MaliA wrote:
Using a pair of trainers, learn to trackstand the bike (come to a gentle stop, turn teh front wheel slightly, and adust balance using teh pedals to rock back and forward slightly.
it's doubly useful, as with spds you can lean forwards and lift the rear with your feet at slow speed making line alterations easy. Off road theya re awesome, you just have to believe and trust.
it's doubly useful, as with spds you can lean forwards and lift the rear with your feet at slow speed making line alterations easy. Off road theya re awesome, you just have to believe and trust.
I used to be able to do that brilliantly. I shall have to learn again. Ta!
I'd have written in to the pretty lady at MBUK, if she's still there.
My bike says Land Rover on it, so I'm not qualified to offer advice 
It is pretty, though.
It is pretty, though.
Mr Chris wrote:
I'd have written in to the pretty lady at MBUK, if she's still there.
I met one of the blokes from MBUK at a downhill race. he was an arrogant snottoad.
myp wrote:
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!
Yeah, okay, they're good enough!
Cheers, Myp.
Do not buy lights from Deal Extreme. As soon as you go through a bump they'll disintegrate scattering components across a wide area of countryside.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
Do not buy lights from Deal Extreme. As soon as you go through a bump they'll disintegrate scattering components across a wide area of countryside.
Haha, I concur. The cheap ones from Halfords do similar things, also.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
Do not buy lights from Deal Extreme. As soon as you go through a bump they'll disintegrate scattering components across a wide area of countryside.
I won't buy cheap anything unless it's something so simple even cheap knockoffs can't get wrong.
The multi-card-reader I bought from Deal Extreme was a complete piece of shit, but at only a few quid I couldn't be arsed doing anything about it.
I've got a slight buckle in my front wheel. Which means rummaging through a box of "stuff that might be useful" to find the spoke key.
MaliA wrote:
I've got a slight buckle in my front wheel. Which means rummaging through a box of "stuff that might be useful" to find the spoke key.
I remember my first attempt at fixing a buckle when I was younger. The wheel almost ended up C-shaped, such was my complete lack of understanding. When someone said "Tighten the opposite side", I took it a bit too literally.
Malabar Front wrote:
kalmar wrote:
Caution: you probably don't want DOT style brake fluid as you put in your car / motorbike. The components and hoses are plastic, not rubber and metal.
My brakes' manual actually recommends DOT 3 or 4. What would you recommend?
Dot 4 should be fine - it's pretty benign - just make sure you take the pads out before bleeding as the fluid will make them about as useful as sponge fingers if/when they get soaked
DBSnappa wrote:
Dot 4 should be fine - it's pretty benign - just make sure you take the pads out before bleeding as the fluid will make them about as useful as sponge fingers if/when they get soaked
Will do. I picked up some new DOT4 fluid last night, as I couldn't seem to find any in the garage. I'll probably be attempting this on Sunday.
Malabar Front wrote:
DBSnappa wrote:
Dot 4 should be fine - it's pretty benign - just make sure you take the pads out before bleeding as the fluid will make them about as useful as sponge fingers if/when they get soaked
Will do. I picked up some new DOT4 fluid last night, as I couldn't seem to find any in the garage. I'll probably be attempting this on Sunday.
I bled my front brake last Sunday and even though I've got the pipes and syringes and special clamp to go on the brake lever I still managed to get brake fluid everywhere when the pipe came off the syringe. And I hadn't removed the brake pads so I fucked a set of those - and just to warn you, they're stupidly expensive for what they are - something like £13-15 a set. They do last a long time though - I ride my bike most days and do some serious off roading at least half a dozen times a year and the pads will easily last a couple of years.
I'm so glad I've got disc brakes.
myp wrote:
I'm so glad I've got disc brakes.
Ditto, and hydraulic ones at that. I tried Miss Malabar's mechanical discs last night (fnar) and, while feeling much nicer than the old V-brakes I'm used to, weren't a touch on mine. I just need to swap the hoses around, because it feels really, really weird.
