NotSoBigBen

Now I would imagine that would remove lubrication from the freewheel so how do you go about re-lubing it then?

Dunno but it was pink,does that help? Probably not!

OK so let me start with a standard disclaimer "I'm just a layman so any comments made are just my own personal thinking and should not be followed by anyone who hasn't had medical (or psychiatric) advice" So does it matter? Probably not unless you want to compare your output with someone else's! My thinking is that if you are using it as a training aid then as long as it's readings are consistent then you will know if you are improving or reaching your previous levels etc. Should you want to compare with someone else's then use theirs! I'm ready for any flames!

Dick - have had similar issues, the problem is they ditch their additional weight come race day! And us?

Etwerp I'll speak to you later (when you bring the bike!)

Just to be sure the robot at Vaal down by the eight till late?

Ewep - 5:45 from your place Sunday? If yes me and LittleBen are on! Need though to start riding at Suikerbos at exactly 7am (i.e. not much standing around time available to us!).

No Neil!

DR - At least you got some! Will just blowdry mine, combs a bit of a waste of time.

http://www.33smiley.com/smiley/humor/6.gif

I have 2 GPS's that I use as follows as an MTB'r :- 1) Firerunner 301 - used like a normal bike computer but without needing sensors etc. on the bike. I use the HR function as well. It also allows me to be able to 'trackback' to where I started if I am riding in an unfamiliar area and might be lost. This data I upload to Sporttracks as my training diary. Nice small, compact and is rechargeable for up to 14hrs of use. 2) eTrex Vista (B&W) - has no routing function but I can record tracks and re-use later or pass on to others. Additionally I have used it together with info from Google to plot a new route and then downloaded that info to the GPS to follow. It also provides some additional info that can be useful, e.g. we used it at Sabie Experience to see how much climbing we had done. Useful if you know how much you will be climbing to see how much still left and pace yourself accordingly! I download the maps from GarMap for the area that I will be in. Disadvantages here is that it rather large but I use the standard Garmin mount as shown earlier and have not had any issues (touch wood!). Also uses standard penlight batteries that don't last much longer than about 5-6 hrs. Don't know if that helps but I tried!

Meyer - I started my son cycling as a form of exercise and something fun that he can enjoy (we can also do it together and that's brilliant!). The fact that he has managed to do very well and who knows may one day end up in a pro team or whatever in my opinion is a bonus. I would be much happier if he ends up a 'lifelong' cyclist than a miserable serious pro cyclist (because of pressure of some kind!). Of course if he ends up a happy lifelong cyclist who is also a pro hey bonus again! And I have noticed that there are many of those around so it isn't impossible. On the other hand there are also many levels of success in cycling, in my case if I whip DR's skinny ar$e now and again (even if it is 'unfair!) I am happy. In my sons case he wins a race now and again and has many other races where he just goes out and enjoys! At the end of the day I think he's a well balanced individual with potential but also has other priorities that are important to him (paintball and passing matric being 2 of those, ok so maybe the matric is more important to his mother than him at this point!). Cycling has also provided him a good 'excuse' when confronted with peer pressure to take part in some 'dubious' activities so that also helps!

LittleBen bought me the XTR cable kit for XMAS last year! Can only confirm what you guys have said, sweet shifting with almost no maintenance since then.

Over EWEP?

So the lever arrived and LittleBen has made the changes. 10Sp Dura Ace STI shifters, changed the cluster and chain. Adjusted and all working 100% no problem!

LittleBen and I went out for an MTB ride through the Rietvlei Zoo farm yesterday evening at about 17:30. As we approached Swartkoppies through the veld (going west just before the zoo farm) we saw loads of cars and ambulances stopped next to the road. There were loads of people around so we couldn't get very close. Did see a cyclist lying on a stretcher all dusty (a roadie) but didn't see evidence of any blood etc. Anyone else see it or know if he was OK?

That was intended for both IanJ and DR! IanJ - a bit easier than a single speed? DR - glad that tyre held and Wilddog didn't have a mechanical on the beeeeg tandem! I did see IanJ ride, he started with us but left us for dead within the first few k's! Downhilling like a maniac and strong as an ox! Learnt a lesson there - don't mess wif okes what done the E'tape thing

- about time you had a ride without hickups!

DR - did you can like to beat me by far?

Nellie - I heard that mags are no longer kief in Benoni, it's now spinner hubcaps or nothing!

Zaskar - as far as I know the CS200 is not supported by PPP.

I have previously used a tool called sl2hrm (soniclink to hrm? http://sl2hrm.tripod.com/files/SL2HRM-0109beta9.zip ) to get the data from the CS200 into a flat file that is acceptable to some training programs. I use Sporttracks a free training log (http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/) program to log my training and I have it automatically importing all my Garmin stuff from my Forerunner as well as from my old Timex HRM data recorder but not yet succesfully the Polar stuff from the CS200. Good luck!

I find that for races up to about 2 hours I go with bottles and anything longer i go with the pack. BigBen2007-09-04 06:04:04

The only issue I have with bottles is that a lot of the new FS frames (and then even some of these very 'compact' HT frames) is that if you are lucky you get 1 bottle in! On some (like the Epic) you can also fit a cage 'in front' of the down tube but the issue is that every time you want to drink from any of the bottles on an MTB bike the 'nozzle' is covered in dust, mud, cow pooh or whatever you have ridden over! You are correct that how much you have in the backpack is a mystery and it can be a bit of a lottery when riding long events as you don't know at which water stop to fill up. Also if you have some 'special' juice in there, do you throw whats left in out? Just add water to it? Mix it with whatever arbitrary juice is being sponsored? Ai ai ai, decisions decisions!

Will be there!