When I saw the weather back home in Colorado Springs heading downhill, I decided to take off for a couple weeks and head south for some warm desert living in Tucson for my final prep before race season. It’s been nothing but sun and 70’s which is a clear upgrade from the cold and snow in Colorado. The trails down here have been a lot of fun but they keep you on your toes because the consequence for failure is more times then not, falling in Cactus. Luckily I’ve been able to keep all two wheels on the ground. The trails are full of twists and turns which constantly keep you using up all the gears on the drive train. I’ve been on the new XX groupo since December and have been extremely satisfied with not only the 2×10 set up, but the entire package as a whole. I think the best part is always riding in the big ring, it really helps the motivation! Earlier this week I rode with team mate Sam Schultz. We went on an epic 5 hour ride and I pointed out to him how nice it is to always be in the big ring. He took me on some trails up Mount Lemmon that were definitely on the steep side of things and he caught me riding in the 26 for a few sections!
Tomorrow it’s back to reality in Colorado until the race season kicks off at the Bonelli Triple Crown.

Desert living has been treating me right.  I have been down in Tucson for a little over a month now and it’s been great.  Sunshine, open roads, and cactus lined trails.  What more could I ask for?  My XX stuff has been treating me right and it’s been big ring all the time.  The trails here are actually pretty technical so it has been a good brush up on my technical skills.  Mistakes are heavily punished since every plant around here is covered in nasty thorns.  I don’t think I have finished a single mountain bike ride without bleeding.  Maybe it will make me tougher.  When I haven’t been riding I have been hanging out at The Cycling House (www.thecyclinghouse.com) helping my good friend, and TCH owner Owen Gue with his all inclusive cycling bed and breakfast business.  It has worked out perfectly since through the gig I get to live in a multi-million dollar home, albeit in a giant walk in closet known as the ‘man cave’.  It may not sound too glamorous but the closet is the size of most normal bedrooms and it is dark and quiet.  Perfect for logging in big hours of sleep.  On top of the house setup there is the staff, which consists of my brother and a couple of my really good friends.  The clients that come down here are escaping their normal 9 to 5 routine as well as their cold climates so they give off plenty of positive energy and are always super psyched on hanging out in the desert riding bikes.  My brother Andy and I generally handle cooking the dinners, which can be quite a task considering that during camps we sometimes have upwards of 20 people.  Luckily both Andy and I enjoy cooking and hungry cyclists aren’t too hard to please.  Well that’s about all I’ve got.  Happy trails!

My first ride with SRAM XX was a racing lap at the 24 Hours of the Old Pueblo near Tucson, AZ this past weekend. A fast lap on the OP course takes about an hour and, as you know if you’ve ever ridden the desert singletrack of Arizona, is very shifting intensive. You are constantly ripping up and down through your gears. There was no learning curve as the positioning of the triggers is perfect ergonomically and all shifts were crisp, clean and lightning fast. I especially appreciated being able to dump another gear at the last possible moment if I got on the brakes a bit too hard going into a corner or a transition, and then being able to jump right back on top of the proper gear. The range was amazing, too. Even though I probably shifted a couple of hundred times each lap, I never needed to get out of the 39 tooth chainring. I was totally blown away by XX but then I expected nothing less!

I started my training for the 2010 season a few weeks ago in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This is a big change for me from years past. I always take some time off after cyclocross nationals and spend some time on the beach south of the border in small town called San Pancho, Mexico. This year I had the same program but instead of easing back into my training under the Mexican sun, my wife Meg and my dog Winston and I raced back to Durango a few weeks early to catch a flight to South Africa for the Specialized Team training camp.

Last year was the first time I had been to S.A. and it was great because I got to see Pietermaritzburg and hang out at my friend and teammate, Burry Standers house outside of Durban. This trip I got to go to Stellenbosch, which is a wine region just to the east of Cape Town. Specialized might be headquarted in California but the Global Mountain Bike team has been stationed in South Africa and more precisely Stellenbosch for most of the off season.

Christoph Sauser(Susi) and Lene Byberg have been training in this area for years. Our team Manager Bobby, mechanic Dylan and other team tri-athletes Conrad and Dan live or train their part of the year as well. The area is very dry and is kind of a cross between Napa Valley and Arizona. The mountains are jagged, the hills are brown and there are wineries everywhere. The sea is only 20 K away and there is some great riding in the hills and on the coast. The town has a large sports college and everyday you are bumping into Olympic track and field athletes from all over the world enjoying the summer training weather and taking advantage of the school’s facilities.

