NotSoBigBen

Beyond any doubt!

Nothing surprises me from this lot anymore 🤪 https://escapecollective.com/uci-considering-a-ban-on-32-inch-wheel-size/

Miss those rides mate, as you know I'm a lone ranger but those I seriously enjoyed!

It is closed but Anton is at Craft Cycles in Sunninghill, you would still have to look far and wide to find a better wheel builder! https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sca_esv=2dcb3ec73b8f4595&cs=0&output=search&kgmid=%2Fg%2F11sbbm50ty&q=Craft Cycles&shndl=30&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F2#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:rln,rc_ludocids:17700477841513517504,ru_gwp:0%2C7,ru_lqi:ChNzdW5uaW5naGlsbCBiaWN5Y2xlSL2GyqmpuICACFobEAEYABgBIhNzdW5uaW5naGlsbCBiaWN5Y2xlkgENYmljeWNsZV9zdG9yZaoBUwoIL20vMDE5OWcQASoLIgdiaWN5Y2xlKAAyHxABIhtijSGq6tx7KbI8T9B9m-zZLB25EvCouh9ACEkyFxACIhNzdW5uaW5naGlsbCBiaWN5Y2xl,ru_phdesc:plKOBQNU9ss,trex_id:T6zhMc&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D

Not all rides are pretty pictures and sunshine I guess 🤨 A 'quick' spin up @Pikey 's favourite climb (Biggarsberg) here in the south of Jozi, pretty chuffed with myself as it was the first time since 'the incidents' a while back and then a bit later a jockey implosion 🫩 Ever tried to remove and fit a return spring? Making do with something out the parts bin means I had to ....

From what I've heard it was just a terrible accident and the motorist was not at fault

For all the flack that Visma have taken here I think that's pretty classy of them!

If it has drop bars to be ridden 'off road' it's a gravel bike ... in my opinion of course Over the years I've 'softened' towards a bit of suspension not hurting on a gravel bike ... keeping in mind some manufacturers now sell gravel bikes as standard with suspension, Cannondale Topstone among others

Not often there's a picture of me on a bike 🤪 .... a really lekker ride from Alberhoughton to Parys yesterday, a last minute decision to join but well worth it! A lot more comfy and enjoyable with the Lefty and wider tyres compared to my previous time on that route with the rigid and gravel tires I must say 😀 Riding for smiles not segments 😎

Or drive BMW's 🤪

Don't want to be THAT GUY but the wild west can and often will happen in almost any group. Over my many times there I've seen it in the licenced vets groups (lesser so though) as well as most of the early to late groups You need to have your wits about you at all times I would posit that for a race lasting 3-4 hours meticulous carb measuring and scheduling may be a bit of overkill My brother and I have always had the same routine of you like .... anything up to 2 hours, do whatever you feel like Over that .... the first hour, in road races anyway, can be a bit hectic so just get into your 'groove' and see who you're with and try to keep up and still take your turn! As far as eating goes we do the eat something (normally half a banana) every hour on the hour and make sure you drink something on the half hour .... if there's 20k's to go maybe grab a gel. It still needs time to get into your body so taking much after that won't have the desired effect besides making you hyper on your way home Anyway just my 5c .... the hub sports scientist have already given the necessary to do a Slovenian ride I guess 🤪 A good night's rest 2 nights before is fine most people don't sleep that well the night before anyway!

Not much riding the last week but every little bit counts 😎 Some changes to Steely Dan, things that bugged me 🤨 A proper 'correct' steel fork. The purists will be happy to know, I think anyway, that the radial disc brake front wheel is replaced with a 'normal wheel' 🤪 Originally ran a 2.60 front tyre with the side knobs cut off so it would fit in the other fork, a 2.80 in the back. Now the 'stance' , as the cool kids would say, looks more correct with the 2.80 in the front and 2.60 at the back. 27.5 BTW

Where's our man Scotty .... Go Lance!

Makes me think of something a pro from long ago told me in his shop sometime in the early 80's when I was looking at bikes Asked what kind of riding I was doing ... he never had much tact, some will remember (AvH) 'Don't bother at your current level the bike is not the problem' Same oke that told me 'just wear one sock and save the money' while I was obsessing over the weight of a component I saw on sale

My son's dedicated indoor bike coming together ... 'climb' and 'sprint' shift buttons to use in MyWhoosh done Just setting up, bar tape and the single speed thing to do still (32*13) An old 26" carbon mtb frame with a broken hanger, the 26" fork that came off my steel SSR when I changed it recently A TT seat that was lying around and some track bars

My sons dedicated indoor bike coming together .... 'sprint' and 'climb' buttons for shifting in MyWhoosh in place!

We all have our own interpretation of the 'rule' then 🤪

I did it ... worthwhile I reckon Only issue was I had to reconnect Strava

As I sit here pondering the things of this world 2 things come to mind, we have however as with most posts wondered off the original subject ... I am one of those that can't really feel the small nuances of suspension 'performance', as Grumpy says to me 'does it go up and down? OK then you're good to go'. I certainly also don't push the limits by any stretch of the imagination. I would posit there are very few cyclists amongst us, if we're honest that have the 'feel' of riders like MORNE or DinD and others As I ride along on my SWorks, which I didn't buy new BTW, I couldn't be bothered by that oke who passes me on his 26" rigid SS wearing no socks and rugby shorts. In fact I am impressed by them! And that oke I pass with his 200k bike my only thought is good for you, if you can afford it like anything in life get the best you can. Lest you all forget there is only one rule HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS 🏆

I honestly believe that recovering all the money spent on upgrades and 'weird' bits and pieces is mostly not possible. This despite how one may have painstakingly researched the tech and saved the ZA rondts A little story, sort of related ... A few years back I bought a car and traded in an Audi with just a few small upgrades over the time, wheels/tyres and sound system (still a fair few rondts). The sales guy told me quite clearly that those upgrades made no difference to the price I was offered as a trade in. Unbeknownst to him I had kept all the original bits, there was a week delay while waiting for the new car. My son and I used that time to put everything back to original. When I arrived to collect the new car he was visibly pissed off at that let me tell you! A short meeting with the dealer principal quickly sorted that, got a call a few days later with an offer for the stuff I'd taken out 😁

🤣🤣 No man, bloody coffee everywhere! Laughed so loud my wife woke up

Scored a luck, my son organised me an upgraded desktop and a way better graphics card and now I'm back 'Whooshing' 😎 As an aside he uses a smart trainer with Zwift and he has put together this 'gear shift' in app button solution using a Raspberry Pi Works pretty cool I must say!

I thought I'd heard most of the banter that may be heard out on a ride but this morning I heard this cracker line... A small group ahead of me as we pass a clearly struggling rider on a short steep little rise ... one of them shouts 'jeez bro you're holding up the turtles', a bit blind but still funny though 😆