Adventure pushies

[Night Falcon]

If it's pain you want, SH50 past the golf course should be entertaining for the rest of us, either driving or driving past.

I don't want or need anymore pain

Keep us posted on your progress.... Always keen to hear about new places to ride..

At the moment my big decision is to whether got the XC/Trail (120mm travel each end) or the longer 140/150mm travel trail / all mountain routes.

Since everything in wellington requires climbing ability I’m trending to the shorter travel / lighter route. Say Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 730/750??

That's a hard decision. The guy at Bike Barn made it easy for me....I just said give me that one and that one and he said OK. Actually the 29er I wanted they sold the last one in the country today and not to me, it was beautiful, a Merida Big Seven 100 in orange and black....of course

[R650R]

Am ordering 2 new mountain bikes with helmets and soft seats today. My bride and I have decided its time to explore some of the hundreds of miles of tracks the HBRC have kindly had installed around the Bay. The Mountain bike will have a hard job beating my motorcycles for pain received - it is possible but not likely....the Lord willing I aim to keep it that way

Don't speak too soon... just ask Denniso about some of his get offs in the park.

We'll have to give you the guided tour of Eskdale on the low level trails to wet your appetite for doing silly stuff

[R650R]

At the moment my big decision is to whether got the XC/Trail (120mm travel each end) or the longer 140/150mm travel trail / all mountain routes.

Go 120mm to start with. You'll end up with better technique and skills. Bit like starting motocross on 125 instead of 500 etc...
Its cool to be able to bomb straight across real rough stupid stuff with 160mm travel that I've got, but to be honest there's few places where you really need it or do it justice.
There's more options and price flexibility in the 120 travel sector.

[Night Falcon]

Don't speak too soon... just ask Denniso about some of his get offs in the park.

We'll have to give you the guided tour of Eskdale on the low level trails to wet your appetite for doing silly stuff

That is a deal my friend - be kind to me though. In a back to front way I'm hoping my Leatt compression suit doesn't turn out to be a great investment Plan to start riding some of the easy trails round Havelock next week to check the fitness, have been on the exer-cycle once or twice so not expecting to totally embarrass myself - nevertheless I will be wearing a hoodie and dark glasses whilst running in the new bike in public

[Gremlin]

Am ordering 2 new mountain bikes with helmets and soft seats today. My bride and I have decided its time to explore some of the hundreds of miles of tracks the HBRC have kindly had installed around the Bay. The Mountain bike will have a hard job beating my motorcycles for pain received - it is possible but not likely....the Lord willing I aim to keep it that way

Yeah, you say that now... just wait until you're racing past trees, brushing the bar tip (and your fingers and hand) on said trees, ducking for branches etc.

What I do like though, is that councils/DOC/other organisations see mountain biking as beneficial to fitness, so a lot of development has been done country wide opening up stunning landscapes so we can go careening around You can get to some stunning places where motorbikes aren't allowed (plus I'm never going to try taking my tank there am I?). Old Ghost Rd is definitely on the to-do list for example.

[Night Falcon]

Yeah, you say that now... just wait until you're racing past trees, brushing the bar tip (and your fingers and hand) on said trees, ducking for branches etc.

What I do like though, is that councils/DOC/other organisations see mountain biking as beneficial to fitness, so a lot of development has been done country wide opening up stunning landscapes so we can go careening around You can get to some stunning places where motorbikes aren't allowed (plus I'm never going to try taking my tank there am I?). Old Ghost Rd is definitely on the to-do list for example.

I have to admit I did look at the handle bars and think "where's the bark busters?"

Its actually quite jaw dropping for us uninitiated when you start discovering the places available for mountain bikers to ride compared to trail riders. The powers that be need to comprehend the physical exertion it takes to chuck a trials/trail bike around in the woods then they might open up some land for us - I could post them my sweaty tee shirt & socks after a ride for proof

[NordieBoy]

I'm looking at a set of hand guards for the next time I ride with gorse boy.

[NordieBoy]

My heart rate monitor says one of my 4hr trail rides is equal to about 2hrs of MTB'ing in calories burned.

[Night Falcon]

My heart rate monitor says one of my 4hr trail rides is equal to about 2hrs of MTB'ing in calories burned.

that proves you should ride your trail bike at least twice as much as ya MTB

[R650R]

I have to admit I did look at the handle bars and think "where's the bark busters?"

