Beginners MTB Spin in Ballinastoe 01/02/09

Vélo · 27-01-2009 9:55am #1

OK who's on for a spin around Ballinastoe on Sunday. It'll be my first time out mountain biking. If there's anyone with any experience of the trail that's willing to come along and give a few pointers it would be great. I'm ok timewise but morning would probably suit better. As I live in Meath I'll drive up so I can give someone a lift if they need it (And it's not too far out of the way). I'm not sure how many bikes fit on my rack so I'll just carry one extra to be safe.

kenmc · 27-01-2009 9:56am

Damn ye. my bike won't be here yet. WAIT FOR ME!!!!

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 10:01am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

OK who's on for a spin around Ballinastoe on Sunday. It'll be my first time out mountain biking. If there's anyone with any experience of the trail that's willing to come along and give a few pointers it would be great. I'm ok timewise but morning would probably suit better. As I live in Meath I'll drive up so I can give someone a lift if they need it (And it's not too far out of the way). I'm not sure how many bikes fit on my rack so I'll just carry one extra to be safe.

I'll take you up on that. (Lift too if possible!)

I'll have a MTB begged borrowed or purchased by then too

I'm in the city centre, so hopefully not too far out your way, but can meet somewhere en route?

Gavin · 27-01-2009 10:02am

Yeah, early Sunday ok for me. I might be able to scab a lift down and then cycle home.

Borrow a bike Kenmc !

kenmc · 27-01-2009 10:09am

actually i'll be waking up in portlaoise, so not happening this week anyway!

bcmf · 27-01-2009 10:10am

I go MTb with the kids with epicmtb.Ballinstoe is a fairly decent set up BUT on a Sunday I suspect it will be fairly packed with a lot of bikers and walkers.Just dont expect yoursleves to be alone in the woods.
The kids one are run in Ballinstoe,Djouce and leadmines.

Vélo · 27-01-2009 10:14am

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I'll take you up on that. (Lift too if possible!)

I'll have a MTB begged borrowed or purchased by then too

I'm in the city centre, so hopefully not too far out your way, but can meet somewhere en route?

Lift is yours Tiny.

Does anyone have a preferred time?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 10:16am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Lift is yours Tiny.

Does anyone have a preferred time?

Legend!

Vélo · 27-01-2009 10:18am

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Legend!

I'll pick you up in Enniskerry:D

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 10:26am

So now I need to decide Full Sus, or Hardtail -Gav, what do you think!?

Vélo · 27-01-2009 10:28am

Which Kona were you looking at?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 10:34am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Which Kona were you looking at?

I'm not 100%, but I think it's a Dawgma

blorg · 27-01-2009 10:44am

I'd be on for this, would welcome a lift or cycle if there is company

Gavin · 27-01-2009 10:48am

Hard Tail Tiny !

kenmc · 27-01-2009 10:50am

Gavin wrote: »

Hard Tail Tiny !

+1
especially if you are going to cycle it to the mountain at all. Need to spend SERIOUS cash to get a decent full suss that's not the weight of a small elephant.

alfalad · 27-01-2009 10:56am

I'd be on for this if it's open to all! I'll be driving out from town so can give a lift if anyone wants one! It is also my first time out but been meaning to give it a go for a while!

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 10:58am

Gavin wrote: »

Hard Tail Tiny !

Cheers Gav -only reason I'm considering full sus is that it's half price, and a 1400 bike has to be decent, no?

In that case it'll be a Trek Hardtail

Gavin · 27-01-2009 11:05am

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Cheers Gav -only reason I'm considering full sus is that it's half price, and a 1400 bike has to be decent, no?

In that case it'll be a Trek Hardtail

Got a link to the full sus ?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:09am

Gavin wrote: »

Got a link to the full sus ?

I think it's this

Vélo · 27-01-2009 11:13am

alfalad wrote: »

I'd be on for this if it's open to all! I'll be driving out from town so can give a lift if anyone wants one! It is also my first time out but been meaning to give it a go for a while!

All are welcome to come along.

Does anyone have a preferred time?

blorg · 27-01-2009 11:18am

I'm generally on for not crazy early, especially if I'm cycling out. 11am maybe?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:18am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

All are welcome to come along.

Does anyone have a preferred time?

Say meet there 100/11ish?

peterk19 · 27-01-2009 11:20am

What do people think of the cube bikes i'm thinkin of one of these

Vélo · 27-01-2009 11:25am

I'm not sure but for that kind of money I think this would be great.

Cheaper too!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Hei_Hei_2008/5360032712/

This might suit you also Tiny if it's a XC bike you're looking for. It has much better spec than the Dawgma.

Morgan · 27-01-2009 11:27am

peterk19 wrote: »

What do people think of the cube bikes i'm thinkin of one of these

Good bike for the money - bear in mind the photo doesn't reflect the actual bike spec.

Check out Canyon too - http://www.canyon.com

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:28am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I'm not sure but for that kind of money I think this would be great.

Cheaper too!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Hei_Hei_2008/5360032712/

This might suit you also Tiny if it's a XC bike you're looking for. It has much better spec than the Dawgma.

Much more expensive too! The Dawgma I'm looking at is reduced to 700

I'm not sure what sort of bike I want, just the best bang for my buck really!

Vélo · 27-01-2009 11:32am

I thought you were spending around €1400.

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:35am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I thought you were spending around €1400.

Nope, it's just half price in a sale. The RRP is 1400, which is what makes it seem like too good a deal to pass up on, as 1400 quid's worth of suspension should be at least decent?

