OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: firko on December 06, 2008, 06:44:15 pm
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Those that know me will know that I've been a pretty big boy for the last few years and that my lack of fitness has been a major obstacle to my enjoying riding my old motocrossers. Well I've been on a bit of a fitness campaign for the last year and a bit and it's working well. I've changed my diet, swim every morning, pedal 10k on my excercise bike while watching Brekky Central on the telly and other bits of activity. As of last wednesday I've lost 47kg and I'm feeling the best I've felt in yonks. I've still got another 40 kg to go but that lump should come off even easier because of the ever increasing exercise. The reason I'm telling you guys this is to introduce my other two wheeled passion...pushies.
Now that I'm down a bit of weight I can now start to ride my mountain bike and my soon to be finished cycle path cruiser.
I'll also soon make a start on my find of the year...My newly aquired sixties Phillips Cruiser. Here's the lineup..........
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/bicycle2.jpg)
This is my new mountain bike, a NOS '99 model Mert Lawwill (the flat track legend now makes limited release mountain bikes). I've updated it a tad with 5"travel Meks carbon fibre forks, Scott titanium handlebars and head stem, and a Fox rear shock. I'm soon to replace the pedals and crank with something a little tricker
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/bicycle1.jpg)
This is my super rare Marin monocoque I bought off eBay for an unbelievable $14, complete with Shimano gearset and 4"travel Manitou forks. I've fitted a set of trick wheels, bought a bit of second hand trickery off eBay including a set of Schwalbe Big Betty tyres that retail for $80 ea but I got them for $10 for the pair from a bloke that didn't like them. This bike will be so trick when she's finished I wouldn't dare take her off road so I'm going to use her for morning cruises on the M7 freeway cyclepaths near my home. (Western Sydney residents will know what I mean, there's a network of cyclepaths that follow the entire length of the M7 freeway on both sides).
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/bicycle3.jpg)
This is a mid 90s Diamondback that I bought at a garage sale for $10 a month or so ago. The frame is quality tig welded aluminium but the rest of the bike was rooted. I bought an almost new Repco shitter from the local hock shop and transferred the Shimano 18speed gearset seat and alloy handlebars and bought a set of good quality wheels for $20 off eBay. With a set of cheapy Chinese tyres and a bit of spit and polish I've now got a good beginners mountain bike together for less than $100. I'm giving it to a mate for Christmas to encourage him to go riding with me!
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/bicycle4.jpg)
I couldn't resist this baby for $200 on eBay. It's a sixties British made Phillips Cruiser complete with girder suspension forks, 106 spoke wheels an a pretty good layer of surface rust. I've owned a few Schwinn cruisers over the years and had been thinking of bringing one in from the USA when this gem turned up in trendy Balmain. I'm going to paint it a subtle fifties pastel colour, rechrome the forks and other odds and sods and as the wheels would cost a fortune to rechrome and rebuild, I may paint them, not sure yet in the wheel dept. This bike will hopefully become my new pitbike and local pub transport.
How many Forum members also ride mountain bikes? If so, tell us about your bikes.
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(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/Misty%20Dog/DSC01536.jpg)
$300 Woolies Special ::) :P
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VBMX included here? here is the 1980 Team Supergoose I restored for my 7 year old son, he's king of the kids when he rolls out on this one ;D.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/hemiy09/supergoose004.jpg)
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where's the seat on the second one (Marin)......
In the shed Ross. I haven't got a seatpost for it yet as the frame is made from an odd sized tubing and I'm having a tough time finding a post that fits. I've got a cool red white and blue Tioga seat to match the mid 90s vibe of the bike.\
You may have missed it but the tyres and grips aren't fitted either :o
That's a sweet Mongoose E74. A mates son is doing a similar resto right now. Are they Webco wheels?
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ross thats the bike you use to ride to school :P
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Sorry. I couldn't see the other bits through the tears.....
Did I miss a joke here or something or are you taking the piss?
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Sweet bikes big guy. I can just see you riding the cruiser at Classic Dirt. Good boy with the 47kg too. I missed the joke too ???
