The biking thread

[Neal]

Nice vid alpacaflip, that flip at the end was pretty jaw dropping!

Mike "Contrary" Rotch, send them to me


I think I've had a penny drop moment with jumping after watching this video (found through one chuyler1 linked 👍) and reading this article. I've been trying to bunny hop off the front of the jumps and have been getting thrown off the pedals and pretty much flying in a random direction with very little control which isn't much fun. Even though the skills book I've got does say to pump into the front of the jump I was reading the "explode off the lip" bit as pull the bike up whereas I think you just pump forward into the ramp then relax and let the bike fly. Is this right or will a kill myself in even more spectacular fashion when I put it into practice next time I'm on a proper ride?

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Jumping

Nevermind, my post-jog rambling is a nightmare to read.

That tutorial video is how to do it. Find a similar jump to the one that he is riding, and practice it over and over.

 

[MadMike'86]

I've been trying to bunny hop off the front of the jumps and have been getting thrown off the pedals and pretty much flying in a random direction with very little control which isn't much fun. Even though the skills book I've got does say to pump into the front of the jump I was reading the "explode off the lip" bit as pull the bike up whereas I think you just pump forward into the ramp then relax and let the bike fly. Is this right or will a kill myself in even more spectacular fashion when I put it into practice next time I'm on a proper ride?

That is correct, you relax, pump the bike into the jump and let it fly, stay loose even when you land, leave your arms and legs loose so you can absord the impact.

Works for me....mostly lol

 

[chuyler1]

My wife is learning to mountain bike and we've been going out together. She's a solid beginner when it comes to everything off road related so I've been trying to explain things to her...but everything is so situational it is tough to break it down.

Technique is more about controlling your weight and center of gravity than it is about position on the bike. If you watch enough tutorials you'll find numerous ways to overcome the same obstacle. However, the overall theme is to loosen up...because if you act like a corpse in rigor you'll just tip or flip over.

I actually think I'm going to grab some logs and maybe construct some obstacles of my own for her to practice on in the yard. I know it sounds silly but that's what she needs. She is scared to death of bridge crossings because she's never done them before. Most of the ones in our local conservation area are only 16" wide and require you to hop up 2-4" to get on them. I buzz right over them but she stops and walks them. I just need a plank or two in the yard for her to hop onto and ride across (with soft grass on either side instead of muddy swamp). Once she gains confidence in herself and learns what the bike can and cannot do she'll do much better. Right now her pace is so slow and cautious that she is actually making it harder for herself.

 

[Aldo]

So, yeah some chap called Ruaridh Cunningham is going to be part of our lecture on Thursday...

 

[Neal]

Kewl, ask him how to jump for me 👍

EDIT: I discovered the bearings in my rear hub are making a nasty noise during my ride last night, I've ordered some new loose ball bearings so hopefully the races aren't knackered or I'll be forking out more money I could be spending on other things on a new wheel.


Also this looks good.....

 

[Aldo]

Of course dewd!

Vid looks awesomesauce!

 

[chuyler1]

If you tube were around when I was a kid...I would have so many broken bones by now. I just never knew the extent of what could be done on a mountain bike until years later. It's very difficult to learn this stuff later in life...and I notice everyone in these videos is pretty damn young.

Makes me wonder what happens to them...or I know what happens...they decide their life is more valuable than a 15 second clip of them falling down a 40 ft rock face.

 

[Aldo]

If you tube were around when I was a kid...I would have so many broken bones by now. I just never knew the extent of what could be done on a mountain bike until years later. It's very difficult to learn this stuff later in life...and I notice everyone in these videos is pretty damn young.

Makes me wonder what happens to them...or I know what happens...they decide their life is more valuable than a 15 second clip of them falling down a 40 ft rock face.

They turn into Steve Peat and still do it when they are 60-odd....

 

[boiltheocean]

Or they become another Anthony Messere and come third in the biggest freeride contest of the year at the age of 15.

 

[Neal]

My rear hub is buggered so I need a new wheel. I'll probably get one from Merlin (see link below) but is it worth spending an extra £20 for a XT hub over Deore?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+...himano++DT+Wheels+-+Disc_REAR-WHEELS-DISC.htm


Also anyone got any experience of Superstar Wheels? I may get a pair of the below which seem pretty good value as there's a good chance my front wheel won't last ages if the back one is anything to go by.

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=348

 

[Mike Rotch]

My brother in Johannesburg cycles to work everyday (using a Trek MTB ) which is about a 15 km one way journey on some of the major roads in that part of town. He's been doing it for years.

