The biking thread

Cheers for those videos mate, was looking for something to do this afternoon. đź‘Ť

Also check out:


:D
Bit of an S-bomb at the end, you've been warned...
 
Cycling fail.

New route, steep hill, mud on the road, rain coming down, probably suffering from yesterdays hangover starve. Turned round, went home, drove the route.

Was only in second gear going up the hill in my car, and 1st gear for the switch back :ouch:
 
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.
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It arrived :D!

And triumphantly, I even stopped myself from looking straight into it, so see how bright it was :sly:.

Neal
In the mean time have a read of this...
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:grumpy:
The charger tripped the breaker when full charge was reached, which I assume is a po' way of avoiding overcharging/ poor charger design.
 
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Mike Rotch
It arrived :D!

And triumphantly, I even stopped myself from looking straight into it, to see how bright it was :sly:.
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Awesome, the delivery times from that place are pretty rubbish so I was starting to feel a bit bad for recommending them. There are other places to get torch stuff from so I doubt I'll order from DX again.

It's good that it's working because they're not always assembled properly and can have loose contacts. Have a look at this video for tips on how to put them together properly.



Also the LED and reflector unit gets really frickin hot but doesn't make good contact with the body of the torch so doesn't have a great way of heatsinking. To rectify this just wrap it in aluminium kitchen foil until it's a tight fit in the torch head as in the photos below, I put a couple of beads of thermal paste on the foil originally but it got pretty messy so started again with just foil. Before you do this it's a good idea to screw the brass bit into the aluminium reflector bit, I took the outer spring off and used pliers to get it properly tight.

IMG_3836.JPG


IMG_3837.JPG


Also also if you'll be using it in the rain put some silicone grease or vasaline on the o-rings.

Last but not least be sure to practice your smug face for the next time you're out at night and someone else has brought their maglite ;)

Mike Rotch
:grumpy:
The charger tripped the breaker when full charge was reached, which I assume is a po' way of avoiding overcharging/ poor charger design.
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Have you got links to the charger and batteries you got? It shouldn't really be tripping your main breakers :scared: See if it does it again but I'd recommend you stay in the same room as the charger when it's on and assuming it doesn't trip the breaker again take the batteries out as soon as they're fully charged. They're just the same batteries and chargers as laptop tops and mobiles use but they've been know to overheat when something goes wrong.


In other bike news I have just bled the hydraulic brakes on my bike as the front lever was getting spongy and I hate a spongy brake. What a 🤬 palaver that was :irked: I used to hate doing it on my motorbikes but they were a piece of piss compared to the system for my mountain bike brakes which requires two syringes and much pulling and pushing of plungers. You have been warned Aldo! The good news is that it's worked and the lever is firm again :)

In even more bike related news my son was made up with his bike for his birthday and I was especially chuffed when he said "Wow, it's just like daddy's mountain bike" :D
 
Thanks for both tips đź‘Ť I'll definitely do the tin foil one (by stealing a strip from someone's lunch in the work fridge which will save me buying a whole roll).

I got Ultrafire batteries and what was purported to be an Ultrafire travel charger. But after last night's shock (pun!) I ordered a standard charger from somewhere else. I don't want to take any chances. Edit: Turns out the breaker trip was the charger dying :grumpy: Now the batteries are dead too :mad:.

My tail light is also super bright/ flashy, but a bit rickety. I had to tighten some contact points as the battery kept on jiggling out of position. Suppose I shouldn't expect more for $5!

Also, opinion's wanted!

I got fit to my frame this weekend by my biking nut friend. He used a calculator on competitivecyclist and physical measurements of my body to see if my frame size was right for my anatomy. Turns out, it mostly is, besides the handlebars, which I find slightly too low. So he fitted threadless stem raiser (the one at the bottom) off his bike for me to try out. It's been bad weather, so I havent been able to thoroughly test yet, but on the short ride home I had, it felt better.

Thing is, I went to 3 bike shops around the city today as asking the 'innocent question' of what my options are if I wnat an extra inch or two of handle bar height. None of them had any idea of what a threadless stem riser was. When I described it to one, he was all "oooh, that sounds dangerous". My friend has done 7000miles with his.

I need to give the raiser back to my bud, but the question is, is it a viable solution for me? I only do communting, so no hardcore trails at all. I've googled it and its recommended by a few cyclist websites. The only other option I see is a) living with low handlebars, b) getting a new handlbar stem (can't see this completely solving the problem as the reach will change too or c) a new front fork, that has a new longer stem. The raiser seems like the easiest solution, but I don't know if the bike shops are ignorant or my friend is on to something. Given the inconpetence of the shop I got the bike from, I am skeptical of their "just buy a new fork from us" approach.
 
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Try and get a refund on the knackered charger, not great it failing straight away! Hopefully the batteries aren't dead and they just need charging, have you got a multi meter to check their voltage? Below 3v and above 4.3v is bad. If the voltage is ok then maybe a connection is loose in the torch so try tightening the tail cap ring and the LED/reflector.

