The biking thread

[Neal]

Completed my 60 km ride in 2 hours today, averaging 28 kmh and a topspeed of 58 kmh. Aiming to average 30 kmh and then start building up the distance. Pro cyclists average 30 kmh in a 4-5 hour ride in trainings, just to point out the difference. Going to go for my 140 km goal before August hits, just need to pack enough calories and fluids before I start my attempt.

Also, sporting Silence-Lotto's colors :tup:

Crikey, that's some pace! 140km is huuuuge.

I just started riding around a lake(about 6.3 miles) to work on cardio. Im about 6' and around 145 + or - 5 pounds. It took me 39'38.91X to get around it with an average speed of around 9.69. I took a slightly shorter route then I did with the car, and the bike is stuck on the smalest sprocket on the crank. I couldnt go fast on the flats, and its about 60/40 or 65-35 flat to hill ratio. The hills arent that big or steep either, mostly small ones.

How good is that for a newb on a crap bike?

Not bad but you need to get your front deraliur fixed, you'll need the higher gears when your strength improves.

 

[Smart_Roadster]

I ride a Diamondback Outlook. It's a hardtail, but it has lots of techy acronyms such as HST (Hydroformed Steel Tubing) and ICS (Inside Cartridge System), as well as Suntour front suspension, and a Vectra 7005 frame.

 

[AndersonG22]

How do you guys ride so far? After only 6 miles my cheeks are hurting, and the seat is as soft as new ones. I even taped a towel to the seat and it didnt seem to do anything. Im about to make the seat flat like a chair, Im seriously considering it.

What should I do?

 

[boiltheocean]

It's not about seat softness, the shape is more important. Generally though you just get used to it.

 

[Solo]

Bought a carrera vengeance limited disc mountain bike (image at the bottom of the post) a few months back and I love it to bits, the hydraulic breaks are amazing, however I've began to notice they are sticking a little causing a rubbing noise as I cycle and not allowing the wheel to spin quite as freely as it used to. Any ideas what this might be? I've checked the pads and they are in the correct position and stuff. Help please 👍

 

[AndersonG22]

It's not about seat softness, the shape is more important. Generally though you just get used to it.

Im getting a mountian bike, mostly for flat land. How much slower is a mountian bike, compared to a riged fram.

 

[boiltheocean]

Im getting a mountian bike, mostly for flat land. How much slower is a mountian bike, compared to a riged fram.

I presume by rigid frame you mean a road bike? They are slower although it all depends upon the rider, I pass roadies all the time on my MTB's.

 

[Solo]

I presume by rigid frame you mean a road bike? They are slower although it all depends upon the rider, I pass roadies all the time on my MTB's.

The tires also make a big difference I find on the speed I can get up on my MTB. Also if you have rear suspension or not, I had it on my old bike and it absorbs a lot of your pedal every unless you have a very high end set up therefore slowing you down

 

[Submerged]

All depends on the rider and what the bike has.

Road bikes have thinner tyres. This means that there is less friction on the road. So you can do less energy and still do the same speed as someone on a mountain bike at a steady speed. Big fat knobbly tyres means more friction on the road... more effort to pedal to overcome that friction.

Additionally, it all depends how the road bike is set up. Sometimes the wheelsets may not be aligned as true as it can be. Brakes also may rub and sometimes the nuts can be a bit temperamental. Gears are a big difference from mountain bikes. And ride comfort. Road bikes (the racing kind) are hardcore stiff at times.

With regards to seats, its not the padding that matters, its how you sit on it and whether the shape works for you. Padded shorts do help a lot, once you find the right seating position for you. For me, I kinda have to sit with most of my body merely resting lightly on the seat itself, as I have drop handlebars and just spread more of my body position forward of the bike as I tend to have some strange balance issues.

 

[David]

I've been meaning to post a pic of my road bike here for a while.

2011 Trek Madone 4.5

My dad got me a bit into riding near the end of last summer, so back in April I decided to get a real bike for this year. I've done about 600-700 miles so far. I would have liked to have a few more miles but the heat has been brutal this summer and my long commute doesn't always allow for a ride after work.

I've got my eye on some really nice Ellsworth mountain bikes down at my local shop. I should be good and poor soon.

 

[Neal]

^ Nice 👍

How do you guys ride so far? After only 6 miles my cheeks are hurting, and the seat is as soft as new ones. I even taped a towel to the seat and it didn't seem to do anything. I'm about to make the seat flat like a chair, I'm seriously considering it.

