The biking thread
- Thread starter Bram Turismo
- 4,856 comments
- 262,288 views
Good idea 👍 Using the exported gpx file that Strava tracked imported to mapmyride.com the elevation relief looks very similar to that on the Strava site but calculates the total elevation gain as 59m whereas the Strava site calculates it as 186m. The same gpx imported to the Endomondo site also has an accurate looking relief but calculates the total elevation gain as 82m so theyre all different by a fair amount
All of this comes from the same raw gps info that the iPhone logs but it would appear that Strava has a better algorithm for smoothing it out and removing anomalies. Ill keep using them both so see which I'm more confident with but at the moment it looks like Strava is better although Id probably still import the rides into Endomondo as I like the website. I think it proves that unless youve got a fancy pants and expensive GPS gizmo with an altimeter and possibly a wheel sensor youre never going to get accurate results.Strava calculates calories by using the combined weight of you and the bike plus the route including elevation to estimate watts then KJ and then applies human inefficiency (26% about).
Endomondo uses your weight excluding bike, the route (I think excluding elevation!) and time taken plus the activity (e.g. cycling sport).
Neither will be accurate and without a power meter fitted to the bike they never will.
You can hook HRM's up to the iPhone apps although I'd have to look into how that is used in calorie calculation. The idea of improving tracking and energy accuracy got me searching for gadgets, I can up with the Garmin Edge 800 Enduro Pack...at £400
Think I'll stick with what I've got!I've read about this even, looks amazing...one day maybe.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
I've not been on the secret trail - didn't even know there was one!
There are several
At the top of Spooky Wood where the benches are there's a path going into the trees to the left....follow it through the trees, over the wall, through a clearing and you should find the trail heads into a dark hole in the thick trees. You'll be clarty by the time you see daylight again
Or you can get to it from the bottom of Spooky....hang a left onto the blue trail, up the hill a wee bit and instead of going round the first hairpin go straight on through the trees....takes you to about the midpoint of the secret trail so you can either push up and ride it all or just ride down.
Not sure the Endura shop is still there as I can't find any info for it.....the factory is though, it would seem. I think it was maybe either a long time ago somebody mentioned it to me or I imagined the whole thing
- 29,892
- Thailand
Shem Vs Taxi. Round 2
This time it's not a race.
I went out today on a casual ride around the city. I set my sights on 50k for a nice ride out. Weather is clear and bike is slowly becoming broken in raking up the mileage.
I visit my father, drop off some shoes to him and grab a Gatorade and continue on my way. Passing through the city centre I decide to see who's in the office and drop in for a game of worms and some fried chicken for an hour.
On my way home I take the scenic route over the mountains to see how the new bike deals with the climbs. Rather well it seems, being so much lighter than the old one.
I get to around 300m from home and the traffic is built up in town so I take care so as to not go whizzing around and getting in a fix. At the top of my road the lights change and I pass a few cars that are stationary when out of nowhere some unmentionable opens his taxi door right as I'm alongside it.
It could have been worse. There could have been no car on the other side to fall onto. He could have opened it before I was alongside and I would have gone into it. I could have been distracted by the Spring Festival decorations. I could have, God forbid, doing more than 5mph.
As it was he opened the door and pretty much sandwiched me between the taxi door and the car in the next lane. A torrent of abuse followed, mainly stuff that one's mother doesn't like to hear from their child.
I was so angry I had to tell myself to calm down. The guy who did it was in a state of shock after my stream of profanities. Even if he didn't understand the words, he knew what I meant by the evil tones I was using for the C word.
I cycled on trying to clear my head and forget about it, got some smokes and a bottle of water from the local shop and inspected the bike for damage. Not a scratch, luckily enough. My leg, on the other hand.....erm....leg(?), wasn't so lucky and got a bit of a bruising. Nothing major but it's a bit tender.
I would usually avoid riding anywhere near car doors when they're parked in case some one gets out, but this c**t literally opened the door as the taxi was slowing down to stop!