You've already got a 15 degree rise stem and 30mm rise bar so replacing either of these with normal stuff won't increase the bar height as they are high already but you can get adjustable rise stems which could do the trick (e.g. 1 or e.g.2), just make sure you get a stem for 25.4mm bar diameter which is what you have at the moment. Having a look at the fork steerer extender you've linked I don't see anything wrong with it at all, although I've not seen them before, so if you can get one and it's the right price then I'm sure it'll be fine.
 
Neal
Try and get a refund on the knackered charger, not great it failing straight away! Hopefully the batteries aren't dead and they just need charging, have you got a multi meter to check their voltage? Below 3v and above 4.3v is bad. If the voltage is ok then maybe a connection is loose in the torch so try tightening the tail cap ring and the LED/reflector.

You've already got a 15 degree rise stem and 30mm rise bar so replacing either of these with normal stuff won't increase the bar height as they are high already but you can get adjustable rise stems which could do the trick (e.g. 1 or e.g.2), just make sure you get a stem for 25.4mm bar diameter which is what you have at the moment. Having a look at the fork steerer extender you've linked I don't see anything wrong with it at all, although I've not seen them before, so if you can get one and it's the right price then I'm sure it'll be fine.
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No meter unfortunately. The torch worked yesterday before 'the charging incident' so it's either a loose connection or the batteries were barely alive and got drained in the charge. I'll have to wait for the new charger to arrive to make a determination :irked:.

Interesting on the adjustable stem risers. That place also stocks this extender. It comes with the longer bolt to secure the cap on the stem, which is not something I have seen other places offer.

Ever bought from this Jenson place?
 
Not bought from Jenson before but I think they're the biggest online bike shop in the US, if you can't find it locally they should be ok.

Have a play with the torch to see if something is loose but there is a chance the charger knackered the batteries :indiff:
 
My stellar week continues!

The new charger arrived and the batteries appear to be charging đź‘Ť. But my rear light died somewhere between my dining room table and being attached the the post of my bike. I examined it for loose connections and couldn't find any. Batteries? Maybe. Time to bite the bullet and get a proper one that doesn't come from some tin shed in the far east. :lol:

Then I went for a ride in the rain (it sorks) to test out the stem raiser. Hands like it as they don't feel sore, but my back doesn't.

Back to the drawing board. :grumpy:
 
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Win! Thanks to Neal's vid on torches (away, loose connections) and a new charger, my cree torch lives :).
 
Mike Rotch
Win! Thanks to Neal's vid on torches (away, loose connections) and a new charger, my cree torch lives :).
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\o/ Enjoy scaring the crap out of other cyclists when you overtake them at night. They'll think they're about to be run down by a Nissan Leaf :lol:

BTW I didn't make the video, just linked someone elses..I'm sad but I'm not that sad ;)
 
Nice! I went for a ride at Cannock Chase on the Yeti today, it's still going to be a few more rides before I get used to the size and characteristics of a full-sus but it was so damn awesome!

I also had a bitch at a group of horse riders so all my christmas anger was relieved in one go.
 
Nice kit alpacaflip, is that Easton Havoc carbon?

I was eyeing up a Yeti today Tom, they really do look the shizzle đź‘Ť

I've just ordered a new wheelset that had a few quid knocked off in the sales although I was buying them anyway, Superstar Components Tech2 EVO AM/Enduro 135 Switch with black rims and stealth hubs. Hopefully they'll be a bit lighter than what I've got but I'm more bothered about them being tough and running smooth which my current wheels certainly don't.

Also I went for my Christmas ride today at Llandegla to try out my new christmas present front tyre and the new trails there. There was a fierce head wind on the big climb from the car park which was energy sapping and I was coughing like a 40 cigs a day war veteran due to last weeks tonsillitis and this weeks man flu plus I've only ridden the bike once in the last 6 weeks, in other words it was 🤬 hard work! The guy I went with was on a 10 year old crappy bike with rubbish forks and horrendous brakes but fair play to him he got on with it, we did both get crippling cramp in both thighs on a climb towards the end so at least we knew we'd pushed ourselves but I need to start the regular rides again to get back on form. The new trails there are awesome and need much more commitment than anything else that used to be there, it's totally changed the feel of the place and the singletrack back to the centre is so fast and fun I would have happily done it again if my legs were cooperating.
 
