The "Show off your bike" thread! (Vol 2)

[FamousPheasant]

WhisperingWasp said:

Oh she’s a beaut. Might just leave it here and not ride…

That's lovely. Congratulations.

[lauda]

An early ride and then the rest of the morning cleaning the bikes. Both chain off and one missing a cassette but they’re both spotless now and ready for spring.

[Craikeybaby]

I think I can justify another post in here, as this is a new frame/wheels built up with old parts suspension/brakes etc.

[Tim O]

I've never really done much mountain biking but a mate is pushing me to join him on some rides in Wales so needed a bike. Wasn't looking to spend a fortune but very pleased with this. Very little used and in immaculate condition, 2020 Scott Scale 920. Not sure I need a dropper post (BikeYoke Divine SL) but never say never!

[Barchettaman]

I’ve ended up using this Tern 7-speed folder loads more than anticipated, so have pimped it a bit with an AliExpress Novatec wheelset, some skinnier Continental tyres, a 9-speed drivetrain and some fancy Ergo grips (not pictured).

It rides really nicely. Extending the stem helped the handling, turning it from a nasty twitchy thing into what feels like a standard city/hybrid bike.



Great fun for travelling around and combining modes of transport.

[JayRidesBikes]

My new tarmac.

[GravelBen]

Tim O said:

I've never really done much mountain biking but a mate is pushing me to join him on some rides in Wales so needed a bike. Wasn't looking to spend a fortune but very pleased with this. Very little used and in immaculate condition, 2020 Scott Scale 920. Not sure I need a dropper post (BikeYoke Divine SL) but never say never!

Nice one, enjoy!

Lots of people don't think they need a dropper post until they try one, they transform mountainbiking once you get in the habit of using it.

[defblade]

Tim O said:

I've never really done much mountain biking but a mate is pushing me to join him on some rides in Wales so needed a bike. Wasn't looking to spend a fortune but very pleased with this. Very little used and in immaculate condition, 2020 Scott Scale 920. Not sure I need a dropper post (BikeYoke Divine SL) but never say never!

Despite have only recently started mtbing, I'd say a dropper post is a wonderful thing, makes a massive difference on any sort of mixed riding. If you're on nothing but downhill, moving your saddle down at the top and putting it back up after is a bit of a faff but ok; otherwise on any sort of rolling it's great to be able to drop it for every downhill section, but instantly have support back for the little climbs.

[GravelBen]

defblade said:

Despite have only recently started mtbing, I'd say a dropper post is a wonderful thing, makes a massive difference on any sort of mixed riding. If you're on nothing but downhill, moving your saddle down at the top and putting it back up after is a bit of a faff but ok; otherwise on any sort of rolling it's great to be able to drop it for every downhill section, but instantly have support back for the little climbs.

Not just downhills either - it can be helpful to lower the seat a little for technical climbs too, or drop it out of the way to help lean the bike beneath you when cornering.

[Craikeybaby]

Or even stopping at the traffic lights.

[bobbo89]

Droppers are a must IMO, once you've ridden with one you can't imagine being without one, to the point that it'd put me off going for a ride if I didn't have one...

[GCH]

bobbo89 said:

Droppers are a must IMO, once you've ridden with one you can't imagine being without one, to the point that it'd put me off going for a ride if I didn't have one...

Coming back to the sport after many years, I was totally skeptical...didn't get one, didn't think I needed it. After all, I had a QR on the seatpost, and it's quick enough to lower, so why complicate things.
Tried a dropper on a friends bike, loved it, fitted one the next week. Game changer.

[Shinysideup]

The Specialized mechanical droppers should come with a warning.

The return springs are very strong, as i found out while standing over the bike

[sociopath]

Out yesterday, only had one "try to kill me" moment when some silly bint pulled out of a side road without looking, and then after waving and apologising, proceeded to do the same to my friends who were (unbeknownst to me) riding the same route 30 seconds behind.

This is at Walk Mill just outside Chester, lunch break time.

Bike started jumping cogs after the lunch break, so had to stop off at LBS on way home to buy a new chain and cassette. They've not got any cheaper have they!

[GCH]

Peak cherry blossom season...

