I recently rode my Giant M2 and it opened my eyes!
DonDaddyD
Posts: 12,689
On Easter Saturday, I went back to my parents and tried out my Giant M2 again.
Now this bike has been sitting in the back Garden with nothing but a motorcycle cover over it for the best part of a year. Its sat there through the wind, rain and recent snow. Its never had a service and not one upgrade and only the rear tyre has been replaced (to something far cheaper).
Considering all that only the chain was really visibly rusty. A little oil and air in the tyres and the bike was good to go.
After getting used to riding a bike without clipless (not having an up-pedal feels wierd) I was hugely impressed.
I couldn't see me riding it for more than 10/15 miles as the riding position wouln't be comfortable for me overly longer distances. But I was impressed with the smoothness of the gear changes, the speed considering its not a road bike, agility (it still remains too agile for me - but the length of the cranks means you can't get into a lean on bends) and the braking, which were still so powerful (cable operated disc brakes) they nearly threw me over the bars.
For the purpose of my commute it still wouldn't be as comfortable or as 'enjoyable' - in terms of speed as my road bike but I'm not going to take as harsh a line on that bike.
It could more than do the job.
Now this bike has been sitting in the back Garden with nothing but a motorcycle cover over it for the best part of a year. Its sat there through the wind, rain and recent snow. Its never had a service and not one upgrade and only the rear tyre has been replaced (to something far cheaper).
Considering all that only the chain was really visibly rusty. A little oil and air in the tyres and the bike was good to go.
After getting used to riding a bike without clipless (not having an up-pedal feels wierd) I was hugely impressed.
I couldn't see me riding it for more than 10/15 miles as the riding position wouln't be comfortable for me overly longer distances. But I was impressed with the smoothness of the gear changes, the speed considering its not a road bike, agility (it still remains too agile for me - but the length of the cranks means you can't get into a lean on bends) and the braking, which were still so powerful (cable operated disc brakes) they nearly threw me over the bars.
For the purpose of my commute it still wouldn't be as comfortable or as 'enjoyable' - in terms of speed as my road bike but I'm not going to take as harsh a line on that bike.
It could more than do the job.
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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Comments
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Hoo-bloody-rah!
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DonDaddyD wrote:(it still remains too agile for me - but the length of the cranks means you can't get into a lean on bends)
Build up speed into a corner.
Get any braking you need to do out of the way before you enter the corner.
Make sure your inside crank is in top position whilst in the corner.
If need be countersteer by pushing down on the handlebar side opposite to the corner direction & hang your bodyweight off a bit more into the corner direction.
When safe to do so bring the bike back to vertical & power out of it by pushing down on the already positioned crank.
There is no way crank length should interfere with cornering.
A corner approached in the correct manner should pose no danger of a pedal strike.
The above holds true for freewheel or fixed ( except on a fixed you need to keep the bike more vertical by counter steering a bit more ).Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.
Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.0 -
sarajoy wrote:Hoo-bloody-rah!
Well thats constructive, friendly and of benefit to the forum... :roll:Make sure your inside crank is in top position whilst in the corner.
This is the issue, it feels a little odd to have the inside crank turned up. But I haven't in the past, thus clipped the road with the pedal and had the bike spin out from under me.... :?Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
Glad it had the desired effectDonDaddyD wrote:sarajoy wrote:Hoo-bloody-rah!
Well thats constructive, friendly and of benefit to the forum... :roll:
Cheer up mate, just nice to hear the lowly hybrid is "not that bad" coming from your fingers!
I find I still automatically pull the inside crank up, as I had to with my late bike. Starting to get used to pedalling through now, mind...DonDaddyD wrote:Make sure your inside crank is in top position whilst in the corner.
This is the issue, it feels a little odd to have the inside crank turned up. But I haven't in the past, thus clipped the road with the pedal and had the bike spin out from under me.... :?0 -
Practice a corner by having the inside crank up & leaning yourself into the corner instead of the bike & after a while it becomes ( effective ) second nature. Good confidence builder as you realise your body weight distribution has more impact on bike handling than frame geometry, tyre grip or brakes
Volition & freedom is within the remit of a democratic society.
Not everybody agrees with your point of view though.0 -
i'm suprised you had problems with or fear of pedal strike as normally road bikes have more issue with that having a lower bottom bracket normally.
yup MTB derived brakes are rather a good aren't they! and thats only cable disks they get a fair bit more powerful up the food chain.0 -
DDD, there's a good chance it feels faster than you expected because YOU are faster than you were back then! But it's great to see a much-loved, if retired, piece of kit can still give you good times. I wonder what DID happen to my Grifter...?0