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e74, I had those wheels (or something incredibly similar) on my first BMX although mine were red. I don't know if the jargon was nationwide but we called them Tuffs up here in Brisbane (or freezer-wheels ;D)
Firko, whats the story with the Marin? I've never seen anything like it (not that I'm a bicycle guru) and how was it listed that it went for $14?
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Yep, They are Skyway Tuff II wheels, Skyway were nigh buggered until the VBMX craze hit the world,tthey are now up and runnning again reproducing all their "Retro" bits
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The Marin will punish you, Firko! They're as cool-as, but they're stupidly stiff.
The DB is a late 90s jobbie. This is when the DB company started going downhill in my eyes... (says the man who still dearly loves his 1995 model chromoly framed Diamond Back Apex)
Do you know what model yours is? The upper-end ones are fine, but beware the cracked frames of the cheaper alloy DBs...
As well as my DB, I've also got an '05 Felt (as in Jim Felt, although I didn't realise that when I bought it). :)
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The Marin will punish you, Firko!
Yeah, you're not the first person to tell me that Nathan. That's why I decided to keep it for the bitumen cyclepaths and use the Lawwill for offroad. It is as cool as a cucumber though! I was told by the bloke I bought the Diamondback from at the Garage sale that it's from '95/96. In a previous life it'd been used for downhill and slalom racing and as a result had square wheels and a totally rooted set of old school Marzocci forks. I went over the frame from front to back and it luckily turned out to be true and crackless. I merely transferred the forks and Shimano 18 speed gears over from the el cheapo Dunlop I got at the hock shop and fitted a set of eBay Y2000 wheels and quick release axles and a pair of Kenda cheapy tyres I had. I only finished it yesterday, (which prompted the photo session) and took it for a ride around the block to see if the gears work OK. It feels good and seems to change direction well. Like I said, I'm giving it to a mate for Xmas and I think he'll like it.
Firko, whats the story with the Marin?
I'm no expert on these things either but from what I can dig up, Marin are a smallish boutique manufacturer in Santa Cruz, California. The Monocoque came out in the mid 90's I believe and despite being incredibly well made, as light as a fart and too cool to look at, were a horrible flop for the stiffness reasons quoted by Nathan and, as the guy I bought it from said,"it's like riding a tin can. It resonates like buggery and emits a loud bang every time you hit a bump. My mates could here me banging away through the bush two minutes before I got there". Why I got it for $14au is beyond me. Nobody bid on it which is strange as a similar bike went for $700us about a week after I got mine. Like the VBMX movement, retro mountain bikes are gaining cool status as guys build really trick old school bikes to cruise the streets on.
That's OK Ross, I thought you were taking the piss no harm done. Leave old Phil alone. He's just got back from overseas so he might have been a tad jet lagged. 8)
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Hi everyone I have a JMC Blackshadow and Kuwahara tucked away in the shed that I should get out and clean up and post some pics of. I like the blackshadow because of the teardrop/diamond shape bottom frame bar.
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Firko, good to hear the pushies are beating you into shape. I reckon a lot of MXers also have a thing for the human powered bikes. Back in the early 90's I had a break from MX and got into the MTB scene. Probably wasn't much of a cross country racer, so mainly concentrated on the Downhill stuff. I found that downhillers and motocrossers are quite similar, if anything Downhillers drink more lol. Eventually i went back to my first love, MX and now VMX, but made a lot of good friends and had a heap of fun.
Last year I got the urge to buy another DH rig and maybe do a few races in the Masters class (40-49yrs) for fun on off weekends. The bikes and race courses have changed a lot and have come close to soiling my shorts a few times. In the two races I attempted manged a 3rd in the WA titles and even went to Canberra in January for the Nats and managed a 4th, Oh, and drank a lot of beer aswell.
