Team Spotlight: Dave Saurman
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This week we chat with Dave “Sourdude” Saurman. Dave, a long time Fitzy team rider, chats with us about his Pierre’s Hole race, lucky socks and a bracelet that keeps him from whining.
SKH: How long have you been riding with the Fitzgerald’s Bicycles Team?
DS: I have ridden on the Fitzy team at least 5 years now if not 6?
SKH: Why did you join the team?
DS: I was invited to join the team and felt honored to be part of the best team in town. I have been loyal to “my shop” since I started going there in the old shop in the back of the Brew Pub and never gave any thought to any other team. I was psyched to ride for Fitzy’s. I love being on the team because we have a great group. My teammates are awesome and get me excited to ride and race. And we have great parties with good beer.
1st Annual Targhee Super D Race Report
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People ask me all the time (literally, all the time), “so are you doing much racing this Summer?” To which I usually answer, “No, I don’t really race… just ride for fun.” Of course this statement is mostly true. But those of you who know me well would say this statement is BS when it comes to cross and the occasional downhill race. But compared to most “racers”, I really don’t race.
So if that’s the case, why was I so worked up over the 1st Annual Targhee Super D race during the Wydaho Rendezvous Mountain Bike Festival? Maybe it was the fact that I fancy myself a bit of an all arounder on the bike with a leg up on the downhills. Maybe it’s because I have a downhill race background so this form of DH lite is appealing. Maybe it’s because my Pivot Mach 429 is the best bike I’ve ever owned and is perfectly suited for this race. Or maybe it’s because I bet fellow shop owner Aaron Grutzmacher of the Hub Bicycles that I would be his shop mechanic for a day if I lost to him!
Team Spotlight: Gabe Klamer
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Up this week is Gabe Klamer, or “Fiddie Cent” as he is called by the team. Just off a top ten finish (and a Belt Buckle winner) at Pierre’s Hole 100, Gabe took a few minutes to chat about Big Day socks, how a piece of tape equates to 1.59 Watts of energy and how to STAY CALM!
SKH: When & why did you join the Fitzgerald’s Bicycles team?
GK: I joined the Fitzy team back in ’07. He was still operating out of the small shop in the back of the Brew Pub. That year the kits were the “sun burst” orange style. I joined the team for the comradery and for the opportunity to race on a team with friends who already happened to be Fitzy riders.
SKH: What’s the best part of being on the team?
GK: The Fitzy team represents cycling on all different kinds of levels. We are a diverse group who all love to ride and appreciate all cycling disciplines. What I like about the Fitzy team the most is the friendships I have made. Most of my best friendships are a result of this team.
Scott Foil: Road Aero Redefined
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While most makers of carbon bike fames have been building super-light and super-stiff frame sets in recent years, not many have taken up the challenge to create a road frame that is also more aerodynamic. Scott’s FOIL was one of the first to combine all three. And Fitzgerald’s has them on sale for $2700. Check out the Scott Bikes online.
By now you’ve seen these in the pro peloton, first under the Team Highroad riders (including Mark Cavendish who helped in the design process, and now under the Orica-Greenedge riders), and likely read a review or two. And while the frameset design itself has been extended across a variety of price points by Scott, the growing number of “aero” road frames from other manufacturers only adds credibility to what Scott was doing two years ago, when they launched the FOIL as an aero shaped road frame that was both very light, and very stiff.
The One Nighter
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All you need is a few hours to have an adventure!
Last Thursday night I had a great night out with some Fitz-Barn riders and was reminded of how you don’t need to go for a multi-day epic to have a local Bike Packing experience.
We left the shop at 7pm and rode gorgeous gravel roads towards Tetonia while the sunset cast a golden light across at the Tetons. In Tetonia we loaded up on last minute provisions (ie. Beer and Donuts) and turned East on a dirt road that connected us to South Leigh Creek.
Watching the Moon rise directly behind the Grand Teton was a highlight of the ride out to camp. Once at the South Leigh trailhead we laid out mats and bags, told a few stories over tall boys, and drifted off to sleep under a HUGE Moon.
The girls had to get to work early so they rolled out at 4:30am while a couple of us “slept in” until 6am to get back to Victor by 8am. The morning Sunrise ride along Stateline Rd from Tetonia to Driggs was a great way to start the work day. If you haven’t ridden that road, put it on your list!
