Zebra

VERY well written, succinct/to the point (but not around it!). will make an effort to be there, just on how you have ‘sold-the-sizzle…’ ”We draft buses. We escort the elderly across the street. We race jets.” believe me, you HAVE sold the sizzle! well done! chris

one of the best innovations I have tried in 50+ years of cycling, is SQLabs mid-bar ends…. from a USA- based medical-led company, these mid-ends roughly replicate the ‘hoods’ on a road bike, but on a 29er MTB… I used to do triathlons in another age, and these mid-ends allow an aero position - safely- onan MTB,and you can still ‘cover’ the brake levers WHILST using them… that allow me 2 additional hand positions, and achieve nearly everything you seem to seek! at around 80 grams for 2, theta really, really work. I use them mostly whilst road-mtb’ing, but have used them on long gravel sections, too. try them! chris

R20k, money well spent. I THINK price has remained similar, but technology has leaped ahead. never - ever - ran out of battery, but I rode on lower settings, often. …felt like Big Mig going up S’Bossie, pedalling hard, on settin 9! cheers Chris

I used Chilled Squirell 5 or 6 years back, with excellent results. I converted a Specialized S-Works 26”er that I had done a couple of Cape Epics on, so was quite fond of the bike, and even with a full Ultegra group set on, and some other farkles, it would have not sold for much, so decided to convert it! bought the strongest kit available at the time, and boy, does it move the body/mind and soul! unrestricted motor, basically gave new life to an old (but good) bike, did not harm that I was recovering from surgery (MVA) at the time. would use them again, they were very good/professional. cheers, Chris

It does , but I wish people would also photograph the DRIVE side, too….

A D-lock to a high traffic area pole, should work, most all poles have either a sign bolted to them, or a light, or both, so that secures the bike from being lifted UP the pole… in the motorbike world, we sell ‘Screamer’ disk locks if the bike is even touched - though they do give a loud warning before going full decibel assault mode… I reckon good high-viz area and sturdy bicycle lock, to said pole, on insured bike - the rest is truly up to fate,no. good luck, fantastic that you are shopping ‘from’ a bike - merit-worthy in these car- culture days!

You maybe have a LINKY to that survey? Could not find it doing a basic search, and keen to read (and respond) thanks!

Google VW ID.Buzz - the new Kombi that may well take the world by storm…

Jigghead, a few ideas I have used, with some success, might help you? before eating junk, I drink down 750ml of water, flavoured with those sugar-free druppels, then I either don’t need another snack, else I need less of a snack than otherwise! waiting till 10am in the morning before eating, works wonders, think of it as a mini-fast, and paradoxically I can then eat LESS than I would at say 7am or 8am, etc… try and eat the ‘healthier side’ of snacks when having a snack, ie, popcorn maybe more healthy than chips, Tab is obviously better than Coke, LITTLE changes, that make a COMPOUND difference… maybe popcorn before chips, nuts rather than chocolate/sweets, obviously do your research… eating at the dinner table, rather than in bed/in front of TV, etc, also gives a bit of discipline, call it MINDFUL eating! good luck Chris

What type of pedal-edge caused that depth of cut,Pikey? Keen to learn, I no longer have much ‘natural’ skin over my shins, that pedal cut looks brutal?! chris

In 2006, during the second of 3 Cape Epics, my riding partner and I stopped to help two Spanish pro’s with our chain-breaker, since they were riding without one… whilst chatting, we innocently asked them WHERE theirCamelbacks were, since the were ‘direguer’ at the time… …they in turn asked us…”why are you wearing them?”… QUICKLY followed with, in their poor English: Let the DONKEY (read: bicycle) carry the load, not the rider… they went on to site low C.O.G., a cool back, no temptation to ‘fill space around the bladder’, and better movement on the bike…, well, for that Epic and again in 2007, we never used a Camelback again, nor have since! LET THE DONKEY CARRY THE WATER !!! Chris

This….the TRUTH……!

In the States, where I lived for 3 years, pedal ‘Q-factor’ extenders were VERY readily available, and I had a set on a recumbent owned , as well as my MTB. They really are great, and SO MUCH of a bicycle is reach adjustable or height adjustable or just sized for different boy shapes, that is makes sense that mini extenders for Q angle are available. cheers Chris

Probably time to stop the wood jokes, I am getting BOARD….

Using wood glue on a puncture is KNOT recommended; it just GUM’s up the works, makes you PINE for a more lasting result, and may leave you WEEPING like a, er, willow…

If a Gauteng-based rider was to give you aLIFT to CT, and back again, would the entry fee, and I guess accommodation, still be a stumbling block? Seems a shame not to get to 30…. good luck Chris

nice Mantra; I like….

…and if you have decent bib shorts that are tight over the shoulders, you can insert a piece of fabric say 8cm long into the left strap and right strap, since the shorts-part will likely still fit you - I did this withFOURpairs of bibs, cost me R50 per pair at local seamstress = bargain. chris

Love one of the pictures of Go Cycling bibs, with a full baguette torn in half, with each half stuck in one of the two BACK cargo pockets , I actually worked up an appetite for a crusty loaf with cheeses now! Nice!

No, 26’er’s are not dead: My own 26’er was reincarnated as an e-Bike; basically was an S-Works alu, my point being it had a very good spec of components (back then) and would not have realized much money had I sold it. having previously done a couple of Epics, Sani’s and other events on it, I have a slight emotional attachment to it, and it now does good duty as an e-bike, so was a win for me. cheers, Chris

I believe the expression is….”as dead as a DODO” (extinct flightless bird). never heard as dead as a DILDO, but went to a Government school, so I may have been wrong all this time? ????

.dot.dot.dot. he REALLY should have placed dot/dot/dot after “I didn’t really….” then he leaves it OPEN for Part II, the sequel!

Expected time of FIRST bunch (Elites) at bottom of S’Bossie? thanks!

Sure IF Mandela was alive, you would have extended him the SAME courtesy? ????