- Active Topics
- Forums
- Create Topic
-
On 4/19/2024 at 11:34 AM, P555 said:Looking for a bit of advice regarding buying a gravel bike.
Which is better - buying a carbon frame gravel bike with alu wheels or buying an alu frame with carbon wheels?
Depends on the frame .I have a Topstone carbon frame with the compliance linkage frame and alu wheels . I can feel the frame taking the knocks at the rear while the front is more harsh on the carbon fork .It took me long before i pulled the trigger on the right bike for me .I also have a spez roubaix with future shock .I would rather pay more for a more supple frame like Diverge ,Topstone ,Revolt and worry less about the wheels .Tyre choice is way more important than the wheel rim material
18 hours ago, Thomo said:Experienced same with a particular saddle/post/clamp where the edges of the clamp protruded beyond the edge of the saddle.
Also had a case of a velcro strap of a saddle bag constantly rubbing the shorts until it had a hole.
That velcro saddle bag strap is a bugger .One ride with new bibs and it made hole
On 4/10/2024 at 9:39 PM, Kom said:head of finance only tracks the color of the bike, just dont change color and number of them in the garage and you're good
I did the unthinkable and changed colours .It was spotted from space
3
I have several bikes of each category except downhill .As somebody that has gone over to the dark side on a gravel bike , i need to reduce and sell some bikes . I will keep the gravel and DS and the road and 'very nice ' hardtail can all go
Male currently
Age 55 years
194 cm
Weight 107kg .
Shoe size 48 .Ten years ago it was a 46 ?
Dyslexic I think ?
I get emotionally attached to material things
XL or XXL in MTB sizes
BMC TM Road 60cm
Pinarello 62cm
Spez Roubaix 60 cm
Cannondale gravel XL
On 4/1/2024 at 2:54 PM, madmarc said:The E-Caliber, is very tempting as a first e-bike at their discounted price.
Wonder how it will ride after riding a Top Fuel for the last 4 or 5 years
Hard
13 hours ago, Prince Albert Cycles said:In my humble view a gravel being bike being more road bike than mtb 2 x is the solution . I find the GRX 46/30 with 11-34 on my Topstone perfect . 2 x 10 being as inexpensive as bicycle parts can get
I bought a Topstone end of last year .Only bike in 15 years that is as close to complete as i have ever owned .By complete i mean 2 x 11 GRX as above . Kingpin frame works .Tyre clearance is plenty .Running vittorio dry 38 mm .Durable and smooth enough tyres to race on tar . I can climb faster than my mountain bike .Flat dirt road is way faster than a mtb and close to a road bike on tar .Descents are a problem at speed only .The camber tends to rule your front tyre on a gravel bike when descending on a dirt road .All of this carrying two bottles and riding in a comfortable position
3 hours ago, splat said:Was his offer reasonable ?
Is he based on an oil rig ?
Is he buying the bike for his nephew ?
Will he pay via Skrill
Will he send a driver to collect ?
If they send an Uber to collect it is a scam .An uber driver saved us from a scam .When he saw the delivery address he told us it was a scammer that he delivered to previously
2
1 minute ago, Shebeen said:The VW polo is the most hijacked car in the country, the reason is mainly because it is the most popular car in the country.
@Nick might have stats on the gravelbike classifieds but I think it's mainly because there are more around. Tell you what I don't see much of in the listings - fatbikes...
Fatbikes are for snow and sand and nothing else . Most people in RSA don,t ride long distances on sand
I think the riding position on a gravel bike is more natural and more comfortable than a road or mountain bike . Combine that with proper go anywhere tyres and wide range groupset '2 x ' with disc brakes and like me , you will push the boundaries soon and realize that it is only the worst of technical descends that are non gravel bike rideable , plus you can race with the roadies
Ocean glasses make a slightly tinted photo chromatic pair that work perfectly .I have had all the Rudy,s Adidas,Oakley .Now i only buy cheap ones that work at Cape union mart or ocean glasses at the surf shop or some of the golf course pro shops .Some of the best pairs were bought at cash converters .Photo chromatic layers only last about two years ,then they make bubbles or become opaque
8 hours ago, two hands said:Been interesting scrolling through the during- and post-Epic comments and correlating it to my experience of riding the event this year.
