New to cycling

[mik]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I heard one of the ladies teams got caught with this in their bike. Poor form if you ask me. It's as bad as doping IMO.

totally agree, poor sportsmanship , and that goes for the dopers as well,

one has to wonder how many first placers over the years have been legit , this sort of behavior puts the whole spirit of competition under a cloud.

[Batmobile]

Originally Posted by DBourne

Would be bloody handy for those commutes home, in to the wind, up hill when you just can't give AF.

I hear ya. Although I would be affaid once tasted there would be no going back . Haha

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Attended a shuttle day at the local MTB park here yesterday (same park as the gravity enduro event in Dec) on 2 different trails. Was bloody awesome fun, you know you have good trails when we pack 20 ppl in a jeep wrangler to take us to the top day started off well but on the first run it started pelting rain no one gave a single care just kept on riding. As the day went on the rain came an went the shuttles kept going, all in all i did about 6 runs between 2 tracks. Cant wait for the next one. Got whats called the fainters ride this Saturday at Falls creek about 40kms of single trail and heart breaking climbs, well walks for me the old Reign just doesnt climb as aswell as other more ascent type bikes. But one thing i have noticed it my skill level is improving a lot and im getting more brave as i may have said jumping isnt my forte but ive hit a few now was a simple as changing my technique really. Anyway heres a cpl pics i took.
image
image
image
image

Is that dirt or blood in that first pic. My efforts today in 35 degree heat.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Batmobile

Bike contained a concealed 100w+ motor ???
http://cyclingtips.com/2015/04/hidde...how-they-work/

Gives power meter a whole new meaning.

[mik]

Originally Posted by NTF6

Is that dirt or blood in that first pic. imageimage My efforts today in 35 degree heat.

I`m still feeling my little tumble from 3 or 4 weeks ago, so i can sympathize,

beautiful light sunny day down here in mexico monday, would not have thought too many gamma rays ......got burnt to a crisp after one hour , its all action on these bikes.
how did that happen ?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by NTF6

Is that dirt or blood in that first pic. imageimage My efforts today in 35 degree heat.

Haha nah mate just a heap of mud, luckily no stacks for me that day.

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by Batmobile

I hear ya. Although I would be affaid once tasted there would be no going back . Haha

It'd be amazing how often you'd just happen to encounter a headwind, on every ride

[mik]

Yes the wind doesn't always help , i usually head into the wind on my rides and come back with the wind if possible, a bit annoying when the wind changes at the other end and you ride back with a head wind again .

[FairmontGS]

OK. Didn't get the wheel repaired and opted for the Shimnano R500 wheel-set instead.

[Batmobile]

Looking forward to watching Froome take on Arthurs Seat 3 times tomorrow for the last stage of the Herald Sun Tour

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Batmobile

Looking forward to watching Froome take on Arthurs Seat 3 times tomorrow for the last stage of the Herald Sun Tour

Chris Froome,... the perfect bobblehead candidate !

I've never seen anyone climb a hill like him.

[Batmobile]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Chris Froome,... the perfect bobblehead candidate !

I've never seen anyone climb a hill like him.

Up close , he is over 6ft in the old measurement , and must weight under 70kg - there is nothing of him . He can certainly climb as he can time trial . Every time i watch him race , I expect him to run in the back of the rider in front . He always appears to be looking down at his shoes , then does the head bobble , all awhile his feet are spinning like a washing machine on a spin cycle.
He is talented , but is ugly on the bike ..

[Batmobile]

Froome after the win

[DJM83]

Apologies in advance for the pics

On Saturday we had the MT Fainters ride from Pretty valley dam to the big hill downhill track at MT Beauty.
Well where do i start, this was simply epic i encourage anyone that lives close enough to this track to do it. It is pretty much un touched the fainters track itself is only accessible by bike, car or on foot. The scenery was breathtaking to say the least and almost all of the trails were brilliant to ride on. Towards the end it was a lot of fire road stuff but still a lot of single track aswell. All up about 35kms of riding, looking forward to when it happens again thats for sure. There was about 12 or so of us of all different abilities. Some of the single track was just awesome, we didnt get to ride big hill at MT Beauty but still rode some trails near it.
Anyway apologies for the pics but im sure not many have seen this part of the world.

[FairmontGS]

Spectacular scenery..

[DBourne]

5th pic is awesome!

[mik]

Great pics DJM83, how much do you like the rear suspension on the bike ? is it a great asset ??

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by mik

Great pics DJM83, how much do you like the rear suspension on the bike ? is it a great asset ??

