Sydd

I had a Selle Italia and bent the rail in a fall. Linden cycles sent it back to the agent here and apparently the have the correct jig effort to replace the rail. It took no more than three days and I think it cost about R200. I was very impressed with the quick service and the saddle is good as new.

Brilliant, thanks! See you all there then

Hi All, Will the crit be on tonight?

Hi All, I need some advice please, and am looking to hear from you on your experience with a variety of shoes? I have been wearing a pair of Nike Pogios (size 42) for the last 3, almost 4 years and needless to say, as a result of a lot of miles and competitive racing, they've probably seen much better days. I am now looking for something to replace them with, but I believe that Nike no longer makes cycling shoes mainstream and they are re-branded as Bontrager? Where does one get Bontrager shoes in JHB to look at? I've looked at Sidi but feel that they are a bit too much for a student budget. I have a pair of carbon Shimano something or others but they have such a sharp arch in them that I get cramps in my feet after an hour from the position. They are great for the track, but not much else. So, any ideas on a good racing shoe for a competitive racing lady, with a reasonably broad foot, and where does one get suggested shoes? Can you still get DMT? Haven't seen them anywhere on the net but I've seen a few girls racing with them. Also, back to Sidi. Are their top end "non carbon soled" shoes any good for a competitive racer? They are more towards my price range but are they any good. Any comments and personal experience from people with medium width feet will be welcome. Many thanks for your help

Thanks Tim H, thats a better way of putting it. I still just feel that this is a difficult forum to have a discussion like this, where most lay-people won't be able to differentiate between their opinion of "an ambulance driver" and what is actually a well qualified medical practitioner. Perhaps then "doctors on bikes" supported by at least a network of BAAs and AEAs who are experienced, by the nature of their protocol if they can't do a proper primary assessment and immobilisations as precautions then they shouldn't have a licence. I'm afraid a lot of the opinions we've seen here may have been from people who've been assisted by first aiders who don't have the appropriate trauma experience, because the major injuries you see at races boil down to traumas. And yes, a Dr, but only if its a trauma doctor. And with reference to someone's comment of 20 qualified paramedics in SA, I beg to differ. I think perhaps with the incentive of proper pay and the pleasant working environment of being in the bush, some of the MANY MANY qualified medics who were operational for short periods before going to work in more pleasant, well paid environments, may just re-emerge and use their qualifications. ( and to cover myself before being flamed, those who have maintained their qualifications and have accumulated their cpd points like good eggs)

And I'm not sure I understand where you say they are hesitant to administer because they have little experience? Rubbish! If you're an ALS thats what you've trained to do and its in your scope of practice. You know the drugs upside down inside out and are fully aware of dosages, contra indications, indications, administration methods. The drugs on their protocol are used by them on a regular basis and if you believe that that is what the patient needs under the circumstances then you will treat them to the best of your ability. Correct? I think you need to be a bit more responsible in what you're saying, because people will take what you are saying as absolute truth and have no trust in a Paramedic.

I don't really think that this is the best forum for a discussion like this. Clearly from some of the replies, there is a distorted view of the functions of the various medics and doctors. Generalising isn't fair on any of the practitioners. And unless its going to be a specialised trauma doctor, the scope of practice for ALS is more than adequate to assist just about any injury sustained. A doctor's extended scope of practice will mean nothing if he doesn't have the correct equipment for diagnostic and treatment purposes at the time. Nobody has Xray vision. I wonder if you all whip out you phone and ring up your GP when someone is involved in a life threatening accident somewhere?

Look on opentri.com there is a 36 week training programme for first time Iron Peoples

Haha yes co-incidence! My one also has the carbon bits. Is it advisable to take it apart ones self, I know my one needs the seals replaced and I've been quoted R500 to do it. If its worth it I wouldn't mind learning how to take it apart myself. Tele surgery? :-)

It looks like it may well be an oldish (2002ish) Rock Shox Sid World cup. I have one myself, and it looks identical from the top. Same colour and everything. Except mine has a remote lockout, dont know if that means that it will be another variant of the same thing?

great to see sascoc has got themselves in gear and is planning ahead. What a pity the SA track comission is so backward, their act just seems to go further and further downhill... don't expect any track cyclists at 2012 from SA. If there are any track cyclists left in SA willing to ride by then. They're doing a very good job of ruining peoples track careers over there. But excellent for Sifiso and Burry I sincerely hope that they receive evrything that they need in terms of support etc to achieve their 2012 goals. They've both worked very hard and deserve itSydd2009-05-29 08:39:38

Carinus, Thank you for answering all of my questions, I will approach number collections with slightly less nervousness at being laughed at for professing to have applied for a licence. On the drug testing front, I have to say honestly that I have never been asked for more than my racing licence, and recall a rather large fuss being made about a competitor that couldnt find their licence at a big event to present at a drug test. As far as I am aware, nothing was mentioned about other forms of ID. However, I really appreciate having the facts nicely explained. It is such a nice difference to have questions answered without having to throw my question into the cauldron that is the hub, and wait for it to spit out some answer based on a bad experience, a rumour, or a thumbsuck. Thank you for making an effort to make things clearer to us all, I am sure that I am not the only one to appreciate it.

