Zebra

Re-reading, x3, your much-delayed, and anticipated reply here, if you do not open a bicycle shop, then I do think you have a future in writing Chat-Bot scripts…????! cheers Chris

I just bought these two items, very Chinese, so I will report back on quality, etc., but for around R1300 for BOTH, thought I would give it a whirl, and see if it meets my needs - will go on a full-susser MTB, doing a 5-day/4-nite gravel tour in October. Could not find much locally, thus going the Liteinthebox route... https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/b-soul-12-l-bike-handlebar-bag-portable-cycling-wearable-bike-bag-tpu-leather-terylene-bicycle-bag-cycle-bag-cycling-outdoor-exercise-trail_p7119603.html?prm=1.5.1.338 and https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/b-soul-12-l-bike-saddle-bag-rain-proof-multifunctional-durable-bike-bag-pvc-polyvinyl-chloride-600d-ripstop-bicycle-bag-cycle-bag-cycling-outdoor_p6929408.html?prm=1.5.1.362 (yes, I have heard some problems of Lite-in-the-box, but communication THUS far has been good...) Will report back once received - supposedly around 14 days, we shall see. Cheers Chris

Just a heads-up - TENG tools could not get the TOPTUL 'Spinner' for quite some time, recently they got in a near-identical Spinner, in the TENG brand (very nice quality, it is...), R280, with three positions; clockwise ratchet, anti-clockwise ratchet, and the ratchet LOCKED. It takes a BIT on one side, and thee other side takes a 1/4" socket. Very useful for working with bottle cages. (note: I am not linked to Teng Tools, Paarden Eiland, I just buy tools for our own (M/cycle) fitment centre, and he mentioned that these are back in stock - quite a few Hubbers cleaned him out last time, most all of them using them to QUICKLY remove bottle cages...) Cheers, Chris

Hi, been using a 5600 mA power bank to power a brilliant MagicShine/Fluir 1800 lumen bicycle light; power bank is now ‘tired’… am THINKING how could I use an ExtremeLights battery to power this brilliant little light, of course Extreme uses a round connector, with pins, and not USB… Any easy work-around, else any recommendations for a power source? thanks Chris

Barn doors have many advantages - if opening the other type of swing up door under cover, the door can rub on/rest against a lowish garage ceiling, or whatever, whereas no problem with Barn Doors, Barn doors also allow you to open just the ONE door, to say put a bike inside. Finally, the doors are 'crack-back' (my name for them) - meaning the open in line with the vehicle, and then can open butterfly-style, which saves walking AROUND the edge of a door when loading from th side, etc.

Yes, my background was (amateur) Triathlete, too, thus the lack of socks, our ultra-shorty socks. Since putting hooks up, and hanging my damp cycling kit up on a hanger(s), my kit is dry at days end, I HATE pulling on wet kit!

I have one; well not 4-Motion, but LWB, 2nd row seats removable, with Barn Doors, quite literally one of the most practical vehicles I have ever owned.

My socks get wet, Cape Winter mornings, and they are….er…those secret-type socks; I never DID get the calf-socks memo…

Yes, I have commando before, but I have also gone SOCK-mando a good number of times; seems that when I pack shirt/thermal undershirt/ onnies/fleece and pant, that the socks are always…..in hiding! yup, SOCK-mando was a regular thing, for a while!

Keen to learn WHY not to use crank boots? Thanks, Chris

My thoughts… for your distances, I would consider cycling in zip off shorts, then zipping leg lowers on at work; have done this myself a few times… my commute is 30km, one way, so I need a basin wash, but done it many times, and you get super-efficient at it! I leave a deodorant stick and hair gel at the basin, bit of liquid soap on a facecloth, and good to go! I have hooks, with double-sided tape, up to hang cycling kit to ‘air’, in a less-used area, so if/when cycling back home, kit is dry! Rarely , I ride in on a (kit) e-Bike, but I STILL sweat on that, S’Bossie is 3km from my doorstep, and I make a game of seeing how LITTLE assist I can use, thus the sweating. Oh, and I also play ‘catch the cyclist ahead’ which does not help the sweating issue! A LITTLE time spent putting up some hooks, leaving some toiletries at work, having an easy spot to store the bike, make it all a breeze. oh. And a LIGHT! Definitely a light!

