basscyclist thread picture thread

[elgecko]

Sweet! That's a Neuron, I think? I think you'll find that the newer geometry and 29" wheels does both climbing and descending better. That's how I felt when I left my 26" 2011 Tracer 2 for my 27.5" 2017 Troy. It wasn't subtle and things have progressed quite a bit since 17 too. Hopefully a new bike for me this year as well. Probably will be the fall before I move on it, though.

I rode this for a while a few weeks back. Bit of a departure for me bike-wise. It was hard to wheelie and bunnyhop.
Still fun though. Any guesses as to where this is? Hint: there are a lot commuter bikes around.

Yup, Neuron 6. It's a small so it has 27.5" wheels, but that's still a step up. It's not as slack or long as some modern bikes (67.5 HA) but I think it'll suit the type of riding I do. It's so different from my current bike with its tapered headtube, thru axles, internal cable routing, wide wheels, and 34mm fork. I couldn't say no to the price and I got a surprise brake upgrade from SRAM DB8s to Hayes Dominion A4! Maiden voyage is tomorrow!

BTW, you pic's not showing.

 

[Mark Reccord]

Yup, Neuron 6. It's a small so it has 27.5" wheels, but that's still a step up. It's not as slack or long as some modern bikes (67.5 HA) but I think it'll suit the type of riding I do. It's so different from my current bike with its tapered headtube, thru axles, internal cable routing, wide wheels, and 34mm fork. I couldn't say no to the price and I got a surprise brake upgrade from SRAM DB8s to Hayes Dominion A4! Maiden voyage is tomorrow!

BTW, you pic's not showing.

i think you're going to love it. It's definitely in the same vein as the 5.5 but a thoroughly modern take on it. That's sweet about the brakes and the 34 is an excellent fork platform. Enjoy the maiden voyage!

Hmm, try this:

My strava elevation profile showed from -4 to +2 metres...

 

[BassAgent]

Had some new carbon wheels fitted to my Cube. I think this bike is now finished. What a great looking (and riding) thing this has turned out to be.

 

[elgecko]

i think you're going to love it. It's definitely in the same vein as the 5.5 but a thoroughly modern take on it. That's sweet about the brakes and the 34 is an excellent fork platform. Enjoy the maiden voyage!

Hmm, try this:

My strava elevation profile showed from -4 to +2 metres...

Still no pic but I'll guess a Dutch bike in Amsterdam!

 

[elgecko]

NBD!

I finally got to take my new bike out! My Intense 5.5 was built in 2004 and even though I've modernized it with a 1x drivetrain and dropper, the difference is stark. The biggest difference was that it's no longer necessary to scooch up to the nose of the saddle and lean forward on steep climbs. It's so much easier to breathe when you're not all hunched over.

The other difference I noticed was how much longer it is. The way I could move forward/backward on the saddle made it almost feel like a banana seat! I'm still not sure how hard I can push it on the downhills but I did PR a technical singletrack. I also fell over on another section and had to ditch it, going through a mud hole. Good times!

 

[pie_man_25]

Still no pic but I'll guess a Dutch bike in Amsterdam!

I'm not seeing it either tbh. But I'm glad they're enjoying themself.

No rides for me recently, we've been getting hit with snowstorms - not terrible ones at all, mind you, but even if I'm going offroad I need to get there by a road, and drivers suck even when the roads don't. I'm not risking my neck, I'll just take my two bikes and set them up nice and get a few other DIY projects on the go.

 

[Mark Reccord]

NBD!

I finally got to take my new bike out! My Intense 5.5 was built in 2004 and even though I've modernized it with a 1x drivetrain and dropper, the difference is stark. The biggest difference was that it's no longer necessary to scooch up to the nose of the saddle and lean forward on steep climbs. It's so much easier to breathe when you're not all hunched over.

The other difference I noticed was how much longer it is. The way I could move forward/backward on the saddle made it almost feel like a banana seat! I'm still not sure how hard I can push it on the downhills but I did PR a technical singletrack. I also fell over on another section and had to ditch it, going through a mud hole. Good times!