What should I do?

As others have said it's the shape of the seat that matters not just the softness. The attached PDF is the sit bone width chart for Specialized saddles so you can work out which width seat to get. The best way to measure your sit bone width is to sit in your usual riding position on a plastic bag filled with some flour or sand and measure the distance between the two lowest points in the imprint.

As others have also said it's more a case of getting used to it but a decent pair of padded shorts will help.

Bought a carrera vengeance limited disc mountain bike (image at the bottom of the post) a few months back and I love it to bits, the hydraulic breaks are amazing, however I've began to notice they are sticking a little causing a rubbing noise as I cycle and not allowing the wheel to spin quite as freely as it used to. Any ideas what this might be? I've checked the pads and they are in the correct position and stuff. Help please 👍

They probably just need cleaning (hot soapy water and a toothbrush) and adjusting. If you don't know what you're doing it's best to take it back to where you bought it for them to do it but as that would be Halfords I'd recommend taking it to a local bike shop and paying them to do it. Here's the product page for them with owners manual if you want to have a go yourself.

 

[W3H5]

2011 Trek Madone 4.5

Me want one. The piece of junk I ride is coming to the end of it's life. Not that it's problematic, I just require an upgrade.

My bike, as you'll see if I ever get around to posting pics, is a bit of a hybrid mutt. The original bike was an XDS (Semi-decent quality Chinese brand) mountain bike to which I fitted V brakes, a set of horns with brake levers attached for position comfort, Shimarno gearing, Terminator slicks and the most ridiculous, bottom numbing seat I could find. All in all a very fast bike worthy of the roads they grace.

 

[Machate-man]

What's your route?

Using Google earth, I made this:


This is my mild, regular ride. A 7K ride around a lake, with a hill sprouting at the south end, intensifying by the north-east end. The long straight by the west end provides a hill to get 40mph+

 

[Aldo]

The bike shop sorted my BB and put my Chainguide back where the found it for free, however he did enlighten me to the fact that my front hub is buggered.
New wheel time... I wish.

Ordered a 180mm rotor for the front, the appropriate adapter and a T25/T30/T45 torx tool and also a top chainguide which clamps onto the seattube. My chain will never ever fall off ever now.

Chainguide roller still hasn't come though so no ride for me this weekend.
Didn't even go to spinning this morning despite the wonderful errrrrrrrr bums...

 

[boiltheocean]

I got my Maxxis DTH's on and swapped my Raceface bars back onto it. It's going to stay like this until something breaks now just because it's riding so damn nice

Notice I did away with the chain tensioner because I found a god-like ratio that allows me perfect tension with vertical dropouts.

 

[Bram Turismo]

The bike I will be saving up for in the future. It will be expensive, but it looks like I love cycling more than just a hobby...

I just found out at an age of, within 3 weeks, 22 years old that my true love and passion lies with cycling. Unfortunately I'm already too old to make a career out of it since it would take a few years to train for the junior rounds and you need to be a talent to make it to the pros.

It's kind of a blow in the face to find out at such a late state what you want to do in life, but I swear I will take care of this love and passion as a hobby.

 

[hellnback]

^^^ Serious kit ^^^

I too am thinking of a little purchase, well unsuccessfully trying to talk myself out of, a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp 29...

 

[boiltheocean]

I just found out at an age of, within 3 weeks, 22 years old that my true love and passion lies with cycling. Unfortunately I'm already too old to make a career out of it since it would take a few years to train for the junior rounds and you need to be a talent to make it to the pros.

It's kind of a blow in the face to find out at such a late state what you want to do in life, but I swear I will take care of this love and passion as a hobby.

I'm just getting past the cut off age, if I worked hard at it I could probably race nationals competitively or even Dirt jump/slopestyle events but I doubt I could break into a world circuit even if I did put in loads of effort. Besides I wouldn't want to make it a career because I enjoy riding my bikes for fun, I couldn't handle the mental pressure to perform. Although I suspect cycling will always be part of my life in some form or another, whether that's through photography or possibly opening a bike shop.

