Adventure pushies

**NordieBoy** · 23rd November 2014, 13:21

Originally Posted by Waihou Thumper

How does he peddle then? at that speed? I thought the whole point of bi-cycling was to peddle otherwise it may be just a trolley...

At that speed, he's busy trying not to die.

Which actually sounds like me riding downhill tracks (300kph slower).

**Waihou Thumper** · 23rd November 2014, 13:23

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Which actually sounds like me riding downhill tracks (300kph slower).

Haha...I get it now... Bet you don't pedal, just hang on right?

**NordieBoy** · 23rd November 2014, 13:28

Oh, and oval chainrings rule!

After 10mins, I couldn't feel any "ovalness" at all. It just felt natural. Can't wait to try the one on the single speed.

**Paul in NZ** · 24th November 2014, 06:39

One of the young fellas at work has been coming out with me on Fridays after work. I pick him up and stuff the bikes into the wagon for a quick get away. I'm getting slightly more capable and confident but I still keep doing stupid things.. argh...

Its good fun though... and I'm always utterly rooted by the time I get home...

We did the Wainuiomata mountain bike park last Friday... There are some bits that are frankly terrifying and even young Glenn who is half my age and twice my ability was hugging a tree and wanting his mummy at one point... (I'd just wet myself and went catatonic)...

Its a nice climb from the car park though I still struggle with the tight switchbacks on the 29"... bah...

**NordieBoy** · 25th November 2014, 19:25

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Oh, and oval chainrings rule!

After 10mins, I couldn't feel any "ovalness" at all. It just felt natural. Can't wait to try the one on the single speed.

34t oval feels just fractionally higher geared than a 32t round ring. But with a 3-4kph higher top end.

I still don't like IV Line. When the grass is brushing both hands at the same time, you know it's getting too long...

**Kickaha** · 25th November 2014, 19:54

Went up Rapaki tonight for the first time in a year, used to take us 22 minutes, now it takes 31 minutes for the climb up, worth it for the single track around the top though

**Padmei** · 26th November 2014, 18:06

Pedal strike.
Been getting it lot on the stumpy squish. I have budget type pedals with sandshoes (been thru the whole clipless then flats & back to the basic steel cage type as they seem narrower than the flats ). Any of you guys on 27 or 29ers get it too?
Talked to a mate with a 29er who reckons it happens to him sometimes too.

**Gremlin** · 26th November 2014, 22:34

Have it rarely on a Merida Big 99. Screwed up round a little turn on Sunday and had the inside pedal down round the corner... Otherwise it's just bad timing over roots/branches etc.

**NordieBoy** · 28th November 2014, 15:56

Just weighed my pushies with my new scales...

Blade CX single speed (mavic aksium wheels)= 10.3kg
Blur XC full suspension (heavy bontrager wheels)= 12.8kg
Stumpy hard tail (dropper post, training wheels) = 12.3kg
Rigid single speed Diamondback Vectra Sport (2.3" tyres) = 10.3kg

Was not expecting a 13 year old frame and some stuff lying around to be 10.3kg! No wonder it rides well!
The Stumpy was 10.05kg with tubeless race wheels, light tyres and carbon seatpost.

**Padmei** · 28th November 2014, 19:42

Well I just put ape hangers on the 'cuda- so fricking hot looking it would melt your screens.

On a not so good note a mate of mine broke his neck the other night jumping a pile of dirt with his boy at his house. Not good but could have been worse - he hasn't damaged his spine.
I read a good article in Spoke mag about the dangers of trials type skinnys & ramps etc by car parks at MTB parks ie Bottle lake. The psychology is that if it is close to the car people will give it a go with a greater sense of security & confidence. if however they were in the middle of the forest people would think twice bout doing them as if they did get injured they were far from the car. Not really how they worded it but long those lines.

**NordieBoy** · 29th November 2014, 07:03

Ouch!

Yeah, one of the reasons I haven't done much solo riding on the 350 in the last year. Looking back at some of the Sharland's vids and seeing what I was doing was starting to get me worried. Even with a Spot tracker, it's a bit iffy.

**NordieBoy** · 29th November 2014, 07:27

Going Coppermining today.
Well, going to attempt it.
I'll take the necessities though, Spot, GoPro and Bacon.

**NordieBoy** · 29th November 2014, 16:41

Well, we did it!
The ride up to 3rd House was surprisingly easy, well, not easy per say, but surprising anyway.
Around to Windy Point was brilliant, even the pig enjoyed it.
Surprisingly (again) I made it up all the climbs. Seriously not expected.
Windy Point to Coppermine was, well, windy.
Leaned the bike up against the sign at the saddle at about 45° so it wouldn't blow over. It did.
The rocky descent from the Coppermine Saddle was a bit, well, rocky. My back was getting a hammering, wrists were getting slammed around and it felt like my biceps were going to be forcefully shaken from my arms. The occasional uphill section was bliss.
Following the river around to the dam was a bit faster and I think I heard Bacon squeal a few times, but it may have been my brakes...
Followed the old pipeline back to the motorcamp and then the track around the golf course back to the old emporium.

That was an epic ride.
I still can't believe how well the rigid single speed handled it.
Or how well my knees did for that matter.

Pics and vid to follow...

Edit: The rocky bit is actually called "Boulder Valley". Very appropriate...