Mine are only mechanical, but they're much better than V-brakes (except the very top-of-the-range ones).
I think hydraulic ones would be overkill for what I need it for, though. It's not like I'm going down 45 degree hills or owt.
I think hydraulic ones would be overkill for what I need it for, though. It's not like I'm going down 45 degree hills or owt.
myp wrote:
Mine are only mechanical, but they're much better than V-brakes (except the very top-of-the-range ones).
I think hydraulic ones would be overkill for what I need it for, though. It's not like I'm going down 45 degree hills or owt.
I think hydraulic ones would be overkill for what I need it for, though. It's not like I'm going down 45 degree hills or owt.
Mine are probably overkill for most of the stuff I'll be doing, but I much prefer working with hydraulics anyway. I hate the open structure of mechanical brakes — they're much more prone to dirt and grime getting up the hoses.
There are no doubt mechanical systems better than my hydraulics, anyway. It's never just a case of saying Hydraulic > Mechanical.
Right, I'm off for my ride. If I get lost I'll let you know (as long as there's a GPRS signal).
I run a V brake on the front and an STX-SE canti on the rear. I like the mechanical simplicity of them. I stand the bike up on it's front wheel with 2 fingers wit the V brake, so I'm unsure how much I'd really benefit from the extra cost and weight of discs, unless it's easier to modulate the power. I've never really had too many problems with them riding through gloop and all, it generally fucks the transmission up before the brakes (Crud claw ftw!). mrsA's got mechanical discs, but I've got to fiddle with them a bit, as they feel really spongy right now.
Whislt I think of it, always wear a helmet, as there was a court case recently, where a motorcyclist skittled a cyclist who was stationary, about to turn right. The helmet wouldn't have saved him anyway, but there appears to be the beginnings of a movement towards "not wearing a helmet = contributory negligence", so be warned.
Whislt I think of it, always wear a helmet, as there was a court case recently, where a motorcyclist skittled a cyclist who was stationary, about to turn right. The helmet wouldn't have saved him anyway, but there appears to be the beginnings of a movement towards "not wearing a helmet = contributory negligence", so be warned.
MaliA wrote:
Whislt I think of it, always wear a helmet, as there was a court case recently, where a motorcyclist skittled a cyclist who was stationary, about to turn right. The helmet wouldn't have saved him anyway, but there appears to be the beginnings of a movement towards "not wearing a helmet = contributory negligence", so be warned.
Never used to, always do now. They're no hassle, and even if they provide a small amount of protection to your head, probably worth it.
I've very little doubt I'd be dead if I wasn't wearing a helmet in my motorbike crash, so I'm quite fond of them.
Well, that was a cracking little ride. So, after leaving work, instead of heading south back to deepest Bulwell I headed north towards Mansfield. It was my intention to ride up there and back, followed by the six miles back home.
However, when I got to Mansfield I decided that I wanted to go a bit further, so I decided to head towards Sutton-in-Ashfield through a park area called Quarry Lane something or other. It was at this point that I nearly got run over by a tractor.
I got bored on the way to Sutton, so I changed direction at one point and decided to go to a little village called Rainworth (pronounced 'Rennurth' by t'locals). For those of you who don't know where this is - and I'm suspecting that's most of you - it is the other side of Mansfield to Sutton. However, halfway there I found a sign pointing towards 'National Cycle Network Route 6'. This sounded far too exciting an opportunity to pass up, so I followed it. Sadly, it wasn't that spectacular; just a massively long cycle path attached to the side of the A617. I rode up there a bit before turning right into Rainworth.
Once I got there, I felt a bit tired so I stopped at a petrol station and bought a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate. I sat where I had chained up my bike and refueled. A woman walking her dog went past and said, ''Ey up, me dook. Thar cudda fownd a better playess to 'ave a picnic' (Roughly translated: 'Hello there, young man. I believe you could have found a nicer place to have a picnic'), to which I told her that it wasn't a picnic; it was a Starbar. She didn't laugh.
