97's Bike Talk(( MTBs, Roadbikes and BMX riders welcome!!))

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

This is actually the bike I'm looking at, can you tell me if this is a good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=250313367138

I don't see the year listed, but that looks like a great deal. I'm going by the conversion though, so it's about $1,230 US dollars. Good parts spec where it's needed, new wheels, and includes nice pedals.

How tall are you and what's your true inseam (not pant size). I'm 6' with a 34" inseam and I ride a 58cm.

There are a lot of great fit calculators on the net, this being one of them http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO

I put my info into a few of them and took the average which was a 58cm.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Bump. Anyone been riding? I rode last night with a few of my buddies and fell sideways off a 6 foot drop-off. I couldn't get my foot out of my pedal for some reason. Well the reason was it was a brand new cleat and all jammed up with mud.

I landed with a big thud, mainly on my left ribcage and hip. I didn't break anything, but today I feel like I got hit by a bus, all bruised up.

I might take it easy this coming week and just ride the road bike and catch some of the fall foliage.

[tcpombomb]

I rode a decent 15 miles yesterday on paved trails. I kept the pace fast (18-20mph avg. speed).

I think I may head out right now since I don't lift today. I'm just getting tired of riding the same trails over and over LOL.

[skarotum]

Bump. Anyone been riding? I rode last night with a few of my buddies and fell sideways off a 6 foot drop-off. I couldn't get my foot out of my pedal for some reason. Well the reason was it was a brand new cleat and all jammed up with mud.

I landed with a big thud, mainly on my left ribcage and hip. I didn't break anything, but today I feel like I got hit by a bus, all bruised up.

I might take it easy this coming week and just ride the road bike and catch some of the fall foliage.

Falling sucks. I broke my arm(cracked off a chunk of the radius head) two years ago down some stairs. Never really healed and the piece is still in there. Dammit. I avoid falling more now. Glad you didn't break anything though.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Check out this bike rack!!!

[the_Code]

Im looking to buy a mountain bike but I am not sure what size I need. Its been awhile since I've rode but im not a complete noob.

6'2 200lbs What size mountain bike should I acquire?

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Im looking to buy a mountain bike but I am not sure what size I need. Its been awhile since I've rode but im not a complete noob.

6'2 200lbs What size mountain bike should I acquire?

You're right in the middle of a L and XL (18"-22") frame most likely. What's your inseam (true inseam, not pant size)?

Just for reference, I am 6', 200lbs and ride a large frame.

On a MTB I always go with a smaller frame if the size is on the border, makes it a little tighter, "twitchier" and faster handling.

[bigdan]

Bump. Anyone been riding? I rode last night with a few of my buddies and fell sideways off a 6 foot drop-off. I couldn't get my foot out of my pedal for some reason. Well the reason was it was a brand new cleat and all jammed up with mud.

I landed with a big thud, mainly on my left ribcage and hip. I didn't break anything, but today I feel like I got hit by a bus, all bruised up.

I might take it easy this coming week and just ride the road bike and catch some of the fall foliage.

Yeah man, I've been doing a ****load of riding. I really have no idea but when I ride for fun I do a 20-30 mile ride (2-3 times a week) and then to get around, it's probably 5-10 miles a day for getting to class, the grocery store, gym, etc.

I've noticed that I need a fair amount of rest tho. I don't know how bicycle messengers can bang out 50+ miles a day every day. While I don't have much in terms of specific pain, my body lets me know when I need to take it easy, and for that reason I don't do long ass rides every day.

Anyhow I hope everyone is doing alright. Keep ridin!

[BayAreaBiker]

I have been on some very long rides, once to Hollister (100 km), 21 times to San Francisco (68 km), Once each to Oakland, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, Sausalito, and Sunol, twice to San Leandro. I am on my 20th bike, 18 got stolen, three fell apart from heavy use.

[BayAreaBiker]

You might use a road type of pairing when riding on the road.. but you've got to have f'n tree trunks for legs if you were thinking about gearing yoru MTB like a road bike. The big ring on a MTB is usually a 44, and roadies are 50something.. many mountain bikers hardly use their big ring and replace them with bash guards. For the most part when you're climbing you'll want to use the gearing to get you up the hill unless you're an extremely strong rider. One of my biggest problems when I first started out was not using the "granny" gear, which actually made me slower in the end since my cadence was killed. for comparison to momods gearing, I have an 11-34 9 speed rear, and 26/34/44 up front. Only time I use the big ring is on the way to the trails (besides I'm missing a tooth off of it anyways from hopping a big rock.)