Have fun on those bikes, of all types!!(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/onala/IMG_2913.jpg)(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j293/onala/IMG_2594.jpg)
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Here's a budget mountain bike for you Kawasaki fans out there. You're not going to be the fastest punter down the hill on this cheapy but it is a KX Kawasaki!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KAWASAKI-MOUNTAIN-BIKE-KX-20-GREEN_W0QQitemZ200282251634QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item200282251634&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KAWASAKI-MOUNTAIN-BIKE-KX-20-GREEN_W0QQitemZ200282251634QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item200282251634&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
And here's a pretty cheap (so far) curent spec mid range Kona that'll get you around the bush pretty well.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kona-Kikapu-full-suspension-mountain-bike-for-sale_W0QQitemZ170284271894QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item170284271894&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kona-Kikapu-full-suspension-mountain-bike-for-sale_W0QQitemZ170284271894QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item170284271894&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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bear in mind the kwakka is a kids bike ;D
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So it is Mainline...I didn't look hard enough. It's still a cheap little pressy for the kiddies and going by the prices those Yamaha BMX bikes of the 70s go for, it may be a good future classic. ;)
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Hey Firko,
is this a knockoff of the Lawwill jobby?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-21Spd-Suspension-Lawwill-Alloy-Frame-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ120344668251QQihZ002QQcategoryZ75222QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Sure looks like it. That's a little bit more than I paid though!
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Hey Guys, I noticed it is all off road cycling, is anyone into road bikes??
I have recently had my car stolen from my driveway, It was a lovely VK I mean it had everything. So now I have been forced back onto to wheels and having to pull out my pushy and dust it of,(If I am just going to the corner shop or to a mates house a few streets, I go on the trusty XR75) I must say I have shed a few kilo's as it is 12km either way to work.
Mine is a road bike I have always wanted to try down hill at buller so maybe this is the summer to do it.
Tom
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I have enjoyed pushies over the years with BMX as a teen and the last bmx bike I owned was a Redline and then years latter I finished playing rugby and wanted to keep fit so I bought a road racing bike and competed seriously for a while on a Vitus and Connondale and I also had a hand-made track bike and a hand-made time trial bike. Back then the mountian bike I owned was a Scott boulder and a GT avalanche and now I have a Specialized Rockhopper.
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firko, the bikes are nice but the best thing is the extra years you've now added to your life through changing your diet and exercising more. well done - its never easy.
and another reward is you're able to ride/race mx again - woohoo.
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Thanks Twisty, that was the plan. I've got too much stuff to do to bundy off early. Thankfully I have no major health issues except the weight so the fitness comeback is a lot easier than for some. 20 years of tedious Rugby training during my playing years ensured that my engine was still running OK. It was my chassis and suspension that needed a bit of an overhaul. Some of those chassis issues may still prevent me from racing but I'll definitely be riding my toys in '09.
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I've lost 47kg
That's a tremendous effort, well done.
I have a Repco Maxtracks (basic MTB style thing, no suspension) that I found under a house. I cleaned it up and it rides ok. I was mortified that I recently had to buy a new tube and tyre, still owes me less than $20 though...
That downhill stuff looks like great fun. Just out of curiosity, how much does a MTB suitable for downhill cost?
Tex
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I've lost 47kg
That downhill stuff looks like great fun. Just out of curiosity, how much does a MTB suitable for downhill cost?
Tex
About $10,000+. Several years ago I meet the NSW downhill champion, his bike was worth (cost ;D) $10,000.
What blew me away was he was sponsored and went to races with a mechanic :o, and they prepared for a race by tuning the bike.
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Firko great work!!!! Lost 47kg!!! ;D call in here please know where a bit of it is now and you can have it back.......................... >:( ;) Cheers Tim
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Yes, saw Firko the other week and it did take a double take to figure out the difference and what a difference. I think we should be all encoraging Mark on the quest for good health, a knee reconstruction then some gentle racing. Being one of the larger members of the VMX family I know how hard it is to get the weight off once its on.
On the push bike thing, my 7y/o sone and I raced BMX last year and as one of my customers is the redline importer we did a deal on the latest Redline Flight cruiser - the oldest in the pack - never came last; came close but never last. What I can say is I crashed a few times in practise and it hurts more on a BMX bike that a MX bike for sure, and you loose more skin, the tracks are like riding on 24g sand paper. Great Fun though.
211
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Great work Firko. Everything will work better and be more fun. I bet you have inspired a few others with your efforts. Keep on keeping on!