At that point I'd cycled 12 miles, so I looked at my bike computer to work out how long it had taken me: 57 minutes. Not bad. My next plan was to cycle back through Rainworth, along to Mansfield and back down past Hucknall and home. This part of my journey wasn't particularly exciting. Partly because it was roads I'd already ridden on, but mainly I was knackered and couldn't be arsed in taking in any of the scenery. I did pass a Lambo Murcie and two Ferraris (although I suspect it was the same one as they were both the same light blue colour), though.
The best bit of the final few miles was racing a tractor (a different one to the one who nearly ran me over). He kept overtaking me going up the hills, but I then raced past him on the downhill stretches. He must have been going about 20mph, I reckon.
Halfway home I looked at my computer and thought it would be really odd if I managed to ride a whole marathon. Sadly, I fell agonisingly short; clocking up a total of 26.039 miles at an average of 12.9mph taking 2hrs00m36s. Add to that the 5.5 miles I cycled to work this morning, that means I've ridden a whopping (for me) 31.5 miles today.
I'm going to the gym in 45 minutes.
However, when I got to Mansfield I decided that I wanted to go a bit further, so I decided to head towards Sutton-in-Ashfield through a park area called Quarry Lane something or other. It was at this point that I nearly got run over by a tractor.
I got bored on the way to Sutton, so I changed direction at one point and decided to go to a little village called Rainworth (pronounced 'Rennurth' by t'locals). For those of you who don't know where this is - and I'm suspecting that's most of you - it is the other side of Mansfield to Sutton. However, halfway there I found a sign pointing towards 'National Cycle Network Route 6'. This sounded far too exciting an opportunity to pass up, so I followed it. Sadly, it wasn't that spectacular; just a massively long cycle path attached to the side of the A617. I rode up there a bit before turning right into Rainworth.
Once I got there, I felt a bit tired so I stopped at a petrol station and bought a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate. I sat where I had chained up my bike and refueled. A woman walking her dog went past and said, ''Ey up, me dook. Thar cudda fownd a better playess to 'ave a picnic' (Roughly translated: 'Hello there, young man. I believe you could have found a nicer place to have a picnic'), to which I told her that it wasn't a picnic; it was a Starbar. She didn't laugh.
At that point I'd cycled 12 miles, so I looked at my bike computer to work out how long it had taken me: 57 minutes. Not bad. My next plan was to cycle back through Rainworth, along to Mansfield and back down past Hucknall and home. This part of my journey wasn't particularly exciting. Partly because it was roads I'd already ridden on, but mainly I was knackered and couldn't be arsed in taking in any of the scenery. I did pass a Lambo Murcie and two Ferraris (although I suspect it was the same one as they were both the same light blue colour), though.
The best bit of the final few miles was racing a tractor (a different one to the one who nearly ran me over). He kept overtaking me going up the hills, but I then raced past him on the downhill stretches. He must have been going about 20mph, I reckon.
Halfway home I looked at my computer and thought it would be really odd if I managed to ride a whole marathon. Sadly, I fell agonisingly short; clocking up a total of 26.039 miles at an average of 12.9mph taking 2hrs00m36s. Add to that the 5.5 miles I cycled to work this morning, that means I've ridden a whopping (for me) 31.5 miles today.
I'm going to the gym in 45 minutes.
myp wrote:
It was at this point that I nearly got run over by a tractor.
Not you too!
I was going at about 12mph at this point though, not 120mph. 
myp wrote:
I was going at about 12mph at this point though, not 120mph.
Pfft, I was going 50mph, max! Honestly — I seriously wasn't speeding. I'd have been a) dead and b) completely deserving if I'd been riding like a dick that day.
Anyway. Sounds like you had a nice ride. I need to build up my stamina so I can tackle something like that — I'm knackered after 5 miles at the moment if I go at a decent pace.
Malabar Front wrote:
I'm knackered after 5 miles at the moment if I go at a decent pace.
Build up slowly and you won't notice it. Pace isn't as important as the time you spend exercising.