DirkVoodoo · 27-01-2009 11:41am

Thats a pretty nifty paint job on it too Tiny. I'm not gonna offer an opinion, I know nothing about mountain bikes.

I'll have to go with ye all sometime, need to get a bike first. Where is this half price offer on?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:50am

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Thats a pretty nifty paint job on it too Tiny. I'm not gonna offer an opinion, I know nothing about mountain bikes.

I'll have to go with ye all sometime, need to get a bike first. Where is this half price offer on?

If I tell that, you may buy it, hence my being hedgy

I'm not 100% if that's it, but it was definitely a Kona, and definitely green, and that's the only 08 model remotely close to that criteria

alfalad · 27-01-2009 11:53am

blorg wrote: »

I'm generally on for not crazy early, especially if I'm cycling out. 11am maybe?

If you need a lift Blorg i'd be more than happy to offer it if you are not to far from town or on the Southside, i have a rack so the extra bike won't be a problem.

Stephen_C · 27-01-2009 12:02pm

Tiny

If it is the Dogma for €700 I'd go for it, would nearly be tempted myself.
It a good all mountain bike, light enough for X country but solid enough to do some downhill. The Deore groupset is decent enough, would be the equivalent of tiagra on a road bike. Also has good hayes hydraulic disc brakes which is a definite plus.

Might pop out on sunday myself. I know ballinastoe reasonably well though haven't been out on the MTB in a while. Just need to know what time.

Vélo · 27-01-2009 12:05pm

Will everyone agree to meet at 11.00 in Ballinastoe carpark?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 12:06pm

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Will everyone agree to meet at 11.00 in Ballinastoe carpark?

I agree

Vélo · 27-01-2009 12:07pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I agree

I feckin hope so, you're getting a lift with me!

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 12:10pm

Aquinas73 wrote: »

I feckin hope so, you're getting a lift with me!

Which is why I agree...

blorg · 27-01-2009 12:13pm

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Will everyone agree to meet at 11.00 in Ballinastoe carpark?

Sounds good. Alfalad- I am in Ranelagh but can meet you wherever is convenient, thanks for the offer.

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 12:14pm

What's the dress code -Euro, or Lycra-optional?

Short or long sleeves? And does anyone going have a spare elbow pad for a left hand elbow?

blorg · 27-01-2009 12:18pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

What's the dress code -Euro, or Lycra-optional?

Short or long sleeves? And does anyone going have a spare elbow pad for a left hand elbow?

I just wear my lycra tights and don't get (too many) funny looks. As for short or long sleeves, you do know it's the middle of winter, right? Ballinastoe isn't indoors, the weather works there pretty much the same as the rest of Wicklow! So that would be in my case, base layer, long sleeve jersey, Boards training jacket (and an optional waterproof fourth layer on top of that.)

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 12:21pm

blorg wrote: »

I just wear my lycra tights and don't get (too many) funny looks. As for short or long sleeves, you do know it's the middle of winter, right? Ballinastoe isn't indoors, the weather works there pretty much the same as the rest of Wicklow! So that would be in my case, base layer, long sleeve jersey, Boards training jacket (and an optional waterproof fourth layer on top of that.)

Winter's over man, it's February on Sunday, Spring!

The beauty of getting a lift is I can bring a bag with plenty of stuff in

alfalad · 27-01-2009 12:23pm

blorg wrote: »

Sounds good. Alfalad- I am in Ranelagh but can meet you wherever is convenient, thanks for the offer.

It's no prob to collect you cause it's not out of my way. You can PM me with an address of where ever is close and a time. I'll be on the boards spin on Saturday if your on that either, i'll be the guy at the back holding everyone up!

barrabus · 27-01-2009 5:06pm

I am interested too. I have a car (with tow bar) but no bike rack. If people are in need of a lift I'll investigate car swap with the bro. his car can fit at least two bikes in the boot.

Morgan · 27-01-2009 5:11pm

This is going to end in tears, I can sense it.

Gavin · 27-01-2009 5:25pm

Morgan wrote: »

This is going to end in tears, I can sense it.

As an active boardsie, surely you'll be attending to wipe away tears !?

blorg · 27-01-2009 7:29pm

Morgan wrote: »

This is going to end in tears, I can sense it.

What could possibly go wrong? Seriously though if any more ehem experienced mountain bikers wanted to come along to help us around it would be much appreciated. Should we get the Red Cross on standby for Sunday?

TinyExplosions · 27-01-2009 11:35pm

Well, I have a MTB!

It's a Kona Kickapu -upgraded the brakes to hydraulic for 750 all in... a good price I think!

Gavin · 28-01-2009 9:00am

That was quick ! Nice bike alright, a friend has one

TinyExplosions · 28-01-2009 9:05am

Gavin wrote: »

That was quick ! Nice bike alright, a friend has one

No point in hanging around is there

I'll pick it up Friday, ready to be crashed on Sunday

Vélo · 28-01-2009 9:37am

Is that the gold one?

TinyExplosions · 28-01-2009 9:51am

Aquinas73 wrote: »

Is that the gold one?

Yes. I was way off with my green ideas (silly Al!)

Vélo · 28-01-2009 10:00am

Nice bike, I had one. I bought it over a year ago with the intention of doing a bit of mountain biking but never did. I sold it to fund my road bike. I can't comment on how good off road as I only used it on the roads.

http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2k6bikes/kikapu_2k6.php

I was in Cycleogical over a year ago and saw it there for €1350 and then bought it new on E-Bay for €700ish. I sold it last April/May for €650 so it didn't really cost me anything. You must have got it in Cycleogical, they're the only suppliers of Kona in Dublin.

Beginners MTB Spin in Ballinastoe 01/02/09

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