The biking thread

[alpacaflip]

Went for road ride today. Holy moley it was terrifying. Got chased by a huge German Shepherd. Luckily he got distracted, and ran after something in the field next to us. 👍

 

[daft biker]

Most of the off road rides I do (which I have to drive an hour to get to) are only for bikes and one way so you don't have to worry about walkers or people coming the other way which makes it much more fun. Still just as likely to have a bum twitching moment due to something unexpected as you're going so much faster

Same here....except the hour drive to get there bit

I did once have a very close call with some twit that thought it was a good idea to walk his dog up the freeride area at Glentress....this was before the current trails as there used to be a triple jump into a left/right/left and I had to land the triple with the anchors fully on to miss the dog coming round the corner.

Had it been the owner instead of the dog I might not have bothered braking so hard. The trail never used to be there, is purpose built for biking with a no entry sign and the bottom, banked corners, jumps......you'd have to be blind or a complete idiot to mistake it for a walking trail

On a happier note have I posted this here before?

nice-camera by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr

 

[Neal]

Firstly thirteen and a half minutes of awesomeness...and that's just the mullets. Language warning although I thought exactly the same thing!

...got a new set of wheels...

Nice bike mate, you've done well there. Happy riding 👍

Went for road ride today. Holy moley it was terrifying. Got chased by a huge German Shepherd. Luckily he got distracted, and ran after something in the field next to us. 👍

I've been there mate, I nearly got eaten by a doberman when I was a kid...I think Danny has the movie rights to it!

Same here....except the hour drive to get there bit

I did once have a very close call with some twit that thought it was a good idea to walk his dog up the freeride area at Glentress....this was before the current trails as there used to be a triple jump into a left/right/left and I had to land the triple with the anchors fully on to miss the dog coming round the corner.

Had it been the owner instead of the dog I might not have bothered braking so hard. The trail never used to be there, is purpose built for biking with a no entry sign and the bottom, banked corners, jumps......you'd have to be blind or a complete idiot to mistake it for a walking trail

On a happier note have I posted this here before?

Nice angle with the photo Anyone you know or just generic perving?

I've not had any scares like that on the trails but my brother has had a few run ins with walkers who then kicked off at him for being irresponsible while completely refusing to accept they were in the wrong for being on a bike only path

 

[Mike Rotch]

Any thoughts on you getting clipped-in pedals?

Nah, budget doesn't exist for the bike anymore . That said. I am happy enough using normal shoes. The only think I might look to pick up soonish are end bars to help give the hands some variety on longer rides.

 

[daft biker]

Nice angle with the photo Anyone you know or just generic perving?

I've not had any scares like that on the trails but my brother has had a few run ins with walkers who then kicked off at him for being irresponsible while completely refusing to accept they were in the wrong for being on a bike only path

Nah, didn't know her but she seemed proud of it so I took a pic

The only time I've come close to crashing into a walker on a shared trail was one who was wearing dark green from head to toe and was under the heavy shade of a tree on a sunny day.....just didn't see her until I was a few metres away. It wasn't really that close but still closer than I would have liked if I'd saw her sooner so I've never forgotten it. Best of it was she didn't even seem upset but happy to see a local loony out enjoying themselves....it was just down from Roslin Chapel and she was an American tourist (the place is riddled with them but they're usually easier to spot).

 

[Neal]

More Tomfoolery, this time with an arse shot so possibly NSFW and against the pool rule but it's certainly not sexual!

Nah, budget doesn't exist for the bike anymore . That said. I am happy enough using normal shoes. The only think I might look to pick up soonish are end bars to help give the hands some variety on longer rides.

I'm still getting used to my SPD's but am definitely glad I got them although flats were fine really. I think I've finally got the cleat position right after adjusting them a few times too. Bar ends used to be the norm when I were a lad but you don't see them around much now, they definitely help on long rides to stop hand/wrist ache.

