Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Bollocks. What do we all love to do? Go back down the stuff we've just spent hours and hours trying to get up in the first place. We all want an un-interrupted downhill section, and I guarantee that the guy going up will stop A LOT sooner & quicker than the guy coming down the track at 30kph plus. In addition, you don't expect someone to be coming the opposite way as you when you're "in the zone" and are nailing a huge jump, followed by a lekker berm & drop-off with a rocky descent to follow. Not to mention the nice, flowy singletrack where you're practicing how to go around corners at speed in order to better your time and skillset. I used to be a lot more sympathetic to people going up the ST a few months back, and have, since then, stopped to let people coming up. Especially when I am riding with a slower rider - if I see people coming up, plugging away at the cranks and I'm way ahead of my compatriot, I do pull over. But having said that, when I come hurtling down at a rate of knots, and someone is coming in the opposite direction (up the ST) they'd better move over - or they're going to get a face full of aluminium, polystyrene and plastic, followed by my foot up their ar5e because they weren't courteous and watchful. And then we'll both be showered in little slivers of sintered brake pads because of the ferocity of my braking. Because, after all - what is better than going up the ST, and stopping to watch someone coming down, NAILING it and then wishing that you could do the same. Then you try it for yourself, and some tosser decides that people going uphill have the right of way. Bollocks. Move over for the guy (or gal) coming down the ST. They WILL thank you, even if they don't voice their thanks. It's common sense, as well as common decency, to move over. Problem with those two personality traits - they're not all that common.

Olympic Cycles are having some KILLER specials on at the moment as well.. Walked in there today and thought I'd been transported back to 2002...

I got it right this last weekend... was brilliant! But then, it was the first time I've ridden it since Farmgate smashed his head going over it...

personal experience - do 3 easy sessions, and one all out. You need to have that high-end, all out interval type session in order to stretch yourself as well as to increase strength over what you can currently do. Plus, if you don't stretch yourself, you'll never get to a level above what you think you can do. if that makes any sense at all... cptmayhem2009-08-25 11:55:58

I see a couple of pics of Donkey in there...

*sheepish grin* it was more the fact that I don't know how much longer I'm going to be there for... saying that, the R100 I'll need to shell out for a rose will be made back in 2 weeks of commuting, thanks to saved petrol.

used to, as per HOG - shower at work doesn't have a rose anymore, so I either need to buy one for the office, or wait until boss man does. Used to drive in mondays, and drive back on fridays while leaving the car there during the week. I have meetings all through the day, so riding in on monday morning isn't really an option. I have been missing it though.

Easy solution - get lock-on grips. So much better, and not that much more expensive. And you should just need to pull them off by pulling against the inner edge of the grips (the side closest to the shifters) if you try to pull them of with your hand wrapped around them, they just stretch and contract. If you pull them from the inner edge (pushing outwards on the same edge also works) then the grips shorten and expand.

There's nothing wrong with the Kendas at all. They're the MTB tire equivalent of Giant-branded items (in the accessories department) All the same features of a more expensive tire (except for weight, maybe) at a fraction of the price of the boutique items.

Yeah, she's placing too much pressure on one of the nerves that runs through the hand/wrist area. A proper bike setup should fix it up. Alternatively, just tell her to suck it up and stop complaining. Then make for the nearest bomb shelter and hibernate for about 2 weeks...

Not in races, but when I'm hitting the hills in Tokai (or any other ST descent) it makes it a lot easier to move around on my predominantly sc-oriented biciclet. It's a lot better than sitting up on a perch, and I find that the saddle gets in the way if it's up in it's normal place. My rule is: Up for up, down for down. And when I have enough cash, I'll be getting myself a Joplin. Makes a helluva difference. cptmayhem2009-08-13 13:39:09

Decant all the powerade/energy drink into another bottle, and rinse out with just-boiled water. Slosh it around a bit, then drain through the pipe. Leave to dry with a wooden spoon stuffed inside. Works every time. Just remember to do it after each ride, or the stuff builds up...

I'd be lost without my Rogue... It's got just enough storage space (pump, tube, levers, tool, couple of bars and enough space to stash a gilet if it gets a bit too warm. Also has a 2l capacity, and keeps the drink cold for ages... Definitely go for the 'Bak

Ask no one. Just do what you're comfortable with and stuff the rest of them. You are your own person. Decide for yourself.

just a bargain basement Suntour XCM 100, but I'm looking at getting a Tora U-turn or Revelation U-turn in the distant future to make things a bit more reliable ITO ride life. The fork hasn't bottomed out yet, and I'm a pretty hefty 92kg... Possibly down to the way I ride though. Try to be a bit smoother and land with both wheels.

Not strictly a jump bike or anything to do with downhilling, but I use my Felt Q620 HT to hit the hills. Just lower the saddle by 6 inches so that I can maneuvre a bit more easily, and hey-presto. Need to get my confidence up a bit before I tackle the big hits, but I've been reading up on the specs and by all accounts the fork can handle up to about a 5ft before bottoming out, which is pretty good for a bargain basement! Also, the frame is as strong as houses...

should be able to get away with it. Bear in mind that hubs aren't cassette specific, unless you're talking about Shimano & SRAM vs Campy cassettes. Answer - yes you can. Unless it's a 25 year old 10 speed piece of poo. Then you just scrap the whole lot of gear and turn it into an SS rigid.

yeah, wanna see it!

I hope he gets a Tri saddle rather. Is that like a Bi, only does it with Hermaphrodites as well?

Just hope he adjusts the angle of attack on the saddle though. Looks like it could be a bit career-limiting!

They can be fixed - I've fixed my own, without the aid of a tech diagram. Just take it apart, and put the bits down in the order in which you removed them. If you have ANY amount spatial awareness, you should be able to tell how it fits back together, and where an item should fit.

pain in the arse, more like.

Merida. End of

Yeah, it was a lekker cosy little plek before they moved... can't wait to see the new shop once it's open. And only 500m away from home! (and on the way to work - that could be a problem)

I just bought them 'cos they look pretty. Absalon - Sintered pads can be bought from any reputable bike shop. Either that, or at any of the online stores... Chain Reaction Cycles, for instance.