boiltheocean
Premium
- 7,756
- Samoa
The biking thread
- Thread starter Bram Turismo
- 4,900 comments
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- 30,033
- Thailand
Bike part shopping again to p!ss off the bank account. 
First up, what I've been wanting since Neal got his one. I'll have to wait until next month for the shoes. I've found some Specalized for £40 but have spunked my monthly bike allowance. These are clipped on one side so I can ride with normal shoes for now.
Other purchases include a new rear light (I buy a new one every time I got to the shop, it's a compulsive habit), chain stay guard and a drinks bottle and cage.
In the bike shop they had some cycling jerseys for around £30 but in the shop next door, which sells seconds and last seasons clothing, I found 2 cycling shirts at £3 each.
This Briko shirt I bought in black and red but this is the only picture I could find online.
Can't find a picture of the Animal shirt I bought and my phone won't upload. It's a basic polyester long sleeve in white.
First up, what I've been wanting since Neal got his one. I'll have to wait until next month for the shoes. I've found some Specalized for £40 but have spunked my monthly bike allowance. These are clipped on one side so I can ride with normal shoes for now.
Other purchases include a new rear light (I buy a new one every time I got to the shop, it's a compulsive habit), chain stay guard and a drinks bottle and cage.
In the bike shop they had some cycling jerseys for around £30 but in the shop next door, which sells seconds and last seasons clothing, I found 2 cycling shirts at £3 each.
This Briko shirt I bought in black and red but this is the only picture I could find online.
Can't find a picture of the Animal shirt I bought and my phone won't upload. It's a basic polyester long sleeve in white.
- 241
- sp0_0kie
Hello bikers.
I'm probably going to buy this bike by the end of this month and I can't wait to take it for a ride What are your thoughts on it? Last year it costed around 1050€ (1370USD) and I'll hopefully get it for around 800€ (1050USD).
http://www.author.eu/bikes/2011/instinct-5-1/
I'm probably going to buy this bike by the end of this month and I can't wait to take it for a ride
What are your thoughts on it? Last year it costed around 1050€ (1370USD) and I'll hopefully get it for around 800€ (1050USD).http://www.author.eu/bikes/2011/instinct-5-1/
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Nice kit Shem and good price on the shirts, I'd think twice about spending £30 on one even over here!
Have a look at this for cleat position http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/blog/2011/04/power-to-the-pedal-cleat-position/
Not heard of that make before and there is very little info on the specs, what forks has it got? For 800€ I'd want Rockshox forks (eg http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2537)
Have a look at this for cleat position http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/blog/2011/04/power-to-the-pedal-cleat-position/
Hello bikers.
I'm probably going to buy this bike by the end of this month and I can't wait to take it for a ride
http://www.author.eu/bikes/2011/instinct-5-1/
Not heard of that make before and there is very little info on the specs, what forks has it got? For 800€ I'd want Rockshox forks (eg http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2537)
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- 30,033
- Thailand
Quick question, Neal. How do you find your SPD shoes for comfortability? I've looked at a similar pair, mountain bike clip-ins, and wondered if they're any good for daily office use?
I stand up most of the day and don't want to buy them if they're going to cause me pains. For £60 I could buy a cheap pair of road shoes and some cheap shoes for the office, I thought it might be easier just to buy the off-road SPDs though.
These are the kind I mean, I know yours are similar, if not even the same!
I stand up most of the day and don't want to buy them if they're going to cause me pains. For £60 I could buy a cheap pair of road shoes and some cheap shoes for the office, I thought it might be easier just to buy the off-road SPDs though.
These are the kind I mean, I know yours are similar, if not even the same!
They look like they'll have exactly the same sole as mine which is fairly walking friendly compared to more serious race type shoes so they'll be very comfy on the bike and ok for short peroids off the bike but not all day. A while ago I wore my SPD shoes to walk a short distatnce to the park, stand around for a bit a walk back and I couldn't wait to take them off, they would be no good as work shoes really.
