KanonDonkie

Petri, I regret, but apparently all of my old bits were trashed (literally) a while ago.

Hi Petri. I'm getting ride of a few bits and may be able to assist. Let me go through my stuff this weekend. I'll put the list together and send it to you.

I do the Grid at the K90 VA. Its an awesome all-over conditioning program. But, I do not think that just doing that will build endurance that you would want for cycling and other endurance sport. I find it nice to mix in to my program, though.

On the BMI thing. BMI was designed as a population metric, and was never meant to be an individual metric. Insurance companies jumped on this metric as a way of being able to "scientifically" overcharge their policy holders. I am not a small person. And I try and find hills wherever possible. I choose not to do flat rides because that, to me, is not cycling. I really enjoy cycling. I have no aspirations of grandeur, I do not have the motivation or ability to even be in the top 30% of any event that I enter, but I enjoy the ride and the people riding with me. I do sometimes dream of how wonderful it would be to have the power but with about 20kg less bodyweight, but then I remember the last time that I weighed 80km was when I was in Std 6 (grade 8), so I very much doubt that will happen. I enjoy myself. Really, I do. Bleeding out on the longer climbs I know that I'm riding at my absolute limit, and that's perfect! Enjoy the journey, my friends. Time is but a number but the memories of the rides are there forever.

I'm asserting that we, as cyclists, are chumps because we are willing to pay far more to keep a bicycle on the road than a high performance motorcycle. I see bicycle mechanics with top of the range bicycles and expensive cars flitting off to races in exotic destinations. I cannot say the same for the humble motorcycle mechanic. I look at what i get charged when I take my bicycle for a service and have to inevitably replace the chain and BB bearings because it has already done 3000km and is so worn it can damage other stuff and I cringe. I am astounded at the piss-poor quality of the equipment that we are offered and the astonishing prices. I no longer care about my LBS as I'm tired of getting ripped of. I'm slowly aquiring knowledge and tools and am doing more myself. I also have no pain importing because I am abe to get what I want at 1/2 to 2/3 what the LBS and megastores sell for (although I have to wait 5 days). And, suprise, suprise, when i do it myself the stuff lasts longer.

I'm 100kg+ and recently acquired a Cannondale SuperSix Evo 56cm (old frame cracked so all components built over onto this). Incredibly comfortable and relaxed ride. I think it has a lot to do with the traditional geometry (56x56) and no curved top tube. Also run 25mm Specialised Roubaix tyres that I normally pump to 8bar. It seems that it has a degree of built in flex that has taken a lot of the rumble out of my ride and I have found a noticeable difference when going over the rough stuff. A friend of mine recently acquired a Trek Emonda and said very much the same. Of course, proper bike fit is also a massive factor. If going for one make sure that the fitter understands that you value comfort over speed. It is worth while shopping around a little and looking for something that you'd prefer to be on. Do not take it at face value. Insist on a test ride and look for some rough stuff to ride over and see how much of that you feel and how much the frame will absorb. Good luck.

By comparrison, I also ride a Honda CBR600 and had the front suspension recently seviced (after 85000km). Total cost from Honda incliding parts and labour came to R1500. That's new seals, oil, etc. All performed by a factory trained mechanic. I maintain that our LBS are ripping us a new one every time we walk in there. Sometimes it's disgusting at what we're expected to pay when we compare component prices to Europe and the US.

I started in the BL group. About a kilometre up the road 5 or 6 riders went down in front of me. Just thought to ask if anyone knows any of the riders and if they were ok?

Think you'll get that with your SMS / Race number next week.

Any truth in the rumour that Hayden is off to WSBK?

Yeah, congestion is definitely an issue. The one piece of advice that I can impart is that when starting further back than group C be very careful of the folk breaking at the bottom of the hills. Many inexperienced riders are fairly heavy on the breaks and inadvertently become quite dangerous because the speed difference is quite substantial, especially at the bottom of the hills when you'll be wanting to kick to conserve momentum and they'll already be throttling back into low gears for an easy climb. Eyes forward all the time, I guess.

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/technique/article/technique-how-to-deal-with-different-length-legs-25018/ Interesting read.

Gerald that's very comprehensive. Thank you. When you say 25 were used, at which event are you referring to?

Wow, that's seriously cheap! At 1 marshal for every 50 riders it's only R28 per rider. I think there were maybe 10 marshals at D2D (maybe less), so if we take into account the number of riders (823 - 111km; 61 - 31km; 51 - 130km) that would be a measly R14.97 out of each entry fee.

Very sorry to hear about your hepatitus. Don't know enough about how it spreads, and I'm not medically pro efficient enough to comment. I understand what you, and some others, have said about just not supporting the event, but I have gotten to the point where I am gatvol of being ripped off by these vultures preying on our passion. There will always be another schyster standing by to rip us off and quite possibly place our lives at risk. As cyclists we maintain that we are a relatively smart and enlightened bunch, so why then are we so willing to accept crap? If someone gives you a bad service on your bike, will you accept it and shrug your shoulders and say "ah well, so that was bad. But there are lots of bike shops. I'll just ignore the fact that these guys have ripped me off and potentially placed my life at risk and go to another shop next time."? I think not.