I definitely took it steady, as I wasn't sure how far I was going to go and didn't want to get stranded. Plus I didn't know where the fuck I was going, so didn't want to pelt it in case I came a cropper on a bumpy bit of road or missed a junction or something.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
Malabar Front wrote:
I'm knackered after 5 miles at the moment if I go at a decent pace.
Build up slowly and you won't notice it. Pace isn't as important as the time you spend exercising.
Will do.
I'm contemplating picking up another set of wheels and sticking some more-roadworthy tyres on them. I don't think riding on nobbly tyres on the road is particularly efficient, effective or wise.
myp wrote:
Well, that was a cracking little ride. So, after leaving work, instead of heading south back into my deepest Bowel I headed north towards my Man friend. It was my intention to ride up to my nuts and back, followed by the six million dollar man.
However, when I got to my Man friend I decided that I wanted to go a bit further, so I decided to head towards the spleen through a gash in his pancreas something or other. It was at this point that I nearly came.
I got bored on the way to cumsville, so I changed direction at one point and decided to go to a little village called Rimmington (pronounced 'Rimmingtown' by t'locals). For those of you who don't know where this is - and I'm suspecting that's most of you - place your nose on the gooch and wiggle your tongue. However, halfway there I found a sign pointing towards 'The Spam Cannon'. This sounded far too exciting an opportunity to pass up, so I followed it. Sadly, it wasn't that spectacular; just a todger attached to the side of a hairy scrote. I rode on it a bit before turning right into a sidesaddle position.
Once I got there, I felt a bit tired so I stopped for a bit and and had a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate. I sat where I had chained up my ankles. A woman walking her dog went past and said, ''Ey up, me dook. Thar cudda fownd a better playess to 'ave a picnic' (Roughly translated: 'Hello there, young man. I believe you could have found a nicer place to have a picnic'), to which I told her that it wasn't a picnic; it was a fuckfest. She didn't laugh.
At that point I'd riden 12 miles of prong, so I looked at my computer to work out how long it had taken me: 57 minutes. Not bad. My next plan was to revert back to rimming my Man friend and listen to Mick Hucknall at home. This part of my sexual awakening wasn't particularly exciting. Partly because it was stuff I'd already ridden on, but mainly I was knackered and couldn't be arsed in taking in any of the doggers that were surrounding us. I did pass a Luvie Mincie and two Feltchers (although I suspect it was the same one as they were both the same light brown colour), though.
The best bit of the final few miles was racing a rentboy (a different one to the one who nearly teabagged me). He kept overtaking me going up the chuff, but I then raced past him on the down strokes. He must have been going about 20cph, I reckon.
Halfway home I looked at my computer and thought it would be really odd if I managed to ride a whole marathon length. Sadly, I fell agonisingly short; clocking up a total of 26,039 winkies at an average of 12.9cph taking 2hrs00m36s. Add to that the 5.5 hours I wanked before work this morning, that means I've ridden a whopping (for me) 31.5 miles of dick today.
I'm going to the hit the showers in 45 minutes.
However, when I got to my Man friend I decided that I wanted to go a bit further, so I decided to head towards the spleen through a gash in his pancreas something or other. It was at this point that I nearly came.
I got bored on the way to cumsville, so I changed direction at one point and decided to go to a little village called Rimmington (pronounced 'Rimmingtown' by t'locals). For those of you who don't know where this is - and I'm suspecting that's most of you - place your nose on the gooch and wiggle your tongue. However, halfway there I found a sign pointing towards 'The Spam Cannon'. This sounded far too exciting an opportunity to pass up, so I followed it. Sadly, it wasn't that spectacular; just a todger attached to the side of a hairy scrote. I rode on it a bit before turning right into a sidesaddle position.
Once I got there, I felt a bit tired so I stopped for a bit and and had a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate. I sat where I had chained up my ankles. A woman walking her dog went past and said, ''Ey up, me dook. Thar cudda fownd a better playess to 'ave a picnic' (Roughly translated: 'Hello there, young man. I believe you could have found a nicer place to have a picnic'), to which I told her that it wasn't a picnic; it was a fuckfest. She didn't laugh.
