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forteh

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Posts posted by forteh

  1. Entered the west midlands cyclocross league this year, today's race got cancelled and as it was the last event the final league positions have been released.

    I came 12th overall in the veterans 40-49 category, which I'm rather chuffed with🙂

    Persephone came 3rd in the girls u10s and it's currently leading the u12s category in the Notts and Derby CX league.

    Looking forward to the coming year of xc racing now I've finally moved up to a modernish 29er intense.

    • Like 1
  2. On 11/7/2024 at 7:04 PM, manuel said:

    So it’s time for 24” wheels, and kids bikes are insanely priced, especially second hand, compared to what you can get in an adult size! 
     

    anyone know of any uber short old school 26” frames I could mash some 24” wheels on? Amusingly If I hold the bike so he can climb on he can ride the cannondale with a 120mm stem on 🤣 he’s just got nowhere to go when he stops! 
     

    or any other recommendations? 

    We've got a whyte 303 looking for a home :)

  3. Happy new bike day for friday :D

    Finally retired my intense 5.5 after 12 years of riding, it's done me proud but it was time to move forwards.  2017 intense primer, a bit of a bargain for 750 quid on ebay, 30 quid for some shorter cranks and 60 quid for the lighter xc rubber.
    Absolutely flies along, wheelbase and reach is three inches longer than the 5.5, about the same headangle and obviously not 26" wheels!

    Came with a bikeyoke revive which is hands down THE best dropper I've ever witnessed, the action is so smooth and light and a full service and rebuild takes about 20 minutes with no special tools or faff!  Had to shorten it from 160 to 135 because I've got stumpy legs, designed and printed some clip on spacers that worked perfectly.

    Not massively light (a hair over 13.25kg/29lbs) but it's a kilo lighter than the 5.5 as is and only about 500g heavier than the wifes 29" vitus hartail that I've been using for xc racing; will be racing it for the xc next year.  The wheels are heavy (2kg) so some lighter hoops are in order when I find a bargain, as it is with the rear shock lockout enabled it pedals like a hardtail but without the sting, fully open it's still damn efficient :)

    image.thumb.png.336596033a0454fb8cb0d3d658509087.png

    • Like 2
  4. 15 minutes ago, monkeyseemonkeydo said:

    Already thinking that we may need to model a rider hanging his leg out under braking... going to be an interesting project!

    Steel frame maquette with a stuffed textile covering, allow you to play with different body positions?  Screws up your spine design though, perhaps you could have a rolling chassis mounted forwards of the spine on a spar to give uninterrupted airflow over the bodywork/rider?

    edit: you could 3D print the rider in limb sections and then incorporate that into the maquette

    • Like 1
  5. Further updates, he's now training with Lichfield CCC, looking to do his first xc race at the summer classic at cannock chase next month (if he doesn't decide he can't be bothered to race on the morning!) and just accidentally a whole 20" early rider for 45 quid :)

    He's still 3" too short to ride it yet :D

    • Like 1
  6. Other things, following my introduction to cycling through 12" deep clay mud during this CX season I have discovered that my frame clogs up really easily in certain situations.

    image.thumb.png.5386eb7648cfa27382d48b289a436ecc.png

    That was after 2.5 laps, I had a DNF because I tore my tricep.

    Trying to remove such mud by hand during a race simply makes a mess everywhere and takes forever around the BB because the combination of mud, gravel and grass makes a fine analog for reinforced concrete :(

    A muc off claw makes such a task a few seconds job though, they're a pig to carry in a jersey pocket though...

    image.png.c5a8cbc01ee65f2c39189f674e02c600.png

    image.thumb.png.87019a18fe86693bfd64e21b26ad9ccb.png

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/zUnpjurPB67uHcqm7

    Need to cut a row of bristles off but it works awesome, can scrape the front tyre on the move or completely clear the bottom bracket in about 15 seconds :)

     

    • Like 3
  7. My cyclic trimmer transmogrified a few times, it's now an electromagnetic driven mechanism with linear bearings, linkages, bell cranks and gubbins™

     

    image.thumb.png.284e7998dbd3627652e633aba7e8059a.png

     

    image.thumb.png.fe16b3cc3951f0c46593503ae1ba500c.png

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/MXFNdrngtVby56GY9

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/QwihCYJ2a3Y6hBFv8

    Stick is sprung to a centre point on both axis, pull the lever and it disengages the magnet enabling the spring units to slide on the linear bearing.  Release the lever to engage the magnet and set a new centre point from which it will spring again.

    Works really well :)

     

    • Like 4
  8. I recently built wheels for Persephone's new hup enduro build using DT swiss prolock nipples without any issues, using the torx socket driver is super nice for building wheels with them. I was using DT swiss spokes though so it might have a bearing, never had any issues with compatibility before.

  9. Have a look at bearlock, we have the gearbox lock so it can only be driven in reverse. Doesn't stop them breaking in but then sprinter doors are so bloody heavy I'm not sure it's all that quick and easy to do**. Being a visible campervan rather than a trades van hopefully makes it less targetable for the hit and run tool thieves.

    Bearlock also do cargo space deadlocks that are all actuated internally from inside the cabin. Even if they punch the lock/snip the wires it's still mechanically held from the inside.

     

    **edit: that said I locked the keys in once and the locksmith picked the drivers door in less than 15 seconds....

  10. We use transit customs at work, took delivery of new vans, within 10 days 5 grands worth of hilti tools nicked from the back.  Transits are stupidly easy to break into :(

  11. On 1/15/2022 at 3:43 PM, forteh said:

    So following the 14" belter that turned out to be a 16" belter we've accidentally a whole Isla cnoc14s :ermm:

    The child isn't three yet, can't pedal yet but at least he's sorted for the next few years :D

     

    PXL_20220115_152236865.jpg

    So, 20+ months later and he's been refusing to have the pedals on the belter and insisting on using it as a giant balance bike.   So much so that if we put the pedals on, he would get the allen key to take them off and refuse to get on the bike!

    This happened yesterday :)

    image.png.a05abe0323b101b65d80664cc7020cb6.png

    Finally!
    Just got on an pedalled off, not a worry.  Seat has now been moved up and he may be racing next year :D

    • Like 2
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