The business display is just a piece of the occasions on the Sea Otter Vintage; racing continues to be part of the pageant. This 12 months the Fuego XL cross-country race commanded probably the most consideration.
The beginning listing used to be jam-packed with possible favorites from all disciplines of biking. Former brief observe international champion Chris Blevens made the shuttle, identical with present cyclocross nationwide champ Curtis White, and naturally, so did former Fuego XL winner — Keegan Swenson.
The route for the Fuego XL is technically a mountain motorcycle race however has many street climbs and gravel sections. The Fuego XL route is 60 miles with over 8,000 toes of mountain climbing—the hard-packed uber dry route, combined with many street miles, made for stimulating motorcycle setups.
As a former winner, Swenson is aware of what a motorbike wishes to accomplish within the dusty Monterey stipulations.
The Race — Sea Otter Vintage Fuego XL
From the gun, the race used to be complete fuel; Chris Blevens used to be contemporary off the win on the Cape Epic and had the legs to roll all day. When the entrance workforce entered the one observe, Blevens once more driven with tempo, in the end forming a seven-rider workforce off the entrance.
After the primary lap, Blevins, Swenson, Finsterwald, Alex Wild, Howard Grotts, Andrew L’Esperance, and Cole Paton crossed the road operating smartly in combination. After the laps ticked away and the tempo stayed top — the gang started to splinter.
Later within the race, the gang used to be all the way down to 4 riders; Swenson, Blevins, Finsterwald, and Paton. As the overall miles handed, Bleven attacked relentlessly, with the gang responding and following. The general climb is the place the 4 riders changed into two, as Swenson and Finsterwald battled over the climb to the end.
After 60 miles, buying and selling blow for blow, the end got here all the way down to a dash, and Swenson had simply sufficient left within the tank to edge out Finsterwald on the line.
Keegan Swenson’s Fuego XL successful Santa Cruz Blur
The challenging route and not-so-normal cross-country stipulations of the Fuego XL made for some thrilling motorcycle setups. Swenson rode his Santa Cruz Blur complete suspension setup, despite the fact that many riders selected hardtails.
Swenson’s setup used to be one of the crucial dialed of the weekend; he had simply sufficient grip with the Maxxis Arden Brief Monitor tires and a variety of gearing with the brand new SRAM Eagle Transmission.
The bars and tape setup permit Swenson to “relaxation” moderately whilst hammering at the unmarried observe, releasing up some house within the decrease again and taking on minimum bar actual property.
Rock Shox Prototype SID Fork and Surprise
Swenson’s Blur had some trick tools, however the ones prototype stickers in point of fact stuck our eyes. The brand new SID or SID SL fork and surprise seem to have modified little or no from the present model.
A brand new RockShox twist-lock is coming to marketplace quickly, with a slimmer profile and moderately longer grip motion.
Swenson wouldn’t tell us greater than the fundamentals in regards to the new suspension, but it surely obviously plays smartly.
Professional Motorbike Test: Keegan Swenson’s Santa Cruz Blur
- Body: Santa Cruz Blur
- Fork: Rock Shox SID prototype 120mm
- Surprise: Rock Shox SID prototype
- Lockout lever: RockShox TwistLock Prototype
- Brakes: SRAM Stage ULT
- Groupset: SRAM Eagle XX Transmission
- Wheels: Reserve 30 SL
- Saddle: Prologo Size NDR
- Stem: Zipp
- Seatpost: Suntace
- Bars: Suntace
- Pedals: XTR
- Tires: Maxxis Aspen ST
For more info about Keegan Swenson and his race agenda, take a look at: Santacruzbicycles.com