At that point I'd riden 12 miles of prong, so I looked at my computer to work out how long it had taken me: 57 minutes. Not bad. My next plan was to revert back to rimming my Man friend and listen to Mick Hucknall at home. This part of my sexual awakening wasn't particularly exciting. Partly because it was stuff I'd already ridden on, but mainly I was knackered and couldn't be arsed in taking in any of the doggers that were surrounding us. I did pass a Luvie Mincie and two Feltchers (although I suspect it was the same one as they were both the same light brown colour), though.
The best bit of the final few miles was racing a rentboy (a different one to the one who nearly teabagged me). He kept overtaking me going up the chuff, but I then raced past him on the down strokes. He must have been going about 20cph, I reckon.
Halfway home I looked at my computer and thought it would be really odd if I managed to ride a whole marathon length. Sadly, I fell agonisingly short; clocking up a total of 26,039 winkies at an average of 12.9cph taking 2hrs00m36s. Add to that the 5.5 hours I wanked before work this morning, that means I've ridden a whopping (for me) 31.5 miles of dick today.
I'm going to the hit the showers in 45 minutes.
Have I mentioned my "take map, use highlighter pen on bridleways" method of finding an ever expanding loop with shortcuts to get you home if you are knackered plan yet? if not, it's fairly simple, take a map, highlight the bridleways on it, then from any given start point, work out a loop you can do keeping off the roads as much as possible. Then add a loop to that loop, and then another, and soon enough, you've got a massive amount of car free fun mileage to play with.
I love you, Zardoz 
Zardoz, why are you allowed to be alive?
Zardoz you've ruined everything.
Price of frame has gone over what I wish to pay. Sticking with custom Kona for time being.
27 miles today. Was restricted for time due to packing for the move. Annoyingly my hayfever kicked in so the second half of the ride was spent with eyes streaming combined with an easterly wind that made things hard work at times. Can't say I really enjoyed it.
As usual was overtaken by lots of people on poncy expensive bikes who can go faster than me. Still presumably I'm getting a better work-out.
As usual was overtaken by lots of people on poncy expensive bikes who can go faster than me. Still presumably I'm getting a better work-out.
Spuds are ace.
Malabar Front wrote:
Spuds are ace.
Amen, Brother Front. which shoes do you have? I've got a cheap pair of Shimano ones.
MaliA wrote:
Malabar Front wrote:
Spuds are ace.
Amen, Brother Front. which shoes do you have? I've got a cheap pair of Shimano ones.
I just borrowed a pair to see if I liked them - Shimano somethings. I'm probably going to plump for some Sidi ones shortly.
Malabar Front wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Malabar Front wrote:
Spuds are ace.
Amen, Brother Front. which shoes do you have? I've got a cheap pair of Shimano ones.
I just borrowed a pair to see if I liked them - Shimano somethings. I'm probably going to plump for some Sidi ones shortly.
Sweet. I'm just looking at my map to see if I can get to http://www.otmoor.co.uk/ there and back in a reasonable time. It's about 50km. Basically, it's a loop on a loop, IYSWIM. Tempted..
MaliA wrote:
Sweet. I'm just looking at my map to see if I can get to http://www.otmoor.co.uk/ there and back in a reasonable time. It's about 50km. Basically, it's a loop on a loop, IYSWIM. Tempted..
About 31 miles. I hate KM because it's used by people who like to show off by saying "oh yah, I did 50k yesterday" knowing full well that the general population don't understand KM as a unit of measurement. My old bike computer got stuck on KM which was the most annoying thing ever.
On my bike I tend to allow for an average of 10 Miles per hour on our local terrain with no wind.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Sweet. I'm just looking at my map to see if I can get to http://www.otmoor.co.uk/ there and back in a reasonable time. It's about 50km. Basically, it's a loop on a loop, IYSWIM. Tempted..
About 31 miles. I hate KM because it's used by people who like to show off by saying "oh yah, I did 50k yesterday" knowing full well that the general population don't understand KM as a unit of measurement. My old bike computer got stuck on KM which was the most annoying thing ever.
