dexterdent

Which wheel did you go for? There are some really cool options out there in drastically different price ranges.

I just added all my new data points to the spreadsheet I made for this "investigation" and the results stayed pretty much the same. I haven't done any big efforts on the segment for a while so it mostly added data in the low and mid-watts range, but they were pretty consistently better than the old bike, and mostly better than the Aero bike with crappy wheels. So Aero wheels for the win! It's the best upgrade I've ever done and if you are lucky enough to have the cash around, I'd get the wheels before getting any other major upgrades. There are some other benefits as well - the slightly larger internal diameter of the rims seem to make the wider tyres less bulbous, and there is a reasonable amount of evidence showing wider tyres are a good idea. I'm running 28mm GP5000s, but would look at going up to 30-32 next time. The increase in comfort is significant. But the other important lesson that I probably did not highlight enough above - if you separate the major equipment upgrades out, my power output typically only accounts for about 50% of the variance in my times. This "revelation" helped me cope with a slightly disappointing CTCT result even though I was better prepared than other years.

Some of them ARE being sold at bike shops already. And a lot of things that people think are not Chinese are. What these online places do is cut-out a lot of the middlemen that sometimes add very little value and sometimes add a lot of value (if someone goes to China, inspects the factory and stand by the product, they are adding value. If someone buys 100 SCVCN sunglasses for R70 each and resells them for R500 in their shop or on takealot, they are not). If you can find some reputable online reviews of products listed on Temu, I don't think there is any more risk buying from them than from Merlin. I've been able to find some great things on Temu for prices that are so cheap that any perceived "gamble" is worth it. I'm talking things like a couple of cool different top tube, frame and seat bags, some sunglasses, some basic tools and a couple of Ridenow tubes. I'm even eyeing a new saddle that is very "mirror" like for a very reasonable price. What I do think there is an issue with is the pretty lax copyright laws. Buying a fake Pinarello frame is probably wrong. Buying a frame that looks a lot like one but doesn't claim to be one? Not too sure about this yet.

I have also tried Indievelo (along with pretty much ALL the other virtual sims, none of the other ones got close to grabbing my attention). It is a direct competitor to zwift but worse in many ways - far less people, routes, gamification, training plans, worse graphical design, etc. Zwift racing also has no peer in my opinion. However, it has some KEY advantages: 1. Zwift is amazing but justifying 17 USD per month is hard when there is a similar option for free (for now) 2. Indievelo allows for offsetting of your gears. Not the "trainer difficulty" setting that just changes the slope simulation (although they have that too) - with Indievelo I can actually do fast speeds on the flat without spinning out on my gravel bike, which I can't in Zwift. Potentially fixed with virtual gearing, but only limited trainer supported for now. 3. Indievelo has a functioning gradient / profile map (this is more an annoyance that Zwift just can't get this right for some reason) I've cancelled zwift and it will remain cancelled until indievelo starts charging, after which I'll have to re-evaluate.

I live in the Cape and would never do this.

Had a long gravel ride in the rain last weekend and couldn't see anything through my wet Sutro Lites (Prizm 24k - for bright conditions and great at that). I might come to regret this, but I just ordered some SCVCN Photochromatic cycling glasses for R72 off Temu so let's see how it goes

I'm finding Daryl Impey's daily content with David Higgs pretty entertaining on youtube - looks like two friends having a great time.

To be clear, I don't have any issue with the feed - it's pretty much the only live mtb race I watch even though I think mtb is much cooler than road. It must be crazy hard to get anything done in the conditions they need to work in, and things like the helicopter and ebike shots, rider interviews and lack of Cecil Nurse ads are great. At the same time, there is no such thing as free content, except if you value your time and attention at zero. By choosing to watch this rather than a new Zero Friction Cycling or Veritasium video, there are some (very small) financial impacts to the content creator. My attention is the product that is being sold and competed for.

If you don't like the commentary on the commentary, don't read the thread. If you don't like the free live comments on bikehub (douchebags and all), don't open it. This is not sound financial advice, do whatever you want. More seriously, it seems like the team don't have access to great live info and that seems to be the cause of many of the "issues".

I think CTCT2024 supposedly included the permanent racing chip thingy, CTCT2025 has it as an optional extra? Not that it made a difference to me, entry secured Well worth the money in my opinion.

For what it's worth, I've gone the Silca route and used an ultrasonic cleaner for the first clean with a citrus degreaser and following up with methylated spirits (the ultrasonic is definitely not required IMO). Subsequent top-ups have been pretty low effort. Getting reusable quick-links is key though - I got the YBN ones from Rapide. I used the Silca sous-vide bag in a pot on the stove to melt the wax and that works well. I haven't taken an application past 250km or out in the rain yet, but up to there it has felt very smooth and quiet. I bought a couple of extra chains and will be doing three at a time. I think for now I am sold on it - not much more effort than properly cleaning / drip waxing the chains, and some supposedly significant benefits in longevity.

Sounds like an epic result finishing in the top 2.5% of a huge race, beating a lot of people with intimidating symbols on their back, and with a position that in some other years would have been a 2h55 with the same effort. Well done, and see you next year trying to break the arbitrary 3hr barrier that somehow still means a lot

To get a sub-3, either be VERY fit, or get a great seeding (1A or better, not *that* hard if you do the PPA or 99er) and hope the weather plays along (some years there are 1000+ sub-3s and others <500). I missed out this year by ~5m, but finished top20 in 1B and tried to spend some time (not a lot) in the wind to get the group average speed up a bit. I lost a full minute on the Chappies descent due to the wind, and there wasn't much group cohesion from there onwards. I keep telling myself I'm happy with the result, and I am, but it feels like unfinished business. There were three major changes I made to go from a 3h30-3h45 rider to where I am now: Firstly, upped my training from 5 hours per week to 7-8 hours - zwift helped a lot. Secondly, get nutrition right with carbs while training and protein/carbs afterwards. Thirdly, I lost about 8kg's and now I like climbs.

Have had two TICKRs die on me and just gave up on the brand. Also never completely confident in the results, either small gaps/drops, or weird flat lines. The warranty seems to work well though. Two of my friends have had similar experiences. I would strongly recommend anything else.

Show them your shaved legs?