Clinton - theCOW

I'm starting to worry i've been living under a rock: I've just bought another awesomely pimp 26" bike (from a roadie background - this is a SIN!) Don't have DSTV (who needs TV when you out living life?) Don't have an iPad or other Tablet to boast I still use VHS to record stuff My car does have a CD player tho that i seldomly use Clearly i'm a century behind still

Strange, i've bought from Wiggle a few times, 2 sets of wheels now and both arrived within a week (i've seen on CRC on Mavic's - will not ship to SA). They seem to be getting back into giving discounts Yeah, some of their pricing is top shelf

Anybody got any? There were tons for Christmas, now, nada when the exchange rate is good

I haven't checked what my insurance claims about bike theft but it is set as all risk? I currently have 2 12mm, 1.8m locks with key, didn't like the combo idea. Was also looking at the following: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LOKRMOD/kryptonite_modulus_system

I stand to be corrected: The agents/distributors for Huffy, Axis (aka Raleigh) and Cervelo are the same company. From what i know, the "Raleigh" is now going to be the UK version, not made by X under Licence & labelled. Choice of bike would depend on what kind of riding you planning on doing. Remember that good light bikes cost money. Lil Chinese saying "good ting no cheap, cheap ting no good"

Sup Bud I ordered from Evans & mates as well, but was clothing so we sent to addresses in UK and all was successfully shipped there. As for local addy, i see your concern, have you mailed them about it? My rule of thumb now is send it to my PO Box, too many issues having them bring it to a business, i've had questions on whether it's a business thing etc from the JIMC. Also for bigger orders, paying cash to the courier is just a ball ache? Sure you know, if you have the int track number, call JIMC to see if it's arrived and maybe get it there instead of the dispatch to your office park at unknown street. Good luck!

Since the Hub seems to have a little snake fetish.... http://www.sapaddling.com/paddleblog/?p=12190 Reads: Black mamba - approx 6.5m long - spotted last week......

Other thing when going compact you may need to shorten your chain a touch. I don't believe you go compact unless you decide to go ride the TdF mountains where you do 10-12% consistently over 20km. Alot of climbing is developing raw strength, spinning ain't gonna get you up the hills faster. Also if you look at ratio's a compact with 11-23, will give you roughly the same ratios as a std with 12-25. If you go compact with a 27, i think you'll be climbing slower than 5km/h, in that case it's quicker to walk? Check-out: http://www.gear-calculator.com/#

Are any of us at a level to actually notice a difference? Campag do make bullet proof wheels tho With the Firecrest 404, for that kinda price diff, i'd say Zipp!

Carbon soled shoes, light wheels, stiffer frame Training according to a plan

I responded when i saw the notice to say do a punch card system like Northern farms. Ticket system where you purchase a book and they take would also work. Make the card/book better value for money than a "day visitor". You don't have the cash on hand & change problem. While the increase may seem steep when you read it, look at what you pay to ride at Northern Farms, Bike Park, Rietvlei, Groenkloof etc, so called manicured single track venues, Kyalami also needs to be maintained. Even at R20 i'd still be happy to train there. During hectic training season where i'd want to get 2 work outs a day, Kyalami affords me the evening luxury, i have 0 inclination to compete with cars trying to get home. For newbies as well, it's a great place to learn & train in a safe secure environment @ what i believe is a minimal cost. Ladies can train there safely as well without having to worry about crap like what happens if i puncture or how vulnerable am i to the elements/riff raff. I make the most of my training time there, normally min of 1.5 hrs. Either way, you decide for yourself if it's worth it or not, i'm sure you're all big children

Hey Chris, I asked them to wait while I change my name Jokes aside, spoke to management last night, email was sent to the winner. Hopefully you got an email, else you may have somebody with the same name as you or very similiar? If u wish, PM me your email/tel number & i'll have it compared to the winner? Hope that helps Clinton

+1 Not sure what the deal is and why it's taking so long. Order 2nd, dispatched 3rd Nov. All in time for 94.7 right? Order shipped on the 5th Nov from the Int Hub, still hasn't arrived in ZA according to all the tracking info i have and JIMC who i've been calling. Email from CRC said should be here by the 29 Nov 2011...WTF, did they put in on a pedal boat? Mate ordered a set of wheels from Wiggle on i think the 14th Nov, was here by 18th Nov! CRC best up their game else Wiggle may be slightly more expensive, but less headache for me means more business for them & i have used Wiggle before very successfully!

