Big Bike Thread

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Whats every ones thoughts on full face helmets and when they are needed? im quite prone to going overboard and exceeding my skill set and inevitably coming off, not wanting to damage my face im thinking about a full face lid and a pressure suite of sorts, is it overkill, im not exactly on downhill runs?
 
Whats every ones thoughts on full face helmets and when they are needed? im quite prone to going overboard and exceeding my skill set and inevitably coming off, not wanting to damage my face im thinking about a full face lid and a pressure suite of sorts, is it overkill, im not exactly on downhill runs?

Overkill for anything other than DH, riding climbs in a full face helmet would not be fun!
 
what about discrete body Armour vests? to stop stuff like this

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this was just riding home from a mates, throw trees and large rock into the mix and i did that to my neck, compressed my spine and cracked my ribs :D
 
Whats every ones thoughts on full face helmets and when they are needed? im quite prone to going overboard and exceeding my skill set and inevitably coming off, not wanting to damage my face im thinking about a full face lid and a pressure suite of sorts, is it overkill, im not exactly on downhill runs?

Maybe get a Met parachute helmet if you aren't doing downhill?
I think the chin bit can be removed if you feel like it too.

Although I can imagine it snapping if you give it a good whack :P
 
All those pics show is you need some elbow pads and gloves TBH which would have prevented/lessened the injuries significantly.
 
Guys, I've got a little problem if you can impart any wisdom?

I had another pinch-flat yesterday (my own fault as I went up a steep curb to avoid getting into trouble with traffic). I've since fixed the tube, pumped up to 45psi (min 35, max 65) and replaced the back-wheel.

The problem I have is two-fold.

Firstly, am I doing anything wrong to keep getting such punctures? Admitedly, I had a lot of weight to carry on Sunday due to having a backpack full of football things, but I was under the assumption that the psi (was at 35) was okay?

Secondly, my disc on the rear-wheel seems to be rubbing against the caliper ever so slightly, but just enough to make a noise and become irritating. I think my back-rim may be very, very slightly buckled which is causing it. The noise becomes worse when I tighten the quick-release.

(i) Is there a way to loosen the disc-brake itself slightly?
(ii) Will I need to invest in a new rim or is it nothing to worry about?

I'm not having much luck with this bike so far. On the plus side, it's getting me familiar with maintenance!
 
All those pics show is you need some elbow pads and gloves TBH which would have prevented/lessened the injuries significantly.

I'd say so.

I just wear gloves and a helmet, but after knocking my knees on Saturday im thinking about some knee pads!

Crazy weather, the rain passed and we got some sun so managed an evening ride.

That MBUK video on bunnyhopping was very helpful, it was the foot scoop that I needed to learn, the other videos didn't really show this.

I spent some time just riding along and trying to pull up the back wheel using my feet, then tried to work the two together. It came together quite quickly and I started to practice on twigs/lines on the ground etc as I was riding along. Just need to keep using it every ride now to improve it and increase the consistancy of height reached etc.

Also managed to improve my fitness, I am doing the same rides as I have been doing, but noticed a lack of speed since switching to the Fat Albert on the front. I since have managed to get back to the same pace as I previously was with the Speed King on the front, so impressed by that! I'll probably follow the herd and get a NN front and RR rear when the time comes though!
 
Guys, I've got a little problem if you can impart any wisdom?

I had another pinch-flat yesterday (my own fault as I went up a steep curb to avoid getting into trouble with traffic). I've since fixed the tube, pumped up to 45psi (min 35, max 65) and replaced the back-wheel.

The problem I have is two-fold.

Firstly, am I doing anything wrong to keep getting such punctures? Admitedly, I had a lot of weight to carry on Sunday due to having a backpack full of football things, but I was under the assumption that the psi (was at 35) was okay?

Secondly, my disc on the rear-wheel seems to be rubbing against the caliper ever so slightly, but just enough to make a noise and become irritating. I think my back-rim may be very, very slightly buckled which is causing it. The noise becomes worse when I tighten the quick-release.

(i) Is there a way to loosen the disc-brake itself slightly?
(ii) Will I need to invest in a new rim or is it nothing to worry about?

I'm not having much luck with this bike so far. On the plus side, it's getting me familiar with maintenance!

Unlucky... but if you're getting pinch flats regularly then you're probably popping up kerbs wrong. I suspect what you're doing is maybe lifting the front slightly to get that up, but then letting the back wheel slam into the kerb with all of your weight over the back?

(Sorry if im wrong, just sounds like that might be the case.)

What you need to be doing is as soon as the front wheel is up the kerb, unweight the bike forwards, getting your ass off the saddle so that there's less weight smacking the back wheel into whatever object it is that you're getting up and over.

You should be able to loosen the discs off slightly either at the handlebars, or by using the 4mm or 5mm bolt at on the other side of the pad, and moving that back. If neither of those works, undo the cable near the rear calliper, and let 1-2mm of cable out towards the handlebars, then adjust the tension from the handlebar adjuster barrel.

If the rim is buckled slighly it shouldn't affect braking much, certainly not compared to how 'V' brakes used to work.