[yellowjack]

GCH said:

bobbo89 said:

Droppers are a must IMO, once you've ridden with one you can't imagine being without one, to the point that it'd put me off going for a ride if I didn't have one...

Coming back to the sport after many years, I was totally skeptical...didn't get one, didn't think I needed it. After all, I had a QR on the seatpost, and it's quick enough to lower, so why complicate things.
Tried a dropper on a friends bike, loved it, fitted one the next week. Game changer.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only rider still without a dropper post. I've never tried one, and I'm avoiding doing so to keep myself from temptation. I figure I've managed without one for 30 years, give or take, so why would I need one now? Partly it's the expense.

Although expense, and unnecessary expense at that, hasn't stopped me from putting some Hope orange anodised disc rotors into my Wiggle "shopping cart". @GCH - I saw your 'TED talk' on the bike parts thread and was quite surprised to see how big you'd gone with your rotors. My "upgrade" is only going to take me from 160/160mm to 180/160mm, IF I go ahead and order them. I've already got the adaptor bridge, which came with a set of hydraulic brakes I bought years ago. I can't imagine myself going fast enough, or downhill enough to warrant going any bigger. My issue is with replacing parts that have not yet failed or worn out. And orange rotors (to match frame highlights) seems quite extravagant to me...

[Craikeybaby]

Knowing what Hope prices are like, it wouldn't surprise me if you could get a BrandX dropper post for not much more than a pair of Hope brake discs...

[yellowjack]

Craikeybaby said:

Knowing what Hope prices are like, it wouldn't surprise me if you could get a BrandX dropper post for not much more than a pair of Hope brake discs...

Yeah, but "orange, dude"??? But I might look into a dropper post ahead of "bike tart" sideways "upgrades". I'm sure it would make more sense to spend money there instead of replacing rotors which are perfectly serviceable still.

Then off to Halfords for a tin of rattle-can orange paint and some masking tape...

[GCH]

yellowjack said:

Although expense, and unnecessary expense at that, hasn't stopped me from putting some Hope orange anodised disc rotors into my Wiggle "shopping cart". @GCH - I saw your 'TED talk' on the bike parts thread and was quite surprised to see how big you'd gone with your rotors. My "upgrade" is only going to take me from 160/160mm to 180/160mm, IF I go ahead and order them. I've already got the adaptor bridge, which came with a set of hydraulic brakes I bought years ago. I can't imagine myself going fast enough, or downhill enough to warrant going any bigger. My issue is with replacing parts that have not yet failed or worn out. And orange rotors (to match frame highlights) seems quite extravagant to me...

It’s not about going fast enough as such…as I can cope with 180/180 on super fast flows at the big mountain bike parks I go to, but it’s more a case of less fatigue and more efficiency. Bigger rotors = more rotational torque and the same braking power for significantly less finger effort, plus less heat, less wear (man maths), less fade (not that I ever really got fade before).
It all adds up, and I view it as the same principal as a car - to go faster you need to stop faster.
This all came about because I was upgrading the fork, and using the opportunity to overhaul the brakes, as I’d need new mounting brackets anyway, and the pads needed replacing.
I was originally going to do just a shimano 203 on the front and leave the rears alone and call it a day… but the hope 203 on sale was less money than a shimano 203, then I noticed the hope 220 was even less than the hope 203…and then of course the back wouldn’t match, so had to get one of those too.
Usual slippery slope of spec creep and man maths plus shiny shiny

Craikeybaby said:

Knowing what Hope prices are like, it wouldn't surprise me if you could get a BrandX dropper post for not much more than a pair of Hope brake discs...

Haha, probably not far off. They were on sale at chain reaction earlier this year for £40 (220) and £45 (203). Both cheaper than the Hope 180 bizarrely. As upgrades go I’ve got a pretty effective one for a decent price I think.

[GravelBen]

yellowjack said:

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only rider still without a dropper post. I've never tried one, and I'm avoiding doing so to keep myself from temptation. I figure I've managed without one for 30 years, give or take, so why would I need one now?
...

Modern MTB geometry is very much designed around droppers now, so if you buy a new bike you might feel more like you need one.

The steep seat tube angles common now give a great body position for steep climbing (and balance the longer reach), but without being able to drop the seat its much more awkwardly in the way for descending.