peter_t

I find it easier to point my wheel towards my preferred foot when in a trackstand. Right foot right. All the tutorials etc. say otherwhise. Am i just odd? lol Try both. Once you can trackstand pretty well you can try it with the wheel facing the other way. This is very usefull as a trackstand only works with the front wheel facing uphill if you are along a slope so it gives you more options. This took a little time to get my head around as pressure on the pedals has the oppersite effect but i can do it now (Although not as good as my favorite side). If you're really good you can do it with you weaker foot forward! I can't do this though.

Yeah it is just practice. I think once you can trackstand for a long time, your overall ballance will also improve. When in a trackstand you are leaning towards the direction your front wheel is pointing. To ride away in a straight line you need to bring your weight centre befor you can straighten up and ride away. Sticking your knee out is probably all you need to do this. Try and trackstand with your wheel in vairying angles instead of the normall 45 degrees. More you lean the more you need to turn the wheel to the side.

Lots of subtle adjustments. I look a foot or two ahead of my front wheel. This helps-

No front brake? Great video

Warning There are stunts in ths video that are performed without helmets (but with special protective wigs). Haha!

You don't always have to be on your trials bike to practice. If you do mountain biking or similar with mates practice track stands and general hopping about whilst waiting for others, fixing punctues etc. I think learning a locked trackstand first is easier Im a bit of a novice too and it is bloody difficult but also very rewarding

Hans rey still rides with suspension but only because rockshox pay him to! Still doesn't make it right though.

I wear vans, something with a soft flexy sole like most skate shoes seems to grip the pedals better. Something too stiff and i don't feel connected with the bike and am less conscious of where my feet are. I tried walked boots in the winter on my mountain bike and it just didn't feel right! Stiff shoes are great for SPDs when your clipped in and can get the power down but for me i need to feel those pins doing their job with flats!

Like it

Some women telling me i could buy a second hand saddle from a guy who deals in old bike parts. I havn't not got a seat because im poor!

do you have a shock pump? You should let the air out first when you strip them, otherwhise something might go bang and you'll loose an eye. I have some suntour raidons and have serviced them twice. Its fairly easy but for some reason sr suntour are funny about handing out propper service manuals. To take the lower legs off you just loosen but don't fully remove the allen bolt from the air side. Then pull the rebound knob off the other leg and there is a larger hollow allen bolt inside. Leave these two bolts threaded in a couple of turns and tap them with a soft mallet or hammer and block of wood. This will loosen the lowers. Unlike many forks the damper isn't serviceble and is sealed. I don't see this as a problem as i'v used and abused the fork for the best part of two years with no trouble. Another unusual thing is the lower legs are dry and come packed with grease. This stuff - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/stendec-easy-glide-fork-grease/rp-prod3150 its different to normal grease and is super slippery. I also tried adding some thin suspension fluid but it didn't make much difference. As long as the air spring isn't leaking it should be fine but it is easy to service. Unscrew the top cap and there is a presta valve. Let the air out. then with a large socket (six point is best as it won't slip) unscrew to valve. Then the rest of the air chamber should come out. There is a plastic bumper on the bottom of the air shaft, this is a tight fit but pulls off (took me a while to figure out as i didnt want to brake anything :$ ). Clean everything and put it back together. Suntour recomend 80 weight gear oil to lbricate it, I used EP90 as its almost the same, its common and had it laying around. I'v had no problems so far. Put everything together and pump it back up and your good to go! Keep the stanchions clean with a cloth and water after rides. Also a spray called fork juice is good, just spray it on every few rides and it makes the fork much smoother. I found it helped more on my raidons then other more expensive forks iv used as the raidons only have crome plating instead of anodised stanchions. GT80, WD40 etc. is bad for your seals and atracts dirt which is bad news for your forks! hope this helps.

Really??? Nice video mate

The money is ok but not great, i was on about £75 a day which was fairly average, i climbed but not every day. If you're a self employed subcontractor and a good climber you can expect £100-120 a day but obviously tools, insurance etc. comes out of that and you don't get the perks of holiday pay. It sounds like your well suited to it though its oftern dirty, wet, cold and stressfull so it soon sorts the men from the boys. Other times the sun will be shining and you mite be surounded by beautifull countyside, maybe just taking dead or dangerous branches overhanging footpaths. These times its hard to beat. Climbing requires method, quick thinking and a cool head. This is what its like... You may be 40ft up, where do i put my climbing rope? Is it safe? can i get to where i need from that point? You walk out on a branch, its hard to ballance, shit if i slip im gonna swing a long way. Am i far out enough? How much can i cut at once? How heavy is the wood? If i drop it will it hit that roof? Should i lower it on a rope? Where from? What way will it fall? Will the groundsman be able to hold it? Ok its tied on and you start the saw. What cut should i use? Will the saw pinch? If the saw kicks back will it cut my ropes? Will it cut me? If the branch goes the wrong way will i get tangled up? As you get more experienced you will tend to think less and you will be able to judge situations better and faster and this is what makes a good climber, not fitness necessarily. For the first year you will likely to be draging rubbish to the woodchipper and in that time I barely touched a chainsaw at work. Like anywhere you work you have to start at the bottom but it will teach you what it takes to get a job done. Just stay keen and ask questions, make a real effort to lean tree ID and how to prune etc. Nobody will waste their time teaching somebody who seems uninterested. Hope this helps

I liked Martyns because it was a bit of a laugh but this just seems so serious!

I was a tree surgeon till 3 months ago. Great job if you like working outdoors but sadly my boss turned into an arsehole and i packed it in. I was at college for 2 years and then worked for about 5. Its not for everyone, its bloody hard work and can be pretty dangerous and stressfull at times. Like any job it all depends on who you work for, from my experience and that of freinds its better to work for small firms rather than big companies, you will be treated alot better and feel part of the team instead of just another number. Don't feel down hearted if you don't get to climb much at the start, it takes a long time to become good. Try and push yourself but know your limit. Also don't let people force you into doing things that you're really not comfortable with. I've broken many fences and even a greenhouse, trust be it will happen but its best avoided :$ lol. Last of all don't brake yourself! I have had near misses with chainsaws etc. but have seen a serious accident, it really wasn't fun at all. Hope this helps and doesn't put you off, it really is a great job and im sure i will go back to it one day Feel free to ask me any more questions Best of luck!

Would you mind if i tag along sometime? I rode with a guy from Hailsham which was great but he hasn't got much time now with his new job

Hi mate im in Herstmonceux so not that far from you. How often do you ride?

I have one of these! Retro is cool right?... A brake booster is a big improvement as the seat stays are super flexy.

Merida Matts Trail On One Inbred single speed Mostly gears for the summer and single speed for the winter.

Managed 36 hops on the rear wheel today! I feel progress is being made

Thanks goanywere. What do you think a reasonable one is worth? has some nice bits, maguras etc.

Here is a picture,

I used a lengh of 2x1" as a straight edge between the axles then measured fron that to the centre of the BB.

Mine was when i measured it. I don't think the forks are original so i guess they must be longer.