The All Things Cycling Thread

#4,026
#4,026
Carl Pickens said:
Come on Doc..... when I was younger I did enjoy honking the car horn at guys teeing off by the road when I would happen upon them..... something about seeing 3-4 guys react immediately with birds and angry body language made me laugh
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Sorry about that 9 iron through the window, messing up your antler decal.
 
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#4,027
#4,027
Any MTB riders in here? Hit Tsali a couple of weeks ago, great trail!
 

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#4,028
#4,028
SWIL said:
Any MTB riders in here? Hit Tsali a couple of weeks ago, great trail!
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Yep! Nice trail system they have there, have been working on that place forever. I haven't been in a long time though. Knoxville has enough to keep me dirty for now but I would like to take my daughter on an out of state ride and that would be a great one.
 
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#4,029
#4,029
I've heard good things about Knoxville, recommend any must-hit trail systems?

The only single track I've done in Tennessee is Tanasi
 
#4,030
#4,030
For a first visit, I would go with Baker Creek Preserve. There are three downhill only trails from mild jumps and berms to huge gaps. One way traffic so you can fly if you like.

If you like gnarly world cup style downhill, Windrock Bike Park is the place. I would only bring a full on downhill bike and gear to this one. They do offer shuttle service and it is pay to ride.

For more traditional single track, Haw Ridge and Sharps Ridge fit the bill. Sharp's does have one downhill flow trail with jumps and berms called Knight Fall.

Baker Creek Preserve: http://www.outdoorknoxville.com/places/trails/south/baker-creek-preserve

Haw Ridge: http://www.outdoorknoxville.com/places/parks/west/haw-ridge-park

Sharps Ridge: http://www.outdoorknoxville.com/places/trails/north/sharps-ridge-memorial-park-trail

Windrock Bike Park: (This is in Oliver Springs) http://www.windrockbikepark.com/

Some videos!
Baker Creek Barn Burner (intermediate trail):
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRLmLpqYals[/youtube]

Baker Creek - Devil's Racetrack:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-L5dw28fE[/youtube]

Sharps Ridge - Knight Fall:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-YUv5NdBfs[/youtube]

Windrock Bike Park - Various trails:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXuQOOe36-s[/youtube]

Come and ride! If you don't like the jumps and berms there is a lot of east coast rocks and roots style single track to be had.
 
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#4,031
#4,031
SWIL said:
I've heard good things about Knoxville, recommend any must-hit trail systems?

The only single track I've done in Tennessee is Tanasi
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In addition to the above, the South Knox Loop (adjacent to Baker​ Creek) is a fun 13ish miles with a variety of terrain and plenty of off-shoot more difficult trails (if you are so inclined).

If you want an easier track that's still tons of fun, Loyston Point in Norris is one of my favorites. Two loops, 12.5 miles total...Bigger kids/less conditioned riders can still make it around, super fun to fly through if you have the stamina and confidence to ride it fast.
 
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#4,032
#4,032
VOLatile said:
Don't do it. I get suckered in all of the time and it just boils my blood.

Chris Froome was intentionally struck today in France. I was on a group run Saturday night and someone swerved at us multiple times acting as though he was going to hit us. He made multiple passes. I might start carrying a gun.
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This makes no sense to me. Fortunately I live in an area tolerant of bikers for the most part. Where I ride drivers generally move to the left when passing. It is now a CA law that a car must give a bicycle 3 feet when passing.
 
#4,033
#4,033
Sona/KiddieDoc - thanks for the info! I'll be in Knox a few times this summer and will try to hit them all!

If you're ever in the ATL area Blankets Creek, Old Rope Mill, and Allatoona State Park are the choice spots.
 
#4,034
#4,034
NorCalVol67 said:
This makes no sense to me. Fortunately I live in an area tolerant of bikers for the most part. Where I ride drivers generally move to the left when passing. It is now a CA law that a car must give a bicycle 3 feet when passing.
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Same thing for IL and IA where I ride, but it doesn't matter. IA is even close to passing a law that would require drivers to completely change lanes to pass a bike.
 
#4,035
#4,035
SWIL said:
Sona/KiddieDoc - thanks for the info! I'll be in Knox a few times this summer and will try to hit them all!

If you're ever in the ATL area Blankets Creek, Old Rope Mill, and Allatoona State Park are the choice spots.
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Welcome! I have never ridden in Atlanta, sounds fun. What kiddiedoc said is good advice. You should be able to hit the South Loop and parts of Baker on the same day. I have yet to ride at Norris but will put it on the map now. Not the first time I have heard it recommended around here.

Come ride :D
 
#4,036
#4,036
Got dang hot and windy today. Only 19 days until Dirty Kanza 200.
 

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#4,037
#4,037
sona said:
Welcome! I have never ridden in Atlanta, sounds fun. What kiddiedoc said is good advice. You should be able to hit the South Loop and parts of Baker on the same day. I have yet to ride at Norris but will put it on the map now. Not the first time I have heard it recommended around here.

Come ride :D
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I haven't been up to the Norris Watershed trails since college. I wonder if anyone could give a good update. Loyston is my favorite ride for scenery and low-stress fun. Wish it wasn't nearly an hour away!
 
#4,038
#4,038
This kid is rad! Supposedly 4 years old with a super aggressive spin!