For everyday riding its not really needed ie on the road. But my bike really isnt built for the road. 160mm front and rear travel is an asset on days like Saturday and shuttle days and what not. Even the rides that i do in the local hills its definitely worth having. Id never go back to a hard tail again, it doesnt really suit the enduro/free riding that i do.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by DJM83

It is pretty much un touched the fainters track itself is only accessible by bike, car or on foot.
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image

Damn, I was hoping to chopper in

Awesome pics, much pedaling involved or mostly downhill and coast?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by NTF6

Damn, I was hoping to chopper in

Awesome pics, much pedaling involved or mostly downhill and coast?

Yeah a few climbs most of it is rideable. Only problem is some if it is real narrow so you can't get a full pedal stroke in. But the downhill bits make the climbs worth it.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah a few climbs most of it is rideable. Only problem is some if it is real narrow so you can't get a full pedal stroke in. But the downhill bits make the climbs worth it.

Let's face it, climbing always sucks, the down hill is the reward and the fun part.

[roKWiz]

DJM83,
Great pics, your making me homesick already.
Agree on the dual suspension bikes. I love em,
Believe it or not I enjoy the climbing side of MTBking.

Currently enjoying the riding around Coffs Harbour.

[DJM83]

Went out on the local bike shops shop ride last night. With one special guest Cedric Gracia, factory Santa Cruz rider as the shop is a Santa Cruz dealer and Cedric is in the country for a little bit. What a bloody top guy, stopped and had a chat to anyone that wanted to and his riding ability is phenomenal. He did a run down one of the trails and people sat and watched and some of the top local riders followed him down.
Then the bike shop put on cartons and cartons of beers and pizzas afterwards. Was a great night.

Now heading out on a Santa Cruz demo day, should be good.

As for the climbing i dont mind it to a point but i look at it as NTF6 pointed out, the down hill parts are the reward for the climbing (unless your on a shuttle day where its easy )

[prydey]

whilst we're all posting pics, here is a couple i took on my recent holiday in Brisbane.

This is up the top of a climb called O'Reilly's (because it basically only goes to O'reilly's resort at the top). its in the lamington national park. Its a 30km climb with an elevation gain of 8-900m. these are from a lookout about 5km down from the top called Kamarun lookout.




phone photo's don't really do it justice. simply breathtaking views.

[DJM83]

So went out on the Santa Cruz demo day, i fell in love straight away. This bike is on the radar at some point in the future. Santa Cruz Nomad. Ultimate point and shoot weapon climbs so well and descends brilliantly this had different forks and custom brakes but apart from that factory spec.



And a potato Selfie of me and Cedric from last night.

[mik]

i watched a clip on tube last night of a dual suspension job going through its paces , very impressive , the thing i like about it (i think ) more than anything is having that bit of give in the back wheel when you go over something nasty , it has to be nicer to the rim if you run over a pot hole or step in the road, especially if you have a big dude with a lot of the weight on the back wheel.
watching the guy put it through its paces , the wheel looked to cop about half of the punishment it normally would with the hard tail, and that has to be good for punctures and rim conservation.

[roKWiz]

Great pics, guys,
Yeah, Santa Cruz has always produced awesome dual suspension bike, actually one of the first (along with Mountain Cycles) way back in the early 90's.
Suspension bikes I like don't change their rear swingarm pivot points too much which suggests they've got it right apart from tweaking the design.
Mountain cycles, Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Ellsworth are to name a few.
Technically I always look for a single pivot designs, fewer links means more reliability and less parts to replace.

Milk,
I ride my duallies on the road and off, I don't care if they're slower or heavier I get a better (more comfortable) workout. Got rid of the road bikes years ago.

[DBourne]

Now I finally know what the heck all the Santa Cruz hats etc are for haha

[mik]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Great pics, guys,
Yeah, Santa Cruz has always produced awesome dual suspension bike, actually one of the first (along with Mountain Cycles) way back in the early 90's.
Suspension bikes I like don't change their rear swingarm pivot points too much which suggests they've got it right apart from tweaking the design.
Mountain cycles, Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Ellsworth are to name a few.
Technically I always look for a single pivot designs, fewer links means more reliability and less parts to replace.

Milk,
I ride my duallies on the road and off, I don't care if they're slower or heavier I get a better (more comfortable) workout. Got rid of the road bikes years ago.

i`ve never been called milk before thank you .... (joking) ,
good on you Rokwiz, im quite happy having a bit of weight on the bike also , it doesnt worry me a bit ,
to those that like the real speedy racer bikes , i totally understand that too , but i like the comfort factor , and also ive done nearly a thousand k`s on this bike and yet to get flat on the big mountain bike tyres...... probably put the moz on myself now .
when i wear this one out a bit , i will be looking for dual suspension job as well i think , wont be anything flash though .... just a cheapy, entertaining the thought of doing a bit more trail work ..... just easy stuff though.

[roKWiz]

Sorry mik,

Must be all those milk smoothie I've been having since I got up here.