SeaBee

Okay, time for another dom-vraag session... I am in an interesting situation with my fork - a RS REBA RL, solo air - according to specs. Over the weekend we rode some Welvanpas and it felt very light in front and some of the short steep stuff was simply not rideable, as if the front just floated (and I love those kind of stuff of late). Came back home, then saw afterwards that after everything we've thrown at it, the fork only travelled... hmmm, about 2/3. Now, my rear wheel was a bit low on pressure so that may have contributed, so last night I pumped all wheels, shock and fork. Slide onto the bike standing still to do a sag test. Rear needs a bit more air... Front...? Holy cow, it's barely moved! Check... it's not locked. If it went to 10% sag it was much. Pump shock a bit more, went for a ride and... it's almost as if the lockout has been turned on. I've turned that all the way to and fro just for the heck of it - it is and was unlocked. I also did the same with the rebound dial, went all the way both ways and reset it to what it was. But the symptoms - it has almost no movement until I hit something significant - and then it just GOES! It's as if there's a magic point over which it must come at impact before it moves. But I've taken it down to below 90 just to try (made no diffs) and get some sag - which is why it simply travels way further than anything in Welvanpas forced it when simply riding up and down a pavement. I'm at the point where I'm starting to believe my friends that say it must be a dual air! Will triple-check tonight... but specs say solo. My plan for tonight is (after confirming it is solo ) to simply take out ALL the air and then re-inflating and hope this magically "resets" something. So in short - it works as expected once you hit something of significance. But before a certain "impact measure", it feels almost locked out. So, rideable, but... interesting. Any other ideas will be appreciated - rather lost at the moment. (Guess you may have deducted I'm not the greatest expert on suspension...)

Agree it does not look stellar from the Bulls at this stage. And yeah, the now have a slightly different focus and things distracting them relative to Merc teams. But... write them off at your own peril. My "de karrie kap aren't wonned in March" moment for the day.

Okay, you have my attention. We were talking about what again?! Haha, ja, the problem is just trying to cater for the absolute truckload of people. I try to get there before the peeps who drink ice with their wine. That said, I can only imagine the CTICC will be able to cater better for this. Friend of mine said the Oceans' registration was MUCH better once moved there.

In other news... leaked pics from RB! Okay, it's humour... http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/pictures-leaked-from-red-bull-f1-team-gallery-1527158336

Not even close. That's an F60 (the 2009 car) with a 2014 paintjob. Think Marc Gene was the driver.

From that it seems Renault problems are not of the past yet. RBR and STR combined less than 20 laps plus 8 for Lotus... Compared to Merc and Ferrari engined cars and you can see who's going to be (at the very least) starting the season on the back foot.

Specialized Romin Pro... don't think I'll ride anything else again. With my luck they'll discontinue it...

Me too. Saw something from them yesterday to say they are still working on it, thanks for your patience.

Same here, I stop opposite the Aquarium - in that parkade. Always been open early. Close to finish. I've never been the only one there - always plenty others already parking and packing out and catching gees long before the start!

Keep your 705, you won't be sorry. I've used that with PC since I've had it - no issues. You can view the data on the head unit and afterwards. GC does display the power data, but... just get Golden Cheetah, like somebody said. Much better (for the power side of things) - and free. The TP guys are working on WKO4 - but it's not available yet and it sure won't be free.

Look, I don't care much for exact seeding position. I'm happy enough with that. What peeves me is that previously ONLY seeding races were used. These races were billed as such and that's what it was. This year they've added some more, no worries there. But... it used to be your best seeding race's index getting you seeded, nothing else. But now suddenly, without any prior warning, they decide to use ALL results to do the seeding with?! This includes penalising races - incl seeding races! - which were done more than 6 months ago?! Therein lies my gripe. Clambering off my soap box now. Still looking forward to the ride!

It's really nice trails at Rheboks. Rode it with PaarlMTB a while ago. What was awesome, was that the builder actually rode with (behind) us to see what happens as we get to the different sections and how we experience it. Made lots of comments regarding branches needing to be cut back, maybe more banking here and there to prevent overshoots, etc. Would love to see how it has changed over the last month or so since I was there last time. From what I've heard, it will be opening in the not-too-distant future. (Under correction!)

I agree. Worst accidents were on the tarmac. What issues I did have on the gravel section, was more caused by other panicky riders than gravel. Yeah, there were some loose sections, nothing major. Seems it's my luck I don't ride a Pinarello or Cervello or something... Worse for me was the riding IN the bunches. Absolute disgrace. People klapping the white line rule an absolute flat ignore. Not on...

I have one. Had it since... 09, I think. Don't know whether it's 07 or 08 - bought frame and brought everything across from my first bike. Awesome bike. It turn like a demon - and it sticks! You think about turning... it's done! Responds amazingly well.

Ja, read somewhere (not sure where) that there's rumours of GP2 cars being faster than F1's?! If so, that's just crazy. Take away these crazy rules, let them race.

Have truer words ever been spoken on the hub?

Nope. It has declined steadily... That was what I referred to with the "horrible"... the road surface.

It's not the "slight uphill drag" that worries me. Rode that stretch a couple of weeks ago and it was... horrible! Mix in short-routers (for lower long-distance groups) and possible traffic. Almost expect more complaints about this than the 99er gravel section.

That is the reg I hate the most about this year - limiting fuel usage. Stupid idea which was used in the 80's for I think one season(? - not 100% sure, may have been more) before they realised it's just not "cricket". Why now go back to that?! Edit: Well, that and even more restrictions on testing. I mean seriously, even limiting wind tunnel testing?!

Looked very different on other pics - that Merc wing is attached by a sliver to the pillars! Wow... I mentioned the complexity of the front wings. Will be a beach to build, esp in 43rd scale.

...and the first bit of real innovation seen thusfar. Macs are running a "butterfly suspension" on their rear wishbones. Side-on view much like a mushroom turned on it's side and works the air around nicely. Apparently already approved by FIA, but I thought rules prohibited suspension parts to be aero devices.

Cellar, those are just sensors to help with analysis, like the high-viz paint they also add at these tests. This one, however, was entiiirely new! Holy cow...

Had to giggle at this... Lotus humour! And then that bloke in Jerez said "Gentlemen, start your engines..." Apparently, some Spanish spice today... Darn, this (and Merc) does look a lot better than the rest!

Interesting about the Renault engine troubles. But.... still a while to go before the season starts. Just leaves them with other issues rather than concentrating on more development. Sad, of course, but a nice touch on Jenson's helmet.

Agree with the above, sk. Your previous post - it's been like that for a while now. Not designed to make them fly up or anything. Just to not give them smooth and predictable airflow when following your car - they basically give them "dirty air" (in short, they f up the slip-stream for the following car), which lessens downforce because it does not travel over the following car as it would with no car in front - causing them to drop back a bit. The loss of (esp front) downforce can also degrade the following car's front tyres quicker.