Witkop

Marketing is an amazing science. The importance is on selling new things the whole time. Tweak the technology, change the design, add a feature, make the wheels bigger ext ext ext. This "marketing war" happens in every endevour and sport. In sailing it got so bad that they created the "one-design" class of boats to ensure that sailors skills were tested rather than their high tech boats. In the olympics lazer class all the boats are identical. Maybe the answer is for a manufacturer to start a "closed-class" of race that is limited to one model of bike, so as to reduce technological impact? So the question is not whether a 29er makes you a faster rider but rather "does a 29er make you a better rider? or does it make you a sloppy rider?"

please edit the mistakes out.

Admin, can we start a heading for cycling deaths and injuries? After all the emotion or Burry, within days there were other accidents. However, it seems that no-one is keeping records of the details of these accidents, and after a while the deaths and injuries are forgotten. I would love to be able to draw information on all cycling accidents in South Africa over say the last 5 years. Such quality data will help in advocating cycling safety and strength our case. My suggestion is : option One: start at heading/topic under which people can post each accidient as a thread and as the info becomes available fill in the blanks on each thread. option two: start a database where any accident can be registered. This database should be searchable on a number of fields such as date, time, location, type, name of motorist, and type of injuries sustained, I hope this can be done.

some thing happened to me about 10 years ago. A women at a stop street stopped and then jumped the intersection. She misjudged my speed. Still after ten years I do not even know her name or have received any apology. At least that stop street has been replaced with a circle. (After numerous accidents at that intersection)

Popcorn time. But here are the first principles: The first principle of road use is SAFETY. You cannot pass other vehicle, until it is SAFE to do so. You must drive at a SAFE speed. Even if you have right of way at a intersection, you may only proceed once you have determined that it is SAFE to do so. Now safety means, safe for all road users. So if you are on a bicycle, motor cycle, motor car, truck G6 artillery piece ext, SAFETY comes first. If some one gets hurt on the road it is because this rule was violated. Second principle, a vehicle has the right to the entire lane. Cyclists are instructed to stay left as far as it is SAFE to do so. This does not remove their right to the entire lane. Third principle, when passing another vehicle (this includes bicycles and motor bicycles), you must leave the lane, when it is safe to do so and pass the vehicle in front of you and the then return to the lane. THIS IS IGNORED BY MOTOR VEHICLES. Fouth principle, you may not pass a vehicle busy passing another vehicle. So if two cyclists are abreast, you must assume one is passing the other. If it is obvious this is not the case, then you should pass by leaving the lane, when it is sfae to do so, and then pass the two vehicles. Another point, it is interesting that of the 1400 people killed this holiday so many (almost all) where in motor vehicles. Obvious proof that motorcar drivers cause more accidents than any other road users? ANd even more surprising is the majority where HEAD ON COLLISIONS. Which just proves that motorists have some real issues.

RIP

if it bothers you, stop doing it. Maybe it is you, and not the product? however, as you were on a long ride, the dehydration theory has some merits.

a bit of garlic and butter. mmmmmmmm

www.cwcyles.co.za www.buycycles.co.za www.bicycling.co.za www.merlin.co.uk www.chainreactioncycles.co.uk www.on-one.co.uk www.hullabaloo.co.za www.mtbonline.co.za has a list of suppliers Mail order is the way to go. Slaapstad may have many bike suppliers and importers but few of them are very helpful, it is often best to go directly to the overseas manufacturer and import it yourself.

consider buying directly from the suppliers

TOFT, tommorrow seems to be perfect weather for Groenkloof. see http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=pretoria&hourly=1&yday=2&weekday=Thursday any takers?

some thinking on the whole stem thing. A shorter stem will make the steering a bit more direct, which is good on bmx, DH and riding over obstacles where things go ugly fast. However, when you are traveling at 40km/hr in a peleton a bit of flow and predictability may be required, no one wants a jittery bike. So it makes sense that long stems will be more prevelant on bikes that go fast in straight lines (with totally insufficient braking systems) and short stems on bikes that navigate over rocks and tight turns. Mtb XC may be the twilight zone in this thesis, where you have the go fast in straight lines interspersed with rocky sections. The second thing is that a longer stem pulls the centre of gravity (CoG) forward on the bike, which may be great (or even irrelevant on a road bike) but can have interesting effects on a Mtb bike. (May improve climbing and cornering and mess up decending). Despite these musings the best is to decide for yourself. May cyclists have a collection of stems and start the season with short stems and as their flexibility improves lengthen the stem and drop the handle bars. I read in Lopez's book on Mtb skills that you need to shorten the stem as you raise the handle bars. This may also explain why cyclists with very aero positions have long stems.

From the pic. This guy is newer than a noob. He still has reflectors on his hoops. Yip the rules of use do state that no helmet no ride. So if he falls it will be on his own head. It is unfortunate that not only does he have no regard for his own safety (Groenkloof can get ugly fast over the rocks) but he is also unable to read. It is amazing that the illiterate can afford bicycles........

Okay consider this: your stride on the treadmill may be different to your "in the wild" running. being on the tread mill you may be taking shorter strides and be running more up right. Now the barefoot brigade argue that by shorterning your stride you reduce the torsion on your legaments and joints, thereby reducing the chance of injury. By running upright or with your shoulders positioned above your hips you will land on your mid/forefoot, thereby reducing the jarring effect of "running". Therefore, if these arguments are correct, you may need to be more aware of your style when running. Just a thought.

babba' lodge's Andre de Beer hot ome good ones

ob-one kenobi might know. The force is strong with him.

keep in mind that you will not pay the German tax on the bike. So the retail price may be more than the price which you will pay. Then the RSA 14% vat may not feel that steep. (UK pays 20% VAT). Alo customs knocks you 15% duty on a complete bike (it must be invoiced as complete bike). They have been known to let almost complete bikes through without the 15% duty. Lastly, postage also remains a big surprise. You may need to add R1K to the overall price for shipping (see if you can include spares in the box). Lasty, if you pay via card or EFT the banks also take a cut. (Almost 5% of the transction). Set up a spreed sheet and factor all this in before you buy.

no commision, but they are good bikes. They do have some bundle options. I believe that one should look beyond the very narrow South African import range. After checking out many options, on-one was one of the few that still came in competitively (even with all the import duties) against what is being retailed in South Africa. I would encourage a look at Salsa, genesis.co.uk, ragley, van nicholas, kona, be-one ext before just docking up the money to a "South African" import. ps most of them come in steel, Alu, ti and carbon.

go to the anatomic factory and ask them. Attie Koekemoer and his family are very active in theMTB community especially in Parys.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FBOOINX529/on_one_inbred_x5_29er_bike http://www.on-one.co.uk/imgs/products/900x650_constWH/FBOOINX529_P21.jpg

29er Lynskey Hardtail = over 14k for just the frame. Maybe you should up your price limit as the sweet ride was more the titanium frame than the clown wheels

www.on-one.co.uk is having a sale on van nicholas frames. cheaper than frm van nicholas.

You see everyone. PROBLEM SOLVED.

The million dollar question remains: Did Karma get the brackets he was looking for?