robert-cole profile

@Matt: 'DONT get a bike fitted if you have "bio mechanical" issues?'

Can I ask, What do you think bike fitting aims to resolve?

@CG - or anyone who knows him and watched this great bike check video

Please have an experienced bike fitter visit with you and sort out your "duck feet" (perfect normal - we all show interesting asymmetries, whereas a bicycle for all intents is symmetrical.

When riding clipped-in, its important to have a great fit, especially for professional riders needing to develop maximum sustainable power and prevention of long term injury due to constant training and minimal rest days.

I have LLD (leg length difference) which is corrected on the left shoe (LLD shims under cleat) for my road bike with great comfort and performance increase. I got this so dialled that the SPD's on my 29'er then felt horrible - I ended up going back to flat pedals and Five Ten shoes where the body automatically makes corrections on foot placement as its not locked with a cleat, and generally more standing pedalling allows the pelvis to float like when walking/running

I went through so much trouble over the years with the LLD issue and other sport injuries, that it lead me to train with Tony Corke in Bath, UK as a Bikefit Professional bike fitter where I've started applying my experiences to assist others in getting the most from their two-wheeled fun!

cheers, and happy trails! RC

@disqus_NM9vI6sriN:disqus
here in the EU the E-bikes are limited (by law) to 25km/h (15.5mph) and 250w max output.

anything over this, its classed as an electric motorcycle which requires motorcycle license, helmet, mot, insurance, etc.

You will see people riding illegal imports (or modded with dongles), you are going along at 45km,h on your road bike and someone on a heavy hybrid sat bolt upright overtakes you 😉

I've ridden some top end, legal, hybrid and road models on tests including a 30km city commute. Found them very limited, couple of hard crank pushes and you over 15,5mph and pushing a very heavy dead weight.

Could see the benefit of the MTB electric with its lower speed / high torque setup for non-lift /shuttle assisted riding in remoter areas, and for injured / disabled / elderly participants.

@disqus_lNsgslFcXr:disqus

yes, good advise. I've worked with too many mechanics who have developed contact dermatitis from repeated exposure to oil, greases and detergents. Steroid creams for life, is unpleasant.

such a rad run. great work from all the riders, the event organizers and a stoked crowd - imagine seeing a man flying upside down on a bicycle past your head!

a great tip for ensuring sealed bearings get fully coated when applying thick grease

once you have packed suitable grease into the bearing, before replacing the bearing shield. Take an electric (or cordless) drill/driver, remove any bits from the chuck, wind the chuck close, gently push the chuck face against the inner bearing race and spin the bearing with the tool running at low speed. this distributes the grease throughout the bearing package.

you might want to apply a little more grease on the outside before replacing bearing shield. For full suspension pivot bearings, you can do this with axle removed and the bearing still embedded in the frame 😉

Excellent article, and fascinating reading. Great work by the diggers!

I've often wondered (whilst out digging) how many trail builders actually get paid, per country? It can't be that many? I know here in the UK there were good opportunities when all the publicly funded trail centres were being built, but this is all dependent on funding and now we are in times of "austerity"; ironically the trails become more interesting for skilled riders as the trail fall apart.

I was lucky enough to be involved with a freeride bike park here in the UK for 8 years, first as a volunteer and the final 4 years working in a bike shop attached to the park. During the off-season, with phone diversion to our cell, the business owner was forward thinking enough to let us go into the bike park next door.

We'd easily catch any occasional customers needing help at the store, and huge amounts of work could be done, often backed up by some great volunteers who we kept fed/watered and got cost price on any bike stuff they needed from the shop.

By the time we pulled down the bike park after a change in direction (by the corporate land owner) we'd put in nearly 5 kilometres of timber / dirt trails on our 4.5 acre woodland site.

I've visited B.C. in Canada for 3 vacations and ridden many of the legendary trails and various bike parks - truly enjoyable and privileged to meet Digger when he was working the new bike park just outside of Vancouver.

Being out in the woods digging is awesome. Being paid to do it is even more awesome. Great to see the guys in this article doing some great work out there, and with all the volunteer help which is essential.

These days? Just some off-radar singletrack building and maintenance for my own benefit (and any runners/hikers coming through)