jakonovski
Member
Finland mountain biking top tip: pine forests are much dryer than spruce forests, which can be a nightmare for weeks after rain.
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Bicycle age
- Thread starter elrechazado
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Christoff Yurievich
Member
Definitely agree with this.
And this. Saw a homeless-looking guy in Bend last weekend *walking* what had to be a $10,000 road bike. And it had flats (meaning pedals) on it! (Can't remember the name ATM but I do remember recognizing it as one of those 'holy shit' bike brands)
I just like talking/reading about expensive stuff that I'll never get to buy myself. That's why I've subscribed to the watch-thread. And i don't have any knowledge about the US <$1000 market. I've seen a little of both, there's alot of middle aged rich men who go straight to the most expensive stuff for their first bike, but if they have the money, then it's up to them although they certainly could be just as happy on a much cheaper bike. Saw a 50 year old italian on a lightwheight bike with lightwheight wheels, but he definately knew how to handle it. Hardly a gram of fat on his body
A buddy of mine was participating in a road race somewhere a couple of years ago, and saw a very corpulent 50yo on an expensive carbon bike with brand new, super-expensive carbon Zipp wheels. Two kilometers down the road, the wheels collapsed from his weight.
Psychotext
Member
Ha, not the first time I've heard of something like that.
Is it more significant in particular gears?
How is it patterned? For instance, is it stronger on the pedal downstroke on the left or side, or is it more constant?
If the grinding has a lopsided pattern and tends to happen when you're either on very high or very low rear gears, it could be something simple like rubbing on your front derailleur (this would mostly just make a lot of noise, though, and wouldn't cause significant frame vibration).
Otherwise the possibilities might be more sinister, such as your bearings grinding around in your bottom bracket.
//=====================
If you flip the bike upside-down (or hang it on a service stand), so that you can freely rotate the pedals while checking things out, it might help locate the grinding.
jakonovski
Member
Pedal bearings would be my guess.
Psychotext
Member
Might just be that the bottom bracket needs a tighten, but all are valid diagnosis.
Gray Matter
Member
Early ride today with some folks I met thru the bike shop. Only other time I ride this early is for work. Should be fun nonetheless.
Edit: awesome shot, Mascot!
Edit: awesome shot, Mascot!
jts
...hate me...
So I found these on my local supermarket which would allow me to use them this weekend already, as opposed to buying online.
The thing is they're not quite slicks or semi-slicks. Would they still be an improvement for long distances over my mtb tyres? I don't even understand if they're 1.5 or 2 wide :/
Edit: ended up not getting them, they seemed too wide compared to 1.6" one. I want something under 2".
jakonovski
Member
I'd go with Conti Speed Kings for being super rad, but they're not the most sensible choice. Panaracer Ribmo gets good reviews and is light with puncture protection. I don't think there's any reason the Tour Rides wouldn't work too.
Psychotext
Member
Speed kings are crap. Wouldn't recommend them on or off road. They puncture if you look at them funny.
jts
...hate me...
Every supermarket here in Finland since bike riding is a common transport means. There's almost everything for bikes in the sports section.
I do, but it's saturday and it was closed already :/
Anyway it's no biggie. Just took a nice 20km ride today anyway
and it started raining halfway. It was great. Strava'd it too.jakonovski
Member
Really? I have X Kings and Cyclocross Races, both of which have no special puncture protection and they've gone through a lot of shit under me, and I'm a 100kg guy.
Psychotext
Member
X kings are good, speed king, not so much. Half the people I see stopped on events are using them.
I used them for two races, had five punctures.
I used them for two races, had five punctures.
I somewhat blame road bike reviews for this. Price tends to not be a factor beyond "X is a great value" or "Y is a terrible value" or "Z might seem like it costs too much for having 105 but..." If you have the cash you buy what's well regarded but what's well regarded is determined by a really insular group who don't consider things like strength of the rider.
It's difficult to even find reviews for certain makes and models below a certain pricepoint. My road bike (a BH) wasn't really reviewed by anyone.
Gray Matter
Member
Well, my fellow riders, today was by far the most fun I had riding yet. 5 (including me) rode 52 miles on a very tricky course, both flat and hills (lots of them). From central Connecticut to massassuchets and back to CT.