Look, i run that 'segment', and am a slow runner, and it passes VERY quickly, it really is quite short, just do you dont get your hopes up TOO much, I hurt my knees pounding (running) down S'Bossie, then someone suggested I run the way-more-gentle path, and it is more shady in summer, but slippy in Winter!

Man - you are making me W-O-R-K to keep up with all these acronyms...! https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/selective-androgen-receptor-modulators-sarms-prohibited-class-anabolic-agents/#:~:text=Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are a class of therapeutic,binding androgens%2C such as testosterone.

I rode it today, cannot see anything that needs cutting whatsoever… could use a bit of SERIOUS fill in a large Donga, just as you approach theC’Nek parking lot , right before/close to the caravan; quick detour to get around the donga, especially on my 26”er!

Crossing live at 15H50…

As per heading, my Activity Card expires 23rd September; am looking for 3 other riders to join me in getting the ‘discount for 4’ at the Tokai Office, else Kirstenbosch, else other venue…late afternoon, before the Office closes works best, but let me know! even a week or two earlier works. 1. Zebra 2. 3. 4. thanks

I,ve got a chain saw, and some gardening tools; wondering if we could get a small group - 6 - 10 guys together one weekend to FURTHER improve this track up C’Nek HB side? Sweep it, cut odd protruding branch, IF IT NEEDS IT? Especially since the (Hout Bay) PIPE TRACK is now closed… cheers Chris

In the 2006 Cape Epic, my riding partner and myself stopped to help a Spanish team, with a tool they needed; they were riders at the pointy end, we were a ways back, anyhow, whilst stopped with them, we asked “where are your Camelbacks…?” to which they replied…”why are you wearing them…”, well, the following year we ditched the Camelbacks, and never looked back - fun story!

umm, rather CONSIDER not opening a Store, based on v. good, real-life advice posted here, rather than DON'T do it - but I think previoous posters have your best interest at heart. Something ELSE you could consider in something ALLIED to cycling, but yet not a bike SHOP, maybe some sought-after service ( a niche, in other words), that is way less capital-intensive, way less - or zero - being held 'hostage' by suppliers MOQ, there WILL be some service you could offer, etc? Just a thought - and good luck!

Agreed. Even as a Retailer, we supply a good number of OTHER retailers,; We smply request to see the PREMISES, proper premises, pic or two of any staff, banking account details,and we CHECK on them,if they check out, we supply them, but we do not (yet)supply a guy working from his Garage… having said that, Istarted my business from my Garage, and so did my biggest Gauteng competitor! But simple checks are essential…

Postnet? We use them, but we have to DRIVE to them; time, fuel, etc. the Courier Guy comes to US, last 8or 9 years, they charge LESS door to door for many ( not all…) parcels, so save yourself the agro, and have your parcels collected, for less! (2nd or 3rd day delivery, at reduced prices…) cheers Chris

No misunderstanding whatsoever, I was in that EXACT situation to start off with; yet most ALL Suppliers will accept cash accounts, and convert them when they see you are indeed ‘viable’…starting alone, and now with 8 Staff, it is a journey, but suppliers will work with ‘newbies’, it is PURELY how you approach it that gets the accounts; of this much I am certain. Chris

I started a motorcycle accessory store 11 years ago,from scratch; as you say, cash accounts for(at least) 6 months, pay ON THE. EXACT Day they expect when you have 30 days terms; wholesalers will ALWAYS welcome a dedicated/hardworking/HONEST retailer. GO! Chris

Roger Duffett, is likely the Cape ‘Guru’ on things recumbent, as well as Trike; www.trikes.co.za Cheers Chris

Well, time trial is short (7-odd km), so maybe not a bad day for the TT… I see Vuelta is only being shown at 18h50 on SS 206, and then again near mid nite, wonder why they not crossing live, etc? thanks Dale for Columbians altitude at birth, made for surprising reading! Cheers Chris