Adventure pushies

[NordieBoy]

4th of 7 in the 40-49 age group!
Only one DNF'd!
I beat 2 people fair and square!

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/26/4e13d90aab97f20f4d8cd88816bae5e8.jpg

Rigid was not the right choice at all. Ouch.
Up the road to Waterloo and down the single track, and again, and again.

[Brian d marge]

Registration is in an hour. Should I tell them to wait 10 minutes?
Stuff I stopped for a beer

Ok . .next time then

Sent from my SC-01F using Tapatalk

[pritch]

Rigid was not the right choice at all. Ouch.


That bike looks like the hard way to do a race - and not just because of the lack of suspenders. Respect.

[NordieBoy]

Keeping it motorbikey, I wore a Rossi shirt my stepson got me at a GP he went to in Germany...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/28/0358de7e44606db1ab9e950819d3cbf4.jpg

[NordieBoy]

Ouch.

It was only 4.8km and the first km was on the flat, but the rest was standing and grinding.
Got passed by my minute man after 1.5km :)

There was some very serious coin involved in some of those bikes.

Hell, I was in a very small minority with my alloy bike.

I may have won the single speed class though :woohoo:


6th in my age group! Out of 6 :)
46th out of 65 overall :D

I didn't get last! :woohoo:

[Paul in NZ]

Lookin good

[NordieBoy]

Oh shit...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/9103310cb36e5d29103cbda229eca799.jpg

Going to need suspension next weekend...

If they hadn't included Gully it would have been survivable...

[Brian d marge]

U can use my bike

Sent from my SC-01G using Tapatalk

[Padmei]

Is that coming down P51? Looks quite a bit easier than what they coud have done - like going up IV line...

[NordieBoy]

Would have been cool to do the hill climb on a penny farthing.

Yeah, down P51.

I pushed a bike up IV Line once when taking photos of a race.
It's never a shortcut to just go up a DH track...

[NordieBoy]

That was a hard muther of a course...

A toast to the steed.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/10/3aafa0d0e2e3fbb35c232fc6da21ce38.jpg

[R650R]

How many laps of that did you do?

Todays ride 30kish, felt good after not riding for a week, on nightshift unloading train. Had good crash near the end, caught front end on tree root that I'm normally airborne over, pitfalls of not being 100% committed...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NXe246IFdvdURTbGZxVlNhd1k/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NXe246IFdvQmJNbXpGYVN1QVE/view?usp=sharing

[Kickaha]

Todays ride 30kish, felt good after not riding for a week,

Fuck I only did 17km after not riding for 4 weeks and thought I was going to die, although I averaged a faster speed than last time when I was riding more often

[Brian d marge]

Last sunday I cracked the 100 km

It nearly was the end

Only gin with a little tonic saved one

Sent from my SC-01G using Tapatalk

[NordieBoy]

3 laps. Heart rate averaged 160. Coffee saved I.

Little bro just did the Round the Bays ride in Melbourne. 210km. Bugger that.

[Brian d marge]


3 laps. Heart rate averaged 160. Coffee saved I.

Little bro just did the Round the Bays ride in Melbourne. 210km. Bugger that.

Thats a hard ride ,,,

8 hours , more or less depended on breaks

respect

[NordieBoy]

8:46 including the ferry trip across the harbor mouth.
A few Strava segments involved...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/11/421339e9467c2ab6993f77aafd448319.jpg

[Brian d marge]

8:46 including the ferry trip across the harbor mouth.
A few Strava segments involved...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/11/421339e9467c2ab6993f77aafd448319.jpg
Hope those orange dot things are cafes . . .

Sent from my SC-01G using Tapatalk

[NordieBoy]

Hope those orange dot things are cafes . . .

Knowing the Bro, only if they served Baileys...

[NordieBoy]

Claudio has just tweeted that he's just done a course preview of Red bull Rampage! Video to come soon!

[NordieBoy]

Claudio has just tweeted that he's just done a course preview of Red bull Rampage! Video to come soon!
He didn't do the canyon gap. Whimp :(

[Brian d marge]

Wimp ..he probably had gears and those new fangled pnematic DUNLOP tyres .....taint right it aint

Sent from my SC-01G using Tapatalk

[NordieBoy]

Today was bought to you by the letters C & K...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/03/c4760601b59d4d99e9dc575bbb471d1f.jpg

[NordieBoy]

Just got a set of 810mm bars to try.
They're quite wide!
710 is too narrow when climbing on the single speed, 810 is too wide. Somewhere in-between should be about right.

[Gremlin]

Just got a set of 810mm bars to try.
They're quite wide!
710 is too narrow when climbing on the single speed, 810 is too wide. Somewhere in-between should be about right.
I got a set of 750mm bars from T7 when they were on special ($48). One of the best changes made and feel much more suitable for my size and slowed up the handling of the bike a bit which I love.

[NordieBoy]

They don't have any more FatBoys in 750 so I got the 810 FatBoy to cut down.
300g though! The Bontrager 710's carbons are half that!

[Gremlin]

I bet it costs more tho... funny that :(

Only issue with wide bars is clearing narrow tree gaps... There are a couple of real nasty gaps in the Redwoods at Rotorua... :weep:

Yeah... (not Redwoods and certainly not me)
<iframe width='889' height='500' src='http://www.pinkbike.com/v/embed/378087/?colors=c80000' allowfullscreen frameborder='0'></iframe>

[NordieBoy]

Ha ha!
Reminds me of Woodman at the Kikiwa Laidback trail ride.