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Mark fantastic effort, keep it up and I'll see you at the starting gates in 09
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Yair Mark, bet that takes a bit of effort and dedication but riding the exercise bike watching morning TV is clever. Do you realise that by the time you reach your target, if you could find a bare 1942 ' frame ' you could make another T250 K with what you have shed ? Reckon you could do it in time for CD6 ?? ;)
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following on from Tex's question, this topic appeared after I'd already been thinking for a little while about buying a mountain bike.
The dude in the local bike shop that I talked to reckoned that unless you're (a) willing to spend over $1000 to get something decent and (b) mainly using it off-road, you're better off steering away from the dual suspension bikes.
Anyone else who's into them got any advice on brands or features to look for or avoid. I'm talking secondhand here too, at the lower end of the price range ;D
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Well done Firko.
I gave up dirt bikes for a decade in 1992 and have been a keen cyclist ever since, and just like dirt bikes the cycling bug bites hard.
Also just like dirt bikes the number of bikes you need is determined by a simple mathematical formula which is ...
the number of bikes you need = N + 1, where N = the number of bikes you have. It's a scientific formula, the missus can't argue with that!
Anyway, there are a few under the house but the two that get used are a mountain bike and a road bike, the mountain bike is a Specialized Stump Jumper hardtail. It's about 11 years old now and has withstood 3 years of XC racing, 7 years of commuting and countless rides through the Blue Mountains and up and down the coast. It's done lots of K's and almost everything except the frame and handlebars has been replaced over time.
My road bike is a Basso Devil, a fairly exotic hand built Italian thing which is also about 10 years old. I have done a sacreligious act to it recently (according to cycling purists) and changed the drop bars for flat MTB bars and controls. It's now makes a fantastic daily commuter through the Brisbane traffic and is much faster than the MTB but not as comfy.
Mainline
If you are planning on doing a lot of off-road riding don't even bother with the cheap and nasty stuff (especially the Kmart specials) it just won't last. Firko has the right idea, those bikes are top-notch and would have cost a pretty penny when brand new. The local bike shop guy would rather sell you something but if you can restore old MX bikes then pushies are a piece of cake. Grease the wheel and steering bearings, lube the cables, true the wheels and maybe replace the chain and sprockets and they're good as new.
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That's good advice.
Think of it as being like comparing a CRF230 with one of those nasty 250cc Chinese things - maybe the Honda loses on the brochure, but in the real world there's no doubt which is the better bike - you're better off trading some bling for quality.
None of the brand names are inherently good or bad - but they'll all have stronger and weaker bikes in their range. For example, say that the Trek is the best value $800 bike, you'll probably find that the $1200 Trek isn't the best $1200 bike...
Learn about the group-sets and components, and it will make comparisons much more 'apples with apples' - otherwise you're likely to be overwhlemed by all of the info.
Pay cash and haggle hard. Don't be surprised if you find that they aren't keen to move much on the price of the bike, but use that as leverage to get extras thrown-in or at a super discounted rate (as a guide: even if you buy the cheapest adult's bike, you should be able to get a helmet thrown in for free if you pay cash).
Look for deals on supersceded models, particularly if you're spending $500+.
Hold off buying until after Xmas if you can.
Shop for your bike shop as much as for the bike (same as buying a new dirt bike, I guess).
Don't buy a bike from Kmart/Big W/where-ever - back when I was working in the bike shop, after each Xmas, the about 50% of the work-load was services on the decent bikes that we sold, with the other 50% being the cash-cow: Fixing bodgy rubbish that came from from department stores. It was often frightening some of the things that we saw.
At least a half dozen times per year, we'd have to send the not-so-pround new bike owner to return the bike because there were large sections of weld missing from a frame or similar! The two worst bits about that is that sometimes the owner had been riding around, oblivious, and that sometimes the manager at the dept store would argue with the customer that they were supposed to be like that!
Don't buy a bike in a box, unless you KNOW how to assemble it properly (and given that you've asked, you probably don't). Mechanically speaking, virtually everyone on this forum could easily cope with building up a pushie - but knowing the tricks to the adjustments, and having the specialist tools is a real black art.
