Bicyclism! ! !

Dragon-of-Rune · Post by **Dragon-of-Rune** » 15 Mar 2005, 13:50

When i have to bail i just put bought feet on the ground untill i slow down to the optimum speed and just jump off over the rear wheel. Or if i can just kick myself straight and continue my run.

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 15 Mar 2005, 18:33

@Stig

http://www.halfords.nl/shop/productdeta ... _id=808861

Pretty much the same as a normal MB eh?

Dragster · Post by **Dragster** » 15 Mar 2005, 18:38

Well, yes, apart from the unnecessary full suspension. Full suspension has quality only at higher class bikes, and those cost a lot of money. I had a simmilar bike recently, suspensions broke really quickly.

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 15 Mar 2005, 19:07

Err, mine still works? I plan on changing it though. It's really stiff.

Post by **TheStig** » 15 Mar 2005, 22:30

PSZETA is that your bike or do you have a similar like that... cause no offense but when I saw it was from the HALFORDS site.... I fell of my chair...

btw if you want to change some things on it...

here are a few things I can advise you... for 1 a good quality front suspension on for a bike on ebay will cost you like 100-200 euro in store you are looking at 500-600 (wich in your case is way to much for that bike!
I personally prefer Rock Shox suspension so if you want to know what they have just visit http://www.ebay.de they have a big selection in front suspension from rock shox there and at a mild price! and you will get a great one for that!

but then again looking at the specs of your bike:

Frame: D-Type Suspension
wheels: 26 inch aluminium
frontfork: suspension
gears: Shimano 21 speed
Remtype: V-brakes
Gewicht: 18 kg

to be honest I don't know how old your bike is... but if you like to ride your bike and you want to go on with it... and improve it... I would advise to sell it and buy a second hand hard tail (NO rear suspension cause the rear suspension on lower priced bikes is rather poor and like I stated with the

really heavy! a average hardtail will weigh about 12 KG wich already saves you 6 KG! (wich is alot!) scout http://www.marktplaats.nl for one that fits your price (what ever that is)

cause what you now have has a few disadvantages, although it looks really cool, you told me the suspension is rather stiff, you can change the front suspension with a upgrade, but you most likely can't change the rear (non compatible brand) and same goes for gear parts. if you have the same bike (or almost the same bike with same specs) the 21 gears form a problem cause upgraded gears now have 27 speed, wich means you have to change:
- rear deralleur
- rear sprocket (rear rears from 7 to 9 gears)
- new rear wheel with a hub that supports the 9 speed casette
- new shifter
- and a chain!
you don't need to change the front parts (crank, front deralleur) but it is highly advised!)

so as you can see that is a complete set! wich if you get it at a good price will cost you like 300 for a complete set (ex wheels!)

if you want a good and fairly cheap upgrade wich will help you get faster buy a set of SPD pedals and a set of matching shoes!
that will cost about 110 euro but you will feel the difirence right away, cause you can transfer more of your power to the wheels! this works on all bikes! but beware that you need some time to get used to it... and will probably fall a couple of times...
but it is one of the most effective upgrades you can buy for a relatively low price

so now what I advise is:

keep driving your current bike for a while (buy some SPD pedals and fitting shoes and get used to it!)
save some money and sell the bike and buy a older hardtail bike for like 200+ (can be a like 1996 bike, cause you can get a really good quality frame + all the parts ofcourse for like 200 euro) upgrade what you think is nessesary like a new front suspension or what ever you want.. and you will have a good ride wich you can use almost everywhere!
and you can keep upgrading it to your liking! (older bikes from around 1995/6/7 have 24 speed but that is relatively easy to upgrade if needed later)

tuning a bike is like tuning a car.. it can cost alot of money... but if you start with it... you can get a nice bike for a few hundred euro and have a good solid bike... but you have to know what to look for!

hope it helps abit... if you got any questions or want advise on a part you like on your bike... just post it here... and I can tell you if it fits and ofcouse if it is worth the money (really important)

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 15 Mar 2005, 23:43

Yeah, I bought it at Halfords.. It was worth 300 euro's back then. Only the color is different, but I plan to give it a new black & silver paintjob.