F2IGWTO.gif
 
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#4,039
#4,039
sona said:
This kid is rad! Supposedly 4 years old with a super aggressive spin!

F2IGWTO.gif
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Reminds me of my youth except for a dirt mound for a jump. One of my buddies decided to break the record for a jump and hit it as fast as he could pedal. A few minutes later he was headed to the hospital with a few broken bones and his bike was mangled.
Good times.
 
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#4,040
#4,040
VolStrom said:
Reminds me of my youth except for a dirt mound for a jump. One of my buddies decided to break the record for a jump and hit it as fast as he could pedal. A few minutes later he was headed to the hospital with a few broken bones and his bike was mangled.
Good times.
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Sounds like we grew up in the same neighborhood! We built a lot of ramps. I don't think anyone broke bones though!
 
#4,041
#4,041
Gave a presentation about bicycle commuting to a group of roughly 175 John Deere Harvester Works employees today. Good times, but man I am bad at public speaking.
 
#4,043
#4,043
That's horrible. From the pictures of the bike and the car he was hit extremely hard. Stay safe out there!
 
#4,044
#4,044
My son has mastered his balance bike and I'm ready to move him up to a 18-20in bike for his birthday next month. He is turning 6. He's used to handbrakes already but I don't think he is ready for gears so I'm leaning toward a freestyle BMX style bike.

I can't spend a fortune on some of the top kids bikes I've read about but I don't want to get something that is absolute garbage either. Been looking at Mongoose BMX bikes but second guess myself about quality. At this point I feel like I'm over thinking it.

Any thoughts, opinions, or suggestions?
 
#4,045
#4,045
burntorangeVOLffle said:
My son has mastered his balance bike and I'm ready to move him up to a 18-20in bike for his birthday next month. He is turning 6. He's used to handbrakes already but I don't think he is ready for gears so I'm leaning toward a freestyle BMX style bike.

I can't spend a fortune on some of the top kids bikes I've read about but I don't want to get something that is absolute garbage either. Been looking at Mongoose BMX bikes but second guess myself about quality. At this point I feel like I'm over thinking it.

Any thoughts, opinions, or suggestions?
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Where do you live? I would buy a real BMX bike off of CL or Ebay. This bike is in Asheville for $100 and is better than anything Mongoose makes by far.

https://asheville.craigslist.org/bik/6110174641.html

Edit: That is a pure race bike, not freestyle. If you are willing to buy something like a Fit or WTP 18" freestyle bike, they will probably hold up. I would not buy any freestyle bike from a big box store though. Get him a fast and light race bike and take him to a track :D

Oh, for a nice quality bike that is new, you could look at a Redline micro off of Ebay for about $250. If you don't want to spend that I would go with a used bike. This is a good price on the Redline: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Redline-MX-Mini-20-Complete-BMX-Bike-Blue-/302069721840?hash=item4654c22af0:g:IOQAAOSw9IpX1Wym

One more edit: If he is set on a freestyle bike, Sunday makes a 16" model for about $230. You might have a local dealer, if not you can buy them online at Dan's Comp: https://www.danscomp.com/products/102848/2017_Sunday_Blueprint_16_Bike.html
 
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#4,046
#4,046
burntorangeVOLffle said:
My son has mastered his balance bike and I'm ready to move him up to a 18-20in bike for his birthday next month. He is turning 6. He's used to handbrakes already but I don't think he is ready for gears so I'm leaning toward a freestyle BMX style bike.

I can't spend a fortune on some of the top kids bikes I've read about but I don't want to get something that is absolute garbage either. Been looking at Mongoose BMX bikes but second guess myself about quality. At this point I feel like I'm over thinking it.

Any thoughts, opinions, or suggestions?
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Brakes don't work well or at all on any department store brands.
 
#4,047
#4,047
VOLatile said:
Brakes don't work well or at all on any department store brands.
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Almost always better off buying a kid a used bike from a quality brand. You can work on them, upgrade them, and they will still be worth something when they kid outgrows them.

I think more kids would ride if they were not on heavy and poorly designed / manufactured bikes. It isn't fun when the brakes don't work, the wheels won't stay true, the headset is falling out, the bottom bracket is falling apart and it weighs 12 pounds more than it needs to. Oh and the fork is probably backwards because the assembler at Walmart just took 7 minutes to assemble your bike for sale.
 
#4,048
#4,048
sona said:
Almost always better off buying a kid a used bike from a quality brand. You can work on them, upgrade them, and they will still be worth something when they kid outgrows them.

I think more kids would ride if they were not on heavy and poorly designed / manufactured bikes. It isn't fun when the brakes don't work, the wheels won't stay true, the headset is falling out, the bottom bracket is falling apart and it weighs 12 pounds more than it needs to. Oh and the fork is probably backwards because the assembler at Walmart just took 7 minutes to assemble your bike for sale.
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No doubt. Even most reputable bike shops give you trade in credit if you bought a bike from them, then again when you need to upgrade to the next size for your kid.
 
#4,050
#4,050
kiddiedoc said:
South Knox loop is certainly tougher when muddy...

Refueling now at SoKno tacos.
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How bad is it? I was going to do Baker this weekend. Their tamales are really good IMO. Daughter doesn't think much of them but I dig em. Enjoy!
 
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