The biking thread

I think I need a new saddle. Oddly enough I have two Specialized bikes, both of them sporting Riva Mtn saddles from model year 2012 but one saddle feels like it's made ouf ot foam and the other stuff saddles are usually made of, and the other one feels like it was carved out of steel. The soft one is a "spare part" bought separately, the hard one is what came stock on my Camber. Could it be that OEM parts are slightly different to accessories despite having the same name?

Anyway, the new one. I now know that the Riva is good when it works but there seems to be the chance of getting a different version. I'd like to stay within the brand and the Phenom Comp Gel saddle seems to fit my criteria, being relatively affordable and apparently somewhat comfortable while still light and stiff. Anyone with personal experience or, better still, a chance to drop by a Specialized dealer and do a quick feeling check on them?
 
My GT tempest was stolen today. I locked it up outside a station while I went shopping (ironically to get a better bike lock.). Went to a bike shop to ask them about a rattle that had developed on the rear derailuer, they said to bring it over to them, went back to the station and it was gone, no sign it was ever there.

I have reported it too the police however technically it is the transport police's responsibility since it was at a station and they don't seem to co operate much with surrey police. So basicly there is no chance I will get it back.

On the upside though my dads house insurance will cover a bike that was stolen away from your house so I can claim on that and they will give me the money for a new bike. (It won't be that simple however their cover says it covers this situation and that they pay you the cost to replace your bike with a similar one.)
 
Man that is such a bummer to see. Hope karma gets the best of whoever stole your bike.

Today I was riding at Mountain Creek Bike Park and had a pretty wild crash. I was doing a black diamond rock garden, and lost a bit of control. I flipped over my bars, landed back first on a rock, then continued rolling a little bit more over rocks. All I can say is I LOVE my pressure suit! Got up, dusted my self off, and even had a laugh. Great day.
 
lbsf1
My GT tempest was stolen today. I locked it up outside a station while I went shopping (ironically to get a better bike lock.). Went to a bike shop to ask them about a rattle that had developed on the rear derailuer, they said to bring it over to them, went back to the station and it was gone, no sign it was ever there.

I have reported it too the police however technically it is the transport police's responsibility since it was at a station and they don't seem to co operate much with surrey police. So basicly there is no chance I will get it back.

On the upside though my dads house insurance will cover a bike that was stolen away from your house so I can claim on that and they will give me the money for a new bike. (It won't be that simple however their cover says it covers this situation and that they pay you the cost to replace your bike with a similar one.)
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damn, hopefully you'll be back on the bike in no time. I've recently got my bike insurance sorted out too, gives me a peace of mind knowing that i have some cover. Going to university this year and i got a bike locker sorted, lucky me as there was only one space remaining.
 
Update on my situation, the bike is no longer supplied to J E James so I got a refund and now am back on the hunt again. Pretty gutted really, I was just starting to wonder when I'd get my confirmation and get that instead. Oh well, back on the web we go.
 
Thought I'd give a little Vuelta update. Unfortunately, seems like the Tour, then the Olympics and now the Vuelta has proved too much for Chris Froome to mount a proper attack on the overall lead. That's now held by Contador, who did a break to take the lead today and take it away from Rodriguez. If you have access to ITV4 at tonight 7 (UK) or any highlights at all, watch them, because today was Contador back on form.

Here's a slight round up of the day.

Vuelta finishes in Madrid on Sunday.
 
Did a ride, about 14 miles. Annoying thing was that Strava conked out towards the end, not quite sure why. So it didn't get the last mile or anything at all. Oh well.

I am suffering with a bit of a snuffly nose due to building work in the house and having to sleep with all the dust, so starting off at a 19 mph pace wasn't ideal. Seriously, I had to do it as I was feeling rather irritated and all antsy. Then relaxed and eventually (after a few moments of wondering if I was going to fall off the bike due to a cardiac arrest) got into the swing of things and was banging out solid pace.

Apart from hills.

God, if you have a bit of an illness, the hills really really really sap your energy. Christ.

So that's why it was a short ride, less than I was hoping for (20 odd miles).
 
Result.

Insurance offered me a replacement £570 Scott YZ10 for my stolen £318 GT tempest, the scott was more of a jump bike style and the guy said to email him if I wanted an alternative bike. So we have asked him about this one http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p29633/Saracen-Mantra-X27-2010.aspx?ss=394707 its £497 so since it costs the company less then I can't see any reason why they wouldn't except it.

29633.jpg
 
Nice choice 👍

So there's a cycle scheme in work, but it doesn't start til the new financial year. And I really want a mountain bike soon! Hmm, perhaps I'll get a mountain bike then put a road bike on the scheme ready for summer. Decisions, decisions.
 
