The biking thread

[W3H5]

plus the gradient does go slightly nuts at the top.

The first time I checked my stats for that part I thought the GPS signal must have gone up the wall, but after remembering the absolute ridiculousness of the incline I can safely say my equipment was functioning properly. Can't wait to do it again.

 

[Emptyone]

I think I've been on 1 in 3 gradient, and definitely on climbs with 25% (Which is a manner of pride for the Uni club to do in the big ring ) but that is impressive. Of course now you have to do it again until you're top 200 amazing local climb to have.


I have a ride planned with 4500m of climbing in 125km in the Pyrenees, but we'll see how that goes

 

[Carlos]

Plus Carlos bike pics need to go up if it arrives. Followed by a ride of course. Nothing like a new bike

Hell yeah! Can't wait. I'm at work for another 3 hours, then I'm off to the bike store! Then it's only like 2 km to home so I'm going to try to drive in normal clothes. Then make muchos photos

A drive is planned but not sure if I should make a long trip or not. Only slept 3 hours tonight and I'm already on the go since 5 am this morning

I'm actually nervous

 

[W3H5]

Looking forward to the pics, @Carlos.

@Emptyone, I did the whole climb in the easiest gear combination available, which, due to the way my bike is geared, wasn't as easy as I'd have liked. To get up any of that mountain on and big ring gear would take me 6 months of weekly practice!

Still I be riding a proper mountain is more fun. The ride I did was more like a large hill and is particularly short in length (hence the crazy incline).

 

[Moglet]

Nice! Frame looks neat. I have a secret relationship with small geometry frames.

Any ideas what pedals you want? With or without SPD?

Personally I would destroy those reflectors but again that's personal..

Without SPD, I just want some good flats and a good pair of shoes. I haven't removed the reflectors yet but they'll be going soon enough, as will the bell that seems to have come with the bike! Before some new pedals though I need a bottle cage and bottle. 👍

I went for a very quick ride last night in the spare time I had, only did 2km but it was still good to get out there as the sun was setting. The gears are behaving themselves now which is good, although at one point I did get a raspy sound coming from the chain on every revolution. I pulled over to answer my phone and when I moved off it was gone! Very odd.

 

[W3H5]

After breaking it in you might want to have a play with the cables as new ones might stretch a bit after the first time of use.

Also, I've found that any lightweight sports shoes work will. I use some Puma casual/ running shoes that work a treat.

As for pedals, there is an option to get the advantage of clips but also use shoes and that's by getting double sided pedals.

 

[Shaun]

Without SPD, I just want some good flats and a good pair of shoes.

Mog have you also looked at double sided pedals that take cleats on one side but are flat on the other?

I have some on my flat-bar road bike and are an excellent compromise depending on the scenario I'm in. I'll pretty much always use cleats except when riding with the kids (always stopping) and they work very well.
Bonus also of MTB shoes is that you can walk in them not like a penguin.

 

[Carlos]

Without SPD, I just want some good flats and a good pair of shoes. I haven't removed the reflectors yet but they'll be going soon enough, as will the bell that seems to have come with the bike! Before some new pedals though I need a bottle cage and bottle. 👍

I went for a very quick ride last night in the spare time I had, only did 2km but it was still good to get out there as the sun was setting. The gears are behaving themselves now which is good, although at one point I did get a raspy sound coming from the chain on every revolution. I pulled over to answer my phone and when I moved off it was gone! Very odd.

Like the guys above said, check out double sided pedals. I use these from Shimano. They were around 50 euros. My buddy uses them from Crank Brothers.

Not sure what gearing problem could be. I have the same problem but mine is 2 years old, sometimes when I change gear I have to play with the shifters a bit. Like going 2 forward and 1 back, because when I do 1 forward it sometimes does nothing.

 

[Shaun]

@Carlos your gear issued sounds very much like a sticking cable, could also be frayed but my guess it probably needs a clean.
Check for any crap built up around where the inner cable enters the outer cables, also under the bottom bracket where it runs through the cable guide.
I'd start with that then move on to sticky derailleurs etc.

Also waiting for pics of the bike. 👍

 

[Carlos]

@Carlos your gear issued sounds very much like a sticking cable, could also be frayed but my guess it probably needs a clean.
Check for any crap built up around where the inner cable enters the outer cables, also under the bottom bracket where it runs through the cable guide.
I'd start with that then move on to sticky derailleurs etc.

