bikemonster

This shouldn't take too many lines to type out: Landis - nope. Armstrong - him neither Pantani - prolly not Riis - Outside chance Indurain - Hell, even I kicked his butt the only time I "raced" against him Bummer, as this now makes a second TdF victory even more unlikely than usual for Der Kaiser. It's a pity 'cause it would have made for a very pleasing symmetry if he could have "bookended" his career with TdF victories. Unfortunate prediction, with no gloating, only true sadness: Expect Big Jan to get REALLY big in the next 18 months.

Sorry Popeye, but I still don't get what you are getting worked up about. If you aren't in one of the league categories it's a FUN ride. Sure, it's nice to get your name on the top of the list for your start group, but that's all that it is. PPA have their hands full enough with not disqualifying guys in the racing groups that break the rules. Can you imagine the political bun fights that we would have to deal with if there was the threat of DQing for the rest of us? If I get dropped by my start bunch - it's been known to happen - I will hop in with the next bunch to come past and if I can overtake some guys from my start group I will do so. It's all well and good to talk of DQing, but DQing from what igzackly? Now, if you want to do something about guys who overtake between the finish line and the timing mats, then you'll have my full support!

Popeye you can not just adapt the DC rule because in the DC, everybody in "the bunch" is working to a common goal. The DC is in effect a long team time trial. If you really care about racing to win you should be riding in one of the league categories. Winning in the alphabet soup is pretty meaningless. (And I should know 'cause I once got a win when I was in Z.)

Treks are a bit like BMW's. Good products, possibly even excellent products, just not very imaginative choices. Oh, hang on, this is the bit where I say... in my humble opinion. Well, 'cept for the humble part.

Yeah, I know, I am contradicting my own "gotta have bike bling" idea. My suspicion is that bike companies chuck on a higher-than-everything-else rear mech with the intention that us punters will come over all weak at the knees when really, on its own, it doesn't make a significant difference to the way the bike rides. If an otherwise Dura Ace equipped bike had a Sora rear derailleur, would anybody be able to feel the difference? I don't honestly know, but I suspect that there would be almost zero difference in feel or dependability. To try and bring this back to some sort of reply to the original question...have a long look at all of the bikes in your list (and others that might make it onto your list), and take your time. The decision making is the best part of buying a new bike. You get all hot and frothy over the possibilities, and doesn't cost you a cent. Other bikes that you might want to consider...Orbea (hello Nellie!) and Giant.

Now, this is where the fun comes in. Ask 3 guys for their opinion on bike stuff and you will get at least 30 opinions...I on the other hand wouldn't touch a carbon bike if it came equipped with Aksiums. To mymind the Aksium is at best a "105 level" wheelset. Dura Ace rear der? That's just jewellery! The rear der really just goes where the STI's tell it to go. Mud Dee - disagreeing with you politely, and not looking to start a flame war.

Gumpole - excellent point! Upgrading wheels will make WAY more difference to the way a bike rides than upgrading a gruppo ever will.

Hi slowjoe Do not underestimate the importance of timing on your decision. In short, with the World Funride Champs two weeks away, the really good deals are three or four weeks away. As you say, it's a big decision, so take your time. I would scrub the Raleigh from your list. Now, before the Raleigh-ista's start trying to smack me with their mini-pumps, there is nothing at all wrong with the Raleigh. But hey, it's like a Toyota. Nothing wrong with a Toyota either, but it's hardly going to make your trousers bulge is it? Up to the RC6000 (alloy - my previous bike), the Raleighs are spectacularly good value, but if you're splashing out on a carbon bike with Ult or higher gruppo, you want to buy something that makes you grin like an idiot whenever you see it. If you want a carbon bike, you need a bit of bling. I didn't vote in your poll, but I would go for the Scott, and yes, I am biased, 'cause I ride one.

