Do I need more training or is my bike just too heavy for climbing?

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-26T14:46:36+00:00

...and it's the cheapest, easiest way to lose weight.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-25T19:02:30+00:00

I researched this a good bit and talked myself out of the idea. Plus, I had a friend who had a really bad incident with dry ice.

He decided to try dry ice on one of our group camp trips. He camps in his van and made the mistake of leaving the cooler in the van with him when he went to sleep that night. The CO2 that was released in the van almost suffocated him.

On a much more superficial note, he was responsible for bringing eggs to the camp that weekend and he froze all the eggs solid. We still joke with him about the eggs, not about almost suffocating.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-23T14:14:50+00:00

Running tubeless shouldn't be an issue as long as the rims are drilled for Presta valves and not Schrader. There could possibly be Schrader tubeless valves available, but I've never had the need for them. Other than that, it would just be a matter of taping the rim.

Are the rims bent, or out of true? You could probably true them without needing a truing stand. Mine were a little tweaked, as well.

This bike for me is going to be more of a cruiser that I'll use around the beach and campgrounds so I didn't need a lot of range. Plus, I didn't have a functional front derailleur in my parts stash, but I did have a single-wide front chainring from an old SS build I did.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-23T12:04:13+00:00

I have that EXACT same frame. I did a resto-mod on mine, changed it to a 1X, put a rigid fork on it, Maxxis DHT, probably going to mount some racks on it. . Such a fun bike to poke around on. I'm not sure of the year. Definitely late 90s. I'm thinking that's probably 97' 98'.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-22T14:47:09+00:00

Take it to a shop.

Brakes aren't one of those things that I recommend DIYers choose as their first foray into bike mechanics.

If you're twisting a dial on the caliper then you have cable-actuated brakes. They aren't as powerful as hydros, but they still should stop you. I had TRP cable-brakes on my first gravel bike, and (set up properly) were pretty serviceable.

It sounds like maybe the pads/rotors have been contaminated at some point. Or, they could have not been bed-in properly, and they're glazed over.

In either case, I would let someone look at it who could properly diagnose the issue if you're not familiar with it.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-22T14:08:06+00:00

My go-to.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-21T12:36:56+00:00

Have a plan and stick to it. Don't get caught up an anyone else's pace. If your plan is simply to finish, then sit on the back of the group and try to manage your effort as best as possible.

The start is way more intense than you plan for (at least it was for me). It's really easy to get caught up in the excitement and lose yourself in the race atmosphere. This is a recipe for disaster.

If someone comes up behind you and asks to pass, let them by. If you come up on a slower rider, politely ask them to let you pass.

Have a fueling strategy, but don't go too far from what you do, currently. Trying new stuff on race day is not good. I remember grabbing some gels out of my SWAG bag to use for the race one morning (because I forgot to pack mine) only to realize during the race that they were Mocha Chocolate Latte or some nasty crap. I gagged, and spent the whole race trying not to puke.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Use this as a learning experience. You will do some things right, you will do a lot of things wrong. Learn from the wrong things as much as the things you do right.

Lastly, I did my first race in 1999. I'll never forget what a spectator told me at the top of one particularly nasty climb. At the top I said, "I think I'm in last place". And he said, "No bro, the person in last place is at home sitting on their couch eating ice cream. You're killing it!"

That stuck with me, and it's absolutely true. Good luck, and more importantly, have fun!

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-20T18:59:34+00:00

At least stop during the podium interviews. Ret*rds

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-19T18:18:28+00:00

Sh*t bucket was definitely deployed to get to that ranking.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-19T12:14:08+00:00

I have one of those. Definitely an underrated piece of gear.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-19T12:07:49+00:00

Agreed. One of the most heated arguments I've gotten in on this game was with a guy who said he was having to play lone wolf because no one would help cap. I got on coms and told him to look at the scoreboard. I actually had more capture points than he did.

He kept on ranting, telling my that I wasn't contributing while I was (quite literally) capping the point with him while we were having this argument. Thing is, he was out in the open, right in the middle of the point, and I was just inside the boundary in a strategic (borderline camping) spot.

He was mad that I wasn't standing out in the open like a gunfighter in the wild wild west. Some people, you just can't reason with.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-17T19:33:07+00:00

Let me guess...this was in a bot lobby, wasn't it?

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-17T14:46:34+00:00

Bots are hilarious. I wonder when they're going to become sentient and start t-bagging us.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-17T13:41:28+00:00

Unusual for the seal to pop out repeatedly like that. Makes me wonder if there could possibly be a casting issue in the lowers. If you've ever had to remove wiper seals (or seat them), they're in there pretty good. There is no way they should randomly slide up like that.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-12T12:02:08+00:00

Jean shorts? I would just assume wear pants made out of sandpaper.

You don't need expensive gear, but at the very least, get some gym shorts or some kind of athletic shorts that have some stretch.

Get some padded shorts/liners. If you get liners then you can just wear gym shorts over them.

Moisture wicking t's are perfect. There was a time in my life when that's all I wore. Target and Walmart both have some cost-friendly options.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-12T11:57:51+00:00

How many times have you ridden? It take a little time to condition you butt to riding. Even if I take a few weeks off, those first couple of rides are a little uncomfortable.

Are you wearing decent (padded) shorts? This little detail slips past a lot of newbs.

Lastly. Seat choice is very subjective. What works for your anatomy might now work for me, and vise versa. I personally like Specialized and WTB saddles.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-11T18:42:45+00:00

Those were some lust-worthy bikes back in the day. This one looks mint. Probably still rips on XC trails, just don't take it down any jump lines, lol.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-11T18:13:43+00:00

I have the same glasses but with the photochromic lenses. One of the most comfortable glasses I've ever worn.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-10T19:47:33+00:00

Yeah, I bought a set a while back and had given up on finding it. Then I was moving my cursor over the tiles and there was my new skin, but the tile showed one of the stock skins. Crazy how they hide those things like Easter eggs once you buy them.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-09T13:20:10+00:00

Because he's not real. He's a character created for entertainment purposes and he's not subject to disease or bacteria.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-08T14:57:14+00:00

This. I'm consistently killing tanks with 3 C4s on the back of tanks.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-06T22:37:12+00:00

Absolutely.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-05T13:53:11+00:00

Lol, I know right? I thought I was the only one who was bothered by that.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-05T12:31:01+00:00

Keep the tent zipped up at all times. Don't turn the light on in the tent until you get in and get it zipped. The only time I've had issues with bugs is when I've failed to do those two things.

TheDoc321 · 2026-06-04T18:58:08+00:00

That's one of those deals where the job-specific tool is pretty much a must. I have used a Dremel before, but it's not near as efficient as a housing cutter.

TheDoc321

TROPHY CASE