PPWTF

"The AFLD, the French anti-doping agency that is conducting controls at this year's Tour, is showing a zeal that was never present when the International Cycling Union was supervising the Tour's drug tests." the Times online - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/cycling/article4353975.ece

With all the negative TdF stuff these last few days here's something to put it all into perspective http://tdflr.blogspot.com/ "Celebrating the last place rider in the TdF..... because you couldn't hold his wheel for 30seconds....!" http://tdflr.blogspot.com/

rather than waste your money on this, go to a sports nutrition expert and get yourself some real value for money, life long benefiting advise. The advice will give you more energy, reduce your weight to a natural level and almost certainly improve your cycling - all of this will be done by eating well...... aaaah the wonders of science in sport :-)

did I miss something....? What, if anything, has changed? counting the seconds till next Tuesday.... let all my Christmas come at once....

We're a passionate bunch here on the hub, but how many of us make any money out of cycling.....? I'm a realist and know that rampant commercialism is driven by rampant consumerism, but not everything has to be totally driven by these forces, does it?

But just this once the truth has a sweet sweet ring to it..... take control of your own destiny and see the sport looked after by passionate people with real rolls to play, those actually involved in the day to day of the sport, not bureaucrats in expensive suits who feel the need to justify their own feelings of self importance by making life miserable for anyone not paying them or buying into there take on things..... sounds positively French if you ask me! Viv le revolution, viv le republic PPWTF2008-07-09 08:22:33

my bad........ Morewood on the brain I see downhill and straight away think of them..... Oops

Really awesome to see an SA product featuring on the world stage. Just goes to show it can be done here, if the right people are involved. If the long awaited, oft rumored Morewood XC bike is anything like as good as the current equipment I'll be in what I'd imagine will be a very long queue for one PPWTF2008-06-25 01:41:09

Bike Hut in cape town did do Kona last time I looked, but it seems they've only got hardtails - not sure if they're still a dealer but maybe worth a call for info.....

Thanks for your advice and the overview on BB's - I've not parted with my hard earned yet and when Mud Dee mentioned in his post that the XT BB is serviceable I was already smiling a massive smile and counting the saving over the Pace BB. Now that you mention checking out the bearing number I'll definitely do that (and enjoy the current winter mud bath conditions without worrying about the replacement BB costs)

Not wanting to hijack the other post - this one is still about bearings - and wanting to hear JB's opinion on the subject as well; What do you make of the Pace BB that is double sealed? The press blurb says it's serviceable and all the parts are replaceable blablabla etc etc... Me being slightly skeptical i read that to mean the thing isn't half as all singing all dancing as the 'double sealed' claims make it out to be. Given the R1000 price tag i'd like to hear your thoughts So what is the best Mountain bike BB currently available on the market?

hijack removed...... posted question for JB on another post. Not wanting to upset the apple cart PPWTF2008-06-19 09:38:12

I posted this train of thought on another thread about doping, and will repeat it here. The Willie Voit group, the Pirate, and many others have shown that those who dope for performance enhancement are often recreational users as well, that drugs are an ingrained part of all aspects of daily life and as much as anything this is why doping in sport is a problem that will only grow in stature. Big Tim, the French house wives favorite, countless other cyclists and track athletes, including Tim Montgomery (for 100m world record holder) on charges of possession with intent to supply Heroin.... Doesn't take the brains of a rocket scientist to see why international law enforcement is getting very interested in these cases now does it. Supply and distribution is the same whatever the drug, if the intended use is not licensed. The law doesn't see a difference between what sporting lunatics see as performance enhancing and the weekend cheese quavers (ravers) see as performance enhancing, and it's increasingly apparent that the dealers and suppliers of both are close to being one and the same group of people... Sporting stars as Icons that your children look up to and aspire to become..... not in this day and age. More like a cautionary tail

Not wanting to hijack the thread.... it's a directly related question..... Looking at the packing lists here and thinking about the Cape Epic, is a camelbak the only answer, or is it simply the best answer? I ask because I'm switching from hardtail to full susser and usually ride with at least one, and often two, full 700ml bottles for longer rides - one electrolyte, the other a Carb / protein mix. Now that's not going to work with the full susser frame, bottle size fitting or number of bottle cage mounts.

Mampara you should be on stage my friend, stand up comedy is just waiting to discover it's newest Lycra clad star....... PPWTF2008-06-06 03:43:24

The Sealskins are great. The current version have a more woolly sock type liner, although I still wear them with an additional thin sock. In the UK they are the reason why I had designated winter fit shoes, 1 size bigger than normal. Toasty feet and comfortable fit = a very happy cyclist With any of this stuff the only real problem is water seeping in as it runs down your leg.... kind hard to overcome that particular 'design fault' with any of the currently available options

Totally agree about cycle lanes - a fantastic solution, if totally integrated. I regularly road in and out of London and the network of cycle lanes, whilst far from perfect, made a noticeable difference. Couple that with an employer who provided a place to lock bikes and shower facilities and I was a very happy cyclist (shame the job sucked ) Didn't Helen Zillie make mention last year of making central CPT more cycle friendly, cycle lanes and all? With fuel prices going the way they are, and road safety being the way it is, surely this is a viable solution. Encourage and protect, making it more attractive and viable as an option.

A couple of friends ran scottoiler on a CBR600RR and ZX7 way back, like 6 years ago... The general consensus was that for bike motorway miles and crappy weather riding they did a good job in UK winter weather conditions and traveling up and down the motorway clocking big weekly milage. Not sure how it could do anything significant on a mountain or road bike though.... Would be interested to see how it's supposed to work / improve things PPWTF2008-05-29 00:54:26

Does anyone know if there is a maintenance and repair course running in Cape Town area? I've been looking for a while now but with no luck, and just can't bring myself to make 3 or 4 weekend flights (costs money I don't have) to fly to Jo'burg for the Yellow Saddle courses - which do look very good I admit.

Nothing like a bit of brotherly (and sisterly) love first thing in the morning..... Always made me laugh trying to explain regional rivalries to people visiting the UK Londoners Vs Greater Londoners (also known as plastic cockneys) Liverpool Vs Manchester / Sunderland Vs Newcastle etc... Good to see it's just the same here, nothing like an early morning, post breakfast, online punch up over who's spot on the planet is best/most beautiful/has the most friendly people/throws the best punch To early for popcorn, but never to early for coffee, anyone wanna refill? We could be here some time....

Funny that he's not taking in Cape Town...... would love to hear him speak, have read the Mountain bikers bible and occasionally check in on his blog to see what's happening. On the subject of fat momma's.... I heard one guy saying to a taxi driver that his was so fat, when she fell and cutter her leg gravy poured out........ even the taxi driver laughed (I did once at a safe distance.....)

http://atomicbike.co.uk/bikes/the-merida-ninety-six/merida-ninety-six-5000-d-frame-only.html Frame only for 1900 Pounds ( @ 15.5 ZAR = 1 Pound) ..... bargain, I think I'll have..... none!!!! bloody hell, need to take up bank robbery to finance the purchase of a bike Wonder when the first ones will hit the SA market. With the current rate of exchange I can't imagine we'll see many here PPWTF2008-05-26 13:17:07

you got PM

"If you want to race like Lance you must LIVE like Lance." Kona Fan, that's exactly what i was trying to say in the serveral hundred words I wrote, except you managed it in 12....... Nicely done. I will add that the most under rated tool in training is...... the mid day nap! Shock horror sleep really does make you fitter

This a passion of mine which may well become a line of future full time education, but I've already written to much so will shut up now.....PPWTF2008-05-17 10:36:20