The biking thread

[Neal]

I went out last night to have a go at a Strava segment of mostly dirt tracks around a park and golf course near me created by some random who's been to Gisburn Trail so I'm classing him as a proper mountain biker rather than an old duffer on a shopper bike. Even though I had to double back a couple of times as I'd missed turnings I still did it in 23:13 getting the KOM and knocking 6 1/2 minutes off his best time \o/ My only regret is I won't see his face when he finds out he's lost his KOM :maniacal laugh:

The other part of my ride was much more creative...or least that's what I imagined before hand. See if you can guess what it is, it might not be a Clockwork Beagle but it's the best I could do.

 

[W3H5]

You rode Snoopy!

 

[Neal]

You rode Snoopy!

Like a boss


PSA: The new Anthill Films mountain bike movie is being live streamed for free in a liitle over 4 hours on Red Bull TV and Pinkbike, links below...

http://live.redbull.tv/events/35/strength_in_numbers/

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Free-STRENGTH-IN-NUMBERS-Online-Premiere-2012.html

 

[mp10]

Rockshox Recon fork arrived today Here's some pic's





Also fitted on my new seat, way more comfortable now.


I can get the fork fitted at halfords, but not sure how much they'll charge. Mike Vaughan (where i bought bike from) quoted me £24, which sounds ok.

What do you guy's say, halfords or Mike Vaughan cycles?

 

[Neal]

For the love of god don't let Halfords anywhere near your bike! You'd better asking a Tesco shelf stacker to fit them. Swapping forks is fairly easy if you're confident to begin with but you don't want to risk damaging and ruining them so let a proper bike shop do it. £24 seems fair so if you're happy with the shop you bought the bike from go there.

Also your seat looks a bit low, you're not a hobbit are you

 

[mp10]

For the love of god don't let Halfords anywhere near your bike! You'd better asking a Tesco shelf stacker to fit them. Swapping forks is fairly easy if you're confident to begin with but you don't want to risk damaging and ruining them so let a proper bike shop do it. £24 seems fair so if you're happy with the shop you bought the bike from go there.

Also your seat looks a bit low, you're not a hobbit are you

Thanks for the advice, might as well just book it in with the bike shop.

am 5'10 but prefer seatpost a little low

 

[Bram Turismo]

Taking a break from cycling for this weekend. I've covered about 200km this week with a lot of university work, bad nutrition and little sleep. I've only had one decent warm meal the entire week.

It was 27C outside today which was insane to cycle in, but I just HAD to enjoy the weather. It only took me 100m of travel before I already felt how exhausted I am. I only did 35km today, and right now I just feel completely energy-drained.

On the bright side, I'm finished with my university work. Going home tomorrow, enjoying the weather in the weekend and some great meals and overall good sleep without all this stress. I have a job interview on Tuesday, hope that will go well! 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

For the love of god don't let Halfords anywhere near your bike! You'd better asking a Tesco shelf stacker to fit them.

Oi!


That said, I've seen some terribly assembled bikes by colleagues. Brakes on backwards, handle bars mounted backwards and pedals cross-threaded.

Doesn't beat the lady that wanted to return a "faulty" kids bicycle because she's fitted the brake pads perpendicular to the wheel rim.

 

[Neal]

Good luck with the job interview Bram 👍 Sounds like you need the break this weekend!


I had a chuckle last night, I checked up on the Strava segment KOM I nicked earlier in the week and the dude I stole it from went out to try and win the KOM back but is still 1 1/2 minutes off my pace

Thanks for the advice, might as well just book it in with the bike shop.

am 5'10 but prefer seatpost a little low

It's also good to build up a relationship with your local reputable bike shop as it will pay you back in the long run. The shop the bike club uses will happily match any internet prices you mention and will turn around repair work fast if you need the bike back for a ride.

Have a look at the below article for fitting your bike, it's more geared to road rather than offroad riding but it's still applicable and getting the seat height right will be easier on your legs and make you faster

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Oi!


That said, I've seen some terribly assembled bikes by colleagues. Brakes on backwards, handle bars mounted backwards and pedals cross-threaded.