I can't even put it into words how amaze I am that I could do that.
I can't even put it into words how amaze I am that I could do that.
jakonovski
Member
That sounds awesome! Was it on roads covered by Street View, I kinda wanna know what the terrain was like.
Gray Matter
Member
Paved roads all the way. I saw parts of the state that I've never seen before.
About to get this bicycle for mainly recreational purposes and wanted to see what you guys think?
Bear in mind I haven't been cycling for years, although I'll be sure to test it out before purchasing it.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-sport-2015-hybrid-bike-ec070672
Bear in mind I haven't been cycling for years, although I'll be sure to test it out before purchasing it.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-sport-2015-hybrid-bike-ec070672
I've read good reviews about this model (Specialized is one of the few makes whose entry level road offerings get reviews) but if you end up liking to ride you're going to outgrow this pretty fast. I think the Specialized Secteur comes in a model ~600 pounds. (There's also a cheap Specialized Allez but that's a much racier frame and might be a little too uncomfortable for you starting out.)
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
Got a nice 15 mile ride in this evening after some bad storms cleared out. First ride with new pedals with toe clips/straps. Of course did the inaugural stop and forget about them and fall over when I had to stop for a deer in the path. No harm done other than knocking my front brakes out of wack and wasting a few minutes fixing that while it was getting dark.
Also my first ride with my Garmin Edge 500 and speed/cadence sensor, which I enjoyed having all that info to glance at.
Also my first ride with my Garmin Edge 500 and speed/cadence sensor, which I enjoyed having all that info to glance at.
jakonovski
Member
Just did my first 100km ride. Average speed was like 22-23km/h, with the first half being way too fast and the second half just me hanging on for queen and country.
edit: cleat placement was almost spot on, no undue pain in legs or feet. Victoly!
edit: cleat placement was almost spot on, no undue pain in legs or feet. Victoly!
Thank you, I'll check out the Specialized Secteur. (You're spot on re me not wanting a too racy frame).
NP, I was in the same position you are now not that long ago and ended up buying a bike that I quickly outgrew (hence the alternative options I gave).
I'm actually converting that bike atm to a dropbar with a Campagnolo groupset. Take up cycling and burn money brehs.
TarpitCarnivore
Member
It "feels like" 106 in the north east today and I for some reason went out still. Glad I forced myself out, but holy christ was it hot.
Gray Matter
Member
PjotrStroganov
Member
Gray Matter
Member
Fahrenheit. Doesn't really take much guesswork.
Oh, I'm dumb lol.
Just getting into mtb with my wife, and I am out of shape for it.
Went to a local place in the Bay Area, Crockett Hills, and was only able to make it about 4 total miles with am elevation gain of 750ft. We basically just made it to the first flow trail but didn't go down it because that would have meant coming back up another huge hill.
The way back was a blast, and of course took way less time than getting up those hills. We ended up walking a lot of the hills, just didn't have it in us. And my wife does half Ironman tris. Kicked both our asses.
Not seeing a ton of improvement yet, but man the hills are worth the speed and excitement of the downhill sections.
Went to a local place in the Bay Area, Crockett Hills, and was only able to make it about 4 total miles with am elevation gain of 750ft. We basically just made it to the first flow trail but didn't go down it because that would have meant coming back up another huge hill.
The way back was a blast, and of course took way less time than getting up those hills. We ended up walking a lot of the hills, just didn't have it in us. And my wife does half Ironman tris. Kicked both our asses.
Not seeing a ton of improvement yet, but man the hills are worth the speed and excitement of the downhill sections.
Psychotext
Member
750ft is a fair bit of climbing for only 4 miles, especially off road. Wouldn't feel too bad.
The first mile had an elevation gain of 420ft. That is the first of three climbs on the normal 12mi loop for this park. And the easiest climb apparently.
We will get through the whole park eventually, but definitely have to take our time. I need to bring our camel back next time, I ran out of my two water bottles pretty quick.
My wife is still hesitant about downhill sections because she went over her handlebars doing a techy rock downhill section at another park a few weeks ago. She was alright but she is still a little shaken.
We will get through the whole park eventually, but definitely have to take our time. I need to bring our camel back next time, I ran out of my two water bottles pretty quick.
