T-Bob

this a screen grab off the CWC site. 2 'Sets' one Avid and one Shimano. One comes with rotors one doesn't. I'd say it's down to the makers and their description (i'd imagine just copied and pasted). Also you don't expect the full description & TnC's in an email blast.

So has every one spent more time debating this than than it took to read the email, click through, see what it was actually for, get annoyed and then move on? It's not the right way in my mind but you have different people advertising in different ways on a heap of different sites. For me 'set' is the whole lot. 'Brakes' are levers,hoses and callipers (can be front, back or both - check description), levers are just that, callipers are just that. Not even sure what Shimano call a set as I've never checked, I just read what I'm getting for my coin.

Maybe after G'd see the love there is on the hub they might follow the likes of CWC, ASG and and offer crazy specials to this exclusive, quality clientele who go nuts for a bargain! Like shooting fish in a barrel...

For me it's got to be: Road: - Castelli Aero (but out of the budget) - problem is you never get specials - Assos Uno - heaps of specials if you go for the S5 (?) and can come in budget. See CWC, Bikewear and Solomons. - Giordana - good quality mid rangers. Love the 3/4s for winter. Carbon range is awesome. Dirt: - Baggies + Craft performance under with the chamois that is so thin at the edges that it looks like it's gonna give you no love but is super comfy. Never thought I'd say that as I don't like 99% of craft fit. Bridge cycles seem to be a clearance centre and you can get them super cheap. Think I paid R650 odd per pair. Assos. Built to last. quality from way back and great lycra. Make you feel like a weird man nappy wearing dude and to be honest on the long rides I've had pretty annoying rub where you don't actually want it. My under carriage could be the exception. Good compression and decent material / lycra is key. Not like the wafer thing stuff that most of the local guys seem to pump (yup 1st Ascent that's you) as they look like bad spinning kit after a few rides and lose shape. That is where the oversea guys seem to come good - quality materials, good stitching (don't for get that little fact), ventilation and little touches that make a great pair of bibs rather than an average pair.

That's super kewl... Love watching these little shorts where the pro's go kill it on any machine but always make me think of this. Especially the last two pics...

I'm worried now... I've just always put them in the wash, straight after getting ion the door, on cold, 35 minute speedy wash and a little super natural, organic, kiddies wash stuff. No spin. Hang them up. Done. Assos, Castelli, Girodana, Craft all the same and sometimes even in the same load together. I'm surprised I haven't been struck down by the cycling gods for my blatant heresy.

Ditto.

That is a surprise on the quality. I've been a big fan of Giordana for years as mid range training kit because they last so well, fit great and are priced very competitively. Maybe take it up with global or try to find another person to talk to at the distributors. Customer service... at times I'm not sure there is much at the moment from the bigger distributors (ASG aside). It seems that most people / companies go on the defence and try to blame the user straight away and push back rather than look at the problem and see it as an opportunity to build a relationship / loyal customer.

you do the joke... I've tossed it up and you hit it out of the park.

Too soon for an Alberto Contador joke on this thread?!?

Cop were fast but obviously the lady only alerted any one once she was out of the car and the lowlife had driven off. Feel bad for them as they were an older couple and the guy had just jumped out to pick something up, left his wife in the car and keys in the ignition. Windows up but doors unlocked. Not sure insurance is going tick that off. The guy told the lady to get out and leave her hand bag or he'd shoot her. They lady told him he could have the car as it was her husbands but not the bag because that was hers and if he wanted to he was welcome to shoot her but he wasn't getting her bag. Good bags were hard to find! Classic, pragmatic older lady.

Walked out of the hardware store opposite just as lady was relieved of her car while a while her husband popped into the shop. Bold as brass. 1 guy, gun involved. Took about 20 secs from start to finish. Loads of people about as well.

Best way to look after them, makes ironing them much easier.