Also waiting for pics of the bike. 👍

No no it's clean!! Or it was... It was only built up a couple of weeks ago on my new frame (the red On-One) and I just can't get it right.. A 'typical' custom frame issue me thinks.. I'll try to make a photo later today to show you how it doesn't fit And if I had to believe my colleague, it has nothing to do with my (aggressive) riding style.. Maybe just a bit..

I'm also waiting.. (to be released from work)

 

[Shaun]

Ah OK, some photos could help. More like an adjustment/cable run issue then.
Sure we can get it sorted out. 👍

 

[turbolefty78]

I see there's some adjustment/cable/derailleur issues going on. There's a site that has many how-to videos and write-up's that address these very things. It's called PerformanceBike and I was turned on to the site by my boss who is very heavily into competition bicycling, both mountain and road.

Performance Bicycle Learning Center

 

[Moglet]

After breaking it in you might want to have a play with the cables as new ones might stretch a bit after the first time of use.

Also, I've found that any lightweight sports shoes work will. I use some Puma casual/ running shoes that work a treat.

As for pedals, there is an option to get the advantage of clips but also use shoes and that's by getting double sided pedals.

I did look at double sided pedals but wasn't sure how good they actually are. They're probably going to be my best bet.

Mog have you also looked at double sided pedals that take cleats on one side but are flat on the other?

I have some on my flat-bar road bike and are an excellent compromise depending on the scenario I'm in. I'll pretty much always use cleats except when riding with the kids (always stopping) and they work very well.
Bonus also of MTB shoes is that you can walk in them not like a penguin.

The only thing I'm worried about is riding around the lanes near mine as I'm having to stop quite a bit to let tractors and the like through. So I guess double sided would give my the best of both worlds. I'm still a bit lost on the shoes front if I'm honest, I've no idea what to look for.

Like the guys above said, check out double sided pedals. I use these from Shimano. They were around 50 euros. My buddy uses them from Crank Brothers.

Not sure what gearing problem could be. I have the same problem but mine is 2 years old, sometimes when I change gear I have to play with the shifters a bit. Like going 2 forward and 1 back, because when I do 1 forward it sometimes does nothing.

It seems to have no issues changing the actual gears now, it's certainly a lot quicker and clunkier than when I first rode it, it's just an odd sound appears now and then. Next time it happens I'll stop and take a look at the chain.

 

[Carlos]

You can click the photos for huge size..

Man what a blast!! Already went faster than I wanted It's so easy compared to a mountain bike to maintain speed, can't wait when I'm ready for a real drive..

 

[Moglet]

Looking good Carlos, love that colour scheme!

I went down to the end of our road this evening, I had to ride through a farmer's sprinkler which was interesting! I did a bit of riding on loose sand which was a nightmare, followed by a downhill run to a steep hill ending with a deep muddy puddle. I've never leant back on the bike so much in all my life The view out there is awesome though, you can see the sea and the cliffs all along the coast:

 

[W3H5]

Nicer bike than mine @Carlos. Very good looking. Shame about the bell though, are they law in your city?

Lovely pic @Moglet!

 

[Shaun]

Bike looks nice @Carlos 👍.
Just one thing though, it may be the perception due to the photo but to me using the bricks as a reference it looks like the saddle is tilted back ever so slightly. See how you go riding it but personally it would annoy me no end sliding backwards in the saddle.

On another note are all bikes in Europe set up so the left hand operates the front brake. The first bike I purchased when I got back into riding since I was a kid was set up like that. I for the life of me couldn't get used to it and had to swap it over, bikes here the braking is set up opposite. All the subsequent bikes I have built since use the standard (to me anyway) right hand for the front brake.

Get out there and enjoy the bike mate. 👍

 

[TB]

All the subsequent bikes I have built since use the standard (to me anyway) right hand for the front brake.

Having never ridden anywhere else but the US and never hearing anyone mention it before, I assumed all bikes/brakes were set up the same way. I would crash and die.

 

[Shaun]

I would crash and die.

I nearly did before swapping them back.

I searched the net for an answer at the time, although not definitive the best explanation was along the lines of this.

It all goes back to which side of the road cars are driven on. In many places a hand signal from the rider is only required when turning across in front of a car coming up from behind.
In my case a right hand turn, the theory is that while riding one handed if an emergency application of the brakes is required from the rider it's much safer to use the rear brake. Next time on your bike while traveling slowly try with one hand on the bars to brake with the front brake only, much harder to control than just the rear brake.
It makes sense in my book.

