Jewbacca

I did this with a set of Original Lyne alu cranks to make them 145mm Took all of 45 minutes

I think (have read a few articles as well) that this stems from interactive nobodyism with an audience with zero consequence to the statements creating an emotional disconnect between Chris Froome the athlete and Chris Froome the person (insert other public figure/sports person). So essentially people are comfortable making swathing comments, remarks and statements without even recognising that the subject matter is a person. The lack of accountability for on-line abuse and false information posting enables more and more people to jump on the wagon. There are entire youtube channels and podcasts that JUST bash famous personalities. The Click and interact nature of news also means 'journalists' are 'publishing' absolute nonsense and people are reading and sharing it.

While I agree, I think there is also a degree of 'the journey' that still remains relevant. We are all at various stages of our bike journey and there are still LOTS of people at a stage in theirs that want to race or do events. While you have 'got the T-shirt' having been there and done that, doing those things has given you confidence to do things away from the safety of a pack. The longevity of your cycling probably also means you are past the 'training for' and into the 'lifestyle' aspect, meaning your motivation is naturally internal and a part of your daily life. Others are starting out, getting into it, earning that level of lifestyle. Others simply love doing events. If the sport was more easily accessible and less race oriented, I firmly believe you would get a lot of people to the startline.

I guess that's a start, but I sort of mean on an official level. Actually getting the organisers and CSA to buy in to a free use platform that is easy to access and easy to navigate. Back in the day ndorfin.co.za had a crazy in depth race program/inventory. Whether or not it's bikehub (this would be easiest) and it's a shared platform (CSA/Bikehub to do the financials) would come down to brass tacks, but having a 'preferred place' for all organisers to dump info would be ideal. A lot like the classifieds. Tick some boxes, create an ad with essential info etc and then market the ONE PLACE/Site I know absolutely nothing about marketing and advertising, but I know that as an end user ndorfin.co.za used to make entering races really really easy. It even had a time frame search function, so if I was on holiday back in SA for say. the month of Feb, I used to be able to specify the date limits and voila, all the events in the selected area within the timeframe popped up.

I'd suggest it's in everyone's best interest to find a way to get these events 'out there' as a collective. There are plenty of advertising/marketing gurus who ride bikes. The sport is dying a slow death which could likely be avoided by some pretty simple input from educated members of the community. CSA need to stand up and ask for some help or be persuaded to ask for some help

There is a brilliant one just behind access park But honestly a decent Bike Shop/Workshop will have boxes of those

It's ok.... I have a couple I love my single gear bikes. I've done a few things on them, even some adult races on kids BMXs

So I'm guessing you don't own a Single Speed?

@Claire David is looking

You're French though... aren't you used to disorganised shambles? hahaha

I'm not getting paid to think about it. I can tell you that the current setup isn't working though and it needs to change. The core racers will race and say 'I knew everything there was way before the race' but they are on whattsapp groups, teams, know people who know people etc Those who are potential racers simply pick up scraps, as you say, 2 weeks before if you're lucky. Add the lack of information OTHER than the info for the racers, who already know everything, and you have 70% maybes who would probably love it saying 'yeah nah, this is too much hard work' People far smarter than I need to figure out a way to appeal to the fence sitters and get them coming back. MTB managed to do it 10 years ago. Marathon races were packed every weekend with people of all abilities. It was fun and there was a sense of friendliness in sucking. Anyway, I've had my 55 billion rants about this. CTCT and the Cape Town Marathon seem to have a decent idea of how to appeal to mass participants who know they will be looked after on the day regardless of their level of junkness. I'd start at the back forward and not look at it from the front and perhaps include something for the back, IF the goal is to get more people to races. One road access/egress points is also not a great way to get people back. THAT is poor planning

Agreed, but not via social media. Socials work as a small part of a much wider plan. It's a dead end platform that feeds itself. I know plenty of people who are brilliant athletes who don't do socials. Events need to find a way to put themselves in a place that is visual and accessible to those who don't IG/FB/Strava more than they work, family and play

You'd struggle to get a 26" wheel in a 20" BMX fork! I've always wondered what happened to all the old Rapide 26" pitch forks that were released 9 or 10 years ago. They were everywhere Now I never see them and almost never see them up for sale.

