Hunstanton is a good one hour from Norwich

An hour with pedal assist, or without? 😉

Moving to flats recently, I found I needed to time my shifting better, or at least not try and shift while putting a lot of power down, as the shift would cause my unloaded foot to slip on the pedal. Moving your feet around on flats is a bit of an technique in itself, with grippy soles really locking my feet in.

Took me a few rides to feel where the right place is for my foot. It still feels alien for the first few minutes until my feet remember what to do. I am really enjoying it though, and has already improved my technique.

The thing that makes events special is the people.

and

the repetitiveness

One question I’ve been asking myself a lot recently is “why do I ride?” It’s a question that I’ve spent some pretty deep thinking time pondering… and come up with more than one answer…

Kryton57 – Member

Explained here:

https://cyclingtips.com/2013/09/climbing-and-time-trialling-how-power-outputs-are-affected/

THAT is something I’ve been wondering about for ages, and was reminded of last week riding with a mate in Sardinia, which was hilly and flat. Thanks for the link…

alanl – 10 years ago the test wouldn’t have been at Gatcombe, although your point on perceptive performance of full sus is relevant.

In recent years, in a team of 4, I’ve gone for the hardtail every time for this course, but as a solo I’d take both… It’s not rough, the climbs are steep but smooth, so sitting down a lot is not an issue, but I think having the option to swap to a full sus would be nice…

Couldn’t you use a 32 hole and skip every third hole?

Obviously, this is a bad idea…

Is it? I thought you could build a wheel using a hub with extra holes as long as the mismatch is even all the way round and you calculate your spoke lengths correctly.

Discs are the only solution here… 😉

Seriously – sounds like a nightmare moment. Glad it ended without incident. I’ve a similar junction on my commute, and the same thought has crossed my mind as well.

Of course- but you can’t expect irrational baseless feelings to take precedence over other people’s choice.

There’s no precedent here – people are free to feel and ride what they like. Although they may be irrational baseless feelings doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I’m just trying to dispassionately explain why some people may dislike ebikes…

Well that’s my point- strava isn’t suddenly ruined by this

No, not for the moment anyway…

is it fair to say that any developments that have made it easier to go uphill is cheating, lighter bikes, switch forks, fork lock outs, spds, cassettes with larger cogs. should we all be on heavy as **** bikes so we earn our downhill even more genuinely?

There’s a difference between evolution and revolution, which is what the ebike represents. Hence why

Ebikes represent a threat

to some people’s view of MTB’ing and their part within it. As well as the other issue mentioned – inappropriate use, etc.

I’ve no strong feeling about ebikes. I’d be disappointed if they become the norm, as it would mean my version of MTB’ing would be in the minority.

As for strava, anyone that takes strava that seriously is out of their minds anyway, it’s always been completely undermined by cheats and inaccuracy, so let this new disaster come, it makes but one more.

Yes and no… If you’re in the top 1-2% of a segment that has 2000 rider attempts, you know you’re pretty quick, irrespective of the cheats, inaccuracies, wind assists (and E bikes!)

You’re not, though. I mean, people might choose to think so but to be blunt that’s their problem. It’s apples and oranges and if being fast on a standard mountain bike is important to you, why would it bother you if someone is fast on an e-bike?

Speed is speed, and it’s an attribute that is hard earned… Look, I’m not saying everyone is bothered by it, but my post covers my main thoughts. People are people – are emotional beings, and are sometimes irrational, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t feel the way they do.

Should you care? That’s up to you, but if you don’t care, you can’t be blind to why some people are unhappy with them…

Here’s my take:

Many people put an awful lot of time and effort and money into MTB’ing, and become good at it – get fit, develop the skillz etc – and become a recognised member of the MTB ‘clan’. The better MTB’er you are, the faster you will generally be, and it’s that speed bit that is the most obvious differentiator of the better riders.

MTB’ing has always had an element of ‘racing you mates’ to it, and Strava has opened that up even more. It’s what generates the MTB social order (fastest first) but also provides an incentive to get better – I want to get faster, so need to get fitter and get the skillz.

Ebikes represent a threat to this ‘social order’ as you can now be fast without having to invest the time and effort to become a ‘good’ rider.

Well, so what? People are having fun, getting out etc etc… The ‘so what’ is that your pissing on other people’s chips by devaluing the currency that separates the good riders from the less able ones – speed.

