Nickzta

I keep my legs tidy when I race, but let it grow out in winter when I'm spinning. But it's only it's only cos of peer pressure! I don't feel great, when the guy next to me has calves that look like a Semi-Automatic Machine gun and my fat shins look like Jack Parrow on a Monday Morning.

Hi great post! Thanks. I've also been thinking about taking the plunge and buying some carbon wheels. This was helpful! Anybody know anything about CKT Wheels?

I've enjoyed spinning at Sunninghill for about 3 years. Actually joined the gym for their spinning classes. (Your class on the old bikes was outstanding. Love your work.) Sad to say it, but I will never sit on one of the new bikes again. Sorry, I just wont spinn at Sunninghill ever again.

Just picked up a pair of Specialized for R900...

Buying your first road bike! Nice! You are going to have such fun with this. Seriously, you are in the "honey-moon" time of cycling... Take your time, enjoy every moment. The post's above all contain fantastic advice. Don't listen too much to the sales people at Cajees. Go chat with the sales guys at the *Bling* stores like CycleLab etc... When you have made up your mind about what to get, then go back to everybody for quotes. My advice, start by deciding on the groupset, decided if you want Sram, Shimano or Campy. Then see if you can afford to get the second or third best version... Rather spend your money on a good group set, than buying a pretty frame. If you can get both, then that's a bonus. Then spend your money on shoes & pedals, (Some bikes will come with good pedals bundled into the price) get a helmut, a saddlebag, a spare tube and tyre tools and get a foot pump with a gauge. Saddles are tricky purchases, either your bum is comfortable on a saddle - or it isn't. So don't spend extra money on a fancy saddle at this point. Wheels, at this time, I'd just go with the wheels that come with the bike. Once you have done a few races you can look at getting a set of special wheels for racing. When you do start deciding on the frame you want, do your homework and get measured and fitted up for that frame. Each frame has it's own geometry. Most of the *Bling* cycling shops can "size" you in 2 minutes and it's free. Maybe the other Hubbers can comment of what bike brands they think you should consider? In my opinion, you will do well to look brands like Scott, Raleigh, Trek and Giant.

Um, maybe they just built up their training program gradually over time ??? ...messing with "Pro-Juice" could make you a "1-hit-wonder" and we don't want to be "Wondering" what happened to that Woman...

Just to show the flipside to this: I worked in a business a little while back, it was a cash cow while the economy was good, we had international sales incentives and huge bonus's. The sales director placed an order for a very special edition Porsche. Paid cash up front. With back orders and delivery delays, it took 2 YEARS to get delivered. In those two years the economy changed, legislation changed and the business crumbled. The Sales director had to initiate retrenchments in the same month that he took delivery of his Porsche. (nice, HUH?) What I am saying is that it's tough being a director, it's complicated. As an employee you don't always understand everything that goes on... and what you see, doesn't always paint a clear picture.

You started with a Rant "on" and finished with a Rant "off." I say that's fair enough, brother! We all need to rant about money every now and then... Also nice to see that there are a few directors here who have given comment from their perspective... (There is gold in them thar' hills) Look, it's been a frikken hard year for almost everybody! Take your boxing gloves and knuckle dusters to your meeting, by all means. (I hope you get to use them...) But, unless you have been headhunted twice a month for the last 3 months, don't make any career limiting moves

Ok soooooooooo... To some up what I am hearing so far: 17 month old child, (guessing you've not been back on the bike for too long. To be nice about it, let's just call it a training base of 12 months max) not enough sleep at night, recent bird flu(lol), 5yrs ago you had yuppie flu & you are still not totally over than, B injections every 3 days... And now you want what the pro's have? Wonder Woman! Perhaps what you are looking for is an entire team of support staff, a personal Chiro, your own dedicated Physio and a very generous sponsor...

Hey, big respect to you for doing this! This kind of event is on my bucket list. I wish you lots of fun!

Sure Johan... I believe you. I ride motorbike and road bicycle... Front wheel skid is not a problem, if the wheel locks it will throw you over the top, or it will twist the steering and slip out underneath you. Honda have just released a big press release on how their 2012 CBR1000 will now come out with less braking force and reduced ABS on the front wheel. You are right, strong braking on the front wheel is always dangerous. I've shredded a back wheel, travelling north on Main road, Bryanston, the robot changed and I had to brake hard to keep out of the intersection. The result was a 2 second back wheel skid that skimmed the rubber right through the tyre, scuffed the tube and caused a blow out. Couldn't even have been travelling faster than 55km/hr at the time. Sure I wasn't riding a heavy duty tyre, it certainly wasn't "Gator" quality. Clinchers caused that, so yes I am sugesting that disk breakes will require tyre manufacturers to review their product. And you are also right that reaction time to breaking is the main cause of accidents. a 2 second delay at 60km/hr means that you will have lost 16 meters, before you even start breaking.