Doesn't beat the lady that wanted to return a "faulty" kids bicycle because she's fitted the brake pads perpendicular to the wheel rim.

Soz, I knew I'd upset someone with that although I forgot you work/worked there. I've heard good stories about Halfords bike hut employees but they're far out weighed by the horror stories which are backed up by my own experiences with them plus they've just been voted worst for customer service by "the people"!

 

[ExigeEvan]

Soz, I knew I'd upset someone with that although I forgot you work/worked there. I've heard good stories about Halfords bike hut employees but they're far out weighed by the horror stories which are backed up by my own experiences with them plus they've just been voted worst for customer service by "the people"!

Haha no worries. When I was collecting my bike they were hurridly discussing how they'd sort a paint chip on a frame, caused by a dropped tool, of a £1600 Boardman.

 

[daft biker]

Remember picking up my Subzero from Halfords and riding it home.....out the store and the first kerb I went to hop up the handlebars moved Just aswell I took a multi tool to get me home!

Still, it's my first choice for a place to buy a bike....I trust them to stay in business longer than the warranty period on stuff and I don't trust anybody else to build or fix my bikes anyway so I don't see them as being any worse than anywhere else.

I've had bad advice from a well know Edinburgh based chain and had new wheels built at another chain store from Aberdeen only for them to fold on the first bump, forks serviced that came back with a rattle....

....bike shops seem to be a bit hit and miss

Don't think I've ever taken a new bike back to the shop for it's first "free service".....I'd just have to go over it all again before I trusted it.

Also, I can't stand seeing folk riding bikes that clearly aren't right......I've got to stick my nose in and try to get it sorted. Hate to see kids in particular riding bikes that just aren't set up for them.....brake leavers they can barely reach, forks on backwards, tyres so soft the rims bounce off the ground, cables wrapped round tubes......

Saw one a few weeks back where every cable was routed wrongly - the outer cable stops weren't even slotted into the bosses on the frame in places! I didn't have any tools and couldn't fix it by hand so I just had to leave it but it's still bugging me knowing somebody is riding it around. Don't even know whose bike it was....it was just parked outside somebody's house

 

[W3H5]

Remember picking up my Subzero from Halfords and riding it home.....out the store and the first kerb I went to hop up the handlebars moved Just aswell I took a multi tool to get me home!

The same thing happened to me a few years back when I bought my first MTB in China. Ignoring the actually manufacturing quality which was just so so, I came down from a curb only 100m up the from the shop where I'd just bought it to have the bars twist around. The twonk hadn't fastened the stem bolts hard enough.

....bike shops seem to be a bit hit and miss

I've found that. It's the same in any country which is odd. My local shop now is the 4th that I've used. The previous 3 being rubbish.

 

[Submerged]

In your local, do they fix punctures for 50p?

 

[Yrkshrpudding]

I just picked myself up a terrible entry level mountain bike that I love already and have been riding sidewalks to get used to being on a bike again.

Impatience is getting the better of me and I think I'm going to have to try the local singletrack trail sooner rather than later. Any gems of wisdom before I set out and embarass myself?

My big question is that the trail is one way. What happens if I have a catastrophic failure and need to abandon the run. Surely I don't have to walk the bike the rest of the way round the trail?!?!

 

[mp10]

In your local, do they fix punctures for 50p?

halfords charge £8.99 for Puncture Repair

 

[Neal]

I just picked myself up a terrible entry level mountain bike that I love already and have been riding sidewalks to get used to being on a bike again.

Impatience is getting the better of me and I think I'm going to have to try the local singletrack trail sooner rather than later. Any gems of wisdom before I set out and embarass myself?

My big question is that the trail is one way. What happens if I have a catastrophic failure and need to abandon the run. Surely I don't have to walk the bike the rest of the way round the trail?!?!

Awesome, another new mountain biker :tup:

One way trails are great as you don't need to worry as much what's going to be round the corner, if you have to push the bike back due to a mechanical or injury then walking the wrong way is ok as long as you try to stay to the side of the trail and definitely keep well out of the way when someone is coming, you would likely find more direct fireroads back anyway that avoided the proper trails. If you have a physical fitness failure then you need to take 2 of the below and keep going the right way, even if it means pushing, so you can enjoy the downhill stuff and get fitter for next time.

