The biking thread

[W3H5]

^ Get the black 'un.

I think the black ones would look nice, too.

 

[Neal]

I'm surprised guys, I was expecting some very silly suggestions I obviously underestimate you

Black it is then. I am a chav at heart so I could very likely have got gold if I was left to my own devices but red was last choice as a contrast is better.

Thanks 👍

 

[Aldo]

Who? Us? Silly suggestions? I'm offended.

You should just go for the look my bike is taking on. Sack all this matching soppy bollocks stuff.

 

[daft biker]

^ Get the black 'un.

Aye, otherwise it's just a Chris King wannabe and we can't have that

That's gotta be like the Burberry tartan of bikes

PS if you want some green or purple anodised chanring bolts circa 1995 geez a shout:tup:

 

[Neal]

Aldo, your bike makes that Chris King headset look like it's not a pile of vomit...I was never going to consider your input

Hmmm, anodised chainring bolts....I should probably steer clear of that, I know once I start with the colours I won't know when to stop and before you know it I'll be buying lime green grips and red shifters!

Black headset ordered, probably for the best so I've got a chance of convincing the missus it was a fiver.

Also check this video out "Stuff" Mountain Bikers Say, can't embed due to Lauguage warning in the title and obviously there's swearing in it but funny as 🤬

 

[Aldo]

Aldo, your bike makes that Chris King headset look like it's not a pile of vomit...I was never going to consider your input

Hmmm, anodised chainring bolts....I should probably steer clear of that, I know once I start with the colours I won't know when to stop and before you know it I'll be buying lime green grips and red shifters!

Black headset ordered, probably for the best so I've got a chance of convincing the missus it was a fiver.

Also check this video out "Stuff" Mountain Bikers Say, can't embed due to Lauguage warning in the title and obviously there's swearing in it but funny as 🤬

I think you'll find that my grips are orange with lime lockrings actually. Ohh and the red shifter will match my red headset and red-but-very-tired-looking pedals.
If you don't stop saying my bike looks like the gay pride flag I'm gonna tell on you.
Saw that video 5 minutes ago and lol'd!

 

[daft biker]

Hmmm, anodised chainring bolts....I should probably steer clear of that, I know once I start with the colours I won't know when to stop and before you know it I'll be buying lime green grips and red shifters!

Now would probably be a bad time to admit to having a selection of colours of barrel adjusters too

Anyway, tried those app thingies this morning...

Endomondo tells me:
Distance - 8.24 miles
Duration - 1h:16m:28s
Avg Speed - 6.5 mph
Max Speed - 28.4 mph
Calories - 646 kcal
Altitude - 781 ft / 2070 ft
Elevation - 266 ft ↑ / 1247 ft ↓

Strava tells me:

Time - 01:23:12
Elapsed Time - 01:39:41
Distance - 7.0 miles
Elevation - 1,383ft
Max Speed - 29.5 mph
Avg Speed - 5.1 mph

Strava also tells me one of the climbs was 580ft in 0.6miles!...it's a get off and push that one

I stopped to take some pics at a few points too...
The road up through the glen:

Larger

Part way up the first hill (Carnethy Hill):

Top of Carnethy Hill:

Larger

On the way down Carnethy Hill....

...I found a deep bit:tup:

And the view down the fastest bit on Turnhouse hill:

....it was muddy down there today!

Not a long ride but it was a good one

 

[W3H5]

On the way down Carnethy Hill....

...I found a deep bit:tup:

I wouldn't be caught dead riding through that. You, sir, must have some mettle!

 

[Neal]

I think you'll find that my grips are orange with lime lockrings actually. Ohh and the red shifter will match my red headset and red-but-very-tired-looking pedals.
If you don't stop saying my bike looks like the gay pride flag I'm gonna tell on you.
Saw that video 5 minutes ago and lol'd!

Whatever

Now would probably be a bad time to admit to having a selection of colours of barrel adjusters too

Anyway, tried those app thingies this morning...

Endomondo tells me:
Distance - 8.24 miles
Duration - 1h:16m:28s
Avg Speed - 6.5 mph
Max Speed - 28.4 mph
Calories - 646 kcal
Altitude - 781 ft / 2070 ft
Elevation - 266 ft ↑ / 1247 ft ↓

Strava tells me:

Time - 01:23:12
Elapsed Time - 01:39:41
Distance - 7.0 miles
Elevation - 1,383ft
Max Speed - 29.5 mph
Avg Speed - 5.1 mph

Strava also tells me one of the climbs was 580ft in 0.6miles!...it's a get off and push that one

I stopped to take some pics at a few points too...


