View Full Version : The MTB thread
All this recent talk about mountain bikes made me think: "How many of us orgs go mountain biking?"
So what bike do you have and where do you go? Any good trails to recommend? Tips?
I have a Specialized Hardrock Sport 2008 (That's not 29" wheels, just a very small frame!) called Colossus, from the X-Men.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/issues/SV%20forum/Hardrock.jpg
I ride round Swinley Forest a bit, but am a tad unfit and probably need new MTB pals that I can keep up with.
plowsie
21-10-08, 03:48 PM
Get some Disc brakes Gary, they are much better and reliable than pads, unless they are that good. I tend to find that pads for me just slip when wet. I have an old barracuda summit that is front suspension but hardtail with disc brakes all round. Does the job, gonna get into doing some trails now I have the car.
Luckypants
21-10-08, 03:51 PM
MY mate is always trying to get me to go out with him, but only since he got fit. As I am extremely unfit, I think I will not be doing this! I really should get out, I live in the middle of a forest and only 10 mins from a DH track and 20 mins from LLandegla MTB centre.
I have a 10 yo Marin Eldridge Grade that is way better than me.
i have a £1500 marin indian fire trail, i think it was top of the range back when i got it
it looks great hanging up in the garage covered in mold and dust
I went into a bike shop at the weekend and spotted one of these:
http://www.specialized.com/media/2009/bikes/9790-31_enduro_SW_carb-1_d.jpg
I have no use for it, haven't ridden a mountain bike for ever, and I'm totally unfit....
but it's calling to me :p
plowsie
21-10-08, 03:58 PM
That is fit.
Get some Disc brakes Gary, they are much better and reliable than pads, unless they are that good. I tend to find that pads for me just slip when wet. I have an old barracuda summit that is front suspension but hardtail with disc brakes all round. Does the job, gonna get into doing some trails now I have the car.
Not going to upgrade my bike to discs as I need new disc ready hubs to go with the new brakes. It'll cost almost as much as I actually paid for the bike, not worth it for the Hardrock frame.
I went into a bike shop at the weekend and spotted one of these:
http://www.specialized.com/media/2009/bikes/9790-31_enduro_SW_carb-1_d.jpg
I have no use for it, haven't ridden a mountain bike for ever, and I'm totally unfit....
but it's calling to me :p
You tart, just cos it's carbon fibre!! Get one and go with me to Swinley. I need unfit people like me to keep me company.
You tart, just cos it's carbon fibre!! Get one and go with me to Swinley. I need unfit people like me to keep me company.
I'd need you there at Swinley to resuscitate me! :D
rictus01
21-10-08, 05:07 PM
Vosper Types 1 & 2
Between 1943 and 1945 two Vosper designs appeared, the "Vosper Type I 73ft", and then the Type II
Vosper Type I
Length: 73 ft (22 m)
Engine: 3 Packard 12M engines for a total of 4,200 hp
Speed: 40 knots (74 km/h)
Range: 470 nmi (870 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Displacement: 47 t
Armament:
Four 18-inch (457 mm) Torpedo tubes
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Two 0.303 in Vickers K machine guns (optionally two 0.5 Vickers MG)
Crew: 13
Vosper Type II
This design remained in use after the war.
Length 73 ft (22 m)
Engine 4,200 hp
Speed 40 knots (74 km/h)
Range 480 nmi (890 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Displacement 49 t
Armament
Two 18-inch (457 mm) Torpedo
QF 6 pdr Mark IIA (57 mm)[1]
20mm Oerlikon
Two 0.303 Vickers MG
Crew 13
RCN MTB
These where used by the Royal Canadian Navy 29th MTB Flotilla. Originally designed as Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) carrying a 6-pounder {57 mm, 2.24 inch) to engage enemy small craft they were redesignated as Motor Torpedo Boats.
Scott-Paine Type G 70 foot boat.
Manufacturer: British Power Boats, Hythe
Displacement: 55 tons
Overall length: 72 ft 6 inches
Breadth: 20 ft 7 inches
Draught: 5 ft 8 inches
Maximum speed: 38 to 41 knots (new)
Armament:
auto-loading 6 pounder gun (57 mm, 2.24 inch)
Two 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes
.303 or .50 Vickers machine guns
20 mm Oerlikon or 40 mm Bofors cannon
Powerplant - three Rolls-Royce or Packard 14M supercharged V-12 (three shafts)
Power - 3,750 hp total
Range - 140 miles (260 km) at 25 knots (46 km/h)
quite fancy a type II, but storage is always a problem...........:cool:
I got me a specialized fsr xc not too long ago. loving being back on the bike! been to glentress in the Borders a couple of times and then was up at laggan forest at the weekend just there. just so much fun being out splashing around in the mud on a wet day. the legs are slowly getting used the exercise again.
but laggan does have a fun north shore style board walk type bit. it's about 1m wide and doesn't even go high or have any drops, but I was poo'ing pants, also some good fast bits there.
anyone up for an off season day out to glentress? suppose it's the Borders so people can come up from the south or down from the north!
rictus01
21-10-08, 05:12 PM
http://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/17360/Osprey-NewVanguard001.jpg
http://www.silvabay.com/upload/website_feature_content/1218305895336552094.jpg
I've work in a bike shop and have done since i was around 14, so i use the demo bikes we have, but that is when i do go out. Not as keen as i was around 18 months ago. I used to do around 160 miles a week.
