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Once you switch to clipless pedals, you'll never want to go back. When climbing, you can use both legs to really get extra torque. It makes a difference when you're doing lots of hills.

I have a Shimano SPD setup and have been happy with it. I just losened them up enough that I could easily get out. They're adjustable and don't take long to get used to...
 
So yesterday I did the Red Hill Valley Trail (Hamilton, ON). It is a newish trail parallel to a mini-highway. The trail varies from being in the valley, to up near the street (where every highway exit is) and back down and up again. Ends at the top of the Niagara Escarpment on Mt. Albion.

It was a pretty good trip. A lot of it was killed by insanely steep hills that resulted in me pushing my bike on foot and really getting tired. The highlight for me would be near the base of the escarpment on my way back the way I came, I ventured to the bottom of the valley near the river. That was actually part of Bruce Trail (not for bikes) but I didn't ride down there just pushed my bike around. Got some of the best pictures from there and it was nice.

On the map below, ignore the Google maps hiccup with the park

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=17&via=1,2,3&z=17&lci=bike

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Crossing the QEW
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This thing was like the climb of the gods. Insanely steep. I didn't even bother trying it. It was even difficult just going up. Luckily the trail was blocked so I could step in the squares to get footing and make my way up.

By the time I reached the top there was an older man making his way up on his bike. He got to the top and we had a little chat, he was gassed. Looked probably in his 40s. I don't even know how that hill was possible. It was fairly wet with some leaf coverage too, would be really to lose contact on the front wheel.

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Near the top of the hill, looking over a cliff, I could see what looked like a wiped out/abandoned bike in the trees there. Can you spot it? When I was on the ground level near the river I tried looking for it but gave up since it might take some time. Its possible it was just someone stopping there bike to have a look, but it was closer to the cliff than the water. I can't imagine that it could have been someone bailing from the edge of the escarpment. It would have just been suicide.

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Biked on the eastern side of Bronte Creek Provincial Park, on Sunday. Nothing really meant for a biker there (more for hiking)

Was quite cold, couldn't feel my toes
 
Some recent pics of my Saturday morning sunrise ride at Centennial Cone in Golden...

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And then my long ride at Buffalo Creek this weekend...

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I picked up a new Yeti SB95 and it has been a huge improvement over my Gary Fisher that was starting to show its age.
 
BassBomb said:
Oh dear those rocks at the end, do you actually ride down that?
Click to expand...

Yes...although one of the riders in the group had a pretty epic fall on that...luckily no major injury.

Some friends are back at Fruita this weekend and I am very jealous... Probably won't make it back to Fruita/Moab till spring.
 
PricklyPete said:
Yes...although one of the riders in the group had a pretty epic fall on that...luckily no major injury.

Some friends are back at Fruita this weekend and I am very jealous... Probably won't make it back to Fruita/Moab till spring.
Click to expand...

Here are the people queueing up to ride that section (this pic is me looking back after riding it)...
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Not something I would try yet :O

I really need to work on climbing technique and confidence at low speed with the pedals. I should get some armor and just practice in a small field where it won't hurt to fall.

Any idea how to clean caked sand/mud off the tires? I want to use as little water as possible since its around freezing temps these days. I could take the wheel off for it. Rear wheel is a PITA to put back on though


Should've cleaned it off when it was fresh since the last bike ride but I was lazy.
 
Bought a second FEEDBAK stand and took the bike down to the basement. Cleaned off the tires in my tub, I'll make sure never to leave it when its fresh.
 
BassBomb said:
Bought a second FEEDBAK stand and took the bike down to the basement. Cleaned off the tires in my tub, I'll make sure never to leave it when its fresh.
Click to expand...

I ran through some mud and then over dry sand and my tires picked up and held a good bit of mud, probably added a couple lbs to my wheels in fact. I had to use a hard bristle brush to clean the tires.
 
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Bought yet another bike today. Its an 08 Surly Karate Monkey frame and assorted parts. Its a mix of OLD highend parts and newer middle range parts. It has some really funky old Shimano XTR brifters(brake shifter combo like a road bike) that I didn't even know existed in the mtb world. The drivetrain is really worn out but between the surly and my old spare iron horse I hope to cobble together a decent setup. I don't want to put any money into the drivetrain when I'm hoping to go SS or at least a 1x10 later. Just want to get it up and running for now.
 
I like bikes! I recently got a a cheap Bikes Direct single speed mountain bike with the weird 27.5 wheel size. It's pretty fun to play around on doing wheelies and jumps and stuff. Here's me having fun a couple weeks ago:

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I thought about picking one of those up too. I'd like to try a 27.5er out but the Surly popped up. The Surly currently has an older Marzocchi Bomber fork but I may go rigid in the future. The Bomber is the exact same model I just gave away for free in a package deal when I sold another old frame fork combo 2 months ago lol.
 
any creative ways to store these things without taking up a ton of space? No garage but a full basement (8' ceiling). I don't suppose it's bad to put 1 hook way up high and just hang the front wheel on it while the rear still touches the ground?
 
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I use a couple of these, although I got a much better price on them. Not sure what happened there.

I have a bike stored in my office and in my family room though. My wife puts up with it, thankfully. I pretty much have cycling shit all over the place.
 
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