AfricaMike

So how did it go? i've been offered a place on a team for the 2012 event so thanks for all the advice above. I've done 4 Epics but this will be my first mega-mile single day (even though it'll be on a team.....)

West Rand Cycles (011-955-4342, speak to Eben) imports the Ventana El Rey (www.ventanausa.com). The bike comes in as a frame and you spec it yourself. I've done 2 Epics on mine and I honestly cannot find anouther 29'er duallie that comes vaguely close in terms of the ideal bike for Epic. oh, and the price is within your budget too.

Borriz, heard about this from Fatboy-Slim on yesterdays ride. Man I'm glad you're OK!!!

Thanks guys - looks like a good deal to me

Just been on Cannondale's website perving at the bikes. Anybody know what the price would be on a Super Six specced with 105?

Cape Epic riders reminding themselves how boring road riding really is (ducks the popcorn......

There's a guy that rides in blue overall trousers, takkies, peak cap, but wears a Dunkeld Cycles cycling shirt who I regularly see riding a GT Zaskar in and around Randburg. I see him almost daily but never know whether I should ask where he got the bike/shirt from.........

yawn......

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/87271-gary-fisher-precaliber-24/page__p__1193115__hl__fisher__fromsearch__1#entry1193115 I'm selling my daughters 24" Gary Fisher which we bought when she was 10 years old. With me in Jhb and you in Somerset West it's a pity you cant take it for a ride but here's my advice - unless she's vertically challenged the 24" is not going to last long, but who cares. My daughter is a shorty but by the time she turned 12 the 24" was already getting too small for her, by my standards - but she LOVED the smaller bike - she could put her feet on the ground, was confident with the steering and could easily do a standing climb. She's now 14 and has a 'regular' small GT.....she's scared witless of the 26" wheels, the 'big' frame and the trigger shifters (her old bike has gripshifts which are easier for small hands) My recommendation - rather buy smaller than bigger. It might cost you more in the end financially but you'll have a youngster that LOVES bike riding!! Buy the 24"..........

Ventana El Rey 29'er dual-susser. I rode 2010 Epic on it and what a blast - but you'll need to spend a little more than R22k B) See you at the '11 Epic

NeilPryde to set sails on two wheels: BMW Group subsidiary DesignworksUSA develops two high-performance road bikes in collaboration with the windsurfing champion.“Diabolo” and “Alize” make their debut in August 2010 at Europe’s biggest one-day cycling race in Hamburg, the Vatenfall Cyclassics. Singapore/Hamburg. Whenever equipment for high-performance water sports is the issue, the name NeilPryde immediately comes to mind. The expertise acquired by the company during the past 40 years in the field of sports performance, wind management, aerodynamics and lightweight construction, will soon be available to the cyclist on the road. The leading water and adventure sports manufacturer has ventured into new terrain. This month, NeilPryde is launching two high-performance road bikes, which have been developed in collaboration with the Singapore-based studio of DesignworksUSA, a BMW Group subsidiary. The bikes were presented to the public at the Vatenfall Cyclassics, which took place in Hamburg in August 2010. The design: The beginning of a new product. As is the case with all NeilPryde water sports products, design also plays a significant role in the manufacture of bikes. Whether automobile, surfboard or bike, design is the crucial factor for making a purchase decision. The team at DesignworksUSA regarded the project as a particularly exciting challenge. It was not simply a matter of product design, but all about visually interpreting the successful enterprise’s brand identity within a new industry and significantly and sustainably shaping the future face of NeilPryde on the asphalt. With its cross-industrial work in the field of product design which, in addition to automobiles, also includes development work for the aircraft, railway supply and yacht building industries, the BMW Group subsidiary DesignworksUSA deals with all kinds of mobility. For example, DesignworksUSA was also responsible for the development of the BMW Bike Collections, which comprise mountain bikes, touring bikes, cruise bikes and k! ids’ bikes as well as a large amount of sports equipment, lifestyle and other mobility products. Shaping a bike identity for NeilPryde. The new bikes designed for the water sports specialist combine the highest level of dynamics and racing aesthetics. With “Diabolo” and “Alize”, NeilPryde and DesignworksUSA have created two sculptural bikes with uncompromising performance. Michael Pryde, Group Sales and Distribution Manager at NeilPryde Bikes, shares the design team’s enthusiasm: “Our heritage in elegantly engineering winning products in the water sports arena is now expanded beautifully to the cycling world.” This premiere has opened new doors both in terms of product design as well as the evolution of the NeilPryde brand”, says Laurenz Schaffer, President of DesignworksUSA. “We are very pleased that we have been able to develop this innovative vision together with NeilPryde.” Sculptural mobility: The models “Alize” and “Diabolo”. The design of the road bikes is a clear sign of the company’s intention to enter a new dimension in mobility. The bikes’ distinctive, muscular appearance was inspired by the excitement experienced in the sporting history of NeilPryde, and is visible in the sculptural surfaces and the highest degree of elaborateness right down to the smallest detail. Consequently, new standards for high-performance road bikes have been set, which – like the sails produced by the brand – had to undergo stringent wind tunnel tests. The road bike “Alize” was developed for competitively oriented cyclists who wish to quickly break away from the peloton. It stands for pure aerodynamics and combines expressive, elegant and dynamic aesthetics with outstanding performance reached, inter alia, by optimized tube profiling and an extension of the Kamm tail. The changing profile along the length of the tubes manages the airflow specific to the aerodynamic characteristics of each element – frame, forks, wheels and components. The innovative cross sections are designed to extend the trailing edge of the air flow without increasing weight. Using state-of-the-art 3D modelling techniques, it was possible to harmonise surface profiles and provide them with a perfectly smooth finish. “Diablo” is a high-performance bike for alpine and final spurt enthusiasts. Decades of water sports experience in the field of carbon processing and the latest knowledge in lightweight construction acquired by both partners have been incorporated into the design. The monocoque frame of the bicycle is made of continuous carbon fibre. Integrated sculptural surfaces in the transitions and tubes enhance stiffness without increasing weight. Moreover, stiffness ribs were integrated into the neuralgic locations on the fork blades as well as into the chain and seat stays. Achieving a perfect balance between all cycling-related features and the necessary lightweight requirements was considered to be the greatest challenge during the entire design process. The resulting organic form language expresses a muscular and powerful character that visually communicates enhanced light-weight performance, authentically establishing NeilPryde on the bicycle market. The first two models from the NeilPryde road bike series can be pre-ordered worldwide on the Internet at www.neilprydebikes.com (delivery scheduled to commence mid September 2010). Prices of fully assembled bicycles: 3,900 –4,300 USD (with Shimano Ultegra) 5,100 – 5,500 USD (with Shimano Dura Ace). Frame sets: “Diabolo” 2,500 USD “Alize” 2,250 USD.