Neal
Also I went for my Christmas ride today at Llandegla to try out my new christmas present front tyre and the new trails there. There was a fierce head wind on the big climb from the car park which was energy sapping and I was coughing like a 40 cigs a day war veteran due to last weeks tonsillitis and this weeks man flu plus I've only ridden the bike once in the last 6 weeks, in other words it was 🤬 hard work! The guy I went with was on a 10 year old crappy bike with rubbish forks and horrendous brakes but fair play to him he got on with it, we did both get crippling cramp in both thighs on a climb towards the end so at least we knew we'd pushed ourselves but I need to start the regular rides again to get back on form. The new trails there are awesome and need much more commitment than anything else that used to be there, it's totally changed the feel of the place and the singletrack back to the centre is so fast and fun I would have happily done it again if my legs were cooperating.
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Sounds awesome mate. Was this guy any good on a bike? :dopey:
 
Neal
Big steep mountain!

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Looks like fun:)

A couple from my helmetcam on hills that are a short ride from my house...


...and the next hill along...


These days I mostly ride my hardtail:
2707255559_8df629e0bd_o.jpg


I do still have this old thing though:
2221203223_bf5d7e9fc2_o.jpg

.....sooo last century but pretty much standard issue tech these. I knew folk would catch on evertually:sly:

Well, when I say still have it, it's only really the front triangle, rear shock and brakes that are still original.....a crash at Fort William wrecked those forks and the swingarm snapped going down some steps....the rest just wore out as it got plenty use :cool:

Andy
 
Mountain biking on the mountains. Like a baws!

It seems like a nice bike you have there. Take it out often or is it a once in a while ride?
 
Aldo
Sounds awesome mate. Was this guy any good on a bike? :dopey:
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I'm looking forward to going back there which is a good sign the new trails are interesting but I really need to be on better form to enjoy it properly.

He was quite good actually even though he's never ridden anything remotely like it before. He did a 3 day mostly off road ride with his mate in the north of Scotland not that long ago so he's got a bit of experience but he sensibly pushed down the 2 foot drops at either end of the new northshore section. He's getting a very decent Cube 29er next week so he should be a bit more confident on the fast and tricky stuff but the wheels are the wrong size so I'll still toast him ;)

daft biker
A couple from my helmetcam on hills that are a short ride from my house...
*vids*

These days I mostly ride my hardtail:

I do still have this old thing though:

.....sooo last century but pretty much standard issue tech these. I knew folk would catch on evertually:sly:

Well, when I say still have it, it's only really the front triangle, rear shock and brakes that are still original.....a crash at Fort William wrecked those forks and the swingarm snapped going down some steps....the rest just wore out as it got plenty use :cool:

Andy
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I'm jealous you living so close to hills like that plus in Scotland you can ride every path!

Nice hardtail, you can't go wrong with Orange. My brother used to have a very old Orange hardtail and a Patriot (although with an air shock) which he sold a couple of years ago to get a Spesh FSR Stumpy. He now wants to replace that too...he reads too many bike mags and loves the shiny shiny :lol:
 
Neal
I'm looking forward to going back there which is a good sign the new trails are interesting but I really need to be on better form to enjoy it properly.

He was quite good actually even though he's never ridden anything remotely like it before. He did a 3 day mostly off road ride with his mate in the north of Scotland not that long ago so he's got a bit of experience but he sensibly pushed down the 2 foot drops at either end of the new northshore section. He's getting a very decent Cube 29er next week so he should be a bit more confident on the fast and tricky stuff but the wheels are the wrong size so I'll still toast him ;)
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Yeah, nothing like ripping round new trails on top form. :D

Ahh fair enough. Gonna be taking him out again? :P 29ers are for gheeeeeeeeeyboiiiis! :dopey:
 
He owes me petrol and parking so will definitely be riding with him again ;) I'm interested in trying a 29er but I can't see me ever wanting to sacrifice agility for stability, besides it looks soft having so little space between the wheels.
 
Neal
I'm jealous you living so close to hills like that plus in Scotland you can ride every path!
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Biking was the reason I moved to Penicuik.....got a wooded valley out the back with more singetrack than I can ride in a day and out front is the Pentland hills. Glentress is also just doon the road and Innerleithen not much further so am pretty well catered for here.

Ride every path? Aye, and sometimes even if there's not one:sly:

2221269703_f77c7e8481_o.jpg


...that's the south side of Tinto hill (between Glentress and Ae, roughly!)

Dunno how you put up with the access laws down south. Not that I've ever got into any real bother riding in England on the few occasions I've taken a bike down but I've never felt at ease exploring like I do up here. I still get the odd misinformed numpty telling me I can't ride my bike on the hills here but it's nothing to worry about and I certainly don't have to worry about a confrontation ruining my day...am sure we've all been there at some point?
 
daft biker, awesome photos đź‘Ť I can see from your photos thread you're a pretty handy snapper :drool:đź‘Ť

Omnis, you could try hanging it off the top tube like in the pic below but it might be too big to fit in the space and between your legs (that's what she said)

Retrovelo-Bicycle-Frame-Bag_01.png


If that doesn't work then strapping it to a pannier rack will stop it turning your clothes into a sweaty creased mess by getting it off your back.
 
You could pull the strap really small so when you're wearing it it doesn't dangle down. Just an idea.
 

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