The town itself if very small and has a quaint European village feel with tons of out door cafés and restaurants. If you’re ever in town stop by the Green Door for lunch. It’s an all-organic spot that changes its menu daily. It is the meeting spot for all the top athletes in town. For dinner on the cheap check out our team manger’s favorite hang out spot “Basic”. The people watching is great and you can’t go wrong with any of the wine.
We did quite a bit of filming and photos the first few days but then the next week was just devoted to training. I got some good miles in and it was nice to have the long days of summer in the middle of the northern hemisphere winter. The temperatures were warm with most days around ninety degrees but one day did make it up above one hundred and I just about melted. It was great to get together with the team in a laid back atmosphere before the World Cups start.

From South Africa I flew back to Denver and got stuck between there and Durango for three days due to a big snow storm. When I finally did get home I was hoping to do some training there for a few weeks but the weather wasn’t cooperating. As soon as I shoveled my roof I jumped in the truck and headed down to my normal winter training base in Tucson, AZ. I’ll be here until mid-April when I start traveling in earnest for the new season.

I will be getting my new bikes this week and I can’t wait. We have the best equipment and sponsors on the planet, every year the stuff gets better. I will be logging in my biggest training weeks of the year in the next month or so and I know I can count on my equipment to hold up even if some days I don’t.
Thanks for reading

Mike and I are slowly recovering from the Trans Andes Challenge, an epic 6 days of mountain bike competition and camping.  We are currently sorting thru our piles of dirty things, patching up our wounds  and trying to get back into some kind of rhythm that dosent involve riding for the majority of our day as hard as we can as a duo pro race team.

As I look down at my scratched up legs and swollen ankle I know it was a tough week on my body.  My latest part time job is caring for and nursing my big fat swollen right ankle.  I stopped taking the ibuprofin, which got me thru the race, and now I can really feel the true pain of my injury.  I am surprised I was even able to ride at all, let alone race so intensely with this injury.

Mike and I  are currently reflecting on the intense week… a bit dazed and (me) pretty darn tired.  We both pushed our tolerance and boundaries in more areas than just riding our bikes a lot… We logged in over 250 miles and 30,000+ feet of climbing over the 6 days in the rugged terrain near Pucon.  Throughout this time were were residing in a roving tent city which we had to pack and unpack every few days.  I never felt like I could get enough sleep or to eat as dinner hours were late and the 7am breakfast consistently happening before I was ready to rise.  We were fed a basic diet that ensured we were well down to our lean race weight by the end of the 6 day stint.  Except for the chilean wine sponsor there really were not many frills.  We were mostly wondering where the bottled water was, but so far the tap water from the area has been treating us well.

Trying to nourish our bodies after extreme exertion alongside the 100+ other hungry riders, families and staff, was another race in itself.  This past week was the first time since I can remember that I wasn’t in control of my food sources or choices.  I grumbled in line many a times… wondering what I would find to eat, wishing I just brought my little camp stove.

The six days of racing/surviving expanded my mind in what I thought was possible.   I was reminded how the mind controls the body.  that we are much bigger, stronger and more powerful together than on our own.  It was amazing to race with Mike as a team.  He was my rock, my support and as always my best friend.  It was my decision to continue racing after I got injured on the 2nd day… taking it one pedal stroke at a time.  I was unable to walk at first, but could pedal without much pain.  The jarring descents hurt, but I gritted my teeth, knowing the end was coming soon (or not).  When the hills got too steep to ride up, Mike would run behind me and push.  He would carry my bike when we crossed the deep rivers clinging to a cable, he passed me food and drink, gently sweeping me along with his hand on my back, keeping me moving forward… fast.   We won all 6 stages in the mixed category and even managed to win the first and third stages – over all the men’s teams.

We were focused and rode fast, calling out as we read the trail and dodged constant and potentially dangerous obstacles.  the pace was like an XC race but the course much longer and more demanding -  the course was not always marked clearly and there were not protective pads on trees or railings to keep us from riding off cliffs.  it was up to each rider to maintain safety.  Our mantra became: safety first!