I had one bike with a 52 up front and 13 rear. I don't remember the others, other than it had a 6-speed rear, 2 front. The 52 X 13 gives a 108-inch gear, which I frequently used. When the derailleur was disabled due to the cable breaking, this was the only gear that was working, and I continued to ride it until it was unusable.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Guys here are a couple links I highly recommend you read regarding "new" thoughts on training. Most modern day trainers feel long, drawn out endurance training is old science and interval training is where it's at...

http://hodska.com/innervals.html
http://bikejames.com/blog/replay-of-...-tele-seminar/
http://bikejames.com/blog/aerobic-tr...entific-proof/

[Bioteknik]

well I can tell you that my coworker actually lowered his VO2 max by training close to lactate threshold too often. He gets performance tested often..

The last article did not link the sources.. often those kind of increases are noticed in inexperienced trainees, but if you're fairly experienced rider, you've got to log in your hours and improve efficiency.

I don't race downhill, and will be entering a xc style race (Xterra tri) so I'll be sticking to my long and boring steady state with decent dose of intervals.

[otrebmu]

how frequent is too frequent?

every other day? is 2 days a week ok?

[tcpombomb]

I had one bike with a 52 up front and 13 rear. I don't remember the others, other than it had a 6-speed rear, 2 front. The 52 X 13 gives a 108-inch gear, which I frequently used. When the derailleur was disabled due to the cable breaking, this was the only gear that was working, and I continued to ride it until it was unusable.

I've rode in Santa Cruz. There are some sweet trails near UCSC.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

how frequent is too frequent? Every other day? is 2 days a week ok?

For what?

[otrebmu]

well I can tell you that my coworker actually lowered his VO2 max by training close to lactate threshold too often. He gets performance tested often..

The last article did not link the sources.. often those kind of increases are noticed in inexperienced trainees, but if you're fairly experienced rider, you've got to log in your hours and improve efficiency.

I don't race downhill, and will be entering a xc style race (Xterra tri) so I'll be sticking to my long and boring steady state with decent dose of intervals.

for that

[GREENFEATHER]

5,082 miles for the year, it was fun, next year, 6,000 is the target. I'm getting into sprinting more and more and it's damned fun.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

5,082 miles for the year, it was fun, next year, 6,000 is the target. I'm getting into sprinting more and more and it's damned fun.

Very impressive! Have you ever tried criterium racing? It's a lot of fun and there is always sprinting involved. Most states have a few sanctioned crits during the spring-fall. The competition is fierce, and it's always white knuckle and elbow to elbow.

[Zmcraney1]

Hi all, I have a chance to pick up an 08(?) Trek 4300 series four with disc brakes for around $300 bucks from a coworker, are any of you familiar with them. I found some reviews online but its hard to tell whos being paid for them and whos not. Any advice would be appreciated

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Hi all, I have a chance to pick up an 08(?) Trek 4300 series four with disc brakes for around $300 bucks from a coworker, are any of you familiar with them. I found some reviews online but its hard to tell whos being paid for them and whos not. Any advice would be appreciated

Even though the 2009's are out now $300 seems like an excellent deal to me. MTBR's reviews here http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/xc-har...0_1527crx.aspx are trustworthy, and not paid for.

[Zmcraney1]

Thanks man!

[Bioteknik]

for that

Basically if you go all out each time you ride..

2 days a week shouldn't be too bad. He's also a roadie too so there is more of an emphasis on efficiency and sustainable power as opposed to the more interval style xc trails.

Follow this kind of mentality

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/tra...days-easy.html

He never kept the easy days easy, and never did a proper taper either.

[tcpombomb]

So I got hit by a car yesterday while riding. I was crossing the street (right of way) and I see this 15 year old girl on her cell take a quick turn and BAM I fall off my bike. I wasn't injured luckilly.

I knew it would happen sooner or later. I have close calls almost daily with stupid drivers not looking out for bicycles.

