Geekzone Cycling Thread

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159 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2814404 17-Nov-2021 11:26

elpenguino: Whats a casual roadie?
Does that mean you ride one handed with a slouch?

😅 more of a hunch than a slouch

Means I ride by less frequently, slower & shorter distances than the road cyclists I see around here

Handsomedan: Where do you ride and why?

Second question: What’s your preferred type of riding (i.e. casual road riding, trails/bike paths, jump parks, DH bike parks, XC, velodrome etc)?

On the road bike.. Countryside, rolling hills, nice scenery

I've also got a velodrome track bike, which is great fun. love being able to go as fast as possible without needing to worry about traffic/ pedestrians

Are there any other track riders here?

t0ny

395 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2814538 17-Nov-2021 13:38

I got a hybrid sort of bike just so i can keep up with my son when he is in the park on his bike

Its a Kona Dew Deluxe. I add the pannier at the back so i can lug around the groceries when i go to the supermarket. Need to come up with a better solution for the bags though :p

elpenguino

3392 posts

Uber Geek

#2814550 17-Nov-2021 14:01

Batman:

elpenguino: Whats a casual roadie?

this?

As a wellington cyclist, I'd love one of these but only for a tail wind, and only up to a certain wind speed.

Yes, it would not be used vertically.

Edit: darn tags!

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

snowfly

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2814560 17-Nov-2021 14:10

I've also got back into biking more seriously over the past 4-5 years.
Previously in my 20's and 30's I only used a commuter bike to get from A to B, but in my late 30's I picked up biking for fitness/sport/enjoyment, after having a back injury many years ago (surgery to fix a bulging disc).

Enjoy the local MTB club scene, plus entered a few races/events over the past few years.

Including round Taupo cycle challenge (road bike), huka challenge (85km MTB), Whaka 100 (completed 3 times), Whaka 50 (once), Winter MTB Rotorua races, Craters Classic, local XC/enduro races etc.
Downgraded to the Whaka 50 events after lower back pain issues sitting on a MTB for 7.5 hours doing the Whaka 100km!

Current bikes in our family of 4:

2019 Giant Trance 29er - my main MTB for trail riding / XC racing
2017 Giant XTC hardtail - for training, cruising, or riding as single speed
2015 Giant TCR - my road bike
2017 Scott Spark 930 - wife's MTB
2012 Avanti Road bike - wife's road bike, usually sits on our wahoo smart trainer
Scott Roxter 24" - eldest daughter
Scott Roxter 20" - youngest daughter

The kids have loved getting into biking as well, the scott roxter has been great with it's fat 2.6" tyres, giving good grip (lower pressures) and confidence off road.

Hoping to enter a few more events next year, as long as they don't get postponed/cancelled like this year.

Handsomedan

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#2814597 17-Nov-2021 15:00

mudguard:

Handsomedan:

Dirty bikes:

Was that after Woodhill on Sunday?? We normally ride out there each weekend, and obviously it was the first weekend through lockdown but we didn't go. As I'd played golf in the rain the day before, and the weather was pants again. And I thought it would be really busy!

Think my pass ran out in August so I guess that was good timing! I think being hard on gear is an age thing. I broke a lot of stuff in my twenties, now it's more wearing things out.

But there has been a bit of annoying flurry of standard changed which has finally settled. My current bike was the last of the 26ers. So I've seen 650B wane, and boost arrive, so I've ordered a new 29, first new bike in a long time. Whether it gets here is another matter.

Yeah that was "Better than the road" - it really wasn't better than the road. At all. It was unrideable.

The rest of Woodhill was running mint, but that particular section was complete pants. We spent a good 10 min scraping clay from the tyres and shoes.

Looks really different up there with all the logging that's gone on

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

elpenguino

3392 posts

Uber Geek

#2815056 18-Nov-2021 09:52

I've commuted by bike for years but I stopped enjoying it a while ago. About 2 years ago I decided to give mountain biking a go. I got a second hand bike from a friend who was upgrading.