It’s why people get upset losing a Strava rankings to ebikes. To those who don’t use Strava / look down their noses at it, they don’t really understand or care about the effort that some people put in to improving their riding / fitness which an improved Strava rank represents.

Should you care? That’s up to you, but if you don’t care, you can’t be blind to why some people are unhappy with them (irrespective of the surrounding issues of people using ebikes inappropriately – chipped/deregulated etc)

thomthumb – you’re being most helpful today!

I have some new road rims arriving imminently that I want built onto my existing hubs. I do fancy giving wheel building a crack myself at some point, but I don’t think this is the right project!

As I will be without my wheels while they are being built (well, not quite right, could buy the 12mm adapters for the rear and put my Crests in), need someone who knows what they are doing to get the job done in good time, and have confidence that they won’t explode when in the back of beyond…

On a slightly different note – can anyone recommend me a wheel builder?

thomthumb – Thanks! Look forwards to doing some exploring!

ahwiles – check out the Fareham Wheelers website. They have a few routes which might take your fancy.

Hi Folks

Would anyone be willing to share some of their favorite longer routes/gpx. I’m doing regular long’ish (130km+) training rides and keen to borrow the collective local knowledge here to keep things fresh.

Leaning towards back country roads (happy with some fireroad/gravel) rather than ‘proper’ bridle ways, but bike can cope with some rougher stuff.

In the spirit, I’ll share my loop from the weekend, which is approximately the limits of my knowledge:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1522297018

Anything further east or west of that would be great!

Thanks

It’s not so much about proxy wars that concerns me as the tactics of war being employed. Are war crimes now being used as a weapon of war to provoke action?

We are part of this. Our reaction to what the media tell us / shape the stories around these atrocities will put pressure (or not) on the government to take certain action (or not), if not immediately then perhaps in future, and the government will be mindful of that.

Our government has come out in support of the strike, which superficially seems reasonable (this war crime needs a response). But have we been played? What are the consequences? How much of this is Trump taking advantage of a situation (see my previous post)? There are no immediately obvious answers to me…

@copa – thanks for sharing that… Worrying times. Who’s playing who?

I wouldn’t underestimate the possibility for cock-ups…

Would make more sense, and combined with the fact that they supposedly gave up all their chemical weapons, paints them into a corner…

Agree that the chemical attack makes little strategic sense for Assad and we’re being asked to believe that his ‘evilness’ is greater than his ‘stupidity’, and he doesn’t strike me as stupid…

From Trump’s perspective, his only real strength is that people don’t know how to handle him – he’s too unpredictable / inconsistent / petulant. This is a perfect way to build that strength – a limited show of force to prove that he can and will take unilateral action, enhances his ‘nutter’ credentials.

Deciding on a negotiation strategy against him must be a nightmare. Xi Jinping might be a little unbalanced by this…

I had similar last weekend – 30km in, and a 4mm cut right through the tread of the tyre. I had 100km to go so called my wife for a rescue instead of risking a tube and getting into issues when further away from home.

I’ve repaired with a tubeless repair patch, which is basically a chunky version of a tube patch. First time I’ve used on the roadie and haven’t ridden it yet, but will report back if I die…

When I was getting into XC racing, I learnt the hard way – beware the old guy in lycra!

Rode to work
Wintery at start
Spring by finish

Don’t know about 20%, but last year’s course had a couple short steep’ish climbs in, and sand has the effect of making the flat seem like uphill!

Just found my 34T chainring, for its annual outing!

Hi nxgater – there’s nothing on the course that demands a FS really, so the choice is really between a hardtail and a CX bike. There will be all sorts there though (up to an including a tandem fatbike!) so anything will do.

It’s mental fun, and completely surreal being in the most enormous peloton, hooning down the beach… Looking forward to it!

4 minutes on
2 minutes off
done 6 times

Wynne – you sure there isn’t a sneaky hole / gap in the rim tape?

I’ve just ordered these, off the back of good previous experience with their MTB rims:
https://www.lightbicycle.com/Road-bicycle-rims-28mm-wide-46mm-deep-aero-clincher-road-disc-brake-available.html

They’re wide mind, so perhaps not for you if you run tyres smaller than 25mm. They’ve described them as their ‘new’ rims, but not sure how new that is!