Anyway, safe and sound at home now trying to massage my own neck from riding in the drops for most of the day. Looking forward to giving the
Glad you and the bike are pretty much ok 👍 I understand the rage at someone nearly wiping you out, it's a release of the shock as much as anything. Well done for not lamping him! I can more or less guarantee that on every ride some idiot car driver will pull out on me, I'm certain most of them have seen me but still do it anyway 
Having had a bit more of a play with Strava.com, after uploading all the gpx files from previous rides, I'm really liking the features it has in addition to Endomondo specifically the segments and bike/gear log (e.g. my bike's done 839km since I started tracking rides and my forks have done 499km since I fitted them) so thanks Omnis 👍 Unfortunately it's shows how slow I am compared to other people on many climbs but there are a couple which I'm not too bad on, 3rd out of 7 at Lee Quarry and 2nd out of 12 at Llandegla
...the Llandegla is a mistake though because I stopped a lot so it's only counting the time I was moving and it's assuming people who did the full 25km were on the same route as my 17km ride so in fact I was very slow
Having had a bit more of a play with Strava.com, after uploading all the gpx files from previous rides, I'm really liking the features it has in addition to Endomondo specifically the segments and bike/gear log (e.g. my bike's done 839km since I started tracking rides and my forks have done 499km since I fitted them) so thanks Omnis 👍 Unfortunately it's shows how slow I am compared to other people on many climbs but there are a couple which I'm not too bad on, 3rd out of 7 at Lee Quarry and 2nd out of 12 at Llandegla
...the Llandegla is a mistake though because I stopped a lot so it's only counting the time I was moving and it's assuming people who did the full 25km were on the same route as my 17km ride so in fact I was very slow 
- 13,827
- Down under
Damnit.
Took the bike in for it's free service which was part of the deal when I bought it a few months back.
First thing the surly cow says is "you need a new chain mate", then whips out a ruler thingy and proceeds to show me "it's stretched". She used the ruler thingy on a new bike near by to show me the difference (would have helped if I knew what I was looking at).
So either she is BS'ing me, which I don't know because I only googled chain stretching when I got home, or it has stretched after 300 lousy km of riding
Not. A. Happy. Chappy.
Took the bike in for it's free service which was part of the deal when I bought it a few months back.
First thing the surly cow says is "you need a new chain mate", then whips out a ruler thingy and proceeds to show me "it's stretched". She used the ruler thingy on a new bike near by to show me the difference (would have helped if I knew what I was looking at).
So either she is BS'ing me, which I don't know because I only googled chain stretching when I got home, or it has stretched after 300 lousy km of riding
Not. A. Happy. Chappy.
- 29,892
- Thailand
Chain shouldn't stretch after 300k! My bike did 10'000+ and only the last few thousand were with a stretched chain.
If it is stretched it means you may have been riding with the chain less than parallel to the bike e.g. the large chain ring on the front to the large one on the back. Riding like that will cause excess stress and wear but surely not after 300k.
The thing is, you can ride fine with a stretched chain so long as you're not entering competitions. For ambling along it should cause no issues but will slowly start to F up the gear cassettes if it gets really bad and is gritty from not cleaning it.
In my opinion, and experience with chains (quite a lot) it sound like a case of BS.
If it is stretched it means you may have been riding with the chain less than parallel to the bike e.g. the large chain ring on the front to the large one on the back. Riding like that will cause excess stress and wear but surely not after 300k.
The thing is, you can ride fine with a stretched chain so long as you're not entering competitions. For ambling along it should cause no issues but will slowly start to F up the gear cassettes if it gets really bad and is gritty from not cleaning it.
In my opinion, and experience with chains (quite a lot) it sound like a case of BS.
Damnit.
Took the bike in for it's free service which was part of the deal when I bought it a few months back.
First thing the surly cow says is "you need a new chain mate", then whips out a ruler thingy and proceeds to show me "it's stretched". She used the ruler thingy on a new bike near by to show me the difference (would have helped if I knew what I was looking at).
So either she is BS'ing me, which I don't know because I only googled chain stretching when I got home, or it has stretched after 300 lousy km of riding
Not. A. Happy. Chappy.
Shem is 100% correct on all points. The only way a chain would wear that quick is if it was lubed and ridden by an uberpower XC champ in muddy/gritty conditions...not that I'm saying you're not a champ
The below is a chain wear tool which indicates if a chain has stretched and needs replacing if both ends fit between the rollers, if it doesn't fit the chain isn't stretched. I would ask for the chain to be replaced under warranty (although I doubt a wear a tear item like that is covered) or for free at the shops expense considering how new the bike is. Perhaps pointing out how important word of mouth is to local bike shops will persuade them if they're reluctant.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
I just run my chain and everything it touches into the ground...replace when it stops doing what I want it to do rather than constantly replace stuff.
Some folk might see "wear" where I see "broken in".
A worn chain usually means a worn cassette too though....just replace the chain and you might end up with jumpy gears.
Some folk might see "wear" where I see "broken in".
A worn chain usually means a worn cassette too though....just replace the chain and you might end up with jumpy gears.
- 13,827
- Down under
Thanks guys 👍 Not impressed with this clown shop! When they call me tomorrow with the 'oh by the way, we're checking if we can fit a new chain' I'll tell them to sod off.
Not going near this shop again once I pick it up!
Not going near this shop again once I pick it up!
- 29,892
- Thailand
It can be necessary, if one is to take riding and maintaining a bike a bit seriously, to know a reputable shop where parts and services can be attained for the jobs that aren't doable on the dining table, like in my case.
