Cycling Thread

[Coys1882]

Was driving by Bow Cycle today and decided to pop in. Ended up chatting with the kid who works there named Keaton - really knows his stuff and was super helpful. I ended up taking a blast on the Specialized Sirrus Comp - nice little bike, clips along pretty good.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Was driving by Bow Cycle today and decided to pop in. Ended up chatting with the kid who works there named Keaton - really knows his stuff and was super helpful. I ended up taking a blast on the Specialized Sirrus Comp - nice little bike, clips along pretty good.

That's the dude who set me up with my road bike a little over a year ago.
He really does know what he's talking about.
I'd go back to him any time.

[Temporary_User]

Where would everyone head to buy a helmet?
I need one, but the few places I've looked so far did not have the greatest selection.

I have a road bike, but don't need anything too aerodynamic, just casual, as I typically just wear a Tee and gym shorts while riding.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Where would everyone head to buy a helmet?
I need one, but the few places I've looked so far did not have the greatest selection.

I have a road bike, but don't need anything too aerodynamic, just casual, as I typically just wear a Tee and gym shorts while riding.

Hit Ridleys. They usually have a few on clearance if you are not picky about colour.

I got mine there in a clearance bin 50% off because some guy ordered it in in red and apparently nobody wanted a red helmet.



The main reason I bought it though is because it is a frikkin 'Lazer'.

[hmmhmmcamo]

Nutcase makes some pretty sweet helmets. Both the wife and I have one.

http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/
According to the site:

The Bike Shop
Tel.: 403.264.0735
www.thebikeshop.com
801 11 Ave SW
T2R 0E6 Calgary
Canada

BikeBike Inc
Tel.: 403.457.2453
www.bikebike.ca
1501 17 Ave SW
T2T 0E2 Calgary
Canada

[KTrain]

Careful out there guys. This just happened:

Cyclist dead after crash in southeast Calgary

A cyclist is dead after he was hit by a truck in southeast Calgary.

Police say it happened around 2 p.m. MT at 61st avenue and 52nd street S.E.

The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The intersection is expected to be closed for several hours while police investigate.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...t.html?cmp=rss

[pylon]

Cue the celebrations from all the cyclist haters here. I am sure they deserved it, they probably held someone up for 12 seconds, or worse yet, passed them in a traffic jam.

[KTrain]

With all the construction along 52nd (at least towards the south end) I don't like riding on it. Lane lines are all over the place. Drivers aren't sure where to go.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Yeah, that's what's got me looking at this one now:

Had my first ride on this thing today. Also my first time riding a 29er. Holy lord this thing is fast, with a Cadillac-like suspension too. I tried it out on some potholes around the bike shop, and it didn't seem to even notice them. So then I just aimed it straight at a hard curb to see what would happen: nothing. Up, over, barely even shrugged.

The one I test rode was a large (20 inch frame) which is the absolute max I can go at 5'10". To get some idea of what a medium frame might be like, I then tried the Giant Anthem 26 incher in a medium frame. The bike was twice the price, but half the fun. In one ride I think I'm totally converted to 29 inch wheels - the speed is just too fun to give up. Tomorrow I'm going back to have a go on the medium sized 29er, which they're going to build up for me.

Anyone else had experience going from 26 to 29 inch wheels? I thought it had a massive impact on the fun of the bike. Totally looking forward to taking this up to the North Shore, the endowment lands, and some of the dirt trails in BC's interior.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Had my first ride on this thing today. Also my first time riding a 29er. Holy lord this thing is fast, with a Cadillac-like suspension too. I tried it out on some potholes around the bike shop, and it didn't seem to even notice them. So then I just aimed it straight at a hard curb to see what would happen: nothing. Up, over, barely even shrugged.

The one I test rode was a large (20 inch frame) which is the absolute max I can go at 5'10". To get some idea of what a medium frame might be like, I then tried the Giant Anthem 26 incher in a medium frame. The bike was twice the price, but half the fun. In one ride I think I'm totally converted to 29 inch wheels - the speed is just too fun to give up. Tomorrow I'm going back to have a go on the medium sized 29er, which they're going to build up for me.

Anyone else had experience going from 26 to 29 inch wheels? I thought it had a massive impact on the fun of the bike. Totally looking forward to taking this up to the North Shore, the endowment lands, and some of the dirt trails in BC's interior.

