Bicycles!

[choneofakind]

I've been lazy lately. New job. Weather got cold. Still working on my sleep schedule and the HPVC capstone and fraternity is taking almost all my free time.. Had to resort to the trainer a few times already for my workout, sheesh.

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by rojoracing53

you could always post a link to your ride and make yourself easy to find.
http://www.strava.com/activities/200319298

Like I said....I'm new to this app. Thanks for the info.


Here's mine http://www.strava.com/athletes/6514212

[Jono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Jono, are you a stravasshole on trails too? Haha

Duh! Haha. Naw I'm to slow to be chasing segments. I just like it to track my rides. I'm just an above avg rider locally. I'm no racer. Occasionally I'll get in the top 10 in certain segments but that's not common. Haven't ridden trails in over a month now. :-/ I'm gonna start following you.

[choneofakind]

I've been SO LAZY. don't judge me. Haven't ridden trail in 3 weeks. MTB still down for the count. Haven't ridden roadie or run nearly enough for my sanity

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I've been SO LAZY. don't judge me. Haven't ridden trail in 3 weeks. MTB still down for the count. Haven't ridden roadie or run nearly enough for my sanity

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazyyyyyyyyyy!!!! JK. I missed a whole week once...not a good feeling

I'm going MTB for at least 10 miles tomorrow!

[salcuta88]

Gotta stop by the shop and get a spoke replaced first.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by rojoracing53

you could always post a link to your ride and make yourself easy to find.
http://www.strava.com/activities/200319298

You're a freak! I'm not going to follow you because it makes me feel like a worthless POS. That is all. Haha

[salcuta88]

Ouch

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Apex]

It has been too long since I've been on my bike. I mean I did do a casual ride last weekend with my niece (10-miles or so). I haven't done anything hard core in a while. Need to change that around. Won't be this weekend, super busy.

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by Apex

It has been too long since I've been on my bike. I mean I did do a casual ride last weekend with my niece (10-miles or so). I haven't done anything hard core in a while. Need to change that around. Won't be this weekend, super busy.

I did 12 miles of hardcore today. Just when I was almost at the parking lot, (1.5 miles away) my tire popped. Old rubber.

[choneofakind]

Better double bag next time!!!

Better Get more than 12. Warm up yo! Ideal distance IMHO is like 40 miles. Get a good workout, get the option of nice hills, but doesn't take forever. It's a nice enjoyable distance.

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Better double bag next time!!!

Better Get more than 12. Warm up yo! Ideal distance IMHO is like 40 miles. Get a good workout, get the option of nice hills, but doesn't take forever. It's a nice enjoyable distance.

Not on this mountain...I take some very steep trails to the top of it. Burned all the pancakes I ate at lunch.

[choneofakind]

...you still haven't looked at rojo's summe activities and racing schedule on Strava have you? Hahaha I'm with you there. I find pure distance to be more difficult on MTB. I keep telling myself 'get a nicer bike and the mileage will flow better' then I go for a ride and crash and remember that user error negates all technology.

[Apex]

I can't wait to get on my MTB this next week. I need a few good, solid rides.

[Sirref]

oh the pain of having a roadie and multiple motorcycles but no mtb. what's worse is if I trade one I'd then want the one I gave up

what's a good mtb brand these days, I gave my sis my mtb (now completely hers) to take with her to school and my old diamondback has a bent frame so it doesn't ride right

[Kevin2109]

Here is my new bike, I love it. Being back on two wheels is fun Its a "Specialized Hardrock 29er disk 2013"
http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...rdrock+Disc+29



And yes, I ride the bike one armed.
I'll get a non selfie at some point... My roommates won't be home for hours

Sure its more challenging but not impossible. One of these days I'll get a pic of me riding. #FindingTheNewNormal

Some Pics from my ride today





I'm sorry about the big pictures, I'm having trouble uploading the panorama so I had to copy from Facebook as is Link and post

[choneofakind]

Kill it Kevin!

