The last ride I did four days ago. It's a 17 mile loop that starts at my door, that's about 10 miles into it. 17 miles of unadulterated sanity, I never tire of it.
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basscyclist thread picture thread
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We are in shoulder season hell. Snow's too soft to ride on but not melted yet. I'd say we will be a month late for the beginning of dirt season. In the meantime, I learned how to service my fork and shock (including the dampers) and overhauled them and I just got a new Raceface rear wheel for 50% off at Jenson USA.
Taking your own time to do your own work has a lot of job satisfaction, it's you who have to trust it after all. My local bike tech quit about two years ago so I've had to do a lot of homework since then. I've yet to strip a fork though, but rest assured, it will be coming sometime. What an experience it was trying to get the bottom bracket out of that GT, the original that had been in there about 17 years. I had to bolt the drive socket into the B/B, put a wrench on it, put a large extension bar on that and then walk the bar until there was a big creak... that was after trying an impact driver. I didn't think I'd get it out but I was glad when it just screwed out, without any other bits with it thankfully. Remembering it is a reverse thread too.
Absolutely. I've been doing all of my own wrenching on everything but suspension for ages now but was always a bit scared to get into those bits. But luckily there is tons of good information on the net about it, especially for modern Rockshox stuff. In fact, the SRAM tech videos and tech manuals are quite excellent. You just need a few specialized tools (like non-chamfered sockets and seal presses) and you can even DIY some of those. I bought the Park Tool sockets for my fork but could have easily ground the chamfer off regular 24 and 30mm ones. I also pressed my seals in with a piece of 1.5" PVC pipe after I froze them (makes them easier to get in). Sounds like a fun time getting that BB off.
Oddly enough, I was just talking to a friend who just destroyed a crank trying to get a seized pedal off it. Lots BBs are press fit now, but I think they're having issues with creaking so threaded ones are trending back into style again.Absolutely. I've been doing all of my own wrenching on everything but suspension for ages now but was always a bit scared to get into those bits. But luckily there is tons of good information on the net about it, especially for modern Rockshox stuff. In fact, the SRAM tech videos and tech manuals are quite excellent. You just need a few specialized tools (like non-chamfered sockets and seal presses) and you can even DIY some of those. I bought the Park Tool sockets for my fork but could have easily ground the chamfer off regular 24 and 30mm ones. I also pressed my seals in with a piece of 1.5" PVC pipe after I froze them (makes them easier to get in). Sounds like a fun time getting that BB off.
I like the Park Tools vids, a couple of others too. I had to make a couple of tools to change the fork out, a cup remover and a crown setter. Easy enough to do, very simple but do a good job. I fitted an external BB, it makes a lot more sense. The Truvativ BB and cranks were originally fitted new to a line of bikes, then the bike manufacturer must have changed to another BB manufacturer so had them all removed. Fitted and taken back off again, they were a good deal, just one or two fitting marks. Nice positive feel and pickup.
I worked in a bike shop a couple of lifes ago , lots of clients came in and f-Up their left pedal/crank not knowing it was reverse threaded
Something I do for seized BB is use a Quick release with big washers to hold the tool in place , so you can tork it hard without destroying the tool or BB .
And lots of WD40.....
Dirt, finally...
Trail system nearest the coast is finally snow-free. A lot of it had to be shoveled. The more inland/higher elevation/heavily wooded trails are still at least partially snow-covered.
Trail system nearest the coast is finally snow-free. A lot of it had to be shoveled. The more inland/higher elevation/heavily wooded trails are still at least partially snow-covered.
This was a ride I decided I'd do on the spur of the moment one evening a few months ago. I remember it because I'd underestimated the distance, it was around 36 miles all around. And it started to pour down on the way back.
The Trail Smurf about to dirty up its brand new 10mm shorter stem, 130mm longer bars, and 1x12 drivetrain. My new granny is 6% grannier and it felt like I had wings!
The Soccer Ball looming above the horizon.
Blackstar Canyon was more crowded than I've ever seen it, which wasn't surprising given that it's Memorial Day weekend but a little bit surprising given the current circumstances.