My last bike was a Trek Fuel 100, full carbon, full bouncer, carbon everything, XT drivetrain with XTR wheelset. The whole bike weighed 24.9lbs!!!
But over the last 8 years or so i've had around 30-35 bikes and must of spent in excess of £40,000 on bikes and apparal. :smt101
I have a Dbr v6 import from US years ago, recently did a rebuild of a stumjumper m4 to replace one that was stolen when I was a youth. Didnt have it insured at the time ..only took 10years to get round to replacing it
xXBADGERXx
21-10-08, 05:34 PM
I pilot an Orange Patriot LT (ex works/factory bike) , this weekend she is getting a Shimano Hone Crankset fitted and in the post today I got my Goldtec Bushes for the rear shocker . Should be good to go for a shakedown test and will then probably hit up Llandegla next weekend for a gentle pootle before getting back into it and ramping up the Cuuuurrrazyness :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/xXBADGERXx/Image211.jpg
I pilot an Orange Patriot LT (ex works/factory bike) , this weekend she is getting a Shimano Hone Crankset fitted and in the post today I got my Goldtec Bushes for the rear shocker . Should be good to go for a shakedown test and will then probably hit up Llandegla next weekend for a gentle pootle before getting back into it and ramping up the Cuuuurrrazyness :D
Cant go wrong with the Hone's, for the prices they go for its wrong not too and you get more life out of the rings compared to XT as they are steel not aluminium. :p
xXBADGERXx
21-10-08, 06:57 PM
Girth , the Hone cost me £3 WITH a Hollowtec II bottom Bracket . I didn`t realise it but I`d referred a friend on my Wiggle account and they bought stuff . I was gonna pay £70 for the crankset , completed the order and it said "We are gonna take £3 off your Debit Card" .... I was like O_o huh ? . Hadn`t realised they had credited my account about 2 years ago and it`s been sat in there all this time . I killed the Truvativ Hussefelt crankset this year and got sick and tired of binning a bottom bracket every year as well . So the Patriot had the BB threads chased and faced this week and I`m gonna install the Hone set tomorrow (when I can find that damn Spanner for it) :D
Verna has the same bike gary. Her last one got stolen.
The brakes on hers are better than the discs on my Cannondale which was half as much in value again.
Girth , the Hone cost me £3 WITH a Hollowtec II bottom Bracket . I didn`t realise it but I`d referred a friend on my Wiggle account and they bought stuff . I was gonna pay £70 for the crankset , completed the order and it said "We are gonna take £3 off your Debit Card" .... I was like O_o huh ? . Hadn`t realised they had credited my account about 2 years ago and it`s been sat in there all this time . I killed the Truvativ Hussefelt crankset this year and got sick and tired of binning a bottom bracket every year as well . So the Patriot had the BB threads chased and faced this week and I`m gonna install the Hone set tomorrow (when I can find that damn Spanner for it) :D
I bent some Hussefelts, yes, me, with my weight!
Can't go wrong for £3! :geek:
Verna has the same bike gary. Her last one got stolen.
The brakes on hers are better than the discs on my Cannondale which was half as much in value again.
It had i think XT v-brakes it was a pure race bike
Currently using a Iron Horse Azure Comp
I'm riding one of these at the minute. Focus Black Raider.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus%20black%20raider%2007.jpg
Isn't particularly good at downhill sections, but I generally try to stick to cross country riding and this bike sort of excells in this area due to the low weight etc.
thinking of sticking some hydraulic disc brakes on my claud butler instead of the cable disc's then i'll do some proper riding hahahahaha.
northwind
21-10-08, 08:54 PM
Just getting back into riding myself, and decided my 16-year-old carrera rigid wasn't really up to it so got me a very lightly used Carrera Kraken...
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/Northwindlowlander/IMG_0551.jpg
Not the most flattering photo :geek: And yes, I'm fully aware the seat's too low. It was mint and almost unridden, so naturally I immediately crashed it and covered it with scratches. Nice enough bike, wee bit heavy and the stock bars as seen in that pic were ridiculously high and forward, it preferred wheelies to climbing and descending was a bit hairy too... So I stuck a set of flat easton carbon monkeys on it. Oh, and a pair of V8 pedals, since the stockers had no grip at all. It's a nice enough bike, all fairly budget but none of it's rubbish, sort of like an SV. Heavy, though, and the tyres are horrible, nevegals in the post. Took it down to glentress a couple of weeks ago, too cowardly for red but it took all the blues in its stride.
But it has the Stigmata of Halfords on it :rolleyes:
ewwwww halfords bike:D only joking looks a good bit of kit they always take a bit of adjustment here and theyre to get em right still fiddling with my bike and i got it a coupla months ago:cool:
northwind
21-10-08, 09:02 PM
All I know is I spent all day at glentress chasing people whose forks cost more than my entire bike, and it did OK ;) Though very out of shape at times, the forks are a bit marginal. I figure if I keep it up through the winter I'll flog it next year and get something a bit nicer.
ha you think your forks are bad ive got cheapo sun something suspension on mine they let the bike down a little as the frame and everything else is excellent theyre really squashy and the adjustment doesnt do naff all may change them along with the brakes.