Ben, any of the major manufacturers should be able to get you a solid bike. Just remember that the cheap bikes have cheap parts.

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by Kevin2109

Here is my new bike, I love it. Being back on two wheels is fun Its a "Specialized Hardrock 29er disk 2013"

I is jealous! I want a new bike I'm leaning towards the Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29er

I currently have a Trek 6000 that was made in the year of 2000. It rides great but I want the 29 wheels. Have fun!

[salcuta88]

Originally Posted by Sirref

oh the pain of having a roadie and multiple motorcycles but no mtb. what's worse is if I trade one I'd then want the one I gave up

what's a good mtb brand these days, I gave my sis my mtb (now completely hers) to take with her to school and my old diamondback has a bent frame so it doesn't ride right

Look for Giant, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Raleigh, Santa Cruz, Scott....any of these guys make good bikes. Good hardtail bikes start at 600. Full suspension ones at 1000.

[Apex]

My Specialized HRS Disc 29-er is a great bike, but that base fork is heavy. It is like butter on the road though. I mean, there is nothing else like a spring based fork. However, once you hit a little trails, it bottoms out easily. Upgrading to an air model transformed my bike (and gave me some extra travel). If I want it smooth, I can drop the pressure, which I would do if I rode any endurance road charity rides.

[choneofakind]

Air all the way for me. I won't go back to spring.

[choneofakind]

Just ordered one of these bad boys to get my bars a little lower and get rid of my dorky volcano top cap thingy. Hopefully it's the right diameter as my head tube.

http://www.cobbcycling.com/shop/acce...s/5mm-top-caps

[chrly]

Brand loyal here....

[spooph]

awe man, you people are so inspiring.... I gotta get out and ride....

[Jono]

Been putting off riding cause I need new tires on my Scott and tires are overpriced for mtn bikes. What are some nice, cheap 29er tires that are good in clay dirt/sand?? Oh and made for tubes. Yeah, I haven't gone tubeless. Suck it.

And I haven't ridden the singlespeed cause it has a flat tube and I'm too lazy and/or cheap to get a new one. I should go tubeless.

[choneofakind]

I'm super lazy the last couple weeks. Jono can back me, he can see my Strava. LAAZZYYYY


Jono, good and cheap never pair together in MTB tires, sorry to burst your bubble. What's wrong with the ones you have now that makes them unrideable? I haven't gone tubeless either, no worries. In fact, I'm still running Shroeder valves.

I'm running a Conti Trail King Racesport 2.2 up front and a Conti Mountain King II Racesport 2.2 in the rear. We have tons of loose soil, lots of clay. The base of everything is hard pack clay, but has loose slopes and lots of roots and gravel in places. The combo gets me a front that sticks everywhere and gives gradually. The rear rolls really really well, transitions easily, and then has very aggressive edges. I know Rojo runs a Mountain King II 2.4 up front and likes it as well.

[Kevin2109]

I've been loving biking so much more since getting back on this thread! Its given me an extra "push" to go ride more. Granted, I can only ride for a few miles before I need to stop. Recovery was so long, I didn't get to really exercise during the time, it's destroyed my endurance, But I'm building it back!

I jumped off a curb for the first time yesterday, It was a little nerve-racking but I survived! You have to be so light on the front end when you have only one hand. You just don't have the same stability. I don't know if I want to practice jumping off curbs anymore, I'm too afraid to fall on my bad arm

[choneofakind]

Kevin, you're a badass! Keep at it and never look back.

[Greasedmonkey]

Ah bikes, my other hobby. I work at a local Bike shop selling these things!?

Here are some of my bikes.

New bike for this comings seasons races.


Roadie that collects dust.


Single speed I just cracked the frame on.


bmx bike that broke my ribs...


Last seasons race bike


And so good ole' racing fun!

