Galapagar MTB Rally

Date: February 26, 2012

Time: 10:00

Distance: 60 kms 

Warm day in Galapagar (Madrid) to race the Galapagar MTB Rally.

A lot of known and high level riders were in the starting line, as usually, the first positions were going to be really hard-fought. A lot of Golpe de Pedal guys were there, they knew the area pretty well and they have run this race several times.

The 60 kilometers track was hardest during the first half. After the first 30 kilometers, the track was a bit easier. The first and hardest up hills would be the most convenient part for me to try to get the first positions.

Circa 800 bikers started the race with a safety car in front of us during the first 4 kilometers.

The safety car moves away and … the show starts. I started very well places within the head of the race. In the first stone-path I was involved in a traffic jam and the first 20 riders moved far away. Now it is turn to move up.

Around 10 minutes later, I linked myself again with the head of the race. Despite of riding hard to be in the top, I am not extremely tired and I feel strong enough to climb the next up hills between small stones and narrow paths in which it is almost impossible overtaking any biker. Without any chance to overtake, I am in the last places of the head pack, I cannot set my own pace, my heart rate is extremely low and the first bikers move away again. I was climbing slowly but suddenly, I find a small hollow and I am able to overtake 5 bikers. Now, I can set my own pace again.

Finally, I reach Sergio López (Golpe de Pedal) and José V. Gisber (Buho Bike). In front of us, 4 bikers are leading the rally, but our pace is really good.

When it is only 3 kilometers to finish, I take an small advantage, but the persecutor group work together to join me again. Suddenly, Nacho Vara (Golpe de Pedal) overtakes me very fast. However, I do not want to give him any kind of advantage and I overtake him again. Now, I am leading a group of 4 bikers.

All the bikers are riding behind me, I am doing all the effort, but I feel strong enough to keep my 5^th place in the general classification. Additionally, I am able to see the 4^th classified.

Close to the finish line I decide to start an early final sprint to try to get more advantage, but I do not achieve my aim and when it last a few meters to cross the finish line … the rest of the group work together in their final sprint. 2 seconds have prevented me to be in the Master 30 podium.

It is never a good feeling to lose a place in the podium in the last seconds, but I am pleased (at least for this time) that Nacho Vara (Golpe de Pedal) would be there instead of me.

As always, I have to thank the support of my parents and rest of sponsors for trusting on GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR project.

Link to the race results

Hygia SLP: The lightest brakes in the World

Once again, from Taiwan, Hygia is sponsoring us with the lightest brakes in the World: Hygia SLP (Super Light Project).

Its small levers allow us to brake easily using one or two fingers.

The ceramic pistons of the caliper support higher temperatures than the normal pistons, so the braking power is guaranteed along difficult down hills in which we usually abuse of our brakes. Thanks to these ceramic pistons, the heat is reduced and isolated to preserve the braking power.

Its stainless wrapped hose provide an extra quality and effectiveness while braking.

On the other hand, its “blood” belongs to DOT 5 group.

One of the main features that liked us most in our garage has been the ease to adjust the braking power. With a simply bolt, we can adjust the distance from the lever to the handlebar (as almost every model) and with another one, we are able to adjust the smoothness of the lever while braking, acting directly on the piston of the lever. And everything without bleeding the braking system!

The set is completed with a couple of extremely light 160 mm rotors.

In the next news, GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR will offer more details about its behavior in real life.

Thank you very much to Hygia for trusting on us to have a successful 2012 MTB season.

Trusting on Victory Endurance for the 2012 sports nutrition

GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR will trust on  Victory Endurance for the sports nutrition of the current MTB season  in order to get the best performance of each training and race.

Thanks to their doping-free line of products, we will focus the sports nutrition in the three main phases of every exercise: Before - During - After.

In such a way, with the help of Victory Endurance, we go ahead in the training optimization to improve our results in MTB races.

Rubena and GARVÍA BIKE will work together during 2012

During the whole MTB season the GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR racing team will count on Rubena to wear our race machines.

We will use the new Rubena tires - Tubeless Supra Top Design - with new design and compounds required by the high level competition. The set comes together with a new sealant liquid compound and with specific valves for Tubeless rims.

All the products are patented by Rubena, so the maximum performance is guaranteed.

The chosen tire models are below:

• Scylla: All-purpose tire and a valid option as both front and/or rear tire
• Zefiros: Rear option for dry terrains with very good grip
• Charybdis: Front option for wet and muddy terrains

My first impression has been really good. Light tires, with re-enforced sidewalls and with a hard tread to run in the most demanding MTB races.

Definitely, it is a great set from which I am sure we will get the maximum performance to gain some seconds in every race and training.

In the next news and reports I will provide more details about its behavior, brake properties, grip and so on.

I would like to welcome Rubena in GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR as an essential part of the team.

Hygia Bottom Bracket: First impressions

Directly from Taiwan, Hygia sent us its stylish, light and Shimano compatible bottom bracket.

Apart from being a really nice product, what surprised me more was its own mounting system. When you see such a bottom bracket, you might ask – How should I mount this in my bike?!

Traditional Shimano HollowTech bottom brackets have a set of external slots to perform the installation. The stylish Hygia Bottom Brackets have the same slots but in its internal face and hidden by the external bearing.

To install them, it is needed to extract the external bearing (using your hands without using any additional tool) and screw the bottom bracket to the frame using an ISIS System Tool.

