i24

I assume you reported the theft to SAPS and get a case number when it first happened? Otherwise it might not have been so easy for the SAPS in PE to help ... 🤔

I have tried to do this before. The balls that came out of the pedals were an imperial size. The only ones I could get in Cape Town were metric, close but not quite right. I ended up ordering some balls from e-bay - back in the days when the post off still delivered stuff. In the end the pedals were a bit too far gone and the exercise was not effective.

Just a follow up on this. Thanks to the generosity of Lieb47 this bike now has working brakes! So you no longer need to panic if you see it behind you in the traffic. It now has new brake leavers and calipers. I also replaced the cables and fitted a new chain.

I think it spoils the racing. When a faster bike comes up behind a slower one we want to see an overtake. 😳

If you stripped all of the aero aids off the MotorGP bike, what would the difference be then?

I am looking for a set of brake levers for V-Brakes for a commuter bike to replace ones like this in the photo below. (Sorry focus is not lekker). If the calipers are available I could use them too. The bike is a department store special that I donated to my gardener a while back. But I also supplied a free "maintenance contract" 🙄. The barrel adjusters on these levers slip and loose all cable tension. One fell off and got lost so that brake has stopped working altogether. I am located in Cape Town southern suburbs. I am happy to contribute towards shipping or component value. (I should really find a replacement bike. But if I do, I know this one will get passed on to another commuter. So best the brakes get fixed first.).

I have Giant Anthem and a vintage, rigid, steel MTB. Both weigh about 13kg. I have a desire for an N+1, that weighs less than 10kg. Now if your bike could loose 550g ... 🤔 Or maybe N+1 should be a road bike ...

50% depth of charge sounds too much. Google "lead acid life vs depth of discharge". Most sites show 500 to 1000 cycles at 50%. With today's loadshedding that is less than a year. I have a 3kVA invertor with 4x100AH lead acid batteries. I try not use more than 15% depth of charge. The recharge time for lead acid depends on what the batteries will take rather than what the inverter can deliver. I posted the following last month.

That looks like it could be a very useful ride. I am curious, what does it weigh?

It is not that simple. Our Lead Acid compatible inverter has 3 cycle of charging: Initially max current (Ie the nominal 20A). Then at "bulk" charge, constant voltage (14.1V) until the charge current drops to about 20%. Then "float" charge, constant voltage (13.5V). So if you double your Ah capacity the charger will spend longer in the 1st and 2nd cycles. Net result you get more Ah into your system in less time. The real problem with LA is that the max current charge time is limited and the actual time to fully charge them is much longer. A dedicated Li charger will charge at constant current with 14.5V, or higher voltage, until the battery is 80% full, then back off to a float charge.

That sounds like very good value for your spend. This should keep a home office, TV and some LED lights going. Next gotcha's Do you plan on wiring it into your DB board? Very convenient, but requires careful planning as to which circuits run off the inverter and what gets plugged into them. Budget up to ~R10 000. Check the noise specs for the inverter fans. Ours can get noisy, but fortunately it is quite far away from our bedroom.

I have not checked if anybody else replied to this. But I have a 24V 3kVA, "non Li compatible" inverter at home. I have 4 100Ah lead acid batteries on it. It was sized for 2 100Ah batteries but I had 2 more used ones on hand so wired the 2nd pair in parallel. Our load is modest, just computers, TV and LED lights (120W to 250W). I have had no problems over about 5 months of heavy load shedding. Doubling the batteries in parallel allows, more capacity, lower depth of discharge and faster recharge. I have also set the cut off voltage to be about 40% of LA discharge to protect the batteries but we have never got it that low. In the office we have UPS systems, also running on Lead Acid, These have been around for 10 years or more. We have got up to 7 years on a set of batteries - but we also have a diesel generator so the batteries do not have a hard life. I looked at buying Lithium batteries for the last UPS replacements. But the 100Ah "LA Compatible" Lithium batteries were actually "2nd life" (ie 2nd hand) and more expensive than a new dedicated Li 48V unit. The modern kit has smart comms between the battery and the inverter, this can optimise the charge cycle and battery protection. The old LA inverters and UPS's only measure the battery voltage and adjust charge behaviour to that. I suspect this does not allow full use of the available capacity of Li batteries. Also the LA charger's max voltage might not be enough to reach 100% charge in LI batteries. Maybe someone who has experience with "LA compatible Li" batteries on old generation inverters can comment. As a rule of thumb, measure your load and estimate your required battery capacity. Then double the capacity. And if your using lead acid, double it again. Get a gas stove for the kitchen and solar for the hot water. Use utility power for the rest of the kitchen and hot water. Also in the garage and for "hot" appliances like hair dryers. This allows 85% family convenience without spending many R100 000's. I am not convinced that solar panels are cost effective verses a pure inverter setup (but this will change). My experience with solar geysers is that available solar energy drops off from the beginning of May to the end of August.

