A Crono with a unique story...

The part I love most...he has a Zipp 999 race wheel set...these are for everyday training!
Why have them for training? Umm...for looks...
LOVE IT!

Well, everyone knows that guy who just rides and rides and rides. Some one who is actually really fast and just loves to ride. I know one such guy who goes by the name of Tommy Elder. Tommy has been racing triathlons since the 70s and some of us even call him Obi-Wan because he is wise in the way of triathlon. hahaha Since I have known him he has been riding an aluminum frame tri bike and has been known to do 100 miles at the Picnic Loop at Memorial Park mid week. Weekends...then its the long rides. Being the "fit critic" that I am I always would want to get him on something different and smoother. Carbon for starters. Finally through a scequence of events too long for this blog it finally happened. Tommy is now rolling on a Guru Crono custom made just for him and his measurements. Some parts are from his old bike, which is mostly the Ultegra group. Yes, I can actually work with parts you may already own. ;-)
Though the upgrade list is standard Shama style. New Ultimate stem, Nokon cables white and black, Rotor SABB ceramic bottom bracket, Tiso ceramic pulley wheels, KMC gold chain, and HED Jet 40 FR wheels. This rig like this is 17lbs. OH SO NICE! Even better is the compliments that Tommy gets on his bike now. For the first time people have told him that his position looks good...and so does the bike. Its nearly too much for words at first glance...you just look at it and as you are about to comment on one thing, you see something else. Most importantly...Tommy is a SUPER happy client/friend who is riding the nicest bike he has ever had and loves every bit of it! I love my job!

Racing the Driveway Crit on the Kirklee

Taking a flyer in the 3/4 race. Keeping gap in the turns on a 14lbs bike that carves corners like a bowie knife...

Standing up out of a corner...solid!!!
Better side note about the pic below...that is Dave McLaughlin to my left with the body art. He is usually the one who takes shots at these races...always the photographer and never the photographee. Not today. My friend Ned Frost who took these pics got him as well. Thanks Ned for these pics and thanks Dave for all the race images of past and those to come!

Every Thursday in Austin they have a race Spring through Fall. Its called the Driveway and its one of the best training races/weekly crits in Texas. I go up every once in a while to race, have fun, try some stuff, see what works. This was my first race on the Kirklee. It did me proud! Cornering is one of the bikes strong points. Front end stiffness is wonderful! I did not sprint in this race, just hard accelerations...which it handled very well. Not to mention leading up to this race, being able to ride it on some VERY crappy Texas roads, this bike is smooth. Its stiff where it needs to be and smooth where you want it. Now its just whether or not I like the Easton EC90 cranks or not. I might have to swap them with the old faithfuls, Dura Ace cranks and compare. And that is the best part of this race, I can race twice once a week and try something new each time. This bike is coming out again but next week with the Edge race wheels. OH YEAH!!!!

My latest addition!!!!

On the far left, a Praemio (titanium road) and on the far right Crono ( carbon tri)

The Guru display is in. Now I can represent Guru in all its glory. Not to mention being able have the frames that I have not built up for myself yet to hand. haha
So on the wall I have Sidero (steel road), Venio (aluminum and carbon road), Evolo (carbon road), Crono (carbon tri bike)

The Kona Project

Above
Possible sprint and quarter position
Below
Possible half and full IM position

The heart of a bike...the frame. Tailor made to Andrew Strong's measurements and requirements. Being able to "tune" the titanium frame with specific tube selections is key for triathletes and something Guru excels at getting just right for every client of mine.
Also...the welds are beautiful!

So Andrew Strong is a friend of mine as well as an athlete I sponsor. Andrew has made it to Kona for the past two years...which has also been his first two years of competing in the Ironman distance races. So yes...he is a natural...but he also trains intensely and is VERY dedicated. Swimming is not his strong point, with 1:30+ swim times and qualifying for Kona still...yes his bike split is violent and run is vicious. The past two years he has done this on a Cervelo P3C and was wind tunnel fitted on it by John Cobb. Does it get to be any faster than this???
I believe it does. My business is based on the simple fact that fit is key. So if the bike fits better you are going to be more stable, more comfortable, and more powerful.
I am taking Andrew Strong, a man with strong Kona ambitions this year, off of what most consider to be "the fastest bike in the world" and putting him on a titanium frame that does have higher drag numbers in the wind tunnel...will he be faster?
I believe he will. This is what my business is and the proof will be in the real world...Ironman Brazil. This is his first chance to qualify for Kona. The fitting method right now will start from his current fit and then we will implement what I have learned under Dr. Andy Pruitt during my Specialized years and from Dan E's FIST method. I will be looking at everything with a Retul and Computrainer SpinScan.
Stay tuned as I put my reputation on the line for a proven athlete on a proven set up!
Soon I will have postings of the complete bike.
I look forward to seeing how this goes. Should be a fun little test!!!

Riding Chappell Hill on Good Friday part 2

This is my daughter...taking pictures of herself through out the ride. Gotta love it!

My friend Steven was along for the ride as well...he rode tough on Saturday with us again.
Steve Quick and myself chillin behind the trailer...she took the picture and actually captured alot of great shots! Amazing what kids can do.
After 30+miles into the wind and hills, I could not go any more. Chris Lockwood took over...I think in a way he regretted it but at the same time loved the challenge and the pain. The last 13 miles in to the finish of Chappell Hill...well I not ashamed to say I am glad it wasn't me.

Riding Chappell Hill on Good Friday

I found out a term that best describes Shama Cycles rides...non denominational. haha We like them all from all teams and shops. I just want to ride my bike with good people and enjoy the ride!
The view my daughter had that morning...I don't mind pulling her, but never again on a hilly ride...
The Guru Praemio is the perfect bike for pulling a trailer...but take my advise...and stick to the flats....
One of the few times I have noticed Chappell Hill to be pretty.
We had a group of 20 or so out that day. Team mates and friends had a great Good Friday...sorry to those that had to work. ;-)

Lonestar Tri is over part 3

Greg Witherow's first race and only second time to ride the bike. He killed it and PR'd and proved to the race day gods that their rules do not apply to Shama Cycles bikes!
Greg is enjoying his ti Guru Merus with Ultegra SL grouppo along with HED wheels. Party on Greg!

I got Greg as a customer thanks to Walt Yarrow who also killed it out there is weekend. Funny, one of Walt's antagonists in the heavily contested Age Group competition is Brett Cole, whom he also sent me to get a Guru which is on here as well. So fortunately for me but unfortunately for Walt...he has given up his edge over the competition and leveled the playing field with his buddys. Walt still is an extremely strong cyclist...and only getting better.

John Startz is also enjoying the tri scene and today enjoyed the Aquabike. Which all triathletes should try at least once, or a relay. To be able to get out there and just hammer on the bike in a race situation is awesome!!! A good test and gauge to use in future races.