[NordieBoy]

The Funn's were $47 and the Bonty's were $75.

[NordieBoy]

Just signed up for a "Learn to Wheelie in 30 Days" course :yes:

:scooter:

How hard could it be? :facepalm:

[Paul in NZ]

Vicki and I had two great rides last Saturday... Both times we ended up on down hill tracks in the 'advanced' category and we are as far from advanced as its possible to get. No one died, some trees became ground cover and our bikes ended up covered in dirt.. I figure if you are still holding the handle bars you are still riding it... cough... It was a sobering experience... So much so we drank a lot of wine afterwards to compensate....

[R650R]

Can you Nelson people stop crashing and making us look ripe for ACC levies......

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/74080167/meggie-bichards-injury-prompts-safety-calls-for-nelson-mountainbike-trails

Actually two of my most recent big offs have been on easy trails but big speed and tucking the front after the most minor of track debris at critical moments cranked over but still fairly straight flight path...
I'm sure having the Butteragers flexing on the front while the Spunky blue rim was on warranty claim didn't help... Hopefully I'll get my act together and put the decent wheel back on the bike this week.

[Gremlin]

Can you Nelson people stop crashing and making us look ripe for ACC levies......
If the number of people using the trails jumps, it's foreseeable that there will at least be some sort of commensurate increase in incidents. That said, I've screwed myself up more from mtb'ing in 2.5 years than in 10 years of motorcycling :lol:

As for the girl that crashed... it was with a tree... it didn't chase her ;)

[Paul in NZ]

As for the girl that crashed... it was with a tree... it didn't chase her ;)

Are you sure? In our experience... Some of those trees have a very poor attitude and are full of malice...

[Gremlin]

Are you sure? In our experience... Some of those trees have a very poor attitude and are full of malice...
:laugh:

Can you blame them? They're hanging out with their friends, minding their own business, then some speed freak slams into them... and blames the tree

I bet they keep track of their scores with their mates :whistle:

[Paul in NZ]

:laugh:

Can you blame them? They're hanging out with their friends, minding their own business, then some speed freak slams into them... and blames the tree

I bet they keep track of their scores with their mates :whistle:

What like putting crosses on your fighter plane?? This ones the grand champ then

http://hosting.rectang.com/gordon/scans/pics_20040703-makara-mtb/pics/P1010013.jpg

[Gremlin]

What like putting crosses on your fighter plane?? This ones the grand champ then

http://hosting.rectang.com/gordon/scans/pics_20040703-makara-mtb/pics/P1010013.jpg
I dunno, I saw that tree when I was down that way... that's just broken gear getting up there by the looks of things.

When you see a tree with multiple scars (preferably some higher up) then you know... like the Redwoods, there are a couple of squeezes between trees, with both sides have marks at bar height. :D

[NordieBoy]

As for the girl that crashed... it was with a tree... it didn't chase her ;)

If it WAS chasing her, it wouldn't stand a chance...
She got 2nd at Megavalanche for the last 2 years...

Jamie Nichol (another Nelsonite) having fun this year...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uOuzU0vCqBk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[NordieBoy]

Today was bought to you by the letters E and X...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/21/e6cd6956d7f688df952c21a46a04300e.jpg
2nd hand front 26" wheel off TM for $75 and several hours of loosening all the spokes off and re-tensíoning them later and it's sweet.

[NordieBoy]

Not to mention the words Small, Kona and Unit...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/21/954fc0800342ab2ac3844868f77cb0c8.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/21/3074d0a1a8a39f1e29f7c2bafac8522e.jpg

[RJC]

You've done better than me, I binned over the bars it in a scree shoot at craigieburn yesterday and have been real sore today.

Also, I've got geared dropouts for those units at work if you ever want to chuck gears on it.

[NordieBoy]

Today is "Overhaul the 26" single speed" day.
New(ish) front Arch EX wheel with 2.4" Ardent tyre setup tubeless, rear wheel converted to tubeless and running an Ardent 2.25. Change the brakes from Avid Elixir CR's to Shimano SLX's, shorten the lines and re-bleed.

Racing tomorrow...

[NordieBoy]

Top Gun XC race tomorrow.

Old school single lap race.

Start Andrews Field
-Up Tantragee Rd.
-Up either IV line or Tantragee & Fireball Rds with IV being 1min 30 quicker but harder.
-Down Turners
-Up TMTYL
-Up to Top Dog side entry
-Down Top Dog
-Up North side Fireball Rd to Turners Skid
-Down lower Firball climb
-Up Jacks track to road
-Up road to Turners Skid
-Up Upper Firball climb to trig
-Down Firball to road
-Up road to Viral Flow
-Around Viral Flow
-Down P51
-Down Pipilini
-Up Codgers
-Down Gully
-Down Walnut
-Finish Andrews Field

Up IV Line!? WTF!

I'm tempted to race in my Shimano SPD sneakers because I'll be doing a lot of pushing...

[NordieBoy]

That was more of an Enduro track with all bits timed.
Glad I wore my walking shoes. I did quite a bit.
Good battles with a few people. Getting passed on the downs and passing them back on the flats and slight ups and staying about even when I had to walk :)
Heat rate monitor didn't work and testing them at home, none of them seem to be working :(

Warewolf finished about 7 min ahead of me :)

[NordieBoy]

Kelly McGarry's dead :(
"Medical event" while riding in Queenstown.