The rear suspension is okay. I don't really know if another suspension will fit. It's possible to take it off though. I'm okay with the weight too. The issue with changing it to 27 gears is fine with me too. I was planning to basically change every part of the bike. I like the current frame, and I want to use it, because if I buy a new bike, there is another half-dead bike in the basement that pretty much isn't anything worth. I'll look if I can take some close up pictures of it.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 73659&rd=1

So expensive..

I'd really like to have a XTR set, and the price is nice too. *cough*

wowirace · Post by **wowirace** » 16 Mar 2005, 02:36

WOW...alot of technical stuff here...i could learn something from this...i dunno...

well, i got a mongoose bike, but i dont really think im gonna mod it...its blue, and well, i dont really ride it much because its getting small...i think im gonna buy a new one in a few months....any suggestions on which bike i should buy? (i want a good bike, but not one that costs too much $$$)

boganbusman · Post by **boganbusman** » 16 Mar 2005, 05:54

Giant make good bikes for a low price. They've got really chunky frames and cranks.

But any bike will do, unless you are a sreios bike rider.

Post by **TheStig** » 16 Mar 2005, 07:31

PSZeTa wrote: I'd really like to have a XTR set, and the price is nice too. *cough*

lol.. the shimano XTR group is the most expensive complete part set you can buy for a mountainbike... till now I only got 1 XTR part on my bike wich is my rear deralleur and it was officially 200 euro (I bought it for 100 at that time (2003) cause I worked part-time at a small bike store.. now they cost around 100 new in a online store so they are rather expensive

but you said you are fine with the weight and the rear suspension of your bike then a new gear/brake group is the way to go!

about the front suspension:
the one you made a link to is a brand new 2005 model REBA... and they are rather expensive.

here are some good options
the rockshox Pilot SL: as you can see the price is alot milder then the reba! you can get one (see link) for 99 euro direct buy) they got a good mix, they got a coil spring with oil damping and adjustable rebound (damping speed) and they got a air cilinder to aid the coilspring so you can fine tune it to your weight!
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... eName=WDVW

I had one on a other bike of mine... and it is a really good fork!
btw I think a difirent fork will fit most bike have size 1 1/8 Inch as headset size so I think they fit

if you want to improve your gearwork to 27 speed I would advise to use some more expensive and other cheaper parts (cause you probably won't feel the difirence)

try a search for a shimano deore group or a deore LX group

the deore group is the entry level comeptition group by shimano they have the full pack you need like a 27 speed set optional diskbrakes (bike has to accept them (lugs on the rear end of frame but not all the parts look good...(IMO) so if you want your bike to get some nice looking parts also... get a rear deralleur and crankset from the deore LX group this way you get a overall really good set that is not hugely expensive and looks good at the same time!

here is a link to a complete shimano deore group
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... eName=WDVW
here is the same group with the hydrolic disk brakes (great brakes btw)
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... eName=WD1V

here is the list of shimano MTB groups (arranged from low price to expensive)
shimano Deore (entry level sport group)
shimano Deore LX (advance sport group)
shimano Deore XT (semi pro sport group)
shimano XTR (Professional group!)

so PSZeta I hope this helps abit... if you got more questions... just ask

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 16 Mar 2005, 16:23

Thanks.

So is there a real noticeable difference between the performance groups?

Post by **TheStig** » 16 Mar 2005, 20:52

you can devide em in 2 groups:
Deore and Deore LX in 1 groep
and:
Deore XT and XTR in the other groep
the main difirence between all is mostly weight the XT and XTR groups are lighter (XTR is the lightest of all)
and XT and XTR are stronger and are abit more durable.
the difirence in LX and Deore is even smaller in performance it is mostly the look of the parts and some parts of LX are lighter (the crank is the main change) and the V-brakes are alot better then the Deore version... and the shifter/brake unit is a complete new set! wich is a great unit... the deore group has not changed for a while... so as the biggest change here is that Deore LX has some new inovations

so to make it short each group is a bit lighter and stronger then the one under it

and if you bike alot and participate in races you will notice that the more expensive parts shift better and brake abit better. (and the deore LX deore XT and XTR groups have some new inovations

here is the look difirence:

Deore:

Deore LX:

Deore XT:

XTR:

as you can see LX and XT look alike (at close up they are difirnet... ) and IMO LX looks great this year... (did not so good previous years..)

