Andymann

I haven't been following the whole thread, but here's my "success" story to climbing: I do long slow grinds on a cateye trainer once a week - "big" gear grinds - 53/12 increasing speed every 5 mins by dropping a gear and increasing cadence ending with a fast spin at the top of the session. The whole session lasts about an hour. I have the whole program if anyone is interested - given to me by a well known coach. I strengthened my legs and lost weight by running every second day - not far, about 30min/5km. I did serious core exercises - about 30min per day, and also concentrated on doing the indoor training sets with my hands behind my back and leaning foreward - try it. Finally I do conentrate on my position on the bike when climbing - especially my grip on the bars - my test: if i'm not able to wiggle my fingers when climbing, my grip is too tight. Worked for me.

Think it might be a bit older than 4 years - I had an SL3 which was just above the ML3 and it was from 2001....having said that, it was a great bike - just check if it has a braze-on FD hangar - they did have a tendency to crack....

I've also been experimenting with various lubes and oils. So far the best I have found is a Motul product called chain paste - it's pretty much a mixture between wax and oil, but you brush it on (has its own applicator). Best part is there is no overspray on your rim and minimal waste.....

I've had 2 sets of Classics - great wheels, hubs easy to service, but I must be honest the rims are a touch soft - even on my second set where I am a little more careful, I have already put a small ding in the back one.

I suppose you could just fill your tyres with squash balls ;-)

Agree - some things are just not worth trying to get a bargain on!

Dunno hey - I've seen some pretty nasty stuff coming out of China - I wouldn't put my trust in a set of wheels!

Even the mousses in Off-Road and Enduro aren't fail safe - they eventually collapse. There are two types - the ball type and the perma-tube type which is actually like a very thick tube... bugger to fit! It might be that the two valves on the downhill bikes were actually 1 valve and a rim-lock - to stop the tyre sliding relative to the rim?

"Track please!"

Get a MET. Saved my brain about 3 weeks back. Have already replaced it with a new one!

I used to work for one of the big 4 Japanese MC importers in SA. There is a huge amount manufactured in China, and the only thing that determines what goes in the Japanese boxes and what goes in the Chinese boxes were the tolerances - if anthing was slightly off the very tight Japanese spec, it was used elsewhere. I'm guessing it's the same here - I bet these unbranded frames are probably a slightly different tolerance or finish to the mainstream ones and if you are willing to ride an unbranded frame go for it...

Got my Merida 96 3000D to under 13kg without doing much at all - Thompson Seatpost, FSA flat bar, and trimmed all the cables. I paid under 20K last year, and I think there are real bargains to be had now because of the new model. And I've got some real heavy tyres on now too - Geax, which if I changed could save me 500g - but like has been said earlier, no punctures is way better than 500g saved!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tech-colnago-launch-c59-disc

I'm running a combo of 105 RD and TT shifters on my Bianchi TT bike with Record cranks (only because the Campag TT shifters are really difficult to source), Record chain and cluster. Must be honest, I was a bit skeptical having "dodgy" 105 mixed with the Campag, but I'm damn impressed - that 105RD shifts really cleanly and it is at least on par with the 2007 Record RD it replaced....

- No worries - the weekend was awesome last year, so I reckoned there must have been a good reason to move the race. Thing is, to leave Jhb at 16:00 on a Thursday and fight the masses down to Durbs means we will only realistically arrive after eleven that night. To do a MTB race the following morning might be a bit much...family will grumble!!!!

Here's an interesting one - the website lists the MTB on the 27th April (Friday the public holiday), and the road on the 29th (Sunday) - we normally drove down especially to do both races back-to-back (good Sani training!) and also for a bit of a break. If the MTB race is on the 27th, then it means I must take an extra days leave and drive down on the Thursday, to hopefully register in time for the race on the Friday. Not sure if this is such a good option anymore..... pity.....

Was in emergency ward last night until about 10! Luckily nothing major, a few scrapes and bruises but that's about it. First time it has happened to me though, and most scary is that i have absolutely no recollection of how I fell off, or how I got to the hospital.

Thanks so much! It's amazing how the cracks have moved along the polystyrene away from the point of impact - it really did it's job - i was unconscious for about 5mins.....

In Gauteng - Pta area, but travel to Krugersdorp every day - so anywhere in PTA/Centurion/JHB area is good

Destroyed my MET Stradivarius helmet last night in a fall during a night ride. Anyone know who stocks MET - would really like to replace it with the same model!

OK so why didn't my picture upload?????

Wonder If I can still order a Bridgestone MB-0

So true! I actually enjoyed the riding for the first time in ages. And what's more, our 12+kg Berg Sportzone specials which I shunned on day one were actually damn good bikes, and..... Could I really feel the difference between Deore and XT, Tektro vs. Magura and Suntour XCM vs. Fox.... Er....not really....

Bought it like that hey - it was one of the Pantani replicas which they made after he won the TDF in 98 I think. That would be great - I'll also keep an eye open for more bits - my training bike has the original ITM BigOne stem and bars, which I would have considered replacing, but I see you are sorted there. I think the 1" headset is going to be a problem though...

Also noticed that - one guy was pretty fast on his old Y-Frame Trek - now there's a bike from the past. Seems like they are pretty chilled in Europe - they didn't even give us crap about the orange reflectors in our wheels.....