buckstopper

No flat roads in the North West of jhb

The nature of the beast.... you know it's a good thread when you have a globally relevant coach throwing in chirps along with the 'local' articulate velominati, it makes for informative and entertaining distraction. And while the question of bikefit could probably eventually be solved mathematically, the nuances surrounding 'the client's physiology and their needs in being comfortable on a bike (or is there more to it than this, fundamentally) may sometimes be lost in pursuit of (the fitter's) sweetspot. By comfortable I mean being able to ride, for example, a road bike in the drops for some time without undue perineal pressure, sore wrists etc etc. My own experience in coming back from a pelvic fracture induced asymmetry was 3 months of biokinetic therapy after 2 months of physio. After that I was still prone to injury because I believe of muscle compensating (eg overusing tibialis anterior on the downstroke). Maybe Ncayi (he may already) could try throttling back for say 4 weeks to z1 riding on flat roads, focusing on say a cadence goal of 90, while continuing with, and maintaining the habit of, therapy or exercise to strengthen his posterior chain. Maybe finding a less quad dominant position. Lots of maybes. Maybe taking what he's learnt so far, actively learning more, and tinkering will be his solution. Just maybe

Maybe it is just fine. Or maybe it could be better. Neil Stanbury thinks her saddle is set too high, but qualifies that by pointing out that she's won 4 World championships. As to your point about professional practitioners and sport scientists, could it be that they daren't suggest a change to someone of her stature, or that she just doesn't listen? Are some pros like that, above the suggestions of mortals? Maybe someone reading this has an inside track on how well pros actually listen to their coaches and resident experts. Question, to what degree to GPs (mentioned in a previous post), sport scientists and bike fitters understand cycling biomechanics? Is there a cycling biomechanics bible, who wrote it, and what are its assumptions? Who are the gurus? Steve Hogg? Andy Pruitt? Stanbury? If people are left underwhelmed by "bike fit experts", what does that say about these experts? Could it mean that the system/programme devised and sold to experts is based on rule of thumb assumptions, and don't work for everyone. I would argue that a true expert should be able to solve for those outside of the norm, or not take payment

Hijack. Annemiek looks like she needs a bike fit. Could she be even better? Her pigeon-toed-toe-down style somehow doesn't look right when compared to other greats.

What is it about Remco that seems to be unpopular. His racing style? He's not a wheelsucker like Vinnygo... For me he comes across as being a bit cock sure, a trait I'm never a fan of. Funny how everyone likes Pogi and very few Vinny. I reckon Remco is a favorite, but would love to see Primoz or Mohoric do it. I doubt Pogi would have the form but would be cool if he could. The Slovenians just seem like nice guys that enjoy their bike racing

I would go gravel. You can also get an aluminium bike for R10k to R15k with disc brakes, wider bars and a more 'endurance' type geometry. You can fit 32mm road tyres to it and you will go as fast as a road bike if that's your thing. Also be open to looking at a 56/57, you may enjoy the bars being closer if you're not as flexible as you may have been. Also, DON'T by a bike with a steerer tube that's been cut short. If you do decide on a road bike, the scultura has good tyre clearance and will easily take 28s. 25s are becoming scarce in good quality tyres.

Do you mean Asker Jeukendrup, the Dutch Scientist?

Monton. From China. Do they provide superior value to our own brands?

So I went to take a look at mine, same bike. I don't have this shifting issue. Would it be to unstylish to McGyver by running thick double-sided tape in between the cables to create a bridge and then taping over the whole exposed cable area with a gorilla tape?

