NGM

In their attempt to K.I.S.S I feel like they've made some Crazy Crazy Bikes.

More people will find these pretty bikes if the typo in the thead title is fixed.

I had the 2x10 GRX groupset and loved it. One thing it has over the 2x11 option is a better climbing gear. If I remember correctly the 10spd derailleur will take a 36 tooth cassette while 11spd will only take 34. Those are the official numbers from shimano and I know people have stretched those limits, but the point is the 10spd derailleur is more accommodating of larger cassettes.

Now might be an interesting time to point out that the german word for bicycle is "fahrrad".

This is exactly what I was thinking. I was wondering if it was something trivial like the name change or sponsor change (from Argus to PnP CTCT) that made it a different race. That doesn't make much sense but it's the only reason I could think of.

Let's get this back on track by laughing at my misfortune and desperation. I write this every year... I'm one of those guys that would love a sub-3 and I've done a few 100km rides at sub-3 pace, so it's possible. But I'm not really exceptional and I don't train 350km per week, so I need to be in a good bunch and I need the weather to play ball as well. This is how it's gone so far.... 2015: Train hard. Fire shortens route. 2016: Just didn't ride it. As I understand, the weather was good. 2017: Train hard. Friend organizes skiing trip with free accommodation and very cheap flights. I skip CTCT and the weather is perfect with something like 1400 sub-3s. 2018: Train hard. On the start line but strong winds cancels the race. 2019: Train hard. Very windy, but not cancelled. Only 141 sub-3s. I limp home at 3:20. 2020: Global pandemic. I decide not to ride 2021: I ride at "fun ride" pace. Best weather since 2017 obviously. 2022: Train hard. It rains for 3 hours straight and I do a 3:11. Jury's out for 2023. On one hand, training hard seems to bring the bad voodoo. But on the other hand, I'm slowly getting closer. I suspect I will have another go at sub 3 in 2023 but if a plague of locusts descends on cape town on race day please don't blame me.

Through slovenia, all the way to the coast...

Today it took me to gothenburg, after leaving oslo 8 days ago.

Nothing to do with the current discussion but I just wanted to get my tour podium predictions in: Pogacar Vlasov Vingegaard Top spot is probably everyone's choice and really no surprise. The only thing that is vaguely controversial is no Roglic, who I just think is not as strong in the mountains as the other two on the list. And I would have had Vingegaard at no2 but I think he will ship a bit of time while the team tries to work out who the leader is after Roglic initially looks the strongest but then starts to fade. I'd love for Ben O'Connor (and Roglic for that matter) to prove me wrong.

Thanks!

Hi All, Looking for a kickstand recommendation. It needs to be robust as it's for a fully loaded bike. Thanks

https://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/18-05-2022/girmay-ritira-giro-tappo-spumante-440559274899.shtml If this article and google translate are to be believed, that's the end of Bini's tour. Given that the article also says he beat "Jesi Van Der Poel" then maybe the jury is still out.

I think we can all rest a little easier now...

It has been said that SRAM "Level" brakes are named as such because that is the only gradient where they provide effective stopping power.

With Girmay and MVDP now both occupying the same "airspace" as cyclists, this might bring about the end of me cheering for the latter.

Hahahahah and that, folks, is a classic fuga bidon.

Lol, came here to ask same thing.

Out of interest, did you make this or is it publicly available for purchase?

Ha! All the ingredients are there... a larger than average bunch holding a stronger than average rider who could win the stage and, at least for a while, threaten the leader's jersey. I may have to leave work a little early today.

Leonard Kamna with a classic fuga bidon, as the italians say. That's my prediction (or hope) for the day.

No stress. It's pretty pedantic. But also pretty easy to fix I'm sure.

It will be interesting to see what happens if vingegaard starts to hit his peak around the TDF. I remember people saying Greg Lemond tended to get stronger as the tour progressed; some riders are just "well-designed" for multi week stage racing for whatever reason. From the few races I've seen of vingegaard, I get the feeling the same is true of him. He's a bit inconspicuous in that he's not the absolute best at anything, but I suspect the longer a tour wears on the more he starts to shine. I hope so anyway, since last year's tour I've become a fan. Ah, I've just read that JV issued a statement earlier in the year that they (Roglic and Jonas) will be joint leaders. Form pending I guess.

Not a bad ride home.

Right, saw this a bit late! But in a glass-is-half-full way that is a good thing because it looks fun but I had a seriously dodgy stomach so wouldn't have been able to make it anyway.

Easing back into it then....