bustthesickness

I was quoted R3300 for the parts [hub, rim, spokes] and additional to this, I'd have had to pay R700 - R900 odd for labour. Might be a Capetown thing, but in Joburg I had a wheel built in an hour, and it's still going strong.

Thats a good price indeed. Which shop supplied them for that price? I'd be interested to see their current price as of this recession. CRC's price is R5000 for those wheels [ http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=26446 ] I agree, I do think Cape Town bike shops are much more expensive. A certain shop quoted me R3300 to build me a rear wheel the other day. It was a Hope Hub, Mavic 321 rim, DT spokes. They quotes 3 hours of build time!!! Chain Reaction cycles had a Hope wheelset equivalent for R3000, front and back! Guess who got my business?

I have decided that under no circumstance will I support local bike shops in RSA. After constantly being ripped off, I've decided to only ship my bike parts and spares in from abroad. After being quoted nearly double on a wheel the other day, this last weekend's situation took the cake. I was quote R500 for a Continental Gravity tyre. Nope, not the UST, foldable one. A straight up, wire bead. Guess how much CRC sells them for? R178! If anyone else in Capetown would like to start a little gear ordering club, so we can pool our orders so as to avoid shipping costs [Chain reaction ships worldwide for free if the order is over R4000]. We can perhaps do a bulk order every month or two. I will not be part of this 'Support Local' bullsh*t anymore though. How do these shops support us?

Speak to Xenomorph. He's got a 29" hardtail and loves it.

Certainly, if you can provide me with the details of your patent on this. You must be a very rich person. I don't think I'm being overly concerned with small details here either, as you calling me pedantic implies. I can't for the life of me see this as a small detail. Plastic litter is a very real problem, and one that I do commend Collin on for his initiative to try and minimise. I only asked what his intention is with all of those gel packets. Simple.

agreed! get a chain wear tool. If the chain is really stretched, and the gears seem to shift fine without jumping, then there is a good chance you will need to replace the cassette, blades and chain, which can be costly.

Great idea. It's almost like my idea the other day to try and make edible public toilet door/screens. You basically go into the cubicle, pull down a rice paper screen for privacy, and then eat your way out when done. You could have different flavours too, and in the case of franchise restaurants like Spur, these edible screens could act as aperatifs!

Point taken. It just gets a bit much don't you think?

Hi Collin, My only reason for asking about your intentions with regards to the disposal of these gel packets is that in your blog, you say: "I knew even my gels weren?t going to sit today, so i threw them over the edge of the bridge into the water and settled into a pace which i thought i could cope with and started planning on running on only coke and water." [http://www.collinallin.com/?m=200811&paged=2] This only leads me to believe that you are trying to push your product, and your topic entitled "Whasp saves the Earth" is not entirely true. You see, I too have a major problem with people who litter in our great outdoors. I normally come home from MTB outrides with junk and bottles that I find along the way. I often have to stop to pick up other peoples rubbish, but since my boyscout days, I was taught that if I don't do it, then who will? Collin, the only reason you might feel attacked is because perhaps your intentions are not entirely philanthropic, which actually rings as the opposite in this case. You see, the good energy you are putting out (excuse the pun, although I havn't tried these gels of yours) is to generate sales of your product. You even made a point to sidestep other manufacturers by offering points for more of your products. I have a problem on a forum when people try to push their products. It's very different to selling off some gear you have, as the classifieds on this site are a highly effective way to do so. What would happen if every company decided to solicit sales on open public forums such as this? It would offend people and sway conversation and freedom of choice and speech. There is something called fair advertising, and the way you have gone seems the opposite to me. Lastly, how can you say that if I don't like what you are doing I must stay off your post? Surely myself and others have a right to make comments? Whether or not they seem in favour of your opinion or not, in no way was anyone attacking you. All that was asked was to back up your philanthropic gesture with a solution, otherwise don't play that card. Someone earlier said that I implied a solution. Well, I didn't, but ok, why not have your gel packets made from a biodegradable material? You will never be able to stop the selfish ones from throwing them into rivers, onto roads and into bushes, but at least if they are made from a rapid UV degrading plastic or plastic coated paper, they will disappear in time. Is that positive enough for you?

That's life's mallet of pain! It's why you sign an indemnity. If people get hurt it's their own fault. I still think it's important for folks to ride things that are "above their skill set". It helps to set goals and progress.