On my bike I tend to allow for an average of 10 Miles per hour on our local terrain with no wind.
i use KM, as i measure distance with a bit of string. Loop I'm about to do is only 37.5km (or 23 miles) so that'll do me for a bit. I've just weighed myself so am on a "shit, malia you used to be slim!" panic....
MaliA wrote:
I've just weighed myself so am on a "shit, malia you used to be slim!" panic....
Cycling on its own won't lose you weight. I know from experience! The extra muscle build compensates for any fat loss.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
MaliA wrote:
I've just weighed myself so am on a "shit, malia you used to be slim!" panic....
Cycling on its own won't lose you weight. I know from experience! The extra muscle build compensates for any fat loss.
Ideally, I want an exercise regime that lets me drink 10 pints of lager a day, and keeps my weight constant. but it looks like riding a bike and a diet is the way forward.
Off we go then, got a litre of water and a banananananana, that should do it for fuel.
chinnyhill10 wrote:
MaliA wrote:
I've just weighed myself so am on a "shit, malia you used to be slim!" panic....
Cycling on its own won't lose you weight. I know from experience! The extra muscle build compensates for any fat loss.I don't want to lose any weight - I'm happy hovering arond the 11.5-12st mark. I wouldn't mind getting rid of this slight potbelly, though, and substituting any fat for muscle.
Well, 3 hours out on the bike, mostly off road on in the sun was nice. hit a wall with about 5 miles to go, but that only lasted 2 miles, and then had some energy left to make the final push back home. i took some photos, too. All in all, a decent scouting ride for a longer loop.
Did the 5.55 miles home just now — blazing heat and moderately up-hill all the way. Don't feel tired in the slightest, fortunately, but I very much need a shower.
Picked up a water bottle and cage, which were absolute life-savers in this weather, and picked up some new shoes:
They're a perfect fit, sexy as hell, and brilliant to ride in. No slip whatsoever, cool feet all the way, and no sores or aches. Fortune well spent.
Picked up a water bottle and cage, which were absolute life-savers in this weather, and picked up some new shoes:
They're a perfect fit, sexy as hell, and brilliant to ride in. No slip whatsoever, cool feet all the way, and no sores or aches. Fortune well spent.
I really like them. I drank a litre of water on my way around today. I've got slightly pink arms but white gloves...
Malabar Front wrote:
Did the 5.55 miles home just now — blazing heat and moderately up-hill all the way. Don't feel tired in the slightest, fortunately, but I very much need a shower.
Picked up a water bottle and cage, which were absolute life-savers in this weather, and picked up some new shoes:
They're a perfect fit, sexy as hell, and brilliant to ride in. No slip whatsoever, cool feet all the way, and no sores or aches. Fortune well spent.
Picked up a water bottle and cage, which were absolute life-savers in this weather, and picked up some new shoes:
They're a perfect fit, sexy as hell, and brilliant to ride in. No slip whatsoever, cool feet all the way, and no sores or aches. Fortune well spent.
Get a camelbak. I never go riding without mine topped up with water, some tools, a spare tube, pump and a spare chain - trust me, having had a chain go once is enough to make me carry one everywhere and replacing a tube on the go is much faster than repairing one - particularly in the summer on some of those MTB courses in Wales where you're likely to get eaten alive by midges if you stop for more than ten minutes.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Sear ... h=camelbak
DBSnappa wrote:
replacing a tube on the go is much faster than repairing one
Depends. I do carry a tube but I have some excellent instant repairs that save you the faff of getting the inner tube fitted again. I can't be doing with the old fashioned glue way of fixing punctures.
Camelbaks look great, but I wasn't aware they had backpack compartments. I guess that makes sense, else they'd be fairly pointless. Not very good for snowboarding, though - the guy I went with last time had one, and the water froze in the tubing.
I'll look into it, and I definitely need to pick up some spares and tools.
I'll look into it, and I definitely need to pick up some spares and tools.
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