Mr Legs

Ok cool, meet you in the middle of the Karoo, right here:

Well I once did a 160km trip on the bike, so where will I end up if I start from Durbanville: Touwsrivier? Shall we meet half way and exchange bikes?

Yeah, I washed it once a week and more often if we went through mud. Used it 4-5 times a week, that is a minimum of 3 trips without a wash!

Cape Town Northern Suburbs

Tanker I know because they complained to my LBS about my initial post. I like the brand and this specific bike (though it is not as fast as my old Gary Fisher!), so my intention is not to knock the brand. The problem with a public forum such as the Hub is that one cannot control the replies and posters with an perhaps unfounded negative view of the brand also air their opinion, here I refer to Christopher's post about Giant no longer supplying his favourite shop (sorry Chris, but I think we are all big boys and girls and should be able to handle a little bit of criticism). There might be many good reasons why Giant made that decision, but the point is that the reply was not strictly on the topic that I initiated.

An update: Got the bike back. Giant says the paint only has a one year warranty. They did not issue any warnings about the frame, so I assume I can still use the bike. I bought the bike end of January 2009. Pity that I did not act when I noticed the problem for the first time as it would have been well within the warranty period. Lesson learned. The okes from Giant did however fix the head. They noticed that I sweat a lot and that caused a bit of a problem, whether the sweat was also the cause of the paint problem I do not know. I also know that the gents from Giant monitor the posts on the Hub and that they do not like any posts that may show their product in a negative light. I am also in business and get seriously peeved when our product is critisized. But I also bend over backwards to try and keep my customer satisfied, irrespective of whether he is right or wrong. So Gentlemen from Giant: Thank you for fixing the head set for free and secondly if I have any of my facts wrong, please contact me and I will gladly rectify. O, and could you perhaps tell me where I can have the paint job done?

Also watched it last night. I enjoyed it and will recommend everyone to watch. Not quite as good as the one that was broadcasted about a year or two ago, What struck me though was the competitors (or is particpants better in the context of the Freedom Challenge?). They were all talking about how they were positively influenced by the experience, how it challenges you to take stock of your life. They all seemed humble genuine human beings. David Waddilove, the brain behind the FC, was in my res and class at varsity, I remember a cycling trip with David through Stellenbosch at 3:30 am one morning.

I subscribe to Rouleur http://www.rouleur.cc/ Best quality

My regular MTB was sent back to the agents to have the frame checked out, so I had to ride on my old Gary Fisher. The bike has taken serious abuse, I remember dragging it through the Kogelberg during more than a few Cape winter storms, I made a few crossings of the Olifantsriver in winter, the karoo near Barrydale, more than one Cederberg traverse, another time it rested under a tree in the garden for a few months. The Rock Shox Judy XC has morphed into a rigid fork with only about 0.5cm of travel. The seat post has fused with the frame. The seat itself is torn. The cro moly frame faded from a bright red to silver. Saturday I put some sealant in the tubes and lubed the chain then took it for a 50km trip, some gravel roads and ended up on Tiekiedraai back to Durbanville. My best time for this route since Feb 2009! So there is still some life left in the old girl. Last night I added a speedometer and a front and rear light. Sadly I overslept this morning, maybe I will take her out tonight.

I am not in as much pain as I was in '99, must be getting used to losing...

My 2 year old Giant XTC Alliance developed small bubbles under the paint on the top tube near the head and also on the head tube. I took it to my LBS (I did not buy the bike from them) and they send it on to the Giant agents / importers / distributors to have a look. It looks (to my untrained eye) merely cosmetic and not as if the integrity of the frame has been compromised, but I will keep you informed. This gives me the opportunity to get reacquainted with my 12 yr old Gary Fisher Hoo Koo a Koo. (16 000km and counting!)Had to phone my brother as he had the bike on a long term loan, but as he is relocating to Dubai end of April, it seemed a good time to collect the bike before he donates it to the gardener when he cleans out his house.

Hi Pops Any news about this ride?

Now that was sharp, Mr Locomotive!

Yes Chris I remember the hijacked bike, but you will also remember that he was ranting off like a kid on a sugar high

It is easy. I used a calm calculated style, I do not call people names or insult them, and if I do it will be so subtle the victim will think he is being comlimented. For example: It's a slow public holiday, is it not, Chris?

Nah, I've analysed Zel's vocab and punctuation. Female without a doubt. He whose name we do not dare to mention used a testostorone driven style. Completely absent in Zel's posts. Psycoanalysists r us!

The sad news is that the Western Cape gubbermint have plans to tar the rest of the Hemel & Aarde road up to Shaws Pass, according to the minister of transport it will happen this year.

This reminds me of the caller to Cape Talk. She was walking her dog on Table Mountain when the dog got bitten by a puff adder. She took the dog to a vet, but the dog died. Her question to John Matham was: Who should she sue to recover the vets cost, the Council or National Parks. Matham struggled to keep to keep a straight face (voice?) and asked the controller to play adds. Next call was from a gent who said he was walking along the beach, when a bigger than normal wave came and ruined his pair of Guicci's, who does Matham think can he sue?

I am also keen, although I cannot for the life of me figure out how we connect Bottelary / Railway lines / Eensaamheid.

RAF will only pay if a motor vehicle was involved. There was a case in Cape Town where a roadie sued the council, when he crashed into a ditch at the side of the road (at the 4 way stop at the Contermanskloof Vissershok crossing) Roadie lost the case.

OK I am in , will sponsor R 6.00/km, will pay on Monday. Have a good trip.

Don't buy a bike in a hurry. If you bailed last year, just try to finish comfortably this year. Then wait a few weeks before you make your final decision. A road bike is much faster than a MTB, but there are a few minor differences ito body position, riding style, gearing and handling that you first need to get used to to make it a worthwile purchase.

Here is a case of extreme commuting: 80km each way http://outsideonline.com/adventure/travel-ga-201103-new-york-bike-commuting-sidwcmdev_154507.html

I've done a couple 56km (Two Oceans) and a few 200km's on the road bike. You need to be much better prepared for long distance running, on the bike you can find a few places to hide (ie downhill). An ordinary athlete like me needs 6 months of dedicated training to do the Oceans in sub 5:30, while two months on the road bike for the DC was enough to beat 50% of the field. Having said that, me toughest day ever, was on a MTB doing a 160km race.

Me thinks that "larney" and "wealthy" and "milnerton" are mutually exclusive concepts.