Jump to content

Department store bike racing


redkow97

Recommended Posts

Maybe not this season, but I am considering trying to organize a department store bike race.  $150 budget (if you're buying new), but I would hope 99% of the bikes are garage sale rescues.  New tubes and brake shoes are the only mods allowed.

Short course.  Like, 2.5 miles.  Or possibly a 4 mile course with a short-cut through much more serious terrain, so you're risking something by taking it. 

May be too dangerous for MTB trails.  Cyclocross might be safer.  we'll see. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Isaac's Papa said:

Best bet for my money would be to lose the rd and make it a single speed. Don't believe I'd take it to any park bigger than a bunny trail, though. My teeth are afraid of stems. 

shhhhh. You're giving everyone the ideas I was going to hoard :p

I agree with simplicity though.  A think an older rigid might actually prove to be a lot more reliable than a brand new "full suspension" bike that is built to a super cheap price point.

The crappy side-pull rim brakes make me nervous though.  A newer crap bike may have mechanical disks, which is all I have on my Framed bike. (Mine are Avid BB7's)

then there are the strategic decisions:  Go balls out and hope the bike holds together, or go at a pace where you're reasonable sure the bike will survive?  I think it could be fun.  Sketchy, but fun.

Especially if it's a short race, with lots of beer waiting. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

coaster brake would definitely be more reliable and a lot stronger, but I think it would be very difficult to ride downhill sections that way.  I back-pedal to keep my inside foot up in turns.  Tough habit to break.  Plus I front brake a lot.

I'm with you on single speed though.  Or at least "ghetto 1x" and just change the front ring manually, if you happen to need it. I would probably use 3 gears, assuming they were working...

getting the wheels trued and the rim brakes set up the best they can be is probably the major task though.  The other failure I have routinely seen in department store bikes is the bars rotating forward, because they tend to run a single pinch bolt, rather than the 4 bolt setup used on quality bikes.  That's almost a big enough concern for a rules concession, but I think that would be getting away from the intent of the mayhem. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Which trail(s) do you ride most often? 

I don't consider my local trail to be that difficult.  I'd almost call it boring.  I mean, I love it because it's close and it's accessible, but I can't imagine it being a "destination" for anyone.  A cyclocross bike would be rideable there.  I think a Huffy would survive, if ridden at a conservative pace, and if it were well tuned. 

But my original question is to gauge what kind of terrain you're picturing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, Isaac's Papa said:

I am less than 10 minutes from West Branch. 

Taking a Walmart bike on Quarry or Southside would take some real guts. I think your best bet would be to drag the bike over the rocks. I would say carry but those things are worse boat anchors than my Pugs :D

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll have to get out and ride West Branch. 

Royalview has tree roots, and a couple of man-made "rock gardens," which are really pretty flat, and only there to prevent mud and erosion in low spots.   The only natural rock feature is a creek crossing.

The "skills section" has one drop, but you can bypass it easily.  I have found 1 "jump," which isn't a jump, but rather a tree root at the top of a really small natural rise in the trail. 

The only thing that makes anything tricky at Royalview is speed, and that's an easy variable to reduce or eliminate on a cheap bike.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...