It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

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Paul Drawmer
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by Paul Drawmer »

james80 wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:44 pm
Paul Drawmer wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 6:26 pm Brilliant stuff James and well done on the serious amount of weight loss
I got serious about biking again about two years ago. Lost a bit of weight and then realised that I could upgrade the bike. I sold a couple of watches and described the cost of the Canyon as 2.5 watches!

Now riding a lot more - except that on 13th Sept I had the second knee replaced. So now I'm at the stage of self torture on the old bike fixed to a turbo trainer whilst forcing the knee to bend. And oddly enough as I've not been so active, I've been buying bike bits to make up a flat bar 1X shopping bike!
What kind of Canyon did you get? I considered a Lux but prefered the build on the Scott in the end.
Hi James - I'm a roadie - it's an Endurace and I love it! I'm really happy - the only real downer is the use of pressfit BB, which I can't see as a proper engineering job.

The flat bar conversion is coming on well - I might even be able to ride a mile or two next week.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by EddieTheBeast »

james80 wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:42 pm
EddieTheBeast wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 7:23 pm Great bike James, and congratulations on all those healthy, fun miles covered! PM me if ever you're cycling around the Peak District and I'll get my Giant into action!
It's a little far from Trinidad but if I'm ever over and riding I'll PM you for sure. I'm aiming for a riding trip to North Carolina or Georiga next year.
That'll be good, I'll pm you also if I'm ever in Trinidad - but will need to borrow or hire a bike! Best wishes with your planned trips.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by Soporsche »

Hi James (et al).. There's nothing wrong with some self recognition.
Just wanted to say thanks for posting, it may also be helpful and motivational to some (including me) to stop procrastinating and get on my bike (literally).
Congrats on achieving the health benefits!
Stephen

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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by DaytonaRik »

Well done on the rides and the weight loss. Nothing wrong with blowing your own trumpet and here's to a fantastic 2020 on two wheels for you.

It's been tough year for me riding (road and MTB but concentrate on the road this year) as I completed Les Cinglés to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. For those not in the know, this involves climbing Mont Ventoux by the three recognised road routes in a single day. The first is 21km at an average 7.4% with sections into double digits. The 2nd is 21km at an average of 7.6% with a 10km section that doesn't drop below an average of 8.5% for any km! The final climb is 26km at just 4.5% but that's not the whole story - the first 20km ar around 3.3%, but the final 6km is at 8%. As always, within each km there are spikes - nasty, big spikes! The worse I recall seeing was around 16%!! My C60 Orange Crush accompanied me on the event

I've clocked junder 2500 miles for the year but I've not even looked at the bike for two months! That'll change in a few weeks when it's back to training ready for the 2020 Dragon Ride.

I really must get out on the trails more - a few years ago I swapped from an all-mountain Specialised Enduro to an XC Mongoose Canaan Elite and lost 3kgs of bike weight and started to use all of the available travel.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by Paul Drawmer »

Les Cinglés - Respect. Bloody hell.
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It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by james80 »

Wow that look absolutely horrible! Congratulations on making it.

Public holiday here for Divali so an early morning group trail ride, no pictures as I haven’t found a satisfactory way to carry my phone on the new bike in the trails then home and wash (we’re in the middle of rainy season although the last week hasn’t been bad).

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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by DaytonaRik »

james80 wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:02 pm Wow that look absolutely horrible! Congratulations on making it.
It was pretty brutal I have to admit - 36c in the forest section on the 2nd traditional Bedoin climb which just sucked the fun out of it and you go into a world of mental and physical hurt!

Intrigued to hear your thoughts on a 1 x setup - I've only ever ridden triples on MTBs and wonder if it's a genuinely useful thing, or whether it's a marketing gimmick? I get it on downhill bikes but I remain unconvinced on an XC bike where you'd want a wider variety of gearing.
I just think it's cool to have an obsolete technology on my wrist that actually works. - rfortson
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by james80 »

DaytonaRik wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:58 pm
james80 wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:02 pm Wow that look absolutely horrible! Congratulations on making it.
It was pretty brutal I have to admit - 36c in the forest section on the 2nd traditional Bedoin climb which just sucked the fun out of it and you go into a world of mental and physical hurt!

