Bianchisti

Thanks Tiny

Does anyone have a route profile of the course/particularly these sections? The official one doesn't look very accurate? Thanks

Getting really excited about this one. My only real race of the year. Just booked my flights, got my leave form sorted. Work hasn’t interfered with my training, avoided the germs. Now just to keep it up for the next 7 weeks.

Postponed again. Someone needs to pull their finger, show some balls and make a decision already (whichever that might be). I doubt an amicable setllement is possible after all this time. http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/news/contador-delay-opens-door-to-argentina-but-could-close-it-for-tour_203726?utm_medium=whats-hot

Hiehie!

My problem here is that the bikeshops know even less than I do. When I phoned and asked if my 7900 chain will work with the 7800 cassette the guy answering the phone put me on hold everytime I asked a question which he related to the mechanic. In the end they reckon: "I can use my 7800 cassette with a 7900 chain but it needs some adjustment and I'll need a very good mechanic to do it" Seriously I dont think they're trying to rip anyone off, they just dont have a clue! Thanks all anyway! Ultegra cassette is just fine for my performance levels!

Is Ultegra compatible with the Dura Ace chain?

Does anyone know whether the DA 7800 series cassette has been discontinued as all the bike shops seem to stock only yhe 7900 which retails at double the moolaah! I'm pretty sure my chain needs replacing cause it was checked at the last service and had about 25% wear left and that was now more than 2 months ago. The chain also slips on the second biggest gear (only on this one). I'm happy to replace the cassette with the chain but would have prefered the 7800 as I've bought some chains when it was going cheaply so stocked up! Is it true that I can use about 3 chains only on one cassette? How often do hubbers replace their cassettes?

You okes are insane. Period! I would put all my winter woolies on and get on the IDT. Seriously, when it drops down to 10C it takes me about 3 hours before I feel my toes

So so sad indeed. Condolences to their loved ones

I've been training flat-out everyday except Christmas and New Years and I still put on 2.4kgs. That's in one week and I'm not on holiday How did you go?

+1 Hehe! I like that

I use Vital Multi-vitamins which a swallow with Berocca or something, every morning. I also boil ginger, squeeze in a lemon and a coupla spoons of honey to taste and fill up my waterbottle with hot water. I usually take a full bottle about twice a week sipping on it at my desk. otherwise ginger tea in the evening. For cold morning rides I wear 2 layers and stick a newspaper down my chest (alaa tour riders) and my nose doesnt run like a tap. That cold breezee on the chest always bummed me! I'm a firm believer that "that health Minister" who suggested garlic and ginger as an Aids cure had a point. Maybe not a cure and I dont know what exactly she said but I think she meant that there's great value in propping up your immune system using these natural herbs.

Thanks all. I've got just the road for "that" wind. I know what you mean bout the back complaining on hills. The first accent is usually my nemesis

Does that work the muscles you use when actually climbing?

I live around hours of pancake and have to take a 2 hour drive in the car to get to hills. I suffered cramps on Chappies this year after which I did some base-training, didn’t cramp in the 94.7 but didn’t have much power on the hills either. My speed slowed down to the mid teens on the N14. So I downloaded a vid from sufferfest that takes me through a warm up, 10 intervals of over/under threshold followed by 3 sessions of climbing, 8 minutes long with 3 minutes rest between. Climbing sessions are at a RPE of 7-9. 1.) Is this a realistic way to simulate hills and will it be effective? 2.) Also I do 3 IDT sessions during the week and group rides weekends. What’s better? Doing a group ride or riding on my own where there’s no place to hide? Does riding alone improve strength?

Interesting indeed. A buddy of mine have just gone vegetarian after watching some video on youtube. This doctor in the video was saying the same thing, anything derived from animals is bad news, mostly because humans wasn’t “designed” to live on as much protein. Eggs for example was intended to hatch a chicken and for that reason contains loads of protein which is bad for humans (according to him). But here we read that protein is good to repair damaged muscle tissue. I’m waiting for someone to come explain the difference between animal and plant protein.