 

[Greycap]

Currently riding that one in the summertime, only that after that shot it has changed quite a lot. Changes from full stock include (in the picture) Schwalbe road tyres, some brandless but fully adjustable bar ends, lights, a Sigma speedometer, mudguard deletion, (not seen in the picture) Shimano Alivio front and Deore rear derailleur, BBB chain, BBB Highrise stem, BBB Freebar handlebar and as the latest thing I stripped off all the stickers and painted it gloss black all round. New stickers coming when I find the time to go to have them applied. The next improvements will be new pedals, a new saddle (probably both from BBB as I have very good access to their parts) and a new Shimano bottom bracket bearing as the current one seems to be on its way out judging by the sound it makes.

Pretty much the only Raleigh part left is the main frame...

 

[Bram Turismo]

Got my bike from the mechanic today with a fresh set of tires. Plan was to go 60-70km but after one lap I felt my legs weren't in top shape and I was dumb enough not to eat before I left so my stomach started complaining after one lap as well so I left it at that.

32,7 km in 1 hour and 18 minutes. Averaged 24,8 km/h and maxed 64,8 km/h. Bad day.

 

[Aldo]

possibly opening a bike shop.

And when I don't get into uni I can come and work in this bike shop. Everyone's a winner...

Superstar have finally shipped all their crap but the other place haven't sent my chain tensioner roller yet. 🤬

 

[boiltheocean]

And when I don't get into uni I can come and work in this bike shop. Everyone's a winner...

You may work for me one day if you can produce a slopestyle run like this.

http://uk.freecaster.tv/mountainbike/1016944/kokanee-crankworx-2011-red-bull-joyride-anthony-messere

I've just decided that's going to be my interview process

 

[Aldo]

You may work for me one day if you can produce a slopestyle run like this.

http://uk.freecaster.tv/mountainbike/1016944/kokanee-crankworx-2011-red-bull-joyride-anthony-messere

I've just decided that's going to be my interview process

Deal.

As if that 15 year old just did a flipwhip to finish his run. Mind. Blown.
I see big things ahead for this guy.

 

[David]

Shut the front door

 

[boiltheocean]

As if that 15 year old just did a flipwhip to finish his run. Mind. Blown.
I see big things ahead for this guy.

To be honest I think he should of won with that run, granted Semenuk and Zink pulled off some pretty sweet tricks to take 1st and 2nd but Messere just went huge with some difficult tricks.

I was surprised to hear that he isn't sponsored by anyone yet which is odd considering he's won several BMX contests in Canada and a few best trick contests against the MTB big hitters previously. Although I bet he's swamped with offers (and girls delicates) now.

 

[Neal]

Holy mother of god!

 

[Talon]

Like a boss!

Floats you are so lucky you have decent trails near you, the best thing I have in my area is a footpath where you get yelled at if you go too fast. I also noticed the picture of your tires on your DJ on the first page, do you actually get enough grip with those? I hate having to pedal so hard but I'm afraid of washing out whenever I turn. I'm on a modified GT Chucker.

 

[boiltheocean]

Floats you are so lucky you have decent trails near you, the best thing I have in my area is a footpath where you get yelled at if you go too fast. I also noticed the picture of your tires on your DJ on the first page, do you actually get enough grip with those? I hate having to pedal so hard but I'm afraid of washing out whenever I turn. I'm on a modified GT Chucker.

Nah we still have to travel 15mins by car to get to the nearest decent trails, about 45 mins to get to the best we know of. Although hopefully that should change as we found a quiet bit of local woods to make some sneaky sneaky trails in.

I haven't thrashed the DTH's yet but they grip amazing on hardpack summer trails, I imagine they won't hold up as well as the race kings come winter so I'll just swap back when it starts getting a bit muddy.

EDIT: Here's a little video from one of the locals of the best trail we know of, the first line on the right is also where I bust my kidney.

 

[Talon]

That looks like a great area. 👍 Honestly I'm sure I could find places to go, it's more just that my friends are lame and too lazy to do anything like that.

On a different topic, I bought my bike from a friend because it was a killer deal, but it's really more of a mountain bike without the gears rather than a DJ, which I'd like to change. All the parts are decent, I just need a new frame to really be happy. Do you guys know where I could get a good-enough DJ frame for like $200-300? The only requirement is that it needs dropouts for a quick release wheel.

 

[W3H5]

I just did some calculations on-line using time and distance and my average speed is around 20KPH give or at a few over 15K. Is that good or bad?
I thought I'd be faster but I haven't cycled for around 8 months.
Anyone recorded their average speed before?