FirstV8

The Hub came to my help again . I wanted a set of shifters and thanks to' sirmoun10goat " all the way in Canada who put me onto "Trailman " in Capetown selling a Dura ace Group set . i ended up grading my complete group set to a Dura Ace for the same price as 2 shifters . Thanks guys this old toppie appreciates it .

Hi Reuben , I have one for you but i am in Boksburg . Send me your no and we can make a plan to meet half way . Regards Rudy 0836280487

I crashed on Saturday on a right hand bend . I went a bit wide so as to miss a car that was coming up to the stop street i was turning into and slipped on the lose stone on the edge of the road .I went down at about 30kph and ended up with a bit of road rash on my elbow , knee and hip . On checking my bike the right hand brake / gear shifter was badly damaged and did not work shifting gears or even braking . I bought this bike a Raliegh RC 7000 with full Shimano Ulterga group set for R4000 Today i did some enquiries to replace it and was shocked at the price of R3900 for both shifters or R2500 for the rear only . Is there someone out there that had a similar crash but broken the left shifter and has a right 10 speed shifter for sale or even as a donation to a good cause ( im a pensioner ). I dont compete in races but do ride with certain bike shop groups so as to maintain my level of fitness and competitiveness .

Yesterday i punctured on my road bike along Atlas rd. . I sorted it out and was on my way in less than 10min. .This morning i went out on the same route and punctured again on the opposite end of Atlas rd . I had forgotten to replace my punctured tube with a new one so was stranded . I was walking to a safe spot along the road to phone my son to come collect me . A bunch of CL cyclists came past and asked if i was ok , answering " no i need a tube " .Without hesitation i had an offer from 2 or 3 guys offering me a tube which i gladly accepted . The guys name is Gavin from Edenvale he said " A big thank you to and and your bunch for the offers . I asked how i could return it and the answer was " dont sweat " While i was then changing the tube on a safe little island at the intersection another cyclist just pulled up onto the island and started helping . Thank you Siya ( not Kholise ) he was about have his size . Your assistance is appreciated. We then carried on down Atlas rd and he told me he was new to cycling and still learning from the older guys . He was riding much to big a gear for the flat road we were on and i advised him to gear back one or two gears so as to spin a bit more , which he then did and found the going a lot easier . This is the first time i have needed help on the road and it came quickly without questions asked . I will pay forward your generosity and assistance from these two gentlemen .

Well here it goes again , food watching , quantity watching , sweet stuff watching oh hell you just have to aware of what you put in your mouth On my daily rides (45km) i burn about 1400 calories but at this stage have no idea what my intake is .My goal of 82,5 kg is attainable as 2018 i achieved it and was best loser for that year , So here goes fellow Hubers and good luck .

Im going to join in again next year for motivation . After lock down was relieved to the 5 km radius i did a lot of road training on my MTB ( wore out a Maxxis ) rear tyre . I then bought a road bike and could realy feel the strength i had built using the MTB . Saturday 12/09/20 ii did a ride with the Bicycle Line group and i did a 100km in 3hr 14m . I was well on my way to a sub 3hr 100km in a few weeks time . Tuesday 15/09/20 i had a fall and fractured my left hip . Wednesday i had a hip joint replacement which kept me off my bike for 9 weeks in which time i gained 7 kg . I did a 100 ride again on Saturday with the same group and did a 100km in 3hr 16 min ,so i am back on track but need to lose the weight . Christmas time with its lunches , dinners , cakes , ice-cream., sweets and anything lekker is not a time to watch weight . So 2021 Bike Hub Weight Challenge is on .

What a great read and what an adventure that was .The second link http://johannrissik.blogspot.com/2008/10/sishen-saldanha-ride-i-am-sharing-this.html.. Reminded me of my travels by train in the late 60s.( as a teenager ) to many cycling events . My dad would book the ticket return and i would either leave from Germistn or Park Station . I would have my bike with wheels and pedals off wrapped in a hand made bag covered on the inside with grey horse blanket . My single back pack was for clothing and my meal pack .( Too expensive to eat dinner and breakfast ) and i also didn't want to leave my bike out of my sight .The compartments were a six bed unit so my bike was always on the top bunk . . On arrival i would assemble my bike and ride to the peoples home i was invited to stay with . The bike bag rolled up small enough enough to not hinder me on the short ride .I have wanted to do a trip like that since young but life , four sons and business got in the way . Im recovering from a hip replacement i had 4 weeks ago and when i mentioned this story and my wish to do it i was told in no uncertain terms ( i cant repeat her words ) its out of the question at my age now . . So ill just dream on .

I bought a rear Chaiyong two months before lock down and had already 1600 km when lock down was enforced .It held up well in the conditions we ride in up on the High Veld . A lot of gravel , farm road , single track and thorns as winter approaches . I found it had good traction on climbs and rolled well on descents at high speed , no side wall flexing . I had one puncture which was a nail through the side wall . I sorted thar out with a mushroom plug from the inside and it never let me down again . Once lockdown opened up again i pumped the tyres to 4 bar and only rode on the road as all off road trails were to far from my central point . I did another almost 5000 km on that rear and then it looked like a slick with no tread on the the centre three knobs . Not a bad tyre but the price on a 29X2.35 was much the same as a Maxxis which i prefer and have now got on again .