I rode Argus for an index of 58.5. Trained much of the year then did 94.7 to improve Argus seeding but only got an index of 60+. Not really happy but still moved up from X to O.

I started in group X last year (07:31). You should be setting off wayyyy earlier

Why soya milk particularly.Anyone know what it does?

Listening to the radio on my way into work this morning, some hotel manager was on air talking about his hotels drive to become green telling people of the initiatives they got going. he reckons sometime last year they set up 2 bikes on which they put random cyclist who generated enough power on those bikes to run the entire hotel with air-con, lighting, temperature controlled pools and all the rest of it for a couple of days. I'm like, dude dont talk k*k on national radio. If it was even possible why dont they do it all the time. They can pay me to come pedal for them!

Listening to the radio on my way into work this morning, some hotel manager was on air talking about his hotels drive to become green telling people of the initiatives they got going. he reckons sometime last year they set up 2 bikes on which they put random cyclist who generated enough power on those bikes to run the entire hotel with air-con, lighting, temperature controlled pools and all the rest of it for a couple of days. I'm like, dude dont talk k*k on national radio. If it was even possible why dont they do it all the time. They can pay me to come pedal for them!

These things take forever to download. Couldn't download directly to iPad, unreliable wireless and downloaded to laptop. How do I get it onto the iPad?

Okay so the verdict is the new Cervelo is supposedly faster that the bike thats supposed to make me faster but thats okay because the wife dont know that. Neither does she know that the fastest man in the world hates the bike that "WILL" make me faster instead opting for a clone between a proven very fast bike and the one that WONT make me faster. Neither does she know the considerable weight reduction in the wallet will not equate to faster me, and thats not because I dont carry a wallet on raceday anyway. Does that make sense? Because I'm confused. The guys at DIM suggested I use a size 55. The guys at ASG thinks I'm borderline size 53/54. The guys at ASG source their advice from racers who prefer the smaller/more rigid frames because it gives more control, but we agreed I should go up to the size 54(with 55cm Top Tube) but stay away from the size 55(with 55.7cm TT) altogether. The way I calculated it I thought I would be a size 55 as DIM suggested. Thats because the initial argument the prosecution presented to the jury was "I need a bigger frame because I'm not comfortable on standing climbs". I agree the Dogma's are nice to haves and overkill for what I want to do, so I've set my ceiling on the Quattro. Nice decals, colours and detailing so its at least nice to look at when I'm not on it. To suite my wallet it has to be frame and forks only and I have to re-use my DA 78 series components. That sets me back 19k so at 1k a month it should last me a year and a half. Measured on the TT the Quattro will be 1cm longer than my Giant. My question is, will the 55cm TT Quattro (size 54) with a 90/100mm stem feel all that different to a 54cm TT Giant with a 120mm stem and is the difference worth 19k for someone who rides a 3:42 94.7 or is the discomfort problem maybe to do with my fitness and nothing with the bike? I dont think the advice I recieved was particularly wrong from anyone but its difficult to decide if I cant sit on these things and work out what will suit me. The pro's only have to sit on their small frames for 2:10 during the 94.7 so they can afford to relinquish comfort for control. I have to sit on it for 3 hours + so I prefer a bit more comfort over control. If its yes to the Pina its gotta be yes to a snug fit and there's considerable benefits in climbing comfort. And because it looks nice, because every man likes beautifull things. What say your excellencies frequenting Zeee Haab?

Is there any shops in Joburg selling these or do I have to go up to ASG? After finishing yesterday I told the missus I need a bigger frame cause I'm not comfortable when climbing. Out popped the "okay you can buy a Pinarello" Who am I to decline I was surprised she knew the brand. Watching the highlights on telly last night my mom wanted to know why the pro's are so quick. The missus replied: "Its because they riding Pinarello's" So of course the Pina is gonna make me faster. Hehe