Sunday, July 29, 2012

Lex Classic well worth the drive.

Saturday-the day looked weak for wind especially at Blue Lagoon Boat Fest at noon with white caps dropping and clouds rolling in. Hey let's drive up to Lexington for 10-15 North forecast? Yes! Steady North 20s the whole afternoon once we joined Harry. Not really a lull or hole to be found. Great time overpowered 6.9 Xpresh/107 right down to 6.2 Alpha/84FSW again mostly overpowered. Classic sun and no clouds with a minor 3-6 ft swell. 5.8-5.5m with 85 liter would be perfect. 10-12m kiters ripping. Things definitely rocking on the open water and solid cool north winds and 70-80 super warm capping water. Great fun with about 15-20 kiters and sailors.
Charts say it all: steady annomoly conditions blasting the lower SLH coast. Long drive all worth it.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Monday Hot Nukin' Gorge like Metro for a little while

When temperatures hit hundred degrees you usually can't sail in Michigan but you can count on it in the Gorge in July. Lucky for me this is one of those special days were it was hot and very windy especially mid afternoon on LSC. 100+temps, pure sun and serious whitecaps (no waves) I sailed solid 4.7 (85/Atlas) on the shoal from 1-3pm without another person out. Super fun and solid power and flat out speed. No weeds out there too! Rest of the crew showed up after 3 for more fun but the winds backed off a bit. All in all a great sesh especially since its been over a month since the last one. Hot hair dryer sailing!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Gurbers Grind is different ride on 29

Holly and 90 degrees with 90% humidity. 14.6 miles in 1:52 about 30 minutes faster than 26. The hills were nothing on the big wheels and the downhills leading up to hills were so fast I'd guess 10+ uphills were completely eliminated. This thing breeds OVER confidence! Love it.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Lots of riding in week up north.

Boyne and the 2-9... A perfect combo for both XC and DH. Including a Tuesday 23.3 mile epic ride in just under 2.5 hours. More DH on Thursday with the hi-speed 6 man cranking up the hill in 9 minutes. Great riding week and the Stumpy just keeps getting better. Super happy on the big wheels - both up and DOWN hill.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Hot Humid Highland Happy 4th!

7/4/12 2pm @ 103 degrees and no one in the parking lot, let's do this. The Stumpy 29er made it easy for the first hour or so. Hills are nothing and some even don't exist when speeds rolling into them are so fast. A and B loops no problems however C stands for crash. Twice down and almost over the bars the second time although its very hard with the big 29er wheel sets. The Strava app is great but kills the battery so it died out right after C. I was middle of pack for the ride as you can see below on C including the crashes but my total time was 1:32 excluding D which an hour less than my normal 2:20-30 so I figure the new bike shaved 30-40 minutes off the ride. Hot bloodied and happy - stumpy rocks!