Giant XTC NRS Team

Bought a Giant XTC NRS Team from a to9goparter (www.togoparts.com), i had a NRS 5 years back, sold the bike due to fanacial issue. I had alway regreted that. I did not come across another 16" NRS frame again.

Here's how my bike is built

Fork: Fox Float 100RL

Wheels: Mavic Crossmax and Mavic 818

Crank: XTR with Sugino ring

Cogset: XT

Brakes: XT

Seatpost: Thomson elite

Handlebar: Amoeba

Stem: Easton EA50

Pedals: Shimano PD540

Tyres: Kenda Kharisma Tubeless

Off road ride on 110409

Time: 0830
Date: 110410

Location:




Cleared:
B1 to B10
L1 to L10 less L8 and L13

From Changi Ferry Terminal

Training Ride 030410 @ T15

Time: 0930

Date: 030410

Location: T15

Elapsed time: 1hr 09min 29sec

Distance: 19.54 km

Ave Speed: 16.9km/h

Bike used: Voodoo Erzulie

Track 15 offroad

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Drove from home to Chestnut drive. Parked the car and started the the training ride. 2 laps of T15 basic MTB trail route.

Tyre is one of the most important component on the bike. It make a lot of difference on the trail. The geometry is another area that will affect the speed of the bike. In the past I do not believe in this, often sporting a flat bar and a 18 inch frame. The ride is unstable, hard to control over more technical terrain.

After switching to tubeless. The bike dig and hold it line well. Pumping to 35 psi, the ride is wonderful. The grip is good. I believe the Skinny Jimmy sticks onto the ground regardless of the kind of abuse I threw at it.

The average speed is still slow at 17km/h. Hope to work harder to go faster. I aim to hit 20km/h next training session.

Training Ride on 30th Mar 2010 Starting 2100

Time: 2100

Date: 30th Mar 2010

Bike: GT Single speed MTB

Spent a lot of time fixing up my single speed. Finally it is ready for the test. The first few pedal stroke, a single speed feel so efficient. The lack of a shifting system forces me to go into "hardworking" mode. There is no chance i can outwit my bike with its multiple gears.

Each revolution feel different. The top speed tested is about 36km/h and the climb can be fast. Though taxing on the muscle and knees. The bike is fun.

The only draw back is that the torque generated by all the standing attacks and stomping caused the wheels, chain, left crank gave way.The chain dropped twice at Punggol road, the crank came loose on at Tampines road, I discovered the wheels are loose by the time i got home.

I could have got further, i was limited by my bike. They say single speed is good due to the ease of maintenance, i doubt so now, the torque is just too much for the bike to handle.

Total distance: approx 36km

Total time taken:2 hours

Speed: less than 18km/h with breaks

Training on SS on 300310

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Voodoo!!!!

First ride, it feel different, lighter than its actual weight, it just feels lighter.

After I've got my 2nd hand voodoo frame, i love it. The feel of a steel bike is something that I can not forget, it simply climbs very easily. Stomp on the pedals and the bike will react instantly.
Parts are as follows:

1. Fame = Voodoo Erzulie "s"

2. Fork = Fox float 100 RL

Wheels

3. Wheels = Mavic Crossmax and Mavic X819 tubeless

4: Tyres: Skinny Jimmy 1.9

Transmission

5: Crank: Shimano XTR with Sugino rings 46, 34, 24

6: Brakes: Shimano XT disc

7: Shifter: Shimano LX

8: Front Derailuer: Shimano XT

9: Rear Derailuer: Shimano LX gold

Contact

10: Seatpost: Thomson 27.2
11: Handle bar: Amoeba Carbon Yan

12: Pedal: Shimano PD-520

13: Stem: Easton EA50

14: Saddle: Velo

Back to Off road, Life cycle of a cyclist

A rider usually start off with a simple mountain bike. Those memories of exploring the trails and bombing through rocky terrains are unforgettable. Often on a hardtail. The cyclist wishes that he can go faster, he invested in a pair of clipless pedals.

On the trail, other cyclists with beautiful, high tech full suspension bicycle and disc brakes are make their way on the downhill rocky trail, at high speed. The cyclist wanted the same full suspension advantage the other cyclists are getting. The cyclist bought a full suspension.

