The Bike Topic, moved from "A personal story of abuse..." Options

[0Stribor0]

Abhi,

Do you prefer Downhill or Cross Country riding in MB?

I prefer Cross Country on a good 16'' frame, preferably Tomac and a good set of 150mm travel forx.Preferably Manitou or Marzocchi.

[Homer]

Abhi,

Do you prefer Downhill or Cross Country riding in MB?

I prefer Cross Country on a good 16'' frame, preferably Tomac and a good set of 150mm travel forx.Preferably Manitou or Marzocchi.

I'll vote here. My ride is a Specialized Epic with Fox f100x forks. Fantastic XC bike.

MTB riding is one of the real pleasures in life!

[0Stribor0]

Specialized...very good choice of frame.For how long do you have Fox forks?Did you ever service them?

[Homer]

Specialized...very good choice of frame.For how long do you have Fox forks?Did you ever service them?

Ha! We are getting off topic here. I am a little tired of deep discussions about beliefs and religions. I went to church this morning and I even took Communion! They were so accepting and loving I felt comfortable partaking of Christ's blood and flesh - even if I am not attracted by this ritual.

The Specialized Epic is a two-week old bike so I have not serviced the forks or the brain rear shock. I have a fantastic local bike shop and they always look after me. The bike is so impressive my wife bought one a week after I got mine. A damn good investment in enjoyment and self discovery - infinitely better than extracting the truth from cryptic books. Endorphin rush clears the mind!

[Tapati]

We encourage lightness and frivolity here at GR. Would you guys like me to split off so you can really get into the bike discussion?

I consider it all part of building community, and this is why we ask for info about hobbies and such in profiles, so people with like interests will connect on that level too.

[metamorphosis]

We encourage lightness and frivolity here at GR. Would you guys like me to split off so you can really get into the bike discussion?

I consider it all part of building community, and this is why we ask for info about hobbies and such in profiles, so people with like interests will connect on that level too.

Oh! Tapati always thinking of your "herd"! Thanks!

I almost commented on the bike thing, but hesitated because the thread was too far away from that topic. And because i'm a bike enthusiast but not a big spender so my "huffy" is all that gets me through the trail.

[evakurvan]

I dont know anything about bikes even though i use one to get everywhere so i must ask this, since some people here seem to be bike knowledgeable. Just 2 days ago the pedal of my bike kept flying off. There was a garage nearby that screwed it back in but it kept flying off after that too. I gave it to my friend who said he would glue it back in and put 'torque' in it. It has not flown off so far. But i am unsure on what to do now - should i bring it to the store to fix it the 'official' way (tho that means undoing my friends work which might be bad considering it would involve tinkering too much with the pedal probably) or should i leave it like this. What is the official way to fix such a problem, has this happened to anyone before.

[jatayu]

I dont know anything about bikes even though i use one to get everywhere so i must ask this, since some people here seem to be bike knowledgeable. Just 2 days ago the pedal of my bike kept flying off. There was a garage nearby that screwed it back in but it kept flying off after that too. I gave it to my friend who said he would glue it back in and put 'torque' in it. It has not flown off so far. But i am unsure on what to do now - should i bring it to the store to fix it the 'official' way (tho that means undoing my friends work which might be bad considering it would involve tinkering too much with the pedal probably) or should i leave it like this. What is the official way to fix such a problem, has this happened to anyone before.

A glued pedal might hold for a couple of hours, probably the thread of the screw is battered and this is a defect in the material - cheap steel being used for the pedal thread. If the company doesnt replace it for free you can buy new pedals and let them screw on by your friend, it's an easy job - the bike workshop charges some USD 30 for the working time.

[Homer]

We encourage lightness and frivolity here at GR. Would you guys like me to split off so you can really get into the bike discussion?

I consider it all part of building community, and this is why we ask for info about hobbies and such in profiles, so people with like interests will connect on that level too.

