KnobbyMech

Never, ever, never pull the hydraulic brakes with the bike upside down

...unless it is a shifter with "X9" printed on it!

Been there plenty! No matter how much it fisses me off, I manage that one every time. Keeps me on the ground I guess.

+1 for the Epic Pro. Also take a tub (or 2) of USN recover max for after the race.

...and you say you are amazed? Same height for me, but I am skinny at 81kg.

$2.00 from the selling price of $220????? Better than nothing and a good initiative, but it seams a bit "cheap" to me.

Can't go wrong with either. Similar parts and maintenance. Sid slightly lighter and more pricy, that's about it. Happy trails

I have measured and tracked my fitness using a simple formula: ave actual heartrate x min (1hr 13min and 12 sec = 73.2) / km. This gives you the number of heartbeats it takes you to do 1km. No slip riding and a route which ends where it starts is required. Windier conditions, routes with more climbing and longer rides will also push the ratio up. My best result so far is 269 beats/km on my mtb and 261 beats/km on my rd bike on the same route and 650 beats/km running. What is yours?

Keep: The great number of marshalls everywhere where they could possibly be needed. The unexpected water point on top of the big climb. Your pink organiser shirts. The cold ones at the finish. The route. It is just right. All the friendly faces that makes everyone comfortable and relaxed. You attention to detail. Spot on! Add: A hosepipe / shower to get rid of the worst dirt before heading home. Some markers en-route to the venue. Hope you get that elusive sponsor soon, you deserve one.

Never bend the eyelets as the gap sise is designed to give enough resistance to pull the plug up to the tyre, but not too much to pull the plug through. Also the reason why you have to twist the plug a couple of times.

1. Pre-pepare the tool before the ride/race: Insert 2 small "snot stokkies" (tubeless plugs) into the plug tool by feeding it from one side through the eye. The eye should be in the centre of the plugs. Then re-stick the preservation plastic and backing over the plugs to keep it from drying out. It can now be used straight away when you get a puncture. 2. When you detect a puncture that does not seal up, hold your finger on the hole to prevent further deflation (very hard to insert the plugs into a flat tyre) while getting the tool from your bag of tricks (this is where a buddy comes in more usefull than fresh batteries for your PVR remote). 3. Remove the covers from the plugs and insert the tool through the hole taking care to leave about 5mm of plug outside the tyre. Now twist the tool a number of times taking care that the plugs do not pull into the tyre further. Now simply pull out the tool and inflate the tyre to required pressure. 4. Note that although plugs may hold for the entire life of the tyre, it is only a temporary measure and almost certainly will always have a bit of a leak. For a permanent fix, get tubeless patches (for some reason, these do not take to Specialized tyres in my experience).

O no! That is sad. Get well Allistair! (Think Allistair now owns the shop once owned by Derek)

Had cramp problems but since I stated drinking "Re-hydrate" before and during the race my problems stopped. Also great alternative in between that sweet sips from the energy drinks.

Broke a quick link in a race before. Also "lost" one during a bone shaking technical downhill. Got some sound advise from another hubber to always replace the quick link when replacing the chain.

Actually that is dirt cheap! Got a picture of my car (and I didn't even order it) in the mail recently for R800. Who is JMPD anyway?

Please let us not read about you and this trick tomorrow in the "stupidist thing I did cycling" tread.

I used to like the Bontrager Team3 TLR front and rear specific combo and the Bontrager XDX TLR as they are light and grippy, but I now doubt their rigidity and puncture resistance (given, they are not full UST, just TLR and I had no issues with the 2.25 front specific team3 so far). So, for the Epic this would be a no-no for me. I love the Geax Saguaro TNT on my 26" so I will try this on the rear wheel. Wish they brought out the Barro Mountain TNT 29". Would be perfect for the front!

I used the Bontrager (?) yellow rip tape and a tubeless valve. No sweat. Obviously UST tyres will work easier than say the Fast Track or Bontrager tubeless ready tyres.

Entered. Hiee-hah, here we go again

Which model has the suede? Must tell you that there is no more comfortable and knee friendly shoe than the Specialized (but I am sure not for all types of feet).

Sorry, I missed it. I think for some people there is a fine line between sanity and loosing it alltogether like this dude(dudess)

Reason to stop p!ss!ng off the motorists in the Cradle. Shocking http://www.nuus24.com/Wereld/Nuus/VIDEO-Motoris-ry-talle-fietsryers-om-20110301

To me it is clear that wear is not from the seal, but from the ceramic sleeve inside the lowers. You could replace only the uppers, but this will be around R2500. I had a Merida HFS hardtail with a Fox80RL, but replaced the fork with a F100RLC. It made the geometry perfect for me with a slightly more relaxed attack angle. Gave great confidence on the technical stuff.

Bloemfontein

Heidelberg cycling club extends an open invite to all hubbers not doing the Sabie or route 69 this weekend to join us on the following training ride in Heidelberg on Saturday: Koppie climb repeats: Climb length 1.8km - ascent 115m (112m over last 1.5km). Will aim to do around 13 climbs (1500m ascent, 47km) Ride at your own pace. Will provide cold water at top of climb. Great views of our valley. PM me for time and directions.