I love my 29er. I went from a Scott Spark 10 (my most recent 26 inch wheeler), to my santa cruz tallboy. I climb over everything. On really rooty or rocky sections where buddies with the small wheels are bouncing around, I just roll. On rollers, where you descend and have to immediately climb, I rarely pedal. I let the wheels do all the work. Also decending, I'm a lot more confident. It's like you're sitting in the bike, not on the bike. My only complaint is the wheel weight. Compared to my last bike, I'm giving up 2lbs of rotational weight. You really feel that on the big long climbs. I'd get lighter wheels, but in a 29er, it gets tough if you're on a budget. Stans Crest are just over 1500 grams, but they're extremely flexy in that large of a wheel. The best option is carbon, but I can't spend $1700 on a wheelset right now. I'm thinking the best solution for me might be the stans arch ex, around 1650 grams. A bit stiffer wheel, but pretty light still.

I'm 5'10" as well. I could've went for a Large or a Medium. I'd test ride a Med in a 29er before you decide. I ride a large 26, and chose a Med 29. I felt the Large was too large. The medium felt better to me, and on tight switchbacks and such, I really noticed the difference. I have a shorter torso though, so that changes my bike fits. In a road bike, I went from a 56 to a 54 once I was professionally fitted.

[bossy22]

For those people who are just getting into mountain biking. I recommend a chain tool, and a quick lesson on how to fix a chain. I went to West Bragg on friday, and some poor guy rode his bike all of the way back down without a chain. He had a chain tool, but no idea on how to use it. This is probably the 6th time I gave a trail side lesson. I don't have a problem doing that, It's just you'd enjoy your ride more if you could do the fix right there and keep on going.

BTW, the new singletrack from West Bragg is awesome. Ranger Summit and down Strange Brew takes under an hour, and is a ton of fun. There is a 20km loop as well. I haven't done that loop yet, but I hear it's even more fun. It's all well marked, but still pretty muddy.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Had my first ride on this thing today. Also my first time riding a 29er. Holy lord this thing is fast, with a Cadillac-like suspension too. I tried it out on some potholes around the bike shop, and it didn't seem to even notice them. So then I just aimed it straight at a hard curb to see what would happen: nothing. Up, over, barely even shrugged.

The one I test rode was a large (20 inch frame) which is the absolute max I can go at 5'10". To get some idea of what a medium frame might be like, I then tried the Giant Anthem 26 incher in a medium frame. The bike was twice the price, but half the fun. In one ride I think I'm totally converted to 29 inch wheels - the speed is just too fun to give up. Tomorrow I'm going back to have a go on the medium sized 29er, which they're going to build up for me.

Anyone else had experience going from 26 to 29 inch wheels? I thought it had a massive impact on the fun of the bike. Totally looking forward to taking this up to the North Shore, the endowment lands, and some of the dirt trails in BC's interior.

Awesome, wish I could bring mine back this summer too. Would be a lot of fun riding around together. Maybe next year.

I've been considering getting a 29er built for me by a guy here in Shanghai who I know. Among other things he makes bike frames out of bamboo and carbon fiber. They look extremely cool and are apparently very tough. If I have the cash to dispense with I may do that at some point in the next year.

[Khel]

Anyone else do the RTCC this weekend?

Wet, but such an awesome ride!

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by Khel

Anyone else do the RTCC this weekend?

Wet, but such an awesome ride!

I road it for the first time this year. Was a very cool + fulfilling weekend. Being soaked to the bone for 36 hours was not fun though!! But it was worth every drop. Met some amazing people, my body + bike came out much better than I thought it would, and have some great memories of the event!! We got into main camp around 130pm on Saturday and finished up on Sunday around 1230pm. The extra 10km they tacked on to the ride on Saturday was a mental killer!! 115km is easy, but 125km is nigh on impossible!!

That camp at Chain Lakes was something else...3-4" of rain, flowing water down Tent City, 6-8" of mud, and everybody soaked with a smile on their face.

~1850 people raised over $8MM for Cancer in Alberta.

