Big Bike Thread

Lowe · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:05

What a day. Yesterday was a bit of a bad one.

Had problems with my rear brake on Sunday whilst on the trails, but it held out till I got home. Lever travel was way more than normal, but couldn't see anything obvious and ran out of time (and light) to really strip it down properly.

Had another look yesterday, took the pads out to check they were moving and clamping on the disc correctly all seemed fine. Bled the brakes and no matter how much fluid Doll and I put through, we were seeing a lot of air.

Took the lever off the handlebars and the seal along the back where it clamps against the bars had gone. It was seeping pretty badly by that point, so much so the brake fluid's burned my new carbon bars. Hopefully it's just cosmetic damage that'll be covered when the levers go back on, but I was still gutted.

Also, to add insult to injury on the way home from Doll's my wheels fell onto my frame (wheels off, bike in back of car) taking a nice chunk out the paintwork, grr. I'm camping out this w/e in Wales too supposedly, so need to get the bike sorted quick smart!

On an unrelated note - nice bike Will

6thElement · 15 Jul 2008 at 13:19

Has it just dulled the clearcoat on the carbon?

edit: Bad days on a bike involve a crash with injury, not cosmetic damage

Lowe · 15 Jul 2008 at 14:39

Melted graphics and dulled clearcoat. When the levers back on hopefully you won't see anything though. Still an annoyance though.

collisster · 15 Jul 2008 at 19:04

wiiija said:
Just awaiting my stans wheels and new crankset and its sorted.....for a while.

how do you find the racing ralphs? I'm after a tyre that rolls reasonably fast not too heavy and has good grip, I'm at wits end with my maxxis high rollers. =(
I'm off on my first big biking trip to wales in a week, already done coed y brenin and penmachno but going on a 5 day camping one and doing more trials.

Things I need are new tyres for that sort of terrain. last time I did it on panaracers fire Xc pros and didn't have much of a problem, I broke my forks on penmachno, but they're replaced and I think I need some new flatties because I'm still on my stock ones, + I'll need some reasonably good shoes to go with them.

Help please !

benjo plz. · 15 Jul 2008 at 19:13

^ Panaracer Cinders?

SDK^ · 15 Jul 2008 at 20:59

collisster said:
I'm after a tyre that rolls reasonably fast not too heavy and has good grip,.........
I'm at wits end with my maxxis high rollers. =(

Your criteria fits Highrollers, which ones do you have; Dual Ply Downhill Supertacky :confused:

Bennah · 15 Jul 2008 at 21:55

Hi there guys...

Need a new seatpost ASAP, my current one is shot. Tioga one that came with my Dawes Oxide '05. Not using the seat atm which is killing me

Thinking of around £30 to spend on a new one. Dont really want to be going over that.

Upto now Ive found this one... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Token_Carbon_Seat_Post/5360011516/

Any good? Can you guys suggest anything else?

Thanks

collisster · 15 Jul 2008 at 22:04

SDK^ said:
Your criteria fits Highrollers, which ones do you have; Dual Ply Downhill Supertacky

60a in 2.35 i think

ALLI · 16 Jul 2008 at 09:11

Bennah said:
Hi there guys...

Need a new seatpost ASAP, my current one is shot. Tioga one that came with my Dawes Oxide '05. Not using the seat atm which is killing me

Thinking of around £30 to spend on a new one. Dont really want to be going over that.

Upto now Ive found this one... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Token_Carbon_Seat_Post/5360011516/

Any good? Can you guys suggest anything else?

Thanks

Try looking at the Post Moderne SMICA post's on Wiggle. Standard or setback, great weight, really clever clamp and strong - £30.

Personally, I would not use carbon seatposts - something about shattered carbon splinters doesn't appeal to me!

Bennah · 16 Jul 2008 at 22:51

Out of stock atm

I dont really know what the size if my current post is either

Does'nt help does it!

A.N.Other · 18 Jul 2008 at 17:45

Cube Aerial 2008

Just getting used to it at the moment and I need to fiddle with the front derailleur a bit, as it's not changing down quite properly yet. Initial impressions are great, though - great quality for the money (£540) and it's a really responsive ride. When I've sorted the gears out properly, some Crank Brothers Quatro Sl pedals are going on, which the bike shop did me a deal on

badbob · 18 Jul 2008 at 18:39

Aren't those pedals for off road bikes? Why not SPD-SL? or Shimano PD-A520

greengiant · 18 Jul 2008 at 18:41

Went into my local bike shop and put a deposit down for one of these, a Dawes Horizon touring bike, Reynolds 520 chromoly frame!

Should hopefully be ready late next week!

Ideal for wet weather commute into work and perhaps even some touring!

A.N.Other · 18 Jul 2008 at 20:12

badbob said:
Aren't those pedals for off road bikes? Why not SPD-SL? or Shimano PD-A520

Well egg-beaters were originally made for off-road, as they don't get clogged up with mud but those specific ones are for road bikes (and are indeed in the road pedal section). I used to ride with egg-beaters when I was younger and I like them, so it was an obvious choice.

badbob · 18 Jul 2008 at 20:19

You won't get clogged pedals for onroad, and you get a greater surface area contact with proper road pedals. I could tell the difference between SPD and Shimano PD-A520, even though the same the 520 has a platform for the shoe.

Go for proper roadie pedals.

Shoei · 18 Jul 2008 at 20:49

badbob said:
You won't get clogged pedals for onroad, and you get a greater surface area contact with proper road pedals. I could tell the difference between SPD and Shimano PD-A520, even though the same the 520 has a platform for the shoe.

Go for proper roadie pedals.

Ive got M520's but thinking of swapping them for some Time Xen's.
Can feel the small contact area of the 520's even through road shoes, plus time have plenty of float so i can help protect my knee's

Noticed the 520's more so having been doing some turbo session's this week.
Hard work doing interval training on the turbo, but it's all helping towards my goal of a sub 40 min commute to work.

weescott · 18 Jul 2008 at 20:57

mmmmmm, new Nomad:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/santa-cruz-unveil-2009-nomad-17543

I guess since I have the old Heckler and bought the new model, that I should get the new Nomad too. :rolleyes:

6thElement · 18 Jul 2008 at 21:11

I bet you lose your nipples

A.N.Other · 18 Jul 2008 at 21:13

badbob said:
You won't get clogged pedals for onroad, and you get a greater surface area contact with proper road pedals. I could tell the difference between SPD and Shimano PD-A520, even though the same the 520 has a platform for the shoe.

Go for proper roadie pedals.

I know I won't get clogged pedals obviously but I have ridden with these before and I really like them. In comparison to other cleats I've tried on other bikes, they do lock your feet in well, too.

greengiant · 19 Jul 2008 at 20:10

I have Shimano A520s on my road bike. Had them a couple of years. They are now nicely worn such that the SPD side tends to end up facing downards. Cycling away from a junction on my way home from work I tried to engage my left foot, only for it to skid off the bottom surface of the pedal (which was on top!) and squash my nad off the saddle. :eek:

Good pedals until they wear. Going for A530s when I get the Horizon tourer. Single sided SPD, but with a platform cage on the bottom, cleat on top.