[choneofakind]

Nice! I'm fond of the Fuel ex line! Built quite a few of those and played around with them out back of the shop. Fun bikes


I got my skinny bearing cover. Handlebars now slammed. Really really really want to cut some steer tube off but cannot bring myself to commit to it.

[choneofakind]

Got my shorty bearing cap installed and put the stem down on the deck. Daaayyymmmmm! It's the drop I wanted, about 9.5cm. Perfect. Got some time on pedal on the trainer, heading for a ride today. I'm really really temped to cut the steer tube. It looks awful like this.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I'm super lazy the last couple weeks. Jono can back me, he can see my Strava. LAAZZYYYY


Jono, good and cheap never pair together in MTB tires, sorry to burst your bubble. What's wrong with the ones you have now that makes them unrideable? I haven't gone tubeless either, no worries. In fact, I'm still running Shroeder valves.

I'm running a Conti Trail King Racesport 2.2 up front and a Conti Mountain King II Racesport 2.2 in the rear. We have tons of loose soil, lots of clay. The base of everything is hard pack clay, but has loose slopes and lots of roots and gravel in places. The combo gets me a front that sticks everywhere and gives gradually. The rear rolls really really well, transitions easily, and then has very aggressive edges. I know Rojo runs a Mountain King II 2.4 up front and likes it as well.

They aren't unrideable just worn and flat spotted from riding to the trails. Last trail ride i went on I lost the front end because of them. It was painful because I forgot my riding gloves the one day I crash. Haha. Ripped my hand and knee up.

I currently have Schwalbe Rocket Ron's and they are fine but kinda expensive and I'd like to try something else.

Got my singlespeed up and running today. Hopefully I can go for a ride tomorrow. But I lost a bit of my thumb working on the SV today. Don't know how it will hold up to the trails. Might stick to a road ride.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by spooph

awe man, you people are so inspiring.... I gotta get out and ride....

Where in the heck have you been spooph?????

[spooph]

@Apex - been a bit busy with first fixing room mate's bad decisions, then getting engaged, now combining two lives... Should be back here more often/back to the things I enjoy doing here soon.... How have you been?

[Apex]

I need to get back on the bike again. Man, I miss it.

I also need to go and get my FS rig serviced. It needs it. I love the FS, but the HT is wonderful as well. My roadie needs to take a flying leap off a cliff. I don't ride it anymore. It will sell in the spring. People tend to not like buying bikes when it is cold out.

[choneofakind]

Wow, I'm so lucky to have such good bike shops around my home town. When I'm at school... I'm on my own. And this was reinforced to me today from a visit to my LBS here in nowhereville. I've never been fond of this shop from seeing work they've done with the HPVC team (we'll never use them again because I'm in charge now, but that's another discussion) but I figured that I'm only looking for parts and I'd give them a chance.


So I go in looking for cassette and rim tape. My new wheels are finally here! I brought a wheel along for sizing. so it begins. I explain what I want. Dude (owner, super eclectic guy. what a character) looks at me and says, "where did you get these made? They're pretty nice". I explained about PSIMET and how I was able to get my choice of parts based on my riding style and what would work for me. His response, "oh, you shoulda brought that to me. I love doing wheels" (no dummie, I'm used to a much higher caliber of shop, but I'm being open minded here... don't ruin it) So I ask him what he would have done different for a rider like me. "Well I don't know what those hubs or rims are, I'd probably go with something name brand like Mavic (only he pronounced it Mah-vick)" I'm thinking, "DUDE! Those are White Industries hubs, well known for having 5 oversized bearings and a titanium freehub body, as well as being CNC turned on the lathe and made in the US. Those are nicer than what Mavic uses...". I'll give it to him on the rim though, it's a Pacenti SL23, so it's not labeled and it's not well known. He's losing some credibility at this point.