+10 on the Edenglen peeps, they really do make cycling enjoyable!

Ridden 9sp DA (for 7 yrs), 7800 DA, SRAM Force 2010 & SRAM X9 on MTB. Road, i'd def go back to Shimano over SRAM for feel (Left lever & FD - i feel is lighter and a shorter swing) and if your cable tension is off on Shimano you can still "help" the shift, SRAM is double tap again, then tap. SRAM - I somehow managed to break the rachet mech on the right hand lever in 7 months, took over a month to have resolved by the SRAM service centre in PTA. I've also had bum shifts, chain suck on the FD which's scratched the crank arm. SRAM is lighter and seems better value for money if you compare Force to Ultegra on weight and price. My personal feeling, i'd go back to Shimano on Road. MTB, i'd stick to SRAM.

Last year CUBE donated a R10k bike, this year a R20k bike. Thanks for coming to the party year on year with helping make CHOC & theCOWS a success. Thanks Darryl & Paul!

You def have the correct name from what they read out last night, judging by your alias. It's the AMS PRO ER, not sure of the spec, it was @ the Expo. Thanks for supporting the COWS!!!

+10 I'm predominantly a roadie, did my 1st MTB stage race early Oct (3Towers), i learnt what pain was then and realised how much harder i can push. Did a very comfortable (for me) 2:52 with pushing a couple other boys to get them home Sub 3 in the COW herd. Then a 2nd lap to push Ice Cream carts. Last year, i did 4 laps at SBR in 3 days in 1 week. I felt 10x worse last year than i did this year. When you think you're pushing hard enough during training, HTFU and push harder is my key to Sub 3's. Do proper structured training. Split calcs don't take into acc weather, this year, kinda headwind at the beginning, tailwind at the end. Hope you guys had an enjoyable day out on your bikes regardless of the time you rode!

I moved to a carbon oval shaped railed saddle as well, ended up replacing my seatpost as well. Most carbon railed saddles seem to be ovalish (aka not round). Would be nice of manufacturers to list things like this, i can't complain cos i saw the saddle 1st hand when i bought it so knew. If you really love the KCNC post, you could always go to an up/down type mount? Just means a bit more spending

Anybody else notice only the ladies got water bottles?

+1 Have your @$$ measured! Specialized Melrose Arch (Concept Cyclery) will do the measure & more than likely be able to loan you a test saddle. Think Cyclelab in Boksburg had the Fizik test saddles, not sure about 4ways. Selle Italia SLR XC Gel Flow - MTB SDG Circuit - Road

With most bicycles being carbon or laced with carbon bits the saving is even more apparent beyond the seat? From the 2 carbon posts i have, they can be tightened to 12NM, i only tighten to 9NM tho. Erm.....do you think your LBS uses a torque wrench when they strip and re-build your bike? Just a thought

Oakley was swopping out JawBones last year, so you could get a new frame, you just keep your lenses, still wondering if i wanna change my frame if they have it this year ASG should have a kick@$$ stand there as well makes me scared! COWS are there to mug you, don't worry, we take credit card too We'll also be pimping off a CUBE MTB, besides all the COW merchandise, socks, T-Shirts, Caps, gloves, UV armies etc etc etc. Come support a good cause! Motorbike it is....cos then i'm restricted with how much i can carry

I've recently looked into riding tubbies, i own a set and thus like to know how to fix a flat. Once all possibilities are exhausted and you need to change a tubby on the road side, carrying a ready tubby (stretched & with glue applied) seems a bit much. Or even after the fact of having to re-glue a Tub takes quite a bit of time. I've seen this tape (& others), by all searches etc, there's posts that date back to 2007, seems you can remove the buggered Tub off with the tape still in place and put a spare Tub on. Anybody out there tried this stuff and advice on whether it's worth it or not? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40017 Thx HubLand

Grondpad, yup every Thursday, Irene is the place to be 1st Thurs is an intro ride, normally 25km with very few very technical sections. I should be there