We fueled well the whole time with our Clif and Guayaki energy products and our equipment was flawless – thanks to MIke keeping our gear cleaned and tuned daily!  I rode my legendary  ti seven sola (built in 2003) and MIke rode his attention getting 69er Sola.  We both rocked the KENDA small block 8 tires mounted on stans new “podium mmx” wheelsets – which proved to be a flawless lightweight and durable setup for good and fast traction on the rugged volcanic terrain.  I chose to ride the smaller gear combo of SRAMs XX (26×39 front and 11×26 rear) and it was perfect even in the extreme gradients!   We were stoked to not have ANY mechanical problems the entire race.   Although Mike was one of the only to bring spare equipment just in case, and probably the most knowledgeable mechanic on site – he found himself being asked by many for advice, which he kindly lent, despite his fatigue.

The race experience itself brought a level of difficulty that constantly brought us to our limits and beyond.   Although the tent city setting brought it’s own challenges, it was the people who were part of the event that we often relied on for strength and comraderie to keep on track and ultimately finish with such success.  All the adversity only proved to make it something more memorable and incredible in the end.  Huge respect to all who were there, challenging themselves riding in the heat, dust, rain, over some of the most incredible terrain we have had the opportunity to ride.   I am humbled by and grateful for the whole experience.  I don’t think it will be our last.

saludos,
mary and mike

Australian National Championships – Powered by SRAM!

Australian Mountain Bike National Championships kicked off at Eagle Mountain Bike Park in Adelaide starting Thursday, January 14. SRAM was an official event sponsor, and we had tons of event signage, banners, and fencing. Everyone that attended or sees pictures from this event will have red SRAM logos on their mind.

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2009 XX Men

Julien Absalon (FRA)
Orbea World MTB Team
1st French National Championships XC
1st UCI WC XC #2 Offenburg, GER
1st UCI WC XC #3 Houffalize, BEL
1st UCI WC XC #4 Madrid, ESP
1st UCI WC XC #5 Mont St Anne, CAN
1st UCI WC Overall Champion XC

Read More…

Mike and I are slowly recovering from the Trans Andes Challenge, an epic 6 days of mountain bike competition and camping.  We are currently sorting thru our piles of dirty things, patching up our wounds  and trying to get back into some kind of rhythm that dosent involve riding for the majority of our day as hard as we can as a duo pro race team.

As I look down at my scratched up legs and swollen ankle I know it was a tough week on my body.  My latest part time job is caring for and nursing my big fat swollen right ankle.  I stopped taking the ibuprofin, which got me thru the race, and now I can really feel the true pain of my injury.  I am surprised I was even able to ride at all, let alone race so intensely with this injury.

Mike and I  are currently reflecting on the intense week… a bit dazed and (me) pretty darn tired.  We both pushed our tolerance and boundaries in more areas than just riding our bikes a lot… We logged in over 250 miles and 30,000+ feet of climbing over the 6 days in the rugged terrain near Pucon.  Throughout this time were were residing in a roving tent city which we had to pack and unpack every few days.  I never felt like I could get enough sleep or to eat as dinner hours were late and the 7am breakfast consistently happening before I was ready to rise.  We were fed a basic diet that ensured we were well down to our lean race weight by the end of the 6 day stint.  Except for the chilean wine sponsor there really were not many frills.  We were mostly wondering where the bottled water was, but so far the tap water from the area has been treating us well.

Trying to nourish our bodies after extreme exertion alongside the 100+ other hungry riders, families and staff, was another race in itself.  This past week was the first time since I can remember that I wasn’t in control of my food sources or choices.  I grumbled in line many a times… wondering what I would find to eat, wishing I just brought my little camp stove.

The six days of racing/surviving expanded my mind in what I thought was possible.   I was reminded how the mind controls the body.  that we are much bigger, stronger and more powerful together than on our own.  It was amazing to race with Mike as a team.  He was my rock, my support and as always my best friend.  It was my decision to continue racing after I got injured on the 2nd day… taking it one pedal stroke at a time.  I was unable to walk at first, but could pedal without much pain.  The jarring descents hurt, but I gritted my teeth, knowing the end was coming soon (or not).  When the hills got too steep to ride up, Mike would run behind me and push.  He would carry my bike when we crossed the deep rivers clinging to a cable, he passed me food and drink, gently sweeping me along with his hand on my back, keeping me moving forward… fast.   We won all 6 stages in the mixed category and even managed to win the first and third stages – over all the men’s teams.

We were focused and rode fast, calling out as we read the trail and dodged constant and potentially dangerous obstacles.  the pace was like an XC race but the course much longer and more demanding -  the course was not always marked clearly and there were not protective pads on trees or railings to keep us from riding off cliffs.  it was up to each rider to maintain safety.  Our mantra became: safety first!