View attachment 4989662 View attachment 4989669 View attachment 4989672

That's a major change in geo from the 5.5 for sure. Close to -3° on the HA from the stock 5.5 and close to +3° on the seat tube angle. The steep seat angles on the modern bikes bias your weight further forward than on the old ones which compensates for the slacker HAs and definitely improves climbing position. It also lines the hips up with the BB/crank axles which improves power transfer for climbing. It's interesting to note that this was facilitated by dropper posts because that steep seat tube angle/more forward position is, um, not great for descending. But drop the seat out of the way and all of a sudden you have a bike that is highly capable in both directions. I'm stoked for you!

In other news, I scored a set of studded 45NRTH Dillinger 5 fatbike tires last week. Been on the lookout for a set used because they are insanely expensive new (like $300CAD+15% sales tax per tire). I got the pair for $250, new enough that the little rubber things haven't been worn off yet. I rode with them on Saturday and they are a million times better than the non studded Bulldozers I had on there before.

I'm not seeing it either tbh. But I'm glad they're enjoying themself.

No rides for me recently, we've been getting hit with snowstorms - not terrible ones at all, mind you, but even if I'm going offroad I need to get there by a road, and drivers suck even when the roads don't. I'm not risking my neck, I'll just take my two bikes and set them up nice and get a few other DIY projects on the go.

I don't know what's going on. I've never had problems posting images before. Does this show up? If not, I give up.

But yes, @elgecko, bingo! I was floored at the bike and public transit options in NL. It's truly astonishing. And coming from a place where full size pickups make up more than 50% of all vehicles, not seeing a single one in 2 weeks NL was weird. Amsterdam was amazing, such a cool city.

 

[BassAgent]

I honestly think I know where this is hahahaha

 

[pie_man_25]

That's a major change in geo from the 5.5 for sure. Close to -3° on the HA from the stock 5.5 and close to +3° on the seat tube angle. The steep seat angles on the modern bikes bias your weight further forward than on the old ones which compensates for the slacker HAs and definitely improves climbing position. It also lines the hips up with the BB/crank axles which improves power transfer for climbing. It's interesting to note that this was facilitated by dropper posts because that steep seat tube angle/more forward position is, um, not great for descending. But drop the seat out of the way and all of a sudden you have a bike that is highly capable in both directions. I'm stoked for you!

In other news, I scored a set of studded 45NRTH Dillinger 5 fatbike tires last week. Been on the lookout for a set used because they are insanely expensive new (like $300CAD+15% sales tax per tire). I got the pair for $250, new enough that the little rubber things haven't been worn off yet. I rode with them on Saturday and they are a million times better than the non studded Bulldozers I had on there before.





I don't know what's going on. I've never had problems posting images before. Does this show up? If not, I give up.

But yes, @elgecko, bingo! I was floored at the bike and public transit options in NL. It's truly astonishing. And coming from a place where full size pickups make up more than 50% of all vehicles, not seeing a single one in 2 weeks NL was weird. Amsterdam was amazing, such a cool city.

View attachment 4989979

I see it now, looks great!

 

[fdeck]

Are my eyes deceiving me, or is that ... aluminum ... on a Dutch bike?

Actually, it's pretty cool that the traditional Dutch city bike has been thoroughly modernized while retaining its classic styling. Those things always look great.

I have the Americanized version of the same bike, i.e., same features but thrown together from parts that I could easily find here, and I appreciate the practicality.

 

[Mark Reccord]

I honestly think I know where this is hahahaha

I wouldn't be surprised if you did, think it's a fairly popular spot. I have to say I'm a bit smitten with the place and it looks like I will be back again next week. It's just amazing that there are separated bike lanes everywhere, even out on the back side of Schiphol and the number of people using bikes even in the winter. We have exactly one bike lane in my city and public transit is a joke.

You know, I didn't even notice the materials the bike was built with.

 

[Mark Reccord]

I also got some odd stares from the locals when I finally did manage to get it into a wheelie...