ExigeEvan
Nice choice 👍

So there's a cycle scheme in work, but it doesn't start til the new financial year. And I really want a mountain bike soon! Hmm, perhaps I'll get a mountain bike then put a road bike on the scheme ready for summer. Decisions, decisions.
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I have been using my old bike for the past week that is closer to a road bike. There is so much difference and it is so much easier on the road that I'm gonna keep on using it for road cycling and commuting. So I would get a mountain bike now and then get a road bike in the scheme. It is really useful having two bikes.

I have to wait untill about 2pm tommorow to see if the insurance company agree to give us that one instead, its gonna be a long wait.
 
I already have a road bike, but it's a Carrera TdF Ltd so it's about as cheap as they (reasonably) come.

I just want something more flexible and for some off road fun.
 
Dragonistic
Update on my situation, the bike is no longer supplied to J E James so I got a refund and now am back on the hunt again. Pretty gutted really, I was just starting to wonder when I'd get my confirmation and get that instead. Oh well, back on the web we go.
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J E James have done that to me before but it'd be a bit more frustrating with a bike rather than something small.

Wheelies have the Felt Q520
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p49307/Felt-Q520.aspx

Voodoo Bantu and Carrera Vulcan are also similar price
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_786839_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#tab2

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_810709_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#tab2

Or if you can go up to £500 the Decathalon Rockride 8.1 is back in stock as is damn good spec for the money although their Rockrider 8.0 now isn't such good value
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2012-id_8168918.html



I did a big ride last weekend lasting nearly 6 hours up in the lake district, my legs are still fubar'd http://app.strava.com/rides/20589712. It doesn't look that big but there was loads of hike a bike and then up on the top of the mountain range was very boggy and sapped everyone's legs, no one escaped the cramps!. Had 2 over the bars but no harm done luckily. Amaving views though :D.

IMG_1079.JPG


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My first time back on the bike today after a mount out and I don't think I lost too much fitness.

I found a new route across the city without any traffic (closed roads yet to open) and just enjoyed the ride.

I even quite enjoyed the traffic on the way back and only swore at two people, must be a new record for me. :)
 
Neal
J E James have done that to me before but it'd be a bit more frustrating with a bike rather than something small.

Wheelies have the Felt Q520
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p49307/Felt-Q520.aspx
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I spotted that myself as well straight after I read the email of failed order, but they don't have my size. I already put down an order for a Q620 (matte black) for £425 this morning however from Wiggle this time and hopefully with a bit of luck it'll go smoothly.

I did email prior to order but got impatient when I got no reply with the next day and just went ahead once the refund went in my account. They replied and told me that it would be dispatched asap but I have requested a bit more concrete information so I can work out when I need to worry that stock will run out before I get the bike. I have a bit more faith this time, but if for some reason it happens again I will probably just go to Halfords and get the Vulcan before the weather gets (more) terrible.

Super late edit: Can't see your photos Neal, not sure if it's just me but it was the same yesterday too.
 
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I finally realised the wonders of owning a racer. A while ago my friend bought a road bike and sold his MTB for the birmingham to london bikeride. Previous years we just slapped slicks on the MTB's and assumed there wasnt much difference between the two types. This year I borrowed a racer to do the ride after strugling to keep up with my friends awesome pace. After finishing the birmingham bikeride I feel in love with road bikes.

Heres my new purchace :D



And the two together. My MTB feels like a dirtbike now so big and heavy. The roadbike feels sophisticated and balanced. I havent got the heart to sell the Specialized yet though..
 
Slick Rick
I finally realised the wonders of owning a racer. A while ago my friend bought a road bike and sold his MTB for the birmingham to london bikeride. Previous years we just slapped slicks on the MTB's and assumed there wasnt much difference between the two types. This year I borrowed a racer to do the ride after strugling to keep up with my friends awesome pace. After finishing the birmingham bikeride I feel in love with road bikes.
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Nice looking bikes you have their, what forks have you got on the Specialized? Good work on the bike ride :)👍
 
After procrastinating I finally bit the bullet and went for a ride today... well 'if' you can call it a ride...

As I started a pre-frontal blow came through... and boy did it sap my legs... I mean I had absolutely nothing, nada, nil, in my legs...


Instead of just crawling along I called it early, and only did 10km... lol
 
boiltheocean
Well, Vuelta over. Contador won it with Froome finishing a respectable 4th.
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Contador was fantastic, this was easily the best Grand Tour of the year. Attacking every day, makes you realise how boring the Sky domination of the Tour was. Not bad for a fatigued Froome, and unlucky again for Rodriguez, second in the Giro and the Vuelta, ouch.
 
mp10
Nice looking bikes you have their, what forks have you got on the Specialized? Good work on the bike ride :)👍
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Everyone asks me that lol their huge arnt they! The forks are SR Suntour Epicon. Not a very good brand but the forks are really good for the price I bought them for. It had a air leak which I fixed and now they work better than ever. Magnesium forks with rebound and air pressure adjustment and a very good lockout and they have over 100mm of travel...
I took the stickers off and put red specialized stickers on the inside to match the rest of the bike.
 
