Butterbean

Unfortunately the answer to your reconditioning question is a no... The see thruness of the bibs is the degradation of the lycra, through a combination of UV light, sweat, sunscreen, abrasion, and enzymatic action from washing powders... No hope really for recovery, but prevention is better than a cure so stop doing the following: using spin cycles for machine washing, best practice is to avoid machine washed bibs altogether. Use a enzyme free washing powder, sunlight auto is enzyme free but I hand-wash so sunlight hand-wash powders(yellow or pink bags) are best and cheapest. Wash immediately after use or at least submerge in wash solution immediately, if not practical, you could also give them a quick rinse with you in the shower after your ride to prevent damage unto you wash them. Make sure when habdwashing to rinse them out well. Prevent wringing them out, if you have to dry them quickly, say, for the next day, then rather lay a towel out flat, place the bibs along the towel, roll the toeel/bib combo into a sausage and press the excess water out. Should give you bibs that last year's and don't suffer from getting a little see thru or losing their elasticity.

But that's my whole point.. A properly clean cassette will need some cloth work anyway, so it's really not a big deal to add in an extra minute of it to spare the expense and possible contamination by chemical of very vital parts... But each to his own I guess

I dont understand why you would use any products to clean the cassette? A clean cloth and some light wiping is all it takes... I generally do a maintenance clean with the wheel off the bike but cassette on the wheel, thread a section of cloth through, and saw back and forth using the freewheel to turn and then resist the cloth... For a major service or clean, remove the cassette from the wheel, and wipe each cog clean with the cloth... The risk of detergent, solvent, or stripper near the hub and freebody bearings is just too much and it becomes a massive mess anyway... Old T shirts do the trick for a messy rag too... Cheap as chips..

Some tips... Most wrapping places may not want to touch it thanks to the small size of the frame... To do it yourself is super easy, just make sure you do the following: Buy proper 3m wrapping vynil and not the cheap crap from autostyle. Use soapy water and soak the back of the wrap and the frame, then apply using a vynil squeegee or craft card wrapped in some microfiber so you don't scratch the wrap. Work in larger sections first, and then get the small sections as required. Hairdryer heat will get the wrap to mould nicely around bumps and you'll be quite surprised what can be wrapped without having to cut it.

I'm guilty of this 100%...literally the only times I have left feedback after numerous transactions have been when someone left feedback for me, and I returned the favour, or the other person has asked me specifically to leave feedback, and even followed up on the request... Everyone else, you've been great, and I failed you...

I'll pick them up next week if we can arrange it, I arrive Sunday night and fly back on Thursday so would love to! Thank you!

Anyone have some large/xl cycle shirts they don't use anymore? Looking to kit out a friend who wants to get started. Let me know?

Yes, cycle shorts are longer, so they tend to stay in place on the waist.. Except for when you get into an aero hammer position, and then get back up to sit up or on the hoods, and now your chamois and waist elastic has moved and it all goes to pot.. When it comes to equipment and clothing, the best is the stuff you forget you're wearing while riding... And bibs are great at this if they decent quality and fit correctly... Shorts, not so much...

You're probably using cheaper bibs... Not a Diss, just the problem I had with very low cost bibs... Secondly, mtbers are just a portion of enthusiasts who ride bicycles, so you can't really rule out bibs for everything else...

For the comfort of those around me... And to look cool for the Enduro crowd.. But for reals, I got them for the more chilled type rides where the coffee stop may be longer than the ride itself, or when riding with noob friends so they don't feel too put of place... Oh, and for the fixie rides!!! Certainly not for the normal xc type rides, and certainly not on the road...

I bought those Indola shorts... Cut the inner out and wear them over bibs.. Bibs are boss.

Nah, We all agreed that Swen Lauer was a proper ****... ????

Bibs. You lose the ease of toilet breaks, but the chamois stays put, the shorts don't pull down, and there's no crack on display.. I won't go back to shorts for anything other than an IDT ride.

Also a lot of bars/venues/etc all around that area so I imagine, in combination with the impatient asshats who hit cyclists in the yellow lanes, that there are plenty drunk off their moer drivers trying to creep out early morning... Hell, even in CT I worry about rides that start Before 6am, had way too may close calls and seen too many drivers off their line and out of it... Scary problem we have here in SA...

Shocking, horrible to hear... Strongs to family and friends in a tough time..

Very true that... Sad to hear that creasing isn't common, caused me a lot of discomfort.. Was sad too, I loved the charge scoop predecessor so was excited for an updated version... Anyway, saddles are very personal, and I love my current ones!

Tried the scoop and wasn't impressed... Was the widest one in the range and was still a bit narrow... The padding is too soft so the cover gets creased, and creases between your legs so caused horrible saddle sores and discomfort during rides... No more fabric saddles for this guy..

Is there no way to creatively store inside? We have a smallish 3 bed flat and one room houses 8 bikes plus a workspace. Two on the walls above any floor space. Otherwise, hang outside and lock securely, maybe adding some anchor bolts to the wall that you chain them up, and maybe see if one of these 4x4 outdoor places can make you a canvas bike cover, or buy some motorcycle covers from makro/game to protect paintwork and generally keep them clean and long lasting.

I know nothing about mega distances. But surely core work in the gym is vital? If your core can support you better, then hands and ass will take less of a beating?

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Speaking of, does anyone have some bullhorn bars lying around? Desperate to add some to the fixie.

My two single speed roadies. Spez langster, circa 2009. Set up as single speed with both brakes, on Tektro aero levers. Really fun bike to ride when you don't feel like taking road riding too seriously. Then the fixie, a SE bikes Lager, heavy bugger but simple. Was on sale but I fell in love with fixie riding after losing the brake. Been riding it daily for the last week and a half and it's a ton of fun too. Did some custom stickers for the frame, homage to the Gorilla, Andre Greipel. And of course, dicks out for Harambe.

Not necessarily, the chainstays might get in your way and prevent standard rings from fitting.

Agreed. Saw that new full suspension gravel bike and had to laugh. Just get a mtb if that's the kind of bike you're after!

I'm all in for regular awareness rides. I think twice a year is a bit minimal though, some more events would likely aid people with busy schedules so they can attend too. Really want to do this often. Who can get this going and keep it going?