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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Bicycles

    Hobbies and Pastimes
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    • GraemeG
      Graeme
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      I've known a couple of people who were involved in the amateur leagues of cycling in their youth.

      One, an Italian, told me that they'd have team doctors who'd ensure that their hormones would sit at the top end of what was allowed legally under the WADA rules. He didn't sound clear on exactly what they were doing, and I suspect that it was a bit stronger than he was told.

      The other was Dutch, and said that he dropped out of the sport when the team suggested he started doping.

      The fact is that steroid use in endemic in society. There are up to a million users in the UK. I suspect that spills over into sport.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • BloodnThunderB
        BloodnThunder
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        What a lot of people don't realize is it is rampant in the lower professional/semi-professional ranks in endurance sports.  It even trickles down into the locally competitive ranks.  Those athletes are rarely caught because the events they compete in do not test as the winnings collected aren't enough to justify it.

        IG: Shadesofindig0

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • BloodnThunderB
          BloodnThunder
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          @der:

          ^^ That is an extemely high level of pussification, for someone to cheat in the amateur or „enthusiast“ ranks. But it does not surprise me.

          Back in the day I was a summertime and for-fun USCF crit rider, and on the very rare occasion that I cracked the top ten (I was a time trialist and lead-out man), I sometimes had to submit a sample. This was in the early 80s. I have no idea what they were testing for, probably speed.

          I do not disagree.  Some guys are just desperate for a win or to take home a couple hundred bucks.  Other guys dope solely to see just how fast they can be, almost like a science experiment on their bodies.  Same goes for amateur body builders.  Just a pathetic ego stroke.

          IG: Shadesofindig0

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            Brothers…

            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • AppfaffA
              Appfaff
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined:

              Those are stellar [emoji41]

              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                Both bargains off The Bay…..The fixie came from USA.......

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • JiiJ
                  Jii
                  Joined:

                  Got this a week ago, and it's an absolute hoot to ride. I can't believe how well balanced it is and I've sure missed the speed carrying capability of a 29er. So happy!

                  I've got an enduro race coming up in a week (the most equipment punishing one of the season :)) and I'll do that one with the Capra but after that I'll put it up for sale and I'll do the rest of the races this season on the Instinct. I'll probably have to be a bit more careful with line choices but since I'm racing just for fun I don't mind.

                  AIAN HA-TO!

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • W
                    Wander
                    Joined:

                    Cannondale Scalpel in Moab, Utah this past month.

                    Wander, you fool!

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • W
                      Wander
                      Joined:

                      Gravel grinder: specialized diverge 2019

                      Wander, you fool!

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • W
                        Wander
                        Joined:

                        Last year Santa was nice to me: full squish Fatty- Lamere Dopamine

                        Wander, you fool!

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • W
                          Wander
                          Joined:

                          Summer rig: Specialized Roubaix now retired to the basement trainer

                          Wander, you fool!

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • den1mheadD
                            den1mhead
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            ^ you've got some awesome bikes buddy [emoji106]

                            Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • bryaneidins70B
                              bryaneidins70
                              Iron Heart Deity
                              Joined:

                              Cool balance bike.

                              The downside…only available in South Africa at the moment.

                              'Fail we may…Sail we must'

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • ddtrashD
                                ddtrash
                                Haraki san Expert
                                Joined:

                                Built a new Nicolai G1. Had a few Nicolai's over the years including a couple of hefty G-Boxx bikes. This new G1 is the best of the lot.  It can run 29er or 650b wheels.  Travel adjusted between 160 and 175mm travel with shock mount position, chainstays can also be lengthened.  It is a very adaptable bike.  All in it weighs 31lbs, not bad for a 160mm travel rig.

                                I have a second set of cheaper aluminium rimmed wheels that I built up for more aggressive riding, using DT ex511 rims.  This second set of wheels is in the "mullet" configuration, 650b out back and 29er front.  Have not had much time on this set up so difficult to give proper feedback on how they differ from a standard 29er front rear combo.

                                New XTR 12 speed is very nice and it does like changing gear with power on which feels a bit unusual.  shimano have stated that this is a feature of the new XTR and I cant disagree.

                                Photos were from a sunny UK day in the Peak district riding the classic Edale, Hollins Cross, Mam Tor, Hayfield, Jacobs Ladder, Edale circular route.  The brown ribbon of descent is the top of Jacobs lader descent, great fun.

                                Off to Lake Garda in Italy in August to give the bike a proper workout, looking forward to it.

                                There is no 'I' in team …............ however there are five in 'individual brilliance'.

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Tyler DurdenT
                                  Tyler Durden
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined:

                                  Anyone here ride Downhill?

                                  There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. - R. Duke

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • T
                                    the246guy
                                    Haraki san Prodigy
                                    Joined:

                                    @Tyler:

                                    Anyone here ride Downhill?

                                    I have been doing Downhill shredding with my Trek Remedy 8 Enduro until about 2 years ago where I had a nasty accident and tore my ACL on the left knee. Since then I'm a bit cautious and don't do any aggressive riding. I've been doing lots of trails and very less bike parks.

                                    What is your ride?

                                    IH-555N | IH-666S-21 | IH-777D | IH-666 XHS | IHG-035 | IHB-06 | IH-721-KHA
                                    IHSH-251 | IHSH-07 | IHSH-246 * 2

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • T
                                      the246guy
                                      Haraki san Prodigy
                                      Joined:

                                      @ddtrash:

                                      Cool bike! Is that the Magura MT7 that you have? How is this holding up? I was considering to get it installed on my Trek Remedy 8. What is that suspension? I was also considering the possibility to get a coil suspension, but seems my bike might not be compatible out of the box!

                                      IH-555N | IH-666S-21 | IH-777D | IH-666 XHS | IHG-035 | IHB-06 | IH-721-KHA
                                      IHSH-251 | IHSH-07 | IHSH-246 * 2

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Tyler DurdenT
                                        Tyler Durden
                                        Raw and Unwashed
                                        Joined:

                                        Solid man! Sorry to hear about the spill. Where do you ride? I’m on east coast. MCBP is our local bike park!

                                        I ride a YT Capra 29

                                        There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. - R. Duke

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • ddtrashD
                                          ddtrash
                                          Haraki san Expert
                                          Joined:

                                          @jothishan The rear shock is an Italian made EXT Story Lok3, designed for the bike.

                                          https://geometronbikes.co.uk/bikes/g1/

                                          Fork is the Formula Selva.  Been a good fork but I am waiting on the new EXT fork to be released in a month or so's time which will go onto the bike.  The formula fork is really nice but the EXT rear is so much more supple than the fork, to be honest the rear shock is so good it would humble any current fork on the market.  The new EXT fork should be the business, rumour has it that it uses needle bearings rather than bushings to minimise internal friction.

                                          There is no 'I' in team …............ however there are five in 'individual brilliance'.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • ddtrashD
                                            ddtrash
                                            Haraki san Expert
                                            Joined:

                                            @jothishan

                                            Correct, Magura MT7's.  Been really pleased with these brakes, loads of power and modulation. Had no problems with them.

                                            Completely cooked them (203 m front 180 mm rear) at Lake Garda last year on some big descents, no fade and worked faultlessly.  Rotors got properly cooked and now show that purple heat haze fade colour on them.

                                            If you do go with MT7's I would recommend running them with a magura HC Storm disc which are slightly thicker than most other manufacturers rotors.

                                            There is no 'I' in team …............ however there are five in 'individual brilliance'.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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