For VI and other interested in Mountain Biking

Thanks for advice....I'll see where I can do some..

 

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Wheels are Syncros DS28 rims laced to Hope Pro II hubs. Sorry for the cellphone camera photos. I don't have a proper camera and my roommate can't find the memory card for his.

 

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Sweeeeeet!
I affectionately refer to the Blindside as the Bottlerocket's bigger brother.
I like the red hubs.
I see that you've already had it in the dirt by the dirty tires there.
If our backyard park is dry enough tomorrow, Ima ridin. I gotsa jump I need to be hittin.
I ordered a set of Avid BB7s and 203mm rotor size. I also ordered a G2 Clean Sweep rotor as an upgrade, but I didn't realize that kid didn't come with the levers, cables or cable housings. So now I'm going to have to see if I can find a set at a bike shop.

 

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Yeah, I've had it in a few short little trails that are within riding distance from my house (read: less than 10 minutes), so I quickly spun through there. But it had been raining significantly (west coast style) for the previous couple days and the moss and rocks were super slick. Not safe conditions for the padless.

I'm also fighting with derailleur adjustments a bit and the front brake needs to be bled, so I'm not pushing it too hard yet.

Can you not use the current cables/housing? Lever might be a little trickier unless you already have Avid brakes.

 

Current brakes are uber base model Shimano hydraulic so, no.
I have a buddy coming over to the park Sunday. His dad owns a local bike shop. I'll have him grab a lever, cable and housing and just bring it to me then.

 

Well, that's not too bad then. Worst case scenario you just ride without a front brake for a day.

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I've decided that I'm going to try my hand at DH racing next season (and Vis, I know you're interested in this on some level as well). After the brakes I am getting on Monday (Elixir Rs), I have two more upgrades that I'd like to make in order to get my bike race ready (only one is necessary). Fork (2010 Boxxer Team) and shock (Marzocchi Roco WC air - this one is optional, since I like the feel of the Vivid that's on there now). But those will come later.

This season will be about skill development and fitness for me, so why don't we shift the focus of this discussion a bit and talk about bike-specific training. Obviously getting out and riding is going to be the most applicable, but let's also focus on what can be trained in the gym as well.

I go to the gym 4-5 times per week, and mix cardio and weight lifting, but I'm a little unfocused at the moment. I row and run while at the gym, and most of the "spinning" I do is out on my bike (which has been very little lately due to the low temps and the rain/snow).

I have a back/shoulder day (wide-grip pull downs, chin-ups, seated row, military press, forward raises, vertical row, and rowing for warm-up/cardio) and a chest/core day (dumbbell press, inclined press, declined press, dumbbell flies, twisting crunches, air bike, roman chair and a run as a warm-up), but I'm debating whether or not I should add in a leg routine or let the running/riding naturally tone and strengthen my legs (which are already very strong and should probably be slimmed). The days are alternated throughout the week.

What else should I be focusing on?

 

What's that thing weigh, a million pounds? How are you supposed to get across a glacial crevasse with that thing?

 

Mine? I haven't got it on a proper scale yet, but the bathroom scale estimates 38 lbs. I would get another bike for that type of riding. ;-)

 

It really doesn't matter when you are going almost straight downhill. Gravity will give you the speed to overcome the weight of the bike.
He should be more worried about being able to stop, than go fast.

 

I thought this was a thread about mountain biking???

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There are different types of mountain biking. The bike I am building up and posted above is for Downhill type riding (Europe has DH racers that are sponsored by several companies and can make millions). Were I to get into Cross Country/Enduro-cross, or "All-Mountain" riding, I would likely build a different bike that's lighter and has a steeper headtube angle. However, the riding in my neck of the woods and the riding I enjoy most requires something a little more like what I've built.

 

I know. I'm just giving you guys a hard time.

 

What part of the statement I made that you quoted can't be applied to mtn biking?

If you ever get to ride a DH course, you will notice that some parts of a DH course are more or less straight down.

 

Ah-ha. Touché... It's hard to tell on the internet sometimes.

Any input on weights or training that would help while racing?

 

New Transition DH prototype unveiled: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Transition-TR450-Prototype-2009.html

 

Saw that on MTBR yesterday. That is an absolute beast of a bike.

 

Should be pretty awesome, and I may consider upgrading my Blindside frame when it hits retail. Maybe.

I went out into the woods, and the Blindside is not happy in pedally sections, or in any sort of technical climbing situations. We chose a bad route through the trail system...

But, I have started going on some longer road type rides with my commuter to get the pedaling conditioning up. 16.25 miles on Friday, 27.8 miles yesterday, and a planned 33.75 miles for Thursday. Riding in the mountains is a whole different animal, that's for sure.

 

What size is your Blindside?

Can you tell me why I am not surprised in the least to read what you posted about a downhill bike?

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May I suggest an all-mountain bike if you are going to be on pedally and uphill techy sections?

 

Size small.

Oh, I'm not surprised either, but some suspension designs are better than others, and I think Transition's take is in the lower end of the spectrum. We didn't mean to find ourselves in those types of trails, but since we're relatively new to the area we didn't know any better when we took a suggested route. That mistake will not be made again.

You may, but I don't take the DH rig on the long rides, and it's mostly a cardio conditioning venture. I have a large Norco Scrambler from 2006 that functions as a commuter that I will take for the long road-type rides.

And there is some pedaling in DH riding, especially if I'm looking to race.

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