2012 Season in Pictures

Xterra Las Vegas

 

 

Not the greatest way to start the season with a flat on miles 3 of the bike, i still finished but podium was definitly out of sight.

Still found the time to relax after the race

 

 

Xterra Vashon

 

got passed and had to settle for second in the last 1/4 mile of the race

 Second place overall very happy with a great start of the NW series

Thanks to the support of awsome friends

Took the beast to the island, $9000 dollar bike in a $700 truck, get you priorites straight!

 

 

Xterra Lagrande

 pre-ride

What would i do without mom?

 

 

This pictures is not an accurate representation of how hard the climbs were on this course

 

 

 Great race beautiful hot day much needed cool down.

 

 

Xterra World

700+ athletes

 

Rough start in the big waves

 

 

 final 1/4 mile in the sand

Place 6th in World Championship (ag)

Thanks to all the great support from familly and friends which lead to an amzing season

 

Xterra Las Vegas West Coast Championship Twitter

I am making this a twitter trip!

Follow me @ https://twitter.com/#!/matsignoretty


Check back soon for the first race report and photos of the 2012 season.

Singletrack Cycles West Side Mt. Bike Series

Two races so far, nothing big but a little local series that puts you in the racing mood.
My first race was at soaring Eagle Park which is down the street from my house therefore my home turf. The trails were extremely wet and amazingly slippery. I started about 12 riders back because it was my first race of the season and I had only had the bike, my new Cannondale flash ultimate for 6 days. I quickly realized that I was in good shape and the pace was not to strong so I started to pass some riders, by the end of the first lap I was in front with Toby Swanson and Nolan Brady. Nolan took the lead right as we started the second lap and pretty quickly started to put a gap on Toby and I. I did not want to blow up and decided to keep the same pace Toby behind me assured me that we would see him again later, in the back of my head I thought “Ya, when he will lap us…” Laps two and three were pretty mellow a little bit of chatting with Toby a little bit of passing slower riders (single speed that started 5min ahead of us) At the start of lap four I caught a glimpse of Nolan up ahead on the trail and for the rest of the lap I put the pedal to the metal and slowly pulled him back. About a quarter mile to go, Nolan in front, me in second and Toby closing the rear, chatting time was over we were breathing hard and we all knew that now every little mistake we were going to make will cost us the race. Battling for first place, the pace was too high for me to pass, so I decided to stick to Nolan’s rear wheel until the straight away to the finish. When it came to the sprint men that kid is fast, Nolan who is I believe 16 years old, got a lilt head start on me coming off the single track trails, but I pushed as hard as I could go around his rear wheel we were neck and neck when we crossed the line, so close that we did not even know who won. It was not until the result came out that I found out I was in second by 0.4 of a second, Toby finished third a couple seconds behind. Great way to start the racing season, finishing right up there with the local heroes.

Results here

Cannondale Flash 29er carbon ultimate

Beautiful, dream like, amazing... There are no other words to describe it the new 2012 Cannondale flash 29er ultimate is the lightest, fastest, and a most aggressive bike I have ever ridden. The bike weights in at 18.5 pounds with Shimano XTR pedals, and carbon cages. The seat and post will soon be change to make the bike lighter and more comfortable. Once that is done I expect the bike to weight just over 18.2lbs about 3lbs lighter than my first road bike, back in 2006. The frame is very similar to last year’s so it feels very familiar and natural. The wheels are probably the biggest upgrade, ENVE carbon rims make the wheels so much stiffer than before, no flex in the turns, accelerating and stopping are a breeze because the lack of rotating mass, overall a very lightweight playful wheel set. The component also are making a big difference a full SRAM XX groupo, very crisp and accurate shifting. The brakes also SRAM XX noisy but work with no problem and plenty of stopping power to throw you over the bars.

I went to the trail system in black diamond, WA for my very first ride. I joined my friend and coworker Melanie and her husband Chris for a three hour ride, even though it has been raining like hell the trails were surprisingly dry and fast. The bike handle like I was expecting it to: absolutely no problems. It took me at least a good hour to get use to weight of the bike I would constantly over shoot a corner, or compensate too much in root sections. I quickly found the right balance and was able to have a lot of fun for the rest of the ride. This weekend there is a little local race at soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish,WA, I think it time to get the bike dirty and see what I can do with it!