Tapati, I hope you are well and feeling better. Funny how one minute we are going in one direction and in a split second it's all just a memory. Like this morning, I slipped as I walked into my house because of having wet sandals (punishment for wearing shoes? ) on the polished wooden floors and I think I have a greenstick fracture in the wrist. Now my new bike will taunt me instead of being my escape machine.

Do we need a bike topic? Search me. For me the bicycle is not a hobby, it is essential to my well being and sanity!

[Homer]

We encourage lightness and frivolity here at GR. Would you guys like me to split off so you can really get into the bike discussion?

I consider it all part of building community, and this is why we ask for info about hobbies and such in profiles, so people with like interests will connect on that level too.

Oh! Tapati always thinking of your "herd"! Thanks!

I almost commented on the bike thing, but hesitated because the thread was too far away from that topic. And because i'm a bike enthusiast but not a big spender so my "huffy" is all that gets me through the trail.

Hari Bolo! I am very proud of starting the local devotees on a mountain bike craze many years ago. My late wife and I would pull up at the temple with our beautiful bikes feeling pumped up and this seems to have rubbed off on the community. Even some "serious" devotees have quality bikes and ride often.

The money spent on a good bike is directly proportional to the design, quality of the components and weight, all of which are critical. Once you ride a really good bike it is very difficult to downgrade.

A low cost bike does not mean it is a low enjoyment ride, It is a matter of how much you want to push yourself - no pun intended!

[Homer]

I dont know anything about bikes even though i use one to get everywhere so i must ask this, since some people here seem to be bike knowledgeable. Just 2 days ago the pedal of my bike kept flying off. There was a garage nearby that screwed it back in but it kept flying off after that too. I gave it to my friend who said he would glue it back in and put 'torque' in it. It has not flown off so far. But i am unsure on what to do now - should i bring it to the store to fix it the 'official' way (tho that means undoing my friends work which might be bad considering it would involve tinkering too much with the pedal probably) or should i leave it like this. What is the official way to fix such a problem, has this happened to anyone before.

Hi Eva

What you might need is a friend with a special pedal wrench which is long and thin as a normal wrench will not be able to tighten the pedal properly. Glueing is not such a good idea.

I am always the one that maintains whatever bike is around needing loving care. It is a wonderful way of showing someone that you love them. It is odd that most people consider the humble bicycle to be a toy and they expect it to keep going without any care or attention. On my way to town I ride down a hill and really fly at around 70 kph - not something I would feel comfortable doing on a poorly looked after machine, especially with all the kangaroos that jump across the road as you zoom by!

Please get your bike looked at by someone qualified or buy a good bike book.

[evakurvan]

thanks jatayu i wonder where i should get pedals!

when my pedal kept randomly flying off finally i realized i cant continue to ride this bike to go home so i swtiched bikes with my friend the bike maniac with the thousand-so-dollar bike as he manoevred my one-pedal bike somehow, able to do this due to his bike maniac skills.

Believe it or not, my cheap stupid bike did not feel much different from this superbike that costs ten times as much, except that it was less tiring to ride because it is lighter, meanwhile i was expecting some rolls royce bike experience.

I think the point and real function of those fancy bikes is if you plan to go on extreme rocky trails and do weird stunts, that way you are more secure that it will not break or fall apart. Otherwise, if you are not a stuntman biker on rocks, i don't think it feels much different or is worth it.

[Homer]

I dont know anything about bikes even though i use one to get everywhere so i must ask this, since some people here seem to be bike knowledgeable. Just 2 days ago the pedal of my bike kept flying off. There was a garage nearby that screwed it back in but it kept flying off after that too. I gave it to my friend who said he would glue it back in and put 'torque' in it. It has not flown off so far. But i am unsure on what to do now - should i bring it to the store to fix it the 'official' way (tho that means undoing my friends work which might be bad considering it would involve tinkering too much with the pedal probably) or should i leave it like this. What is the official way to fix such a problem, has this happened to anyone before.