As my circle of cyclist friends gets bigger, the ride becomes faster, a lot faster. Most ride was on the road, the mountain biker will switch to a pair of skinny slick tires to keep up with friends, or to beat their friends. The cyclist lock out his full suspension buy lightweight parts.

Slowly, the 26" wheels and the suspension fork can no longer satisfy the desire for speed in the cyclist, the road bike will be the next investment.

On the road bike, in a group ride, to gain more advantage, the cyclist bought a pair of aero bars. He hope his aerodynamic advantage can help him go faster.

The cyclist picked up the other discipline like swimming and running, combined then and went for races.

After 10 years of racing, the cyclist looked back and hope he have the same joy of just exploring the trails. After 10 years, the triathlete, became a mountain biker again, he hop onto his hard tail with vee brakes and explore the trail. His hardtail may weigh 13kg, he is happy, because speed is not what he is after, fun is. It is easier to satisfy the urge for fun, then the urge of speed.

The life cycle of a cyclist, speed and fun don't mix.

The choice of bicycle used is predominantly determined by the format of ride chosen.

Road cycling is one of the most common format locally, bicycles used usually comes with 700c wheels, drop handlebar and double chain ring. Deviation such as triple chain ring, flat handlebar and 650c wheels are also available. Road bike comes with thin tyres ranging from 18mm to 25mm commonly. The seat angle is somewhere between 72 degrees to 74 degrees. It is suitable for smooth surfaces.











Above: An example of road bike


Another format of road cycling is Time Trial. Some of the cyclist call it Tri bike, however, the difference between the 2 is the seat angle. Sporting pursuit bar (bullhorn) with aero bar. wheels are either in deep V, trispokes or disc. The position of Time Trial bike make it every aero dynamic. Seat angle for TT bike is generally 72 degrees to 76 degrees, Tri bike usually spot a seat angle of 76 degrees to 80 degrees.Tri bikes are not UCI legal. While TT bikes are not Mass start legal.










Credits: http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/russian/images/beijing/Levi-TT-Bike.jpg



Track cycling is rare locally. It have its fans in other country. Usually sporting a fixed wheel with single speed. Track bikes are super bikes.
















Credits: http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f120/28499d1148139464-lotus-super-bike-lotusbike1.jpg

Off Road riding is sub divided into a few discipline. Cross country, downhill, 4X, trial, etc

In this post i shall only describe cross country cycling.
Cross country cycling or XC bikes are typically lighter then other off road bikes, it primary function is to participate in races traversing cross country terrain. Typically a cross country bike comes with a suspension fork. Some models come with suspension frame.

Frame with suspension is known as full suspension (full sus/ FS), frame without suspension is known as Hardtail (HT).

Fork is usually telescopic fork, in some models multiple linkage fork. Its travel ranges from 63mm to 100mm. Travel means the amount of verticle movement made by the lower of the fork.

Wheels are typically 26 inches, with the new standard of 29 inches. Tyres are fat ranging from 1.75 inches to 2.25 inches, with studs and patterns known as treads.

The drivetrain is usually 3 triple chain ring, with huge gear ratio. Sporting either a flat handlebar or riser bar.












Above: Cross country bike

My First XC riding experience

Mountain bikes are meant to be ridden in cross country terrain. I am only exposed to cross country cycling in 2001. 5 years after I had my mountain bike. The experience is so memorable, I can still vividly remember the day and the scar it left.

My virgin ride is in T15 mandai. Some call it Gangsa trail. It is near the Singapore Zoological Garden and Night Safari. The road leading to the zoo, look the right, you will see a tarmac road leading to T15.

Cross country isn't easy. I rode my then Specialized Hardrock and meet up with a guy, i think his nickname is Fuzzybear in Togoparts. We met at the Seletar Reservoir park, there he showed me the way to T15.

T15 is perfect for beginners, not a lot of tight turn, just a couple of climbs. I would grade it as 2 stars out of 5 stars in terms of difficulties.

There i met a few other cyclists, whom I can still recall his nickname Fisher (Riding a Gary Fisher).

Unfortunately, the gathering ended very soon. The group went their separate ways. The group became too competitive as we get more and more experienced in cross country.

Honestly, I missed them and the rides with them.