saturday morning i marshalled the Club100 training ride - i think it was the C bunch, coulda been the D's. huge bunch. really huge. now with their past history and rep i was thinking that i was gonna end up being embarrased to be there. but no. i was PROUD to be a cyclist as well as a TB marshal. the bunch sat 2 abreast when safe to do so. not 3 or 4 or 5. their "marshals" (ie the members in charge of the bunch while riding) simply gave a hand signal and/or call for single file when needed. cars driving past were smiling and waving. at red lights they stopped at most 2 abreast to the left of the leftmost lane going in the direction they needed to go. if i'd had a camera on my bike (ok 2 - one forwards and one backwards) it would have made the perfect training video for how a training ride should be. WELL DONE CLUB100
Pickles, OUCH or your son - hope he heals up soon. OPC's comment re his gf saying burnshield is something i've been told by medics and docs as well. when i had my mega-crash at the shova i'd used expensive opthalmic ointement on my face (only the best would do) but i used burshield on all the other roasties and it worked.
cpt, i have a sigma karma upfront, not sure about the red flashy (the one on the bike) but it's bright, and i use a green glotoob clipped to a pocket... with the knogg frogs onthe hubs and (if i'll just get batteries) the blue valve lights it will seriously take someone to be literally blind or seriously fast asleep to not see me
ag, as far as lights are concerned it's best to do the christmas tree thing... flashy on back pockte, flashy on back of bike, knogg frogs around each wheel hub, sigma karma on front, valve lights on both wheels... i have GOT to go get batteries for my valve lights this weekend... (ok, so i wake up the neighbourhood as i go by andcause reports of UFO sightings, but it makes me feel safe!)
back to the original quezzie... if you are SURE that you got the right chain (ie 9sp or 10sp) and it's "jumping" at the back then get a new cluster. If it's not the right chain then that would explain why it's "jumping off" the chainrings and getting stuck. if it is the right chain then look at your chainrings very carefully - you might have a damaged tooth (bent or such like) causing the chain to come off, in which case just replace that ring. at all times keep your chain clean and lubed - my TCR has done many thousand kms since i got it in 2004... i have only replaced the chain once (when i was still keeping track, at around 8000km) and i've never replaced the rings or cassettes. i alo (when i was still racing) used to regularly swap the cluster depending on the kind of ride i was doing - 11-23 for flats or 12-26 for hills
i think we need to promote mampara to status of "traffic behaviour educator"... he's got both things right in terms of what cars expect - ie if there are 2/3/4/5 lanes turning right stay on the left hand side of the left most lane. if you are riding on the pavement (which legally you are not suposed to be doing) then stay there - veerig ona nd off around cars makes them very very nervous and aggro.
i love mine. yep, the platform helps when you start on an uphill, especially if it's muddy. it's also useful when you're going to go through deep water - uncip without removing your feet from te pedals to be ready to start swimming if the water is more than head-deep! (refer to HardCore comic strip - "Puddles" https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=43899)
i stay to the left - it makes you more visible and (at least here in the wild west of joeys) the drivers tend to give a gap as a result of actually (for a change) seeing you.
hs, nix, sorry - yep, corrected my post. Slowbee - lemme follow up with Cover Girl - i asked her to also get quote for long sleeved (ie winter) before posting details
S2L - that is the point - TB have a media team and they do their best to drive more awareness to the general public. but we only have so many peeps - get involved and join forces and take it to the next step - the people in TB are willing. just look at NixTCR's comment - TB are getting involved and helping with her thing. slowpoke2009-02-19 01:15:43
FF, TB addresses cycling safety too. there are dual branded TB stickers. TB has also already done one run of cycling shirts and are looking at another run if there is interest. TB marshals cycling races AND cycling training rides to increase the safety of hte cyclists and to try enforce the concept that cyclists have the right to be there and use the road for these purposes. that is also why TB marshals allow racing when safe but try to get the riders back to the left when it's not safe (safety awareness) etc etc etc. as i said - WHY INSIST ON TRYING TO HAVE DISJOINTED DISCOORDINATED DILUTED EFFORTS??? TB has a media team in place. etc etc etc TITTS (Take It To The Schools) adresses road safety by educating kids about increasing general awareness of other 2 WHEELED (iw not just motorised) road users AND the importance of ensuring your own safety on 2 WHEELS (ie again not just motorised). All TB efforts do include cyclists as much as we can but we need more cyclists to get involved *rant on* is it really that tough to "lower" your standards and join forces with people who don't care WHAT 2 wheeler you ride? are you that elite that bikers aren't good enough for you? *rant off*
S2L - this is EXACTLY what TB is all about... go to www.thinkbike.co.za everyone keeps running off on their own tangent instead of working together to achieve something and then complains because nothing happens. work together and maybe something can be achieved.
glad that you're ok. i have a little policy - as i'm lane splitting in traffic if i see and erratic driver and get to them to find that they are sms'ing i indicate this to the drivers around them - everyone has a good laugh and the idiot feels like the idiot they are when they realise what's going on
wish i could... am marshalling club100's training ride so that's me busy till around 10am but at least they appreciate TB's presence so that makes up for it (and knowing that i'm doing my bit to keep fellow cyclists safe)
gr8, now all u peeps r fightng coz of one peeps "not perfect" splng!!!! peace bro's, peace! (okokok, i know that there are errors in the above... i'm still learning all this "shorthand" stuff)
