PPWTF

No Flaming me please. I started this post saying the GF hardtails are great bikes. http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/29er/gary-fisher/superfly-100/PRD_448396_1548crx.aspx http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=603720 http://www.outdoorreview.com/cat/bikes/29er/gary-fisher/PRD_448396_1548crx.aspx First page on a Google search - Ovalized bearing sockets (typically the carbon bikes, but also linkage on some alloy bikes), cracks on swingarms and seat tubes (carbon) There has been a bunch of stuff written about the problems.

The Fischer Hardtails are great... but; I've seen softails, both alloy and carbon, with repeatedly loose linkage, very flexy backends and in quite a few instances this has lead to warranty issues with them... not exactly what you want on any bike. There's a bunch of info out there on forums about this.

Just like the pond scum in corporate team kit (shall remain nameless) whose training ride (Polar HRM on bar) was so important that when riding into Fishhoek he felt no need to slow, let alone stop, when running the red light at a pedestrian crossing. The lady who had to stop mid crossing looked most impressed.....! Naturally the same guy ran the next 2 red lights in the very same fashion, the last one also a pedestrian crossing with people on. Roadies really know how to win friends and influence people....

German Mountain Bike Federation did ban 29ers for a while, but then saw the light... what next, making full suspension bikes ineligible to race against hardtails! End of the day if it's good enough for racing under UCI rules then it's good enough for me

Agree with L2climb - go Suunto. Had a T6 for going on 8 years now, have also run a T4 and tried / currently run a number of the pods. Being able to change my own batteries, unlike Polar, was a big factor in my purchasing decision, as was EPOC and TE. The software for the T6 was developed by these guys.... "Suunto t6 utilizes the results of physiological research conducted by the Finnish KIHU - Research Institute for Olympic Sports..." http://www.firstbeat.fi/index.php?page=2&sub_page=15&news_id=24 Sport Science in Cape Town chooses Suunto (they bought their own - not a sponsorship)

If you're looking for waterproof and breathable at a 'reasonable' price then you'd do well to take a look at the Endura Convert II, which also has removable sleeves to run as a gillet... http://www.endura.co.uk/Product.aspx?dept_id=122&prod_id=209

just remember, it was Paul Newman who famously said why go out for a burger when you've got steak at home.... naturally enough he made no mention of window shopping.... the way this is going we'll be walking round covered from head to toe in a sheet.... anyone for a one way flight to Saudi....

I'd say your biggest worry is how long CL keep with the brand. The bikes look awesome, but as A.N.Other already said, look what happened with Stevens and I think was it Cube or some other high end brand that came and went in 18months.... You want to know your bike will still be supported here when a factory recall takes place and the guys at the factory direct you to the local agent....!

Whilst I agree with Squishy Thingy's sentiment, I can't help but wonder which poor hubber got busted drooling over "hot nekkid chicks" Gonna be a looooong weekend someone..............!

Seems young cyclists are not the only ones looking to PED's for a little something extra http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/11/shanghai-older-residents-drugs-mahjong On a serious note http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/168145/thirty-athletes-stopped-from-coming-to-games-ioc

Everyone who's ever hosted a major sporting event, in what ever country, knows that prices are hyped for such events. It's a fact of life. I predict the event that is the FWC here in SA will be a massive success. Yes we will still have crime problems, just as we do every day (Lived in London, had a flat mate mugged at gun point by crack heads just yards from our front door...). Crime may, or may not be magnified, by press coverage / focus, or by actual events directly related to those traveling to the FWC. However, if it is anything like as exciting as standing in a street in central London, where not a car passes and the place is swamped with (on this occasion) Brazil fans partying like crazy as their team kicked ass, then boy oh boy is it gonna be an amazing few weeks here in South Africa.