Not a long ride but it was a good one

Must. have. colour. barrel. adjusters

Odd that the distance and times are different for both apps, did you have auto pause turned on for Endomondo? Looks like Endomondo total ascent is complete balls!

Also not fair you posting awesome photos of an awesome ride you've done on a Friday morning when I've been stuck in work all day

 

[huskeR32]

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.

As a mechanic with almost 5 years experience now, I can definitely say a chain shouldn't wear out that soon. Now, a lot of factors affect chain wear (# of cogs, thickness of the metal used, and often overlooked: how competent of a shifter you are).

With a basic 6/7/8 speed chain, I would expect to get at least 2,000 miles out of it with minimal maintenance. Keep it cleaned, well-lubed, and always ride in the correct gear, and you can often get 2,500-3,000 out of it (you guys can handle the conversion to kms ).

Now, a 9 speed chain's life will be a bit shorter, 10-speed a little shorter yet. Ride a Dura-Ace/XTR type of a chain, which is obsessively crafted to be lightweight, and you'll see a considerable reduction in chain life. However, even the thinnest, lightest chain in the world should get you more than 300km!

 

[W3H5]

So, I'm off to Thailand in about 48 hours and will be 'avin' it large in Chiang Mai. Probably. What I really want to do is hit the mountains on a half decent bike and keep my fitness levels up while enjoying the lovely views, because it's all grey and concrete here in Chongqing.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any holiday bike rental experience they could share?

I'm used to renting motorbikes and know to take pictures first so they can't cheat me if it already has a few scratches on it, but with bikes it'll be my first time.

Any advice?

 

[ExigeEvan]

I rented a mountain bike in Fuerteventura. It was shocking. Lumps of grease clinging to a rusted set-up, and all I wanted to do was cycling on the roads into the dunes.

Now while that is the opposite side of the world, I'd still be surprised if you can hire something decent in an area that isn't a mountain biking mecca. You could probably hire something, but not sure how safe you'd feel on it.

 

[daft biker]

I wouldn't be caught dead riding through that. You, sir, must have some mettle!

Must admit I've never been down there in middle ring before....it was extra fun today

I love winter riding....the more interesting the conditions the better in my book. Not keen on the wind usually but other than that weather can throw up some interesting challenges on familiar trails.

Must. have. colour. barrel. adjusters

That's what I thought too

Odd that the distance and times are different for both apps, did you have auto pause turned on for Endomondo? Looks like Endomondo total ascent is complete balls!

Also not fair you posting awesome photos of an awesome ride you've done on a Friday morning when I've been stuck in work all day

Aye, auto pause should have been on as I went through the settings after installing it a few days ago. Might try 'em on a less stop-start route as it might be having trouble telling the difference between stopped and pushing a tank of a bike up a slippy hill so wasn't counting some of the up bits properly.

Are you working again on Monday? Hmmmmm

 

[Neal]

The stop start push up steep stuff thing might cock the results up, me and a mate both running Endomondo got vastly different results on the same route with me cleaning it and him pushing a fair bit. Not a controlled test though as using different phones.

Yes, I am in work everyday next week I take it you're not and will be arsing about on your bike

I am doing the Marin Trail at Coed-y-Brenin in two weeks though

EDIT:

So, I'm off to Thailand in about 48 hours and will be 'avin' it large in Chiang Mai. Probably. What I really want to do is hit the mountains on a half decent bike and keep my fitness levels up while enjoying the lovely views, because it's all grey and concrete here in Chongqing.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any holiday bike rental experience they could share?

I'm used to renting motorbikes and know to take pictures first so they can't cheat me if it already has a few scratches on it, but with bikes it'll be my first time.

Any advice?

I'd imagine 95% of the places that hire bikes just have basic cheap bikes that will likely be poorly maintained but it'll still work and you know enough to spot something that's a death trap. I've looked into hiring mountain bikes for on our holiday to Menorca but they only place that hires proper bikes is on the other side of the island and it's €35 per day so if I do hire anything I'll just get whatever is available nearby. Try searching on the internet before you go for places that hire proper bikes in the area and include searching for cycle tour places as they'll be the most clued up about kit and may hire stuff themselves.

Good idea taking photos before hand so avoid any arguments later on.

