Moutain Bikes! (that's right - no bl***y engine!!)

[Mister James]

I can't remember being this scared on the road since I got back on my scooter after spending 5 months as a cripple wondering if I would ever walk again!

As part of my new fitness drive, I decided to repair my old mountain bike to use for all the short hops about town that I currently do on my scooter. However, when I got down to pulling it apart, I realised that 9 years of abuse and virtually zero maintainance had left it a wreck, so I popped off to buy a new one.

Rode the beastie back from the shop today, and nearly soiled myself! It's so small, the saddle is uncomfortable, you just have to think about about turning and you find yourself travelling at right angles, it slows down when you stop pedalling (!?!) and it weighs about as much as a wet fart!

It's an 'interesting' feeling using a tiny bike saddle on my still-tender pelvis, but I guess that once the initial aches and pains subside, it will have done me good - no pain no gain, and all that!

I'm well aware that Viking are sneered at by professional mountain bikers, but as I have no aspirations in that regard at all, I'm quite content with it - it looks pretty cool too!

Maybe next time someone does a crazy London to Brighton ride I'll be fit enough to tag along and make everybody feel better about themselves!
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Cool, get it off road where it belongs Thin saddles are all well and good, but I think if I had your pelvis I'd be considering a fatter saddle, those alloy frames ride quite harshly compared to steel.

Just spent the afternoon re-cabling my mtb and generally swearing at my knackered mechs that like adjusting themselves.

[Mister James]

I think I'm going to wait until I've built my leg muscles back up to what they were last year before I go and humiliate myself off road, I rode 6 miles back from the shop and then to pick some food up today, and I was shocked at how hard it was - I used to do a 12 mile round trip into work every day without any problems. (except for the day when I got to work and had forgotten my boots - had to ride back and get them, 18 miles at frantic speed before breakfast - nice!)

Do you go off road much, and if so, what kind of routes do you take, ie. distance/terrain/time etc?
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[Teaman]

hes right about the alloy frames being harsh, thye dont naturally flex like steel bikes,
Id go for a gell saddle for the time being untill you build your fitness up if its hurting your pelvis,
my bike is in bits under the stars I really must get mine out and get on the fitness ladder to build my stamina
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There is no point in ranting about someone stupid because there is nothing u can do about it. There is no cure for stupid.
Someone stupid does not realise they r stupid.stupidity is indistinguishable from malice U just have to accept that some people are thick as p1gsh1t and work around them.

[Mister James]

With reference to tyres, I'm looking at changing the off-road tyres to something a little slicker for the urban jungle. My current tyres are 26*2.1", am I right in thinking that I can just put something like a 26*1.75 on with no problems? It's the depth of the tyre rather than the width, isn't it?

How much difference does a flatter tread pattern make to speed/ease of use?

(You can tell it's been ages since I rode a bike - and I wasn't exactly an expert even back then!)
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I mainly do off-road these days. I like the odd sunny day cruising the country lanes, but otherwise find off road a lot more fun, and there's lots of good trails around here Been averaging around 45 off road miles a week this summer I think.

2.1 is a bit overly chunky for road work, I would expect 1.75 to be fine and a hell of a lot easier to pedal, although tyre weight plays a big part too. You might need some thinner inner tubes to go with them.

Be aware though, generally the thinner the tyre the harsher the ride.

[carvell]

A saddle with suspension in the saddle post is what you want.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Dom]

Money well spent. I've just got back from 30 miles worth of random off road stuff and I swear it does get more fun every time you do it. And that's on my total POS claud butler thingy which has crap suspension, gears in serious need of adjustment (it's been on the to do list for about a month) and brakes that don't even do anything until you pull them back to the bar.

[Mister James]

Well, I went for a ride this evening, and charged up and down a couple of bridlepaths to see what the big deal was.

When I say 'charged', I actually mean 'gingerly picked and plodded my way up the gravel-paths and across the fields'.

I think I can see the attraction - I'll have to give it a proper go when I have a comfortable saddle and some of my fitness back.

