Yang

I earn a living working for a company. I also ride and train as well as I can for the races I do. If I happened to be good enough for a podium finish in my category I would be happy with a medal. I say- let the money go to the people who make a living from cycling- ie, the pros. If I was an ex-pro, I would be happy to see the youngsters making their day in the sunshine. I would had had my turn, then handed the baton over. Everytime I race and I get a PB, I've won. I get a medal and bragging rights with my sedentary envious buddies - that's good enough.

Howzit T. I was wondering if this has been on the Hub before and I'm not surprised it has been. Are there any hubbers with one of his frames? I can just imagine the scene- T, why don't you finish this conversation: Son- "Dad, please get me this carbon frame on the hub" Dad- "No!" Son- "Oh pleaseeeeee dad, I promise to be good." Dad- "Go and make your own." Son- "Wot????!" Dad- "You have a choice- I buy you that bike and you have to sign an IOU with a 20% monthly escalation until you pay me back, OR YOU MAKE YOUR OWN! You can start with the bamboo patch in the garden." Son- "......

Ver' nice. Ver', ver' nice!

I reckon its doable. As with any project you need the proper prep, materials, planning, follow the instructions, and TIME. There will probably be a bit of trial and error, but I reckon this would be fun- not that I have the time for this, but would be interesting to hear from whoever has tried, or progress reports from someone who wants to take on the project, along the lines of Big H's wheel truing engineering project. This would make a great school project- its got everything- working out angles, working with chemicals, figuring out strength of materials, practical application, and who knows, a business opportunity!Yang2009-01-04 02:45:51

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-I-built-a-carbon-bike-frame-at-home-and-a-bam/# What a project!

Snap!

Hey If you go to Campag you won't have that problem. OK, seriously. Shimano's 105, Ultegra and DA have a trim function in their STI's. JBornman will be able to explain better. If you're on the small chain ring and the largest sprocket and you want to move to the big chain ring (or blade as you call it), your first move on the STI will be more efficient, if you move from the largest sprocket down 2 or 3 sprockets. (You should avoid crossing the chain from biggest sprocket to big ring, and from smallest sprocket to small ring because it increases the stresses on the chain, although there are those who argue that modern chains can accommodate that kind of flex). When you shift from small to big ring, you may also find that the chain will rub against the front derailleur. If this happens, that's when you use the trim on the STI and shift again, to stop the chain rub on the FD. This happens by shifting the FD a little further outwards. Poor lubrication also contributes to the problem of the chain not shifting up to the large ring so make sure the chain, cables and derailleurs are lubbed. The main point then is that Shimano 105, Uletrga and DA have a trim function on their STI's.

I've helped once in a race- in the Argus a few years back I punctured on a cateye going down Chapman's (also got a flat spot on my rim- ruined it), and while I changed my tyre another rider stopped next to me with a puncture- he had no pump so I gave him mine and carried on, not waiting for him to give it back to me. Then in a Durban race I punctured twice and only had one tube. A rider stopped to give me his tube and he refused my cash. We should all live by what he said- If you want to repay me, do the same for someone else.

All the best to all the Hubbers- may the best of 2008 be the worst of 2009.

What Supavan did should not be a "great" deed- it should be a normal deed for us cyclists.

I think that this is the winning quote. Like that shirt I've seen- I'm a drinker with a cycling problem.

Originally posted by holy roller Originally posted by supavan HR: I can't take all the credit for trying to contact Garth's family. There was another gentleman that put Garth's sim in his own phone to try and get ahold of them. fact is, you stopped to help. that earns you respect in my book.many would've just gone past. Yip, very important fact. It is a small thing you did but the deed was great. Last year prior to the 94.7. I was on my way home from my Saturday morning ride. In Botha avenue on the Pretoria side from Kloofsig, I got to a accident scene. A cyclists somehow wiped out and the paramedics was attending to him. When I got there, the paramedics was almost ready to load him in the ambulance. Yet despite the fact that it was a Saturday morning and hundreds of cyclists was prepping for the 94.7 ... not a single one of them stopped to assist this guy. He was there alone and luckily he was able to contact the ambulance. According to the paramedics he was in and out of consciousness. Luckily when I stopped he was able to give me a number to contact. He was an American diplomat. Paramedics told me they are taking him to Unitas. I told the paramedic to go, I will get him his bike to hospital and try to contact his family there. Got my wife to come and pick me up and took his bike to Unitas hospital where I got hold of his wife. He was okay with a broken collarbone and concussion. But what really bothered me was that of all the cyclists that passed this accident sence nobody would give a rats ass. (QUOTE) Just finished reading the thread started by Supavan on the injured cyclist he stopped for, and then Bateleur's comments above. I think that we as Hubbers should commit to stop for any lone cyclist that we come across on the road who has stopped, to see if he or she needs help. Whether you are in your car or on your bike, and whether the cyclist is lying unconscious on the ground or is just standing there, or pumping up his tyre. If he's on his own, let's commit to slow down and say- "Hey- everything OK?", or see if we can help in another way, even if its just to stay with him or her, until they're mobile again, or until proper help arrives. What do you think? If we as cyclists can't stop for another cyclist, then why should anyone else bother???Yang2008-12-31 05:08:17

Nooo !! To much for my brain and not enough time left today.... Rob"The Legend" should have no problems tho... C'mon Swissvan- Just ein or zwei paragraphs a tag. Wir kann wachten fur unseren daily Next Exciting Episode. Ich spreche auch Deutsch, aber das emphasis is on das word "weinig", so ich kann ist nicht do, otherwise ich would volunteer.