[Khel]

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

I road it for the first time this year. Was a very cool + fulfilling weekend. Being soaked to the bone for 36 hours was not fun though!! But it was worth every drop. Met some amazing people, my body + bike came out much better than I thought it would, and have some great memories of the event!! We got into main camp around 130pm on Saturday and finished up on Sunday around 1230pm. The extra 10km they tacked on to the ride on Saturday was a mental killer!! 115km is easy, but 125km is nigh on impossible!!

That camp at Chain Lakes was something else...3-4" of rain, flowing water down Tent City, 6-8" of mud, and everybody soaked with a smile on their face.

~1850 people raised over $8MM for Cancer in Alberta.

We had virtually the same times, I found on the return the hills by Longview were the killer, it was never ending! Sure going down was fun, but then there was another one to climb!

The camp was something else, so much mud, and rain, the tent had a couple inches of water in it by Sunday morning, I wore socks to get my bike and chucked them in the garbage once I got to a non-muddy part!

The return had rain, sun, hail, and river to cross, but was so cool coming into the finish line at high speed and everyone cheering!

[bossy22]

Article the other day on Craig Stappler.

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/...e-tour-divide/

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by Khel

We had virtually the same times, I found on the return the hills by Longview were the killer, it was never ending! Sure going down was fun, but then there was another one to climb!

The camp was something else, so much mud, and rain, the tent had a couple inches of water in it by Sunday morning, I wore socks to get my bike and chucked them in the garbage once I got to a non-muddy part!

The return had rain, sun, hail, and river to cross, but was so cool coming into the finish line at high speed and everyone cheering!

No kidding eh!! That after the legs had put nearly 180km on them!! Those two super steep hills (just before and after a pit stop, cant remember the name of the town) were my worst...legs were numb at the top.

I tossed my shoes from camp, totally ruined with the mud + water. Forgot about that river crossing. There must of been a dozen people with flats at the top of that hill as well. We got lucky and missed the hail, but that rain hurt.

That finish line was something else. Cant help but get a little emotional riding around the corner to hundreds of people cheering you on and your name getting called out.

[Azure]

I picked up a Garmin Forerunner 310XT from Ebay. Works pretty good.

Interesting that with the HR monitor attached, the normal workout I do it says around 1,100 calories burnt. On the Strava site, where I keep track of my rides, they log 250 calories burnt. Just weird that they're so far out.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by toonmaster

I've been out looking at these two Specialized bikes. I think I am leaning to the Stumpjumper over the Camber Comp, the only thing I don't like about the Stumpjumper are the SRAM shifters. Any comments?

I had a go on the carbon Stumpjumper. It's a beautiful creation - just rides like a breeze, absorbs vibration like crazy, great components. I wouldn't hesitate if you've got the cash to drop and like it on the test ride. It required zero upgrading as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by bossy22

I'm 5'10" as well. I could've went for a Large or a Medium. I'd test ride a Med in a 29er before you decide. I ride a large 26, and chose a Med 29. I felt the Large was too large. The medium felt better to me, and on tight switchbacks and such, I really noticed the difference. I have a shorter torso though, so that changes my bike fits. In a road bike, I went from a 56 to a 54 once I was professionally fitted.

Good call. I got the medium Giant after all - it allows me a bit of flexibility in terms of adjusting sizing, and a bit more technical control (with a greatly reduced chance of crotching myself if I slip off the pedals at speed). It's great so far, although the shifters (Sram X5) are going to have to go before too long - they're only slightly better than getting off the bike and moving the chain myself. Looking at Shimano XT, which is roughly a $100 upgrade and will make riding a good bit more enjoyable.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Azure

I picked up a Garmin Forerunner 310XT from Ebay. Works pretty good.

Interesting that with the HR monitor attached, the normal workout I do it says around 1,100 calories burnt. On the Strava site, where I keep track of my rides, they log 250 calories burnt. Just weird that they're so far out.

Strava needs a power meter to get calories. For running it uses weight. A power meter is the most accurate. If a power meter isn't used it uses an algorithm similar to what a gym stationary bike will use. From what I've read, Strava doesnt use HR, but I could be wrong.

Garmin uses the New leaf method where you get a vo2 test and enter y,our data as a base line. This is the most accurate. If you don't have a vo2 test done, it then uses the first beat algorithm 1st or 2nd gen depending on the device, and is claimed to be accurate within 10% for 2nd gen and slighty less accurate for 1st gen.

Here's a good write up explaining their methods.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/11/h...on-garmin.html