Geekzone Cycling Thread

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#3247305 11-Jun-2024 09:42

Senecio:

All wether training. Rain, hail, shine, day or night

If you're looking for a good workout that will really makes your legs and lungs burn in under 30mins then I can highly recomend the Calorie Crush workout.

That's the main reason I got it. Last night proved it perfectly since it was soaking wet outside. Benefit both from not having to go out in the weather and also reduces the wear on the drive train. Mud really turns into a grinding paste.
I'll keep that workout in mind though I did spot the endurance workouts last night so I might have a look at some of those once my legs have recovered from the ramp test. ;-)

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nomiss7

181 posts

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#3247384 11-Jun-2024 10:38

geoffwnz:
Senecio:

All wether training. Rain, hail, shine, day or night

If you're looking for a good workout that will really makes your legs and lungs burn in under 30mins then I can highly recomend the Calorie Crush workout.

That's the main reason I got it. Last night proved it perfectly since it was soaking wet outside. Benefit both from not having to go out in the weather and also reduces the wear on the drive train. Mud really turns into a grinding paste.

I'll keep that workout in mind though I did spot the endurance workouts last night so I might have a look at some of those once my legs have recovered from the ramp test. ;-)

I love a good old ramp test (so much easier mentally that doing it outdoors), it's the off season for me at the moment 🍻 but my aim for 2024 is to hit the 500Watt mark in a ramp test, got tantalisingly close at the start of the year before my legs pretty much exploded just after the 480Watt mark 🤣

geoffwnz

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#3247584 11-Jun-2024 19:07

nomiss7:

I love a good old ramp test (so much easier mentally that doing it outdoors), it's the off season for me at the moment 🍻 but my aim for 2024 is to hit the 500Watt mark in a ramp test, got tantalisingly close at the start of the year before my legs pretty much exploded just after the 480Watt mark 🤣

I was happy enough to grind out to 360W to set my baseline FTP at 270W.

Hitting 500W might be useful for the FaultLine hills. 🤔

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gjm

808 posts

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#3247638 11-Jun-2024 20:12

Thanks @geoffwnz for sharing that journey - enjoyed reading it.

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elpenguino

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#3249716 16-Jun-2024 21:14

That's impressive distances. Not for me (I'm wrecked after 25kms off road) , but I'm glad you enjoy it.

This short video from this amazing trickster came up randomly on YT.

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Technofreak

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#3252046 23-Jun-2024 10:28

Who'd have thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/21/we-made-it-more-dangerous-separators-for-cyclists-to-be-removed/

I've been saying this for a long time to anyone who will listen and quite a few who probably don't. Time they were all removed. They are a silly dangerous idea.

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MartinGZ

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#3252081 23-Jun-2024 12:53

Technofreak:

..... They are a silly dangerous idea.

Looking at the linked article, one of the separators has obviously been hit by a car, therefore it is doing it's job of keeping the car out of the cycle lane. Stay alert, keep off the bloody mobile phone and we should be fine. Where there are no cycle lanes, do cars continuously run into the kerb?

I get sick of every fourth car on the road where the driver thinks it's OK to travel with the left side of their vehicle taking up half the cycle lane, it's as though they don't know how to use the steering wheel. I cannot figure out why they do it.

I realise that some cyclists don't like these separators either, but I've not had issues. That said it is only when I head into the centre of ChCh that I come across similar, and that's not all that often.

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Technofreak

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#3252108 23-Jun-2024 15:05

I don't like them for two main reasons.

All the crud including "nice" stuff like broken glass ends up between the kerbs. All the stuff thats not nice to ride over and in the case of broken glass stuff that is going to puncture your tyres. If you try to avoid any crud you're likely to hit the kerb and fall off.

You're trapped between the kerbs, if you have to take any evasive action you've got nowhere to go.

I won't ride between these kerbs.

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Handsomedan

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#3252912 25-Jun-2024 10:45

I've started researching eBikes - more specifically, trail-capable e-Mountain Bikes.

I'm amazed at how much they have come down in price.

Where I would have needed a budget of around $8-10k for a good eBike with a mix of low/mid-level components, I am now able to find some really quite well-specced and high quality eBikes for around the $6500-$8000 mark.

Examples:
Currently there are a few sales on, but if I were pulling the trigger today, I could choose from any of the following -

Merida e160 700 - Alloy frame, Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, Shimano eP801 motor, quality Fox suspension, Enduro-style travel and ergonomics (150/160 travel) = $7299
Merida e160 500 - as above, but with Deore drivetrain, slightly lower-end Rockshox suspension, 150/160 travel (enduro) - $6299
Giant Trance X e+ 3 - Deore drivetrain, alloy frame, 140/150 travel (trail) and Yamaha SyncDrive Pro motor - $5487
Polygon T7e - Alloy frame, SLX drivetrain, upper-level Suntour suspension, 140/150 travel (trail) Shimano EP801 motor - $6459
Trek Rail 5 Gen 3 - Alloy frame, Mid-level Rockshox suspension (Enduro 150/160 travel), Deore drivetrain, Bosch Performance Line CX motor - $6499

Plus there are a bunch of "old stock" brand new bikes and ex-demos that are currently on sale at similar prices with higher spec.

