Jules

Interesting. What's it cost and is it effective with grease? Do you use a special solution or just ordinary soap?

That sounds intriguing Johan! Care to share some pics?

Yep, but you said that was done in the old days. This is a brand new frame that is being offered by Kiwi. I don't think I've ever seen a steel mountainbike that was lugged. There were some top-end steel mountainbikes that were welded before alu became the norm. Sunn had some really nice models. Thug and I are distraught to hear that our steel TIG-welded GT Peace 9ers are cheap rubbish

But not nearly as fun. Is diesel good for the skin? Could be a cheap alternative to bath oil.

Is Exocet still around?

What's the best way to clean a greasy cassette? What degreaser should you use? Should you take the cassette off the wheel, or is it ok to leave it on?

Recently bought a pair of Conti GP4000s with the black chili compound off CRC. Came to R800 all-in. In my book, they are just about the best clinchers you can buy. I also got cheap-but-good Schwalbes for training. They were under R200 each. Don't pay stupid shop prices. Club together with mates and shop at CRC.

Every time I've ordered it's been to my door.

about 64kg Ah, so in order to ride like Andrew, I need to maintain my current power and drop 15kg. Piece of cake

Good point Linnega. I think the rand is sometimes used as a convenient scapegoat. Even without forward cover, you have to be extremely unlucky to buy at the absolute top and sell at the absolute bottom. There was no doubt that Raleigh had to do something about its RRPs. It's not as though consumers don't have a choice. If we don't like Raleigh's prices, there are competing brands (some of whose prices weren't that insane), the internet (long live CRC) and the second-hand market (which has some financially distressed sellers looking to convert non-essential assets into quick cash).

The MiWay honcho is a keen cyclist himself. I'm surprised that his offering is not better, particularly if you look at the money ploughed into TV.

If you look at this link you will see that the RRP of a number of models has been significantly reduced, which leads the cynic in me to wonder if they were taking the p1ss just a little to begin with... What I'm saying is, if the rand and everything else was to blame to push the price of an RC1000 to R6 800, how is it now possible to sell it at R4 700 without making a loss?

Got this e-mail today: The global economic slump has delivered a right jab to the SA bicycle industry?s solar plexus leaving some players gasping for air and grasping for ways to continue selling bikes to a cash-strapped target market. Raleigh, one of South Africa?s dominant bicycle brands, has been mindful of the current financial crisis, the effects of which are starting to be felt as 2008 stocks dwindle and are replaced on shop floors by more pricey 2009 model ranges. ?In June last year we published an article in our newsletter to our more than 2000 Raleigh stockists, predicting sharp price increases in 2009,? said Brandon Els, CEO of Probike, the owner of the Raleigh brand in Africa and India. ?That was prior to the start of the global financial crisis and the devaluation of the Rand, which added more pressure and pushed up prices of bicycles and components further.? Probike warned its retail network in mid-2008 to expect a tough 2009 as material prices, increased transport and packaging costs and raised minimum pay for factory workers in the Far East would have a knock-on impact that would sting the retailer and consumer. Most bicycles and bicycle components are now made in China and Taiwan. And never has a model range been as sought after as the 2008 one. Most bicycle brands report that their 2008 model range, with pricing set in late 2007/early 2008, as still being popular despite the arrival of updated, improved 2009 model range stock. The reason? Price. Bicycles across all categories have seen a 20-40% increase in price from the 2008 range to the 2009 range. Even brands that have downspecced certain less conspicuous parts in order to try and keep their pricing low have been forced to relent and raise prices in order to stay in business. Raleigh?s next batch of 2009 stock arrives in the country in mid-May and Els, who has spent months planning a strategy to combat the recession-weary market believes it?s going to fly off the shop floors. ?Raleigh is setting the pace again by working with our Raleigh Elite Dealers to bring South African consumers bikes with the best spec at the lowest prices. Raleigh is the first brand in the bicycle industry to pass on to consumers the benefits of an improved Rand/US Dollar rate and falling commodity prices through our Raleigh Beat the Recession Campaign,? explained Els. ?For the past 10 years, Raleigh has set benchmarks in the South African market, mostly as a result of our strategy to continually provide value-for-money bicycles while at the same time clinching wins in all high-profile SA bike races. We know that it is difficult for any other player to do the same and for that reason I believe we?ll hit a sweet spot with our Raleigh Beat the Recession Campaign which launches 21 May 2009 at a Raleigh Elite Dealer near you or at www.raleigh.co.za.? The campaign is aimed at delivering 2009 model year bikes to consumers through 60 Raleigh Elite Dealers around the country with no reductions in specifications or quality and small increases in the 2008 price. ?It?s been wonderful to see how Raleigh?s value-for-money offering over the past 10 years has made cycling more affordable and accessible in South Africa. It?s forced other brands to adjust their strategy in order to compete and that?s resulted in more people buying and riding bicycles. I don?t want that to change, recession or not,? said Els.

Who are those clowns riding in boxer shorts?

I crashed. Think i smashed the derailer into the tar, which bent the hanger. Probike doesn't do the repair job themselves. They suggested I contact Bill Erwin, the carbon expert. Welding sounds like an interesting option...

Today I bent the derailer hanger on my Scott CR1. The hanger is not replaceable. The bend is pretty serious . Consulted some bike shops, who in turn consulted ProBike, and I was informed that to fix it, the lug would have to be removed and re-inserted in the carbon. Considering that this would mean throwing the lug away, I instructed the LBS to try bend it back before removing it. Would like to hear the technical opinion of hubbers please. I was told heating the hanger prior to bending would not work because it would damage the carbon.

Come on Jeremy, let's start our own timing company. Can't call it J&J though, cos there's already one of those in the industry

Nope - they won't use WT chips - they are scared of competitionand apparently aren't prepared to co-operate with anyone (hence theythreatened to sue WT). It would make life easier for us cyclists (thecustomer)' date=' but then it looks like their attitude is f*** the customer...[/quote'] Actually to pool the number of chips in circulation would probably damage competition. A significant part of the value of a timing company would be the number of sportspeople who own its chips and the general acceptance. If you owned CC and I started a timing company called Jules Timing, how would you feel if I told my customers that they can just use their CC chips? It's not right, and the judge agreed with CC. Also, you have to ask whether WT is selected purely on price/merit. WT and PPA share a common director. WT is contracted to provide timing for PPA. WT is a for-profit entity. PPA is a non-profit entity.

I think these two candidates ought to prove their mettle. Give the ambassadorship to the candidate who is able to flog the most Whasp products in a week.

Do yourself a favour and get the shimano. I have had endless crap with truvativ. You're not just paying for the name. Shimano is truly the best design out there. You'll also be grateful when you have to replace your bb in a few years time, because there is bound to be better choice than truvativ and fsa. I've just bought an slx off chain reaction. 1250 before vat. Otherwise try Solomons.

? Jules' date=' like I said, I did DEEP thinking. I thought of that too. What's the big deal with that? 70% (a purely made-up statistic) of sub R15k mountain bikes come with Schrader valves in anyway. ? On my bike, I drilled the inside wall of the rim bigger than a Presta strictly requires, so that I can get rid of that silly bulge and have the valve seat deeper and evenly. ? ?[/quote'] Johan, does that mean you're running presta tubes? I think some people might be nervous to drill the rim because it'll almost certainly void the warranty. I bought the Mavic wheels with the plastic inserts (which I've never used).