Pedal Power Thread

To answer the post regarding my bikes and are they expensive, well yes they were.

The Merlin Oreas is a very nice US handmade titanium frame the parts fitted were all "bling" like Tune hubs, XTR, Easton carbon, Chris King and the build would set you back well over £4k, possibly £5k. The Yeti again was built with all XTR, X0 and carbon parts and would be very close if not over £4k. My favourite was the Turner DW Link 5 Spot which had Chris King wheels, XX World Cup parts and was a fabulous bike to ride as well. Loved it being a 1x10 set-up too and never felt under or over-geared on the rough but some commute miles I wish I ran a bigger front ring than the 34t fitted.
 
Did the London Triathlon today, beat last year's time by 21 minutes which was good but my running remains shocking (1hr 15 for 10km), bike I was happy with for me at 1hr 14 for 40k. As my school teachers use to say, could do better and does not always do his homework on time! 3hrs 18 in total, hope to get sub 3 hours next year for the Olympic distance, but with a 2.5 year old little boy and hopefully another little one on the way in January, training time is getting more and more limited. I may need a turbo trainer I think and some inventive training.

I am expecting some strange looks in the office tomorrow as my legs cramp up under the desk....:D I will not be cycling in for the commute.
 
akr said:
Did the London Triathlon today, beat last year's time by 21 minutes which was good but my running remains shocking (1hr 15 for 10km), bike I was happy with for me at 1hr 14 for 40k. As my school teachers use to say, could do better and does not always do his homework on time! 3hrs 18 in total, hope to get sub 3 hours next year for the Olympic distance, but with a 2.5 year old little boy and hopefully another little one on the way in January, training time is getting more and more limited. I may need a turbo trainer I think and some inventive training.

I am expecting some strange looks in the office tomorrow as my legs cramp up under the desk....:D I will not be cycling in for the commute.
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Good effort! People keep trying to get me to do a du/triathlon but I really don't want to! I happily swim, cycle and run but don't want to combine them!
 
anyone from London is coming ?
linky

I might go and even ride to Green Park to have my bike checked :)
 
menthel said:
Lukas, I will be up on the Saturday with my family!
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you have family ??? :geek:


;)



on bikes? we can meet somewhere

need to ask my other half when she comes back - Saturday or Sunday, so I could come along with someone as well ;)
 
bastic said:
you have family ??? :geek:

;)

on bikes? we can meet somewhere

need to ask my other half when she comes back - Saturday or Sunday, so I could come along with someone as well ;)
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I am a responsible adult apparently! ;)

We will be up there on bikes and bike seats for the smallest. Happy to meet but we will probably be there early. Pm me your mobile number and I can send you a text when we are in the area.

Any other TP'ers around? :)
 
what is early for you?
 
bastic said:
what is early for you?
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Early with a family is probably 6am! :)

Hope you both enjoy, I can't make it this weekend, riding around London with no cars or traffic lights sounds good :thumbs:
 
menthel said:
Good effort! People keep trying to get me to do a du/triathlon but I really don't want to! I happily swim, cycle and run but don't want to combine them!
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Thanks, left calf still not feeling too good but otherwise ok. You should give it a go, nice challenge, great atmosphere, closed roads. The swim start is always a bit interesting!
 
akr said:
Thanks, left calf still not feeling too good but otherwise ok. You should give it a go, nice challenge, great atmosphere, closed roads. The swim start is always a bit interesting!
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Not you too!
 
Hadge said:
To answer the post regarding my bikes and are they expensive, well yes they were.

The Merlin Oreas is a very nice US handmade titanium frame the parts fitted were all "bling" like Tune hubs, XTR, Easton carbon, Chris King and the build would set you back well over £4k, possibly £5k. The Yeti again was built with all XTR, X0 and carbon parts and would be very close if not over £4k. My favourite was the Turner DW Link 5 Spot which had Chris King wheels, XX World Cup parts and was a fabulous bike to ride as well. Loved it being a 1x10 set-up too and never felt under or over-geared on the rough but some commute miles I wish I ran a bigger front ring than the 34t fitted.
Click to expand...