Tim in Belgium
21-10-08, 09:07 PM
Some shots of my baby, a Giant XTC Composite (note frame material ;) ) :
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/43084/2114037620084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2114037620084392296kjUBwV)
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/27820/2876119570084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2876119570084392296sbpSGT)
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/19813/2069526360084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2069526360084392296qrMgZT)
Pedals now have the external plastic cages removed and the bike has had a year of abuse, new pads, chain, rear cassette, front sprockets (?), 1 new front brake lever assembly, 1 wheel straightening, 3 brake lever mounting kits, 2 services, 1 adventure race, 2 winter lane quests, and plenty of action in the woods.
Holland is going to be dull, but it will be accompanying me on Nurburgring trips next year in case it rains.....
Some shots of my baby, a Giant XTC Composite (note frame material ;) ) :
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/43084/2114037620084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2114037620084392296kjUBwV)
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/27820/2876119570084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2876119570084392296sbpSGT)
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/19813/2069526360084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2069526360084392296qrMgZT)
Pedals now have the external plastic cages removed and the bike has had a year of abuse, new pads, chain, rear cassette, front sprockets (?), 1 new front brake lever assembly, 1 wheel straightening, 3 brake lever mounting kits, 2 services, 1 adventure race, 2 winter lane quests, and plenty of action in the woods.
Holland is going to be dull, but it will be accompanying me on Nurburgring trips next year in case it rains.....
wow full carbon fibre frame thats well flashy:cool::D
Tim in Belgium
21-10-08, 09:11 PM
wow full carbon fibre frame thats well flashy:cool::D
And all pretty reasonably priced as well :)
ha you think your forks are bad ive got cheapo sun something suspension on mine they let the bike down a little as the frame and everything else is excellent theyre really squashy and the adjustment doesnt do naff all may change them along with the brakes.
I have naff Suntour forks, I seem to have the opposite problem, difficult to squash and nowhere near the full 100mm full travel but that may be due to my light weight. Adjustment does nothing as well.
wow full carbon fibre frame thats well flashy:cool::D
And all pretty reasonably priced as well :)
Really? The carbon fibre ones I have seen are about £4k(give or take a grand) new which is ridiculous for a bike with no engine! Still, carbon fibre mmmm sweeeet..... oh wait I'm looking at carbon fibre fs bikes.. doh!
thats em suntour rubbish theyre actually leaking aswell.
Tim in Belgium
21-10-08, 09:28 PM
New carbon was only just over half a grand, although it was last years model at the time, not that I cared as I was a beginner, it's a hardtail though..
New carbon was only just over half a grand, although it was last years model at the time, not that I cared as I was a beginner, it's a hardtail though..
looks good too:cool:
northwind
21-10-08, 09:32 PM
Mine are Suntour too, but they're not too bad. They do allsorts from, well, complete rubbish to half decent. They make the cheap marzocchis too I think. Not much of a claim to fame that mind...
You can get a complete carbon framed bike for a grand, if you don't mind shopping at... Aargh, halfords again! Merida make the frame, mind, so it should be decent.
Tim in Belgium
21-10-08, 09:33 PM
Black is the new black.
Mine are Suntour too, but they're not too bad. They do allsorts from, well, complete rubbish to half decent. They make the cheap marzocchis too I think. Not much of a claim to fame that mind...
You can get a complete carbon framed bike for a grand, if you don't mind shopping at... Aargh, halfords again! Merida make the frame, mind, so it should be decent.
may just have a bad set then last shocks i had were rst's they were alot better than these particular ones although no adjustment on them i hear good stuff about rockshox may invest in a set :)
New carbon was only just over half a grand, although it was last years model at the time, not that I cared as I was a beginner, it's a hardtail though..
That's a bargain. Just googled the XTC and looked at a few online shops and it's £1450 for the cheapest 08.
I can pick up a 06 for £600 :-k
chris8886
21-10-08, 09:39 PM
i have an oldish Giant Box II, with set of fubarred marzhochi bomber forks (any suggestions on where to get em fixed appriciated (the seals are buggered and i'm sure something else is wrong too)), a bent back wheel, knackered brakes and gears. it's done a good job for me so far. use it do ride to work fairly regularly and take it to bracknell to the mountain biking place there (can't remember what it's called) when i can.
use it do ride to work fairly regularly and take it to bracknell to the mountain biking place there (can't remember what it's called) when i can.
Swinley Forest? That's where I go. It's got the Lookout and Go Ape there and Coral Reef Waterworld opposite.
chris8886
21-10-08, 09:45 PM
Swinley Forest? That's where I go. It's got the Lookout and Go Ape there and Coral Reef Waterworld opposite.
YEP, the lookout, that's the one!! great place, love it. haven't been for sooo long, really miss it.
YEP, the lookout, that's the one!! great place, love it. haven't been for sooo long, really miss it.
Found this video (http://www.pinkbike.com/video/34856/) of Swinley on the net, been on some of the trails shown but not as fast these guys cos I'm unfit.
northwind
21-10-08, 09:55 PM
may just have a bad set then last shocks i had were rst's they were alot better than these particular ones although no adjustment on them i hear good stuff about rockshox may invest in a set :)
Careful, just like suntour make some nasty forks and some half decent ones, rockshox make some brilliant ones and some pretty terrible ones. The Darts etc are not much cop. My brother's old saracen has a dart 1 and it's horrendous, like the sort of thing you'd find on a £100 apollo.
After years of owning a Specialized P2, finally got myself a big bike!
Giant DH Team frame, draped with lots of lovely components!
