SeaBee

Hey Wil6, been there, not nice. Always think of the rainbow bridge.

At best, it's only a guideline. In my case that theoretical max is roundabout in my higher real zone 3... Somehow mine just beats faster than that theory. Likewise I've ridden with guys who'll keel over trying to reach that theoretical max, their HR's are just naturally lower. And it's no indication of performance or potential, it's just a muscle working differently for every individual. That said, I have a bit of history to work back on, so I know what my HR does. But - make sure you're not training whilst ill - above normal HR's can indicate illness. Also, some HR belts are very susceptible to static from jerseys and/or power lines can affect some of them. Which may also declare your surges.

Rear brakes? Most of the time behind me... (Yeees, most of the time...)

Sore throat from violently sucking winter morning air. Gargle with Listerene mouthwash.

Okay clever dudes, here's one for you... and I thought the answer was simple! I have a UV filter that I cannot for the life of me get clean. I simply touched it a while ago whilst removing it. So, easy, you just wipe off the finger mark with lens paper... Noooo, it leaves a bigger mark! Hmmm okay, take a lens cloth. Same. Lens fluid plus lens paper... biggest f-up - it looks as if the thing now has a fatty layer over it - that fluid just goes blotchy over the entire filter. Any other ideas?! Worst is, I have replaced it in the end. Yesterday evening a droplet fell just in front of the lens, splashing onto the UV filter. I take a lens cloth, just dab it away... Huge "vaal kol" this morning. A lens pen was suggested and I do not have a lens pen, but I thought that's just the same fluid in a different format. If it makes any difference: I know it's a Kenko UV filter, not exaaaactly sure which "version" - think it's a Pro something.

The one that fits your head best? Found my head cannot tolerate some (very popular) helmets. Some others fits brilliantly. Hence... fit the thing, then decide, don't buy from a brochure. FWIW - Happy with my Windmax...

Beginning to think these "tough dogs" have theeee most character. Birds of a feather! Kahlua loves curling up on a chair. Which she may not do... Nearly pulled a neck muscle the other day whilst sliding up the chair, then noticed me watching her and looked away verrry quickly! Whilst of course continuing to siphon up the chair. Her favourite place to lay outside? On top of our wooden garden table!

Good one Big H! Makes me think of the Martin Brundle saying about the most important nut in an F1 car is the nut behind the steering wheel.

Ja, my only gripe with the lens is it's my only non-full-frame capable lens, should I ever go that way... Confused by your last sentence... Do you say the 17-40 is "madness" ito... hmmm... shall I say sensory overload? Or am I on dof Tuesday duty and missed something?

n+1... 'Nuff said

Canon 10-22 (3.4-4.5 USM). Also considered Sigma's 10-20 with the fixed f3.5, but from reviews the Canon won me over, distortion is apparently the best... well, lack thereof! And I like the fact that it's a Canon and not a 3rd party lens.

Well, a first time for everything. Just got my very first wide-angle... it felt really very weird buying a lens that goes wide and not long! Plenty of research, but now it's done. Now to go and play! Will have to be indoors, though - Cape weather is up to it's wintery tricks again. But who knows... will keep an eye open for opportunity.

Moral of my story - never go do an event shortly after having been ill. Went up the 1st climb, passed some people, but felt like I'm not climbing like I usually do. Up through some of the climbs before the bottleneck, I think it was up to the WP, I looked down after starting the downhill and was shocked at my HR. Coasted the down/flat section, absolutely no HR recovery, where I'm used to it simply plummeting. Those next couple of light climbs was absolutely done with eye on the HR and even trying to go sloooow only helped that much. Where the marshals were warning, I made the mistake of glancing at the second one and moving my head gave my such dizzyness, that I simply stopped (on the downhill, how's that for a joke!) and stabilised myself. Got to the bottleneck and even standing there my HR remained very high in zone 3. Though I was simply going to turn left on Helz and head home, stuff the rest. But in the end went on, kept left and waved a lot of people by! To boot, got a long piece of wire entangled in my rear spokes. At least I wasn't stressed about stopping and losing time! Such a lovely day... and ended up just managing myself. Super day, though - wished I had taken my camera along. May as well have...

Traditionally the AMARider guys put their tag points on places where you don't fly past - and you hardly can miss them.

And just to throw another one in there, I use Fast Jackets, which is pretty close to Racing Jackets, but without that bit of frame underneath (which I don't like). Love it...

