Mountain biking questions again

Post by **tnf** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:35 am

Sooo...

Since I am an utter noob with the mountain biking, I am compelled to ask some basic questions...

1) When climbing a hill of moderate steepness and fairly hard ground, is there an optimal way to pedal (standing, sitting, leaning forward while standing, etc.)?

2) Maintenance for front shocks? What should I be doing?

3) Maintenance for disc brakes?

4) Maintenance for rear suspension?

5) Are helmets still just for nerds unless you are actually racing?

(Thats how it was when I finished my last BMX race 16 years ago.)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:44 am

1. Standing is probably the best way, especialy if you don't have clipless pedals. It get's the heartrate going a lot faster but I've always found it easier unless it's a long gradual climb, but for short steep uphills, definitely standing.

2, 3 and 4 keep things lubed (except the breaks of course) Find out what kind of lube to use and how to apply it at your local bike shop where you purchased it, they'll usualy tell you what's best. That's what I've always done anyway.

5. I hear you, although I don't wear one unless I'm racing or riding agressively they do have some pretty nice helmets now that are full faced and look like dirtbike helmets except a little smaller. I like them personaly I think they look nice with the right riding equipment to go with it. And although I'm a procrastinator and don't wear one they could seriously save your life one day.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:12 am

discussion on bicycle helmets:

http://www.quake3world.com/forum/viewto ... ght=helmet

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:15 am

And if you don't have clipless pedals you should seriously concider getting some. Once your legs get used to pushing/pulling 360 degrees on your pedals you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:22 am

btw just bought a bicycle computer - (Sigma BC 800)

installed it - was a dud - shop gave me a Sigman BC 1600 without any extra cost

score!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:28 am

Cool, my first one was a Velo I think, it was nice in it's day, wireless and a lot of useful functions. I miss my bycicle computer actualy, it's a neat toy to have.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:38 am

i'm really looking forward to how fast i actually go. I think I'm pretty fast for a $200CN second hand CCM frame with mountain bike tires.

I'm guessing I max out at around 60-70km/h on the nice roads that go downhill, and 40-50 when on flats without wind.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:38 am

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:42 am

What kind of bike is it? I'm not familiar with the name but I'm assuming it's a mountainbike.

I'll tell you right now that I was very surprised at how fast you feel you're going compared to how fast you really ARE going.

I've had many times before I had my computer that I thought I was going 60-70km/h and I have done it but not that often. On my mountainbike I found it difficult to maintain a speed of 50km/h. Going downhill you do gain a lot of speed but 60kmh will feel very fast and it's not too often you'll likely break 60 unless you're in a very hilly area, the area I trained in was relatively flat so I never got to train on hills too much. Getting to 60km/h on a flat road, even without wind is pretty challenging.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:46 am

CCM - not really sure - some old canadian bicycle manufacturer - run of the mill stuff - it's the sort of bike that a thief wouldn't waste time on, which is great for a city like toronto.

you're probably right about how fast i really am going - i'm basing it on this one time i was riding with a friend who had a speedometer and we were going at a decent pace and she said we were going 33 km/h.

so based on that i was thinking i could probably squeeze out an extra 10-15 clicks.

will let you know soon how fast i actually go - gonna install it tonight and take it out for a test, then tomorrow evening i'll be taking it down that hill i was talking about.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:52 am

Heheheh yeah that extra 10-15 clicks is surprisingly difficult. My average speed running around town was similar to that, anywhere in the 30km range. When I went out intentionaly to train I'd try to keep it a constant 40km/h and that was pretty intensive training I found I was up to about 42 or 43 if I recall when I stopped. And if you're riding a CCM I wouldn't even TRUST it to go 70km/h but I doubt you'll ever get it there unless you're going down a monster hill with the wind in your back.

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 3:24 am

tnf, I'm going to echo pretty much everything Kracus said...

For climbing hills, standing is a good approach, but keep your weight pretty much vertical over the rear wheel or you'll start spinning. And I would seriously consider getting clipless pedals if you don't have them; the difference when you're riding is spectacular.