Nah, didn't know her but she seemed proud of it so I took a pic

The only time I've come close to crashing into a walker on a shared trail was one who was wearing dark green from head to toe and was under the heavy shade of a tree on a sunny day.....just didn't see her until I was a few metres away. It wasn't really that close but still closer than I would have liked if I'd saw her sooner so I've never forgotten it. Best of it was she didn't even seem upset but happy to see a local loony out enjoying themselves....it was just down from Roslin Chapel and she was an American tourist (the place is riddled with them but they're usually easier to spot).

If only all people were like that!


I went for a ride last night and the new big front brake disc has made more of a difference then I was expecting so I'm chuffed with that...plus I still have all my teeth intact

 

[Aldo]

I nearly crashed into a dog a couple of months back. I was ragging it down to the station and there's a wee bit on the path down that is like a chicane. I come flying in there to find a dog coming the other way! I managed to stop and the dog jumped about 4 foot in the air. Bloody dogs

 

[Neal]

Were you drunk...there was a bit of wee of the path...is this you?

 

[W3H5]

It came. Perfect fit, good quality and some stickers with it to put on my bike.

The only issue I have is that being new the straps are a little rigid and cut into my neck a bit but I plan to cover them with a softer fabric to solve the problem.

All in all, very pleased. I don't even think it looks as stupid as I imagined it to look on my head.

 

[Aldo]

Were you drunk...there was a bit of wee of the path...is this you?

I think you'll find that was a different time, and I only fell off once... Allyn - 1 Tequila/vodka - 0

 

[ExigeEvan]

Went for road ride today. Holy moley it was terrifying. Got chased by a huge German Shepherd. Luckily he got distracted, and ran after something in the field next to us. 👍

I met a couple who do a lot of international Tandom Bike touring and carry a Dog Dazzler ultrasonic alarm. It works very well so they said, just bare in mind if it becomes a regular thing.

 

[daft biker]

I met a couple who do a lot of international Tandom Bike touring and carry a Dog Dazzler ultrasonic alarm. It works very well so they said, just bare in mind if it becomes a regular thing.

Happens a lot to me.....a big stupid black lab that bites my trouser leg and tries to pull me off the bike

Oh yeah....that's my dog

Took him down to Glentress once.....it didn't go well!

 

[Submerged]

Shem, take off the hat thing on the edge of the helmet.

Its not needed when you're doing road cycling as it kinda obscures your vision sometimes.

Its more for mountain biking so it protects against the rain (or so I believe).

I had one of those weird plastic rain guard (whatever they are) and immediately took them off after one ride on the road bike. Realised it was pointless to have it. Just got in the way all the time!

 

[David]

I work from home on Wednesdays and the weather here is beautiful today. Got out for a quick 10 mile ride on my lunch break. First outdoor ride of the season for me. Kept my average speed at 17 mph so I was pretty happy with that (it was fairly windy out). Feelin good!

 

[Aldo]

I managed to get a puncture in my slime inner tubes the other day... Does not compute.

 

[Neal]

Nice lid Shem 👍 It probably is best to take the peak off though with you being a roadie and all so that there's no confusion to other cyclists about which clan you're in

I managed to get a puncture in my slime inner tubes the other day... Does not compute.

Did it not just heal itself as if by magic? Exactly how big are the thorns up there


PSA for Strava users: Enter code NM3M11 on the purchase premium page to get 3 months free premium account for free

 

[Aldo]

It should have done! I'm yet to inspect the damage but I'm prepared to see a 4ft wide hole pissing green goo everywhere. It'll be like a scene out of one of Dave Benson Phillips' shows... Except without the tlow4r style shirts.

 

[Submerged]

Neal, that reminds me.

You've seen the crazy competition that Strava have at the current moment?

To attempt to get something like 150,000 ft elevation gain in a month and half?!

Oh, not been on the bike recently so I'm a sad panda about it all.

 

[W3H5]

To attempt to get something like 150,000 ft elevation gain in a month and half?!

Does that apply to Asian regions? I'd take that challenge.

EDIT: The peak stays. It doesn't obscure any vision and it's the only thing stopping me looking like a complete plank.

2nd EDIT:

no confusion to other cyclists about which clan you're in

I am the clan. There are no other proper cyclist in the whole city! Well maybe one or two...

