DavidE373

Not that this is a great excuse, but after some bad weather the bicycle lanes in the Cradle can be a big mess, full of debris. It's a puncture nightmare. I have long given up on hooting at the morons who can't use what's been so kindly provided...

Not that it's a fantastic excuse but when you see how the two major clubs behave in the Cradle it's no wonder someone is throwing tacs in the road. I feel ashamed to be on a bike when I see how they ride, spilling into the oncoming traffic lane. A real shame!

Remember that the $100 is the retail price... I have a friend who bought 2 pairs of Asics through Amazon for R200 more than a single pair costs here and he paid duties and shipping. It's the same reason guys are willing to buy from Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle.

There aren't many elite females around in SA, and the general feeling is the more the merrier. It's always the same names winning the races. As I said before, I am only playing devils advocate. I am by no means saying that the time and the rider are not legit.

I should have been more specific, ride 2h40m as a woman, and you're sure to get noticed, as is the case here.

Let's say they knocked 20% off their cost, it's still a very high mark up. Hey, I'm in sales, and fully understand that everyone needs to make a profit to survive, I just don't believe in getting ripped off. And I'm not picking on CWC either, almost everyone that imports sells at way over what the same product costs elsewhere. Vibrams for example are $100 in the USA but cost R1500 here. Even if you take the import duties and taxes and the cost of shipping into account it is still and excessive increase in price.

Is the name calling from the get go really necessary? So a group of roadies upsets you and now you feel you have the right to insult the entire road bike community. I really don't think that's going to give you much of a sympathy vote from those of us that agree with you.

and just how are you able to drop the price by almost 75%? Mmmm, me thinks someones mark up is very high.

Agreed, ride a 2h40m Cycle Challenge and you're sure to get sponsored.

Once you have inflamed the ITB no amount of stretching will help you. Go and have it seen to, get a doctor/physios opinion.

I'm merely asking the question. I started in Y batch as I rode for charity, and I can honestly tell you that I lost a lot of time due to a very slow start, lots of 'traffic' due to the amount of batches that started ahead of us and it started to get quite warm out there. It's just bizarre that a lady who can ride like that wouldn't be sponsored and riding elites.

I'm quite serious. So we have names and times, it doesn't mean much. I could have rode with my wifes chip and given her a time 2 hours better than she's capable of riding. How would a woman who can post a time like that start in HH? Really? Why isn't she sponsored? Why isn't she riding with the elites? Hey, just playing devils advocate here...

Is it possible that a male rode with these ladies racetech chips?

I'll be doing this, nothing but a speedo and my running sandals...

I spoke to Serge yesterday and it was enough to get him back on the road, so he pitched up at time trial :-) We're running together again on Sunday and then he's making me a pair of sandals! Can't wait to try them out!

Excellent! Was it Sergio who made your sandals?

For anyone who is interested I will be hosting a barefoot seminar at the Emmarentia botanical gardens on the 2nd of October, I'll be posting further details on my site http://sites.google.com/site/barefootsadave/ This will be an introduction to barefoot running and the grass in the garden will be our playground for the day. Don't expect to run far (probably around 3km or so) as it does take some getting used to, you will find muscles in your feet you didn't think were there!

I am BarefootSA Dave :-) My site is still in development but I am thrilled someone has already found it! I written a piece on how my Vibrams saved a run, the Mont Aux Sources Challenge, it's on the Runners World website. My next step is to have sandals made (I'm currently in Vibrams) and then I would eventually like to go completely barefoot but I am concerned about all the crap lying in the road. If anyone would like any help with barefoot running please feel free to get in touch with me.

Yup! thanks for the advice, will only get round to doing this over the weekend. Will post feedback after I've tried everything.

The bolt is indeed made of some soft crap (otherwise it wouldn't have stripped!) and is recessed. I will try get my grubby paws on Torx bits and see what happens, not keen on drilling, so hope it doesn't come to that. @Grebel, not sure lance can help with nut issues, I seem to recall he lost his! Is a mountain bike.

Sorry, should have been stripped bolt. and it's the allen key slot that stipped, not the thread. I have tried knocking in a groove to use a screw driver but that didn't work either.

The nut holding my gear lever stripped while trying to loosen it. I didn't overdo it either, the thing is on there so tight it just wouldn't budge, and eventually the inevitable happened. any ideas on how to get the damn thing off now?

I did my first trail run in them at Groenkloof about two weeks ago, did ok for the first 8kms. I was in my Bikilas but my feet took a pounding. Next trail run will be done in the KSO Trek Sports, which are more for off road running, they have a thicker rubber lining.

Vibram Five Fingers! Just take it easy in the beginning, it takes time to rebuild the muscles in your feet. I've been running seriously for the last 6 years. I had injury issues all the time until I started running 'barefoot'.

I suspect I was in the same group, I couldn't hang on though, the second last BIG hill took the wind out of my sails!