My XC bike just morphed to DH bike..

[hippy]

..at least, that's what it felt like compared to the SS!

Rode the Avanti Montari HT in to work today (was planning on doing one of the dirt crits at Westgate Park?) and it felt like a
flippin' downhill bike!

I understand it's not a super light racing machine, but compared
to the singlespeed GT, it was rolling terribly slow and felt
very "mushy".
(Yes, it has Bombers on the front versus rigid, but!)

I hope it was just the high rolling resistance of knobbies running
low air, versus 50psi semi-slicks on the GT, that made it feel that
way, otherwise, my legs are in need of a serious tuneup!

I noticed the position is quite different too. I'm over the back
of the seat and it feels like I'm pushing the pedals forward
rather than down. I have a sore lower back now, I'm
guessing from leaning further forward from the Montari's
slack seattube angle? (Could there be a 'disadvantage'
to owning multiple bikes?!?!)

The bike handles really sketchy too. Sharp turns really upset
what I 'hope' is the low-air tyres...

Also, what are possible causes for speed wobbles?
None of my other bikes have the front wheel shake when I
ride no handed, but this one was VERY shaky. I checked the
headset and it seems to spin fine...??

A paranoid hippy might need to check the frame for cracks?

Time: 1:10 (slower than the SS)

hippy blog 20-May-2004

 

[flyingdutch]

Also, what are possible causes for speed wobbles?
None of my other bikes have the front wheel shake when I
ride no handed, but this one was VERY shaky. I checked the
headset and it seems to spin fine...??

I have noticed this on a couple of my bikes and have noticed the further back seat position could be a factor (as you mentioned with the Montari), especially as you sit up and take the hands off

i presume them dirt crits are with lights taken?

 

[hippy]

>Originally posted by flyingdutch
>I have noticed this on a couple of my bikes and have noticed
>the further back seat position could be a factor (as you >mentioned with the Montari), especially as you sit up and
>take the hands off

It was strange! It wasn't due to me being unstable or anything,
the bars gradually starting wobbling and got more and more 'extreme' in their movement. None of the other bikes wobble like that.

>i presume them dirt crits are with lights taken?

They're a bit hard to swallow but yeah, lights are probably the
go with racing starting at 6.30. I dunno if I'll race. Might go and
have a look first - especially with the bike feeling like ****. I
crash enough without a dodgy bike!

Check this: http://www.fullgaspromotions.com.au/dirtcrits.html

Hey Snozza, if you're reading this, can I use my road licence?

hippy

 

[eddiec]

Originally posted by hippy
..at least, that's what it felt like compared to the SS!

Rode the Avanti Montari HT in to work today (was planning on doing one of the dirt crits at Westgate Park?) and it felt like a
flippin' downhill bike!

I understand it's not a super light racing machine, but compared
to the singlespeed GT, it was rolling terribly slow and felt
very "mushy".
(Yes, it has Bombers on the front versus rigid, but!)

I hope it was just the high rolling resistance of knobbies running
low air, versus 50psi semi-slicks on the GT, that made it feel that
way, otherwise, my legs are in need of a serious tuneup!

I noticed the position is quite different too. I'm over the back
of the seat and it feels like I'm pushing the pedals forward
rather than down. I have a sore lower back now, I'm
guessing from leaning further forward from the Montari's
slack seattube angle? (Could there be a 'disadvantage'
to owning multiple bikes?!?!)

The bike handles really sketchy too. Sharp turns really upset
what I 'hope' is the low-air tyres...

Also, what are possible causes for speed wobbles?
None of my other bikes have the front wheel shake when I
ride no handed, but this one was VERY shaky. I checked the
headset and it seems to spin fine...??

A paranoid hippy might need to check the frame for cracks?

Time: 1:10 (slower than the SS)

hippy blog 20-May-2004

I know the feeling!

After a week or two of commuting on the newly built mongrel-MTB-commuter, returning to my duallie (albeit XC style) was a shock and a half which took me a good hour or so to get used to... The laid-back position, the suspension-sponginess during pedalling which I never noticed before, the weird progressive discs vs. the snap of V's, and the wide gorilla arms vs the narrow hunched posture on the commuter's tri bars. Only saving grace was the lighter weight (hmm.. must find some cheap light wheels for the commuter... )

(And I must confess - I've never got the knack of riding hands free.. oh the shame, the shame of it all...)

 

[amirm]

Originally posted by hippy
..at least, that's what it felt like compared to the SS!

Rode the Avanti Montari HT in to work today (was planning on doing one of the dirt crits at Westgate Park?) and it felt like a
flippin' downhill bike!