http://road.cc/content/news/12805-wanted-cycling-buddy-jaunt-south-africa An unemployed graduate is hoping to cycle to the World Cup in South Africa this summer - and is looking for a companion to travel with her. Lindsey Cole, from Buckinghamshire, has been unable to find a job since completing a masters degree in journalism, so instead she thought she do the 8,000 miles to South Africa in time for the World Cup finals in July. But according to the BBC, Lindsey's mum isn't happy about her travelling through countries including Sudan, Ethiopia and Botswana on her own, and has insisted she find a co-rider for the five-month adventure. "Being a girl it's not really safe on my own - my mother was not at all happy about the idea of me going all that way on my own at all. So I'm looking for someone mad enough to do it with me," she said. "It could be either male or female - that doesn't matter at all, but it would definitely have to be someone with personality, ambition, drive and of course someone who wants some adventure. "It doesn't have to be someone who is necessarily experienced in cycling, as long as they have determination to succeed - they don't even have to be a football supporter either." The trip will begin in Egypt's capital, Cairo, in February. Anyone interested in making the trip can e-mail Lindsey at: joinmecycle2sa@gmail.com

Check this out for superstylin single speed custom pimp ur ride heaven http://www.addi.se/Eng/products/pilen-concept1.php Pilen Concept Pilen concept is a race bike inspired by early Le Mans style, the concept is supposed to create a sentimental bond with the user and also give them the same feeling as if they were driving a sports car. This concept is developed for the Swedish bike brand Pilen cykel in M?lilla. www.pilencykel.se PPWTF2009-10-25 23:56:17

just tried resizing the image to read the article..... to blurred...... sniff Come on HR, let's be having ya. What doe the lead article have to say about a hubber who's become an integral part of the furniture

Check this out http://www.capemountainbikingtours.co.za/11day.php Eleven day mountain bike tour from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town along the east coast of South Africa

there's a spelling mistake? I can't see it but then I didn't read the whole thing as I'm not gonna be able to go (being in PE and the event being in Jozi)

Would be very interesting to see what comes of the cycle lanes being put in here for the World Cup (Ooops.... I mean re-modeling city centres for the benefit of generations to come)

Can across this and wondered if anybody is gathering this kinda info here in SA? http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/0910/bike-commuting/flat.html PPWTF2009-10-15 04:55:19

So, I'm not the only one who got the invite still, for a minute there I thought I was special (and not in the needs way) The first mountain bike ride of Bean There Adventures takes place at the end of the month. Join Bean There near the Environmental Centre in Delta Park, Johannesburg, at 7am for the ride and have your non-riding family and friends come by at 9am for coffee and croissants. If you are not in Johannesburg but still want to participate in Bean There Adventures, please send an e-mail to adventures@beanthere.co.za and we can hook you up with fellow enthusiasts in your area. To join the cycling club, please RSVP with your shirt size. Membership is R200 which includes the official BT Adventures t-shirt and water bottle. PPWTF2009-10-15 04:48:24

So I got this by email last night, guess it's an open invite, anyone else get it? http://www.beanthere.co.za/

http://www.stop-smidsy.org.uk/ CTC, the UK?s national cyclists? organisation, is calling on all cyclists to add their voices to its new campaign to combat bad driving. Stop SMIDSY is a major campaign to end the culture of brushing off dangerous incidents with the excuse.... ?Sorry Mate I Didn?t See You?. It aims is to change lax attitudes towards bad driving and the failures of the legal system to respond to it when it occurs. http://road.cc/content/news/9677-ctc-combat-bad-driving-stop-smidsy-campaign PPWTF2009-10-09 07:00:21

HR, I'm not having a dig at you mate. I just find it hard to understand how a celeb ends up on front page, yet the same and worse is not even news worthy when it happens, in volume, country wide, on a weekly basis. PPWTF2009-10-09 05:04:15

I saw Percy play at Newport, along with Gary and Andy, on a regular basis. Rodney Parade was a ground visiting team hated playing at. The incident with the linesman was blown up out of all proportion - it was a push. However, rules are rules and when you stick your hands on an official you know you'll feel the consequences. Whatever happened, it's sad to see all this *** on the hub and in the papers - the consequence of fame are a life lived in the public eye, wanted or not. How many cases like this are going unreported, with no action taken by the police, every day in SA.....? Now where is the massive media campaign to end domestic violence, instead of 5 second soundbites at the expense of some famous person? Not exactly righteous journalism is it? But then, sensationalism is the name of the game when keeping circulation figures up, and advertisers happy