LeTurbo

Cliche excused! Nice. Many years of fun ahead!

Yup, sounds like you need a bike shop. If you're in the South, try Crown Cycles in Lansdowne Road (coming from Cavendish side, they're a block or two past Olympic Cycles). They've helped me with urgent stuff before. Circle Cycles in Fishhoek has also been helpful.

Maybe along the beachfront if you're OK to ride back there afterwards. Or in town? Maybe on High Level near Reddam school and free-wheel down to the start

I don't think so ... it went from 30 in the first ride to 300 in the second, about 900 in the third and 1600 in the fourth. I've missed a few since then, but this being the festive season and holiday mood, who can tell? It's all good fun with an excellent vibe. Just watch out for the little girls who haven't been on a bike before, weaving all over the road. And remember chaps, please, no lycra. It stands out like a sore thumb (not that I have carefully examined sore thumbs in the context of noticeability, either individually or within a group). Crow, wish I could make the beer (well, Coke for me) but I'll probably just make it by the skin of my teeth (not that I have carefully examined ... etc) More info at http://www.facebook.com/#!/moonlightmass?group_id=0

Head towards town on Main Road (there's a cycle lane on the pavement). When you pass Giovanni's coffee shop on the right, swing left under the traffic circle. We'll all be there. Or just follow the other bikes, of course. I'm gonna take a rough guess at 2 400 cyclists for this one.

Gosh, so early in the year and it's not even Friday, nor Dangle and TNT1. (Regarding the last posts on the previous page.) (Oh, hang on, it's still the old year. Sheesh, to much jollity recently.)

Welcome MM noobs! Bwahahaha! I think I'll be on the red Colnago. Otherwise the blue Le Turbo. Or the champagne Le Turbo that arrives back from Jhb tomorrow (Heartcoppi put me on to it two years ago - bought it in Tokai, had it serviced, shipped it to Jhb for the 94.7, re-serviced it properly, rode it once, flew back to CT, and haven't seen it for two years.)

Anyone wanna exchange some EPO for some used bib shorts?

Very nice, Climate! Talking of titanium bikes ... Nils? Bwahahaha! And Merry Christmas, all retro bike lovers!

Ah, c'est Eugene ! Voyez, nous prouvent un point que les roadies sont les cyclistes les plus polis là. Pourquoi dans l'enfer sommes-nous parler français cependant Il aurait été plus facile juste d'incliner la tête et onduler. or, as the back-translation goes: Ah, it is Eugene! See, prove a point to us that the roadies are the most polished cyclists there. Why in the hell are us to speak French however It would have been easier just to incline the head and to undulate

Hello!

Two, five, eight, nine, not necessarily in that order. Nineteen is a downright lie!

I'm in agreement - the OP is actually the worse transgressor here - white lines are there for a reason; if another car had crested the hill and hit him head on, two drivers and probably half of the cyclists would have been wiped out. Exceptionally irresponsible. Actually plain damn dumb. Now this Alex or Neil or Neil, long-haired or short, Russian accented or whatever: he probably looked behind him and thought, "There's a tjop here in a car who is going to attempt overtaking on a blind rise," or he looked ahead and thought, "There's a fat pothole that everyone's going to hit - go right," or he thought, "There are times when it's necessary for the cyclist to own the lane, such as turning right at intersections, to ensure that they're clearly seen."

Yo! So the poor bugger was just pointing without looking? Bit rough. Mind you, there are some real trashy peeps in the videos. The last fight looks like the old "clap the ears" - bursts the eardrums, I believe.

I've always maintained that there are more yobboes in Europe than anywhere else. Bet this is the UK; Glasgow kisses, etc. (Why is she trying to stop him? His footwork on guy 2 is a bit untidy ...)

I found the "invasion" angle a little strange. If anything, I've always seen CM riding into Jhb as more a reaching out. CM is about the joy and freedom and, if you like, the democracy of riding a bike. Here in CT, there've been rides organised into Gugs for example, to spread the message about bicycles, not for some political agenda. I think most of the people who do CM are young enough and informed enough to have left seeing colour way behind. And let's face it, there's nothing quite as humbling as the worker on his dikwiel who comes cruising past you on your weight-weenie carbon bike. Otherwise, the article didn't bother me unduly. Maybe this dude/dudette should go organise CMs in Alex and Soweto. How awesome would that be?

Nice pics, Helmytrap. I wonder if that photographer turned green & scaly or grew another foot (out his head) or something. You gotto be brave. What's the half-life of a nuclear fallout? I found these interesting: key guns. In the 1600s, jailers were given these in case there was anything untoward going on in the cell behind the stout oak door. Shoot first, ask questions afterwards. Though I can't imagine they did much more than a pellet gun, and a pap one at that.

Sorry cptmayhem, here are some really sad ones (especially as you've got baby mayhem). But I'm with Stretch; there's a kind of poetry in the passing of the seasons, and some melancholy. I guess they're also reminders of how small we are, and how puny our civilisations. Nature shrugs us off. Maybe the "Old Days" thread brought all this up.

Ian Ference, a photographer and historian living in New York, has spent nearly four years documenting the remains of North Brother Island, a 13-acre piece of land sandwiched between Riker's Island and the Bronx in the East River that's been abandoned since 1963. During the first half of the 20th century, North Brother "was home to the quarantine hospital that housed Typhoid Mary, was the final destination of the General Slocum during its tragic final voyage, and was the site of an experimental drug treatment program which failed due to corruption," according to Ference. Today, the island is off limits to the general public. From March through September, it serves as a nesting ground for a number of endangered seabirds.

The motor industry collapse is one reason postulated. Others are bad city governance and poor racial integration. Or that the city was more concerned about what it did than how it looked. But nobody seems to be able to pin-point a particular fact or date or occurence. Some same it's been happening since the city started. There are some signs of resurgence apparently, but too late for these stately buildings. I love that station (first pic).

From Wiki: In 1987, the Walled City of Kowloon contained 33,000 residents within its 6.5-acre (0.026 km2; 0.0102 sq mi) borders. From the 1950s to the 1970s, it was controlled by Triads and had high rates of prostitution, gambling, and drug use. In January 1987, the Hong Kong government announced plans to demolish the Walled City. After an arduous eviction process, demolition began in March 1993 and was completed in April 1994. Hillbrow & Berea, eat your heart out ...

I have this thing about abandoned buildings & places. These are Detroit station and theatre. Apparently the city is becoming a ghost town with something like a third to half the inhabitants having left since the 80s.

First Argus was about 5 hours as the second last person through the starting gate (the guy behind was fixing a puncture); from L group (I think) the next time was 4:03. By that group there's virtually no bunch, and you have to wonder how the tjops in front actually got in front. Traffic is always the problem, especially the chatters, dawdlers and no-liners who hog the right-hand side (actually, keep left 'cos that seems to be the faster lane).

Damn, I wish I could go http://www.facebook.com/#!/CapeTownUrbanBicycleExpo

Thanks eeeek. Hmmmph. Not sure about the new ones. But then I don't ride carbon, so who cares really?