Willehond

OK, let me get this straight, you're saying on an alpine stage or a Paris-Roubaix you are saying Overend will beat Merckx? Based on what facts? I am really curious.

OK, I feel all warm and fuzzy, now tell us what you REALLY think! Come on, this is the eternal Hub debate. It has no ending! Glad to know nothing on the Hub has changed... REAL cyclists would ride mountain trails on steel framed, single speed, road bike fixies. The rest of us are just wannabee posers! Wait, let me go pack my bike. I have to ride in Vlaanderen on Saturday with a roadbike on a road not even fit for a hardtail! I'll leave your guys to theorise about life while I go and live it ;-)

Don't worry, I don't get any of your ramblings or arguments either! Your logic seems self-serving and vague. I quite like the random pointlessness of it all. Well done, you will survive long here on the Hub! If you think there are less druggies in mtb than on the road then you really must believe in the Easter bunny too! Some cyclists dope whether they are roadies or mountainbikes (or roadie mountainbikers like some of the Epic riders!). Thanks for agreeing road has more legends. Glad to know we agree on something! I would like to debate some of your other points, but I don't actually get your deductions about my opinions. Any chance of being less vague? ...and lighten up. This is just for fun. I mean, if you were really serious about cycling you would be riding the Epic today! Right?

...uhm, no.

A bunch of guys who rode bombers with tekkies don't make a legend. These guys can at best be classified as cult characters with the emphasis on characters. Legends they are not... Coppi, Bartali, Merckx, Armstrong, Pantani, Anquetil, Poulidor -those are LEGENDS! ...as for drug taking, the worst kind of drug cheats came from mountainbiking: Landis and Rasmussen - druggies with NO character!

I come for a visit after three years and he skips the country. Coincidence? I think not!!! I say good riddance to the one with the little yellow car, the funny blue bike, the funny furry legs and the sharp tongue. Good luck in finding religious tifosi to taunt in Aus - there aren't any!

Yes, it includes the device manager that works betrter than the old version. Saying that though, you could just connect the Garmin and open the file using the standard "Open File" (CTRL+O) option rather than using the Download (CTRL+D) option. Works perfectly

We're talking FTP, Woofie clouded the issue by mentioning PPO, but the initial question clearly states FTP. So if you want to get on the same page; We're talking FTP.

Tristan, your w/kg is a lot less important than you start group! I easily managed a sub-2:50 (on a perfect windless day!) in the VA bunch. Easy going. My w/kg was about 4, if that means anything to you, but wind conditions, crashes, the heat, your start group and punctures will play a much bigger role in your time. The Argus is not a timetrial it's a big group ride.

Any chance of getting a little sign at the offending crossing saying "Please leave gap for cyclists"? Nice and polite

Man, us South Africans need to learn to relax! Always so agro..... Remeber, the golden rule is ALWAYS smile and wave! ...but if you have to do something, ride up to them, in the path, smile and go to their window and ask them nicely if they can keep the gap next time. They might react with abuse ( "skaamkwaad" soos my ma altyd sê), but next time they might remember to keep it open. and remember: smile and wave!

I often get a clicking noise and in the beginning I took it to the LBS who even lubed the BB again and in the end I found out it was the rear skewer that wasn't tight enough! Just tightening it removed the click and I could have sworn the sound came from the pedals or cranks. Honestly, it could be anything from skewer/pedals/cassette/cranks/saddle/seatpost/BB. Good luck...

INDEED. Nowhere in the world is cycling an egalitarian sport for the masses. I mean, just affording razorblades probably excludes 99% of the world population! Hmmm, I think you've got me itching to go cycling again. Where's my credit card...

EVERY YEAR some negative Hubber gets an itch in their pants about the 99er fees. EVERY freakin year! It's not going to get cheaper, it WILL be incredibly popular and you will come over as a negative bitch moaner (which your are). Vote with your money. DON'T ENTER!!!! Go ride your bike somewhere where your cheap sensibilities won't be offended. Thousands of others don't mind as they want Argus seedings. Use it, don't use it, but just know that you are so unbelievable unoriginal it's not even remotely funny

I see the guys are all getting a bit upset because they are being pulled off the course by the comms. Welcome to real racding guys! If you aint in it to win it, you're out! Euro-style!!!!

Probably because he's not racing there today

Wise man. Hardshell is the only safe option (for those with big wallets)

That looks almost like the same bag as the Chainreactions one - just different branding.

That's the one I've been looking at! I'm going to need it to fly my baby down for the Argus. Good price, but I see complaints about the handle being too low. Has this been modified or do you not find it a problem? Luckily only the baggage (mis)handlers at Schiphol and CT to touch her. Hopefully they'll be gentle this time....

I've had expierience with the soft(ish) Bikepod, but I had a broken spoke and buggered powertap after a flight to the US, so I think the only safe option is a hardshell. Saying that, I am looking at the Chainreactions bikebag for my next flight. Cheap, soft and reasonable padding.

The terms "best" and "Not the hardshell type" are almost mutually exclusive... What are his requirements? Lo weight? Bike protection? Is he going to fly with it or just use it in his car?

Rather than trusting us web-experts, rather listen to the guru of bike maintenance, Lennard Zinn. He explains it well: http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/03/bikes-tech/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-hangin-out_90057

Wow, do bikeshops get away with crap like this? There is no such thing as a 9-speed crank, just as there is no 9-speed rear-deraileur or 9-speed front deraileur. Only the chain, cassette and shifters are different. Fire your LBS. They are shockingly bad...

Don't worry, I see they catered especially for you! Important note: the distances for the Category 2 Race will be shorter than the Category 1 Race - particularly on stage 2 and 3. (Assume each of those days only to be around 120km in length for Cat 2.)

no need to look like the Michelein man. Proper technical gear isn't that thick necessarily and remember to layer up. That's the secret!