- 241
- sp0_0kie
I thought that most of the people here haven't heard of this brand
It's Czech brand, so quite well known around here (CZE). Most of the people (bikers) I've talked to about Authors said that they are well made and shouldn't suffer any quality problems. Also I reckon that I should be able to get cheaper services for it than for eg US made bikes. The fork is RST F1RST Air. I'm not sure why their english pages dosn't show all the specs...
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
How do you mean? Are RST forks easier to get serviced over there?
FWIW for that sort of money(ish) the XC bike I'd buy would probably be one of these.
.....but then I'm totally biased
- 241
- sp0_0kie
I'm not sure.
Probably not the forks, but the whole bike, because they're made here and they have almost all of their market here. But that's just my illusion I guess
What are your ideas on that fork? Is it not good?
RST forks do have a reputation for being a bit rubbish and unreliable, on a bike that expensive I would definitely want a RockShox fork. Canyon bikes are based in Germany so see if they delivery to Czech as they are very good value for money, I plan on getting one when I've got the spare funds.
Also don't worry about which country your bike comes from in terms of servicing. The vast majority of bike frames are made in the far east anyway as are most of the components so they are all serviced in the same way.
Also don't worry about which country your bike comes from in terms of servicing. The vast majority of bike frames are made in the far east anyway as are most of the components so they are all serviced in the same way.
- 241
- sp0_0kie
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
Aye, MTB tyres have come a long way since a'body was riding these things
They weighed a ton (although probably still less than a High Roller
), clogged at the slightest sign of mud and had sidewalls that perished in about a week
Just now I'm running these things on my Subzero...
.....got them as a summer/hardpack tyre but they surprised me by working well in the wet too:tup: Rubbish on tarmac though....bit like most nobblies they let go well before a sticky slick would.
boiltheocean
Premium
- 7,756
- Samoa
Woah, went back a bit for that quote
I'm actually looking at some Minions or High Rollers for the Yeti when I wear out my Panaracers, I run a fairly narrow tread at the moment and I'd like to try something a bit beefier.
I'm actually looking at some Minions or High Rollers for the Yeti when I wear out my Panaracers, I run a fairly narrow tread at the moment and I'd like to try something a bit beefier.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
boiltheoceanWoah, went back a bit for that quote
I'm actually looking at some Minions or High Rollers for the Yeti when I wear out my Panaracers, I run a fairly narrow tread at the moment and I'd like to try something a bit beefier.
Aye, realised it was an old post after posting it but figured what the hey
I thought the knock to my head had caused me more memory loss when I thought I'd missed posts from 10th April until I realised it was from 3 years ago
I :censored:ing hated Farmer John tyres with a passion, god knows why I used them as there must have been a better alternative but still everyone had them!
I run a Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 on the back all year round and I'm yet to ride in conditions muddy enough to warrant anything grippier and the thing rolls so fast I doubt I'd ever try anything else. I've been using a Maxxis Advantage 2.25 on the front for a while which I like but have heard good things about the Ardent so will probably try that next. The Advantage feels a bit vague at small lean angles until you lean it over fully and it grips more, what's the Ardent like in that respect?
I :censored:ing hated Farmer John tyres with a passion, god knows why I used them as there must have been a better alternative but still everyone had them!
I run a Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 on the back all year round and I'm yet to ride in conditions muddy enough to warrant anything grippier and the thing rolls so fast I doubt I'd ever try anything else. I've been using a Maxxis Advantage 2.25 on the front for a while which I like but have heard good things about the Ardent so will probably try that next. The Advantage feels a bit vague at small lean angles until you lean it over fully and it grips more, what's the Ardent like in that respect?
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
I thought the knock to my head had caused me more memory loss when I thought I'd missed posts from 10th April until I realised it was from 3 years ago
I blame all the bevvy I got for my birthday a couple of days ago for the necroposting.....SWMBO's family must think I'm an alkie or something
Not tried the Advantage but the Ardents seem to be pretty predictable and let go progressively (wet roots and ice aside!). Not quite up to the hooligan levels of grip you can get out those Tomac signature series Kendas when leaned over but way less understeery when upright or in gloop. I'm enjoying my Ardents anyway....think mines are 2.25's instead of 2.4's though.
