http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/ can work out speed at various cadences as well as the gain ratios for various combinations of cranksets and cassettes
Thats it unless you go down to Black hill. You can ride between Black Hill road and the top of Red Hill. Not sure how safe this is. SANParks aren't keen on MTBer's on other routes on the Mountain....
Unfortunately sadly there is not a legal off road route. ?There is a small path along the Constantia Nek rd which would then enable you to hook up onto the pedestrian walk along the M3 and up to Rhodes Mem. ? Its NOT legal to ride in Cecilia or Newlands forest. ?And anyone who does is jeopardising relations with the landowner. Between Tokai and Constantia Nek...... in the Park nothing, otherwise its private landowners wine farms.... Cheryl J2010-01-08 02:23:45
Cassette and / or chain could be worn or could be new chain on old cassette etc ? Also check if your derailleur hanger is bent - doesn't need to be out a lot ? ? Cheryl J2009-12-14 01:06:57
I also have the stitching around the edge of the padding chafe problem on longer rides. On my CapeStorm shorts - the good ones funnily enough and not really on the cheap ones.... ?It also seems related to washing my shorts in with normal detergent. ?Using woolite has helped the problem enormously. Other solution was buying better shorts - Giordana in may case and I've just bought some Assos now aswell.
I've got Avid Elixer Rs. They're great. Really good modulation, stopping power and no probs with alignment. Which ones did your wife have? The cheaper or more expensive better quality variants? You can't compare Juicy 3's with Shimano XT's. They're in two completely different price & quality brackets...... (A friend of mine had the shimano deore disc brakes - they were horrible... you get what you pay for)
A few photographs (most were of back wheels! ). Pity there wasn't a better turnout - the track was by all accounts fun. And pity there weren't more women riding (i was sick) - but 4? (not counting the fun riders..) did everyone else also have flu??
Titusti
Dom Calitz
Guy Pike
Gerhard Dirks
JasonW
Cheryl J2009-08-30 13:18:25
Which is why the Bicycling 'ride before you' buy was such a great concept. Of all the dual sussers i tried on the day (round delvera - could test track ) the merida 96 was the worst..... really didn't suit meCheryl J2009-08-28 09:38:07
The Anthem X is a very very nice bike - I have one - the geometry suits me and I love the handling. It was great in the Alps and likes Cederberg rocks too. I have also tried the Merida 96. I hated it. The handling wasn't great, it felt harsh (yes the shock was set up properly!) and just not as responsive. Give me the Anthem anyday. It has also recently won one of the British bike mags 'bike of the year' award.Cheryl J2009-08-28 06:34:41
I've been riding a set since July last year. Training and everything for the Cederberg Challenge, Attakwas, LOTS of riding in France (alps, rocky stuff in provence etc) and they're still going really really well. Still running very very well. Hubs cool and no problems with the rims. I love my wheels
I was finally persuaded to drop my seat on some really steep riding somewhere very far away...... it made a huge difference to my confidence. I haven't yet done any steep descents which are sufficiently long enough in CT to merit hauling out the allan key.... (and i've not yet got round to getting a quick release thingy never mind anything fancier!)
I agree generally re shorts, saddles, gloves etc. I do also know there are some women who swear by their 'mens' saddles.... Bikes - everyone is a different shape and size. Ride a bike / frame see if the geometry works. I bet there are some men who would fit a 'wsd' design bike. Manufactureres work on 'averages'. 'Average' dimensions for women are different to men (e.g. on average women are shorter). I've yet to see the perfect 'average' person. There's a broad (very broad) distribution. Best thing: try the bikes. see what works. a lot can be tweaked but not all.
I seem to recall when I was looking for a new bike that the Giant Anthem X women's did seem to have different geometry. Thankfully I didn't like the geometry (found it a bit upright for me) and preferred the men's version. I say 'thankfully' because ummmmmm the colour was hideous (pink). I know colour isn't a good reason to reject a bike but PINK ?? If its the right bike I think it might however be possible to get it in blue (baby blue that is...... ) as I subsequently found out. Personally my 'mens' Anthem X1 is perfect for me (and a nice colour ).
Well worth sticking with it until you're comfortable. ?More control (btw - its normal to fall over sometimes.... just changed pedal types and managed to do the fall over sideways thing yesterday!?
First time I've done the longer route and I also enjoyed it. ??MUCH nicer than the 50k. ?
Not having ridden quite that far for a while, I took my time and enjoyed the scenery. ?And surprised myself by surviving (obviously 35k rides up and down alpine 'hills' aren't such bad training...).
Agree with Shane re the dirt road thing but hey - it was a pretty day and Petrus se Btrand is always fun - including its singletrack (very fun). ?The water points were nicely stocked and all the Marshalls very friendly (thanks to the guy who slowed me down somewhere before I x'd myself down a steep hill on a horrible corner).
It was a bit scary / tricky at the end coming down the ridge with all the shorter route back markers.... ?Most were great and moved out the way though it must have been scary to have someone going past as fast as I was (- trying to -).
As for 'Palukas'? ?I saw lots and lots of people out enjoying themselves and MTBing,?as?well?as lots who ummm weren't and probably sunk sooo far into their misery/tiredness that moving out the way while walking for someone still riding was beyond them (at least I'll charitably ascribe it to this!).
In all, a fun day - not too technical / tricky but then I don't think it's intended to be!
?
Yes?re different directional thread.
I always understand?the direction issue?as follows (probably not terribly scientific...)
Pedal's unscrew in the opposite direction to pedalling.
i.e. pedalling 'tighten's?the pedal?into?the crank
so to remove - turn allen key opposite direction to pedalling direction
... or something
