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Hi, I ruptured mine in May and went through the same things you gong through now.
Only thing can say is do as much rehab and possible and listen to your physio, they will tell you when it's safe to get back on the bike. Everyone is different and also depends on how disciplined/motivated you are in the rehab.
About that missing calf, it helps to see a biokineticist after you finish the physio, they will help bring it out of hiding.
Good luck and wish you a speedy recovery.
I can't wait for the day they start putting dropper post on road bikes so I can really attack those hairpins on Ou Kaapse Weg.
4
I replace my chains after 1500km. Always have always will, gets long life out of the cassette that way. Chains are cheap, cassettes not so much...
Does this really work out cheaper or is it also groupset dependant? In my case (ultegra) new chain cost 620 rand and cassette 1400 rand. Replacing chain every 1500km is the same as buying new chain and cassette every 5000km. Just asking because have heard this often but it does not compute in my brain.
In my opinion I don't think the problem is the the bike shop. I think the problem starts with the South African consumers, the riders, the buyers.
We want the best of both worlds. We want the lowest prices, comparable with large international online retailers like CRC. Then we want world class service from the local bike store, like online booking systems, world tour qualified mechanics in the workshops and every single part we may need available on the shelf or delivered within 24 hours.
So like they say light, strong and cheap, pick two. We want the LBS to to deliver a "light, strong and cheap" solution to all of us.
Sadly it doesn't work that way in our market. No LBS owner is making loads of money and driving and around in expensive sports cars having an FU attitude towards cyclists. It's more like the cyclist have an FU attitude towards the LBS.
LBS are under pressure from all angles:
So collectively are we prepared to start paying the prices applicable to our market? Taking into consideration, high rental, staff costs, training and development costs, increasing utility prices, monopolistic pricing from local importers and distributors. Are we prepared to pay fair workshop labour rates? Are we going to be loyal to the LBS even though some times if will cost us more?
Or are we going to continue shopping around buying whatever we need from the cheapest source.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the last LBS closes it's doors and we all forced to buy online or support the remaining large bicycle retailers.
4
Hi guys,
I need to buy replacement pads for my XT brakeset.
Can anyone recommend a durable metal or sintered set? From what I can see, CWC has the genuine metal pads with cooling fins for R399 and a couple of other cheaper options:
RESPONSE SINTERED DISC PADS (XT/XTR) R170
RESPONSE SEMI METAL DISC PADS (XT/XTR) R170
SHIMANO XTR 980 DISC PADS METAL (G04TI) R299
Does anyone have experience with these or could you recommend another option? I'm not even certain whether the cheaper two sets above fit the M8000 calipers.
Thanks for your help
Personal preference but I do Metal on the front, Sintered on the rear. XT pads are more than capable.
In my opinion the 96xt
I have actually. I went from standard rings with 11-28, to compact with 11-25. I did this to both ease the climbing (I'm 110kg), and save some weight on the entire system.
All I found was myself losing contact with the group on climbs, as the slight difference in gearing made it easier, but I was now slower. Add to that the fact that I lost my top end gear, which, being a big boy, I can actually turn, it meant my advantage on the road was now lost. Lightweights kept up with me on descents and so was unable to shake them like I could in the past.
Went back to standard rings and 11-25, and have loved it. I actually have to work on the hills without dying, and I'm back to fast on the flats and downs.
I personally didn't find a compact setup advantageous, despite all of the claimed benefits.
Most people go compact because they don't use the 53/11, and they want easier climbing gears. I found it made you slower overall without any hope of pulling away when you needed to push power to the road.
If the OP is looking for an easier climbing gear, then a larger cassette will give him the climbing gear, without the major costs that he's looking at at the moment. That, and he does need to harden up. The gearing is much harder on road bikes, and you do have to change your climbing style and power/effort management to make the climbs.
Interesting.
Was forced onto compact 50/34 11-28 when I bought a new bike and the local agents did not have standard rings in stock at the time.
There was no problem making the transition, did not get dropped on Uphills, downhills or flats because of the gears. Only ever got dropped because I ran out of legs. On the fast flats just had to up my cadence on the rare occasion other riders used the 53 /11. Climbing was easier because you have more gears available and even when you completely cooked you could put it in 34 / 28 and spin your way to the top. Also on steeper gradients (12 deg + not such a big problem in Cape Town) you always had a comfortable gear. Was very happy riding compact and decided not to buy the standards rings as dis not see the need for them. Was very happy for thr first year I rode them.
Downside as I experienced is that compact take discipline to ride. It starts slowly you have one bad ride and use the granny, then another and then another. Pretty soon I found myself always using the granny on climbs and over time my climbing actually got worst. This was a discipline thing more than anything else.
Eventually I went back to 53/39 (after 18 month of using compacts) to force myself to use a harder gear but in retrospect I should have just bought an 11-23 cluster and would have achieved the same effect.
Am happy that I have the 6800 Ultegra because I still have the compact rings and use them when doing base training and on 200km plus rides. Can't explain it but just give a more comfortable ride and feel like I can ride for days.
So two riders, two completely different experiences.
Save your money and just get a larger cassette. Compact really doesn't benefit you much. 53/39 and 11-28 is plenty gearing for most hills.
Off topic but out of interest have you ever ridden compact rings?
I have and if anyone is interested would be happy to share my experience, the benefits and downsides as I experienced them.
