Briski cyclists?!

[UnderTheRadars]

Nice!

[Richard A Thackeray]

John
Strathpuffer
A favourite of that truck mechanic Guy Martin, according to his books



 

[JohnMcL7]

John

Strathpuffer

A favourite of that truck mechanic Guy Martin, according to his books

 

 

Yep that's right and the funny thing is I had no idea he did endurance mountain biking until I was doing another endurance event in Fort William and people kept mentioning whether they'd seen Guy or not which I assumed to be some well known MTB person.  I was then quite surprised to see Guy Martin walk by later and found he's an amazing endurance mountain biker, he got a top 3 finish solo that year doing the same number of laps we did as a quad and he was top 3 at Puffer last year as well and the competition there is really tough.  

 

He was apparently doing something crazy this year at the Puffer as he'd cycled all the way up from Lincolnshire and then back as preparation for a huge race all the way down the west coast of America.  Not sure if that's true or not, that's what was going round the race as people were puzzled at his unusually low position.

 

John

[Evil]

Loving that purple Trek!!..

 

Gave up MTB  couple of years ago and got myself a Cannondale Synapse... upgraded everything (except frame and fork) and only rode it 3 times last year 

 

Hoping this year will be something of an improvement but I have to wait for much milder weather.. fingers crossed for Spring springing early!!

[UnderTheRadars]

Met Guy a few times at various races. A FB/bike acquaintance is the chap he did the tandem world record with and is/has been doing a few other bits for tv with. Both are doing the big divide race in the states this year (hence why Guy isn't doing the TT)

[ilmor]

Well this thread is a revelation! How have I not stumbled across this before?! 

 

My bikes are a Yeti 575 and a Rocky Mountain Flow.

 

The Rocky being a 4x weapon. Not used much any more (unfortunately) 

 

 

The Yeti 575. All Mountain bike. 

 

 

Together: 

 

 

So my brother and I did the first event of the Wiggle Super Series. A few pics below: 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of jumping on the final decent, i was absolutely spent at this point! 

 

 

My brothers Giant and my Yeti on the back of the R32

 

 

My usual ride is at Cannock Chase or Chicksands 

 

ilmor 

Edited 3 March, 2016 by ilmor

[Richard A Thackeray]

Well this thread is a revelation! How have I not stumbled across this before?! 

 

My bikes are a Yeti 575 and a Rocky Mountain Flow.

 

The Rocky being a 4x weapon. Not used much any more (unfortunately) 

 

 

The Yeti 575. All Mountain bike. 

 

 

TogetheSo my brother and I did the first event of the Wiggle Super Series. A few pics below: 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ago, I used to know the guy who brought Rocky Mountains into the country (or one importer anyway|?)

He had John Tanner, the international roadie riding for him for a while

 

When I was riding/racing MTB, there wasn't such a thing as sportives for them, but I am talking roughly 1989 - 1995

 I've mentioned mine before, I first had a 1989 Marin Pine Mountain, then replaced it with (what was arguably the est bike on same at that time) a Pace Research RC100

 

 

 

I rode Cyclo-Cross for a few years too; 1990 - 1996 (& again, circa 2007 - 2010)

It's the same club as above, just a change of kit design

 

 

 

[Evil]

This is how my Synapse came from the shop (that's a Shimano Sora groupset that's hiding in there)

 

This is how it looks now (it's not on the garden furniture any more)

 

 

And one from a local loop I did a few times last year

 

 

I also have interviews from a site I co-ran (and done the website for) a while back with people like Joe Murray,Hands Rey, Keith Bontrager and Paul Sadoff (plus a couple more I can't remember right now).

Don't really have anywhere to publish them any more but I might do one day.

[Hardcore]

I enjoy a bit of cycling as well when i get the time and the weather.

My main bike is a 2011 GT Avalanche 1.0
Heavyish but been solid for it and good for trail centres.




My other main bike
2014 Boardman Hybrid Pro

This is it shortly after i got it

After some goodies fitted how it is now.

 

 

My Carerra TDF.
Bought this second hand to see if dropped bars would be better than my hybrid but i hate it. Frame is a little too big, gears are too unforgiving, terrible brakes and it hurts to be in the drops too long.




This is a bit of everything, but originally Edinburgh Cycle bike. Alloy frame and some road tyres meant i used it for the roads before my hybrid. Not used it for a long time.

 

 

My BMX i used to leave at work to cycle on my lunch breaks. Sadly it's out the game just now after i killed the freewheel

 

 

My Voodoo jump bike.
I bought this used, but thinking of selling it shortly as rarely gets used

[Richard A Thackeray]

 

 

My Carerra TDF.

