The biking thread

[Neal]

Now, tear drop helmet...

As luck would have it I have found you the perfect helmet to go with the green suit

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 👍

Don't forget to post pics when you get it 👍

Feeling the burn and ache in your legs means you are working them so embrace it, to help with recovery stretch after exercise and drink about 200ml of chocolate milk within 15 minutes of finishing the ride when the carb and protein intake is most critical. Ideally you should warm up first for then stretch before pushing yourself on the ride proper but I can never be arsed doing that bit. Also make sure your seat is at the right height, see here

 

[mp10]

Don't forget to post pics when you get it 👍

Feeling the burn and ache in your legs means you are working them so embrace it, to help with recovery stretch after exercise and drink about 200ml of chocolate milk within 15 minutes of finishing the ride when the carb and protein intake is most critical. Ideally you should warm up first for then stretch before pushing yourself on the ride proper but I can never be arsed doing that bit. Also make sure your seat is at the right height, see here

Will be posting pics up for sure

Thanks for the tips, I'll try that out next time. 👍

 

[Sprite]

Ok guys, I'm in need of a bit of guidance. I've just got myself a bike, I haven't had a bike in some years since I had my beautiful Mongoose BMX stolen from me at uni. I got a 2010 GT Outpost for £100 and it's pretty much like new. The disk brakes are in good working order and the Suntour forks seem ok too.

Most reviews of the bike seem to say its pretty much fine apart from the stock parts arn't worth much and would be a must to upgrade. Any ideas or tips?

 

[W3H5]

Sounds like a good price for what is essentially a £400 bike when new. For that price, unless it's got a cracked frame or some serious damage, it's a bargain. Good find!

 

[Sprite]

Sounds like a good price for what is essentially a £400 bike when new. For that price, unless it's got a cracked frame or some serious damage, it's a bargain. Good find!

Bike is really looked after and hardley used, got it from my brother. He has another bike and that one is used daily so he didnt have need for it. No major damage, just a few scratches even the tyres haven't been changed, that's how much use it's had since new.

 

[mp10]

My bike has arrived went to collect it from the store. I'm chuffed to bits with it, Its amazing

As a first bike i am really pleased with the purchase. The paintwork looks really cool, liking the graphics on the bike . Gears are smooth and are positioned well, just under the handle bar. Best thing about it is the weight, its so light, you can really pick up some speed on this bike. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the seat, will look to get a more comfortable one soon.

Thanks to you all for the help, I really appreciate it and I'll also be posting up on this thread more often now that i have the bike 👍

As promised here are the pics, will get some better pics up later

 

[Greycap]

Not bad! I was supposed to get a Hardrock myself but it turned out there were no white Sport Disc models left at the central stock so I ended up with the Rockhopper.

One piece of advice, if there's nothing to cover the chainstay, put something on it. Even an old inner tube fastened with zip ties or whatever but the sound of the chain hitting it at hard bumps is something you won't like hearing.

 

[daft biker]

Most reviews of the bike seem to say its pretty much fine apart from the stock parts arn't worth much and would be a must to upgrade. Any ideas or tips?

If you want it to feel like a more expensive bike (i.e. lighter and faster) the best place to lose weight from is usually the tyres and wheels.

Another upgrade I like is fitting quality gear cables, and if the bike has them, brake cables instead of the basic ones bikes usually come with. For me there's lots of good reasons for fitting top-notch cables....less stretch from the inner cable and less compression from the outer so shifting and braking are easier and more precise and as an added bonus they should last longer and place less stress on the gear shifters. A nice cheap upgrade if youre handy with an allen key and cable cutters

 

[daft biker]

One piece of advice, if there's nothing to cover the chainstay, put something on it. Even an old inner tube fastened with zip ties or whatever but the sound of the chain hitting it at hard bumps is something you won't like hearing.

I agree, good advice:tup:

Even if you're not precious about the paint get a chainstay protector (are lizard skins still about?) to stop it rattling.

 

[mp10]

Not bad! I was supposed to get a Hardrock myself but it turned out there were no white Sport Disc models left at the central stock so I ended up with the Rockhopper.

One piece of advice, if there's nothing to cover the chainstay, put something on it. Even an old inner tube fastened with zip ties or whatever but the sound of the chain hitting it at hard bumps is something you won't like hearing.

Just had a look at your bikes, really nice, seen a rockhopper in the bike shop but only had one left and it was reserved. I've had a quick look and there is no cover on the chainstay, so when i give it a go tomorrow, will listen out for anything. thanks for the heads up 👍

I agree, good advice:tup:

Even if you're not precious about the paint get a chainstay protector (are lizard skins still about?) to stop it rattling.

Had a quick look and they're still available 👍
Thanks

 

[W3H5]

I find Lizards Skins to be so expensive for what they are!

On my old bike I used a piece of old inner tube and some electrical tape to bodge one, on my new bike I went to the bike shop and picked up a proper one for 50p.

 

[daft biker]

I find Lizards Skins to be so expensive for what they are!

On my old bike I used a piece of old inner tube and some electrical tape to bodge one, on my new bike I went to the bike shop and picked up a proper one for 50p.

50p? You were robbed! I got mine for nowt from a magazine

Not that I'd buy MBUK again after meeting them...they turned up one day at (probably) the most popular trails in the country on the busiest day of the week and blocked off trails so they take pics.

 

[W3H5]

No bike magazines in China. And if there are, I can't read them!

