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Post by mcswift on Jun 1, 2007 12:06:14 GMT
I am just building my first bike this summer, and have done plenty of research. I realise the limitations of turning the bmx frame flipside, is there a recommended frame size i should be using? What is the best rake angle and is there much benefit from front sus?
I plan to build a custom bike over the winter, but need a GB for July as will be testing out my skills at an event in swiss.
Any advice would be appreciated ;D
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Post by TomW on Jun 1, 2007 12:58:36 GMT
Hi McSwift!
Welcome to our board!
Are you in the UK? If so, get yourself to Scammonden Dam (Near Huddersfield) this weekend for two days of downhill action. Should be a few G-Bikes there for you to look at.... or have a go if you ask nicely : )
Which Swiss event are you going to?
Ride hard, Stay safe.
Tom W.
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Post by will on Jun 1, 2007 17:33:16 GMT
hey dude! yer which swiss event isit that yourgoing to? and ilive just upthe road in worcester and am down cheltnham most weekends and know a sweet little steep road with hairpin. if not can always come upto worcester plenty of places near me!
will
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Post by Joel on Jun 4, 2007 8:05:14 GMT
Hia Look forward to seeing you out in Switzerland. We also have a big event coming up in Eastbourne at the end of the summer, definatly one to come to, more info soon. To help with your questions, I hope... Depends on the course, long as poss for speed, but short for cornering and also depends on how tall you are. The scots built their own, they are tall lads and the bikes are built for speed, so the wheelbase is really long, probably about 2 foot longer than a bmx. They are also slung really low. In contrast Ian Round uses a standard BMX frame and sits really high on it. He looses some aerodynamics to this, but corners like he's on rails (untill the rear lets go ). If building your own frame I would go longer than a standard BMX. But unless you're 6 foot or more I wouldn't go as long as the Scots. Switzerland is gonna be fast, but also has some mad hairpins so you want a good balance. Not sure of exact angles, but the standard angles that come on BMX seem to be fine, slightly more relaxed maybe. Yes, and rear if you can. You don't want much travel, a couple of inches at most, it's quality of damping rather than amount of travel that matters. While you're on tarmac, usually smooth, a bit of suspension helps take the buzz out and can also help prevent you crashing out if you hit a small bump in a corner. It's not gonna be the difference between winning and losing when it comes to experience, but it can make your life easier. Hope that helps some, keep us informed and post pictures of the build if you can.
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Post by mcswift on Jun 4, 2007 8:54:37 GMT
Thanks for all the feedback and answers to my questions. I am in the UK and hope to come up to scammonden and learn more from the experienced! The Swiss event I am possibly getting cold feet about as I don't think I have enough time to build and practice for it with work committments, but it is a new one called alpspeed in Thun, would really like to go as sounds like a good weekend with bands and stuff, any events like that in UK? Will would love to meet up and find out more from the horses mouth But will hopefully find yu all at scamonden over the summer at somepoint Cheers
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Post by Joel on Jun 4, 2007 10:54:46 GMT
Yah, lots of us are going out to Thun. At the moment we don't have any events like it in the UK, but we're working on it. Eastbourne is gonna be the platform for this, no bands and stuff this year, but if it's sucessful then we are looking into it for next time.
You might wanna borrow a G-Bike for the event (I'm sure Will would oblige). That way you can get a feel for it and get some ideas for your own bike, without costly mistakes.
Will is based near Worcester (not too far from you) and has some great practice hills. I wouldn't worry about practice too much, the Euro hills are so different that it is hard to practice for them anyway. The best practice for a Euro hill is to go out and ride them.
Hope to see you there
Joel
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Post by TomW on Jun 4, 2007 15:53:01 GMT
Yeah, I definitely agree with Joel there – If its your first time at a World Cup event, the most important thing of all is to just get yourself out there and get some experience on a Swiss hill. You’ve got until the 18th July to get yourself a bike sorted out, which should be plenty of time.
If time is tight then don’t get too side tracked by technical mods – there are plenty of guys out there racing competitively on stock frames and simple v-brakes. Just drop the handlebars (An extension helps), and make a longer saddle over the rear wheel (Banana bike saddles work well!). Then get yourself out to Switzerland!!!
If you DO have the time, then things like suspension will make life a little bit easier, but really at the end of the day it’s the RIDING that counts. If time spent fiddling around with radical suspension mods threatens to prevent you from competing this year, then just get out there with a stock frame and ride without it.
You’ll have a great time on the hill, as well as the opportunity to build up your own knowledge about racing techniques and bike design. This will enable you to build an even better modified bike over the winter ready for next year. But for this season, just make sure you are out there on the hill – whatever you end up riding!
Remember, technology is only part of the equation – winning takes a combination of skills and ability that can only be achieved through experience. I took great delight in watching Capi (Spain) beating Kessler (USA) riding on a junk bike that he built from scrap just a few days before the race. Kessler on the other hand, was riding his “$20,000” wonder bike….
Ride hard, stay safe.
Tom W.
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Post by will on Jun 4, 2007 16:11:48 GMT
yer no problem can borrow my bike, can bearly ride it anyway! i've added you on msn so chat more about meeting up and riding on there, the thun race last year was awesome, best week ever and dave on hi wonder bike got his ass kicked! only reason he's been winning so much over poast year is cause at races like ohio last year he was the only person there on a gravity bike, pretty sure the scottish lads could kick his ass even harder!!!
my advice is get out and ride, and have fun!
will
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Post by Joel on Jun 4, 2007 18:11:59 GMT
it wasn't Thun last year Will
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Post by mcswift on Jun 4, 2007 22:16:50 GMT
Thanks for the encouragement fellas! Looks like I've got little choice but to let Will break my G bike duck then> Lookin forward to it and possibly swizter if I get my head round it.
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Post by will on Jun 5, 2007 5:45:57 GMT
oops Tomils then knew it began with a T.....
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Post by trikesrule on Jun 9, 2007 1:49:08 GMT
Him mcswift When I build a gravity racer I start with my wheels. So u need to decide if u will run 406 or 451. 451 is the larger version. The 406 has a better range of tyres Tioga Slicks are the go (more grippy). This is handy for the twisty courses but the 451 with Primo Comets on will kill Tioga Slicks in a straight line but if if u don't mind doing a bit of sliding Comets are the go. The 451 wheel is nice and skinny so the aero is by far better. Next thing you need is to decide on a donor frame. A std bmx frame is like a willow tree in breeze. Find a frame with large diameter tubes - much stiffer and nicer to ride. Mine are 60mm. I tried mine in a std wheelbase and after raising the pitch of my voice I decided to stretch the wheelbase. I'm 5'7 and I found a 46-47" wheelbase fitted me well. 50" is the maximum allowed. I stretched my frame by getting an old 28" bike from the tip and welded the rear triangle on. In hind sight I wouldn't do it this way next time. I would cut the tubes behind the steerer and add a piece in there, plate it - no worrys. That should get you started...........trikes
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Post by will on Jun 9, 2007 16:03:54 GMT
yer, met him in chelt top bloke. going out riding next weekend, if anyone else is about? and you can borrow luge,buttboard,gravity bike or if your feeling nutty stand-up?
will
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Post by will on Jun 13, 2007 19:30:00 GMT
also he reminds me of parker, for those of you who know him!
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Post by MadManu on Jun 20, 2007 9:07:52 GMT
hello! i'am a swiss g-biker and hope to see you all at the alpspeed event in thun. more racers =more fun!
greets manu
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Post by will on Jun 20, 2007 18:16:24 GMT
i'll be out there, but am not taking gravbike, can bearly ride the thing!
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