In 2009 I watched Geoff Kabush ride away from the rest of the elite men's field at the Bromont round of the Mountain Bike World Cup. The race was held in an absolute downpour, and everyone was having mechanical trouble as a result.
Immediately after the event I snapped some shots of Geoff's setup- taking careful note of his drivetrain and tire choices.
The course was punchy with short power climbs, and for that the single 32 tooth chainring (first used in the World Cup by Adam Craig and later Julien Absalon) was a great choice.
Larsen TT for the front tire on an XTR wheelset.
And a mud-specific Medusa out back.
At the time XTR 970 was the current model, and as Shimano sponsored rider Kabush ran a full Shimano drivetrain. In my mind the 970 vintage XTR was Shimano's most complete and durable offering, though I haven't spent much time on 980 yet.
So why does this matter now in the days immediately before my biggest event of the year? One word- distraction. I need to relax, and geeking out helps me do that.
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