We fueled well the whole time with our Clif and Guayaki energy products and our equipment was flawless – thanks to MIke keeping our gear cleaned and tuned daily!  I rode my legendary  ti seven sola (built in 2003) and MIke rode his attention getting 69er Sola.  We both rocked the KENDA small block 8 tires mounted on stans new “podium mmx” wheelsets – which proved to be a flawless lightweight and durable setup for good and fast traction on the rugged volcanic terrain.  I chose to ride the smaller gear combo of SRAMs XX (26×39 front and 11×26 rear) and it was perfect even in the extreme gradients!   We were stoked to not have ANY mechanical problems the entire race.   Although Mike was one of the only to bring spare equipment just in case, and probably the most knowledgeable mechanic on site – he found himself being asked by many for advice, which he kindly lent, despite his fatigue.

The race experience itself brought a level of difficulty that constantly brought us to our limits and beyond.   Although the tent city setting brought it’s own challenges, it was the people who were part of the event that we often relied on for strength and comraderie to keep on track and ultimately finish with such success.  All the adversity only proved to make it something more memorable and incredible in the end.  Huge respect to all who were there, challenging themselves riding in the heat, dust, rain, over some of the most incredible terrain we have had the opportunity to ride.   I am humbled by and grateful for the whole experience.  I don’t think it will be our last.

saludos,
mary and mike

Julien Absalon:
France
Orbea
Current World Cup Champion

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
I loved straight away how smooth and quick the shifting was. You can change gear effortlessly, extremely quickly and so silently. I also loved from the start the shifters’ ergonomics.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
The advantages are as follow:

• The speed of shifting
• The possibility to use every single cog with both front chainrings
• Less front shifts needed
• Possibility of shifting under load
• No energy loss
• Super lightweight

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
Before riding on XX and depending on the course, I have been using since 2007 a 2 X 9 system.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
In most cases I use a 28/42 combination, expect at the Worlds in Australia where I decided to use a 39T single chainring.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
Precision.

View the XX Product Line on SRAM.com

SRAM XX Hits the Tracks and Trails

Will two-by-ten revolutionize cross-country?

We gave the pre-production SRAM XX group two thumbs up (MBA, September 2009), and were curious to see how the real deal performed.

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Julien Absalon Wins Madrid World Cup on XX First World Cup Victory for New Component Group

Madrid was the location for one of the most dramatic races of the season so far. The drying race conditions allowed for a very fast start, and shortly after thestart, Julien Absalon found his way to the front along with Ralph Naef. Naef launched several solid attacks against Abslaon, but it would be Julien’s day once again.

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SRAM XX

Double XXperience

Nous vous l’avions presentee et detaillee les de son lancement et juillet dernier (Bike 77).

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SRAM XX Mountain-Bike Component Group

Mountain-Bike Upgrade Package Pimps Your (2-Wheeled) Ride

Sram’s new XX mountain-bike component group will transform anyone’s riding experience, from hardcore racers to weekend explorers. If you want to upgrade your bike with a simpler, lighter and more comfortable ride, XX delivers.

Now you may be wondering just what is a component group? And why do I need one? In this case it’s upgraded derailleurs, brakes, shifters, cranks, chainrings and a cassette. (There’s an even-pricier kit with XX-branded forks available for $1,500 extra.)

Why should you consider shelling out big bucks for all this gear? We’ve got three reasons.

1) It’s lighter than what you’re riding now.

2) It narrows the space between your feet. This keeps you from getting bowlegged when you pedal. With your hips, knees, and feet aligned, you’ll be faster and more comfortable.

3) It reduces cross-chaining. This is when you’re in the outermost chain ring and innermost gear on a 3×9, and the chain gets bent because of stretching. That’s hard on you and your bike.

The XX Sram component group offers a 2×10 setup that keeps the chain in a straighter line throughout the gears.

But wait: 2×10 = 20, and 3×9 = 27. So wouldn’t a 2×10 setup like XX mean fewer gears? Yes and no.

Standard 3×9 systems like you’re familiar with have redundant gears. Say you’re in your middle ring in front. As you shift in the back, you’ll enter gear combinations that are equal to combinations that also exist with your smallest and biggest rings. If you do the math (don’t — it’s a pain in the ass), you’ve actually got closer to only 22 distinct gear ratios.

XX minimizes the redundancies to deliver basically the same gearing, but in a simpler and lighter package. We’ve been riding an XX setup in the Rocky Mountains since September and have noticed pronounced acceleration when ascending and a great deal more comfort when descending.