And cheap bikes (even the good quality cheap ones) often have problems straight out of the box - most shops will be happy to help you sort them out, but if they assemble the bike, then they will sort them out before you even see the bike.
Further, a decent shop will spend the time to get the bike set-up right for you.
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I'm no expert, there are far more knowledgable pushie riders on this forum but as a rule of thumb, look for American made frames like GT, Giant, Mongoose, Kona, Diamondback and similar. Look for forks that are adjustable like Manitou, RockShocks, Magura, Marzocci, White Bros, DT Swiss etc. RST is a low end price fork that works well for the price as well. Look to make sure that the bike uses Shimano gearsets. I reiterate Nathan and Maicopunks warnings about buying supermarket specials. They're really dogshit. I bought a Repco from the local hock shop for $30 for the Shimano gearset and wheels and it was a real piece of crap...and it was new! The frame is made from crap steel the welds are almost non existant and the brake levers, pedals, crank and most of the parts are sub standard.The key sign to the lack of quality is the sticker warning you not to use the bike in off road situations!
Here are a few quality cheapies bikes I found tonight.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GT-Avalanche-3-0-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ130272971227QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item130272971227&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GT-Avalanche-3-0-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ130272971227QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item130272971227&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Giant-Boulder-SE-Mountain-Bike-with-accessories_W0QQitemZ320322736742QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item320322736742&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Giant-Boulder-SE-Mountain-Bike-with-accessories_W0QQitemZ320322736742QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item320322736742&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Pro-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ330292308974QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item330292308974&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Pro-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ330292308974QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item330292308974&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ110319141510QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item110319141510&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ110319141510QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item110319141510&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
Here is one Chinese Cheapy that seems to have a quality frame and good components. It's a bargain so far but will go up a fair bit I reckon.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MOUNTAIN-BIKE-WITH-FRONT-SUPSPENSION-AND-DUAL-DISCS_W0QQitemZ300278426477QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item300278426477&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MOUNTAIN-BIKE-WITH-FRONT-SUPSPENSION-AND-DUAL-DISCS_W0QQitemZ300278426477QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item300278426477&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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Here's a good'un. A new unused Giant Sedona. Quality and cheap as chips.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-GIANT-SEDONA-CX-MOUNTAIN-BIKE_W0QQitemZ280290944221QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item280290944221&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-GIANT-SEDONA-CX-MOUNTAIN-BIKE_W0QQitemZ280290944221QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item280290944221&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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My nonmotorized ride is a 2003 Gary Fisher Sugar 4+. I love this bike!
http://www.fisherbikes.com/archive/model/32
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Here's a Sugar 3+ on Oz eBay right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Gary-Fisher-Cross-Country-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ290280318142QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item290280318142&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Gary-Fisher-Cross-Country-Mountain-Bike_W0QQitemZ290280318142QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item290280318142&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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10 speed racer have just started to ride to work a couple of times a week, it hurts !! you should be good sidecar ballast soon firko?
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I did the sidecar passenger thing once and it frightened the shitter out of me. Unless I'm the one with the throttle in my hand I'd rather watch from a safe distance.
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I did the sidecar passenger thing once and it frightened the shitter out of me. Unless I'm the one with the throttle in my hand I'd rather watch from a safe distance.
I'm with you Firko, first time i swung i was 18 in 1981 and it scared the shit out of me too, funnily enough i went back for more so it must have been an adrenaline thing at the time. did that for a few years then got a gig to ride a KTM540 EML for 12 months in 1987 (absolutely loved that year), one year i swung, the rider was a beginner (no solo experience either) so it frustrated me that he did not pass where he could have.
the action is with the throttle in you own hand.