Slick Rick
Everyone asks me that lol their huge arnt they! The forks are SR Suntour Epicon. Not a very good brand but the forks are really good for the price I bought them for. It had a air leak which I fixed and now they work better than ever. Magnesium forks with rebound and air pressure adjustment and a very good lockout and they have over 100mm of travel...
I took the stickers off and put red specialized stickers on the inside to match the rest of the bike.
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Nice, That the first i've heard of them, i thought Suntour only did the XCR, XCT and XCM.
 
Suntour makes good mid to high end forks too but sadly the brand name is tarnished by people buying the XC series and then complaining because they didn't work satisfactorily or broke down during a downhill bombing run. No wonder, the name already says what they're meant for - cross country - and they work perfectly well for that considering the price. It's a like off roading a showroom stock Honda CR-V, it just isn't going to end well.
 
And on the wettest day in the past few days or so my bike has arrived!

309215_4786609946047_631031466_n.jpg

Apologies for terrible phone camera, will fix that when I get my S3 in a week or so.

Wiggle provided a great service, I'm glad I got this over the 520 from J E James anyway now as it's alot nicer in the flesh then I thought it would be and ultimately I got a better bike if a bit more expensive but I got a better service too so can't complain.

Had a quick test ride in the damp in a break in the rain and it Felt great :dopey:, handling is so much crisper then anything I've ridden in a long long time (granted I've not ridden much but I'm used to a quality of handling from the motorised bigger grippier brother). Brakes are a little intimidating as it's my first time with hydro discs really, I can tell there's alot of stopping power (way more then I need right now) and rolling down my steep wet gravel drive I was more scared of locking up and binning it before I even made it past that, surprisingly confidence inspiring though. Tyres were noted as a bad point, I can believe in real tough terrain they may not be ideal but for dry conditions and the road they're a good compromise as I can always invest later in a set of road tyres and a more aggressive mountain bike tyre.

It'll be a long time before I outperform the bike though which is exactly what I wanted, rather too much bike then not enough, and I started seeing more and more Carrera's about so too have something a little more unique (and ultimately better looking imo) is an added bonus.

Can't wait to try it out proper.
 
Dragonistic
Super late edit: Can't see your photos Neal, not sure if it's just me but it was the same yesterday too.
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cheers mate 👍 Think I could see them as they were cached on my computer but they're fixed now....and copied below.

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Dragonistic
And on the wettest day in the past few days or so my bike has arrived!
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The Felt does look loads better than the Carreras, very nice bike you've got there mate. You'll get used to the brakes and be thankful of them when you need to control your speed on long descents. Bike tyres seems to be the topic of most discussion due to the huge choice and price range. In my experience it's better to spend the extra on kevlar/folding bead, softer (60a/62a) compounds, bigger volumes (2.2 to 2.4 width) and go for knobblier treads rather than thin and small knobs (lol). They don't roll as quick but they work on muddy loose ground so it's worth the extra pedalling effort.


I'm meant to be going out for what will be a very muddy and windy ride tonight, I'm sure I'll do it but I'm a bit gutted the weather isn't still nice like it was at the weekend. I need to get the miles in as it's less than 2 weeks until my 60km race :scared:
 
Looks very nice Neal 👍. I managed to get out in the end in only mildy moist surface conditions, quickly realised how long a road is ahead of me in fitness and retreated after about 2.5 miles of riding granted I couldn't have planned worse I didn't take hydration and I'd just finished eating a large and unhealthy meal so I'm not sure if I should be ashamed or happy I made it :lol:. It was thoroughly enjoyable though, I now have my yard stick to beat as well given it was almost all climb start to finish until I turned back though I'm going to ease myself back in to it slowly to avoid injury.
 
Nice to see some fellow bikers here 👍

This is my Specialized SX Trail version 0.8 (I took the photo march 2011)

14267697.jpg


Tires were replaced with proper MTB tires (Maxxis Minion), a chainguide was installed and the brake lines are shortened.

I rode this setup for about a year and stopped mountainbiking for a while (I don´t know exactly why, i just didn´t want to ride)

Now it is time for a rebuild:

sxtrail.jpg


I changed a couple of parts and will install a front derailleur. The complete black bike was to boring, so i painted a couple of parts purple.
I will post some more pictures, when the bike is finished.
 
You guys make me feel so feeble with your ridiculously expensive bikes, meanwhile at least I bothered to finally get a phone I'm not ashamed to use in public and took a better photo of mine:

picture.php
 

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