GreyOwl3.0

How do you guys like my classic Eddy merckx? Steel frame, 100% original paint job, Shimano 600 Ultegra 7speed! This is a REAL old school bike! Whadda you guys think?

Yesterday was a good stage. That last bend almost caused a problem for Fedrigo though!

I'm gonna say no. Are you going just to watch the final day in Paris, and then come home? Bare in mind, if thats the case then you are in for a nightmare. French culture, traffic, language barrier, directions and finally the exchange rate just for a couple days in Paris...then "no" However...if you are going for a week, can catch the last stage and the missus is also keen, as well as having other things to do (check out Versailles) then it is worth the trip over...and you'll get so much nookie from the missus you'll wanna go again next month!

Some people are just not happy unless they are complaining!?! Ok, its your opinion dude...but really. Do you expect them to tear each other to shreds every stage? We've only had 2 proper bunch sprints...one of which had suffered an exciting split... The TTT was super cool... The leaders are so close together its frigging fantastic! But, I'm sure you are the kinda guy that had you been riding you would expect us all to believe it was the hardest TDF in history. Quit complaining and just let them race...and us to enjoy it!

Kudo's dude. That was impressive.

Ok...thats your opinion and I respect that. BUT...they both have a very difficult job. They sit in front of a monitor watching hours and hours of cycling ...so it will become very difficult to expand on the boring peleton pace. Just wait till the racing explodes in the mountains...thats when they come into their own. Ligget has such a vast knowledge of cycling, and in particular the riders competing. Look, live coverage of the Tour is hardly the most riveting viewing, but I do think its better because of Phil and Paul. Dont forget, they have to do live coverage for several TV stations at the same time. You'll often hear Phil in the background while Paul is commenting on what we are watching at that moment. Its really not an easy job. And like someone else said, they punt South Africa every chance they get...and Lance is Lance. Love him or hate him he has won 7 Tours...so they are always gonna mention him. Kinda like Cavendish at the moment, would he get as much PR if he was American? Yes, because they are very fair in their commentary. (ok, maybe Paul dislikes Voeckler a bit!) Bottom line...I like them and would far rather hear them than Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche commentating!

I dont get the whole waving thing. You dont wave to fellow motorists... Or to fellow shoppers... But I do sometimes wave. And I always use the indicators...

TNT...her school is an eyesore on my every training ride!! Anyhoo... Why cant Nutella be softer and easier to spread in winter? Why is there no inbetween size pack of Astro's at the cinema's? The one pack is a whole 2 mouthfulls and the other takes 2months to ride off!! I have issues...

Ok...things that are bugging me... 1. Taxi drivers. Need I say more? 2. People who have no clue what they are doing on the roads and sit in the fast lane. Morons. 3. People who will not let you finish a sentence. Or try and see something from your point of view. 4. PMS. Why? What was God thinking? 5. Andrew Lloyd Webber. (Did I miss something on this one?) 6. I dont actually care who wins the Confederation Cup...just as long as they stop the stupid radio ad's soon I'll be happy! 7. Oprah Winfrey. I'm glad she's helping the world become a better place, I sleep better at night because of her I'm sure, but why must she be everywhere? You cant turn a corner, watch a programme or read a magazine without hearing about her. Anyhoo.... Who else likes that MNET ad with the tooth fairy?! I love it! But the Sandman one sucks...

Wooden Spoon, aka Slave...there be plenty of uphills coming your way on this ride! And no, there are no single women on this forum, and even if there were why would we care? We are cyclists and only our bikes matter to us here!

Slave, here is a list of things not to say on the Hub... 1. Shimano? Why'd you buy Shimano? 2. Can I advertise my car in the classifieds? 3. Are there any single women on this site? 4. Lance is clean 5. Lets show the northerners some real hills! (especially when some of them take their cycling SO seriously they could almost qualify for PROTOUR status!) My northern chums, please go easy on my mate...he knows not what he says!! But you will certainly enjoy his company...so much so that you'll soon be down to ride some real hills with us in the south!!!!!

BTDT didn't get a T-shirt. Always willing to pop in again. The one I wouldn't mind having a go at is Comaro' date=' havn't done that yet. Did Butchers on the way back from the Fast One the last 2 years, it hurts when you already have 170km in the legs. [/quote'] A Slave - you really think we should consider riding with these people. They seem to be in a totally different class bud. We are outclassed here. We need to take a hike while we still can. No help crying afterwards. Sheesh...sounds like the Slave is really stirring this pot! So glad I'm not gonna be there, coz this is gonna get ugly fast! IanJ...my good friend, do not for one second think that Butchers and Comaro can be compared!! I'd ride Butchers 5times in a row rather than 1 ascent of Comaro!!

I have some and I love them! Used them on a set of Mavic deep sections I had and they were an amazing ride. Pump em hard and save em for race day...they are great!

Geez Andy...that hill looks much bigger in real life!!!

Slave, as I have said before you didnt use the 39tooth long enough to see the big benefit of it. And, to be fair as someone else mentioned, a 39 is really not needed for any of the Alberton south rides. A 42 will more than suffice. Now, I am not sure of the exact measurements or the means...but I do know that the difference between a 39 and a 42 is significant. As you know, for each revolution of the crank the bike is moved forward a set distance. I remember racing as a schoolboy with restricted gearing and cheating by using a 53tooth chainring instead of a 52. (but you had to use 18mm Conti tires to get away with it!)...the difference between the 53 and the 52 was not huge, but big enough to give you a big advantage over other guys. If you take the same gear at the back (ie 17) and work out the exact distance travelled by the bike per revolution with both the 39 and the 42 and you will suddenly realise why your gearing felt strange! Waffle waffle... However, the whole crank conundrum...trust me dude...the 175mm will make a huge difference. My science is based on the teachings of LeMond, Indurain and Ullrich...

Never...I'll never ever admit such a thing MJ!

It kills me to admit this, but that Miley Cyrus song "creepy little fly on the wall"...kinda cool! Dunno the exact title though!

I had the same problem a long time ago! And, it resulted in Tony Impey cycles hacking my seat post apart like JB said. Nothing else worked. Why is this JB? Someone told me that some lube's, oils or something like that actually end up 'bonding' themselves to the aluminium? Is this true?

200mm cranks Obree? Fark! Thats long! What gear do you run on the track with that? Minimum 104?!

Who was it who said "give me a lever big enough and I will move the world"?? Probably some Greek mathematician... But I do know who said, "In the Alps I run a 180mm crank because it helps me climb better" Herr Ulrich knows a thing or two about bikes Slave, and when faced with a 6hour assault over 4 Alpine monsters, crank length plays a big part in power transfer, efficiency and recovery...and Ulli would know! For myself, I know that depending on the track I'm racing I ride either a 165mm crank, or a 170mm. Its easier to accelerate the shorter crank from slower speeds, and easier to spin the gear. Racing on the road, I ride a 172.5mm because I can still 'spin' my gears, but find it a little more difficult to do so on a 175mm crank. But if I was to race a big mountain event like the Jock, I'd ride a 175mm without even hesitating. I'm not sure on the science of it all, but I do know what works for me...and crank length makes a big difference. I've said for a while that your cranks are too short...you need a 175mm. My 2c...