Dirtbreath

I personaly dont have a problem with this. U did your training, you got injured and you battled through to finish an event. Your suffering was probably worse than it would have been. Kudos for completing. My problem lies with illegal supplements to enhance performance over and above genuine medical and injury requirements.

Would love to see some Hope v-twins on this.

Get one of those VO2 max baloons. Could have collection points at the finish and could run a small city.

Yes, if your intake does not endanger me or others and you openly disclose taking a banned but legal substance thats perfectly fine with me. If it causes you to fart excessively and stink up my ride we may have a problem.

Ooh fishnets n boas. Nice.

Brilliant!

Ja, mindae, thanks. My doc thinks vitamins are the biggest medical scam ever. He did however give me a green light to smoke some zol last time around. Well, not exactly but when I asked what he thought about it he said ja sure, many patients smoke before treatment. "If it makes you happy!" Wonder if Sheryl Crow sang to Lance? EPO is regularly given to patients undergoing chemo for Lukemia.

Yes, of course. There is however a large amount of people who see supplements as a magic potion you can just whip of the shelf and it will improve your performance. Is one of those guys looking at Tyler Hamilton, David George and thinking to himself, Eureka! That's how I'll beat my big mate Frits.

Winning the battle, and getting there in the war. Busy with session 9, 3 to go and we see again in the new year. Thanks. The reason for my post is that I see what drugs do to people. Hell, I'm feeling it myself. Dying over here. There was a link to a post about a guy I know who was bust. I didnt know and I bump into him regularly. He's not quite a nobody but to dope?! Crazee! How badly would someone want to brag to his mates that he did a sub 3,4 or whatever for Argus, 94.7, finished Epic, whatever?

There are numerous threads about supplements, gus, protein shakes, etc, etc. i am sure a lot of the guys buying this stuff are not up there. Would it be implausible to take just that bit extra to make you faster, make it easier?

Just out of interest. My blood is tested every 2 weeks. My natural hematocrit level is 47.7%.

Cool. Took it a bit personally, sorry. I'm just curious about what lengths back markers would go to. The things I've seen in the back of the packs where I used to bide my time were shocking. EPO use back there would not surprise me.

Also on the banned list.

Totally agree. I hear stories about school kids on the stuff. I know sone of my peers were. With the amount rec riders spend on gear why not EPO?

Dont jump to conclusions china. Wonder how much attitude you'd have on roids.

1. Can you take EPO as a recreational cyclist competing in a weekend race? Should they test you because you came 400th not your normal 500th would you be disqualified. 2. Would you take EPO as a middle to back of the pack rider in a stage race to give you a boost (are there social riders in the Epic etc using the stuff just to get through)?

http://www.fantic26.de/Fantic26de

http://www.fantic26.de/Fantic26de grip conversion specialists. Check out the threads about Emily Batty who is tine and rides a 29er.

No real reason for anyone starting out but dome benefits: Braking surface not affected by buckled rim Rims can be lighter Better in wet Further from mud collection in extreme wet Hydraulic hose requires less maintenance Closed system Hydraulic feel, lighter braking

Very expensive upgrade in relation to the bike which you will most probably want to upgrade if you get into it. Well set up v brakes works well. Dont stress about your gear, get pedalling and learn to ride as well as what all the bits n pieces on your bike do. Just have fun and save your money for your next bike.

I scrub with my front unless I feel traction is becoming an issue, the start adding back. The sound of locking brakes and skidding drives me insane. Images of ripped up trails and hard work undone.

Pull your front brakes as hard as you want and you will have to try very hard to do an endo. You cant just merrilly be riding along and pop, pop a superman. Thats braking technique not orientation. Get used to your right (or more sensitive hand) modulating speed scrub. Locking the back ends up in more severe probles, speeding banshee comes screeching into his group. Try using your front brake as much as possible in replacing speed scrubbing u normally do with the back. Once you get the hang of it, it is amazingly effective. Whether this is right/left is largely irrelevant.

Running 3x10 fd on a 3x9 drivetrain. It works but there is less tolerance in crosschaining and your limits are a lot more sensisitive so have to be set more accurately. Nothing to stress about.

I ride quiet suburb roads. Maybe a load heavier than a 3.5 year old 14 kg little girl might be more stable. Cant post pics off my phone but if you Google Giant Peapod you'll find some. There is a crowd in Cape Town who make an off road trailer (claim). One wheeler with suspension.

I'm in Joburg. My trailer affixes to the frame on both dropouts and is very solid. I use it on a fs bike but am sure if you put it on a ht it would be solid enough. You are welcome to try it out.