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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 12:06:01 GMT
My son's bike is an adult size, small frame mountain bike with front suspension forks (Decathlon B'Twin Rockrider 340 - a better bike than my own P-o-S Trax TR1). Perhaps I'll have a little run out on that and see what I think. My tyres are pretty fat looking already to my eye, don't want to slow myself down unduly on the road. My bike has to be dual purpose road/light off road (unmade paths and flat meadows with short grass).
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Post by Humph on Apr 18, 2017 12:40:11 GMT
Try messing with the tyre pressures then. Soften them off a bit if you're going off road a lot. It'll make a difference.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 12:52:22 GMT
Ah good idea. Makes for harder progress on the road, though. The rides I'm getting into a routine of doing are about 60% off road, 40% on road, so I'd ideally like a solution which is soft off road and hard on road, which is why I thought about suspension forks, with a lock maybe to set them rigid on road? Does that option exist?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 13:01:42 GMT
>>with a lock maybe to set them rigid on road? Does that option exist?
Yes, I have it.
The first difficulty is that I always forget.
IMO, the suspension makes it more pleasant if one hits bumps and more hard work if one is really putting energy into the pedalling. Without a lock I'd go for no suspension since the increase in work outweighs the increase in comfort. The lock on doesn't give the solid rigidity of no suspension, but it does take the energy absorbing bounce out of it.
It doee weigh more though, and again depending on what you;re doing, if you;re already on a heavy bike that might matter.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 13:08:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 13:23:30 GMT
I don't really know what I'm looking at, you need Humph for that kind of judgement.
I don't know what forks will cost you, but seems to me if you're being affected by your equipment so much you may need to consider a better bike altogether.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 13:41:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2017 14:02:05 GMT
>> I also value owning a bike nobody would want to steal, so I like having a really unfashionable, cheap looking snotter.
Funny, my wife says much the same about me.
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Post by Humph on Apr 18, 2017 16:52:18 GMT
No lock out on those and 80mm travel is, well, not a lot. When you get home, check the tyre size you have if you don't mind. I might be able to suggest something. Non-lockable forks are a pita. Really wouldn't bother. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 8:24:25 GMT
Thanks. I'll report back tonight/tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 13:07:50 GMT
My tyres say 26 x 1.95 (53-559). Isn't that mixing up imperial and metric?
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Post by bromptonaut on Apr 20, 2017 13:16:40 GMT
Wheels without rim tape  |
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Post by Humph on Apr 20, 2017 13:18:23 GMT
Ah so, there's your problem Grasshopper ! ( apart from the shonky bike that is ! )
Put some 26 X 2.35s on it and will transform it off road. Pump them up to about 40 psi and it'll also be fine on road ( if a bit noisy )
I'd stick Kenda Kinetics on it. Budget tyre but they will plough through anything and give a good supple ride. Careful if you do order those though as they are directional and they are front/rear specific ( ie different tyres for front and rear wheels )
Re suspension, I only "turn mine on" when on fast loose or rough descents to stop my eyes falling out from vibration. Rest of the time it's locked off. Unlocked sprung forks just waste effort pushing against the spring.
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Post by Humph on Apr 20, 2017 13:19:51 GMT
Wheels without rim tape Yeah, I didn't like to say... 😜 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 13:22:18 GMT
Thanks, Humph, that's really helpful. *shuffles off to amazon*
Brompterooney - I'd never heard of the stuff. Seriously. I'm now wondering why the chappie at the in-house bike repair workshop at my French holiday resort last summer didn't think to sell some to me. That's France I suppose.
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