Just been using it for a day so far, but so far it's fine. It's a low enough gear for the hills. I dont blast along at speed so I dont miss the lack of higher gears. (I'm using a 32T front ring, 34T is probably the most common size to use, the cassette is 11-36, so pretty wide ratio). It's lighter than my Alfine hub and the bike feels more alive. I do have a pathological hatred of front mechs though. It's the last thing for mtb designers to fix. If I was rich, SRAM's XX1 system would probably be perfect for me.
Hi Mario! Actually I don't normally associate the word 'track' with biking at all, except for 'single track' and 'fast track'. When I think of track I think of what Interaptor put, or maybe something like 'tracks in the snow'. But I now know from Mackem's comment that the Brits see things differently.
Sounds like you can get up hills all right, but you may miss another chainring on downhills or fast tracks. I have a 2-9 on my enduro bike and I'm pretty happy with it.
Tomorrow we're heading for El Escorial, should be fun, but REALLY cold and windy. Oh well, at least there won't be hordes of people, will have to wait for spring for that. Oh, and here's another pic from last Sunday.
Hey! That´s truly a single snowy track. I mean it. Has a lot of sense both for the single track you´re riding through and the track on the snow you´re leaving behind!. Very nice photo as always Chain!. You Know, I´ve something to add to the Mario´s list of unpaved roads and the like so that I´ve recently dicovered what we can call "half track", yeah I know that´s how Chain and Mackem call a specific military vehicle, but I swear to God not usering his name in vain, the single track which I was riding through became so narrow that I was obliged to stop not to scratch the whole bike and turn sideways in order to go on riding... So, If natives doesn´t mind, a new word to the COCO´s "Whatever" list: "half track"!!!
So where is the 'half track' you're talking about? Maybe we could call it a 'skinny track' cos you need to be skinny to get through it. So did you go for a ride on Sunday? As planned I went to El Escorial. It was freezing cold at the top of the mountain, but when we got back into the town it was a sunny day, a COLD sunny day, but not bad. We also stopped off at the Silla de Felipe II. I'd never been there before! You can see the Monastery behind me just to my right.
I amend "half track" to "skinny track". Rode on Sunday and... got lost. All I knew was that I had to be nearby Cantoblanco Shooting facilities and in fact I ended up entering with my bike but not with guns. Dude, you´re sitting on a Royal Stone Chair. According to historians that was the exact spot from where H.M. King Felipe II were supervising the build of the new royal facilities, gardens and monasteries at El Escorial. He was the horse´s mouth of it all and man, wearing your bike stuff you look like a hoodie armored knight ready to save whatever lady into a dragon´s mouth! ;-) Is it difficult to get there by bike?
What! You rode onto a shooting range! Next time you'll have to wear body armor, wave a gun around and say like Clint Eastwood, 'Go ahead, make my day', ha ha About the Silla, they pretty much told me everything did. Actually I was looking around for a damsel in distress, then I would rescue her and be her knight in shining armor and we would ride off into the sunset (on my bike of course). Not sure if my wife would appreciate it though. And here's a video of me from last Sunday. [video=youtube;fFE8noYt_ME]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFE8noYt_ME&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Please stop making us jealous, at least i am, with your reckless riding round the most beautiful spots in Madrid. Jarosa, Morcuera, Abantos, Hoyo... You're truly making the most of your bike, suspension travel included! . i miss you darling, let's see if i can get rid of some tasks and arrange a meeting. A threesome will be welcomed, as well as a biking gang bang . See you! PS: English vs Americans ?? [video=youtube;wYmrg3owTRE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYmrg3owTRE[/video]
I'd love to meet up with you and others! I'd be chuffed to bits. Ha ha, British slang. Just for laughs maybe I'll say that to my brothers and sisters next time I Skype them. In any case, just let me know when you can make it to the Pardo or whatever.
You'll puzzled 'em with all that stuff... for that appointment, i'll check for any free slot , now i'm so committed on hunky dorying that it's hard to make it for a gentle friendly ride . I suck for sure :_(
Chuffed to bits! Oh dear oh dear Imagine a spanish guy in Buenos Aires sayin´ "Me parto el c... de la risa" or an argentinian in Madrid saying "agarrar el colectivo" instead of "coger un autobús"... LOL Chuffed to bits? Dead chuffed? C´mon Jorge... Do you want Chain´s overseas family to flip out with his UK psyco-slang? Isn´t it enough with his craziness on bikes already?. Man, he´s supposed to be a serious man (at least when not on a bike!), to have good grammar and intelligent words. That´s discrediting him quite bad. I hope they don´t see this forum. Do they? ;-)
I'm over the moon that you're learning proper English. It's very easy to bugger up when trying to use different Englishes and a right clart on trying to teach all the varieties. I'm from oop North. (it's grim) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbB-eFgOEX8
LOL On our last ride Joselu was kidding Chain with some spanish idioms which he didn´t know for sure. It´s not easy to master slang even after many years in a foreing country so guys, or dear fellows -BBC English-, I beg you to speak in a posh English accent. It is Jorge who loves jergon, tattoos on his arms, piercings on his tongue and scottish whisky in his cycling shirt back pocket. But we the rest are all reputable gents on bikes ;-) Joining our respectable club requires good manners like those of old England and of course in Mackem´s case getting back in shape, So... Is the extra weight you gained during the holidays in the grim oop North eventually out of your body? ;-)
gosh! ain't nobody telt yous 'bout these two poofs!? Despite these lads i'm much too obliged to you for being such devoted people..... It is not easy to find someone who takes the trouble of teaching slang and all you guys are boosting up my English, i'm loving it! Another example, i bet you i didn't catch a proper line...not mine it's Welsh's latest paperback. Colourful and vivid i reckon. Please help me! The knocked-off pub mirror shows up the kitchen behind us tae its mankiest effect. Ah'd love tae glass the taunting pus ay the inscribed Mc Ewan´s Lager Cavalier. Nae wonder he´s aw grins n toasts; getting people tae pey dosh tae drink that tepid, poisonous pish. Another erse-up wi that scabby black tie: ah yank it oaf for aboot the tenth time---Shite! Sick Boy´s at ma shoodir, providing succour. He gets the tie right first go.- There we are , he coos, makin me feel aw baba biscuit-erse Hold on , just a sec... having written it gied us the meanin!!! wow!! It has dawned on meeee!! Guess Mackem either any of you can help me out anyway! You smart arse!! I give that one, good!!
Mamma mia, Is it to decode what you´re asking of us?. Only hope here is Mackem acting like a British Secret Decoding Machine like those used during WWII !!!. Celtic spoken natively sounds kinda rum-running, bootlegging language to me ;-) Mamma mia, Is it tae decode whit yoo´re askin' ay us?. only hiner haur is mackem actin' loch a british secrit decodin' machine loch those used durin' wwii !!!. selic spoken natively soonds kinda rum-runnin', bootleggin' leid tae me ;-)
