BigDL

Frustrating experience. Sounds like you have been more patient than many would have been

Durban is the best city in the world bru - our litter and derelict houses are prettier than anywhere else.

Incredible attitude. Thank you for sharing your journey.

100% - I normally travel alone so rent an SUV and drop the seats for the whole trip in order to stick the mtb and the bag in. Also only if renting at airport and dropping off at airport so minimal dragging bike about. With family, wouldn’t take a bike along, rather rent.

I have travelled with my bike quite a lot and have always used a soft bag (mtb) mainly because of the weight. I check it in as an extra bag so try and keep total weight below the max allowed. I rented a road bike for Milan in 2019. I’ll try and dig out the details of the rental guys. They were very thorough. The bike was a Wilier. I didn’t end up riding it because of an issue with our meetings, but it was a lovely bike.

Listened to the podcast referenced above last night. Really interesting breaking down the costs per bike of a small manufacturer. Would be interesting to hear similar detail from A big (ger) manufacturer.

The nets around the building is a contractor that manufactures for lots of companies and employs lots of people in their late teens and early twenties, not specifically an Apple contractor. Worth reading up on it as it’s a fascinating manufacturing organisation, effectively a self contained small city that manufactures for some of the world’s biggest names. China is massive. Both times that I have been there, I have been to cities that I had never heard of before that have millions of residents. The middle class is growing fast and are wanting to imitate the west in many ways. Expensive phones, whisky’s and cars are very popular, so why not expensive bikes?

Is that a gherkin in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? 😜

China and, more recently, India, are where global brands are fighting for expansion. The more mature markets are what got brands like Apple, Nike etc etc to where they are now. China and India are what will get them the growth they need going forward. A market that size with an emerging middle class in the hundreds of millions is always going to be a decider.

According to that podcast that was shared last week (escape collective), Spez is seeing consistent 50%+ YOY growth in China, so I suspect that they are protected overall from a restriction in sales.

Been perving over the new anthems recently. Unfortunately I can fund my daughter’s varsity accommodation for a year for the price of an anthem so maybe in 4 more years 😂. i love looking at new bikes but my skill, my wallet and my abilities are way more matched to what i already have. If okes can afford 12k bikes and they love them, then good luck to them.

Looked at this bike online in the UK yesterday. 12k in pounds is still a brutal amount for a bicycle.

I still look at my 2014 Anthem with love, even after looking at these bikes 😂

This x 10000

Learned the hard way that the tickr is not consistently reliable. Garmin was good until I left it salty for too long. Currently using a cheapish bontrager strap that is bulletproof so far.

I didn’t think the prices were too bad in the article. Even if you pay for tents, it’s still cheaper than Sani for the three days.

@Dale just reading this now. Sorry this has happened and hoping your recovery is as smooth as possible.

Thanks for the recommendation- on episode 2 now. Fantastic

My LBS can get them if you’re stuck. Says he can have them in stock for Tuesday. Drop me a PM if you want details. If he can’t ship them, I can collect and post to you no problem

What are you looking for?

My worst day ever cramping was Sani 2016 day 1. Arrived from Ireland on the Friday before the Tuesday start. Worst cramping I’ve ever had started about 40k’s in and make the next 40k fairly interesting. Day 2 and 3 were fine with zero cramps, although I must have chowed about 30 or 40 of those USN cramp tablets on those days. I assume that it was a heat and altitude reaction but the nerves theory also makes sense.

Seems like that’s it. If Mike Ashley buys it, that’ll be the end of anything decent. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/almost-every-member-of-staff-axed-at-wigglecrc-as-company-hits-rock-bottom https://road.cc/content/news/mike-ashley-set-take-over-wiggle-chain-reaction-306867

I’d be frightened of $750 pedals on a mtb, especially with my propensity for misjudging rocks and smashing pedals on them.

Lekker - also following the absolute motion plan in anticipation of sani. Weight dropped to 99.5. Losing about a kg a week so hoping to be 92-94 by sani. Which event are you doing?

Hey Ryperd, was following your thread with interest as we are similar height, age and weight. Wondering how your journey is going? Did you go with PM? Have you managed the weight loss etc?