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only because roadies have cars carrying 8 extra bikes follow them everywhere they go in case the derailleur cable gets frayed so they can just hop on a new one.
la duderina responding to a comment by the reverend dak
11.28.09 - 10:28 pm
Yep recumbent, double recumbent, tandems, foldies, hybrids, triples...all awesome all riding 500+ miles from SF to LA...I agree with Foldie. One might be your preference but doesn't make it better than the others...
TheJen responding to a comment by la duderina
11.28.09 - 10:52 pm
JOHN TOMAC was the smoothest ,coolest mtbr ive ever seen.the guy made everything look so damn cool when he was ridin.for like the last 15 years ive been signing as him when they ask me for a name and signature at those recycling centers.
ahh I didn't know Hummer supplied those bikes to the military.
Montague made the folders for when the Hummer H3 was being marketed.
Essentially, buy the H3 and the Hummer folder came with it.
I skipped all of that and just bought mine off of FleaBay specifically as the "shuttlecraft" for whenever I'm in trucking employ.
Nonetheless, this ride holds up good, does well with the smoothies I threw on there, and I'm going to keep riding this thing until my tailbone explodes on the pavement!!!!
Hi. This is not a mountain bike. It is a modified trials bike.
Hi!
I enjoyed the mountain bike race video from the first post, but the music is....um...well, it could have been more thoughtfully chosen by the producer. It is bad.
How are you?
your friend tern.
tern responding to a comment by la duderina
11.29.09 - 7:38 am
I've been seeing Tinker on the San Gabriel River bike trail regularly. He lives in Norwalk and dosen't seem to have anything else to do all day but ride his bikes. I usually see him in the middle of the day.
Been wanting to stop him (he's always going in the opposite direction) and invite him to join us some night. If I ever see him going in the same direction, I doubt I could hang.
@CT So rad!!! I would be waayy too shy to stop him and talk to him. I remember my dad talking to him back in the day when I raced mtbs...I would get so embarassed and shy haha...he did the same thing with Hans Rey in Big Bear once.
oo! anna chausson is in that one! one of the greatest female downhill racers of all time...then she goes and kicks everyone's ass to become the first BMX gold medalist in history. she a bad ass fa sho.
I want to know what Cannondale's obsession is with only having one shock on the front fork. they had the one under the headset...ugly...now this one fork leg...scary!
I was just reading about a race they hold in New York...same style as Wolfpack All City Race, unsanctioned and all...but on mtn bikes...I think they call it all city too..
I must have early-onset Alzheimers since I long forgot about Lance ever racing in an MTB capacity.
I guess my respect for the man has come back, while my memory has yet too.
I dont know why i never really had a connection with typical road riding. i enjoy commuting, and with that, touring would seem desirable. But if its an early morning and you offer: mountains versus streets -- Im going for the mountains. Maybes its just a product of living in Los Angeles... I dont know....
If its a night ride: on more Magicshine and hopefully 2 will do the trick.
Either way... this is a cool throwback thread.... I wish I had a pic of my first MTB.
I actually just sold my MTB frame, and currently building a new bike. I actually miss this bike...
i put my huffy together so im ready to ride.its singlespeed so ,since i dont own a car ,i have to stay local but maybe we can go for a ride sometime.itll be like a date mr.md2...
Im down...working on my bike now... may hit SM trails in a while... if you can meet... Im down... i'll check back soon.... give me about 30 min more tech time.... and then I just need to get ready to roll....
All assuming i dont run into any snags on this build
md2 responding to a comment by mandingo
12.5.09 - 10:36 am
I was actually in the market for a hardtail at first, but my old bones can't take a beating like they used to...I hope once I start racing I don't regret it........
ohhh, yes, heard of those dastardly little things. seems like people have a tough time with those annoying little pests. Regrets are best dealt with an aerosol can of heavy duty rationalization. Yup, just spray all kinds of rationalizations on your regrets and soon *ta-da* all the wonderful, yes, wonderful things you've done in life make you, they very person you are: la duderina.
Trust me, you bought a Yeti, because even if you could have done otherwise, you would have still bought a yeti (thanks Frankfurt) -- No Regrets!
md2 responding to a comment by la duderina
12.7.09 - 7:59 am
I emailed Tinker a few days ago and invited him to join us sometime.
