All posts in Personal

9 things to do in 2009

by Tanja on December 30, 2008 in Personal, recent, Video with 1 Comment

Do I like resolutions? Not really. Why? They suck.
But I do like lists (those that know me, have my permission to slightly grin (okay, don’t overstretch yourself!). So here’s a list, and I’m not calling it resolutions, because everything on it is fun do to! What’s the secret to a successful list of things to do?  Not overdoing the level of ambition and keep it fun (o yeah and reward yourself, but I guess with buying a new bike, I kinda did that in advance (= funny, that’s the name of the company I work at)). So here’s my list and don’t be shy: share yours!

  1. Ride in Switzerland (= august Bike Attack),
  2. See if I like (I like!) my new Inbred frame (harhar) and paint it purple (thank the Remedy: the Inbred has been sold because it was gathering too much dust),
  3. Go to Belgium or Germany once a month (at least, or anywhere else abroad),
  4. Buy a new helmet (or two: xc (=check) and dh(-check)),
  5. While at it, get new riding gear too (ride my own fashion),
  6. Do bi-weekly trainingride with Isil (and anyone who’ll join),
  7. Pickup BMX’ing again,
  8. Ride PPdS in 8hrs or less (workout harder or suffer!),
  9. Take more pictures!

Look's like we have a winner: Remedy

by Tanja on December 24, 2008 in Personal, recent with No comments

I’m almost there. My final decision came to the Lapierre and the Trek. De Lapierre because it’s supposed to be as good as a VPP bike with the benefits of horst-link. That does sound good! However, the Spicy 316 has a rather basic setup and the Spicy 516 is somewhat to expencive. Unless I shop in the UK, but somehow I’m not that eager getting a bike through mailorder, without any servicepoints in the Netherlands.

The Remedy 7 on the otherhand, has the basic setup I wanted: Lyrik U-turn and Fox Float RP2. The rest of the setup is somewhat basic (Shimano SLX: but I don’t really prefer Shimano), Avid Juicy 5 brakes (owned then: just fine) and a bunch of Bontrager stuff.

I’m not going to change everything at first: just the two things I think I need:

MRP XCG GUARDS

MRP XCG GUARDS: chainguide for triple setup: 120 gram!

Crank Brothers Joplin

Crank Brothers Joplin: mechanic seatpost

Within the next 3 to 4 weeks I should have a new ride!

What bike to get?

by Tanja on December 6, 2008 in Gear, Personal, recent with 11 Comments

It’s been a LONG time sinds my last blogpost. I’ve been enjoying my last rides with the Switch. Had the best time with the dutch marketing team from Trek. Which was good, because I have had my eye on that Remedy of theirs for a while now. Unfortunately they didn’t bring a medium sized one.

But okay, the Switch is going back to the sponsor sometime next year, ending what has been 2 excellent years of sponsoring by Stappenbelt.com. The best LBS if you ask me, and I’m still gonna support them, whenever I can. Leaves me without a bike however, so I’ve been thinking about what would make the best bike for me. And I know what that is: A Rocky Mountain Switch on a superdiet with a little less travel. It has the best geometry, especially when I run the forks at 140 mm (almost always) and it’s even fun on and xc ride. In my own pace that is ;-)

So my shortlist:

Allmost made the cut: Specialized Enduro SL (boring), SC Nomad (Hot, expensive and doubtfull about VPP for me), Scott Ransom: too many horror stories, Norco Fluid: dunno, Mongoose Teocali/Khyber: LOVE ‘EM. Poorly distributed here (often no mailorder in foreign online shops). Khyber seems a bit to heavy, Teocali skinny on the travel-side. Slayer: wheelbase is too long, plus a bit heavy.

So what constitudes THE All Mountain Long Travel bike for me?

  • Around 14 kg,
  • Travel 150-160 mm,
  • Geometry: Short wheelbase and chainstain. Rather steep stering- and seatangle,
  • Adjustable fork; preferbly Rockshox Lyrik U-turn(coil),
  • A good/smart setup, parts can be upgraded,
  • All day ride, once for Alpes/Ardennes and for Bikepark-flow and fun.

Breaking it down

Trek Remedy 7

Cost: 2599 euro
Pro:

  • Lyrik U-turn (coil) with Fox Float RP23: excellent setup. Good enough specs.
  • Rave reviews, can’t find a bad one.
  • Good distribution and warrenty network.

Con:

  • Did a short testride on a previous model, not sure about the rockerlink, direct feel.
  • Rave reviews, can’t find a bad one.

Lapierre Spicy 316

Cost: 2299 euro (could pick up a 2008 one for 2000 euro)
Pro:

  • Hothothot + Vouilloz,
  • Light, 160 mm

Con:

  • Float R shock (checking if it’s upgradable)
  • FOX 36 VAN R fork, not adjustable
  • Rather basic parts, however, could upgrade some parts along the way and end up with dreamy bike.

Cube Fritzz


Cost: 2599 euro
Pro:

  • Rock Shox Lyrik 2StepAir (eventhough I’d prefer the U-turn with coil),
  • Good specs for the cash,
  • Goed reviews.

Con:

  • It’s a CUBE…

Canyon Torque ES 7.0


Cost: 2399 euro
Pro:

  • RockShox Monarch 4.2 (very curious about that one) TALAS RC fork (adjustable at least)
  • Horstlink,
  • Good reviews,
  • Rob J rides for Canyon (ex-Rocky Mountain),
  • Great specs for the cash

Con:

  • Not sexy!
  • Sounds good on paper, but is it really…
  • Long estimate delivery.

