Twombles

What the article does not mention, is that carbon does not only make the bike lighter but also improves stiffness and energy transfer. The difference between a bottom of the range wheel set and a top of the range one is not so many Kg, but the stiffness of the wheels makes the difference (rather than the weight). Too many parameters at play here to simply say that paying more for lighter stuff is not worth it. Edit: spelling

I have had two Campy gruppos: First, I had 10spd Veloce: Which I got in 2003 and rode until 2013, and I am currently on 11spd Super record. From my experience you will not "miss out" on any ride quality whether you go for the lower or higher groupset. I had low-end and high-end and shifting has always been bang on. Don't let that affect your choice much, given that these two are so close to one another. I have found 11spd slightly more finicky than the 11spd in terms of tuning it to perfection. When riding 10spd you do not miss any 'extra' gears. It is only when you ride 11 spd that you miss extra gears if you go back less (esp riding 9 spd). +1 for keeping record. (this will also mean that you can justify an upgrade at a later stage)

Just got this link in twitter, there is an option to see the route profile. A few extra lumps in the profile but no drastic change imo. http://947.mapit.co.za/# edit: forgot link

Here is their website. I see it is not available yet: https://patchnride.com/ This probably does not help you in any way, sorry for the hi-jack

I actually saw this yesterday: http://www.blessthisstuff.com/stuff/vehicles/cycles/patchnride/ Supposedly it works for tubbies and clinchers; I doubt it though.

It seems like there is a very strong opinion against this!

Well that's why I need to try it out. I plan on doing the GABRAN on a tandem as a test ride, but wabt to see how it goes long before then.

I could not find a relevant forum for this, so it goes here. Does anybody know where I can hire a tandem in JHB? I would like to try one out, but I need a medium/medium or medium/small tandem. Linden has been kind enough to let me hire one, but they only have large/medium. That size was fine when I wasn't the pilot, but now I will be and a large really does not give me much control when I am at the front. I am planning a cycling trip with my girlfriend in France. Where we go will depend on how well we can climb on a tandem so I want to try one out ASAP.

The maintenance on campy is more expensive... as is the initial price. Unfortunately I have not yet found that logic enough to go back to Shimano. Like Wipeout said, when it comes down to the heart, there is no choice. The Veloce gruppo on my previous bike lasted 13 years. In that time I replaced the odd cable, and only went through one chain and cassette. Besides, buy now, before they replace all their groupsets with the new ugly cranks.

Now what happens if there were riders who were in between NQ and Uran? Do they also get 55' deducted? I am just curious: If someone went with RH and NQ, but was only able to finish say 20' ahead of Uran do they also get penalised 55'? Or, if someone went on the downhill, but was caught before the finish, are they penalised or not? Seems to me that there can be even more confusion here! ScottC-M, savour the ad... not all of us can watch it!

I got one at Linden cycles about a month ago.

Cool, thanks guys. From the advice I think I'll use the frame for a Polo bike and then get a CX frame!

I could not find a thread on this that would not require me to hi-jack someone else's topic (entirely). It is time for a CX build... The first step is obviously a frame and then the rest. Instead of buying a Cotic or Surly frame, I'd like to see if I can't use a frame that I already have. I have an old Peugeot steel frame (a road frame) that I would like to convert into a CX frame. The problem is that the chain stays do not have a wide enough clearance for CX tyres, and the frame does not have mounts for cantilever brakes. My question is, since this is a steel frame, will a frame builder (or someone with a bit of knowledge and a lot of welding skills) be able to widen the chain stays to increase the clearance enough for CX tyres. Obviously the shape of the chain and seat stays need to be changed to allow for this. Then, will you be able to weld disc mounts, or brake mounts onto the frame? Since it is a steel frame I cannot see how such changes will compromise the frame, or am I completely wrong here?

Also, are MTB rims that specific? Noob questions, I know, but to me it would seem like you will just be building a new set of MTB wheels (if you use MTB hubs and road rims).

Hi-jack on - sorry I know the rim width on a MTB wheel is not the same as a road wheel. But will you be able to fit a 28c Gatorskin on a MTB wheel? What are the chances of the tyre coming off around a corner? Hi-jack off

Cool thanks, good to know that from the beginning!

How does this compare to the Cradle mountain trophy 75km. I see that its about 400m more climbing, but how much more difficult is the terrain?

Anyways, I don't know what you everyone is moaning about. I just shouted STRAVA! at sections where people waited and expected them to let me through.

I have always been a fan of this race - because it requires bigboy pants. But this year, I stripped my moer at the end of day 1. It was, as always, bumpy with long waits. But I think this year the messed up seeding made it even worse. I have never gotten off my bike as many times in one race! We had the first 20km to sort out ourselves - and that went great. By the time we got to the river section, the entire spread-out field was put back together again. Then, after the river crossing, I was stuck behind so many guys that got off for absolutely everything. They weren't necessarily slow, but wouldn't even ride over a rock the size of a brick. I knew what was coming, and I do this every year knowing about the wait and the grass, but when I lost my sense of humour (again) in the last 10 kms, I wondered: - Why can't they sort out the portage section - it has been the SAME THING for 4 years. Surely there should be a learning curve from the feedback. - Why would you have so many riders in a rolling start if you KNOW that there is a massive wait? What is wrong with batches 5 mins apart. Then, even if your seeding system is $%&ed, you will still reduce waiting time and traffic. - Do they pride themselves in the grassy section in the last 10km's. - How many sections of the entire route were actually built trails and not only cattle paths or existing paths. Well, that being said, and now that I am not as gatvol as I was in the last 10km of day 1, and not as tired as I was yesterday after the race - this race is still value for money and a tough challenge to give you some perspective. We pay R350 for 2 days, compare that with the fees of any stage race. But for %^&* sake, build a bridge over river 1.

Irrespective of seeding, this will be a cold start! The Wilro, and the Mountain trophy always marks the start of the winter (Autumn, I know) races for me.

Not literally, I hope...

The route has been much the same every time I have done this, and every time I have a sense of humour failure on the grassy section at the end. The climbing is not excessive, but there are no free kilometers on this race, you work for every single km (especially in the second half).

I suppose its all a bit relative!

So do we just rock up at registration? I haven't received an SMS or email with my number.

Jip, that's me. I saw the Cresta Wheelers kit a couple of times. I guess that was you. Bad luck with the mechanical, you better do something about that mechanic...