This is my beast.

Around Wellington, tracks are usually pretty narrow so if you stray you'll be down a bank or worse, over an edge. That can make it both exciting and nerve wracking.

So far I'm doing greens and blues but some workmates took me down a black and I survived - just.

I feel lucky that from home or work I can reach track heads in about 10-15 minutes (of road riding), do an off-road run and be back an hour later.

One of my lads is not bothered but the younger one enjoys a ride. I've introduced him to gentle tracks so far cos I didn't want it to become a chore with steep climbs or descents which were beyond his confidence.

Recently he asked when we were heading out again so that's encouraging.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

elpenguino

3392 posts

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#2815057 18-Nov-2021 09:54

Deamo:

Are there any other track riders here?

No but whenever I see them on telly, I'm amazed the speeds they get up to.

What are track bikes like to ride?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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Batman

Mad Scientist
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#2815074 18-Nov-2021 10:24

elpenguino:

Deamo:

Are there any other track riders here?

No but whenever I see them on telly, I'm amazed the speeds they get up to.

What are track bikes like to ride?

no brakes

single speed

fixed ring (no freewheel)

and you need to contort yourself

Handsomedan

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#2815153 18-Nov-2021 11:21

elpenguino:

This is my beast.

Around Wellington, tracks are usually pretty narrow so if you stray you'll be down a bank or worse, over an edge. That can make it both exciting and nerve wracking.

So far I'm doing greens and blues but some workmates took me down a black and I survived - just.

I feel lucky that from home or work I can reach track heads in about 10-15 minutes (of road riding), do an off-road run and be back an hour later.

One of my lads is not bothered but the younger one enjoys a ride. I've introduced him to gentle tracks so far cos I didn't want it to become a chore with steep climbs or descents which were beyond his confidence.

Recently he asked when we were heading out again so that's encouraging.

I love that bike! The curved top tube is pure sexiness.

If you were to whack a dropper post on that, you'd transform the way it rides on singletrack. I didn't believe the hype about droppers, right up until I gave in and got my first dropper. Now I can't imagine not having one.

It makes the transitions from downhill to uphill easier, by positioning your saddle where you need it for maximum efficiency at the flick of a switch. For those descents (particularly blacks) where you want to get back over the rear a little more and distribute your body weight more evenly, it'll help with preventing the inevitable "over the bars" experience that a high seatpost will give you if the back wheel gets bucked.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

elpenguino

3392 posts

Uber Geek

#2815198 18-Nov-2021 12:25

Handsomedan:

I love that bike! The curved top tube is pure sexiness.

If you were to whack a dropper post on that, you'd transform the way it rides on singletrack. I didn't believe the hype about droppers, right up until I gave in and got my first dropper. Now I can't imagine not having one.

It makes the transitions from downhill to uphill easier, by positioning your saddle where you need it for maximum efficiency at the flick of a switch. For those descents (particularly blacks) where you want to get back over the rear a little more and distribute your body weight more evenly, it'll help with preventing the inevitable "over the bars" experience that a high seatpost will give you if the back wheel gets bucked.

Why, thank you.

The bike came with a fixed seat adjuster so after a wee while I swapped it for an adjustable one so I can lower it pre-descent. When I ride tracks I know, I mostly leave it where it is.

I'm not sure if a dropper can easily be added to a carbon frame and I'm also not sure if dropper money would be better invested towards going full suspension.

My attitude is that I have a lot of upskilling to do so before I upgrade, I want to feel the bike is the limit rather than me.

I should try out the local skills areas - they're usually a drive away tho, so it would take some effort and I'm not sure I want to crash in front of a crowd on a weekend :-)

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Deamo

159 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2815213 18-Nov-2021 13:00

elpenguino:

What are track bikes like to ride?

the speeds the pros get to are insane. only time i go that fast is downhill with a talwind.