Would be interested to hear how the brakes are set up in the UK @Emptyone?
Pretty sure from memory as a kid in Scotland my bike had the front brakes on the RHS.

 

[Emptyone]

Would be interested to hear how the brakes are set up in the UK @Emptyone?
Pretty sure from memory as a kid in Scotland my bike had the front brakes on the RHS.

Front brake is right, rear is left here. Going to Europe is different to start with, never mind being on the wrong side of the road!

 

[Shaun]

Yep falls in with the theory. 👍

 

[W3H5]

I've always had the rear on the left, from UK to China. Never known any different.

It does cause problems when you come off a year of motorcycle riding and get onto the bike only to find that you're locking the front not the back.

Edit: I just read that ^ back. Does it show how badly I can't determine left from right? Not that I'm drunk or anything (maybe a little drunk).
I genuinely make that mistake on a daily basis. All is know is 'left' and 'other left'z

 

[Carlos]

Thanks @Moglet and nice photo!

Nicer bike than mine @Carlos. Very good looking. Shame about the bell though, are they law in your city?

Lovely pic @Moglet!

Thank you! And yes, but the law says more things, I took it off this morning..

Bike looks nice @Carlos 👍.
Just one thing though, it may be the perception due to the photo but to me using the bricks as a reference it looks like the saddle is tilted back ever so slightly. See how you go riding it but personally it would annoy me no end sliding backwards in the saddle.

On another note are all bikes in Europe set up so the left hand operates the front brake. The first bike I purchased when I got back into riding since I was a kid was set up like that. I for the life of me couldn't get used to it and had to swap it over, bikes here the braking is set up opposite. All the subsequent bikes I have built since use the standard (to me anyway) right hand for the front brake.

Get out there and enjoy the bike mate. 👍

Thanks! You have good eyes, it's slighted back just a bit. Only a few mm's I think but during my ride today I didn't notice any sliding back, did notice a little bit of pain though.

And yes, front brake is left and rear is on the right. I prefer front brakes on the right too but all bicycles have this stupid setup so I just leave it like this. My panic move usually involves heavy right hand braking so it's actually safer now

Went out for a ride today, first part of the route was a bit awkward because there were roadworks so I had to go through the villages. Finally got out of there and on to a nice asphalt road. No idea what my speed is because I have no computer, but had Strava on! 22.5 km total and 25,2 average. I have the feeling that could be higher because the last part I had very strong headwinds But I had muchos fun, wasn't that exhausted so I'm tempted to try a bigger round next time!

 

[TB]

Left hand front brake is best hand front brake.

 

[Shaun]

Thanks! You have good eyes, it's slighted back just a bit. Only a few mm's I think but during my ride today I didn't notice any sliding back, did notice a little bit of pain though.

Went out for a ride today, first part of the route was a bit awkward because there were roadworks so I had to go through the villages. Finally got out of there and on to a nice asphalt road. No idea what my speed is because I have no computer, but had Strava on! 22.5 km total and 25,2 average. I have the feeling that could be higher because the last part I had very strong headwinds But I had muchos fun, wasn't that exhausted so I'm tempted to try a bigger round next time!

If the seat doesn't bother you then don't worry about it, you can always tilt it forward a bit if you want anyway.

Just checked the Strava ride and as @Emptyone said very impressive to have zero elavation gain over that distance.
Gee I thought it was flat where I am, hold the fort I'm moving over there.

 

[Carlos]

If the seat doesn't bother you then don't worry about it, you can always tilt it forward a bit if you want anyway.

Just checked the Strava ride and as @Emptyone said very impressive to have zero elavation gain over that distance.
Gee I thought it was flat where I am, hold the fort I'm moving over there.

White chicks can't even get near the flatness of my country

 

[W3H5]

Having checked my brakes just now I can confirm that the rear is in the left.

 

[Moglet]

A heads up for the UK cyclists; Sports Direct have a 70% off sale at the minute. I picked up 2 pairs of shorts (both padded, 1 baggy pair) a jersey, some shoes (£30 down from £90? Why not) and some really basic LED lights just incase. 👍

 

[W3H5]

Quick question: is anyone else not receiving notifications for this thread? I'm subscribed but get maybe only 1 alert in every 20 posts.

To be more precise, it shows up in my Watched Threads page but does not show in the alerts drop down at the top right of the page.

Just wondering...

 

[TB]

You only receive one notification per subscription until you view the thread, not one per post. Unless you knew that and there's a glitch in the Matrix. If I'm not wearing my sunglasses, you should be concerned.