davidlangebaan

I've had my fair share of cycling related prostate issues. I've probably spent more on saddles than on bikes, including ISM, Rido, Specialized, Cobb, etc. None work 100% for me and my riding is now limited as a result, but the Cobb Randee with a cutout has been the best so far. It's been trial and error. However I know that Ergofit now also offer a Saddle pressure mapping service, which results in some recommendations including the optimal saddle width, something I plan to do in the future. They would probably be your best bet for a proper explanation. I'm unconvinced that your road and MTB saddles should or would be much different; I use the same saddle on both. FWIW...

Hi I have been riding a Specialized Crave Expert for a while. I think it's a 2016. I have an opportunity to buy an almost new Chisel Comp at aa good price. The only thing stopping me is the Crave has a Reba, the Chisel has the new Judy Gold. Is there a significant difference between the two. I really enjoy the Reba. There are other differences of course. The Crave is 1x, the Chisel 2x, but I'm not too fussed about that. The Crave is M4 alloy,the Chisel the new M5. The Crave has QRs, the Chisel has boost and thru axles. Cables on the Chisel are internally routed. Apart from that the components are pretty similar. As I said earlier, my main concern is the fork. Should I go for the newer Chisel?

Sorry, but it's cheaper to pay the courier fees than to pay for 2 saddles and not get them!

I found this pic, taken 3 years ago when things were still better at SAPO. https://www.sapromo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/sa_post_office_2.jpg This dude strolled into the JIMC to try find his missing parcel. This is what he found. No staff, no organisation and a small backlog.

I know this has probably been thrashed to death, but does anyone know what the current time frame is for international deliveries that have the misfortune of moving via the SA Post Office? I ordered some saddles from a UK based company on 15 May. The parcel left Sweden for SA on the 21st. As I understand it then must be scanned at the Johannesburg International Mail Centre before local tracking is available.This appears to be where things go tits up. The boys and girls at SAPO are about as sharp as marbles.They do not reply to emails; the SMS query option responds to say that the item is not yet captured in the system (l know that); and the call centre (yes they answer if you can spend 30 minutes on hold) provides the same info with the added euphemism that there is a "backlog" at the JIMC. Please try again later.... Btw, I have advised the selling company, who only offered a tracked mail delivery to SA, and they will in future bypass our stellar state entity and only offer a courier option to SA.

Yep, I did the windsurfing thing and bought my first MTB in the early 90's as well. A Bridgestone MB2. I guess things have moved on.

New LSG Geometry and other developing problems? My first full-susser was a Giant Trance (26er!). My next one was an updated Trance, also a 26", about a 2011 model I think. I entered a few races and came nowhere. The next year I got an Anthem 29. I killed it in the races (for me) compared to the previous year and went from a 50% finisher to a top 10-20% in a season. I didn't go down gnarly hills as fast as on my Trance but no one really dropped me by too much. And I flew uphill and on flats. I stopped riding due to medical issues several years back and I'm now trying again. It seems that bikes like my Anthem (2012) with a 71 degree HTA have become obsolete and according to all reputable reviews are no longer fit to ride; they're so twitchy downhill that you might as well get off and push; anything 70 degrees or more is horsesh*t and has no place on a bike anymore. And so what was once reviewed as a "light and nimble" and "great handling" is now no longer fit for the trails by today’s standards. You know what? I loved that bike. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. It seems to me that longer top tubes and slacker head angles require shorter stems and wider bars. Surely that makes it more difficult to keep the front down when riding up hills? I had an Ergofit done back then and they recommended a 608mm top tube and a 115mm stem (for a marathon setup). It worked for me. I never needed much more front wheel control than my Anthem provided. I needed more skill for sure. Seat tube angles are also trending steeper, putting the weight more over the BB, but my Ergofit also recommended significant saddle setback, measured from the BB. I'm pretty sure physiology hasn't changed, so steeper seat angles move the saddle in the wrong direction for marathon/cross country setup. My only complaint about the Anthem was the crappy, heavy wheels. I could never get my brake pads to consistently run freely until I did a minor upgrade to a set of entry level Rovals. To solve that problem now I apparently would also need Boost hubs and 142x12 rear axles if I don't want my wheels to behave like wet noodles. Mmm... I never bent or buckled a wheel back then. My rims seemed pretty much strong enough. Is it all development or do the bike companies need new designs to sell more bikes? Are the differences too incremental for the average oke to feel? I’m sure they all add up and I'm sure Sauser and Schurter can feel the differences. A palooka like me? Probably not. If I go fast and don't crash I'm happy. By the way I'm a fan of 1x systems. Not all development is bad. Although that wasn't really a development. My first bike in the 70's was 1x

