Bike Mob

lots of "Job of Work" s and "Man Possessed"s though... hahaha

Too many times he called Chris Froome: Ritchey Froome Ritchey Porte ...

Because it's pointless rocking up to a fast bunch ride when you'll get dropped in the 1st couple of kays and then be riding alone anyway. i was trying to find out if he would keep up (or be too fast) for the groups I know of. Groups usually have set routes that can be accomplished within a given time frame before work, so they can't wait around.

need to tighten it with an allen key or supplied spanner

Do you honestly think they have not been testing anyone so far and wait until after the presentation in Paris before posting results? especially the Maillot Jaune...

I havent ridden it back to back vs 15 or 20mm but I believe those that say its very close. I find it a lot stiffer than before and may help the OP in his quest and at a lower price point.

You may all be interested in this exercise I did... Its also possible on my Industry Nine Wheels. http://nevcragg.com/2013/05/31/easton-ec90xc-front-axle-upgrade/

The Vredestein is way better than a Crossmark - the crossmark rolls well but is rubbish in the wet and worst of all is completely unpredictable as to when its going to let go in the corners... grip one second and then nothing. I would suggest the Vredestein Black Panther standard version if you want to buy right now to wait two weeks for the XTRAC version - you'll be happy.

I read a couple of reviews on the standard BP and many said that the loss of braking power and grip on wet roots and rock was because of the fast center line of knobs. Rolling resistance is low but then so is grip. One "fix' was to cut off the small in between blocks to open the tread line up the middle for more grip. I'll try this as part of the testing on mine but the xtracversion will solve this by design. So far I have not found the best pressure to run, initial turn in feels slower (than a fastrak 2.0), but that's to be expected with bigger side knobs to get onto and a wider tire, I haven't had any issues with front end grip

Attakwas has a lot of shale. I don't think the terrain in Mankele is quite so demanding as Atta. That race is brutal on everything.

I just fitted a black Panther on a ZTR arch. They are super tight but will work. Take it this way... You won't burp it!!

Raining today over the cape. It's supposed to stop around 8pm. I hope that's enough time for it to dry out. Anyone know how well the course will drain?

What wheels have you got? The bead is very tight but will go on to a ZTR rim. On Mavic/Shimano etc they will work great.

I find the sidewalls of the Black Panther perfectly strong enough. Its a proper Tubeless tire. I can seat them and they hold air for a long time with no sealant at all.

Looks to me like the Rabobank boys used the prototype version that became the Black Panther Xtrac. I'm personally looking forward to the xtrac release due in two weeks. http://www.crank.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/DSC00165.jpg http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_ca/news/2010/CapeEpic_Finish.jpg http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/images/product_images/big/vredestein-black-panther-xtrac-tyre.jpg

I tested and reviewed the Spotted cat by Vredestein (on my blog link below) and just fitted a Black Panther 29x 2.20 yesterday. I rode it this morning with good initial feeling. I still need to get the pressures set up right, it can go lower than my Fastraks I normally run. What ground conditions will you be using it in? The Extreme version is a good mud/wet loam condition tire. The standard version is better in the dry and at the end of the Month the Xtrac version will be the best of both at 620g The Extreme is 680g so its quite weighty. Std is around 620g

Contadors troops using tons of energy for 10-15 seconds

Cadel is advancing.. so is Rodriguez...thats what

if they refuse to fix grey products, then they are losing money on both sides of the coin...the BEST they could have done is take SOME of your money...

Thats me

Schmaak how there's only 2 races in the cape from now till the end of the year...

HOT!

Nice work Marc...lookin Boss

Bianchi? One of the oldest and still best brands available...

ASG are the Fulcrum Agents, J&J are still Campag agents. JJ would only have quoted a full wheel if no rim was available, so they upsold to get you moving if that was an option. They can get rims alone but it takes a week or two.