Jedi

Spinnekop, yes the hard strap worked great as well, used to have Polar M21, but gave it got shy to work when "hubber" tried a bit of DIY on its insides. Pity the strap won't fit the 625X.

Reply to IvenS, I have heard of "gel" ... but not desperate enough for it to be "silicone". Very happy with what nature gave me!

Does anyone know anything about STRAPLESS heart rate monitors. Have just seen a glove at Sportsmans made by Beurer that works with a sensor button on underside of your index finger - but not recommended for cycling because it will get in the way of the grip on handlebars. I have the Polar 625X with foot pod and bike sensor. The chest strap just does not fit me well and looses it reading on a regular basis. Not the monitor itself, because my other half uses it with absolutely no problem. Would love to get something that doesn't require chest strap. Any ideas?

In a case like this, if you are knocked off your bike and are still lucky enough to survive, do you claim from the guy's motor insurance company as would happen in the case of a motor accident for a replacement bike?

Mampara, Arione is in VERY good condition, no scratches, wing flex has not even flexed yet, so you can wear it in yourself (if you can). I think that is my problem.... I might be too light for the saddle, saddle is trying to wear me in instead of the other way round! I also stay in Gauteng, so if I can get another saddle will let you know and we can make a plan. Certainly don't want the earth for it, better to sell cheaply than it just lying around in the garage.

Ladies or guys, I would like to know if the cut out in the Selle Italia SLC is good enough to recommend investing in one. I have Fizik Arione Wing Flex and it is just not going to see another ride with me!!!! The stitched seam in the middle is obviously catching me in a place the manufacturers never knew existed. Would like to replace Arione with saddle with cut out, maybe Selle SLC/SLR our even RavX. What can you recommend. I am short and small so I am not comfortable on a very wide saddle. Right now, I want something with a HUGE cut out area!

My husband came home with one of those nifty flame-thrower guns the other day (in case we run out of Blitz). When I read the article in Ride Mag about the women who got robbed of her bike in the sugar plantation, I thought how wonderful it would have been if that lady had had a flame-thrower with her. Firstly, the mugger wouldn't have got close to her and secondly, she could have improved her sprint finish by chasing after him! Those "throwers" are really awesomely scary and make a wicked noise when they release the flame. Anyone suspicious approaching you will certainly change their mind if you fire one of those things in their direction!

Please can someone tell me a bit of info on indoor trainers. I spin a lot at gym but would like to get myself at wind trainer for home. Believe you can get wind/fluid/mag or rollers. Do these type of trainers chew up you back tyre? How do they compare to the "feel of the road". Is it easy to get your bike set up quickly. I am not to keen on rollers because of the "balancing act" but I believe it is a good work out and quick to set up and they don't chew up your tyres. What can you recommend that won't scuttle the Xmas budget? Something neat, effective, quiet and most importantly - something that won't stress out the frame of my race bike! Oh, and where about in Jo'burg can I find them? Thx.

Angel, I couldn't agree more with you. My general opinion is that cyclists are cycling the way they are driving their motor cars -me first attitude. I have been cycling for about 9 months. I don't cycle in a bunch because I don't know how to do it properly - so I stick to time trialing races on my own and I am happy and safe that way. But WOW, yesterday at Bakwena, everyone you pass tries to grab your wheel and then when you start slowing down because the wind is pumping this whole "bus" comes past you, left and right, and almost knocks you off your bike in the effort not to get dropped. Exactly where on the road am I supposed to cycle to stay out of trouble? It did not matter whether I was on the left hand side of the road or the right, someone was trying to sit behind me. But I would like to say thanks to the sponsors who had their banners on the steel railing at the end. They broke my fall at the end and saved me from some nasty damage to myself and my bike. To the poor chap on the mountain bike that slammed into the "championchip" timing box because someone fell in front of him on the mat, I just want to say - you dont' know how close you come to nearly ramping over that box - you just so nearly made it. Needless to say my nerves are shattered for the 94.7 next week so please, if you see some women desperately cycling on her own, she is not so desperate, she really wants to be in that position.

This might sound really weird to some people, but a lot runners do this in very hot weather. Draw a line of vaseline or vaseline lip ice across both your eyebrows and extend it down either side of your face past your eyes down to your cheekbones so that a barrier is formed above your eyes. The sweat then follows the vaseline line down the sides of your face and takes a much longer time to run onto your face. Just make sure that the vaseline or lip ice is of a neutral flavour.