Burry rides a 29'er, Conrad rides a 29'er, the mouse rides a 29'er, .....and so do I

New Wireless 'DataLink' Accessory Includes Mac Compatibility, Enables Cyclists to Upload Workouts to the Web in Seconds LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 13 /PRNewswire/ --Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technology, today announced the launch of the CS500 - a new cycling computer that is the first in the market to offer rocker switch operation and a sleek, extra-large display screen. The CS500 is also compatible with the wireless Polar Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D., which provides the rider with cycling power, enabling the highest level of professional training. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100413/NY85222 ) Event riders have long desired cycling computers with simpler button-pushing and a display screen with large, easy-to read digits - especially at high speeds. The CS500 meets these demands with two exclusive design features. First, with an extra-large and aerodynamic display - the CS500 offers outstanding visibility, and allows more information to be viewed on the screen, creating a data-rich, cycling computer. Second, the diamond-shaped handlebar unit sits on a pivoting, two-way rocker switch. When cyclists want to change the screen to view different data, they no longer have to take their hands off the bars - they simply use their thumb to lightly tap the left or right side of the CS500, and the screen instantly flips to reveal a different set of performance data. With this unique design, cyclists can better concentrate on their ride. "With the CS500, Polar is revolutionizing the way cyclists view, track and monitor their data," said Jeff Padovan, President of Polar USA. "From design to functionality, cyclists can train at a higher level with features including the industry's first two-way rocker switch that allows users to easily view data and rich feedback such as speed, cadence and power. Additionally, the option to add accessories separately gives the cyclist the flexibility to customize their training based on their changing needs." Designed with competitive riders in mind, the CS500 combines the precise and leading Polar heart rate technology with advanced cycling features. The CS500 tracks speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, calories burned, incline, altitude, ascent and descent and temperature. Up to four different data points can be displayed on the extra-large screen and using the auto-lap splits feature, miles automatically roll-over and cyclists can see a snapshot of their data per lap. To simplify training at the right level and help cyclists get a better workout, the exclusive Polar OwnZone feature provides a personalized, target heart rate recommendation on how hard to ride. When paired with the Polar Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D., a separate accessory, the CS500 can track high-level cycling data such as power output. With power meter compatibility - available at an affordable price - the CS500 can evolve with a cyclist, as they become more advanced and their training needs expand. The CS500 synchs with polarpersonaltrainer.com, which is a free, online training journal, where cyclists can easily set goals, track progress, analyze results and challenge friends to a common goal. After a workout, data is uploaded to the site via the DataLink, a new wireless communication device from Polar, which includes Mac compatibility. The DataLink plugs into the USB port on a computer, and automatically detects the CS500 in the room, instantly uploading new workout files to a user's personal profile. In conjunction with the CS500, polarpersonaltrainer.com has been redesigned with new, cycling-specific features, such as "Training Load," which helps cyclists make smarter decisions by interpreting how hard a specific workout was, and advising when you have recovered from the previous workouts. Utilizing Polar W.I.N.D. technology, the CS500 eliminates the issue of data drop-outs or cross-talk between cycling computers, as the powerful, 2.4 GHz transmission signal ensures