Falco

If a D2D in 2.38 put you in DL at RfV, then there is a big screw up with the groups. I took 20 mins longer at D2D and have been put in BL at RfV. Oh well, just have to step up the pace, or else put up with faster riders flying past the whole morning.

As a matter of interest, what was your D2D time? It looks like race for victory groups are not based on previous results, they seem very mixed up

I bought the Tacx Flow about 6 months ago, it has been used maybe 10 times since then. It is so mind-numbingly boring, even watching TV or listening to music doesn't help. It's pretty handy for when you need to adjust gears and test setup changes, that is all mine gets used for these days. Also good for new riders to get used to cleats without falling. For training, give me the open road any day.

Now I know why nobody ever passes me when I'm riding. I thought it was because I ride so flipping fast, but it turns out that it's Jack and his buddies checking out my butt. Go past, butt boy, most of us aren't interested in your problems.

Cyclists and pedestrians on freeways deserve to be flattened. It is just plain stupid, and death is a good cure for stupidity.

Easy. The small one is for the cyclist who jumped the red light, the big one is for the McDonald's munching taxi driver who flattened him.

Exactly. There are probably a lot of people on this very forum who regularly go through red lights when the road is clear. Some may only do it occassionally, but that doesn't make any difference. I have seen entire club groups go through red lights in Midrand early on a Sunday morning (hello the boys & girls in yellow). It doesn't make it right, but it happens all the time.

The Hub is no different to any other forum. There are 20 or so people on this forum who take it upon themselves to give newcomers cr@p, who cares? Post what you want, respond how you want. Try not to get too personal, which is often difficult. On all the forums that I am involved in, I say what I want to say and I don't give a flying f..k who likes it and who doesn't.

Right or wrong, if something is threaded I grease it (lightly). Always have, always will. Makes assembly easy and disassembly even easier. Only possible drawback is that it is necessary to check tightness a bit more often, in case something works loose, but doing regular checks is a good habit to get into anyway.

Not very scientific, but certainly thought provoking.

Buy a torque wrench at the same time. Without one, estimate how tight it is at your peril.

Put the crank and pedal in the freezer overnight. Then dunk both in hot water. Dry it off, immerse in a good quality penetrating oil for half a day or so, then try to loosen it. If that doesn't work, take it to a machine shop (not a bike shop)

Except in your pocket

Guilty as charged. The room where I store my cycling and fishing kit looks like a Shimano ad.

Then they grow up, continue cycling as teenagers, become fully brand aware, and every trip to the cycling shop costs a small fortune. That's talking from experience. But still money well spent.

Pain builds character. I'm looking forward to it.

I don't think so. I keep a careful track of delivery time, from moment of payment until it is delivered to my office. So far, my CWC orders have taken 43 - 70 hours to arrive, and my CRC orders have taken 68 - 74 hours (via DHL). No major difference really, and CRC is definitely cheaper provided only non-duty items are ordered.

Doesn't sound like a very bright idea to me. The pain killer / anti inflamatory dulls the pain, the rider pushes harder than he should, and makes the problem worse.

Deals like this are way too complicated to conclude after a few casual meetings. So if it does happen as a result of one or two weeks of negotiations, it will more than likely result in chaos, and ultimately failure. I hope it doesn't happen. I receive good service from both on a regular basis, so from my point of view it falls into the "if it ain't broke dont fix it" category

People who litter irritate the living **** out of me, but not entering the races won't solve the problem. A penalty / fine system will. Unfortunately that takes organisation and effort, while some race organisers are only interested in collecting fees and spending as little as possible. (This is not a dig at D2D organisers, I thought it was a really good race, but the amount of litter was disgusting). As for road closures, it's never going to happen, and if it did, it would irritate motorists even more than having to put up with a traffic jam at an intersection. Imagine if roads were closed practically every weekend in summer for cycle races, motorists would go crazy. Racing on the road is, in my opinion, much safer than training alone on the roads like I do on a regular basis, so for me it makes no difference.

+1. Mtb's have their place, and I have both types of bike, but if I had to choose one today ~ bye bye mtb.

The truer the better, nothing worse than a wheel that rubs. Learn to fix it yourself, it's not rocket science.

100% correct. Do a good test ride before a race, yes without a doubt. Having to check that the mechanic tightened / adjusted things properly, absolutely unacceptable. As for Cycle Lab fixing it after the problem, good for them. I have had the same experience in the past. CL may charge a bit more, but on my bike they have done a good job every time it has been in their shop (Centurion branch).

Chicken for lunch ~ hot if you have time to warm it, but cold tastes just as good. Or, if you are brave and aren't planning to visit any clients in the afternoon, sardines in olive oil. Both will give you all the nutrition you need. The smelly sardines may lose you a few friends though.

You've got me a bit concerned about the "not 80mm or shorter" part. I'm using a 70 stem on a 56 frame, used to have a 90 but find the 70 more comfortable. Makes me think I should perhaps be riding a 54 with a longer stem instead of a 56 with a short stem?