about the ride and rationale for equipment choice?

I will not rehash the details of your response. I will say that the inquiry on equipment choices was seeking advice and insight on the ride for a newcomer rather than asking you what you use yourself for the ride. Advice is usually given to help a person and is given in the context of what is appropriate and useful to them. Targeted to their level of their experience with the event - which in this case is none.

IMO your response offered petty advice catering not to help a guy out but to nonchalantly mention what you, a veteran of multiple R2D2-type rides, use. Useless advice for a newcomer. You back pedal you initial response as merely a POV - yes I agree that every offer of advice has an inherent POV. The part that was missing is the relevance as useful to the intended audience.

You did not touch a nerve. You offered vain glorious platitudes in the guise of advice. I responded to that. No doubt we can agree to disagree and I just told you why.

[weisan]

I dreamed about doing D2R2 the last couple of years, especially when I was abroad. And now that I am back state-side, I wonder whether I should act on it. The timing is good except I have not made any preparation for it, none, zero. Equipment-wise, is the easy part, I will simply change out the Taylor to its cross-configuration if desired (as shown in this picture), 32/35 pasela, compact-11-34 gear ratio.


But the rest of the logistics is a bit more challenging: How do I get there from here in Austin, Texas? Assuming I can get there, where do I stay? all the logistical stuff. I would love to ride with you BBDave-pal.