Clinton1

I may be a grammar and punctuation Nazi. I read, and reread, that last post and continually wondered about punctuation... damn it!

I thought it was only the ladies that swooned over supported Nadal?

Well worth highlighting.

Tennis just doesn't do it for me but Federer gets my shout anyway for being part South African.

Glad you crossed out the "look like" part as I think I have made it clear many times that appearances and image mean little to me

I hear you. There is a half buried log on the new section of the blue trail at Giba that has been worn away by chaps chain rings hitting it as they go over, and 40mm would help a lot there. Yip, I sometimes ride into Durban from Pinetown and going down the back freeway the big ring comes in handy but not often I get into that on the trails.

Indeed! I called Buycycle and they explained exactly this to me. They said to deliver to the main centres was far cheaper but they had one set price which then subsidised the folk living in the sticks. Still don't like it (but I'm sure you do! ) charge me what it costs and then charge the chap in the bush what it costs him. Hell, he has to buy from you anyway as he has no shops nearby but if your price is too high for me, or more accurately the delivery too steep, then I have many choices.

I've seen talk of deciding based on where you are riding which I suppose is the main criteria. I often use the one side of my range on the steep downhills and like the security of granny on some of the uphills. I suppose the reality is I could probably do without some of the lowest (?) gears but it's always nice knowing they are there when the legs are hurting! Not sure I'm fully understanding the extra clearance? Are your referring to using a small ring so more clearance that way? How many teeth does the "normal" big ring on a 3*8 have? I get the more training argument but I suppose if you were disciplined you could just not use it if you had it. But then yeah, why have it. So I need to ask. We used to have 21 speed bikes. Then we had 24 speed. Now we have 27 speed... so with this move towards less gears would we be heading back towards 21 speeds. I suppose in asking that, there is no need to answer, as the main difference is that we are getting less front rings while gaining at the back while it used to be the other way around. I fully understand the second bike to mess around with idea. I can just not imagine having this as my "main" bike. Makes perfect sense. My rides vary dramatically so I quite like the security of having the extra gears if I need them. Rather battle away in granny than jump off and walk... It's all about those grams... Yeah, makes sense that the less components you have the more reliable it becomes. Ah, now we get the most valid reason! You should have said this first and left it at that Thanks for the responses.

A few grams?

I have read through this thread with interest but may I ask why you chaps do this? Is there a valid reason or is it just for the hell of it?

...I'll need to up my game!

You are obviously MORE than welcome skidd! I can't wait for the summer CM rides in Durbs. Hot sweaty evenings spent riding through the streets... brilliant!

So, it seems I do listen to the advice given even if my comments may indicate other wise to some... I placed an order last night for a Camelbak Charge LR. I'll be sure to report back my views once it arrives. Thanks for the advice PS I might still get that saddle bag for the leisurely beach front rides though

Hmmmm.... is it possible to like only half a post?!

I think I much prefer Tumbleweed's definition. KISS. If you are riding on dirt, it's mountain biking. In fact, I am a fan of an even simpler definition, if you are using fat knobbly tires you are mountain biking, if you use skinny smooth tyres you are road cycling

Nigel, what do the acronyms stand for? I presume XCM would mean Cross Country Marathon? And I always assumed XCO meant Cross Country only, so is the "O" just for show?

Ha ha, I contemplated a similar answer as I pressed post

Agree. Also not a fan of labelling and pigeon holing. Things don't always fit into neat little boxes. As an aside, if I am riding my mountain bike and briefly need to use the tar road, what am I doing?

Thanks man. I see it puts hydration packs under Bags of Textile -> Sports & Outdoor Bags - of man-made fibers and mentions duties of 30% plus possible VAT. I found the Camelbak Charge LR on Evans Cycles for R500 (chain reaction has it for R700) with delivery of R100. Even if we add duties and VAT that would be R741 which is cheaper than any comparable bags here so I did it. Let's see if it arrives Thanks again.

Useful.Thanks.

So I'm considering the Camelbak Charge LR 2012 but am unable to find it anywhere online in SA. I see it on Chain Reaction Cycles so the next question is what duties would one expect to pay on something like a hydration pack, if any? Or perhaps more importantly, does anyone know where you can get this in SA and at what sort of price? Thanks http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/75194.jpg

We can't any more as the thread title has been given a more accurate make over

...and here I thought we'd be talking music.

Geez, this sock thing is more difficult than I originally thought. I was concerned about make and colour but never thought to ask how you are meant to wear them... it seems I have been doing it wrong all this time!