supertorro

Now we talking!!! Some clue as to where to go would be awesome. I just get nothing when trying to find out over here. Loads of climbing, but nothing off-road. Beginning to think about getting some cyclo-cross bikes.

Doh! I'm off this forum for months, and within days I'm stepping on someone's toes...wonder if this would be a skill I can put on my CV. Anyway, I was merely putting my 2 cents worth down. I eat badly and have the same habits as described by racman (except I eat like a pig), but I've definitely noticed differences in weight if I cut something out of the diet or change it significantly. anyway.... I apologise for offence caused to all. Will leave you scientific folk alone to discuss this. bye

True I could have bought a kona, but I've never ridden one, as opposed to the titus. And I know the Titus is awesome to ride, cause I got to test ride both a racer-x and motolite. The titus was always the goal, and when I saw it on special I bought it on impulse. I tried several stores out here, but didn't find anything that really caught the eye. Of course, the day after I bought the frame I found the cannondale store and they had some of the top end stuff. Most stores seem to have the entry level stuff. Even though I'm no racer or phenom of the riding circuit I know the difference the good stuff makes when the conditions are less than ideal.

As with all things it's pretty simple. if you eat crap you will feel/perform/be crap. If you eat healthy and well your weight will not be a problem and your daily energy levels will be better/more constant. Leave the sweets for the weekend buddy.

Local beer haven't tried, but then if it doesn't have any mention of Reinheits Gebot I don't drink it. Apparently, it's not good. Luckily for yuppy scum westerner me, they have imported beer from Germany. We are currently 4 hours ahead of you. So 11 am why you up so early on Saturday?

I mean planet k'stan

that my friend is the THE question of my present life. I ask it every day, but at the end of the month you get paid and it suddenly dawns on you, that there, in your grubby paws, lies the answer. I figured it would be interesting to visit (it is) a country/area that I know nothing about except from bad us movies about the evil russians. I'm not going to pretend that I know all there is to know about K'stan now, but I wouldn't mind seeing something of the 1st world at some point. This place is.....different..... on so many levels I think the missus is right in referring to it as plant k'stan. But it's always boils down to money doesn't it? And that is the main reason. When I got the offer it wasn't a case of "do I want to do this?" so much as "when can I leave?"

so the latest news.... not sure how the customs thinking works out here, but here goes. after much argument and negotiation with the office staff (they had to translate the documents from customs guys) we determined that the $400 is just the base of the calculation. So what I actually need to pay is tax (400 *14%) 50 Euro flat import fee 1500 tenge storage costs Unknown customs fee (what's the 50 Euro for then) Potentially customs brokerage fees, if I use a broker... can we make this any more incoherent and complicated?

da, competive cyclist. $1395

who know with these guys. So often it's been a case of this is what the law says but you slip me some "sugar" and we'll call it quits. This is all still speculation at the mo. Anyhow, I bought it on special, so if I pay the speculated fees, I come out just about even. c'est la vie

oh dear. so. apparently I will need to pay 25000 tenge (about $150) for one page from a broker. this willthen be followed by a $500 charge for something.... the weekend is off to a fantastic start

this is not a bad idea, except the lost in translation is a big issue

Unfortunately, it's stuck in Kazakh customs. This just means I'll several notarised copies of 10 different documents to get the damn thing. news to follow later.

Hmmm, the sunday cruises sound like just the remedy I be needing. Excellent will try that this weekend. thanks folks

Da comrade. Was working my butt off, but they decided to can my app and buy another (which they pay through their ring for). Right now I'm "project manager" which means I have time to get on here and request specifications from people, etc.... aka don't do too much now. But I still need to be in for most of the day. I try to get on the bike, but despite the MASSIVE mountains I haven't found anywhere really interesting to ride. I mean, you can ride to the ice rink (climb for about 2 hours) and come back and that tends to hurt a bit. But trailwise ala jonkershoek or something I've found nothing so far. The obvious solution would be to ask the lbs about that sort of thing, but the conversation went like this... "Hi. Do you guys have any clubs or groups or something that go mtb'ing"... ... .... .. .. ... confused salesman..... ... .. .. light briefly flares.... ... .. "da, mountain bike" pointing at the range of mtb's in the corner.... "um, yeah, nice bikes. So where do you ride" "ride?" "your bike" "da, bike" pointing at the same bikes. etc. etc. etc.. okay, okay. I should probably learn some russian, but the dictionary does not cover bike bits and related terminology. you'll be glad to know I have ordered Motolite 2 last night.... so now just waiting (praying) that it get's through customs all right. later

nice one... I'll let her know, but that opens the "you think I'm fat" can o' worms.... wish me luck

ah. sorry, as usual I have not quite been descriptive enough. We're in Kazakhstan and people don't enjoy too many sports here, at least not when there is any physical activity. Cards and driving like lunatics is about it. Her only company is me (I hear the groans from the crowd) and we go riding when we can. There's some nice spots to go, but any inspirational stories I can point her too would be great...

so, for those who know me and were expecting my giving ladies advice, not so... rather, I'm looking for any practical advice regarding getting the wife keen on riding her mtb. Any recently started lady riders wanna chip in? I know, I ride like a girl anyway, but I don't think it's relevant

Hey Chris H I have a set of Ringle on my MTB and they are really awesome. the front I never even changed bearings for about 4 years, and they never had a problem. The back I had one or two problems with, but I think that may have been user induced error rather than a problem with the hubs specifically. Can't go wrong with the Ringle's, although I don't know what the compbarable competitors' hubs cost.

It's a Sportsperson's privilege to spit at will. So feel free suck from on deep and expell that irritating ball of useless fluids.

I reckon the bike shops should dish out the following with every bike sold: etiquette pamphlet towards fellow cyclists and motorists, free sense of humour voucher and smack upside the head for the k@k they'll undoubtedly cause at some point. For the motorists, maybe two smacks, a real driving examination focused on intelligent and considerate use of the nations roadways and maybe another smack just for good measure. That should sort things out

Fiat.... sheesh. now there's a hunk of junk for you. Not sure why you reckon the SEAT's dead, but I find it quite alot of fun to drive

Seat and Orbea - italian handling at a spanish price?

try read the reviews http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/xc_full_suspension/product_123916.shtml

I've only heard really good things about Intense. Even Lea recommends them.