George Gericke

Seeing as the Heia Hippo is still lurking, does anyone have any suggestions of alternatives places to go do some Open Water swimming??

Thanks for the kind words. I was one of the cows pulling and ice-cream cart up the hills. And yes we did a lot of shouting, but it was for peoples safety. We tried to keep it as nice as possible, but the screaming was for the riders with their iPods in their ears. Although I understand how nice is is to listen to music, in a race as big as the 94.7 it shouldn't be allowed and its a waste anyway with the great atmosphere around you. In the way we where connected it was basically impossible to slow down quickly or swerve out. We had some guys (not even cows) helping getting people out of the way and helping pushing/pulling. We actually got into a almost very serious accident because someone refused to get out of the way, in some kind of spite. He ended up taking down about 6 people including his wife. Sorry about babbling on, was actually just going to say, thanks to everyone that supported the cows and sorry if any of the words sounded nasty.

Yeah those cans will actually kill you if you go diving with it, oxygen becomes poisonous under pressure. Funny things is if you do get oxygen poisoning the first thing they give you when you get back up is oxygen. Btw they never remove all the oxygen, just change the mix. I should work for hangovers though, go to a dive camp in the morning and check the guys sucking on their enriched oxygen tanks. I must admit I stopped, but for the sales lady not really the product. As with PowerBalance, even though it doesn't work, why spoil it for people if it works for them. The Placebo effect works until you tell people about it.

WOW, a lot of info about it and looks great, thanks for the info!!

A friend told me about this MTB route from somewhere in Rivonia to Melville. Something like that, sounds like fun, but can't find any info on it. Where does it start and end? How far is it? How technical and hard is it?

Thanks for the advice, this really changes things. The main reason for getting one is to do the Ironman but I would like to do races like the 94.7 and the rest of the Energade Tri series with it. Can I not just take off the Tri Bars for the drafting legal races? Does a Tri Bike really help that much, guy at TroiSports (very helpful and nice shop btw) the angle of the seat post makes a big difference but not sure. I really need some help, I'm very confused at the moment. If I should go for a Road Bike, what would you suggest?

Hi I'm still very amateur with Triathlon but I'm tired of using my MTB. I went to CycleLab but almost passed out when they referred to a R33k tri-bike as entry level. My budget for this isn't nearly in that league. A friend of mine found a 2008 Schwinn Prologue Road Specialty Bike (with some accessories) for R7500 at Tour de France Cycles in Boksburg and I found it for R6000 on obike.co.za My questions is, is it any good, what a the pros and cons? Info about it here: http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Road/Details/921-S8PRO-Prologue A secondary question, to fit it with the right bars for a cycle race like 94.7, what's the cheapest solution I can get away with?

Good, finished but not in a great time, my cycling let me down, but only been doing it for like a month or so, so it will get better. How did yours go? Did you get water? Must say that was a serious let down, was already dehydrated when I started running, will look after my own hydration next time. The swim went much better than I expected although next time I'm going on the side, wasn't even once able to do more than 3 strokes without bumping into someone. Was there medals, not really worried about that, was just strange, first race ever without something at the end...

Thanks all, all my questions have been answered!!! I have trained for about 2 weeks, and did 80 gym laps (25m pool) in 1:10 tonight. My biggest problem is a only start getting rhythm at 40 laps and have to stop after about 12 laps, and that's only halfway this Sat. Hope to see you all there, look for the guy in die boardshort, with a mountain bike, lol!!!

Any places closer to Fourways??

Thanks for the quick feedback. Well I'm Considering entering the BSG one this weekend, fine with everything, just not sure about the swim, how hard is 600m? Don't want to mess around with a speedo or boardshort, if I get a tri suit, do you swim, cycle and run with it?

Hi New to triathlons (haven't complete or even been to one) and would like to be ready. Training for Ironman 70.3 and then probably the full one. How does the gear work? What do I need? How does the transitions work? Should I get a wetsuit? How about Tri Suits? Do you swim, cycle and run with it? Do you put on a wetsuit over it? Where can I buy triathlon gear (in Gauteng)? Whats the difference between these http://www.fluidlines.co.za/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=26&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55&vmcchk=1&Itemid=55 Thanks, I know thehub is mostly cycling, but lets face it triathlon contains cycling and thehub's one of the best (in my opinion anyway) forum's in SA. George

I need a new back tyre for my MTB. I know the bike is n 26er but the other measurement 2.0/2.2/2.4 I assume it the thickness. How do I choose that one? Which type can my bicycle take?

Thanks everyone for all the advise, really changed the picture for me. To be honest really wanted FS rather than hardtail, but I really wanted to start cycling ASAP (havent been on a bicycle in like 10 years). Want to do the 94.7 That's why I think pedals might be a good start. Was planning to go for Shimano Deore XT but now a bit lost . Found the following, what would you suggest, I want something strong, that I can get out of easily, obviously price, and if possible something I can also use with normal shoes: Nice and Cheap: http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/crank-brother-candy-x-pedals No idea whats different on the Candy C: http://shop.bicicletta.co.za/pCBRCANCPINK06/Crank-Brothers-Candy-C-White.aspx No idea if this is any good: http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/time-atac-alium-pedal Friend told me these are cool, but not so sure: http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/crank-brother-eggbeater-c-pedals And then obviously my original choice: http://www.buycycle.co.za/buyparts/pedals-mtb-clip-in/shimano-xt-en-2-3-4-5/shimano-xt-pedal-m770-black-shimano.html

I recently purchased a Raleigh Dakar Mountain Bike (specs below). Although I'm very happy with it I would like to upgrade it as a hobby. My plan is to by a new component, install it and sell the old one, one component at a time until I have a full Deore XT setup then replace the frame (full suspension) and forks (locakable). My questions are: -Are the parts interchangeable (i.e. if I buy just a Deore XT rear derailleur will it work on my current cassette, chain, etc)? -Is there a good resale market for second hand components? And where? -My first parts I want to replace (in this order): 1. Shimano DEORE XT pedals and Northwave Raptor 3 shoes 2. Shimano XT rear disc brake Kit (front not to urgent at the moment), do I need a different disc as well? 3. Shimano XT MTB Front Derailleur 4. Shimano XT front disc brake Kit Raleigh Dakar: Frame: Raleigh Alloy 6061 Double Butted Fork: Rock Shox Dart 1 Components: Shimano Deore front derailleur, Shimano SLX RD-M662 rear derailleur Shimano BR-M465 mech. Disc brake Shimano Alivio Disc, 32H Hubs SPECIFICATIONS COLOUR STORM GREY FRAME Raleigh Alloy 6061 Double Butted FORK Rock Shox Dart 1 HEADSET ahead type, internal headset STEM Raleigh Alloy HANDLEBAR Alloy 6061 double butted riser SEATPOST Alloy, 31.6 x 350mm SADDLE Raleigh Trail BRAKE LEVER Avid FR-5 for mech. Disc brake BRAKE Shimano BR-M465 mech. Disc brake SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Deore FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Deore, Down Swing REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano SLX RD-M662, Top Normal, Low Profile Design CRANKSET Shimano FC-M442, 44/32/22T PEDALS Alloy Flat CASSETTE Sram PG-950, 11-32T CHAIN Shimano CN-HG53 HUB FRONT Shimano Alivio Disc, 32H HUB REAR Shimano Alivio Disc, 32H RIMS Weinmann Taurus Disc, Single Eyelet, 32H TYRES CST, 2.1”