The Ouzo

I think this should be #10. I skipped 2 due to illness. so this is either 10 or 11, I will have to go back and check.

I havnt had a saddle snap, but I have had one come completely loose. sitting on it, if I wiggled just right I could get it into position, but the moment I would stand or change position the angle would be all wrong.I sat down once or twice with the tip pointing up so that as I sat it hit my ass. luckily this was during the fast one so not many hills that require you to stand.

what has been the worst broken part of your bike in a race, and did you finish the race ? many years ago, as I climbed onto the M1 during the 94.7 I felt a clucking in my pedals. this developed into a squeeking. Then, as I put the pressure down to start climbing at St Andrews the crank siezed. I pulled off to the side, realised the problem and contemplated throwing in the towel. but the cranks turned by hand, so I decided I'd ride it to the first bike mechanic I saw and get it looked at. that never happened, the sound went away, the cranks turned relatively freely and I just kept going till the end of the race. took the bike apart the next weekend and the BB bearings came out in little pieces. How I did not damage anything else was a miracle.

this is what we land up doing.

hactually, I've done one 94.7 more than him as he was not in the country for one of them.

only a couple of months difference

the luck of the draw bit I can buy, except, I must be very unlucky, as its always me that gets bumped down, never my rider mate.

I know what they tell you about how they work out the seedings. based on past events etc. etc. But, in reality it seems they use something different to work it out. take my case for example. my mate and I ride together, at every race. we always finish together. have done so for the past 11 years. Although the only 2 seeding rides we do are the Argus and 94.7, for the rest we stick to the smaller distances so they dont count for seeding. but, for the last few years, for both the argus and the 94.7 we have been seeded in different groups. This years 94.7 sees him in Y and me in AA. how the heck are they working this out ?

I'm glad I'm not the only one that buys my stuff from Megan. I've always had good server from Tour de Frans in Boksburg. Plus I like to support the LBS. When I was in hellburton I used to support Kyalami cycles. but lately I'm hearing they are becoming a bit funny with their service.

Or mountain biking? Hahahaha, remind me again how many times you fixed your wheel the other day.

about 2 weeks back, out for a training ride, just after riding through a gravel covered patch of road I hear the hiss hiss hiss of a tyre going flat. Pull over, change the tube. but when I screw the gas of the bomb onto the adapter thingy half a good portion of the gas escapes. lesson 1. always make sure the valve on the bomb is closed before inserting the gas. I inflate the wheel with what is left of the gas. decide that its hard enough to make it home as its only a few kms. i head off home, but the route takes me past some more road works, and because of the traffic at that time of night I have to keep far left. doing a good 35-40km/h I clip a stone. not even a hiss, just straight down rim hitting tar. I gave up here and called home for a lift. stupid me, at home, changing tubes I pinch one of the new ones putting it in, that leaves me with only one spare. yesterday morning I go out, I'm heading down this hill and catching another cyclist rather rapidly. we are along side some road works when, pshhh hiss hisss hisss. another pinched tube as I hit another stone at 40+ km/h. Now I usually run my wheels at 110psi, plus I'm using Conti Gatorskins, but with all the crap in the roads these days its becoming rather expensive to keep changing tubes.