The CycleMates Blog

Instead of buying an expensive bike stand, you can build your own using a handful of tools and supplies fairly easy to find at a DIY store.

How to Build Your Own Bike Work Stand - Singletracks

It's important to carry a cellphone on rides with you but do you really want to risk your expensive smartphone to a crash or theft?

I carry a cheap, sub R200 cellphone when I'm riding.

Not too much of a tip here but the real tip is to use a second sim card that's linked to your main contract and number.

Vodacom have a product called dual-sim which allows you to have a second sim card linked to your main number. Whichever phone is switched on will receive calls and any calls made are charged to the main account.

If you make calls from the second phone, the displayed number will be different so I've put that into my wife's phone as "Andrew Cycling"

I'm pretty sure that other networks will have a similar product that you can use to conveniently carry a cheaper phone but still be able to receive and make calls without a second contract or having to swap your sim card between phones.

Photo by: photogestion

An interesting break from the traditional rear triangle design for bicycles. The designer claims improved shock absorption.

Laboratory testing and Finite Element Analysis proved that the RoundTail™ provides more than 10 times the vertical compliance of a standard double-diamond frame, and the ring design absorbs 60 times more road vibrations. This breakthrough reduces stress and fatigue to the rider's body, which means you can spend more time in the saddle - comfortably.

Read more at roundtail.ca

This weekend I had my first DNF at the Magalies Monster because I had multiple punctures. This leads to this weeks tip - Check the tire sealant in your tubeless tires. 

The sealant in your tires is what prevents you from punctures. When you get a puncture, the sealant is forced out the hole and tiny micro-fibres/crystals harden and form a plug that reseals the tire. I've had fairly large punctures fixed on the fly with sealant spraying out the tire, within a few seconds the tire was sealed and I just had to top up the air and continue on my ride. 

When it's no longer liquid, it's not going to do anything for you. Sealant only stays liquid for a few months (In my experience about 6 months). The hotter the climate, the shorter the time.

Make sure you check your tire sealant levels before any major ride, especially if you're going to depend on it to get you home. It may also be a good idea to carry a spare tube to use in case of sealant failure.

Just recently I went on a long ride without having eaten properly before hand. Not only that but I neglected to pack an energy bar or banana which I normally have with me.

Just after half-way through the ride I started to feel a little weak and lacking in energy. Luckily I had some cash on me (which I always keep in a plastic bag along with my cellphone) and was able to stop at a small shop and buy a banana.

The fact that there happened to be a shop where I needed it isn't lost on me but I have been on other rides where people have needed to buy a booster.

Other uses for cash on hand:

• A phone call at a public phone (yes they still exist and there are times when you may need it)
• Pay another rider for a CO2 bomb (OK, I've never had anyone charge me for one when I've needed one)
• Pay for a taxi ride (Now I'm stretching)
• Most importantly, buy coffee after the ride :-)

I've just released a new design for the site with a lot of improvements and a slightly different vision.

The main focus now is on building a site that makes it very easy for you to find great rides and everything else you need to help you with cycling. Almost everything you can find on the site now has a review which will allow you to share your experiences with others. The idea is to help everyone find the best rides and provide feedback to those that are not quite there yet.

Enjoy!
Andrew