tubed

Johan re novatec technical info for you when you have insomnia, one good thing about the East is that because their English is often not great, they dont use lots of fancy adjectives to describe a simple mechanical device, also for the slower people like me they like to draw and include technical diagrams, think we can all learn from this. http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/english/index.php

Thanks Johan, will have a look at the DRC if I can find them locally, (with that price diff I imagine the lbs will hide them as they are cheaper and dont come with a bling halogen decal!) Also do you have any experience with Novatec hubs, (think they used to be Joytec back in the early days), I know they feature on quite a few low end builds from time to time. I have a set of these hubs with which I can find very little fault, other than the fact that they dont have a sexy well known name. Thanks

I went with the XT hub, Mavic 819 build. So far lots of abuse and still looking good. Also easy to work on if they do need it in time. Have an old crossmax set, the rim cracked and the effort and expense to replace the rim with Mavic locally was too much in the end. Forget the fancy wheelsets and have a set built that can be rebuilt when they get tired. mini hijack: Johan, any comments on your experience with these:

Agree with Cheryl's suggestions. Sanddrif/ Dwarsrevier have some mapped routes you can try - a bit short, but you can combine them. A word of caution: there is generally (thankfully) no cellphone reception in the Cedarberg, so if you are riding on your own off the main road observe safe hiking rules - water, warm clothing, advise somebody of where you are going and when you will be back. If you fall and cannot ride out you are in big trouble while they search for you. Otherwise enjoy a very special place - maybe you'll even get some snow if we get a decent cold front soon.

Cancellara was talking about 4 -6 hours per day!, ie 32 to 42 hours per week prior to race! any pro that rides 4 -6 hours a week is unemployed! I agree do not slavishly follow what they do, but the principle is there - don't change too much, train like you want to 'race' As for any week, in any stage race being easy, that's just not the case, if its on the flats - then there are winds and higher speeds, if its mtns then the domestiques still have to ride until there is nothing left to the bottom of the climb - hardly ever is there a 'day off' I tend to agree with Bruce, there is no point getting there exhausted, but just dont catch a rude wakeup on day 1 I would be interested to hear how the ordinary (non-pros) guys who raced the Giro felt on the day of the Argus and the week after that - I would imagine with some light rest they felt in pretty awesome shape the following week finally, I would not underestimate the level at which many of the part time, 35 year plus riders are at, part time cyling is now a serious deal with the levels of fitness and dedication at a level never seen before in this country

While I can't profess to have ridden the Epic and I have no factual basis for how long you should train/ taper your training etc befiore a big event, i think it is a case of doing what has worked for you in the past. My observation, (not fact), is that there is nothing worse than arriving at an event and getting the shock of your life in that your legs 'feel' like they have forgotten what a hard or long effort is like becuase you began to taper to soon Again just an observation - when looking at what Lampre's contenders were required to do post the stages of Tirreno Adriatico this week, ie a bloody hard days stage racing - they were then required to train after the stage to make sure that they were doing up to 275km for the day, that in the week before the biggest race on the Italian calendar - MSR (290km). Similar thoughts were expressed by Cancellara, ie he would be doing anything between 4 - 6 hours this week still to make sure he was ready. in the absence of fact, I say do what works for you PS: anybody know if MSR will be featured at all on Rai for definite, this link seems to indicate so, but maybe just a wrap up http://www.international.rai.it/tv/programmi/scheda.php?id=200

thanks for the responses, will have a look at those detailed seems like the life expectancy on these things is not great, they have high relative cost and are susceptable to loss/ and malfunction might actually be cost effective to go CO2, unless you are frustrated fatty - in his case sounds like a support vehicle is necess

"I heard there was a 5 foot blonde at "Mandy's house of delectible delights" tough choice hey Mampara, especially as you can really 'blow' your money on the Specialized carbon fibre number: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=25954 Ok, enough of the silly stuff - any recommendations?

I've got 4 of these now that leak air between the aluminium barrel and the rubber handle areas. I have tried two expensive SKS Weseman models as well as a cheaper Beto and Ryder, all leak air and can't get the tyre to 110psi because of leaks. I use bombs for races, but I need something reliable for training, especially as a 'soft' tyre generally ends up in a pinch flat in the replacement tube further down the road. Any recommendation on what you have used for some time? (Otherwise, Johan - know of fancy sealant that will seal the leak and withstand the pressure, ie 110psi?) thanks

Ricardo Ricco not happy with his SRAM Red, check out the photo sequence http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/mar08/tirreno08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/mar08/tirreno08/tirreno082/bettiniphoto_0024343_1_full if you think RH is a hothead, imagine the bleating from Ricco to the reporter

Oom, Sorry if I have offended, that was never the intention, nor was it to hijack your post. It's just that after 21 funride champs I feel a similar way you do, but I have also realised that the ride is so much bigger than me, so nowdays I stress less and try and enjoy it despite the life threatening riding of those around me. Next time I'll start another thread and label it Humour: a wannabe pro's take on the Argus week I think after all of these years a have quite a few humourous observations which outweigh the stress the past week can generate. cheers

Sorry Johan just could not resist the post Argus humdrum and analysis of performance - the trailers, bikes, endless bike tinkering are now out of my driveway from the overflowing illegal guesthouses back to the serious stuff - promise

