Wheelsuck

@Supasonic to answer ur question. I am lost without my HRM, this does not mean I slavishly follow it but it give me an indication when to slow down or start to hammer in a race. I use it as a gauge and adjust. If u ever wanna check how the perceived exertion versus actual HR differs, put the HRM where u cannot see it and ride then check afterwards what the difference is to what u perceive the effort to be.

i asked them 2 months ago via email for a deal on a TT frame and still waiting.

As said previous HR is a personal thing. To get ur max use a scientific method such as Karvonen. For Example: (MHR-RHR)*x%+RHR where MHR=Max HR, RHR is Resting HR. So Example (MHR-RHR)=190-60 =130x70% =91+RHR =151 is ur 70% of Max. There are scientific ways of getting to ur max HR, but my way is record on ur HRM in a race. A lab/test environment does not make u go full tilt like a race-so i like the BTTW method, it's more real. Anycase your heart can beat at much more-heard from a dr that if the heart is electronically stimulated it can beat at up to 300 beats.

Trance and Stumpy has more upright position and if you want to ride trails it makes sense. Bikes with more racing geometry makes more sense as it forces you to engage with the machine, ie lower body position makes for better control. Just ride with ur body more down than upright on the same technical section and see for yourself. U want to race Xterra etc and have fun in the Trails not compete in the trails and have fun on Xterra?

Stretching is important as cycling shortens a muscles and that can lead to injuries related to alignment. The Ice issue I agree with BeOne, u can even just wrap ice in a towel and rub it over your legs. Sauna helps with the removal of toxins from the body but think drinking enough water would do the same. Thing is if you are looking at going from 0 to Lots....there is no fast way, there is a lot of talk about HIT lately but I cannot think that it is good for an endurance sport in the long term. So get a programme that works and is proven so that when you train u benefit and not waste. Nutrition is not just on the bike but what are you eating thru the day and is it the right stuff?.

Cycling, although non-loadbearing and better for knees than rugby, running and other loadbearing activities does have it's cautions. But be carefull of the hips as the small muscles in the hips drive alignment and things like wrong setup and not stretching can later harm you and cause strain on the knees again due to the body alignment being thrown out.

@Voigt and @Mampara I had the same issue with Northwave MTB shoes, the outer sole seperated from Shoe. Got mo joy in SA, agency had gone....cat got kittens etc etc. Anyways emailed the global HQ and was asked a couple of questions and within a week: Ding,Dong DHL drops off new Northwave shoes fresh from Italy! Good news re Northwave is that it seesm that Alex from Nortcliff Cycles is now bringing them in.

Contacted the importers and the verdict is that the Photochromatic lenses cannot be fixed, buffed, or brasso'ed. Damn!

At my last race I put my glasses in my back pocket. The bad luck was that it was placed next to my mini-pump. So it started rubbing on the lens leaving a friction/rub mark. It is not that deep on the lens. Do u think there is a way to get it off? Any advice anyone?

Agree with the stretching bit, but proper stretching with correct body alignment etc. But at the same time u need to check it out go to a sports physician someone like Philda De Jager at Pretoria HPC comes to mind. She is not knife happy like the normal Dr's and would be able to make a diagnosis that would be helped with Bio's and Physio's supporting her diagnosis.

Its not just the bad service its the fact that they rip people off, I had my incident with them last year and will not set foot in Cajees even though their Retail Crossing branch is less than 2km away from me.

Used a pair on Desert Dash and they are ideal for soft sandy non-technical. the moment you are gonna get technical with these boys u better hold on. I used the 2.4 and found that they tend to grip better than I was expecting. If ur race is non technical on a secondary road for example its the way to go.

It depends on your feet, Sidi tends to be a bit narrow and Northwave has more space on the forefoot.

Have to say you should consider the Chumba that Ngala recommended, never have I got on a bike and felt comfortable from the get go. But if you are choosing between the Scott and Merida, go for Merida, if the specs on the two are on par then the frame of the Merida is better than Scott.

Contact the International Head Office and let them know what crappy service ur getting.

So what's the difference then between Monorail and Aspen?

Luv Schwalbe Road Tyres, was dissapointed with their MTB Tyres, the sidewalls are weak.

@Mampara where are the Aspens the cheapest?

@Mampara, do u run them Front and Rear, where are they best suited? If Mamapara and Geoff Kabush endorses them then I am willing to take that risk;-)

BTW @Underachiever how good is Monorail vs Crossmark at the back?

Mountain King 2.4 Front and Crossmark at the back. Find that the Race King is not as grippy in the back especially climbing on loose shale and it tends to slide out in turns where the Crossmark grips.

Bad Luck, know how u feel. Suggest that u maybe move it to the "Stolen Bike" section. It will juct get Lost in the Classifieds. The hubbers go to check at the Stolen section if they see something. That is how Yang recovered 3 bikes.

Don't disagree but u can ask ur ass/body the same question after a long hard technical bone jarring ride.

http://twitter.com/LangeMalcolm

How much do u pay for the subs if u have PVR, was thinking of it but guess with Eksdom and Petrol and the subsequent consumer hikes, that's off the list.