I FLY

I also have a cannondale RT1000 with Shimano 105. Very happy with it. Paid about R20k new but got a unbelievable deal. Thinking about changing the stoker's handlebars for straight MTB ones as the existing ones ( look like curved bulls horns) touch my thighs when I pedal.

I have a name and details of someone in PE who is direct importer of Cytomax. Let me know if you want it.

Slowpoke - I am seriously tempted....... Enter the 10km with me!

Just booked accomodation this morning. Duck and Trout B and B Will be my 1st race after some minor surgery this week. Dr says that I will be off bike for 6 weeks!!!! Dimitri always stages excellent races.

I have also decided to go the tubeless conversion route using Joe's system. LBS is servicing bike so they will also do the conversion at the same time. Using existing mavic rims and new tubeless tires.

To put the Crater Cruise ride into context it is shorter with less climbing than the easiest day of the 2005 Epic (day 3). Still any off road ride of 100kms is a serious ride. The last rider on the course arrive at the midway " chill " area in 6 hours. He thought that he was having a good ride! Dual suspension only way to go. John Paul Pearton did this race with rigid carbon forks and 2bar pressure in his tyres.

Have to agree with Dick's advise. Generally I find that if I get into trouble , relaxing and trusting the bike's abilities helps. My bike has gotten me out of more trouble than I can count. Even after 8 years of MTBing I tend to err on the side of caution when faced with technical sections that I have not seen before. If on a ride I will stop and inspect or walk first. If on a race I will try to follow the obvious line. (Normally have someone in front to watch what they do). Practise makes perfect and builds confidence. Momentem and not flat out speed are generally your best friend in tricky situations.

I had to wait until Big H came clean as I did not want to be the oldest respondant on this thread. Craig Brown 1 Dec 57 JMBC High on life I must have moved in the wrong circles when I was playing competitive sport. We all believed that training harder and longer than our competitors made us the best! Also came from good breeding lines in that both my parents were good sportspersons.

On Monday my foolish fellow audax partner and I were riding from Potchstrom to Carltonville. The wind was gusting strongly from our front and left. The road was too narrow for us to ride in the correct drafting position ie behind and to the right of the person in front. After we reached Carltonville we felt that it had been easier to ride at the front then ride directly behind. Any ideas?

I confused the hell out of the CC timing system. I started with the tandems at 6h21 then discovered that I could not engage the big chainring so we turned back , borrowed a screwdriver and had a go at fixing the problem and then restarted the race at 7h00. I could not fix the problem so we spent the entire race in the middle chain ring with a chain that was rubbing against the cage. Everytime I saw a vehicle parked at the side of the road I stopped and tried to borrow a screwdriver. Eventually I gave up and spun home in just over 4 hours. Where was the Cruxie van when I needed it?

Hello MichH, As an official member of the DOM (dirty old man's club) I prefer to touch the female at my side than "be in touch with my feminine side"! Jokes aside, I have been wanting to buy a winter jacket since I started riding ( 8 Years ago) and this jacket really meets my requirements.

As Gore cycling clothing is advertised on this site I thought that I would comment on the Gore jacket I now own. I purchased a medium rated winter jacket made by Gore on my last overseas trip. Yesterday was the first opportunity I have had to wear it. It kept me warm and most importantly I do not get wet from sweat as it breathed. I wore it from 4am until 12noon and did not overheat. Excellent product. The sleeves can zip off and it has a full size zippered pocket at the back ( and it is blue to match my eyes!!)

I am on way way back from a meeting at my Head office in USA. Some of my counterparts there are MTBers. We were obviously talking bikes and next upgrades. My next bike is planned to be a giant anthem 1 which is in Linden for about R27k. In States the same frame with lower spec components is about the same price. That is an excellent arguement to use on my wife. I wont be spending money but saving it.

My plan is as follows:- 1. Clothing - normal for a warm day ride - wear some long fingered cotton industrial gloves at start and discard when warn enough - if cold I will wear an old t-shirt over cycling clothes and discard - wear armwarmers 2. Food and energy drinks 2 x 750ml bottles with refill powder in my pocket. Refill at top of Boulders 4 x gels mixed salted nuts, dried wors and a sandwich 3. Tatics Start slowly Find a bunch and stay with them to bottom of each climb. Climb into Nelspruit feels steeper than Boulders. &nb sp; HopefullyI have already organised a bunch of 4 Don't do heroic pulls at the front Climb at my pace and descend like a demon. Last 68kms - hunt for wheels and hide behind them Last 2km climb to finish is hard

Thanks to Michelle , Slowpoke and the sweep vehicle team(s). There is nothing quite like asking how much further it was to ride, getting told about 35kms, riding for another hour and half and then finding out that there was then still 40kms to go before the cake eating. Good day to bank for the Jock. Good to meet the faces / bikes behind the aliases.

Left out? I will be there will at least one buddy We have gone back to our single status since Kremetart - so look for the "giant" pairing instead of cannondale

A couple of my friends and I are planning to join you for this ride.