- Right, it's time for ask GMBN this week,
so we got a whole load of questions.
Me and Jess gonna try and answer them
before we use it in some of our other videos as well.
- Yeah.
- Should we kick it off, Jess?
- Let's get started.
So, first one is from Theodore Roberts, who asks,
"When quoting the travel of the rear shock,
is it the actual travel of the shock or the travel
of the wheel that you are referring to?
If it's just the travel of the shock, then surely
this doesn't take into account the effect
that different frame and linkage designs have
on the actual travel of the wheel.
- That's true.
When talking about rear travel, it's about the bike,
so yeah, how much the wheel is moving.
When we're talking about shock tentacle,
at the strokes.
You get different stroke rear shocks
and then with the linkage of course
that makes a bigger difference.
But Doddy has done a great video
on suspension linkatures.
But yes,
we're talking about the wheel movement.
- There are four main designs out there.
And within those designs are a lot
of different variations and of course
there are some anomalies.
But as main designs, I'll give you a quick
rundown on those.
So, there's single pivot.
There's single pivot with a linkage driven shock.
There's a four bar.
And there's the short link system,
which is also a short link four bar.
- Next question comes from Elias Sandell,
who says he hates jumps.
"Every time I come up to a jump
I just go around them.
I do this because I am extremely scared of them.
It has become a problem when I am at bike parks
and places with lots of jumps.
I can't manual a bunny hop but I know the technique.
What should I do?"
- Well, I've been there.
I've been pretty scared of doing
jumps and drops myself.
And even though, you know the technique
in your head it's kind of hard
sometimes coordinate
- Yeah.
- What your brain thinks and what
your body actually ends up doing.
So I totally relate with you there.
So, my advice is
you've got to practice
and you've really got to push through that fear boundary.
But definitely start on some small jumps.
Little like rollers.
- Pump tracks.
Things like that.
Just start getting that technique.
Getting that flow together and then once you
get that basics, it will be easier to progress
and go.
- Totally pump tracks are so good for, I think.
- Yeah.
- Because you can't go fast unless you're kind
of getting good at it anyway.
- Yeah.
- You get used to the bike moving around
underneath you and that's what's going to feel
right when it comes to jumping.
- Definitely.
- Another skills one.
Daniel Griffin says he needs help riding berms.
"I can corner pretty well on flat turns,
but I have a hard time taking advantage
of the extra support berms offer.
And always end up taking a middle or inside line.
I've slid out on a flat turn a few times
and I'm afraid of sliding out in a berm
and going of the top.
How can I beat my fear of berms?
- Similar again, I think.
- Yeah.
- It's practice.
It's finding.
Find yourself a couple of corners
and berms that you do like doing.
And then it's a case of even setting little markers.
So take your first line.
Whether that's quite inside.
And then just maybe even marking with a stick
and just kind of drawing a line.
And seeing where you can go
and hit in that.
But, with berms, I mean, especially big berms
it's really about pumping through them as well.
So it's really about getting the speed.
Controlling your speed.
And then pumping through.
And you find that it's not about going faster.
It's about getting smoother.
- Totally.
I think you should find a big one as well.
So it's hard to go over the top.
And then try and get hard on it quite early
and just get the feel of being up on a berm.
And not just sort of going into the middle
and then going high and back down.
Just find a really nice big one.
- Yeah.
I think that's great.
- Derred says,
"How should I train for Enduro racing?"
Well, funny enough.
I've just done my first Enduro race in awhile
and I wasn't as fit as I hoped.
But we have done a video in the past.
So check out my build up to
the Enduro World Series and finale.
So, Wally's been giving me a month's training
in advance.
So, I'll talk you through the first month.
And basically, he puts notes.
So start of the week, I'm suppose to be focusing
on my aerobic fitness.
So in two weeks the lower zone four.
I said I could do two turbo sections a week.
So I fit that around work.
Around family life.
So an hour twice a week.
In the week.
And the weekend I try and to do a two, three hour
mountain bike ride.
So, right.
For example, this week, Tuesday says,
"Go on the Turbo."
