New to cycling

[Captain Stubing]

Why not? I've got a hardtail that I drag out sometimes!

[mik]

Originally Posted by Danny

Okay so I've been a bad boy....

image

I pick it up next week....

You can have a roadie and then have an Enduro to smash downhill trails right?? right!!!??????

Nice looking bike Danny , pardon my ignorance but who makes that bike ?

[Danny]

Definitely not ignorance mate, the lack of obvious branding is intentional. It's a Specialized Enduro Comp 29er. The colour and lack of branding is from an initiative they called "Project Clean". I loved it the second I saw it and again, I wind up with yet another baby blue bicycle to match my TCR Adv and Roam XR0 (which is now definitely up for sale).

I'll probably position a few strategically selected stickers on the frame to make it look cool. Can't wait to pick it up!!

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Danny

Definitely not ignorance mate, the lack of obvious branding is intentional. It's a Specialized Enduro Comp 29er. The colour and lack of branding is from an initiative they called "Project Clean". I loved it the second I saw it and again, I wind up with yet another baby blue bicycle to match my TCR Adv and Roam XR0 (which is now definitely up for sale).

I'll probably position a few strategically selected stickers on the frame to make it look cool. Can't wait to pick it up!!

What was the damage from for that? Love the clean look.

[Danny]

Picked it up for $2700 which is an absolutely cracking deal. A client of mine is a very very good customer of the shop I bought it from, so he was willing to look after me pretty generously. I'd previously been hiring downhill and trail bikes to go to the youies and Buller etc, and it was really adding up so I thought bugger it, different bikes for different moods. At least I can take advantage of the awesome tracks around my area I can't take the TCR!

[DJM83]

Thats a pretty good price. When i looked at my last bike i rode a 29er, i just didnt like it i guess some do and some dont found it to long for the tight twisty stuff but they have less tendency to get wheels caught in ruts and gullys etc. Even though my bike has a longer slack geometry frame i just wasnt a fan and prefer 650b. I really like the clean stickerless look they have gone with though.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

So, on doctors orders I need to drop some kilos and exercise. Running is out due to my calves, so I am really keen on cycling.

Tonight I gt the old mountain bike out and went for a ride, and thought I was going to die. Man am I unfit.

My question is more around those cyclists out there, what difference does a bike make? There are guys at work who are right into it and spend thousands on their bikes but you can pick it up with two fingers. So does a decent road bike make the difference? I mean my bike is old and is like a hybrid mountain bike, but on track today, there were guys pedaling the same as I was but they were justing taking off.

So does a good bike really help?

Whilst you can get fit and loose weight on any bike, I'm a firmer believer that a better bike is usually a nicer bike to ride and is more enjoyable, therefore you are more likely to ride more often because of the experience, which in turn gets you fitter and also loosing more kilos.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Thats a pretty good price. When i looked at my last bike i rode a 29er, i just didnt like it i guess some do and some dont found it to long for the tight twisty stuff but they have less tendency to get wheels caught in ruts and gullys etc. Even though my bike has a longer slack geometry frame i just wasnt a fan and prefer 650b. I really like the clean stickerless look they have gone with though.

I wanted a 650b, but didn't like the extra $1200 or so tacked onto the price to get one :(

Did do a bit of research though and most reviews seemed to suggest that its handling and jumping prowess defied the fact that it is a 29er.

Coming from a FWD car that belies physics against all criticism, I'm used to this sort of debate!!

Also being new to the trail and DH stuff, I wouldn't have the skill to tell the difference yet anyway.

In other news, I just took the roadie out on a not so lengthy 42km, but hilly ride containing 4 Cat 4 climbs (I'd never done one before). Climbed 820m in less than 40km.. Oh the joys of living out in Melbourne's East.

[DJM83]

Oh yeah mate, enjoy the **** out of it. I know you will.

[beardo]

Originally Posted by Danny

I wanted a 650b, but didn't like the extra $1200 or so tacked onto the price to get one :(

Did do a bit of research though and most reviews seemed to suggest that its handling and jumping prowess defied the fact that it is a 29er.

