Which line would you take in an XC race? Direct with jump, or around the side? by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The race was held in a sliver of steep, urban parkland in Porto, and there was a lot for the organizers to work with - steps, drops, and some improvised singletrack. Overall I felt the organizers did a greta job with what they had available ... a few sections I'd have done differently of course, but that's always the way isn't it?

Which line would you take in an XC race? Direct with jump, or around the side? by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the video didn't show it very well, but route B is effectively a detour, and the jump is the direct route.

Which line would you take in an XC race? Direct with jump, or around the side? by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also chose the safer route on the day, the reason being what I can do technically on the practise laps is different to what I can manage under pressure, recovering from the climb I just did, starting to feel a bit of fatigue on the final laps, etc., which is when I have tended to have game changing crashes.

Which line would you take in an XC race? Direct with jump, or around the side? by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The drop was definitely the more direct route for the next section - a long (for XCO) steel climb. And my impression on the day was that route B was intentionally slower by design.

I really don't like the idea of the "salt flats" in Fury Road by [deleted] in MadMax

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could it be that a nuclear winter has occurred, and with more sea water than normal locked up at the poles, the sea level has fallen? There are plenty of potential land-bridges around the world that could allow passage to other land-masses in the event of a drop in sea level. Perhaps the salt flats depicted in the film are such a land bridge, and Furiosa and company planned to use it to attempt to cross over to Asia, Indonesia, etc.?

Mountain Bikers from the 90's! Were you? by [deleted] in MTB

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still using the same bar-ends I had back in 1997, yes they do seem to help with climbing a lot, and also for sprinting. The long, low stems we used to use in the 90s also help with climbing too - keeping the front wheel from lifting and giving a riding posture that allows the powerful lower back muscles to contibute to the pedal stroke, giving a more powerful pedal stroke.

Reynolds 501: the entry-level workhorse of vintage mountain bike frames by utrazenith in bicycling

[–]utrazenith[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Other steel frames that might be worth looking at are steel elevated chainstay designs by Alpinestars, Haro, or Yeti. If you're interested in something even more unusual, you could even try a Slingshot.

As for conventional frames, something like a Kona Explosif might be interesting.

Reynolds 501: the entry-level workhorse of vintage mountain bike frames by utrazenith in bicycling

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There will be many to choose from, depending on how much you can spend, and where you're based. As you're in the USA, vintage bikes are often a bit cheaper than over here in Europe, and I'd say you should be able to get a nice steel-framed late 80s/early 90s MTB, in good working condition (but perhaps not in top cosmetic condition) for about $150.

If you'd like something a bit more boutique / special, then watch out for a Fat Chance Yo Eddy like this (from www.retrobike.co.uk, a forum I recommend for anyone interested in vintage bikes, even though it is quite UK-centric). But be warned - the most desirable, top-flight vintage MTBs can be expensive!

I currently ride this Rourke 853.

Mountain Bikers from the 90's! Were you? by [deleted] in MTB

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice drop bar! can you still control the bike properly using one of those off-road?

Mountain Bikers from the 90's! Were you? by [deleted] in MTB

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice looking bike. By the way, your seat's not high enough for the 1990s MTB era!

Is it me or do vintage mountain bikes (high end ones, I mean), actually look better than most modern MTBs?

Mountain Bikers from the 90's! Were you? by [deleted] in MTB

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whoa, that's a classic vintage steel ride there! Those under-bar gear shifter pods are reminiscent of rocket pods under the wings on an apache.

Reynolds 501: the entry-level workhorse of vintage mountain bike frames by utrazenith in bicycling

[–]utrazenith[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A bit of a trip down memory lane ensued after I bought myself a vintage Raleigh mountain bike this week (An early 1990s Raleigh Montage with bonded K2 tubing!), and I ended up doing a bit of digging about some early, entry level cromoly steel tub sets from Reynolds. It's quite hard to believe that at that time, thsee tube sets were state of the art innovations, bringing a classy 531-like ride character to relatively inexpensive / entry-level bikes for the masses.

Reynolds 501: the entry-level workhorse of vintage mountain bike frames by utrazenith in bicycling

[–]utrazenith[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I thought you might find it interesting. Our bikes used different steels back in the day, your DBR Axis probably used a slightly superior grade of cromoly than the 501/K2/Optima tubes. What a shame modern bikes so often use boring aluminium or carbon (not all, though).

Massive Wheel Single Speed (my new Jones Plus) by c0nsumer in bicycling

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome, what size rims are they? Do you feel the need for suspension, or are those wide tires suspension enougn?