And this is a 50 minute session
or 55 minute session.
I'll zone one, five minutes.
Then, zone two for 10 minutes.
So going up those heart rate or power zones.
- The next one's from Matthew Kuhl.
- Cool.
- "Is it really even travel that defines a bike anymore?
It think it's geometry
and how robustly the bike is built.
I have a 140MM Eduro that I built for freeride."
- Yeah.
I think you are totally right.
Actually, someone replied.
I'd forgotten who.
It didn't print in the script.
But, someone else said "Yes, you're right.
But you wouldn't get a 200MM travel Cross Country bike.
- Yeah.
- So, yeah.
It's a bit of everything really.
But, I definitely get your point.
- Yeah.
Next one.
Christopher Brady.
"What are the things you should look for
when buying a second hand full suspension
compared to a hardtail?"
- So, I would check for play in the pivots.
So grab hold of the saddle and the rear wheel
and you need to make sure everything is sort of,
stiff in there.
There's nothing moving around.
If you really can,
it's good to take the shock out.
So even just one end of the shock
and just move that bike through it's travel.
And feel if it's moving freely.
If there's any play in that.
'Cause that is the one thing, really,
that's quite expensive to replace.
- Yeah.
- On a full suspension bike when bearings start going
and pushing things like that.
But, it's not hugely different to actually
check over and a hardtail.
Next question comes from Mohammad Ramis.
"Hi GMBN.
I'm Ramis from Singapore.
I love riding my bike for long distance.
At a times my legs go numb.
What should I replace my seat
or switch my seat post to a dropper?"
- Well, the thing is with your legs going numb
that could be a multitude of reasons for that.
But, I would probably suggest you go get
a bike fit.
And you go to your local bike shop.
And it may not be your saddle or your dropper,
it could be ...
so many other things.
It could be your bike size.
- Yeah.
- Could be a stem.
Could be so many things.
It could even be the pedals that you're using.
Or the shoes.
because if you're compressing
the nerves in your feet,
it could be numbing your legs at the tops.
So, I'd definitely go to you're local bike shop.
Get a fit and get some advice from there.
- Another question on, sort of, pavement riding
from Vaios M.
"I love riding bikes
but unfortunately my knee has given up.
I've pain in the front of my right knee.
Doctor says it's tendonitis.
Are you familiar with anything like that?
Do you have any tips?
I have my bike fit alright and comfortable.
I find that long rides are the worst."
I've got old injuries, especially with my knee,
that actually if I ride for big days in a row
I do find that does hurt.
- Yeah.
- And to be honest, I don't think it's tendinitis
just old injuries.
So, I don't know.
I've not really got a great amount of experience
with this.
- Yeah.
- But again it could be down to both.
So, see a physio.
I'd probably recommend doing that.
- Yeah.
Definitely.
See a physio.
Stretching as well.
Stretching before or after a ride.
Just to really loosen things up.
Also, if it's muscular at all,
then keep your knees warm.
Don't let them get too cold.
I've got problems with my right knee,
where I find it's a lot more painful
in the winter than in the summer.
But, I stretch as much as I can with my legs.
Just to try and hold off any kind of
aches and pains when I'm riding.
- Yeah.
Absolutely.
Good advice.
So, XC MTB asks, "For Cross Country racing,
what should I upgrade first,
a dropper post or to tubeless tires?
- Well.
- What would you recommend?
- It's a tricky one really.
Because a lot of Cross Country races
don't even use dropper posts.
- Yeah.
- So ...
- I personally think tubeless is really important.
- Yeah.
- I'd like to do that.
It's not a massive expense to go tubeless.
You could probably use the tires you already got.
Actually, you need to get a kit
and a valve and tape and stuff.
- Exactly.
- A bit fiddly but here's some advice from Doddy
on how to do it.
- Put the tire on to the rim.
Then you get some warm, foamy or soapy water.
And, apply it to the side walls and the rims.
And, then you simply inflate it.
It seats it.
You hear that classic pop.
[pop]
The beads are seated into the actual
hooks on the rims.
Then when you remove the pump,
the air's gonna come rushing back out again
because we're doing this with
no valve core in there.