Bought this second hand to see if dropped bars would be better than my hybrid but i hate it. Frame is a little too big, gears are too unforgiving, terrible brakes and it hurts to be in the drops too long.

 

 

Unless it's the camera angle, the stem looks terribly long, for the bike

The bars also appear wide

Are you sure you're not slipping forwards on that saddle, given the angle, which will increase pressure on the wrists (Carpal Tunnel problems?), & perhaps sliding the saddle back on the rails (which may also mean lowering it)

 

 

[Hardcore]

I slid the seat forward a fair bit as that photo was just after i got the bike, but i'm not fit enough to make full use of it with the massive chainrings so going to sell it shortly and stick with the hybrid.

[JohnMcL7]

I think perhaps it's just the photo that makes the stem look overly long?  My road bike one is quite long compared to the MTB's (where the fashion seems to be increasingly short ones right now) but that seems normal.

 

Those chainrings look ridiculous, I think I've seen this Carrera before as someone was complaining about how hard going the bike was and they were right, bizarre choice for the bike.  I'm generally not a fan of drop bars although I do like them for longer rides as you can adjust your position to keep comfortable (I wouldn't ride on the drops for long, only for sections where you're pushing hard or into the wind - sitting on the hoods is the normal position), I agree entirely with you on the brakes and it's frustrating that while there's plenty of cheap and decent hydraulic options for flat bars, drop bar hydraulics are still hugely expensive.

 

I've had a standard road bike for a while which I've not been that keen on mainly due to the brakes but as hydraulics are still in their infancy I've decided to stick some mudguards on the road bike and get some maintenance work it's needing done to keep it going for now and see how the market shapes up.  Well I'm deciding this now and will probably change my mind next week.

 

John

Edited 7 March, 2016 by JohnMcL7

[Evil]

A properly set up set of rim brakes will not be far off hydraulics except in the wet.

 

Mine could easily put me over the handlebars if I grabbed a handful. Unlike the Canti brakes on my old GT RTS.

[Richard A Thackeray]

'Evil' is correct, the efficiency of a good rim-brake, in dry weather is very similar to a disc
After all, what is a wheel/caliper brake, but a giant disc??

 

The rings on the Carrera will probably be 52 outer (& either a 39, or a 42 inner - more likely the latter) the 'gear-inches' are very similar to a (26" wheeled) MTB running a 46 x 12 top gear

Those chain-ring sizes are generally the norm on a road bike 

Two of mine run 53/39

One is 52/39
My 'commuter'/all-purpose/winter bike is on a 'compact 50/34
 

 

All have same crank lengths (172.5) & handlebar widths (42cm), the same stems (120mm), but the commuter has a 2cm shorter stem, to allow for bulkier winter clothing

All have the same top-tube length - more important than the frame-size!! (and the same saddle set-back)

 

[Hardcore]

My main passion for cycling is with the mountain bike so that's probably why i feel more comfortable and enjoy the hybrid more. At least with bar ends on it now, my arms don't get too sore from not changing position as well.

You're right, the road bike uses a 52/42 chainset and it's a bit much for my fitness level. 
My hybrid uses a more forvgiving 50/34 set up and it's just right for me. 

I've been a fan of discs for a while now over other brakes. No brake cables to worry about rusting / fraying, buttery smooth and strong even with just one finger using them, slight buckles in the wheels don't cause rubbing and deadly braking even in the wet.

Saying that, 180mm discs are a lot better than the 160mm ones you see on most stuff if you can deal with the extra weight. The hybrid will stop quickly but would need a good squeeze to lift the back wheel or lock up in the dry. The 180mm ones on the GT with lower spec calipers & levers feel like they'd bend the forks if you were going fast enough.

[Evil]

Only bike I have discs on is this.. I've never ridden DH and never will but I wanted one of these from the moment I saw one so grabbed the opportunity (I have. however, ridden it a couple of dozen miles xc and it's a killer)

 

[JohnMcL7]

A properly set up set of rim brakes will not be far off hydraulics except in the wet.

 

Mine could easily put me over the handlebars if I grabbed a handful. Unlike the Canti brakes on my old GT RTS.

 

Agreed but living in the UK, being wet is frequently an issue for me and that's mainly why I want hydraulic discs as the rim brake performance is not so much poor but inconsistent whereas the MTB's even in appalling conditions still offer incredibly consistent performance.  I did think the hydraulic brakes were over the top in power when I got them on my MTB compared to the mechanical discs I'd previously used but I've quickly to come to like the consistent power and feel they offer.  Plus the rim brakes are a pain in the neck to get mudguards round, even though my frame has the mounts and I've got 23c tyres on it the front mudguard wouldn't quite clear the front so it's got a cable tie instead holding it on.