A downhill/Freeride specific sub forum would be great! A "NO Spandex" zone...! YIPEEEEEEEEE

bustthesickness2008-11-20 07:58:24

Well, because we keep getting ripped off at the bike shops here, all of these items are VERY overpriced. As an example, a bike shop quoted me R2 200 for a rear Hope Pro2 the other day, with an additional R700 odd Rand to build the wheel up for me. The same hub will cost you R1 500 from Chain reaction. In the end I decided to to buy a FULL Hope Pro2 wheelset with DT 5.1 rims for a mere R3 200, only R300 more than it would have cost me for only a rear hub and the wheelbuild onto my existing rim. I'm ending up doing this more and more these days, buying online from overseas. I've done it for years with the studio gear, and now started with my bike kit too. Shops need to stop ripping people off. It's bad for cycling. What they don't realise is that more people might get into the sport, and they'd sell way more in the end. It's a short sigted, greedy mentality. And let's not hear the good old one "...but we have to pay tax, and duties and bla bla bla...". I have to do the same buying from CRC, they have already marked the item up from the suppliers and it STILL comes to my door cheaper.

couldn't you have just read it for what it is? as it was? interpretation, like the proverbial "a little knowledge", is a dangerous thing. No I can't and I won't. This South African inferiority complex is pathetic and the comment in question is a manifestation thereof. It is always presented as "who are you/we, mere South Africans, to criticise a huge big international company. What do you (the local) know about design they don't know in New York/London/Paris/Tokyo." As soon as it is revealed that the local understands his topic, then he is fingered as arrogant or worse, opinionated. If he doesn't work for a big company or presents his credentials, he is also not allowed to criticise. I wonder how many people ask Barry Ronge if he's ever made a film? Therefore, when I present a concept and someone who cannot understand what I'm saying because he's not prepared to think or ask, disses the concept with a "who are you to dare criticise a big corporation who can afford lots of clever people", then I get hostile. It doesn't make me popular at dinner parties, but then again, dinner parties suck. I sat down with one of the guys on The Hub one afternoon and discovered that he is a world authority on weapon sighting systems. He told me how an American engineer dissmissed his views on one or other design. Although he didn't express it as such because the conversation demanded otherwise, it was one of those clear cases of the little guy cannot possibly come up with anything intelligent. Go send the dammned e-mail, lets have an intelligent discussion around O-rings as seals on moving parts. Johan, perhaps you mean YOUR inferiority complex? It seems you're the one with the issues here. Why blame South Africans? I know many many South Africans who have excelled in the world arena, from musicians to doctors to designers. In our sport even, we have a World champion XC racer and a downhill champion. "As soon as it is revealed that the local understands his topic, then he is fingered as arrogant or worse, opinionated. If he doesn't work for a big company or presents his credentials, he is also not allowed to criticise. I wonder how many people ask Barry Ronge if he's ever made a film?" But do you Johan? I would assume that companies like CK and Hope, who have many products on the market, who have become massive because of this, would have top engineers and consultants on their design teams. They will have done extensive market research and product development before setting up a production line and tooling which would cost a fortune. They would not still be selling these products if they didnt. Besides this, as a user of their products, I'm entitled to like it over something else, based on how it works for me. Out of interest Johan, besides your background in wheelbuilding, what are your engineering qualifications? My remark wasnt aimed at Saffas, it was aimed at you. You have lots to say about these products, and so I was aiming at what qualifies you to say these are bogus, inferior and overrated designs. ...and Barry Ronge!!!! I wet myself after reading this! The difference between an engineer/designer and a film critic is that a film critic's purpose is to provide an OPINION. I very much doubt that if he dissed a film the director would give a sh*t though. Film making is big money and you can bet that most film houses would do the very same type of R&D and market research before dropping 100 bar on a production. "It doesn't make me popular at dinner parties, but then again, dinner parties suck." WOW! Lighten up man. Lifes not so bad. Anyways, this is going around in circles now, and I'm done. Dont expect any business from me and my friends, or invites to our dinner parties, which are HEAPS of fun (think girls jumping out of swiss choc cakes, djs, mechanical bulls, baths of cream...) Xenomorph, your comment about the 'throw away culture' we have these days is so true. It's what has ultimately led to our planet being in the state that it is in.

no, never

yes

yes

You have between zero and 35mm movement before it engages. While YOU might not need more accurate engagement, others might. I think after your 'inertia' comment, your opinion is useless to me. bustthesickness2008-11-17 08:25:49

GoLefty, for 'YOUR' riding it might be fine, for others, it might NOT be fine. So you're saying don't buy an Aston Martin cos a CitiGolf is sufficient. Does the same job surely? What a waste of money, except when you drive one. MintSauce, you are a legend. +1000 At least I'll know where NOT to go to have my wheels built. "We don't continue to erode dongas by attempting to ride them and we don't ratchet our way through rides. We pedal in full circles." WOW! arrogant eh. Anyways, I'm off to go and 'erode a donga'