A glued pedal might hold for a couple of hours, probably the thread of the screw is battered and this is a defect in the material - cheap steel being used for the pedal thread. If the company doesnt replace it for free you can buy new pedals and let them screw on by your friend, it's an easy job - the bike workshop charges some USD 30 for the working time.

Good suggestions, prabhu. If my bike shop tried to charge me for putting pedals on I would be very surprised. They have done so much for me over the years without scalping me. I hope the European bike shops are as friendly as the Aussie ones!

[metamorphosis]

some more from my bike pastimes.......

I also started the bike craze during my early hare years. Bikes were not allowed in the late 70's at our temple, but i did not know that. So when i joined i asked my mom back at home to send my schwin banana seated stingray. At home i was the king of wheelies, then when it arrived at the temple, i was king again! Being only in my late teens myself and having a ball, the kids started to make their desires known, and the "no bike" rule was dropped. Plus the rule did not make sence anyways since from our ashramas to the temple and prasadam room was a long walk, not after the rule was dropped though.

In my work i had to check many miles of fencing, so i rigged my bike up to hold a few tools. It became my pickup and i would "drive" it even through the woods around the farm on cow trails. I could do the entire fence once a day in much less time.

Later in the mid 80's "mountain bikes" were created. I got one of the first "stump jumpers", and after a year or two, i also got all the nessary tools to maintain this bike. I put on a special small front and back gear to make the lowest easy to peddle gear so low that i could peddle up any terrain.

I have a nearly endless amount of "pastimes" related to bikes now.

We are just getting started!

http://www.luxurylowrider.com/webbikes/67cd/67cf1t.jpg

[evakurvan]

hi there homer thanks for the tips..

yes glueing does sound bad but is it still bad if there is torque involved, i am not sure what torque is but it sounds more serious than just glue...

Yes i dont feel comfortable with this pedal thing since i am always going in major urban dowtown traffic with cars zooming right next to me but for some reason i am not that scared since i have been in so many bizarre accidents, including literally biking over a parked car from not looking ahead of me, yet still remain totally unscathed from last-second reflexes of knowing how to fall. But i read Tapati's story about bike accidents, super coindidentally around the same day that my pedal was flying off, so now i am totally reconsidering my reckless ways because it was just too much synchronity to read this story on that day. Thanks Tapati.

can u suggest a bike book i hate cars ideally i would use bikes and avoid a car as much as possible or preferrably forever

the funny part is the bike *was* looked at at a store and they improved the breaks and that was that but then this pedal thing happened, so i don't totally trust shops though i guess it would be hard to check for something like this.

i can relate to ur biking obsession 2 years ago i went through the same thing but it is hard to maintain the excitement when you live somewhere very urban so you have a limited amount of nature to bike in and even that nature, most of it has a man-made feel.

[0Stribor0]

I work in one of the largest european MB store/mailorders.It is nice to see that you guys are into MB and extreme sports, and i think that it would be good if we start a new extreme sports thread.

I have said basically everything what i really wanted to say IN my topic, of what has happened to me in Iskcon(although that is really just one part only), and i decided not to go and rant about it anymore,because of some people, which didn't have changed so much since those days. It is pointless to rant about that, or is Croatia like a land this or that.Thanks to anybody for input, and their valuable time, and as good old Tapati said; let us open a new thread about mountain biking and extreme sports.

I like very much and practice: Free and Rock Climbing,MB, Skateboarding(before),Bodyboarding,Brazilian Jiu jitsu,Snow and Water Skiing,Fencing,Waterpolo,Scubadiving(i was on holidays this year, and with my old pals we have saved Czech tourists) and freediving( i have to say that i was in 80es 2 times republic champ)and of course surfing here where i am living throughout the whole year.

I am really not into rafting and bungee jumping, but i am gonna try paragliding next year with my friend Pino from my island.This year hopefully i will finally try snowboarding too.
This is his site and my island of Vis:
http://www.alternatura.hr/
My family is from Island of Biševo, which is near island of VIS.

[Homer]

some more from my bike pastimes.......