Yesterday a bus sideswiped him against the kerb !

He got bounced around between kerb and side of the bus as it drove past and 'wandered' into him and luckily, he managed to avoid either bailing onto the pavement or worse, falling under the rear wheels of the bus as he was going at about 30kph at the time .

The bus just drove off, oblivious to the carnage it created and as soon as he was free from being jammed against the kerb he obviously stopped and counted his lucky stars!

Apart from his shirt sleeve being dirtied by the bus as it brushed past him (!), he is ok. His bike is mangled though; both front and rear rims where gouged/ sliced by the kerb and bent obviously, but thankfully not enough to throw him off. Somehow his tyres stayed inflated too.

Could have been so much worse!

 

[Neal]

Glad he's unscathed but that could have ended very badly. I've had a one pull out of a bus stop on me, not nice to suddenly have the side of a bus appear in front of you!

 

[Aldo]

Glad he's alright! Sounds bloody scary!
I had some cock in an Audi drive pull out from the other side of the road, right across my path to park on my side of the road. While I was firing along at about 20MPH. Was crapping myself! If he didn't have his kids in the car I would've gone over to him and given him hell but I just called him a :censored:ing prick quite loudly... Hope he heard.

Also it's going to take a monumental effort from me to not spend all my free money on a full susser...

 

[W3H5]

Yesterday a bus sideswiped him against the kerb !

Glad to hear he came out OK.

I have similar encounters which result in near misses very often. I was almost taken out by a police patrol car not too long ago because they just drove around me and down the side road I was crossing. It's the one time in my life I couldn't help referring to the law as pigs, very loudly.

 

[boiltheocean]

Yesterday a bus sideswiped him against the kerb !

He got bounced around between kerb and side of the bus as it drove past and 'wandered' into him and luckily, he managed to avoid either bailing onto the pavement or worse, falling under the rear wheels of the bus as he was going at about 30kph at the time .

Wow that's messed up, he got lucky though.

Neal you should get some Hope Pro2's on ZTR Flows.

 

[Neal]

Neal you should get some Hope Pro2's on ZTR Flows.

You're worse than me when it comes to recommending stuff. "What's that, you want a new thingy on a budget of £50? You should got the uberthingy for £300, that would be sweet." You'll be wanting me to boil the ocean next

 

[boiltheocean]

Well I could of recommended the DT 240's, they are more expensive than Pro 2's (Louder too, I love mine).

Besides if you spend money on a decent wheelset now you'll be sorted for ages.

 

[Submerged]

This I can attest to.

Brought Bontranger wheelsets for my roadie (150 quid....). Brought my roadie before the wheelset about four weeks beforehand for 160 quid. Best thing I did for that bike as the previous wheelset was a bit... shabby and getting bent quite easily. I could have easily brought a 80 quid wheelset but wanted something that was solid and wasn't going to buckle after hitting some bumps...

 

[Neal]

Well I could of recommended the DT 240's, they are more expensive than Pro 2's (Louder too, I love mine).

Besides if you spend money on a decent wheelset now you'll be sorted for ages.

True but I have to add the "wife approval factor" into the equation which caps it somewhat...also I'm trying not to invest too much into this bike as it's meant to be a stop gap until I get a Canyon Nerve which will hopefully still be bargains. I do like the idea of load freehubs through to let the rider in front know you're there when you're buzzing their back wheel

 

[chuyler1]

Just got back from another 5 mile ride in my local conservation area. Met up with some other guys that work 2nd shift. With leaves on the ground and recent rain it was a bit slick, but I only slipped a few times on roots. My Gary Fisher is an amazing climber. Even out of the saddle I don't lose rear grip (unless its over a wet root). I used to always slip the rear end on my old bike. It was a GF as well, but I think geometry and tire designs have come a long way.

 

[boiltheocean]

True but I have to add the "wife approval factor" into the equation which caps it somewhat...also I'm trying not to invest too much into this bike as it's meant to be a stop gap until I get a Canyon Nerve which will hopefully still be bargains. I do like the idea of load freehubs through to let the rider in front know you're there when you're buzzing their back wheel

What's the spec of your current bike? I don't remember ever seeing a picture of it.

 

[MadMike'86]

Neil, superstar wheels are very good for the dosh, the hubs especially are meant to be awesome 👍

 

[Neal]

I'm jealous chuyler1, I've been in work all day and my bike is in bits. Modern tyres are a huge improvement on the stuff I used to have to put up with a looooong time ago...can you even get Tioga Farmer John tyres now

What's the spec of your current bike? I don't remember ever seeing a picture of it.