The best advice is to get out there, pedal hard and have fun but if you fancy a bit of home work...
Read this...
http://db.tt/7Wz7v02f

Watch these...
https://vimeo.com/41187732
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoNOvtwxpxo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4JXAAMJB5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSSi7n9RlHc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlzvjcUM4XE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWBxwlpjO58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSqkKtnMM_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkvWp5ypjg0

And if you fancy seeing some of the best riders in the world schralping the gnar and rhoid-buffing watch this will it's still being streamed for free this weekend...
http://live.redbull.tv/events/35/strength_in_numbers/

 

[Yrkshrpudding]

Stuff Neal said

I'll have a look at all that lot as soon as I can.
Cheers for the quick reply.

 

[mp10]

I just picked myself up a terrible entry level mountain bike that I love already and have been riding sidewalks to get used to being on a bike again.

Impatience is getting the better of me and I think I'm going to have to try the local singletrack trail sooner rather than later. Any gems of wisdom before I set out and embarass myself?

My big question is that the trail is one way. What happens if I have a catastrophic failure and need to abandon the run. Surely I don't have to walk the bike the rest of the way round the trail?!?!

Welcome to the biking thread 👍

I too just got back on the bike around a month ago, having quite a lot of fun too
I've only been to one trail, which was'nt half bad. i did'nt really take it too aggressive, but nonetheless still a good ride.

have fun mate 👍

 

[W3H5]

In your local, do they fix punctures for 50p?

They fix punctures for free, since I spend loads of money there. They've even started offering me cigarettes and a bottle of Coke every time I show up and I have a chat with the mechanic who's studying English.

 

[boiltheocean]

I went for a blast around Cannock today, came to the realisation that my bike would be so much better with a dropper post. Also that it's not wise to ride without gloves for a long period of time on such a hot, sweaty day.

Ordered some new grips and a 50mm stem, also toying with the idea of a carbon bar, new rims and a 1x9 setup. They may have to wait until later in the year though.

 

[Neal]

A few of the guys I ride with have got dropper posts and they all rave about them, seems to make a big difference to how much control you have on steep stuff.

That stem is a bargain and looks great in silver, better deal than the SSC Zephir stem! I've been looking for something with a lower stack height and that would be perfect 👍

You thinking of getting the Easton Havoc carbon bar? I'd love one myself but way too expensive so will probably get a Renthal Fatbar...which is still expensive! Not an essential purchase but want to see what this wide bar thing is like.

 

[boiltheocean]

If anything I'd go for something like the Raceface Next or SIXC bars, although I've seen a lot of people running Havens or Havocs. Currently you can get a Next SL riser bar on CRC for £70 which isn't all that much more than a Fatbar and they are still pretty wide (685mm). Personally I wouldn't go more than 700mm, I ran some Raceface Air Alloy bars at 720mm and I struggled to get them though trees They provided many hairy moments at speed!

 

[Neal]

I've heard Cannock is pretty tight between the trees so big bars there could cause a fairly spectacular off! I've shoulder barged a few trees but so far haven't caught a bar...touch wood...or not. I've got Easton EA50 685mm at the moment which are a nice shape but I do feel I'm lacking leverage on long techy rutted downhills and can sometimes struggle to keep the front wheel pointing where I want it to. I've just done some press ups to see what hand width feels good. Initially I had them over 800mm apart which felt fine but I'm not getting a SSC Yard Stick! 780mm felt good, 750mm felt less so and 685mm felt like my hands were far too close together. If I do get big bars I can always cut them down if they don't feel right or don't fit through gates

I saw the news on the SRAM 1x11 drivetrain which got me thinking about ditching the front mech. I used to think it wouldn't work but as I've got fitter I think I could get away with it on most rides with the right size chainring. I do too many road miles on my hardtail to lose the range now but would definitely consider it when I finally buy a bouncer that would only be used on trails.