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One piece of advice to all who want to use bicycling as a fitness sport. Buy clipless pedals and the proper shoes. You will be amazed at the difference and also your knees/cartledges wont wear out as fast. Because you have a power stroke all the way around the crank rather than just the down stroke. It is also not how big a gear you push but more the cadence (pedal revolutions) you can do per minute. Up around 80 or 90 will get the heart/lungs working and the calories burning, but will be less strenuous on your body joints. Always at the end of a training ride do a warm down by just letting your legs spin without any pressure being applied to the pedals to allow the lactic acid build up (the Burn) disappear and by doing that you will feel that much better after the ride and you wont feel sore in the legs. (will at least not as much) but it still doesnt stop ya getting a sore ass.
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important question know one has yet asked -could be a scary answer ,do you wear lycra?
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Shoreline,
I was thinking more along the lines of the mankini for Firko ;)
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maybe the wrestling scene in borat?
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While recently in Byron Bay, where many of the rich trendy population seem to go for a morning constitutional bike ride, I was in a coffee shop having my heart starter Machiato when in walked a pair of middle aged 'dudes' who'd just parked their carbon fibre and titanium roadies out the front. Maybe you can get away with certain attire in Byron Bay that would get you a quick uppercut in Mount Druitt but these blokes took the cake. The first bloke was about 6'2" and about 110kg of muscle tone gone to seed. He was dressed in yellow tour leader, Lance Armstrong Discovery Channel team lycra race suit that was at least two sizes too small. His lack of undies displayed a less than adequate dicky and humungous balls sticking out for the world to see and in the rear, the lycra had crept right up his bum crack. That was funny enough but the other guy, an American, was about 5'8" and but the same 110kg as his mate. He was carrying quite a bit of mid life chubby fat that was aptly displayed in his multi coloured M&Ms logo Lycra racing suit. Sadly (for him) every lump of chubby was on display to the world through the Lycra including the very same bumcrack situation as his mate. Where this guy shone beyond all expectations was after they'd paid for their 'skinny lattes to go' he got up to leave the cafe and he had a nice ripe full woody, obviously all sexed up from his big ride. Everyone in the cafe acted so mega cool (Byron Bay, old boy) and didn't bat an eylid until our lads were settled in the park accross the road to consume their coffee, comfortably out of earshot. Then, as if guided by a hidden director, we all simultaneously burst into loud, unbridled laughter, strangers united by the sight of a fat man in multi coloured Lycra with no undies and a roaring woody!
The SIMPLE answer your question...NO!....The world isn't ready for this fatboy Maico owner in a lycra suit, no matter how much weight I lose. The Mankini however still has possibilities.
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WEAR IT UNDERNEATH TILL YOU GET USED TO IT LOL DONT FORGET THE MONKEY BUTT POWDER ;D
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Here's a tip boys, if your going to wear lycra make sure it's not red.
http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/Resources/misc/why-bike-shorts-should-be-black.jpg
bit too much "information"
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thanks for the info on the bike guys, I'm on the lookout and will report back with my bargain find of the century.
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evo550.............another name for WINDOW SHOPPING ;) :D
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Specialized-FSR-Extreme_W0QQitemZ140287083801QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item140287083801&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GT-Mountain-Bike-26-Deore-XT-Gears-Rock-Shox_W0QQitemZ300279919521QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item300279919521&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Norco-Atomic-05-D-H-mountain-bike_W0QQitemZ150314023917QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item150314023917&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GT-Avalanche-0-0-Mountain-Bike-Shimano_W0QQitemZ150314639005QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item150314639005&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
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Forum member Yamaico sent me these shots of his lowrider pushy creations. As a member of Klub Kevlar he lives by our credo of "It's all about style", with these pushies and his cool, left field vintage bikes like the green Bultaco Astro he built for his daughter Kristy, his infamous Yamaico, MX250 powered Maico, VMX feature bike Bultaco MK4 Pursang and his Maico and speedway Jawa themed blenders. I think Pete has something equally cool in store for the 2009 season.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/petepushy.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/petepushy1.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/petepushy2.jpg)
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The SIMPLE answer your question...NO!....The world isn't ready for this fatboy Maico owner in a lycra suit, no matter how much weight I lose.
