Simpson Desert Bike Challenge thread.
- Thread starter DW-1
- Start date
DW-1
Dirt Works
just when you thought you knew it all...
http://surlybikes.com/blog/archives/2011/07/
Quote of the year...
"At this point, bike nerds of a certain ilk are, to use the parlance of our times, “sporting wood.” Take a minute if you need to. "
4.5" tyres?
BRING IT ON!
Elvis.
http://surlybikes.com/blog/archives/2011/07/
Quote of the year...
"At this point, bike nerds of a certain ilk are, to use the parlance of our times, “sporting wood.” Take a minute if you need to. "
4.5" tyres?
BRING IT ON!
Elvis.
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Hugor
Likes Dirt
I have been reading this thread for a few years now and love it.
I am overseas at the moment but will return to Aus next year. I will enter this fantastic event.
My period in the UK has given me plenty of fuel reserves to use for such a challenge.
After a few injuries my arms are a little intolerant of rigid forks.
I'm no stranger to gibber plains - they trashed my patrol causing me to roll into Innaminka on my rims.
I'm presently researching a fat bike suspension fork.
Keep the pics and plans coming boys.
I am overseas at the moment but will return to Aus next year. I will enter this fantastic event.
My period in the UK has given me plenty of fuel reserves to use for such a challenge.
After a few injuries my arms are a little intolerant of rigid forks.
I'm no stranger to gibber plains - they trashed my patrol causing me to roll into Innaminka on my rims.
I'm presently researching a fat bike suspension fork.
Keep the pics and plans coming boys.
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
I'm with you on the arms and rigid forks Hugor but have been playing with 25mm carbon bars and silicone grips - along with low tyre pressure and it all comes together to feel quite okay. pressure and grips dampen the chatter and the carbon bars take the sting out of bigger hits. It's the chatter that knocks me around though. I hadn't ridden a rigid bike for 20 years until now. For sand you'll want a rear cockpit weight bias anyway so you should be light on your hands and arms. I do wish I had another 6 months to get into better shape and HTFU.
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
Oh bonus. When is fat too fat? Is there such a thing as too fat?
Hugor
Likes Dirt
There is no such thing as too fat ..... just the wrong attire!
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
Actually, I think I discovered when fat is too fat.
From yesterday's training ride.....Once they're turning, hang on....
Yes there was a long sweeping bend at the bottom of the hill..... Yes I tasted mud.
But then you get to this....and you're grinning like an idiot.....
Actually, I'm still grinning like an idiot.
Muzbuz
Squid
As you can see by Elvis's pic, deep mud is when Fat is too fat!
I love my "heavy Judy" but she is hopeless in deep mud, the tyre floatation is too good. But look out on the sand!!
We're going north on the K1 this year and I hear from my source that the sand that covered the track in 2009 is still there....bye bye skinny bikes, I'll see you in the bar at Birdsville!!!
I love my "heavy Judy" but she is hopeless in deep mud, the tyre floatation is too good. But look out on the sand!!
We're going north on the K1 this year and I hear from my source that the sand that covered the track in 2009 is still there....bye bye skinny bikes, I'll see you in the bar at Birdsville!!!
Hugor
Likes Dirt
Just came across this:
http://www.surlybikes.com/blog/
I've been eyeing out the Mukluk since it came out but this one might be better for this great event.
4.7 inches wide!!! :clap2:
http://www.surlybikes.com/blog/
I've been eyeing out the Mukluk since it came out but this one might be better for this great event.
4.7 inches wide!!! :clap2:
DW-1
Dirt Works
Moonlanders won't arrive until Jan/Feb 2012 (we've ordered completes only for the first delivery).
Elvis.
mtb101
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I did a bit of reading over this thread on weekend - sounds like an amazing event.
Few things I wonder about, if winning is the aim or doing it not just for fun (and who would?) are the fat bikes the go? Noticed all winners have been on skinny wheeled mtbs, so what gives? Are fat bikes now an advantage on this type of terrain/event? Other thing, was reading reports of chain suck does anyone use IGHs like an Alfine or Roloff?
