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Noshow

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Posts posted by Noshow

  1. 2 hours ago, Jbr said:

    yeah I'm pretty sure sub 3 is possible for a strong rider, what's the average needed for a sub3 ? 36 or something ?

    Yes I reckon less than 10% difference between bunch and solo, so for a solo sub-3 you need to be able to do 2:45ish in the bunch, or for solo sub-4 about 3:40 drafting.  Lots of people can do that.

  2. 1 hour ago, mrcg said:

    I would definitely say rather burn some more matches going up Edinburgh climb and then sit in the group recovering, drinking & eating until Smits. Lots of time and distance to recover. Better than chasing, especially into the wind. Then you have some matches for Smits, Misty and the few small big one's later ????

    I agree with that.  Push quite hard up the climbs (there's only 4 really) including over the top to get in a fastish bunch then try to stay near the front, including doing your bit on the front.  Chasing and jumping groups on the flat is a mugs game and will flatten you.

  3. My tuppenceworth is you're on the right track with the 120mm top fuel, spark etc.  Ideally not the super steep head angle race bikes (go for less than say 68 deg), and if you get one with a fork that can easily be extended with spacers (most Rockshox) you have the option to add 20mm at the front at minimal costs later on if you feel like you want more travel.

    The only time you will need more than that is if you are doing pretty steep downhill tracks (certainly steeper than you'll see on S2C, W2W etc) - then as a relative beginner it will help with the over the bars feeling (or reality!) which can be intimidating (a dropper post will also help with this).

    If you ride a 140+ bike like a Stumpjumper on a stage race or one day event, and even for regular flattish rides over say 2 hrs, you will be slow and knackered and wish you'd gone for something lighter and more efficient.  Tyres also make a big different here. 

    Definately 29er.  You could get a nice hardtail, but I think you would appreciate the comfort of duel suspension.  Also depends on budget, a good spec hardtail would be better than a heavy entry level dual suspension for the same price. 

    And as many have said it depends on what you will be riding most of the time. 

  4. I really don't get the rant over people not wearing face masks. Why should this be surprising to anyone? Folks in SA have long ago given a stuff about abiding by the law. They drive while under the influence of alcohol, they text and whattwitfacestagram, they don't stop at stop streets. They drive up one-way roads from the wrong side. They don't pay their TV licenses. They speed...you get the point.

     

    Now that one more thing has popped up trying to kill humanity, all the world gets their titties in a knot about who is and who is not wearing a mask.

     

    I say we are adulting here, so let the responsible one's wear a mask, for their own protection. For the rest, let the strongest survive. A small little bug named after a beer or a crown, depending who you ask, will deal with the weakest.

     

    When I'm out in a public space, I wear a mask or my buff, regardless if I'm not in immediate surrounds of people or not (unless I am absolutely singularly alone, on some single track somewhere). Anyone not wearing a mask just gets ignored. I have better things to expend my energy on.

     

    Masks aren't so much to protect yourself but to protect others from you unwittingly spreading the virus. Not wearing one in proximity to others basically says I don't care about you or anyone you might come into contact with.

     

    The current rules that you cover your face at all times in public might be over the top - it certainly seems so pedaling along hundreds of metres from the next person, but to pull your buff or mask up when near to others is not unreasonable.

     

    Similar to the cycling in groups.  It is against the temporary laws, which may be a bit strict. Joining with people from maybe one other household, maintaining distance and face covering seems OK to me.  Large groups from multiple homes, which we have all seen many of, with no distancing and masks is just brainless.  Also arrogant, entitled, and selfish, which is not a great combination but seems quite common and is one of the reasons this country has been down rabbit holes in the past.

  5. Part of the problem is the guidelines not being specific enough.  In Europe, Oz, SE Asia etc they are very clear i.e X km from your home, leaving directly from you home (no driving), max one other person from your household, face masks, dogs leashed etc, and spot fines for breaching.

     

    This is the least of the problems for SA, as it's a very small minority of the population and not the ones the regulations are meant to protect, but many people are not helping the situation or themselves.  I can see this going back to no exercise allowed as the simplest way to manage it.  Clearly we are not Swedish, where they are relying on people being intelligent enough and public spirited enough to be sensible.

     

    The virus hotspots in SA are the Atlantic seaboard and the Southern Suburbs, which seem to be the main places people think they know better.

  6. Ouch. That one is just bad luck, maybe a bit of carelessness - he was just cruising in the bunch.  But it takes some mentality to keep coming back from all those crashes and keep taking the risks he does.  He is quite extraordinary, and bonkers.

  7. Too true.  Smith was a legend - prickly legend with unappealing technique and personality but one of the best opening captains in history.  A prophet without honour...

  8. I don't like this general revisionism that Froome was the better rider in 2012 and could have won if they were racing against each other. Wiggins was by miles the better time trialer and the TdF route in 2012 suited that. Of course Froome could have broken him in the mountains and made-up 5 mins but I think probably not.

     

    Since then the routes have favoured the climbers more, so Wiggins has probably had his best shot.

     

    Even now as a domestique for Froome he would be a threat - shepherding him up the mountains and finishing close behind, he'd still have a few minutes in the bag from the time trials.

  9. Getting the right size is essential but you also need to get the right frame geometry, depending on your shape (long legs / short torso or vice versa), your age and flexibility (bearing in mind this will improve as you get fitter), and what sort of riding you want to do. A bike fit is important but there's a limit to what it can achieve if the frame just doesn't suit, and you start to look odd with piles of spacers under an inverted stem.

     

    Most manufacturers have different models ie. race vs sportive (more upright position and often smoother ride) geometry which is generally a variation of the height of the head tube and length of top tube.

     

    Eg Giant TCR vs Defy

    Specialized Tarmac vs Roubaix

    Cannondale Supersix vs Synapse

    Scott Foil vs CR1

     

    The geometry also varies between manufacturers i.e Giant and Cannodale are generally more stretched out with lower handlebars than Spec and Scott.

     

    Try a few out first, especially if you are buying new.

     

    I agree with the above 'though, get a carbon frame and 105 spec (maybe UItegra if it is still in budget) from whichever of the above fits best, and consider upgrading wheels, crank and maybe bar/stem to get it lighter when you feel like it.

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