Coming from a FWD car that belies physics against all criticism, I'm used to this sort of debate!!

Also being new to the trail and DH stuff, I wouldn't have the skill to tell the difference yet anyway.

In other news, I just took the roadie out on a not so lengthy 42km, but hilly ride containing 4 Cat 4 climbs (I'd never done one before). Climbed 820m in less than 40km.. Oh the joys of living out in Melbourne's East.

I always thought 650b's were a bit of a flog anyway, riding dh you have plenty of other stuff to worry about than an extra 1.5'' in your wheels.
Have you done much riding around Healesville? Highly recommend Long Gully if you can manage a day there.
And also liking your new bike, I had a black and blue Demo with no stickers that looked pretty sweet

[Danny]

No I've only ridden Lysterfield, Youies, and Buller. Healesville would be alright as it's closer.

I live in Warrandyte though and it would be awesome if I knew all the secret tracks, so I could ride straight from the garage!

[mcnews]

Buxton is well worth it for you MTB guys.

[Batmobile]

If you're into everything downhill on the east side the lads at Yarra Valley Cycles in Lilydale will hook you up with tracks in Long Gully and alike

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by Boosted8

Even though I was shaken up, after a few minutes I realised I should get her info. She gave me her phone number and I have her rego anyway. I think she was a bit shocked as well.



Yeah, I simply don't agree with acting aggressively any more. Like you said, she made a silly "human" mistake. When I was younger, I used to blow my top at just about everything but I came to realise that it did more damage to myself than it ever did to anyone else. Funnily enough the first thing I said was "THERE'S A CYCLIST HERE!!!" her face was all :O

As a method for getting a girl's phone number... I'd give this one a 5/10 - not my worst effort tbh

Got car-doored a couple of years back. It was at a reasonable speed so over the handle bars and head-first into the road. Broke nose, helmet, front wheel, handlebars bent, etc. Luckily the car behind me was on the game and swerved as I spilled right in front of it.

Just lay on the ground doing a systems reboot for 30 seconds. Legs - check, arms - check, etc. Guy was out of his car yelling at me to stop playing hurt and trying to drag me up. Some old Greek blokes sitting in a café stopped him. Managed to drag myself and bike to the side of the road. Completely knocked about and sat there. Meanwhile the hero quietly got in his car and drove off. Mongrel.

[Boosted8]

Well I had another intriguing bicycle-related episode on my ride home tonight. It feels like something bizarre is happening almost every other ride now.

Basically my current route home takes me down a steep bike path which is next to a (popular, often rowdy) local skate park. The bike path bends around the skate park and then connects to a bridge which crosses a small creek. Tonight I was absolutely flying down the path (it was empty) but when I got to the bridge there were four or five teenagers blocking almost all of the path. I really wasn't in the mood to slow down for arrogant path-blocking jerks so I just maintained speed and maneuvered around them.

As I passed them one of them said "Is that my bike!?" - I thought he was saying it to his friend who was sitting there on a bmx (because he said it so quietly). Nope! Funnily enough he was apparently demanding to know if I had his bike, next thing I hear from behind me: "HEY (c word)! STOP!" - all of them yelling for me to stop. I was bemused enough to see what their deal was so I slowed down just enough so they thought they could catch up... they looked like they were all about 16-18 years old so I made the judgement call that:

A) there was no point explaining to them that it was a bad idea to go around insulting random people with such fervour,
B) a confrontation would almost certainly end poorly for all concerned,
and,
C) it would be infinitely funnier to troll them...

So, I let them get within a few meters of my rear tyre (still not saying a word) then I boosted off into the night like a demon's whisper! I can still see the bmx kid's legs flailing around frantically as he briefly tried his best to keep up. Man, I need to get a gopro.

P.S. What is wrong with kids these days?

[beardo]

Definitely get a gopro. Wonder if they'll be there tomorrow?

[mik]

Its hard to say what may have happened , they could have accosted you and then it would have been their bike .
a while ago i came across some teenagers on the top of a pedestrian bridge over the freeway near home , one of the young blokes stopped me asked for a ride ........yeah likes thats going to happen .

