Post Nationals Syndrome.


Our meager photographic and writing skills will do little to convey what went on in Bend, but all I can say is that's how bike racing is supposed to be.

The course and racers put on a fantastic show, and like shows are supposed to be, the crowds were out in all reaches of the course, yelling, cheering, almost pushing the riders along with their support and through their volume, both acoustically as well as in the sheer numbers in attendance.

From a personal perspective, Edge was supporting two of the most talked about and anticipated contenders for the pro men's title: Kona's Ryan Trebon, the defending national champion who was aboard our Edge cyclocross fork:



and former multiple time title holder Jonathan Page, aboard Edge wheels, stem, bar, and seat post.



Which brings me to an interesting situation...

Let's say you're a multiple time national cyclocross champion.
You've stood on the 2nd highest podium step at the world championships.

When you're that guy, people listen.

On Wednesday, 4 days before the national championships, this guy, Mr. Page says (in his soft spoken understated New England murmur..."You know, I think what would be perfect for the Bend course is a special layup set of your 1.25 wheels, only these would be built specifically for cyclocross."

Ask and you shall receive. By that evening, Jonathan Page had four pair of custom 1.25CX 28h wheelsets on a FedEx plane that was pointed towards Bend, Oregon. The science was there, the know-how existed...but how are they going to hold up, a pair of 1100g 'cross wheels on DT 240s going to hold up to the rigors of a World Champion silver medalist??



We normally wouldn't question this, because, you know, Page is one of those guys who's gentle on their wheels. A gentle rider in a gentle sport.





But this was a rider who'd traveled 5000 miles to a one day event and was putting his entire race on a pair of wheels he'd never ridden, and frankly, we'd never built before.



Congrats, Timmy J.

You rode your heart out and we were cheering for you all...

but watch out, next year we'll be looking for our forks and wheels to take a step higher on the podium.

Greg Keller, author of MudandCowbells.com is a gear geek and not bashful about it.  Read his reviews on the wheels here and here.

This morning's commute really made holding my coffee inconvenient.

Untitled from Edge Composites on Vimeo.

Things are winding down for domestic cyclocross racing - this past weekend were the final 2 events of the USGP events. Portland hosted the weekend's races and for the first time in recent memory, the course wasn't underwater. Ryan Trebon wrapped up his title defense aboard the Edge Cyclocross fork as he heads into this weekend's National Championship event in Bend, Oregon. Ryan will probably have his shortest commute, ever, as the race course is less than 1 mile from his house!



Speaking of Trebon, and Bend, here's a shot of town from Ryan's house this morning. Yep, its winter.

5167 miles to the East, Jon Page put in his best World Cup result of the season in Igorre, Spain. A top 10 in a World Cup, on a heavy, muddy, and greasy course against the world's best is just what Page needed before flying half way around the world for this weekend's National Championship. While Trebon has the shortest commute, I think Page will,by far, have the furthest of anyone at nationals this year! Read Jonathan's account of the race here and find a nice video of the last lap here on youtube.

Check out Boo Bike's carbon fiber and bamboo 'cross bike, care of Tyler Wren and cyclingnews.com

Read the interview here as Jonathan Page returns to the US for 'Cross Nationals in Bend, OR.

I can not imagine what 10,000 people screaming at you in a "S" turn would sound like...or the goose bumps it'd give you.