Bikes

Kern · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:41

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before

You were always honest when you entered the wheel's circumference into the bike computer, weren't you?

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:43

Kern wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before

You were always honest when you entered the wheel's circumference into the bike computer, weren't you?

Err, yes officer.

I mean, both of us came up with similar results.

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:48

Malabar Front wrote:

Please, please get a speed camera to flash you.

I would, but it's a national speed limit carriageway, unfortunately. I tend to only get up to 27-28mph on the flat. Hopefully once my stamina is built up a bit more I can break the speed limits happily.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 8:52

MaliA wrote:

DBSnappa wrote:

I have a couple of VXR 400 frames in my shed, which are very similar. It's worth noting that this is designated as a Downhill frame and will ride very differently to your current bike once built up - it will almost certainly feel heavier and less agile though by how much is anybody's guess. You might have to buy a new headset and possibly some disc brakes as well, though and look at the possibility that your stem (the bar that connects the top of the forks to the handlebars) might be the wrong angle/length. Obviously I've never ridden one of these frames in question and I'm extrapolating from my experience of riding another Y frame, but the height of the forks and the angle of the stem are crucial in how those bikes ride because the frame geometry is set for going down hill so everything is canted up a bit which can make the bike feel a bit understeery on the road - you can compensate this by having a shorter stem with a lower angle and by having forks around the 100mm of travel which will make you lean forward slightly more putting more of your weight toward the front of the bike to comp' the natural rearward pitch and weight bias the frame may be set up for.

Most things I've read about it seems to indicate it's OK for going uphill here. I'll have the forks from the Kona on it (which are around 1, headset is right size, so most can be a straight swap over. It's got bosses for rear brake, and I can run either disks or V's on my forks, so no worries there. i prefer shorter stems and narrower bars for quicker steering on my pushbikes anyway. I'm happy setting geometry up on pushbikes, and cocking about with riding positions.

You'll be fine then. I look forward to tales of you terrorising pedestrians by riding it down flights of stairs

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 9:12

DBSnappa wrote:

You'll be fine then. I look forward to tales of you terrorising pedestrians by riding it down flights of stairs

Heh. With a rear spring, I'll jump the stairs.

I think I'll stick a comedy bid on it, and see what happens.

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3214

I love my road bike - but am not a lycra wearing nutter, in that I have my padded pants on but with baggy shorts over the top so as to look like a normal person (well, a weirdo with no dress sense, but not like I'm advertising bike teams/manufacturers for whom I'll never ride, which is a bit odd I think). And then I use the fact that it's a decent bike to power round people (who then drop me when they jump the lights, but one day I shall kill them) and generally cruise in to work. I'm still working on the speed camera down Kingston Hill but don't quite have the power to trip it, I don't think, though I did have enough speed to race a car down there this morning - why he was trying to nudge past when the van in front was only a few metres from me I don't know, but he didn't make it.

Makes commuting into town a pleasure, and even though it's 15/16 miles, it's still always quicker than the train/walk from Waterloo, and usually quicker than train/tube.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 9:52

JBR wrote:

(who then drop me when they jump the lights, but one day I shall kill them)

Utter cunts.

I saw a cyclist jump a red light the other day. I wouldn't have minded if it was just a clear junction, but it was a pedestrian crossing I was actually walking across. I should have thumped him as he rode past.

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 9:53

Malabar Front wrote:

I should have thumped him as he rode past.

Get a stick and shove it in his spokes. I'm a cyclist and I hate those wankers.

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:04

JBR wrote:

And then I use the fact that it's a decent bike to power round people (who then drop me when they jump the lights, but one day I shall kill them) and generally cruise in to work. I'm still working on the speed camera down Kingston Hill but don't quite have the power to trip it

I have a tatty old mountain bike which I tacked an electric motor onto, for days when I'd like to cycle but haven't quite got the energy, or the wind speed is a bit high.

When I was playing about with it initially, I managed to get 38 mph, on the flat, unassisted (without pedalling). I don't think it would hold up to that for very long though, and it's all kinds of illegal.

