Big Bike Thread

kieranv · 19 Mar 2011 at 19:59

Off to Carron Valley tomorrow for the first ride of the year

Should be good.

Richie · 19 Mar 2011 at 20:10

This looks like an awesome place to go -

http://www.nsmb.com/4185-late-to-the-party-part-i (skip down to about halfway for trails pics)

http://nsmb.com/4236-late-to-the-party-part-ii/

Imagine having this in your back door like this guy does

Draeger · 19 Mar 2011 at 20:11

kieranv said:
Off to Carron Valley tomorrow for the first ride of the year

Should be good.

Nice one, my local trail, about 15 mins away from me. I'm up there at least once a week, weather and shifts permitting.

kieranv · 19 Mar 2011 at 20:25

its about 40 mins away from us. Been there once before and had fun so heading up again, should be able to get a few laps in

Has the car park re-opened?

Draeger · 19 Mar 2011 at 20:34

Yep, they did some resurfacing work to the road in over the bridge as well, so slightly less potholes to contend with in the car.

I'd come up and join you tomorrow but we've got visitors coming to see our new baby boy. I've wangled permission to get up early and go for a road run ( hence the manic cleaning of the FP1 today ) but I'd be toiling to wangle a trip up to Carron. Next time you are up there, give me a shout. :cool:

Quick vid of a bunch of us from work up there via my helmet cam from last September :-

Sgt_Pepper · 19 Mar 2011 at 21:07

Hi I'm gonna buy a Mountain bike online, just for general mooching about on and wanted a quick idea on size. I'm 5'11" and have a 56 sized road bike, would i be right in thinking to buy the large.

Sizing information
Size Medium Large
Seat Tube Length 420 460
Horizontal TT 572 625
Headtube Length 120 125
Wheelbase 1096 1116
Standover 767 788

The TT seems long
Thanks

Draeger · 19 Mar 2011 at 21:13

Depends a lot on the manufacturer m8. My Pinarello road bike is a "large" in size but my Cube Acid 2010 hardtail is a "medium" size frame. It's better to go and physically sit on a few different frame sizes of your chosen model rather than mail order blindly. Not ideal if you are mail ordering from a distance though, I accept.

What make and model are you looking at?.

Sgt_Pepper · 19 Mar 2011 at 21:19

weescott · 19 Mar 2011 at 21:40

Go for large without a doubt. It's an XC bike so being a longer bike is ideal. Plus coming from a road background you will probably feel more at home being stretched out.

6thElement · 20 Mar 2011 at 15:57

Can't ride today, woke up yesterday with a tweaked right calf muscle

However I have just laced up my first set of wheels, Hope hubs with Flow rims :cool:

Andelusion · 20 Mar 2011 at 18:04

6thElement said:
However I have just laced up my first set of wheels, Hope hubs with Flow rims

Nice choice

SDK^ · 20 Mar 2011 at 20:05

It was my first XC race of the year today in the Midlands XC series at Cannock Chase.

I got held up very badly on the first lap; having to run up most of the hills because riders were stopping or falling off in front of me. I lost about 3 mins and probably dropped near to the back. I fought back though and finished 30/62.

I also found and couple of extra beats on my Max HR.

Race details here : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74164770

6thElement · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:37

Andelusion said:
Nice choice

I've had a set of Hope Arches for a couple of years, I bought some Hope hubs last year for a build which didn't happen, decided to buy the rims and spokes to build them up into something I could use.

SDK^ · 20 Mar 2011 at 22:05

British XC Champion Liam Killeen blitzed the Elite category today. I'm also only 5 mins per lap off his pace

janesssssy · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:12

SDK^ said:
It was my first XC race of the year today in the Midlands XC series at Cannock Chase.

I got held up very badly on the first lap; having to run up most of the hills because riders were stopping or falling off in front of me. I lost about 3 mins and probably dropped near to the back. I fought back though and finished 30/62.

I also found and couple of extra beats on my Max HR.

Race details here : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74164770

Nice 1, I'm not even to tell you folk about my XC race today. Those damn gold jockey wheels. I tell you, the bike is jinxed.

SDK^ · 20 Mar 2011 at 23:28

janesssssy said:
Nice 1, I'm not even to tell you folk about my XC race today. Those damn gold jockey wheels. I tell you, the bike is jinxed.

Gone on - spill the beans

thecremeegg · 21 Mar 2011 at 00:09

Thought I'd go for a gold chain for added bling....I like it

Nix · 21 Mar 2011 at 02:45

Hey guys, any chance you could 'spec me' a decent hardtail mtb for ~£250-400?

I'm completely out of the loop these days. I know it's not 'that' important, but I prefer bikes without loads of fancy graphics and 'standard', sleek light-looking frames. For example, I know the Spesh Hardrock is an awesome bike, but I've never liked their frame style since they make it curvey about 5 years ago. Feel throw to throw any suggestions my way though.

Thanks in advance!

robj20 · 21 Mar 2011 at 06:17

Well i went and had ago of the Canfield Brothers Jedi F1, awsome frame, that rear suspension is very nice, the rear travel feels strange at first.

Only downside is i like to run a dual front ring, and the Jedi you cant like most DH bikes, only option would be the truvativ hammerschmidt setup.

Also realsised if i want to keep my dual front rings i may have to go for something just more aggressive than my current freeride bike.

The Santa Cruz Nomad has been recommended to me by a few people they say my 180 forks will fit and all my other bits.

The Intense Uzzi has grabbed my attention as well.

ichabod crane · 21 Mar 2011 at 08:17

janesssssy said:
Nice 1, I'm not even to tell you folk about my XC race today. Those damn gold jockey wheels. I tell you, the bike is jinxed.

Should have got 11t wheels

robj20 said:
Well i went and had ago of the Canfield Brothers Jedi F1, awsome frame, that rear suspension is very nice, the rear travel feels strange at first.

Only downside is i like to run a dual front ring, and the Jedi you cant like most DH bikes, only option would be the truvativ hammerschmidt setup.

Also realsised if i want to keep my dual front rings i may have to go for something just more aggressive than my current freeride bike.

The Santa Cruz Nomad has been recommended to me by a few people they say my 180 forks will fit and all my other bits.

The Intense Uzzi has grabbed my attention as well.

From what you describe you may be better off with a long travel freeride bike, the nomad is perfectly suited to this and can easily be ridden for long day rides as well as the occasional downhill blast but the uzzi and probably the ss2 less so as they are a little heavy! For trail riding.