Chainrings don’t last long in the winter mud do they? Some say they’re made of cheese! The way ramped chainrings are designed they’re meant to be fitted one way only. The big ring especially often has a bar that goes behind the crank arm so that should the chain come off it cannot slip down between the crank and the ring. Now, bear in mind that most cyclists do not/cannot pedal with equal force throughout the 360 degress rotation of the cranks then the chainrings become worn more through the ‘power phase’ than through the ‘resting phase. Or, they become worn more just after ‘top dead centre’ where you get more power down than they do anywhere else.

When your chainring is sufficiently worn your chain starts to jump. But always in the ‘power phase’ where the rings are worn most. So what’s to stop you rotating the chain rings through 90 degrees to even out the wear? Nothing really. Especially if you’re not in the habit of changing under load. Shifting efficiency should be affected, but I can’t really tell the difference, and like I’ve said before….Riding budjet is finite, and when it’s gone it’s gone. What you spend on mundane stuff you can’t spend on groovy stuff, so scrimping will help you get a little more miles for your moolah.

Riding budjet is finite, and when it’s gone it’s gone. What you spend on mundane stuff you can’t spend on groovy stuff, so scrimping will help you get a little more miles for your moolah.
Not only does the slapping of chain on chainstay drive me mad, it also damages the frame. Didn’t want no ‘lizard skin’ holding moisture and grit, so made this natty little number from an old Spesh tyre. Stayed in place no problem for a couple of years now. Good scrimp yes? 🙂

Riding budjet is finite, and when it’s gone it’s gone. What you spend on mundane stuff you can’t spend on groovy stuff, so scrimping will help you get a little more miles for your moolah.

Here’s an idea for that old pair of tights you have, or that leg-warmer that was once one of a pair. Simply cut it to length then cut open almost all the way, and hey presto! a natty chest and neck warmer, for those cold winter days. I made this one around 4 years ago, and it’s still going strong.

Lusso make one, it’ll cost you £12 ish. Make one (or even two if it’s from old tights) like mine for nothing, and spend the money you save on somethin sexy 😉

Happy 2nd birthday to my Spesh Stumjumper hardtail. She’s carried me safely through many a ride, in fact she’s been my main bike throughout the two years I’ve had her. I’m begining to lose count, but I reckon this must be my fourth Stumpy. To my mind the Stumpjumper hardtail is the XC race frame par excellence. It feels fast, and by golly it is fast. Ask anyone who’s ever owned one, and if you ain’t never owned one then you ain’t never rode an MTB. Anyway, as it’s her birthday I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how she’s wearing.

Superficially she’s lookin’ good, she’s been well cared for, I’m fastidious about bike care. The only marks on her are transit marks from her forays into France. I’ve made no upgrades to her, so she’s pretty much a stock bike, bit’s have worn, and been replaced as you’d expect. Two years riding in all sorts of weather and terrain has taken it’s toll as follows…

First of all, the FSA headset has never been touched (apart from lubing), and is as smooth as new. Likewise the LX shifters, and front half of the cable outers. The brakes have never needed bleeding, and the wheels rims are still round and straight.

Front Wheel – Specialized Stout hub, 28 spoker, light as a feather, straight as a dye, has only needed one set of bearings that took around 10 minutes to fit.

Rear Wheel – Shimano LX, has needed new bearings and cones, plus freehub body. One broken spoke replaced. I reckon this is the achilles heel of the bike.

Fox Forks – RL80s have performed faultlessly. When I noticed a small amount of play in the bushes I sent them off for a rebuild. No signs of wear on the stauncions, still going strong.

Saddle – Halfway through it’s second winter it was starting to look a bit tatty, nothing wrong with it, but like I said, I’m fastidious, I had the chance to replace it, so I did.

Front mech – Last September, it fell apart. It had taken a few knocks, and I had straingtened it a few times, but finally I had to replace it.

Bottom Bracket – Octalink, can’t beat ’em last ages. Been changed once.

Drive Chain – 4 chains, 2 cassettes, one set of rings, one set of jockey wheels. Not bad considering what it’s been through. Bear in mind that the middle and granny rings are steel (slight weight penalty, but last much longer).

Brakes – Three sets of pads. When the first set wore out I tried some EBC ones that seemed to last no time at all. Went back to shimano ones, much better.

To sum up, not bad considering the work she’s done. She’s due for a birthday makeover. She’ll get new chain, cassette and rings, also a new set of disc pads and discs. That’ll see her ready for some early spring action. Bring it on!!!

It gave me great pleasure to accept the trophy for “Pearce Cycles Champion of Champions 2006”. It gave me great pleasure to show the ‘young guns’, and to prove to myself, that there’s life in the old dog yet. Karting, MTB racing, and Motorcycle Trials, a great multi-discipline challenge.
What started as a fun idea back in late summer turned out to be a fantastic motivator for me. Once I got started I just couldn’t help myself from taking it seriously.

“Thanks to everyone at Pearce Cycles for organising the events and being super competitors. Thanks to my wife for her continued support and putting up with my grumpiness when I’ve been tired from training. I have always believed that it is ones duty as a sportsman to give the best performance that one can give, and to win where possible by the biggest margin…….and fancy letting an old bloke with a dodgy shoulder beat youse”

The annual Runners versus Riders race is 10 miles of lung-bursting strength sapping agony. It’ll be my first race in over three years, I’ve trained hard and I want to do well.

Warming up before the start I’m a little nervous. This manifests itself in the form of phantom pees, almost as soon as I’ve put me willy away I wanna go again. This is normal, and a good sign. Also warming up are Doc, he looks fit and purposeful. Gary, he always looks fit, has won before, and in my mind is the man to beat. Marcus is here, he only shows if he has some form, and he’s a past winner.

As we sit on the start line there’s a young whippet on a Litespeed titanium with trick bits next to me. Someone is telling him that he’ll go well and will win! We’re off!!! I jump into second place on the tarmac so as to keep out of trouble but take some shelter. We start the climb accross the field towards the forest. The ground is very soft, like riding with flat tyres in porridge. Dave Price (Pricer) puts in a stinging attack, and Gary goes after him. There’s no way I can match that.

We cross the road into the forest, I’m in third place. Litespeed lad comes past me and opens up a gap. The climb through the forest is a tough one, Gary has caught Pricer and is almost out of sight. Down the ramp and onto the fire road. The gradient eases slightly, more my sort of climb. I clang down the block a couple of gears and mash on. Litespeed lad comes back to me in no time, I slow for a second behind him then lift it past him to deter him from hanging on. I catch Pricer just before the singletrack at the bottom of Chemical Bank. I scramble past trying to look smooth and strong. Continue reading →