Mountain biking?
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These lockdown days arent great for mountain biking enthusiasts. There are only so many ubran rolls I can handle and the local single tracks are a real risk given the amount of walkers out there and inability to social distance if you happen to come across one.
We've had the jump ramp out from a bit but grows old quickly. Have found a few hidden away trail sections though over the past few weeks in small bush pockets. I afew I have ridden before but can tell they are getting a lot more use over lockdown and the trail fairies have been hard at work tidying them up.
Hopefully do a bigger ride over the weekend. Got two OK ones last weekend which I will prob just repeat again.
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@jk said in Mountain biking?:
These lockdown days arent great for mountain biking enthusiasts. There are only so many ubran rolls I can handle and the local single tracks are a real risk given the amount of walkers out there and inability to social distance if you happen to come across one.
We've had the jump ramp out from a bit but grows old quickly. Have found a few hidden away trail sections though over the past few weeks in small bush pockets. I afew I have ridden before but can tell they are getting a lot more use over lockdown and the trail fairies have been hard at work tidying them up.
Hopefully do a bigger ride over the weekend. Got two OK ones last weekend which I will prob just repeat again.
Good luck, hope you don't end up on the news!
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@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
@jk said in Mountain biking?:
These lockdown days arent great for mountain biking enthusiasts. There are only so many ubran rolls I can handle and the local single tracks are a real risk given the amount of walkers out there and inability to social distance if you happen to come across one.
We've had the jump ramp out from a bit but grows old quickly. Have found a few hidden away trail sections though over the past few weeks in small bush pockets. I afew I have ridden before but can tell they are getting a lot more use over lockdown and the trail fairies have been hard at work tidying them up.
Hopefully do a bigger ride over the weekend. Got two OK ones last weekend which I will prob just repeat again.
Good luck, hope you don't end up on the news!
Nah these aren't those sort of rides. Having said that freak accidents can happen no matter if walking or riding a bike or gardening!
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@jk said in Mountain biking?:
@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
@jk said in Mountain biking?:
These lockdown days arent great for mountain biking enthusiasts. There are only so many ubran rolls I can handle and the local single tracks are a real risk given the amount of walkers out there and inability to social distance if you happen to come across one.
We've had the jump ramp out from a bit but grows old quickly. Have found a few hidden away trail sections though over the past few weeks in small bush pockets. I afew I have ridden before but can tell they are getting a lot more use over lockdown and the trail fairies have been hard at work tidying them up.
Hopefully do a bigger ride over the weekend. Got two OK ones last weekend which I will prob just repeat again.
Good luck, hope you don't end up on the news!
Nah these aren't those sort of rides. Having said that freak accidents can happen no matter if walking or riding a bike or gardening!
Agree. I think the issue is more the type of injury and access to the injured person which I can understand. If they have to send out SAR team to carry you out (or a chopper) as opposed to just sending an ambo down a road then I can see the logic. A bit like tramping/ surfing etc.
But if just clocking kms on a low grade singletrack then probably not much more risk than other allowed activities. -
@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
@jk said in Mountain biking?:
@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
@jk said in Mountain biking?:
These lockdown days arent great for mountain biking enthusiasts. There are only so many ubran rolls I can handle and the local single tracks are a real risk given the amount of walkers out there and inability to social distance if you happen to come across one.
We've had the jump ramp out from a bit but grows old quickly. Have found a few hidden away trail sections though over the past few weeks in small bush pockets. I afew I have ridden before but can tell they are getting a lot more use over lockdown and the trail fairies have been hard at work tidying them up.
Hopefully do a bigger ride over the weekend. Got two OK ones last weekend which I will prob just repeat again.
Good luck, hope you don't end up on the news!
Nah these aren't those sort of rides. Having said that freak accidents can happen no matter if walking or riding a bike or gardening!
Agree. I think the issue is more the type of injury and access to the injured person which I can understand. If they have to send out SAR team to carry you out (or a chopper) as opposed to just sending an ambo down a road then I can see the logic. A bit like tramping/ surfing etc.
But if just clocking kms on a low grade singletrack then probably not much more risk than other allowed activities.Yep I'm probably more risk on the jump ramp out front as can get about 1.5m of height off it. At least easy access there so no search and rescue required.
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On a different tangent - because I'm not crazy I don't ride off timber structures, and didn't want to start another thread.
I have been getting back on the bike of late in preparation for post-lockdown. The idea will be to try out bikepacking alongside some planned camping and hiking activities, because fuck wasting my weekends now I'm 45 and will shortly be too old and broken to enjoy outdor shit.