I understand it's not a super light racing machine, but compared
to the singlespeed GT, it was rolling terribly slow and felt
very "mushy".
(Yes, it has Bombers on the front versus rigid, but!)

I hope it was just the high rolling resistance of knobbies running
low air, versus 50psi semi-slicks on the GT, that made it feel that
way, otherwise, my legs are in need of a serious tuneup!

I noticed the position is quite different too. I'm over the back
of the seat and it feels like I'm pushing the pedals forward
rather than down. I have a sore lower back now, I'm
guessing from leaning further forward from the Montari's
slack seattube angle? (Could there be a 'disadvantage'
to owning multiple bikes?!?!)

The bike handles really sketchy too. Sharp turns really upset
what I 'hope' is the low-air tyres...

Also, what are possible causes for speed wobbles?
None of my other bikes have the front wheel shake when I
ride no handed, but this one was VERY shaky. I checked the
headset and it seems to spin fine...??

A paranoid hippy might need to check the frame for cracks?

Time: 1:10 (slower than the SS)

hippy blog 20-May-2004

Ditch the bike. It's just too frstrating putting up with it.

I'll e-mail my delivery address for you so I can dispose off the bike on your behalf.

hippy, he who rides on fast single speed and dumps the other

 

[hippy]

Originally posted by amirm
Ditch the bike. It's just too frstrating putting up with it.

I'll e-mail my delivery address for you so I can dispose off the bike on your behalf.

hippy, he who rides on fast single speed and dumps the other

hehe.. sorry dude, this bike holds great sentimental value (21st present from loving parents among other things).

What I can do though, is use this as an excuse to buy another mountain bike

Now, decisions, decisions.. OnOne Inbred or a duallie...??

hippy
"BOTH!"

 

[flyingdutch]

Originally posted by hippy
hehe.. sorry dude, this bike holds great sentimental value (21st present from loving parents among other things).

What I can do though, is use this as an excuse to buy another mountain bike

Now, decisions, decisions.. OnOne Inbred or a duallie...??

hippy
"BOTH!"

why stop at 2???

In a civilized world one would have a bike for every day of the week

 

[hippy]

Originally posted by flyingdutch
why stop at 2???

In a civilized world one would have a bike for every day of the week

What if my Thursday bike was a Pinarello, but the dirt crits were on too?

You see the predicament having ONLY 7 bikes could cause?

You need enough for all the permutations of all the bike types and days...

hippy
"5pm, Insanity moved in, bringing all its friends along for the house-warming"

 

[eddiec]

Originally posted by hippy
hehe.. sorry dude, this bike holds great sentimental value (21st present from loving parents among other things).

What I can do though, is use this as an excuse to buy another mountain bike

Now, decisions, decisions.. OnOne Inbred or a duallie...??

hippy
"BOTH!"

Why not combine the two? Single speed duallie... Go on - I dare you... You know you want to

 

[hippy]

Originally posted by eddiec
Why not combine the two? Single speed duallie... Go on - I dare you... You know you want to

It's been done before, commercially even(!) in the form of
a Kona "A":

http://www.konaworld.com/kw_index.cfm
(see top frame)

http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/frames/2K4_Frame_A_1300.jpg
"A" frame image (Large!)

If I had duallies laying around (I wish!) I'd certainly consider it.

hippy

 

[snozza]

Hippy et al,

>Check this: > [url]http://www.fullgaspromotions.com.au/dirtcrits.html[/url]

>Hey Snozza, if you're reading this, can I use my road licence?

Sorry for the delay in answering... mate you can't use your (CA) road licence.
It's either a full MTBA membership (which we can orgainise for you, email me off list if you want one) or a day licence for $10 per race.

Also (I posted this last night, but it's gone missing...)
If anyone here (or knows someone who) is looking to ride solo in the FGP 12hr MTB enduro, there are only 9 solo spots remaining!
Entries for the FGP 12hr were over 130 (out of a possible 500) when i checked last night, so i wouldn't leave it too much longer b4 entering.

Entries for the Kona24hr are also filling up with just under 100 riders entered thus far. There is a 900 rider limit on this event this year.

The dirt crits will start Series 2 this week. Last week saw the final race of Series1; with the winner taking home a set of Mavic Cross-Roc's and other series placegetters riding off with various SRAM, Conti and FGP goodness in their sky-rockets. Anyone can win (all grades win the same points & handicap nights rate with triple points) so come on down.

Take care out there...

Snozza
www.fullgaspromotions.com.au