Big Bike Thread

J273 · 19 Jun 2011 at 20:43

Supercow said:
I was out at Cannock today - had such a wicked time though that said, by god I pushed a lot especially towards the end! So miffed as the end of the trail has some great descents but my cameras memory card filled up (i forgot to format it for quite some time)

Rob's cannock vids tickled my fancy - so tried the obligatory "fork shot". Only a quick vid, but I kinda like the angle. Will clear the memory card and do a proper vid sometime soon

(ps: HD is much better)

Nice vid that...I was there aswell today.......now the grounds not so dry was great fun.......got there early though 8ish and finished at 12

jaybee · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:14

Ok so quick question, what's the best footwear for mountain biking? I'm new to this and need some new trainers anyway. Is it worth getting anything geared more to MTBing? Or is just any grippy pair of trainers good?
Also, was thinking of getting some shin guards. Recommendations for cheap pair for a noob?

andi · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:18

If you want to wear them as trainers too, go for something flat soled like skate shoes.

ichabod crane · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:23

A lot of people like to use 5.10 impact mtb shoes which are very grippy but also quite heavy and cumbersome, I use a Nike 6.0 skate shoe grippy and flexible.

You don't need shin guards just a pair of 661 kyle strait Knee pads.

weescott · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:30

It's better to get shoes just for mountain biking for a few reasons:

1. Trainers have soft soles and can get uncomfortable with flat pedals after a period of time.
2. Mountainbike shoes have stiffer soles so don't get chewed up the same.
3. If you need new trainers anyway then you won't want them getting covered in mud if you wan't to do something non mountain bike related.

Good flat MTB Shoes:

661 Filter
Five 10 Impact
Shimano AM40

Shin gaurds? Try the MTFU brand.

DanTheMan · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:42

VaderDSL said:
I'll hopefully be moving to Stoneclough/Kearsley at some point Can't wait, shoud free up funds for me to buy a car and then I can actually get out to places I can't get to on the train.

Yeah, I want to move back towards Manchester as cycling ~8 miles a day is a lot better than 15+ and Kearsley/Stoneclough is a nice compromise. It's got some nice XC rides close to it and is within reasonable driving distance of Rivington/Lee Quarry etc.

Berger · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:48

Street said:
Cool video.. What camera did you use for it?

I went and christened my bike at Llandegla today, did the red and blue trails. Felt a lot better than my Rockhopper, full suspension is definitely the way forward!

Last time I was there they were working on the red trail, has this been finished now?

The start of the red section, a lot of the loose sand and dirt was being carried off the trail leaving just bumpy rocks as its quite quick here too, I imagine on a FS you can ignore this, but it tends to shake you to bits on a HT!

I didn't get anywhere to ride this weekend, been feeling a bit depressed! Got out tonight and just rode up from home up to the reservoirs at Rivington, around the middle of them and back again. Just under 18 miles in total mostly on road, but i'm sure I did more climbing than Endomondo tells me I did!

I ride in a pair of Globe flat skateshoes, I would go to SPD but im afraid of not being able to unclip and crashing...

Street · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:48

jaybee said:
Ok so quick question, what's the best footwear for mountain biking? I'm new to this and need some new trainers anyway. Is it worth getting anything geared more to MTBing? Or is just any grippy pair of trainers good?
Also, was thinking of getting some shin guards. Recommendations for cheap pair for a noob?

I've got a pair of 5.10 Freeriders, they're comfortable and grippy too.

Street · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:50

Berger said:
Last time I was there they were working on the red trail, has this been finished now?

The start of the red section, a lot of the loose sand and dirt was being carried off the trail leaving just bumpy rocks as its quite quick here too, I imagine on a FS you can ignore this, but it tends to shake you to bits on a HT!

I didn't get anywhere to ride this weekend, been feeling a bit depressed! Got out tonight and just rode up from home up to the reservoirs at Rivington, around the middle of them and back again. Just under 18 miles in total mostly on road, but i'm sure I did more climbing than Endomondo tells me I did!

I did notice it was a lot different to the last time I went, the start of the red trail seemed clearer than I remember it. And there was another section further on that I'm sure I didn't go on last time! It was a lot smoother than my HT. I found I could carry a lot more speed around the place without feeling shaken to pieces!

rhysduck · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:09

jaybee said:
Ok so quick question, what's the best footwear for mountain biking? I'm new to this and need some new trainers anyway. Is it worth getting anything geared more to MTBing? Or is just any grippy pair of trainers good?
Also, was thinking of getting some shin guards. Recommendations for cheap pair for a noob?