For well over $2,000, this bike upgrade is certainly not cheap. (You’re not going to install it on your Huffy.) But for all you folks who think your Gary Fisher or Moots rig can’t possibly be improved, think again. This mountain-bike upgrade is the best performance enhancement you can get short of buying a whole new bike.

WIRED Best front-shifting performance in the mountain-bike industry. 2x setup allows for a narrower, more comfortable stance.

TIRED Not even remotely budget-friendly. Narrower spacing means crank arms won’t work on all frames — check before you buy.

• Manufacturer: SRAM
• Price: $2,430 (as tested)

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SRAM XX testing in Italy from Victor Lucas on Vimeo.

2010 SRAM XX Groupo – More Mountain Bike Videos

Christoph Sauser:
Switzerland
Specialized Factory Team

Reduce to the max! I love simple technology with great function. Exactly that provides me the new XX group set.

I got the XX the day before a world cup, and already raced it the next day. Shifting and braking wise I felt so confident from the first training lap on, that I wanted to race it!

Straight chain line, I can use all the gears, light, no bulk.

I am racing 2×9 since 1999. So it was not new to me at all to have a narrow q-factor and non of those extra gears you don’t need anyway.

Florian Vogel:
Switzerland
Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing

After having XX on your bike  for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
2×10 allows me to  race most of the time in the big Chainring (if using the 39er), the wide range  of the cassette and the narrow chainline is really a big bonus for CC-Racing.  While Training i benefit out of the 36er Cassette and always have a gear left even when it comes to really steep climbs (and believe me we have a lot of them in Switzerland).

Before XX, how much experience  did you have riding 2×9?
Actually I used 2×9 for most of my Carreer now (since 2002) but we always had to do a compromise because there was nothing like this available and we always had to build it by  our selves which wasnt always working  great.

What chainrings did you  typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these  gears?
26/39, in my opinion this is perfect for an offroad-Bike – you have small gears for the climbs and you can limit front-shifting to a minimun but you still don’t run out of bigger  gears (maybe you do if you have to sprint against cavendish).

If you had to choose one single  favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
The Crankset!

Nino Schurter:
Switzerland
Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing
Current World Champion

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
I rode the XX my first time in march at the trainings camp in Tuscany. My first impressions was great. The biggest advantage for my was, that it’s now possible to shift also under pressure in the front.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?

• Less shifting.
• Better Q-factor.
• You can shift also in the front under pressure.
• The hole group is lighter.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I rode the last 5 years with 2×9. But there was no really good solution. That was nothing in compare to the XX.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
I use typically the 26/39. In a cross country race I don’t need am bigger gear. And in the most climbings the 39 is enough, so you don’t have to shift that many in the front. Less stress for the chain.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
Shifting in the front under pressure.

Marco Aurelio Fontana:
Italy
Cannondale Factory Team

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
That I had a piece of future under my hands.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
With the XX you can use way more of the big chainring, that’s the main advantage.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
Just half year with c’ndale in 09, cause before I had 3×9.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
28×42 but for new school XC races I think the best choice will be 26×39.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
Perfect shifting, specially the derailleur.

Martin Gujan:
Switzerland
Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
The shifting with the chainrings is much easier than before. Just push it and it will happen! And this with full Power and Speed.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
I have the full range from the gears I need for training and racing. Same than 3×9! With just two chainrings I have to shift less and that means less problems.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I had 2×9 in 2009. The front shifting was not that good. In world champs I rode with a 40 chainring so I could ride nearly everything with the big chainring, but i had just a 34 cassette.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
I used both. I did really good experiences with the 26/39. It’s perfect if you know the course and it’s not to fast. For marathon I don’t think it’s ideal. With the 39 chainring and 36 cassette i could ride nearly everything. For races the 26 is a little bit to small.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
That’s again the chainrings! They work fantastic together and are stiff.

Roel Paulissen:
Belgium
Cannondale Factory Team

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
The first time was in Heubach (Germany ) and i was really impressed by the shifting and chainline ( finally something there what we racers are dreaming of for a long time.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
From now on you can stay on the big ring a lot longer than before (chainline , 11-36 cassette).

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I have been using 2×9 from 1999 ( yes i know …. i´m there for a long time).

The problem was always to find the right chain-line

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
I’m using the 28/42 because i´m a powerful rider and it fits more my riding style.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
Cassette and shifting !!!!  Smooth for the whole race.

