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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 6:19:58 GMT
Thought that would get your attention you perverts. I meant the zero. Been feeling under the weather but got back from a meeting early so decided on a ride to kill me or cure me. With most of the climbing coming in the first 9 miles or so and the steepest in the first few miles i did feel like cutting it short but once i had sweated it out and cleared chest I managed to finish off okay last 5 or 6 miles being relatively flat helped me grind out 22miles in 2.20. it might be a case of new bike syndrome but the bird does seem to hussle a fair bit quicker, losing no power and energy when pushing hard my average speed over a ride seems to be 2mph better off, which doesn't seem much but it's 20/25% above my average. theres always a downside normally and yes it is a touch harder on my back over a long ride but not to bad! there does seem to be some compliance in the frame and the terrain lasts night wasn't too testing. The forks are nice and buttery, with the sag set a little softer than normal with 150mm to go at I feel this is good option as the bar lock out works great for when I don't need the travel. the new xt m8000 group set works great, even after being set up by myself (no great bike mech) it doesn't miss a beat, no clucking or hesitation in any gear, can double shift. On the hardtail the 42 range is plenty enough with a 32 chainring. A small detail but a good factor is that the jockey wheel construction appears to shift mud really well, they have a different profile from what I've seen before and don't seem to clog up and what is on there comes off much easier. Geo seems much better suited for me then than my last hardtail （canyon). which was a real race machine but not as much fun and farless manoeuvrable.  Pic at the Mary Townley monument, at the top of what is anti clock wise an horrible energy sapping mega steep field climb, lucky for me I was dropping down it to Holmes Chapel. |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 22, 2015 7:51:09 GMT
Enjoyed reading the report ..but the bit that meant nothing to me was the time and average speed ..it just takes as long as it takes ..for me there is no rush and time(s) becomes less important the older you get .
Well done for getting out though when you were feeling like shite ...
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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 8:03:58 GMT
I know what you are saying and I'm a bit of a mixed bag really, having rides where I'm just happy to have a nice steady pootle, however I m still of the mind set where despite the growing years I'm trying to get fitter each year rather then plateau or worse still deteoriate so it acts as a marker/guide to check such things along with the time spent up a long touch climb just to check if I'm improving over the months. I also have rides where I'm in no great rush over most part but like to challenge myself to improve on the more popular DH type strava times and hit them as hard as the conditions or my body will take at the time.
Stravas generally handy as guide for such things and I've never really paid much attention to overall averages as its somewhat disheartening when you read you averaged only 6mph on a ride but it doesn't tell the full picture without ticking into account the climbs, what stood out last night was the difference between the same route ridden fit on the bouncer and semi fit on the hard tail that's the only reason I mentioned averages.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 22, 2015 8:24:21 GMT
Apologies John ...
I do understand where you are coming from ..I wasn't in any way knocking that and it's good to keep pushing yourself ...at 42 yrs old I was probably of the same mindset and was still taking part in trail quests ..( anyone remember them ? ) and still had an eye on speed and times ..16 years on and the only time I get bothered about finishing times is if I haven't packed my lights and it looks like getting dark !
That's a bloody good average time though ..10mph .in that sort of terrain..
I think that I may have managed that once ...then the alarm went off !
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 8:34:14 GMT
Glad you are getting on with the new bird  It isn't just me then. The Bird is fast, yet still slack angled for the fun stuff - it's a far better HT than I am a rider. Like you I was a bit worried about the effects on my ageing spine but (touch wood) so far after a few 20 milers on it I've had no problems, seems there is a fair bit of compliance in the frame. I've got the 140mm sweep forks and I really, really rate them, makes the front end lovely and light and yet can take anything I can throw at them. As for climbing, even though I'm on a standard 1x10 (32, 11-36) and the Chief has a pussy cog - the Bird kills the Chief on climbs. I absolutely can't imagine there being many better HT's out there, especially for the price. |
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Post by beansontoast on Sept 22, 2015 10:22:07 GMT
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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 10:55:24 GMT
I was going to ask what tyres you are running on yours Zulu, but I'm not sure if you can see/read them with those eyes?
What's going on there, sunny day?
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Post by hodgy on Sept 22, 2015 11:11:57 GMT
Clint Eastwood look ..."so are you feeling lucky punk ?"
" well ...are ya ? "
Start running !
