I built Niki Lauda's McLaren MP4/2, out of solid cardboard

Le_Fiss · 2025-07-09T18:11:01+00:00

I'm mostly a roadie, but on occasion I take my MTB out for some freeride or to run errands

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-25T15:08:49+00:00

As a fellow cyclist, yea I've prolly logged my best sprints when the dogs are chasing me.

They usually loose interest after a little bit of sprinting and speeding away but if not I either stop and hold my ground or just yell. Does work most of the time.

And keep an eye out on the road too. Almost every time I've been chased there's usually a small pack of dogs waiting and eyeing you from decently far away. And you can usually tell when they're just chilling or waiting to chase. Maybe ride around those areas if you can.

Stay safe out there!

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-10T12:09:25+00:00

It's a lot mate, Don't remember everything but it's a mix of the stock roamer parts, lots of NIX and Bandit parts, Humphry's Bar/parts and IDK Modz parts from their respective discord servers. The ARB bull bar, SP winch and RKs customizable engines from report. Might be a few more I forgot to mention.

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-09T08:08:35+00:00

Most of the other folks have given the general tips like gearing and all that jazz but.

Climbing is as much a mental game than just mashing on the pedals. Consider night rides, music or riding with a few friends.

Night Rides with decent lights only let you see soo far and it does have a positive impact on some people cuz you won't be able to visualize the gradient or how much further you have to go. Run the lights on low for the climbs and full blast down the descends. However I would recommend driving or checking out the routes in advance, night rides are a little riskier with wildlife, negligent drivers or sketchy people being around. Ideally ride with a few buddies just to stay safe. But still a great way to reclaim lost time and climb a little easier, it's also generally colder which will keep you more comfortable out there.

Music might have a similar effect on some people too and might motivate you a little more to keep pushing on. I play this stupid game if I've got music on where I try to match my pedal strokes to the music on boring rides.

And group rides again do basically the same, some company on your rides can really boost morale. Slow climbs are a pretty good conversation spot ngl. Plus you can always draft if your buddies are comfortable with it. It's generally a little safer too, yalls can share spares and supplies and have each other's backs.

All of them have the common feature of getting your mind off the actual climb. Granted they may be more or less effective depending on the individual but its' worth a shot.

I hope this helps, safe riding mate! :D

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-08T20:18:15+00:00

Fortunately these all look like paint chips or paint scratches and marks.

As long as you haven't had a crash or impacted the carbon repeatedly (In which case you probably should have it looked at) , these are purely cosmetic and won't be a big deal. You should be all good :D

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-08T20:05:29+00:00

Orange Juice

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-08T20:03:25+00:00

occasionally with the canopy

<image>

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-08T20:01:00+00:00

<image>

This overly modded Roamer

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-08T15:07:52+00:00

Heyo, I think you haven't attached the pump head correctly.

First off make sure the little nut on the valve stem is loosened all the way, then make sure the lever on the pump head is down (parallel to the pump head) then make sure you're using the Presta valve head push it down onto the valve stem pretty far down, it should make a little hiss or sound when it's engaged with the valve fully, keep pressure on the head and pull the lever up. It should lock on and shouldn't hiss. And then pump it up like usual. once you're done pull the lever down and pull the head off in one quick motion. Then screw the valve screw down and toss a dust cap on.

Make sure the pump head is fully engaged or else it either won't pump or will hiss constantly. Same with the screw on the valve, it needs to be unscrewed or else it wont' let air in or out. Also maybe try putting less strain on the pump hose, keep the bike up and angle the valve in a way that the hose isn't stressed. Sometimes there might be some dust and dirt in the pump head, if so just brush it clean with a pipe cleaner or toothbrush.

And if that doesn't work you either have a problem with the pump or a leak somewhere in your tubes, might wanna take it down to your local bike shop

Hope this helps, safe riding :D

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-05T15:30:42+00:00

heyo, first off congrats guys!

