Ecko_1

I currently have 1 set of toiletries that i lug to gym. I am starting a new job next month, and I intend leaving a complete set of toiletries in my new office.

Well done. Commuting really is a great start to the day, and something to look forward to after work. Preparation is key. I come by car Monday and Tuesday. Today I brought in towels and clothes for the rest of the week, so all I need to carry daily on my back will be toiletries and my lunch.

My bike parks behind me. I share an office with 4 ladies. Will get a picture, of the bike. I ride in running shoes as I go past the gym on the way in in the mornings. I walk to my car barefoor when I leave my shoes behind. I change jobs end of the month, so will set up my new private office to be more commute friendly.

I have recently upped my commute rides. i am office based, so I try leave my laptop at work if i plan on commuting the next day. I do my best to leave my formal shoes at the office the day before as well. I have a Targus backpack laptop bag which carries a lot and is quite comfy on the back. The ride home is really nice. Just one dodgy bit getting from the esplanade to the beach front.

The are hardtails with disc brakes (probably mechanical). I saw mostly Axiz frames. Decent for an outing.

.Giba has some decent entry level bikes for hire at R180 for 3 hours.

2 hour social ride at a pace a little faster than Critical Mass. Departing from Moses Mabhida Stadium at 11pm and riding through deserted CBD streets. Plan is to be at City Hall at midnight for the ringing of the bell. Plan finish at 1am.

I think cars without automatic lights is the least of the problems on our roads. There are so many unroadworthy vehicles driving around. In the US I think all newer cars run with lights on permenantly. There is no way to turn them off.

I am fairly active in the car modding community, and maybe can shed some light. Typically, car people (people into modding cars for this thread's sake), feel that the car looks better with just fog lights running in the front and some sort of fancy light setup in the headlights (angel eyes, leds etc). So the phenomenom experienced here is probably that. An idiot running fog lights only because they want their LEDs or something like that to be seen and noticed in their headlight. Personally, I think drivers like that are chops, and a hazard on the road. I drive with just my front fogs and park lights on when the sun is setting and light is beginning to fade. Fogs are fairly bright. But the moment a reasonable human being would warrant use of headlights neccesary, I turn mine on. Screw the fancy LED's. Safety first.

I get what you are saying. Unfortunately, although my ceiling is extremely high, the ceiling is a concrete slab so nothing is going in the ceiling. The hooks in the wooden loft works for me. We are renting so the hooks are the lesser invasive way of mounting the bikes. They make a very small hole, and if it is noticeable when I move (which will hopefully be soon, house h unting started), I will just throw some woodfiller in the holes.

Road bikes seem less risky to hang up. Less fluids and mechanical parts. They also look so graceful hanging in the lounge as opposed to a mud covered MTB. B)

In my defence, the search relates to a garage...which I dont have. Thanks though. Sort of got the answer I was looking for. The only option for me is to habg the bikes up horizontally. Vertical hanging leave the bike protruding from the wall to much, and my wife is already complaining about 2 bikes laying around the lounge. So, I will head off to GAME and purchase another set of those hooks (+-R30) wrap in a fat layer of insulation tape, and mount both bike wheel to wheel on the loft balistrade. Ill update a pic once done. Thanks again for the feedback.

Thanks for all the replies. All the potential problems highlighted thus far all seem to be related to MTB's, which obviously have more advanced breaking and suspension systems. My reference is purely to road bikes. There is very little risk around them not being ridden for long periods of time, as the new bike will be used for training and I commute a few times a week on the old one. So my original concern was on the impact on the wheels. I am hesitant to hang the bikes from the top tube as both have cables running under the top tube. I dont want to risk the cable catching in the hook when removing the bikes.

Open for opinions and hopefully intelligent feedback... I live in a flat with no spare room and no garage. There is a wooden loft over part of the lounge. Currently I have screwed to J Hooks into the loft and hang my road bike by the wheels. Hooks are rubber coated and wrapped in insulation tape as a precaution to prevent scratching of the wheels. My question is, am I doing any damage to the wheels or hubs by hanging the bike by its wheels? Logic (and some googling) says no. Road bikes are quite light, and a lot more stress is put on the wheels during riding. I would like some input, as I just bought a new road bike, which I really care for and dont want to damage (first one was a R1k cheapie to test the cycling waters before going all in to the sport). Thanks in advance for your input

Ok. I picked up the bike yesterday. It is a fairly new 2012 Scott Speedster S30. It still has original tyres and pads. The brakes feel a lot more responsive and stronger than my current +-2000 Giant OCR3. I was enquiring as the LBS told me that manufacturers keep costs down by using their own brakes. I was concerned about their stopping power initially.

Btw, thanks for the responses. I am learning more about bikes slowly but surely.

How does the Scott branded brakes compare to a set of Tektro?

I fully understand that. The owner of the LBS explained that the manufacturers save on costs mainly by fitting their own brakes and cheaper wheelsets, mainly Alex Rims. What is the major benefit of the better quality brakes, aside from better quality? I assume they are lighter. But is there a big difference in stopping power?

Noob question. How much of a difference is there between manufacturer brakes and branded brakes such as 105, Ultegra etc? Reason for asking, is that I am upgrading from my really cheap and old Giant OCR3 to a Scott Speedster. The Scott comes with Scott branded brakes. I have seen a few 105 calipers for sale, and was wondering if there is any major difference to be had from the change (PS I dont car about the name that I am riding, or have on my bike). Also, there are Tektro calipers on my Giant currently. Are these better than the Scott branded calipers?

I would like some intelligent input. I am contemplating putting white tyres on my road bike. Currently has black conti's which need to be replaced. Was originally going to put blue but came across white on the interwebs. Has anyone ridden white tyres? Do they get badly discoloured from dirt? DO they end up looking ugly. Bike is a blue black and white scott speedster s30.

Makro has the Raleigh Revenio 1.0 with 8 speed Sora for R3999 Solomons cycles has a Fuji 8 speed Sora for R2999

Anyone?

Bump

I cant seem to find the thread anymore. ANyway I responded to the Gumtree ad. I have the thiefs address. Can someone tell me who the OP was or somehow get their contact details so I can give them the info?

I am riding again this month. 3rd one.