I also started the bike craze during my early hare years. Bikes were not allowed in the late 70's at our temple, but i did not know that. So when i joined i asked my mom back at home to send my schwin banana seated stingray. At home i was the king of wheelies, then when it arrived at the temple, i was king again! Being only in my late teens myself and having a ball, the kids started to make their desires known, and the "no bike" rule was dropped. Plus the rule did not make sence anyways since from our ashramas to the temple and prasadam room was a long walk, not after the rule was dropped though.

In my work i had to check many miles of fencing, so i rigged my bike up to hold a few tools. It became my pickup and i would "drive" it even through the woods around the farm on cow trails. I could do the entire fence once a day in much less time.

Later in the mid 80's "mountain bikes" were created. I got one of the first "stump jumpers", and after a year or two, i also got all the nessary tools to maintain this bike. I put on a special small front and back gear to make the lowest easy to peddle gear so low that i could peddle up any terrain.

I have a nearly endless amount of "pastimes" related to bikes now.

We are just getting started!

http://www.luxurylowrider.com/webbikes/67cd/67cf1t.jpg

No way! I had a Stingray just like the one in the picture! I loaned it to a friend so he could ride home from my place and I never saw it again.

I used to love riding it in the rain and going through puddles.

[Homer]

hi there homer thanks for the tips..

yes glueing does sound bad but is it still bad if there is torque involved, i am not sure what torque is but it sounds more serious than just glue...

Yes i dont feel comfortable with this pedal thing since i am always going in major urban dowtown traffic with cars zooming right next to me but for some reason i am not that scared since i have been in so many bizarre accidents, including literally biking over a parked car from not looking ahead of me, yet still remain totally unscathed from last-second reflexes of knowing how to fall. But i read Tapati's story about bike accidents, super coindidentally around the same day that my pedal was flying off, so now i am totally reconsidering my reckless ways because it was just too much synchronity to read this story on that day. Thanks Tapati.

can u suggest a bike book i hate cars ideally i would use bikes and avoid a car as much as possible or preferrably forever

the funny part is the bike *was* looked at at a store and they improved the breaks and that was that but then this pedal thing happened, so i don't totally trust shops though i guess it would be hard to check for something like this.

i can relate to ur biking obsession 2 years ago i went through the same thing but it is hard to maintain the excitement when you live somewhere very urban so you have a limited amount of nature to bike in and even that nature, most of it has a man-made feel.

Funny thing about feeling protected based on close calls when the reality is that the odds go up in favor of being crunched!

My obsession has lasted for most of my life.

I do not know of a particular book to recommend but I am sure there are hundreds.

[Homer]

thanks jatayu i wonder where i should get pedals!

when my pedal kept randomly flying off finally i realized i cant continue to ride this bike to go home so i swtiched bikes with my friend the bike maniac with the thousand-so-dollar bike as he manoevred my one-pedal bike somehow, able to do this due to his bike maniac skills.

Believe it or not, my cheap stupid bike did not feel much different from this superbike that costs ten times as much, except that it was less tiring to ride because it is lighter, meanwhile i was expecting some rolls royce bike experience.

I think the point and real function of those fancy bikes is if you plan to go on extreme rocky trails and do weird stunts, that way you are more secure that it will not break or fall apart. Otherwise, if you are not a stuntman biker on rocks, i don't think it feels much different or is worth it.

You are absolutely correct. Unless you put a bike through serious riding it does not make much difference. For level street riding a good basic bike is all the go.

[0Abhi0]

Abhi,

Do you prefer Downhill or Cross Country riding in MB?

I prefer Cross Country on a good 16'' frame, preferably Tomac and a good set of 150mm travel forx.Preferably Manitou or Marzocchi.

I have a 19" Gary Fisher frame. It's a local Denver based bike manufacturer. Very nice and light frames. Manitou fork.

I guess my riding can be described more as cross country. But mostly it consits of going slow uphill and fast downhill.

I do a lot of mountain trails, mostly “Jeap” trails and a bunch of single track as well. Views and speed are the two important things

Here is an example of views I get. Can post more.