[enrique7718]

live in dallas and i have an 07 specialized stumpjumper and i've ridden about 19 off road trails and i am missing some austin riding due to a freind's wedding.

ride hard!

[Bioteknik]

live in dallas and i have an 07 specialized stumpjumper and i've ridden about 19 off road trails and i am missing some austin riding due to a freind's wedding.

ride hard!

hardtail stumpy or fsr?

[bigdan]

So I got hit by a car yesterday while riding. I was crossing the street (right of way) and I see this 15 year old girl on her cell take a quick turn and BAM I fall off my bike. I wasn't injured luckilly.

I knew it would happen sooner or later. I have close calls almost daily with stupid drivers not looking out for bicycles.

Welcome to the club brother. Being hit by a car has definitely changed my riding style. I've learned that you have to be extra careful in the streets and getting hit by a car was the wakeup call I needed. Glad to hear you weren't injured.

[o0o0Ooo0o0Oo]

Bump. It's COLD out there!!! I still ride outside during the winter but I'm going to have to invest in a trainer this year.

Does anyone have a trainer? I'm thinking of getting the Kurt Kinetics Road Machine.

[Bioteknik]

I've been doing.. *gasp* spin classes to keep my legs.. I've got cold-weather gear, but it also tends to rain a lot during these months too.

[GREENFEATHER]

well I can tell you that my coworker actually lowered his VO2 max by training close to lactate threshold too often. He gets performance tested often..

The last article did not link the sources.. often those kind of increases are noticed in inexperienced trainees, but if you're fairly experienced rider, you've got to log in your hours and improve efficiency.

I don't race downhill, and will be entering a xc style race (Xterra tri) so I'll be sticking to my long and boring steady state with decent dose of intervals.

I do some interval training, but not as much as I do 30-40 mile rides.

Very impressive! Have you ever tried criterium racing? It's a lot of fun and there is always sprinting involved. Most states have a few sanctioned crits during the spring-fall. The competition is fierce, and it's always white knuckle and elbow to elbow.

Nope, I ride for fun and I do several charity races a year.

So I got hit by a car yesterday while riding. I was crossing the street (right of way) and I see this 15 year old girl on her cell take a quick turn and BAM I fall off my bike. I wasn't injured luckilly.

I knew it would happen sooner or later. I have close calls almost daily with stupid drivers not looking out for bicycles.

2 years ago I got run off the road, luckily there was a sherriff's deputy there and arrested the guy for forcing me off the road. When I went to court the judge fined him $1000 for being an ass.

Bump. It's COLD out there!!! I still ride outside during the winter but I'm going to have to invest in a trainer this year.

Does anyone have a trainer? I'm thinking of getting the Kurt Kinetics Road Machine.

I switch to a trainer and my spin bike when the weather gets cold. There's no way in hell I'm riding when the temps are below 50 degrees.

I've been doing.. *gasp* spin classes to keep my legs.. I've got cold-weather gear, but it also tends to rain a lot during these months too.

Nothing wrong with spin classes, I ride a spinbike during the winter and I ride 30-90 mins a day in the summer. It's nice to ride in the air conditioning, lol.

[CortinaGT]

I am not big on giving up my winter riding. I ride my track bike in the winter to keep in shape. I recently picked up a redline 9 2 5, and threw drop bars on it. I have logged thousands of miles in snow over the years.
I changed jobs and didn't think i was able to ride for about 3 years. Now I am riding 4-6 times a week and losing all the bodyfat i gained living on the road. I am a truck driver and I've ridden in almost every state. I hold no prejudice towards any type of ridding. I have owned everything from unicycles to recumbents. I just sold my KHS 4000 elite and replaced it with an ellsworth epiphany. That bike is fun no matter what! I also have a KINK Feind for my bmx bike, freakin tank. My high wheeler and unicycle got stolen-ish long story. I also have a trek 7000 thats setup to be a single speed, but I sold the cranks and haven't replaced them yet.

I got up to 310lbs thinking I coldn't exercise and do my job because I work 14-16 hours a day 7 day a week. I changed my whole outlook and now I'm riding and lifting all the time. I have dropped about 50lbs so far, and need to get down another 50-60 lbs. Im down to what I used to weigh 2 years ago and dropping.

I'll post again and put in some of my favorite rides around the country. Till then keep the wheels turning!