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 16 Mar 2005, 23:46

Thanks. I kinda wondered if the difference in price was worth it, but I guess I'll just take the Deore.

Does the Deore fit any fork? For an example, the Rock Shox Boxxer model?

Post by **TheStig** » 17 Mar 2005, 00:38

hahaha the BOXXER... that is a Pure DOWNHILL fork! and no the boxxer only accepts diskbrakes and you need special hubs and axels for that fork...

but a NORMAL fork will accept V-Brakes and Disk brakes

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 17 Mar 2005, 01:02

Just an example eh?

What would be the best fork for everyday road biking, but also can handle real rough situations? I have a tendency of changing terrains real fast.

I'm thinking about the SID, Duke or Pilot.

Post by **TheStig** » 17 Mar 2005, 08:01

I have a SID but I would not advise it, not because it is a bad fork, not at all IMO it is the best on I ever had! (ok I do have a titanium version

) but a SID needs alot of maintainance! you need to change the oil every+/- 1000 KM and if you don't have the tools it costs alot! and even if you do the oil ain't cheap! cause it is special fork oil and it is not suiteble for xtreme heavy biking like downhill (much to weak (cause it is build to be light)

the Duke:
a good alrounder it got air suspension and comes in several versions Duke C, XC SL and RACE and they have several options (depending on the year and model) some have lock-out(turn off the fork!) others (also) have U turn (rideheight adjustment)
but all are great forks! if you can find a older model for a low price you got a great fork cause:
they don't need so much maintainance (I advise to ask your local MTB shop what the optimanl service interval for the fork is (if you have one)
they are heavier then the SID and PILOT but they are more stable and better suitelble for diskbrakes.

well I explained the Pilot already, it more if the smaller brother of the SID, with the looks of the SID and almost the same weight (same construction) but they work a bit difirent (instead of dual air they work with a coilspring and a air assist to make it a good fork!

all 3 are good forks but like I said the SID is not advised cause it costs like 100 euro a year to maintain 1 service ever half year!

so I would go for a Pilot or a Duke!

jemc · Post by **jemc** » 24 Mar 2005, 20:08

ok, i fianally got the pics of my bike (pics made with mobile phone):

this isn't really an old topic, so don't flame me about bringing it on the top

boganbusman · Post by **boganbusman** » 25 Mar 2005, 02:44

A bike stand? Pink bottle holder?

LMAO

sorry, I just found it a little bit funny . . .

jemc · Post by **jemc** » 25 Mar 2005, 22:35

it's not pink...it're red.

and what wrong with a bike stand? i use it for town riding most of my time

Post by **TheStig** » 26 Mar 2005, 01:53

it's a nice bike mate.

and the bike stand... well not my choice... (got a MTB for city use also. (not working at the moment...) but I don't use a stand on it for the simple reason that it scratches the paint.. when you use it... but then I am verry precies when it comes to scratchs and damage to my bikes... (even my daily mtb... yeah I got no normal bike...)

PSZeTa · Post by **PSZeTa** » 26 Mar 2005, 01:55

The stands are indeed irritating, so I just got some black tape to cover up the paint.D:

jemc · Post by **jemc** » 26 Mar 2005, 02:22

well i use the stand quite a lot, because i don't want to damage the neopren thingy (comes handy in colder times).

Dragster · Post by **Dragster** » 21 May 2005, 23:54

I finnally managed to get pics of my bike:
Stuff changed of stock:
Rear rim, both tires(the rear is bought recently, 26x2.1 Continental), got the speedometer and alloy pedals.
EDIT: New top speed = 61 km/h (downhill)
=48 km/h (straight)
And I can finnally drop without getting myself killed...
Future plans: Get a new fork, the stock SR Suntour doesn't look very confident.

S2000_Skyline12 · Post by **S2000_Skyline12** » 22 May 2005, 00:20

heres my bike

my mongoose pro (without the strap infront)

Dragster · Post by **Dragster** » 22 May 2005, 00:28

How old are you

S2000_Skyline12 · Post by **S2000_Skyline12** » 22 May 2005, 00:38

lol im 13 like i said in the youngest member thread