Cannondale Prophet 5 650B conversion

 650Bx2.35 vs 26x2.35  I couldn't afford a new bike come Christmas time last year so I did the next best thing.  New Wheelset 650B Style!  According to online forums my 07 Cannondale Prophet fit the bill as a perfect candidate.  So with winter putting a stop to my biking end of November I started looking for wheels.  With the lefty up front my cheap options were kinda limited finding a used one.  Luckily Pro Bike Supply had a discount special around the holidays that I snatched up.  ZTR CREST is a sweet wheel and my first intro into going tubeless.
Made my front wheel almost a pound lighter from the stock set.  For the rear, I tried to get a bunch of people selling sets online to sell me just the rear but with no success. Finally found a guy off of KSL that had a set of Velocity's he hadn't ridden yet.  He was skeptical but agreed to sell me just the rear with 9 sp cassette and rotor for $100 plus shipping.  I thought it was a great deal for someone staring out his window at 2-3 feet of snow.  Not happy that the rim is silver but what are ya gonna do when it is really just an experiment after all, kinda.   What if  I don't like the ride or it doesn't fit?  Then I'd really be out some cash if I ante up for a matching rear ZTR Crest.  So I'm happy with the cheaper wheel.

26x2.35 Hans Dampf

26in rims

With 650b mismatched rims front Stans ztr crest the rear a Velocity Blunt.

  650B Schwable Nobby Nic

27.5x2.35 Nobby Nic

Bike rides perfectly in the FR shock setting.  Eliminates pedal strikes that were always the draw back when pedaling in that setting before.  Point and ride is the new motto.  I did end of putting a nylon washer in the rear shock to prevent rear tire from hitting the seat tube.  Other than running a small 2.1" tire on the rear it has been great.

Pierre's Hole 50 / 100 mile Mountain Bike Race Grand Targhee Resort, WY

Pierre's Hole 50 / 100 mile Mountain bike race.  Part of the NUE series if you're into that kind of thing.  Me I just wanted to ride my bike.  A lot of friends and my wife have been running races lately and I wanted to find something to do to keep up with them.  Who doesn't like to mountain bike right? How hard could it be to ride 50 miles? With close to 8k vertical feet of climbing over the 2 laps of 25 miles. Right hard?  Turned out to not be my best idea. No matter how much biking I did all summer I wasn't ready.  Most miles I did leading up to the race at one time was 21.  I wish I had done closer to 30 or 40.  The last lap really sucked it out of me.  I wanted to break down and cry about 36 miles in, going down Colter's Escape.  I even had something happen to my rear cassette causing my bike to ghost shift for almost an entire lap.  Luckily Troy from Habitat was able to fix it at the aid station, its been smooth ever since.  I really wished I had stopped earlier to have it checked out.  Over all it was an awesome experience!  I will probably do it again in 2013.  I'll know what to expect as far as fulling and how to maybe train a little better.  Looks like we might end up with more climbing in 2013 as a lot of single track was added at the resort at the end of the summer.  Making for even more awesome downhill.  anyone who has't been to Grand Targhee to ride is missing out.  The mill creek descent into Teton canyon is a must for anyone traveling through.  With the addition of the new peaked trail above it the descent is even more epic.

Hardest part was the bustle creek climb (amazing to me that people can climb the whole thing without pushing). Second is having to climb the resort right after ricks basin.  All is forgotten and forgiven on the Mill Creek descent.


Some lame video and pictures of my self inflicted punishment.

Video of most of the 1st lap.  If I was faster I could have recorded the whole lap (maybe next year)

Ready to go.

I have to do another lap?

Awesome sight.

Great kids!

Starting up the long climb on the road.

Finally done!!

Great food and a chance to finally relax.

Philllips Ridge Mountain Bike Trail Teton Pass

Phillips Ridge one of the longest rides on Teton pass.  Some pictures of the ride and a video showing most of the descent.  Biggest part of the trail are the multiple tight switchbacks that seem to never stop.  Great practice on turns.  Wider berms towards the end are nice though.

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Arrow Trail Teton Pass WY