I'm looking at getting a new bike. My Specialized Rockhopper (circa 1990) just isn't cutting it any more. I love her like an old boot, but the lack of suspension and the cast iron frame mean it's making it hard work.
I'm looking at the cycle to work scheme so I can throw in a GPS and some pedals/shoes etc and get it all cheap. Having scanned bike radar I'd rather like the KHS Alite 3000, but.....I want to get it from somewhere that is CycletoWork affiliated and that also sells GPS which narrows it to pretty much Evans I think.
Trawling Evans and hitting reviews gives me the Gary Fisher pieces at around the Ã,£500 mark. It's predominantly single track I'm after, but with the odd up and down hill as well as some minor road bits.
I'm drawn to the Gary Fisher Wahoo, but it's v-brakes are putting me off. I'd like hydraulic discs, for no real reason.
Any ideas?
I have a Gary Fisher (2001) and love it. Very light bike and the gearing is still smooth. V Brakes are fine for me :)
Aye, I used to have a Fisher, many years ago and was kind of attached. What I don't understand is why the disc version is 350 and the v is 500....
I only want discs because I've never had them and all my buddy (damn I'm good) have them.
Quote from: Benny;312547I'd like hydraulic discs, for no real reason.
I can't help you much with the bike part, but I'll comment on the brakes. I have hydraulic discs myself, and I'll never have a bike without them again. Mainly for two simple reasons:
1: They brake
sooo much better. Period.
2:This might not be a valid reason over in your place, but here in Norway when it gets really cold in the winter, ordinary wire brakes can freeze. That's not a problem you have with hydraulics.
So if nothing else, I would definitely go for hydraulic discs if I were you :)
ok, so now thinking this...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/tahoe-2010-mountain-bike-ec022185
I still have my rockhopper gathering dust in the shed... Tho a friend has just bought a bike from "decathlon eww" tho with the buying power they have the spec is fantastic for the price tho still Ã,£750 ... I still think suspension is for girls, tho you can lock it off with a handy button
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-9-1-66759348/#INFO-DETAIL
Like the look of that, but can't get it under the cycle to work scheme.....gits.
I trade the suspension for girls bit. I've removed my saddle to make my riding more manly as a compromise.
Have a chat to Gandy as he's in the industry (kind of).
You never know .............
So after a week of pain it's going to be the Boardman FS from (*spit) Halfords, or it will be the Giant X4 full sus. Now I'm excited and have to wait for the cyclevoucher to come through.......
ta
MBR did a review recently of Ã,£1k full-sussers which may be worth taking a look at? This month they are looking at Ã,£1.6k ones.
If you find a bike you like and a place that does the cycle-to-work scheme then you should be able to ask them if they could get you one of those? Might be worth checking you local bike shop, they may do it?
I've been toying with getting a new one and narrowed it down to either a Lapierre or an Orange. but I don't think they are the sort of thing you're looking for?
Tried putting your postcode in here to find a store - http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ ?
The boardmans are supposed to be ok from halfords, just don't ride it without giving it a full check as their final inspection checks aren't known to be the best. Never know might get someone at your local store that has a bit of a clue. Could always try your local bike store and see what offers they can do you.
Also on the note of the rear shocks. The fox float RP23 has a feature call pro pedal that lets you virtually lock out the bob of the shock if you want.
:yahoo::yahoo:Just bought a Spesh...after all that. FSR Comp....
In that case Benny do you fancy joining us for a jaunt somewhere? Just spent the weekend at Keswick getting some pain in before a MTB marathon next weekend. Looking at maybe a weekend in Keilder next.
Aye, I won't be near your standards, but I'm sure we can hook up at some point :)
(http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2010/bikes/9302-41_d.jpg)
Nice!
sn00ks, being as you are only around the corner from me... maybe I can join you both when you go out for a ride? Bearing in mind I've only just started cycling 2 weeks ago after a 5 year break from excercise ;) Recovering well!
Needed to start cycling again after I was ill, just didn't feel like doing it. Loving it at the moment though, keep going a bit further and harder ever day. Soon be back to my fit state!
D
Where're you based Dannage, I'm sure we could meet up for a ride? There's loads of good natural stuff around here. We usually go out on Thursday evenings north of Sheffield near Wharncliffe with other jaunts fitted in whenever.
Not far from Rother Valley. Jct 31 M1, pretty easy to get to places in the car with the bike in the back though :)
Whilst we're still on this (he said bumping it), this is a great site, http://www.mtbe.co.uk/
Very friendly, very helpful and of those forums that around that cater to MTB they are extremely welcoming. Recommended if you have any interest.
Got the bike Wednesday. First session today, some gentle downhill and xc that I know well from my hard tail. It was like floating down in a bath of ice cream! Superb!
