Zebra

The THULE store can order in... be aware, these ARE 18" in, for a S-T-R-O-L-L-E-R, just trying to help here! (Olympic could not help, but they own the nearby THULE store...) sales guy is calling me back with details, but here is the store's number: Thule 83 Imam Haron Road Claremont, Cape Town 021 674 0675

Sure. Kobus, in Pretoria: 082 339 5852. Does it in his spare time, seems to do quite a LOT of Garmin repairs, and happy with how he fixed mine, but buyer-beware, and all that stuff. Cheers Chris

...At IRONMAN South Africa, wetsuits are generally permitted for age-groupers if the water temperature is (24.5c) or colder. They are mandatory if the water is below (16c). Wetsuits cannot exceed 5mm in thickness, and certain types with forearm flaps, such as the De Soto Water Rover, are prohibited. IRONMAN SOUTH AFRICA ATHLETE GUIDE

If it is a battery that's needed, then there are guys who replace 'Garmin' batteries, up in Jozi...

from the 'interwebs'...! 3. Measure the Effective Top Tube (For Sloping Frames) Many modern bikes have a "sloping" top tube rather than a horizontal one, making the standard seat tube measurement inaccurate for fit. Process: Use a string or a straight piece of wood with a spirit level to create a horizontal line from the top of the head tube to the seat post. Measurement: Measure along this horizontal line from the center of the head tube to the center of the seat post. This "effective" length represents how the bike will feel when riding.

...sloping top tube, or flat/straight top tube...?

@capediver thanks for reply: Frame bags, you asked about, I had a custom one made in Natal, from a cardboard template I shaped; they got it 90+% right at 1st go, but have promised to tweak it further if i ship it (the bag) back up. Will DM you the Lady’s details… And, as @BuffsVintageBikes reminded me, you cannot get much WIDTH inside these bags, and still have good knee-clearance, but with careful packing, they can work, esp. for low COG items, etc. Am fitting 2x anti-bulge retaining inner tabs to mine, on the next re-work. I am testing out water bottles behind my seat, would you believe my old Profile design Aero water bottle setup from the late 80’s Triathlon days! - true story (no space for IN-triangle water bottles when my frame bag fitted), but there is space for 2 bottles OUTSIDE of the triangle; one top tube mount, one underneath down tube mount. I do feel that low-rider FRONT panniers reduce the amount of load /imbalance on the rear, and am a fan of 60/40 or 70/30 split Rear/Front, you seemed to achieve a good front/rear balance, but I maybe prefer front kit (even) lower than your rig… Finally, we actually sell the identical, but competitor (more expensive) chair, in my store, and i own 2 of them, brilliant bit of camping kit! Onwards, and UPwards, in your case! Chris

Zero problem(s) with disk brakes - they really do seem to need MINIMUM attention, until they eventually need a service, obviously, and no problem with disks warping, etc. Cheers Chris

On this very point, @capediver/Tony; looking back, are there any items you would have not packed, in hindsight? (I have posted stuff back to myself before, mid-trip, so have some ‘experience’ of thinning out kit!). Loved the videos, learnt what an ‘Inselberg’ is (thanks!), and my Dad did fly-fishing, so cool to see you pack your ‘wand’! and WELL edited, too. Chris

Hi Buff, my Spez Epic/Chilled Squirrel eBike was stolen after 7 years happy riding; really was a game-changer, since i rode most places with assistance TURNED DOWN (riding on Level 3 out of 9 Levels MOSTLY…). Why did i bother? Recovering from a broken leg, later enabled LONGER rides around the Point in near-gale conditions, with just light boost to ‘help’. So using the motor -lightly - when you need it could really work, and work well for you, my opinion, esp. if you went SL-style, maybe lighter eBike with lower absolute power… When commuting, as well as visiting my Mother, in both cases with biggish climbs, other eBikes would occasionally fly past me, yet i was riding at a good/hard ‘analog’ pace, but with light assistance, and still a GOOD workout (sweat-soaked after the ride…). Seems like a bike run in low-power mode could suit your planned riding well; a little assistance uphill, and then practically ‘analog’ downhill. Chris

Never experienced it myself, (a creak, I guess, not a CRACK?!) and I reckon @ChrisF would not TOLERATE a squeak/creak (nor should he!), but lets see if ChrisF has a solution, or has ever experienced the issue? Cheers Chris