So what do you think? Can you help me out? Comment below.

I can’t figure it out any more. They all seem like great bikes and my preference switches (no pun) daily. Would they all cost the same, with the same basic spec? I might choose the Lapierre Spicy…

I'm a MUDDbunnie!

by Tanja on August 7, 2008 in Personal, recent with No comments

bikeblog_muddbunnie.png

Freeride in Israel?

by Tanja on July 7, 2008 in Personal, recent with 3 Comments

My brother lives in Haifa, Israel, and I’m planning to visit him this year. And I was just thinking, this country must be filled with excellent bikespots, with all these rocks and open spaces. I was planning to travel one week, I might just add another (poor GF) and do a little roadtrip. I’m doing some research right now and thankfully Pinkbike.com has some local photo’s uploaded (I’m trying to get in contact with the posters) and video’s. If any of you live in Israel, in the area of Haifa, please contact me! I’m dying to find out if I should take the opportunity for some exotic riding!

I'm back

by Tanja on June 5, 2008 in Personal, recent with No comments

Hey all! I’ve been busy the last few weeks with buying a house, moving and the extreme home-makeover. Please remind me never to move again, ever! The good news is, that Passportes is just around the corner. About 3 weeks to go. I’ve bought a fourcross frame and I want to have that finished in the next week. I’ve bought a used Banshee Scirocco with some parts I had lying around: Halo Freedom wheels, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks and Syncross cockpit. New Hayes Stroker Ryde brakes and forks (need to decide today: Reba or Recon). Pictures of the build will follow asap, watch this space!

Limburg makes for excellent rides

by Tanja on April 27, 2008 in Personal, recent, Riding with No comments

One of my good friends, Ilja, is from Limburg. But he never got around to ride in the region that’s known for having the little altitude we have in the Netherlands. But since we have big plans to be at least fit for the PPdS: we put Limburg on our map.

After a great ride last sunday we returned today for seconds (and thirds I guess), we got to ride lap 1 two times and had good fun at it! It’s just about 14km’s and there’s two alternative routes to connect to if you wish, which we’ll do next time.

Somewhat technical lap, plenty roots and small drop-offs. It has some very nice fast sections that makes the drive up there more than worth it. The beginning of the lap is the best fun and get’s you in the good mood right away. And for me, the mood never changed. Not even for the few uphill sections that can somewhat erm… suck. But I suppose it’s not even that bad considering we rode with our big bikes and I didn’t feel butchered at all. I must be getting in shape!

» More info on the Brunsummerheide xc routes (fun xc from now on)

Winter makes for good riding days

by Tanja on December 27, 2007 in Personal, recent, Riding with No comments

Last week my friend Ilja and I went for a short ride near Nijmegen. We actually planned to ride longer, but my watch cheated on us. Oh and the fact that we both took a nasty dive the first vert we came across (and usually dive off without a wink) didn’t help. Bruises and a sprained neck, silly us. The ground was madly frozen and covered with leaves and snow. Asking for it? Well we really wanted to give Ilja’s new Demo 8 a good go. It goes allright, we now know who’s in charge in that relationship…

Anyway, it was that last beautifull winterday of the year. Everything was white from frost (even better than snow) and the sky was clearblue. I was so awesome! Makes me forget about the blue knee I now have…

» Saturday’s photo’s

I've got a date in januari… with Mr. Flatline

by Tanja on December 8, 2007 in Personal, recent with No comments

With the copper colored Flatline 2 that currently is being pretty in the Stappenbelt shopwindow. They’re now the best equipped Rocky Mountain bikeshop in the Netherlands, with several demo-rides for you to loose your heart to. The Flatline is a demo as-well by the way, for the keen and sincerely interested bikers, this baby will go on a date with you too! Right now Stappenbelt is prepping the store for the special seasons festivities. After that, me and Mr. Flatline are going out on a date! Keep you posted!

Singlespeeding to save your live…

by Tanja on November 21, 2007 in Personal, recent with No comments

My back still hurts, I must be so out of shape. I can’t believe it. It’s been crazy at work lately, so I can’t remember the last time I was on the bmx, but I know I did a lap in Nijmegen on the singlespeed only 3 weeks ago. Not that bad, right? Last sunday I entered a race of the winterseries my club is organizing. One race a month.

I was the only one on a singlespeed and I was so pleased that the first lap was on asphalt [insert sarcastic smug]. Obviously I was allready grinding my teeth before the first corner… that I passed last. Joy! The first lap offroad I needed to warm up again and next lap I was finally getting somewhere. Felt good on the singletrails and I managed to power climb the few uphills the course had. The best feeling!

I got cought up by the leading men in the 4th lap and first woman in the 5th. I figured I didn’t have to do the final 6th lap, but I was wrong. I plowed my way through that last lap. My back was painfully stiff and I was getting tired. With grinding my teeth and the one gear I had, I made it to the finishline. Yeah… oops, they didn’t mean to forget to finish me a lap sooner, but they did ;-) Oh well. It was good fun and I’m actually not that badly out of shape. I’ll keep the singlespeed workouts up this winter and these races. And I’ll surprise them in the end… If they’d only skip that foolish asphalt sprint!!

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