The biking thread

[Boffin]

Seeing as I have the BigHit, I decided my GT Avalanche should be less of a XC MTB and more or an urban hybrid, so I fitted some Continental Sport Contact road tyres on it. I was originally looking at keeping the same sort of tyre profile just with no tread (say 26 X ~ 2.1) but chose the slim 1.3 inch variant. Only managed to ride it round the streets as there has been some weather recently but really happy with the way it goes. Definately picks up more of the road surface feel like a road bike does. Its basically now a rather heavy road bike I can take off curbs without being to scared of damaging the rim, frame or fork(something that always prevented me from getting a road bike was it's not really acceptable to ride it on the footpath, unlike a mountainbike).

Now I am toying with the idea of painting the frame matte black....

Finally went out on the new tyres today around town and was really pleased. No road noise (kinda eery for an mtb'er) and it took gradients with much more vigour than before. Could be the fitness regime kicking in and the last time I did the same route was on a million tonne downhill bike, but nevertheless, I enjoyed myself.
Kinda funny that my where I was riding to doesn't look too far off Mike Rotch's photo.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Clovelly?

You're a nor' beaches lad aren't you .

 

[Neal]

Neal, Guangzhou isn't in Hong Kong, its actually in Mainland China. Its about 200-ish kilometres away from Hong Kong or something like that. If it is in Guangzhou airport, it would be likely to be in Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou. I suspect you meant it was sent FROM Guangzhou TO Hong Kong?

So it is, I assumed it was in HK as that's where the retailer is based and in fact I'm assuming it was last tracked at an airport but for all I know that was where it was loaded onto a donkey...judging by the delivery time it was a 3 legged donkey!


I finished spraying up the frame, forks and handlebars on my sons bike at the weekend and am pretty happy with the results although it wasn't that straight forward mostly due to my own cackhandedness. I balanced the forks badly and they fell over so needed rubbing down and painting again, I got a run in the bars which I was going to leave but left them resting on a cloth overnight which imprinted in the soft paint so they needed rubbing down and repainting and I picked up the frame by the headtube I'd just painted so that needed doing again I will not be getting a job at Aston Martin's paint shop!

I just need to regrease all the bearings and put it back together now for the weekend...and wrap it of course although he'll probably guess what it is

 

[Submerged]

Ah, no worries Neal.

I was starting to get quite confused but assumed that the retailer must have come from Hong Kong. Quite often, some stores will get parts from Shenzhen (computers) or Guangzhou (everything else) as its supposedly cheaper than getting it done in Hong Kong.

Ah, sounds like a lot of hassle with the bike there! I believe it will all be worth it when he sees it on the day!

 

[Boffin]

Clovelly?

You're a nor' beaches lad aren't you .

Manly. Busting some cycles around town and then up near North head.

 

[Mike Rotch]

So in terms of obvious questions (again)....

What are the general solutions to avoid sun beating on your face whilst riding? My helmet has a poor excuse for a visor, so it can be a energy sapping. This would be a great time for Evan to pipe up, having ridden through the outback .

As far as I can see, the options are sunscreen, a Lawrence of Arabia head wrap, or a cap that goes under the helmet with the peak sticking out. But, that latter option equals one hot, itchy head surely?

 

[Neal]

You could live in the UK although then you'd have to work out how to avoid getting moldy.

 

[ExigeEvan]

So in terms of obvious questions (again)....

What are the general solutions to avoid sun beating on your face whilst riding? My helmet has a poor excuse for a visor, so it can be a energy sapping. This would be a great time for Evan to pipe up, having ridden through the outback .

As far as I can see, the options are sunscreen, a Lawrence of Arabia head wrap, or a cap that goes under the helmet with the peak sticking out. But, that latter option equals one hot, itchy head surely?

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Sorry bruv, but it's factor 50+ sunscreen, helmet visor and big ass sun glasses.

And sweat/snot. I'm not really sure by this point.