When driving in towards the N1, on the N7, before you hit the N1, i guess THREE offramps before the N1, is T-H-E 'freeway' sign, which generally means road excluded to foot traffic and cyclists. It is placed very prominently, to CLEARLY identify a 'freeway' precinct... Please dont shoot the messenger - SIMPLY pointing out, that, in law, certain near-identical portions of road can be identified as a 'Freeway', and there you have it! See HERE: The portion of the road within Cape Town is a freeway, but it loses limited-access freeway status shortly after exiting the urban limits at the M12 interchange (Malibongwe Drive). From here, it remains a dual-carriageway and gains limited-access freeway status again at the Melkbosstrand M19 interchange. It remains a limited-access freeway until just after Malmesbury at the R45 intersection. Thereafter, the N7 is a single-carriageway highway with wide paved shoulders to Piekenierskloof Pass and through the Olifants River valley until Clanwilliam.[1]

Byron Munton, 2nd on final stage, WHAT a climb! (GO HOUT BAY!!!) …and Stefan de Bod, 7th on final day Well done Jan Christen, powerful finish! Stefan de Bod finishes 4th on GC, giving the brand new team a great result!

What is the link to Caerus, Caerus?! A SINGLE lock of hair?!

Whew, 20 years for me this coming December - how time has f-l-o-w-n! Been a great source of info, met some friends, done some learning, sold an item of 3, bought an item or 103 (!), and 'lost' many happy hours just scrolling through the Forum! Well done, Bike Hub! Chris

Will make contact by DM, thanks! Chris

Yowzer - the one's I saw on Ali Express, etc, we just R150, but would rather support a Hubber, etc... Here's hoping! Chris

Wanted to buy: charging cable for a Garmin... I have one, am looking for a 2nd to leave at work... this (popular) type - thought I would put money in a Hubbers pocket BEFORE supporting online! Cheers Chris 072 211 7725

OK, no further assistance on the above, needed for now, I have put Cassim (Father) in touch with Moneeb (Camps Bay C.I.D.), and - in turn - the investigating officer - so above request is sorted/finalized. Thanks.

Fair enough - my - and some others - PERCEPTION is that there are indeed items of sub-par quality, coming in at a very-low price point; that there are inferior products on various deep-price-cut platforms, and I too, would be extra wary over ordering some safety-critical items... A pump? Not a safety-critical item... A front fork - very much a safety-critical item. Perception is enough. And there are enough 'issues' around to create that perception. Cheers Chris

@jbr - spoke to Bjorn T, Camps Bay C.I.D Safety office, sent him screen grab of requested details, he will get in touch with Detective who knows of the CID Patroller on duty that day, etc. (case now transferred from Camps Bay Police Station to 'Provincial' (Investigating Unit?). Let me have Leanne's number, or else Cassim's number, and I will send details. Chris

I want to buy a pair of cycling shoes, but really don't know what to look for. Comfort, and durability. They MUST fit you well, or you will be miserable. I mostly do gravel cycling/ mtb Don't want something really expensive There ARE affordable options, some with VELCRO closure tabs, some with LACES (and lace-keeper), and these are usually MORE AFFORDABLE than the 'BOA' locking system. If looking 2nd hand, you would have more success with VELCRO-type and LACE-type, than the more-expensive BOA type, my 5c! Can you buy second hand? Yes, others will reply here, etc. And how do you figure out the sizing? Well, you know your SHOE size, not that much different, b-u-t they MUST fit you well, or you will be miserable. DEF need to be tried on, maybe even a light spin (2nd hand) to CHECK fit/no pinching, etc. Any advice would really be appreciated. Lake - and other companies - are finally making shoes for a BROADER foot - make sure your foot is comfortable - cycling shoes are - by design - 'stiff', but should not be uncomfortable.

I will see who I can find from Camps Bay Community Improvement District WA Group to try locate this member - i THINK, just like Hout Bay did, they had citizen C.I.D. patrols (in two's, often with a radio & bib), over the Season, to keep an eye on beaches, common areas, to be eyes & ears, etc. Chris

@cadenceblur understood. My idea was a 'customer' to have 3 NEW chains, then off to young man for stripping the OEM coating & then wax; each chain has a MINI alu dog-tag with customers name on it. 2 chains are returned to the customer, & 1 is hung up in the wax depot (!) for customers next visit... Customer 'uses up' the 2 waxed chains, returns them for re-waxing, and collects the 3rd waxed chain. What could go wrong! 😉 😁

I STILL think my idea, of a young man waxing chains - affordably & thoroughly - for a living, has merit, (well, opinion of ONE!) but I just decided to create this pic for fun!