Got to love it!

Well, Yes I had to… it was necessary: I went on a "little" shopping spree two pairs of shoes S-works MTB and specialized MTB pros. Three new saddles specialized toupe expert, pro and S-works. The S-works saddle is totally carbon and weight in at 117g; I ran that same saddle one level down (the pro) last year and was absolutely in love

with it, so I had to upgrade for this year. I also got a couple of new tires S-works Renegade 29x1.8, a new seat post and some gloves specialized XC-lite. Now left with an empty wallet I think I am all set for the season.

Cannondale CAAD 10

The first bike to show up this year was my road bike, a Cannondale Caad 10 Dura-Ace; I want to thank Cannondale for such a great bike

It’s a beautiful black anodized aluminum frame with a full carbon fork and wheels, one of the lightest bike I have ever ridden just 15.9 lbs with water bottle cages and XTR mtb pedals. The ride quality is definitely different than the carbon frames I have had in the past, rough; I can feel the differences in asphalts. But man it is fast, corners beautifully, climbs like a dream, so stiff virtually no flex thanks in part to the BB30 frame and crankset. Over all a great bike in just a week I have already put 200 miles on it. Yesterday I went out on a 50mile ride thanks to my BG fit position I had no pain in my lower back, I was relax and cruised a mere 21.3 mph average for the integrity of the ride; mostly flat with rolling hills. I can t wait to get back out and start the serious training!

Specialized BG-FIT certification

Thanks to Pacific Bicycle Company for sending me to the specialized headquarters for the specialized BG-FIT certification.

It’s always fun to go down to Morgan Hill California for a week and learn so much about the bike industry. A typical day at specialized starts around 8am no kidding more than half of the company commutes on bikes it’s awesome. Sit through a few hour of class and then it’s time to ride everything shuts down "it’s the lunch ride". Everyone has an hour or more(sunny days) to go out and enjoy a long ride before returning to work until 7 at night. Last February I went to SBCU (specialized bicycle Component University) for product knowledge this time I was there to get my BG-FIT certification, lots of info dumped in such little time, I gain knowledge about bike fitting but also about the human body's anatomy and kinesiology understanding how comfort is power and speed. I brought so much knowledge back to the shop as well as my certification, my first fits went very well and I am so excited to keep helping folks through the BG-FIT system.

This was right after I got fitted to the new 2012 Venge the instructors/ the guys that fitted the Saxo Bank, Quick Step, Astana teams, as well as many other professional riders, were discussing on whether or not I should go lower (drop).

Fit finished I changed frame sizes from a 56 to a 58cm, 62cm reach with a 15cm drop although not mechanically possible on the Venge; we took out all spacers and the stem was resting on the bearings and we could only get a 13cm drop... I was very skeptical of the new changes, but the two hour ride that followed the fit was a dream, no pain or discomfort and I have now recreated that fit on all my bikes.

2011 season recap!

Well, 2011 was my best season so far. Now, on the crest of starting the 2012 season I just wanted to do a recap of 2011

Xterra Vashon 2nd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Black Diamond 2nd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Portland 3rd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Canadian National 24th overall 11th amateur 2nd in age group
Xterra USA National 31st overall 8th amateur 1st in age group
Xterra World 135th overall 85th amateur 8th in age group

Over all a great season, I got to enjoy some awesome races and met some amazing folks here are some of my favorite memories of 2011.

Start at Worlds massive!!!

Melissa norland, I and Taylor Seavey after the awards at nationals

Mel, I, Eric, and Carrie Xterra portland

technical mtb course at Xterra Canada

John, Taylor, Mel, and myself were able to go down for a week before nationals pre-rode, relaxed and enjoy the vacation we had quite the set-up camping by the lake which led to awesome results for everyone!

Top 3 Eric Jason and my-self checking out our Save the Date wedding invite pint glasses from Texas! hahaha what a great mixed-up

oh.. Maui...

beautiful beach run.... yeah right i was in pain!

RACING AGAISNT LANCE ARMSTRONG..... TWICE

Traveling with the Atwood familly and my buddy Sirrus!