(air hissing)
But there's nothing to worry about
because you're then gonna put the sealant
in afterwards knowing that the tire is
hopefully, already sealed in place.
So, I'm going to screw this on to the valve.
I'm simply just gonna squirt that
straight into the tire.
So, the last thing you need
to do now is just put the valve core in
before inflating the tire.
Note that I don't need to do this
with the valve core out because it's already seated.
So the hard bit is done.
- So next one's from Elias.
"Are there any bike bags that can fit two bikes?
As I have a gravel bike and mountain bike
and I'd like to bring them both along for a trip,
and it would be too cumbersome
to carry two bike bags with all my luggage."
- I don't think so.
I think it could be too heavy.
'Cause you'll find on airplanes
there'll be a 32kg maximum.
And even if you get that heavy,
they'll charge you a fortune.
- Oh, that's true.
- Somewhere about 23 kilos is it.
- Yeah.
- So, you're going to have to travel
with two bike bags or boxes.
I've done that quite a lot in the past.
Just get yourself one of those
trolls at the airport.
- Yeah.
- I have tried two bike bags.
A massive bag and a rucksack through
Heathrow Airport with a broken shoulder before.
That's loads of fun.
- If Neil could do it,
you can definitely do it then.
- That's true.
- [Camera Guy] Neil's weak.
- I am.
Harvey Hill is 14
and he's on a pretty standard mountain bike.
"I'm upgrading to a Canyon Strive soon."
- Nice.
- "I want to get into racing.
How do I enter
and how do I know what level I'm at?"
- Well I think with racing there's ...
Check out your local bike parks.
Check out your trail centers,
usually people in bike shops know
quite a lot of races are happening local to you.
There's also websites depending on
where you are as well,
that will have a local race scene.
Places like Facebook forums, as well,
usually have loads of information
about races in your area.
- Totally.
You're 14 so you'll be in the Youth category.
So, there'll be a big mix of people.
- Yeah.
- From experienced to newbies in that class.
So get in it.
- Yeah.
- Why not?
- Have a go.
- Well on to quick fire round.
Right.
I'll hit you with a couple, Jess.
- Okay.
- Greyson Thweatt.
"Is Blake going to Crankworx?"
- Yeah.
- Jess Rosentel.
"What is your opinion on Canyon's
new spectral trail bike?"
- Well, I've just ordered one.
So, I think they're amazing.
- I've ridden one once,
and I thought it was really, really good actually.
- Yeah.
- Very nice.
- Matthew Tweed.
"Can we have a guided tour of your setup please?
Neil once said Blake has the Canyon Torque downstairs,
but I've never seen a shed with two floors."
- Wow.
- [Camera Guy] Posh shed.
We've got a posh shed.
- It is posh shed.
- It is very fancy.
- How do you get downstairs?
I've not worked it out yet.
- Well, it's one of those things
we can't reveal.
- Afraid not.
- Sorry.
- No.
That's it.
Time for a Correct Me if I'm Wrong.
This one's been sent in from Mitch.
So, let's check out the video.
This is Mitch racing his uncle (mumbles)
and he's slipped to pedal
and dropped chain, all at once.
Help him out,
so he can get sending it.
Right.
Mitch's uncle, I reckon you've probably
tried to pull up with your feet
and that's why you've sort of slid
all the weight to come off your pedal
and then you miss it when you try to land
and then it comes around wacks your shin.
We've all done it.
- Yeah.
And it looks as though the seat's
a little bit too high there.
So make sure you drop your saddle out of the way.
- Yeah.
You got to kind of butt high on the saddle.
So, yeah.
It's easy to fix that
and then stop wacking your shins hopefully.
If you've got any videos
you want to send to us.
We can check them out and try and help you out.
Use our brand new uploader.
So follow the link down below.
Send us your video.
Give us a little description of what's going wrong
and we'll try and help you out.
- Yeah.
- If you want to see all the racing news,
click over here for that one.
- And if you want to see my debut
on the Dirt Shed Show from last week,
click down here.
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- [Camera Guy] Hit it!