 

[Neal]

Brad, the torch I ordered from DX on 28th Oct turned up today so there's hope for you yet. Let me know when you get it and I'll send you some info on modding it with aluminium foil to help with heatsinking and a few other tips.


*drum roll* The Specialized Hotrock is finished

Forks and bars completely resprayed plus the head tube and a few other spots touched up on the frame. Hubs, headset and bottom bracket stripped, cleaned and regreased including the coaster brake in the rear hub which was veeeeery messy but it's all running super smooth now. Also stuck the chain (KMC no less!) in a bottle of degreaser to clean it properly before lubing it and sticking it back on. Finally sprayed the whole bike with silicone spray then polished it off to make it all shiny and blacken the plastics and rubber.

Just need to get some more wrapping paper to fully cover it before giving it to Jack on Sunday for his birthday, hopefully he'll be made up with it.

Slightly crummy photos, probably should have used the flash or gone in a room with brighter lights.

 

[Aldo]

That's undeniably wunderfantastich! I'm jelly!
Hope he enjoys it as much as you have! 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

You know what would really finish that great work?

Painted side walls

 

[Greycap]

It took me 25 years to get one of those Big S machines.

But here it is now, the result of a few months' money saving program. Two weeks since I brought it home and I'm still perfecting the settings before even taking it out.

 

[shmogt]

It took me 25 years to get one of those Big S machines.

But here it is now, the result of a few months' money saving program. Two weeks since I brought it home and I'm still perfecting the settings before even taking it out.

This looks so nice. Even the tires look fresh out the factory.

As for me I used to ride a bike when I was a kid and literally every time I would somehow manage to fall and get hurt. Literally every time. Than one day I woke up and heard noise outside. I knew we were having a garage sale that day so I figured it would be people and I look out the window and I see someone ride a bike away from my house. Whatever tho there were lots of people and it was a nice summer day so I didn't worry. The next day it was time to do some riding and my bike was gone. I looked everywhere thinking my parents moved it to not conflict with the garage sale stuff, but couldn't find it. I go inside and ask my mom where it is. She looks at me like it's nothing and says "oh we sold it yesterday". I snapped. How could you possibly sell your kids bike it was so ********. She said some guy liked it and paid $20 for it so they sold it. I was so mad and yelling like crazy, but my mom said whatever we will get you a new bike soon since the other one was getting small anyway. That shut me up pretty quick because yes I was mad my bike was sold without my permission but a new bike is a even trade. To this day I have never revived this new bike. It was all a scam. After that I vowed to never ride again.

 

[W3H5]

And, father of the year, 2011, goes tooooooooo..............

Nice work Neal. Great job there, and it'll mean so much more the fact that you put your own elbow grease into it.

Jealously is one word that springs to mind. The other is the phrase 'too clean'. Get out there and dirty that beast up!

 

[Greycap]

Jealously is one word that springs to mind. The other is the phrase 'too clean'. Get out there and dirty that beast up!

Bah, the only thing to be jealous about is that it's indeed clean and will remain that way until spring as I'm not certainly taking it to the icy streets without spiked tyres. It's not far from the truth to say that most of the guys here with biking even as a half serious hobby have rides more expensive and sophisticated than that as it's really just the entry level full suspension bike. It does a great job of looking much more high tech than it actually is though.

 

[jagdrag77]

This looks so nice. Even the tires look fresh out the factory.

As for me I used to ride a bike when I was a kid and literally every time I would somehow manage to fall and get hurt. Literally every time. Than one day I woke up and heard noise outside. I knew we were having a garage sale that day so I figured it would be people and I look out the window and I see someone ride a bike away from my house. Whatever tho there were lots of people and it was a nice summer day so I didn't worry. The next day it was time to do some riding and my bike was gone. I looked everywhere thinking my parents moved it to not conflict with the garage sale stuff, but couldn't find it. I go inside and ask my mom where it is. She looks at me like it's nothing and says "oh we sold it yesterday". I snapped. How could you possibly sell your kids bike it was so ********. She said some guy liked it and paid $20 for it so they sold it. I was so mad and yelling like crazy, but my mom said whatever we will get you a new bike soon since the other one was getting small anyway. That shut me up pretty quick because yes I was mad my bike was sold without my permission but a new bike is a even trade. To this day I have never revived this new bike. It was all a scam. After that I vowed to never ride again.