So he takes me to the service area to see what options there are. He hates velox tape. Gives me this load of bull about burrs on the rim holes and centrifugal force and punctured tires. blah blah blah. He gives me these plastic-y rim strip liner things. They're pretty light. they come on a bunch of OE wheels, okay I'll give them a try because I've seen wheels at my shop do just fine with them and they're convenient. (and they're cheap, I may buy legit Velox tape when I get home anyway) While we're looking at widths of rim tape, I mentioned that they were wide rims and I wanted a wide strip because these things are plastic and slide around a touch in the rim. He looks at me and says, "are you doing CX? i'd never ride a rim this wide because I'm a weight weenie (smiles triumphantly)". I then had to explain about wide rims and tire profile and supporting the sidewall during turns and the aerodynamics of a smooth transition from tire to rim blah blah blah, oh btw, the rim is only 450g. That's on par with some carbon clinchers without the difficulty of carbon brake tracks. He then shuts up.



So we walk to the parts shelf to look for a cassette. All they have is el-cheap-o 7-speed MTB cassettes and a bunch of freewheels. Not going to cut it. He then gives me this story about how cassettes never sell and so no sane shop would ever keep them in stock, especially not these new fangled 10 or 11 speed ones yadda yadda. I was like oh whatever. Mind you, the shop I worked at, as well as the other two around my hometown all have shelves full of cassettes because cassette and chain changes are common. lots of riders, lots of mileage, lots of snooty rich buyers who want to replace their ultegra with the same quality ultegra or upgrade their 105, whatever. I'm not used to this. I must've made a face or something because as we go to the counter to pay, he launches into this whole schpeal about how he's doing so well for his business and how he was ranked 98/170 (never did tell me out of what, but I suspect he meant the state) and he's the best place around. I was like, yeah whatever dude; all three of the shops I'm used to are top 1000 in the country and just their service departments have more traffic than your entire shop...



So here comes the last straw. We get to shooting the bull a little. Basic stuff like what we do in our spare time and how we got into bicycles etc etc. He tells me that he used to be a contractor; he's build 100 houses, 4 shops, two bridges, and a dam, so he clearly has the engineer in him and he had to open a bike shop to keep tinkering. I'm thinking, "excuse me?!?!". No engineer or engineering student that I've met appreciates when someone has decided that they are of the same status as us because they have trade experience. Not that I'm putting down trade experience because yes, it's important and yes, you can put me to shame in terms of speed and completeness. but the difference is anyone can get to where you are and everything you do is based on previous attempts and blindly following the science that I have to know and manipulate. Getting to where I am and even further to where my superiors are takes tons more learning and thinking and time. You didn't design those houses or bridges or dam. You just followed the blueprints and plans laid out by some civil engineer and surveyor (also likely a civil engineer). I see this all the time in machinists and pipefitters at work also. They're good guys with tons of valuable knowledge/experience but when they try to put down the engineers because we don't think their work on the last job was nearly as 'good enough' as they thought it was, yanks my chain.

I will not be spending more money there. done.

One local shop that I love was started and is owned by a legitimate engineer. He graduated from Case. He spent time in industry, he loved bicycles, and had kids, so he decided it was time to stay local. He sons are now both in or graduated from the ME program at ONU. I love that family and I spend time in their shop whenever I can. They've been good to the HPVC team and are fantastic triathletes and track runners.

anyone else have any interesting LBS stories?

[Apex]

Originally Posted by spooph

@Apex - been a bit busy with first fixing room mate's bad decisions, then getting engaged, now combining two lives... Should be back here more often/back to the things I enjoy doing here soon.... How have you been?

Doing well man. Just been doing a lot of photography work (new career path).

[csmith12]

Hey guys! I normally wouldn't want to have to work this hard to have fun. hahahahaha But this looks dope! Who wants to come along?





More Info

[choneofakind]

pump track, in!

Big jumps, out!



That looks pretty badass.

[csmith12]

Sissy! You can just roll over them any way your comfortable. Camping in the freezing cold, just to get sweaty 20 mins later.... awesome!