[Paul in NZ]

Kelly McGarry's dead :(
"Medical event" while riding in Queenstown.

Yes - pretty unreal... RIP...

[NordieBoy]

Now Dave Mirra...

[NordieBoy]

28°C on Saturday...

Gelato time!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/fefce517ae6af143f2425c5b25f622d1.jpg
11th of 23 in age group, 44th of 98 overall.

Woohoo! Average!

:)

[NordieBoy]

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Z2us5_CSM0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[RJC]

Trail dogs are rad.

Such a shame there will be no more vids from McGazza

[Paul in NZ]

Such a nice night last night (apart from the norwester) so went for a sneaky pedal and ended up at the top of CMR.. Needed the lights to get home and the last 5km on the flat into a wall of wind... KNACKERED this morning... LOL...

Awesome ride but I wasn't too fast under the lights on the downhill... I was so darn worn out I had to stop half way due to arm pump...

[NordieBoy]

Scored a pair of mint condition 2011 S-Works 74 road shoes.
Mmm...
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160401/42c32e0874258d806feb06f4c8b96241.jpg

Kangaroo leather, carbon soles, Boa closures...
Fit like slippers...

[NordieBoy]

Hmmm...
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160409/e963c44693846cedd4555b696e16b629.jpg

Even I could build this.

[Paul in NZ]

Just had a week in Rotorua with Vicki and our bikes... Seriously thinking about giving up motorcycles and moving to Rotorua... So much FUN...

[nzspokes]

Just had a week in Rotorua with Vicki and our bikes... Seriously thinking about giving up motorcycles and moving to Rotorua... So much FUN...

Agreed, getting my fitness back up and will go down.

[NordieBoy]

Built a nice lightish 29" single speed wheel with a WTB ST i23 rim and Stan's 3.30SS single speed hub.
However I thought I'd give it a go on the geared CX beast.
Which meant seeing if I could get some gears on the shorter free hub.
It's now a 1x7. Fits perfectly :D

The other advantage of this setup is that it weighs about 2kg less than the old wheels/tyres!

The bike feels alive again!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160421/0d251d8011ef19101591c0440828aa80.jpg

[NordieBoy]

Oops...

It was working nicely until I started fine tuning the gears.
That's when I realised I was running 9spd shifters on a 10spd cluster...

Weirdly, it stopped working correctly about then.

[NordieBoy]

Greg Minnaar at the Cape Epic
https://youtu.be/HuLvMC2l7RM

[NordieBoy]

Another one down :(
Enduro motorbike crash.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/stevie-smith-passes-away.html

[clint640]

But which one?

My venerable old K2 Zed Team framed singlespeed is kinda falling apart underneath me so I'm shopping for a new 1x1 rig. Budget about $2K. 27.5 or 29" wheel, steel would be nice but not essential, with a decent suspension fork, size 17-19" (I'm 5'10") Preferably with sliding dropouts or EBB etc so I don't need a tensioner.

The ol K2 had nothing uber light & expensive on it at all in the way of components & weighed 11.4kg, so it would be cool not to go stupidly heavier than that although steel may add a few grams.

One thing that caught my eye on the outer extremes of the budget was the Kona Explosif (http://www.bikebarn.co.nz/2016-kona-explosif.html) It's 1x11 but I could strip the gears off pretty quick.

Cheers
Clint

[NordieBoy]

Kona Unit and add a Manitou Marvel Expert 100mm fork.

[clint640]

Yep, I was looking at the Unit, about the only factory SS available ex stock now it seems, but the one at the local bike barn had $1250 on it, rigid forks & cable brakes... a fork & decent brakes would deal to $1000 pretty quick so suddenly the $2500 Explosif sitting next to it, with a few other blingy bits besides, starts looking like good value...

Might keep an eye on TM for a few weeks before pulling the trigger on anything. The trouble with singlespeeds is that unlike most other MTB's, the owners often actually ride them & wear them out!

Cheers
Clint

[NordieBoy]

I'd really like a titanium Honzo, but the Unit will have to do in the meantime.
Mine was $400 on TradeMe and the frame is still stock :)
Probably $1200 replacing everything else over the last 18 months.

The only thing that I'd do immediately on a 2014 or newer one is a suspension fork. The wheels are quite good and the BB7 brakes work quite well.
Although I do have a 2nd hand set of SRAM Guide RS brakes with 4 pot calipers on mine :D

[nzspokes]

I'd really like a titanium Honzo, but the Unit will have to do in the meantime.
Mine was $400 on TradeMe and the frame is still stock :)
Probably $1200 replacing everything else over the last 18 months.

The only thing that I'd do immediately on a 2014 or newer one is a suspension fork. The wheels are quite good and the BB7 brakes work quite well.
Although I do have a 2nd hand set of SRAM Guide RS brakes with 4 pot calipers on mine :D
Ti Honzo? That I can organize.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

[NordieBoy]

Oh bugger :(
Someone was meant to outbid me...

Gen 3 (2008ish) Santa Cruz Chameleon.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160524/0a8a83ea030a487cd64db2594524b2cb.jpg

Oh well, some tweaks and it should be rideable...