Clarification: use the alcahol of your choice, but do not pour into frame and wait for 'loosening effect' - it will have no effect on the frame and be wasted pour alcahol carefully, but directly into operator, when 'loosening effect' achieved - go back to step with saw

f#^*k bru! agree with go lefty, get a life! you okes who are passed it with your yellow numbers must just get out my way, my superseeding says I need to be mixing it with the ous, not with some hasbeen who isn't focussed it's ous like you who cause crashes and stuff up my kit, didn't you see me cruising around at the Giro, I know some ous in elite, the ous at work will soon buy into my 9am training story - that's the time the elites train bru i tune you bru - next year I'll skeem I be in in the elites if those ****** in PPA can get their sh*t together times have a changed old timer! its okes like you who can't ride 2 up like the pros, its for okes like you that people hoot, gives us team okes training a bad name, we get kakked out cause we ride for teams, the people know us okes like you are like the ladies who complain when we race with them, always an issue bru, when it comes to the sprint they are always dodgy bru, no f^*~kin places for wobblies there oke - hold your line or fade bru! PS you probably also the oke who thinks its uncool to shed your GU wrapppers - that what we pay PPA for - its their job, those marshalls what do they do bru, they can pick up the stuff when were through next year bru - Group VA! - the okes at work are gonna orgaines so I train at 9 bru - later

Poison, story sums it up, from a different era is Chris Snr In Robbie's defence he sure knows what it is sacrifice himself for a team - recall Floyd Landis being paced up the climbs by RH , it is likely that he would have had some more placings over the years, but on many occasions he has just cannon fodder for his team leaders

As an aside to Fullard vs Corti and the impact this has had on the race Last year DG had a far weaker, last minute, part-time pro team at his disposal - CSC Marcello, but he had Chris Snr on the team/ in the car?, again with no disrespect to JF, I would probaly take Chris Snr (and Mannie!) on my team I suspect too that with Chris Snr we would not have had riders entertaining the thought of spitting for fear of a warm klap from the big man Just speculating...

thanks for that Sean similar story: Fullard vs Corti and his resources nice to see a thread populated by views worth reading, welcome: Rock, Chunky, SB et al maybe DG will have better success in the Epic where he and Evans can compete on a more level playing field, that is a mouth watering prospect, reports suggest that they have been working well together, DG on Evans' engine and Evans on DG's technical ability - can't wait, hopefully some good live feeds to look forward to

Ja agree with Chunky, it is a pity that we have so few world class cyclists and those we have spend more time concentrating on each other than on racing when they are in the same race. That said, Waynes photos seem to prove that DG was always in the thick of the action yesterday - you have to give him credit for his fighting spirit. BW have also upped their game in terms of their DS's ability to control things (I am about as chuffed to see Corti here as I am some of the names he brought - he is of the best tacticians around and is revered where his reputation is known). Similar to Bruyneel, when you have the lead and the most dedicated team you just suffocate the opposition - (the heat helps) While I have no real regard for Basso until he serves his time (which he has said he will do - no pathetic court cases), I would love to see what BW/ Corti/ Basso could do. BW have really stepped it up in euro this year with the invites they have received and it will be interesting to see how they handle/ manage all of the invites with a far reduced squad, partic if some injuries occur like last year. I would be keen hear some insights into the tactics, (rather than slagging riders), of those that have had a ride in the team cars over the past couple of days, perhaps Doug has quite a way to go in notching up some DS experience. PS: looks like DG should have insisted on having Mannie as his domestique - shades of Bolts grafting for Ullrich in the heat - serious respect for Mannie - what an example to the younger riders

Agreed Chapman's Peak has also had some freaky wind of late - but it is a good road Its not the block headwind that one needs to worry about, but the unusual gusts that take you by surprise, especially on the downhill Saw some of the funriders commenting about OK Weg downhill As the roads deteriorate with less maintenance and there are more dips and bumps (Kommetjie Lighthouse is a real accident waiting to happen), the wind just adds to a nasty combination I really think that PPA should spend a lot more time lobbying for the safety of cyclist with provincial roads dept, like so much of the current scenario they will wake up when its too late and the roads (too many already) need totally to be redone, rather than properly maintained. Just some signage warning road users of bumpy/ uneven roads (Muizenberg to Simons Town) will be a reminder to cyclists and motorists of the danger of that road -perhaps they are scared of the liability they may admit by putting up such signage. tubed2008-01-31 02:35:05

Excellent thanks Tim, pleased to hear a happy ending PS: lets hope she gets used to riding in the wind because today I would not classify as windy

both right the one I am referring to is also a Boulder Beach - just because we have so much friggin wind this summer it has plenty sand this year - the surf spot is also know as Boulders can see the confusion though

Whre they sell the sea shells etc, about a km before you enter Bakoven/ Camps Bay

Anybody have any update on this. Seem to have happened at about 7.30am, looked like he had a lot of help, glad to see him wearing a helmet. Medics were just about there, was too sickened to stop.

"bla bla bla.. get on your bike and ride till you feel like puking. rest for 3 mins. repeat 8 times. do this 3 times a week and you'll be strong. OKAY. That is one way of training. Who needs science and technology? Why do a lot of the top cyclists train with HRM and/or Power metres, if they could save themselves the time and effort and ride until they puke?" Seems like a 'puke-o-meter' would do just the trick, we all have one already installed. Bit like the old tests that the UCT sports science okes used to do on us students before it became an Institute. Used to fill you up with some saline concoction, got you on the stationary bike and see how hard you went for how long, you got the measly money if you puked. Funny thing is that unless you are carrying some type of prior condition/ illness/ food issue, it is about the best indicator that you have gone quite far

Hi Ronelle drivel is the endless, mindless posts which destroy a good topic your photos definitely do fall into that category....keep then coming