javadude

Oops: http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/italian-job

Here's an interesting article about Campag from Bicycling mag of all places. Kind of makes me like them more than I already do*(Campag, not Bicycling ). http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/italian-job

Pinarello and FSA are two that immediately come to mind.

LOL. Can the Italians be trusted with electronics? Hopefully they've employed a German dude for this one.

No, he's not a rep, i heard he was a bike mechanic there If you go to the roadbikereview forums they have a few threads going about chinese import frames. Like with anything, you have to do you homework and get to know who the reputable sellers are. No one is saying that all Chinese frames are crap, but there are some who are better than others. Just because it looks like a Pinarello doesn't mean it was made with the same care, and just because moulds are used it doesn't mean you pop the carbon in and out comes a finished product. There is still a lot of manual labour involved and many different grades of material that can be used, so just do some research on the factory before you go down this road.

Just because a bike looks like another it doesn't mean its the same quality. That's the thing with open mould frames. Ten different companies can use the same mould, but the materials and resin used can differ drastically between them, as well as the expertise of the people putting it all together. Glad you're ok 29" man, I will certainly think twice before buying a no name brand frame.

If you're using firefox at work you can see what your saved passwords are in Edit->Preferences->Security->Saved Passwords->Show Passwords.

One place you have to stop over at is the storms river mouth, where the otter trail starts. Its a National Park so not too expensive and it has to be one of the most stunning places in SA. http://www.saparks.com/accommodation/tsitsikamma_storms_river.aspx Another really cool place i've stayed at is Victoria Bay, just outside George. Its also a good surfing spot(not that I surf). I camped in the camp site overlooking the bay, but i'm sure there a couple of B&B's there as well. http://www.victoriabaycaravanpark.co.za/

I'm finding it difficult to sympathise with any of you. In fact, I would be really pissed to know that vet cyclists got any kind of subsidy when that money could have gone to the youngsters that really need it(i know, not that it does).

Trigon does actually make frames for the big boys. Their stuff isn't "that" cheap either, as in $500 for crappy frames you get on eBay.

Manufactured in Cape Town as well.

I've never fallen because of cleats, though I did have a traffic light tumble in th 80's with old style toeclips. That was during the neon lycra phase, so was way more embarrassing.

I just use a front derailleur as a chain guide and set the limit screws so that it atays in one place. Currently riding a 32 and 11/32 combo. Will be getting a larger ring up front soon.

Those pesky tourists. I hope they didn't interrupt your training session.

Another +1 vote from me.

Dont know how the Time is a near miss but the department store Boardman makes it in.

Also had a look at their website. All I could find were hybrid tyres and cyclo cross tyres. To market a tyre as a 29er slick would be pretty damn stupid. Any road tyre is effectively a 29er slick.

I think you mean Serfas. SECA is the model of tyre that Serfas makes.

Get a proper bike fit as well. Often people mistakenly think that a shorter stem is the answer, but you may just end up curving you spine to "fit" on the bike. I have found that a longer stem with a more stretched out position works for me, keeping my spine nice and straight. Like others have mentioned, a strong core that you can get from pilates is key. I was lucky enough to have a physio that is also a pilates instructor. Every morning without fail I do my stretches and core exercises. If I'm slack for just one week my back tells me all about it.

A 29er rim is the same diameter as a road rim, so any road tyre could technically fit on a 29er rim. Since the rim is wider though, its advisable to go for a wide tyre greater than 28mm. I've got 37mm Continental TravelContacts on my bike. Cyclocross tyres, if you can get them are also a good option.

LOL. Was thinking the same.

I've never asked for a discount. Might just be me, but i'd feel like a tjop doing so. I look at the marked price and make my decision to buy or not based on that.

Not sure, but the model name is a bit of a joke. Maybe that's what you need when the battery runs flat.

Very cool, and the bike shop its in belongs to a hubber too!

That certainly would buck the trend.