Some nice bits there: Phil Wood BB, Paul WORD rear hub, Cane Creek headset, Thompson seat post...

Some crap too...

[NordieBoy]

Eddie Masters, the "Master of Enduro" qualified 2nd!

With the number of top riders down in 70th place and lower, it looks like the dusty track can bite.

[NordieBoy]

Rampage application video...
<iframe width='500' height='281' src='http://www.pinkbike.com/v/embed/444938/?colors=c80000&showheadshot=0&showtitle=0&showbyline=0' allowfullscreen frameborder='0'></iframe>

[NordieBoy]

24hrs left to enter next Sunday's 6hr x-country at Rabbit Island...

[Paul in NZ]

Took the eldest grandson up the farm today. is first proper mtb ride and he rode like a champ on a bike that's 6 years older than he is... 1st of many such rides one hopes...

[Paul in NZ]

Took the eldest grandson up the farm today. is first proper mtb ride and he rode like a champ on a bike that's 6 years older than he is... 1st of many such rides one hopes...

Well feck - how did THAT appen??

[NordieBoy]

First ride today from our house for the next 4 months.
Need to go 2 teeth lower on the back end, change the bars to something with more sweep and fine tune the suspension and brakes.
Climbs surprisingly well, but that may be because I don't do any seated climbing. Lock it out and grind!

I only made it 20m up the drive before walking :(

2011 Santa Cruz Chameleon

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160710/c588acc8355ab09f9a9cca13d72a32df.jpg

[R650R]

Been bit slack, haven't been riding much, new woman distracting me.... Have gotten into habit of biking to work so Fuel is earning its shed space still.

Picked up a Park stand awhile ago, so much easier to work on bike. And today fitted mud tyre ready for testing soon :)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NXe246IFdvTzhVanhpYXZYbDA/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0NXe246IFdvTkhEcDNYQXJJOTQ/view?usp=sharing

[Paul in NZ]

Been riding a fair old bit this winter... Then I was offered another bike at a crazy price... I couldn't say no and yes - its a bit of fun. The picture speaks for its self....

[swarfie]

Geez...you sure those tyres are big enough?:killingme
Are they 26"?

[Paul in NZ]

Geez...you sure those tyres are big enough?:killingme
Are they 26"?

Yup but with the tyres it ends up about 29" LOL...

Still playing with the set up but laughing most of the time as it 'boings' over things... Its way more nimble than I thought it would be and a bit harder to punt along than I thought too... Getting the cadence right is essential. Too fast and it starts bouncing LOL - like a clown bike....

Its worth the coin just to look at it..

Hoping to try bike packing with it...

[swarfie]

I'd imagine tyre pressures would take a lot of experimenting to get to optimum and yeah it does look a hoot:clap:

Still rather have something with suspension tho. I've been riding a Merida 120 XT with 26" hoops for two years now (two full suspension bikes before that one as well). Only went for the old wheel sizes at the time because I had a shit load of tyres and tubes. I rode a 29er but didn't like how it was slower to turn. In that light I'm surprised you say the Surly is nimble, I found the 29er ponderous in the tight stuff which is where I like riding mostly. Keep us informed on the progress.

[Gremlin]

Those fat wheels will run about 6-8psi, depending on load.

Idea of course, is that you can mount racks and bike pack, not so easy with a full sus. Saw an older couple that were finishing a multi day loop through Old Ghost Rd and surrounds, had fork bags etc.

[Paul in NZ]

Those fat wheels will run about 6-8psi, depending on load.

Idea of course, is that you can mount racks and bike pack, not so easy with a full sus. Saw an older couple that were finishing a multi day loop through Old Ghost Rd and surrounds, had fork bags etc.

Yes and yes which is why I got it. This one has all the mounts n shit. Plus it slows me down and Vicki keeps up easier. After a few rides on this I will fly on the full sus bike...

[NordieBoy]

Mmm, Ice Cream Truck.
My favorite flavor.

[NordieBoy]

https://youtu.be/u3uPZZQVoCg

[NordieBoy]

Old school cool...

https://youtu.be/xWy5xX3-e3U

[Paul in NZ]

Just scored a bike for #1 grandson to come riding with us...

2012 Merida Carbon team Issue... Holy shit - if it can be made of carbon, it is... DT Swiss forks and wheels, XT brakes Sram XX gears. Things a freaking weapon... Hes like a ferret on the thing

Very kind lady on Fb gave me a sweet deal on this bike... I'm rather pleased, grandson is ecstatic.

[nzspokes]

My new ride. 2017 Kona Process 153. :woohoo:

[NordieBoy]

First race on the Chameleon...
It's very solid.
Not a lightweight carbon bike by any means.
This will be there, ready for the next lifeforms after the heat death of the universe.

Once I get some new wheels built, it'll be a bit moar betterer...

325123

[Paul in NZ]

Looks tall and rangy... I did an easy 20km on the Fat Bike and got it up to a surprising velocity (surprising because it was surprisingly hard work) got it measured for a frame bag as well.. ;-)

Nice not to have to wear winter riding gear now...

[oldrider]

First race on the Chameleon...
It's very solid.
Not a lightweight carbon bike by any means.
This will be there, ready for the next lifeforms after the heat death of the universe.

Once I get some new wheels built, it'll be a bit moar betterer...