I’m not sure that most local riders truly realize the gravel road riding potential around here, not to mention the one night adventures!
Here’s the ideal gear list for a one night Bike Pack:
- Any sort of Bike but the 29er hardtails handle the rough roads best while loaded down.
- A custom frame bag from Hamilton Threadworks
- A Viscacha seat bag from Revelate Designs
- Sleeping Bag (I’m using a light weight 40 degree bag right now)
- Lightweight Bivy sack (I skipped this knowing the skies were clear)
- Sleeping Pad
- Long under wear top and bottom for sleeping (nice to get the clammy chamois off)
- Hat and gloves
- Thin down jacket
- Headlamp and Bearspray
- PBR and Donuts
With some simple straps you can hang a stuff sack with all your sleeping gear from the handlebar. Clothes and extra food can go in the seat bag. Water, emergency fix it stuff, beer, and bear spray in the frame bag. Of course you’ll find your own system that works way better once you give it a go.
If you don’t want to shell out the dollars for the soft bags, go with a back pack to start with. It won’t be long before you’re hooked on the journey!
To Chip or Not To Chip: Is that the question?
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2012 SRAM Red Installation & Initial Review
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Why 2012 SRAM Red?
The only road group I have previously owned is Campy Record 10-speed and I love it but I tried to keep an open mind when looking for a new road group. As I was planning my new road bike build I agonized over Campy vs. SRAM vs. Shimano. Everyone is making great stuff right now so I really couldn’t make a bad choice. My decision came down to the power meter. I wanted to run a crank-based power meter so my options were limited to Quarq & SRM. SRAM’s acquisition of Quarq means that the integration with a SRAM crankset is super-clean. Lastly, the new 2012 SRAM Red Quarq crankset is HALF the cost of a SRM…half! My choice was simple.
I chose to build up my new road bike myself because I wanted to learn all the nuances of the new SRAM Red. The 2012 SRAM Red illustrated tech manuals are excellent but what truly helped me was the three You Tube videos that SRAM Tech has produced. I watched each You Tube video before I started and then referred back to them a few times when I got stuck.
The new YAW front derailleur setup is very different and it is important to take your time and get this part right. Here is the key: You have to install and adjust the rear derailleur BEFORE you can dial in the front derailleur and this is NOT clear in the written instructions. Before adjusting the front derailleur, you will shift the chain into the largest cog in the rear. I learned this via the You Tube video.
The Shift/Brake levers are incredibly light and flashy with the bold SRAM graphics. SRAM seems to be paying attention to the little details with this group. Gore cable housing & little gel pads are included in the box with the levers. The gel pads sit where the heels of your hands touch the bar while riding in the hoods and make a noticeable difference in comfort without adding bulk. The shape of the hoods don’t look as innovative as the new Campy 11-speed hoods but they are very comfortable with a nice wide base for the palms of my hands. Both the shift paddle & brake levers have separate reach adjustments which will be nice for fine tuning once I get my hood position finalized.
Initial Impression
Crisp. Intuitive. Quiet. I really thought it would take me several rides to stop reaching for my beloved Campy thumb paddle to drop a gear but this was not the case. I was pleasantly surprised. Within minutes, I was intuitively making shifts up and down the drivetrain…the DoubleTap just makes sense. It takes very little shift paddle movement to initiate a shift which lends to the group’s crispness and shifting from the drops is easier than it was for me with Campy.
The 2012 SRAM Red cassettes are machined in the same way the SRAM XX mountain cassettes are. However, the new SRAM Red cassettes have little black elastomer bands in between each cog to muffle the sound. Genius! This drivetrain is quiet. The range of gears that the 11-26 cassette provides with 50/34 front chainrings should cover me nicely on everything from steep climbs to flats to bombing descents.
Will it last?
The thing I loved about my Campy Record was that it felt like new with a simple change of cables & housing. I rode the shit out of my Campy-equipped Orbea in all kinds of weather for six years and the drivetrain still works great and feels very smooth. I hope this new SRAM Red Group holds up well over time but the bar has been set very high.
I will post more about the new bike and the 2012 SRAM Red after I have more time on it. So far, I REALLY dig it.
Fitzgerald’s Awarded Top 100 once again!
Fitzgerald’s Bicycles awarded Top 100 Bike Retailer in the US!
Thanks for voting Fitzgerald’s “Best Bike Shop” 2009, 2010, 2011!
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