Since I was the journalist who actually got this quote from Burry back in 2012, in an interview for the 10-year coffee table book "African Epic: The Untamed Mountain Bike Race" maybe I can offer some context. This was part of a long, rambling and fairly philosophical conversation Burry and I had as he was driving to the airport to race another World Cup block. If you knew Burry, you'll know this wasn't about discounting anyone's mountain biking experience or commitment to the sport. It has nothing to do with whether Epic riders are the only true mountain bikers. He certainly didn't believe that. It wasn't inferring that the Epic was a measure of your worth as a mountain biker. Hell, at that stage most of the World Cup pro field hadn't even considered racing a Cape Epic. Nino had only done one (in 2010).
Burry genuinely rejoiced in meeting and encouraging all riders, no matter their age, background or ability. He was simply saying that no matter where in the field you finish – in a jersey or with twice the finishing time of the pro field – the Epic unites us all in that it takes a certain amount of vasbyt and suffering to complete one. Anyone who has ridden a Cape Epic knows this. Those who have supported a pro team, a mate or loved one know this too. Even if you arrive at the Prologue in the best shape of your life (fitter than your partner, even!) you are now at the mercy of the weather, the terrain, mechanicals, race village viruses, other riders' skill levels, your own mental health, the list goes on... This is true for the entire field. Sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail. Not only relative to your partner but at the hands of all the variables that conspire to end your Epic campaign. If you're human, you'll suffer somewhere out there. Burry recognised that was true for all Epic riders, himself included, and wanted to close the perceived gap between the experience of top riders and those further back in the field.
The truth about completing an Epic is that anybody with moderate ability can finish .The catch is how much preparation and vasbyt you mixed in before and during the event . For some it just another event . For others it is the single biggest accomplishment of their lives . It is now five years since i received my medal . I know how much effort it took . I follow friends every year and watch anxiously as time passes and when they don,t move along i know how deep they are digging .Burry knew this
On 3/25/2024 at 2:37 PM, tubed said:Just been sitting next to 6 Chinese riders at the *Waterfront who obviously rode, then there are the other obvious foreign riders milling about. Point being, with the currency where it is at, I can't see why a profit making company like the Epic wont do everything to make sure it cant maximise the spend from those with hard currency and promote the event to that audience.
Also seemed to me to be a very large Spanish speaking contingent, supported by the number of enthusiastic posters in the Youtube comments, they seem to love the race. Maybe some Hermida wackyness in the race commentary booth would be in order, he could comment in Spanglish alongside Sabine who was great.
On the patriotic side - Matt is the best Epic rider in the world. Candice is of the best Epic riders in the world (just needs a stronger partner choice, which is also a skill of Matt's).
*Edit: context
The riders come from places that people do ride like south america and Spain .One year there were many Belgians and in 2019 there was a big team from Colombia
5 hours ago, mecheng89 said:Yes, in the daily highlights package they perhaps named the age cat winners once.
BTW, why did Bart B not ride this year? His "pigeon chest" is looking worse as time goes on.
Shoulder operation earlier this year
1
1
Howie has some serious pedigree .To deliver every day takes some doing from both riders and that goes for Matt also .Look what happened to speed company .Both have to turn up and give at least 80% on the day to stay relevant
Any way to still get an entry ?
2 hours ago, robert124marx@gmail.com said:At Jonkershoek I do 1052m in 21.51km, but these not a flat section in sight. And I also still het cramps on suikerbossie 😅
Muscle fatigue plays a major role .Nobody cramps in the first hour ,even if you burn your legs in the first 30 minutes .My son is a super fit waterpolo player ,but at tournaments when he plays his all out against good opposition he would start cramping in the latter part of the game .He is the fittest in the team but the only one that cramps regularly .The type of muscle plays a role .Like mesomorphic body type . I rarely see any of these thin body type people cramp . It is often the more muscular people that i notice cramping
2 hours ago, Remington said:I have taken everyone advice to heart and have a bike setup booked for this week. I had my bike setup when I bought it 2 years ago. I have never changed any settings but I agree a revisit is a good starting point.
I will reassess with another ride this weekend taking all the advice regarding hydration and nutrition and see if there is any improvement. Also taking into consideration a slower pace. I will plan a similar ride on the same route with the same elevation.