A very sad story, I know what it's like to lose a bike,it truely sucks. Have you never really riden since then?

 

[Mike Rotch]

It's Jason Plato

Brad, the torch I ordered from DX on 28th Oct turned up today so there's hope for you yet. Let me know when you get it and I'll send you some info on modding it with aluminium foil to help with heatsinking and a few other tips.

Cool - so your's took a month, which means I have about two weeks left to wait before I should expect it..

*drum roll* The Specialized Hotrock is finished

Sweet! It looks epic! That's going to make a cracker present

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's Jason Plato

I'll add it to the list...


Harry Potter
Mclovin
David Schwimmer
Ed Helms


Jason Plato.

 

[Neal]

Thanks for the gratifying comments on mini-me's bike chaps :tup:

Evan, do you mean white walls or a more funky colour? I doubt I'll be doing it although you have planted the seed!

Cool - so your's took a month, which means I have about two weeks left to wait before I should expect it..

That sounds about right. Also mine was shipped on 2nd Nov so most of that month was delivery I've had other stuff from China that turned up much sooner and the first torch I got arrived in 2 1/2 weeks so not sure what the delay was although I believe you can expect it to take longer this close to Christmas.


Very nice bike Greycap 👍 It's crazy how much it costs to get a half decent trail bike isn't it but you've got a good one there. My brother has got a Stumpy FSR and the finish on it is superb plus it rides unbelievably smooth...on the few occasions he's let me have a go!

 

[shmogt]

A very sad story, I know what it's like to lose a bike,it truely sucks. Have you never really riden since then?

Well the story is true, but the ending is slightly for effect. One day I might ride again. Like two summers ago I was riding a old used garbage bike to get to and back from the gym. That was more of a I had to sort of thing and not fun at all tho.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Evan, do you mean white walls or a more funky colour? I doubt I'll be doing it although you have planted the seed!

Funky, most deff'

 

[Neal]

Fo real doubt they do 12" though...hopefully my lad will be too busy riding the thing to let me get at it with more paint!

 

[Mike Rotch]

I had a poke around a bike shop during my lunch break and came across this weird Cannondale "Lefty":

Bonkers front fork.

 

[jagdrag77]

I had a poke around a bike shop during my lunch break and came across this weird Cannondale "Lefty":

Bonkers front fork.

How does that work? 💡

 

[W3H5]

That is bizarre to say the least! I've seen single rear swing-arms like one might find on a motor bike, but never have I seen anything designed like that. I'm not sure I'd put much faith in it.

 

[Mike Rotch]

I'm not sure what the benefit of a single front fork is, but the offset nature of it freaks me out!

 

[Neal]

Cannondale Lefty front forks are one of their USP's with the benefit being a weight saving over normal forks with 2 legs. They look cool although I also can't get my head round how they can be stiff enough but apparently they are.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...spension/product/lefty-lfa-dlr-fork-10-37599/

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/innovation/lefty_headshok

 

[Mike Rotch]

That's just awesome. Still looks weird, but is just awesome.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I guess if it breaks you could probably argue it'd cause damage to a normal set of forks, just be a little bit more catastrophic!

 

[alpacaflip]

Ugh lefties. They are quite popular here in the states. At least around where I live. People say they ride fine, but I would never own one due to the fact it would drive me insane, looking at a partial fork.

A couple mountain bike movies if you want to pass the time.




I know the rider Adam Hauck at 25:50. He used to shred the local park before it got torn down.