The biking thread

[Aldo]

New brake pads have completely stoped the flock of geese being raped noise and increased the power to ridiculously easy one finger stoppies levels even with my fat ass hanging off the back of the bike. Today's lesson is to put plastic bags over the discs and callipers whenever you're spraying lube anywhere near the bike! The old pads have been scorched on the gas hob to get rid of as much oil as possible and can go in my camelbak for backups.

Shem - I'd oil the gear cables, shifters and derailleurs then check the bolts securing the derailleurs to the frame are tight plus any on the derailleurs then try indexing them again. It could just be the drivetrain and chain are worn out though.

Aldo - I'd be reluctant to prise the seals out of the lowers, if you can't get them back in you'll have to strip the forks which isn't too tricky but requires tools you might not have plus new suspension fluid. Cotton bud and plenty of silicone spray (mind the brakes ) will probably do a good enough job and if you let all the air out of the forks so you can compress them easily it might help degunging the seals.

Lol awesome!

That is a very good plan batman! Forgot about deflating the forks!
This can be tomorrow's job to get wrong...

 

[W3H5]

Finally some of my new parts have arrived, my aero bars!!!

I ordered these from the web hoping they'd come within a few day. It's now 2 weeks later but they're here.

I spent the good part of 2 hours fitting the bloody things as they came with the wrong fittings where they fit the main handle bar so I had to improvise a way to get them to fit using card board.

Tomorrow I'm planing to do a lap of the city at around 45k, hopefully the rain stays away, it was part of the reason I didn't ride today. Rain and a hangover. If it does rain I'll just have to take a waterproof and ride a bit slower than usual.

I'm hoping with the aide of these bars which lower air resistance I can add a few kph to my average speed so I could be pushing around 25kph on a good day. I'm mainly looking forward to the insane speeds I'll be doing on the way down after my hill mountain climb interval training.

Slightly off the subject a bit, I went out today while in town and had a look for some sports gear the get me through the ever closer winter. Winters here aren't too cold, the temperature usually doesn't get below 0.

I checked out the Nike shop where I discovered the Dry-fit gear. What a rip off! I know it's good gear because I had a good feel of the material but I'd rather not spend £50 on a long sleeve T just because it has a tick on the breast. Are there any other brands that make quality sweat wicking shirts for a better price? Here's what I looked at -

 

[TB]

Nice aerobar, Shem. 👍 The elbow pads are set quite a bit wider than mine but, due to the design I don't really have much choice.

As for cheaper gear, not knowing what you have available, I think the C9 gear at Target works well and for around $15 each, you can buy three for the price of one Nike!

 

[W3H5]

I like the fact that yours come as one piece. Being a bit OCDish I spent a good part of the fitting time making sure they were equally set on each axis which was a pain.

I'll have to do a web search tomorrow for some sports clothing. I'm very tempted to buy the gear being sold in the link. Now to see if my stupid bank card will work on-line as it usually doesn't outside of China.

Now to find a seat too......
I've spent enough time on my semi-comfortable saddle to firm up my butt, I want to see how a proper slimline race saddle will improve my performance.

 

[TB]

I like the fact that yours come as one piece.

It is a clean design but doesn't allow for much in the way of adjusting.

Being a bit OCDish I spent a good part of the fitting time making sure they were equally set on each axis which was a pain.

Knowing me, I'd likely get out the tablesaw and cut down a piece of pine as a spacer from the stem and then have another piece on the floor to set the angle.

 

[chuyler1]

Hey guys, just discovered this thread...by accident really. Coincidentally, I just picked up my first mountain bike in 10 years. Used to ride in highschool/college but lost interest when my bike was stolen from my dorm room balcony. Jump 10 years later...wife convinced me to move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to be closer to her family. The weather has been so beautiful I just got the itch...and with mountains so close...I had to scratch.

Anyway, just picked up a Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc for $475. Guy on craigslist was selling it after only putting about 20 miles on it. Hasn't even had its first tune-up but wants to upgrade his kayak instead. Not a single chip on the paint. I am so psyched for this weekend. There are some nice XC trails down the street from me that I have hiked a few times over the summer. I can't wait to take them full speed on the bike. Nothing steep, but gotta start slow.