The innovative and smart system is not only based on a good style, but on a functional point of view, too. It is easier to clean and the bearings can be easily replaced.

An isolated comment deserve its bearings, they have a couple of internal rubber washers to provide an excellent adjustment with the axle of our Shimano cranks.

Finally, it bears mentioning its lightness (85 gr. approximately) and its smooth running.

I have the impression of having a really nice and efficient product that will go with me during the next trainings and races.

GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR is really grateful for the Hygia support to face an amazing and hard MTB season during 2012.

MTB Open in Castilla León

Date: February 12, 2012

Time: 11:15

Distance: 24 kms

First MTB race of the Castilla León Open and … ¿a race to foget? Maybe, not.

Very cold day with some snowflakes that appeared during the warming up. The race was based in 3 laps to 8 kilometers circuit. The track was not really demanding in technical terms, but it was a bit tricky and funny.

Although it was announced as a 4 laps race, it was unexpectedly changed in the last minute. Definitely, it could affect to the race strategy.

With the regular high level bikers, the referees set up the starting line in an absolute caos that was used by some bikers to distort their real position and get some advantage.

Although I was not placed in the first line, my position at the starting line was not so bad and I could start well. However, in the first right turn I left all my initial energy and I placed myself in the worst positions. Something started to go wrong and I was sure that my Canyon was working fine.

In the first narrow paths, I was involved in a really traffic jam and I get really angry while the race head was riding fast whereas I was walking patiently, but What is happening here?! Are we in a race or in a Sunday ride through the nice forest?!

The first up hills were very hard due to the number of bikers trying to gain some places. I felt that something was missing on me.

In the first lap, my manager told me that I was riding 13 and I continue trying to find my pace. Additionally, my concentration is very poor.

I was not riding bad but it could be a bit better, my pace in up- and down-hills were not low, but my feelings were not good enough. I do not know what is happening today, but it is not the time neither to complain nor to negotiate the effort. We are in a race and the effort level has to be the highest to gain some seconds.

In my second lap, my place was improved. I was riding the 11^th, but my feelings were not much better.

In such a way I finished my discreet race in Castilla León, place 11^th and with many issues to do not forget and to recover the spirit as soon as possible.

The bad training week or the intense 70 kilometers session of the day before could be valid as excuses for today, but this conclusion is really far away from me. Now, it is time to analyze the race and its consequences to fix errors and try to improve in the next events.

Despite of my bad feelings, the race was too short for me. Most probably because I was planed a 4-laps race and not a 3-laps one.

The encouragements of my mother, father (manager), sister and her boyfriend (Julio) have no price and keeps me alive during the whole race.

MTB Open in Tres Cantos (Madrid)

Date: February 05, 2012

Time: 11:30

Distance: 32 kms

The MTB Madrid Open began in Tres Cantos (Madrid) and GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR racing team would go over there.

The race was made up of 4 laps of 8 kilometers, with a few not very difficult parts and several fast paths.

More than 100 bikers were ready to run in Master 30 category. We knew beforehand that the beginning was going to be really hard.

The first positions of the starting line were taken by the first 10 classified from the last year MTB Madrid Open. After them, the rest of the riders. Since it was my first time in the Open, I would have to start in the second line of the starting grid, after 40 bikers approximately.

The race begins … the bikers in front of me do not start fast enough and the head of the race goes away. I am placed in the middle of 108 bikers. Definitely, the race has not started well for me and I look for small spaces to try to gain positions. Fortunately, the first paths are wide enough and I overtake several riders.

I ride very fast, but the head of the race is far away. In the middle of the first lap, my manager informs me about my bad race position. 30 bikers are riding hard in front of me and I am continuously blocked by slower riders that could start better than me.

Despite being discouraged, with an amazing energy, I ride fast and furious overtaking a lot of bikers. However, the head of the race is still far away. My race is based in a constant “final sprint”. Each curve, each up and down hill, each fast track is another step towards I do know where. My only aim is to overcome my bad beginning.

My overtakings are unbelievable and a lot of riders encourage me when I pass them. My pace is high, but other bikers block me once and more time in narrow paths. But, this is a race.

At the beginning of the second lap, I have improved my position and I am placed between the first 15 riders. My manager is encouraging himself and he is transferring all his courage to me. In the middle of the second lap, I gain 5 more positions. The head of the race is not so far now and my pace is better than before.

I start the third lap with a very good feeling. I am fighting hard for the 6^th and 5^th position with Raúl Moreno (Salchi MTB Team). However, this situation will change pretty soon and I start fighting for the 4^th place with Raúl Moreno. Additionally, another colleague (Julián Mendoza from CDEC El Pinchazo) informs me that the third classified is riding 25 seconds in front of me.

During the third and fourth lap, I would interchange the 4^th and 5^th place with Raúl Moreno. Despite of my efforts to gain positions from the beginning of the race, my feelings were very good and I could keep the hard fight until the last race meters. Finally, I pass through the finish line in a well-crafted 5^th position in my first participation in the MTB Madrid Open.

Is in this kind of races and difficult situations, it is so valuable and appreciated the support and indications of my father (manager) who provided me instructions about how to gain seconds in every phase of the track.

It bears mentioning the encouragement of the audience and bikers that cheer me when I overtook them.

Link to the race results