So, using my 10yo Giant MTB that I fitted with a pannier rack for commuting years ago, I'm having a look at this:
I'm seeing a lot of boomers do supported rides with a local tour operator out there, so figure I can handle it myself carrying the necessary gear and doing most meals at pubs/cafes along the way. Would not run the entire course, just look at Gulgong-Dunedoo-Mendooran-Ballimore-Wellington-Goolma-Gulgong over 5 or 6 nights.
Grab a couple of panniers, throw the hiking essentials on, and hit the road. Only issue would be time of year to do it - temperature range out in the Central West is (well) below zero nights in winter and above 40 in summer.
That is all.
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@nta said in Mountain biking?:
On a different tangent - because I'm not crazy I don't ride off timber structures, and didn't want to start another thread.
I have been getting back on the bike of late in preparation for post-lockdown. The idea will be to try out bikepacking alongside some planned camping and hiking activities, because fuck wasting my weekends now I'm 45 and will shortly be too old and broken to enjoy outdor shit.
So, using my 10yo Giant MTB that I fitted with a pannier rack for commuting years ago, I'm having a look at this:
I'm seeing a lot of boomers do supported rides with a local tour operator out there, so figure I can handle it myself carrying the necessary gear and doing most meals at pubs/cafes along the way. Would not run the entire course, just look at Gulgong-Dunedoo-Mendooran-Ballimore-Wellington-Goolma-Gulgong over 5 or 6 nights.
Grab a couple of panniers, throw the hiking essentials on, and hit the road. Only issue would be time of year to do it - temperature range out in the Central West is (well) below zero nights in winter and above 40 in summer.
That is all.
I set myself up to do the Queen Charlotte track earlier in the year as an equipment test but then got tied up at work. However I worked a few things out depending on how you want to tackle a multi-day ride unsupported.
I wanted to use existing tramping gear as much as possible to save on expenditure but also to get more use out of it.
I would also be on a tramping track so don't want to make the bike unwieldy and difficult.
Lightweight tent or shelter that can roll up to fit across handlebars without interfering with levers. I had a two-man one that fitted fine.
Sleeping bag. This was the biggest problem. My tramping one fits slung from a pack no problem but I only want to wear a small daypack and put other stuff in a seatpost fitted bag like this..
...anyway I bit the bullet and went for a replacement bag with compression sack that was 3 season rated but only took up about 1 litre of room.
Clothing - nothing bulky, just extra layers of merinos.
Small MSR stove and collapsible pot. I can work out emergency food to cook that is light but planned on eating during day mainly (or at nearby food places)
Biggest expense bar the sleeping bag was going to be an aeropress for coffee. No way could I go un-caffeinated. -
@nta said in Mountain biking?:
On a different tangent - because I'm not crazy I don't ride off timber structures, and didn't want to start another thread.
I have been getting back on the bike of late in preparation for post-lockdown. The idea will be to try out bikepacking alongside some planned camping and hiking activities, because fuck wasting my weekends now I'm 45 and will shortly be too old and broken to enjoy outdor shit.
So, using my 10yo Giant MTB that I fitted with a pannier rack for commuting years ago, I'm having a look at this:
I'm seeing a lot of boomers do supported rides with a local tour operator out there, so figure I can handle it myself carrying the necessary gear and doing most meals at pubs/cafes along the way. Would not run the entire course, just look at Gulgong-Dunedoo-Mendooran-Ballimore-Wellington-Goolma-Gulgong over 5 or 6 nights.
Grab a couple of panniers, throw the hiking essentials on, and hit the road. Only issue would be time of year to do it - temperature range out in the Central West is (well) below zero nights in winter and above 40 in summer.
That is all.
That trail looks good. I notice that they say 'be respectful of all animals'. Does that mean signed consent or will verbal do?
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@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
That trail looks good. I notice that they say 'be respectful of all animals'. Does that mean signed consent or will verbal do?
Fuckwits going onto farming property to get selfies with sheep I believe was the issue
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@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
I wanted to use existing tramping gear as much as possible to save on expenditure but also to get more use out of it.
Agreed - I've got hiking gear that generally fits the bill. Given the bike is already set up with a rear rack I was looking at panniers which I see all the bikepacking snobs look down on in their YouTube videos This is the rig - were I to put panniers on I'd probably upgrade the rear wheel with chunkier spokes TBH. It is carrying my fat arse around on suburban streets but dirt road and a bit more weight over the rear axle and it'll be under stress as a hard tail.
For panniers, well it is a Topeak rack so pretty easy choice - something like these at 25L each and I can keep the crappy old top bag I've got as well, or just use the top of the rack as a tie down for my sleeping mat:
Shelter = fly from a Hennessy Hammock. Have used hiking a few times and it is generally flexible enough to string up using hiking poles or sticks, and a suitable tree. Simple a-frame for inclement weather - can close in the end(s) with a bit of clever peg work. Otherwise string it up nice and high and get comfy.
