Who needs a long travel bike anyway?

I had a chance to try my new giant anthem at Puncak track last Saturday. This time I made sure I didn't forget my gloves...phew!

Also I had a chance to play around with the rear shock setting. Apparently the stock setting was waaay to stiff. Maybe it also contributed to my crash last month in Puspiptek. Anthem is ment for XC racers. Giant's Adam Craig cranked 190 psi into his Anthem, when he won the Sea Otter Classic. But I'm a trail bike lovers. I had suspension because I wanted to smoothen my rides.
Finally I settled with 90-95 psi setting.

Puncak is amost 75% of rocks & loose rocks. Normally, a long travel is mandatory. I usually take my Titus Moto-lite (or Santa Cruz Blur LT before I sold it). But with the above setting, Anthem can level the terrain quite nicely, without bottoming. True that I still can feel the undulating terrain beneath me. But I had no complaint. My lower back didn't feel a pain after a serious 3,5 hrs rides. And I still can tailed my ol' buddy Ozy with his SC Blur LT in long descents.


The different lies on the uphills. During first part of "ngehek" uphills, my secretary called my cell phone. I didn't want to stop, so we had a good chat while I ride uphills. How about that!! Talk about VO2 max....hahaha

I would gladly take this bike for my next Puncak rides. It's lightweight just felt soooo nice when I went for "Ngehek" sections. Maybe I'll put on Talas RLC Fork & XTR Crank which now installed at my Moto Lite. Then it'll be a truly a dream XC bike with perfect parts. Sooooo, who needs a long travel frame anyway?

CRASHED!!!

Date: July 22, 2006
Location: XC Track - Puspiptek Serpong
Photo courtesy of Mr. Dhani Chagi - Tj. Barat



Do you see anything wrong with this pictures? If you can name at least two things, then you are a genius...hahaha..













Answer:
1. MTB's are not suppose to ride on water. Get a boat instead!
2. This reckless fellow is not wearing his gloves! And that gave him a 2-week full of trouble, taking care of skin wound in his elbow and shoulder...ouch!!

That Saturday morning, I planned to try my newly assembled Giant Anthem. It was a dream setup: Anthem S (medium sized), XTR Dual Control shifter & hydraulic brakes, XTR FD & RD, XTR Cogset, Mavic Crossmax SL & Kenda Nevegal Stick-E, Race Face Carbon Crank. Beautiful!

I went to JPG track first, but it was too wet & muddy. No good!
Dhani advised to try Puspiptek XC Track before the race start. Sounds like a great idea.

Before we start riding, I realized that I had forgoten my gloves. But I ignored it and start riding without gloves.
The first several drop-offs was fine. Until we reached the first long descent. Before the ride, Dhani had given instruction to take right side of the descent, since there gonna be a big drop in the end. But I got carried away. The descent was sooo nice, and I tempted to go fast. I was so excited and completely forgot about the big drop, until it suddenly appeared before my eyes. Control!! Control!!.....pull up those handlebars!!.....too late!!.....Don't panic....concentrate on landing....Got to grip the handlebar as firm as possible....but wait...I had no gloves.....

Next thing I remember, I had laid down....can't breath....must breath first. The handlebar must've had hit my chest. I got up, feel dizzy, then examine the damage. My head still intact - thanks to my michelin helmet, my leg was protected by 661 protector, but my elbow is bleeding. Time for a drastic action. Anyone got a Spraydine? I sprayed the anti-septic to my wounded elbow.... AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

The rest of the ride was not fun at all...I had lost my confidence in some tricky descents and drop offs, and decided to walk the bike.
The rest of the next 14 days was also not fun at all. My shoulder wound was healed realtively quick. But the one in my elbow took me almost 10 days to dry. It still haven't completely healed till today.

Moral of the story....start order an elbow protector...


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