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8849/giantdhteamsz9.jpg
i'll just have to pay a bit more then to get the better stuff ive seen some fitted to bikes down halfords and they looked the business and felt firm and lots of adjustment which is good for a fiddle.
After years of owning a Specialized P2, finally got myself a big bike!
Giant DH Team frame, draped with lots of lovely components!
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8849/giantdhteamsz9.jpg
they are some big discs:cool: whats the stopping power like.
203mm rotors, 4-pot, plenty of power, one of my favorite parts of the bike. Very sharp, awesome power, very happy with them!
My fave part has to be the rear linkage though, beautifuly engineered!
chris8886
21-10-08, 10:03 PM
Found this video (http://www.pinkbike.com/video/34856/) of Swinley on the net, been on some of the trails shown but not as fast these guys cos I'm unfit.
i could swear i recognise that first part, it's right out the back of the area, but i spose it could actually be anywhere. brings back some wicked memories that :D
203mm rotors, 4-pot, plenty of power, one of my favorite parts of the bike. Very sharp, awesome power, very happy with them!
My fave part has to be the rear linkage though, beautifuly engineered!
where would one procure such a set of bad ass rotors plus calipers:cool:
Chain Reactions are probably the best out there, well, personally I rate them.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25855
What bike would you want them for?
claud butler it has cable discs thats right cable operated discs with teeny weeny one calipers.
Ive got Hope mono mini's on my P2, which are sweet, but avid juicys are great value for money, depends on what u want to spend really.
i want brakes so powefull they rip my face off if needed need to put it on it's front wheel these ones that ive got now do stop it and grip it's just theres no real bite to them bit dissapointing.
Jayneflakes
21-10-08, 10:40 PM
These are my babies.
http://media3.dropshots.com/photos/472846/20080510/165135.jpg
The Black Giant is a 2004 XtC Team edition and is fantastic, although I am just about to upgrade the rear brake to match the front with a nice Hope Calliper That Carol bought for me, bless her. The fork is a 2000 Bomber and has been serviced by myself and had bushes replaced by a mechanic with the right tool.
If anyone wants to know who to let service your forks, look out for TF Tuning, you should be able to find them here (http://www.tftunedshox.com/index.php).
The blue one is my touring bike, fully rigid, and with slick tyres. I designed it myself in 1998, basing the front end on a Kona Explosive and the rear is similar to a DeKerf, but narrower because it was never designed to be used with off road tyres. Also the Chain stays are 15 inch, which makes changing the dearaileur cable a nightmare, but it is super fast on the road. Tubes used were Columbus Max and Max OR, but the fork is a low rise Raleigh Cro-Mo, for a bit of softness.
I use Time pedals, but because Carol was using my Giant that day, I took my times off and replaced them with old style GT flatties.
I love my bikes, all three of them and have even worked as a professional cyclist until 2002. Sadly poor health has made me ride a lot less than I used to and the number of injuries I have sustained over the years is too long a list to go into...
Before the Giant I had a mid Range Kona and before that an Orange Clockwork and before that a dull ladies MBK, that I snapped the head tube off of! The best bike I have ever ridden has tobe the Giant, followed closely by the Kona. The Orange did nothing badly, but also excelled at nothing and in the end I wrapped it around a tree while racing.
These days, I have just started working in a bike shop again. It is nice to be back where I was almost most happy, up to my elbows in mountain bikes.
chris8886
21-10-08, 11:05 PM
If anyone wants to know who to let service your forks, look out for TF Tuning, you should be able to find them here (http://www.tftunedshox.com/index.php).
thank you that's very helpful. looks like it's all gonna cost me rather a lot!! :smt100
Jayneflakes
22-10-08, 08:22 PM
The hardest part of being a mountain biker is knowing that I will never be as fit or as fast I once was. I miss the heady rush of blasting single track at great speed and not feeling like a slob because I cannot pedal fast enough. Hill climbs although never fun, used to hurt a lot less than they do now, as I crawl up them on my twenty tooth granny ring.
Back in 92, I popped my right knee (possibly due to running Shimano Biopace rings) and I had to resort to seeing my GP. His prognosis was that I needed to suspend my training and rest for two weeks. Back then two weeks was a long time and I knew I was losing fitness, so after three days I was back on the bike. My knee is now knackered and it aches when I walk or ride. I know I was stupid, if only I knew then what I know now. Oh well, I was into that whole live fast die young and leave a good looking corpse behind in those days. Yet even Glen Benton grew old, despite his promises.
So here I am, in my mid thirties and I miss those day long rides accross Dartmoor, that feeling of riding fast down hill and being barely in control because the speed was so high on my fully rigid bike as the rocks were pounding my wheels, my frame and my body.
But I am not unhappy, I rode that same track only this year on my Giant. If anything I was faster down that hill because the suspension is so good, I have fifteen years of riding beneath my wheels and I instinctively know how my bike will react to the terrain. I can jump, hop and blast my way through almost any path, but I still miss that youthfull energy of my late teens and early twenties.
I know that I am not old, it is only poor health that has taken my fittness and maybe when I am forty I will be fit and healthy once again, but I will need time to train and places to ride. I have been a mountain biker for close to twenty years and I have never ridden my bike down a real mountain, so there is my future challenge.
I want to ride my bike down a mountain, but first I need to be fit enough to ride up the hill.
