Cycling Thread

[cracher]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Can I get from downtown to copperfield on the bow river pathway system (or at least 90% of the way there?)

This may help answer that question:

http://ridethecity.com/calgary

[Hack&Lube]

Any recommendations for a cycling speaker? I'm doing the 200KM ride to Conquer Cancer in early August and I think per regulations that earphones are not allowed! That's going to be a very quiet several hours.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Any recommendations for a cycling speaker? I'm doing the 200KM ride to Conquer Cancer in early August and I think per regulations that earphones are not allowed! That's going to be a very quiet several hours.

[coolstory]my buddy did that ride and was able to use his hearing aids because they have bluetooth and connect to his phone. I found that hilarious [/coolstory]

[macker]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Any recommendations for a cycling speaker? I'm doing the 200KM ride to Conquer Cancer in early August and I think per regulations that earphones are not allowed! That's going to be a very quiet several hours.

One day without wind muffled music won't kill you. Many States have started banning ipod/biking as has Quebec and Vancouver. Just a matter of time for Calgary IMO.
http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/...ng-in-calgary/
If you go with the ipod you are offside with the RTCC organizers and if you go with the speaker you are offside with other riders. Just enjoy the energy of the crowd. Open stretch of highway with little vehicle/bike traffic go for it but this event is almost the complete opposite of that. I can see why they don't allow it.

[Northendzone]

Enjoy the sounds of the wind and the chain running thru your gears and sing to yourself

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Any recommendations for a cycling speaker? I'm doing the 200KM ride to Conquer Cancer in early August and I think per regulations that earphones are not allowed! That's going to be a very quiet several hours.

I had adapted then by adding a clip to them to attach to my helmet straps. I like them. Since they are never pressed against my ears I can hear everything around me but no one can hear my music.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Can I get from downtown to copperfield on the bow river pathway system (or at least 90% of the way there?)

I've done it a few times and it's a pretty easy ride. Take the bike path along 52nd to the canal path. The canal path will take you all the way downtown.

Use Google Maps and switch to bike and it will give you a good route. I go through Inglewood because some of the river paths down there are still under construction.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/50.91...47d871!1m0!3e1

[Northendzone]

Ugh, so over the weekend my bike developed an ugly creak in the rear end somewhere. I thought it was a pivot point in the rear suspension. So after greasing everything up, the ugly creek still there.......had my bike on the stand and gave the rear wheel a spin, it is clear the bearings in my rear hub are a mess.......of course on Saturday morning we are taking off for vacation in oregon.....I sure hope the boys at cycle path south can help me out on short notice......because I don't know what else I can do.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Ugh, so over the weekend my bike developed an ugly creak in the rear end somewhere. I thought it was a pivot point in the rear suspension. So after greasing everything up, the ugly creek still there.......had my bike on the stand and gave the rear wheel a spin, it is clear the bearings in my rear hub are a mess.......of course on Saturday morning we are taking off for vacation in oregon.....I sure hope the boys at cycle path south can help me out on short notice......because I don't know what else I can do.

Could you change the bearings yourself? I don't know how busy the shops In Calgary are . We have a 7-10 day wait at the shops here.

[Northendzone]

i probably would take a stab at doing it myself, if it wasn't for the fact we are leaving on a bike vacation on Saturday.....i dropped the back wheel only off at cyclepath and mentioned tot eh tech that i was off to bend on the weekend and he thought that if it was the bearings only, then they could get it done.....since i have been thinking of buying a new set of race face turbine rims next season, i was just going to do that, but unfortunately nobody stocks the rims........so i'll get the current hubs fixed (i hope)

[Northendzone]

ugh, sometimes my bike makes me want to pull my hair out - apparently the bearings on the drive side of the hub fell apart when the tech looked at things - and then to boot, the bearings were some stupid non-standard size.......so i'd need to go and vist a bearing shops and try to find the right one - since i was thinking of upgrading the rims (over the winter), they are going to give me a deal on a new set of XT hoops and I'll be done with this fiasco........ugh!!!! i'd like to thank the hub maker for using non-standard parts........so over the course of this year i have made the follwoing upgrades to my rig:

- new bontranger seat
- giant dropper post
- new race face stem
- new race face bar
- new race face cranks & bottom bracket
- new race face front chain ring
- new slx brakes and ice tech rotors
- new rims
- new tires as well

i think blow would be a cheaper hobby - oh well after this the build will be complete and i'll have my dream bike........these trails in bend had better be epic......

Here is a picture of my rig taken in my garage with the early morning light breaking thru the window

[habernac]

dude, Bend will blow your mind

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

a new set of XT hoops

I don't want to poop on your parade, but wheels are a big purchase, and those are 19C rims, which is really narrow depending on the type of tire you like to run.

Those shouldn't really be used with anything bigger than a 2.25"

[Northendzone]

Nice observation there hulk.......anyhow, LBS thought my tire would be fine on that rim and internet suggest that a 19c rim will handle a tire from 28 to 62 mm wide......I am running kenda nerve gals and they are a 58 mm, so I am almost at the top end.

Net suggests that a larger tire may feel squirmy at lower pressure, but I am an oddball and I like to run my tires at almost 60 psi with tubes and I am a heavier guy.......I usually get no more than two flats per season.....

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Nice observation there hulk.......anyhow, LBS thought my tire would be fine on that rim and internet suggest that a 19c rim will handle a tire from 28 to 62 mm wide......I am running kenda nerve gals and they are a 58 mm, so I am almost at the top end.

Net suggests that a larger tire may feel squirmy at lower pressure, but I am an oddball and I like to run my tires at almost 60 psi with tubes and I am a heavier guy.......I usually get no more than two flats per season.....

aren't those a ust rim? Why not run them tubeless?

[Northendzone]

^ they are ust - i will likely convert the tires for next year (i am a little old school and what i have works); i just don't want to fiddle around before vacation.

this morning was the first real ride on this set up and the bike felt a little lighter and more responsive, i really noticed that it seemed a lot more stable cornering at speed - but perhaps i am just trying to justify my purchase......

[Coys1882]

Looking to buy a mountain bike in the near future - anyone have any ideas, suggestions or loca deals they know of?

I'm looking to do some riding in K-Country - nothing extreme, just clipping around on some trails. I'm assuming a hardtail would be best? Anything I need to stay away from concerning components? Which series are best? I assume Shimano are the standard for mountain bikes too?

I found this one on the Giant website:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ca/...1/17662/73479/
retails for $1300 - is that a good price or am I cheaping out and anything cheaper will just break on the trail?

Thanks guys.

[Northendzone]

To me all bikes at a given price point will be roughly similar - the giant above is a decent spec (nice touch on the rear xt deurallier)........hard tails are lighter, and simpler......to me if you decide that a full suspension rig is for you, then you will need to up your budget to about $1,800.

You may want to consider looking at some previously enjoyed rigs on pinkbike.......

As for a shop I have been dealing with cycle path on Macleod. I feel I have been treated fairly there, but there will likely be others that say they offer horrible customer service.

[Coys1882]

Thanks North!! I've found a couple of Norcos I like on the bow cycle website. Anyone have an opinion on those??

Here's a cool bike I saw on reddit:

[Northendzone]

That norco Denny is not a bike for me, but it seems like it has a lot of cool features. I looked on Google and could not find any information about it - like cost.....

I also frequent mtbr and there is a lot of positive things said about Norco bikes. Like I said, at any given price point (barring a sale) you are going to get a bike with a similar spec. It is just a matter of finding the bike that fits you.....