Zebra

You - really - have a way with words, these gave me a GOOD chuckle; well done on the ride, and keep up the excellent writing!

Remco GOLD, Ganna SILVER, Van Aert BRONZE…

with all this talk of rainfall, here are some RECENT stats: *WESTERN CAPE RAINFALL 1-10 JULY 2024:* 293mm Ceres 289mm Grabouw 254mm Paarl 250mm Jonkershoek 170mm CT/Observatory 160mm Bellville 158mm CT/Oranjezicht 158mm Tulbagh 150mm Wellington 150mm Algeria Forest Station 148mm CT/Kommetjie 147mm CT/Belhar 144m Elim 136mm Citrusdal 133mm Worcester 125mm CT/Airport 114mm Atlantis 114mm Langgewens 101mm Malmesbury 100mm Robben Island 98mm CT/Yacht Club 98mm Struisbaai 93mm Geelbek 88mm Hermanus 83mm Saldanha 81mm Caledon 71mm Porterville 59mm Swellendam 56mm Cape Agulhas 51mm Cape Point 49mm Clanwilliam 45mm Langebaan 38mm Redelingshuys 33mm Robertson 29mm George/Heather Park 29mm Vredendal 26mm Stilbaai 22mm Laingsburg 22mm Riversdale 19mm Beaufort West 19mm Mossel Bay 18mm Lamberts Bay 11mm George/Airport 10mm Ladismith 9mm Oudtshoorn 6mm Plettenberg Bay 2mm Prince Albert

…(many)tandems are built with the two cranks offset by 2 teeth. One gets the other over top dead centre… .and… …It has been suggested that tandem riders offset the pilot/stoker crank alignment by up to 6 teeth to offset this and give smoother pedaling… (source: Google-Fu), but i have heard about this before. Chris

But G-l-u-h-w-e-i-n for the w-i-n ! 😋

I am an unashamed fan of INNER bar ends (medically-developed SQLabs…), and they help with a very road-ish ‘hoods’ position on an MTB (I have them on 2 MTB’s), which means - for me - a less ‘cocked’ position, obvs once bike fit taken care of. This then gives me TWO hand positions; would be keen to hear why they were not for you? Road bikes often give THREE ‘real’ positions, where MTB mostly only ONE, I find inner bar ends another great hand position, on gravel/tar, esp. Chris

Hmmn, could work, VERY grateful for the offer, real pity to remove my beautiful Magura calipers (gloss black, just saying!), let me see what else is suggested, and then revert soonest? Thanks! Chris

...anyone?

Very comprehensive, Andrew - appreciated! Chris

I am converting a 29"er over to a Monster Cross / Gravel Bike, with dropped bars... 1. I have Magura MT (2-piston?) calipers, and need to get them to work with drop-bar levers? 2. My drivetrain is Deore XT 10-speed. 3. Would ideally like to buy 2nd-hand 'brifters' that will work with both Shimano Deore XT 10 speed AND Magura MT calipers... 4. Then, looking for an Alu 42 - 44cm Gravel (flared) bar, if anyone has one to sell, again 2ndh hand ideally , proof-of-concept stuff! I-F anyone has a Surly-style CORNER bar, then would happily buy it, to see if it will work for my project... thanks Chris

I am converting a 29"er over to a Monster Cross / Gravel Bike, with dropped bars... 1. I have Magura MT (2-piston?) calipers, and need to get them to work with drop-bar levers? 2. My drivetrain is Deore XT 10-speed. 3. Would ideally like to buy 2nd-hand 'brifters' that will work with both Shimano Deore XT 10 speed AND Magura MT calipers. 4. Then, looking for an Alu 42 - 44cm Gravel (flared) bar, if anyone has one to sell, again 2ndh hand ideally , proof-of-concept stuff! thanks Chris

...on some of the older Alpina's (such as mine), you can fit a 28mm front and rear without running into clearance issues; I fitted 28's for an Eroica ride, and they were noticeably better than what was on previously. There are one or 2 older (relaxed) steel frames that will take 32mm, so I have heard. that is a pretty good width. @Buff would likely know...

I think as Buff says, likely not worth a lot, b-u-t, a now-rare bike, with cool saddle, lights, mudguards AND that flip-flop (or Dual Drive?) hub, have seen a good few ‘regular’ flip-flop hubs, but only with a SINGLE cog at each side, and not a CLUSTER on one side, and single cog on the other side! Maybe remove the tires, store them, fit fresh rubber and take a ride! Cool bike, perfect for Eroica 2025!

