Chro Mo

Rest in Peace, my favourite bike of them all. Destroyed by an inattentive motorist yesterday. 1991 DuToit in 653. Bike was complete except for its new paint job, which was scheduled for January. I had also just finished making leather bar tape, which I had installed. Loved this bike. Going to miss her. Here she is before the accident, and before I installed the leather.

Bikebug - an Aussie store - is very prominent in advertising their services on US sites. Adapting to a free market such as the online model espoused by CCR/CWC/Wiggle/Bikebug et al, displays a forward thinking approach to business - a global view. I, for one, think that CRC has been a positive influence in terms of: a) fostering the development of a whole generation of home bike mechanics, capable of mastering the arcane skills associated with our chosen lifestyle b ) causing local retailers to bring down their prices - I say this because i find myself buying more and more stuff from my two LBS's, as they are becoming more and more competitive. Maybe local retailers can bring pressure to bear on the the distributors? I use CRC for those larger orders, where one can save a couple of grand - the prices are sometimes impossible to beat.

I got bitten something terrible in Oz and NZ when i was trekking there. Put bleach on the bites afterwards, definitely stopped the itching. Don't know how to avoid the bites though...

That Cinelli Lazer must be the sexiest bike of all time! Damn, that is hot!

Hi, all! Anyone know who and where the Microshift agents and/or distruibutors for SA are? Thanks a lot.

The mountains win again - Blues Traveler.......quite apt, given my current weight!! <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G4OTDztS_iA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i remember KE saying he had a few choice words for DG, who was putting the hammer down on a recent stage of the Pioneer... seemed to me awhile back that KE was mostly pulling DG along - just sayin'

+1Please explain.....

I have complete faith in Kevin Evans - don't ask me why, I just do. Don't disappoint me, Kev! Guess that R100 000 they won at the Cape Pioneer is outta da window!!!

Sheldon Brown swore by transmission oil. That's enough for me.

grant@singlespeed.co.za - he does the Halo range, which are very highly rated in the UK. In JHB, but posts nationwide.

Imagine if he had just given Floyd Landis a job..... Just sayin'.

The Giant and the Secteur both look a bit similar to each other and to the Volagi Viaje http://volagi.wordpress.com/ The Volagi is steel, though - which wins for me immediately. Tons of CX bikes will do the job - I have a Cotic X, which is my go to bike - has 42c tyres on, and can go just about anywhere. Couldn't be happier with it! Now need to buy a Solaris or P29 to complete the stable.

Easy: Why did you do it? Don't give me the crap about how you needed to in order to be competitive etc....that is just bullsh!t. Just tell me why you did it I'm not into excuses, i just want an answer! I'd respect him more if he just upped and said: I did it because i wanted to win, stand on the top steps, get the girls and get the cash. That's more believable! Spouting **** about how and who and when is all good and well, but it's all just another screen propagated to paint himself as a victim. He was most certainly not a victim - the innocent guys in Festina were victims, guys spat out of ProTour teams in the 90s for not taking PEDs were victims, brilliant cyclists with impressive physical scores and abundant natural talent, who constantly finished outside of time limits are victims. No more crap, man. Why did you do it? That's my question.

These iconic SA races are so good, put on by such knowledgeable and committed organizers, that they cannot help but become globally attractive. This, however, creates a problem for locals wanting to experience it, because they become almost unattainable. The price of success is sometimes accessibilty.

I don't think the Tour will be as mountainous as people think it's going to be - at least, no more so than the "classic" tours of the past. Even the two ascents of the Ventoux and Alp'duez will be from the "easier" side (if there is such a thing), and the Galibier (my favourite) in in the Giro this year. I think Wiggins will defend, and their recent signings seem to back that up. They need to bolster the squad, and use Froome in the Vuelta and Giro, where he can be far more effective on the steeper ramps (provided he is adequately rested). Froome and Wiggins will have divergent race programs in 2013 - hence the signings in the transfer window. Froome (I believe) will have his own squad, and will contest the two "lesser" tours. "Marginal gains" preclude sacrificing a Tour defense for "legendary" status. "Marginal Gains" will include the same preparation that worked before, with minor (marginal) tweaks to increase performance. Look for the same races in buildup for Wiggins, with an adjusted armada of domestique (Tiernan-Locke comes to mind). With Cavendish gone, another rouleur may be added to attack the lower slopes, reducing the need for Froome to be there. Contador will be there, and he will put the "diesel" in trouble. This time, I do not think the diesel will overcome the razor-sharp repeated accelerations Cobntador will unleash. More so, if Purito is there. 2014 will be Froome's year for a tilt at TDF glory, because Wiggins will be exposed next year. One thing is for certain, All the Tours next year are going to be classic. I, for one, cannot frikking wait!

+1 - did some good stuff for me.

Did anyone do/see anyone do the race on a CX bike this year? Keen to give it a bash next year! Sorry to hear about all these incidents this year.

Marianne Vos is a true phenomenon! Track, Cyclocross and Road - amazing!

Was this due to the crash or was it too long a distance for the the SA ladies that DNF'ed? I wish these ladies could spend a few WHOLE seasons racing in Europe, not just blocks of action interspersed with local duties - they are at a distinct disadvantage when World's and Olympics roll around. The SA ladies are good, really good, and need the support to crack the top level of the sport.

R J-van Rensburg is on his way to Argos-Shimano, if cyclingnews.com is accurate. Hope he has the chance to shine in the ProTour! Well done!

No.wiggle stocks some of them.

+1

Next year's tour won't be such a humdrum affair, methinks! Being the hundredth race and all, everyone is expecting BIG mountain stages. Wiggo is going to need a LOT of help!

I had a feeling it had to come at some stage - I thought the second to last stage, not today...