Big Bike Thread

robj20 · 14 Jun 2011 at 05:30

Supercow said:
I hate the Hope M4's so much, I gave them away.
Horrid, powerless, modulation free tat.

Vanessa Crane likes them because they stop him... he also weighs 60 odd kilogram, a gust of wind will do the same. Weescott is obese, but the only reason his Hopes stop him, is because he's going so slow anyways, not pedalling would have sufficed.

The only people that say that are the ones that dont put the time and effort into setting them up properly.

ichabod crane · 14 Jun 2011 at 06:21

Supercow said:
I hate the Hope M4's so much, I gave them away.
Horrid, powerless, modulation free tat.

Vanessa Crane likes them because they stop him... he also weighs 60 odd kilogram, a gust of wind will do the same. Weescott is obese, but the only reason his Hopes stop him, is because he's going so slow anyways, not pedalling would have sufficed.

robj20 said:
The only people that say that are the ones that dont put the time and effort into setting them up properly.

He also had the older version pre-tech lever which where renowned for being a little spongy and requiring constant bleeding.

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 07:13

robj20 said:
The only people that say that are the ones that dont put the time and effort into setting them up properly.

Define "correct" ?

robj20 · 14 Jun 2011 at 07:35

Perfect caliper alignment, disc running true, pistons working together. The Moto leavers were no where near as good as the new Tech ones.

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 07:47

So just bike setup 101 then, no fairy dust or unicorn juice to make those horrendous "brakes" work.

weescott · 14 Jun 2011 at 07:59

I have been running M4s since about 2005 to 2010. Most of the older M4s came with the Mono lever, and before that the Mini lever. I don't know anyone that ran Moto Levers. IIRC the Moto levers were slightly more powerful than the Tech levers due in part to having a larger reservoir than the Tech levers. The only downside to the mini/mono M4s was they lacked a bit of bite when hammering downhill. Something the V2s (which in some cases are a lighter brake) has in bucket loads.

Hope brakes are so easy to bleed/set up that even complete more ons can do it. But apparently not Supercow.

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 08:11

You girls can keep your Hopes, I shall be grinning while skidding with my Formula the ones!

Big Chris · 14 Jun 2011 at 08:50

Chaps, what max psi should I expect from a 1.25"-1.50" inner tube? I bought a new Speccy one to fit my 1.5" slicks for commuting, and I popped it at just below 60psi last night. Should I be taking it back to the shop I bought it from or was I giving it too much?

The previous tube was a 1.5"-2.1" and was a bitch to fit, but could take 60psi without flinching (or exploding in my face).

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 11:04

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Spank-Spike-Pedals-review-2011.html

I don't tend to put much stock in Pinkbike reviews, but take this review of the Spank Spike pedal as you wish.

Distributor said they will be available in 2 weeks

andi · 14 Jun 2011 at 12:19

They look better in those pics. I think its that silver bit that makes them look wierd..

matt_fsr · 14 Jun 2011 at 19:12

Really need some advice here tonight.

Just gone to replace the badly worn headset on my Carrera Vulcan (£240 hardtail) and found that after having removed the troublesome top bearing race, and then both upper and lower races - that the 1 1/8th" Cane Creek S3 that I bought.... is useless.

The holes in the frame are far too big.

The only explanation for this is that the bike is fitted with a 1.5" headset capable frame, and a reducing headset? Am I right? :confused:

Something like this?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=65624

Grrrr the fallacy of repairing a worn out cheap bike. I'm thinking I should have just binned it a few months ago after winter and kept the wheels as spares.

weescott · 14 Jun 2011 at 19:21

Do you mean the headset cups or bearing race? Because bearing race size can vary depending on the headset cup size

matt_fsr · 14 Jun 2011 at 19:22

Pretty sure I mean headset cups - The rather solid bits of metal you'd hammer into the frame when replacing a headset. (Sorry, I'm not great at bike repairs. As you've guessed... )

weescott · 14 Jun 2011 at 19:43

I think you have a semi integrated head tube with a connventional headset.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/headset-standards#zero

That'll explain the probem.

Torch [P4] · 14 Jun 2011 at 20:26

new (well 2nd hand but new to me) saddle arrived fair bit lighter than the bel air and just as comfy

old saddle is an RT with claimed weight of 360g, new one Ti Fly C with claimed weight of only 185g
ill be weighing them at work to see what the exact weights are but suffice to say its just as comfy

rhysduck · 14 Jun 2011 at 20:38

Cwmcarn DH and the XC loop tomorrow after work. Going to finish early and put pedal to the metal!

Not been there since they redid the DH.

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:00

rhysduck said:
since they redid the DH.

Haha, certainly won't say that they did any of the sort.

rhysduck · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:03

Why? I heard that they resurfaced it in parts?

ichabod crane · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:05

rhysduck said:
Why? I heard that they resurfaced it in parts?

That probably just means they chucked some gravel down somewhere

Supercow · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:34

Can't say I noticed any difference, bar a bit of clearing up in places