Jules

OK, O-rad one, we will not say the name PS, who is threatening you?

Will see you there, Plentipotential. Who else is coming?

No slip, Freudian or otherwise. Everybody knows MTBers suffer from some complex which requires them to prove their alleged superiority to roadies. Do you ever hear roadies boasting about "how that side wind really got rid of the dirty mountainbikers"?

My experience with Isis BBs on the MTB has been a bad one. I've had more than one BB with crank bolts that rattle loose, messing up my race and damaging the cranks beyond repair. Sometimes I wonder whether the component changes are even improvements. At least with square taper BBs, once you put the cranks on, they are unlikely to come off, except with the help of an extractor.

Have you guys seen how many DNFs there are on the results sheet? Surely not all of those people started?

I have had many sets of Truvativ cranks, and i wouldn't recommend any of them. I reckon the Shimano Hollowtech II design has to be the best out there. I find that the Truvativ cranks are prone to develop play, and the bolts can rattle loose if you don't put loctite on them. Although i can't say I rate the Shimano chainrings very highly. I recently put a new SLX crankset on my bike and I was dismayed to see four broken teeth on my big ring yesterday after the Monster. Ok, it was the monstrous Magalies Monster, and it would be unreasonable to expect a bike to get through it unscathed, but I was hoping the chainrings would be a bit tougher than that... I'll probably put the Truvativ blade on the SLX and see how that performs.

PM Onetime. He'd know. I think J&J (importers of Campag) also publish recommended prices on their website, but make sure you're sitting down when you go there

I agree the double post is unnecessary' date=' but... Tiger mentions that he's had several fruitless conversations already with the DCM guys, who allegedly fob him off with the excuse that Ian (DCM chief executive) needs to approve invoices or something. Actually he's an unhappy supplier, not a customer. If these rumours are true - and one is inclined to believe they are, given the state of the ferro-chrome industry - then it is right to name and shame these guys. It's one thing to run out of money to pay salaries, but quite another to commit to things such as the sponsorship of the World Cup and mechanics for the Epic, when you're know you're struggling. The former national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka is the chairman of DCM. It doesn't reflect too well on him. Of course, all of this is assuming that the allegations of Tiger and Napalm are true. Perhaps that gent Jason, who commented in the other thread, can enlighten us. Jules2009-05-30 09:32:33

Well I guess this confirms Napalm's rumours then.

I've used many bike shops and have yet to have a problem with Linden Cycles. I've become so impressed with them that I use them exclusively now. It's a little far from my house, but I think it's well worth the drive. Use it, don't use it.

Nice one IanJ

That sounds like a helluva good deal. I paid a lot more than that for my Dahon.

he does not follow trends. He uses what he knows works. Before the new shaped Shimano pedals he used heavy 5 year old pedals and the only way he could shave more weight on his bike was to get rid of his pedals. He helped develop the new Shimanos and that is why is he riding it still on his Sram bike. I have Lance's saddle on my single speed. I must say I prefer the shape of an Arione or one of Kiwi's Planet Xes. Another Lancism was to stick to a horizontal top tube. Trek only went to a sloping top tube after Lance retired. He also used to ride with no left Sti on the mountain stages to save weight. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he even rode with a quill stem in '99 - talk about being a slow adopter!

I have no idea whether all of this is true or not, but it is no secret that ferrochrome producers are in all kinds of k*k right now. Also, you have to wonder what benefit there is to promoting the DCM Chrome brand via sports sponsorships. Chrome is chrome. It's not like you walk into a shop and say: I want stainless steel cutlery made with DCM Chrome, please . It's great that DCM shareholders support sport so much. But it would be surprising if there weren't some budget cuts, given the trouble the industry is in.

So now we can put names to the spruit "racers" who whiz past at lightning pace... I've often wondered who you are

Looking good! Interesting couch...

I agree: carbo loading not necessary if your race is only 2-4 hours. I find the best thing to do before a race is avoid food that is too rich.

I know I should probably do the course, but even once you've acquired the skill, it still leaves you with a time deficit, dirty hands, the trouble of sourcing seals and the problem of disposing oil in a responsible manner. Yes, I realise I sound like a girl, but I'd rather just take the fork into a good LBS and let the pros do their thing. Or.... there is always the option of going rigid

I like that you didn't put any brand names on the bike. Cycle Art do a great job, it's a pity that the wallet suffers a bit though...