Bees, another side of the coin from my recent experience. Got sinus, kept training... got so "used to it" and ignored it, according to the doc. And then, in his word, the sinus merrily went ahead and poisoned everything around it over the course of a couple of months. In the end I was off for a day (from work) and did not ride a measly one weekend. (Also, in that preceeding time my performance on the bike was much lower than training suggested, just felt tiiired on the bike. Anyways, doc said I am much worse off than I think - I realised that when I got back onto the bike! There is just NOTHING... So avoid getting that ill, rather play it safe and you can recover earlier, better and start training without having taken as bad a hammering. (Yes, coming from me, that's a peach, but as you can see - first-hand experience!) Also, if you rest and heal up earlier, you may dodge the anti-biotics that may follow if you only go later. I'm still not sure whether it was my illness or the antibiotics that did the worst damage on the fitness levels. In short, had I taken a week off end April, early May, sorted my sinus (with milder treatment) and then started training, I'd have been much better off.

Abso-blueday-lutely on both counts! Great camera and that sherrif knows how to wield that weapon. On the MP's: Friend of mine actually said a while ago he was in magazine work and it is ridiculously low MP shots that we even see (or is required for) in glossy mags. (Can't remember the values off-hand.) So while this war is ongoing and everybody is over-excited with MP counts, you (or make that me, then) hardly ever really use it. Unless you really whack the ISO or, like somebody said previously do really big posters. Or, of course, crop the heck out of the original image. So ja, there are use for it. I'm on a crop-sensor with 16MP (I think) and haven't seen a reason to do more. Yes, I would love a 5D or whatever relevant replacement is around when I really need to replace my body. Odds are however that I'll buy whatever replaced my camera at that point. I won't want to go below my current FPS, because I do like to take the odd action shot - that will be my biggest requirement. Fortunately, no such needs at the moment, verrrry happy with mine! (And at the point of thinking about buying a crop-sensor only wise-angle lens, which will anyways limit my choices.)

htone, I would say so, yes. I love their looks, but I know I can't work them properly, therefore I will never have a one. But unfortunately a lot of people do not reason that way. But same goes for a LOT of dogs - they all need their excercise and being stimulated. My Lab is much happier being left alone (meaning not getting too much specific excericise, etc), the Ridgeback wants to run and play and walk and... Most people do not realise that a "naughty" dog is more often than not just a frustrated dog.

Jorsie, I'll be way behind you. Been a bit ill, just off for a short while, but MAN, did that thing take it's toll... My legs are dead, it feels as if I stopped riding after Argus! Nothing more than a training ride for me, unfortunately. But hey, at least I'll enjoy the views...

From what I've heard (and I'm not a Nikon guy) the 36MP is not in all instances - it goes into DX (crop sensor) mode at times. Obviously when you add a DX lens, but apparently you can manually force it there (esp if you're looking for speed). Then there are rumors of Canon working on a 75MP sensor... Ehhhrrr... are we getting faster disk hardware soon - will be interested to see what that one tries to push through in a burst!

Get your azz (sitbone width) measured and take it from there, starting with test saddles. I used to think all was fine on SI SLR, then got issues on my MTB saddle, got measured, got a 143 Spez Phenom... loved it! Then got back on my road bike with the SLR, could not sit! Slapped a 143 Spez Romin on there - heaven! You won't catch me on other saddles - but it is a very personal thing. And yes, cycling is cycling. You do get sore bums, you do get chafing at times, sheet happens, it's not a picnic. Don't blame everything on a saddle. (Just a side note, not saying it's the case with you, but I know of many people who have... then they just needed to put more k's in, esp with change in season, starting out again, etc...)

Okay, will confess: I mi..zzz... ed some of the GP. Super drive by Hamster - and what an overtake on Webber! (Maybe he watched the GP2 race?!) These penalties for actually trying to overtake somebody is getting crazy. Missed the Button-Grosjean incident, so have no comment there. But giving Grosjean a drive-through for overtaking Massa?! Crazy, I thought he deserved a medal for that move from what I saw! C'mon peeps, this is motor racing... Or at least, it's supposed to be.

Monaco without walls this weekend - and 1st practice already a RB 1-2. Darnit... Hoping the Iceman or the Spaniard pulls something from a bag... any bag! Weekend still long, hoping for some change in the pecking order. (And make no mistake, I actually like Vettel!)

Well, I have a friend who'se recently gotten a Tarmac cannot stop smiling. Haven't ridden one myself. Just make sure about the newness (is it new-new or very new 2nd-hand?) of the bike. Recently found out that Spez warrantee on frame is only for original owner. Agreed - smaller frame gives you more options ito setup if required.