Raceface

TOp 3 1) Xterra Grabouw in 2010 (mtb leg was about 45); 2) Double Century in 2009 (our back-up vehicle measured 43 in Montaqu) and 3) Mt Kenya Sept 2010....42 at 3500m on a 75km mtb race! Hot hot hot

Well for Ultegra you will pay a good couple of grand more than for Rival. So you would rather have to compare Ultegra to Force. 105 vs Rival, I would rather go for Rival. I must admit, that I upgraded while out of the country...rode the Force for first time for 15km on the Saturday before the Burger and then next morning the Burger. So I found it something to adjust too, but not overly difficult to get used to. If 105 and Rival cost the same and Rival 900grams cheaper (i`m not sure about prices...only checked ultegra and force when I bought)...definitely the Rival! Watch the Shimano guys crucify me now!

hey Cyborg Probably loads of difference in opinion but maybe you can pick up something from what I did. I did my first Iron Man (i haven't done a half yet) in April - so take the bottom with a pinch of salt. Get up a good couple of hours before the start and have big (not huge) breakfast at least 1H45 2 hours if possible. I got up 2h15 before start, ate quick and went back to bed for a bit. Don't want heavy stomach in the water. I had a bowl of oats, with raisins, honey and banana in....as well as my Muscle Fuel (USN) and a bottle of Revolution before I got to race start. About 30min before start I had a bar, half a banana and 200ml water. I prefer not to take gels before the swim as that mixed with salt water can make you feel sick. I put a gel in my wetsuit for in case I cramp in the water! In transition - have a couple of sweets handy just to get the saltwater out of your mouth. I actually had couple of halls....opens up the nose too! A sip of water in your transition bag. On the bike I just had water, revolution, baby potatoes, bananas, one or two bars and a gel every 45min (no caffeine gels on the bike, as you don't want to get a slump later). Don't be too scared to fill up on the bike to have energy on the run. On the run, some jellybabies, caffeine gu's and a couple of bars. Something I read about a lot lately and tempted to try is 32Gi, requires a lot less food intake it seems...but you will probably have to start using that sooner rather than later!

hey..berry! Well there's probably loads of previous forums on this, which you can search. I recently moved from Ultegra to Sram Force (I assume you would want to be moving from 105 to Rival, or even Tiagra to Rival?). Anyhow, the weight saving is definitely a bonus. Brakes pretty much the same, and the ergonomics of the shifters cool. Shifting itself...well its a toss-up. I love the up-shifting on the Sram's double tap system and its very quick and smooth (i think smoother than ultegra), you almost can't feel it. The downshift a bit more tricky as you have to shift it a but further and use some "force"...and its not uncommon to mis-shift. On the Burger (my first race) I misshifted up (instead of down) twice. But its quick to recover so not huge issue, and with time you will probably get used to it. SRAM also makes a louder click sound when shifting down (I think only on front). All in all - if its weight saving you're after (its a couple of 100 grams) and price - go for the Rival (which I`m told is not far off Force). If you want to keep things simple and easy, and have been used to Shimano, no real need to change. I`m a happy Force user and weight saving helped me get my madone to 6.85kg...but I still have a soft spot for my old Ultegra!

i was looking for best value for money a couple of months ago and based on all reviews went for Pro Lite Bracciano's - will be riding with them for first time on next week, so can give feedback then - my budget was R3000. I see however that the Bracciano's are on special at ribble.co.uk (have not used them, but they seem reliable in online reviews) for about R2000, seems like a steal. Cool

I will...thanx again for pursuading me to buy!

Yeah...prob not going to be able to live up to the bike in the Burger. But Nairobi spinning classes slowly but surely getting me back into shape for the Argus!

haha! Well I guess you guys will also not like my white Rocket Ron's on my Scott Genius!?

Haha...thought the bar tape would cause some mixed opinions! Its in fact a skinned zebra! Its Cinelli bar tape, brought from CRC for R120 - i`m not 100% settled on it yet (will wait till I see in real life)... the red may also look cool yes (you get red and black splash too)! I didn't make exact calculations yet (too scared), but under R30k, including shipping, fitment etc. Weight around 6.8kg (if I add individual parts' weight, will ask shop for exact weight)! Actually wanted Pro Lite Gavia Super Lites - but CRC's shipment supplier was delayed so I had to settle for the Braccianno's in the mean time! So excited to ride it next weekend...

Finally done! you guys might remember this frame....bought it from Pornstar a couple of months ago and build it up online from Nairobi! Haven't even seen in it real life myself as I am stuck in Kenya, but flying down to Cape Town to see it for the first time and to ride the Burger next weekend! Can't wait!

Good luck man Its not as tough as you may think - talking from IM experience, the toughest part is the training & the nutrition, on the day not so bad! I did my first full IM this year (without even doing an olympic distance or half before it)...its tough, but not impossible. Coming from a biking background (and I assume you are if you on thehub)helps a lot if you are just aiming to finish in a descent time, (in my opinion). Focus on getting your swimming technique right so to be confident going into the swim...on race day before you know it the swim is over, then you on to your strong point the bike, so no worries there...then only a half marathon. Don't let other people phsyche you out with their training schedules. I focussed on short intense training sessions and lots of brick work - even 5km run after a 80k - 90k training ride is good enough to get that muscle memory going. A good swim in the gym, with a tough spinning class afterwards also great way to get fitness going. Cheers

Thanx - got SRAM Force!

Thx - I got some Pro Lite Gavia SL's instead...they look pretty awesome, hopefully they'll ride as good!

Hey I`m building up a trek madone and bought the Pro-Light Gavia Super Lights (the Bracciano seems best value for money but for R500 more the Gavia's a lot sexier). CRC only had Campy and Shimano options - i bought the Shimano's but wondering if a SRAM groupset would also work on these? Would I need to buy something extra? Coool

Hey guys Any of you had experience with Shimano RS 80'S? I`m looking to upgrade to descent racing wheels (and yes I know they are probably more top end training wheels)...but looking for something around R3000- R4000 and it seeams its between these, Easton EA70's, Fulcrum Racing 5s and Mavic Equipe's. I`m favouring the RS 80's at this stage as they are the lightest and look the hottest. By the way I can't seem to find a SA Store selling Bontrager Race Lite's? Cool