And I just thought one went out and bought two new wheels and popped them in! Didn't realise one could have different spokes, hubs etc. Thanks to everyone for their feedback and suggestions. At least I will have more of an idea at the bikeshop about what the salesguy has to offer. WOW, this cycling story looks like it can turn into an expensive hobby, but it certainly is good fun!

Can someone let me know about what to look for in new rims? I am a novice lady rider, DON'T ride in the bunch, average about 2min/km, love the hills and weigh about 52kg. I currently have Alexrims DA16 on my bike but have been told they are Cyclocross rims and I should look for something lighter. I might have an opportunity to upgrade and would like to know what to start looking at in the shop without out being sold something which does not suit how I ride. I have a Specialized bike with Shimano 105 (10 speed). I want a strong, light rim that will make it over a pothole without cracking. What prices am I looking at and what make. I am not worried out "the look" of the wheel, just the performance and durability, ie. doesn't have to be Zipp, etc.

Been told to watch out for the hills in Suikerbossie and also the herd of Eland. How tough are the hills? What do they compare with in Gauteng?

So we will get in... but we might not get out. Hope my car is still in one piece when I need to leave. Maybe we could organise convoys of some sort. Will be very interesting .....

Is Kyalami still open on the weekends - Sunday morning 8-12 like it used to be? Where does one find out. Infor not available on Cyclelab website anymore and Kyalamiracing website not up and running yet?

Thanks. I will be on the look out for that Vito if I need help and I will certainly be happy to reimburse any tubes used on my behalf although I do carry my own in my saddle bag - just really slow with using all the stuff and when one has the added pressure of seeing the field cycling by, all the fingers suddenly become like a bunch of bananas!

Great idea - just like you can belong to the medical emergency and wear their armband when you cycle, maybe a mechanical team can start the same and those riders willing to take out "puncture/mechanical insurance" can be tended to during the race. I would be willing to pay a bit more for the added convenience and safety. Those that don't want to have that kind of cover just don't have to pay. It's OK for the guys when they puncture in the middle of nowhere. They cope very well and their mind is on the job at hand, but it's a bit nerve-wracking for the ladies to have to try to change a tyre and look out for any "strange-looking folk" approaching at the same time.

Has anyone tried out this ISM Saddle. The website is www.ismseat.com if you want to have a look what it looks like - quite radical, but I guess it might work. If anyone has tried this out, maybe they could give an opinion on what it rides like. I am looking for a new saddle. Have Specialized BG lady, but too wide and intend trying Fizik Arione or Gobi - so any info or experience will be helpful.

When I reached the left turn at the Dome, the marshall actually stepped across towards the right side of of the road, completely opening up the slip way to the left. There were people coming up the lane in their cars from the church. If it had not been for a lady (I don't think she was an official marshall) screaming at me to go down the right hand lane, I would have taken the slip way because as I was cycling towards the marshall he wasn't blocking that lane and it looked like the logical place to turn ... but we all live to cycle another day, which is something to be grateful for.

I am using slime in my tyres. But I really want to know about the sweep car. What if i want to abandon the race? Just how many people with their bikes can this car pick up? Is the car only right at the back of the field or are there cars riding up and down the field all the time for guys that want to abandon for whatever reason? Yesterday I found myself in the middle of nowhere riding on my own (not yet experienced enough to get with a bunch) and I just prayed like hell that I wouldn't get a puncture. As a matter of interest, has anybody heard of a Permatube?

Rode 104km and lucky no punctures but... I am a lady rider and new to the sport. I am learning to changes tubes but the back wheel is a bit of a problem with the cog, gears and chain etc. What is the procedure with getting help. Do you just wait with your bike on the side of the road for the sweep car or must you phone them on your cell. How do you let them know you need help. Also, sorry to any better riders if I got in their way on the road. I was trying to stay out of trouble when I say all the people that had punctured so I was trying to stay away from the kerb where all the stones, etc. are. Apologies if I caused a problem for anyone. It was definitely not my intention

How often should the tubes in your tyres be changed? My friend had trouble with tube-wear at the spots on the INSIDE of the rim where his spokes are situated. Didn't get a puncture from outside but from inside! The inner-tube burst from constant pressure rubbing on the area where the spokes are welded to the rim. Seems the area was not finished off very well and had tiny impressions in the metal which caused the problem. I know his rims are not the best and obviously the more expensive rims hopefully will be better finished off. I have cycled about 600km on same inner-tubes (has glue/puncture gum inside to protect from punctures), but am doing my first long race at Dome and would hate to have a problem with inner tube being worn out before I even begin. Can someone give my advice about how long the inner tubes last even if you don't get a puncture. Thanks.