Maybe others can give better advice. :p
 
Maybe get a Met parachute helmet if you aren't doing downhill?

Get out of this thread and never return!
Seriously though, please for the love of god not take this advice and buy this tripe :p

Full face lids are overkill for anything other than DH/FR. Possibly look into somehting like the Urge Enduromatic?

As for those scrapes, wear some gloves and/or a 661 subgear vest, or just some elbow pads


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=50262
 
Get out of this thread and never return!
Seriously though, please for the love of god not take this advice and buy this tripe :p

Oi! My mate rides with a Met Parachute... its a nice helmet.

But :eek: :eek: :eek: at the price!

Rather just sweat myself to death in a full face lid :p :D for 1/3 the price...
 
...every near-mid-life-crysis "I dont quite do DH but I shred the gnar on my xc trail" wears these and think it's a fantastic compromise, when it really really isn't.
 
Unlucky... but if you're getting pinch flats regularly then you're probably popping up kerbs wrong. I suspect what you're doing is maybe lifting the front slightly to get that up, but then letting the back wheel slam into the kerb with all of your weight over the back?

(Sorry if im wrong, just sounds like that might be the case.)

What you need to be doing is as soon as the front wheel is up the kerb, unweight the bike forwards, getting your ass off the saddle so that there's less weight smacking the back wheel into whatever object it is that you're getting up and over.

You should be able to loosen the discs off slightly either at the handlebars, or by using the 4mm or 5mm bolt at on the other side of the pad, and moving that back. If neither of those works, undo the cable near the rear calliper, and let 1-2mm of cable out towards the handlebars, then adjust the tension from the handlebar adjuster barrel.

If the rim is buckled slighly it shouldn't affect braking much, certainly not compared to how 'V' brakes used to work.

Maybe others can give better advice. :p

You may well be right. I do try to 'unload', but obviously I'm not doing it well enough? Do I need to be throwing my whole weight onto the front suspension the second I've got the front wheel onto the ledge?

Also, I'm not sure which 4/5mm bolts you mean as there are quite a few on the disc-brake mech. If it helps, I've got some Avid Juicy Threes.
 
the pictures are just for a referance of how good i am at hurting my self, that was a 15 minute urban ride home form a friends, i did the real damage on a trail 4 weeks ago, only just recovering properly now.

Will look into the 661 suite, certainly looks along the lines of what i want, its just my spine im iffy about, it took a hard nock last time and when i had time to reflect it wouldnt have took much more to cause serious problems
 
I shall await your next crash video with baited breath... do please post photos of your injuries too. :)

(Mine are posted in the old Glentress meet thread from last September)

Sorry, I was only calling your mate a **** in jest.. my post isn't meant to be a p!ssing contest, but I have very strong opinions on that helmet as you will see below.


I'm unsure how my lack of riding skill has anything to do with your mate's lack of a sensible helmet - I wear enough appropriate protective wear as you can see in the following pic:
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And when I'm out on the little bike doing XC etc, I wear a ****pot
8333_293118115166_786205166_8922341_7969280_n.jpg


Would you like to see (some) injuries sustained with all of the above on... here ya go

Torn Ligaments in my ankle - out on XC ride
8333_291576845166_786205166_8901363_412573_n.jpg


Skidmarks gone straight through hardshell POC elbows - DH
n786205166_6795470_1905348.jpg


Broken arm post-op - DH
31953_10150190318085167_786205166_12248075_7748118_n.jpg


But here's a better "after action pic for you, taken just after my mate came to from a crash, he was wearing a Met Parachute - Doing 4x with inappropriate gear.

n786205166_2788223_1332.jpg


POS broke off at the front
 
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You may well be right. I do try to 'unload', but obviously I'm not doing it well enough? Do I need to be throwing my whole weight onto the front suspension the second I've got the front wheel onto the ledge?

To a certain extent, yes. Obviously without chucking yourself over the bars at the front, but try to sort of unweight just at the time the rear wheel hits the kerb, you'll feel it almost skip over the kerb when you time it right.
Whack your pressures up to 45/50psi to practice it.

Also, I'm not sure which 4/5mm bolts you mean as there are quite a few on the disc-brake mech. If it helps, I've got some Avid Juicy Threes.

My bad - presumed your discs were cable, not hydraulic. Whip your back wheel out, get a flat blade screwdriver and push both pads forcefully but not aggressively back as far as they will go. Re-fit wheel, spin loosely then evenly tighten your rear quick release. See if that helps.

Sorry, I was only calling your mate a **** in jest.. my post isn't meant to be a p!ssing contest, but I have very strong opinions on that helmet as you will see below.

But here's a better "after action pic for you, taken just after my mate came to from a crash, he was wearing a Met Parachute - Doing 4x with inappropriate gear.

n786205166_2788223_1332.jpg


POS broke off at the front

No offence at all taken mate - was just about to say I wasn't enough of a structures specialist to speculate on the lid.

Ye gods thats a hell of a face smash up! :eek: :( I'll have a word with my mate and point that out - it does look like the weak point is the chin part!
 
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