slowpoke

The prob with not knowing when you go to a shop is that they will try to sell you a wsd - these tend to be the entry level (read heavy and very low spec'ed) bikes with a custom paint job and cost 10% more than the "regularly branded" version. my mongoose is (i think) a 15 inch - finding smaller is either expensive or means you end up lugging 16+kg of bike around. simply replacing the stem with a shorter stem and one or two other adjustments (flat bars, cut bars narrower, etc, etc) can make a 10kg bike feel comfortable. when you're riding 5-or-more-kg can make a huge difference. the best is to test ride, and if possible get them to swap the stem for you to ride with a shorter one. you should be able to sit on the bike comfortably and not feel as if you're stretching to reach the bars.

hi NoviceMommie (NM from now on ) DO NOT look at the WSD bikes - these are generally low-specced and HEAVY in relation to their size. I'm also 1.5m so i know the feeling of struggling to find "the right bike". look at any XS bikes or a S with a more compact geometry - the Giants and Schwynns are very nice in that aspect. Personally i now (having previously had a schwynn mesa) ride a Mongoose Meteore Elite... the first thing i did was have a shorter stem put on and that makes a huge difference. also, go for flat bars (or if what you get comes with risers replace with flat bars) and have them cut down to the correct width for your shoulders - reaching out to the sides while stretching is a recipe for disaster.

the important thing is, as mojoman says, that it lets your back breathe. Also get one that is waterproof, but always (just to be safe) put your clothes in a plastic bag inside the backpack. Padded shoulder straps are essential, and a chest strap is very helpful too. look at ones with built-in straps/elastic to tighten the bag so that the contents don't go bouncing around inside. depending on the distance you'll be riding look at backpacks with space for a hydration bladder too. i used my karrimore edge when i'd been commuting - had the added benefit of pouches on the front of the waist strap where i could keep my access card and house keys for easy access. got it many years back so i can't remember what i paid.

hear hear!!!! i'm with you 100%

hi nbg, i've pm'd you but also, as Ian says, join them sat or sun morning - i'm planning on hooking up with them again this weekend after a great ride with them last sunday

bumpity bump

i looooove my speedplays. expensive (unless they get given to you) and the cleats are pricy to replace, but they last for ages

levett, great - so you're gonna be there 2 days in a row? lot's of toys / stationery / toiletries / sports stuff for kids at this stage we're just finalising the route - will either be straight to Maponya Mall and back or to Maponya mall via a slightly longer route to try get total distance to between 20 and 30km people who want to ride further can maybe ride from Panorama side (with their gift) and then do the Run and then back - the main purpose of this ride is to give riders of all abilities the chance to get together and show our motorised 2wheeled-brethren that we also have big hearts B)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136554939705247

the holes heal but are a little weaker - i'd "done" mine oct 2006, had plate out in may 2007 and when i popped my ac joint etc in oct 2007 i did add a hairline fracture where one of the screws had been - but that healed up in 10 days

nope - that's a 3wheeler

it has already been posted onthis thread - persons operating pedal cycles and motorcycles may treat each lane as a roadway and pass other vehicles in each lane - ie each lane MAY, legally, have a biker passing a car in it all at the same time. obviously this is not practically possible. i never said that overtaking at high speed is the smart thing to do, but as long as the bike is not exceeding the speedlimit they are legally correct. it is, howver, stupid to lane split at more that 10-20% faster than the cars are driving. it is NOT legal for a bike to ride in the yellow lane any more than cars and it is also not legal to cross the solid white line either. the norm is to split to the left of the furthest right right lane (ie on the highway that is between the OVERTAKING, or as seffers call it teh fast, lane and the middle lane) no amount of cagers arguing about "my $%^& is bigger so up your because i don't know the law" will eliminate the fact that it IS legal to lane split and it is NOT legal to change lanes without checking and indicating BEFORE you do so. you might get away with it due to our courts favouring the wrongdoer and giving suspended sentances etc (and the bias towards the "rights" of the wrongdoer taking priority over the rights of the victim) and you might come off with minimal damage because yes, your car is bigger. end of the day you will answer to your god. you decide if your ego and cnveniece are worth it.

ps if you are passing then you must be going faster, and if he remained in your blind spot long enough for you to check, indicate,m check againt hen change lanes he could not have been going that fast could he?????

*YAWN* it IS legal in SA to lane split. some of the "old school" cops do not know this though, but if they issue a fine for it and it goes to court it gets thrown out but it will usually be "dismissed" on being queried. it is NOT legal to change lanes without checking your blind spot. it is, however, irresponsible to lane split if you are not sure that the person behind the wheel of the car you're about to pass is AWAKE, NOT ON THE PHONE, ETC. in the same way that it is irresponsible to think you are safe in your own home in SA - ie they will do what they want with no concern for the outcome of their actions because our legal system will allow them to get away with it as our legal system favours the law breakers (aka criminals)

not french but i did live there many years ago - i can still remember a wrod/phrase or two. only thing is i'd be swearing at the empty spaces around me while you're off riding in the distance (i'm very very unfit at the moment).

Michael, my chocolate cake has been feeling very unloved the last 2 times i baked, but for you i will bake one (and because it will be yours you get to decide who may and may not have some on the day )

i don't like the new look TheHub active topics list. intelligent topics (including this) disappear within 10 minutes to be replaced by 999 for sale items... so now i have to bump this regularly!

glad that he is ok i hope she damaged her car more than him or his bike

Indigo, the cycling event is the saturday and the motorbikes the sunday - so do both

Ok people, other than... - short recovery-length distance route - marshals - cool drinks and maybe burgers/boerie rolls - safe secure parking is there anything else you'd like to see provided as part of the cycling event linked to the annual Toy Run? yep folk, that is the charity - the Toy Run... the biggest biker charity event of the year it has grown from italian bikes, to all bikes to include an off road division and now, for the first time CYCLISTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TOO!!!!!

in terms of the freelander hitting you - your rights are that he was negligent and as such he is liable for all your material damages (ie bike and kit etc). contact a 3rd party attorney as you are also within your rights to claim all medical expenses from the road accident fund as well as for pain and suffering if you have any permanent damage. in other words your rights are exaclty the same as if you were in a car. very glad that you are ok. as to the toyota - karma will get him - out of decency he should've stopped if he saw the accident and if he had caused any additional damage he would've been in trouble too.

RIP

i've never officially met or been introduced to him, but have bumped into him at cycle lab and the odd event (back when i was riding regularly) and always a very pleasant friendly guy. no airs and graces or anything. i think it runs in the family (i know Shaun very well and one of the most stand-up and selfless guys around)

ps i'd also have to find risers to put ont he mtb quickly - i replaced the ones that came with the bike with a flat bar

ewwwwww, that is such a gross mental image