Well that just bolloxed the idea of dragging you out to a trial ;D
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Just back from the farm and the first offroad ride on the Lawwill. Three things became immediately apparent. !: The Scott titanium flat bars are too low so I'll refit the riser bars and see if it's more comfortable, 2: I don't like the Shimano twistgrip gear change. I'll change it to a clicker style arrangement soon, and 3: I've got some serious work in front of me in the fitness department. After two days of riding the bike down hills, around the paddocks and pushing the bugger up hills, every muscle in my body is on fire. Surprisingly my fairly trashed left knee cam out of it much better than I expected. The rest of my body however didn't fare as well. Still, it's a start and overall I'm pretty pleased with both the bike and my first up pushy dirt ride in yonks. I've left the bike in the back of the Jeep so I can go out to the Olympic Rowing Centre at Penrith tomorrow morning to start doing laps around the 6k perimeter road along with a bunch more huffers and puffers.
On the dirtbikes with engines front I had a ride on my mates brand new 2008 510 Husky and am soooo impressed with it. What a sweet piece of kit. I also had the dubious honour of being the first person to fall off it, much to everyones amusment and the horror of the owner. I fell off the 490 Maico too, just to keep it unbiased. All in all a very cool weekend!
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well I've started my new years resolution early with my first ride this morning on the new bike. I picked up a Specialised full suspension job fairly cheap, and am pretty bloody happy with the bike. Not so happy with my legs though. Too many hills around my area so I could only manage half an hour or so.
Off-road is the next challenge, that's happening Sunday morning, so I should be covered in mercurochrome by Sunday lunchtime.
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kawasaki-Mountain-Bike-10-speed-gears_W0QQitemZ160306268930QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item160306268930&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kawasaki-Mountain-Bike-10-speed-gears_W0QQitemZ160306268930QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item160306268930&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
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Here's a cool vintage BMXer for the Rickman owner who want's it all!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220341423095&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220341423095&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123)
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Firko, that's why they call them push bikes. Yes I'm in the same boat, ok down hills and flats :) but put a hill in front of me and it's time to dismount and push .
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While recently in Byron Bay, where many of the rich trendy population seem to go for a morning constitutional bike ride, I was in a coffee shop having my heart starter Machiato when in walked a pair of middle aged 'dudes' who'd just parked their carbon fibre and titanium roadies out the front. Maybe you can get away with certain attire in Byron Bay that would get you a quick uppercut in Mount Druitt but these blokes took the cake. The first bloke was about 6'2" and about 110kg of muscle tone gone to seed. He was dressed in yellow tour leader, Lance Armstrong Discovery Channel team lycra race suit that was at least two sizes too small. His lack of undies displayed a less than adequate dicky and humungous balls sticking out for the world to see and in the rear, the lycra had crept right up his bum crack. That was funny enough but the other guy, an American, was about 5'8" and but the same 110kg as his mate. He was carrying quite a bit of mid life chubby fat that was aptly displayed in his multi coloured M&Ms logo Lycra racing suit. Sadly (for him) every lump of chubby was on display to the world through the Lycra including the very same bumcrack situation as his mate. Where this guy shone beyond all expectations was after they'd paid for their 'skinny lattes to go' he got up to leave the cafe and he had a nice ripe full woody, obviously all sexed up from his big ride. Everyone in the cafe acted so mega cool (Byron Bay, old boy) and didn't bat an eylid until our lads were settled in the park accross the road to consume their coffee, comfortably out of earshot. Then, as if guided by a hidden director, we all simultaneously burst into loud, unbridled laughter, strangers united by the sight of a fat man in multi coloured Lycra with no undies and a roaring woody!
The SIMPLE answer your question...NO!....The world isn't ready for this fatboy Maico owner in a lycra suit, no matter how much weight I lose. The Mankini however still has possibilities.
Firko I've only just read this and after recovering from the tears a bit I wanted to say that the young, fit, skinny motorcycle trials riders of all sexes also wear lycra body suits in competition while we the older, fatter, less fit blokes would never be so cruel to spectators as to wear such gear BUT - there are a couple of 50-something aged blokes riding trials in Nth NSW/Sth Qld who have been regular gym junkies for their whole lives and can actually pull off wearing lycra without scaring everyone away!!
