London Calling

thel33ter

It's not too expensive to try, and if you don't like it you can sell it on for a similar price, especially if you buy second hand, or sell it anyway and get a nice one if you do like it.

Like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eXotic-3D-Forged- ... 07fd44e3c6

Atz

Make sure you get the right size for your bars tho

Buckaroo

deadkenny wrote:

....even just a small difference in length can make a fairly big difference to the ride....

<immature mode on> huh-huh-huh-huh <immature mode off>

:roll:

Richard2118

deadkenny wrote:

My current stem is 100mm. Have read that even just a small difference in length can make a fairly big difference to the ride.

Yes that is what most women say : nought wrong with smutty imature

Richard2118

deadkenny wrote:

My current stem is 100mm. Have read that even just a small difference in length can make a fairly big difference to the ride.[/quote

Now being serious. stem length is totally something you can look at but before you play around too much have a look at a couple of things that are less expensive.

saddle poistion sometimes moving this forward can give you the same effect for downs, by bringing you further forward and giving you easier ability to go backwards ( the steeper the hill more need for this), also consider the angle of the seat as again this can help with downs.
secondly the height you have your bars ie a spacer here or there can have a huge diffrence on the feel of the steering.
lastly look at how you have your controls set up if you are reaching for them on downs it is likely that this is the prob not the stem.

I run 70 stem on mine but I have longish cockpit so its needed for my short arms to reach the controls as It gets steeper, sim[le my weight goes back i need to reach further to get them but i must be comfortable.

Have a play first and see before you change the stem.

Atz

Can't for the life of me remember how long my stem is, but it'll be in the spares box at the end of the month if you want to try something different without splashing out cash.

Naveed

Hey all,

Had a cool time with the Popstar at Earls Court, managed to see my future 29er bike at the Specialized stand and it looked awesome. It was a good day out, saw some stands from the big guns like Specialized, Sram, but to be honest there wasn't a huge mtb industry presence. Popstar's highlight of the day involved finding a free bike magazine, never have I seen a human so happy at not paying £3.75. for a mag.

We saw some mighty mighty wide mtb bars though, could've sworn one was a metre wide - HUGE!

popstar

Well, I took cycle magazine thinking it was a flier freebie really. Turned out it wasn't, but that was later.

Had a good social ride with guys this Sunday, rode tourist trails with some Knarr thrown inn inbetween. Surprisingly even in damp-root conditions all riders survived drops, steep rolls off and even managed to session few jumps while as always Plaisir had mechanical. Thanks to pedantic Cooldad and Atz, bike got to working order and we had some tea'n'cake later.

Finally completed a movie this early morning which could be seen here at:

Bank holiday with Sunday warriors part3
Those Skyline's final descents are purely awesome even at moderate speeds, one of the best flowy trails in UK in my books to this date.

Atz

Sorry for running away but dinner and BBQ were needed and I had to get the food

thel33ter

popstar wrote:

Well, I took cycle magazine thinking it was a flier freebie really. Turned out it wasn't, but that was later.

Had a good social ride with guys this Sunday, rode tourist trails with some Knarr thrown inn inbetween. Surprisingly even in damp-root conditions all riders survived drops, steep rolls off and even managed to session few jumps while as always Plaisir had mechanical. Thanks to pedantic Cooldad and Atz, bike got to working order and we had some tea'n'cake later.

Finally completed a movie this early morning which could be seen here at:

Bank holiday with Sunday warriors part3
Those Skyline's final descents are purely awesome even at moderate speeds, one of the best flowy trails in UK in my books to this date.

Cool Vid, although the rear view thing isn't in sync most of the time, and its a bit distracting.

popstar

Well, couldn't sync both vidz together as it was on 2 different dates filmed and different speeds. Didn't bother with that. As long as it looks Bling* that's all matters, even if you get a smelly aftertaste ... in Popstar's book it still counts. Proper French way.

OTT with SFX and PiP as DKenny said, -iz good!

cooldad

popstar wrote:

while as always Plaisir had mechanical. Thanks to awesome amazing stupendous heroic magnificent Cooldad and Atz, bike got to working order and we had some tea'n'cake later.

FTFY

cooldad

Good and exhausting ride, and my first attempt on a full sus, and disc brakes.
Interesting except for bloody gears. Spent ages indexing them yesterday, but were totally random today, have blisters on my thumbs to prove it. Awful shifters.
Might 8 speed it with bits off my hardtail. Also threatened to fit the V's and Bombers but thel33ter said he'd take it away if I did.

