And today I did......

[epicyclo]

I refuse to mention knees (touch wood) as a 44yo still riding 34/17 Single speed 29er...according to all known mountain bike magazines I couldn't have ridden up any hills since 2003 and my knees should have imploded.

Don't worry, you've got at least another 30+ years to go.

Mountain bike magazines are full of spindly legged gearies and exist to sell expensive consumable shiny bike bits to a market that has been conditioned to buying a whole new drivetrain every few years instead of grudgingly replacing a cheap chain after 5 years. You'll find very few that actively support singlespeed.

I'm convinced single speed strengthens your knees on the whole, never mind the toning benefits for the whole of your body that you don't get with spinny gears. It's just a matter of not using stupidly high gearing if you're not "acclimatised" to it.

Counterintuitively, if you have a problem, as Velo has just mentioned, shorter cranks may be the answer.

When you think about it, shorter cranks makes sense. For example, if you have ever done squats with a few hundred lbs, the hard bit is when you are right down with your knees fully bent, but when you have got up to a shallower knee angle it is much easier. With shorter cranks, your knees are not bent as much as with long cranks.

 

[simdagger]

Re:

Gave away a Lava Dome because I would realistically never get to do anything with it...and I got marginally further along my 1991 Kona Explosif...most of the clear coat lacquer is done, probably one final 1200grit sand and a final coat.

Put some rubber on just to see how it looks and of course Splashbacks look amazing...alas my broken shoulder will prevent me from seating them on to the rim, but the Deore DX - UMT-17 original 1991 wheels are all now set up tubeless ready.

Loving the way this is coming along

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re: Re:

Gave away a Lava Dome because I would realistically never get to do anything with it...and I got marginally further along my 1991 Kona Explosif...most of the clear coat lacquer is done, probably one final 1200grit sand and a final coat.

Put some rubber on just to see how it looks and of course Splashbacks look amazing...alas my broken shoulder will prevent me from seating them on to the rim, but the Deore DX - UMT-17 original 1991 wheels are all now set up tubeless ready.

Loving the way this is coming along

Picked up a very generously offered Lava Dome from simdagger. Did the 32 mile round trip on the Giant - I’m knackered now.

A strange coincidence is that I almost broke my shoulder (diagnosed as a disrupted ACJ) riding with Splashbacks in the wet. Not a fan, although I guess they are fine in the dry.

Explosif looks fab.

Thanks again - looking forward to getting it built up!

 

[dyna-ti]

Do you enjoy sliding off the saddle thats a bit of an angle isnt it.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Dyna, I think that is deceptive as I think the saddle is level with a slightly sloping top tube of the Cadex.
Personally I like the bag with the frame peaking out

Jamie

 

[Bullpup]

In Edinburgh you would get stopped by the police for riding with a swag bag!

 

[dyna-ti]

Ahh yes, of course. Always gets me these views.

Got a new tent today Different from my usual choice of higher, but got it for the right price so saved about 50 quid, enough to be happy.
Snugpac journey solo. I picked it on length, and he also had a slightly higher but shorter Ionosphere, which is lighter, though the pack weight on the journey you can do at 1.5kg about.
Maybe still change to the ionosphere or maybe an MSR hubba or Zoic, but I'll see how I get on with this first. All about inside length when you're 6'3" and this apparently has ample even at 6'7"
Classed as 3 season.
https://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/journey-solo

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks a good tent mate, 6'7''! That's a family tent for my lot

Jamie

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Found an interesting sculpture while out and a leat that is bone dry and it's still May!

 

[clubby]

Cheating insects, that frame is definitely not UCI compliant.