Big Bike Thread

Shimmyhill · 13 Jul 2011 at 15:30

Richie said:
The liner comes with it as standard and can be removed easily (poppers). I used it due to me just starting out cycling again and my botty getting sore

May take it out at some point but it actually helps if I happen to fall off as the outer shorts and inner shorts will rub against each other as opposed to my skin .

The ventilation seems good on the shorts. It has zippered vents on the side of each leg which helps.

booyaka said:
got the 3/4's and they are very good

How do these come up size wise, bigger or smaller than they advertise??

Struggling to find them locally to try on but im either a M or L depending on the fit!

Hencore · 13 Jul 2011 at 15:37

jaybee said:
I keep lurking and reading this thread to get clued up on MTBing. I'm sorry for all my annoying questions but...

1: How many of you guys built your own bikes up from components? Is it cheaper doing it this way would you say? I don't mind spending all of winter hand picking components cheap and building up from scratch on a budget. Anyone any experience of this?

I've just recently gone down this route but you have to be careful.

Searching classifieds etc will save you loads of money, I reckon I saved over £600 over the retail cost and most of the stuff I got was unwanted parts taken off brand new bikes.

The problem being though is that I'd budgeted around £700 for the complete bike but ended up spending closer to £1300. There was loads of little bits that I hadn't thought of, plus purchasing the various tools you need, and then once I'd started purchasing a certain grade of product I couldn't then start buying cheap bits of kit, everything had to be at the same level. I also before I started I'd planned to build the bike over a good few months but of course this goes out the window because as soon as you have a few of the bits you desperately want to get the bike finished.

I love the bike and I don't regret building it from scratch, I've learnt so much more about bikes by doing it, but unless you can 100% stick to the plan/budget it isn't a cheap option.

jaybee · 13 Jul 2011 at 15:53

That's really honest advice about building them yourself thanks. I can see how costs can escalate. I think I am just going to have to look out for a good second hand deal on a hardtail. I simply cannot afford to spend more than £500. I just find the hard tail I ride (my mate's specialized hardrock with upgrades) bobbles around a lot on the rear on the trails I do. Chain constantly slaps about and it's just so harsh on my botty. (did I just say that?)

I am a boney lankster with not much fat around there though!

touch · 13 Jul 2011 at 16:03

jaybee said:
I just find the hard tail I ride (my mate's specialized hardrock with upgrades) bobbles around a lot on the rear on the trails I do. Chain constantly slaps about and it's just so harsh on my botty.

Thats even more reason to go for a hardtail.
On harsh trails it'll be better to have a good quality, strong hardtail (even if it is a rough ride) than a lower quality full-sus that will shake itself to bits.

KnightStalker · 13 Jul 2011 at 16:05

Thats why i enjoy my HT, much more rewarding i find, granted its hard work sometimes especially when trying to keep up with the FS guys ahead of you, but its fun at the end.

Cuchulain · 13 Jul 2011 at 16:32

KnightStalker said:
Thats why i enjoy my HT, much more rewarding i find, granted its hard work sometimes especially when trying to keep up with the FS guys ahead of you, but its fun at the end.

That's just it though, watching people sail past you on FS bikes is not fun, it's kinda soul destroying.

jaybee · 13 Jul 2011 at 17:08

Cuchulain said:
That's just it though, watching people sail past you on FS bikes is not fun, it's kinda soul destroying.

Yep. I personally find people talking me out of full sus bikes with things like "for the same money you can get a VERY good hardtail" and "full suss for £500 second hand will be heavy and rubbish". To be honest I don't care if I end up getting a full sus that weighs 5kg more than the average hard tail, if I can decend on the bits I care about (fun, fast bits) with the most stability and speed that's my top priority. Frankly couldn't care less about how quick I can get up a hill or how rewarding it is doing it on a hardtail.

Just saying. I'll prob end up getting a HT though purely financially. Anyway, I'll stop moaning and jog on.

Shimmyhill · 13 Jul 2011 at 17:47

It's not all about weight, more about quality of components and with that comes less weight - price wise 2nd hand i guess it depends what you get, if you see a Specialized Pitch for £500 than it would be an awesome FS bike for the money, cant see many going that cheap tho! Then you run into wear and tear - that £500 bike could become expensive if either of the shocks need replacing etc etc.