I posted else where recently that I am looking forwards to being a tattooed granny, but I think it would be even better if my grandchildren came to me one day and said "Granny, can you teach us how to ride a X-up?"
Blessed be fellow Mountain bikers, may your down hills be fast and rocky and wild, wild fun.
fizzwheel
22-10-08, 08:30 PM
Back in 92, I popped my right knee (possibly due to running Shimano Biopace rings)
I've got two road bikes still fitted with them... why do you think they contributed to your knee injury ? Due to unequal pressure caused by the ovalness ?
Tim in Belgium
22-10-08, 08:30 PM
Missing my mountain biking already, can't wait to get it over here and head to the Ardennes/Eiffel for a weekend, I love that barely in control feeling, it happens a lot on a hard tail down hill! But what I love more is overtaking the wimpy full sussers ;)
northwind
22-10-08, 08:51 PM
The hardest part of being a mountain biker is knowing that I will never be as fit or as fast I once was.
It's weird for me too... My knee'll never be as good as it was, it's strong now but the hard maths are I have about 25% less functioning muscle strands than I ought to so what's left, though strong, is always working too hard and just isn't up to a full day's riding, almost certainly never will be. I spoke to my consultant about this and he reckons that I could get it up to average, but only with basically a professional athlete's fitness regime. No chance of that ;)
But at the same time, it's my knee that's got me back into cycling after 5 years off, and the 5 years before of it only ever being transport... I'd totally lost the love, then I started riding again for fitness and suddenly it's all come back, and more. So even though I can't do what I used to, and realistically never will be able to, I'm enjoying it more than ever.
It does help that modern bikes, tyres and trail centres are compeltely awesome :D
Jayneflakes
22-10-08, 09:27 PM
I've got two road bikes still fitted with them... why do you think they contributed to your knee injury ? Due to unequal pressure caused by the ovalness ?
I read somewhere (sorry no reference) that Biopace puts a high point at the weakest section of the pedal circle, thus exerting too much force through the knee.
It is worth noting that as they progressed with development of Biopace, they got rounder and rounder until they were almost circular before Shimano thankfully dropped them.
One way of over coming this problem was to turn the chainrings one arm forwards, this however placed the chain stop that prevents you chain jamming between ring and crank out of place and gave you something else to catch you ankle on.
I threw them away in disgust in the end and went back to circular rings and am still running my Suntour XC Pro MD set from 1992. Hence the twenty tooth granny ring. Not sure that even XTR lasts this well. Blessed were Suntour, they knew how to make cranks.
fizzwheel
22-10-08, 09:31 PM
I read somewhere that oval rings were coming back into fashion again. ( This is pretty much what I thought biopace were in the first place )
I'll leave the bipace on my old road bike as I want to restore it but keep it with period parts. But they'll come off my hack bike when I have the spare cash to do so. I never found any benefit from having them anyway.
xXBADGERXx
22-10-08, 10:00 PM
My rear shock (Progressive 5th Element) was serviced by Tim Flooks of TFTuning and Jayne has posted the link for that .
Another mob that services Forks and Shocks are Stendec http://www.stendec-works.com/ . I am thinking of taking my Marzocchi Z1 Freeride1`s there for a service . Another good bunch are Mojo http://www.mojo.co.uk/ who also do motorbikes by the way . Hope these links are of some help to those with servicing issues . Installed the Hone crankset tonight , didn`t take long and tomorrow I will be bleeding my Avid Hydraulic brakes and installing new pads , new bushes on my rear shock and xXBADGERXx is ready for the winter season here in North Wales :D
northwind
22-10-08, 10:55 PM
I just shaved nearly a kilo off mine. How? By throwing the horrible Extreme XC tyres in the bin and fitting new nevegals. It's not like the kendas are even all that light, I nearly went for speed kings at half a kilo less again for the pair. I didn't know they make tyres out of lead. No wonder it felt a bit ponderous getting up to speed.
Jayneflakes
22-10-08, 11:12 PM
The Old lightweight talk again...
I use continental tyres at 2.1 inches, they give huge amounts of grip and are very light, but at twenty quid a shot, they should be.
As for wheels, I build my own, so always use double butted spokes and XC rims. Had Mavics for years now and find them strong and light. Had Campag Sthenos on my Clockwork and they were horrible. As light as you could get, but concave sides and fragile. Also if they hit a rock they would splay out and throw off a a tyre and then jam in the brakes. Horrific when on the front.
My Giant has a Hope Titanium hub with Disk on the front and an XT nine speed hub on the rear. Funny, it always makes me laugh in the bike shop when some miserable old bag complains that their £89 "mountain Bike" has gear slip problems. I spend more than that on a single wheel and it still gets buckled when riding hard down hill.
So I may be an elitist, I have a titanium seat pin, full Bolt lightening kit, carbon ahead washers and I used to run an Eastern Bar, until it snapped. I have spent close to £2000 on my Giant and almost as much on my Custom Tourer. But that stuff works, it stays together for a long time. I have not had to replace anything other than a worn out chainring and set of rear sprockets (mind you I change my chain after 500 miles and do cables twice yearly) and I have put 6400 KM on the Giant alone
My one thing I refuse to change though, my most dearly beloved Deore DX Thumbshifters. They are worth more to me than any other part of that bike, so I run an eight speed gear set, but thumbies just are the mutznutz.