325123

That bike looks to be pretty high geared FFS and you never impressed as a light weight - you must be very very fit! :blip:

[NordieBoy]

That bike looks to be pretty high geared FFS and you never impressed as a light weight - you must be very very fit! :blip:
32/20 gearing on 26" wheels. Tapped out at 110rpm=20kph. Will climb anything.
I'm fit, just not much power with my chicken legs.

[R650R]

Finally got a decent ride in today, 21.2 km :) Been awhile

[NordieBoy]

That looks like a good ride...

[NordieBoy]

New toy :Punk:
327659

[Paul in NZ]

We have been riding a lot with our eldest grandson.... Wooo boy you should see the bike we picked up off Fb for him... Merida team issue full carbon hardtail... And i mean full carbon... even the forks are carbon (DT Swiss).. XT brakes, Sram XX drivetrain... Man he flies on that thing, I cant keep up with him and I fall off a lot trying LOL...

[R650R]

That looks like a good ride...

Cheers. Now sporting a pair of these on the ride-to-work Fuel EX http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nz/en/michelin-wild-run-r-slick-mtb-tyre/rp-prod48134

Doesn't feel too much easier but find im in top gear pretty much the whole way now. And I'm not tearing the knobs of Minion DHF....

New tube in rear of other bike, prev one dicky valve or maybe just old and not holding air, patched holes dunked in water but no bubbles... frustrating. Stayed up for last ride but goes flat in shed....

And this to instal yet and test on Slash.... very sexy and the rubbers more soft and pliable than a greenie at a whale stranding....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nz/en/michelin-wild-rock-r2-advanced-reinforced-tyre/rp-prod116032

[FROSTY]

just aquired myself a specialised fsr that had been sitting in a garage somewhere,
Never ridden a full suspension bike before so its gonna be an eye opener to ride it full on in the bush. Its an ol bugger with a 9 speed rear cassette -Need to teak the derailers to shift properly and I'll give it a bash.

[nzspokes]

just aquired myself a specialised fsr that had been sitting in a garage somewhere,
Never ridden a full suspension bike before so its gonna be an eye opener to ride it full on in the bush. Its an ol bugger with a 9 speed rear cassette -Need to teak the derailers to shift properly and I'll give it a bash.

The old FSR's were never that strong. Look for cracks around the rear shock mount.

And it may be best to get a pro to look at the gears. Nuts in the top tube is never a happy time.

[Brian d marge]

A little off topic and possibly not work safe
But ya have to love the advertisements suggestions given by some posts
"Nuts in the top tube " I get....

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170119/a98aba4a695672913838148ed0a33b1b.jpg

sent for a divine source

[NordieBoy]

What's the best way to get a set of spokes for a Mavic Ksryium wheelset?
Someone has done the spokes up and twisted some of the ends into corkscrews...

I've trued up the rear as good as it'll go, but the front is crap...

[nzspokes]

What's the best way to get a set of spokes for a Mavic Ksryium wheelset?
Someone has done the spokes up and twisted some of the ends into corkscrews...

I've trued up the rear as good as it'll go, but the front is crap...

Thats what happens when the wheel is really old and the spokes seize to the inserts. Depending on the age of the wheels its easy to get spokes but not cheap. But if they are too old spokes are hard to come by.

Tell me the wheels serial number and i can tell you the age. Serial number is on a sticker by the valve hole on the outside of the rim.

[NordieBoy]

Thats what happens when the wheel is really old and the spokes seize to the inserts. Depending on the age of the wheels its easy to get spokes but not cheap. But if they are too old spokes are hard to come by.

Tell me the wheels serial number and i can tell you the age. Serial number is on a sticker by the valve hole on the outside of the rim.

Rear is S91450409

I'd like to re-build with double butted round spokes, but that's unlikely to be possible.
Some have been able to use Aksium spokes, but again, I think I'm out of luck.

[nzspokes]

09 wheels. Depending on the exact model the spokes may well be available.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

[FROSTY]

The old FSR's were never that strong. Look for cracks around the rear shock mount.

And it may be best to get a pro to look at the gears. Nuts in the top tube is never a happy time.
No cracking anywhere. The gears are shimano so Im gonna just have a tweak

[Paul in NZ]

No cracking anywhere. The gears are shimano so Im gonna just have a tweak

You tube has a few vids on adjusting stuff

[NordieBoy]

Getting closer...

Just built up some wheels today.

<a href="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467136833.jpg"><img class="wp-image-257 alignnone size-full" src="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467136833.jpg" alt="" width="400" /></a> <a href="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467160008.jpg"><img class="wp-image-258 alignnone size-full" src="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467160008.jpg" alt="" width="400" /></a>

Saved about half a kilo over the old wheels.

The bike has so far been transformed from...