My read on OPs post is that he's looking to get to 50/34 and 11/28. OP didn't say 10 /11/12/13 speed. Assuming cost is an issue and he wants to stay with 9 spd I reckon he should look for a suitable Sora 50-34 or the Shimano RS510 as fitted OE on some 7000 groups on bikes like the Bianchi Sprint. Maybe a longer rear derailleur if necessary but first see what the old one can do if it's still OK. What I mean is by adjusting the derailleur b stop inwards it does effectively lengthen it. 28 shouldn't be an issue. Maybe the jockey wheels could be upgraded. If the shifters are an issue he could go to newer used 9 sp or 10. I fitted Sora 3000 shifters to replace old 105 9sp and they worked a treat. Don't regard what Shimano say as gospel. I have also fitted and used a 42 cassette on my 7020 gs using the 7000 rd for Swartberg. it worked, not super well though. I have subsequently bought a Wolf derailleur extender and will try it out when I set up for this year's race. With more cost he could of course go Tiagra 10 shifters and replace other shifting components as necessary. He doesn't say how worn his original gs is

Great choice. You will not be sorry. We need a 6 month review....

Nah, schmooz

See, none of that cr*p where I live... Grahamstown is like the Ireland of SA, in a strange way of course. Very courteous. We walked to our meeting this morning at St Andrews College, then to the bakery and home via the Spar. @JewbaccaGolf 4 sw not a bad idea for 10 years ago but imho getting a bit long in the tooth now. Also the 1.6 petrol @ 9l/100 around town and diesel schspansiv to fix when they break. And probs also on the midnight spares shopping list, especially headlights, mags, bumpers and grills.

Isn't the speed limit in NZ like 100? And Kiwis will dob on you (report you) to the cops if you speed. Where would you go to 'clear the carbs' in an RS? Or am i missing something? Is it like arriving at the coffee shop on your SL7 when you're at 2.5w/kg?

Announcing to family and friends of our move from 'FOURWAYS, CAPITAL OF THE FIST TRIANGLE' (Alberton, Boxburg, Kempton and Fourways) to this crumbling outback dorp drew some incredulous looks from some established folk. Other younger types (some of them RU graduates), said 'Ah coool' you gonna love it there so much'. We came here knowing some things and with some hope for some other things, and also with a plan, to a modestly good business, and with our glasses at least half full. We've drawn the 'Why Grahamstown' comment from some including locals... I digress. Did the OP ask about good universities? I forget

On the tyre issue, generally higher speed rated tyres have softer tread for improved handling. Which tend to wear faster, ask Brad Binder. Lol, have you seen how many students drive, not just Rhodes ones. And you're right GT is strange. The people are friendly, even though they talk slow. Imagine that. Oh and the cycling here is amazing, pick your weapon and from the cathedral you're 3km from a brilliant or in the country road, gravel or trail ride. No traffic or road rage stuff, or driving 30km to the start of your ride. Just leave home and wend your way through the cows, donkeys and potholes. Not much flat roads though, so you better enjoy climbing. This morning I took the dikwiel out to the Kwandwe game reserve gate. The turnoff from the tar on the Bedford Road just 16 km from my home in town. Not bad, you'd think. The guard at the gate didn't think I should go through the gate with buffalo and lion there. No traffic jams during loadshedding, or ever for that matter. And we're strange too. No one in their right mind could possibly want to live anywhere other than in the Western Cape. Strange. Yawn. Which is why we like it here.

My primary criterion was 4 airbags, so no citigolfs or tazzes (back 2010-2015) for safety and theft risk, no Civics or Unos either. 2 of my kids went to Rhodes, so for trips like to the beach, Oxbraai at Bathurst, boatraces at Port Alfred, economy was an issue. Also for the home loop to Joeys. My son put 100000km on his clock during his 10 years at RU. The car a 1.6 2012 Megane has lasted him into his first job and has averaged less than 7l/100 in total. One other piece of advice. Check what wheels are on the cars. Avoid low profile tyres if possible and high-speed rated tyres. They wear so much faster. Do some research...I would never fit a higher speed rating than H (I don't drive a sports car). My son had tyres fitted with price being the main concern. The tyre place put W rated tyres (safe to 270kmh or something) on a car that maybe saw 160 on a quiet road on a Sunday once or twice. They lasted about 10 000 kays. I'm a stickler for good tyres on a car. I put A set of good value H rated Kumhos on the car and they're still on the car after nearly 50000kays.

