Adventure pushies

[Kickaha]

The only technique is to get fit, and get your legs used to spinning. When I first started really getting into mtb I just couldn't use granny ring and it felt like a waste of time, but its still faster than walking uphill. Had a mate who'd done serious road riding and mtb stuff, proper coach and all. He recommended doing long rides on the flat and get your legs used to spinning the crank at the magic number of 80rpm continuously mile after mile. Try it, its damn hard but it works. BTW 80 rpm is the optimum for your leg muscles in terms of circulation and being able to get rid of lactic acid build up etc.

My most efficient cadence is 90-95rpm on the tri-bike (years of riding with a HRM) and full suspension mtb.

On flat ground 17km loop when I first got a speedo which had cadence I was aiming for 70rpm which was a guess and took an easy 5 minutes off

Up the hill I'm only doing 45-50 rpm in a higher gear that what I used to use because it feels a bit better, so maybe I'll try a lower gear and higher rpm and do a bit more flat ground work as well

Wouldn't mind using a heart rate monitor but I can only seem to make them work 1 time in 5

[NordieBoy]

I did notice a particular weight weenie on this thread today looking pretty fit & slim having to walk his superliteweight rigid up a hill that my fat puku can ride up

I had the camera in the backpack and it weighs, ohh, at least heaps...

Once I can ride up the Grampians to the TV tower without stopping (or dying) I'll consider myself fit enough to ride in your (considerable) shadow...

[NordieBoy]

Welcome to my world bro! i don't worry anymore & ride lone wolf style.

I thought you rode alone because members of your wolf pack keep falling off and breaking body parts?

[young1]

I was taught that the perfect cadence was 90rpm, took some getting used to but it seems to work.

[NordieBoy]

I was taught that the perfect cadence was 90rpm, took some getting used to but it seems to work.

Depends on your physiology and fitness levels.

Like tyre pressures, it's just a baseline to start from.

Once you get used to a cadence that works for you, you'll find yourself naturally getting back to your "proper" RPM's quite quickly after lower/higher cadence sections.

[R650R]

Yep that's about right, different strokes for different folks. No heart rate monitor here, just ride till I sense the early symptoms of coronary distress or crash lol
These random storms have made some of the good sections a bit dicey and with my average speed back up have thrown some fat rubber back on the front for extra fitness and fun!


20131216_3711fl by DR650NZ, on Flickr

[NordieBoy]

It's weird looking down at the front of the fully and seeing all the cables!

6 of the buggers!

Only 3 on the HT.

[R650R]

It's weird looking down at the front of the fully and seeing all the cables!

6 of the buggers!

Only 3 on the HT.

Wont be long before the manufacturers make it all wireless except hopefully for the front brake! See there's a wireless seatpost out and seen some crowd in Europe done a G sensitive auto electronic fork lockout tool...

[NordieBoy]

Just swapped the internals (compression and rebound) from the Team forks on the Blur to the cheaper Race forks on the Stumpy.
I want the better internals on the lighter, faster bike.

It makes a difference all right.
Like going from a DR port orifice fork to a DRZ one with proper shims...

Which coincidentally, is exactly what the difference actually is

The Stumpy rides like the CycloCross bike but with fat tyres and it weighs a Kg less

I can see that the full suspension bike will only be ridden on more "epic" longer, rougher rides. It's a Cadillac in comparison...

[CrazyFrog]

I'd ride this MTB/moped. Looks like fun and a super lightweight trail bike with the 150cc kit fitted.
Gotta love the concept, coolest moped I've seen. Watch the video

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2097071998/motopeds

[Kickaha]

I'd ride this MTB/moped. Looks like fun and a super lightweight trail bike with the 150cc kit fitted.
Gotta love the concept, coolest moped I've seen. Watch the video

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2097071998/motopeds

I like the FXbikes one better although it doesn't have pedals as well
http://www.fxbikes.com/

[NordieBoy]

The sign to the Maitai Caves says it's good for push bikes...

Mostly it's fine...


Then it started getting gnarly...


And gnarlier...


Lots of pushing of the bike later...


Flash view from inside...


And back out again...

[R650R]

Looks light enough to carry it when you need to anyway

These look damn nice but $USD 2K!!! http://enduro-mtb.com/en/video-x-fus...revel-hlr-usd/

The end of stretched cables and constantly adjusting them, hydraulic shifters NICE but $EURO 1800!!! http://www.acros.de/PRODUCTS/SHIFTIN...M:::3_236.html

[NordieBoy]

Looks light enough to carry it when you need to anyway

Over half an hour of carrying it up to the cave to get a photo of it there and half an hour back to where I could ride again...

These look damn nice but $USD 2K!!! http://enduro-mtb.com/en/video-x-fus...revel-hlr-usd/

Most dirt mx'ers would love a modern set of "normal" forks. USD's have too much stiction early in the stroke and aren't as plus as the last of say, the Marzocchi's..

[R650R]

Interesting, I suppose they would spend more time with suspension extended and wheel skimming mud/dirt...

Pretty happy with knocking out a 25km ride in the 29 deg heat today at Eskdale. Click link to GPS track sat view of ride.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...d8860461&msa=0