EigerSA

Terrible news condolences to the family.

Really! I didn't know that. Would be interesting to see some older carbon frames, wonder if they still around or are just bit's and pieces now. Would certainly go some way to showing the durability of carbon. Just worked it out that my family have round about 100 years of cycling experience (collectively lol). I love marketing speak.

Interesting one. First off I think you'd have to give the entire helmet a light sanding to take off whatever finish is on there as well as give the new paint something to stick to. You'd then have to probably use an undercoat of some kind, which may be a problem since most undercoats (that I know of ) use solvents as their base which might melt the plastic. Then you could spray it with a rattelcan maybe. I very much doubt you going to get any type of finish that is long lasting. I actually don't think it can be done? Interesting to see the results so post some pics ok. Good luck!

So damn sad! Hope they catch the little b@st@rd and explain the facts of life to him! Really hope the lady will be okay. Sad times Good for her that she fought back though!

Um.... I thought Black Spade was a guy/guys buying unbranded frames from China/Taiwan/Somewhere and basically painting, kitting them out and selling them? Not to disparage anyone but that's really not 50 years of experience, don't even think carbon has been used for bikes past maybe 12 years? Or is it a case of the owners having ridden bikes collectively for 50 years? And just out of curiosity, does Black Spade design the bikes or just purchase off the shelf?

Not really, since you could tell the cops how much the bike cost you, who/where you bought it from, the friends you rode with etc etc.... which they could quite easily confirm, that's definitely no issue there. Out of interest, insurance generally wont pay out unless you can prove ownership as well, so take a picture of your bike as well as identifying marks. But if you tell the cops I got it from a "friend" and couldn't remember the "friend" or where or when or how much, then you got a problem. And keep in mind that they cops may not know the value of bikes, but they pretty good at reading people, it's easy to spot when a guy's dodgy or when something's not quite right. They'll help if you approach them.

But that's exactly how cops catch people and recover stolen property. How else would you think it's done? The object gets taken to police and logged into an evidence register. If you can prove it's yours, then you go fetch the object, if you can't then the bike gets held until an owner pitches up or till auction.

Patrol vehicles patrol, detectives detect, crime prevention drink coffee. Nothing wrong with asking the patrol vehicle to keep an eye out for this and that.

*sigh*

Perhaps they wouldn't but then again if you don't ask you don't know. It is going to hurt to try? I think there's a bit of difference between a 'commuter' as described in the original post and someone driving a ferrari, not sure what you're trying to say here? If the cops are proactive, and many are, they'll do what they can.

He'd probably just change his route for a while, he obviously uses his bike to commute, don't think he stop entirely. Depending on how active the local cops are, it would be a case of asking the patrol at that time of the morning to focus on the area your saw the bike. Find out what shift will be on and speak to the shift commander, or even the head of crime prevention. Can't hurt to try.

Do you ride the route often? If so, maybe the guy will be back again? Maybe go through to the police station and see if the theft of the bike has been reported?

I lost my bike computer a while back, but worked out that I did about 2800km's during my weekly commute to work and back, and about another 2000km's over weekend rides... side 4800km's for me.

Not sure if Nitromors is aggressive enough for powder-coating? Works ok'ish on furniture lacquer with multiple applications but I think powder-coated items may be a bit harder.

It's got to be better than 10pm snacking on tomato flavored crisps dipped in cream cheese

Thanks for the suggestions, going to go out today and get the gasket remover stuff. As for getting the seat post out, I'll try a few options mentioned on www.bikeforums.net that I lurk about in. I'm fine with using a bit of heat as well since the frame will be polished out to a mirror finish, she's not going to re-painted, and when done, should look like this...

I'm in the same position you are, I cycle regularly, eat pretty healthily but last night succumbed to a hunger craving that had me ingesting like a million calories in one go (rusks and bread with cream cheese)! The only thing I can think of now, is to clear the kitchen of bad stuff and keep only healthy stuff so when I do get a craving I can grab something that I can eat a million of and not put on weight, like celery or apples or something along those lines. I feel your pain

The website is up and running and I think entry's are open. 60 Euro's books you a spot. I'm praying like made entry's don't get full too quickly, I can only really book in about March when I know how my finances are shaping up

Wow, that is nice! Is that a carbon frame?

I phoned around the few places that are still open and it seems sand blasting is the way to go, but naturally everyone only opens in 2/3 weeks time. I might try sanding the fork while everyone's closed I suppose. Thanks all.

I came across a diamond back frame that I've been looking for for ages and asked the bike shop to strip it down and send it to be powder coated. I get a phone call this week to say it's ready so I went to pick it up. The bike shop couldn't get the seat post out the seat tube (not sure how hard they tried) so sent it down to the powder coaters anyway, and they in turn powder coated everything, including the seat post! Needless to say I'm not a very happy chap. My question is, what's the best way to remove the powder coating (it's so thick it looks like sludge!) preferably without sanding? The frame is cromoly and the post I think is steel. Any and all suggestions welcome.

I live by this chap's advice here... Cycling Performance Tips His advice is that for rides of medium intensity up to about 2 hours you don't need to eat simply because you easily have enough energy to cope. As for weight loss, endurance riders should aim for long hours on the bike at 50%vo2 max, this causes your body to turn to fat cells for energy as they are very slow burning. It's a long read but really worth while.

Was there even talk of ss champs in sa? Can't say I've come across anything? It would have to be sanctioned by cycling sa or something wouldn't it? Of course we could always hold unofficial champs races?

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I would appreciate the route thanks. Also did you cross into lesotho?