I find it strange that you say it doesn't benefit much because depending what you goals are that could be factually incorrect.
How often on a Roadbike should cables and or cable housings be replaced?
Hi
This is purely my opinion, no scientific evidence. I think once a year for both inner and outer.
Reason is I just replaced my frame and had to change the cabling. Cables were two years old and in some cases, inners had been replaced once. Unexpected bonus was that brakes and drive train felt like they also been replaced. Shifting is crisp and clean and brake feel smoother.
I would rather spend the money on a sports dietician and get a proper eating plan customised to your requirements.
To finish mid pack there are enough free training plans available that can help you get there. But a customised eating plan is way more effective than any free eating plans. A skills clinic is also a good investment even if you don't think you need it.
from CyclingNews.com
Renshaw looking forward to new chapter with Cavendish at MTN-Qhubeka
Australian aiming for World Championships debut in 2016
Uncertain just what his schedule looks like for 2016 besides starting with the Tour Down Under, Renshaw and the team will get together in Cape Town later this month where plans will be made to ensure Cavendish is top dog in the sprints.
is this the end of developing the younger sprinters?
Is there a better place to learn and develop than in a lead out train with Renshaw and Cavendish?
Is this the same bikehub that I have previously read (many times) that if done correctly a carbon repaired area will actually be stronger than it was originally?
Or is it just because the insurance company is paying that carbon repairs are now dodgy and the frame needs to be replaced?
Double standards.
A few week's ago I told my wife I wanted to buy a new bike, don't need one wanted it though. Said I would sell my current bike to recover some of the cost of the new one. She told me to buy the new one and keep the current one. She said it's still a really nice bike, so no point selling it so soon because I would regret it. Same thing when I needed new wheels, no problem.
Guess am just lucky.
What kind of punctures are you getting? Cuts, thorns, or pinch flats?
There could be something stuck in the tire. I had a metal filament once, so fine not easy to detect, got 5 punctures before I found it.
I run at 6 bar front and 7 rear with no issues and a nice comfortable ride.
Am very surprised that there is not a lot more interest in this event. Considering the popularity of multi stage mtb races in this country that sell out in seconds, no matter what the cost, this event is comparatively well priced considering it includes meals and proper accommodation.
With all the complaints about declining events in road cycling, disappearance of local pro teams, etc there should be a lot more enthusiasm for this event. Last year this place went ballistic when news of the MUNGA broke and that was way more ridiculous and expensive.
This leads me to two conclusions:
A - this is becoming an MTB forum
B - Roadies have gone soft
Either way I am excited and all going as planned will be doing this event next year.
Thank guys
Thanks PJP2013, I fear it might be a bit more complicated though, the bike is original and came with Biopace chainrings... I assume I would probably need to replace both chainrings for it to work properly, unless I find a 39 Biopace chainring. Would it be possible to get both standard 42 and 39 chainrings and replace them on the current crank, or would I need a whole new crank?
The crank is a Shimano A450
Hi, am not an expert on the subject but in those days parts were pretty interchangeable. Best to check with your LBS. Also some bike stores keep old parts, some digging and you might find something that works.
Hi
The 42 is causing your problem. If you can find an old 36 or 39 tooth small chain ring it should sort it out.
3
Should work just fine - remember that you also want to be taking about 500ml fluid per hour (at about 75kg), and you can go a bit dry - so - plan on using 2 full bottles over the 4 hours - no stops - just spread out the drinking evenly - every 10 min or so a small amount. Better to be slightly thirsty at the end of the ride than have to make a pee stop...
DO NOT mix the drinks to be MORE than the specified concentration of carbs - repeat after me.... DO NOT....
DO NOT take anything in a race you have not tried out in training - both in quantity/rate and manufacturer - trust me on this - explosive diahorrea mid race will not make you any friends....
If you eating and drinking carbs during the race, most carb drinks can be mixed half strength. I find it's easier on the taste buds and stomach.
PPA seeding is black magic, we will never know how it works... If you have a low seeding be happy. If you want to improve then ride harder. Dont try and understand how they work it out.
PPA communication is beyond useless. We are in the 21st century, it should be so easy...
Problem for us Durban based riders is we have two events a year. One in April so it carries an automatic 6 point penalty. So in reality, only Shova counts for CTCT. Have a puncture or a bad day, it's over, then you have to travel for a better seeding. Not all of us can afford that.
What was the adjusted winning times for both races. You cannot just look at the beta alone
I remember a similar thread on the 94.7 for 2014 & 2013 where the change in betas were weird, but you also had to look at the adjusted winning time then it made more sense.
PPA looking after their members? I would have loved that to be true
No adjustment made to the winners time in both years.
What was the adjusted winning times for both races. You cannot just look at the beta alone
I remember a similar thread on the 94.7 for 2014 & 2013 where the change in betas were weird, but you also had to look at the adjusted winning time then it made more sense.
PPA looking after their members? I would have loved that to be true
No adjustment made to the winners time in both years.
The beta favours the Cape Town races for Argus seeding.
This year amashova was 1.03 last year it was 1.11. Ask anyone who rode and they will say weather conditions were worse this year than last year, this year being a harder ride.
But because times were faster the beta is lower to compensate for that, even though it may be because riders were stronger this year?
Just my opinion. PPA looking after their members
Ruptured Achilles Tendon
in Training, Health & Nutrition
Posted
No antibiotics, also ruptured playing football at a company "team building"