Big Bike Thread

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Its a cube hard tail. Didn't know anything about bike fit when I bought it. Just went off the advice from the shop. I can get my fist underneath so perhaps its ok. Find it a bit of a struggle if I get of the saddle on a bumpy uphill when trying to start again but that could also be cos of the longer wheelbase.

Been practising bunnyhops. But struggle to get the back end up much.
 
Maybe look at dropping your saddle an inch.. You'll loose some pedalling efficiency but if you are doing lots of ups and downs it will enable you to get your leg over better Hahaha
 
I have a weird way of getting on. I step through the frame rather than throw leg over the saddle.

Tbh I think a lot of it is just down to inexperience. I wanted a bike I could commute with but blast the trails etc at weekends. The 29er seemed perfect at the time.

Now I regularly ride with a group of guys who take me to more technical areas. I struggle a bit but that's more down to me than the bike I hope.
 
geuben said:
Can anyone recommend a trail(s) that would meet the following spec:

Area: Within 1hrs drive from Wimbledon (so Bracknell, Guildford, Reigate etc)
Length: ~15miles
Terrain: Bridal paths and some roads - no single track
Difficulty: Fairly easy.

I've been trying to get my GF into mountain biking. She can manage the 9 mile loop we do around Wimbledon common and Richmond park but we're getting a little bored of that now. We went to Swinley Forest and tried the blue loop but it was too much for her (I loved it, did the red loop a few weeks later too).

We've done a 10mile loop around Portland in Dorset too so I know she's ok with gravely bridal paths and a few hills, just not steep downhills and twisty single tracks.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated. All my searching is returning single track trails.
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Im in the same position- Swinley Forest has an excellent green trail for beginners. My other half and I went for the first time two weeks ago and she has been nagging me to buy a new bike ever since.

She hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years and got on well with the green and even managed a bit of the blue with the berms.

Other than that, Richmond park tasmin trail is good because it has some relatively steep pitches for beginners to learn on and they are a bit cut up at the moment.
 
Snax said:
Im in the same position- Swinley Forest has an excellent green trail for beginners. My other half and I went for the first time two weeks ago and she has been nagging me to buy a new bike ever since.

She hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years and got on well with the green and even managed a bit of the blue with the berms.

Other than that, Richmond park tasmin trail is good because it has some relatively steep pitches for beginners to learn on and they are a bit cut up at the moment.
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The green trail at Swinley is far too short. She only managed the first 4 or 5 sections of the blue and that was with a lot of complaining and very slowly.

We've ridden through Richmond park a few times but only along the roads through the middle. Perhaps we'll try the Tasmin trail around the edges.
 
neil_g said:
What doesn't she like about the blue? Is it just that she needs a little bit of teaching skill wise?
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She doesn't carry any speed on the down hills due to being a noob and being a bit scared. As such she found it really tiring really quickly as it's pretty up and down.

She could definitely benefit from some teaching, I don't really know what I'm doing though so not going to be a good teacher.

Looking to just work on improving our fitness really, riding around the roads is pretty dull though.
 
Weather definitely turning, was out for a ride today and it got a bit bloody nippy in places, just wearing shorts and t-shirt.

Can anyone recommend me some winter gear, a decent jacket and fingered gloves.
Also what kind of trousers do you wear in the winter? And do you wear anything under your helmet?

Edit - Forgot to mention, nothing skin tight...it's not a pretty sight.
 
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I've already started planning my winter kit. Got some long sleeve base layers, endura leg warmers, looking at 661 storm gloves and got my eye on a Madison addict jacket for when the weather really closes in
 
neil_g said:
I've already started planning my winter kit. Got some long sleeve base layers, endura leg warmers, looking at 661 storm gloves and got my eye on a Madison addict jacket for when the weather really closes in
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I had those storm gloves, and have the endura winter/waterproof gloves. I found them far too thick and too warm for my liking.

Recently bought some Fox sidewinder Polar gloves and love them. Just a smidge thicker than normal, warmer and water resistant.
 
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