Any Mountain Bikers out there?

[godale03]

Thanks Lessen pictures help. I will take inventory and make a list for the next trip to the bike shop.

I am thinking qaart is speaking of making sure the Co2 doesn't freeze the tube when your inflating.... I know I have to be careful blowing out PC's with canned air for that very reason... just a guess though.

Alpine... thank you for the the helmet advice. The little bit of online research that I have done I can't tell the difference between the helmets and their respective prices. You got to ask yourself how valuable is your head... right? LOL Do the more expensive ones really protect your head better?

Tom

 

[robmob]

I use a Giro that ran me about $100+ when I bought it. It is my second one because my first one broke in 3 places after a nasty impact while going down a steep hill. Damn tree root just jumped up out of the ground in front of me and flipped me completely over. My buddy told me it happened so fast I hit the ground with my head upside down and I was still on the bike. Knocked the wind out of me and tore my left ear slightly on the top when the helmet was compressed on my head. No other head trauma. The helmet did it's job and absorbed the impact.

After realizing my helmet was toast, I promptly went on the hunt to buy an exact replacement.

I will not use anything less as a result.

Of course, any helmet is better than no helmet.


Now don't go freezing that tube with the Co2. LMFAO

 

[godale03]

I use a Giro that ran me about $100+ when I bought it. It is my second one because my first one broke in 3 places after a nasty impact while going down a steep hill. Damn tree root just jumped up out of the ground in front of me and flipped me completely over. My buddy told me it happened so fast I hit the ground with my head upside down and I was still on the bike. Knocked the wind out of me and tore my left ear slightly on the top when the helmet was compressed on my head. No other head trauma. The helmet did it's job and absorbed the impact.

After realizing my helmet was toast, I promptly went on the hunt to buy an exact replacement.

I will not use anything less as a result.

Of course, any helmet is better than no helmet.


Now don't go freezing that tube with the Co2. LMFAO

Ok... so price does in fact make a difference in personal safety.... hmm... that might be a tough sell to old lady... but how much are you willing to risk my personal safty is what I will ask her!

 

[robmob]

Just go down to your local bike shop and get what they have. They will carry quality helmets that will get the job done.

Stay away from Wally World, Target and similar for your helmet.

 

[Lessen]

My entire family is outfitted with Gyro's as well. I've been fortunate enough not for it to come in handy but they are very trustworthy (as you can tell from Rob's story)

 

[godale03]

Hey Lessen... you or Rob... or both have models of the helmets that you bought? Apparently there are many models out there! Thanks guys.

Tom

 

[Lessen]

I have a Havoc.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/8591.jpg

Ooh! I just thought of something else you should definitly invest in. Riding gloves! I'm a big fan of using gloves. They do wonders for comfort because of the padding at the right places, more specifically on the outer section of the hand. Personally, I like fingerless.

I think these are what I have. Specialized. They're awesome!

http://www.beyondmountainbikes.com/assets/products/00047/L_08BGGelBlkGroup.jpg

 

[neobart]

Met also makes great helmets. Especially if you have a big mellon(size61) like me.

I have a Met Testagrossa, it's light and comfortable. And I think I've read Met has a 3 year replacement plan in some countries. Basically if you crash within the first 3 years of purchase, they'll give you a new one at a reduced price.

 

[robmob]

I have what is now called the Giro Athlon.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

The one i use is the Trek Vapor. Love it, no problems, and have taken some hard hits, as well as issued a few headbuts....... (for some reason, no one respects bike cops ). lol

 

[robmob]

My wife and kids use Trek Vapors.

 

[godale03]

Thanks guys. I will check out those helmets to see what will work best for me. I was going to order one online... but the wife suggested it would be better to try it on first...probably good advice.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

yea, i have a larger head, so the gyro's are a lil too short for me.

 

[godale03]

There is nothing big about my head!! I am tall and lanky... stick boy is what they usually call me. LOL I have a hard time with sunglasses and hats...

 

[Lessen]

All this talk about bikes... I think I'm gonna go work on mine right now I need to refit different tires and re-install my front deraileur from my W.V. excursion a while back.

 

[godale03]

All this talk about bikes... I think I'm gonna go work on mine right now I need to refit different tires and re-install my front deraileur from my W.V. excursion a while back.

No doubt! I am going helmet shopping tomorrow... which is my day off!! Woo hoo! We have a ton of crap going on Saturday... but I would like to get riding maybe Sunday weather pending.

 

[godale03]

Well guys... I ended up at the bike shop this weekend and picked up a Giro Phase. It is only an $80 helmet... but the guy at the shop said that it would more than do the job. I also picked up some tire levers, an extra tube, multi tool, Co2 inflator, patch kit, and an under the seat bag to put it all in. I can't wait to get out there and try it all out! Of course I ended up getting sick this weekend and had probably one of the worst weekends I have had in recent memory... at least one of the most expensive... I will explain later... .but I never ended up getting out to do any riding at all.

Hey guys... how in the heck do you use a chain tool anyway? LOL

 

[Lessen]

Aw darn. I wish you woulda asked about a week ago and I would have done a video or at least taken pictures. I just had to break my chain to reinstall my front deraileur. Basically, you place the chain link with the master pin into the tool and screw down on the extracter which will simply push the master pin out. You have to be careful you don't send that pin flying though.

 

[neobart]

Yup slow is key when using a chain tool. You wanna make sure the pin stays in the link, but you can still pull the chain apart. Makes re-assemply allot easier

 

[Greyryder]

Depending on the chain tool you're using, there should be two spots to put the chain. You mostly want to use the bottom part, because it supports the link, and let's the pin get pushed through, without bending things up. After the chain's back together, you can use the upper spot, to push the pin through one side just a little, without it going out the other side. This'll loosen up the link, since they tend to get bound up, when they're put back together.

Park Tools has a good instructional page on how to use a chain tool. It even goes into extra details, for certain atypical chain constructions.