Blind rider saying hi

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brettryan

Squid
Hey all. I've been riding trails about for a long time, but; I'm pretty much blind. So I'm mostly sticking to myself riding about where I live in the Lerderderg and wombat forests.

I've had a few bikes over the past years, my favourite was a Marin Mount Vision from 1999 (attached) that I really miss and found myself the most confident on. Unfortunately that was stolen long ago.

After riding my current bike for a while, a 2017 Trek Fuel EX8, and never being overly happy with I've been thinking about building a bike myself.

I don't own the tools, I can't drive (because I'm nearly blind), and I live remotely and I got no idea where to start. Maybe you lot could help spin me around and point me in some random direction?
 

Attachments

Dales Cannon

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
Welcome to the forum. Plenty of information on here and have a browse. I am sure some burners will be along to give you more detailed information.

I would help but it is after 4pm.
 
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bear the bear

bear the bear

Is a real bear
Hey mate, welcome to the forum.
What did you like about your old bike so much? And what do you not like about your latest?
This information will help others provide you with some recommendations for a new bike or tuning advice for your current one.
 
Jpez

Jpez

Down on the left!
If you’ve got the urge to build a bike there is no more noble urge!
First decide what you want to build. Then you’ll have to work out what components you need/want and are compatible with the frame you want.
Once you know what components you are using you’ll be able to work out what tools you’ll need. What you feel comfortable doing or not. Most jobs are pretty easy with half a brain and YouTube.
Literally everything can be bought online. But you might need the occasional visit to a bike shop to check something over so maybe you can rope someone into giving you a lift.
You'll make lots of mistakes but someone here will always steer you right.
There’s not a lot more satisfying than swinging a leg over the bike you just built and taking it for a ride.
 
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brettryan

Squid
bear the bear said:
Hey mate, welcome to the forum.
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Thank you, nice to be here.

bear the bear said:
What did you like about your old bike so much? And what do you not like about your latest?
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It was fast, and that was a lot of fun, but; I mostly miss how nimble it was. From being able to effortlessly bunnyhop, lift the front and keep it there stable or even coast on the front wheel swinging the back around. My current bike it feels like it just wants to stick to the ground, finding a challenge to lift either wheel. Mechanic the other day referred to more like a sled when I mentioned how I feel with it. When I bought it I wasn't fully sure about 29" and thought I would get used to it, but; maybe I want to go back to 26"?

My current thinking is maybe a short wheel base hard tail, or a short travel duel? I have never ridden a hard tail to be honest.

Starting with a second hand frame is an option of course, I don't even know how much frames are worth so I'm really starting with no idea.
 
dancaseyimages

dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
Welcome.
There is also no harm in buying something already built either and swapping/selling bit as you go either, there are some decent packages around and gives you time to put money towards the next best thing whilst riding and tweaking the bike, just in case something catches your eye in the meantime.
This forum is a wealth of knowledge and people willing to lend a hand etc.
Lots of tools can be had for cheap from the Chinese sites like AliXpress and even parts, some of the guys on here have compared the factory offerings even recently and the crazy prices compared to almost the same tool without the anodizing and saving decent chunks of change.

Edit: As for your 26 comment, I have recently gone up to 27.5 as the 29ers felt 'too big' for me personally.
 
frenchman

frenchman

Eats cheese. Sells crack.
First off, if a blind dude riding a mount vision isn’t a pisstake it’s unintentionally funny.

Secondly, u are the actual perfect candidate for a blind test. could have ur mechanic organise a test ride / bike hire of 2-4 similar bikes in 27.5 and 29 and give them a lap. If you’re going to shell out a few grand for the right bike, a couple hundred for an afternoon will stop you making the same mistake again.

26 is not really supported except for kids bikes and old gear.
scrap the hardtail unless u have additional bikes or doing some road kms as well.
 
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brettryan

Squid
frenchman said:
First off, if a blind dude riding a mount vision isn’t a pisstake it’s unintentionally funny.
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Omg, I never thought of that, but hell. Jesus. Maybe the shop that sold it to me in the day was really havin' a laugh.

frenchman said:
Secondly, u are the actual perfect candidate for a blind test. could have ur mechanic organise a test ride / bike hire of 2-4 similar bikes in 27.5 and 29 and give them a lap. If you’re going to shell out a few grand for the right bike, a couple hundred for an afternoon will stop you making the same mistake again.
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Interesting, I didn't know you could hire them out. I'll have to find a shop that I can get to on the train that hires out, I live in Bacchus Marsh Vic.

Might try this this weekend. They hire out for a few days?

frenchman said:
scrap the hardtail unless u have additional bikes or doing some road kms as well.
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I used to ride absolutely everywhere, I was a lot more fearless in my youth. But these days I find car drivers more aggressive and with my eyes it's not a good combination so I stick to back roads and fire escape routes/trails.
 
Dales Cannon

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
brettryan said:
Lol, that's how I felt when I went from 26 to 29, it felt like I was sitting between two ferris wheel's.
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Unless you are well over 185cm tall I reckon the transition from 26" to 29" is like that. Early 29er geometry was also trying to compensate for the wheels rather than just work with them. At least that was my experience. I did some work on mate's 29ers and the Spec had no front end bite, no turn in. I hated it. The other was... can't remember but similar issue that it felt awkward. I bought a Bronson with 27.5" wheels and found that fine though I thought the shorter travel model (5010) was also too upright and the front washed out easily. Fast forward a few years and grabbed a 29er hardtail Giant that was going cheap and it was good, pointed well and was stable and didn't feel like a penny farthing. Then another 29er hardtail and either I am used to, the geo got better or I have grown 5cm taller. These days I only have a 29er hardtail and a fatbike with 4.7" tyres on 26" rims but the same overall diameter as a 29er. Ish.
 
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brettryan

Squid
Oh man, you guys getting me thinking a lot now, lol. I haven't even started and I'm thinking of multiple bikes now. 10am on a Wednesday, I think I need a beer already!
 
K

komdotkom

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've got about 40% vision, while I don't have a cane and a Labrador (yet) I'm pretty blind.
Modern geometry makes life so much simpler, less skill is needed for the trails we used to ride 20 years ago. A modern 140mm trail 29er will do everything you need it to and make you look like a much better rider than you are. My biggest challenge is light conditions (almost dark but not dark enough for lights is the worst) and narrow tree gaps.
 
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brettryan

Squid
komdotkom said:
I've got about 40% vision, while I don't have a cane and a Labrador (yet) I'm pretty blind.
Modern geometry makes life so much simpler, less skill is needed for the trails we used to ride 20 years ago. A modern 140mm trail 29er will do everything you need it to and make you look like a much better rider than you are. My biggest challenge is light conditions (almost dark but not dark enough for lights is the worst) and narrow tree gaps.
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I am blind in my left eye, have nystagmus, astigmatism, short sighted and have tunnel vision. My eyes are just whack. I actually found myself way more confident in the past tbh.
 
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