How have those been going for you? I'm over getting wash out on the front at the moment and want something that will stick. Yup it may be me but there has to be something to help my skills-of-a-unco'-1-yr-old-spider-monkey disposition. Have run: - Mtn kings - Nevegals - Some random *** Currently in the stable I have: - N.Nics - Mtn Kings some Planet X smorgasbords & Chunky Monkey (tho they are not tubeless ready) on the way. Looking at: - HD - Something from geax, but what? - WTB Currently have verticals all around and they are driving me crazy. Get a good pressure for one thing and they lose it on rocks, dial that in and the little feckers give it to you in the sand / loose. Honestly though with the massive discounts that Planet X are giving at the moment it's hard to go past them but Buycycle and easybike are doing a great job locally and will alway try to support them (and dial'd). and yes, I'm stock piling. The end of the 26'r world seems to be on us and I'm loading the bunker!

I'm deffo picking some up this week. Gonna run them up front and NN @ the back. Only heard good things about them.

Bibs. Assos & Castelli are no1. After that I've found the the craft performance ones have been great. If you look at the pad seems scarely small but it works really well and doesn't feel like you're wearing a man nappy.

Saw bicicletta have a couple of nifty pumps on their clearance page. one that is a bomb and pump thing all in one with storage for quick links etc and one crank bros speed pump with pressure gauge for about R180 a pop. New toys are new toys... there always has to be always a silver lining.

The one important thing to remember: Respect the jersey. No world champs hoops, KOM, Points or Leaders Jersey from any of the 3 grand tours... unless you won them in the first place. There is alot of Cape Epic kit being sold off by Craft in many places and, personally, I wouldn't wear that unless I had done the thing. There is a thread featuring 'Kick ass Kit' here (subjective obviously!) but might give inspiration if you're looking to make up some jerseys for you and a few mates. There is alot of good kit out there... unfortunately not the elusive MTN Q jerseys as they seem to keeping them from the buying public in SA! I might produce my own outta china, sell them here and give the profits to Qhubeka...

Love those packs but aren't they are about R950 retail without a bladder? With a R2000 budget that's not leaving much for rest of the kit that the mongrels made off with. That Da Kine seems a great deal. On the tool angle (no not me!), try the bicicletta site, they have some Crank Bros multi tools on special today only. http://bicicletta.myshopify.com/collections/daily-special That should help rebuild the stocks.

That is a nice pack and a good price.

Fark, that is a beast. Sorry to hear that. Start with trip to camping and climb in paarden island and pick up a Gelert Edge hydro pack. R500 with of for a 10 ltr pack with chest & stomach straps, 2ltr source wide neck bladder, 3 decent compartments (with bladder holder), stuff area / tools area, additional pockets and zippered internal w/proof pocket for bits. Straps down tight and is comfy, haven't had a chance to test in summer as yet. Pumps: there have been heaps of specials on the various sites and Crown had a ton of tools / pumps (lezyne i think) on offer the other day when I went in. Gloves: jeez, pricey. Depends what you had and what you want. Know anyone in Jozi? Get to the Billabong store for Dakine clearances ones. Winter? I've got the Pro's from Buycycle for about R399 odd for road and dirt. Such an annoyance. Had the same thing from my ute last week in Plett. Thought they had taken just junk but each day there is something else you miss. Jumper cables, compressor, tow ropes, lube, cramp tablets (?!?!), glasses, Itrips, tool kits, 1st aid kit, jack, blah, blah... R9k in total. Outsurance decided we weren't covered as we hadn't added an 'unnamed amount' onto our policy. Feckers. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41GWZKi4qyL._SY300_.jpg

Wish I had a chirp in return for that... I've got nothing.

Great stuff... Are the offers going to be advertised here or on the site? Could do with a great deal on a 38t chainring to fit and SLX crank and a bash guard. or a 2x SLX / XT crank (38 - 24)

Missed the cut this year. Feel like the fat kid on the bench. Nuts.

on the ground update: Today has been epic. More like summer than winter and not a cloud in the sky.... this has been the view from our deck for the last 2 weeks. 7pm tonight, fire on and up starts the lightening and sporadic fat rain drops. 10pm wind kicks in and by 10:20 I'm and couple of beers down and running around trying to get back the sun umbrella as it cart wheeled down the road looking for mercs or fortuners to bounce off. Glad I'm driving back to CT tomorrow though judging by reports I'm not going to like what has been happening down that way. At least I'm bringing dry fire wood!