Big Bike Thread

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Stans Flow, if you want strong but reasonably light... Not UST but once taped up with the yellow tape they function exactly the same as UST. Lighter, wider and stronger than an 819, and not IMO any less strong than a 721

Expensive though... Would probably end up making more sense to sell your wheels and buy another set.
 
looking for some recommedations of lights for the bike, ideally i want a front and rear that can be used in the dark to get me home safely on 2 miles of unlit road with cars that like to drive very fast on it.., but will also be able to be used in the woods not strictly at night but as its dark by 6 i guess this might be an option too, i mainly do xc stuff.

Im willing to pay for decent kit if its worth the money, its very hard to tell from reviews whether that is the case or not, but i guess after im after light that can light up a trial and make me very visible on the journey home too?

I already have reflective almost everything, and some flashing attention grabbing lights ;).
 
PariaH said:
looking for some recommedations of lights for the bike, ideally i want a front and rear that can be used in the dark to get me home safely on 2 miles of unlit road with cars that like to drive very fast on it.., but will also be able to be used in the woods not strictly at night but as its dark by 6 i guess this might be an option too, i mainly do xc stuff.

Im willing to pay for decent kit if its worth the money, its very hard to tell from reviews whether that is the case or not, but i guess after im after light that can light up a trial and make me very visible on the journey home too?

I already have reflective almost everything, and some flashing attention grabbing lights ;).
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Budget because lights go from £30-infinity...
 
budget would be around 100ish for each set, im flexible either way on that but dont want to spend 400 pound ;)

I guess if i have to set an upper limit it would be 150 ish per set if they are worth the money :)
 
PariaH said:
budget would be around 100ish for each set, im flexible either way on that but dont want to spend 400 pound ;)

I guess if i have to set an upper limit it would be 150 ish per set if they are worth the money :)
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You cant go far wrong with the v4 above, but it does seem a bit of a waste to use a £100+ light on the rear when an £8 one will do.
 
I definitly need new lights, went Rivington saturday morning and my current light died on my five minutes in, to say it was challenging with no lights at 6am is an understatement. Was light once i got to the top though.
 
ichabod crane said:
You cant go far wrong with the v4 above, but it does seem a bit of a waste to use a £100+ light on the rear when an £8 one will do.
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Yes, but as I said, he can take the rears off and put them on his helmet for when he is on the trails alongside his bar mounted fronts. If he feels helemt mounted is overkill on trails alongside the bar lights then just get 1 set and a 20 quid flashing rear light.
 
im glad you had a little discussion on beams, as i was going to pose the question, but seems it is as i had thought for the bars and helmet/rear.

and to be honest the kit looks ideal, the functionality of being able to have a rear and then helmet mount seems perfect, been doing a bit of research into them last night and they seem like a solid product, the rear is just to get me home safely on a crazy car country road, so having a really good rear might save someone trying to knock me off, which has nearly happened in broad daylight already..

possible early xmas present i think ;)
 
PariaH said:
im glad you had a little discussion on beams, as i was going to pose the question, but seems it is as i had thought for the bars and helmet/rear.

and to be honest the kit looks ideal, the functionality of being able to have a rear and then helmet mount seems perfect, been doing a bit of research into them last night and they seem like a solid product, the rear is just to get me home safely on a crazy car country road, so having a really good rear might save someone trying to knock me off, which has nearly happened in broad daylight already..

possible early xmas present i think ;)
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Aye they are awesome little lights, really well designed and super bright for the size! I would recommend you get an intermediate for the bars and narrow for your helmet. Also go for the 40% brighter option, obviously it is brighter than the standard lights but with very little reduction in battery performance.
 
All moved over to Australia now, had to leave my bike at home though as it wouldn't fit in my weight allowance :(

Gotta buy me a GIANT now, suggestions ;)
 
My new wheelset turned up. I went for the Stans Flow in black but they seem really heavy!! On the plus side they look like they would withstand a nuclear blast but I was expecting something lighter. Now I have to decide whether or not to keep them as I have no front wheel at all and wanted to go to Llandegla this weekend. Hmmmm.
 
I rode this route yesterday in the Peak District:

http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/ladybower-loop-medium

20 miles - that's long for me! The only similar distance I've done before is the black route at Glentress. Most of the rides I do regularly are half the distance or less.

Anyway it was fun following my OS map and the directions, I also had the GPS route mapped on Google Maps that I could check on my phone from time to time to make sure I wasn't getting lost. It's the first time I've ever been out on a natural ride and had to use a map etc. The descents were great and at times I was really glad to have my bike, but there were also times (climbing) when I wished I had something lighter! Point 7 on the route above is 'Potato Alley' (I think) which is an extremely rough descent full of large rocks which lasts for a good 3 minutes, it was really fun just ploughing through here, definitely getting the most out of my rear shock :D

Climbing from Crookhill farm (3) - obligatory bike shot
2011-10-24114118.jpg


Top of the Crookhill farm climb, the views are opening up now
2011-10-24120112.jpg


Descending (4) singletrack time
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/Andelusion/Bike Stuff/2011-10-24121938.jpg

Descending to Hagg Farm, poor photo, lots of fun switchbacks, natural berms, big boulders to catch you out
2011-10-24122335.jpg


More sheep dodging fast descending (7)
2011-10-24134213.jpg
 
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R0B75 said:
My new wheelset turned up. I went for the Stans Flow in black but they seem really heavy!! On the plus side they look like they would withstand a nuclear blast but I was expecting something lighter. Now I have to decide whether or not to keep them as I have no front wheel at all and wanted to go to Llandegla this weekend. Hmmmm.
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Stans flow on which hubs?
Flow rims are super light!
 
That descent is awesome, it was part of the BHF Peaks challenge ride I did a couple of weeks ago. 34 miles in terrible weather conditions on my tank of a bike and you say 20 miles is long!? Nothern pansy :p ;)

There is some awesome natural riding up in the peaks. Maybe one day have another OcUK meet there?
 
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