Zebra

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

Question regarding DSTV; i watch it around the house on an iPad, mostly on WiFi, however, when watching in my garage - detached from my house and half below ground, since the WiFi signal is weak due to distance, I SWITCH to data/4G, and whist I get 3 out of 4 ‘bars’ when using 4G, (seemingly 75% signal strength) I battle to watch TdF in the garage whilst tinkering in there, buffering, etc…. is this possibly an unseen ‘degradation’ of the 4G intermittently, unseen by me, THEN causing buffering, or what else might i try? thanks Chris

DM received, replied, see you early next week. Cheers

Bump. I cannot help on the 'main' request, as it were, but I will donate some cycling kit; i presume good condition 2nd-hand kit is in order? Cheers Chris

“ I assume they can pull the trailer.”…… Will let others guide you, but if you are buying 2 identical bikes, AND have already bought the pull-behind Kiddies trailer(s), then suggest you DOUBLE-check they ARE compatible before making a purchase - 90%+ sure you will be ok, but i suggest you check! Cheers Chris

I have had a ‘converted 26”er’ eBike for 6 or 7 years: very little difference in service costs from a ‘regular’ MTB, for me, anyways… no noticeable increase in brake wear, for me, i suspect SLIGHTLY increased rear tyre wear, but then i do use my eMTB for many (lekker) road rides from Houties, around Cape Point and back, which adds to rear tyre wear…. Like ChrisF, i too have had ONE problem with a sensor, but it was fairly inexpensive to replace. Battery health - full bench test - now at 89%, this after 6 or 7 years, so i have ZERO complaints. no noticeable increase in drive-train costs, I run 10x cassette, and those things are H-A-R-D-Y, and i am ‘sympathetic’ to drive-train shifting… in short, i feel servicing costs are near-identical to an analogue bike , again, for me. Cheers Chris

I THINK someone has placed an ALL-WHITE 'memorial' bicycle near to where he passed away? I did not see it, but Wife asked why an all white sprayed bike would be in Sea Point, chained to the pole, and I said I think it was 'in memoriam'? Anyone seen it, to confirm? Tx, Chris

Never thought about insulated bottles for the OTHER benefit; preventing water or drink being TOO CLOD!

…anyone see the TdF annual publication in the shops, yet? Recovering from an op, so not been in the shops much, and i like to read THIS publication every year, a week before Day 1… thanks! Chris

CONVERSATIONS on ABC Listen; Pack Ice, Seal Fat & the Big Slide… (recreating Ernest Shackleton’s truly amazing self-rescue)

Yes, i am watching since 1st day, very interesting/hardcore, esp with the Snow in the beginning section, and that it can hit 40-degrees down near Antelope Springs - hectic! Chris

I think if you really are 'run down', then a Neurobion, or Vit B12 INJECTION can make quite a difference, it is backed up (somewhere) by clinical studies, one injection per month really does make a difference - YMMV. (Neurobion has more 'ingredients', but they both have Vit B12, which - I feel - makes the difference (and I am a sceptic at the best of times...!) Cheers Chris

I have 3 or 4 pairs of 18-year old ASSOS bibs; i know the age since I bought them for events 3 years running ('05, '06 & '07), etc. All are still 'solid' in the 'crack' area (did I really just type that? 😄), in other words, have not 'gone thin'.. I do not dry them in direct sunlight, but wash them WITH other clothes, NOT in a bag, and with REGULAR auto washing powder (though NOT fabric softener)...and on a REGULAR, if shortish - washing cycle... All this other 'faffery' - stand on one leg whilst placing into German-brand washing machine / place bib into a dedicated, lambswool bag / rotate anti-clockwise 3x / use 'magic' washing powder / use a sandalwood clothes-peg when drying - would do my head in... My bibs were part-sponsored, meaning I do not usually afford full-priced ASSOS bibs - so I have and do look after them - yet they have had fair use in that time - and washed HEAPS of times, I cannot believe what I am reading about 12-month old (other) product not really being fit for public, er, viewing...?! 🤯 (I also have a First Ascent bib - also no-crack-see'em...)

here you go, and it aint great: https://www.hellopeter.com/ciovita

…an upgrade path? You are a Marketer’s dream customer…. FFS, if you are new to MTB (and(or Marathoning), you have a carbon 29”er, with suspension front & rear, and a 12-speed 1x Groupo, with a dropper, RIDE WHAT YOU GOT! I too think the front shocks could be improved UPON, but still, they give a very-usable 100mm travel…maybe consider replacing them as you goalong? I think you should ride / marathon this bike for some time BEFORE you upgrade multiple items, especially if the drivetrain is in reasonably good nick… Riding mates you meet along the way will often give you input on what - and even when, something N-E-E-D-S upgrading, and you can learn what you need, not what the ‘flavour of the month is…’ I do reckon a bike setup is money well spent, ride/race, and THEN see what you NEED…. (that is a very capable bike, enjoy it!)

My bad, tx for the correction!