There was a similar thread, a week or so ago, and I got a bit of heat on that thread. But I'll repeat my point. With greater speed comes the need for greater control. I've been wiped out in too many bunch concertina's on the fast races. So I can see Disk Brakes on road frames. Sure, the weight is an issue, another issue is that the tyre guys will have a challenge in creating tekkies that wont shred under tarmac braking abrasion. But this is awesome technology and cycling is a technology sport. This is where innovation and technology meet. Not too long ago, we all thought (actually a long time ago, I just dont want to sound like an old timer with a walking stick) Well, anyway, we all thought that Carbon frames would never make it. Hah, and at that time, if someone had suggested carbon rims... So disk brakes on road bikes and cyclo bikes, yes I think it might take off and yes I think some further product development will happen.

Hey Trekker, I followed up with that email addy you gave me for VA. I got a very impressive note from that chickeroo... She said that the MD asked her to personally give my letter her most urgent attention. Haven't heard anything since then. Here's hoping that VA soon come to the realisation of the error of their ways...

I've been looking at getting a new computer too. Nothing seems to beat the Cateye for overall usefulness, design quality, etc. CRC had some old stock at amazing prices. My only concern on Cateye is that the entry level model does not have "elapsed time" (which I like to use for races) The Cateye Strada is my 1st choice. My second choice would be the Ryder Razor - it seemed to have everything, (um except cadence. Is that important to you?) It was really well priced and didn't look too ugly.

I dunno, but my 2cents worth: I'm riding a second hand Dura Ace 7800 this year and it has been handling like a real dream... But I was chatting to some serious guys about what my new bike should look like and 100% consensus on Sram. All the guys I look up to tell me that Sram is just 100x better and I dont even need to go for the top of the range Sram groupo...

Solomon's Woodmead Rocks, Trisport in Sunninghil is awesome, FPC are amazing! Cycletech - what a great store! ...who've I missed? ...CycleLab! Wow!You legends! (I think I just like all my LBS's - My favorite thing!!!) What can I say, I'm a cycling enthusiast...

Westdene Rocks! I've been spending money there for almost 10 years... Send all my friends there, all the time.

Love it when people dis their LBS on this forum... Dude, Dude, Really? You are sobbing cos you couldn't get what you wanted? You are sour, cos, someone else beat you to it... You wanted the bike and you didn't follow up, you didn't check up on the state of confusion that you started. My view is that you fumbled the pass and you are now trying to blame them and it's not like you put a deposit down... Seriously, If you want something in life, you gotta follow through and make sure you get it! It's up to you to get what you want in life. Bottom line: have a bit of personal accountability in your life about this. So the bike shop made a mistake and kept the black, instead of the white? (aren't we already over that in this country?) I don't think that's bad service, that's a mistake. We all make mistakes... See you even made a mistake... So what, that they didn't pucker up and kiss your 'Donkey" all the way to hell and back, because you made a communication mistake. Move on! Why is that bad service? Dont sit here and cry about it, we dont really care to hear your little crying and sobbing. Come on, man??? FPC is a great shop! I will continue to support them...

Suggest you start 2nd hand: spend the bulk of your money on good racing wheels. Then see if you can get the second best groupo in whateva flavour (shimano, Sram, Campi) you want. Least important, get a frame with whatever money is left... Watchout for the older 2nd hand carbon frames, they can be a bit dodgy, watchout for team bikes, they get well used. Do your homework on the frame manufacturer sizing, know what frame fits you. If you can get all three in one purchase then you will really score.

Haha, I used the split time calculator. Was ontrack at Hydepark, but couldn't go from Hyde park to Witkoppen in 20min? (That made no sense) Then I was way ahead at N14. Then I bonked on Summit, finished 15min late

I was looking at the CKT wheels - they are reasonably priced and look spectacular. Has anybody had any experience on them?

nice clip... sends chills up my arms

Good Post!!! I agree. Littering sux. I'm also the first to admit to occaisionally gunning up to a breakaway point: getting over agro, biting off a gu top, spitting out the plastic, gulping and then discarding the tube. Didn't even realize that I had a subconscious habit. So now it's noted...

Well Done, I saw you doing +/- 18km/hr up St Andrews

Polar 625x