Intro and question

[TARDISBlue]

So, ladies and germs, I went for my first bike ride in 10 years today. Thoughts.

1. Walking the bike a half mile to an autobody shop to fill up the tires was not fun. They were at 30 front and 20 rear. I have them around 50 front and rear for now.

2. Goddamn am I out of shape. I just rode around my neighborhood a bit. Got an Italian Ice for dinner. My bum knee is tender me and my quads are burning like they used to when I'd go out in college to drink and dance with girls until 4am.

3. I can live with the tire buzz. I cannot live with the rear shock creaking like a distressed piglet with every pump. I should send that eBayer a buy it now offer just so I can get that rear spring here sooner.

EDIT: He offered me $45+14 dollars shipping for the spring. Is that a good price?

4. My ass. Mother of god my ass. That seat somehow makes me sit on only bone, and I have a gargantuan ass. I'm going to get a gel seat cover for it for now, look into seat options later maybe. I plan on riding with my girlfriend, who will be riding a beach cruiser around a summer vacation neighborhood. I can't. I just can't.

5. I'm going to have to learn how to adjust the shifters. There are a few gears where, when I put my full weigh on the pedal, it will just skip right off and I'll drop. Every time I do it I think I've broken the chain. And when I was first riding, it refused to go into Crank-3. It will now though with no issues.

5a. Is it bad that I want taller gearsets? It's very level here, as opposed to where I grew up, and I found myself in 3/8 wanting more gears. At home this is perfect. Here, everything is flat and I kind of like the speed.


Well, I'm sweaty and grimy and Eureka is on at 9, so it's time to hit the shower. All in all, I really forgot how much fun riding a bike is. Maybe it's time I take my MSF and get a motorcycle license too.

[fyrstormer]

4. You're supposed to sit on only bone. Putting pressure on soft tissue cuts off blood flow. Get a wider seat if you need it, but not a pillowy cushy seat with tons of foam. I like the WTB Team XC seat. Very comfortable.

5. If the chain is falling off the gears, that's not so much a problem with the gears as with the crankset. You're flexing it and pulling the gears out of alignment for a split second. That is, unless you hear chattering when you're pedaling normally, in which case the derailleurs really are out of alignment.

5a. It's not bad to want taller gears, but it *is* hard to achieve on a mountain bike. 46 teeth in front is pretty much the limit unless you want to get rid of the front derailleur and use only a single chainring. (that *is* a valid option, just keep in mind it will reduce your ability to climb steep hills.) Blackspire makes chainrings in pretty much any size you want, which makes it easy to customize gear ratios.

If you really want speed, a road bike is the only way to go. They're just so much faster it's unreal. Of course, you'll kill yourself if you have to dive off the path to avoid hitting someone, because they have no traction on soft ground and the brakes are soft squishy crap (you know the kind) compared to mountain bike brakes. Such is life, there are always tradeoffs.

[TARDISBlue]

Alright, getting the rear spring shipped soon hopefully. What do I do about the front spring? Do I leave it soft or should I stiffen it up some too?

[Colin]

Yes, as it also supports the weight of the rider and the front end will dive excessively or bottom out if overloaded.

Here's K2's recommendations for the Crosslink from the manual:

Rider Weight (lbs) Spring Rate
up to 140              175
130-170                200
160-200                200           (Standard as shipped I believe)
190-230                225
over 230               250

Col.

[TARDISBlue]

Yes, as it also supports the weight of the rider and the front end will dive excessively or bottom out if overloaded.

Here's K2's recommendations for the Crosslink from the manual:

Rider Weight (lbs) Spring Rate
up to 140              175
130-170                200
160-200                200           (Standard as shipped I believe)
190-230                225
over 230               250

Col.

Thank you. I think I have a stiffer front spring than I thought. It doesn't sag like the rear. Leaving it alone for now. Still can't wait for my rear spring to get here. Biking along.... creak-creak-creak-creak-creak.


I had the bike looked over by my local bike shop today. And yes, I bit the bullet on a hybrid seat and street tires. They've got enough tread to get me through grass if I need to swerve around someone off trail or cross a grass field, but not much more than that. Long Island is devoid of unpaved trails so these really were the ticket. New issue though. They diagnosed my chain falling off issue. Looks like the middle chainring is bent, which is why, when I get on it on the middle chain ring the chain pops right off. Small and large chainrings seem to be fine though. Any suggestions? Maybe someone has, or can direct me towards, an appropriate used crankset.

[Colin]

They diagnosed my chain falling off issue. Looks like the middle chainring is bent, which is why, when I get on it on the middle chain ring the chain pops right off. Small and large chainrings seem to be fine though. Any suggestions? Maybe someone has, or can direct me towards, an appropriate used crankset.

Why didn't they just replace the chain ring?
Or DIY! unless the crank is damaged as well?
I've even taken a bent alu granny ring off, hammered it flat and returned it with no issues.

If replacing it, you just need to know the No of teeth (although you can go up or down a couple if you want) and the BCD.
http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd

Also, check that none of the chain ring teeth or rear cassette teeth are badly "shark toothed" i.e. worn out, as this will also cause a slipping chain and finally make sure that the derailleurs are set up correctly, check out Sheldon or Shimano for instructions on this as well.