Can event be followed by GPS like some adventure races?
Few things I wonder about, if winning is the aim or doing it not just for fun (and who would?) are the fat bikes the go? Noticed all winners have been on skinny wheeled mtbs, so what gives? Are fat bikes now an advantage on this type of terrain/event? Other thing, was reading reports of chain suck does anyone use IGHs like an Alfine or Roloff?
Can event be followed by GPS like some adventure races?
Dreggsy
Likes Bikes and Dirt
It all came down to tyre width, I was using Stans raven tubeless tyres at 15psi and 20psi, this gave me a tyre width of almost 2.4.
plus it depends on where you actually ride, if you ride on the soft sand where the cars go, its soft and slow,
If you ride a metre to the left or the right of the "road" you have harder packed sand which is actually quite fast.
the aim is just to finish with 100%
I got 91% in 2009 and i am now very annoyed with that result.
not matter what - keep going - even if it it 8kph into a 50km sandstorm.
I never got chainsuck, and only used a 32 and a 22, I took the 42 off the bike completely.
DW-1
Dirt Works
last year was the first time that anyone on a fatbike showed up. 11 of them in all! The main reason that I think no one had ridden one in previous years is that they weren't commonly available in years gone by.
Yes... last year a "regular" bike won (again). But last years event was on a corrugated fireroad. (no where near the amount of sand that the Simpson will throw at you)
On the one day last year that the sand was present in any form similar to the normal Simpson... (day 3) the fatbikes ruled. Hell... I was passing people double my fitness that day.
As to your other question... if you can afford an IGH like an Alfine 11 or a (gasp) Rohloff. I say go for it. Less issues with drivetrain. Simplicity.
Elvis.
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
No doubt singing "I'm the King of the sand pit, naa naa ni naa naaa"
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
Way ahead of you there Wayne.... In anticipation, here's one from the first batch of bicycle carrier wheel support cradles to suit these monster tyres! Can't wait for the bike to fill them....
Whilst these cradles also support 29" and 26" regular bikes, the 2.4" Mountain Kings on my Reign look like pimpley road tyres when you sit it in there.
Yes, Fat begets FAT.
Olefin
Likes Bikes
I'll be running a SPOT this year
www.tinyurl.com/wheresal
So you can see my personal progress from space.
DW-1
Dirt Works
will you be taking pics of... "places" and uploading them?
gcouyant
Farkin Advertiser
So we think that we are super human with our fat bikes..... Maybe not.
Riding along at a brisk pace feeling great in the sunshine and BANG - surprise baptise with 300ml of milky sealant goodness all over the back of the legs....
The stick went through the tyre, ghetto tube, layers of vinyl reinforcement and finally through the blue rim tape. When I peeled the tyre off the rim there was another 6 inch length of that stick in there. I could have taken the photo with two or three fingers in the hole but that would looked a bit hardcore....
22 sleeps to go.
Riding along at a brisk pace feeling great in the sunshine and BANG - surprise baptise with 300ml of milky sealant goodness all over the back of the legs....
The stick went through the tyre, ghetto tube, layers of vinyl reinforcement and finally through the blue rim tape. When I peeled the tyre off the rim there was another 6 inch length of that stick in there. I could have taken the photo with two or three fingers in the hole but that would looked a bit hardcore....
22 sleeps to go.
Muzbuz
Squid
Thats a bummer George, Many years ago Monty Python did try to warn us all about pointed sticks
2nd Man: Can't we do something else?
3rd Man: Like someone who attacks you with a pointed stick?
Sergeant: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me!
I guess you can consider yourself lucky it wasn't a banana or a pineapple!
2nd Man: Can't we do something else?
3rd Man: Like someone who attacks you with a pointed stick?
Sergeant: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me!
I guess you can consider yourself lucky it wasn't a banana or a pineapple!