Training: Top: Distance (but sometimes time if I need to be home by a given time) Middle: Cadence Bottom: HR Racing: Top: Distance Middle: Cadence Bottom: HR covered up with masking tape 'cause I don't want to see it. Knowing my cadence has saved my bacon more than once. On occasion I will be riding at my limit and feel like I need an easier gear, only to look down and see that I am spinning at WAY over my own optimum cadence. I used to ride with current speed displayed, but decided that speed was the result of what I was doing, and so started believing in cadence because that is an "input" rather than a result. I wear the chest strap so that I can download it later and see what it was, but during a race, I don't want to know 'cause all that it can do is mess with my brain.bikemonster2007-02-26 01:15:58

Jennifer Lopez?

I got "Overcoming" and "Hell on Wheels" from take2.co.za They were both Ozzie imports and took a while to arrive, but they were less than R200 each and are great movies. HoW is prolly my fave of the two, but they both show the real toughness that riding the ProTour requires. Best quote: Erik Zabel, contemplating a tough mountain stage: "Why wasn't I a surfer?"

Leftfield suggestions: 1. Decent hardware stores will stock brass "shimstock", which should do the trick. Cut it to fit and wrap it around the saddle rails. 2. Cut strips of very fine grit waterpaper (wet 'n dry paper) to fit. It's impervious to water and the fine grit will help it grip the saddle rails.

So, tooHot!!!! appears to be chatting up his mom via the Hub. Everybody, sing it with me: "If you like pina colada..."

If the power setup is the same as that which works with the S625/S725, then it should be OK. One of my riding buddies recently added the power sensor to his S625 setup and is very happy with it. About now the power-junkies will bail in and tell you that it isn't as good as a SRM or PowerTap setup, which is almost certainly true, but it's a lot cheaper. You pays your money and you takes your choice. If you think that you will ever do any other form of endurance based exercise (other than cycling) have a look at one of the running/cycling wrist units. (Course, if the CS600 uses a different power sensing technology, all of the above is meaningless.)

TitusTi - do you even need the new rear der? The rear der goes where the STI's tell it to go, and I would have thought that with the narrower 10 speed cogs the 9 speed der would have sufficient movement to cover it? (Not trying to be overly clever here, just asking the question.)

Sure, bored girl, those "injuries" seem completely consistent with riding a bike indoors, which so-o-o-o-o-o-o many people do. My guess is that you are not bored at all!

Big H It looks like a test for irony deficiency may be in order.

One of the little known side-effects of a magnesium supplement is that if you take enough of it, when you finally check out, if you choose to be cremated your relatives will need to wear dark shades for your cremation.

Have you tried replacing the cable outers? These rigid (usually black) sections that the cable itself runs through between STI's and cable stops and to provide the loop before the derailleur. Apologies if I am over-explaining. The cable outers are a PITA to cut unless you have the proper tool or a Dremel tool. Cable outers laugh derisively at side cutters. If you don't have the proper tool, ask your LBS to cut the outers to size for you.

CSA trying to rule the world, now there's a thought to conjure with! World, sleep safe in your beds. CSA could not rule a broom cupboard.

Hi Drivetrain You said "I want an explanation & I want it fixed - & It will be the last time they see me". While I fully understand your anger, give the LBS a chance to respond. Every person and every business makes mistakes. What separates the good from the bad is how they handle those mistakes. Give the LBS the chance to make you happy. If they don't take that opportunity, then give them both barrels!

Make your way to the DOWNWIND side of the bunch, towards the back and let rip. Same advice applies to snot rockets. There's no ladies or gentlemen here, just cyclists.

Windbreaker I am a Durbanville resident. One of my training routes used to include 'the 5 Hills' on the Philadelphia road between Adderley and Wellington roads. Trouble is, that stretch of road does not have a proper shoulder. After a truck came past me too close for my comfort on a weekday training ride I have decided to axe that from my midweek training routes. The only way this stretch of road could be made safer is by re-tarring it with broad shoulders. Of course I would be delighted if this were to happen, but unless and until it does, I can survive (and plan to!) without it. There are other, safer routes which I use, and/or I can save the Philadelphia road for weekends. There are some roads which make it difficult for motorised traffic to give cyclists adequate space, and we need to think long and hard about where we ride. As I have said many times before, none of this has to do with right and wrong. A motorist who clips a well- behaved cyclist on a narrow road is to blame, but there is nothing to be gained by putting ourselves at more risk than the minimum. monster