I think my steel frames have got a pretty good aesthetic going on…

Generation II

Generation I

I’ve had a few pairs of Middleburn, super lightweight, a work of art, very strong.

The only issue I had was with the ISIS versions where the splines were a little delicate.

When the new X-type one are within my budget on the second hand market, I’ll up for some more.

Spawn cycles, many thanks. I’ve been looking for lightweight kids cranks everywhere.

I was looking at chopping down a pair of bmx cranks for my next build.

Cheers…

Homemade…

Unfortunately, all the bits are from a Ridgeback MX14 with the solid steel cranks, so although the steel frame is way lighter than the original ally one, it weighs a ton.

No sorry, the BB is 10mm below wheel axles. Not the double negative I implied!

Frame geometry is:
66.5 HA,
1190mm wheelbase;
435mm CS;
-10mm BB drop.

Single pivot with 150mm front and rear. Main pivot bang on line with 34T chainring. Slightly rising rate suspension.

It a development from my last frame, see Pinkbike album. This was designed for 650b wheels but they didn’t fit. So I used it with 26″, but the BB was just too low. Also, the HA on my last frame was closer to 65deg and just too slack. The swingarm design has improved with the use of some waterjet cut parts. A minor change to swingarm and seatpost positioning has allowed the shock mount to drop giving a better spring curve.

All designed and made with my own fair hands.

How about one of my frames instead of a Rocket?

I’ve got the design mostly sorted, but the quality needs a bit of improvement.

Steel, 650b. Keep an eye on my Pinkbike page. The frame is in the painters now and should be built up over the weekend.

More photos here…[/url]

I’d be happy to build one at cost plus a little bit for anyone willing to take a small risk of a relativily untested design?

I have gold anodized bits on my bikes. Been coupled to purple, black and soon to be dark blue frames as I’ve changed.

See photos here[/url],
JMc003, 5 and 7 albums.

No real significant changes from last year! Bit of an anti climax…

What we need:
-Get rid of all the flappy bit; derailleurs, cables, hose;
-Puncture proof tyres;
-Reduced maintenance;
-Less things to buy!!!

What we’ll get:
-New ‘standards’ for increased stiffness,
-Bollox pseudo science;
-More gears;
-Less resistant materials;
-Electronics;
-Geometry shifting suspension;
-More things to go wrong;
-More things to buy!!!

My gravity dropper is now nearly nine years old. It occasionally knackers the cable outer, but always an easy fix.

I think the little ‘box’ out back is much more aesthetic than a wangly bit of cable from Reverbs. Pull the rubber boot off, it makes no difference to function and looks better.

I managed to turn something out of black nylon on my lathe. Looks good, works good. All sorted!

I’m still super keen to get out, but it happens so rarely now due to kids and a new job, that I’m becoming crap. I used to be a fast rider. Now I’m a duffer. Two big crashes due to being overly tied, and I’m starting to question it all!

Riding around in a full face is not such and issue. Especially if the organisers allow some sensible discretion, e.g. helmets not required on fireroad climbs. Some simple signs could be employed as to where helmets need to bee worn on the way up.

Technology will also catch up pretty soon. If I was a bicycle helmet manufacturer I would be putting all my efforts into an Enduro Specific full face, light and airy but still meets the requirements. Urge have done this, but it’s an ugly bugger. I’m sure the likes of Troy Lee could come up with something prettier.

And following stuffing my head into the ground last week, I’m thinking of wearing my full face anyway.

Wysiwyg, are your photos going on Roots and Rain? If not, any of 512 would be greatly appreciated.

Fantastic few days riding. Amazing trails and great atmosphere in the finishing arena. My legs hurt, The drive home last night nearly killed me, I rode great but got rubbish times (has multiple chain droppages), but still the best race yet!

[/quote]

No marketing BS. Engineered by the best…me! Handmade by my own fair hands. Tough and it rips.

Is there a thread about this? If not, why the hell not?!!

Lots of photos of the build of the frame, and some of my other frames, here…[/url]

No marketing BS. Engineered by the best…me! Handmade by my own fair hands. Tough and it rips.

Try mtbbatteries.

He can probably fix your current battery for a small cost and make it way better than the Chinese factories can knock them out. His customer service is fantastic.

It may well go bang, but I bet there’s still a load of intact fibres. It may not have a lot of strength but it will hold together.

I think I might change job and sell any old shite in London as ‘retro’ for vast prices. Reminds me of the Harry Enfield sketch with the shop called ‘Saw you Coming’!