As for helmets; maybe it's just the city I live in, but I think bikers look stupider without helmets -- particularly when you're really biking (mountain biking, for instance). Regardless of looks, I'd still wear one all the time. My own spills aside (for which my skull is still intact due to a helmet), I've seen multiple people hit by cars and that's enough to make me keep one on.
As it is your own preference, though, and you endanger no one else by not wearing one, you may do as you please.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:21 am

K just went and bought some groceries - on way back did a test. Was an extremely mild slope downwards (actually mighta been flat hard to tell - shoulda paid more attention) and reached 44.9 km/hr till the wind resistance became a factor and the street ended.

I might have measured the wheel circumference wrong though - will do a double check later. I entered 2070 mm but it might be 2051. Hard to measure exactly - i used a piece of thread n all but the thread turned out to be elastic.

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:33 am

Do you own a car Jules?

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:44 am

nope - you thinking i could get a friend to drive alongside my bike to test speed?

I might just take my bike to a 100m track if i can find one and see if the distance on the computer is accurate.

Post by **r3t** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:48 am

Kracus wrote:2, 3 and 4 keep things lubed (except the breaks of course) Find out what kind of lube to use and how to apply it at your local bike shop where you purchased it, they'll usualy tell you what's best. That's what I've always done anyway.

You do NOT want to lube a disc brake! Getting grease on the disc is a sure way to reduce its stopping power a lot!

Post by **r3t** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:50 am

[xeno]Julios wrote:
I might have measured the wheel circumference wrong though - will do a double check later. I entered 2070 mm but it might be 2051. Hard to measure exactly - i used a piece of thread n all but the thread turned out to be elastic.

Doesn't your cycle computer come with an overview of different tire sizes? The size of the tire is most commonly printed on the side. Here's a nice tabel: http://www.avocet.com/custserv/calibration.html

Post by **Zyte** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:33 am

If you think you're going to cycle often and on your own, you'd better get yourself a helmet. You dont wanna lie somewhere in the woods with a cracked skull. And chances are quite high you will fall some day. And looking nerdy for some fat joggers for a few hours doesnt bother me tbh.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:53 am

r3t wrote:
Doesn't your cycle computer come with an overview of different tire sizes? The size of the tire is most commonly printed on the side. Here's a nice tabel: http://www.avocet.com/custserv/calibration.html

yea has a chart, and i chose the values on the chart that corresponded most closely with the actual measurements I took. Never thought to check my actual tires to see if they had a size label.

*checking*

the measurement on my back tire: 26X2.125

on front it's really faded but looks like 26x2.33 or 28X2.33

according to chart in my computer manual, that means it should be 2133 mm, not 2070 like i measured. Probably because my front tire isn't fully pumped. (i hate the hard suspension of a fully turgid tire, and i don't have shocks or stuff like that.

Front rim says: 26X1.5/1.75 ETRTO 559X19

(it's a ZAC 1900 Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6)

does this mean my tires aren't suited for rim?

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:56 am

man all of a sudden i feel guilty for distracting from TNF's original questions

Post by **Timbo** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:22 pm

Stand periodically to loosen off your legs. It's more efficient to climb sitting down.

Post by **Maiden** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 2:53 pm

listen to timbo

and don't forget to lube your chain.

oh and if you get over this way, the best riding in the state is in my backyard....
http://www.galbraithmt.com/

Post by **Canis** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 3:14 pm

On No. 5, if you're not wearing a helmet you're a fucking dumbass, plain and simple.

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:45 pm

[xeno]Julios wrote: will let you know soon how fast i actually go - gonna install it tonight and take it out for a test, then tomorrow evening i'll be taking it down that hill i was talking about.

k last night took it down that hill: max speed: 57.7 clicks. Will try for 60 next week if i go down there.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 2:03 pm

[xeno]Julios wrote:
[xeno]Julios wrote: will let you know soon how fast i actually go - gonna install it tonight and take it out for a test, then tomorrow evening i'll be taking it down that hill i was talking about.
k last night took it down that hill: max speed: 57.7 clicks. Will try for 60 next week if i go down there.

Where you set the sensor for the computer actualy shouldn't make much difference since the wheel isn't going to turn any faster based on where you place the sensor.