Looking at the riding conditions this past weekend the average temperature was 28C and peaked at 37C. There are so many factors in play here but I do think the main culprit could be something has changed with the bike setup or my positioning. I don't know if my cleat position is not optimal. Since my original setup I bought new shoes and cleats but they were never setup on the current bike. The shop owner set them up on a jig. I never have had knee problems with the new cleats and shoes but anything is possible
I will give feedback next week after my . Hopefully this can help someone else
The brand and the effect from carbon and nylon sole shoes can cause saddle height differences .Cleat position can change with new shoes .A saddle can drop slightly without you realizing it .Even riding position changes as you get fitter ,stronger ,or you have weight changes .You have to reassess regularly .I am very aware of my comfortable riding position .When i notice something is off ,i stop and change things with the tool that should be on your bike .I have never had a bike setup.It works for me ,but i am probably the exception
11 hours ago, Jewbacca said:I have two takes on this.
One, which is usually the case, is you aren't fit enough for the effort you're putting out, so you basically go until you blow.
The other involves what you eat in tandem with the above.
As an anecdote, I know I can run 10km comfortably in 40 minutes. If I decide to run the same 10km route in 33 minutes, there is a very real chance my hamstrings or inside quad will twinge during the run and cramp afterwards.
The sustainable effort vs above threshold is usually what causes the cramps in shorter things.
Longer things it can start being dehydration, required salt etc, but the short stuff as per your examples it's training and/or lack of fitness.
The science guys will start going into sodium levels and all sorts of glucose inputs etc but in reality you're over exerting yourself for your fitness level
From a 55 year old cramp champ . Genetics are real . I have three children that also cramp badly . Diet makes very little difference . Above comments are correct .I cramp at three hours in .Biggest factor is higher effort than you trained for .Heat, not dehydration per say .I almost never cramp on cool days . Cramp tablets help if you take plenty ,like six at a time .Ride lighter gears if you know you are not fit .Use different muscle groups in a ride and stretch on the bike .Bananas and Game work as good as any product .Saddle height is important to balance your leg muscle efforts
5 hours ago, The Ouzo said:Can’t see the number plate properly but it doesn’t look like an SA plate on that car
Jeez man ! That happened in India
19 minutes ago, Paul Ruinaard said:There are those that have owned Campag 10 Speed Record and then there is the rabble that will never know what a proper shift feels like. Its like coming home when you engage the shift lever and theres no mamby pamby ratcheting around but rather a solid thunk as it shifts. And it alwasy does it and its always accurate.
#justsaying
Like being colour blind .You don't know what you are missing , and i thought campagnola was an italian salad dressing
2
21 hours ago, LazyTrailRider said:I'm both a semi-roadie and a trail rider (and have been all the other types except cyclocross over the years).
I love riding on the road, the way you can smoothly put watts down is something you don't get on even the best flow trails, and definitely not while pinning it through the gnar in full #enduro mode.
But here's the thing: I never do group rides on the road, because I can't handle how roadies in general behave. When I'm caught by a bunch or manage to catch up to one in traffic, I purposefully change my pace to avoid them because I don't want to be part of anti-social behaviour.
I can count on one hand the number of groups I've encountered who don't ride several abreast (always quoting that silly "it's safer to pass a short wide cycling group than a long single-file one" story) and who stop at all traffic lights and stop signs. I can't tell you how many times I've been stationary at a traffic light and seen motorists shake their heads at riders who think they have the right to skip lights because at that point they're in "pedestrian mode", only to switch to "now I have full vehicle rights" again 100m later. It's beyond ridiculous.
You know what's amazing? That more road cyclists aren't killed more regularly. On an average 90min weekend morning ride in the Southern Peninsula, my Varia registers more than 300 vehicles passing me. Those are silly odds.
Same here .I ride alone on the road for all above reasons and i ride alone on trails because groups 'kuier ' on their bikes and don't watch their wheel .Too many times people get hurt in group social riding .I would rather ride with a couple of others or alone
2
How Matt Beers became so fast - Interview
in The Bike Room
Posted
Muscle power is directly related to the length of the muscle .Long muscles will always be stronger than the same weight shorter one