So then what happens if, like me, you applied and paid for your licence 3 MONTHS AGO and a month later you receive the email to say that it has FINALLY been processed, and then your name doesnt appear on that cute little list that they published on the CSA website with all of the dispatched licences. How much longer do I have to wait. And, like someone mentioned earlier on, what do I tell them when they ask for my licence at registration for a race. Or what if I get selected for a drug test and cant produce a valid licence like you are expected to? Who do I refer the kind people to??????

nothing at all. They have this nasty habit of blistering and bursting at inappropriate times. On more than one of my sets, and a number of friends sets as well. Stay away. Rather use mountain kings or race kings. They are just about indestructible

well...I only did my drivers licence 3 years ago and I distictly remember one of the questions about the traffic circle, and have just looked it up in my code14 book, and it says: yeaild to the right to vehicles which have ENTERED THE CIRCLE BEFORE YOU. So its really a case of whoever gets there first. Also, it would be wonderful if the people in JHB would : 1.Indicate in traffic circles 2.Not treat it as a 4way stop 3.Not drive OVER the circe, a common thing in Linden. On the topic that somebody brought up about "if they wanted it to be a 4way stop they would have made it one", I was recently sitting at a garage waiting area and they have tose RMI motoring industry magazines with all the interesting ongoing things. They were discussing the Arive Alive campaigne, which really only focuses on the reduction in speed, and apparently the AA put few a few proposals, some of which make sense, like making all traffic lights ambre flashing lights between 22:00 and 05:00, but they also suggested fazing out stop streets and replacing them with yeild signs. That could be interesting, and would stop a number of rear end accidents when the idiot behind you expects you to yeild at the stop sign, and continues to drive whilst you come to a complete stop infront of him.... but not much would change. EVeryone reads "yeild" anyway

Its on Sunday, at Stonehaven on Vaal. It starts at 8 I think... there's details on the supercycling online entries page, even though obviosly its too late to do online entries. I guess there will be late entries on the day

Is anybody going to do the Summer Challenge in Vanderbijl on Sunday? Or has everyone disappeared down to Durban?

Bio Anabolics makes a really good drink, Bio Cycle. Its very similar to Isodrive, but since you can hardly get that any more... And it got a team of 4 guys through Trans Baviaans... Also on the note of isotonic/hypotonic, surely if you just mix the drink with less powder then it becomes hypotonic. Physiology would tell you that.

what an aweful thing to happen to a wonderful guy. Godspeed Ben!

Always Mountain Kings! Have had awesome experience with them, they last well and are very hardy. From experience, not just mine but that of 3 other people that I train with, the Maxis cross mark wear very fast and blister terribly, resulting in blowouts when you really dont need it. The Killer bees are awesome, I was a bit aprehensive about using them since they look like slicks! But their grip is superbe and they have a very low rolling resistance on gravel, you can really feel the difference. I could'n't say how they last since I fell on my head and had to give the bike back before I had the chance to do further experiments, but would highly recommend them. But, Conti Mountain Kings always come first

Hmmm... i'm there too. fracture dislocation of my right shoulder. I was allowed back on the indoor trainer on monday but i still feel like death every time i get on, i dont seem to have got the anaesthetic out of my body yet. The worst part is I had a sponsored entry for Transbaviaans with my boyfriend, and the use of the most beautiful carbon giant hardtail i have ever seen. so every time i think about missing out on all the racing i burst into tears. oh, and the bit about having to give the bike back since i'm not racing the race. so i'm MTBless too. that parts even more painfull than missing the race

on this topic, has anyone had any problems with the quality of their assos bibs? my boyfriend has a few pairs that were given to him just before the epic so aech pair was used about twice during the race, with the assos cream and were washed in the bag with the special washing shampoo (the blue stuff) but at the back of the chamois, in the middle where there isn't much padding, its got holes in the material. do you reckon they'll fix them or replace them?

Thanks Ronelle. I saw those rollers when I raced overseas, the Chinese teams arrived with so many sets of them it was scary. try wiggle your way into the centre of the track and ask, Id like a pair too!!!

any news on the keiren?

Personally i think anyone on an mtb in a "secluded" (ie there are not 150cars per minute going past!!) area like the spruit is mad not just a security point of view, but health and safety. on monday i went over that cool ramp thing heading towards sandton in the craighall park area on a new bike i had ridden but once before. fortunately, my boyfriend (who egged me on enough to accelerate over the sand heap) was with me. I caugh what was, for me, big air (read about 1.5m ), had a slight panic, bottomed out the shock, pulled the tyre off the rim, dispersed the sludge all over the ground, reseated the rim and then planted my elbow into the ground hard enough to dislocate my shoulder and break the larger tuberosity off the head of my right humerus. Had i been alone, my broken arm would still be lying there, no doubt picked dry of all its meat. instead, i am sitting at my dear friends house,(who has had to do EVERYTHING for me short of wipe my @ss) tilted at a 45 degree angle typing with my left hand and trying to releive the pain from the stitches, the plate and the 8pins. so please, never ever ride your mtb alone