Big Bike Thread

6thElement · 31 May 2010 at 02:08

A great day of riding DH again, then watching the last few fastest amateurs, pro women and then pro men riding in the US Open.

Impressive distance touch, how much ascent in it?

I'm doing a 100mile MTB ride I've organised tomorrow, temps due to hit 30C.. :eek:

Hamster · 31 May 2010 at 04:21

Heads up on a sale price on Specialized inner tubes. Down from £4.99 to £1.99 with free delivery (quidco too). I only recently bought 3 for a tenner a couple of weeks ago from elsewhere which seemed to be a bargain.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/inner-tube-ec001873

Torch [P4] · 31 May 2010 at 10:10

cheers for the heads up m8
just bought some riding shorts and some tops

Furbs · 31 May 2010 at 11:36

So I guess this may be a good place to ask. Looking at getting my first proper bike as way way to get my fitness levels up and to have some fun. I have quite a nice wooded area near where I live with plenty of paths / trails.

I'm looking at using the cycle to work scheme to sort myself out with a half decent bike and wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction of what to look for, as I am a complete bike noob.

touch · 31 May 2010 at 11:44

6thElement said:
Impressive distance touch, how much ascent in it?

just over 6000ft
most of it is very gradual climbs tho.
There was only 1 hard climb just after 130 miles

weescott · 31 May 2010 at 15:57

Furbs said:
So I guess this may be a good place to ask. Looking at getting my first proper bike as way way to get my fitness levels up and to have some fun. I have quite a nice wooded area near where I live with plenty of paths / trails.

I'm looking at using the cycle to work scheme to sort myself out with a half decent bike and wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction of what to look for, as I am a complete bike noob.

What sort of bike? What are the trails near you like?

Road bike, Hybrid bike or mountain bike? What's your budget?

Furbs · 31 May 2010 at 16:18

looking really for mountain bike that is happy on roads now and then and trails are mainly just dirt tracks without anything too heavy. Budget is 1k

Reality|Bites · 31 May 2010 at 17:01

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Black_Forest_Expert_2010/5360045264/

daven1986 · 31 May 2010 at 17:30

If you think you may be doing roads more than trails in the future, why not look at cyclocross bikes?

Fry750 · 31 May 2010 at 17:59

Guys, I've just ordered this...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/q220-2010-mountain-bike-ec021662

Should be arriving this week, bit late but was it good choice?

petriodet · 31 May 2010 at 18:32

Fry750 said:
Guys, I've just ordered this...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/q220-2010-mountain-bike-ec021662

Should be arriving this week, bit late but was it good choice?

nothing special looks about right for the money.

touch · 31 May 2010 at 19:23

petriodet said:
nothing special looks about right for the money.

Yep, everything is very similar at that price range.
This bike might be a slightly better deal as it has lockout forks and an 8 speed cassette but there is barely anything between them - and i think that the felt looks nicer anyway.

ichabod crane · 31 May 2010 at 19:44

Furbs said:
looking really for mountain bike that is happy on roads now and then and trails are mainly just dirt tracks without anything too heavy. Budget is 1k

Genesis Core 40 or Altitude 10

ichabod crane · 31 May 2010 at 19:45

bigsharn said:
Currently on a 2009 stock Landrover G4 Challenge Dual

Looking to get a new bike soon (it's a bit knackered...)

Is it Orange? Sure I have seen one of them about town.

mrmoose · 31 May 2010 at 19:46

Guys, quick question. If my employers don't have a cycle-to-work scheme setup already, how easy is it to get myself involved in one?

bigredshark · 31 May 2010 at 21:29

While I'm passing, anybody care to recommend an upgrade to a SRAM x-4 rear derailleur? I'm not getting on with it at all, just doesn't shift reliably at all and I've spent long enough tinkering with it now to be convinced it's not just the setup.

The problem is it's on an 8 speed cassette at present which I don't want to get into changing over right now. I'm getting various different answers about whether a SRAM x-7 will work with 8 speeds?

Supercow · 31 May 2010 at 21:45

Sram x-9, not sure on the 8 speed question though.

Torch [P4] · 31 May 2010 at 22:17

Fry750 said:
Guys, I've just ordered this...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/q220-2010-mountain-bike-ec021662

Should be arriving this week, bit late but was it good choice?

ive got the older 2009 model and its a very capable bike, forks get slated but tbh they've taken quite a bit of punishment from me and are still in one piece LOL

crankset is a bit long toothed imho so i changed to a 22/32/44

enjoy

weescott · 31 May 2010 at 22:28

bigredshark said:
While I'm passing, anybody care to recommend an upgrade to a SRAM x-4 rear derailleur? I'm not getting on with it at all, just doesn't shift reliably at all and I've spent long enough tinkering with it now to be convinced it's not just the setup.

The problem is it's on an 8 speed cassette at present which I don't want to get into changing over right now. I'm getting various different answers about whether a SRAM x-7 will work with 8 speeds?

It's never going to work that well. While you could set the limiters on the mech to work with an 8 speed cassette, the spacing is different and 8 speed chains are thicker than 9 speed chains.

Perhaps you need new gear cable or a new chain?

touch · 1 Jun 2010 at 00:25

Anybody know where i can get these for much cheapness?

(hydraulic hose olives - hayes ones pictured, shimano ones should do it)
CRC have them for £2 each but i want a few of them and it starts getting expensive