vanniri

For XC racing: Race = Saturday Week before: Last hard session - Tuesday Wednesday - Intermediate distance slow ride on tar (+/- same as your estimated race time) Thursday - passive rest (no bike) Friday - active rest (very slow riding), with some warm-ups and a few (3 - 5) steep short technical hills (getting the blood pumping). Drink 2 litres carb loading fluids fromThursday per day.

Agree with JB above. I am always on the lookout for people swopping their XTR skewers for sexy light weights like KCNC?s.

Check the new Merida 0.9, No rider weight limit and replacement including racing (check with local agent) I am 1,93cm and 84kg at best - no problems with carbon frames (currently 2008 Merida)

Big Ben: I had an SWorks M5 before and currently ride the Merida team as above. I found the Merida to be a truely awesome bike even compared to the SWorks - I know carbon vs alu might not be a fair comparison. I didn?t like Merida before - will probably buy the new 0.9 next. Your opinion?

Also have both...Fizik in SA and the SLR in Brazil. SLR XC is very solid and a racing favourite. Each time on my return to SA I cannot believe how the Fizik feels immediately more comfortable, on my return the SLR seems just more XC orientated. For stage/marathon - Fizik For XC racing/marathon - SLR

I thought we were a brainless bunch on the hub... After reading some of the comments on the site - and I am not referring to one?s were cyclists are targeted, the hub seems to be a few notches above.

1 - Dirt in BB 2 - Loose chainring bolts 3 - Pedals 4 - Seatpost at insert 5 - Seatpost at saddle Usual suspects in order of frequency

Says "shaft drive" on the tube connecting the front and back chainrings.

Buy tubeless, then thank the guy in Brazil for no more snake bites!

It is cheap, unless it should read ... per metre for 100mm wide ...

They keep the water cold from the fridge to the car - after then no noticeable difference (at least in Brazil). If I freeze it the bottom bracket gets all wet and as a result very dirty. If you have the same weather (very hot and humid), I will not recommend these.

It?s an Isuzu - just drill a hole

I have both red and black ones. I have always prefered using the red ones - felt more comfortable. Might be this temperature thing. Btw these bibs are only over rated if you spend less than two-hours in the saddle a day.

Depends - 7 days of doing nothing after very hard prolonged training or stage-racing can benefit the training effort from day 8 onwards. Do not expect top racing performance on day 8.

I only do Mtb For wax based I prefer Squirt - the chain is removed at least once a week, (Frequency depends on rain/mud), and boiled in water for 5 minutes. This disolves all wax and removes the debris lodge inside. Just wipe it with a rag after removing from the water. Relube - The chain is always lubed while removed from the gears, then dried in the shade for at least 30min before putting in back on. The result is an absolute clean chain and drivetrain. Cleaning the bike is like therapy - I will not recommed doing all of this if you do not have time. For oil base I prefer Finish Line. No reason other than it works in wet (Brazil wet).

Rather than buying this expensive and heavy tool - take a lenght of "blou draad" about 8cm in lenght, bend it at the middle, insert it in the same way as when using the Park tool, squeeze the end of the wire towards one another.

Did an organised race the other day. The route took us through sewage 4 times, at least once wider than two meters and deeper than rim height. Stopped drinking from my bottle on the down frame after the first crossing, stopped drinking from the one in my back pocket after the "deep one". vanniri2009-11-30 13:16:50

Best results on Racing Ralphs in SA, not the cheapest options & beware of cuts! Used Maxxis Crossmark for a year - so, so For the summer season here I changed to Racing Ralphs on the front and Furious Fred at the back. Very fast indeed on flats, uphill and sand. Watch-out for loose gravel uphills and on downhills (all terrain) the back end develops a mind of its own. Would be a good set-up for some predominantly gravel races in SA, but generally limited due to dislike of rocks. Btw: bought both tyres in SA, both non UST. Asked for tyres taken from new bikes - manage to get both for less than 130 ZAR each at CycleLab nogal

For all of the above: Split raises - on all fours, raise your left leg and right arm, then alternate, repeat as much as you can without losing form. Also attempt a few essentric stomach muscles exerc, like raised bridge, etc.

they do it often in brazil' date=' i believe... [/quote'] I deny any involvement! See now you guys made me post twice in a short time.

I have joined this forum ages ago - I only managed to shed my Rookie status a short time ago. I reply when there is a subject I can comment on and happen to see it in time. By the number of posts of members I can only assume you guys don?t work/ride/get laid enough.

Have you seen the latest FSA (non-carbon) crankset? Should work nicely with the chrome finish - you?ll have to give up the XX (methink this crank only in three c/r format unlike the bigger and much more expensive carbon FSA) Would also be nice to get a "Judy yellow" shock - maybe personalised SID? Riser bars will complement the handling nicely - monkey lite? Is that easton tubing? The last year?s USA made no longer used Easton - pity!