My wife is still hesitant about downhill sections because she went over her handlebars doing a techy rock downhill section at another park a few weeks ago. She was alright but she is still a little shaken.
Psychotext
Member
Do your trails not have colour gradings? Shouldn't be attempting rocky stuff in the early days. In the UK that would be a red grade trail (with blue and green before that).
This was a blue, and I didn't think it was supremely difficult, she just took it too fast. We shouldn't have been on this run for the most part, and she took a harder line to make it worse on herself too.
But yeah, it was a lesson learned, and we have been a bit more careful of staying away from the techy stuff for now. Doing a bit more research online for easier trails. But we are just having a bit of trouble finding the happy medium between family stuff and too hard.
The place we went today is fine for our skill level I think, just super hard hill climbs cardio-wise.
Psychotext
Member
The best trail centres usually have progression trails where you get slightly easier examples of harder obstacles that appear in more difficult trails. Climbs at these sorts of places are always a pain in the arse though. Best to just spin up at some sort of reasonable pace rather than trying to scream up them and finding yourself knackered on the descents.
TarpitCarnivore
Member
The actual temperature was only 85/86, but the heat index brought it up over 100. I had bottles of water that were ice cold when I started and within 15 minutes were back to room temperature.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
My son did the kids triathlon on Friday and came in 1st for his age group. First and then we waited for a few minutes for second. He was stoked, though it's also the last year he gets to do it without competition. Next year is the first year he has to do everything by himself and also compete against other kids who are older than him and also compete in the actual triathlon. (there was an 8 y/o and two 12 y/o's in the sprint tri I did.)
Had a fair bit of fun, and it was nice not swimming in a choppy river. That said, it wasn't nice swimming in a river where I literally ran into a dead fish (sturgeon, based on the size) and got hung-up on seaweed once or twice. And someone ran into me while swimming, further slowing me down. Not that I was doing any great shakes, but I had a rhythm going that was working for me.
I went back out to the same place we were yesterday, and it kicked my ass again. I was 1 second off our pace yesterday of actual movement but rested for 9 min less. So a slight improvement. Still, it was a hot one and the hills are kicking my ass.
I am having a hell of a time getting my disc brakes to not rub also, which probably isn't helping.
I found a beginner singletrack park not too far from our house that I think we will check out this weekend.
I am having a hell of a time getting my disc brakes to not rub also, which probably isn't helping.
I found a beginner singletrack park not too far from our house that I think we will check out this weekend.
Psychotext
Member
You may have bent the rotor a bit. When you've done everything you can think off to get the calliper aligned properly, that's usually the problem. Spin it and see if it wiggles at all when it's going around.
Also, 9 minutes less rest is a huge improvement.
Also, 9 minutes less rest is a huge improvement.
Picked up the Specialized Sirrus sport I initially posted about!
I did test a few other bikes, but I really liked the feel of the specialized...so good to be riding again after so long.
SanguineShark
Member
Need a new bike for commuting(about 7-9 miles each way), and I'm a little undecided.
I was always a bmx or mtn bike type of person back in the day, but I see quite a few other styles have become popular.
Decided on a hybrid, just unsure what type. Currently eyeing the 7.3 FX and specialized sirrus sport - or the 8.3 DS vs specialized crosstrail disc.
My commute will be mostly pavement, but I'm also fond of offroading now and again - which the latter two would allow me to do to some extent.
Which hybrid should I go for?
I was always a bmx or mtn bike type of person back in the day, but I see quite a few other styles have become popular.
Decided on a hybrid, just unsure what type. Currently eyeing the 7.3 FX and specialized sirrus sport - or the 8.3 DS vs specialized crosstrail disc.
My commute will be mostly pavement, but I'm also fond of offroading now and again - which the latter two would allow me to do to some extent.
Which hybrid should I go for?
Thinking about a new groupset for my road bike - tossing up between Ultegra Di2 and Campy Chorus..
I know they are total different beasts and is down to a matter of personal preference/feel but I'd be interested in anyone's thoughts if they've had experience with either (or both).
I know they are total different beasts and is down to a matter of personal preference/feel but I'd be interested in anyone's thoughts if they've had experience with either (or both).
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