The tourer has a set of Gripshift X-Ray on it, until I can find another set of Thumbies. Mind you with Dura Ace bar end shifters and a clever machined bracket from Paul Components, ten speed thumbies are an (albeit expensive) option.
northwind
22-10-08, 11:15 PM
Yeah, I'm resisting the urge to go daft with weight, since this is still a hefty frame anyway, I'd have to spend more than the bike's worth to get a big saving. But my god, an 1100 gram tyre. Not even kevlar'd. Not even ANY BLOODY GOOD more importantly :smt076;)
yorkie_chris
23-10-08, 09:37 AM
£2k on a bicycle. Ouch.
xXBADGERXx
23-10-08, 04:14 PM
I like my 2.3 to 2.5 Wide Maxxis High Rollers , I never worry about weight as I`m out there for the fun of it all
chris8886
23-10-08, 04:41 PM
I want to ride my bike down a mountain, but first I need to be fit enough to ride up the hill.
go to france or somewhere in the alps. big mountains to go down and cable cars so you don't have to cycle up!! :D
northwind
23-10-08, 05:50 PM
Or Fort William- use the gondolas :cool: (or I think Glentrool, Mabie and Innerleithen all have uplift buses at various times)
Jayneflakes
23-10-08, 07:06 PM
go to france or somewhere in the alps. big mountains to go down and cable cars so you don't have to cycle up!! :D
Or Fort William- use the gondolas :cool: (or I think Glentrool, Mabie and Innerleithen all have uplift buses at various times)
Hmm, both great ideas, but there is a point to be made for being able to spin the cranks and pedal hard while going down hill too. Standing up on the pedals and absorbing hits from very rough ground can also be extremely tiring. That is where up hill training comes in handy, gets those muscles used to burning.
Just have to talk the Wife into taking a trip to Scotland for a bike ride now... :thumbsup:
We'll seeing a you lot have been all enthusiastic about bikes with no engines....
I've been out today and bought my self this ...
http://www.cycleworks.co.uk/bikes/images/2009/specialized/rockhopper-expert-disc-lg.gif
Specialized Rockhopper Expert.
I need (want) to get fit, and Mina (the dawg) needs to learn to run distances before she learns to pull a rig, so I thought I'd kill two birds (and possibly me) with one stone.
Expect to hear of my demise in a forest sometime in the near future :D
northwind
23-10-08, 11:34 PM
I like my 2.3 to 2.5 Wide Maxxis High Rollers , I never worry about weight as I`m out there for the fun of it all
Well, there's degrees isn't there... I'm not out to make mine faster or outright better, but I wouldn't say no to making it easier to ride up a hill :D Praps some sort of engine is required...
I just shaved nearly a kilo off mine. How? By throwing the horrible Extreme XC tyres in the bin and fitting new nevegals. It's not like the kendas are even all that light, I nearly went for speed kings at half a kilo less again for the pair. I didn't know they make tyres out of lead. No wonder it felt a bit ponderous getting up to speed.
I've been debating whether to change the solid Specialized Resolution tyres on the bike to something lighter like the Continental Speed Kings or Panaracer Razers but am wondering if I'll get pinch flats and punctures. I prob also need a longer seat post as there is a cm or 2 between the min mark on the post and frame.
I've been out today and bought my self this ...
Specialized Rockhopper Expert.
Excellent.. Muhahaha!!! My plan of converting the GM to riding bikes with no engines is slowly working! :smt036
Give us a shout if you're going to be in a forest.
I have spent more money to upgrade my MTB.
This afternoon, I picked up this!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/issues/SV%20forum/Carnage.jpg
Love the swingarm!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/issues/SV%20forum/Carnageswingarm.jpg
I have named it 'Carnage' after the Spiderman villain cos it's red like him.
Sweet!!! :cool:
I do a spin class.
..just wanted to get involved in this thread.....
northwind
29-10-08, 07:12 PM
Ooh, nice one Law. I've broken mine :( Freehub's jammed. Time for a bit of warranty fraud methinks! Quite annoying since I've not serviced my old bike for a decade and it still works.
Jayneflakes
30-10-08, 12:06 AM
Those Marins sure have come on...
Love the red, love the swing arm...
No, tried hard, can't think of anything negative to say about it... Oh hang on... Deore gears, pah they only work brilliantly well.... I give up.
Nice bike, happy riding.
MCN_LiamM
30-10-08, 10:20 AM
Alright guys.
I'm looking at getting a new MTB (preferably dual suspension).
The problem is I have atight budget and dual suspension bikes cost lots of wonga.
Currently looking at the Muddyfox range of bikes... From what I can gather Muddyfox are average I guess, obviously not as good as Marin, Specialized or GT, but my budget can't go that far.
Just wondering what you guys have to say on them and what else there is out there...
Tar
I've been debating whether to change the solid Specialized Resolution tyres on the bike to something lighter like the Continental Speed Kings or Panaracer Razers but am wondering if I'll get pinch flats and punctures.
You'll be fine Law. I generally use 1.9's on my bike. They need to be pumped up a bit harder, but I have never had a pinch flat or snakebite. Also, you are a frikken whippet and aon a full suspension rig you will be fine. I'm riding a Cannondale hardtail with no bother at all.
The Panaracers are good and come with snakebite protection option as well.
Tim in Belgium
30-10-08, 02:49 PM
Surely the mud is almost here again and you'll be needing Trailrakers!