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before. Was fucking ace overtaking cars in the outside lane. My mate and I sued to ride, one in front of the other, so the second rider could use the slipstream, then slingshot round once the magic number of 40mph was hit. Fucking awesome fun it was.

Can't get mine above about 42MPH. Might help if I dressed in the biking fetish gear though. Certainly there's no way I can peddle to help gain speed downhill as the gearing won't allow it.

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

MaliA wrote:

Kern wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before

You were always honest when you entered the wheel's circumference into the bike computer, weren't you?

Err, yes officer.

I mean, both of us came up with similar results.

Those wheel computer things are shit. Get a GPS unit.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:13

chinnyhill10 wrote:

MaliA wrote:

Kern wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before

You were always honest when you entered the wheel's circumference into the bike computer, weren't you?

Err, yes officer.

I mean, both of us came up with similar results.

Those wheel computer things are shit. Get a GPS unit.

This was when I was, what, 16?

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

MaliA wrote:

This was when I was, what, 16?

GET A FUCKING TIME MACHINE YOU LAZY BASTARD!

But seriously, the GPS thingies are aces.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:14

chinnyhill10 wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I've hit 50+mph (indicated on bike computer) on my mountain bike down a NSL dual carriageway before. Was fucking ace overtaking cars in the outside lane. My mate and I sued to ride, one in front of the other, so the second rider could use the slipstream, then slingshot round once the magic number of 40mph was hit. Fucking awesome fun it was.

Can't get mine above about 42MPH. Might help if I dressed in the biking fetish gear though. Certainly there's no way I can peddle to help gain speed downhill as the gearing won't allow it.

Steep hill and use of other rider and cars as windbreak.

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:15

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Can't get mine above about 42MPH. Might help if I dressed in the biking fetish gear though. Certainly there's no way I can peddle to help gain speed downhill as the gearing won't allow it.

Mine's the opposite. It can be quite a challenge getting uphill, but I can absolutely thrash it downward. My fastest's about 42mph as well, but I haven't found any super-steep hills yet.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:23

chinnyhill10 wrote:

But seriously, the GPS thingies are aces.

They look ace, but they're a bit pricey. I've got a wireless Cateye one at the moment, and it does the job at about £30.

May get one eventually, but I've spent enough.

Anyway. Have any of you got any recommendations for lights?

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:25

Malabar Front wrote:

Anyway. Have any of you got any recommendations for lights?

Unless you want to spend lots of money on HIDs, you can't go wrong with something like this:
http://www.cateye.com/uk/product_detail/327

It's the one I've got, and it's good enough for me to be able to see where I'm going on a road in the middle of Sherwood Forest with no lights whatsoever.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:27

Flashing red LED on the back, flashing green on the front, and one like myp said.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 10:27

myp wrote:

It's the one I've got, and it's good enough for me to be able to see where I'm going on a road in the middle of Sherwood Forest with no lights whatsoever.

Not the exact model I was looking at yesterday, but close enough. Cateye seem to be the only ones doing decently powerful lights with good battery life for not-arms-and-legs prices. Cheers, chap.

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

Malabar Front wrote:

chinnyhill10 wrote:

But seriously, the GPS thingies are aces.

They look ace, but they're a bit pricey. I've got a wireless Cateye one at the moment, and it does the job at about £30.

May get one eventually, but I've spent enough.

Anyway. Have any of you got any recommendations for lights?

You can spend a fortune on them. I decided not to.

I use a Cateyes on the front and back. Approx 30 quid. I also have a flasher for my helmet. They're all good enough considering I have ridden in pitch black. If I were to add anything I'd see if I could get a light for the front of my helmet.

I also have a cheap light taped to the frame on on the left to help me see the kerb/edge of the road as I'm often on unmarked roads and in the dark it's very easy to wander off the road.

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3214

Just had a look at my mile splits from the ride in earlier - the quickest was 2.26, and that was the downhill one. So not even 30mph, though I must have touched that speed or a bit higher.

For lights I went for the 135 set, £24.99 from http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/cycle/7/Lights_-_Sets/. Plenty bright, though you'd need extra if you're actually using them to light your way (as opposed to just lighting you up and giving some extra illumination on your way home).

