Mountain bikes

**Paul in NZ** · 26th September 2013, 07:48

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

I used to be quite the keen mountainbiker. in fact have been thinking about doing a few rides this summer. the issue I have is the people I know are all HELL keen and fit as fuck. and riding expensive kit.

My advice FWIW is think about the sort of riding you want to do and get something for that. Full suspension is cool and all but there is a maintenance impost, a price impost and they might be a bit heavier.

The wagon wheels are all real popular too (29 inch wheel). I went into the Specialized shop for a geeze and the only 26 inch wheel mtb they had there was their full on DH bike (ten grand sticker.....)

Disc brakes are DEFINITELY worth having. rear cassettes at the upper end now seem to be 11 speed... but they only run two up front. I want my granny gear dammit.

and secondhand you really do have to be wary...

It might pay to get a bike fit done when you buy the thing. just so you dont fuck your back up and its comfy and nice to ride.

I would recommend flat pedals too. rather than clipped in or toe straps.

Thanks - more the kind of advice I was fishing for...

If you don't have your own youtube channel and a $10,000 bike its really hard to even catch the eye of a salesperson which is odd as I'll bet their bread an butter are kids bikes, scooters and cheaper bikes to noobs like us...

Yes - my wish list is better suspenders with lock out, disc brakes and a smaller frame / shorter stem. I will keep the bike I have as while its too big for me (its an XL) off road its great on the road as I have a lot of room on it. I will definately find something this side of xmas I'm sure...

What kicked this off was a spin on son in laws down hill bike - OMG.. it just floated over stuff....

**Paul in NZ** · 26th September 2013, 07:57

Originally Posted by scissorhands

My bad, I'm a fat prick now, sorry to project that onto you
I sense your really angry at Vicki, but need to hate the sales staff instead. If your selling some of the girls old seats give me a PM

Meh - no worries. I still carry a little more body fat than I'd like but with all the other health issues its not easy to cut the last bits to become super lean. I break my training up into 3 month segments and set a goal each time but I'm floundering a bit for the next one at the mo... Being older I don't put on muscle like a 20 year old as I'm not making testosterone like I was but I do OK for an old guy. Being bloody minded really helps....

No - certainly not angry at Vicki and even if I was it wouldnt last long. Shes really a wonderful person and I don't know anyone that can stay mad at her for more than 10 mins... God knows what she sees in me... I'm disappointed that my local bike shop rather took advantage of her and then given the chance to at least help out with some proper advice couldn't help but try and stiff us a second time... (obviously more to it than can be put into a single post)

You honestly would be better off ordering online than going there - at least you would know whos to blame when it went wrong...

**avgas** · 26th September 2013, 09:13

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

is it 1 inch threaded or 1 and an eighth A head? Ive got a set of Manitou 3's on the wall in the garage. the elastomers turned into a kind of coloured powder.....

Good question. I believe 1"......but will see if I have verniers at home to confirm.

**MisterD** · 26th September 2013, 09:53

Originally Posted by avgas

Good question. I believe 1"......but will see if I have verniers at home to confirm.

It's 1" if you have the old two nuts on a threaded steerer setup, 1 1/8" if it's got a central bolt to a star nut inside the steerer.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 26th September 2013, 10:00

I've seen a few NOS RockShox go on tardme (for stupid money) but you will be able to get bits for them to rebuild: like motorbike parts if not in NZ (the distros are notoriously useless) then online. easier of course if it has coil springs rather than air.

If all you are doing is restoring your now "classic" racebike so you can do the Sunday coffee cruise and bullshit about how fast you were**, probably thats all thats required. If the groupset isn't completely rooted then it will probably be OK for that.

8speed FTW!

**very comparable with motorbikes in a lot of ways, innit

**Paul in NZ** · 26th September 2013, 10:33

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

**very comparable with motorbikes in a lot of ways, innit

As in the whole industry is set up to suck every last dollar out of you and still leave you hungry for more - yes...

**avgas** · 26th September 2013, 11:43

Originally Posted by MisterD

It's 1" if you have the old two nuts on a threaded steerer setup, 1 1/8" if it's got a central bolt to a star nut inside the steerer.

hmmmmm sounds like it might be 1 1/8 then......

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

I've seen a few NOS RockShox go on tardme (for stupid money) but you will be able to get bits for them to rebuild: like motorbike parts if not in NZ (the distros are notoriously useless) then online. easier of course if it has coil springs rather than air.
If all you are doing is restoring your now "classic" racebike so you can do the Sunday coffee cruise and bullshit about how fast you were**, probably thats all thats required. If the groupset isn't completely rooted then it will probably be OK for that.
8speed FTW!
**very comparable with motorbikes in a lot of ways, innit

Really? Why? I was just hanging onto the frame/forks to make a coffee table. It was never a great setup - just all I could afford (borrow) at the time. Not ever going to restore the cuda. Likewise I was never that competitive (or good). Fast enough to crash, if I didn't crash I usually get somewhere.......but I always crashed. I think my best ranking in NZ was 22nd.......and only 14 crashes in a season.

Now days I still have 50% of the skill........but only 10% of the stamina and I swear my balls got smaller also. So good enough to beat the poser on his new FSR using a $80 Marin hard-tail......but not good enough to race or justify spending $1000 on a bike.

I miss my Wheeler 4000ZX - was a great bike. But sold it when I had a kid. It bought a stroller.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 26th September 2013, 11:48

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

As in the whole industry is set up to suck every last dollar out of you and still leave you hungry for more - yes...

its my boys toys hypothesis. Doesnt matter what sort of boys toy it is, someone will always have their hand in your pocket and saying "But for just a bit more you can get X which is a massive qualitative improvement over Y which you are looking at" "All your mates have X and you dont want to show up with Y and they will all giggle. You should probably get Z which is better than their x and make them all jealous"

**avgas** · 30th September 2013, 16:03

Originally Posted by avgas

FYI if someone in Auckland is interested in some dirt cheap MTB's and a bike rack let me know. I have a couple of quality semi-classics (10 years old) that need to be gone before I leave NZ.

For those interested..... will put the rack up later.
Barracuda Skeleton - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=644598134
Marin Hardtail - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=644596477
ATX980 - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=644595379

**Latte** · 30th September 2013, 16:18

Originally Posted by neels

probably reasonable to suggest that a bike that fits is more important than how much bling it has

Blasphemer!

**HenryDorsetCase** · 30th September 2013, 16:24

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cycl...-645038802.htm

awwww yisss

**GSW** · 30th September 2013, 21:05

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cycl...-645038802.htm

awwww yisss

Waaaay back when they were new ... I had one... and then broke it .. and ended up with my first Foes ..

I have a bike hanging in the garage where its been for the last 4 years (since my first boy was born)

And get out on that bike and do some of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O46HJbbIWlA