Now, enough with the excuses! get it sorted and get out there and ride it! <GRIN>

Col.
[/quote]

[TARDISBlue]

They diagnosed my chain falling off issue. Looks like the middle chainring is bent, which is why, when I get on it on the middle chain ring the chain pops right off. Small and large chainrings seem to be fine though. Any suggestions? Maybe someone has, or can direct me towards, an appropriate used crankset.

Why didn't they just replace the chain ring?
Or DIY! unless the crank is damaged as well?
I've even taken a bent alu granny ring off, hammered it flat and returned it with no issues.

If replacing it, you just need to know the No of teeth (although you can go up or down a couple if you want) and the BCD.
http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd

Also, check that none of the chain ring teeth or rear cassette teeth are badly "shark toothed" i.e. worn out, as this will also cause a slipping chain and finally make sure that the derailleurs are set up correctly, check out Sheldon or Shimano for instructions on this as well.

Now, enough with the excuses! get it sorted and get out there and ride it! <GRIN>

Col.

[/quote]

Not to worry, I've been riding it. I'm way out of shape, but I rode it over to the bike shop yesterday (which is why I didn't bother with having the bike down more than I needed) and then up to dinner last night. I'm only on the street now, so I only use the third chainring. Short 4 mile trips, just easing my body back into it. I'm itching to take the 9 mile round trip down to the beach soon, but that's going to be a full day.

[TARDISBlue]

Phew, I took a 14 mile ride yesterday and an 8 mile ride today. My legs are SO pissed at me right now. However, I did get that 750lb rear spring today after I got home. I popped it on, went for a test ride. Not exactly what I'd want on a trail, but on the street? It's perfect. Bounce is mostly gone, the bike doesn't droop nearly as much, there's no longer the sense that the suspension has to catch up when I ride up a hump or a sidewalk.


However, I may be putting this bike back to stock for when I move back to an area with good trails. I'm SORELY tempted to pick up a hybrid for the longer gearing and taller tires now as a pavement bike. I can't convert my bike into a 29er, nor can I put a 48t chainring on it. I have a CF swingarm and chain clearance is already tight.

[Colin]

Well done and keep up the good work!

It's the getting out there and riding that's important, not on what, where or how!

<GRIN>

Col.

[fyrstormer]

The spring pressure is dependent on your weight, not the riding conditions. You DON'T want a significantly softer spring riding on trails, or you'll bottom-out the suspension on every big bump you hit, and you'll break the shock.

[TARDISBlue]

I went for a long bike ride once. And then it was 90+ degrees for a month and a half and the bike sat. And then one day (today) it was nice out after work. So I went for a bike ride. And sheared a goddamned pedal off.




Time to get new pedals, a middle chainring, and a tire pump. Suggestions please.

[petes97857]

Hi there
My tuppence worth

Bin the current cranks get second had good brand cranks 4 or 5arm type you need stiffer set up than you have,
Think about BB might be about knackered anyway square drive or ISIS but must be rebuildable.

Two rings at front 46t if it has clearance 44 was standard
34t middle ring,
you are big lad you won't need granny ring its quicker to push at low speed and less balancing get good quality NEW rings

Pedals DMR V8 good reviews rebuildable

Above all strength is what you need in your drive train

Hope this helps you
Pete

PS 9degrees C here

[TARDISBlue]

Hi there
My tuppence worth

Bin the current cranks get second had good brand cranks 4 or 5arm type you need stiffer set up than you have,
Think about BB might be about knackered anyway square drive or ISIS but must be rebuildable.

Two rings at front 46t if it has clearance 44 was standard
34t middle ring,
you are big lad you won't need granny ring its quicker to push at low speed and less balancing get good quality NEW rings

Pedals DMR V8 good reviews rebuildable

Above all strength is what you need in your drive train

Hope this helps you
Pete

PS 9degrees C here

Thanks Pete! Any idea where I can start ordering this stuff and what it should cost me?

[petes97857]

Hi there

I'll give you a few wee tips do lots of research before you buy anything
 online MBR good for reviews weight weanies etc
and from fellow cyclists in your area and Local Bike Shops
I would not pay more than half new price for used parts
Which can be picked up online (the bay/pink bike/ Craigslist etc)
look out for New Old Stock, next years models will be hitting shops about now bargains to be had.
Ask around and take your time

Ask fellow bikers if you can try out their set ups or borrow their bikes

Pete

[TARDISBlue]

Hi there

I'll give you a few wee tips do lots of research before you buy anything
 online MBR good for reviews weight weanies etc
and from fellow cyclists in your area and Local Bike Shops
I would not pay more than half new price for used parts
Which can be picked up online (the bay/pink bike/ Craigslist etc)
look out for New Old Stock, next years models will be hitting shops about now bargains to be had.
Ask around and take your time

Ask fellow bikers if you can try out their set ups or borrow their bikes

Pete

Would this http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-FSA-Gossamer-Crankset-BB30-170mm-36-46T-Bearings-/280939118801?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item416946c0d1 or something like it be what I'm looking for? FSA Gossamer, 46/36. I really don't know anything about bike components and I'm not looking forward to setting the shifter up for it at all, as I've never done anything like that before.