elpenguino:

 

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.

 

Nope - externally routed droppers have a cable that's routed from the outside of the dropper to the handlbar along the frame - like your brake cables. 

Mine has an externally routed dropper, as i don't have internal cable routing. 

I'll see if I can find a pic that shows it adequately. 

OK - re externally routed dropper posts: on all of our older bikes (i.e. most of them) where we have droppers, they are externally routed, due to no internal routing available (my old hardtail, which ironically was newer) had internal routing, or holes in the frame for the cables. 

Here's a pic of my current bike with the dropper post, where you can see the cable routed from the seat tube to the handlebars under the top tube. 

elpenguino: Thanks @Handsomedan, I stand corrected.
Looks like an idea I can give to Santa in case he doesn't know what to give me this year.

That's the last you'll hear from me on the matter - I evangelise, because I have only recently seen the light (in the last 12 months or so). It changed the riding experience for me and both of my boys. 

On another subject - got out to Riverhead (WCRC) in the weekend and had some dusty AND muddy fun! 

A few hours of grinding up hills (not fun) to blast down them (much fun) at speed. 

I've said it before, but I will say it again...it really is good for the soul. For me, at least. 

Evangelise away :-) Any cycle related proselytising is welcome in this thread.

I'm on board with the idea of a dropper. I said earlier I normally leave my seat in the same position whether I'm going up or downhill but on Friday, what with getting the bike in and out of the car, I put my seat a little higher for comfort. Before tackling a more challenging dark blue track I stopped to lower it as far as it would go.

There was definitely a greater feeling of confidence and control thanks to getting my weight much further down and back.

I'll be popping into my local shop for a tyre in the next few days so I'll ask.

elpenguino:

Evangelise away :-) Any cycle related proselytising is welcome in this thread.

I'm on board with the idea of a dropper. I said earlier I normally leave my seat in the same position whether I'm going up or downhill but on Friday, what with getting the bike in and out of the car, I put my seat a little higher for comfort. Before tackling a more challenging dark blue track I stopped to lower it as far as it would go.

There was definitely a greater feeling of confidence and control thanks to getting my weight much further down and back.

I'll be popping into my local shop for a tyre in the next few days so I'll ask.

 

In case there are any mountain bikers here looking to buy a bike, I'm selling my 2019 Giant Trance Advanced 29er Pro 1.

Carbon frame, carbon wheels, carbon handlebar, carbon crankset, plus a few other upgrades.
Light, fun, fast trail bike that I've used on trails and a couple of xc races in Taranaki, Taupo and Rotorua trails.

Looks like a nice bike. It must be hard going when it's got no pedals tho 😀

You should say where you are located for prospective buyers.

elpenguino:

 

Looks like a nice bike. It must be hard going when it's got no pedals tho 😀

 

You should say where you are located for prospective buyers.

 

Ha, I switched the pedals over to my new bike 😀 Pedals are usually a personal preference, flats or clips.

Bike located in Taranaki, but also travel to Taupo regularly (e.g over summer), and can also box up and send via courier.

snowfly:

 

Ha, I switched the pedals over to my new bike 😀 Pedals are usually a personal preference, flats or clips.

 

Bike located in Taranaki, but also travel to Taupo regularly (e.g over summer), and can also box up and send via courier.

 

Thanks for the extra info and good luck with your sale.

I stumbled onto this YT video of a fella competing in a top level MTB race - his chain broke when he launched out of the gate.

It was a downhill event so he got lots of speed, didn't use the brakes (at all?) and ended up winning !

You'd still need pedals to stand on because you'd never sit down again otherwise , but the chain was unnecessary for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ryQOiX05k

elpenguino:

 

snowfly:

 

Ha, I switched the pedals over to my new bike 😀 Pedals are usually a personal preference, flats or clips.

 

Bike located in Taranaki, but also travel to Taupo regularly (e.g over summer), and can also box up and send via courier.

 

 

Thanks for the extra info and good luck with your sale.

 

 

 

I stumbled onto this YT video of a fella competing in a top level MTB race - his chain broke when he launched out of the gate.

 

It was a downhill event so he got lots of speed, didn't use the brakes (at all?) and ended up winning !

 

You'd still need pedals to stand on because you'd never sit down again otherwise , but the chain was unnecessary for him.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ryQOiX05k

 

i didn't watch your link but i believe that's aaron gwyn.

it's not a mtb race it's a downhill bike world championship race.

what he did was called pumping to generate speed

Batman:

 

i didn't watch your link but i believe that's aaron gwyn.

 

it's not a mtb race it's a downhill bike world championship race.

 

what he did was called pumping to generate speed

 

That's the guy.

Seems I've xposed myself as a noob using inappropriate terms :-(

He went down a mountain on a bike, so MTB right ? :-)

Speaking of which, I see bikes marketed as enduro, cross country etc. What are the major differences?

The MTB curse strikes again. 

My 16yo son was doing what 16yo's do - Mountain Biking with his mates - when his forearm (previously broken in a crash a few months ago) collapsed under the strain of pumping a berm. 

We've spent the weekend in hospital and he's had surgery to have a plate and screws inserted for strength and to assist the healing process. 

He's taken it in his stride, but still seems to think he'll be competing in a couple of downhill races in the new year. No son. You won't. 

He'll be a few months off the bike, I think. 

Helmets: Preference

I have read quite a bit over the weekend, the varying views on Full-face vs open face helmets for mountain biking. 

My personal view is that i wouldn't wear a full-face for normal trail riding, but will wear one for bikepark/downhill. 

Thoughts? 

Handsomedan:

 

The MTB curse strikes again. 

 

My 16yo son was doing what 16yo's do - Mountain Biking with his mates - when his forearm (previously broken in a crash a few months ago) collapsed under the strain of pumping a berm. 

 

Oh no :-(

I saw your other post and wondered if a bike was involved.

It's time like this you really appreciate medical professionals and what they do to patch us back together.

I imagine it will be a good couple of months healing and by then muscle mass will have atrophied and will need re-building.

All during the summer holidays too - that sucks.

elpenguino:

 

That's the guy.

 

Seems I've xposed myself as a noob using inappropriate terms :-(

 

He went down a mountain on a bike, so MTB right ? :-)

 

 

 

Speaking of which, I see bikes marketed as enduro, cross country etc. What are the major differences?

 

i see mountain bike as those that can go uphill. downhill bike does not go uphill only down.

enduro - bikes that go downhill that happen to be able to get uphill.

cross country - bikes that go uphill that happen to be able to get downhill.

trail - bikes that are good at neither but can do both ok.

in real world terms the main difference is how much suspension travel (range is from about 20mm-200mm). the ones with lots of suspension travel are good at soaking up bumps when you fly downhill but because of the longer travel require a slacker head angle and because of that are more clumsy and difficult to climb and also the bikes are heavier as they are more solidly built to absorb the bumps. everything is true of the opposite for bikes built to climb fast.

i climb everywhere on my enduro* bike and i have a hardtail for 'crosscountry' use when no downhills. but each to their own.

*it can also be called a trail bike as it's not super enduro-ey, only -ish. see, overlaps everywhere. but downhill bikes don't go up. at all.