JXV

eish....where was I? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Is that a lift/bathroom selfie? I thought the hub disapproves of people who post those to inflate their egos? Just checking.....[emoji48] Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Their ethical rules require them to treat you as a patient 1st and not as a sportsman. Some of the stuff on the WADA list is life saving or best choice, so they'll use it, especially in emergency. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I take issue with the mantra that you can't race if you aren't feeling well and requested some treatment. Not all illnesses are imminently life threatening or require you to immediately withdraw from a competition. The real problems are : -1 that the WADA infringements are based on qualitative detection. Even trace amounts that don't constitute sufficient dosage for a beneficial effect during the race can get you banned -2 the TUE process is too drawn out. A mechanism needs to be provided for an athlete receiving treatment during an event (stage race?) to submit TUE application and a 'before treatment' sample. Then go race. If the TUE is not subsequently awarded then at least the athlete was honest and does not deserve sanction for having that substance in his system. Results can be made provisional and prize money withheld until any pending TUE applications are finalised. -3 the current system requires us all to be medical experts. The issue of knowledge comes up frequently in these cases and I think the average athlete is not empowered to act appropriately under the current system. As a chemical engineer I can at least pronounce some of those names and I may even be able to guess the structure of some of them but I sure can't remember them all. And if I was nauseous and dehydrated in the medical tent before a stage then I doubt I would be thinking with any great clarity. -4 V12man is right that the doctor should treat the patient appropriate to the illness without restriction by sporting rules. But there is overlap....alternative drugs not on the WADA list may be useable. A doctor attending a competition should have some WADA knowledge and be able to advise their patients of the consequences of the treatment given. Perhaps WADA should offer courses and a protocol for medical professionals who can then become WADA certified and this certificate could be a factor in selecting medical personnel to attend at races. If this guy was genuinely doping then sanction him but there seems to be cause for doubt in this case. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

The thing with potential energy (eg pressure) is that it becomes more hazardous when an accidental release is directed or concentrated. So a better way to reduce the hazard is to absorb/dissipate the energy. This is why I previously suggested using an old blanket Your cannon will be ok as long as it is restrained and both ends point at open spaces. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Basically you made a howitzer. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Just so everyone is on board with pressure....1 bar is approx 13.7 psi. So 100 psi = about 7 bar. Pumping stuff to this pressure also results in temperature changes that weaken the plastic. If you must do this with a PET soft drink bottle then cover the thing with a heavy blanket or two for safety when in use. 150psi in a 2 litre bottle becomes instantaneously about 20 litres when it bursts so placing a solid object like a drum over it for protection just makes a bigger missile. Be safe. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

If they attempt to recover the penalties by simply raising prices they will be less competitive and we will buy elsewhere. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Interesting. The way they determine penalty and the principle that silent attendance at a meeting constitutes acceptance of any agreement reached unless one makes it publicly clear that you don't agree. Also the principle that remaining silent means one is party to the financial harm caused to customers and also that it conceals the anti competitive behaviour, delaying its discovery and correction. There is also an onus to disclose such behaviour to authorities once you become aware of it. Coolheat gets hit with R4.25m because they failed to provide data that would have indicated a lower affected turnover ( they only apparently increased RRP on 94 out of 4000 stock items but failed to isolate the value thereof and were thus fined using their total turnover as a basis). Seems a bit harsh and I bet they are not overly happy with their legal team's advice.....the 6 step principle for determining the penalty was available from recent case law and could have been applied to the appeal even though it probably wasn't available when the original finding was made by the tribunal. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

So, will the prices now go up or down? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Long list in post #204 further back in this thread..... quoted from an online news site....some well known names. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Glad they lost the appeal. What they did was clearly illegal. I can't believe so many other business owners got hooked in and didn't even bother to read the regulations before attending. The fact that the agenda blatantly indicated the purpose of the meeting is enough proof of guilt. My problem is the fine is way too low. Typically the competition tribunal/commission fines 10% on affected turnover. These guys colluded to increase retail prices by an additional 15 to 25% over their prevailing margins so after a 10% slap on the wrist the effort was still worthwhile for them. I don't see the disincentive here. The fingered retailers were all let off and only 2 wholesalers punished with a nominal fine. Crime did pay in this case. The proof is in the pudding as I have not seen decreases or even a period of levelling off in bike / parts costs and I think they are still doing it. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Also had excellent service from Janos recently when he went the extra mile to source me a B1 Shimano crank for a boost axle frame at the same price as the normal cranks he had in stock. Due to the time delay for the cranks he also split my order over 2 separate shipments at no extra cost. All emails promptly answered. ???????????????????? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Was quoted a new one at R42k a few months back. Includes rear shock and axle and RD hanger. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I use the whole 150mm on my Hightower regularly in the Karkloof and could use even more sometimes ..... but the rear wheel has buzzed my ass a few times when I hang too far back instead of keeping my weight more centered. I also changed from Phenom to a Power saddle recently. The Power saddle is better for pedalling but wider at the back end and much less comfortable against the legs when the seat is dropped.....which is why I would drop it even more if I could. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