I got a Q for the hardcore guys. Should I upgrade the pedals? I used to have baskets but I'm not sure if those are the "in" thing anymore...or if special shoes/clips are popular...or just going flat foot.

Anyway, suggestions on my first upgrades would be appreciated...as I plan to find some new peeps to ride with and I don't want to look like a poser.

 

[Aldo]

Just took some photos of recently bought bits on my bike.

New grips:

New brake:

Newish but just recently got it sorted chain guide thingy:

Might actually get to use them at Glentress on Wednesday as well.

 

[W3H5]

Just took some photos of recently bought bits on my bike.

Nice parts Aldo. I bet they set you back a few £!

I got a Q for the hardcore guys. Should I upgrade the pedals? I used to have baskets but I'm not sure if those are the "in" thing anymore...or if special shoes/clips are popular...or just going flat foot.

Anyway, suggestions on my first upgrades would be appreciated...as I plan to find some new peeps to ride with and I don't want to look like a poser.

Nice bike man! Sounds like you bagged yourself a bargain there.

In response to the question, I'm no hardcore rider by the way, pedals are something of a personal choice thing. I've seen riders that swear by clip-ons but I've used the same stock pedals for years and not felt the urge to upgrade.

If you're riding trails you might want some pedals with plenty of grip if an upgrade is really what you have in mind. I've no idea how much these would cost but they're an alternative to clip-ons.

Some time later edit:

Back from my weekly interval training run.

Expected distance: 26k
Actual distance: >30k

The weather wasn't looking as bas as I expected, a little drizzle but not enough to reduce visibility to a dangerous level and not enough to stop me getting a good ride in.

The new bars are doing there job although a slight bit of adjustment is needed to the rest pad angle. My neck is definitely suffering from the lower body angle but I'm sure I'll get used to that. I've a new found respect for some muscle groups in my legs and back which I never knew existed. How woulda knew that changing position would bring in the use of new muscles?

I went for a light track jacket over a sleeveless T-shirt and 2 pairs of short to combat the chilly winds. The jacket and T combo held up fine, only getting a bit damp on the inside from sweat and keeping the rain on the outside. The shorts were a mistake. They're loose fitting and chaffed like hell on the bit between my 🤬 and 🤬! I'll have to buy some Lycras.

The journey itself was OK. I didn't make the 45k I was attempting because of the weather. I did my usually work route instead but without a break as I'm not working today.
On the way back, around 2k from home, the plod had closed of the road after the river had flooded and a floating restaurant wandered into the road and knocked over a telegraph poll and strewn bits of glass and furnishings across the road. This lead to an unexpected detour up the mountain into town which really got my blood flowing.
The road is very similar to SSR7 from GT5 except it runs along a river.

Home now warm and dry but because after 3 years my iPhone has decided it's a banana rather than an Apple and completely shut down. Time for a new phone.

 

[Submerged]

Feel your pain about the chafing shorts.

Its feels really strange to wear lycra and tight fitting stuff initially, but it does become a lot more comfortable once you get used to it. And get the padded stuff in the right place...

Your neck shouldn't be feeling sore, unless you're putting a lot of stress/tension in it? You should (I imagine) feel the tension in the stomach region (core stability) and the lower back, as you would be stretching and using those muscles.

Unless you were going for the hyper-crazy superman streamlined position?

 

[chuyler1]

In response to the question, I'm no hardcore rider by the way, pedals are something of a personal choice thing. I've seen riders that swear by clip-ons but I've used the same stock pedals for years and not felt the urge to upgrade.

If you're riding trails you might want some pedals with plenty of grip if an upgrade is really what you have in mind. I've no idea how much these would cost but they're an alternative to clip-ons.

Thanks for the response. I guess I'll try the stock pedals for a few weeks and see how I do. They should be fine for XC but I think if I really get into it i'd want to check out some of the nearby downhill parks...but that probably won't happen until the spring. The place below is only 1hr away so i absolutely want to check it out next spring/summer.
http://highlandmountain.com/

I did some downhill biking at Sunday River back in the day and it was a blast...and that was before the sport really took off. Now they've got obstacles, manicured trails, and endless trail features to mix it up. When I went, we basically hit up some access roads at full speed and the occasional single track.