It's really become a lot more affordable to own a decent eBike. It's still a lot of money to spend on a bike, but it's a longer-term investment.

It's also become a lot harder to choose. Not one of the bikes I have listed above has a bad review. They all have their own quirks or compromises, but it's a really hard decision to make when you're in the market - which I am intending to be in about 2 months time.

Ultimately, I think it'll end up coming down to whether I want a trail or enduro eBike for my purposes - and I think it'll end up being a coin toss.

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MartinGZ

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#3252919 25-Jun-2024 10:55

Technofreak:

I don't like them for two main reasons.

All the crud including "nice" stuff like broken glass ends up between the kerbs.

I absolutely understand where you are coming from on that one - just the other day I had to stop and remove a couple of fist size rocks off the (painted on) cycle lane. That is an issue with any cycle lane, not just restricted to the separated ones in the article.

From my reading, the main issue is the possibility of hitting those dividers. Reading between the lines in that particular article, the main drive to remove them came from the councillors, who in my experience tend to err to the car driving lobby rather than cyclists. But I could be wrong on that one of course.

MartinGZ

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#3252924 25-Jun-2024 11:09

Handsomedan:

I'm amazed at how much they have come down in price.

Don't forget maintenance costs in your budget, warranty is getting more important these days. On a standard bike I can do pretty much any maintenance that is needed, not so with ebikes. It can get pretty costly quite quickly if the drive unit is involved.

Love the ebike though, it's given new life to the old legs. My use is totally different to yours though, so I won't proffer any advice on which one.

blackjack17

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#3252925 25-Jun-2024 11:12

MartinGZ:

Technofreak:

I don't like them for two main reasons.

All the crud including "nice" stuff like broken glass ends up between the kerbs.

I absolutely understand where you are coming from on that one - just the other day I had to stop and remove a couple of fist size rocks off the (painted on) cycle lane. That is an issue with any cycle lane, not just restricted to the separated ones in the article.

From my reading, the main issue is the possibility of hitting those dividers. Reading between the lines in that particular article, the main drive to remove them came from the councillors, who in my experience tend to err to the car driving lobby rather than cyclists. But I could be wrong on that one of course.

I much prefer this style

Here is the NZTA matrix for barrier selection

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/Walking-Cycling-and-Public-Transport/docs/cycling-network-guidance/protected-cycle-lane-barrier-selection-matrix.pdf

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dfnt

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#3252941 25-Jun-2024 11:19

Handsomedan:

Ultimately, I think it'll end up coming down to whether I want a trail or enduro eBike for my purposes - and I think it'll end up being a coin toss.

I picked up a Yeti 160E last week, the decision for me was easy as I wanted a full power enduro bike to get up the hill as fast as possible to get as many downhill runs as possible. I'm not into flow trails, just technical grade 5's so an even easier decision.

Whether I continue to use my SB160 is another story 😂

Handsomedan

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#3252943 25-Jun-2024 11:20

MartinGZ:

Handsomedan:

I'm amazed at how much they have come down in price.

Don't forget maintenance costs in your budget, warranty is getting more important these days. On a standard bike I can do pretty much any maintenance that is needed, not so with ebikes. It can get pretty costly quite quickly if the drive unit is involved.

Love the ebike though, it's given new life to the old legs. My use is totally different to yours though, so I won't proffer any advice on which one.

Yeah, that is a good point - I hadn't really thought about that - I understand they're pretty heavy on drivetrains, which would mean annual maintenance goes up from simple servicing to potentially getting new rear cassette, chain and possibly front chainring, depending on mileage and usage.

My potential ownership of an eBike might change the way I ride too.
Currently, I am more gravity focussed as I really don't enjoy the climbs. A longer travel MTB is always going to be my weapon of choice, because I tend to want to bomb down hills and do (admittedly fairly tame) jumps etc.
An eBike would change that, as I'd likely find myself on longer rides doing more trails and therefore less gravity-focussed riding. The fact that I'd be able to climb where I used to walk, would be a real factor in that.

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geoffwnz

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#3252945 25-Jun-2024 11:24

I use my analogue enduro bike for endurance xc events. Definitely don't "need" the long travel and would be nice to have less bike to haul up the climbs, but love the "soak up anything" ability of the enduro setup.
Just means I have to be stronger. That's not a bad thing. ;-)

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