For internal dropper on a hardtail bike without internal routing provision you should be able to drill the lower part of the seatpost above the bb without negative consequence except maybe losing frame warranty. Remove current seatpost and shine a light down the tube to make sure it is all clear. Then test route a piece of cable from bars to seat post. Include generous curvature to limit friction ( no sharp bends). Then choose what height and which side to drill. You want to avoid the FD bracket and cabling if you have one. Also try to stay clear of the front/rear centreline which carries the most stress in the seat tube. Punch (small mark to hold the drill bit on target) the tube where centre of the hole will be. Then Drill a pilot hole of 2 to 3 mm perpendicular to the tube. Enlarge slowly with larger drill bits at an angle to give an oblique hole aligned with the run of the cable. Clean the edges with a craft knife after to deburr (assumes alu frame). Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Old thread I see but the advice below was not given and is timeless..... Don't ride them on the limits of frame insertion. Those limits are for average weight riders on correctly sized frames. Heavy riders and those with long legs relative to total height put a LOT more stress on their posts. The seatpost and frame can have different minimum insertion lengths so always compare the two and use the longer of the two measurements as your absolute minimum. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Fox Transfer working as well as or better for me than a Reverb and at half the price too. Whatever dropper you get be sure to do your homework in terms of choosing correct diameter, travel and insertion length. Merida Big Nine has quite a tall seat tube so you need to measure how much your normal post protrudes then work out how much travel you can accomodate on your frame, making allowance for the dropper's collar/wiper assembly. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Quite old.....Nikon D200 with 105VR macro lens.... in the dark and drizzle using a torch to focus manually and then diffused off-camera SB800 flash for the actual pic..... nowadays one could probably get quite close to this with a modern camera phone. Insects slow down a lot when cold and wet so you can get up close. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

That is not a dragonfly/baby dragonfly munching on the bee. It is commonly known as a robber fly. Family Asilidae. They prey on smaller insects, commonly bees and other flies. I have attached a close-up pic of a similar insect (pic taken with something a bit optically more high end than a phone so I hope it qualifies here). View it on a tablet or monitor for best impact. I wouldn't want to meet one of these in a dream. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Phone cameras really good these days but 2 main disadvantages: they aren't too good in low light and the lenses aren't wide enough for the kind of street, architecture and landscapes that I like to shoot. Even the advanced mikendruks are not wide enough. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Cool...it's needed a clean up for a while. lots of trees across the trail when I rode it a few months ago. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Your brake lever assembly incorporates a reservoir, the lever and the master cylinder driven by that lever. The reservoirs on many modern brakes have a rubber diaphragm that sits on top of the fluid to isolate air from it. The diaphragm allows expansion/contraction of the fluid volume without air contact when the brakes are operated and when they heat up, cool down and when the pads wear. With these designs, if your brakes are properly bled, there is no air in the system and you can turn the bike upside down without air bubbles 'rising' to the caliper. Some fluid may run back to the lever under gravity though (and this partially retract the pads) so you should always pump the levers a few times once the bike is right way up to readjust the pad position. If you do get air this way then your entire system needs to be bled and filled correctly. An intermediate solution is to store your bike vertically on one of those hook thingies. If you adjust it right, you can keep the levers above the calipers while still raising the front axle above the fork crown so that oil in the fork can run up to the wiper seal and foam rings. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I've heard the Ardent 2.4s are much better but the 2.25s I have aren't nearly as good as the Spez Purgatory/Ground Control combo I replaced them with. Less grip, less braking, wash out in corners and slower rolling. Heavy. More expensive. Durable though. I recently refitted the Ardents to my old bike and the 'downgrade' was immediately evident. Entered the 1st corner at normal Purgatory pace and washed out..... Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Good component spec. Your tyre choice is heavy and you could save 400g there quite easily at the expense of some reliability. My Spez rubber with control casings was more than 400g lighter than the 2.25 LUST Ardents it replaced and has lasted 18 months with no major issues except lots of sidewall weeping. Also the dropper costs you another 400g compared to a carbon post....but who would want to lose the dropper on that kind of bike. You could also save some weight on the cranks but at a price. Everything else is already quite light considering the bike's purpose. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk