Archive for February, 2009

MS racing & Evil join forces: Beerten is out

by Tanja on February 26, 2009 in Personal, recent with 2 Comments

I’m don’t usually do this, ventilate my personal feelings in a public ‘flame’, but this one you can’t ignore. The goones from MS Racing joined forces with EVIL, well good for them, Filip Polc, Steve Smith and Matti Lehikoinen. Not for dutch rider Anneke Beerten, she won last years world championship ánd the overall worldcup. What more could a team ask for you say?

“Team Director Markus Stöckl commented; “MS-Racing has been working on building of our vision of a mountain bike team for almost 5 years and we have worked with a couple of partners in the past. After we won the 4X team overall and women’s 4X overall title in 2008 we felt stagnant somehow and knew it was time for a change“

Beerten has been let go, but I’m sure a rider with that much potential soon gets swept away by some very smart team-manager. Markus Stöckl has immortalized himself with this thoughtless quote. If you want change, if you want different riders, whatever: don’t put it on feeling STAGNENT over the two biggest accomplishments: winning the overall and the world title. When you say that, you degrade the effort of a rider that has worked her ass of for you and your team.

I figured the Remedy out!

by Tanja on February 9, 2009 in recent, Riding with No comments

It was one of those great rides. Raining cat’s & dogs, but we had to go! I had a score to settle with my new Remedy and my friend needed to say goodbye to his trusty steed, to make room for a new one. Last wednesday’s ride left me wondering: did I buy the damn thing to big?

I ordered a Raceface Atlas Am stem with a Raceface Dh 1.5″ riser. Thought I needed a tough more rise. The stem was spot-on, but the riser wasn’t. Thankfully I had an old banged up Hussefelt 2″ riser lying around and that did the trick. Felt just like home! Installed the Joplin (another *it fits/it works* relieve, and a question: “how did I get around without one for so long?“), some nasty white grips from Specialized and my trusted Continental Mountain King tires (I SHOULD write a review on these soon!).

This all and the dirtiest ride of the year makes my riding itch the worst I’ve had in years… I’m a lost cause…

Trek Remedy has arrived!

by Tanja on February 4, 2009 in Gear, recent, Riding with 1 Comment

So my new bike arrived today and, with only a tiny tune-up, I couldn’t help myself. I took the Remedy for a short ride near Apeldoorn, the sights where beautifull because of the snow and I was counting my blessings. My mates where hard at work, and I found myself enjoying my new bike.

The Lyrik is allready everything I hoped it would be: bloody awesome! The Fox RP2 also delivers and setting both up to my standards was a piece of cake. The SLX cranks look sexy sweet! And yes, the Remedy does pedal as well as promised! It’s light too.

I am, however, ordering some new stuff for the cockpit. Not at all pleased with the low-riser (1″) and (somewhat) long stem (80mm). I knew buying this bike, the toptube would be a bit on the long side. (A size smaller would have been too small). So I’m ordering some new goodies that make me more comfortable. Hopefully saturday this saturday a longer ride, with the new gear on board, along with my beloved Conti’s and the Joplin.