QUOTE=Johan Bornman] JB, I remember the posts and criticisms from some time back about Burke, much as I remember some angry vitriol against you as well- that's the value of debate and different opinions and facts- it makes for better decisions and improvements. I thought you may come back at me about my mention of Burke. But there are others who have their own opinions about geometry, such as Richard Ballantyne. I can't fault what you said from my limited experience. But why is it that my best times along my 33km training road route are better on my Kona than on my Giant, after numerous rides on both. My Kona has a longer wheelbase than the Giant TCR 0 compact frame, and the top tube + stem is about 2 cm's longer on the Kona?

Now THIS test sounds like a useful test, instead of the tests that you read about. It appears that test reports are like wine reviews- subjective and full of BS, determined by brand names and price. I'm with JB in terms of my cynicism of these things. But the geometry is important. Rather than try to summarise it here, The book Serious Cycling by Edmund R Burke has a chapter "Perfect Positioning" which deals with the relationships between the various components of the bike in respect to performance. Eg, the relationship of angle of seat tube to the ground and your leg length, the length of your stem in relation to your torso length, etc. Its a must get book for any competitive cyclist.

The splurb in the Campag manual says that the 11 speed allows for smoother transitions between sprockets. My bikes have 11-23, and since I train on flat all the time (where I live in Mozambique is like a snooker table), I find myself looking for a bigger sprocket when I'm climbing in a race or training in SA- and I'm already in the 23. SO there's one reason I want 11 speed. It gives me all the options I have now, PLUS the missing sprocket that I always look for when I'm suffering up a climb. The other reason I'm getting the 11 Speed Chorus, and this is the more important one, is because I can. If I have to go climb up the radar mast hill in central Moz (the steepest hill I have ever seen), I will change to my emergency cassette with the 27T sprocket.

AL, isn't it all about choice and evolution? Its the same as when cyclists were faced with the choice of 7 speed to 8 speed to 9 to 10..... Chromoly to Alu. Alu to carbon. Downshifters to index shifters. These choices became no-brainers. Also: (I hope this comes out) <?: prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /> <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I've trained on IDT's for years. One of them broke due to a design flaw which has since been sorted out by Rav-X. You get them with and without the tension control that allows you to modulate the tension on your back wheel to simulate hill climbing, spinning, etc, for different workouts- aerobic, strength, power, speed, etc. You can actually do this with your gearing without touching the tension control, but for an extra couple of hundred bucks you may as well get the tension control one. I don't know prices now- I would guess about R1100.00, and your LBS will sell you a good one. I have an expensive model (Volare Elite), and the cheaper Rav-X. I only use the Rav-X and it does the job with no problem. You can also get great workout programmes to help your training- these are important to avoid your training sessions becoming stagnant. Spinning also gives you a great workout, but I have far less experience with them. IDT is tough- you need discipline and something good on TV to distract you. Those programmes also help you get through the hour session.

Hey Boet, I'm not too bad. Malaria laid me low off the bike for 3 weeks- still struggling to put in a decent training ride. I'm getting a new bike and will be experimenting on some alu tubes before going onto my old alu Giant frame for a makeover. Look forward to your pics.

Where do you get stickers from, or can you make them yourself? Have googled but hard to find what I want, in terms of printing off onto blank stickers to make my own.

I know you're a youngster but not as young as the age group that Tony wants to get together- by a few months, but not AS young. Me- the l know my limits- the longest I've ridden was 144 k's, and it gets harder every year. But who knows..... If I do 180, the whole Hub will get to know it. Oh oh- wifey's calling- g'night all.

Impey' date=' careful of TurtleK. He does things like 180 k rides every 2 or 3 days for fun. . Daryl would be ok, but all the others would definitely develop compies.[/quote'] Yang i am trying to get to where impey is and the only way i am gonna get there is by doing good base miles this december and then focussing on my races for next year i think meeting up with impey and the other guys at the camp will be good for everyone there but will give impey a call T, hope it happens for you Boet. Just wish I could do 180 k's, then repeat it a coupla days later. Heavy sighhhh- just jealous. Just show the youngsters how to do it- I'm sure they can use inspiration.

Impey, careful of TurtleK. He does things like 180 k rides every 2 or 3 days for fun. . Daryl would be ok, but all the others would definitely develop compies.

Dare to be different JS- good on ya!!! Your bike and the specs are like a musical counter beat. The contrast between your Super Bike Ibis and the specs lifts your bike above the conformist bikes we see. Some do a makeover with the frame, and you do something totally different- it doesn' have to look good- just different and that's good enough.