The independent did a round up of their favourite cycle gear - some ott I'm sure, but that's where I took the light recommendation from, and they certainly pick a decent pump out. http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/outdoor-activity/the-50-best-cycling-gear-1637982.html

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 15:27

This is a really good deal for both those lights together. The front one is the same as mine; the rear one looks awesome, though!

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 16:36

Cheers for the recommendations. I'll do some reading.

My bike has arrived, I've built it, and it's sexy as fuck. However, I'm either thick or Germans are weird, because the brakes are the wrong way around. Now I have to decide between re-mapping my brain or fucking about swapping the hydraulic hoses over.

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 16:43

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 16:50

Malabar Front wrote:

Cheers for the recommendations. I'll do some reading.

My bike has arrived, I've built it, and it's sexy as fuck. However, I'm either thick or Germans are weird, because the brakes are the wrong way around. Now I have to decide between re-mapping my brain or fucking about swapping the hydraulic hoses over.

One of the greatest things i have ever seen was an American, on borrowing my mate's bike, come barreling down the hill in Sheffield towards Encliffe park and throwing his weight over to do a massive skid in front of many people, hanging the back out, with a foot out over the front, apply what he thought was the rear brake.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

Full sprung is for pussies, unless you're doing proper downhill racing. For general cross country stuff stiff is far better. I'm still using a stiff Diamondback frame from 15 years ago. Excellent thing.

As you were.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 16:55

MaliA wrote:

One of the greatest things i have ever seen was an American, on borrowing my mate's bike, come barreling down the hill in Sheffield towards Encliffe park and throwing his weight over to do a massive skid in front of many people, hanging the back out, with a foot out over the front, apply what he thought was the rear brake.

This will be me this evening.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 17:10

Mr Chris wrote:

Full sprung is for pussies, unless you're doing proper downhill racing. For general cross country stuff stiff is far better. I'm still using a stiff Diamondback frame from 15 years ago. Excellent thing.

As you were.

However, my epic stamina means I can pull the extra mass about, and go harder for longer.

That and I want a fully suspended green machine of awesome.

In cross country races, it's a negligible saving, though I suspect, in my experience of MTB XC racing, once mud attaches to a bike, the mass doesn't matter, it's what one can get through the rear tyre that does, and for how long. Energy saved weight shifting is to be used for pedalling.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 19:15

Okay, being clipped in is weird, but I like it. Only tried it on the road, mind. I suspect offroad will be entirely different.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 19:52

Malabar Front wrote:

Okay, being clipped in is weird, but I like it. Only tried it on the road, mind. I suspect offroad will be entirely different.

It's strange for a while, but, after that, you won't go back. I love my spuds. Control over the bike is so much better, and you do save so much energy from using them.

myp · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 20:18

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

A hundred times that.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 20:36

Some fucker has bid on it.

To mrsA's ebay account!

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

Malabar Front wrote:

Okay, being clipped in is weird, but I like it. Only tried it on the road, mind. I suspect offroad will be entirely different.

What happens if you slip or fall off? Not sure I'd like it.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Malabar Front wrote:

Okay, being clipped in is weird, but I like it. Only tried it on the road, mind. I suspect offroad will be entirely different.

What happens if you slip or fall off? Not sure I'd like it.

"Something not as bad as your arm looking like it's made of really badly put together scaffolding" is I imagine the answer there.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2009 22:57

If you slip or fall off, I guess you just have to try to unclip in time. I've got my pedals set to the loosest setting at the moment, which doesn't require too much of a twist to free myself.

I'm very wary of falling onto my arm, seeing how fucked it already is, so I'm not doing any crazy shit yet if ever.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 8:59

chinnyhill10 wrote:

Malabar Front wrote:

Okay, being clipped in is weird, but I like it. Only tried it on the road, mind. I suspect offroad will be entirely different.

What happens if you slip or fall off? Not sure I'd like it.

To release from clipless pedals, you twist your foot outwards (or inwards). in the event of falling off, you tend to twist your feet that way anyway. After a while, it becomes second nature to twist your foot around as you slow down, I do it even when I've got flat pedals on.