- 30,033
- Thailand
I had another blow-out, this time from a huge chunk of rock just chilling in the road where my bike happened to be riding. 
I'm really thinking about going Slime to avoid these unfortunate problems as the roads here are notoriously dangerous in terms of loose rock and potholes.
The only down side I can see to it is the little bit of added weight, and finding them in China.
I'm really thinking about going Slime to avoid these unfortunate problems as the roads here are notoriously dangerous in terms of loose rock and potholes.
The only down side I can see to it is the little bit of added weight, and finding them in China.
- 13,827
- Down under
I had another blow-out, this time from a huge chunk of rock just chilling in the road where my bike happened to be riding.
I'm really thinking about going Slime to avoid these unfortunate problems as the roads here are notoriously dangerous in terms of loose rock and potholes.
The only down side I can see to it is the little bit of added weight, and finding them in China.
Are you running 'general purpose' road tyres or more road racerish ones?
- 13,827
- Down under
Is the high pressure the possible issue? I know I have run over large stones a few times and they kind of get "squeezed and shot" out from under the rolling tyre. High pressures maybe mean its the tyre that cant handle the deformation?
- 30,033
- Thailand
The stone I hit was going to go through any tyre no matter what the pressure. I went back and collected it and the thing was like a ninja weapon!
I have been running lower pressures lately and it seems to provide a more comfy ride so I might stick to them. 110psi was solid and fast but hurt my bum too much.
I have been running lower pressures lately and it seems to provide a more comfy ride so I might stick to them. 110psi was solid and fast but hurt my bum too much.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
I went on a stealth mission today to save a trail
Some trees had fallen on one of my favourite trails months ago but whoever clears trees off the advertised trails (usually within a week) hadn't done anything about these ones so I went sneaking through a managed forest with a saw.
before by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
after by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
Another bit of the trail....looking up-trail from where the above were taken.
bit-of-the-secret-trail by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
The skinnies are barely off the ground but it's tricky enough that coming off it is fairly routine for most riders I know:tup:
Some trees had fallen on one of my favourite trails months ago but whoever clears trees off the advertised trails (usually within a week) hadn't done anything about these ones so I went sneaking through a managed forest with a saw.
before by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
after by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
Another bit of the trail....looking up-trail from where the above were taken.
bit-of-the-secret-trail by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
The skinnies are barely off the ground but it's tricky enough that coming off it is fairly routine for most riders I know:tup:
- 24,636
- Anoka, MN
Finally got my bike to the shop to get some final adjustments, all it needed was a brake and derailer adjustment. Took it for a short ride afterwards and the thing rides great. Just in time for my week off.
Unfortunately it's supposed to be crappy every day except Tuesday.
Unfortunately it's supposed to be crappy every day except Tuesday.
Gorilla trail craft! I like it.
I've been very tempted to paint my own bike lanes on my commuter route, gorilla (guerilla?) style, but I have a feeling the Chinese drivers would ignore it anyway.
Oh yes, those Chinese drivers WILL ignore it.
Shanghai drivers didn't care, so long it didn't scratch their precious car.
Once, my boss got involved in a stupid accident. Basically he had a three wheeler bike that also had seating available for an adult behind him.
similar to this, just imagine he's actually pedalling it (not a motorbike) and the loading bay is cut in half or thereabouts. The brakes were well dodgy on that bike and a car apparently just stopped right in front of him and he couldn't squeeze his way through anymore. The policeman was right there and saw it all happen.
As I understand it, the driver got the blame for it as the driver should have left my boss more space to use the road as the car basically just went over the bike lane, pretty much.
Went for a 20km ride with the girlfriend.
It was okay. She's not confident on roads at all, and a 30 minute ride took and hour and a half! And a road bike on cycle paths at a slow pace, unbearable!
But it was worth it to see her getting out of the saddle
Getting some good dreams out of that then!