Then there remains the problem of actually finding somewhere decent to ride off road around here, the joys of London.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[RealNinja]

I seem to remember one of the MTB mags doing a run around the M25 using all the bridal paths/single track thats available, if I can find it, i'll post the route (but don't hold your breath, i've moved house since I read it )
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You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny

[Mister James]

Although I think it'll be done in small chunks, I haven't suddenly turned into Lance Armstrong!
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[binge]

Ive got a BMX running oddisy sealed bearings on front and back. Maxis Offroad tyre on front, Snafu Street tyre on the rear. Running 60psi in both. Can outroll almost any pushbike down hill, And once stop pedaling, it dosent really slow down.

But, I dont really hve the choice about the saddle, I got for the lighter the better really.

One brake on the rear,
Choped down bars,
Choped down seat post (no point having post inside the frame)

Nice and light, fast and manouverable.

BMX is the way...

[Teaman]

putting narrower tyres on it will make it even harsher to ride 1.75 is ok for a slick, ive seen thinner, as Ive seen them converted into triathalon bikes back in my day.
____________________
There is no point in ranting about someone stupid because there is nothing u can do about it. There is no cure for stupid.
Someone stupid does not realise they r stupid.stupidity is indistinguishable from malice U just have to accept that some people are thick as p1gsh1t and work around them.

[primalcarl]

Most standard hardtail mountain bikes won't happily take more than a 2.1 tyre. Quite often you'll get a 2.3 on there too. But then you're heading towards downhill tyres and these are heavy.

Aluminium is a lot stiffer and can make for an uncomfortable ride on a bike with no rear suspension. I've just bought a carbon fibre seat post for my Cannondale to cure this problem, but for you a more comfortable seat would be the best option. Also be aware a seat will take a while to be comfortable, and the muscles in your backside will probably hurt if you've nevr ridden further than the shops before!

The main thing is to get out. Some of the best fun I had mountain biking was on a bsic bike years ago. My two bikes are worth over 3k, but I still have the enhusiasm I always did

[colin1]

if ride becomes harsh, just run at a lower pressure

personnaly i like a budget proper road racer with mega skinny tyres on roads and canal towpaths

although i prefer mountain bike tyres on paths with deep sand

for comfort and less strain on your pelvis u need a recumbent bike like mine

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/colinwall/mybike001.jpg

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/colinwall/recumbent.jpg

they are about £200 second hand on ebay

mmm comfy seat

https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/colinwall/seat001.jpg
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[veeeffarr]

[Mister James]

Hmmm, just as I was about to pop round to my parent's and pick up the 2 cycle helmets I have there, I read this article:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/12/ncycle12.xml

[Jesus_Christ]

I've just learnt what a disaster getting a cheap bike can be!

My bike is around 15 years old. Lived all it's life outside, never had any real care taken of it.

Not long ago I managed to snap one of the pedals on it. Until I got it fixed my mate lent me his brand new full suspension bike.

Oh dear.

He'd got them online £100 for 2 of them. Have a Look!

I can't believe how heavy this thing is. It's like riding a girder with wheels on! The suspension springs are crap and far too soft, even after adjusting them. The twist grip gears are some of the worst I've ever used. It's just a bloody nightmare! I couldn't wait to get back on my old piece of crap again!

I'm now so against getting a new cheap bike that I'm going to have to do my one up! HELP!! I've not worked on a bike in years. That said I only need to swap all the cables for the brakes and gears, the teeth have orn down and could probably do with replacing. The bearings in the main pedal coggy type bit sound like they are made of gravel, both tyres need changing as the rubber has split REALLY badly! Oh, and out of 21 gears, I can select about 6 of them!

and STILL it's better than this new thing! Be careful of what you buy people!
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If you ate Stephen Hawking, would that count as one of your "five a day" portions?

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Sounds like a waste of time and money tbh Jesus, 06' bikes are discounted now, something like this wouldn't be a bad buy.

[Cog Head]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

[Jesus_Christ]

[Teaman]

[Didge]

3 months ago, I replaced my old raleigh mountain bike for a new schwinn. I didn't want full suspension, just the front, (because my gammy wrist hurts if I hit a bump), and it's fitted with a suspension saddle.
Luvverly it is. A pleasure to ride.

https://i5.tinypic.com/3ztge86.jpg

[cagiva gezzer]

Any excuse to show off mine.

14 years old, well, the frame.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"