MintSauce

I hate Pastel. I own a small company and I run the single user version called Pastel Express. In the 7 years I've used it I've needed support twice. Both times it would have taken maybe 2minutes of their time. Each time they refused and said I had to pay the annual support fee which is roughly R2500. For a priogram they sold to me initially for R1000. So, that means my small business would've coughed up R17500 for two phonecalls to sort out two minor issues in 7 years. I've tried reasoning with the customer manager after she phoned to ask why I gave them a negative rating. Why can they not have a cheaper version for small businesses? Like R250-500 a year and limit the amount of calls or something? Well, why should they when they've got you by the balls? Imagine buying a car for R100000 and then when you need a lightbulb replaced being told you have to pay an annual fee of R250000 for them to tell you over the phone how to do it? F*** Pastel. Sooner rather than later my business will need a bigger system and you can bet your ass I won't be using Pastel.

I'm told 6:45 at the Baxter and 7:15 at the CTICC. If you guys want facebook pages and contactable organisers you're missing the whole point of the Critical Mass movement (as is the case with the JHB ride)

Ok, time to update. This is how things currently stand in my garage/lounge. Trying hard to convince myself (as is my GF) that I don't need another bike. The SS: Gios Compact Plus. I really feel this deserves a C-record build, but I'm broke at the moment so that'll have to wait. Really love this bike. Super responsive and snappy to ride and gorgeous to look at as well. The roadie: Colnago Master Olympic with Campy 10spd Chorus, with one or two Centaur bits. Couldn't believe how responsive this thing was vs my previous steel bike when I first got out the saddle up a climb. Beautiful. The fixie: Pogliaghi Pista. Genuinely love this bike. It is without question the most beautiful bike I've ever owned. Actually, I think it's the most beautiful bike I've ever seen, but I'm probably biased. Sadly in for repairs now due to a crack in the top headtube lug. Not sure what I'm going to do with the finish as I've been advised not to have it rechromed.

That Hansom's paintjob is f_ing AWESOME!

Opel Corsa mirrors come of VERY, VERY easily

*facepalm*

Wow. This is probably one of the most totally-missing-the-point, missdirected replies I've ever read on the hub. I think you should stop kissing FPC's 'donkey'

This is the bike you dream of... http://knollybikes.com/bikes/chilcotin#item_0

That is such a stupid point of view. Tell them to take a hike. The wheel size does not affect how the bike fits you. Make sure that the actual measurements of the frame are as close as possible to what you currently ride, assuming you're riding the correct size bike. Just as a matter of interest, why do you want a 29er?

Love this pic taken by a friend of mine somewhere in the UK....Bedgebury Forest he says My kinda curve that!

Where is this?

6 1/2 half years on my CK hubs. Totally neglected, only 3 services and ridden with play for a few weeks at a time and still on the original bearings. What worries me slightly is that you say you had to have them serviced to remove play on the hubs. Did your LBS do a full service in that instance? If they did they're taking the piss, because play is a 'known issue' on CK hubs. Getting rid of it is a 5min adjustment job. When I say known issue, I mean that a while after servicing they might require readjustment. Could you post a clearer pic of the damage? As for replacing, the whole hub wouldn't need to be replaced. only the driveshell, so I don't understand exactly why it's such a big problem. I cannot believe that CK themselves would not want to sort this out. They have an outstanding reputation abroad for looking after their customers.

That Bianchi looks fairly similar to the one I'm selling, except it's a different colour. Also couldn't find much info. Surprising seeing as Bianchi is such a popular brand. Here's the ad with pics https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/12678-old-school-steel-bianchi-frameset/

Good luck. I ended up buying a complete bike to get one rim. I have a 36 hole Open Pro but I doubt that'll be much help.

Have a look at the Kona Africabike commuter bikes. They still use them on those.

Haha....that's SARA behind Ms.Batty. She'll definitely be there.

Best option albeit expensive, is a Chris King. the bearings are servicable, but even better is that you can buy the grease injection tool which allows you to inject new grease when necessary. There's no reason it shouldn't last as long as their headsets and hubs ie 10-20 years. As for what you're currently using, the old square taper BBs were a hell of a lot more reliable than the current generation of external BBs(Chris King excluded of course). I'd say stick with what you have. There are still some really sweet sq taper cranks around, White Industries for an example

I bet it's similar to the best advice anyone ever gave me for getting cycling fit, ie. ride more

This my dear friend, is not the spirit of SSWC

I think you confused this with the 'girls&bikes' thread

I was referring to the specific design of the suspension and the positioning under the bb and the comments relating to it being exposed. A failing upper linkage has nothing to do with that.

Their suspension design has been tried and tested for years and has been doing just fine. This is just a plastic version of the same thing. Honestly people *facepalm*

You serious? It looks the same so it must be good? You could quite easily have something that looks identical to the Giant and it can be a complete pile of ****. And you could(and do) have designs that are completely different and perform even better. Similar looks have NOTHING to do with it.

It depends from one manufacturer to the next. A Thomson setback is similar to other manufacturer's straight posts because their clamp sits on top of the post, whereas most other manufacturers have an off-set clamp.

I bought an old steel frame from an old guy. I need the shop to collect from him and securely package it so that my courier can collect it from them. Thanks again.