[Boosted8]

Originally Posted by beardo

Definitely get a gopro. Wonder if they'll be there tomorrow?

I'll update if they are. Tomorrow I get to go home early (during daylight hours) so it will be at a totally different time but they will be out of school so there's a chance.

Originally Posted by mik

Its hard to say what may have happened , they could have accosted you and then it would have been their bike .
a while ago i came across some teenagers on the top of a pedestrian bridge over the freeway near home , one of the young blokes stopped me asked for a ride ........yeah likes thats going to happen .

Yeah, I know right... no sane person is going to stop when you're swearing at them and seem like a crazy bunch of rat kids looking for a fight. It's also unreasonable to expect someone you don't know to stop on a dimly lit path in the middle of nowhere when you're displaying signs of aggression and outnumbering them by 4 or 5 to 1. I simply don't need the hassle.

If someone did steal his bike, I feel sorry for him because I had a bike stolen once but at the end of the day, there is a right and a wrong way to ask a question... if they think I have their bike they can call the police and I'll be more than happy to show the receipt with serial numbers, etc.

I would be lying if I said it didn't make my day to mess with them though. I'm amazed they expected to be given the time of day when they were being so disrespectful.

I actually got the sense that they were just trying to steal my bike tbh.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by beardo

I always thought 650b's were a bit of a flog anyway, riding dh you have plenty of other stuff to worry about than an extra 1.5'' in your wheels.
Have you done much riding around Healesville? Highly recommend Long Gully if you can manage a day there.
And also liking your new bike, I had a black and blue Demo with no stickers that looked pretty sweet

650b isn't really a flog. There is many more of them around compared to 29er. That said each to their own. I just didn't like the way they (29er) rode. You either love or hate them. As for dh and plenty to worry about. I've never seen a 29er dh bike. Unless your talking trails then your right but you have to be comfortable on what your riding.

[beardo]

Yeah mainly talking trails. When your smashing a rock garden or jumping or whatever, i just can't see how an extra 1.5'' would make that much difference, but maybe it does.
I was never fussy with my bikes but the biggest difference i feltwas the first time i hopped on a 2011 Specialized Demo with the low bottom bracket and i was sold

[Danny]

Just was convinced to get the dropper post. I can't wait to pick it up. I might smash Kinglake or the Youies on Good Friday.

[beardo]

Have you been to kinglake? I absolutely love it there but isn't there only 1 track still? Youies is good for variety but gets old quick, too artificial for dh

[Danny]

Yeah, I did $1700 worth of damage to a Specialised enduro Elite at the Youies, dropped it twice in all the right places and ruined it, it was a demo bike from the same bike shop I bought this new one from.. I need to face my demons at the Youies again.

Havent been to Kinglake, watched the youtubes of it and it looks cool. I might smash that as its not far from my joint. About 20km. Lysterfield is a little bit tame.

Anyway, speaking cycles, now I've got three, who wants to buy my Giant Roam XR-0 Disc SRAM?

It would make a sweet commuter or cruiser and looks tha bizniz with that colour and all. Who wants to get into cycling for fitness or something like that??



Need Moar funds for my growing bike obsession. $990, was $1600.

[DJM83]

Yeah I've been thinking what I'll buy next. Although I'm in no hurry.
- sell my reign and buy a 6 to 8k enduro bike ala Santa Cruz nomad cc
- sell reign and buy a giant glory, single purpose bike though.
- keep my reign ride it like I stole it. And then buy a reign advanced with carbon frame.

For the moment I'm loving my current reign, it's not the best enduro bike around but it goes pretty well and love the geometry of the frame.

I have no interest in any other riding style apart from mostly gravity type stuff and the odd climb.

[beardo]

Originally Posted by Danny

Yeah, I did $1700 worth of damage to a Specialised enduro Elite at the Youies, dropped it twice in all the right places and ruined it, it was a demo bike from the same bike shop I bought this new one from.. I need to face my demons at the Youies again.

Havent been to Kinglake, watched the youtubes of it and it looks cool. I might smash that as its not far from my joint. About 20km. Lysterfield is a little bit tame.