The dude rides for a living, so his schedule is pretty well set. He sent me this reply:
"My riding time is the morning time tell when ever I get done, so trying to make a Midnight Ridazz would get me in trouble HA HA!! You never no just maybe me and my wife will join you someday in one of your fun ride;)"
Can you imagine cycling as your job? Tinker has been a pro since 1973!
The guy still loves getting on a bike and riding.
Amazing.
Trust me, you bought a Yeti, because even if you could have done otherwise, you would have still bought a yeti
actually, my first choice was a sweet midnight blue Ventana El Saltamontes with white wheels. oh man was it gorgeous. got outbid on it. still pretty bummed. whatever. the yeti has better components...
so, why did the UCI ban skinsuits from DH competitions?
"Fair enough to Tracy if she wants to do that to win, but for the sport and the longevity of the sport, to wear cool race kit and to make an image for yourself is more important than the odd win here and there," said Atherton.
yea, baggy pants and knee pads, that's a cooool look
wow. the ban on tight fitting clothing makes no sense whatsoever.
that Rachel Atherton is a sore loser. I thought racing was about winning? and that you make an image for yourself BY winning? am I just naive?
The woman in the skinsuit beat her by 4 seconds. 4 whole seconds! I really don't think what she was wearing could have made THAT big of difference. Ok, maybe in baggy pants she would have won by 2 seconds instead?
Those skinsuits actually look really effective. I've always wondered why motorcross get ups are the thing to use...they restrict your range of movement so much...
UCI also forces bmx racers to wear gloves and crew length socks. because you know, when you get in a 5 rider pile up, a thin layer of cotton will keep your ankle from breaking.
la duderina responding to a comment by professor fate
12.11.09 - 1:42 am
Location: Peet's Coffee, 12215 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA
(a block west of Laurel Canyon Blvd., two miles west of the Universal City Red Line station)
The difference between a skin suit and moto gear is.
When your wearing all the protective gear and you go down,
chances are you can get back up and keep going.
Skin suit your probably done riding till the road rash heals up.
the skin suits have just as much padding...they actually look more like the suits those guys who race crotch rockets wear. I would prefer it to a polyester jersey with a chest protector...more freedom of movement.
I actually don't doubt that tight fighting clothing would improve aerodynamics enough to shave 4 seconds... hell, even booties can shave a winning number of seconds in a road TT
I don't doubt that it makes a difference. I'm just saying that if she beat her by 4 whole seconds in the suit, should probably would have beat her without the suit, too. by a smaller margin...but inch or mile, whatever.
la duderina responding to a comment by professor fate
12.15.09 - 10:29 pm
BE CAREFUL riding in Griffith Park
The Rangers will kick your ass.
Most of the trails are Equestrian only and the fine will be unpleasant.
The equestrian community has some clout and set it up years ago as a
bike free zone during the Mtn bike boom.
Griffith seems like a big YAWN to ride a mtb in and, as a daughter of a horse owner, I respect their trails. I personally don't like sharing trails with horses anyways. damn hayburners make em all sandy and shit. not to mention the manure.
I use griffith for road training. it's a big fucken YAWN for that, too, but it's the best place to ride within a short distance.
Then you get fucking HOLLYWOOD filming some stupid movie all up in your way n shit. god.
LOL I see what you're saying, but in reality I'm not switching allegiances at all....I mean just look at this thread...my allegiance is, was, and will always be to the dirt.
Did you know that it is illegal to ride a bicycle on dirt trails in the City of Los Angeles? Would you like to have local options to ride on the trails? Do you think kids who can't drive to the local mountains should have trails nearby? The City's current Draft Bicycle Plan makes no changes or improvements to off-road cycling within the City. This plan sets the guidelines for the City for the next 25 years and public comment ends January 8, 2010.
We want to make sure cyclists' concerns are heard in this process. Equestrians are rallying their troops to ensure cyclists continue to not have access to off-road options. We need voices! Please take a few moments and sign this online petition. Please forward this to everyone you know who rides a bike.
http://corbamtb.com/campaigns/
mk4524 responding to a comment by la duderina
12.21.09 - 8:18 am
All that is left now is to embark upon the upcoming year like a mountain biker confronts a long stretch of technical singletrack: excited yet frightened, over-equipped, poorly groomed, and sufficiently stoned.
Topanga Bike ?
24" x 20" 18 speed, circa 1980
Designer VVA Victor Vicente of America, a true legend.
Victor promoted early mtn events such as Reseda to the Sea,
and had a cult following of hippie mtn riders.
