Riaan H

Ja saddles are very much a personal thing. I have ridden with a Spez Power since they 1st came out and have always loved it. Then when they brought out the Mimic women's-specific version my wife wanted one for her bike. I took wife's bike for a 40k race that was fast and smooth as it lent itself to that terrain way better than my trail bike and was shocked at how much I liked her saddle. It feels like a softer version of the Power, and I am seriously considering putting one on my bike as well. Call me a girl, I don't really care.

Since I bought a road bike in July I have been using my wife's mtb helmet when I ride as it's not as bulky as my trail helmet, especially with the small peak removed, it's just never fitted quite right. Then I saw the below on the Rookie Sports website while looking for tri bars and just had to get it. First impressions on quality are good, will hopefully test it out on Sunday. Either way it looks the business.

Agreed on Black Friday, unfortunately I couldn't wait that long as I lost a bike computer and smartwatch within the same month making the monitoring of my riding/training rather difficult. If you can wait however, and don't have to absolutely have the latest gear there will be some steals for sure.

The emminent release of the Fenix 6 means I could get a 5 on the cheap to replace my dead ForeRunner 35. Don't get me wrong, the 6 is amazing and all, but R7k was a lot easier to "justify" spending than R13k would be.

Was my 1st road race since 94.7 in 2016 so I started in G-bunch. Enjoyed the race and must agree that the marshaling was great. That wind from Bapsfontein to the beginning of Solomon Mahlangu hurt my average but otherwise not too bad. How lekka was that last downhill section before the finish? Will definitely be doing it again next year.

Absolutely agreed on the going to a good running shop for shoes. The bug bit me after witnessing the Sun City UltraTri earlier in the year leading to entering 2 sprint events, the 1st being 5150 on the 20th October,so now I actually use my gym membership. The swimming started going pretty ok after I figured out the breathing from watching lots of YouTube vids, but doing my 1st open water swim was still an eye opener. The 1st maybe 50 meters the shock of the cold water caused me to hyperventilate so bad I couldn't swim, once I calmed myself the rest went fine. The running however not so much. I bought some Nike Pegasus 34s on sale and started running with them but was never comfortable and suffered with foot, knee and hip pain. Just couldn't run past maybe 1-1,k km's without my left knee telling me not to. I ended up going to a podiatrist that confirmed the shoes were all wrong along with a stride with all the grace of a car crash. That put me in a pair of New Balance 1080's which I am absolutely loving. The left knee will always be a concern (it's my stride) but they have made a day and night difference. I will likely see a swim coach in the new year before I up the distance to Olympic as I can definitely learn better technique.

Agreed, it has taken 3 years and plenty of cash but I now get to wear their products at least 6 times a week. Between me and the missus we have something like 16 pairs, haha

Today was a fun day! Having recently decided to add a few road races to my calender and taking up triathlon for shouts and giggles I convinced the wife that some sort of road bike was needed. Budget was always gonna be pretty low as I would much rather spend a decent amount when it's time to replace my Camber than on a bike I will only ride a couple a times a year,still had to look the business though. Picked up the very last 2018 Merida Reacto 300 in the country. The Tiagra shifts cleanly and it has a good lick of speed, really love the look of the aero frame too. Fitted one of Specialized's aero bottles so long and may add dual cage behind the seatpost in future. Also bought myself their AirTool which is a combo of pump, tyre lever and tube spool, pretty clever piece. Got the wife some new grips and this valve core tool while I was at it

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20170217_195634_zpsjg121muk.jpg Bought my wife the last 2016 Epic Comp Carbon World Cup just over a week ago and she's way quicker now!

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20170217_195634_zpsjg121muk.jpg With my wife deciding she wants to ride further and more often, and having demo'd one just like this in December on a club ride and loving it, there was no resisting it. Got her the last 2016 Epic World Cup. Will test it out properly on her 1st half marathon Trailseeker this weekend.

