what happened to the canberra scene

[pearcey]

does any body in canberra still ride trials or have you all given up?

[tomac]

I, for one, don't really ride during the winter. I'll probably start up again in a few weeks when school calms down. All the other dudes, I don't know. They just got jobs and girlfriends.

- Joel

[bass]

I've just got into trials, bought shaun's raceline rhino Mod and I'm in the process of learning all the basics.

I also bought Charlie's BT Raven to build up a Stock bike. So any advice on building the bike up would be appreciated.

[tomac]

do you have all the parts? That's a good start.

- Joel

[bass]

I have the following parts:

BT Raven 5.0 Frame
Magura HS33 brakes
Middleburn Pro Trials Bashguard/spider and 22 tooth chainring
Middleburn RS7 Cranks (on the way)
Rhino fork
VP pedals
Mavic dh521 rim with lx silent clutch hub

So I need pretty much everything else.
Headset - maybe an FSA pig
Bottom Bracket?
Derailleur - Sora?
Front wheel?
Stem?
Bars?
Not sure about a shifter - i've got an old 8sp sachs grip shift lying around.

James

[jacky]

Maybe a regular meet would mean that guys could be sure of a ride. I turned up in civic earlier on this year, when a ride was planned, and no one else turned up. Maybe that says something about me though. Although trials is in some way associated with CORC it seems a bit loose in organization. Maybe some comps here and there.

[AlexPV]

i havnt quit, i dont ride either, some where in the ether between.

[alex markwart]

A regular ride would be good. The Friday night rides were awesome back in the day but I have a feeling that was because someone was always progressing. I'm not seeing any progress in myself lately, and generally a reduction in skill each time I go out, so I am less and less inclined to ride.

[Andre]

Yeah I havent given up trials. Just have no time for it. I will get back into it one day when I am feeling less fat. Twas good when Mals was in Civic a friday turnout was guaranteed cause the free-ride boys would come along too. It was the advent of the euro bike that caused segregation amongst the civic ride community and led to the demise of what we once knew as the friday night ride.

[tomac]

he's just a cynical roadie

Bass, you will need a 128mm spindle width for a BB. I'd suggest just not running a shifter, unless you're really keen on gears. A singlespeed setup (with a derailleur I can supply) is cheap, light, simple etc.

check ebay for mtb front wheels, people sell them to get disc wheels and they go for next to nothing.

As for a headset, for me it's either a king or a $30 cheapie. There's nothing in between which is worth the extra money in terms of longevity.

- Joel

[bass]

Thanks Joel,

Single speed sounds like the way to go, so I'm interested in the derailleur. Thanks also for the info on the spindle width. I'll PM you with my details so we can sort out the derailleur.

Back on topic, I was wondering whether there were any organised rides when I bought the bike(s). I think it's a good way to get new people interested in trials.

James

[tomac]

organised rides happen more during the summer months, and tend towards natural (rocky) locations rather than urban locations over the last few years. There are a fair few such locations in suburban canberra though.

I'll look through "The Box" tomorrow and see what I can find, I have a feeling there's a nice shortcage shimano in there which will clean up nicely.

- Joel

[Andre]

hey joel do you have any spare king crown races? or know where to get them?

[tomac]

no I don't. Get them from www.aspirevelotech.com - for cheap + cheap cheap shipping!

what you want for?

bass, the nice shortcage shimano went to another SS project today, so you're down to a nice longcage shimano (LX).

- Joel

[bass]

Thanks Joel for the info on the Bottom bracket. Also the LX derailleur would be fine.

Has anyone used one of the Da Bomb chain tensioners?
www.torpedo7.com/page/australia/PROD/chain_guides-mountain_bike/DAB-CHG-RL2