Maybe the new post covid "rolling" start procedure caught them out. The IT program for identifying the groups might have not work so well.

I have a look at that document. I note Section 23.(1)(d) reads: "No dealer may deliver goods acquired by him or her to a person or change the form or alter the appearance thereof until after the expiration date of a period of seven days from the date of acquisition thereof" The first add has a datestamp "2 days ago". The 2nd one has a datestamp "5 hours ago". This is not proof, but definitely evidence, of a contravention of the Second-Hand Goods Act, 2009. Note that Act allows for imprisonment for up to 10 years for an infringement of section 23. Schedule 1 specifically lists "Bicycles or any part or accessory thereof". 😳

We are sorted. Thanks throttles!

She is 171cm. She is currently riding a 54cm bike. She previously rode a 56cm and found that too big. A hubber has offered a 55cm bike, which I will follow up. I hope that will work for her...

Bump I have not had any luck with this yet. Last shout, if anybody has a medium sized road bike in Cape Town that is not going to be used over the CTCT weekend, please check the add below and send me a direct message if you can assist. Thanks

Is that a 4 valve per cylinder model? - Then one did make it to ZA. Nice bike but the original valve springs were too heavy for rest of the valve train. There are recalls and mods to the springs, cams, rockers ... etc. But if the heads are damaged, you have a big problem. Do some homework before you take on this one.

I will send a PM

Is this in ZA or UK? Lots of Guzzi spares are available if you look around. Also new parts can fit on older bikes. But some parts, like pistons for my V50 Mk II, are very difficult to find. (Big blocks pistons and Mk III pistons are no problem, just Mk II). Also do your homework before you buy an old 4 valve model, some of them have lots of issues and there are very parts left to fix them. I don't think any of these made it to ZA.

The Dutch military ordered about a 1000 of these and I think the Italians used them too. Google "V50 NATO". There is a facebook group and website. A bike shop in Netherlands specialises in service and spares for them. https://www.motoguzziv50nato.nl/ You can also get parts from Stein Diense https://www.stein-dinse.biz/ Not sure what it is worth - a lot depends on condition.

That just like mine, 1979 V50! Not sure if that one is a MkI or MkII. Also it is "dressed up" like a "NATO" model. There were a whole bunch of them sold to the military in Europe - which had slightly different specs. Lower compression and I think they had kick starters. Civilian models had electric start only. Did you buy it? Is it still available? Maybe not good for the DJ, but you can ride it around London without paying congestion tax.

Does anybody have a medium sized road bike that will be sitting in a garage in Cape Town on Sunday 12th March? My daughter will be visiting from the UK and she has entered the World Fun Ride Championship (CTCT). She is looking to hire or borrow a road bike for the event. Details in the add linked below. https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/620719/wanted-to-hireborrow-road-bike-for-the-ctct/?utm_source=email_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advert_created Please PM me if you can help. Thanks!

I have a similar but different problem: 3kVA Inverter powers, lights, TV, internet etc. (Nothing in the kitchen, workshop or other appliances). Solar hot water with tandem geysers - works well. Electric element in geyser on utility power. 220V circulation pump on geyser on utility power. Geyserwise controllers on utility power. Now I want the circulation pump to run off the inverter but the geyser elements must stay on utility. Obviously some relays required. Has anybody got a solution to this?

Two things to do ASAP: Get your doctor to document your injuries. There is a standard police form that must be completed and signed. The Dr's rooms should have a copy available. Some photo's could help too. Then take a copy of that form to the police this morning and lay a charge. Take a bit of time, try speak to someone senior, maybe go to the police station closest to the scene. But lay the charge of "assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm” (assault GBH). The form will make process easier. Assault GHB will get the prosecutors attention if the case gets to a bail hearing. Then leverage off social media, the press etc. A few photo's or a video will make all the difference. Maybe also talk to PPA, maybe they can get a lawyer to help you. Good luck and get well soon.