What do you use 4 bikes for? Does each one have a specific purpose?
 
akr said:
Did the London Triathlon today, beat last year's time by 21 minutes which was good but my running remains shocking (1hr 15 for 10km), bike I was happy with for me at 1hr 14 for 40k. As my school teachers use to say, could do better and does not always do his homework on time! 3hrs 18 in total, hope to get sub 3 hours next year for the Olympic distance, but with a 2.5 year old little boy and hopefully another little one on the way in January, training time is getting more and more limited. I may need a turbo trainer I think and some inventive training.

I am expecting some strange looks in the office tomorrow as my legs cramp up under the desk....:D I will not be cycling in for the commute.
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Well done, i was down watching on Sunday and was good to see loads of people. With regards to the leg cramps, do you wear any compression stuff? I wear the calf guards now when running (due to how i run, as calves would give me issues as not strong enough yet) and after a hard session i throw my compression tights on (was sceptic about these but did a hard run to work one night, wore them during my shift and legs felt ok by time i went home), so after every hard session they go on now and i feel they help no end.

menthel said:
Good effort! People keep trying to get me to do a du/triathlon but I really don't want to! I happily swim, cycle and run but don't want to combine them!
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Come on, you are only in Raynes park, the London duathlon isn't too far away from you, and chance to ride round Richmond park at speeds you normally not allowed to), i am doing the challenge event for it.
 
Laudrup said:
What do you use 4 bikes for? Does each one have a specific purpose?
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a lot of people can and do make do with 1 do it all bike but often its nicer to have specific bikes for specific purposes rather than having to compromise on components and/or setup.

i.e. separate trail (hardtail/<140mm travel sus), all mountain (150-160mm travel), downhill (160+ travel) bikes.
 
Slightly more surface area on the 25's in contact with the road. This can make handling feel more assured. Also 25's can be slightly softer pressure, meaning more comfortable ride on 'noisy' roads.

For the record in run 23's at 100/ 105psi front/ rear.
 
used to do DH alot, unfortunately had a big off (out of a bomb hole into a tree) in the stupidest of places just local to me, and ended up being air lifted to the QE in brum, with most of my ribs on my right broken, collapsed lung, and a left hip in pieces (fractured the "ball" off the femur). 3 1/2 months off work, 3 screws holding the hip together, and hydro therepy, i'm back to normal, but put an untimely end to my biking life, was told by my specialist that I can never do any extreme biking again... but this has meant that rather than riding at races I can now take pictures :D

any hows some pics of my last bike (only rode it 3 times!)




and a couple my mate kindly took while I was being seen too lol




go to watch my mates race in the 4x National series every now and then as they have stopped the DH themselves.
 
I've had about 30 mountain bikes to date, none of them anything special as they kept getting nicked [lived in a rough council estate for many years - no matter the lock, they'll break it] Not all 30 were stolen btw :D I sold on a lot of them.

Used to ride BMX as a kid, but as I got older it was all about mountain bikes. I don't really get to rough it now like I used to, keep meaning to get out on it more and go off-road.

At present I have a Carrera Vengeance - it does the job for cycling about locally, good enough for going off-road, down river banks when I'm out shooting. I'd love to find a forest area with some steep hills - I know of such areas, but they are a fair distance away and I don't drive.

I'd like a lighter frame, but not going to invest in anything expensive until I actually use it a hell of a lot more.

I will say about it, I've had it about 8 months now, and have rode it down muddy/rocky pathways through the winter, it's been out in hail, rain and snow, and hasn't needed a full servicing yet! It still looks like new after a good cleaning. Gears still change smoothly, the chain has never slipped off, the original brake cables are still going strong, not loosened up much, no buckles or flats - though I think I have a slow on the rear tube.

I would recommend it to anyone on a budget looking for a light-ish mountain bike.
 
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am going to sign up for London Bikeathlon 2013.
anyone else?

linky
 
menthel said:
Me again! The wife and I are doing the 52 mile route- it is the 10th anniversary of her going into remission from Lymphoma so we felt it was appropriate! :)
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oh!!!
then I should try it as well;)
never cycled so much...
what I would need to take with me ?
what are you taking with you ?
how long - time wise , is the ride?
do you cycle fast ?
so many questions ;)
 
oh, and as I dont have GPS like garmin, how should I know where to cycle?...
 
bastic said:
oh, and as I dont have GPS like garmin, how should I know where to cycle?...
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Google maps has an option to display cycle routes. It's a recent addition and not yet perfect but it's very handy for finding cycle routes and quieter roads.
 