 

[BassAgent]

I wouldn't be surprised if you did, think it's a fairly popular spot. I have to say I'm a bit smitten with the place and it looks like I will be back again next week. It's just amazing that there are separated bike lanes everywhere, even out on the back side of Schiphol and the number of people using bikes even in the winter. We have exactly one bike lane in my city and public transit is a joke.

You know, I didn't even notice the materials the bike was built with.

Let me know if you need tips or a beer

 

[elgecko]

The beginning of Daylight Saving Time marks one full year of bike commuting for me. I was always afraid of riding home in the dark but tried it this past November and there was no problem with visibility. In fact, my Tron-level lighting made me more visible than in daylight. I would drive to work when it was raining but still managed to get dumped on a couple of times. I think I can call myself a real bike commuter now!

My commuter rig (1995 Specialized Rockhopper)

 

[Crawforde]

Congrats. I started commuting by bike just as Covid !it, but I’ve been working from home, or at an office on the other side of town ever since.
Hopefully one day I’ll get back to my “normal “ office and can ride regularly again. I really enjoyed it (the few times I did it).
I really like those 1990s specialized frames. I built one up for my daughter about 5 years ago and she loves it. I would like to find another for myself some day. I don’t need one, but it would fit in with my 1990 Haro Escape and my KHS frame of about the same age.

 

[pie_man_25]

The beginning of Daylight Saving Time marks one full year of bike commuting for me. I was always afraid of riding home in the dark but tried it this past November and there was no problem with visibility. In fact, my Tron-level lighting made me more visible than in daylight. I would drive to work when it was raining but still managed to get dumped on a couple of times. I think I can call myself a real bike commuter now!

My commuter rig (1995 Specialized Rockhopper)
View attachment 4998169

People really seem to like those old specialized bikes.

It's a pretty sweet ride tbh.

 

[Bob_Ross]

NBD for my wife! She just took delivery of this custom handmade titanium road bike by Carl Strong.

 

[pie_man_25]

So, this past week my girlfriend and I went to a resort in Cuba. She's wanted to get me into something like that since she's seen how I like to camp. It was a great stay, we got back into the Ottawa airport and through customs around 4am and got to the room we booked in the nearest hotel.

All week it was something like 30C... Or around 90F or so, and I slept about four hours before getting breakfast and driving us home and doing laundry when I realized that it was 5-10C outside... And therefore perfect for a ride.

I got this thing out onto some mud and shallow water and can say the following:

1) between this and the CCM - even with the same tier of wheels on (whatever was cheapest on marketplace at the time) this frame is much lighter, and feels faster and easier to ride - in ways I just don't understand. It's springy and twitchy and confident and makes me want to push myself harder and it makes me think I could sort out how to bunny hop;

2) I decided to keep this one 3x in the front and I'm realizing now that contemporary 1x systems have a cassette with 12 speeds that make up for the range you'd otherwise have with a 3x but with only needing one shifter. In more succinct words - I can see why taking the front derailleur off my 3x6 CCM was a stupid idea, because I wasn't just having the same range with one less derailleur, I was just cutting off a very good chunk of its range. Thankfully I've got that derailleur still.

3) honestly I could take or leave the trigger shifters and setting up the cantilever and U brake is more complicated than the Vs, but they all work well enough when they're set up properly.

I'm not saying that my commuter is bad, I still love that one too and I'm thinking that maybe I should put it on a trail again soon, but I think I can see why people spend the money.

Lastly - can you believe that these pictures are less than two miles from my place? I kinda just took a few turns into what looked interesting and found some loose trails with a bunch of roots and rocks and stuff. It was pretty cool trying to weave through everything.

 

[Hot Rats]

I was finally able to get out on the bike after fighting a nasty bug. It's been over a week and I was pecking. I thought I would just tool around and get some fresh air but ended up doing a good 8 miles. It felt great.

 

[pie_man_25]

Took my CCM for a ride today. Normally it's my commuter but it's still surprisingly capable.

There were parts where I walked the bike because this was a very narrow footpath just beside a sharp drop onto a bay off the St Lawrence - I'm okay with eating dirt, but I try to calculate some risks.