 

[Sprite]

@ Daft Biker

Thanks for the advice, I've looked at some new tyres as the bike won't see much deep mud or anything so the tread on the tyres at the moment is costing me when outnd about. I've been looking at Continental Race King Tyres as they seem like the perfect compromise between road and gravel, light mud and grass ect.

 

[daft biker]

@ Daft Biker

Thanks for the advice, I've looked at some new tyres as the bike won't see much deep mud or anything so the tread on the tyres at the moment is costing me when outnd about. I've been looking at Continental Race King Tyres as they seem like the perfect compromise between road and gravel, light mud and grass ect.

I'd go for the Race King Supersonics if I was going for Race Kings.....kevlar bead and a loads of threads per inch in the carcass so should be really fast but are a bit dearer than the basic version.

 

[Sprite]

I'd go for the Race King Supersonics if I was going for Race Kings.....kevlar bead and a loads of threads per inch in the carcass so should be really fast but are a bit dearer than the basic version.

Just had a look at those tyres and the price difference is astonishing, £15 per tyre for the Race Kings and £45 per tyre for the Supersonics. Anyway I have read some reviews and the RK-SS get some bad press from people who have tried them. So back to the drawing board and found these...

Kenda Small Block Eight, everyone raves about them and they are pretty cheap compared too.

 

[boiltheocean]

SB8s will do you fine, just pump them up real hard.

Personally I'd never buy another conti tyre, I've had loads of problems with weak carcasses and tyres slipping on the rim, dragging the tube around and causing punctures. They absolutely suck.

 

[daft biker]

Anyway I have read some reviews and the RK-SS get some bad press from people who have tried them.

Aye, sounds like standard fare for Conti's though.....German engineering where I want it least on a bike

Generally they're pretty light, fast and long-lasting but there's not much worse than them if it gets greasy and they are prone to pinch punctures.

Kenda are doing very nice work these days....if they do Tomac signature versions of those tyres they'll be the mutt's nuts. Probably

 

[Neal]

Get a Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 on the back if you want a fast tyre that only struggles in really bad mud.

I've just put my new shifters and rear mech on ready for a 30km ride tomorrow night followed by a pint with the new bike club, better than pounding the streets round here

 

[mp10]

Went out for a late night bike ride today with a couple of friends, after we adjusted the front deraileur, the chain was scraping against it so my friend and i made a couple of adjustments. but its all sorted now

Anyway had a good ride, roads were quiet , just a nice casual ride really

I also have a quick question regarding tire combo's, I have a set of semi slick tires, not sure what type but the when i press the rear brake tightly, its like there's not as much stopping power, tyre seems to slip. So can i have Full tread tyres at the back and semi slick tyres at the front? or Both full thread? The semi slick tyres allow me to get some good speed, but i would prefer more grip, what do you guy's think?

Thanks

 

[W3H5]

The only issue I can see with having different grade tyres on the front and rear is that many places will sell tyres in twos, so unless you want spare (which we all know are useful) then there is no problem running different tyres.

If you're riding on the road and not off-roading much then semi-slicks are fine, as I used them on my mountain bike to commute. I wouldn't advice full slicks unless the sole us of the bike is for road riding as they offer little grip on a lose surface.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Only real men drive full slicks in every condition. Even though I've had some very, very loose moments in the rain before when driving over sewer covers in the rain. That's just downright scary at times.

Sun expected for tomorrow. Will be my first ride in like 4 weeks. It hasn't done anything else but raining the past month

 

[W3H5]

Only real men drive full slicks in every condition.

I'll take that as a compliment.

My bike has been at rest for the last two weeks while I've been on a weight gain with only weight lifting exercise. That, and it's had a puncture as explained previously in the thread.

Today I'm off work as it's May Day holiday (thought I never work Tuesdays anyway so a lost holiday really) and will go to collect my bike from where I left it at my dads house. I'm bringing it home to do some repairs and kit it out for the summer here. Bottle cage. Check. Summer jersey. Check. Dust mask....erm....yet to be fabricated.

I'm going to try and construct something like this.

 

[hawkeye122]

Anyone going to the Tour of California in a few weeks? Let me know, and we could perhaps have some coffee.

 

[Sprite]

Got myself some Kenda Small Block Eight 26/2.1 they should be delivered by the end of the week. I should get them fitted by Friday and be able to take them for a ride. Going for the same tyre on back and front for now but may chnage the front for something with more grip in the winter.

Do any of you guys get a second set of wheels and tyres for winter/mud and crud riding and just swap wheels over?

 

[Submerged]

I do know a couple of friends who swaps their slicks for the grippier treads when winter comes or the rain for their road bikes.

So it is a normal thing. Most riders seem to use an all-rounder as we're just lazy like that...

 

[Neal]

I have got an old set of wheels but the disc and cassette position is slightly different on them so means adjusting the brakes and gears which is more of a faff than just swapping tyres on my new wheels. For the riding I've been doing until recently the tyres I was using were fine in all weather but I've been on natural trails the last few rides which are much muddier and the back tyre is useless so I'll be changing it for something much nobblier.

My ride last night was boss, there were 11 of us out and did 31.4km in 2 1/2 hours in lots of mud and even through a river which was interesting! It was also my first off road ride in the dark with my super bright lights which was awesome fun. Finished with a pint in a very weird pub and then got home for 11pm to walk mud through the house and get a shower...the missus was not impressed

 

[Submerged]

What made the pub very weird?

 

[Neal]

Someone sitting at the bar was the spitting image of Jack Sparrow and it looks like this inside...

...plus they do morris dancing!

 

[Aldo]

Are you sure you're in a MTB club...?