Spoke101

For me it would be black anyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QE97iUvSHk0 When I found this it made me think of your comment. I race Road and XC and ride the odd Enduro but have never done DH. I personally would k@k my brooks just as much in the middle of this as I would hitting a DH road gap and I think it takes about the same amount of skill to stay in the top 20 in a sprint to the line as it does to ride a DH course. I race with the Pro's on the road due to my age and some big hours on the bike and I can tell you that the bunch can become a dog show very quickly and being able to not touch your brakes, read the bunch and dodge wheels whilst getting switched at 60km/h is a talent I do not possess. I have hit the deck at +50km/h and it's not pleasant, but I luckily didn't have 20 guys riding into me which would be the case here or hitting some road furniture at 60kph here you also have minimal protection. I can also think of 2 to Pro's who have died in resent years from crashing, although this can probably be put down to rider error. Anyone who says that Road racing is for softies and isn't dangerous is a fool.

These are my 2 little fur balls. Unfortunately the older one had to be put down after her body started to shutdown but a 18 years that expected. The younger one is now about 8 and is crazy intelligent, knows about 50 different words and will come and call/talk to you when she needs to go out to do her business, or she want's to be fed and oh boy can it tell the time 5 O-clock and it comes a calling you could set your watch by it. or it want's to go for a walk and it knows Sundays because it gets 2 walks. I need to get a more resent pic up!!

http://mtb.pl/sites/default/files/zdjecia_w_tekscie/03042014/20140304172149.jpg Give this a watch. Nino with the white helmet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AbcIhFktHNo

A little background to GM, When he's around in PMB before the racing season, he normally joins in with our morning group ride (Road). Now we are an odd mix match of guy's including a few SA road vet podium finishers/champs, and some seriously hard men, so the pace is hot. It's just under 70kms from this place door 2 door with around 1000m ascent and we were doing this 3 times a week and this means getting up at 4am. Towards the end of the ride we have a little uphill called "Polly Shorts" which is always nearly a race to the top and trust me when I says trying to shake GM off your wheel is like trying to get gum off the sole of your shoe. This is then followed by a uphill sprint and guess who the reigning champ is GM hands down has a kick that would put half the SA elite road riders to shame. He used to come out in the evening and race Track with us and there again rolling round at +50km/h for an hour and smashing everyone on the bell laps. He is also in the gym at least once daily. Back when I was growing up and starting out with XC 2003/2004 I remember GM coming flying past in pursuit of Burry at the local KZN races. Finally there is the skill level which is mind blowing, whilst on a road bike he rides up to a red light and as he hits the stop line pulls an endo/stoppie now whilst the rear wheel is in the air he swings it 90degrees and then whilst still on only the front wheel reverses backwards getting the rear wheel over the gutter and putting it down on the pavement, then still rolling backwards pops the front wheel over the gutter on to the pavement, and this all happens whilst being cleated in. Mind was "Blown"

1989 – C35 http://colnago.puntografico.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/1989-824x549.jpg

1987 - FIRST CAR­BON FIBER PROTOTYPE link Colnago are probably one of the top 5 most expensive and lust worthy brands out there. No. 1 in my books.

If I can remember I think you can even hear her breathing heavily through one of the tech root sections.

Yip. All the time made up on the flatter pedal and not taking the jumps.

Need a better pic. If it's only the top layer then you still good, just clean the area well and use a rubber specific glue to stick down the flaps and maybe build it up a bit.

When? Edit: Oops got beaten to the punch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3DQrDNfKFiw

Just thought I'd do a comparison. Nove Mesto: James: 7 laps 28km's: 10th, Time 1:20:10, +4:05 off the winner. Avg Lap: 11:27 Phillip: 8 laps 32km's: 39th, Time 1:35:07, +6:34 off the winner. Avg Lap: 11:53 Albstadt: James: 7 laps 28km's: 26th, Time 1:26:36, +5:57 off the winner. Avg lap: 10:56 Phillip: 8 laps 32km's: 71st, Time -2 laps, for the purpose of this I used the last time: 51st position: 1:39:45 +10:21 Avg lap: 12:28 So in Nove Mesto James and Phil are pretty close and if James had raced Elite the he probably would have maybe just beaten Phil taking in to account the extra lap. But in Albstadt Phil had a shocker "which happens" and was way off the pace. Just shows how big the time gaps are in U23 and how close it is in Elite.

How the heck did I forget about those 2.

Not to take anything away from the track guy's and maybe I'm wrong but I would think that with the likes of the AUS and ENG track teams we don't really stand a chance? and that depending on the course our top road riders might do better. As for the MTB I think Phil is the best SA's performing rider over the last year, but lately since Epic he hasn't been anywhere near where he used to be and even though he has a good ranking and start after the first km he drops like a stone and then works his way back up but you just end up with to much traffic. Look at his last 2 WC XCO results 39th and more recently 71st. James has been racing U23 so not sure where he would be in the Elite's but at the moment I think James has a better chance. You also know when Anton Cooper says WTF to James not making the team something is wrong. As for the selection criteria I think there should only be one, the strongest rider at time is chosen and that's it. Maybe the top riders should put down the handbags and choose amongst them selves who should go.

http://www.festka.com/uploads/image/configurationSetGallery/1/16.jpg

You will need to replace the axle end caps with a QR version. As for the 142/135 width the new end caps will reduce the width.

http://www.cyclingsa.com/App_Resources/Uploads/FILE00003740.pdf

Me to. I can literally throw a stone onto the course from my house.

bump

Sounds about the right distance. That course could end you properly if you weren't paying attention.

The only downside were the water points. We were told there would be 9 and each one would have water, coke and powerade. There were only about 5 and there was no coke at any any some only had water.

Was that coming down through the rocks to the water works?

I was "unlucky" enough ride the 95km and oh my!!! Toughest day on a bike ever. No time to warm up, big climbs, rough terrain, no recovery, portages and some proper technical sections that after +5hrs become a bit sketchy. But that's how it should be. As for the XC guys 3 in the top 4 positions and if I remember correctly James had a 10min gap to 2nd.