Does your bike just feel 'right'?

[Garlick]

Whenever I ride my bike it instantly relaxes me, does that make sense bearing on mind the effort you put into each ride?

I just switch off and focus on the ride, it all just seems to fit me and I settle in and feel like I could ride it all day. In fact I was only thinking earlier how I would be happy to just keep on riding - I had a similar feeling at the end of L2B too.

No real point to this post other than to say how nice it is when you find a bike that just seems to work for you. There are far better bikes than mine out there, but right now mine just seems perfect.

So, Swerni what about this 120 miler then?

[anonymous-user]

I thought exactly that this afternoon, as I drifted into a pothole and punctured my front.

Edited by el stovey on Tuesday 22 June 21:42

[ewenm]

My MTB always makes me smile and feels great to ride.

120 miler - Twickenham to Bath is about that. I'll meet you guys for the final few miles

[chrisga]

My enduro feels perfect to jump straight on. It's way better than i'll ever be, you can throw anything at it and it'll just bounce back laughing at you. But my road bike doest half feel twitchy after ive been on the enduro for the weekend!

[Nick_F]

swerni said:

well I'm in, it's a very unique event.
There aren't many night rides


http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/

definitely one to be ridden as a team

9pm start in the East end then through the night to Dunwich

Chum of mine did this a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it - sadly I'll be competing at Wiscombe that weekend.

[Dunk76]

Garlick discovers endorphins shocker.

But yes, I'm perfectly at ease when pedalling away once I've found my rhythm and breathing. Once I get second wind and my breathing changes I feel like I could pedal for ever.

[chrisga]

I usually find that after i've reached that I could pedal forever feeling I have about 5 minutes left before completely blowing up and not being able to pedal anymore. I have to do something about it then or its too late. Anyone else get that or am I just weird?

[Garlick]

Oh absolutely.

I read all the bike mags and drool as I do with car mags. I also look in bike shops and dream...bit like loving my Chimaera but still looking at Sags.

However, after a few months of adjusting this, moving that and replacing the other I seem to have made something that seems to fit me very well indeed.

I'll change it one day for sure, but for now it's awesome.

[Nick_F]

Measure where everything is and write it down.

[Mr Will]

This thread has got me wondering now. The (much laughed at) bike which I took on the L2B last week is the only bike I've owned or seriously ridden in the past 10 years.

As such, it feels exactly how I expect it to feel, but does that mean that it feels right? When (hopefully in the very near future) I get a newer, better bike, will it still be a faithful old friend, or will it make me realise how poor it really is?

[Justayellowbadge]

Will, I come through your neck of the woods (well Hampton Court) most days if you fancy meeting up and giving the road bike some stick by way of comparison?

[Mr Will]

Justayellowbadge said:

Will, I come through your neck of the woods (well Hampton Court) most days if you fancy meeting up and giving the road bike some stick by way of comparison?

That's very kind offer and it'll be good to see you. I'll drop you an email in the next couple of days to arrange.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Mr Will said:

This thread has got me wondering now. The (much laughed at) bike which I took on the L2B last week is the only bike I've owned or seriously ridden in the past 10 years.

As such, it feels exactly how I expect it to feel, but does that mean that it feels right? When (hopefully in the very near future) I get a newer, better bike, will it still be a faithful old friend, or will it make me realise how poor it really is?

I feel the same, my roadie is about 18 years old, so it just feels...old! It's tatty too, but sometimes just swinging your leg over and pulling away, you get into the "right" feeling.

A friend has a fancy Giant alu/carbon road bike, which always frightens me at first, very hard to ride unless you stay in the seat.

[DrMekon]

Mine feels great, but it's taken a lot of tweaking - changed stem for increased length and height, moved the saddle back, raised the saddle, moved the cleats about. I haven't touched anything for about a month, and but that's probably the longest I've gone in 10 month ownership. This friday will be a good test - doing a 130 mile ride with a couple of mates.

Shared part of the route here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...

[Eddw86]

swerni said:

well I'm in, it's a very unique event.
There aren't many night rides


http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/

definitely one to be ridden as a team

9pm start in the East end then through the night to Dunwich

That sounds fantastic, a bit too early for me - only just started biking the 12mile round trip to work. Maybe next year.

Dunwich is a perfect place to end also, picturesque and ever so charming.

[TheDetailDoctor]

I think I'm nearly there with mine. Despite REALLY wanting Pace RC36 Stealths on whilst building, I'm a little dissapointed as the front is a little vague, with them locked out it's quite a bit better, just a little heavy at the front. Also needs some bars ends to rest on whilst on the road.

I'm hoping the impending arrival of a set of rigid carbon forks (740g) & some carbon bar ends will make the bike perfect.

[Dunk76]

You're putting rigid carbon forks on the front of your MTB?

Let us know the difference, I'm looking to take that plunge soon

[TheDetailDoctor]

Dunk76 said:

You're putting rigid carbon forks on the front of your MTB?

Let us know the difference, I'm looking to take that plunge soon

Yep, after much research decided on the Exotic forks from Carbon Cycles, these ones here - http://info.carboncycles.cc/index.php?s=0&t=2&...

As I was typing this a phone call came in from the lovely receptionist, the forks have turned up & initial impressions are very good. They look well made, the finish is superb, an they weigh 742g with the uncut steerer.

Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Thursday 24th June 09:32

[Wildfire]

I used ride a lot as a young 'un. Then discovered, girls, cars and beer, then Uni and riding went out of the window.

Got a All Mountain Felt Compulsion last year on the C4W scheme, and had loads of fun on it until the winter when other things got in the way of getting out.

I've just respecced my 13 year old Univega, with some road tyres and been riding that a lot on the road in training for a charity ride.

I have to say despite the now rigid forks, I do have so much fun riding. Once I get my fitness up I'd really like to join a group or club.

[TheDetailDoctor]

Dunk76 said:

You're putting rigid carbon forks on the front of your MTB?

Let us know the difference, I'm looking to take that plunge soon

OK Dunk, got the forks on last night.

1st thing, before you even think about trying to fit then, get an expander type star nut if you have the carbon steerer as the old fasioned star fangled nut will damage the carbon tube. I bought this one as I only the guts due to me already having a carbon top cap - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

The rid on the carbon forks is really direct, you feel directly attached to the front wheel, there's not to much buzz through the bars either, this could be partly due to me also having carbon bars stem. The biggest thing I noticed was the steering though, the front wheel really does exactly as you ask, immediately.

All in, I feel it's an improvement over the Pace RC36 Stealth suspension forks I had on before, even after some light off roading, although don't expect to be attacking tecnical trails quite as fast as you would have with suspension, more skill is required to pick a route through the rough stuff.