Once it's back together and clean I'll take some pics for the post your bike thread. It's a Carrera Vulcan disc '08 (red one) with SRAM X4 drivetrain which is so far lasting quite well and until the problem with the back wheel only the bottom bracket needed replacing due to wear and tear. New stuff is Elixir R brakes, RockShox Reba SL Dualair forks, Easton EA50 Monkey Bars, Truvative Hussefelt 70mm stem, Lizard Skin Charger grips, Spesh Avatar saddle and at the moment Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 rear and Advantage 2.25 front tyres. Down to about 13.7kg but will hopefully drop a bit more once wheel/wheels are replaced. The frame is "ok" but it is a bit heavy and basic.

Neal, superstar wheels are very good for the dosh, the hubs especially are meant to be awesome 👍

They do seem to be a bit of a bargain but at £150 a pair they are still a lot more than a Deore hub and Mavic XM317 rim for £65. Problem is reviews of Deore hubs are terrible and XT don't sound much better which is why I'm looking at alternatives.

 

[boiltheocean]

I reckon you could buy a better frame, drivetrain and wheelset for less than a complete Canyon Nerve, you've already got some decent parts that will last for a while. You'll probably have a better bike and heaps more knowledge out of assembling your own build.

 

[raz_10]

Mike Rotch Glad to hear your brother was unharmed!

Being forgetting to update, so I finally got to ride my bike to work. Last week the ride took me 35 min. each way to and from work. So I decided to just take my car in the morning (no need to shower @ work in the AM ) then ride the bike back to work; I have two dogs so I have to come home @ lunch to make sure they do their business.
On alternate weeks I will have a 3 day bike to work routine the other weeks just two days. This being my second week I cut down my ride time to 25 min.
On the first day I almost ate it! I accidentally went into the railroad tracks of our underground but luckily was able to avoid the ground,the car and the people who ran across the street.

I am still getting used to the gears and when to shift and use them, at some points my 4th gear still jumps around. I guess im stretching the chain
Also need to take the bike in for service as I have a hard time switching to first gear (left hand) going up hill.

 

[chuyler1]

I'm jealous chuyler1, I've been in work all day and my bike is in bits. Modern tyres are a huge improvement on the stuff I used to have to put up with a looooong time ago...can you even get Tioga Farmer John tyres now

I've actually been getting out 3-4 times a week now. I work from home 3 days a week and the past month the weather has been cooperating so I can ride about an hour on my lunch break.

I tried to find a photo of my old tires but none came up. Tire compound I think is the best improvement. They are much softer than they used to be...which means they'll wear out quicker but provide better grip. The knobs are also much smaller...which surprised me at first. I was expecting them to be real slick on any sort of lose terrain but they just grip so well I forget about them. Only time I've had issues is on damp wooden bridges and the occasional wet root. I've fallen a few times when the rear tire slipped out on a bridge. Of course my shoes could barely grip the bridges too so I don't fault the tire for that.

 

[Neal]

I reckon you could buy a better frame, drivetrain and wheelset for less than a complete Canyon Nerve, you've already got some decent parts that will last for a while. You'll probably have a better bike and heaps more knowledge out of assembling your own build.

You might be right there, certainly something to think about when I am in a position to change bikes. Slight problem with that is the forks I've got are a bit long in the tooth but if they seem in good condition when I strip them over the winter and take the spacer out to increase the travel then they might be ok long term.

I've actually been getting out 3-4 times a week now. I work from home 3 days a week and the past month the weather has been cooperating so I can ride about an hour on my lunch break.

I tried to find a photo of my old tires but none came up. Tire compound I think is the best improvement. They are much softer than they used to be...which means they'll wear out quicker but provide better grip. The knobs are also much smaller...which surprised me at first. I was expecting them to be real slick on any sort of lose terrain but they just grip so well I forget about them. Only time I've had issues is on damp wooden bridges and the occasional wet root. I've fallen a few times when the rear tire slipped out on a bridge. Of course my shoes could barely grip the bridges too so I don't fault the tire for that.

I'm even more jealous! My two weekday rides at the moment are in the dark on roads although there's hardly any traffic so it's not too bad, just boring. I am getting a decent most weekends and the traing is helping those so it's all good.

 

[alpacaflip]

Good to hear he is okay Mike!

Woo I'm going to attend Diabloween on the 30th.

A picture of it from a few years ago lol.

 

[Neal]

Awesome ...the tree in front is a Toyota.