Mountain Biking

[Skeeter]

Is your bike the right size for you?

4" so probably 100mm stem? I'd try a 50mm stem and see how you get on. If you need the bars higher, then get some swept bars.

Yeah it should be the right size as I tried them and got advice in the shop when I bought it. I'm 6'4" but got 1 size down from the largest frame.

I'll try a shorter stem first. I hadn't thought about changing the bars but Ive now remembered that when I was a kid I had swept bars.

 

[postbox]

Ok after about 4-5 proper rides I've got a missing nut from the rear suspension mount which was obviously not done up properly (concerning as the crank arm was also loose after 2 rides - now sorted).

Anyone know where I can get a spare from? Shock is the CC DB Air CS - If this is a couple of quid, I'll just go and get it myself but my Google skills have failed me at the moment. Otherwise I'll get on to Bird.

Pic is with improvised cable ties so the main bolt didn't completely fall out during a ride.

 

[neil_g]

id be expecting bird to next day you a replacement.

 

[steve45]

Always good practice especially with new bikes to do a pre and post ride check of all bolts for that exact reason, it takes 2min, and can save a lot of drama down the trail.
I ensure before I leave for a ride I give all my bolts a cursory check, then post ride, at night over a beer or two when I'm recovered from the ride, I'll spend 40min or so give the bike a thorough once over, all too easy to stick the bike in the garage and forget about it till next time.

Also when receiving a new bike don't assume the person building it will have everything torqued up ready to ride, the guys that build them might be awesome mechanics but they are human and can miss/forget to tighten things especially if they are building bike after bike.
Always go over the a new bike with a fine tooth comb, check everything.

For a new bolt, take the the other half and a measurement of the inner diameter of the recess, go down to local hardware shop and pick up a new bolt, should only be a pound or two.

 

[postbox]

Yeah ok thanks, I was guilty of not doing a complete 90 point check - I did check the main things though! Call me old fashioned but I'd expect all bolts to be done up properly fresh out of the factory - doesn't take much to check as you've pointed out yourself!

 

[steve45]

Yeah i've learned the hard way in the past hence my attention to detail nowadays, it would be great and i guess its not too much to ask if it came perfect from the factory, but its a simple case of its a human being at the end of the day, they wont always get everything right no matter how good they are especially if under time pressure, i dont know what there operation is like but i'd imagine they have a lot of preorders they are trying to clear.

Its something i always preach to my buddies, and its something easy to overlook in the excitement of a new bike.

Oh and please post photo of full bike!!!!!!

 

[postbox]

My Bird finally arrived yesterday, shame it didn't turn up weekend before as I I've just come back from Glentress.

Got to sort out the hose length on Reverb and tinker with a few things but I'm very pleased

Taken from a few pages back - I'd literally just thrown this together out of the box hence the cable and brake levers all over the shop

 

[steve45]

A damn i must have missed that, I do like! if it wasnt for the long lead time, this would have been high on the short list for my new bike.

 

[Andelusion]

Hey all, after a bit of advice. Just started to learn how to jump properly, found a good jump that isn't to steep and you get a lot of speed into so you just fly over it without doing anything. However, hit it today, say 5-6 times to practise, the second to last time i found my feet slipping off the pedals a bit, i thought nothing of it and went for it again, this time on landing feet came off went flying forward, then dragged the bike sideways (bent the rear mech and smashed me leg a bit).

At the moment we are just rolling off the jump and clearing it with speed, not really pumping the lip if that makes sense.

But question is what am i doing wrong, is it body position? feet angle? not committing enough?

I have 5.10 shoes and quality flat pedals, so i know its ME making a mistake as im still learning just want to know what haha.

cheers

You've solved it yourself; pump the lip. Front wheel as it reaches the apex of the takeoff then follow afterwards with your feet then look at the landing. You can practise the technique on anything; a root, rock/curb or small roller, the faster you go the earlier you have to pump. Also, don't pull up of you will get a floaty feeling and 'dead-sailor'.

 

[Begbie]

I doubt you'd get those nuts anywhere execpt from Bird, they are a weird shape as they recess into the frame IIRC. (As most of the bolt is curved with only one flat bit, I think?) It feels like ages since I've even seen my bike

What bike did you go for in the end Steve? The wait time for the Birds is nothing aslong as the colour you want is in stock.

 

[gettothechopper]

You've solved it yourself; pump the lip. Front wheel as it reaches the apex of the takeoff then follow afterwards with your feet then look at the landing. You can practise the technique on anything; a root, rock/curb or small roller, the faster you go the earlier you have to pump. Also, don't pull up of you will get a floaty feeling and 'dead-sailor'.

yeah its this

pump the lip and as you take off you will find your feet are pushing down on the pedals as you travel up

rather than pulling up and so pulling your feet up (and off the peds) as well

 

[Juggy1985]

£30 postage to send my creaky pikes back to ubyk for them to send em to sram! Do ya think theres much chance of any refund on the p&p? I'm not good with trading standards n stuff like that to know where to begin.

 

[Supercow]

Why on earth did you pay that you nutter?
myhermes / collect plus etc is usually £12!

 

[Juggy1985]

Royal snail

 

[Supercow]

But WHY

 

[Juggy1985]

I aint no parcel wizard. Literally sent like 3 parcels in my life!

 

[Supercow]

I aint no parcel wizard. Literally sent like 3 parcels in my life!

I know, it can be hard.

http://bfy.tw/4Sz

 

[Juggy1985]

I thought the internet only had 2 uses, porn n talking to bike geeks! You've opened my world!

 

[steve45]

What bike did you go for in the end Steve?

Well after having a play with a few bikes it was a no brainer for me, i just felt right at home on the norco.
I really wanted to like the Reign advanced(green carbon one) but i just didnt feel comfortable on it, couldnt quite place my finger on what exactly, just felt kinda awkward maybe i should have tryed the size down.
The Spesh enduro expert felt comfortable but i dunno i didnt really feel any draw towards it.
Had a play on a Cube something or other(160mm travel one) in a carpark but i dunno, felt really cheap to me.

Picked it up today, wont get to ride it till Sunday though unfortunately

managed to source a reverb stealth on the cheap(minus hose...) soon as i get the hose i'll be fitting it.

Now i need to shift the DH bike ASAP.

 

[rhysduck]

Very nice indeed. Is that carbon? What does she weigh?