The biking thread
- Thread starter Bram Turismo
- 4,902 comments
- 271,895 views
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
Gorilla trail craft! I like it.
I've been very tempted to paint my own bike lanes on my commuter route, gorilla style, but I have a feeling the Chinese drivers would ignore it anyway.
Sometimes it's got to be done. 6 of us tried shifting the trees one day but they were heavy and the branches all tangled up so we didn't get far. Was easy enough just me and a nice big bush saw though
Although the saw was too big to fit in my rucksack so it was poking out the top and bashing into the back of my helmet on the way back down.Went to ride a different hill today.....a big(2700ft), loose, steep and rocky one:tup:
Tinto by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
Matty-on-Tinto by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
There's a wee vid too....I don't think you hear the last rider swear as he approached the camera in the video but I heard it while shooting it so I'll put a language warning in here anyway. Video here.
Only problem up there is rocks can end up going flying when you're going for it. I think the one that did this was almost as big as my shoe!....
big-rock-woz-ere by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
...glad that one hit the bike and not me!👍
- 30,051
- Thailand
Luckily for me the law is on the side of the non motorist, even if I fail to stop and shunt someone in the rear (that didn't sound at all gay
) the vehicle owner will be in trouble if it was a late braking manoeuvre or cut up. Saying that, if I do hit the back of a car I'm likely to loose my teeth, so not much of a win situation.
I took my missus for a ride last Autumn, we only went a few km up the road to an old town and it took fooooorrrrreeeevvverrrrr! She hired a rent-a-bike which was crap, but the one road there was mainly clear of traffic and as flat as a pancake. I could have jogged it faster than she rode.
That was the last time I even bothered trying to get her to ride.
I think you're lost, there's no asphalt in sight.
Luckily for me the law is on the side of the non motorist, even if I fail to stop and shunt someone in the rear (that didn't sound at all gay
I took my missus for a ride last Autumn, we only went a few km up the road to an old town and it took fooooorrrrreeeevvverrrrr! She hired a rent-a-bike which was crap, but the one road there was mainly clear of traffic and as flat as a pancake. I could have jogged it faster than she rode.
Yeah, with regards to the law being on the side of the non-motorist or scooters, that is very true. You often see scooters just nipping in and out of cars and the drivers just letting them go by (with some drivers not being very impressed with that) or cyclist just blatantly cutting across a street and all the cars AND buses just stopping to let them go by. Really strange to see when you come from England and being taught that cars are our Overlords that should be obeyed!
The bike that SWMBO had, was it a sit-up bike? They're really slow to ride on.... Not surprised you got fed up.
daft biker - Good work clearing the cheeky trails 👍 That scree slope looks pretty tricky, good work staying upright! Given recent incidents I'd want full body armour before I attempted that.
Justin - How bad is the weather? Getting muddy is all part of the fun
Drop bars and a low cut top
👍
I haven't been out on the bikes with my wife for a while but probably will do soon, she also doesn't ride as quick as me by quite some margin so I tow both the kids for increased resistance using a seat attached to the seat tube for the 4 year old (extra 21kg) and a kiddie trailer for the 1 year old (extra 26kg).
I went for a ride yesterday with my 4 year old on the back and met up with one of the guys I go mountain biking with to take him on my usual road route for a bit of training. Even with the extra weight of my son I still beat him going up the hill and he had a head start.
Justin - How bad is the weather? Getting muddy is all part of the fun
But it was worth it to see her getting out of the saddle
Drop bars and a low cut top
👍I haven't been out on the bikes with my wife for a while but probably will do soon, she also doesn't ride as quick as me by quite some margin so I tow both the kids for increased resistance using a seat attached to the seat tube for the 4 year old (extra 21kg) and a kiddie trailer for the 1 year old (extra 26kg).
I went for a ride yesterday with my 4 year old on the back and met up with one of the guys I go mountain biking with to take him on my usual road route for a bit of training. Even with the extra weight of my son I still beat him going up the hill and he had a head start.
- 5,494
- Melbourne, Living the dream
- Aldo_GTP
Where's that about? Looks like the bings you can see from the motorway but I doubt they're 2700ft.
I'd probably kill myself trying to get down that!
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
Great biking news, my wheels have been fixed and returned so should be back with me tomorrow. Credit to Superstar Components for fixing them for free which will have included 8 new spokes as I'm pretty sure they only say they true them for free but charge for damage repairs. This means my bike will be properly sorted for my "big" ride on Sunday to join a local mountain bike club Unfortunately I'll still be wearing my old lid as the replacement won't be in stock for another month.