Heather Irmiger;
USA
Subaru/Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team
Current National Champion

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
I have only been impressed with XX.  For most of thet 2009 race season I was only using XX lockout and brakes (although I believe we were still using the old style rotors) and was blown away with the weight savings that only those 2 components provided.  Braking power and lever feel was awesome and I love the new lockout – the fork is much more rigid when locked out and doesn’t go out of adjustment as often as the old cable system.  Braking power is less consistent and not as good when using the new avid rotors.  The XX drive train is spectacular – have been on it since Vermont and have only had positive experiences with the chain lines, efficiency.  Totally amazed with the versatility and possibilities that the 36 T cog in the back provides and love that I rarely use the little ring.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
The extra cog allows me to remain in my big ring more which helps avoid mis-shifts and shifting errors that occur when trying to move between small and large chainrings.  On the 29er, I always ran a 2×9 and the extra cog in the XX 2×10 has helped me increase my power and efficiency through trail transitions.  Its the last gear that you always wish you had before 2×10 and keeps me out of the little ring – this helps keep the rhythm smooth and powerful.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I spent most of the season (June onward) only racing and training on the 29er which I have always run with 2×9 and am very familiar with the set up.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
I typically ran 26/39 (still do) – as a smaller rider I really have no need for the 42 when mountain biking and really need the 26 for steep power climbs.  FYI – I did try to run a 24/39 at Mt. Ste. Anne because I was having a hard time going “easy” when pre-riding the course.  This ratio worked really well pre-riding but didn’t hold up to the pressures of racing.  Not only did I find that easy of a gear unnecessary at race pace (I had enough gears when pushing out race power), but I experienced quite a bit of chain suck.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
I love the lockout/fork mechanism and the extra cog.

Todd Wells:
USA
Specialized Factory Team

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
While first off I was impressed with how light it was. I like having the extra gear in the rear and thought it looked good and worked pretty well.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
Having a 2×10 gearing allows me to stay in the big ring more and reduces the amount of front shifting I have to do during a race. It is also good for the moral since it’s always nice to have it in the big ring.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I had ridden a true 2×9 about 6 years ago but since then I have been running standard gearing with the granny gear off  but I feel like that isn’t a 2×9 specific setup. It works but sometimes you are over geared so this is my first full season in a long time on a 2×9 specific gearing.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
Light weight or 2×10 specific setup.

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski:
USA
Subaru/Gary Fisher Mountain  Bike Team
Current National Champion

When you rode XX for the first time, what were your first impressions?
The first time I rode XX I was incredibly impressed with the ease and smoothness of the front shifting. I could shift smoothly under literally a maximum peadling load – something I’ve never been able to do with any group. The braking was incredibly powerful and easy to control – far above other disc brakes I’ve ridden. The action of all the parts felt clean and light – my bike felt transformed.

After having XX on your bike for both training and racing, what advantages do you feel the XX 2×10 gearing offers you?
The 2×10 gearing is a simpler and more functional set of MTB gears than a traditional triple. Having the 36 tooth cog on the XX cassette opens a range of different and advantageous riding styles. I can ride an incredible variety of terrain without leaving the big ring – which when racing, eliminates the possibility of mis-shifting in a crucial situation.

Before XX, how much experience did you have riding 2×9?
I’ve actually ridden and raced almost exclusively on a 2×9 setup since 2000 – as there are clear advantages to the 2x setup. In the past, I’ve had to cobble parts together to make this solution work well, and am thrilled to have a dedicated 2x setup now with XX.

What chainrings did you typically use – 26/39 or 28/42? How did you decide to use these gears?
I used the 26/39 exclusively with the XX in 2009. I liked the smaller combination as it allowed me to ride a bigger variety of terrain in the big ring. It’s a common misconception in the MTB world that a large big ring is desirable. I find that the more compact ring size makes for better shifting and more appropriate gear ratios. Additionally, since I race exclusively on a 29er – this was the most logical gear combo. That said – I would consider using this same setup on a 26″ bike.

If you had to choose one single favorite aspect of XX, what would it be?
It’s hard to choose just one. I love the effortless front shifting, as well as the narrow, powerful feeling narrow Q-factor. I think the best thing though is the simplicity that is achieved by the additional gear range offered by the 36 tooth-10th cog in the rear. This allows me to race almost constantly in the big ring – and not worry about shifting around as much. It enhances the riding experience – and literally transforms the bike and the ride.