nuge

good article!

piece of paper in a bank bag in my back pocket: name ID emergency contact (name and no.) blood type normal weight medical aid (name and no.) ran out of space to add my star sign, but you get the picture.

just ride man, and try to enjoy it every now and then.

bummer, have you guys been banned for the next few argusses (argi?) now as claimed in the rules? don't know if there were 100's of two timers, maybe 50 odd? maybe 40-45?

sounds like there's a bit of play - something's got loose: google to the rescue: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/spd-pedal-overhaul see if that helps. cheers

interesting, but there may be too many variables to be reliable - i.e. variations along your power curve mean for different effort levels you may have skewed readings (power curves are not exactly linear). Also on hilly vs flat courses weight vs aerodynamics may come into it. Duration will also have an effect. the best fitness measure i've heard of so far using HR is to choose a course that will take you approximately 10-15 minutes to complete as a time trial (ideally at a moderate incline, say 3-4% as power to weight is always important to factor in for cycling!). also preferably somewhere sheltered from the wind and away from traffic and intersections so that environmental factors are limited. then time how long it takes to complete the course at a constant HR (i generally use 80% of max which is just under my LT). do this every couple of weeks to measure your progress and you'll get a really good idea of how you're doing. in ct i use chappies from hout bay side and time myself from where the beach parking lot is to the view point at the top. works for me anyway.

man you guys are hectic, slow work day?

gotta agree with you johan, these look pretty darn awesome, gotta love the one with the union jack on the top tube - give it to the poms! hussar hussar!! the big question is what kind of wallet do you need for one of these beauties, or is it one of those "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it"?

here in the wc you run the risk of having your wheels impounded - the traffic guys here are, like, really harsh!

yeah, i saw a few nutters pushing the pace during their second lap through the alphabet soup and didn't really see the point. sure, i did the good bits of the argus route twice for the atmosphere - edinburgh drive, chappies and suikers - but i'd resolved to ride at the same pace as everyone else and enjoy the vibe. i had a compulsion to want to push some people up the climbs, but got to thinking who do you pick? it's like the most responsible thing to do was simply to stay out of the way, maybe shout a bit of encouragement (which always sounds lame, i know...). anyway, i helped a dude out who'd punctured coming down llandudno (turns out he'd already punctured twice and used up his spare tubes so i gave him one of mine, bombed the tyre back up to pressure - he had a hand pump - and he was back on the road in minutes rather than walking the last 15km's). he also had a pretty rare carbon peugeot which he'd borrowed - quite a thing!

two fifty seven and change - very happy

and bamboo is even stronger than that according to the boffins... now if they could just make it sexy!

insurance typically goes on replacement value - phone up your LBS and ask them what a similar setup (frame type/material, components and wheels spec) would set you back if you were buying new. should give you a fair idea. i know my bike is not worth much should i try to sell it (aluminium frame and most components second hand - only wheels bought new though on special - thanks cwc!) however if i needed to replace it with a similar level brand new bike it's probably going to set me back almost double what i spent which is what it's insured for. ultimately it's your call, but remember insurance companies will cover you for almost anything at the right price!!! anyway, hope that helps...

any good deals?

and not a car in sight, luxury!

now you tell me... hey, when it hits R500 someone put a special post on so everyone can make a plan!

i think cwc had them on at R750 including tubes. wasn't a good enough special to fancy my tickle tho' not as many bike shops present as per the usual, maybe a lack of competition? hmmmm...

yeah, i dunno if i'd put my notoriously thin wall al tubing cannondale frame on that. but a good idea otherwise - very neat.

rule of thumb is to measure your shoulder width and use that to determine centre to centre width of your bar - the intention being that you probably want your arms pretty much parallel when you're riding with your hands on the hoods. from there it's a question of comfort and utility - sprinters may want a wider bar for more leverage during their final dash, others may want a narrower bar to be a little more aero. just remember a slightly wider bar may give you more control when cornering - especially useful on difficult descents. i went to a slightly wider bar and found this to be true. hope that helps.

15. fastest was 3h22m last year - look, i'm just better in the wind, ok?

just plain cool!!!

awesome ride guys, thanks! i'll definitely be at the next one, who's buying? cheers

rule #1: anyone on a breakaway must take coffee orders first

guys, this this is a seriously sensitive issue and one that the bears the following simple principles in mind: to motorists: cyclists have a lot more to lose out on the road on flimsy transportation devices compared to a you sitting comfortably in a steel clad missile. the law of the road is that you should pilot your missile safely at all times. to cyclists: getting angry at fuming nutters piloting steel clad missiles while wearing nothing but your underwear is probably not wise. be cool out there for all of our sakes.

(hmmm, wonders if change of hub name from "bullitt" to moniker of metal guitarist/wildman bowhunter/surnamesake was a wise one...) yep, i'm in lakeside just next to boyes drive so i'll do what i did last time - start riding in opposite direction from start of boyes along the route and meet y'all along the way. i'll wait until friday to get final estimation of departure time. cheers