Why are shorter MTB cranks suddenly all the rage?
"I'm thinking about getting longer cranks", said no one in 2023. It's definitely true that shorter cranks are a trend right now, but why? Is it all nonsense, or is there something to it? Today we'll take a deep dive into crank length and how it affects your performance. You'll get a highly biased take on the subject from someone with very short legs.
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I still like rim brakes, but I don't have any major opposition to disc brakes as long as they're using with thru-axles. (I don't like the pads rubbing after hard braking, which is usually caused by the hubs shifting.)
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Finally figured out the process for getting my correct saddle position on a bike!
- Start with the saddle level, a bit low, and slammed all the way back on the rails.
- Raise the saddle in 3-5mm increments until you no longer lift off the saddle or have pain on or around your kneecaps. You may need to move the saddle forward a 3-5mm every now and then so you aren't completely sitting on its nose.
- Once #2 has been taken care of, pedal with the technique of spinning your knees in small, tight, and fast circles. That pedaling technique will cause you to scoot forward to where your saddle should be.
- Move the saddle forward in 3-5mm increments until it feels comfortable with that pedaling technique. Be sure to keep the saddle as level as possible while doing this.
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Saw the aftermath of some sort of traffic incident involving an #Amazon / #Rivian van and a cyclist while I was wrapping up my daily ride. I'm thinking there was another vehicle also involved because I saw a different car's bumper wedged into the Amazon van's rear bumper.
The cyclist was limping, but he said he was okay when I asked. The Amazon driver was calling someone to report the incident.
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Is it reasonable to use an inner tube (installed and inflated inside the tire on the rim) to smooth out tubeless rim tape in the case of leaks? #cycling #bicycle #biketooter #mastobikes
(I'll retape it if it doesn't work out.)
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It's sad how so many people never invest into making their bike comfortable beyond maybe a cushy saddle* and end up thinking "bike riding is supposed to be uncomfortable." #cycling #bicycle #biketooter #mastobikes
*Most cushy saddles that people go for (usually based on the saddles being cheap) aren't shaped or padded the right way and end up causing extreme discomfort in a fairly short while. :/
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I haven't ordered myself, but the first one that came to mind for me was https://www.rodbikes.com/
Had a very tall coworker who bought a bike from them and really liked it
R+E Cycles - Home of Rodriguez and Erickson Custom Bicycles
Rodriguez Bicycles - Custom Bicycles. tandem bicycles hand made in Seattle, WAR+E Cycles
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Whether or not disc brakes are "better" than rim brakes, disc brakes definitely require less skill to use effectively in more conditions.
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The Dark Side of Electronic Shifting
In short: primarily vendor lock-in and the vendors only targeting specific use cases with electronic shifting.
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Gore-Tex is a Marketing Gimmick — FortNine
Gore-Tex cannot substantially breathe while holding off water.
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Usually i end up with €250 Budget....
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A lot of the "road dust" is actually tire dust and brake dust from cars. Pretty wild to think about.
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“According to a recent report issued by researchers at Imperial College London, There is emerging evidence that tyre wear particles and other particulate matter may contribute to a range of negative health impacts including heart, lung, developmental, reproductive, and cancer outcomes.” #bicyles #UrbanPlanning
@tk https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjy1YHKiaKCAxVMATQIHRLqBXYQFnoECBAQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fe360.yale.edu%2Ffeatures%2Ftire-pollution-toxic-chemicals%23%3A~%3Atext%3DAccording%2520to%2520a%2520recent%2520report%2Creproductive%252C%2520and%2520cancer%2520outcomes.%25E2%2580%259D&usg=AOvVaw3784bTdzK6uEGGgqrdTmrH&opi=89978449
Road Hazard: Evidence Mounts on Toxic Pollution from Tires
Researchers are only beginning to uncover the toxic cocktail of chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals hidden in car and truck tires.Yale E360
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Currently on the lookout for quill stems with a horizontal extension in the 30-40mm range. Any ideas? #cycling #bicycle #mastobikes #biketooter
I have very long legs and a short torso, so "normal" bicycle frames never fit me very well. I always end up with a lot of seatpost height and a short stem, even though I'm leaned forward comfortably and with plenty of power in my pedal stroke.
