LeTurbo

The only way I can get my pictures smaller is to email them back to myself. Complicated, but it works somehow.

Why didn't Cav just shout "Hold your line! Hold your line!"? Seems to work for everyone else ...

If they're packed away slightly damp, they'll smell like piss.

Well, there's a kinda muddy moral water here. They bought it from the tik-kop either on Saturday or yesterday and I'd offered a R1000 reward for it. So I guess that covered their outlay. Mr Tik-kop must be kicking himself though, because I doubt he got more than R300 for it. (I should be seriously annoyed, 'cos the Converters sticker said R1450.00 as a sale price. But maybe that just proves that they don't know bikes.)

HERE"S THE UPDATE: I got a call from Cash Converters this morning (I'd emailed them Saturday night), and there she was! Wheels flat, the front one on backwards, the toe straps strangely muddled, one Lenzyne pump absolutely in sy moer, and a few saddle scrapes - but otherwise intact and in order as far as I could see in the short time I had before dropping her off at home. Thanks all Hubbers for your support! Much appreciated.

Hey, get to the back of the queue. This is the Hub, buddy.

Good lead, thanks Nobody. I'll go check it out. That's the one on the N1 at Lower Church Street? I'm driving around the area like a blue-arsed fly at all times of day.

Horse, stable door, bolt ... but maybe I must cover the others. Hmmm, an extra R300+ in premiums. (I want a device that slips into the seatpost. Via a cellphone, it detonates and shoots the ****** about a mile into the sky. Like sitting on a mortar.)

Just bumping this so eyes are kept open ...

Alas Capricorn, no insurance - is it really worthwhile getting a policy for something that costs R8000? The real problem is that I can't go into a shop and order another off the shelf, and there aren't many Victoria's riding around. Sure, I suppose insurance would at least cover the cost of the componentry ... I've been spending time thinking, "If only I'd been able to get my bag off my shoulder, I could have hit him with it or thrown it in the wheel," or "If I'd managed to kick the back wheel, he would've lost control and ..." Captain Hindsight! The Hub is a good place to vent.

The Scene: Central Police Station, Cape Town. Time: Morning. Six constables are seen at the counter. Several citizens. One stands alone between the service rails; others push past or come in from the exit. Eventually, one female constable looks up. Constable 1: Can I help you? Citizen: I'd like to report this bike stolen. (Waves a sheaf of photographs) Constable 1: Have you reported it to the Traffic Department? Citizen: It's a bicycle .. Constable 1: A bicycle ... oh! Wait here please. She consults with a colleague, motions the citizen over. Constable 2 takes over (while busy filling in another form). Constable 2: Do you have your certificate? Citizen: I'm sorry? Constable: Your certificate of ownership? Do you have it? Citizen: Bicycles don't have certificates .. Constable: You must bring your certificate of ownership... Citizen: What certificate of ownership? Constable: The certificate that says that you own the bicycle. That certificate. Citizen. Oh, okay, we won't bother about this one then, shall we. You can bump your head, but don't run into brick walls without a helmet. (And only as long as you can prove that you own the helmet.) I think I'm feling a little depressed about it all now. Thinking of her sleeping in some other strange man's room.

I've still got to get around the City Improvement District guys (there may be footage) and the cops ... but there was a 26 gang member who said he would put the word out. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing ... Thanks guys for the good thoughts. I'll keep chasing my bike ..

HERE"S THE UPDATE: I got a call from Cash Converters this morning (I'd emailed them Saturday night), and there she was! Wheels flat, the front one on backwards, the toe straps strangely muddled, one Lenzyne pump absolutely in sy moer, and a few saddle scrapes - but otherwise intact and in order as far as I could see in the short time I had before dropping her off at home. So there I was, chatting to a chick outside Woodstock Cycleworks (great shop) before the Saturday morning coffee run - a ****** sprints around the corner, jumps on, and is gone before I could catch him. (You know when you get within 4 ... 3 ... 2 inches, but can't get that last bit?) So the area was around Sir Lowry Road/Searle Street/Strand/Albert Road in Woodstock, if you see it. I'll be putting up posters later. There's a R1000 reward. Victoria Titanium No markings except "Victoria" front badge and "Titanium" on the Seatstay. Campagnolo Khamsin G3 wheelset Campagnolo Chorus 11-speed groupset. ITM carbon forks ITM seatpost BBB stem Selle Italia saddle (white) Bartape black You can reach me at 082 837 7440. Thanks - Brett

Absolute madness. Without doubt, the old one. You have a moral responsibility to it.

I had that ... somewhere between the BB wearing and reseating the the right pedal, it turned out the blades were just touching (you have no idea how minutely) the chainstay under heavy pedalling. Olaf at Crosstown Cycles managed to track that down somehow. It was enough to make the bike just feel lumpy ("lomp" is such a good word) and heavy. When he finished, she was like a frisky stallion (mare?) and a whole new bike that became an absolute joy to ride.

For such a simple piece of equipment, it's ridiculous that a bike costs so much more than a car per kilometre (despite a car doing +/- 4000rpm - which always boggles my mind, huge distances, huge braking & cornering & suspension forces, etc).

There's your first mistake.

Bar ends.

"Dammit, we're both in the same boat. If I break down, will you please rescue me."

I had the same problem in a recent race - discovered my 32GI had leaked and stickied up the cable under the BB. Ridiculously simple. Quick wash and spray of Q20 and she's back to magic.

Just traded the Volvo 2 litre for a retro Nissan 1400. It would be cheaper to run cvars on Coca-Cola.

That's the trouble with this country: too many people riding bikes when they should be oiling the wheels of commerce. Well done Maxxis. That's one cool chameleon!

Carry Mace - either on the handlebars, crossbar, or there's one you can strap to your arm (Sportman's Warehouse, I think). I'd also ride when it's busier, more commuters, etc.

It's much more exciting to ride without a helmet or lights. Sort of elemental, like a Highveld thunderstorm or hunting animals. Gets the adrenalin going and is cheaper than schnarf. Was he at least wearing his iPod?

Hmm ... white shirt, blue hat? On the other hand, maybe your first question was the right one.