A former National Road Champ he pioneered mtn biking in the local area of
the Santa Monica mtns.
As a mountain biker, you have no doubt noticed an entirely different kind of rider from time to time: the road cyclist. You have probably heard that many pro mountain bikers train on the road, due to the improved power, stamina, and pedaling technique road cycling yields.
Perhaps you've noticed how elegant and svelte a good road bike looks, and have thought to yourself 'I wouldn't mind riding on the road.'
Well, good for you.
However, my mountain biking friend, there are seven vital things you should know before you hit the road, so to speak.
1. Your bike is different.
As a mountain biker, you are used to putting your back into it when you need to lift the thing onto a bike rack, over a log, or so forth. My own preferred method is to use the 'Clean and Jerk.' If you use similar force when lifting a road bike, there's a good chance you'll accidentally throw it over a building.
Also, you need to pump the tires up harder. Much harder. No, even harder than that. Generally, in fact, it takes the weight of two or three 'roadies' (an endearing term road cyclists like to call themselves) to push down hard enough on a standard floor pump to get the tires to the proper pressure.
How do you know when a road tire is inflated to the proper pressure? The answer is simple: it's hard enough when one single more stroke of the pump will blow it off the rim. The real art is, naturally, in knowing whether you've reached that point.
2. The terrain is different.
When you are mountain biking, you naturally are inclined to look for interesting obstacles to ride over -- roots, rocks, fallen logs are all part of the fun. On a road bike, on the other hand, anything but perfectly smooth pavement is a potentially life-threatening danger, and must be avoided at all costs. Further, if you are ahead of another cyclist, you must use elaborate hand gestures to indicate that there is -- horrors! -- a pebble 75 metres up the road.
3. Words you know have different meanings.
Since roadies and mountain bikers have a common heritage, it's no surprise that they share some vocabulary. It's also no surprise that the variance in meaning in some of that vocabulary can get you into trouble.
For example, if a mountain biker says a ride is 'technical', you can assume that there is loose shale, several ledge drops, high-penalty (e.g., death) exposure on one side of the trail, or slick, mossy roots twisting along the singletrack. If a roadie calls a ride 'technical' on the other hand, it most likely means that there is a roundabout somewhere in the ride.
As a second example, when a mountain biker talks about going on a 'group ride', it means that a bunch of friends got together, regrouped at junctures of the ride, talked as they were riding, and probably had a beer or twelve together after the ride. When roadies have a 'group ride', on the other hand, riders are expected to ride in a tight formation, paying strict attention to the gap between your front tire and the rear wheel ahead of you. the gap should be no more than four inches. After the obligatory ten minute warmup, it becomes each rider's dual purpose to drop every other rider, while not being dropped yourself.
4. Beware of triathletes.
As a mountain biker, you've always been deeply suspicious of triathletes. As a road cyclist, you will find out you were correct to be so, and you will find out why. Triathletes will try to infiltrate your ranks and join your rides, then demonstrate that they have no idea of how to ride in a group, and very little control of their direction of travel.
Most importantly, though, they wear these short shorts and tank tops that are just plain creepy.
5. You must now keep your bike clean.
On a mountain bike, dirt is a badge of honor. A little mud on the downtube tells other riders that you're not afraid to ride in the rough stuff. On a road bike, on the other hand, if your bike isn't 15 percent cleaner than when you bought it, you are a slovenly ne'er-do-well who cannot be trusted.
6. Your body needs to change.
As a mountain biker, you've no doubt noticed it's quite helpful to have not just strong legs, but strong arms as well. Roadies, on the other hand, regard their arms as a necessary evil, their sole function being to keep their chests from falling onto the bike's stem.
It's a well-known fact that roadies bind their arms to their sides when not riding bikes, doing everything they can to facilitate the atrophy of these non-contributing limbs.
7. What you look at changes.
When mountain biking, you have no doubt been astounded at the beauty around you -- the trees, the streams, wildlife, beautiful sandstone vistas. As a road cyclist, you will also find yourself occupied with things to look at, such as the pavement. Or, if you're riding in a group, you'll be treated to the constant, unavoidable sight of the butt of the guy riding ahead of you. And cars flying by you, yelling out helpful suggestions about what you should do and to whom, as well as their understanding of whether you belong on the road (their stance is that you do not).
It's breathtaking, frankly.
As you can clearly see, road cycling has numerous exciting different experiences to offer the mountain biker. I'm sure you can hardly wait to try it out.