The Soccer Ball looming above the horizon.
Blackstar Canyon was more crowded than I've ever seen it, which wasn't surprising given that it's Memorial Day weekend but a little bit surprising given the current circumstances.
Anyone who's driven from SoCal to Las Vegas has gone right past this hulking ridge that that drops from Cucamonga Peak (8,862') to the valley floor. The view from this end of the San Gabriel Mountains are outrageous! San Sevaine Flats Road climbs this ridge for 12 miles and I finally got a chance to ride it yesterday.
Unfortunately for me, the weather didn't cooperate so instead of 12 miles of these kinds of views:
I climbed up into the clouds and my ride looked more like this:
The road started getting sandy at 7 miles and by mile 8 deteriorated into sustained, unconsolidated baby heads. I pushed the Trail Smurf for another half mile but eventually reached a point of diminishing returns, turned around, then proceeded to embark on an epic downhill run.
Unfortunately for me, the weather didn't cooperate so instead of 12 miles of these kinds of views:
I climbed up into the clouds and my ride looked more like this:
The road started getting sandy at 7 miles and by mile 8 deteriorated into sustained, unconsolidated baby heads. I pushed the Trail Smurf for another half mile but eventually reached a point of diminishing returns, turned around, then proceeded to embark on an epic downhill run.
That has some nice open views, worth the battle old boy. What do you use for the trails? I look up wild trails using google earth to get off the beaten path for a while. The only problem is, like yours there, is that you don't have much of of idea of the terrain you'll be riding. I've had to swing back around a couple of times because they became unrideable. At least you got rewarded there though, mine have usually been a defeated slog back without going much of anywhere. Saying that, any time in the saddle isn't really time wasted.
Yup. Google Earth is where it's at. This one was a riot!
That's a stunning climb, what a day of it. No Trampe?
Trampe bicycle lift - Wikipedia
A stonking ride no less.
"Happiness is never grand..."
That's a stunning climb, what a day of it. No Trampe?
Trampe bicycle lift - Wikipedia
A stonking ride no less.
"Happiness is never grand..."
LOL! It would be a most disagreeable climb.
Good lord, I think I would die if I had to do that climb. I rode up Mount Seymour in North Vancouver (i.e. the North Shore). 3400' over 6 miles on pavement and I was just about dead when I got to the top. It was on an old school freeride bike (40-ish lbs, slack and squishy). The locals, on similar bikes rode past us like we were stopped. Shaggers. We went back to Whistler for chairlift climing the next day...
Here's a video of some of our local descents (not me riding). The gnar, we haz it. Go-Pro effect is large. Some of those chutes are way steeper than they seem.
Here's a video of some of our local descents (not me riding). The gnar, we haz it. Go-Pro effect is large. Some of those chutes are way steeper than they seem.
A massive Trek! Circumnavigating Lake Tahoe.
Along the Nevada side where some nice homes (not mine) look over a beach!
Eight plus hours, 89 solo miles starting and ending at Squaw Valley with the high point at Spooner Summit around 7200'. The rip down to the lake was the biz!. The last 20 miles or so through the California side were not so fun; pretty much no services.
Along the Nevada side where some nice homes (not mine) look over a beach!
Eight plus hours, 89 solo miles starting and ending at Squaw Valley with the high point at Spooner Summit around 7200'. The rip down to the lake was the biz!. The last 20 miles or so through the California side were not so fun; pretty much no services.
I just got this bike from a friend and it's been sitting on the side of her house for decades. It was her moms and she said "take it, it's yours". So I did. I think think all it'll need is new tires and tubes and some lubrication. The brakes work and it shifts fine. It's totally original. It's even got a Mickey Mouse bell.
It's a Sears Roebuck "Ted Williams" Free Spirit most likely from the 60's, but could be early '71 or '72. Made in Austria.
It's a Sears Roebuck "Ted Williams" Free Spirit most likely from the 60's, but could be early '71 or '72. Made in Austria.
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