The release tension (how much force you need to put into the twist of your foot) is set by a spring, which is adjustable, when I first had mine, they were set very loose, but I gradually increased the tension to avoid accidentally unclipping. The amount of control you have over the bike increases dramatically, and your pedaling efficiency is also greatly increased (arguably, you could say it's almost doubled, as you can pull up as well as pushing down). I think they are the best upgrade one can make to a bike, and wouldn't live without them.

Although, the first few times, you can have comedy moments like pulling up at a set of traffic lights outside the girls' school, and forgetting you are clipped in and falling gracefully sideways, but once you've gotten used to it, it doesn't happen.

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

MaliA wrote:

The amount of control you have over the bike increases dramatically, and your pedaling efficiency is also greatly increased (arguably, you could say it's almost doubled, as you can pull up as well as pushing down). I think they are the best upgrade one can make to a bike, and wouldn't live without them.

Thanks. I'll give those consideration.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:30

chinnyhill10 wrote:

MaliA wrote:

The amount of control you have over the bike increases dramatically, and your pedaling efficiency is also greatly increased (arguably, you could say it's almost doubled, as you can pull up as well as pushing down). I think they are the best upgrade one can make to a bike, and wouldn't live without them.

Thanks. I'll give those consideration.

It also makes you have you feet in the correct position on the pedals, as well. The downside is the clip clop noise you make when walking, with a metal cleat on the bottom of your shoe, however, they are useful deterrents for dogs.

kalmar · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:32

MaliA wrote:

forgetting you are clipped in and falling gracefully sideways, but once you've gotten used to it, it doesn't happen.

Yeah, that's the only time they've caught me out, really, is while stopping and being slightly distracted by something and forgetting about them. I didn't actually fall over that time either, but it might have looked slightly more graceful if I had done.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:35

myp wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

A hundred times that.

I'll have a go at swapping it around at the weekend. Shouldn't be too difficult, as I've fit a couple of sets of hydraulic hoses on motorbikes before now. The concept doesn't really look much different.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:37

Malabar Front wrote:

myp wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

A hundred times that.

I'll have a go at swapping it around at the weekend. Shouldn't be too difficult, as I've fit a couple of sets of hydraulic hoses on motorbikes before now. The concept doesn't really look much different.

Can't you just undo the bolts holding them to the handlebar and swap them over, wit no need to remove hoses?

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:40

MaliA's top tip for installation of handlebar grips:

Go to superdrug and buy the cheapest can of hairspray there. Spray handlebar with hairspray and inside of grip. Grip slides on, easy as pie, then gets glued to handlebar. Takes seconds.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:40

MaliA wrote:

Can't you just undo the bolts holding them to the handlebar and swap them over, wit no need to remove hoses?

But then the levers would be the wrong way around, or upside-down.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:43

Malabar Front wrote:

MaliA wrote:

Can't you just undo the bolts holding them to the handlebar and swap them over, wit no need to remove hoses?

But then the levers would be the wrong way around, or upside-down.

Oh, yeah. Heh.

Sorry, wasn't thinking that through.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

I prefer it on the right, but I only have a rear brake on my bike.

kalmar · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:48

Malabar Front wrote:

myp wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

A hundred times that.

I'll have a go at swapping it around at the weekend. Shouldn't be too difficult, as I've fit a couple of sets of hydraulic hoses on motorbikes before now. The concept doesn't really look much different.

It's not, but there's very little reservoir on MTB brakes, so the few drops you'll lose while swapping the hoses will probably need topping up. So you might want to obtain some in advance and/or be very careful when doing it.

kalmar · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:49

WullieOoster wrote:

kalmar wrote:

Swap it. Left is rear, no excuses.

I prefer it on the right, but I only have a rear brake on my bike.

BMX fiend eh? Can you do that thing where you spin the handlebars around about 3 times while in mid air?

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:53

Wullie has facial hair?

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

I always pictured Wullie weaving around on a Raleigh shopper with the front basket full of Buckfast.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

kalmar wrote:

BMX fiend eh? Can you do that thing where you spin the handlebars around about 3 times while in mid air?

No, I've always been too sketchy for doing most tech stuff. I just go as fast as possible & jump off/over things :DD

Some of the guys from the local park put me to shame, especially Wee John.

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