Super lightweight ground sheet from a mob here called Alton Goods as a moisture barrier.
Got a new inflatable pillow on order as the one I have is no good any more for my busted shoulder.
All that can go in a dry bag around the handlebars with a bit of velcro or one pannier.
Kathmandu self-inflating air mattress. Not the thickhest but quite comfy (Ascent 38 model - bit of a luxury at 950g but R value of 3.6-2.1). Enhance it with a reflective ground sheet if required. Tie to rack some howAs you say, the sleeping bag is the issue for packing. I've always avoided down because once it is wet, yer fuct. Am now considering a quilt but I dunno. Guess I could stuff one of my existing sleeping bags in a pannier and it is safe there. Problem is I've been storing all my sleeping bags tight in their stuff sacks (lack of options) so they're not what they once were. I'll give them each a shot on the trail in some test runs and see how they go.
Biggest expense bar the sleeping bag was going to be an aeropress for coffee. No way could I go un-caffeinated.
The tiny little hiking stove and cylinder I have fit inside the anodised aluminium pot set I've got. I don't mind going bag coffee first thing if I need to, but would consider whether I can just grab a brew in town and save the weight. Different on QC track no doubt.
I had QC on my list for the solo trip in 2017 but the timing didn't work.
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@nta Panniers look an easy option. Fuck the nobs that want to 'gear compare'.
The drawback with panniers is if you are on narrow or winding tracks as you have widened the bike and have to allow for it. I don't see that as a problem for that track at all and you will welcome the space.
Looks like good fun.
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@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
The drawback with panniers is if you are on narrow or winding tracks as you have widened the bike and have to allow for it. I don't see that as a problem for that track at all and you will welcome the space.
Plus my arse doesn't allow for narrow tracks anyway
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@nta said in Mountain biking?:
@jk you have some amazing rail trails over there. Our tourist guys aren't really up to speed on that, and we've no shortage of old railway no longer in use
The old rail line through the Clare Valley is a
bike track to wobble from winery to winery. Great day out. -
I recorded and caught upon some of the stuff from the UCI Worlds over the weekend. Horrendously poor coverage with shite commentators. Quite a painful watch (although same goes for whatever the feed is for the Vuelta that Sky are taking).
Downhill MTB is one of the most insane on the edge sports going with a mixture of high skill and meathead but the way it is shown on TV hasn't changed since the start. Usually a three fixed camera job with cameras placed where they can see a few corners to pan through rather than convey the speed/steepness/sheer scariness.
How they can make something like this so dull is a criminal.
I will also say though that if UCI want to do the sport a service they would choose venues better. -
@crucial said in Mountain biking?:
I recorded and caught upon some of the stuff from the UCI Worlds over the weekend. Horrendously poor coverage with shite commentators. Quite a painful watch (although same goes for whatever the feed is for the Vuelta that Sky are taking).
Downhill MTB is one of the most insane on the edge sports going with a mixture of high skill and meathead but the way it is shown on TV hasn't changed since the start. Usually a three fixed camera job with cameras placed where they can see a few corners to pan through rather than convey the speed/steepness/sheer scariness.
How they can make something like this so dull is a criminal.
I will also say though that if UCI want to do the sport a service they would choose venues better.It was very poor footage eh! Better than the olympics but only just. Very disappointing
Just the usual Red Bull rounds are done a whole lot better than that.
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Rode some of my local trails on sat arvo but lots of debri on the trails and took a decent size branch to the derailleur about 20mins in and bent the farken thing in to the spokes! Bike was unrideable. No one else around so just got the tools out and did some running repairs to get in moving again and managed to ride back to the car without too much trouble. Replaced the hanger and realigned and all good as new.
Tested it yesterday with a decent 25km ride with the lad around the local burbs. Spent a bit of time at a pump track at one of the local schools and then a few more bush trails as we worked our way home. Good little ride.
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@jk said in Mountain biking?:
Rode some of my local trails on sat arvo but lots of debri on the trails and took a decent size branch to the derailleur about 20mins in and bent the farken thing in to the spokes! Bike was unrideable. No one else around so just got the tools out and did some running repairs to get in moving again and managed to ride back to the car without too much trouble. Replaced the hanger and realigned and all good as new.
Tested it yesterday with a decent 25km ride with the lad around the local burbs. Spent a bit of time at a pump track at one of the local schools and then a few more bush trails as we worked our way home. Good little ride.
Lucky you had a spare hanger. They can be bastard things to get the right one. Every manufacturer seems to make them slightly different.