Contact Ron Thompson Ron Thompson <ron@motive.co.za> he is one of the originators of the Qhubeka movement . I have other no's for him if needed ill message them to you .

I bought a new Sram 11 X 42 from a fellow hubber and my problem is solved .

I have no idea . In my old days of road biking you could build a cluster from the the bottom up deciding what ratios you wanted . So now with the NEW AGE of Cassettes i would imagine even a greater variety of rations exists especially as you remove a cluster sorry cassette it comes apart in sections it must surely be possible . I have never replaced a cassette or had this particular problem with it skipping on only the last bottom 3 sprockets . I inspected them today and they do seem worn more than the next lot of sprockets . I obviously ride my bottom 3 more than the rest . i am most probably going to have change the whole cassette . What a waste to have 22 rations and i only use 6 . . Pics of my choice of cluster 13 /18 and the different sprockets on could build with . back in the 80s .

I have the bottom 3 sprockets jumping the chain when riding hard on the inner or outer front chain ring. I replaced the chain this morning and still have the same problem . I removed the cassette and i can see the wear on those 3 sprockets is bad . Should i replace those only ( Shimano ) or must i buy complete cassette considering the rest of the cassette ( 11 speed ) is still good .

To make it even more exciting you then turn right at the top and make your way onto Sam Green rd , cross the N12 bridge and climb Wessel rd into Sunnyridge . Them make your way down to Kraft rd turn up Barbara and the left up Richards drive and back the way you came . Do that twice and you have one hell of a work out after a good 40km around the O R Tambo .

During the week it's crazy with cars and trucks and on weekends, it's a ghost town. Yes very quiet and never had a problem .

The East Rand does not have much to offer . There is a hill in Meadowdale ( Edenvale /Germiston ) that starts at Fleming rd along Newton and finally up Essex . Its about 2km in length but not sure of elevation and gradient . . I've seen some guys walk it but a good 24 x 36/42 gets you up there at a about 12kph . We of course also have AG de Wit drive going up from Edenvale to Dawnview . I generally climb them each once a week depending on time of day i train .

The Vasbyt 165 km . It was the the longest PPA sanctioned race for fun riders / licensed and triathletes in the 80's . That last climb up towards the Lynnwood Drive In ( Start /Finish ) was many a unfit riders achilles heel . I road it 3 times , ended 13 th overall every time but first Vet always in about a 4hr 10 min time .

This has been a talking topic among our group for the last few weeks as we have come across a few ( dead ) Rinkhals and Mamba ( he should not be on the highveld ) while out on our trails in the far East Rand . I was in contact with Arno Naude ( a snake guru ) and he is offering a snake awareness course .This is the message i put on our whats app group yesterday and am still awaiting replies .If there is interest in for this i will get Arno to take it further as a project As Mtbikers we often come across snakes . Arno Naude is offering a snake awareness and basic first aid course . Arno is a leading expert on snakes and lectures at the University of Pretoria . His course is 4 to 5 hours and he will come to the East Rand to do the course on any days chosen by groups . This is a first for Mtbikers and R600 per person is a good deal . Check him out snakebiteassist.co.za A pic of one of the offenders below

Welcome lurker HAHA . What area are you in . We are always wanting to have MTBikers join us on Saturday mornings for a 60 to 80km ride in Benoni .

That happened to me yesterday but in reverse . Advertised a new oil cooler for 2 months ago for R400 . Got no bites so i dropped the price to R250 . Got a call the next day and the buyer said he would take it . He arrived yesterday and i handed him the cooler for inspection . He then pulled out his wallet and counted out R380 and asked if he could do a EFT from my PC . I said don't worry about the R20 . He obviously saw the original add for R400 not the dropped price . So i got more than i had wanted the second time around HAHA .

Selling retro and old bike spares and clothing apparel is a niche market but with a lot of collectors out there looking and prepared to pay only the right price .

I bought a 2nd hand Ghost in excellent condition from a friend and promised myself that i would fund my start up cycling ( stopped 20 years ago ) by selling off all my retro bike stuff , bike , bars . shoes , jerseys , pedals , toe clips , gear shifters etc you name it i had it available .I priced every thing not at replacement value but what i would pay for those parts . I sold 99% of what i advertised and only have a 6 speed cluster and BB bearing set left . I recouped about R15,000 which i used buy modern equipment and new clothing . No its not difficult if you price right and are not negotiable .

I have just bought a Silverback Sido 2 with 2x 11 shimano . My training wheels for on the road has a Shimano 10 speed Cassette. which i used on my Ghost bike . Will i need to put a 11 speed cassette on or can i just use it as is but watch the gear change on the last sprocket .

What a great initiative to use the Two oceans route for a jol . on a bike .