Ooh, nice one Law. I've broken mine :( Freehub's jammed. Time for a bit of warranty fraud methinks! Quite annoying since I've not serviced my old bike for a decade and it still works.
That's annoying. Hope the warranty sorts it out
Those Marins sure have come on...
Love the red, love the swing arm...
No, tried hard, can't think of anything negative to say about it... Oh hang on... Deore gears, pah they only work brilliantly well.... I give up.
Nice bike, happy riding.
Thanks, going to try it out at the weekend. :)
I suspect I will fall over with my feet still clipped to the pedals when stopping, cos I've never used SPD before
Alright guys.
I'm looking at getting a new MTB (preferably dual suspension).
The problem is I have atight budget and dual suspension bikes cost lots of wonga.
Currently looking at the Muddyfox range of bikes... From what I can gather Muddyfox are average I guess, obviously not as good as Marin, Specialized or GT, but my budget can't go that far.
Just wondering what you guys have to say on them and what else there is out there...
Tar
What's your budget? It'll be hard to get a good full suspension bike for under £800.
All the prices have gone up for 2009 Marins, so I didn't even find a discounted 2008 Marin in my size. Rutland Cycles are doing a medium for £200 less.
What's your size? I assume you are looking for a X-Country bike not Downhill/Freeride.
Look around and you'll find some discounts.
Some discounted (56-60% off, now £600) GT I-Drive 2006 bikes in small here (http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/category/643/Clearance_Full_Suspension_Bikes)
£450 off this 2006 Marin Alpine Trail (now £750) here
(http://www.rutlandcycling.com/8878/Marin-Bikes-2006-Alpine-Trail-Mountain-Bike.html)
You'll be fine Law. I generally use 1.9's on my bike. They need to be pumped up a bit harder, but I have never had a pinch flat or snakebite. Also, you are a frikken whippet and aon a full suspension rig you will be fine. I'm riding a Cannondale hardtail with no bother at all.
The Panaracers are good and come with snakebite protection option as well.
Surely the mud is almost here again and you'll be needing Trailrakers!
Will probably go for the cheaper Contis with no snakebite protection.
The new tyres will be for my hardtail, which I'm demoting to unchallenging fireroad/canal path/road/public bridleway/muddy paths.
I'm finding it difficult to pedal it up hills or accelerate, and I'm guessing it's due to the tyre weight, so will try out some light tyres.
Ive got myself this
http://www.boardlocal.ch/html/img/pool/specialized%20rockhopper%20disc%20red%20hardtail.j pg
VFM wise, its a very good upgradeable frame and can be had now for under £500. Im not a massive fan of the colour (red doesnt suit me) but its a good bike. At the moment its hooked up to the TT with an orange tyre on the rear.
northwind
30-10-08, 10:56 PM
I'm looking at getting a new MTB (preferably dual suspension).The problem is I have atight budget and dual suspension bikes cost lots of wonga.
Just wondering what you guys have to say on them and what else there is out there...
Full suss is for poofters ;)
Nah, not really, but good full sus is seriously expensive, you'll get an excellent hardtail for the price of an adequate full sus bike. I never even considered it myself... Plus you end up dragging around a fair bit of extra weight and unless it's got a clever linkage you lose pedal power to bouncing. What's your budget?
northwind
30-10-08, 10:57 PM
VFM wise, its a very good upgradeable frame and can be had now for under £500.
Yeah, the v-brake one is just £350 now, mental...
Tim in Belgium
31-10-08, 07:32 AM
Ive got myself this
http://www.boardlocal.ch/html/img/pool/specialized%20rockhopper%20disc%20red%20hardtail.j pg
VFM wise, its a very good upgradeable frame and can be had now for under £500. Im not a massive fan of the colour (red doesnt suit me) but its a good bike. At the moment its hooked up to the TT with an orange tyre on the rear.
If I remember rightly Rob that model of bike doesn't like going down steps in the snow :)
I'm finding it difficult to pedal it up hills or accelerate, and I'm guessing it's due to the tyre weight, so will try out some light tyres.
Tyres will not make as big a difference as you think. Just get yourself some legs Law.
Tim in Belgium
31-10-08, 06:50 PM
Just got a new bike, watch this space, I'm only giving away the fact that it rides on 28 inch wheels.....
Oh and I don't have a camera that I can take a picture of it with.
28s? Well it cant be an MTB then as thats 26 or 29s?
northwind
31-10-08, 07:06 PM
Or 24s. 28's a tubular fit isn't it?
<edit- cycling has the worst jargon in the world... clipless pedals being the ones that you clip to, and tubular tyres being in some way different from all those other tyres with tubes>
I have spent more money to upgrade my MTB.
This afternoon, I picked up this!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/issues/SV%20forum/Carnage.jpg
Love the swingarm!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/issues/SV%20forum/Carnageswingarm.jpg
I have named it 'Carnage' after the Spiderman villain cos it's red like him.
Sweet!!! :cool:
Just a quick note, if you get any cracking/creaking noises that sound like the BB, it is most likely the bolts they used on the rear dropouts. The early models suffered from poor quality bolts which have since been updated to stainless steel ones. :D
P.S I am not a bike geek in anyway! ;)
Tim in Belgium
31-10-08, 07:45 PM
28s? Well it cant be an MTB then as thats 26 or 29s?
Correct, it has one gear and one back pedal brake, but the main thing is that it's BLACK.
punyXpress
31-10-08, 10:07 PM
'Tis a Dutch vrouw's shopping bike!