They're pretty fun once you get the hang of it. They're pretty close to normal road bike dimensions.
Takes some getting used to though, since you can't coast and braking is done by gradually resisting the peddles.

The most amusing thing the coaches at the velodrome say is "if you feel unsteady up on the track, go faster!" - because the faster you go, the easier it is to stay on the track

This is my track bike, it's running (comparatively) small gearing at the moment - 48x16

Deamo

159 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2815217 18-Nov-2021 13:10

@elpenguino, that bike is gorgeous.

I'd love to get into some mountain biking, but being in Hamilton the closest trails that would be worth it are Te Miro & I can't see myself traipsing out there regularly enough to make it worthwhile

Handsomedan

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#2815341 18-Nov-2021 15:01

elpenguino:

Handsomedan:

I love that bike! The curved top tube is pure sexiness.

If you were to whack a dropper post on that, you'd transform the way it rides on singletrack. I didn't believe the hype about droppers, right up until I gave in and got my first dropper. Now I can't imagine not having one.

It makes the transitions from downhill to uphill easier, by positioning your saddle where you need it for maximum efficiency at the flick of a switch. For those descents (particularly blacks) where you want to get back over the rear a little more and distribute your body weight more evenly, it'll help with preventing the inevitable "over the bars" experience that a high seatpost will give you if the back wheel gets bucked.

Why, thank you.

The bike came with a fixed seat adjuster so after a wee while I swapped it for an adjustable one so I can lower it pre-descent. When I ride tracks I know, I mostly leave it where it is.

I'm not sure if a dropper can easily be added to a carbon frame and I'm also not sure if dropper money would be better invested towards going full suspension.

My attitude is that I have a lot of upskilling to do so before I upgrade, I want to feel the bike is the limit rather than me.

I should try out the local skills areas - they're usually a drive away tho, so it would take some effort and I'm not sure I want to crash in front of a crowd on a weekend :-)

Yes - an externally routed one in the right diameter would be fine.

A dropper is nothing like a suspension seatpost and a full-sus bike is very different to a Hard Tail with a dropper.

Droppers can be had for relatively reasonable money, but it does depend on whether you want to sink any money at all into a bike you have or move to something new.

Don't look to me for advice, I have had 4 bikes in 2 years and am always coveting my fellow riders' steeds.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

elpenguino

3392 posts

Uber Geek

#2815641 19-Nov-2021 11:52

Handsomedan:

Yes - an externally routed one in the right diameter would be fine.

A dropper is nothing like a suspension seatpost and a full-sus bike is very different to a Hard Tail with a dropper.

Droppers can be had for relatively reasonable money, but it does depend on whether you want to sink any money at all into a bike you have or move to something new.

Don't look to me for advice, I have had 4 bikes in 2 years and am always coveting my fellow riders' steeds.

If they didn't want you to covet them, they wouldn't have such hot bikes, right?

Re droppers, my research leads me to understand the dropper usually requires a cable between the dropper's base and the handlebar control.

Since my bike is carbon, I'm reluctant to go drilling holes for the cable and I can't see any cable exit provision was made by the designers either.

I totally get the benefit of dropping that seat before a descent and have recently successfully tackled a rocky wall first time by getting my weight back and, it takes a bit of courage, keeping speed up.

Brakes are not always your friend :-)

Speaking of descents, I filmed someone doing a bit of a steep jump/descent but it seems really hard to get the perspective right to give some idea of the difficulty.

Anyone got tips for this kind of thing?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

elpenguino

3392 posts

Uber Geek

#2815642 19-Nov-2021 11:55

Deamo:

@elpenguino, that bike is gorgeous.

I'd love to get into some mountain biking, but being in Hamilton the closest trails that would be worth it are Te Miro & I can't see myself traipsing out there regularly enough to make it worthwhile

Thanks @Deamo!

I always thought the Wellington hills were nothing but a hassle but now I see they have their benefits.

Have you got many trails in your area - you know, river side paths etc?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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