BigDL

So true - We've just been through an enhanced salary review that was brought forward three months from the usual time. It is humbling to work for a company that has stepped up, increased salaries early and by a far higher margin than in a normal year. First company that I've ever worked for that doesn't just talk about valuing employees,, but lives it at every turn.

Loving this thread and learning a lot from it. I just had a quote last week for a PV setup. We're in a different position to a lot of you folks in that we don't have load shedding to worry about, but electricity is very expensive and traditional energy generation doesn't help global warming, so we've decided to go the PV route. We have an electric shower, so don't need hot water going into it, and our water pressure is so poor that a bath will take 45 minutes to run to about 8 inches deep, so only really need hot water for washing hands, dishes that don't fit in the dishwasher etc. At the moment, our house and hot water is heated by an oil boiler, with a 1200l heating oil tank outside. I have a TADO system to automatically manage the house, so run the boiler for an hour a day to heat up the hot water tank/geyser and that gives us enough hot water for our daily needs. That may change in winter, but the boiler will be running the central heating at that stage so hot water will be no issue. The plan is to install a system now, without batteries but battery ready, and to set washing machine, dishwasher etc etc to run during daylight hours to maximise use of generated electricity. The excess then gets sold back to the grid for 25% of what we buy it for. Installation cost is about £6,800, which will hurt. Next step, after we properly insulate the house (new windows, thicker insulation in the ceiling etc), is to install a battery system and a heat pump setup to control temperature in the house, which should be largely run by the PV system, especially in Summer. This will allow us to get rid of the oil boiler altogether and save the £1,200 per year (based on last years prices, twice that now) that we spend on heating oil. We investigated a small windmill at the top of our property as the wind never seems to stop at our place, but decided, for all of the reasons listed on this thread, to stay away from that at the moment. Anyway, the point wasn't to bore you all with my plans, but wondering if anyone has any thoughts on whether this is the right plan or is there a better way to do it?

So true - for so many of us, the benefit of skinny tyres, enhanced aero etc etc make little difference to our ride. I rode across the UK a few weeks back and only realised afterwards that I didn't use my drops once. Made my think about why I have them.

In for both. Thanks lads

Not sure about the front, but I converted my Ultegra back setup to 11-34 from 11-28 two weeks ago. Needed a longer cage derailleur (there was also a wolf-tooth adaptor available instead). This was because of a ride across England that I did last week. Genuinely made such a massive difference to my enjoyment of the ride. Front is 50/34 I think

I would rather pay a bit more and have a local supplier to go back to in case of issues or for accessories etc.

Is that landed in SA, VAT and duties paid?

Makes sense. Why phone makers generally won't say that their products are waterproof, even if they are. My good mate has a Ghost bike and I swear he spends more time fixing it than riding it. TBF he rides hectic trails.

I would assume that, where there is an electric motor / battery etc involved, there is more opportunity for failure when coming into contact with water, should water ingress anywhere into sealed units and they would be harder to dry out completely.

Lots of folks here ride with cameras and submit footage of close passes, phone use by drivers etc to the various authorities. I have never ridden on the road with a camera as I can hardly get organised with charging my lights, radar, garmin, phone, watch etc and I know that I wouldn’t ever take the time to download and edit footage. this might change that as I already have a varia so no extra charging, and if it keeps overwriting itself, so no downloading needed, it might be useful in the event of a small incident. Will have to wait and see what folks think once more have them

😂 this thread reminds me so much of the roadies in mtb events threads from back on the day. Fast on the uphills, slow on the downhills, no technical ability, poor etiquette. I’ve not ridden an even in SA since 2016 Sani, but I do seem to recall that there were always idiots at events, regardless of what they were riding.

My uncle (late 60’s) completed his 10th Sani this year. Last two have been on an ebike due to a massive heart attack two years ago impacting. He hasn’t finished a day with less than 50% charge remaining on his battery and is rightly proud of that.

I got one off Amazon a couple of years ago. Let me know if you don't come right and I can order one here and post it over.

I'm normally pretty good when brush-cutting. Forgot my face shield a couple of months back and managed a shard of wood pegged into my face about a cm below my eye. Was a good reminder .

Been an expensive bike month. Now converting My road bike from 11-30 to 11-34.

I can, but then I get home and eat everything I can find for the rest of the day, which leaves me feeling ****

According to Geraint Thomas. You shouldn’t eat during a ride less than two hours

😂

Normally if it beeps at you, it is an anti-stalking thing. If the AirTag is registered to someone other than you, but is in your vicinity a lot, then it will warn you via notification and beeping to prevent being able to stick one into someone's bag or car etc to track them. This feature works on non apple phones as well as far as I understand

I have one under the saddle on two of my bikes, also on my horse trailer, for this purpose. The biggest risk is the anti-stalking features which will alert someone who has been close to a tag for a while, but I'm hoping that, by the time this happens, I have a location to look in. I am also awaiting a couple of the See.Sense GPS units, which I bought through their kickstarter in 2019 for 2020 delivery. However, they seem to be having endless issues with getting the tech and the battery life right, so I'm not holding out much hope for them.

Not actually sure. I have added my bikes to my home insurance policy, although because they stay in my barn and aren’t chained to a fixed item, then I probably wouldn’t be covered anyway. I added them at the price I paid, plus accessories (power meters mainly). I actually need to revisit as I couldn’t afford to replace them at current value.

Your post made me go and look at my bike replacement cost. Paid £2400 for it in Nov 2019 (2020 model). Same bike now £3400. Absolutely identical spec as far as I can see.

I have a 4iii on my Anthem and one my road bike. Was really useful when I was working to power, but my riding has been so infrequent since moving house last year, that I won't really look at power again until I'm riding properly again (hopefully soon). In hindsight, I haven't used the power meters to their full extent at all but am determined to rectify that this year, with a ride across the UK planned for end of May and a couple of other events later in the year.

Based on the quality of the HRM straps, I wouldn’t be rushing to buy and wahoo products any more other than the kickr

Would South Africans not in SA be allowed?