Now do the 'ring on it Tim!
Tim in Belgium
01-11-08, 10:22 AM
I went for the men's version, double cross bar, it's that good.
Jayneflakes
12-11-08, 11:11 PM
Twenty years of Dentist Phobia left me with a bit to do in my mouth. So far I have had two wisdom teeth removed, two fillings and a clean. Not bad for twenty years, but I hear you cry, what the **** has this to do with mountain bikes?
Monday just gone I had my fillings, the Monday before was my wisdom teeth. So mouth still numb and spitting blood from the cleaning, I wandered into work to see if they needed a hand building kids bikes for Christmas. They didn't, so Carol drove me home and then left for work. She took me because with out her I could not visit the Dentist.
So I am at home and the day is just brightening after the rain, my mouth is still numb and I decide now would be the best time to get my Mountain bike out for a spin. If I have spent the morning being afraid, I should damn well have something to show for it. So I get all lycra clad and look outside to pouring rain. So I don my water proofs and think it is time to try burn the glaze off of my new Hope pads and try out my new Time cleats.
The mud was manky, very slippery and climbing was hard going, with the back wheel breaking away almost with every stroke. But I still got to the top of the bridle way. Time for some fun. I was not expecting to feel afraid. The down hill is rocky, muddy and sandy and in the woods, so is also covered with fallen leaves. My fastest down here is just over forty KMPH, but not today.
The back end of the bike was snaking and controling it at speed was hard work. The bumps came fast and hard and then I pulled on my brakes, nothing. Pulled harder and started to slow. Then as I was slowing, the bumps got worse and I thought I was going to lose control, so harder on the brakes. Surely thinks I, new pads can't be this bad, they came from Hope! Only it was not the brakes that was the problem. It is hard to brake when there is no traction.
Feeling shaken and afraid I stop at the bottom of the down hill and then head off up the toll road to find the single track down to the Beach. Then it was a quick route through the village for the training and back up the hill to the other bridle way... The very one that joins the down hill I had just ridden. So back at the top of the hill, I look down the track and drop a gear. I manage a look at my speedo, but it is covered with mud and is unreadable. The track has got wetter in the rain and is even slippier, traction is a joke as I slide from side to side of the trail, more carving than stearing. My heart was in my throat and I scared my self even more than the first time. The final corner to the road has a log on it and I only manage to miss it by banking round it. I stop at the bottom and check the speedo. Max Spd:37.23KMPH.
Who needs a Dentist Phobia to raise the heart rate? Slept so soundly that night that not even my usual bad dreams roused me. I love my Mountain Bike, even as she sits in bits in the Hallway awaiting the arrival of her new Hope rear disk.
Peace is once again returned to the rampaging heart of the Flakes. :smt040
eviltwin
13-11-08, 07:50 PM
Just ordered myself one of these (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/f6-disc-2008-mountain-bike-ec000216)
Time to go get muddy :D
northwind
13-11-08, 08:18 PM
I just went a bit mad in the Chain Reaction flood sale (lots of good stuff for cheap)- new forks (Rockshox Reba SL) , seatpost, stem... Plus a new saddle and bars off ebay. All for under £150. QUite pleased :mrgreen:
Yea, the flood sale was/is pretty amazing.
All the stuff went really quickly, which wasnt surprising at the prices!
northwind
13-11-08, 08:45 PM
There's not even a mark on my forks either... The stem's a wee bit marked but who cares, it's going to spend the rest of its life being crashed down mountains :mrgreen: (oh, I got Toras not Rebas... Can't afford Rebas. Can afford £85 Toras!)
As Gary will testify, I have been out and about on my bike. Only fallen off (well, over really) once so far, should have checked that the clipless pedals were adjusted correctly before riding! Having once side set to loose and one set to firm meant I couldn't get my feet out :p
Never mind, it's all good fun. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be out again, wheezing :D
I've got a Pace F2 (last one with the square seat tube before they went round. The one Mint Sauce rides :) ). Itrs sprinkled with the Usual XT, Hope and Race Face. I've had it for 12 years and it's never even looked like going wrong. I used to race it back in the 90's when i was obscenly fit. (now just obscenly fat :)
I'd never swap it, sell it or trade it in. We've done thousands of miles together :)
... and I can't ride a bike that doesn't have SPD's on it. Just can't!
Tim in Belgium
23-11-08, 12:50 PM
I went for the men's version, double cross bar, it's that good.
And some pics taken today in the garage as it's cold and wet outside:
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/39925/2498370070084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2498370070084392296EmeSJF)
http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/35096/2567728700084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2567728700084392296BxiVvp)
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/40832/2018581960084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2018581960084392296yYfPon)
http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/7422/2400108620084392296S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2400108620084392296fGiQKW)
Got to love that centre stand and fully enclosed chain....
As Gary will testify, I have been out and about on my bike. Only fallen off (well, over really) once so far, should have checked that the clipless pedals were adjusted correctly before riding! Having once side set to loose and one set to firm meant I couldn't get my feet out :p
Never mind, it's all good fun. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be out again, wheezing :D
You're not trying hard enough if you don't crash. It's not a ride until you fall off at least once.* :p
*Please do not apply these statements to motorcycle riding!
Tim, that looks cool. Where are the brakes? I can't see them. Do you use you feet to slow down?
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