Maybe it'd be worth the OP defining what he needs in a 'student car'. I would start with, in order, 1. Affordability 2. Reliability 3. Economy 4. Practicality 5. Safety 6. Risk to own (affordable cover) 7. Parts availability and price 8. Size, (bigger not always better in campus or res parking situations) 9. Resaleability 10. Colour, boring white probably best Maybe OP could award points on the above criteria and then let the aggregate score be the rationale. If he's a student he should aspire to being smart rather than clever, and he's already shown he is, by coming to the hub veluminati for advice PS As a student parent I made point 5 on my list a starting eliminator for cars to pick from, that I chose for my offspring and surprised them with when they reached milestones. I bought a Renault Clio 3 1.6 in 2012, a Jazz in 2013, a Renault Megane in 2015. All 3 proved bought used proved to be sensible IMHO

You will get a very high miler caddy for your budget. I would caution on that re maintenance costs. Also get insurance quotes on your short list before committing. Honda Jazzes have been favoured by upmarket older people who've been around and have had their bling car years. Go figure. We've just moved from the big smoke to Gtown. Our Jazz costs us R267 pm to outsure fully comp. (Yes you'll pay more as a student- check out Naked insurance). You'll get a very good low mileage gen 2 Jazz (made in Japan, not India as the gen 3s) for R120k. They say a man drives the smallest car his ego can live with. Maybe also look for a Duster but again you won't get a good diesel one for that price and you'll spend 60% more than the Jazz on fuel. And if a diesel breaks... They also need servicing more often.

Honda Jazz definitely. In 2014, my son, then a student, went from Grahamstown to do the T-Bav with 2 mates. They loaded 2x29er HTs and a 26er, their kit and then hopped in to a 2010 Honda Jazz 1.3 and drove to Willowmore, and back after the race. The seats fold flat and very low. My daughter left us her 2011Jazz when she went overseas in 2019. The car does no more than 6l/100 around town and on a recent trip with 2 fillups did 5.2 and 4.7. Today the car is used as"the dogs car", and also chosen over a Pajero Sport and Koleos for town inkopies. Warms up quickly, small for parking and not super precious. (No Toyotas or Polo's in our fleet. Just too hijack risky and expensive to insure.) Gangstas want Hondas too, but older Ballades and Civics, not The Jazz. Oh, and I seem to recall the Jazz also won the JD Power rating for reliability some years back. (2009-2014 iteration). Oh, also 4 airbags.

I work on the 0.5% rule. I lay a new chain next to the old one and look at the difference over the same number of links. If the difference is more than 0.5%, replace. The chain is nearly 1.5m long so 0.5% is about 7mm.(Admittedly this is for road/gravel 11sp).

Especially the decent, on a grevel bike with 40's, 160 disc and no springs

This year about 200 started in one batch. Does this mean that licenced Cats will be batch separately etc

Both my son and I have the R355 in medium. He has the stock wheelset set up with maxxis rambler 700x50's ( not yet available in mzansi). The Panaracers were not great. He used Pathfinders in the SwaRtberg 100 and did a 6h08 but didn't enjoy them coming off the pass. I run ramblers 40's, would probably go to 45s or maybe even 50s. The R355 frame handles the 50s fine. I run the tyres at about 1.7-2 bar. Sure road tyres would be faster and lighter

PN2PN is now R109 ( for the first 5kg measured volumetric), having increased by R10 for the first time since the product took off in 2014 (when the SAPO strike took care of the Speed Services option.) CG or any courier could be an option to collect providing you're OK to wait for the driver to come and collect from you whereas you can do PN on your run around route, and if course, they can help you with packaging material instore. I would argue it's about communication before the transaction goes down. The seller could indicate that they would go to PN on the day the money clears, or the next day or whatever. Thus the expectation of next day or drop it and run service is not an issue. A guy that buys stuff online surely is not needing said stuff super urgently... One just needs to communicate the terms and then stick to them.