disturbance-free training. The new Dual Lock Bike Mount, made of reinforced composite metal, guarantees sturdy, rock-solid attachment to the bike, making it ideal for both road and mountain biking. The CS500 can easily be customized and used on up to three different bikes, and also features a "Drink Reminder," prompting cyclists when hydration is needed during a ride. To see a video of the CS500 in action and its unique functionalities, visit the Polar USA YouTube Channel. The CS500 is available as a base set, or bundled with a cadence sensor. The base set includes the handlebar unit, WearLink W.I.N.D. fabric chest strap, CS speed sensor W.I.N.D., and Dual Lock Bike Mount, and is available for a suggested price of $319.95. The CS500 cadence set is available for a suggested price of $359.95. The Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D. is available as a separate accessory for a suggested price of $359.95. The DataLink is also available as an accessory, for a suggested price of $54.95. All products are available online or at specialty stores. About Polar Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. The leading Polar heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body. Our wrist-based training computers provide valuable guidance and feedback, enabling individuals to improve their fitness level, overall health and well-being or sports performance. Polar products and technologies are key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the country. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com. MEDIA CONTACTS Jasmine Lyons Roberto Lebron CooperKatz for Polar USA CooperKatz for Polar USA 917-595-3046 917-595-3035 jlyons@cooperkatz.com rlebron@cooperkatz.com SOURCE Polar Jasmine Lyons, CooperKatz for Polar USA, +1-917-595-3046, jlyons@cooperkatz.com, or Roberto Lebron, CooperKatz for Polar USA, +1-917-595-3035, rlebron@cooperkatz.com Tuesday, 13 April 2010 16:00:14 PRN [nPnNY85222] {C} ENDS

Eish! Nice......

Brilliant idea - I'm going to suggest it to the team management.......considering I'm riding with Mr Fish.......

http://www.thinkbike.co.za/

Saw a whole bunch of bikers on the Cristiaan de Wet bridge over Hendrik Potgieter this morning - and I was on my GS - good initiative - well done guys!!!

I got a pic of a real hero at the launch of the '08 Absa Cape Epic - went up to Mr Gary Fisher and asked if we could stand in line for photo's - he didn't hesitate - he even put down his drink to oblige - took pics at our table - who's Lance when you've got Mr Fisher??

My previous bike had a KCNC SC Bone and it went through 2 Epics and a couple of 1000 k's without any issues - great product, you wont be sorry. Maybe I should buy a new one (do they come out in red?) Cactus2010-03-05 07:04:37

Some of the bikes I've owned in the past couple of years. First was the Cannondale Jekyll which I should never have sold, then I upgraded to the Cannondale Scalpel which I also should never have sold.......then my personal favourite was my Ventana El Saltamontes - a stunner of a bike and the first one I sold on the Hub.....with huge regrets afterwards (if anyones got a Salt lying around I'm buying!!!) and my last 26'er was the S-Works Epic Carbon - man! what a machine...........what a ride but alas, another sale I've regretted. Now I'm waiting for my American Classics to arrive for my new 29'er - photo's to follow when they arrive!!!!!

Alu - no doubt

I agree - The Tour de France wouldn't quite be the same if they did a couple of loops around Paris, would it. The new format has taken the edge off something that's supposed to be "Epic". I didn't ride '09 so I guess my opinion doesn't really count........21 March approaches.......

Yes, I think I remember Kevin Vermaak saying that the daily highlights are now also being aired internationally this year.

30 days 20 hours...........nearly time to start easing offf a little - slept in late this morning - 04h45 - awesome!

Hi DS, See you're shod with 'Little Alberts'. What do you think of them - I keep ripping the nobblies off and the sealant cannot seal the gaping hole. Thinking of changing rubber sometime - just don't know what to......