I think the Forekaster is a better all round tyre than the Beaver. The Beaver has taller, softer knobs (certainly in 2.0) that fold on hard ground, so are less suited to armored / trailcenter type trails. Great on soft ground though. I have both, but use them differently.

Food is not liquid. Recovery drinks are fine to kick start the process of getting nutrient back into your body but they are a START. It’s not a replacement for eating proper food.

It’s very simple. Your body has evolved to digest food, and take up nutrients at a certain rate (classic case in point is the result of taking too many energy gels too quickly). By liquidizing food you are removing a fundamental part of that process, and are speeding everything up. Faster is not better. Flooding your blood system with nutrients when your body prefers a steady stream means that you are operating ‘sub-optimally’.

for a ravenous cyclist post ride

Eat more while riding, and eat frequently in small chunks post ride, rather than binging. Give your body a chance to realise you’ve eaten something… Drink plenty of fluids too.

What exactly is the problem with fresh fruit, veg, protein, healthy fats, etc, all mashed up & easily digestible?

The structure of food itself impacts on it’s nutritional value. Eating sugar in the form of fruit is better than sucking on a sugar cube because the sugars are more complex and built into the fruit’s cellular structure (fibre etc) which takes time to digest, which then delays the release into the blood stream and lessens the sugar spike.

It’s part of the whole refined/processed food argument. Eg porridge from whole oats are ‘better’ for you (but perhaps less convenient!) than the 2min porridge for similar reasons.

Also, in terms of ‘hunger’ your body ‘sees’ calories in food and drink differently, with liquid calories being less effective at eliciting a ‘hunger satisfied’ response than food, despite it having the same calories.

29’ers:

Short travel FS – work my way down this order swapping front for rear depending on conditions and what I’m riding:
Shorty 2.3, Forekaster 2.35, Ikon 2.35, Ikon 2.2, Ikon 2.2

HT – my race bike, so:
Beaver 2.0 F&R, Rons F&R 2.0, Ikon 2.2 F&R

EDIT – Also have a pair of Trail Kings which I throw into the mix occasionally.

+3 for Radr cage…

I’ve also only recently found the joys of owning a hanger alignment tool, which has taken a lot of faff out of rear shifting set up.

+1 for 12 Monkeys. One of my favourite films. Always felt it deserved a follow up film, and only just realised they’ve created a series from it.

Machete and Magnum are both Boost – Manitou obviously keen to get in early there.

Have the Tower Pro 29 120 which I think are great, but am probably pushing their limits / need some more skills compensation, and would like to upgrade to something towards 130mm by 34mm.

If Manitou did a 130mm Mattoc Pro 2 in 29er flavor, I’d be keen to give them a go if they were significantly cheaper than Pikes…

Yes, twice – on my Xperia Z1 compact. Ordered this:

http://www.iparts-4u.co.uk/Sony-Xperia-Z1-Compact-LCD-Touch-Screen-Assembly-Black

with this:

http://www.iparts-4u.co.uk/Sony-Xperia-Z1-Compact-LCD-Bonding-Adhesive?search=z1%20compact%20adh

and some of the tools for a couple quid and followed a YouTube vid.

Getting the screen off takes a bit of effort, so take your time and work your way round, but no skill required. Once I had cleaned the old adhesive residue and had everything fitted, I warmed the area around the new screen (ie the new adhesive) with a hair dryer and weighted it all down with some heavy books for a few minutes.

Does the screen work as perfectly as before? Honestly, not quite, but not so much that it’s annoying. It otherwise is working well…

Excellent timing! Today, I’ve mainly ordered a pair of Bolle Spider and Molucca safety spec to try at the weekend. Reckon glasses are a bit like saddles – what works / fits one person won’t necessarily be the same for another, but will report back on these two in any case.

I’ve tried many pairs of glasses for winter MTB’ing, but not come across one that I’ve really found works well for me. My main issue is the gap around the cheekbone being too large and letting mud through…

If upgrading the fork is on the cards then the Boardman is the choice due to it having a tapered head tube. The choice of straight 1 1/8 steerer forks would be far more restricted,if you went for the Bizango.

TBH, either would work well for you, and both would be great first bikes, but if it were my money it would go on the Boardman of the two. It’s 1x (the GX groupset works well), modern geometry, decent kit – get riding!

Came off this morning on an icy corner. First time ever I’ve had an off on the road. This was about 90 seconds after a walker said in passing “Road’s a bit slippery!”

Was really enjoying the ride before that!