[entropyfan]

Has anyone rode on the Dragon's Back trail?
I know a bunch of the newbie Geoexpaters are itching to go mountain biking so I need to know the following:

1. Where's the best place to rent good mountain bikes?
2. What's the best way to get a group of people with bikes there?
3. Are there permits needed?
4. How difficult is this trail?

I found the map and have looked at
http://www.hkmba.org/en/images/maps/lowres/shek_o.jpg

but I guess I need to know more about the logistics of it. Has anyone organized an outing out here before? If so, please PM me.

[PDLM]

3. Yes. Details here: http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/count...u_vis_mou.html

[alancymber]

hey Jeff, all,

I'm definitively in for mountain biking. I've been out for ages but god willing to go back little by little.

Keep me posted on what/ where to go.
Cheers
Alan

[entropyfan]

My search has kind of stalled since I can't find a place to rent out mountain bikes you can somewhat do terrain on.

Originally Posted by alancymber

hey Jeff, all,

I'm definitively in for mountain biking. I've been out for ages but god willing to go back little by little.

Keep me posted on what/ where to go.
Cheers
Alan

[dropdedfwed]

it's not uncommon in HK to get a great frame/fork combo with ordinary drivetrain/groupset for under 2k.

I got a Kona Kula with RockShox Judy TT forks for $1500. sure, Judy TT are RS basic forks and the brakes are tektro, the shifters are basic rapid fires and the deralliuer is alivio or something as basic, but all this is much better than an unknown hire bike. It is a hard tail, but for that price dual suspension is cheap and nasty/heavy. (FYI the Kula in it's real outfit of deore and XT specs is worth about $1100US - the frame aint a cheapy, and looks and feels legit FWIW).

Go and buy one, shove 1 or 2 into the boot of a cab and go have some fun

I've only done a little trail rinding, but i reckon hardtails can do ok on most terrain. just a bit of a $hit going down stairs/rocky declines at speed as u can lose your chain. otherwise they're ok. better for hill climing IMHO than a a dual suspension, as u don;t lose as much momentum/power into the springs..

[alancymber]

I assume you bought second hand, right? Where did you get yours??

Alan

[peppy5]

i'm thinking of picking up one of these bikes.

unfortunately, i can't read the chinese, anybody tell me differences between these bikes?


this giant atx 690 is 1498 rmb but it's has altus 21 speed

http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/ch...005&model=6762

this one is a giant atx 750 for 1798 rmb with acera 24 speed

http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/ch...005&model=6764

this last one is a giant atx 770 looks the same but without hydraulic brakes and is going for 2098 rmb, has 24 speed acera

http://archive.giant-bicycles.com/ch...005&model=6760

i'm having trouble deciding. if it's just the rear deraileurs being different, i suppose it's no big deal. it's the same frame as far as i can tell, i'll be getting this in china

[dropdedfwed]

Originally Posted by alancymber

I assume you bought second hand, right? Where did you get yours??

Alan

no, brand spankers...

Got it at Shun Lee in Tuen Mun... Tak Ching Court (Tak Ching Wai). but this isn't the only place i've seen good deals. go to any bike shop in NT that isn't flying ball, and you will see bikes like this

there are heaps of good frame sets around with crap/mediocre components, all for decent prices. but if you want good specs too, ie good hubs, rims, shifters, deralliuers, disc brakes etc you will pay the same sort of price you'd pay anywhere else. it's the cheap components that keep the price down (and i don't mind cos if u lock your bike up those bits go missing on a regular basis anyway - I have caught guys red-handed pinching stuff off my bike, in a busy street in front of my office).

[dropdedfwed]

Peppy,

likely the frame is the same. the only difference would be the gears, hubs, rims, forks.

like all things, you get what you pay for. if you're just using it for street riding, get the basic one 690. probably the only other factor is the hubs/wheels - if they all have same hubs/rims then go the cheapy, but if the next model up has better hubs, get that (cheap hubs are much harder to push than not so cheap ones)

if you're doing some trail riding, the more expensive bike would probably be better value for money. hard to say without knowing the nitty gritty...

[entropyfan]

Hey all-

Today I went hiking on the Dragon's Back and from hiking it, it seems like it'd be a pretty decent bike ride! There are some definite spots that you couldn't technically climb on your mountain bike (Unless you're a trials rider.) but I think it's manageable with the proper gear... I'll do some more research and will try to set a time.

Jeff