<a href="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467404782.jpg"><img class="wp-image-260 alignnone size-full" src="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-1490467404782.jpg" alt="" width="400" /></a> To... <a href="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-image-1553027969jpg.jpg"><img class="wp-image-261 alignnone size-full" src="http://nordieboy.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wp-image-1553027969jpg.jpg" alt="" width="400" /></a>

- White Industries 'The ONE' crankset on Phil Wood bottom bracket
<i>+ Deore cranks with AB 32t oval ring on Shimano external bearing BB, XTR race pedals</i>
- Front brake Avid Juicy Ultimate - 185mm rotor
<i>+ SRAM DB5 lever, Guide caliper, 180mm rotor</i>
- Rear brake Hayes Nine - 160mm rotor
<i>+ SRAM DB5 lever and caliper, 160mm rotor</i>
<i>+ SRAM X0 shifters running the dropper and fork lockout</i>
- Mavic 823 rim laced to 10mm bolt-thru Paul Word Singlespeed Rear Disc Hub
<i>+ Stan's Flow EX on Novatech 9mm QR cassette hub (more flexibility choosing ratios or use on another bike)</i>
- Mavic 325 rim laced to sealed cartridge bearing hub
<i>+ Stan's Flow EX on Novatech 20mm axle hub</i>
<i>+ Ardent 2.4" front, Ardent Race 2.35" rear</i>
- WTB Rocket saddle, Thompson Elite seatpost
<i>+ Fizik Aliante saddle, Specialized Command Post Blacklite</i>
- Race Face Ride stem bolted to Atlas bars
<i>+ Slammed Truvative 60mm stem with Easton Havoc carbon 750mm bars</i>
<i>+ESI Chunky grips</i>
<i>-+TOGS to come</i>

12.3kg and yet to be set up tubeless.
About the same as my Kona Unit 29'er running tubeless Fasttraks.

This may be the one to take to the World SS MTB Champs in RotoVegas later in the year...

[NordieBoy]

12.3kg and yet to be set up tubeless.
About the same as my Kona Unit 29'er running tubeless Fasttraks.

Ahh, almost exactly 1kg heavier than the Unit. Must have lost weight when my back was turned :facepalm:

But still some weight to lose with the tubes and possibly some faster rolling tyres.
Maybe 2.35" Ikons front and rear.

[NordieBoy]

Going to be a busy year for racing.
CX season starting soon, 6-hour XC in 5 weeks, Summer XC series, Masters Games (Hill Climb/TT/XC) in October, World SS MTB Champs in November.

Well, somebody has to get last and if I'm racing, then it's not you. You're welcome :banana:

[Paul in NZ]

Vicki and I just back from 3 days riding in central north island...

Had a ball... left it all out there... Realised we need to get fitter but we were far from last too... it was awesome...

[NordieBoy]

Next project from the Emporium.
Take 1 26" single speed MTB.
Take the suspension off and make it a rigid.
Lace up some 650b wheels and stick on some 42mm tyres.
Drop bars and BB5 mechanical disc brakes.
Oval 38t chainring, 18t rear.

Put on 32mm slicks and do the Masters Games Hill Climb on it.
Go to a 42t front and do the Time Trial on it as well...

Sticking some skinny knobblies on it and doing the XC the next day would be just silly........

[Paul in NZ]

New bike time... Goodness I love the run out sales.... Bargains for africa....

[NordieBoy]

I've heard about this "new bike" thing but never ridden one :scooter:

[Paul in NZ]

I've heard about this "new bike" thing but never ridden one :scooter:

Yeah but you are a bike building clever guy and I'm not... but I did buy a work stand... and I have a fucked BMX bike the grandson dropped off so - maybe I will learn...

oh and I cant ride for shit - but I have fun

[nzspokes]

My current MTB has a Bosch mid drive. Oh how I loves it.

[NordieBoy]

A motorised bicycle? A moto-cycle, if you will.
Nah, it'll never catch on :scooter:

[nzspokes]

A motorised bicycle? A moto-cycle, if you will.
Nah, it'll never catch on :scooter:

Up hill flow man, its where its at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7OG9c7N3B4

[NordieBoy]

Up hill flow man, its where its at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7OG9c7N3B4

I want to ride that on my Chameleon :)

[NordieBoy]

Flat spotted my rear rim on the Kona Unit :(
Luckily a Stan's Arch EX has the same ERD as the WTB ST i23 :)

Weirdly, I got it laced up and tensioned to .2mm lateral, .5mm vertical and 5% tension all within about 3 hours!

It normally takes me a few days and having to completely redo the tension from scratch at least 10 times.

Something's going to go badly wrong now :)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170707/46955a737eb8a0800b885bef20da12b5.jpg

[NordieBoy]

Something's going to go badly wrong now :)

Forgetting to relieve the tension as you're going would do it..
Nearly 10mm off centre once it's been relieved :(

[NordieBoy]

South Island Masters Games next month.
Hill climb, Time Trial, SuperD and XC.
Over 3 days.

Time to start training.
After I finish this pie :drool:

[Brian d marge]

Having completely worn out another bike ( it literally fell apart after the last tiki tour )
I bought a cheap chinki bike,

holy crap the quality is getting good and for the price

Damn thing is a 26 inch mtb , with disc brakes ( cable) alloy frame and wheels and button shifters ...shimano

16 000 yen ( 150 bucks about)

it used to be that it was jap crap , then Chinese rubbish ,,, but not anymore.

if i get 10 000 km out of it , Ill be well happy !

[NordieBoy]

Bar ends, how quaint :)

I like cheap bikes.

I also like bar ends, but don't tell anyone :psst:

[Brian d marge]

Bar ends, how quaint :)

I like cheap bikes.

I also like bar ends, but don't tell anyone :psst:

I was out and about on it today ,, swapped the forks to rigid , and its fine how long it will last I dont know but the quality dont seem too bad

if I get 5000 7000km out of it Ill be well happy

and if ya rack up a few long days , bar ends or anything is a godsend hahaha

[nzspokes]

Holy uncut steerer Batman.....:shit:

Cheap bikes are fine as long as you dont expect too much of them.