Intrigued to hear your thoughts on a 1 x setup - I've only ever ridden triples on MTBs and wonder if it's a genuinely useful thing, or whether it's a marketing gimmick? I get it on downhill bikes but I remain unconvinced on an XC bike where you'd want a wider variety of gearing.
I love the 1x, the Trance was a 30T chainring with an 11-42 casette, I felt at the time that I needed a lower gear but I think now that was a fitness issue. The new bike is Shimano's XTR 12 speed designed to compete with the Sram Eagle, it's a 32T chainring with a 10-51 cassette. The lowest gear is lower that on my old 3x and whilst the highest gear isn't as high as using the big plate on a 3x I don't miss it. You also get rid of all the overlap. I also had a brief ride on a Shimano XTR 2x and wouldn't want that either. If you are a powerful climber (you!) you could run a 34T in front, remember also the gearing will be different as you go from 26" to 27.5 or 29, there a couple of good gear inch calculators online, I'll find the one I used to compare and post it.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by DaytonaRik »

It's the lack of the higher gears that I'd be concerned about rather than the lack of low gears as I suspect that I'd be spinning out a 32x10 on 26" wheels at 83" gearing - a 34x11 gives me 80.2". Whilst I get the losing of the overlap between ratios for a given chainring, it's something I'm more than comfortable in dealing with on the road bike. I'll give it some more thought but I suspect that I'll keep the triple chainrings for the time being - I can't see how a 1 x front set up can work for my riding which is a mixture of fast flat sections with short/sharp climbs/descents - the variation between the two is too wide and I'd possibly end up with too much of a compromise between the highest and lowest gear available.
I just think it's cool to have an obsolete technology on my wrist that actually works. - rfortson
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by Lavaine »

Ric, I think that with the new 11 and 12 speed cassettes, there is no need for a 3x setup. A 2x should give you all the range you need, if a 1x bike doesn't meet your needs. The real advantage to a 1x though, is reduced weight and complexity. I'd definitely look carefully for a 1x that suits your needs before giving up and going with a 2 or 3 ring bike.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by james80 »

I’m not sure it’s be ideally suited to a 26”, for comparison a 26” with a 44 in front and 11 in the back would give you approx 103”. A 29er with a 34 and an 10 would yield around 99.5”.

I’d recommend demoing one I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by james80 »

One the other end a 26” with a 22 front and 32 rear is 17.68” and a 29” with a 34 and a 51 is 19.42”.

The range is pretty similar but it does mean moving to a 29er and not just changing your group set.
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by DaytonaRik »

I suspect that would also entail a new front fork and I’d also have to check clearance on the rear swing arm - need to make sure that there’s not only tyre clearance but also allow a few mm for mud. Perhaps the 27.5 mid-point could fit?
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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

Having fun following this discussion, which I don't fully understand, but guess it is all about gear ratios, sprocket sizes and numbers of sprockets on your varying bikes.

@james80 - kudos to you for your persistence, increased fitness and weight loss.

I had been around 105 - 108kg for many years even with going to the gym twice a week but, by switching from a sedantary job to one where I was on my feet and walking around for much of the day, I lost 15+ kg in about six months.

I've since retired and mostly bumble around at home with occasional visits to the gym (ought to go more often) but do walk with my dog daily. Waistline has expanded slightly, but I'm managing to hold around 95kg.


@DaytonaRik - sterling effort up Mont Ventoux and the preceeding climbs.

I only know it from following the Tour de France and it seems an awesome climb to the seasoned Professionals who are competing. It must be daunting to an amateur. Top notch.

Guy


PS > no explanation required on your gearing discussions. Enjoy reading it as it is.

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Re: It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)

Post by james80 »

DaytonaRik wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:24 am I suspect that would also entail a new front fork and I’d also have to check clearance on the rear swing arm - need to make sure that there’s not only tyre clearance but also allow a few mm for mud. Perhaps the 27.5 mid-point could fit?
It's very unlikely that you'll be able to get a 29 or 27.5 in there, the frame just wasn't designed for it. Also changing the fork would do funny things to the geometry. I think you'd be wasting money trying to modify an older bike, by the time you buy wheels, drive train and a new fork you're probably more than half way into a decent full suspension with a NX drive train.
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