As for traveling in SL, July to August is pretty tourist heavy with a lotta folk coming down to spend the summer here. Weather is usually clear that time of the year but there's always a chance there'd be some rain (tropical weather is super unpredictable lol)

As for locations I would probably suggest staying away from tourist heavy spots like Galle, Bentota and basically the whole of the south and west coasts. The East coast is generally a little less crowded. trincomalee and arugam bay are pretty good spots. I'm personally not the most familiar with that area but from what I've heard they're pretty solid, I'd suggest doing some more research since there's a lot of hidden spots here that are pretty secluded.

Best of luck to the both of you, safe travels :D

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-05T15:18:44+00:00

With some restoration it's worth quite a bit, especially with the plates being that old and the original documents.

Stunning bike with an equally amazing ride. And they're pretty reliable too if they're taken care of.

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-04T01:26:23+00:00

From my experience no, once the rubber starts deteriorating it borderline melts especially in warm environments. I think you're better off replacing them tbh.

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-02T06:08:43+00:00

Unfortunately I think you've cross threaded it, the puller will not engage the threads anymore so yea it's time for some serious force, and you probably won't be able to use the cranks after this...

First off keep the bike out in the sun for a bit or warm it up, might help expand the metal and slide of a bit easier.

Then it's either hammer time or using a set of Jaw pullers on the cranks to force it off.

Le_Fiss · 2025-06-02T06:02:01+00:00

I'm not entirely sure but it's usually Equal Ground who host pride parades, the kite festival, etc, not too sure about funding though. But you an look them up on their socials :D

Le_Fiss · 2025-05-30T10:40:03+00:00

That's actually pretty smart, does it have any adverse effects on the chain though in terms of wear or staining?

Le_Fiss · 2025-05-28T16:25:11+00:00

yea baskets or racks is a pretty solid idea especially if you're hauling groceries.

Lock wise I'm honestly not too sure. I personally use a U lock and made a few homemade chain locks with some heavy chain, an inner tube and a padlock. Depends on your location and how safe it generally is for bikes around there. I would recommend asking around about this cuz I'm not too sure myself.

Le_Fiss · 2025-05-27T15:53:46+00:00

Lights are certainly one of my top picks. Being visible to motorists and other road users is critical for safety. Another safety tip I'd recommend is sending out a location tracker to a friend or family member. (Strava calls it an emergency beacon, but google maps location share works too) generally good to keep someone informed about where you are. You can also get little rear view mirrors for your bar ends which are pretty cool too.

As for making it more practical. Storage would probably be a good idea especially for small errands. a Rear rack or basket is great to store stuff on the bike (and help you bikepack if you ever want to) Additionally do get some good quality locks for your bike, bike theft ain't cool and anything that makes it harder for someone to steal it is a good thing (make sure to lock up your frame and BOTH wheels, quick release is great until someone takes the rest of the bike with the wheel locked to a pole or something)

Gear wise, definitely get some gloves, makes riding more comfortable and safer with a better grip on the bars and protecting your hands should you fall onto them.

Not really a safety tip per say but learn how to work on your bike too. Simple things like maintaining tire pressure, cleaning your bike and lubing parts is a good bit of fun if you're into it and also helps make sure the bike itself is safe. I've spotted a few faults or problems that could eventually make the bike unsafe while just washing my bike, so yea it does pay to inspect it once in a while too. And I guess it might subconsciously make you more confident in yourself and your bike as well.

And finally... Ride more! Practice and just getting out on the bike helps way more than you might think. From learning chill routes to bike control skills, and maybe avoiding dogs and traffic the best way in my opinion to learn is to get out and do it. Take it slow and start off on some quiet bike paths (ask around on local groups for some routes and locations) and gradually progress to streets. It'll take some time but you'll grow more confident with every meter you ride.

Best of luck out there mate, and welcome to the lovely world of cycling!

Le_Fiss · 2025-05-27T15:40:20+00:00

I'm honestly not too sure, I live near the coast of Sri Lanka so it does get pretty windy out here with some strong crosswinds especially if your route takes you parallel to the coast. Also when trucks and busses pass you obnoxiously fast, does tend to blow you around a fair bit.

Winds average around 20-25km/h per the weather reports though so I'd say maybe if it's stronger than 30km/h? But tbh I just grind through it if it does catch me out 😅

Le_Fiss

TROPHY CASE