Geekzone Cycling Thread

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20108 posts

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#3270885 12-Aug-2024 17:17

geoffwnz:

This is one of the reasons I mountain bike and avoid roads as much as I can.

I can't really avoid roads in my area TBH. Although there are now quite a few cycle ways, but they are missing in some areas, so don't link up. I ride a mountain bike on the roads due to the road surface being so poor :)

Senecio

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#3270909 12-Aug-2024 19:30

When the time comes to replace/upgrade my current road bike I will be buying a gravel bike. Will I ride it on gravel, sometimes but not very often. Its just that a gravel bike is so much better suited to riding on NZ roads.

roderickh

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#3273501 19-Aug-2024 15:19

roderickh:

Raised the topic to the SO and she also was keen to get one... ended up getting used bikes for us both, a Marin san anselmo for her and picked up a raceline enduro for myself without breaking the bank.

Looking forward to going for a ride this weekend!

(probably will read up on maintenance regimes online and youtube also now..)

4 months later - not riding as much as I'd like (I blame the weather!!) But when I do, it's been pretty dang enjoyable, we've only targeted the newer shared user paths and newer subdivisions with separated paths. I have cycled on great south road where there is a small cycle lane as a solo mission (the SO not so keen on non separated paths).

This past weekend I was cycling uphill and was easily overtaken by an elderly group on their road bikes which made me wonder, is there any quick wins I can do to reduce drag? Is this as simple as changing tyres? Is there other quick wins? (not looking to procure another road bike at this stage..)

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geoffwnz

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#3273507 19-Aug-2024 15:39

roderickh:

4 months later - not riding as much as I'd like (I blame the weather!!) But when I do, it's been pretty dang enjoyable, we've only targeted the newer shared user paths and newer subdivisions with separated paths. I have cycled on great south road where there is a small cycle lane as a solo mission (the SO not so keen on non separated paths).

This past weekend I was cycling uphill and was easily overtaken by an elderly group on their road bikes which made me wonder, is there any quick wins I can do to reduce drag? Is this as simple as changing tyres? Is there other quick wins? (not looking to procure another road bike at this stage..)

Running lower rolling resistance tyres may help but I suspect the most likely win will be to ride more and get stronger. It's not a super quick win but even if you ride once a week you should start to notice the hills getting a little bit easier.

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roderickh

213 posts

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#3273514 19-Aug-2024 15:42

geoffwnz:

Running lower rolling resistance tyres may help but I suspect the most likely win will be to ride more and get stronger. It's not a super quick win but even if you ride once a week you should start to notice the hills getting a little bit easier.

Haha! The truth I have to accept.. That said though, the uphill bit of my ride on first attempt months ago (multiple times stopping) vs two days ago (non stop) was a definitely a sense of achievement..

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mattwnz

20108 posts

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#3273519 19-Aug-2024 15:45

Are you sure they didn't have have some form of electric bike. I see a lot of older riders with ebikes of some sort these day and they often overtake younger riders with normal pushbikes.

geoffwnz

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#3273520 19-Aug-2024 15:47

roderickh:

geoffwnz:

Running lower rolling resistance tyres may help but I suspect the most likely win will be to ride more and get stronger. It's not a super quick win but even if you ride once a week you should start to notice the hills getting a little bit easier.

Haha! The truth I have to accept.. That said though, the uphill bit of my ride on first attempt months ago (multiple times stopping) vs two days ago (non stop) was a definitely a sense of achievement..

See? That's a win already.

Plus, I would adjust the mindset. I did that with my endurance training and races. Everyone is on their own journey and that could include many varied different speeds compared to me. Maybe they are on a hill or interval session that day, maybe they are on an easy day, maybe they are just phenomenally quick. I'll only look at my pace vs my own previous efforts to gauge where I'm at. :-)

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geoffwnz

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#3273521 19-Aug-2024 15:49

mattwnz:

Are you sure they didn't have have some form of electric bike. I see a lot of older riders with ebikes of some sort these day and they often overtake younger riders with normal pushbikes.

