Geekzone Cycling Thread

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#3253017 25-Jun-2024 13:43

dfnt:

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 😂

I think this is key for me.
I'll likely want to go for a full-noise Enduro rig myself.

Going from a 170/170 Enduro analogue bike, I'd imagine I'll quickly feel under-biked on a Trail bike.

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#3253029 25-Jun-2024 13:55

Handsomedan:

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.

Trek Rail owner here, 2,900km on mine (70% off road and 30% road) Ive only done a chain on the drivetrain everything else including brakes have been perfect. (It will be in for a Fork service & general service before the end of winter though). Yes they can be harder on drivetrains but I wouldn't say heaps more.

I was the same as you just wanted to fit in more climbs and longer rides, it definitely does that. I can easily do 40-50km rides now with 1300 to 1600m of climbing. Also for quick after work rides you can fit a decent run in with a lot less time than an analogue bike.

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#3253407 26-Jun-2024 10:42

Handsomedan:

key for me.
I'll likely want to go for a full-noise Enduro rig myself.

Going from a 170/170 Enduro analogue bike, I'd imagine I'll quickly feel under-biked on a Trail bike.

Focus make some decent enduro ebikes, worth a look too

Handsomedan

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#3253438 26-Jun-2024 12:01

dfnt:

Handsomedan:

key for me.
I'll likely want to go for a full-noise Enduro rig myself.

Going from a 170/170 Enduro analogue bike, I'd imagine I'll quickly feel under-biked on a Trail bike.

Focus make some decent enduro ebikes, worth a look too

I have looked at a couple, but they're a bit more on the spendy side - along with the likes of Specialized and Giant, they seem to have good deals every now and again, but you need to be ready to buy as the sales are short and sporadic.
I have read good things about the Sam2 from Focus.

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elpenguino

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#3265597 28-Jul-2024 17:52

Yesterday was the better day in Wellington but I was resting after a commute ride on Friday. In an effort to improve my fitness after a few weeks off sick, I hit my favourite trails despite the drizzle that hit earlier today.

It was great to be back on the trails I know so well but man, I got absolutely filthy !

Question for the knowledgeable zoners. My rear tubeless seems to have a slow leak. I thought the gunge would stop this occurring. I changed the tire a while ago and the problem persists (long story).

What failure mode am I looking for on my not very old (2yr or so) rim from Giant?

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

mudguard

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#3265601 28-Jul-2024 18:10

How slow is slow? Most tubeless systems will leak air compared to a tube setup. This is why new bikes have tubes in them still despite being ready for tubeless. So shop employees don't have to pump up flat tyres every month.

So it depends. I've had tubeless that might lose a few psi per week. So if I have two weeks off that bike I'll have to pump it up.
If it's more than that, then check the old fashioned way, dunk the portions of the wheel under water, or I prefer to just either spray or wipe the tyre bead, rim and spokes with soapy water after pumping it up.
You'll see foamy bubbles.
Now depending where will determine how annoying it is.
At the valve, easy, just try and tighten it.
If it's at a spoke, you'll have to remove the tyre and retape the rim. It's easy enough but also annoying and fiddly if you've never done it before.
If it's through the actual tyre itself then it's likely just a case of topping up the sealant.

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#3265604 28-Jul-2024 18:29

elpenguino:
It was great to be back on the trails I know so well but man, I got absolutely filthy !

Funny, I went out first thing this morning when it was dry, Me and my bike were the cleanest they've ever been - usually there's either dust or mud, but today we were spotless.

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#3265777 29-Jul-2024 10:21

Cycling has kicked off at the Olympics.

The individual time trial on the road circuit was treacherous, after some heavy rain - so many crashes.

Then it was time for the MTB, which I always look forward to. This time, not so much. It's effectively a gravel bike race with one rock garden. Even the competitors are unimpressed:
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/tom-pidcock-criticises-bland-mountain-bike-course-at-paris-olympics

With that said, the ladies field still saw a few crashes and a couple of destroyed wheels.

MTB:

Loana Lecomte escapes serious injury in horrific mountain bike crash

Watch: Rear wheel "explodes" during women's MTB event at the Olympics | Cycling Today Official

Road Races:

Paris Olympics 2024: USA cyclist Chloé Dygert crashes in women's individual time trial

American cyclist Taylor Knibb falls off her bike FOUR times and her mechanic also takes a tumble as wet weather causes CHAOS in Paris Olympics time trials | Daily Mail Online

Her mechanic fell over trying to give her the replacement bike!!

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#3266200 30-Jul-2024 09:33

And Tom Pidcock yet again shows why he's the best of the best in the mens XCO at the Olympics.

Got a flat, lost muliple places and still managed to decimate the rest of the field to set up a dingdong finish with the French rider at the end.
Hearing the French crowd boo him as he crossed the line must've been particulalry sweet.

It was an aggressive move that got him there in the end, but it was legal and he had the (slight) advantage.

NZ's Sam Gaze did well to come back from being towards the back at the start and finished a creditable 6th overall, but in his attempt to keep up with a surging Pidcock, he ended up blowing out a bit.
He did lead briefly and looked to be in the hunt for a medal, but it was that fight with Pidcock towards the end that did him in, from what I could see.

Not the most challenging XC course in the world, but it was pretty good viewing.