And if you're still in any doubt, I rode my old bike with the chain rivets worn completely beyond sight before bothering to replace the chain, which I only did a few days ago after donating the bike to my family for them to use.
And if you're still in any doubt, I rode my old bike with the chain rivets worn completely beyond sight before bothering to replace the chain, which I only did a few days ago after donating the bike to my family for them to use.
boiltheocean
Premium
- 7,756
- Samoa
Chains stretch from new anyway, if they replace it then the only thing that will happen is the new one stretching the same too. Hell, I rode on a second hand stretched to death chain for a year and had no problems with it jumping over teeth.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
How many gears do you have on the back? As they've crammed more gears onto the back they've made chains narrower and as a result they tend not last as long. Some folk buy 2 new chains when they buy a new cassette and alternate between the two chains regularly to spread the wear out but I've no idea if it's cost effective in the long run or just a load of faffing about with oily bits.
If you compare the chain on a BMX with that with a bike with loads of gears you should notice they look quite different......chains for single speeds can be nice and chunky so they last much better but you can go faster with loads of gears.
300km and failing one of those chain stretch tester thingies probably isn't that unusual. I don't bother with the tester tool....put chain on the largest chainring then try and pull the chain outwards in about the middle of the contact area. If it moves a few mm it's good to go but if it moves a few cm then it's probably well past it
Good call on testing the chain wear by pulling it off on the big ring 👍 That's how I used to check my motorbike chain so should have thought of it really.
Anyone had any experience replacing headsets? Is it doable with hammer, screwdrivers and blocks of wood or do you need the proper tools?
Anyone had any experience replacing headsets? Is it doable with hammer, screwdrivers and blocks of wood or do you need the proper tools?
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
Aye, just bash the new cups all the way home so they are flush with the (usually) machined ends of the head tube and it should all be square:tup:
The bit that goes on the bottom of the fork steerer tube is usually more of a pain. Think last time I used a big spanner that went round the steerer and pushed it down with that.
Nice one 👍 I thought it could be done the Heath Robinson way. Not sure if my head tube will need facing but it'll probably be fine. I got the crown race on ok when I replaced the fork by carefully tapping it on with a drift but I did mark it in a couple of places so I might try and find a big spanner or similar for the new one. My current headset is garbage with loose balls and no seals, I was going to replace the ball bearings but might as well do it properly. This will be at the same time as stripping the forks to remove the spacer to extend the travel and service them...if I 🤬 it up I may be riding my wife's bike for a while!
- 5,184
- Phoenix, AZ
- nitrorocks
Dies anyone have a Sunday frame? I'll post a pic of mine later! I have a warm red second wave 
- 13,827
- Down under
Thanks for the feedback guys.
I was so incredibly annoyed by this overnight, reading how daft it is that a chain can be deemed replaceable after hardly any mileage, that I called them up this morning and told them that “I want no components changed, just service it”. There is another bike shop on the way home from this place that seem more honest and straight shooting. If the chain is in need of replacing, I’d rather get their view on it and spend my money there.
It’s amazing – had their service not been so shoddy when I bought it, I probably wouldn’t have questioned their advice now.
I was so incredibly annoyed by this overnight, reading how daft it is that a chain can be deemed replaceable after hardly any mileage, that I called them up this morning and told them that “I want no components changed, just service it”. There is another bike shop on the way home from this place that seem more honest and straight shooting. If the chain is in need of replacing, I’d rather get their view on it and spend my money there.It’s amazing – had their service not been so shoddy when I bought it, I probably wouldn’t have questioned their advice now.
boiltheocean
Premium
- 7,756
- Samoa
Neal
Multiple times and I've always used a hammer, screwdrivers and some wood. Just try keep everything fairly flat so it presses in evenly. For the crown race use a fair size block of wood and cut a hole in it slightly larger than your steerer tube, then just clamp the wood and ram it on. Crown races tend to slide into place anyway so it shouldn't be necessary to force it down.
Thanks Tom, good idea about cutting a hole in a block of wood to fit the crown face plus I have wood and plenty a hole cutter drill bits.
Now the important bit...which colour? The below photo of my bike (red) is when it was brand new 3 years ago so much has changed but the general colour scheme is the same. I'm thinking either black, red or gold which are shown in the other below pic but there is also silver, blue, orange, techno lime green or white.
Any Gok Wan type suggestions?
Now the important bit...which colour? The below photo of my bike (red) is when it was brand new 3 years ago so much has changed but the general colour scheme is the same. I'm thinking either black, red or gold which are shown in the other below pic but there is also silver, blue, orange, techno lime green or white.
Any Gok Wan type suggestions?
- 13,827
- Down under
^ Get the black 'un.
