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and i really don't like riding in the rain (yes i am a fair weather cyclist).
i have started to upgrade my chisel fs bike (just fitted an sid ultimate fork to it last week well the bike shop did all the fitting).
i have done exactly 1 ride this year (to said bike shop to get fork fitted).
i don't want to get my bike dirty with the new stuff fitted but new xt groupset for the bike. i would ride on the road to keep the bike as clean as possible (usually go on the k & a canal towpath to the shop).
i plan on going for 9am if i do but my farking depression and laziness is saying don't go you'll get soaked/your bike and new components will be covered in crap etc etc. it also takes us ages to clean my bike when i have ridden in crap is another excuse my depression voices in my head also.
what would you do tbh? i know the answer no doubt is mtfu etc
thank you and apologies for this post (my sleep patterns are all over the place atm due to insomnia and random sleep times).
I don't think you'd be asking this question if there wasn't just a tiny part of you that wanted to just ****ing do it! So, yeah, just ****ing do it!
If in doubt, go out
It's the first couple of yards that are the difficult ones motivation wise and you never regret it once underway, so I say yeah, go for it.
I will caveat my opinion by telling you I've not done my bike commute for 3 weeks mainly due to the shitty weather, so I'm no role model. 😁
XT stuff - definitely worth getting your arse in gear for. Then you'll be like a coiled spring for when the weather finally turns
Yeah. Do it. No need to overthink the cleaning bit. If you go on the road, it'll probably just need a quick hose down when you get back.
what would you do tbh?
Learn to fit forks and groupsets myself 😝
Joking aside, there's nothing overly complicated about it, saves you money and gives a much greater sense of satisfaction. Also fitting stuff yourself will give you a greater understanding of how things work if you need to fix them trailside
I would also fit the parts myself.
Assuming that you have the space to work on your bike, it really isn’t that complicated. Aside from cable cutters, the tools you’d need will be in a multi-tool. Once you know how to do it, you’ll always be able to do it.
Apart from servicing forks and shocks, there's nothing on a bike that isn't pretty basic. It's pretty much all just doing up bolts or screwing something in and the odd whack. Brand new rear mech is a piece of piss to fit.
Do it yourself and stay dry and warm! Then ride the shit out of it*.
*That's coming from someone who hasn't ridden a bike since before Christmas....
^^ he did say 'groupset', not just gears. I wouldn't have said fitting hydraulic cables and brakes are that basic. Definitely do-able at home but it takes a lot more than cable cutters and a multi-tool.
Nah, brand new brakes are pretty simple as well. Even if you have to swap levers over, just be careful. Only need special kit if you need to trim the hoses.
Any way, good time to learn when it's pissing down...
What did you decide? You riding a new group set or still to be fitted?
i don't want to get my bike dirty with the new stuff fitted but new xt groupset for the bike. i would ride on the road to keep the bike as clean as possible (usually go on the k & a canal towpath to the shop).
Absolutely spot on. No way would you want to get a mountain bike dirty by riding it off road let alone in the rain. I can't believe so many people suggested doing it. I really hope you've made the sensible choice of waiting until summer.
I would fit the parts myself, but only to avoid riding in the rain. HTH.
he did say 'groupset', not just gears.
Good point. Hydraulic brakes are a little more fiddly and needs a few more tools.
Having been in a similar place mentally, remember there is no "should". You have a choice and whatever you decided to do is OK. Some people may fit this stuff themselves - they are not you and if your choice to use the LBS that is also OK.
When I was fighting the black dog there were many many reasons not to ride. The deal I made was that I would at least get my bike out and ride for 5 mins but then I could sack it off if I wanted. My challenge was to be prepared to ride, if I achieved that then anything else was a bonus.
Going out on your bike is always better than not going out on your bike. The reward will be that you will have a shiny new XT groupset on your bike and you get to ride your bike with new shiny bits on it.
Thank me later.
Bikes are designed to get muddy…aim for the first puddle and crack on 🙂 Nothing wrong with a full clean afterwards but similarly, a two minute spray down with a hose and a quick lube of the chain is not going to harm the bike, I often just get the worst of the mud off but a lot of the time it just goes away filthy and next ride the dry mud cartwheels off the tyres as I ride down the street!
ah i didn't actually go in the end (hangs head in shame)
as originally planned i was thinking about it but i went out first thing to pay the bills and do some shopping and it was farking freezing so said stuff it (am not proud of it but i have issues with circulation and my hands and feet literally turn to ice even with thick gloves and socks).
i won't be getting the groupset fitted for a week as the manager is on holiday all week so there is just one man running the shop all week. but i am fine with that.
there is no way i can fit the stuff myself as i am the world's worst bike mechanic (seriously am not just saying it for effect lol).
this week though looks a lot drier (it couldn't really be any less dry so far this year) so light at end of the tunnel and all that 😀
To be fair I went out yesterday morning with my usual winter layers and liner gloves, I was uncomfortably cold until the final climb just before home 🙄
Don't feel shame for not going out in the pissing rain op. Do what you want when you want to do it.
Some people on here say that a shit ride is better than no ride but I don't agree and only you know if you agree or not.
Don't beat yourself up about, you got some other stuff done so that's good.
When the weather is better you'll fricken love that new group set.
what would you do…
Ride the current drivetrain into the ground and wait till about May to fit the XT? I can’t be the only person thinking it?
Glib answer I know, but lots of people have a nag bike for winter precisely to save this sort of hand wringing over the pretty toys… If ever someone needed a “winter bike” it sounds like you OP.