Fujiman

We are pleased to announce that FLR Shoes are now available in South Africa. FLR is an Israeli brand and they have been very active in Europe for the last few years. FLR shoes are great value for money with entry level shoes in road and MTB selling from R1090.00 to R2490 and R2990 for a full carbon sole road and MTB shoes respectively. FLR shoes are a wider fit than most brands making them extremely comfortable and perfect for the South African market. We have already assigned a few stores but are still seeking a few more stores around the country. Please contact us should you be a store owner interested in stocking FLR. info@larcdistributors.co.za

There will soon be a new Shoe brand available on our SA shelves. FLR have been making a big noise in Europe with great quality at very affordable price points. FLR have a great range from entry level to high end in road, triathlon and MTB. Keep checking your stores as stock arrives in June. www.flr-shoes.com

Do I have to comment.

There will be a new kid on the block soon. A German product by one of the tow bar pioneers Westfalia. The bike carrier with a few add-ons is very versatile. It will be on the higher end of the price scale and will probably compete with Thule's higher end models.

How about both? FUNN do a flat pedal (Mamba) with either one sided or two sided clip. It allows you to ride flat when you are riding technical or caught on a quick ascent and clipped when you are banging the flats sections. I ride them they are great. They can be bought on www.performancebikes.co.za

I am glad that many of you regard fit as important especially in ultra distance triathlon. The true aerodynamic equation is bike + rider = speed. Yet the biggest factor, which accounts for 85% of total drag, is the rider. This is the drive now with the Norcom. check out www.fitcomesfirst.com forget about the brand just visit the site for the information as the theory is relevant whatever brand one chooses. We recently put a 70.3 world age group champ onto a Norcom and he is delighted that he can stay in the aero postion for the length of his rides (Ironman training distances). He has just come off a top brand which we will not mention where he could not stay comfortably in the aero position for very long. Obviously a professional bike fit will help in this regard but often the bike cannot be made to fit a rider. The more positions available to a bike fitter the easier it will be to fine tune bike and rider.

To make your like even more difficult The Kestrel 4000 Pro with Ultegra 11 speed.

The integrated headset does move up like any other headset. Obviously this just detracts from the neatness of the headset when fully dropped. But to be honest most of the fittings done on the Norcoms they have been spaced upwards. Go look at www.fitcomesfirst.com if fitting is as important to you as it should be .... you will want to read what they have to say.

Both are great bikes. The Slice has way better components but I have to agree that the Cervelo frame looks more 2014 in style and to answer your question on the Vision cranks, they are realy good. I Don't mean to confuse the issue but Fuji have just launched their Norcom Straight range and have two models available in SA. The model closest to the two above is the 2.3 equiped with Sram Rival. I didn't see that you mentioned pricing. The Fuji retails for R35-36k. And they have a 58cm (57) in stock. I also know of a new 2013 Kestrel 400 Pro with Ultegra in 58 available for about R30k with the 2014 also but moved out to R38k with the Rand @ 11/$ Cheers.

Lets do the math then: $1981 for the package x 15% Duty = $2279 x 14% vat = $2598 + Delivery $300 = $2898 converted @ ZAR 11.20 = R32458.00. Estimated resale value after a year R12k (if you are lucky to find a triathlete (very picky breed) who will buy a second hand no-name bike). A new Sram Rival branded bike in SA sells for R34k. With an estimated resale value after one year around R25k.

Thanks Rouxtjie but I am otherwise occupied this Friday I am testing my new Fujirello TT bike and I have to allow time for mechanicals.

Hahaha Scrumpy nice try . Your R50 - R60k price assertion (presuming you need Ultegra from your post) for a new TT bike is a little exaggerated. I am not here to punt our brands but we have two brands with Ultegra 11 speed selling from around R35k. I am sure our competition is there or thereabouts. Do your homework with duty and vat and I dont believe that there will be that much difference.

All brands/non brands have there place ..... I have given my advice as an importer as this is surely why Scrumpy posted this. You give him yours, I give him mine and he makes a more calculated call. * You need to get out more

Just a point on "probably the same factories". As a brand importer there a four factories used by the top brand manufacturers for their carbon models, all of which are located in Taiwan. There are various grades of carbon and your top brands will use high/ultra high modulas carbon. It is stronger and stiffer. The frame looks realy good, but I would investigate the warrantee. All these "agents" are good at delivery times but are they as good with warrantee claims? If you have budget constraints, I would lean towards finding a hardly used branded TT bike. They have done their engineering homework.