Windbreaker

That's part of the plan too! I intend to do some of the races on the tandem. Was also wondering what it would be like to do the DC in a fully tandemised team. Imagine 6 tandems working together on that course.

Thanks guys, how would you rate the Titan?

I was there... witnessed the whole thing first hand! Thanks for the company. I was on the Specialized Tarmac with white arm-warmers. I put two and two together when I saw Marius' posting about Donkey being third in the Bonnivale ride.

Bruce, to satisfy my curiosity would you please do a number of left legged intervals in between using the Computrainer set at a level which you would be comfortable at. i.e 2 minutes both legs, 2 minutes left leg, 2 minutes both etc.

Sure that this'll make MDK and other tandem advocates smile. In my relatively short time as a cyclist I've been under the impression that Tandems are for ol' farts that can't pedal their own bikes. Although some of them are good for a tow, as soon as they/we hit the hills - that's it they're useless again. I've been trying to get my 12 yr old son more involved in cycling - he thinks that us ol' farts in tight shorts are "uncool". That is until I introduced him to a certain 15yr old girl at the club who whips all the boys butts. So now he is showing some interest!!! So on Saturday morning I got him on the club tandem - yes in that foul, foul weather. It was my first time on a tandem ever but I wasn't sure that he could do a 65km club ride on his own bike so I thought what the hell. I must admit I did wear a disguise in case I was spotted by some of my usual riding buddies. The outcome - The best fun we've had together for a long time. It was "really cool" to use his words. The demon in him came out and we were accused of destroying the group ride :-) Ok, so now where do I get a decent tandem for a decent price! Either that or we book out the club tandem for the next 6 months! I'm not sure that would go down well though.Windbreaker2006-11-06 00:05:02

There is NO substitute for direct measurement. The more variables that have to be dealt with the more errors are introduced. If you really want something cheaper than a PT then go for the Polar. It's main limitation is that it can't be used on a trainer and there are variations across the cluster, although you can minimise this to an extent with manufactured brackets to get the positioning relative to the chain center line.

Yep, did the 2006 ride and that pass was the climax of the ride . Very, very, very fast but the road is still forgiving enough to allow you to enjoy the sensation and the scenery.

Look at your avatar IT DID!!!

Colonel, was that on a CT to Knysna ride?

Here are a couple of questions for those who have a PM and want to think a bit ... or those that don't have to think about it a) Is it more difficult to generate a certain amount work on a trainer than it is to generate the same amount of work on the road. i.e. is it more difficult to ride @ threshold for 15 minutes on the trainer than it is on the road for the same period. b) Is it more difficult to generate constant threshold power output at higher speed? i.e. is it easier to generate threshold power up a hill than on a flat for the same duration? c) Is it more difficult to generate constant threshold power on the big ring even when using gearing that result in the same ratio (e.g 39/12 & 52/16) If the answer to any of these is yes - then why? You'll have guessed that these are real issues with me. I can do 2 x 15min intervals on the trainer and battle to maintain upper threshold. The second interval is markedly lower yet I can jump on the bike immediately and generate the same NP as the first interval on the road. The bike even feels lighter. I really battle to maintain a high power output (upper threshold) for an extended period on the flat - say trying to jump a gap. Yet I can maintain upper threshold when climbing. This i sreally the weird one. I swear that I can maintain a level of power on the small ring longer than I can on the big ring even though the ratios are the same AND the cadence is the same So is it an issue of being conned by my sub-conscious??? Wouldn't surprise me I've been known to be a devious SOB

So go back to bed.

Colonel, I was quite pleasantly surprised when Chunky was caught lying on national TV because that then raised the profile of the problem. The Minister of Sport is now aware of it, SARS will be looking at it etc. None of that would have happened if there wasn't such a fuss made here by the likes of Manbat and Gift to start with. It escalated from here - so you are wrong that debating on this forum makes no difference. You have to start somewhere. If we now let it all die down and don't challenge Chunky the minute that he tries to start his insinuations and justification crap again then the gains that were made will be lost. The biggest problem is that so many of us condone it. Doping is ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, DANGEROUS and just plain wrong. Let's not try to detract from that by taking the attitude a) Everyone does it anyway so it can't the that wrong b) It won't go away so let it be.

Colonel, I almost don't know where to start ... but here goes .... This is going to sound like a lecture but you asked "what's the point". I have a number of facets to my life, my work, my home life, my social life and lately my sporting interests again. I try to keep consistency across all of the aspects (I try). For instance, if I allow corruption in my work life then I can't lecture my son if I find him cheating for an exam. If I condone cheating in sport then I might as well allow my business life to become corrupt because I would be living a life of double standards. When you let one aspect of your life degrade then sooner or later it will affect the others. Note that I say I try because none of us are perfect and I definitely am not either. I have many regrets. BUT that is not to say that I shouldn't try to live my life by what I believe are good standards and object against corruption wherever I see it, in my work life, in my social life, in sport etc. Obviously there are "levels of corruptions" and I would be like a wind-up toy if I tried to address every one of them so I focus on the things that are most important to me and cycling fits right now. Yes, if I see a criminal act occurring I intervene when I can, I get pissed off when I see people removing their front number plates so that they can get away with speeding, AND I take a stance against cheating in sport. You raise Nigeria, I have spent enough time in Nigeria to know that if we all allow our moral standards to drop that is where we are headed. You don't want to live in Nigeria I promise!!! So the bottom line is if there is a crack house next door to me I'll do my damndest and if I see people like Chunky trying to convince everyone that doping is OK then I knock that too.

Likewise, my first PM was a Polar and I had exactly the same problems. I was a little disappointed by Polar - the company. I suppose that they have a business to protect but I was on a wild goose-chase for a long, long time trying to work out what I was doing wrong when the whole time the problem was intrinsic to the device. I think that the concept is fatally flawed - there are just too many variables.

Some people also call me goofy but I guess that's just cause they know me ....