 

[ExigeEvan]

It should have done! I'm yet to inspect the damage but I'm prepared to see a 4ft wide hole pissing green goo everywhere. It'll be like a scene out of one of Dave Benson Phillips' shows... Except without the tlow4r style shirts.

My ex's dad didn't think much of slime tubes and he was a massive road cyclist. My MTB mates swear by them.

 

[W3H5]

Do you mean the slime that is put into the tube cavity to block puncture holes or tubes that actually come with slime? Because I was unaware the latter existed.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Do you mean the slime that is put into the tube cavity to block puncture holes or tubes that actually come with slime? Because I was unaware the latter existed.

 

[daft biker]

My ex's dad didn't think much of slime tubes and he was a massive road cyclist. My MTB mates swear by them.

I've found they can be great for thorns but not so much use for pinch punctures.....but you can still patch them and run them till the valve falls off:tup:

They do come with a fair weight penalty though and the outside of the wheels is the last place you want to add weight if you want a bike to feel light and fast.

 

[W3H5]

I've never seen that before. I always assumed you guys meant the injectable slime. I've had 3 punctures in the last month; 2 from hitting a huge pothole that I doubt any amount of slime would resist and 1 from where the planks sold me a deformed tube!

I would rather not have the weight to be honest, I go to quite some length to keep my weight down on the bike, but I can understand the need on a mountain ride.

 

[Neal]

Neal, that reminds me.

You've seen the crazy competition that Strava have at the current moment?

To attempt to get something like 150,000 ft elevation gain in a month and half?!

Oh, not been on the bike recently so I'm a sad panda about it all.

I saw it a while ago and joined then unjoined as my rides weren't registering but have just realised it only started yesterday so have joined again. I did quite a bit of riding last month and racked up 2,288m climbing, the leader of the challenge has already totalled 7,129m climb in 3 rides over the past two days I don't expect to finish in the top 10

Does that apply to Asian regions? I'd take that challenge.

There are rides logged within China so give it a go mate, you will love it! I presume you can still get legit apps?

http://app.strava.com/challenges/specialized-classic

Do you mean the slime that is put into the tube cavity to block puncture holes or tubes that actually come with slime? Because I was unaware the latter existed.

Aldo's got tubes that came with slime goo pre-inserted in them but you can get rims and tyres that are meant to be run tubeless but you still put slime goo in the tyre carcass to seal on punctures.

 

[W3H5]

There are rides logged within China so give it a go mate, you will love it! I presume you can still get legit apps?

Na, mine are all pirated. It might be worth paying for it though, like the ad says, just for bragging rights.

1000m elevation a day? No sweat.

 

[Neal]

Na, mine are all pirated. It might be worth paying for it though, like the ad says, just for bragging rights.

1000m elevation a day? No sweat.

The app is free http://itunes.apple.com/app/strava-cycling/id426826309?mt=8

If there are no existing segments on the roads you ride you can create your own to compete against yourself or anyone else who rides them using Strava although there may not be many in your neck of the woods.

 

[W3H5]

I don't have access to iTunes either.

I have to use ******* for all of my downloads which isn't exactly legal in the normal world.

I worked out today that my daily commute has an ascent of 300m and an equal amount of decent, obviously. If I could extend my work route by 200m incline I could do 1000 a day when working and perhaps crack a few thousand on a Monday.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Covered 40km yesterday. Averaged 26km/h, smooth and easy. Was going for at least 50km but I need to check out better routes. Suddenly I found myself nearly cycling on the highway...

 

[TB]

Suddenly I found myself nearly cycling on the highway...

Depending on what your highways look like, I rather enjoy riding there:

My typical riding is a mix of street/sidewalk/paved trails. I have ventured out onto US highways (turned around in the Knickerbocker Liquor Locker's (thought some of you would like the name ) parking lot) and County Highways but with cars flying by at 60mph, I didn't have any music on then. I'm not completely out of my mind...

Do a full screen, 360 degree pan and tell me you can't picture yourself on this road on a beautiful, sunny, summer evening. There is nothing there but you, wheat, corn and the occasional bird that wants to dive bomb your head.