Buckaroo

Yep, couldnt have had a better day for it! Cool SH blast, thanks guys, excellent fun, with any luck I'll have the feeling back in my left hand soon.

Deffinately feel I'm getting better over the rough stuff and on the switch-backs but still want more confidence on the speedy berms... there's always next time.

Some pics going up on Flickr... some are alright.... Popstar took the rest

thel33ter

Great ride, and enjoyed the new bike, need to fettle the rear sock though.

I always seem to look crap in pictures :roll: And it's a pity this one came out a bit wrong.

Buckaroo

thel33ter wrote:

... pity this one came out a bit wrong

Some work to do on the action shots I think... trouble with compact-cams, they focus on what they want not what you want.... I foresee another upgrade.... :oops:

Sweet looking Enduro though, good skills.

supra-man

Ready for a ride this weekend. With the new toy.:-P

Naveed

Supraman,

You must be referring to your new Moondraker, she should be a beauty. I'm still contemplating whether to butcher my Marin Muirwood 29er and turn it into a fully rigid trail bike. Got some ardents to stick on it but not much else. The chainset is erm, alivio? can't see myself doing any granny ring action on this bad boy up a hill.

bah

popstar

Thats how you build up your fitness to be marvellous on uphill sections. At least we could have 1 champion in those.

Naveed

I'm def gonna try and come out this weekend, will most surely smoke you all on the climbs, as for the downhill it may well be a case of TAXI!!!

Still can't wait to get my new Specialized! thought about phoning the shop again to see if it may come before December while the trails are still good.

popstar

Those pix reflect that day, proud we occupied whole parking area of bikes with our group. Hehh it was like having an afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches. Good job at making them Buckaroo!

Richard2118

who fancies some of this at weekend ? feeling fairly Knarly at present so going to look at doing some of the new trails i have found peaslake way, probably a few drops that i know as well.

popstar

Wow Rich, that looks juicy!

If it's a Sunday gang-bang, I am in. Always struggle with drops, need to fix that.

pieman71

Would be keen to get out, defo need to work on jumps, drops, berms, signletrack, actually just need to work on riding properly.
pop some details up when your planning and will keep my eye on forum.
Pieman

thel33ter

That drop looks suspiciously like a bit at Horsell Common.

I can't get out on Sat or Sun due to school :evil:

Atz

I shall be 5000 miles away by then so can't make it

Anonymous

thel33ter wrote:

That drop looks suspiciously like a bit at Horsell Common.

I can't get out on Sat or Sun due to school :evil:

1. - Hmm, must check out Horsell Common again. Last time I went round there all I found was everything was flat (and no sign of Martians!). That said, found one of the common areas between Woking/Guildford (Whitmoor) is similar but did spot a load of kids around a jump area just off Salt Box Road.

2. School at the weekend! :shock:

thel33ter

deadkenny wrote:

thel33ter wrote:

That drop looks suspiciously like a bit at Horsell Common.

I can't get out on Sat or Sun due to school :evil:

1. - Hmm, must check out Horsell Common again. Last time I went round there all I found was everything was flat (and no sign of Martians!). That said, found one of the common areas between Woking/Guildford (Whitmoor) is similar but did spot a load of kids around a jump area just off Salt Box Road.

2. School at the weekend! :shock:

1. Horsell Common basically has 3 jumps, a crappy berm, a few good drops and a bit that kind of looks like Richards drop.

2. Saturday - We have to do a sport, which for me equals a ride with an average pace of 6mph

Sunday we have to do this...

Richard2118

thel33ter wrote:

That drop looks suspiciously like a bit at Horsell Common.

I can't get out on Sat or Sun due to school :evil:

Its near redlands woods .

drops I will look at on Sat are peaslake way and there is nice 3 footer thats a good practice one.

Richard2118

popstar wrote:

Wow Rich, that looks juicy!

If it's a Sunday gang-bang, I am in. Always struggle with drops, need to fix that.

Saturday for me , Sunday is a blow out as the mrs is away and i am looking after my daughter, so will be working on getting her to pedal her tricycle, which will be the closest to riding I get . Although you never know with the effort she could end up being a budding downhiller