Anyway, speaking cycles, now I've got three, who wants to buy my Giant Roam XR-0 Disc SRAM?

It would make a sweet commuter or cruiser and looks tha bizniz with that colour and all. Who wants to get into cycling for fitness or something like that??

image

Need Moar funds for my growing bike obsession. $990, was $1600.

Youies has quite a few inconveniently placed rocks that will do that to you. If you haven't already, get onto Juan at Downhill Express Shuttles on facebook and see when he's doing shuttles at Kinglake again

[Danny]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah I've been thinking what I'll buy next. Although I'm in no hurry.
- sell my reign and buy a 6 to 8k enduro bike ala Santa Cruz nomad cc
- sell reign and buy a giant glory, single purpose bike though.
- keep my reign ride it like I stole it. And then buy a reign advanced with carbon frame.

For the moment I'm loving my current reign, it's not the best enduro bike around but it goes pretty well and love the geometry of the frame.

I have no interest in any other riding style apart from mostly gravity type stuff and the odd climb.

Awesome.

A dude that I made friends with at Bike Buller had a Santa Criz nomad that caught my eye because of the colour (baby blue and pink writing- looked so good), and he said to me that if I was looking for the perfect all rounder that the Nomad was a phenomenal bike. He had a coil spring installed on the rear, Reckons it loses nothing to his DH bike and since he got the nomad, it's so perfect that he doesn't use his DH bike at all... He basically sold me on it.. Until I saw the $$$$ and had a giggle. Not right now for me. So I bought the Spesh.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by Boosted8

Well I had another intriguing bicycle-related episode on my ride home tonight. It feels like something bizarre is happening almost every other ride now.

Basically my current route home takes me down a steep bike path which is next to a (popular, often rowdy) local skate park. The bike path bends around the skate park and then connects to a bridge which crosses a small creek. Tonight I was absolutely flying down the path (it was empty) but when I got to the bridge there were four or five teenagers blocking almost all of the path. I really wasn't in the mood to slow down for arrogant path-blocking jerks so I just maintained speed and maneuvered around them.

As I passed them one of them said "Is that my bike!?" - I thought he was saying it to his friend who was sitting there on a bmx (because he said it so quietly). Nope! Funnily enough he was apparently demanding to know if I had his bike, next thing I hear from behind me: "HEY (c word)! STOP!" - all of them yelling for me to stop. I was bemused enough to see what their deal was so I slowed down just enough so they thought they could catch up... they looked like they were all about 16-18 years old so I made the judgement call that:

A) there was no point explaining to them that it was a bad idea to go around insulting random people with such fervour,
B) a confrontation would almost certainly end poorly for all concerned,
and,
C) it would be infinitely funnier to troll them...

So, I let them get within a few meters of my rear tyre (still not saying a word) then I boosted off into the night like a demon's whisper! I can still see the bmx kid's legs flailing around frantically as he briefly tried his best to keep up. Man, I need to get a gopro.

P.S. What is wrong with kids these days?

Drop the first one and watch the others flee, squeeling like 10 year old girls at a Beyonce concert as they go!

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Danny

Awesome.

A dude that I made friends with at Bike Buller had a Santa Criz nomad that caught my eye because of the colour (baby blue and pink writing- looked so good), and he said to me that if I was looking for the perfect all rounder that the Nomad was a phenomenal bike. He had a coil spring installed on the rear, Reckons it loses nothing to his DH bike and since he got the nomad, it's so perfect that he doesn't use his DH bike at all... He basically sold me on it.. Until I saw the $$$$ and had a giggle. Not right now for me. So I bought the Spesh.

Yeah i rode a custom build Nomad CC, by custom i mean, forks, brakes, bars, wheels and what and it was simply epic. I did ride a standard one aswell and it was still bloody good but it was a size to small for me.

[Boosted8]

Originally Posted by NTF6

Drop the first one and watch the others flee, squeeling like 10 year old girls at a Beyonce concert as they go!

Most likely true. In any case, it was a lot more fun trolling them.

[Danny]

Aaaand, picked up today.

Very rare pic of the XR6 Turbo thrown in as well for Ford Forum relevance