#Pete#

I've seen lots of suggestions on Motionbased for a USB charger to recharge the Edge on the go or keep it running for say a 24hr event. (http://forums.motionbased.com/smf/index.php?topic=5519.0) Has anyone found anything like that in SA? (I'd like to buy something that works - not into battery DIY). I saw someone had a solar powered charger on the Cederberg 3 day race which looked neat, but is perhaps too slow?

Are there any Fisher Rig 2008's in SA? (Bloody nice bike - might have to get myself one)

I'm with CWC on this one 100% and will support them fully. If I can find a LBS that sells at a reasonable price and offers a good service, I'll happily support them and would be prepared to pay more to have such a 'service' available. On-line sales will only increase here - bike shops are going to have to pull socks up and offer more than just a good price to keep customers, and as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing.

Woaw, not so fast! NICE - been wanting to sneak a SIR9 past the SO for some time now. You bring it in yourself or is there now an SA agent? What sie is that? Looks like you could get away with a negative rise stem or flat bar (mmm, that gives lotsa options).

Umm, where is is sore again? http://www.itendonitis.com/images/knee.jpg Front of knee - above or below the knee cap? Left or right of the knee cap? Under the knee cap? worse with bent or staight leg? Swelling or not? etc. (Maybe see a sports doc or physio?) #Pete#2007-12-19 07:32:21

I ride my old cheap converted SS as much as my FS Titus. Give it a go - you will never look back. I'm trying to convince the SO that there's a need for a brand new 29er SS in the house.

I've commuted on a fixie for a long while in UK and loved it. Tried a mates fixie MTB and phew - it's a different ballgame. Downhills and tecky sections are hairy. (one pedal strike and you're out). It's very far from boring - you not only have to ride downhill, choose your line, read the obstacles, etc, you also have to anticipate pedal strikes, keep momentum appropriate, etc. There is a certain 'purity' about a perfect chainline, and to then exclude the freehub just takes it a step further. Back to a pure basic bike.

Yup - I agree here! Don't really want to discuss Hels but it would have been very easy to police cyclists OR CARS there. Serious lack of medics around? Or for that matter 'senior' and visible marshalls/cars/motorbikes/etc. Nothing done about the by now notorious Paarl grand canyon. 5 km to go sign at 2.4 km to go! I'm sure others will add to this. NOT good enough for a major race.

I ride a FS mainly and hate 'gras polle' too, And dry fields where cows walked through when it was muddy. They're just not fun. And yes - a FS does isolate you from the trail - one of it's disadvantages IMO.

http://www.schwalbetires.com/images/new_img/e_img_1160_2.jpg Neverteless, this sort of tyre doesn't always work better when run as indicated....why the hell not? I guess it depends on what one want form a tyre - one person wants the best grip possible, the other the fastest rolling.

Please offer your reasons for shooting down that explanations. It'll help the debate much more than a cough or two. Terrain is not truelly random - there is certainly a 'dominant' terrain - whether this is dry hardpack or loose rocks or mud - and IMO tread therefore plays a huge role.I guess as you say 'pattern' may be less important than rubber type or size/spread of the nobs. Nevertheless IMO it is easy to detect differences in tread direction in many tyres (front and rear) (sorry - anecdote again, not science).

Push the pistons back in with a tire lever or something...

Mmm - problem. For some reason the hope skewers get stuck in the hub hubs - I now regualrly lube mine to ensure this doesn't happen. Need to try to heat the whole thing - 1st take out the axle form the hub. Ultimately though you may need this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3281

What do you want to spend is the most NB question really. Then - what use - racing, playing etc. Weight or strength 1st? I also prefer custom built with standard DB spokes for easy replacement.

'Lone atrial fibrillation' is probably the the commonest cardiac arrhythmia in endurance athletes. Instead of the electrical impulse of the heart originating in the normal area of the right atrium, a different circuit is established throughout the chamber. At onset heart rate is typically very rapid, then slows down again and usually but not always reverts back to normal spontaneously. (Cippolini for example had to be cardioverted back to normal in Somerset West when this happened to him when training out here). This rhythm is characterised by being irregularly irregular - there is no discernable pattern to the beats. If you have such a heart rhythm (and it sounds like a few hubbers might) it is important to see a cardiologist for tests including an ECHO test to make sure there isn't a structural heart problem (the 'lone' in 'lone AF' refers to no underlying structural heart disease). Treatment might be from nothing (usually) to regular medication or even 'ablation' (very rarely) using electrical burns to the heart electric circuits. #Pete#2007-11-08 07:32:22

Or if he's in Somerset West Dr Mark Abelson - cardiologist/cyclist at Vergelegen Medi Clinic.

The infamous 'Miles Todd crash': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgoHo9pLXI4

What happened next....? http://www.yourmtb.com/files/yourmtb/images/IMG_2521-1%20Scott%20Fellers%20%28DH%2040th%29%20Crash%20PS.group_blog.jpg

Just use your imagination.... http://www.fatcyclist.com/blogphotos/crash.jpg #Pete#2007-11-06 12:43:40

Does anyone know of training rides heading out from the City bowl/Green point/Camps Bay? The riding alone thing isn't working for me at the mo - TV and chips and playing with my new kitten is dominating. Need some motivation and new friends? Cheers!

Moved to E, but wil stay in F. ('No training today Pete')

The rotors are 1.5mm I think, but thinner ones work. assuming all is fine - try one of these methods to set the pads: 1. Take out wheel, pull the lever tight and hold for a few seconds twice, then insert disc - should be tight. 2. Leave in wheel, but pull lever tight overnight with elastic vand or something similar.

If the 'bite point' is late you must have too little fluid in or a leak somewhere in the system. You never need to space the pads or adjust the lever in any way. Which levers are you using? How are you bleeding?

Try these: (Awesome built trails at Glentress near Edinburgh with sequential increasing difficulty of obstacles graded like ski runs, but at a level you don't need all the skillzz to ride). (Can someone in the WC also please build some of these please - Tokai is getting a bit boring)

This is a no -brainer to me - don't save here. Best investment I made for the Epic was: Two pairs of Assos (R1500) . You can take some other spare shorts for just in case, but I never needed them. It's very easy to wash them every day or drop off at the official 'washing ladies' to have them washed for you. #Pete#2007-10-31 09:25:50