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elpenguino

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#3266253 30-Jul-2024 09:56

mudguard: How slow is slow? Most tubeless systems will leak air compared to a tube setup. This is why new bikes have tubes in them still despite being ready for tubeless. So shop employees don't have to pump up flat tyres every month.

So it depends. I've had tubeless that might lose a few psi per week. So if I have two weeks off that bike I'll have to pump it up.
If it's more than that, then check the old fashioned way, dunk the portions of the wheel under water, or I prefer to just either spray or wipe the tyre bead, rim and spokes with soapy water after pumping it up.
You'll see foamy bubbles.
Now depending where will determine how annoying it is.
At the valve, easy, just try and tighten it.
If it's at a spoke, you'll have to remove the tyre and retape the rim. It's easy enough but also annoying and fiddly if you've never done it before.
If it's through the actual tyre itself then it's likely just a case of topping up the sealant.

It's pretty slow. After 2 weeks, the tyre deflated from 'ride ready' to 'deforms easily under hand pressure'.

The front is fine.

I don't think I have a container big enough so I will have to try soap water.

The whole thing is kind amusing cos I have tubes on my hard tail and haven't had a flat tyre in 4 years of riding. Tubeless is sposed to 'be better' and in 2 years I've had one flat and on going slow leak issues.

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

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#3266298 30-Jul-2024 12:12

Handsomedan:

And Tom Pidcock yet again shows why he's the best of the best in the mens XCO at the Olympics.

Got a flat, lost muliple places and still managed to decimate the rest of the field to set up a dingdong finish with the French rider at the end.
Hearing the French crowd boo him as he crossed the line must've been particulalry sweet.

It was an aggressive move that got him there in the end, but it was legal and he had the (slight) advantage.

NZ's Sam Gaze did well to come back from being towards the back at the start and finished a creditable 6th overall, but in his attempt to keep up with a surging Pidcock, he ended up blowing out a bit.
He did lead briefly and looked to be in the hunt for a medal, but it was that fight with Pidcock towards the end that did him in, from what I could see.

Not the most challenging XC course in the world, but it was pretty good viewing.

Stuff's headline calls the passing move 'controversial' but it looked pretty clean to me. What would I know tho?

Story goes on to say there was no protest lodged and the officials didn't object either. Not very controversial then.

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

geoffwnz

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#3266310 30-Jul-2024 12:39

elpenguino:

The whole thing is kind amusing cos I have tubes on my hard tail and haven't had a flat tyre in 4 years of riding. Tubeless is sposed to 'be better' and in 2 years I've had one flat and on going slow leak issues.

I'm still firmly in the tubes camp. Get told frequently how much better tubeless is but I just don't see any advantages for me. We don't have particularly thorny trails here so the risk of thorn punctures is limited. You can mitigate snakebites by using stuff like baby powder to stop the tubes sticking to the tyre (old trick from the 90's). If you do get a puncture, you can easily swap the tube out.

It's generally a good idea to carry a spare tube even running tubeless so you aren't saving anything there. The weight difference between tube in the tyre and sealant in the tyre is not enough to worry me (riding an enduro bike). And sealant tends to be messier to work with.

Yep, you have to take the wheel off to swap the tube vs a tubeless repair but that doesn't take long and given most of my races are 6-12 hours, taking a few minutes break isn't a bad thing. ;-)

Touch wood, also have avoided a puncture by a lucky combo of riding not overly aggressively on rocky trails and the tyre construction these days is a lot more resistant to them (EXO+ enduro casings).

But even back in the day, late 90s Karapoti etc, rarely got punctures then.

So yeah, it's nice to have the choice still. :-)

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#3266351 30-Jul-2024 14:53

Chiming in here on the tubes/tubeless argument.

I've never gone tubeless. Call me old school, but I see no need for going tubeless. I just don't get flats. I ride pretty hard, I am pretty heavy and I have a pretty burly bike.
Tubeless doesn't seem like it has any real advantage for me.

I ensure I ride with the correct pressures and look after my bike/tyres.

One of my sons (who is pretty serious about his mountainbiking) has tubeless tyres and it all just seems like a bunch of faff.

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mudguard

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#3266373 30-Jul-2024 16:38

I've been tubeless about ten years. I didn't really flat that often living in Auckland. But they would clumps. Like none in years, then three in three weeks.

The single biggest advantage of tubeless is it allows you to run lower pressures. So that generally means more grip, more compliance, and remarkably, improved rolling resistance (who knew the tube rubbing inside the tyre used watts!) as they will conform better to the terrain.

That all said, they are more work, I tend to check my pressures every week on my main bike and just let my other bikes drop. You do have to top sealant up every six months or so and depending on your rims, it's PIA to setup.

If you aren't having issues, it's not a compelling reason to change. What makes it a little harder to tell the benefits is the number of times I've noticed a little pin prick of sealant on the tyre. That would have been a flat with tubes.

All that said I still carry a tube, but wouldn't go back to them ever. It's almost like going to a softer compound tyre without the drag.

nomiss7

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#3266387 30-Jul-2024 17:08

I've done in the ballpark of 70,000km running tubeless on various road bikes and I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times I've had to put a tube in.

And only once had to call for help when I couldn't get a tube in.

But well worth it for the number of times it's saved me or I've not even realised that I've had a puncture until someone points out there is sealant all over my bike 🤣

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