 

[daft biker]

Yes, I am in work everyday next week I take it you're not and will be arsing about on your bike

I am doing the Marin Trail at Coed-y-Brenin in two weeks though

Yup....I'm a full-time bum these days. Should be looking for work instead of going out to play though

Wales sounds good....will there be pics? Might try and get down that way at some point now I have a driving licence myself.

 

[Neal]

Yup....I'm a full-time bum these days. Should be looking for work instead of going out to play though

Wales sounds good....will there be pics? Might try and get down that way at some point now I have a driving licence myself.

I'd be a full time bum too if I could afford it...and could still put the kids in nursery a couple of days.

I've ridden the Marin Trail once before but it was years ago so can't really remember it although I was a massively unfit and smoked at the time so I have vague recollections of wanting to go home before I'd lost sight of the car! Also The Marin is at Betws-y-Coed not Coed-y-Brenin although I've also been to the later, the best trail centre in Wales I've been to is Nant yr Arian which is well and truly out in the sticks. TBH it's a long way for you to travel when there's much more and better riding up there.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Collected the bike this morning, only to find the had made the brakes so spongey, they were almost redundant, so i I had then get that remedied.

Whilst I was there, a guy was collecting his bike from service/ component replacement. All back slaps and laughs until he left. He returned after 30 seconds spitting fire that the original issue he had brought it in for was still occuring (chain slipping off ring). They were all like "oh of course, the ring is worn, you should replace it". He was hopping mad!

 

[boiltheocean]

Click here to roll on the floor laughing your ass off.

 

[Neal]

@ Mike Rotch - Shysters! You've got a decent bike so just put it down to experience and try and find a better shop.

Click here to roll on the floor laughing your ass off.

Tree'd

Also check this video out "Stuff" Mountain Bikers Say, can't embed due to Lauguage warning in the title and obviously there's swearing in it but funny as 🤬

 

[boiltheocean]

Woops, missed the rest of the last page. Oh my P1 came today too, not early enough to have it built up before I had to go to work mind you so it will be completed tomorrow.

 

[Mike Rotch]

@ Mike Rotch - Shysters! You've got a decent bike so just put it down to experience and try and find a better shop.

Yeap. My new pedals are a fail though - I can only hook in one foot into the one cage, the other one I can't manage at the moment, whilst trying to keep forward momentum/ lookout for cars

Worse comes to worst, I'll remove the nylon straps and just have shiny new pedals instead of kak plastic ones.

 

[W3H5]

Does sound like you need to find another bike shop, mate.

I've been using the same one for a few years now and they're pretty good with their service. I usually tell them what's wrong though so they only fit the parts I tell them to put on my bikes. Plus it helps that the owners are keen bikers and wouldn't see another rider on a dodgy bike.

EDIT: I decided if I can borrow a bike from Mrs Shem's cousins/ uncles/ aunts or what not I'll go for a tour but if not I'll just have to miss a few weeks of cardio, which won't exactly ruin me.

Good point about the cycle tours though, Neal. I never even thought of that and I know Chiang Mai is quite a hotspot for riding due to the mountain roads and relatively low traffic levels.

 

[alpacaflip]

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Diablo-reborn-Say-Hello-to-Mountain-Creek-Bike-Park.html I was upset to find out Diablo was closing, but I guess Mountain Creek is taking it back. I want to do big flips on the airbag jump on my monster Yeti lol.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Alas. My mate (who helped me experiment with headsets a few weeks ago) brought over his measurement tool for the chain.

It is stretched . He reckons it either came faulty, or its just a poor quality one and the combination on my size and gear selection has contributed.

Oh well, I'll trot off the the other bike shop next week and get their opinion. I have more trust in them, but I have plan C in getting a chain and having my mate fit it.

No riding tomorrow them

 

[Neal]

Woops, missed the rest of the last page. Oh my P1 came today too, not early enough to have it built up before I had to go to work mind you so it will be completed tomorrow.

I'm sure you've seen these but they're too funny not to post although Aldo sent them to me so he gets the credit.

Language warning!
Surrey Hills Mountain Biker

Northern Mountain Biker

The new headset I ordered yesterday has just turned up in today's post, Royal Mail can get it right sometimes! It looks good and seems very good quality plus the crown race is split so that'll be a piece of piss to fit

EDIT: I decided if I can borrow a bike from Mrs Shem's cousins/ uncles/ aunts or what not I'll go for a tour but if not I'll just have to miss a few weeks of cardio, which won't exactly ruin me.

