Barend de Arend

Sorry to hear it Ewep. I'm still recovering from my crash, but it gets better with time.

That was amazing. When last did a cop pull you over to give you a coffee and a muffin? It changes how you see cops. When last did you have a potjie party into the night at the end of a race? With what looks like the whole town joining in? Kom sit, eet 'n bietjie hier! So, nou's'it mos lekker! Don't rush your stay too much. You feel very, very welcome.

I think it's a speed issue: 25 km/h on the backup, 60 km/h on the main mat.

I used to suffer from this, mainly from heat exhaustion. Indoors, use a fan. On full blast. Even when it's cold. Otherwise I suffer for the next 24 to 48 hours. On the road, drink water -- and make sure to get at least some electrolites so you absorb the water (add sugar, salt or an energy drink) I'm guessing you already do this. When it's outside, and it's hot, pour water over your head. This helps a lot. Unzip that jersey -- let some cool air in. Stop drinking coffee: it dehydrates and makes the problem worse, although it usually helps in the short term.

Sounds like they're going after another doctor.

Race more often. Then you have to keep them inflated.

They work better with road-style levers.

Heh, in Melville there's 4th that'll hit more than 18%. But it's only 200 meters long, or less. The pavement by the road has been replaced with stairs. Fun to try seated. You can do laps there, of 200 to 400 meter hills > 10%. Less than 2 mins. a hill.

Education is part of the problem. A few year ago I got asked why I was cycling in the middle of the road (I wasn't, but I wasn't completely left either.) The car driver simply hadn't seen the glass on the left, because it doesn't matter to car tyres. They just drive over it. Now I try to point out to cars why I move right (when possible) same as I would for cyclists.

You earn respect. You demand fear. Don't ****around in traffic. That counts for cars too: cars currently demand fear, because they don't know how to deal with anything that's not a car. They don't deal with cyclists, pedestrians, horses, etc. Cyclists can demand that they shouldn't be afraid.

caad-anything is all aluminium. caad9 is caad8, with minor changes to the tubes. caad8 is caad7, with minor changes to the tubes caad7 is ... the changes happen year after year, and are currently mainly about weight, although up to caad4/5, it changed the ride. six13 is caad-something with carbon top, seat and down tube. head tube and rear triangle are still caad-something. Still looks and behaves like a caad-(some bigger number) six13 number 2 changed the seat tube back to aluminium. system6 is caad-9 rear with carbon top, down and head tube. The tubes are a lot bigger. Still looks and behaves like a caad-(some bigger number) supersix is all carbon. Still looks and behaves like a caad-(some bigger number) synapse is all carbon, but completely different philosopy, geometry, etc.

Salt, butter, sugar or plain.

Quite a few racing tandems do just that - questionable whether it makes any difference. Going faster on a bike is not about pedalling technique - it is about better w/kg. Faster riders do not eliminate the "dead spot" they push down harder. Depending on the angle, that'll be exactly what happens. You can't push harder with Q-Ring because its the same legs. However, you can spend more time pushing, and less time moving your legs forwards or backwards. If the gear is harder up/down and easier forward/backwards you will definitely spend a higher percentage of your cycling time in the power part of the circle. So the net effect is: a higher percentage in the "good" part of your stroke, and a lower percentage in the "bad" stroke.

While we're busy: Has anybody tried a SRAM derailleur with a Shimano cassette and a Campag crank?

Yep. 105/Ultegra/DuraAce shifters, chain, cassette, chainrings, brakes, whatever all matches. In fact, I swap three wheels on my bike, one with a 105 11-23, one Ultegra 11-21, and one Dura Ace 11-23. (and I also have an Ultegra 12-27 not attached to a wheel.) Ultegra lasts longer, and is cheaper than Dura Ace. What you can't do is match a very old, worn cassette with a very new chain. It'll jump between gears. The same is true for Campag: swap Record, Chorus, Veloce, etc. no problem.

The acceleration isn't uniform when pedalling with round rings. It's faster at 3/9 o'clock and slower at 12/6 o'clock. That's because your legs work like that. Q rings are intended to make that acceleration more uniform -- not less uniform.

Condolences to family and friends. This news saddens me.