Red Zone

I looked into doing this, I am pretty hands on and do all my bike servicing, but deceided for my SS build to rely on the LBS, I was lucky that my frame had horizontal dropouts so I dont need a chain tensioner. All that was required was to put on a 16 tooth - I could have done this myself, the tricky bit was finding and installing the correct BB (compatible with my Campy c-record cranks) so that the chain-line was correct.

I need to clarify - Yes to walk your dog anywhere in the park requires a dog walker permit. Re entry to Silvermine you are not correct, you need a wildcard or to pay an entrance fee to enter Silvermine as this is a higher order recreational area with braai areas, the dam, boardwalks etc... (much like Boulders, Oukraal and Cape Point)

I see the kids - high school age at the Steenberg Virgin Active, putting this stuff away like there is no tomorrow, with no understanding of what is going into their growing bodies. At that age I was doing two or three sports, cycling to school and back and was active 6 days a week and had no need of any supplements and had no issues at all, just a big appetite and parents who made decent healthy food. There is no way that my kids are getting any of this rubbish. There is no place for this stuff in a kid's diet. It's a slippery slope; once you start on sweet, chocolatey meal replacements and bars how on earth will they ever eat normally again.

Well done to Hannie, hope it goes well for him. But as for your experience in the other shop, why do you expect to walk into someone's business and get them to work on your bike for free? Perhaps if you are a loyal long term customer, they may do you a favour, but a warm fuzzy feeling from helping you for free doesn't pay the rent, salaries and put food on the table. If you didn't want to pay you should have done it yourself or at least asked before hand if they were going to hit you with a bill.

Nice one, will definitely keep on hand for my next trip out there, (when it warms up a bit)

Most cables get replaced due to worn housing or dirt in the housing. Normally it is the portion of housing where the cable enters the rear derailleur that picks up the most dirt and also has the most extreme bend, and thus needs to be replaced. Easy to do it yourself, buy a coil of gear housing (it is different to brake housing) just remove the cable from the RD, whip off the old housing, wipe the cable with a dry rag to clean the cable, use the old housing as a guide, cut a new piece and slide it back over the cable. easy peasy and save yourself some cash.

I agree that their formula is incorrect, based on the commonly accepted 220 - age. But if the article is for weight loss then they have the right target zones. Could also be that Health 24 probably don't want to be sued when someone drops dead after breaking a sweat.

so what is it singlespeed or fixed?

The cops are on to this one, another soft target for them, I managed to sweet talk my way out of the time I was pulled over, went out and got a new plate made and stuck it on my rack. You also need to make sure your lights / indicators are visible, you also get a rack of lights that plug into your trailer electric socket.

Karma is going to bite them. That's why I stop and help other cyclists

postage is probably not your biggest issue, but rather if they have stock, sometimes the website isn't correct. email them to confirm stock of your stuff before you order and then make provision for two weeks postage. if the deadline is tight, rather dont take the risk and buy local.

Not everyone feels the need to nod, smile and wave at every hack on the road don't take it to heart,

Wow it seems like no-one has ever adjusted their fd. Remove the cable from the fd, then see if you can shift it by hand to the correct position. If you cant do it by hand look for obstructions and check that your mount hasn't moved. If it does move to the correct position you then need to set the cable tension and limit screws, check the parktool website for step by step instructions.

You sort of answered your own question in your own post. You don't understand the training required and neither did many of the non finishers.

I saw that Salomon have a hybrid shoe, looks pretty nice for a casual running shoe, its never going to be tops for either road or trail, but should be fine for anything under a half marathon and provided you are not too serious about your running

Thats like 3 epic stages rolled into one, sounds like fun, pity that its only three weeks away, not really enough time for me to get sharp, but great timing for those coming off the epic.

Yip Bob and furthermore, what the hell is it with race organisers making us drive, pick up a number and then return a day or two later. What a waste of time and effort. Back to OP; race numbers need to be removed post event. The only exception is an Epic sticker, that can stay for personal enjoyment. But leave that Epic race board on and you look like a total tool. Yes like you riding around table mountain during the Two Oceans trail run, a tool.

I trained for the epic on hardtail and realised with some of the longer training weekends that a HT is not the way to go, switched to dual and it was a godsend. HT are only for those at the sharp end of the field. A R35 K budget for a dual susser will give you more than enough bike.

I have only done the Epic but plan to do Comrades soon, based on my other running I would guess Comrades to be tougher. Make no mistake the Epic was hard core, but I was well prepared and didn't ever really suffer. I cant imagine that I can do Comrades without getting into some serious pain. Comrades is a far more intense event km for km (as is normal for running vs cycling).

Its got to be tough, as soon as you pull on an Exxaro jersey, or a Pick n Pay development jersey or any other kit which displays your status as a development rider you are going to draw attention to yourself from some quarters who are going to, for whatever reason, watch your every move, assess your skill level, your fitness, your "free" kit and bike, your etiquette and whatever else they can. We see this in rugby, cricket and other sporting codes where development players where and are still criticised for any mistake they may make. It cant be a whole lot of fun to be told that the only reason you are somewhere is because of where you came from. We need to remember that this is DEVELOPMENT, i.e a means to an end. It is going to take decades for development to achieve its objectives. The development guys are not going to be "up to scratch" after a year or less of riding, it may not even be the current generation of development riders that make the grade. All that we can hope for is that the sport is more inclusive and we start seeing more guys like Nolan Hoffman & Sifiso Nhlapo at top level. What this country needs is a bit more tolerance and that extends to our compatriots on the bike.

Sounds like an accident to me, they probably didn't know that she was even there, occupational hazard of riding on the road in winter, I always say better out than in.

The route originally went out to Wilderness and Back, when they started the (many years of) road works between Wilderness & Knysna the route was changed to go out in the opposite direction, but will now head back to the original. IMO not a great road ride, I normally do the long MTB and the Road ride the day after but I dont think I will do the road ride again, not when there is so much great MTB around there to take advantage of

I like the Sram chains because of the power link, which makes removal and replacement of the chain very simple - great for cleaning.

Look at Rocky Mountain, apparently they have a HT 29er in your price range

As soon as I have some energy I spray the bike down with the garden hose, leave to dry, apply lube to chain and hang up for the next ride. Iron, there may be something missing in your life