 

[Neal]

The bars look good shem 👍 You might want to use some thin strips of rubber instead of cardboard to fit them though as it'll turn to mush when it gets wet. That Nike top looks pretty decent but is damn expensive, I'm thinking of getting this top for £19 which is about as much as I'd pay here but any generic close fitting fast wicking top with flat lock seams should be fine. Edit: the stuff TB has linked is ridiculously cheap

That's a really nice bike chuyler1 👍 I've also recently got back into mountain biking after a 15 year break although I was never that good a rider as a kid really and the trails we have now were none existent back then. Saying that the stuff you've got over there makes me very jealous especially with the cable car lifts! Although clip in pedals are the way forward for trail riding I'd get used to riding the bike with flat pedals and a decent pair of shoes, Five Ten seem to be the most popular choice although I wear what I've already got. As far as upgrades go I'd just ride the bike for a while to work out what you want to change although new/different/better tyres would probably be your first choice and maybe bar grips and saddle.

Aldo, those grips are soooo noice :tup: Do want!

 

[Submerged]

Shem, with regards to tight top wear, a cheaper way to get one is to try the rugby training tops or sports training wear. They may have some that are a lower price depending on whether the sport is available for all or not. A friend at swimming often brought womens short pants stuff (four quid each one) to wear in the water at training, as it was heavier material, brightly coloured and he just didn't care if it got ripped or not after six months of chlorinated water as it was dirt cheap. Basically, just look around and see if you can see something that will fit your needs.

That reminds me. Do you have the Japanese store anywhere near you, Shem? I can't remember the name off my head, but I've just remembered that they may sell some extremely useful vest that you can wear under the top and it will keep you cool (if needed) or warm (if required) and feels quite nice. It may be something that you are looking for. The name was something like "Uni quo" or whatever. A red sqaure-ish logo. Often seems to have some fashionable tops using game/anime/current pop stuff/useful fashions there.

Alternatively, with road bike tops, you can wear more than one jersey to keep a bit warmer for the core part of your body.

 

[W3H5]

Unless you were going for the hyper-crazy superman streamlined position?

That was my initial idea before I realised my neck wouldn't take the strain!

The bars look good shem 👍 You might want to use some thin strips of rubber instead of cardboard to fit them though as it'll turn to mush when it gets wet.

I tried with rubber and foam sheeting but they didn't offer enough grip and the bars were moving when I put weight on them. The cardboard seems to hold up fine and got a drenching yesterday, so far so good.

Shem, with regards to tight top wear, a cheaper way to get one is to try the rugby training tops or sports training wear.

I did actually try with my old England football shirt but it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I have been looking into rugby shirts although I'm going to try my luck with the ones TB inked.

That reminds me. Do you have the Japanese store anywhere near you, Shem?

Yeah, I know which one you mean. There's one in my town but it's stupidly expensive, on par with the Nike shirt!

 

[Aldo]

shem: The damage to my wallet wasn't as bad as you think.

Aldo, those grips are soooo noice :tup: Do want!

I know right... From afar they look daft, but up close I love them.

 

[Neal]

shem: The damage to my wallet wasn't as bad as you think.

The grips really were quite reasonable as it was only the cartridges, the rest of their stuff is very cheap too and they only charge £5 postage worldwide!

I know right... From afar they look daft, but up close I love them.

How squidgey are they and are they much bigger than standard grips?

 

[Aldo]

The grips really were quite reasonable as it was only the cartridges, the rest of their stuff is very cheap too and they only charge £5 postage worldwide!



How squidgey are they and are they much bigger than standard grips?

Yeah what he said... 👍

Ummmm they are quite squidgy... Not too squidgy though. I'll do a squidginess test when I go out later and report back
They are quite long I think, but again will compare them to my old lizardskins ones later on. Circumference wise they aren't too small but aren't too big... Can you tell I've not done many reviews before?

 

[Neal]

That's genius mate, I couldn't be more informed on these now

 

[Aldo]

Ahh nice one! I was going to go out and have a look for you but as it's panning down and you seem happy with the answers I'll just leave it...

 

[W3H5]

Why are you not writing for a publication?!

 

[Mike Rotch]

Neat bars Shem. 👍

Aldo - had you tried those grips before you bought them? I've tried some grips in-shop that seemed like they'd be a dodgy proposition. On my old Peugeot () from yonks ago I had some kind of firm spongey grip that was uber comfy. Need to find it again somehow!

