Sequoia

School fees. Been there, done that. Use the correct tool.

Zip Ties? Duct Tape? Bloudraad? The options are endless...

I have a shell jacket that I found at the back of my top shelf. It is in perfect condition, but it needs to be re-waterproofed. What is the best product for doing this?

If you want to do it properly, use a hope SS hub and mate it to a modified SRAM sprocket set. That will give you 6 gears and a dishless wheel, which should be stiffer than a dished wheel, at least in theory... Pretty and impressive! Haven't seen one around, though.

Due to working in IT, I see precious little daylight and spend an inordinate amount of time on my IDT. I have an old steel frame that is permanently mounted on the IDT. There is a LOT of flex when I'm going for it. But (big BUT) this frame has always been very flexible and I'm a big 105KG lad. It flexed out on the road as well. I think you are more aware of the frame flexing on the IDT than out on the road? It is a bit disconcerting to see a front wheel rolling because of fork flex. Maybe it is just us big guys worrying about things like that... I would really like to see someone doing a proper analysis of the situation. There are a couple of factors to take into account, but in the end, all relevant stresses from the interaction between bike/cyclist and the road must feed through the axles into the frame. In the case of the IDT, the axle is connecting the bike to the IDT. It won't be as simple, but is something to think about. Sequoia2010-02-12 09:49:30

Thanks Guys, I'm probably going to take you up on the offers. PM's sent.

I'm thinking of getting back into the commuting thing. A couple of years back, I used to cycle to work in Rondebosch, but now I work in Town. I know a couple of you are riding in, so what do you do with Marine Drive being in the state it is in? Do you take the alternative route, or just take your chances?

Thanks Guys.

I need to buy new pedals for the mtb. I was fairly happy with the spds I had before, but I want to explore my options. I'm big (108kg's) and generate a bit of HP, but I'm pretty smooth and in general I don't break bikes. I DO like a heavy release action, because when I unclip, I tend to fall, and when I fall, I fall like a tree... I've never struggled with getting my feet in or out when required. So, what would you recommend? I don't care about weight. Well, not really...

I've also got a plate. Left side. It bothers me when hiking with a heavy pack or in certain cars when sitting on the left. Otherwise, no issues. Plenty of big guys with plated shoulders... We need to learn how to fall beter...

This is the one most new cyclists get wrong. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen near misses and frustration, because the cyclist was on the right hand side of the cars and had to cross the lane. The problem is that it is mostly commuters and new, uncertain and inexperienced cyclists who are guilty of this. This makes the situation worse, as they tend to wobble all over the car's line. I think they should educate kids at school about the dangers of doing this... People feel safe when they are not in the middle of the road, but standing on the side of the road. It is a false sense of security.

I WOULD like a bike with longer chain stays. With my saddle high enough, I'm sitting so far back, I'm almost behind my rear wheel... One more reason why 29ers make sense for tall people.

Buy a Cannondale CAAD5 frame in 63 or 66cm. I'm shorter than you @ 1.96, but I'm all legs with a cycling inseam of almost 98cm. I am on a 63cm and I love it. Tried the 66cm, but it felt like driving a limo. I'm a fair bit heavier than you as well, without issues. You can't go wrong with a 'Dale if you are a tall bloke.

I have shoes that are close to 10 years old. They are still in frequent use on my commuter. They've seen all kinds of weather and are still comfortable. They are not as stiff as they used to be, but with Look pedals and my riding style, I don't really mind. I HAVE gone through 2 sets of other shoes as well, however, over the same period. However, if you are experiencing pain, you need to eliminate possible sources. Where are you experiencing pain? Pinching? Hotspots? Do they fit properly?

I have the Holdfast ride-on type and I'm quite happy with it. It has withstood quite a bit of abuse over some really corrugated gravel roads, and came out without a problem. I must add that I've modified it a bit to ensure that it won't release unintentionally, by locking the two knobs together and I don't use the factory-provided straps. Thule is the best, but you pay for it. In my case it was just not worth it.

I like that. I've seen quite a number of guys posting about those on mtbr.

60/61 is not considered big... to qualify as a farm gate, a bike needs to be 62+. But I agree, there are not that many tall people in cycling, so not that many bikes for sale. Tall cyclists need to be rich. Then you can buy lovely custom bikes...

I'm also in favour of spending the money up front. Usually you will get more bike for your money if you buy a better bike, than if you upgrade in time. If you HAVE to. If you are still at the stage where you buy a bike/component because someone else told you that it will be better... rather ride the stock one till it breaks and THEN upgrade. At that time, you will be better suited to make the right choice. Having said that, if you have the money...

It depends on your feet... If you have wide feet, don't buy the sidi's without first trying them on. They can run narrow. Or find a "Mega"-fit shoe. They are wider. I have big, wide feet, and I am happy with my Shimanos. Not sure what model, 225? Very stiff and quite comfortable. For me, that is. Was about R1500 a year or two ago. They are still going strong. I have specialized road shoes and I am quite happy with them as well.

Have a look at the HTC Touch Dual. I have one and I am very happy. I do miss my KJam's full keyboard and wifi, but I am more than happy to trade those in for a faster processor and smaller phone. I find WM6 more stable than WM5. I've grown used to the 20-key keyboard and find that I can type without issues now. I've downloaded an extra language pack and I can now type one-touch emails in Afrikaans, too. I'm also one of those who will in all probability never go back to a "normal" phone. I love the tweakability of WM-based phones. If you love tinkering, then this is the platform for you. I considered the Tytn II, but the smaller shape of the Touch Dual won me over. I also don't need GPS, as I have a Garmin for that. My brother has the Samsung Blackjack and he seems happy. My fiancee has just bought a Nokia E90, but the verdict is still out on that one.

I'm of the opinion that you can't go wrong with a pair of Shimano 540's. If you've never used clipless pedals, any system is going to feel weird at first. If weight is not a consideration, then simply buy 520's and they will give you thousands of kilometers of service. Nothing flashy, fancy or bling, but they keep you connected to the bike. Which is what you want.

Not to hijack the post, but don't you guys find a 34x25 to be barely moving? I'm 100+kg's and I've never felt the need for something bigger than a 39x25? I fitted a 27, but took it off again, as I wasn't making enough use of it to justify it. Look, if it is there, I will use it, but I don't NEED it. I'm a bad bad climber, but have always subscribed to the theory that the less time you spend on a hill, the less it hurts in the long run. I've also never been comfortable spinning while climbing, so maybe that has something to do with it as well.

Yup, the guy who owns it is a bit on the tall side. Perfect candidate for a 29er, though.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/ewxlt66/CIMG1988.jpg This is nice! 25lb FS 29er. In XXL... I'm a big Lenz fan. I could easily see myself on one like this. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=416700