Like my 75 year old father in his e-bike who stated he wasn't going to race me at the Taupo Cycle Challenge when we ended up doing the same 60km MTB event last year. Then turned up at the finish a mere 12 mins behind me after 4 hours and change on the course. Not racing my butt. :-p

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roderickh

213 posts

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#3273523 19-Aug-2024 15:57

mattwnz:

Are you sure they didn't have have some form of electric bike. I see a lot of older riders with ebikes of some sort these day and they often overtake younger riders with normal pushbikes.

Honestly I can't tell - all I knew was they were going nearly double the speed and when I geared up to keep up it just wasn't happening! 🤣

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Handsomedan

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#3274830 23-Aug-2024 16:16

Speaking of electric bikes...

Bit the bullet and spent a bit of coin on a new rig.

Merida eOne-Sixty 700

Running XT drivetrain, with SLX 4-pot brakes and a mullet wheel configuration.

160/150 travel and set up as a proper eEnduro bike.

Have only taken it for a shakedown ride so far, but as the Shimano rep had recently updated the software and delimited the speed controller, I was able to get up to 45km/h on the flat, so it's got plenty of go.

I rode it withour assistance and then again with assistance. You don't notice the extra weight in either circumstance on the flat, but I am sure that a hill might make a difference!

It's about 23kg, but feels a lot lighter to ride. Putting it on the bike rack? It feels heavier!

Will go out and get it dirty this weekend.

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

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geoffwnz

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#3274832 23-Aug-2024 16:18

New shiny. :-)

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elpenguino

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#3274834 23-Aug-2024 16:25

Handsomedan:

Speaking of electric bikes...

Bit the bullet and spent a bit of coin on a new rig.

Merida eOne-Sixty 700

Running XT drivetrain, with SLX 4-pot brakes and a mullet wheel configuration.

160/150 travel and set up as a proper eEnduro bike.

Have only taken it for a shakedown ride so far, but as the Shimano rep had recently updated the software and delimited the speed controller, I was able to get up to 45km/h on the flat, so it's got plenty of go.

I rode it withour assistance and then again with assistance. You don't notice the extra weight in either circumstance on the flat, but I am sure that a hill might make a difference!

It's about 23kg, but feels a lot lighter to ride. Putting it on the bike rack? It feels heavier!

Will go out and get it dirty this weekend.

Congratulations on the new member of the family.

It does look very clean !

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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#3274835 23-Aug-2024 16:28

roderickh:

geoffwnz:

Running lower rolling resistance tyres may help but I suspect the most likely win will be to ride more and get stronger. It's not a super quick win but even if you ride once a week you should start to notice the hills getting a little bit easier.

Haha! The truth I have to accept.. That said though, the uphill bit of my ride on first attempt months ago (multiple times stopping) vs two days ago (non stop) was a definitely a sense of achievement..

Nice one.

That was always my approach. I'm not trying to go faster than anyone except my last ride.

I can be pretty slow up hills but I try not to stop. If I get up a hill without having to stop then I feel like I won something :-)

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

mattwnz

20108 posts

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#3274853 23-Aug-2024 18:32

Handsomedan:

Speaking of electric bikes...

Bit the bullet and spent a bit of coin on a new rig.

Merida eOne-Sixty 700

Nice. It is interesting that this is the same colour as my 90's bike, interesting how colors come back into style.

Handsomedan

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#3275262 26-Aug-2024 09:52

Right - as I was advised by some that the new eBike looked too shiny, I went out and got it filthy this weekend.

First impressions from a new eMountainbiker:

Climbing appears to be a new like
I rode WAY more than I usually do (ordinarily spend a lot of time walking or catching my breath)
I covered a significant distance that I ordinarily wouldn't be able to
It's still a huge workout (in fact I am feeling it today - sore muscles, aching body)
eBike descends just as well as my old analogue bike - if not slightly better
You don't need to use Boost or Turbo much, if ever
Trails that I have actively avoided in the past are now amongst my favourites
Cross Country riding on an eEnduro bike is quite different to XC on a normal enduro bike

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...

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