Big Bike Thread

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 13:21

Jim.Ow said:
Thanks for your help, really interested in it.

Only concern is that it looks quite thin, I'm 6"2 and 15.5 stone and will probably do a few jumps, the frame looks quite thin, but it could just be the images.

It will be fine. They are built to take quite a bit of punishment and don't forget the fork will absorb impact as well as your body (bended knees/arms etc) so the frame will hardly snap in two on small jumps. Trying 10-20ft drops and landing badly is another matter, though you're more likely to fold the wheels than snap the frame, but then you wouldn't buy a cheap XC hardtail for that anyway...

Edit: I'm easily 15+ stone with all my gear on and I never had any problems on my Carerra Kraken when I had one. Either that or the Rockrider will be fine, unless of course you are planning to do crazy stuff on it.

Jim.Ow · 19 Jul 2011 at 13:27

R0B75 said:
Edit: I'm easily 15+ stone with all my gear on and I never had any problems on my Carerra Kraken when I had one. Either that or the Rockrider will be fine, unless of course you are planning to do crazy stuff on it.

Hah, nothing too crazy just some trails locally that have a few small jumps.
Thanks for your help.

Supercow · 19 Jul 2011 at 14:03

Jim.Ow said:
Hah, nothing too crazy just some trails locally that have a few small jumps.
Thanks for your help.

The jumps you are most likely to be doing - the tyres should also add sufficient absorption and little transferred to the frame.

Jim.Ow · 19 Jul 2011 at 14:10

Awesome. Thanks folks, now need to try find somewhere to buy it from!

Supercow · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:28

booyaka · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:44

^^ Lush - that's some BIG bars!

Supercow · 19 Jul 2011 at 15:47

Yea, 800mm - he;s cutting them down though.

6thElement · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:02

I was about to post that it wasn't yours as I knew I'd seen it posted elsewhere

J273 · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:07

Anyone here run Mavic en521's?....Im looking to build another wheelset alongside my current 823's/Dt swiss 240 combo.

Ill be using hope pro 2 hubs but unsure on whether the rim will be a match strength wise to my 823's?

Id like something as strong but a touch lighter.

Anyone run them and are they a good rim?

Thanks

weescott · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:20

Wow. That's 7k right there! :eek:

Supercow · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:28

6thElement said:
I was about to post that it wasn't yours as I knew I'd seen it posted elsewhere

It doesn't say Morewood on does it?!

weescott said:
Wow. That's 7k right there!

More than that I'd imagine, gievn the wheelset alone is a couple thousand+

Supercow · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:29

J273 said:
Anyone here run Mavic en521's?....Im looking to build another wheelset alongside my current 823's/Dt swiss 240 combo.

Ill be using hope pro 2 hubs but unsure on whether the rim will be a match strength wise to my 823's?

Id like something as strong but a touch lighter.

Anyone run them and are they a good rim?

Thanks

Budget/how much do you weigh?

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:33

J273 said:
Anyone here run Mavic en521's?....Im looking to build another wheelset alongside my current 823's/Dt swiss 240 combo.

Ill be using hope pro 2 hubs but unsure on whether the rim will be a match strength wise to my 823's?

Id like something as strong but a touch lighter.

Anyone run them and are they a good rim?

Thanks

My mate has a set on Hope hubs and he reckons they are superb, had them for about a year. Fairly light but very strong and have taken some real hammer without a single problem, and still true. They are made for Enduros aren't they so must be built to take a fair bit of punishment?

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:41

Went out for my first "clipped in" test ride tonight on the cross. FAIL.

Bruised elbow, cut knee and bent brake/shifter. I pulled up to a junction/stop line on a busy road with a queue of traffic and forgot to unclip 1 foot as I slowed to a stop, whiche I did for every other junction... Timber.....! Ouch. It was seen by load of people, well embarrassing

It's going to take a while for me to get used to them and right now I can never see me riding clipped in on a mountain bike, EVER.

touch · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:47

Dont worry, everybody falls off clipless at least once.
Once you get the hang of it you'll develop a reflex for doing it. I can usually get my foot down on my mtb when it starts to slide - dont even think about it, it just happens (mtb cleats are easier to pop out of tho)

Deleted User 234324 · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:49

When i started using clips for the first time, i made them super loose so that any slight movement released them. As i got more confident with them I tightened em up.

Still you only fall once infront of people you wont again

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:53

They are really loose and easy to clip in and out as I loosened them 5 notches on the pedal. I will say one thing though, its really comfy riding with proper shoes and clipped in. Not sure it would benefit me enough on a mountain bike to consider them though.

touch · 19 Jul 2011 at 22:03

With a good pedalling technique (constant pressure through the full rotation, rather than just pushing down from the top) you can put out a massive amount more power. It also helps on climbs with low levels of grip. Constant torque means the wheel is less likely to slip.

SDK^ · 19 Jul 2011 at 22:08

No point in talking about SPD pedals here, at the recent OcUK meet up only 1 rider out of 10 was on them

Draeger · 19 Jul 2011 at 22:14

After a few very dodgy SPD moments on my own in the middle of nowhere on the Wildcat trails recently, I've got a set of Wellgo V8 replicas to try. Never ridden the Cube with anything apart from SPD's so I guess it will be a "marmite" situation as to whether I get on with the Wellgo's or not.

I'm fine with the SPD's on swoopy trails but when it comes to really technical stuff I struggle with them, getting out of them in time when taken by surprise and also getting rolling again with them. If you are on a slippy climb or rock, getting clipped back in and getting momentum back up can be a nightmare hit or miss type deal.