intern

How could this be scary? As Hairy says if you are generally well-behaved you should have nothing to hide. If anything, my Facebook and Twitter presences are an asset to any potential client. And if they don't like what they see, then it is better for both of us if we don't do business together.

Disc brakes should present an interesting engineering challenge for carbon forks on a road bike.

Having blurted all that out, it seems I can no longer make a donation (entries close 1 October, which for the more obtuse of us will have all sorts of unanswered questions about what this can mean.....try some lateral thinking, yeah?). Can anyone advise how I can contribute money?

After reading all of this, I am donating again. I do so not on the basis of audits or fancy questions, but because I give a rats about you guys. my friends, cycling there - and I trust Dangle, Dennis, Andy Masters and Andrew McLean sufficiently to let them do as they please with my donation. I would urge you to put aside your petty squabbles and do the same. It is for YOUR own good, it is an investment in YOUR safety.

Heheh, ideal for funriders, thanks Velo

Over-engineering if you asked me. I have enough trouble trying to keep my Garmin and my night light charged, don't know how well I'd manage to keep the derailleurs and the brakes charged, too. And what I really want to know is what is the advantage of an electronic vs mechanical setup? Maybe for TT bikes having a better pozzie for shift buttons, but outside of that I'm not too sure I 'get' it...

Its not exactly difficult to dope or even to conceal it reasonably well. For eg, unprompted, my doctor asked me if I wanted any help for the 2009 Epic. I declined. Cheating is cheating, you might as well take a short cut on the course. Same thing.

Prepare for some name-dropping! On the first Cape Pioneer Trek as we were heading into the Kamanassie, we rode past 2 big puff adders; the third one jumped up at Christoph Sauser and tried to schnack his hand. It actually got a tooth to his glove - and I was right behind him. Saw the thing strike out of the grass and bounce off his glove. Brown trouser moment of note!

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, is constantly embroiled in stolen goods turning up at its shop then mysteriously disappearing, then it's probably a criminal duck. Caveat emptor. Not sure what sort of caveat applies to those whose stolen equipment keeps mysteriously shimmying in and out of Neils Wheels And Other Fine Pillaged Goods. But I am damn sure there is one in there somewhere.

Haven't seen the previous 3 top speed threads (unless there is evidence of me commenting there.. ) Fastest was 96km/h down Olifantshoek pass. James Louter was a few minutes behind me, he clocked 102km/h. I was *** scared though and fiddled with the brakes a bit (Dura Ace) but realised they had just about no effect at that speed so focused on the road instead. Garmin 305.

Must be an expat thing; *** satellites this far north/south

Mine definitely loses signal in the forests....

This winter's been BAAD man; 176 and weigh 72.6 now need to get back down to 69 to be competitive, 67 to be good. Lotta hard work coming. Dangle, you sound lean china!!

You can go do this any day you like on Hendrik Potgieter, typically you will get up to about 85km/h before being blown off...unless you can spin a big gear real fast

I read his comment and thought 'what? That totally isn't how grb285 behaves', I mean look how he had a go at DD. Anyway, glad it's not just me who saw that. For the record, a real champion not only knows how to win, he also knows how to lose. Look at Hail Burry to see what I mean - when he is bested, the 2010 Barberton race being a perfect example - when he and Max came into the sprint and Burry had a flat back tyre - Burry was gracious in defeat and congratulatory of Max. He didn't say he lost because of the tyre, he said it was a problem and well done Max.

Good news. Pro teams are not what cycling is about. Remember what it was when you were a little kid: the joy of riding a bike. No EPO, doctors or lawyers necessary.

Hey that's Frank Zappa, renowned polymath, even when he's dropping the Cosby kids off at the pool. Don't be a poephol about Frank Zappa, bru.

Almost every single incidence of violence is reported upon here because it is news. Sad but true.

Heheh, it's not that small. And about that world cup....

Even with EQC, my annual insurance is NZ$410 for a 220sq m house. as for how well the government works...requested a meeting with the mayor as an ordinary citizen and ratepayer, he is joining me for coffee on Thursday. Try that in SA. The public service here is nothing short of remarkable...things happen in minutes, not days, not even hours. Point is that this is what you should insist on from your public servants.

That's taxpayer money going to work for taxpayers. Evident all over the place which is kinda nice.

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201131/cycling_460x230.jpgSHRINK Photo / Thinkstock Cycle trail routes ready The first cycle touring routes under the New Zealand Cycle Trail will be opened next month. The routes, to be opened on August 20 and 21, will be from Taumarunui to New Plymouth (including part of the Forgotten World Highway), from Taumarunui to Whakahoro (linking to the Ruapehu-Whanganui Trails) and from Taumarunui to Ongarue (linking to the Pureora Timber Trail). http://www.nzherald....jectid=10741794 Choose cycling. Choose a bike. Choose a helmet. Choose a pair of lycra shorts. Choose a f$cking big set of 29 inch wheels, if you must. Choose footpumps,multitools, spare tubes, C02 bombs and cleated shoes. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and a massive appetite. Choose spending all your cash on your hobby. Choose a road bike. Choose your training partner. Choose club kit and matching socks. Choose winter gear in a range of fabrics. Choose DIY services and wondering where the hell you’re going to ride to on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that Gobi saddle watching awesome nature, getting to the back of beyond, stuffing Gu and energy bars into your mouth. Choose the satisfaction of a good day out at the end of it all. Choose your future. Choose life... choose a country which is building cycle trails from one end to the other. Choose New Zealand.

Now that was well said