Also I went out in the baking sun yesterday for a bit of Strava bagging and got 3 KOM's Only one of the segments was on dirt, take that roadies

 

[boiltheocean]

I saw the news on the SRAM 1x11 drivetrain which got me thinking about ditching the front mech. I used to think it wouldn't work but as I've got fitter I think I could get away with it on most rides with the right size chainring. I do too many road miles on my hardtail to lose the range now but would definitely consider it when I finally buy a bouncer that would only be used on trails.

I've just ordered a Superstar XCR BB Mount guide to try out 1x9 on the Yeti. I never really had a problem with my chain jumping off when I had the Pace but now I've also got suspension acting on the chain length it happens far more than I'd like.

 

[daft biker]

I've got Easton EA50 685mm at the moment which are a nice shape but I do feel I'm lacking leverage on long techy rutted downhills and can sometimes struggle to keep the front wheel pointing where I want it to.

Are you riding with a suss fork and quick release wheel? Try clamping the front wheel between your knees and turning the bars.....if it flexes really easy and flexes a lot that's probably your weakest link in keeping the front wheel pointing the way you want it.

Another significant factor for stability over rough stuff is often the weight of the rims and tyres....greater weight gives greater gyroscopic forces so the wheel wants to change direction less.

Big wide bars are good for making a bike feel more chuckable though

 

[Aldo]

Noticed earlier while cleaning my bike that one of the spokes in the back wheel has snapped. Boll0x

 

[Kitten]

Now that I'm thinking about it, going from my mountain bike without the aero bar, regular pedals and knobby tires to the same frame with the aero bar, slicks and toe clips cut 10, and on a good day 15, minutes off of my ride time and I know that the aero bar was good for a large chunk of that time.

And yes, my backpack was pretty consistently the same weight.

mountain Bike/OR Full suspension With Wide tires. I Have one . And You lose a hell load of energy cuz of my shocks

 

[Neal]

^ You do realise you've replied to TB's post from 3 years ago

I've just ordered a Superstar XCR BB Mount guide to try out 1x9 on the Yeti. I never really had a problem with my chain jumping off when I had the Pace but now I've also got suspension acting on the chain length it happens far more than I'd like.

I must admit I don't suffer with losing the chain on the hartail but have still got my eye on a Bionicon c.guide v.02 if they ever come back in stock in the UK. Saying that I recently took a link out of the chain to improve tension but it is extremely tight in the big ring big cog combo so isn't sensible but I'm never going to shift into that combo unless I have a senior moment.

Are you riding with a suss fork and quick release wheel? Try clamping the front wheel between your knees and turning the bars.....if it flexes really easy and flexes a lot that's probably your weakest link in keeping the front wheel pointing the way you want it.

Another significant factor for stability over rough stuff is often the weight of the rims and tyres....greater weight gives greater gyroscopic forces so the wheel wants to change direction less.

Big wide bars are good for making a bike feel more chuckable though

RS Reba QR fork with 9mm bolt through QR axle so slightly beefier that a normal QR but hardly the most burly of forks, I'll try doing that tonight although I can guess what the result will be I've got 30mm external width AM rims and Maxxis Advantage 2.25 folding tyres so far from weight weenie but not DH spec either.

I'll still be getting big bars even if it does just give me more leverage to flex the forks

Noticed earlier while cleaning my bike that one of the spokes in the back wheel has snapped. Boll0x

Click me


...or just get your local bike shop to replace the spoke.

 

[Neal]

Are you riding with a suss fork and quick release wheel? Try clamping the front wheel between your knees and turning the bars.....if it flexes really easy and flexes a lot that's probably your weakest link in keeping the front wheel pointing the way you want it.

RS Reba QR fork with 9mm bolt through QR axle so slightly beefier that a normal QR but hardly the most burly of forks, I'll try doing that tonight although I can guess what the result will be

It flexes like it's made out of rubber Also I've discovered there is play in the front wheel bearings which isn't helping although they felt a bit rough so were on the replacement list anyway. I presume a Fox 36 with 20mm axle would be stiff as a very stiff thing?

 

[Aldo]

Stiff as someone else's uncle in a nursery

PS don't tempt me with new wheels! I'm getting paid a :censored:load this month.