Himin’ and Hawin’

Greetings Readers!

I’ve been Himin’ and Hawin’ over some Dugast Rhino’s for about 5 months now. It’s been sitting in the back of my mind driving me nuts. I’m in constant turmoil over tiyas. Why  the turmoil? Other than the expense, why would any cyclocross racer not want Rhinos? They are THE tiya for Mud, Period.

I’ll never forget it, sticks in my mind like it was just yesterday. It was the Battle of Barlow, it was raining (pouring) and the course was slop. Guys were sliding around like kids on a slip-n-slide. There was this section after the runup, the railroad tie runup, where we zigged and zagged around the woods before we went up this little rise and rode around this little nursery. I was running my green muds at 35 psi and was hooking up decent, but still all over the place. I was heading up the little rise with my ass (weight) as far back on the saddle as I could push it while giving myself maximum power to the pedals. Trying to get weight over the back tiya. Precious wasted energy is lost on tiyas slipping in the mud. I remember this 50+ Master rider, he was riding Rhinos, (I saw his bike after the race) don’t know what pressure he was using but he came around me like he was riding on dry dirt. He was hooking up and the mud from his rear wheel was hitting me in the face. He leaned over and drove through that corner like he was on a road bike on tarmac on a sunny day. I on the other hand was gangly, sloppy, and sliding all over the place. Cursed him I did.

Again at Hillsboro, I pay attention folks, to what the “A” and “B” racers are riding. Rhino’s. As we suffered through that mudfest I watched the Masters B race and was amazed at the traction they were getting. Like Velcro I tell ya. Hillsboro was like snot, that was mud! Last season taught me one thing: tubulars.

Being the sponge I am for all things cross, I’ve learned a few things about tubbies. Flexus are the preferred dry weather tiyas, Grifo’s are great do it all tiyas if you can only have one set. Rhinos rule the mud. I live in Portland, need I say more?

So this brings me to my turmoil. Keep in mind I race Master “C” not the “A”s and not even the “B”s. Master “C”. There are no guys riding Deep V carbon tubular wheels in my class. Now the actual cost of Dugast Rhinos is really only $17 to $20 dollars more a tiya than say a Flexus or Grifo, so there not that much more exorbitant. But Rhinos are somewhat of a commodity. It’s not like they are a dime a dozen and easy to obtain. Dugast and FMB’s are produced buy 1 and 2 man shops, they only produce so many a year. Last year I couldn’t even get my hands on a set of Grifo’s, my less some Dugast. So there’s that. The other being: does a guy racing in the “C”s really deserve Rhinos? Would I be a Fred if I showed up to race the “C”s being the pack fodder that I am?

Will I get those snickers from my fellow crossers? “Hey, check the guy pulling 30th place in the C’s sporting Rhinos!” This is my fear. That I’ll be:

1) Taking a pair of Rhinos better left to someone who can really race in the “B”s and or, “A”s. 

2) Will I be looked down upon for having equipment that I don’t deserve?

Where the turmoil comes in: Doesn’t a guy in the “C”s deserve to race? Shouldn’t a guy in the lower classes have the same oppurtunities as the guys in the upper classes? Does the “C” rider race with any less heart than the elites? Or is it that were just slower? I’ve seen guys that would fight you tooth and nail, and give up a left kidney just for 50th place in the beginners class! Most guys/girls are serious about cross, no matter the class or division. I’ve been riding all year trying to get my ass in shape for cross, I’ve been putting the time and miles in, (as much as possible) even during bad weather, shouldn’t I put the same effort into my racing equipment? Tiya choice is critical in cross. I know, with absolute certainty, that having some Rhinos while at either Barlow or Hillsboro would have made all the differance in the world in my racing for those two events.

What is the derermining factor? Would Rhinos have gotten me 2 placings? 5 placings? 10 placings? Who knows? Is the extra $17 a tiya worth it to me to get a better result? That’s a diffinitive yes, Hell yes. So why haven’t I bought them?

Again, the turmoil. It’s now June, and although Cyclocrossworld and Worldclasscycles both currently have them in stock, they won’t for long. If I’m going to have the ultimate advantage in the mud I need to pull the trigger soon, or they’ll be none to have. Simple as that.

It’s going to bug me. It will bug me for the rest of the summer, then It will bug me all through cross season. I’ll regret not getting them, and I’m fairly certain we won’t have a ”dry” season. Problem is: if I quench the thirst, will I be able to live with the guilt?

One thing is for sure, this turmoil isn’t ending anytime soon. Cross season starts in 3 months and 3 weeks, I can’t wait. Hood River is the opener, and it’s going to be a party!

Turmoil, I’m in constant turmoil…….. 

Cheers!