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 12:30:29 GMT
It was a bit bright - but I have only got one working eye, so I tend to squint a bit in strong sunlight The tyres mate are a 2.3 Minion DHF (with lots of letters after it I don't understand) and on the rear a 2.25 Ardent. Both tubeless and tbh, a great combo on the bike - have never felt at any time that they are going to let me down. PS that's at the top of lower cliff - a cracking view which the piccie doesn't really do justice to. |
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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 12:32:46 GMT
I've put a 2.35 new nobby nice from scout on the back and a 2.35 hans Damf on the front, seems okay most of the time, spinning out in the mud last night but I guess most rear tyres would without having something to draggy.
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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 12:33:52 GMT
Sorry just realised my being able to read quip may have been in bad taste, I didn't know you had a dodgy eye, I never noticed at all around Bowerdale.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 22, 2015 12:41:56 GMT
Seconded Pez ..no offence meant ..I hadn't realised
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 12:43:17 GMT
No, don't be daft - not a problem, just how it is, not normally that noticeable but like I said, makes me a bit squinty in the sun Detached retina when I was a young bloke that they couldn't fix, it's not even a problem really as the brain compensates and only uses the good un. Jay and EuroBob were ripping the pee out of me on Sunday cos I was wearing a bandana (a la Glynn) to try and stop the sweat blinding my good eye, so I was getting all the 'Jack sparrow' and 'Long John Pez' quips - wish I had an eye patch now, too.  On the tyres I've had both Nics and have x2 HD's on the Chief - all very good tyres, I do feel the Ardent is best for the Bird though as it is the fastest rolling of all of them, whilst still being grippy 'enough' if you get me. I'd highly recommend it when you come to replace your current rear. |
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Post by dirkpitt74 on Sept 22, 2015 13:11:32 GMT
No, don't be daft - not a problem, just how it is, not normally that noticeable but like I said, makes me a bit squinty in the sun Detached retina when I was a young bloke that they couldn't fix, it's not even a problem really as the brain compensates and only uses the good un.Jay and EuroBob were ripping the pee out of me on Sunday cos I was wearing a bandana (a la Glynn) to try and stop the sweat blinding my good eye, so I was getting all the 'Jack sparrow' and 'Long John Pez' quips - wish I had an eye patch now, too. O/T thread hijack!! I've got similar problem although my retina was split. Centre is prettty much all scar tissue so vision is pretty non existant/wonky. Can't comment on tyres as have conti's on current bike. Nice Birds  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 13:31:38 GMT
If it's your left eye that is good we should ride together more - between us we'd have a perfect pair of eyes!  |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 22, 2015 13:33:39 GMT
THE perfect tandem team !
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Post by dirkpitt74 on Sept 22, 2015 13:52:38 GMT
My left eye's the knackered one too! lol.
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Post by beansontoast on Sept 22, 2015 13:53:54 GMT
Haha.. Do you both just wonder around in circles all the time? |
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Post by kirky72 on Sept 22, 2015 14:21:11 GMT
yes just like a bird, well a chicken cocking its head to one side and then the other, just trying to bring it back to the topic.
being serious though if you have vision from eye I would definatley wear goggles or glasses, I hate it when you good mud or a fly in one eye, I'm really soft when it comes to things in the eye and will just stop if safe to do so until I get it out or my eye stops watering. I'm going to go full endure through winter I think and wear some goggles. I tried them for the first time at Stiniog and worked a treat with no misting up, they also are the type which lift the natural colour rather than sun tinted so should do nicely.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 14:36:46 GMT
Oh I do mate - religiously. I had glasses on on the ride above - just took em off for the climb as it was red hot - as soon as any speed involved they are back on. Can't afford to risk what I have got left.
In fact - look at my right hand in the close up - you can see my Wrapz shades, even more reason why I was squinting as I had just took the buggers off when Jay collared me for the photo.
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Post by dirkpitt74 on Sept 22, 2015 15:40:08 GMT
Me too - can't be too carefull.
As I keep telling my kids 'you only get one pair of eyes'....
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Post by glynnsixo on Sept 22, 2015 18:06:05 GMT
Lol...... Wearing a bandana isnt just to keep sweat out your eyes, or your head warm in winter. Its also to help you look cool and rad?  |
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Post by Marmite on Sept 22, 2015 20:00:20 GMT
Love the look of that bird mate
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 7:02:33 GMT
Lol...... Wearing a bandana isnt just to keep sweat out your eyes, or your head warm in winter. Its also to help you look cool and rad? Glynn, ignore the plebs mate - they can scoff. That's the trouble with being one of the cool kids, all the others are jealous of you, they'll all be wearing one next year. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 7:04:00 GMT
Anyway Mr Beans - where's the photo of you I took on your phone?
You've made me look like a berk - your turn!!
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