Thread: Wot's yer ride?

Something like that, just a tad more complicated.

Apollo Ascension (probably spelt wrong) mountain bike for trail riding.

Here's my current ride, the only one I've got left now. It's a Miyata Valley Runner (mountain bike) bought it off a mate over 16 years ago and he bought it 2nd hand. I reckon it must be about 20 years old. It's a lugged frame and has triple butted, splined tubing. I wore out the gear cluster (originally 5 speed) and rode it for a few years with a 6 speed cluster and a 5 speed shifter . Been running it with slicks for a few years now as a road bike. Cannabalised some grip shifts off another bike so now it has a 6 speed shifter. Been riding it quite regularly and finding that my wrists are copping real hammering so I've decided that I might buy myself a new one, something with front shocks. Also I just realised I've never had a new bike in my life, always rode hand me downs as a kid and bought 2nd handers. Stay tuned for my new ride in the (hopefully) not too distant future.

Mick

Make sure you find a shop that will take the time to find out what sizes you will need. Not just the frame, bar, stem, seat, seat post, cranks, etc, etc.

Just not worth going to the effort to buy a new bike, ride it regularly and find out it's a PITA (I mean that) to ride.

Part of the reason why my bike has so many replacement parts was making the bike as a unit fit me. I haven't been riding much of late, but when I get a few good rides on it to get me to fit it again, I know I can put in 5km or 5,000km without doing any permanent injury to myself for the sake of a $10 part.

Well I splashed out the other day and got myself my first ever new bike. It's an Avanti, aluminium frame, hardtail, front forks (adjustable) with 100mm travel, rapidfire shifters, hydraulic disc brakes.

I got them to swap the stem for a longer one and the seatpost for a much longer one, no charge. The seat is very comfortable, most comfortable one I've ever ridden on actually. The bar seems fine, possibly a bit wider than what I'm used to, I may cut it down in a month or so if I decide I prefer it narrower. Cranks are fine but I had some SPD pedal fitted and they credited me $20 bucks for the existing pedals so the SPDs only cost me $59. I don't have any money at the moment for shoes for the SPDs so I'll probably pinch the pedals off my other bike until I buy some shoes. My feet rock around on top of the clips and I'm really not used to not being able to apply force on the upstroke.

Only had one short ride into the village yesterday (about 12kms return) so far but it was great. The shocks, even though they're close to locked out, mean my wrists don't cop a hiding on the rough road. The disc brakes are unbelievably good and very smooth and progressive compared to the old cantilever and V-brakes that I'm used to.

The only thing (so far, anyway) I don't like is the colour, yecch! It's a non-descipt, slightly metallic, beigy gold colour of the type they paint camrys and commodores in. That and the stickers all over it, I've started peeling them off. I may even end up spraying it wrinkle finish black.

Mick

Not a bad lookin' beast ya got there Mick.

Nice one Mick, you should have a lot of fun with her.

I've just bought a Brooks B17 saddle for the Black Beast - I start breaking it in today and am hoping it's one of the 'perfect out of the box' Brooks, not one of the 'thousand mile' jobs

Richard

I hit the streets on an '06 STP zero...single speed with a holy roller and a bling bling...she alse runs a new BB cause i rooted the external thread on the other one

cheers

Trek 7.5fx. Nice bike - good for commuting, which I am trying to do once / week. It's 25km along bike paths in Sydney, so takes over an hour. Only problem I have with it is maybe I need handlebar extenders. I am 6 ft 6 and riding a 23" frame.

Richard - you must get around a few forums - noticed the photos of the 520 were very similar to a user called europa on the cycling forum!

Cheers,

Tom

Originally Posted by TomH

Richard - you must get around a few forums - noticed the photos of the 520 were very similar to a user called europa on the cycling forum!

Yup, that'd be me. It's why I haven't had much to post in the boat building forum here these last 12 months

Richard

Awesome...a bikes forum!

I have gone through a few, the latest was a 07 Giant Glory, though it was sold soon after, it was really an unnecessary purchase. I also didn't really need two downhill bikes, as i also had an 04 bighit at the time and i rode it more than the glory, too scared i would hurt it

Now i have nothing...

But I'm building a new downhill beast soon, as soon as i can justify the funds for the frame and forks...some deemax's wouldn't go astray either..

my ATX840 with the odd mod or two



and my current project a Raleigh

Not wishing to be picky, but most people find that a set of forks and some handlebars do wonders for your steering

Richard

thats why its a current project


PS you may note that the Giant has no cluster