5.10's are the best (imo). They're expensive to buy but will last! Stick them in the washing machine and they're good as new.

Re: Shin Guards. DO NOT listen to others. Do what you WANT! If you want to pad up then do so, it's your own health and limbs at the end of the day

If you feel the need to full face helmet then it's your call. You won't be the one with teeth and bad legs

(I had a surprisingly epic crash in Llandegla once with NO knee shin pads roughly 4/5yr ago. I'm still paying for it now! And I wouldnt be without my knee/shin pads now.

Supercow · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:21

Street said:
Cool video.. What camera did you use for it?

Vhlodr Contour HD

R0B75 said:
Nice little vid. That's the very last section isn't it? Is the camera mounted securely, it looks like there is quite a lot of shake in that vid?

No, its riiiiiight at the start of the monkey trail.. and no it wasn't really, a quick second hand velcro (pulled the velcro off the other helmet) jobby

J273 said:
Nice vid that...I was there aswell today.......now the grounds not so dry was great fun.......got there early though 8ish and finished at 12

I have to admit, I was thinking of asking you to meet up, but I wanted to ride there first and feel out my fitness level. Needless to say I think that was a good call, because I pushed most of the way towards the end! (apart from the bits that pointed down!

)

weescott · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:29

rhysduck said:
5.10's are the best (imo). They're expensive to buy but will last! Stick them in the washing machine and they're good as new.

Re: Shin Guards. DO NOT listen to others. Do what you WANT! If you want to pad up then do so, it's your own health and limbs at the end of the day If you feel the need to full face helmet then it's your call. You won't be the one with teeth and bad legs

(I had a surprisingly epic crash in Llandegla once with NO knee shin pads roughly 4/5yr ago. I'm still paying for it now! And I wouldnt be without my knee/shin pads now.

I'll agree with you on the 5 Ten part. I'm on my second pair now. Ichabod Jane said "they are heavy and cumbersome", try walking up a steep rocky trail in trainers then try it again in 5 Tens! You will be glad of the extra support and grip.

knee/shin gaurds: Only wore them twice for XC rides in 5+ years....and errr...chicks dig scars!!!!

Supercow · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:32

I always wear my kneeguards..always.
5.10 Freeriders are brilliant - skate shoe weight/comfort with near 5.10 impact grip = WIN

R0B75 · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:41

Supercow said:
No, its riiiiiight at the start of the monkey trail.. and no it wasn't really, a quick second hand velcro (pulled the velcro off the other helmet) jobby

Ghetto mounts are the best anyway. All mine are

That video is definitely the very end of Follow the Dog. The Monkey Trail is miles from there!

andi · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:43

Supercow said:
I always wear my kneeguards..always.

Same. I find Kyle Straits comfortable enough that there's no reason not to tbh.

Supercow · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:59

R0B75 said:
Ghetto mounts are the best anyway. All mine are

That video is definitely the very end of Follow the Dog. The Monkey Trail is miles from there!

Nope, it was still at the very beginning mate.

andi said:
Same. I find Kyle Straits comfortable enough that there's no reason not to tbh.

Yeap, I keep my old worn Straits for XC now as they are way more comfy than my TLD T-Bones!

VaderDSL · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:01

DanTheMan said:
Yeah, I want to move back towards Manchester as cycling ~8 miles a day is a lot better than 15+ and Kearsley/Stoneclough is a nice compromise. It's got some nice XC rides close to it and is within reasonable driving distance of Rivington/Lee Quarry etc.

Do you happen to know what the quality of the cycle way is down from Radcliffe into Salford?

I know it's a disused railway line, but I hear it can get extremely muddy, not ideal for commuting, especially working somewhere with zero cycling facilities.

R0B75 · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:03

Supercow said:
Nope, it was still at the very beginning mate, I can assure you it was the monkey.

It might have been the beginning for you

Seriously that part is the very end of follow the dog after you come down from tackeroo campsite. Where your video stops is where you cross the road back to Birches Valley visitor centre/bike shop and cafe.

J273 · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:09

Yeah that's the very end of the dog over the rollers.

Supercow · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:10

Fair enough - that was near the start for us indeed and yeap, that's where that was.

By the way, that black part of the monkey (black goes left, red kinda goes straight on), with the rocky corners/descents was great fun. Just a shame some woman spangled herself there today and I had to get off my bike and walk around her and her first aiders