The less shit attached to the handlebars the better, especially if you crash bad enough and bend the handle bar with your nuts like one rider I know....

Its generally elbows and shoulders clipping trees, hands usually safe til you land in blackberry.
I have an AXO aircage, only ever worn it at Rotovegas and only because I was starting a new job on the following Monday. Still lots of vulnerable areas of body but at least you might enjoy rest of days riding if its not a major off.
There too heavy to wear when not catching the shuttle though...

[Night Falcon]

suspension advice please

Have decided I only need front suspenders but don't know much about them. In my price bracket there are 75mm and 100mm travel predominantly. I'm not going to be doing fast or even semi fast riding but one salesman told me 29er suspension is shorter cos the wheels are bigger, will I be making a big mistake going with 75mm over 100mm?

[Paul in NZ]

suspension advice please

Have decided I only need front suspenders but don't know much about them. In my price bracket there are 75mm and 100mm travel predominantly. I'm not going to be doing fast or even semi fast riding but one salesman told me 29er suspension is shorter cos the wheels are bigger, will I be making a big mistake going with 75mm over 100mm?

Have you already paid for it? If so - what you have is great...

If you are still deciding then look about for a sweet deal as the last 2015 bikes are being special ed out like crazy. The good/popular bikes have gone in my size so looks like I'm waiting for the 2016 models now. My Cannondale SL2 is a 29'r with 100mm travel and I'd think that's about the minimum you want. The dealer should set the fork up for you either way.

650B (27.5) is the new std really and 750 (29) is a bit meh unless you are wanting to go super fast on trails. Then the Merida Big Seven 100 might be a bit heavy and low spec. Vickis Trek was a super nice bike for the $$ - the wheel set was amazing, the thing rolled like glass...

Thing is - you first bike will last you 12 to 18 months and then you will be wanting more.... Your eyes will be opened by then and its hello single track and down hill speed...

Yippee

[Night Falcon]

Have you already paid for it? If so - what you have is great...

If you are still deciding then look about for a sweet deal as the last 2015 bikes are being special ed out like crazy. The good/popular bikes have gone in my size so looks like I'm waiting for the 2016 models now. My Cannondale SL2 is a 29'r with 100mm travel and I'd think that's about the minimum you want. The dealer should set the fork up for you either way.

650B (27.5) is the new std really and 750 (29) is a bit meh unless you are wanting to go super fast on trails. Then the Merida Big Seven 100 might be a bit heavy and low spec. Vickis Trek was a super nice bike for the $$ - the wheel set was amazing, the thing rolled like glass...

Thing is - you first bike will last you 12 to 18 months and then you will be wanting more.... Your eyes will be opened by then and its hello single track and down hill speed...

Yippee

Went to buy the bikes yesterday but they had sold out in my size. Avanti are getting 2016 bikes in early July so am deciding if I should confirm an order for one - its a Montari XL (orange ) Seems to have all the goodies I'll need, and as you say if I catch the MTB bug in 18months time I can always upgrade. There's loads of options for Sue at great prices so will get her sorted on Saturday.

It really is just for getting me out of the house and make exercise fun again (I'm so over the exercycle in front of the telly) but if 100mm is the way to go I'll just have keep looking around.

Buying motorbikes is a lot less hassle than buying MTB's.....cos as we all know, you just stick to KTM and ya cant go wrong

[Gremlin]

Buying motorbikes is a lot less hassle than buying MTB's.....cos as we all know, you just stick to KTM and ya cant go wrong

You're in the wrong thread bucko but if you must know... I broke a lot more stuff like subframes on the KTM than the BMW...

At least the bikes come in your size... not many come in 22-23" sizes

[Night Falcon]

You're in the wrong thread bucko but if you must know... I broke a lot more stuff like subframes on the KTM than the BMW...

At least the bikes come in your size... not many come in 22-23" sizes

They do come in my size but nobody has any dang nabitt sposed to rain this weekend anyway so that makes me feel better. I'm almost looking forward to pulling gorse out of my knee cap, getting ya track pants caught in the chain; can hardly wait to regain my lost youth out on the trails and farkling up my new bike......is it the done thing to put ape-hangers on a MTB?