Good point about the cycle tours though, Neal. I never even thought of that and I know Chiang Mai is quite a hotspot for riding due to the mountain roads and relatively low traffic levels.

That seems like a good plan, any bike will do for a few rides. It seems biking, particularly road bikes, is really popular the world over at the moment so I'd be surprised if there wasn't some stuff going on there...also means more people to leave in your dust

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Diablo-reborn-Say-Hello-to-Mountain-Creek-Bike-Park.html I was upset to find out Diablo was closing, but I guess Mountain Creek is taking it back. I want to do big flips on the airbag jump on my monster Yeti lol.

I saw that on Pike Bike and thought I'd heard about the park on here before, it seems like they're going to invest in it so after a few months of pain it should be better in the long run 👍

Yeap. My new pedals are a fail though - I can only hook in one foot into the one cage, the other one I can't manage at the moment, whilst trying to keep forward momentum/ lookout for cars

Worse comes to worst, I'll remove the nylon straps and just have shiny new pedals instead of kak plastic ones.

I never got on with clips and straps as to make them work properly you had to tighten the straps which made getting your feet out difficult. I want to SPD clipped-in pedals and cleated shoes at some point but there's other stuff higher up the wish list before I splash out on them.

Alas. My mate (who helped me experiment with headsets a few weeks ago) brought over his measurement tool for the chain.

It is stretched . He reckons it either came faulty, or its just a poor quality one and the combination on my size and gear selection has contributed.

Oh well, I'll trot off the the other bike shop next week and get their opinion. I have more trust in them, but I have plan C in getting a chain and having my mate fit it.

No riding tomorrow them

It's probably just a cheapish chain that wasn't great when it was new so was never going to last. A new chain isn't expensive, just make sure you get one that suits 7 speed gears which I think you have. I'd get your mate to fit it and if you use a SRAM or KMC powerlink you can fit and remove it in the future without tools. Also a few more rides on a worn chain isn't going to knacker you chainset and cassette so you should be ok this weekend 👍

 

[W3H5]

AIt is stretched . He reckons it either came faulty, or its just a poor quality one and the combination on my size and gear selection has contributed.

If I may say, try not riding with the chain on, say, the biggest crack ring and biggest rear free wheel ring. Due to the fact that the chain is actually diagonal across the cogs in this position it tends to cause excessive wear. I'm still surprised it's warn so fast, even if that was the case!

That seems like a good plan, any bike will do for a few rides. It seems biking, particularly road bikes, is really popular the world over at the moment so I'd be surprised if there wasn't some stuff going on there

I found out today that the hotel my wife is part timing in does all kinds of tours for around £20 a day, also one including a bike hike type thing into the forests. That's right up my alley for a days ride and the rest of my training I can do in a gym on a machine.

...also means more people to leave in your dust

Hell yes it does.

 

[Mike Rotch]

If I may say, try not riding with the chain on, say, the biggest crack ring and biggest rear free wheel ring. Due to the fact that the chain is actually diagonal across the cogs in this position it tends to cause excessive wear. I'm still surprised it's warn so fast, even if that was the case!

.

Yea, Neal gave me a book about riding for noobs, so I definitely didn't perform that rookie mistake!

I dunno, just one of those things I guess. Glad I know in any case. I'd hate to have chewed up my cassette out of ignorance as replacing that is as much as the whole bike...

 

[W3H5]

The price of buying a new cassette / gear system was part of the reason for me buying my new bike instead of having the old bike's gears replaced. I just had them serviced instead.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Yeap. My new pedals are a fail though - I can only hook in one foot into the one cage, the other one I can't manage at the moment, whilst trying to keep forward momentum/ lookout for cars

I usually keep my worst foot clipped in, left, and then peddle with my right on bottom of the pedal while you start off. Then, once you're up to pace roll your toes on the front edge of the pedal and you'll flip the pedal and slip into the straps. Et voila!

 

[boiltheocean]

I'm sure you've seen these but they're too funny not to post although Aldo sent them to me so he gets the credit.

Language warning!
Surrey Hills Mountain Biker

Northern Mountain Biker

Also I'm pee'd off, P1 frames don't fit 140mm Hope Mono Mini callipers. I've either got some grinding to do or attempt to swap my brake for my mates 160mm Mono Mini that's in much worse condition.