So I'm still kicking tyres and having put the price of a full susser to my wife without too much of an explosion, I'm upgrading my ambitions. These 2 bikes have virtually identical specs except for the following: Merida: SLX brakes, 32T Chainring with 10-50 cassette, Merida Expert CC rims, Continental X king tyres Silverback: Deore brakes, 34T Chainring with 10-50 cassette, Sunringle TR rims, Maxxis Crossmarks Geometries slightly different: Merida 70 STA, 74.5 HTA, 615 TT Silverback 71 STA, 74 HTA, 625 TT But I don't know enough to tell what difference that will make. My last bike was a 2012 Anthem, which was great. My LBS sells both. I can get the Silverback for R1000 less than the Merida, but both are awesome deals, below R30k. The LBS guy prefers the Silverback but unfortunately I can't get to ride them and stock is very limited so I have to make a quick decision. I'll use it for XC/Marathon riding. Nothing too technical. Help me please

Thanks, yep, that's the one I'm looking at

Hi all Looking at getting back to some riding with a new hardtail 29er. If anyone can offer some advice choosing between these 2 bikes, I'd appreciate it. Specs and geometry look pretty similar, except the Merida has a Manitou Machete fork vs the Momsen Reba and the Merida runs house brand rims vs the Stans Rapid on the Momsen. Based on those differences I'd probably go with the Momsen but I think the Merida may be lighter, ride better, and hold better resale value? Thanks MERIDA: R17 290 FRAME BIG.NINE TFS FORK Manitou Machete Comp 100mm travel air fork with tapered steerer, 15mm bolt through axle with remote lockout DERAILLEUR FRONT Shimano XT DERAILLEUR REAR Shimano XT Shadow+ SHIFTERS Shimano XT 22 speed rapid fire BRAKE LEVER Shimano M500 BRAKES Shimano M500 hydraulic disc, 180mm / 160mm rotors CHAINWHEEL Shimano XT 34-24 teeth CHAIN KMC X11-1 HUBS Sealed bearing 15mm bolt through front and Shimano 4050 quick release rear, centerlock RIM MERIDA Big Nine Comp CC FREEWHEEL Shimano M7000, 11 speed, 11-42 teeth TIRES Maxxis Ikon 29er 2.2" folding MOMSEN: R16 900 Frame Race Tech SL Alloy, Exclusive LSG Design, Integrated Toptube Box ( I.T.B ) Fork RockShox REBA RL 29, ONELOC SPRINT Remote Lockout, 100mm Rear Shock N/A Chainwheel Shimano XT M8000 36/26T for 11 Speed Bottom Bracket Shimano Hollowtech F. Derailleur Shimano XT 2×11 Dual Pull R. Derailleur Shimano XT M8000 Shadow Plus for 11 Speed Shifter Shimano XT M8000 11 Speed Brake Levers Shimano M615 Hydraulic Disc Brakes Shimano M615 Hydraulic Disc, Shimano SM-RT54 Rotors, 160mm Front and Rear Cassette Shimano XT M8000 11-40T for 11 Speed Rims Stan’s ZTR RAPID 29er Tubeless Ready, 32H Tires Vee Tire Co. RAIL Custom Logo, 72tpi Folding Bead, Tubeless Ready, Front: 29 x 2.25, Rear 29 x 1.95

I enjoy racing. I enjoy riding. I don't enjoy racing when I'm just riding. I have mates who want to make every ride a race. I don't ride with those mates very often, but when we race they're normally behind.

You also need to consider whether you are physically able to stay in the low aero position that a tri bike will promote for 6 hours. This requires some conditioning to achieve. A road bike with aero-bars and your seat moved forward will give a less aggressive but easier to maintain position than a tri bike. You can alter your standard road bike position substantially by getting a saddle like an Adamo and slamming it all the way forward. I move my saddle on my road bike about 6-7cm forward for IM. If necessary an forward-angled seat post can put you even further forward. From what I have read and heard I think that the effect of your bike position on the run may be over exaggerated but here are a couple of links to look through that refernece this. http://www.tri-ecoach.com/art7.htm http://www.bikesplit.com/bsa3.htm

You can adjust the fit to a certain extent with different stems, etc. But be aware that the calculator you linked to gives you a recommended seat tube length, a sizing method which is outdated. Most bike sizing now days is done with top tube length being the critical frame size measurement. I am 1,81m with 86,5cm inseam and ride a 56cm (top tube!) road bike and a large MTB (61cm top tube).

While most of us seem to feel that CSA are a waste of time - and its the same with the governing bodies of other sports such as running, triathlon, canoeing, etc - and that we should just ignore these bodies and leave them out of event organisation, the problem as I understand it is that in 2010 the government gazetted the "Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act". And this Act basically makes it impossible and illegal for any organisation or individual to stage any event other than under the auspices of their governing body. There was a local, fun triathlon event running for about 10 years in our town. All ages form 8 to 80 participated in a well organised event. Then Triathlon SA got wind of it and, citing the Act, told the organisers to either get TSA on board, which of course means pay them, or shut it down. No pretense of trying to promote and grow the sport, simply a blunt attempt to collect more cash. Front-pullers!

Okay some constructive advice! I haven't had the same issues as you but I have had repeated prostatitis from riding a bike. At one point a few years ago I had to stop riding altogether. Then I got an Adamo saddle. Since then I have been able to ride again (although I still can't spend too much time on the bike without a mild recurrence) up to six hours a week or so. I can almost guarantee no numbness or compressed urethra if you set these saddles up correctly.