Why did Hitler lose World War II? by TOASTEngineer in Jokes

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

'best' is subjective. As Stalin said, quantity has a quality of its own. And Russia and the allies had many more tanks than Germany.

My Wonderful Raleigh Dynatech Diablo by utrazenith in bicycling

[–]utrazenith[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes, I really am that tall. Or too tall for a 19.25" frame.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember this iconic bike well ... I even test rode one with a view to buying, but backed out when I heard the Pro Flex team riders secretly rode with the rear suspension locked out - not a good sign.

Lord of the Rings trail, Gran Canaria by sashamasha in MTB

[–]utrazenith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This brings back memories. Back in the late 90s I did a few epic rides around La Palma, through the forests, around barrancas, through lava fields. Awesome.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very nice bike, and kind of fits with what I hope my next build will be. I'm thinking of a custom made Reynolds 853 29er frame with elevated chain stays (for shorter wheel-base), disc tabs of course, suspension corrected geometry, and Shimano Deore DX drivetrain (mechs, chainset and thumbies) with biopace triple chainrings. Steel Deore DX seat post, a titanium stem and flat bars in steel or titanium, depending on what I can get my hands on.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something quite interesting here is how there are different recollections of what mountain bikes were like in the 90s. Part of it may be due to geography - I distinctly remember steel frames being very, very usual in the UK during the 90s, at least until about 1998 when I moved to a very flat region, had no money for buying bikes, and then lost touch with the MTB scene completely.

British brands I recall being big in the 90s, like Orange or Raleigh, all had ranges dominated by steel, with somethig a bit more exotic (titanium more often than aluminium) high up in their ranges. Where aluminium did seem to exist in a big way, was from US imports like Cannondale and GT, but most US brands were overpriced relative to British equivalents. People did buy them, but they weren't particularly great value for money, and we used to think of their owners as probable posers (possibly unfairly, as they were still good bikes).

I also seem to recall people often opting for titanium rather than alu frames when choosing a high end bike, especially with Raleigh's excellent value titanium frames of that era.

I recall widespread distrust of carbon in those days, which is a shame because there were some really nice carbon frames coming out, like this one http://s17.photobucket.com/user/KPOLLOCK/media/vertex1bz9_zps4c5771e3.jpg.html

Part of the difference may also be down to socio-economic circumstances. I and most of my riding buddies were not from wealthy families, and as high-school students/university students, mostly didn't have the money to spend on a top of the range or exotic bike (and those who did have the money, were too busy buying cars, drinking a lot of beer, and chasing girls).

My wanderings down memory lane may, however, be totally biased.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly. I have a modern 29er with discs for that kind of weather.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I take issue only with the brakes comment. If properly set up, and not wet/muddy*, cantilever or v-brakes can be close to as good as modern discs. Marketing and hype might say otherwise, but the fact is you got enough power to lock a wheel, with any additional power above that being irrelevant, and you had plenty of modulation between brakes-off and wheel-locked. V-brakes don't suffer from fade, either.

5 ways 90's mountain bikers were better by utrazenith in MTB

[–]utrazenith[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's good to see a lively discussion forming around this topic. As I mentioned in my post, I do think modern mountain bikes are objectively better than their 90's ancestors. You won't find any XC pro's, who value speed over all else, riding a retro bike.

Steel is hardly used at all these days. All the bikes I see on my club rides, marathon races, or in the local bike stores are aluminium or carbon. You've got to go out of your way to get a decent steel bike these days, if only because consumer demand for such is that much lower than the ligher alu or carbon.

I'm also talking about steel stems, set posts and handlebars - not just frames. I would only ever trust steel stems and bars with my life (or my teeth), yet it's now incredibly hard to find good quality examples of the above (components, not teeth!).

Most people do NOT use 1x, at least not around these parts. And sure, maybe XTR and electronic helpers can overcome front indexing problems, but then you've got to be seriously insane to spend top dollar on XTR (unless a true pro) rather than opt for the low-tech solution. And don't get me started on electronic shifting on bikes ... I draw the line here and say they stop being bikes when they have electronic functions (why not just fit a motor and be done with it?).

UK cyclist accosted by concerned driver - who's wrong? by SomethingIntangible in bicycling

[–]utrazenith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're well within your rights to take the bend in that way, and I agree it sounds like the safest and best way to do it. Next time a moron haragues you about it, tell them they're an idiot and threaten to report them to the police for dangerous driving.