I think people should worry less about RESALE value of the bike, and think more what you can get out of a perfectly good bike, with some minor, even cost-effective mods, if you feel you can live with it! Case in point, although I own a full carbon 29”er, i have HEAPS of fun on a converted 2004/2005 26”er, in the year of our Lord 2024! My Eroica steel bike (1992) cost R1500 5 years back, spent another R1.5k on it,3 or 4 Eroica’s and MANY trips around Cape Point loop with it, HEAPS of fun, for little (added) money. Something to mull over!

I actually MISS Thomas Voeckler, from a previous decade; he was either in a solo breakaway; else coming last!, but never a dull moment; and the last few days, have been watching out for Jonas Abrahamson, not so much to see if he is retaining the Polka jersey, but rather to see him join breaks - great entertainment!

Hehe, true; every time I see him pop out at/near the front, day-after-day, I cannot believe how he does it; he really does liven up the Tour!

just Googled Ciovita, then saw T-H-I-S.... 😝 https://ciovita.co.za/products/mens-apex-elite-bib-shorts-rust?_pos=1&_fid=2d0b7ed30&_ss=c What has been seen CANNOT be unseen; not sure I can see myself in Ciovita...?! 😄

Wife is buying me 1 or 2 new bibs as a belated b/day present, since my 3x 20-year old Assos (that i was then sponsored, and since patched!), are borderline not-fit-for-purpose. Am starting a LIST, of Cape-available bibs, since I may buy 3prs at once, and am out-of-touch with the newer brands: please ADD to the list, so I can investigate (most all) of the options?! same bib for Road, MTB, & soon-to-be Gravel. Would like CARGO bibs for ALL 3 disciplines, am no race-snake...) 1. Castelli 2. Assos 3. Ciovita 4. DHB? 5. Kalas? 6. Cape Storm (actually, my old CS were great bang-for-buck!) OTHERS?...... (and links to Winter sales greatly appreciated!)

…subscribed…

Waking up an old thread (Surly Corner Bar); any updates, from anyone? thanks, Chris

I dont ride much technical, but QUITE happy with my ROVAL wheelset; they seem decent-enough, and LIKELY suit a number of riders on Specialized bikes - but not everyone… Years ago, i bought a 2nd hand Epic comp carbon with Roval alu wheelset, and zero problems with them, whist not ‘pushing’ them, admittedly. i know Bike Radar gives certain Roval wheels 4/5 stars, so i dont think they are totally crap (your words: rubbish) and yes, your 07th Feb post - bent rim 2x (in one specific area) in 8-odd months, and then damaging it for the 3rd time in the same area (Conties), methinks you are possibly harsh on Roval! Happy - requesting even - to be educated on where the rims lie on a scale of strength, etc, on the value-end of bikes… Cheers Chris

Best bike I ever owned was the one i spent multi-week tours on; a Cannondale M300, Alu itself was newish at the time, (1990’s, or thereabouts) and front shocks were either not a ‘thing’, or JUST emerging… Did a trip around England, Ireland and Wales, and then later through Norway to see the midnight sun, then later from Pakistan into China (Gilgit to Kashgar), one of the more popular - and challenging - Silk Roads (the Karakoram ‘Highway’, open for just 3 months of ‘summer’, per year!) It was super-reliable, had a triple-chainring, useful for the Khunjerab Pass (4697m), the bike had few moving parts (no front nor rear shock), and cantilever brakes, useful for the big downhill(s). At the time, the Karrimor pannier bags were really good; I just did not have money for the better-quality German made Vaude, nor the equal-quality Ortlieb! Bought the bike in London, around an hour before beginning a tour, and then owned it for 20-odd years, before selling it here in Sunny SA; am sure it is STILL doing duty around Cape Town, somewhere! Pic #4; that is 1 million odd Apricots, drying in the sun, with a person sitting amongst them for scale! Fun memories!

….maybe update your heading, to: Where to find 26-ers TYRES for old trail bike? Cheers, Chris

Good meeting you, Kim(ikaze); thanks for the excellent work you do, and will dig out more kit later this month. Cheers Chris

..peach of mind... I always felt it was PEACE of mind, but I LIKE your way of describing it - just PEACHY! 😉 Sorry to hear of the cr@p you had, but sounds like you have it WELL sorted now, so enjoy your ride! Chris