Windbreaker

Was colder than it looks!

I suffer from cramps as well. Usually race intensity does have something to do with it but often I found that I started cramping AFTEr the intensity was off. Like after I went over the top of a hard climb - when the strain is off the muscles. I tried everything from crampstop to magnesium supplements and a small amount of coarse table salt was the only thing that sort of worked. That is until I tried Eno's. Yep Eno's! I am guessing that the fruit salts have something to do with it. There is nothing scientific about my tests but I haven't cramped during or after a ride where I have had a dose of Eno's before the ride.

The gravel section was fun. Should have more of them to shed the wheelsuckers! It's one thing sitting wheel in the wind - it's another trying to do it at 30kph on gravel

Don't know which one the 974 is but if it is the one with the "separator" bar that folds up between the bikes then I had exactly the same problem. Returned it to the lbs and asked them to show me how to get my 3 bikes on it. They couldn't so I took my money back. Then I bought the version which has a bar from the rear attaching to the crossbar and it takes 3 bikes no problem. Sometimes it is a bit of a squeeze to get the 1st & 3rd on but a bit of shuffling and no problem. Only catch is that it is the expensive version but well worth the price. ps both are the "stand on" type.

Enough about the foreigners. What about us souf effricans, do we pull the knecap off center?

After lots of frustration with the chain cleaner tools which never really get the chain properly clean (always had a slight grating noise) I broke the chain, cleaned it as per Johan's method, re-fitted with the SRAM links. Yes I ignored warnings about using the SRAM links on my 10spd Shimano chains and it works fine. I go a step further and clean the chains with a solvent like thinners (which I re-use for all the greenies) and then clean green. I strip the cassette and clean similarly. I lube with engine oil and the drivechain is soooo much smoother now.

Go to champs! Thanks, it's disappointing that we can't have intelligent debates on this forum anymore without people trashing the thread from the word go.

John, that's Gary not Gavin . You riding today?

I have removed the original contents of this posting because my attempt at a serious discussion about the roles & relationships of the PPA, WPCA, CSA etc was immediately crippled by Hendrik Petoors subsequent posting below. I did not want it to go the same way that butafly's (which was raised in a similar vein) original posting went. I asked Hendrik in a PM to explain why he felt it necessary to be snide or whether I was just misunderstanding him. He hasn't replied and has subsequently gone offline. Thanks Hendrik Windbreaker2007-09-01 01:13:56

Goofs, wait for the waves of flames coming your way. But if anyone were to take some time to think about your comments they would have to agree with them. From what I have seen of him on this forum (I have never met the man) I wouldn't say that he is capable of doing anything differently to those currently in situ. It would just be a case of shifting the balance in a direction that might suit him and his followers. The point here is that no-one is really completely unbiased but a functional system should make the procedures (including selection) completely transparent. I can imagine Crux sitting on a panel fighting hard for his favourites (Engela & Anriette ) and the same all of the other representatives/selectors doing the same thing. But at the end of the day they would be bound to use the "system" to decide the selection and where there were exceptions they would be obliged to make it very clear to the public at large what the justifications for diverting from the procedures were.

In which case they had better try their damndest to get bought by someone like Garmin or Polar before their patents run out or they are heading down a one-way road which is getting narrower by the day. These damn corporate bullies.

We missed each other - my edit explains why I think Garmin is very keen to push this but I don't see the upside for Saris & SRM. Added: Quarq don't actually have anything yet except some pictures and I would not be surprised if Garmin is funding (or at least very actively encouraging) them. Windbreaker2007-08-29 14:33:29

I agree, this ANT thing would be great. They are talking about making the source for their computer freeware so it wouldn't be long at all before you had Power software for GPS enabled phones, PDA's etc. BUT I have doubts that the SRM's & PT people will allow themselves to be relegated to strain gage mnfrs - not a market position that they could hang onto for long. On the other hand I can see every reason for Garmin to push this protocol as it lets them into the power meter side of things. They have all of the value in their computers/display/GPS units already and this lets them hang the "power sensors" onto them. Interesting times ahead. Windbreaker2007-08-29 14:27:03

Would like to hear whether PT, SRM or even Ergomo are going to buy into this ANT thing. The idea sounds really good for us consumers but it reduces the power meter people to strain gage manufacturers. Any "value add" that they currently perceive to be giving them a competitive edge is down the tube.

So last time I checked their web site they still only had that picture of the box connected to the crank. This picture of the CinQ looks like they are getting closer to a prototype but the release date of Dec 2007 - mmm?. I'm hoping that it is not just vaporware with the real focus being on the computer product. But that also looks like it could be a good thing if the PT and SRM people buy into it. I wonder???

And still a deafening silence from the CSA on what the criteria for the selection was .... So much for communication ... And this is not a shot at Carinus - after all he can only communicate what is provided to him. But it sounds like a pretty toothless position that he is holding.

Curiouser and curiouser ...

So what is the process for the team selection? I assume that it is a panel of some description. So who sits on it and what are the criteria which they use to guide their decisions. Is is a majority vote type setup? Groot Lem I suppose that this is a "public communication" thing that you'd be qualified to address?

Gary Smith. Nothing to hide. No links to any cycling products/services or organisations other than my club. My pet hate - when bullsh*t is presented as fact. Second pet hate - arrogance in all its forms. Happy??? Added : And for the record, I am not anti Q-rings (although I have doubts that the gains will be noticeable) I am anti your bullsh*t hype. Windbreaker2007-08-20 01:53:47

And milk it for every cent - on and on and on and on and on and ........