[Evil]

I hear ya.. If I buy another bike it'll probably have discs too (it'll be a road bike, and I don't ride in cold, rain or wind)

[Richard A Thackeray]

The CTC (Cyclists Touring Club) arranged some tests when discs were starting to becoming popular on road bikes

Whilst the advantages of;

  - lack of rim wear

 - ability to use lighter rims (no braking surface need = less metal)

 - consistant braking in wet/grimey conditions

 - buckled rims not being an issue

can't be denied

The flip-side is;

 - the possibility of heavy braking moving a (not tight enough) QR skewer - hence the arrival of 'through axles'
  - heavier (thicker/re-designed) forks, to cater for the change in braking position

They also managed to 'blue' discs on a single descent, in a bike test!!!

Read the 'summary'

http://www.ctc.org.uk/cycle/carbon-non-copies

 

Not trying to put you off, just offering both sides



 

[JohnMcL7]

I don't really see either of those cons as downsides particularly as that article is now quite out of date (even though it isn't that old), there's plenty bikes now with through axles if you prefer that and the new smaller flat mount calipers are much neater than the post mount calipers which in some cases were taken straight across from MTB's.  This is generally considered MTB heresy but I've never quite understand the appeal of through axles which I have a mix of although it's perhaps just because I'm not a serious downhill rider, my rigid MTB with a 180mm front rotor and an enormous wheel still has a QR front end which it hasn't had issues with.

 

'Bluing' or bronzing the disc isn't unusual for those hard on the brakes even on a normal downhill, on hard downhill stuff you can ruin the brakes surprisingly quickly.  It doesn't tend to affect the discs though unless running particularly toughened pads.

 

That said I don't think everyone must have discs, there are more obvious disadvantages - it's slower to get a wheel using through axles off and on for those racing and there's compatibility issues between different bikes due to the differing rotor sizes.  Plus as mentioned above on a dry day a set of rim brakes will work well and mechanically far simpler too.

 

I have the SKS Chromoplastic mudguards on my road bike now which are a very tight fit and there's a slight rattle from the front one which I can't track down but working well apart from that and I'm sure will be grateful for them soon.  I haven't bothered cleaning the bike but now the mudguards are on it's time for some post winter (or hopefully anyway!) TLC.

 

John

[matt_theforce]

After a short absence, I'm back

 

My latest bike porn

 

Put a pair of used Schwalbe Durano plus 700x28's on it, what a fantastic smooth ride, its an awesome bike for its age (23yr old)
 

[KBPhoto]

Here's my new ride after its first outing into the Downs near us: will be looking to ride much more when I get to Scotland. Already have a 28 mile circuit planned (not that there are many possibilities for circular routes where I'm going...

Looking to get some 'off-road' tyres for it and have some adventures on skinny tyres. Think I can go up to 32mm. Any recommendations for dry to wet conditions, but not really muddy?

[KBPhoto]

After a short absence, I'm back

 

My latest bike porn

 

Put a pair of used Schwalbe Durano plus 700x28's on it, what a fantastic smooth ride, its an awesome bike for its age (23yr old)

I just sold a Geoffrey Butler one very similar to this recently for £125 including Profile TT bars and Look road pedals and shoes! Did I sell it way too cheaply? I've been out of the scene for so long I had no idea old bikes were coming back in...

[matt_theforce]

Here's my new ride after its first outing into the Downs near us: will be looking to ride much more when I get to Scotland. Already have a 28 mile circuit planned (not that there are many possibilities for circular routes where I'm going...

image.jpeg

Looking to get some 'off-road' tyres for it and have some adventures on skinny tyres. Think I can go up to 32mm. Any recommendations for dry to wet conditions, but not really muddy?

 

I used to run Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x28 & have now gone to Schwalble Marathon 700x28 on my cx bike.  The marathons seem to offer a little more traction than the plus & comfort while off roading but don't offer the puncture protection.  I use mine from commuting to mountain biking to made bridleways to canal towpaths to woodlands to downhill runs & do all types of cycling all year round on the same tyres.

[KBPhoto]

I'd looked at this due to their puncture resistance but had put them off as a winter condition road tyre, not really suitable for off road use (except tow paths or easy bridle ways). Sounds like I have that impression incorrect from your description.

I'm looking for something a little knobbly (I think); something like the Schwalbe CX Comp or the Continental CX Speed and probably 28 or 30 mm.

Edited 9 May, 2016 by KBPhoto