I disagree on the social media aspect. Many many riders don't social media so it is an avenue of information fed to those who likely 'already know'. Social Media is lazy advertising and doesn't actually break into new avenues or draw in fence sitters. It is likely a necessary tool these days to stay relevant, but it isn't marketing. Many of the clique events with small fields and bigger entry fees can rely on the concentrated target market to sustain itself for a few years, but anything bigger needs to make sure it's seen and information is easy to access for those NOT in the inner sanctum of RH77 ECC Savage Lone Wolf Sakhos..

The more awesome riders in the mix for GC the better! I don't care who it is, but getting the sharp end of the GC cat at a grand tour packed with genuine contenders would be the raddest thing ever for cycling. 38, 28, 23.... who cares. I'm glad Roglic is moving on from JV. Adds another 'contender' to what was becoming a two horse race. If Froome gets there, amazing. If not? IPT have spent a lot of money on a lemon. Either way, the marketing of all of this and the ability to keep him 'relevant' while he really isn't has been phenomenal

IMHO the complaining is something that has crept into society. There will be 500 of 507 things done brilliantly, the 7 will be highlighted and spoken about. Ask someone how they are and 9 out of 10 will complain about something instead of tell you about good stuff going on. I put it down to an influence from a few areas. Notably the media and social media. Look at the current World Cup Rugby. Most of the press has been about Wit Kant, Barnes/refs being poor, bad hotels etc and not focussing on the absolute radness that the Springboks have created a wholly unified team from multiple socio economic backgrounds and cultures who win for each other. They have also broken down the barriers of 'Quota' whiners, which I think is amazing! 6 years ago it was quota this and quota that. Now? Not a peep. But the media and reporting is constantly on about negative, sensationalist and controversial topics so that people interact, fight and feed the algorithm with clicks and comments. No one quite realises just how much the algorithms are influencing our lives

I've built a lot of bikes. A lot of ugly frankenmonsters and some less so. There is always a compromise. The 'numbers' might make sense, but the bars catch the TT, or the stem is too short and the hands land up way behind the front axle which makes it twitch in the drops etc A flat bar rigid MTB with big gears will ride better than a MTB with drop bars. Others will say 'nonsense, look at my beauty' and proceed to show you a picture of the ugliest hybrid MTB frankencross you have ever seen. BUT, home made bikes are like babies. Everyone thinks theirs are wonderful, to everyone else they just look like some version of Winston Churchill

Sell the hardtail, buy a full suss and a gravel bike?

The best solution for bull horns are TT/bar end shifters and a set of brakes with a 2 screw clamp, like the old formula and magura levers. 10 speed SRAM pulls the same ratio and 10 Speed Shimano TT pulls a shimano 9 speed MTB RD pretty cleanly. Or just use the road stuff and an extender (I know you have one of those!)

I'd definitely smash that bike! It looks like something Brett Tippie used to throw off cliffs in the 90s

An engineering shop will be able to drill that out, bond in an insert and drill re-tap for very little money That or insert a Helicoil

It's not even on a couch!

People are boldly assuming the OP isn't already making dietary changes and using the bike as a cog in the process of losing weight. Before saying telling them what to do, maybe ask them where they are in their weight loss journey first? Just a suggestion from someone who has asked a pretty simple question here before and received answers from people who really don't know me treating me like I had never ridden a bike before. It was hugely off putting and I stopped reading my own thread because the answers to my question were hidden amongst walls of anecdotal knowing better.

I'd guess it's prudent to suggest we don't by inverters/solar backup from Sky solar energy too......

asks for road bike advice, gets told how to live his life. I love Bikehub. OP, have you had a look in the classifieds? Size? I would look at getting a gravel bike as it will do you just fine on the roads and be slightly more robust that a road bike. A hardtail MTB would also work, but tbh they suck at riding on roads, so I would avoid it if you only plan on riding on the road. There are a number of good options in the classifieds. You haven't really mentioned bike size or budget. That is usually a good place to start. Glad you are making moves to turn your life around. A bit of consistent weight off the legs exercise on the bike along with some food/lifestyle choices should have you shedding KG in no time.