 

[Neal]

Brad, you could try and find these, spiffy colour optional

 

[Aldo]

Why are you not writing for a publication?!

I'll put that down to my C for English... (I can't write a decent enough essay on a 2 page short story in which nothing happens at all. )

Aldo - had you tried those grips before you bought them? I've tried some grips in-shop that seemed like they'd be a dodgy proposition. On my old Peugeot () from yonks ago I had some kind of firm spongey grip that was uber comfy. Need to find it again somehow!

Yeah I had a pair previously, as Neal said I just replaced the actual bit in the middle and left the bar end/lock ring. They're more firm than spongy so if you're looking for spongy I would try elsewhere.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Brad, you could try and find these, spiffy colour optional

Bought

.

👍

 

[W3H5]

these

Ooooo.......I could do with a pair of those.

I currently grip raw metal on both sets of my bars and could do with a little comfort. I'm torn between grips and bar tape which might be more useful for my set up as I'd need to buy 2 sets of grips.

 

[boiltheocean]

Thanks for the response. I guess I'll try the stock pedals for a few weeks and see how I do. They should be fine for XC but I think if I really get into it i'd want to check out some of the nearby downhill parks...but that probably won't happen until the spring. The place below is only 1hr away so i absolutely want to check it out next spring/summer.
http://highlandmountain.com/

I did some downhill biking at Sunday River back in the day and it was a blast...and that was before the sport really took off. Now they've got obstacles, manicured trails, and endless trail features to mix it up. When I went, we basically hit up some access roads at full speed and the occasional single track.

Your only 1 hour away from Highland MTB Park, SUPER JELLO! I'm a whole ocean away. Anyway if you want to do a bit of downhill I'd run flat pedals like the one's Shem pictured(although not Straitline as they are overpriced), you'll feel much more confident than being clipped in.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Went for my first 'long ride' (9km ) doing two loops of the park. Legs are a bit flimsy at the moment but really enjoyed it.

I think my brake levers are too long though. Its really uncomfortable to try keep one finger on the part of the lever that gives the most leverage/ one finger braking power. Have to see how that goes.

 

[W3H5]

I rarely keep my fingers on the brake levers unless I'm filtering through traffic. If you're just cruising normally there isn't any need to keep you fingers on the levers I find. When I ride on the aero bars I don't even have immediate access to the breaks, I have to sit up and change position.

 

[Aldo]

Went for my first 'long ride' (9km ) doing two loops of the park. Legs are a bit flimsy at the moment but really enjoyed it.

I think my brake levers are too long though. Its really uncomfortable to try keep one finger on the part of the lever that gives the most leverage/ one finger braking power. Have to see how that goes.

Try and find out if your brake levers have "lever reach adjust". Most levers have this which enables you to make the lever closer to the bar. It is sometimes a little allen key bolt somewhere around the lever. 👍

 

[Neal]

Went for my first 'long ride' (9km ) doing two loops of the park. Legs are a bit flimsy at the moment but really enjoyed it.

I think my brake levers are too long though. Its really uncomfortable to try keep one finger on the part of the lever that gives the most leverage/ one finger braking power. Have to see how that goes.

Aldo's right...had to happen one day Your levers are ST-EF51 reach adjust so you can move the levers closer to the bar. This is a diagram of the EF50 which I assume is pretty much the same as yours so the screw (8) should be under the the shifter, you want the lever to rest in the crook of your first knuckle with your hands resting comfortably on the bars and your fingers extended comfortably to the brake lever. Also you should move the levers along the bars towards the stem so your braking fingers rest at the tip of the lever for maximum leverage.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Your levers are ST-EF51 reach adjust so you can move the levers closer to the bar. This is a diagram of the EF50 which I assume is pretty much the same as yours so the screw (8) should be under the the shifter

Um, awesome! I'm terrible at technical things but this should be straight forward. Well, at least moving the whole thing along the bar to the stem.

you want the lever to rest in the crook of your first knuckle with your hands resting comfortably on the bars and your fingers extended comfortably to the brake lever.

I understand the second bit, but not the first bit.

Seems like my bike shop did a 🤬 job fitting the bike to me.