Bit of bragging here so humour me. The ride I did on Monday night was the furthest and fastest average speed I've done so far with 28km done at 26.2km/h with 205m climbing It was on road but with big draggy tyres on a 13.5kg mountain bike so that's got to be worth an extra 10km/h if I was on a road bike
Quite a few how is that possible moments in this vid but the 360 back flip drop ins are insane...dude! It should probably go in the BMX'ers Only thread but I don't have a BMX
Unfortunately I'll still be wearing my old lid as the replacement won't be in stock for another month.Bit of bragging here so humour me. The ride I did on Monday night was the furthest and fastest average speed I've done so far with 28km done at 26.2km/h with 205m climbing
It was on road but with big draggy tyres on a 13.5kg mountain bike so that's got to be worth an extra 10km/h if I was on a road bike Quite a few how is that possible moments in this vid but the 360 back flip drop ins are insane...dude! It should probably go in the BMX'ers Only thread but I don't have a BMX
Thanks mate but it should be fine, it's 3 years old but I've only used it regularly in the last year. I make sure it doesn't get knocked about there's no scuffs on it...hopefully the missus won't read this as I told her they have to replaced every few years although that is still the correct thing to do.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
- 3,460
- Hollywood
Picked up a 24 Seven Slacker 24" from a mate after work, so expect my next post here to be x-rays of my freshly broken wrist. A group of us who used to dirt jump together are trying to start doing it regularly again.
Pretty sure this will end badly. Yup.
Pretty sure this will end badly. Yup.
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
Guess who's penned in for the cycling leg?
Rather you than me there.....unless there's no up bits
Not much to report here either....went to Innerleithen last weekend. There was a SDA Downhill race on and so busy we couldn't get anywhere near the car park but probably quieter than usual on other trails away from that day's race course.
Never took many pics though as my wee compact is a bit out of it's depth in the dark trees and fast trails.....a DSLR and some flashguns is a lot more useful up there but I couldn't be bothered taking them
- 30,051
- Thailand
Sorry, couldn't let this thread be dead for a week...
So, my buddies and I are looking to do a relay triathlon (mate did intern at tri magazine and solves me hardly-swimming issue). Guess who's penned in for the cycling leg?
Now, tear drop helmet...
Sweet. I'd love to get into some triathlon but haven't swam for years and on Monday I ran 5 over 40 minutes and I'm still aching and walking like a penguin now!
Would you be using a TT bike or regular road bike? I'd love to get my hands on a TT bike seeing as my short distance pace is only a few minutes off some of the top British TT rider.
Only if you wear That Suit with it :jokegettingold?:
Good luck in the race, when is it?
I'm planning on entering the Howies Coed y Brenin Enduro in September which will be 60km and 1,700m climbing on some of the best hidden trails in North Wales, it's timed but isn't a race...but I will be aiming to beat my brother and any other mates I can rope into joining me
Also I'm now a fully fledged member of a local mountain bike club after doing a ride with them on Sunday at Rivington Pike and Winter Hill, I've been meaning to join for a while but either didn't think I'd be fit enough or wasn't free to go on one of their Newbie Rides. It turns out I had nothing to worry about with fitness as I was keeping up with all of them and was moving towards the front on many of the climbs although it was very muddy so my summer back tyre meant I had a few dabs...and comedy SPD falls
I managed to get a snake bite on the back tyre coming off a drop, which made an impressive bang, that was the start of a lengthy mechanical stop as I'd worn through both sets of brake pads in just a few hours of gritty riding so had to change them, I had one spare set and fortunately someone else had a set to give me too. Lesson learnt to start using sintered rather than organic pads in proper gritty conditions!Also also check out the front cover of this months Singletrack magazine, awesome photo!
ExigeEvan
Premium
- 17,192
Yeah it'd be on a road bike, I don't have a couple of grand to drop on a time trial bike! Unless I can get my mate's bike shop to spot me oneSweet. I'd love to get into some triathlon but haven't swam for years and on Monday I ran 5 over 40 minutes and I'm still aching and walking like a penguin now!
Would you be using a TT bike or regular road bike? I'd love to get my hands on a TT bike seeing as my short distance pace is only a few minutes off some of the top British TT rider.
I'd love to do a triathlon all myself, but my swimming is truly shocking. I really need to get some lessons to sort my form.
No particular race yet, but we're based in Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol so we've got choices to work with.Only if you wear That Suit with it :jokegettingold?:
Good luck in the race, when is it?
👍I'm planning on entering the Howies Coed y Brenin Enduro in September which will be 60km and 1,700m climbing on some of the best hidden trails in North Wales, it's timed but isn't a race...but I will be aiming to beat my brother and any other mates I can rope into joining me
Also I'm now a fully fledged member of a local mountain bike club after doing a ride with them on Sunday at Rivington Pike and Winter Hill, I've been meaning to join for a while but either didn't think I'd be fit enough or wasn't free to go on one of their Newbie Rides. It turns out I had nothing to worry about with fitness as I was keeping up with all of them and was moving towards the front on many of the climbs although it was very muddy so my summer back tyre meant I had a few dabs...and comedy SPD falls
Someone requires some top quality speedy swimming lessons all about efficient (not effective, efficient) technique to glide through the water like a seal while leaving the field for dead?
I'm your man!