This is the wife's 2008 Vulcan. standard spec apart from

Manitou Marvel pro 100mm (put on today)
Kenda short track tyres
F M596 brake with 160mm ice tech rotor
R M415 caliper with Avid speed dial 7 lever 203mm rotor
F.mech LX M570
LH shifter - STX-RC
RH shifter - SRAM X4 8sp shifter
Uberbike grips
Hope head doctor
will have eXotic Scandium riser bar soon and looking to get a lighter rear wheel.

tyres and fork have saved 4.1lb lol


9400658363_a8fb010ebf_o.jpg
 
bastic said:
oh!!!
then I should try it as well;)
never cycled so much...
what I would need to take with me ?
what are you taking with you ?
how long - time wise , is the ride?
do you cycle fast ?
so many questions ;)
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It is no real distance so I would take a couple of inners, a pump (CO2 or normal), tyre levers, a multitool and a waterproof jacket. I would have a couple of bottles with electrolytes in but that is cos I sweat lots.

Time wise we will be taking it easily and a few friends are joining us, so there will be pub stops- shandy only! ;) Probably plan to be out for 6 hours or so in total.

I do cycle quickly relatively to thos that I cycle with (especially my wife!) but generally will hold back if I am out with friends. I am not fast in comparison to anyone with any sort of fitness or speed!

I have GPS but the route will be signed and they will give out directions too. Should be able to use a smartphone to help!
 
menthel said:
It is no real distance so I would take a couple of inners, a pump (CO2 or normal), tyre levers, a multitool and a waterproof jacket. I would have a couple of bottles with electrolytes in but that is cos I sweat lots.

Time wise we will be taking it easily and a few friends are joining us, so there will be pub stops- shandy only! ;) Probably plan to be out for 6 hours or so in total.

I do cycle quickly relatively to thos that I cycle with (especially my wife!) but generally will hold back if I am out with friends. I am not fast in comparison to anyone with any sort of fitness or speed!

I have GPS but the route will be signed and they will give out directions too. Should be able to use a smartphone to help!
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thanks

pub crawl with a bike you say ... :nuts:

I might join you ;)

I think 2 bottles of drinks would suffice.

good to hear that it will be marked so I wont get lost ;)

since morning, I raised £160 :)
 
bastic said:
thanks

pub crawl with a bike you say ... :nuts:

I might join you ;)

I think 2 bottles of drinks would suffice.

good to hear that it will be marked so I wont get lost ;)

since morning, I raised £160 :)
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Good work! Always happy to meet in a pub. ;)
 
bastic said:
anyone from London is coming ?
linky

I might go and even ride to Green Park to have my bike checked :)
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Me and my son will be doing this.

Third year out of four - last year didnt happen due to olympics, but the previous two were cracking days out.
 
barneyrubble said:
Me and my son will be doing this.

Third year out of four - last year didnt happen due to olympics, but the previous two were cracking days out.
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shall we set a 'meeting place' with time ?

any ideas where this mechanic in Green park might be ?
 
need to buy new tubes...
last time I bought Vittoria as there was good deal on them.

But my stock has run out so am on the lookout for more.

what tubes you are using guys ?

and spec me a small pump- might be co2.
Will need one just in case for this 52mile ride...and any other situations ;)
 
I generally get the Continental tubes, as they allow you to swap the valve section should you be a hamfisted clod and bend the screw-up bit on the end. Also, for winter or for longer rides, you can drop a few Ml's of conti's puncture proofing liquid into the tube - works a bit like "slime" but not as heavy or prone to "clumping" if you reflate with a CO2 cartridge.

As to a CO2 reflator - I've actualy got a old Planet-X one that they don't sell anymore - it's a combi-micro pump and CO2 - so you can partially reflate with the pump - just to ensure the beads are seated square and not nipping the inner tube. Then finish off with the CO2. And, should you end up having more punctures than CO2 Cartridges, you've always got a pump - even if it takes 20 minutes to get 80psi in there with it...

If I was replacing the PX one now, I'd get one of these... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-pressure-drive-cfh-pump-with-co2-cartridge/
 
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