I'm no expert on them, just reading up on them and it makes sense!

weescott · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:28

I have only been back at work for 2 days and already requested more holidays for biking next month.

Gonna show some southern softies (Jessica Crane, Mandelusion and Purplehead) some epic Highland biking. Laggan, Golspie, Learnie, Balblair, Aviemore......

RobotXander · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:33

Ride them all on a Hardtail

Did the full Golspie black on my 100mm Hardtail back in the day. Great way to build up skill (Golspie is awesome, love it)
Heading to Laggan for the day a week on Monday

weescott · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:46

My hardtail days are long behind me. I'll be on the T2.

Might see you up there?

RobotXander · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:55

You never know

When you planning heading up?

weescott · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:59

Not sure on exact days yet. Week of 15th August.

Supercow · 13 Jul 2011 at 20:09

jaybee said:
"hardtail" and "full suss for £500 second hand will be heavy and rubbish".

Do as you please, you continually ask for advice, then say the advice is rubbish.

Also, to everyone here saying that "full sus is faster than a HT" - unless you are doing DH then you are using your anus to talk in stead of your mouth.
A full sus is more comfortable to ride, but it doesn't make you faster. I prefer full sus for this exact reason, but Ill ride an agressiv e geometry HT at the exact same pace.

Andelusion · 13 Jul 2011 at 20:24

RobotXander said:
Amazing looking bike! I also love that shock...Cane Creek just ooze quality with all their products.
Tell me, what make of chain guide is that? Also like the bash ring. Is that a 1x10 setup?

Cheers

Cheers dude

it's a blackspire stinger and the bashguard is a Straitline serrated bash.

It was working great but the chain comes off a little when riding through really rough stuff (E.G braking bumps at cannock chase) using the smaller cogs at the back (making the chain looser), so I'm going to use a top guide with it too. Yeah it's 1x10, 30t Extralite chainring (also have a 30t ring on my hardtail made by Andersen Machine), I love single chainring setups but I don't quite have the lungs for a regular sized chainring yet.

Hardtails...

I have to admit that for trail use, a hardtail is just as fast as a full sus for the average user, I took my 1x9 hardtail (steel frame, big fork, not that light) to Glentress and hopefully I'm not being preumptious but I wasn't having much trouble keeping up with the girls on their Intense bikes

it's a different kind of riding experience that requires different technique, spending time on both types of bikes is ideal so you can decide what you enjoy the most, some days I prefer my HT, others my full sus.

RobotXander · 13 Jul 2011 at 20:56

Will you be replacing the Bash and stinger with an all in one unit with a top guide? Or can you add that to the existing setup?

EDIT: Never mind

Just noticed Superstar sell such a devise

weescott · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:06

Andelusion said:
Hardtails...

I have to admit that for trail use, a hardtail is just as fast as a full sus for the average user, I took my 1x9 hardtail (steel frame, big fork, not that light) to Glentress and hopefully I'm not being preumptious but I wasn't having much trouble keeping up with the girls on their Intense bikes it's a different kind of riding experience that requires different technique, spending time on both types of bikes is ideal so you can decide what you enjoy the most, some days I prefer my HT, others my full sus.

Glentress isn't the narliest of places but yeah, you were just as quick as Ichabold crane and I on the descents from what I saw. I would like to see you try and keep up with me on the Fichie DH though.

ichabod crane · 13 Jul 2011 at 21:37

weescott said:
Glentress isn't the narliest of places but yeah, you were just as quick as Ichabold crane and I on the descents from what I saw. I would like to see you try and keep up with me on the Fichie DH though.

Fichie DH is an exception you cant tell what is course and what is forest floor, it is all just one rutted/rooted mess

andi · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:30

I've got no doubt a good ridder is just as fast on a hardtail, but the full sus gives you extra confidence and is a bit more forgiving, for the average rider, I think FS would probably be quicker. I think it'd be more enjoyable for most people to be honest too.

Anyone used a RS Sektor Air? They seem mental value, <£250 from Merlin for the Poploc QR15 version.

RobotXander · 14 Jul 2011 at 08:47

Frame wrap has arrived from Biketart.
At last I can ditch the lizardskin + Cable ties