[Brian d marge]

Must resist urge to change that post

Sent from my BGO-DL09 using Tapatalk

[NordieBoy]

Masters Games SuperD today.
I installed new tyres to ensure I had ALL the words needed to race...
Stan's NoTubes Flow EX with Maxxis High Roller II 3C MaxxTerra EXO Protection TR Tubeless Ready tyres.
Well the rear only has HR2 EXO TR...

The race was fun apparently.
I stayed home, dry and not out in the 35mm of precipitation...

XC tomorrow. Only 15mm forecast :)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171007/6b1e9bc2eaa58d53fd656f8fce0eb102.jpg

[NordieBoy]

Milk & Honey tomorrow.
Just been carbo-loading on fush n chups and a cheesecake.

Mmmm, cheesecake.

Hoping for 4:30, although it's going to take me 2:30 to get to the Canaan turn off...

Last time I went into Canaan was with Topo on a night ride. The trip down the Hill was magical, full moon, warm, dark, no gravel, all you could see was the corner in your headlight...

[NordieBoy]

Ouch.
That was rocky...

[R650R]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11965162

4000 couch potatoes close a $300,000 track before its even open...

Sacred land.... Oh never mind the road, flash glutenous over priced lifestyle houses on other side and trails also.
Also a restaurant also very near the top and a soon to be built million dollar propaganda ahem education centre......

[NordieBoy]

If they'd canted the track back so you couldn't see the crushed gravel from a distance, there'd probably be no outcry.

[R650R]

If they'd canted the track back so you couldn't see the crushed gravel from a distance, there'd probably be no outcry.

Apparently the plan was it would have blended in few months down the track with regrowth and planting etc.....

Sign the petition against the petition here https://www.change.org/p/hawkes-bay-regional-council-save-the-craggy-range-walking-track/fbog/844739599

[R650R]

Now 6500 for vs 4800 fatties :)

But now they using OSH and ‘traffic safety’ to shut it down, apparently crossing the road is dangerous... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11966948

[NordieBoy]

After the Coppermine race where the front suspension didn't seem to be working all that well, I've gone back to rigid on the Unit, and it's brilliant :)
Until the end of almost every ride if there's rocks or braking bumps - ouch :baby:
335965

[NordieBoy]

Road bike experiment time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180402/3ef6695e88f6c6bd8e190afc4c2665ea.jpg
Damn :(
The only ratio that works (even with a tensioner) is 42/18 which is only a poofteenth taller that the 38/17 I ran on the CX/gravel bike in the hills.
If 42/17 fitted, it'd be worth a go.

On the CX bike, I could run 34-38-42/17 which covered almost everything from CX to roady stuff.

Oh well, back on with those new-fangled geary things :(

Tempted to bring the CX frame out of retirement and see which is more fun.

[NordieBoy]

Experiment over, back to gears :(
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180407/b3f96e1edd314c3f54a564bc0d4930c7.jpg

[R650R]

The saga continues.... sad thing is this guy has penned some good articles in past on history.... now race relations back another 150 years....

Guess he doesn’t get out much with ‘our people’, cause I’ve seen plenty of ‘our people’ riding mountain bikes. Lots of ‘our oeople’ Seem to own flash Holden’s and fords along with latest suvs....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12051225

[NordieBoy]

New experiment.
MTB version of TuBliss.
80psi in the core and I'll start with 18psi front and 20 rear and may even end up a little softer :)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180604/dae6508476fb4790a933c4dbf1fe9586.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180604/7565b0318bdcd861ee225f36331477eb.jpg

[CrazyFrog]

So Fran, I see you bought those 11spd hydro/disc lever set combo on TradeMe.
What are you gonna chuck those onto? Are you upgrading the CX?

I just bought me a Focus Mares CX rig, time to practice me high speed gravel descents on the drops :crazy:

[HenryDorsetCase]

The saga continues.... sad thing is this guy has penned some good articles in past on history.... now race relations back another 150 years....

Guess he doesn’t get out much with ‘our people’, cause I’ve seen plenty of ‘our people’ riding mountain bikes. Lots of ‘our oeople’ Seem to own flash Holden’s and fords along with latest suvs....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12051225

He seems to have his tits in a tangle about mtb-ers!

[NordieBoy]

So Fran, I see you bought those 11spd hydro/disc lever set combo on TradeMe.
What are you gonna chuck those onto? Are you upgrading the CX?

I just bought me a Focus Mares CX rig, time to practice me high speed gravel descents on the drops :crazy:

:cool:
The CX got retired a couple of years ago. It would only JUST take 33mm tyres and I'd like to stick some 40mm ones on it and disc brakes would be nice.
The frame geometry was spot on for me dammit. Ran beautifully as a single speed too.
Did some great long rides in the forestry in Wakefield.

Slowly building this up...
338579
My old 21" frame M5 Stumpy 26er hardtail (the old orange Avanti Blade CX'er frame is hanging up in the background).
Hate it as a single speed :(
Some carbon forks are on their way from China, a Wolftooth Tanpan to let the 11spd road shifters work with the 10spd clutched rear MTB mech, 23mm internal 29er rims, 34t oval chainring, On One Midge drop bars.
Bottom bracket will be lower than on the Kona Unit which is my gravel race bike at the moment.
Only needed to get the forks, Tanpan and shifters.
The Emporium had the rest :2thumbsup

If it works like I hope it will, I'll probably get rid of the road bike.
It'll handle the road OK and off the seal, well, I've done Turners, Firball, 3rd House on the old CX bike and this is MUCH more robust.
Only need 1 geared bike.

