I guess it's time to get a HR monitor.

On a totally unrelated note, I just went on a lunch ride and I realized that I should have bought a 54cm frame instead of a 56. Not sure what I should do.

 

 

If you buy a used one, make sure it's got a user replaceable battery in the chest strap. Some older models are sealed and have to be sent back to the mfr for new batteries.

Something else to waste time/money on: Strava | Running and Cycling GPS Tracker, Performance Analytics, Maps, Clubs and Competition
I say money because you'll now want a monitor with cycle computer and GPS built ion. Sorry

 

Yeah, an 810 is the same price as anther set of 6ULs, lol.

I'm on Strava. It gets me by with a cheap Cat Eye bike computer for now.

 

Been looking at the cheap Cateyes myself, or I might use the phone gps for distance. Any suggestions for wired or wireless?

 

Definitely wireless. There are some pretty cool ride tracking apps for smartphone. There are apps that allow a phone to pick up an ANT+ signal from a HR chest strap. Do that and you have everything.

SelfLoops - Tech Guides - How to Enable ANT+ on Android

 

I will add that I would never, ever want to attach my phone to the bike. I like a cheap-o Cat Eye "Urban Wireless" for $50 that gives me all the info I could want for under $500, the phone is running in my pocket but a bit of an afterthought other than mapping out rides when I adventure out.

Garmin 510 or 810 if I had real money, SRM if I ever get Ferrari cash.

 

Im giving serious consideration to trade in my hard tail MTB for a similarly spec'd full suspension.

I know that there are rivalries in the bike world about ht and full sus guys... but if its my only mtb and i dont do any DH riding... is it going to be worthwhile to "upgrade"?


bikes by Shlammed, on Flickr

 

Can't vouch for hard tail vs. full susp, but my new 29'er is loads easier to ride than my old 26er. Both HT. Similar level of spec for respective years as far as I know. Truth is I want a full sup. Just not the price tag.......yet.

 

Here's my China bike


I've put about 100 miles on it so far, and the dam derailleur adjustment screws in the rear have stopped working. I haven't attempted to fix the problem yet but it almost makes me want to wear a scarf, if you know what i mean

So far, other than that issue I'm pleased with it, probably because I have no other experience with road bikes.

 

Ahh mine used to do that, actually even worse they would randomly change adjustment so I could get it dialed in perfectly and ride to work once but by the time I wanted to leave work I couldnt hit all the gears. I just replaced all the derailleurs with sub $20 SRAM and Shimano bits. Just watch on the cheap bikes you sometimes need a rear derailleur lug adapter to fit standard derailleurs.

 

Leafy, can you elaborate a little bit? Mine isn't quite that bad, but I was never able to fully dial in the rear derailleur so my two smallest gears keep skipping out. now my front one is slowly falling out of tune too it seems like.

 

I'd get mine setup perfect with the bike upsidedown, shift fast, hit all the gears, dont over throw ride it to work and it would work fine most of the time there but by the time I was on my way home it just acted like it needed to be re set and all my adjustments would be completely out again. New derailleurs and new shifters to match the derailleurs have fixed it, I haven't had to touch them after getting it dialed in.

 

Ready for a ban from bike crew?

 

Dont worry, I too was skeptical at the physics, trust me, if it works upside down it'll work right side up, and also in a friction less vacuum. Unless you have one of those gravity tensioned chains.

 

You are to never, ever turn the bike upside down.

 

Your euro *** vagina is showing.

 

You rang?

 

Took it out for a short ride today just before lunch. Rode it to th lbs to grab a black water bottle cage that works unlike the one that was on it when I picked it up.


Ride August 12, 2013 by Shlammed, on Flickr

Bike feels great. Rides smooth, pedals nice and holds a pretty good speed.

The chain was skipping on hard pushes and cut my ride short. the shop took a peek at it and mentioned that my new chain had a hard link and that my derailleur wasn't keeping enough tension on the chain.

Once I got back home I took the derailleur off, lubed it up and loosened up that link. I also raised the bars about an inch and it feels a lot nicer to ride.


Im gaining confidence in the bike and I am willing to take it on longer rides now. I think being that I have 2 bikes I am going to grab a moderately nice GPS based cyclometer so I can easily swap between them.

 

first 30k ride by Shlammed, on Flickr

Did a 32k ride today with a buddy and his vintage Italian ride today.

Bike Ride Profile | Babcock loop near Kingston | Times and Records | Strava

1h 25min. Was pretty casual ride so we could finish it but we pumped it hard in the last segment though. Hopefully shave a few minutes off the next time we run it.