Just gets better. A friend broke a clavicle a few weeks back. We headed out today for someone's birthday ride (41). I rode through dog poo which entertained everyone as it flicked up whole and landed on my back. I hosed that off and we headed out. 1 hour later and another friend with a trip to A&E in an ambulance with another broken clavicle. I shouldn't smile...My bike rocks down hill, a little bouncy going up though :)
Ouch and ouch!
I've been out for a quick ride today, too tierd and I've got 7 x 12 hour shifts coming up :(
Looks like your bikes got pro pedal benny, does it not take the bounce out when going up hill? How are you getting on with it?
Going to strip mine down after these 7 days at work and rebuilt it, see if I can get the front rotor from rubbing up after a bit of riding. Really getting annoying now :(
OH and take care riding lol, seems your groups not having much luck! And invest in a poo catcher if you're going to cycle through it! :D
I dunno what pro-pedal is. I can lock off the rear, and the front for that matter, but I think I need to get it adjusted. When not locked it's very soft. Still loving it though :)
I need to adjust the front gears (can't spell deraililuiuliuer) as it rubs on the outer. I might ivest in a thing to stop the chain slapping as well, but we'll see. Next up is a GPS, I've found one for Ã,£50, Sn00ks did point me at one a while back, but I think it was a bit more.
You should be able to take the bike back for a free tune-up as all the cables will have stretched.
To stop the chain slapping against the stay you could fit a chain-device but you might be better off getting one of them neoprene/velcro wrap around things to cushion the stay.
Have you set the suspension up for your weight? You are looking at around 25% of the full travel to be taken up when you sit on the bike in your attack riding position, i.e. weight slightly forward as though you were about to go over some technical bits. Also you want to set your damping to be about 75%, i.e. if you've got 8 clicks of adjustment set it on the sixth click (1 being the least damping and 8 being the most). That is a good starting point and you can mess with it from there.
GPS, hmm. How much money have you got and what do you want? Full mapping or just co-ordinates? I use a map and compass.
http://www.redbull.jp/cs/Satellite/ja_JP/Video/Favela-Flyers-021242782422049?refmod=Related&refmodpos=0
next stop :)
That looks great fun
thats some crazy shizzle
See that, that's me that is!
Actually I'm more of an XC rider. Having a go at another MTB marathon, the Kielder Oktoberfest, in a couple of weeks.
http://www.thebikeplace.co.uk/index.php?option=static&page_id=2501&pname=Events
I so enjoyed the Chain Reactions marathon at Grassington that I thought I'd try another. It is so nice when the pain stops.
Anyone fancy joining me? There are spaces.
Just got back from Afan, superb! When I get 5 minutes I'll post the video of me doing a face plant off a tiny pebble. All the rest fine, every route...then one piece, where I was tired and not concentrating.....oops. Cannot recommend it enough, if anyone is going that way, let me know and I know someone over there who will show you around, is good company and won't charge the earth.
He even does weekenders and will do your meals too :)
Hmm does he do accomodation or just guiding?
Looking forward to seeing your tumble. its amazing how cack you get when you're tired. Did you use the girly uplift service?
You'll have to come and join us at Coed-y-Brenin some time.
Off up to Scotland next week to meet up with Thulsa Doom, planning to do Kiroughtree and Dalbeattie. Should be fun.
He's happy to sort as much or as little as you want, top bloke. For us we booked a place, he stayed with us (even though he's around the corner) did us breakfast (full fry ups, a great curry in the evening) and led us round the tracks with a colleague who can probably sort bike hire if you need it?
Nope didn't use the uplift, the cycle up Whites level was hard work, then around w2 and finishing with Darkside which was country miles the best run. A mix of twists and turns with manageable drop offs. The crash was no more than turning the wheel as I dropped off a small ledge, it over turned and I went over....in my spd's :)
aw....what a weekend. What a rubbish crash :D
Good vid! :flirty:
What camera was it? I keep thinking about getting one but just can't quite convince myself it is worth it.
Yes it was a rubbish crash.:roflmao:
Weight back more and carry a bit more momentum into the TTF (Technical Trail Feature). Look ahead at where you want to go and not where you don't want to go.
And if you want to suck eggs here is how you do it Grandma..........:devil:
The only eggs your grandmas has is the 'love' variety.
(I call it lazy cycling, I'd puffed up to there and wasn't interested, looking, caring where I was going....) Camera is a GoPro I think.
A big silver olde worlde camera shaped thing? It does seem to have a reasonable quality picture but a slightly fish-eyed effect. They look quite precarious and prone to knocks when fitted to a helmet. I am really tempted by the Contour HD series.