What width bars are on the Mares?
I've got some sweet 460mm wide carbon beauties if you need them.
I'm going with alloy just because I'll be strapping on tri-bars regularly and I don't like doing that to carbon, even if these ones are especially reinforced for it.

[NordieBoy]

Tanpan on the end of the cable to change the pull ratio.
I used similar ones to get the road brakes working on the CX bike V-brakes.
338598

11 speed hydro brake shifters.
338599

I'll leave the hoses a little long until I get the stem length dialed.
The front hose is a bit short, but may fit with the new carbon forks.
Last piece of the puzzle is an 11 speed 11-32 or 34 cassette.
May have to buy a new (shudder) one :no:

[NordieBoy]

That was almost a disaster :facepalm:
11 speed cassettes don't quite fit on 10 speed hubs...
:bash:
Unless it's an 11 speed MTB cassette, in which case it does :sweatdrop

I was going to use a big road cassette, but now it's going to be a "small" MTB one.
11-40 :whistle:
The Zee rear mech will have to be changed to an XT one with a OneUp cage extender.
Which I happen to have lying around - as you do when everything else is converted to single speed.

New chain and cassette...

Now need to read up on bleeding Shimano Ultegra RS685 brakes.

[CrazyFrog]

That was almost a disaster :facepalm:
11 speed cassettes don't quite fit on 10 speed hubs...
:bash:
Unless it's an 11 speed MTB cassette, in which case it does :sweatdrop

I was going to use a big road cassette, but now it's going to be a "small" MTB one.
11-40 :whistle:
The Zee rear mech will have to be changed to an XT one with a OneUp cage extender.
Which I happen to have lying around - as you do when everything else is converted to single speed.

New chain and cassette...

Now need to read up on bleeding Shimano Ultegra RS685 brakes.

Are you running 1 x 11 or 2 x 11 gearing? If it's x2, then a mtb 12-36 cassette should suffice. If its got the 1 x set up, then yeah, go big or go home.
Them RS685 brakes are pretty similar to bleed as normal Shimano Hydro systems, just peel back them brake hoods and it's all hidden away under there.
My Mares CX bars are 44cm alloy, me thinks practice will improve my confidence on those fast gravel descents, already feeling more at ease on it with 250km's clocked up in the last week.
My gearing is quite high, I'm already looking into long cage derailleur options so I can run a 12-34 cassette (44/34 front chainrings). The current 28T low gear is fine for Central Rd/ Sharlands etc, but too limited for gruntier climbs. Dont want to blow a fu-fu after all :no:

[NordieBoy]

1x11
Can't get a 12-36 11 speed mtb cassette, seem to be only 10 speed?
Checked last night and the largest oval front ring I can use without causing frame damage is a 36t which is sweet.
I'd prefer 11-36 as I like standing climbing and to me, 36/36 is hellishly low geared when my usual gearing is the equivalent of 36/25
I used to run a 42t extender cog on my 1x10 hardtail.

Got these spare...
http://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3&pk=1831
46cm with a sweep backward on the tops. Found I liked compact drops better.

Good thing with the brakes is I can change the calipers to SLX ones if I have issues getting road pads or they wear out too quickly.

A long cage rear and you should be good. 10 or 11 speed?

Fufu valves need to be looked after.

[CrazyFrog]

A long cage rear and you should be good. 10 or 11 speed?
Fufu valves need to be looked after.

Bahhaha, yep the ol fufu is far too fragile to go out and smash it every day. Low gears are good.

I'm running 11 speed, so will prob upgrade the stock Ultegra 6800 to long cage GS version. That allow me to run a 11-34.
Not really sweating the bars at this stage, I'll see how I feel about them after 1000km of gravel riding and assess if they are doing it for me (or not).

Are you gonna do the Glenhope Gravel grind again this year? We might have to enter the "washed up adventure motorcyclist" class and see how we go.:bleh:

[NordieBoy]

Yep, the Glenhope ride is a good one. The Glenhope-Murch was my first ever race so I have a soft spot for it.
I think there's going to be a lot more steeper forestry tracks this time. Last time it was Tap-Tadmore Hill-Slippery-Sherry River-Tui and back for the 51km version and the Dry Weather Road out to Glenhope and back for the 81km version.
Apart from the Tadmor Hill, it was sweet on the single speed.

That 40t lower cog is going to help with that sort of shit :scooter:

[NordieBoy]

Wow, the Glenhope-Murch race has been going since 1952...

What the hell?
https://www.facebook.com/Gravel-Grind-Nelson-976942372446193/
I'm the one in the fluro top in the profile pic! Famous at last!

[NordieBoy]

Maungatapu June 2019
349462

[NordieBoy]

Snowing on the Coppermine August 2019
349463

[NordieBoy]

Going up in the world.
Got 4 wheels now!

350820

[NordieBoy]

Experiment over, back to gears :(
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180407/b3f96e1edd314c3f54a564bc0d4930c7.jpg
Gears over, back to experiment :yes:

350874

Last of the road race season last week, I really like this bike as a single speed...