A mate of mine has one, and it's a beautiful bike. Just can't see myself spending R100k on a bike that will make me even slower everywhere except the toughest and roughest downhill sections. A Tallboy ticks all the boxes for me, but a Camber is still better value

If tou look like a Whippet and climb like a pro the 10 kilo bike isgreat. If on the other hand you look likeyour wife understands her kitchen, something heavier but more comfortable just works a lot better. I ride a 2016 Spez Camber Comp, which if memory serves weighs 13,4 kg with a cage and some spd pedals, and you know what, I have never found a hill where stronger legs with my bike wouldn't climb better than my legs and a 500g lighter bike.

A Recon Silver on R30k bike? Bought a Camber Comp for R34k earlier in the year and that runs a Revelation plus proper geo and wheels. The kind of person likely to ride that may be dangerously close to the weight limit on those wheels (unless I'm mistaken). Good idea for Titan but with the amount of places selling old stock Cannon Rush etc at low prices I don't ssee the higher models selling all that well.

Did some shopping with my wife, who decided she wants to ride again. http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_203744_zps4qlo4qvf.jpg http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_203703_zpsp0pyvcpt.jpg http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_203533_zpsvmvh23hf.jpg http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_203408_zpsge9kgbh4.jpg http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_203504_zpsye6dilxx.jpg With her wardrobe now sorted, it was time for the bikes to get some love. http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_191002_zpsbf9c1bot.jpg Upgrade from hard Kenda's with tubes to tubeless on her Contessa And these beautiful new SLX M7000 brakes for my Camber, which also meant that her bikes Acera brakes are coming off to be replaced with camber's Deore setup. http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160627_093034_zpsch7wrlgh.jpg Lastly I got myself something warm http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160624_205131_zpsw7xsnvxe.jpg And some proper shades to go with my switch from glasses to contacts http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/Screenshot_2016-06-29-21-26-47_zpsnrgaotua.png Don't think she will ever let me spend that much anytime soon.

I absolutely love mine ! Massively comfortable, very light, well ventilated and the kevlar webbing really makes it on of the safest, plus it looks good. It is very expensive though if we consider that an IXS, Giro or Fox trail helmet goes for R1600-1800. Still, if my wife does more riding she will be getting one too. Money well spent. http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160601_224257-1_zpsjlrxjdpp.jpg

Aaand i received my beautiful new brakes from Evobikes this morning ! http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160627_093034_zpsch7wrlgh.jpg

Got some rocket red goodness yesterday, damn their comfy ! http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/Mobile%20Uploads/20160605_080649-1_zpsj9kspwkg.jpg

After boiling my Deore brakes coming down from celltower at Lionman and being forced to do that descent at 78km/h it was time for some upgrades: Safer lid http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160601_224257-1_zpsjlrxjdpp.jpg New gloves http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160601_224733_zpsm6alepdl.jpg XT IceTec discs and IceTec metal pads http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160601_224901_zpsfymcyfed.jpg

Screw the fork, let's rather look at Emily !

2016 Spez Camber Comp in medium, tubeless and with Spez Zee cage and Shimano 520 pedals weighs in at 13,4 kgs. Consudering it will be much cheaper and much more efficient to take my 84kg to 77kg the bike will not be getting a diet.

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160206_141730-1_zpshr4e9ciy.jpg My sexy new monster !

Got my Camber today, will only be able to give her a little test tomorrow as I have the flu, but Wednesday night she will get put through her paces properly. http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac340/riaanh01/20160206_141730-1_zpshr4e9ciy.jpg

As far as I know they are the same guys that have taken 1 1/2 weeks to send my bike from the Cape to Pretoria, so my opinion is pretty low at this point.

I was heading towards Spez Comps but will probably rather go for a pair of the Treads for almost a grand less. The Olympics have a reputation for actually lasting too long.

Gorgeous Splat ! Trying to get myself a Camber Comp this week too !