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In Memorium: The Surly Cross-Check, Discontinued After 24 Years
After over two decades, Surly moved the Cross-Check frameset from their standard lineup of bikes to the ‘Legacy Lineup’ of their website. Surly confirmed that the bike is no longer in production and is unlikely to come back.If you haven’t owned this gravel/cyclocross/touring/whatever bike yourself, you likely know someone who has. The Surly Cross-Check was the egalitarian choice in cycling, simultaneously someone’s utilitarian dream bike that was attainable and sold at a fair price.
The end of the Cross-Check marks the bike’s reign as the most bike that ever biked, the go-to way to make a pile of parts you hoarded in the corner of your garage into a functioning bicycle, and the defacto option that a bike nerd could happily ride and recommend to their non-bikey friends all the same.
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Who here is into #cyclocross? How'd you get into it? What do you like about it?
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I was persuaded to try #CycloCross about 15 years ago and have raced it ever since. I have made so many new friends because of cyclo-cross. I joined trips to the World Championships which blew me away and now I organise them. I was fortunate to see the first rainbow jersey battle between WvA and MvdP at #Koksijde in 2012. The fun, passion and friendly rivalry epitomise sport. And then add the Euro-pop and Belgian beer 🙂
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Also, I just discovered a broken spoken on my other bike's rear wheel that was just handbuilt at the shop a few months back (and also trued after a couple weeks of riding back then to be safe).
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Kind of annoyed with White Industries at the moment. The original press-fit bearings in my Stanyan's MI5 rear hub needed replacement a long while ago, so I had my local bike shop order them (which took forever to be shipped by Enduro) and swap them out. Unfortunately, the same amount of play persisted after the bearing swap despite said shop following White Industries's directions to the T multiple times. My shop has called White Industries multiple times only to not be given any recourse.
I've been out that Stanyan for several weeks now and I don't know if I should just get a different hub put in the wheel or something at this point. 😒
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Decided to give up on the Stanyan's #WhiteIndustries (130mm QR) hub and just get a different hub. I was thinking #PhilWood, but their road hubs are apparently hard to get right now, so I went with my shop's recommendation of a Hope RS4 hub. I was worried about how noisy it would be, but my shop had another one of their hubs lying around and spun it for me, which convinced me it would be fine.
The stock middle ring on my #Sugino XD triple was getting worn out, so I spent this morning swapping it out for a Surly stainless steel chainring that I'd ordered via my local bike shop earlier. I ended up having to do the ring installation twice because I didn't have them clocked correctly the first time, but at least that was all while the drive side arm was off the bike. The drive side was a bear to get off, probably because it was on there for so long!
I'm also not a fan of "hidden/blind" chainring bolts like on that XD crank. It wasn't super hard to work with, but it would've been easier if they were all out in the open.
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What do #randonneurs here eat and drink to keep themselves going for those long hours?
#randonee #randonneuing #cycling #bicycle #mastobikes #biketooter
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Sorry for the late reply.
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Why I Converted All My Bikes to Friction Shifting
Bicycle drivetrains have never been easier or more accurate. Thanks to electronic shifting, there’s no more fiddling with barrel adjusters to get everything dialed, and mis-shifts have become a thing of the past. Today, the perfect gear change is always just the push of a button away!
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That's true.
My daily ride involves a lot of hill climbing, so the excess body heat builds up even faster. :( Need to take a break to let it dissipate, albeit slowly without the wind from riding on the level.
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@letsbekind2
Do y'all have AC in the places you are riding to? Are the roads black-top? Are you dressed for it? I'm genuinely curious because, while I wouldn't consider lo '90s as dangerous, my city is set up for routinely higher temps, and my wardrobe also.
Heat is dangerous. Take care and hydrate early, hydrate often, and stay hydrated.
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The replacement binder bolt might've been a few mm too long. When tightened down, the seatpost still slipped on today's ride. I tried asking a local shop if they had a spare binder bolt washer, but they only had one piece of a binder bolt that wasn't of any use to me.
When I got home, I put one of the split lock washers I have for just this purpose in. Should be fine now!
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Neil E. Hodges
in reply to Neil E. Hodges • •Baloo Uriza
in reply to Neil E. Hodges • • •Neil E. Hodges
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