Meanwhile I'm looking for a photo of my MTB
David
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I'm getting a bit better at this bike caper but it's going to be a long drawn out process before I tackle anything like a tough single track off road ride. My mate Bernie and I did three laps (12k) of the Penrith Olympic Rowing Centre on Friday and today, two days later I'm still limping like an old digger and have what feels like a terminal case of Monkey Butt. Having said that, I'm really enjoying the challenge involved in regaining my fitness and recommend bike riding to anyone who like me can't run or walk long distances due to dicky knees and other motorcycle (or lifestyle!) induced trauma. My Lawwill is performing outstandingly but I'll soon debut the much lighter Marin Monocoque and see if it's any better on the cyclepath circuit.
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Heres a pre-ride group shot from a 20km cross-country ride starting at my place at Benaraby near Gladstone out to Lake Awoonga. Sorry the bikes don't feature heavily in this photo but there is someone in the photo that may be recognisable to people involved with (modern) off-road motorcycle competition in Australia.
Have a look at the woman holding the blue helmet and see if anyone can recognise who it is I'm on about.
And no my kid didn't do the ride on that tiny bike with the basket.
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I give in..who is she?
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That's Alison Parker next to Sideshow in the blue shirt.
We went for a trail ride (with engines) at Glasshouse just before Christmas. During the post ride pissup/pub crawl Sideshow (Dave) did the best karaoke performance I've seen.
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How about a genuine Maico pushy?
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/maico_dr_1936_1.jpg)
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i restored a womens Raleigh 'sports' bicycle just before xmas, it wasnt that old though, only about 1977. does anyone know where you can buy reproductions seats like on that Maico?.
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does anyone know where you can buy reproductions seats like on that Maico?.
Do a google search for Brooks Saddles.
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yeah done that
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That's Alison Parker next to Sideshow in the blue shirt.
We went for a trail ride (with engines) at Glasshouse just before Christmas. During the post ride pissup/pub crawl Sideshow (Dave) did the best karaoke performance I've seen.
Well spotted maicopunk or was it easy just because she was standing beside Dave
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My godson Luke just sent me these shots of his under construction Mongoose. He raced the bike back in the 80s and now he's doing it up for his son. To me it looks like a blood brother to E74s bike (page 1 of this thread). He's having a hard time finding some parts to finish it to his standard. He needs the genuine bar/stem pad that came with it and blue brake blocks. Any old Mongoose punters out there that can help Luke?
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/mongoose001.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/mongoose003.jpg)
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there is always heaps of NOS vintage BMX stuff on ebay, i am amazed. there are a few specialist vintage BMX websites aswell.
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Yeah Leith, he's a dab hand at eBay but he's also pretty anal about his bikes and the bar pad seems to be a sticking point. The last one he saw was $300us. I'm not sure why he's having trouble with the blue brake pads as they seem pretty common. Apparently you need them with the blue Skyway or Webco wheels to stop skuffing the wheels with black rubber.
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there is a big BMX wholesaler in QLD called BMX international. http://www.bmxinternational.com.au/ they may have something as they still have some old stuff i think.
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Thanks Leith.....I sent the link on to him.....
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Good to see you guys are into dirt bikes no matter what. Love those VBMX with tuff wheels.
I ride the old 1992 GT Zaskar 45km round trip to work most days. It the best way to shed fat, get fit, safe money etc
Here are some of the pushies that my son, wife & I have; two other bikes were at the shop.
The lad got a 6th in the under 19 at the nationals XC Canberra, proud dad moment.
He did well at a few other rounds over east as well.
(http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x101/Power_Stand/IMG_1078.jpg)
(http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x101/Power_Stand/IMG_1081.jpg)
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My youngest lad has been pestering me to build one of these for ages. But with the demise of my workshop......well thanks to fleabay he ended up with this one. His Mum and I had a go - farkin dangerous bloody things. I tossed Kath over the front. Good things she's a good sport - only a little blood. Thanks Magoo for carting it up from Sydney, even if you did have to hide it under a tarp to avoid answering all sort of awkward questions.
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edible bike ;D
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The only bike that l would like to find and that is a moulton.