Wayne pudding Mol

Interesting mini crack appearing below Earlier this week, Israel Start-Up Nation director Rik Verbrugghe told Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure that the four-time winner was not guaranteed a spot in the team’s eight-man line-up. "He is a huge champion for whom I have a lot of respect, but his participation in the Tour de France is by no means self-evident," Verbrugge said. "I expect there will be some clarity during this Dauphiné. He has made constant progress since the start of the season, but we would have liked his progress to be more exponential."

On current evidence he'd be lucky to be a domestique for a continental team. On will and determination he's a TDF contender but you cannot will a win if your physical output won't match So either he's convinced them he'll come good and they are gambling because they are heavily invested in him or they are gambling because he's sandbagging and they are trying to get good odds I don't think he's going to the tour, it would be undignified to be riding with the sprinters

moving to caravan park in wilderness?

Nice “trainer” bike now get on that thing D and get your mojo back by force if necessary

Definitely not disputing the global shortage as I parts hunt the globe BUT, loving the launches of bikes (not just local) Here is our brand new super dooper best ever coolest ever bike Ta da.... But you can't have one because they are only available in 2023 when there will be something else not available (or a massive over supply) Pyga set the trend with the Mobu. It's coming its coming its coming I find it irritating to be marketed products I cannot get - might as well send me Ferrari brochures I feel better now, as you were

and miracle of miracles they have stock, I wonder if it's decent I managed to find an older neat fox CTD via Droo - Cogent industries have it and just checking it's all good - I'll still get a back up and anyone with a stage should consider getting a spare

Ok so I understand this to a point and I’m going to chat to someone bike smarter and see - thanks for the advice

Frame only option ?

Yes this is the next costly step - double vat will hurt most irritating is that there is no fox option anywhere - only pre 2017 fox works - locally I can get the 184 x 44 evol but this version bangs up against the frame so annoyingly I now have to import a shock I don’t really want all makes me love my gravel bike more

but its not a Colnago

my Pyga came from there and my shock is with Louis but it cannot be fixed. He has a downgrade option for me

Hy probeer maar hy sukkel ook - hy kan nie die shock reg maak nie, niemand kan

tried all the german sites - of course some won't ship Sram to SA - ideally I'd like a fox option but at this stage I'll take anything. Droo from Stoke is checking if he can repair one he has for me but now I feel like I need a spare

I’m looking for a rear suspension solution - my shock is not repairable - 184 x 44 and the newer fox ones don’t fit (shorter “head”) at the top no stock of rockshox - if you’re own a stage you could end up with the same issue if you have one stashed keep it but I’m a buyer if you have a spare spare

a fresh morning loop back to my favourite place on earth, home

Before google there was me - when it came to useless information I had a gift. This piece of info is brilliant

we'd all love that - and getting back on the bike is in itself a comeback I do however think that to Chris a comeback does begin and end with a Tour victory - he's a champion and that's how he has to think.

Those odd are quite short, I will only be placing my bet when he drifts further after the Dauphine - I want to be wrong so I'll make the call now and then have to eat my words. IF he finishes the tour, he won't make the top 10 - I'd be surprised if he makes the top 20 I think best case scenario he wins a stage but on the evidence this doesn't seem likely I love a comeback and I'm all for the old guys (Valdemort excepted)

definitely agree on Witfontein and that section of Montegu, thanks for info, I'll drop your name when your dad pulls out the shotgun for trespassing

I’d love a comeback story and to a degree this has been one - after that crash and the ops being back on a bike riding at 3 minutes behind world tour level is a phenomenal achievement You cannot take away his achievements and his will to win but the Sky machine also played a role It’s difficult to compare eras but I’m not so sure top form Froome could handle the current crop of youngsters I would genuinely love to be wrong but on current form he shouldn’t be at the tour Unless of course he is sandbagging and has laid a massive bet on himself Some say the publicity is good for ISN and maybe it is for now but it can’t stay a positive for much longer

ps where are your folks ? I’m trying to get from Louvein to heroldt and back to Montegu pass without hitting the tar

Geez Robbie this is a bit dramatic - there is a section near the bottom of montegu near witfontein which is dodgy (no incidents for ages but not worth riding alone and looking for trouble) Guys ride witfontein alone but I wouldn’t But the dam, Hoekwil, 7 passes, bergplaas and the rest are no problem solo That said, if I’m in Oudtshoorn for 2 days there’s no way I’d skip Swartberg pass

Pretty amazing that Bernals domestique finished 5th imagine if Pogacar had a team like Ineos behind him. I reckon he’d be quite good then

Wow when I’m big I’m going to ride 200 I’ll need to find a nice 200km gentle downhill

I did your elevation in 50km today I have never ridden 160km however which you regularly do and I better toughen up soon as I have entered 2 100milers