Cracks in composites are more likely to be between the plies (delamination) rather than through the thickness. Therefore, I think the crack you can see is most likely just in the paint.

I’d remove the paint and see what you can see. If the carbon looks good underneath and there’s no sign of any distortion in the top ply, you’re probably OK.

If the carbon shows any distortion, or a tap test sugests some delamination, ride carefully! The most likely failure mode to result in paint cracking is a compressive failure. Google Image it to get some idea of what you looking for signs of.

Also, contrary to common belief, carbon actually hangs together quite well in the case of failure. It’s extremely unlikely that all of the fibres break in one go. This is differnet to an ally frame, where a crack can become critical and break all the way through in one go.

This is something I’ve thought about for a long time. Bit like an old Sturmey Archer but durable. Gears for up, down and along.

That’s right.

You can’t miss me. I’m sat in a big throne, shouting orders at people!

AndyL,

Come and have a chat. I can’t think who you are!

Superstar paid me with a pair of carbon wheels which I’m very happy with.

I’d be happy to do comparison of all sorts of wheels, but that’s up to the rim manufacturers. I just tested the rims requested. The results showed for the failure mode considered, carbon is stronger than aluminium and that the quality of the carbon matters.

I only posted on this thread as I was searching the internet to pass some time, I noticed this thread and lots of people advising buying cheap carbon rims. I just thought, based on my experience, I’d say that this might not be the best route.

njee20, that’s a particularly agressive post. What the hell has the fact I sell my old parts on this thread got to do with anything. Do you think perhaps I’m a thief!

I’m an engineer trying to find some interesting chat. Not start a fight.

AndyL,

I’m the chap who wrote the reports. Who are you?

The Light Cycles report looks like they’ve improved their quality a little (or that seems to be the case from the dodgy Chine’glish).

I’d be happy to repeat any testing given the right financial incentive!

Have you got some to sell?

What do you mean?

Lots of talk aboput Light Cycle rims.

Read and you’ll see the dangers of cheap carbon rims. Beware, the .pdf takes a little while to download.

Shimano Deores. £80 for the pair from CRC. No noticible power difference compared to my SLX. Look nicer as well!

I’ve got a Prophet for sale if you’re interested?

I had a old SC Heckler in lemon yellow, with Orange Z1s. Oranges and Lemons, I loved it!

The ridge trail is perhaps a perfect example of my frustrations. This trail has never been significantly subject to wear, it remained in a good state all year round, being well known but not over ridden. But now even the steep sections near there are being turned to mush. I beleive this is due to the increasing numbers of riders attracted by the new trails.

So my original point still remains, personally I find the new trails uninspiring and the woods will never be like it used to be. The rise in numbers of riders due to the new trails means that the woods have changed, for the worse, for ever!

Maybe this is selfish, and the rest of you seem more accepting than me, but its the way I feel and I know I’m not alone.

Stop moaning? – Maybe
Be more tolerant? – Maybe
Ride somewhere else? – The point of my thread is that my usual place has been detstroyed.
Ride it faster? – And then get held up by even more people.
Appreciate that it’s now all-weather? – Maybe
Be thankful that it’ll get more people on bikes? – More people to get in my way and overuse and destroy any new trails that do crop up.

I’m an experienced mountainbiker. I quite enjoyed Yer Tiz. – Tiz boring and not mountain biking!

Cannondale Prophet.

Lovely frames and can be got for a bargain price. Mine has a works component headset that brings it in at about 65° with 150mm forks.

Ir does wander a bit in low speed corners, but you just need to commit a bit and push the bike in hard and it all makes sense.

Even SLs have the same geometry, just a shorter travel shock.

My daughter was bombing around on her Rothan just before she got to two. She’s a tiny little thing, her mum’s only 5′ and she seems to be following that trend.

The Rothan also has the added advantgaes of being very well made and strong. Strong enough even for Dad to run down the hills in the park at a none to safe speed and control level!

Maxxis High Rollers all year round on all of my bikes. Although, very occasionally I’ll put a spike on the front of my DH bike.

But then I like sliding about in the mud, I’m no slower than any of my mates and I’m not after small gains to put me on the podium.

If anyone’s interested in riding at 7:30pm, send me an email and I’ll get together a distribution list for rides.

jjmcewan <AT> btinternet <DOTCOM>

7pm is too early. Kids bedtime is 7pm.