GrumpyOldGuy

Yah, but the trouble is the little guys just dont produce the power to push a big gear on the long straight roads - or theoretically shouldn't be.! If we remember back a few years climbers were climbers and were terrible at the ITT stages and vice versa, today its changed a bit, not quite sure how, but big fellas of 80 odd kgs fly up steep mountains and 50 kg fly weights produce incredible wattage over sustained big gear performances. Back then it was "extraterrestrial" to see those performances, today we just shrug and mutter about it in private conversations. .........but never the less, one would be seriously amiss to discount Rodriguez from the podium, he is an explosive rider and a great competitor, he always seems to have a bad day somewhere though and lose huge chunks of time but maybe this year will be different, as I would like to see him up there for sure.

Yeah, with individuals, rather than teams. Yes, Scarponi / Lampre, he had a tough Giro (finished 4th, just off the podium) and he is getting a little long in the tooth now so I dont know if he will ride both, but realistically I dont think he would be a good GC contender if he did, not now anyway, he is really a pure climber and a few years ago he would climb with 'Berto quite easily, but today races have changed and he has gotten older, I would like to see him do well tho, he is an old campaigner and, in my opinion, never really got the breaks he deserved.

No, I dont think Tony is up to winning a grand tour, Omega is GC contender poor unfortunately, though from what I hear that may change if Uran joins them next year.

I am very democratic................I like 'Berto, Scarponi and Nibali.

Yes, I did, ........Hmm, that could be interesting in an odd way.

You can always rely on Tommy to do something, so looking forward to that, Cunego.......Hmm, we fell out last year at the Giro, maybe he can redeem himself.

Yah, fair enough, its a good point, just different ways of looking at their (perceived) strengths and weaknesses I guess. .......and Yah, I hope he is a lot different, he is certainly playing to close to his chest.

- Yeah, It does hey. ...........personally I think he ('berto) is up to the job, even though he has kept a fairly low profile I am convinced he will be ready, but, sadly, I am not convinced Saxo is up to supporting him. Over long mountain climbs he can sort of look after himself, (within reason of course) but these kind of fast short stages rely a lot on a good team, and yeah, here, I believe Sky is much better.

Yes sure, agreed, shorter stages could be more intense, but I guess what I really meant was that may not necessarily suit some grand tour climbing specialist's like Rodriguez and 'Berto, just as examples, it also favors a strong team as I mentioned, and I am not certain Saxo is all that strong. Personally I think the course and the logistics (short stages, not too difficult climbs, only 8 days) favors Sky and Froome, but this does not necessarily mean he will be better at the tour where the logistics are considerably changed.

I have looked at the profiles and with only 2 mountain top finishes and both not that difficult (a cat 3 and a cat 1) I dont know if theres sufficient gradient or distance for the real climbers like Rodriguez and 'Berto to stretch their legs and make a meaningful break, so I dont really think it will be a good indicator of anything other than general team ability, and here I have an issue, as I am not convinced Saxo is all that good. Never the less, I will most certainly watch and I will most certainly root for young 'Berto, I think he is still one of the worlds best in any tour and besides, I just like his attitude.

Lately I have been listening to "Mike and the Mechanics" a lot, just suited my recent moods, This one particularly, for personal reasons, but I like most.

I have often championed the Garmin brand and I will continue to do so, they are a well run, well respected, mature, honorable business with whom I have absolutely no issue doing business with. I will pay any sum for a Garmin, because I know, if I need help they will assist, no questions, no queries, no "wheres your invoice / credit card slip / letter from your mother", just a straight forward honest approach to sorting out each issue and putting you back on the road/ bike / trail whatever. Many companies can learn a lot from them, but sadly few will bother.

Hear, Hear!! There comes a time for everyone to move over, ........in my opinion its their time.

Sure, at the very least he is allowing the tail to wag the dog. Say what you like about Wiggo, he has an exemplary Palmares,.... 6 Gold medals, wins in the Paris-Nice, the Criterium du Dauphine, the Tour de Romandie, the Tour de France, the TT at the Olympics, podium finishes in the Vuelta, and those are just the ones I can think of right now, personally I think he deserves a bit more of the support from management.

As others have said, just rinse in fresh water after use. Occasionally soak it for 20 minutes in a solution of Miltons (sterilizer) and water. Dry it flat, not on a hanger and it will last years.

Indeed, personally I believe Wiggins deserves the opportunity to defend his title, how he got is not the point, he remains the yellow jersey holder, and I think retains the right to defend it, to "demote" him as it were to a support rider to Froome shows, in my opinion, poor form by SKY and an a lack of respect for him as an athlete in the team. I think Froome is a great athlete, dont misunderstand me, but he is not the holder of the jersey. As for Uran, well what can we say, I have long believed he is Grand Tour podium material, unfortunately, like Cavendish, he needs to find another team if he is to be afforded that opportunity, at SKY right now there is an abundance of "chiefs" so he will unfortunately remain an "Indian" there for the foreseeable future if he decides to stay.

True, but I think its a clever move as well, if he did compete and struggled for whatever reason (not saying he "will", just "if") it would detract from his great performance here, so by not competing, he effectively goes out on a high .......good for the PR.!

Carlton Kirby,.........Thanks, I need to remember that name, I really enjoyed his commentary, but then David Duffield, was, as you say, a legend, and learning from one of the best certainly shows.

I dunno, I liked the two of them, I know the one gentleman was Daniel Lloyd who is an ex Garmin rider but I never quite got the other gentleman's name, but either way, I thought they were fresh and inspiring and brought a new insight to the race.

Sometimes factories will only repair their own brand so it helps to know who the manufacturer was but you can try the old Cressi wetsuit factory in JHB, - 011 402-3542, ask for the wetsuit factory, they are pretty helpful so I am sure you will get a warm welcome. Or in Durban you can try Rob Allen, he has a wetsuit factory who could perhaps also be able to assist, tel 031 301 2241 or

Indeed, me too. He had a rough time yesterday after the bike change, and if Saxo DID put on the pressure to try and distance him when he was trying to come back..............well, he showed them what he thought of that.!

- Yeah, it was nice, although you pop over here regularly, do you ever go the the Butcher Shop.? Its a carnivore's delight. Try it next time you are here. .........but Yeah, it is a pity Wiggins retired, Hesjedal too actually, although I am not sure they could have won, they may have made it a lot more difficult I agree, but........Yah, Nibali was in a class of his own.

Yeah, he suffered in the cold, Santambrogio too, couldn't respond quick enough so lost a bit of time. Again those are the breaks, the conditions were the same for everyone, but Nibali was just fantastic, soloing away for three odd Kilometers on the queen stage means you are supremely confident in your condition. No denying it, he deserved the win.

That's unfortunate, he did look as if he had recovered somewhat on the rest day and was looking stronger, but I think in his heart he knows those are the breaks, its upsetting of course, but, it can happen to anyone, I think he knows that.

Well....................I got so excited I had to go out and enjoy a very rare, cracked pepper coated Sirloin, minty baby potatoes and a glass of Kanonkop Cabernet at The Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton to celebrate a great Giro.