Dsan

I have to concur, it's like putting tiger wheel and tire alloys on a Ferrari. Only allowed if you live in Phoenix/Lenasia

I make use of a blog and Cycle Meter and dailymile.com/ keen on using a collaborative approach as well

Same thing happened to me, although my break was a little longer (20 years nearly). Decided to stop pissing around and set goals. 1000 km in 60 days, 500km in 7 days and so on. Kept an online diary to track my progress and made use of my iPhone to track distance/speed and calorie burn. Best damn decision I've made in a decade.

The Bicycle Portraits project was initiated by Stan Engelbrecht and Nic Grobler early in 2010. Whenever they can, together or separately, they’re on the lookout for fellow commuters, and people who use bicycles as part of their everyday work, to meet and photograph. They’re finding out who rides bicycles, why they ride bicycles, if and why they love their bicycles, and of course why so few South Africans choose bicycles as a transport option. There is no specific range of questions asked, they'd rather just establish a conversation around the rider’s life and where his or her bicycle fits into it. Please bear in mind that these recordings were transcribed verbatim and that English is not the first language of many of the characters they met. Being avid cyclists themselves, this project is as much an investigation into South African bicycle culture as it is an excuse for them to ride their bikes and take photographs. Bicycle Portraits

Thanks Wayne, I figured as much but wanted to be 100%..

Now I get that the 11 speed setups have narrow chains but I'm wondering if a super record 11-speed derailleur will happily work with a 9-speed setup (this is road btw). I get why it wouldn't work on the rear but the front's aren't that fussy, are they? Cheers

lock them in the bedroom, make sure they have water and nothing sharp and go for a ride..

2nd-hand bikes in Europe are nice and cheap, so do yourself a flava and go and buy one, ride the hell out of it and bring it back here and sell it.

cycle lab in durban north or melville cycles in gateway are your best bet.

so many good tips here, thanks all.. loads of research time ahead

very valid point, guess I need to start looking at shoes offered slightly wider. Time to get hold of Mavic/Sidi and see what models they have.. Thanks

not good at all. driving on the roads here is the most intense i've ever experienced in 15+ countries. rip kid!

Hoping to hear how others have gotten round the joyous feeling of hot foot. Up to about 80 km's and they are ok (shimano r132's) but once I get past that distance, all hell is opened up. Now I realise KZN isn't exactly the best climate to be riding in during the summer, feet get hot and swell and shoes aren't the most forgiving. Thing is, it's now starting to restrict the distances I can do. Today was 36 in the shade, unless I take up night riding, this problem has to disappear. How does everyone else deal with this? I've thought about going down the more expensive shoe route (sidi's/mavic's) but wanted to get advice on here first. Thanks

As a European, anything the Spaniards do makes me laugh. They always moan and wine like little puta's about competition, if it was up to them, they would have the world in the dark ages. I support Chain Reaction, competition is good. If your business is struggling because of the likes of CRC, then you need to buck your ideas up quickly and beat them (not necessarily in price).

totally agree, so basically before carbon frames, no-one won the tour? hmmm love that logic!

bike bag ordered last thursday (8pm). post office just called to ask if i wanted it send to my po box or would i prefer it being sent direct to the local po. customs duty is a leopard.. not bad at all, considering 3 local shops are yet to get back to me with pricing

oooh that's a tough statement to make there sir!

better in the winter i've heard

@BigH calm down sunshine

No not the people (well maybe actually), but has anyone noticed how bike designs now match how large human beings are in comparison to say the 70's/80's and 90's. Eddy, all slim and sexy looking back then: http://www.biketype.com/pics/5573/full/eddy-merckx_frame_85.jpg Eddy, now feeling rather middle-aged with a SUV in the driveway and a few extra pounds: http://www.dreambike.com/images/merckx/merckx10.jpg Colnago, hello trim, lean fighting machine: http://cbikeusa.com/images/Master-X-Light-PR82.jpg Colnago, hello darling, how many pies did you have last night? http://www.roadcycler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/colnago-cx-1.jpg Finally, the one that's spent too long living in Philly and enjoying the cheese steak, Mr Felt: http://02d5d89.netsolhost.com/images/BikesSpecial/FeltTK1Frame_09.jpg Maybe it's just me but most modern bikes I see today remind me of Mickey Rourke, all overly inflated and rather plump looking. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but one wonders how fatter they'll be getting in the next 5 years

I'm on the hunt for a bike bag. Did the right thing and went to the LBS's here in Durbs. First quote was a Thule for R5000 (err 300 quid plus 35 postage, ok). 2nd wanted R1400 for a local brand. 3rd had one that looked like it was used in an Afghanistan assault mission and decided that R850 was reasonable. CRC's own with wheel bags and shipping just cost me R703.52, will be here late next week. You try and support local business but at the end of the day it's all about me and saving cash. CRC help

One shall consult the bible: Velominati Note Rule #6: Free your mind and your legs will follow.

it won't be the local rozzers, that's for sure. useless c___t's didn't even bother turning up after the last robbery. i'd have more luck with burmese freedom fighters than this bunch of undereducated twats pretending to be a force to reckon with. **edit** actually let me clarify, I'm sure there are some amazing individuals in the SAP but their process of hiring anyone who has a nose, fits a colour bracket and can mutter the words "ima police" has only led to a situation where the force is about as effective as can be with unskilled labor.

Where are they being sold? If it's 2nd-hand shops then it should be easy to identify them and start a campaign. If that's not the case then surely public awareness would help here? Then again you are dealing with one of the most corrupt gangs i've seen on my travels, the south african police service.

aah now i see, thanks!