[nickcuprar]

Started to get into MTB through lockdown and wondered if anyone can recommend a decent UK forum for biking?

Want to discuss bike maintenance & trails/routes etc with a view to doing meets when we can.

[Hanchurch]

I've been a member of singletrackworld.com forum for years and the members are great.

[Bibbles]

Originally Posted by Hanchurch

I've been a member of singletrackworld.com forum for years and the members are great.

As said above, singletrackworld is good or pinkbike is another option if a little US biased.

[mikeoz]

Maybe TouringPleb could start a MTB Advice thread ...The "Road Bike Advice" thread was pretty popular...

[Ridg]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

Started to get into MTB through lockdown and wondered if anyone can recommend a decent UK forum for biking?

Want to discuss bike maintenance & trails/routes etc with a view to doing meets when we can.

singletrackworld, pinkbike and bikeradar are your best starting points; you should be able to find other riders in your area that you can meet up with.

If you're after a specific area then facebook might be worth a look :-/

For maintenance, the part tool youtube channel covers pretty much every aspect, the GMBN tech channel is MTB specific and the MBR channel has great content too. Reddit also has some great sub reddits on biking/maintenance if you have specific questions.

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

Started to get into MTB through lockdown and wondered if anyone can recommend a decent UK forum for biking?

Want to discuss bike maintenance & trails/routes etc with a view to doing meets when we can.

Start the chat on here?
I've been MTBing since before front suspension was a thing - so ask away.

[nickcuprar]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Start the chat on here?
I've been MTBing since before front suspension was a thing - so ask away.

Thanks buddy.

I've not had a bike since I was 15 so almost 15 years ago. Recently got a beginners MTB, nothing fancy just something for me to get out and about on tbh with a view to start doing some trails.

I'm amazed at how much technology has moved on. The bike has hydraulic brakes which I think are abit overkill and seem very high maintenance (can't put bike upside down or on its side etc.

I was having an issue with my chain coming off when I pedalled backwards but I think I've cracked it by adjusting the deraillers to sort it out. Alignment seems to be key!

[Bibbles]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

Thanks buddy.

I've not had a bike since I was 15 so almost 15 years ago. Recently got a beginners MTB, nothing fancy just something for me to get out and about on tbh with a view to start doing some trails.

I'm amazed at how much technology has moved on. The bike has hydraulic brakes which I think are abit overkill and seem very high maintenance (can't put bike upside down or on its side etc.

I was having an issue with my chain coming off when I pedalled backwards but I think I've cracked it by adjusting the deraillers to sort it out. Alignment seems to be key!

I'm not sure what bike you've got but that's the first time I've heard that you can't put a bike on it's side or be turned upside down. The brakes should be a closed system so you can put the bike anyway you like. I know mine have been put every which way and the brakes are still fine.

[flashollie]

As your experience of riding in the muck of winter and your downhill confidence increases you will see the need for disc brakes. They are much more reliable in crap weather and the increased speeds that people reach these days. They also preserve the life of your rims by not braking with a grinding paste of mud on your wheels.

Yes I've have never heard you can't turn hydraulic upside down. It's a closed system. If the reservoir on the lever isn't brim full this could lead to air traveling into the hoses. just make sure the reservoir is full. Very easy to do. just make sure you use compatible brake fluid. Set the reservoir perfectly flat by slackening the mounts on the bars and turn it flat. take the lid from the reservoir off and fill it to the top. replace the lid wipe off any excess fluid. Re set the brake position.

Re gear alignment. look at the rear derailleur arm from behind the back wheel. iyshould be directly below the sprocket the chain is on. if not it's trying to move the chain between the next sprocket. You get a slight ticking it should be silent. On the cable is a knurled nut that allows you to alter the gear cable tension which in turn fine tuned the position of the rear derailleur. use only 1/4 or half a turn either way til it's all perfectly in line.

the same thing applies to the front derailleur

[Winifred Mcdonald]

singletrackworld, pinkbike and bikeradar are your best starting points; you should be able to find other riders in your area that you can meet up with.

If you're after a specific area then facebook might be worth a look :-/

For maintenance, the part tool youtube channel covers pretty much every aspect, the GMBN tech channel is MTB specific and the MBR channel has great content too. Reddit also has some great sub reddits on biking/maintenance if you have specific questions.

Thanks, Ridg! Might as well join up one of these when I get to the UK after the pandemic.

[nickcuprar]

Originally Posted by flashollie

As your experience of riding in the muck of winter and your downhill confidence increases you will see the need for disc brakes. They are much more reliable in crap weather and the increased speeds that people reach these days. They also preserve the life of your rims by not braking with a grinding paste of mud on your wheels.

Yes I've have never heard you can't turn hydraulic upside down. It's a closed system. If the reservoir on the lever isn't brim full this could lead to air traveling into the hoses. just make sure the reservoir is full. Very easy to do. just make sure you use compatible brake fluid. Set the reservoir perfectly flat by slackening the mounts on the bars and turn it flat. take the lid from the reservoir off and fill it to the top. replace the lid wipe off any excess fluid. Re set the brake position.

Re gear alignment. look at the rear derailleur arm from behind the back wheel. iyshould be directly below the sprocket the chain is on. if not it's trying to move the chain between the next sprocket. You get a slight ticking it should be silent. On the cable is a knurled nut that allows you to alter the gear cable tension which in turn fine tuned the position of the rear derailleur. use only 1/4 or half a turn either way til it's all perfectly in line.

the same thing applies to the front derailleur

Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciated.

For the brakes when I turned my bike back over the front brake lever went loose and I could pull it all the way back to the handlebar. I had to pump it for a good 30 seconds to get it back again so maybe air in the system?

Managed to sort the derailleur thanks for the easy to understand explanation

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciated.

For the brakes when I turned my bike back over the front brake lever went loose and I could pull it all the way back to the handlebar. I had to pump it for a good 30 seconds to get it back again so maybe air in the system?

Managed to sort the derailleur thanks for the easy to understand explanation

Dont pull the brake levers while the wheels are off, you have a nightmare usually separating the pads again to ft the rotor back in. Not sure if that's what you're describing or not sorry...also apols if you already know that. Most disc equiped bikes come with a little plastic insert for between the pads to stop this.

Must admit I've not experienced what you describe with hydraulic discs, cable discs yes (terrible brakes).

[nickcuprar]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Dont pull the brake levers while the wheels are off, you have a nightmare usually separating the pads again to ft the rotor back in. Not sure if that's what you're describing or not sorry...also apols if you already know that. Most disc equiped bikes come with a little plastic insert for between the pads to stop this.

Must admit I've not experienced what you describe with hydraulic discs, cable discs yes (terrible brakes).

I already made that mistake when I picked the bike up!! Took the wheel off and put it in the car and then hit the lever whilst the wheel was off! Nightmare!!

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciated.

For the brakes when I turned my bike back over the front brake lever went loose and I could pull it all the way back to the handlebar. I had to pump it for a good 30 seconds to get it back again so maybe air in the system?

Managed to sort the derailleur thanks for the easy to understand explanation

Sounds like you had a reservoir that had air in and by inverting the bike the air slowly move to the hose and to the caliper.
With the bike upright over time the air should move back to the reservoir. Do as I described above to check the fluid level.

tt should be brim full. Most brakes have a solid cap that's screwed on and under that a rubber seal that sits into the fluid this often has a depression in to the fluid to prevent air and to ensure the reservoir is full.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by nickcuprar

I already made that mistake when I picked the bike up!! Took the wheel off and put it in the car and then hit the lever whilst the wheel was off! Nightmare!!

Like you mate...you only do it once