Basically for tri events, you want a technique that is relatively simple and efficient while still being effective at getting you through the water. The reason being is that you've got the bike AND the run event afterwards, no point caning yourself hardcore on the swim to keep up with the big, mean machines and fading *badly* in the bike and run section!
This is why you often see a fair amount of tri guys having outsized shoulders and skinny legs as they rarely kick at all in the water (which makes me rather annoyed as a competitive swimmer and coach) to conserve their legs and energy for the bike and run.
I would advise you to get seen by a good quality swimming coach (or a swimming teacher who also coaches at a swimming club, either will do) as they will be able to advise you on how to improve your stroke for efficiency gains. Find some lessons or join a swimming/tri club (whichever) and do the training being mindful to always activate your thoughts on keeping a good technique throughout the session. At first, you'll get mega tired, mentally speaking.
You should know when the technique is improving when you discover that you can cover more distance at the same energy level that you always started out with, without speeding up. For example, say you decided to use 60% of your max effort speed. At the start, you would just get to 25 metres. After a few weeks of improving technique, you should find that for the same 60% of your max effort, you can cover more distance without having to stop so soon to take a breather. Addtionally, if you do 100% max effort swim and can cover the same distance in a faster time, your technique should have improved and you should be able to recover quickly.
I will give you an example here. My lifetime best for 100 metres butterfly is 59.3 seconds. I remember when I started training on butterfly properly, my fastest time was 1 minute and 10 seconds. That felt a LOT harder than when I did 59.3 seconds, just because I was more efficient and effective through the water and also, I was in the water for less time too!
I'm kinda the opposite to you, my swimming is pretty good (even though I've not actually swam for a few months) but my running is all rubbish as I often got shin splints and have been meaning to try and sort them out. Cycling... that's fine, once I actually get back on the saddle! The weather is a proper downer at times, rain, sun, rain, sun, rain rain rain rain. Curses!
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ExigeEvan
Premium
- 17,192
I'd have no problem being last out the water in a tri, but I couldn't even the do the distance. I'm good for about 100 metres before my shoulders turn to a boiling mass of lactic acid. Breathing and technique both shocking.
So yeah, I may head to lessons, probably once I get this marathon sorted. Wales National pool isn't all that far away.
So yeah, I may head to lessons, probably once I get this marathon sorted. Wales National pool isn't all that far away.
Cardiff or Swansea? I've actually been to the Swansea 50 metre pool. Nice pool.
Just kinda felt a bit out of place, but that was because it was new at the time. I think it should feel more settled in now.
Tri events, would be best to train in 50 metres pool so you get used to the swimming part, rather than the turn part.
The shoulder burning up with lactic acid, it can be a sign of not relaxing your shoulders and/or trying to move faster than you need to. Most people think to swim well, they need to move everything really fast. Not so. There's a set speed that if you go faster than it, you'll just slow right down. So with your arms, the rule is basically long and slow arms just to get the feel for the water supporting you.
Just kinda felt a bit out of place, but that was because it was new at the time. I think it should feel more settled in now.
Tri events, would be best to train in 50 metres pool so you get used to the swimming part, rather than the turn part.
The shoulder burning up with lactic acid, it can be a sign of not relaxing your shoulders and/or trying to move faster than you need to. Most people think to swim well, they need to move everything really fast. Not so. There's a set speed that if you go faster than it, you'll just slow right down. So with your arms, the rule is basically long and slow arms just to get the feel for the water supporting you.
- 6,008
- Finland
First I had a factory stock Specialized Camber Comp:
Which then evolved into a not so factory stock example after some experience:
And on Tuesday I bought a base model Rockhopper to be a winter beater (wearing the wheels of the Camber):
So now I'm wondering that if I leave those two in the same room for the night, will my collection have grown with a brand new Hotrock when I stumble to see them in the morning?
Which then evolved into a not so factory stock example after some experience:
And on Tuesday I bought a base model Rockhopper to be a winter beater (wearing the wheels of the Camber):
So now I'm wondering that if I leave those two in the same room for the night, will my collection have grown with a brand new Hotrock when I stumble to see them in the morning?
- 388
- Edinburgh
- daft_biker
So now I'm wondering that if I leave those two in the same room for the night, will my collection have grown with a brand new Hotrock when I stumble to see them in the morning?
Not even if you add some heat and undress the bouncy one
bikes by Andrew Robertson, on Flickr
Have you got them well lubed? Maybe that's where I went wrong:idea:
- 1,691
- Coventry
- mika_98
Hiya guys, should be getting my bike tomorrow, its been a long wait, around 5 weeks to be exact
Anyway i went for a ride on friends bike the other day, around 30-45mins and when i got back, my thighs felt kinda awkward, no pain though. What should i do to improve my upper leg strength?
Thanks 👍
Anyway i went for a ride on friends bike the other day, around 30-45mins and when i got back, my thighs felt kinda awkward, no pain though. What should i do to improve my upper leg strength?
Thanks 👍
