Big Bike Thread

Torch [P4] · 11 Jun 2011 at 15:21

andi said:
No answers, but what bike is it that can use 130mm or 180mm forks?!

giant reign, 180's make the head angle slack but great for the heavy rooty stuff not good on climbs tho. i'm just trying them out, will probably settle on 160mm or less. been eyeing up some rockshox sektor rl's

ichabod crane said:
The ones on the bay are meant to be just as good as Avids own kits, never replaced cables on them but it cant be that hard.

cheers, gonna try the epic kit then

rhysduck · 11 Jun 2011 at 16:07

Torch [P4];19348347 said:
also how easy would it be to replace the hoses?

I had a bloody nightmare when I changed mine

Never again. Gettting the right fittings was a headache in itself. That reminds me;

What brakes for my hardtail? I'm due to give it some tlc, it badly needs upgrades.

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 17:01

Torch [P4];19348583 said:
giant reign, 180's make the head angle slack but great for the heavy rooty stuff not good on climbs tho. i'm just trying them out, will probably settle on 160mm or less. been eyeing up some rockshox sektor rl's

cheers, gonna try the epic kit then

Thats the exact one I used on my old brakes. It worked perfectly and was a damn sight cheaper than the Avid one!

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 17:10

What are peoples opinions on the Specialized Eskar2 tyres? I've got them on my bike at the moment but also got a spare pair of Nobby Nics. Wondering if its worth swapping them over before I go riding tomorrow?

ichabod crane · 11 Jun 2011 at 17:17

They are crap and yes most definitely

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 17:22

Thought they would be, my last Specialized tyres were crap too!

Time to fit my new parts..

DanTheMan · 11 Jun 2011 at 17:57

Had a great day on the bike today; I'm really getting used to being back in the saddle, although my bumcheeks would disagree with that. I realised bunnyhopping is really quite simple however timing them over jumps isn't.

What's the best method for cornering on uneven surfaces at speed? I have little confidence in the tyres I've got at the best of times but going round corners at speed is just silly. Is it a case of shifting your weight slightly the opposite way to the corner to counterbalance the bike leaning?

Draeger · 11 Jun 2011 at 18:14

Heading up to Golspie tomorrow. The Wildcat trails look and sound awesome. Going to give the red route a whirl first and have a look at the black afterwards.

Supercow · 11 Jun 2011 at 18:34

Street said:
Thought they would be, my last Specialized tyres were crap too!

Time to fit my new parts..

Specialized tyres aren't crap - those ones in particular might be.
The Specialized Clutch SX, Butcher, Hillbilly, etc are brillaint.

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:06

Supercow said:
Specialized tyres aren't crap - those ones in particular might be.
The Specialized Clutch SX, Butcher, Hillbilly, etc are brillaint.

Sorry, should have said the ones I've tried have been crap!

Not tried any of those!

Torch [P4] · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:16

Draeger said:
Heading up to Golspie tomorrow. The Wildcat trails look and sound awesome. Going to give the red route a whirl first and have a look at the black afterwards.

forecast for mid-day looks promising

, i would join you but currently cant be far from the toilet

SDK^ · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:25

Tyres are very personal.

I've been Specialized Eskars for 3 years and they are superb, very much like Maxxis High Rollers but half the weight.
With the shoulder knobs being at the very edge of the tyre you need to be leaning into the corners to benefit from the grip. If you only ride vertically then they are not for you.

Don't Maxxis produce the tyres for Specialized anyway.

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:39

I'll probably swap them back and see what they're like at some point in the future, I'm used to the Nics though so have stuck them on for the time being.

Got around to putting my new saddle, grips, pedals and tyres on today. Think it looks better with more green instead of white!

(No picture of my sofa this time for you lot to rip into!

)

ichabod crane · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:40

SDK^ said:
Don't Maxxis produce the tyres for Specialized anyway.

Probably why I done like maxxis tyres either

Street said:
I'll probably swap them back and see what they're like at some point in the future, I'm used to the Nics though so have stuck them on for the time being.

Got around to putting my new saddle, grips, pedals and tyres on today. Think it looks better with more green instead of white!
*snip*
(No picture of my sofa this time for you lot to rip into! )

Do you not have a garden

Supercow · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:46

SDK^ said:
Don't Maxxis produce the tyres for Specialized anyway.

Nope, internets myth.
The guy who designed many of the Maxxis tyres, now works for Specialized.

Richie · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:46

ichabod crane said:
Do you not have a garden

Was thinking the same... A proper bike is way to clean if its allowed in the living room

Street · 11 Jun 2011 at 19:50

ichabod crane said:
Do you not have a garden

Its better working inside where I can watch the F1, its too wet out anyway!

Plus the missus is away so I can get away with doing things indoors!

Richie said:
Was thinking the same... A proper bike is way to clean if its allowed in the living room

I haven't ridden it out yet, only got it in the week! Due out tomorrow to christen it though!

Draeger · 11 Jun 2011 at 20:09

Torch [P4];19349989 said:
forecast for mid-day looks promising , i would join you but currently cant be far from the toilet

You rode the Wildcat on Ben Bhraggie before m8?. How was it?.

Berger · 11 Jun 2011 at 20:14

Lovely Pitch there, not jealous honest! Give me a shout if you fancy riding Llandegla and need a riding buddy!

Weather is almost perfect for riding at the minute, unfortunately I had other commitments today so only got a short ride this evening. Have been working on that small jump on all my rides this week and feeling confident in myself now.

Andelusion · 11 Jun 2011 at 20:19

Had a fun ride today around Brighouse/Elland following a route made of mostly bridleways, the Calderway, road and canal paths.

I was riding the route from memory (went there about 2 years ago) and forgot some bits, there were some good technical features along the way, only pics of the trail as I was riding solo:

Tight rocky bit then a stream crossing:

Really steep step descent (to the right of pic):

and another angle (that middle root on the right was in exactly the wrong place after the first few steps, but I cleared it

)