HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Saturday, 22 Aug 1992 18:54:49 CET
From: <NCOYNE@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject:    Which Bike. What Size


So here I am happily living in Germany where I've been for the last 4 years.
I have now decided that I would like to take up Mountain Biking as a
sport/hobby.
Not having buckets of money my intention is to buy a bike which will take the
punishment not break my pocket and I don't really think I am going to win any
trophies.
My main aim here is to have fun so I don't won't to ride 20 miles have the bike
fall apart then have to walk home.
Most of the bikes offered here seem to be from USA .

A sales man had my drooling over a Specialised Stumpjumper the other day
I got to ride it round the road a bit. Having read a pile of mags some in
Germany some from England and also USA I am still over welmed by some things.

I need some point clarified:-

1. How good is the Stumpjumper(or how bad)
2. The SJ had narrow rims are these beter or worse aside from the weight
advantage.
3. SIS or STI, this SJ was fitted with SIS. The salesman said that I could
   have it with either, I liked the Idea of STI but most racing I ve seen on
   the TV they use SIS. (this bike had Deore DX)
4. I'am 6'6" (1.90 m)  what size of bike should I get how will I know when
   it is the right size. ( I don't want to be sold a bike thats not right
   for me just because the salesman want'shis commision.
5. I need recomendations for other bike around this price so I can find
   places where I can check them out.


I noted that bikes are a lot cheaper in The USA so I would like some comparisio
ns.  The SJ price here in Germany is DM 1800 the DM is 1.47 to the $ approx
so and cheap ways to buy and ship a bike from the USA will be very interesting.


If you can find the time to help me with one of more of my questions I would
be very greatfull. I am now very keen to get a bike but I don't want to rush
off blindly and buy the first bike I see.


Thanks for your time and trouble and maybe when I have gained some experiance
I can help someone else.

Nick Coyne

Darmstadt Germany
From: kim39@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Trispokes
Date: 21 Aug 92 00:15:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Aug20.201540.14955
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

hplomg.hpl.hp.com> BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM writes:
>I replied to Kritt G.'s question:
>> Has anybody out there experiences with trispoke wheels on a mountain bike? Do
>> they provide the same/more/less strength compared to regular wheels? Brands?
>jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com

	If you really wanted a disk-type wheel on a MTB (but not a
tri-spoke), you might consider that Disc-drive wheel that soembody
was promoting with John Tomac ads in the bike mags.  It is not,
as far as I can tell from the ads, a composite wheel, a tri spoke,
or a true disk wheel.  However, it could provide you with that
little bit of aerodynamic advanage you may be seeking when you
are going fast on downhills or on paved roads.

	I think this wheel is built on a fiarly standard-design
rim, but that instead of spokes, special cords are laced between
the nipple holes (what kind of nipples they use, I have no idea),
and the flange holes.  

	Perhaps a MTB rider who has seen this wheel can comment.
How does one keep it true?  It might be made by Tioga.

	If I had to ride a time trial or trathlon, and everybody
else was at just about my level of ability (ha!  I'd be lucky
if anybody was that slow in a real time trial), and if I had
lots of money to waste and everybody else were using aero
rear wheels, then I guess I would spring for a Tri-Spoke.
(whup-whup-whup-whup-whup-whup-whup)

	They do seem hard to inflate with a normal Zefal
frame pump.  
-CAse
From: flip@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Phillip Russell)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Panniers
Date: 20 Aug 92 06:53:59 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

In article <1992Aug19.172233.1817@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> grande@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (brad.l.grande) writes:
>
>I have the performance deluxe panniers which I use for commuting and like them
>a lot.  I just tried a large three ring notebook to see if it would
>fit for you and it DID NOT.  The bag is angled towards the forward bottom
>side to leave room for your foot.  The binder only went in half way.

I own the Nashbar panniers and have not had any problems stuffing
three ring notebooks, textbooks and clothes in them. I use one everyday
when I ride to campus and/or work. Never had a problem with them. The 
outside pockets are great for packing tube repair tools, and for
pencils & calculator.

>There have been comments here on the net regarding the nashbar attache'.  It
>seems that this bag does not have the clearance for your foot and many have
>complained that they were not able to use it.
>
A friend of mine owns this one. It works ok but it does not give much
clearance for your foot. A pannier is much better if you don't mind
carrying a funky looking breif case. 8-)

>As a suggestion, maybe you could come up with a flat box that sits on top of
>your rear rack that you can keep your notebooks in, or even if you use a back-
>pack, you could set it in the box and use a bungy cord to hold it in place.
>
Easier just to get a Nashbar pannier. Hooks on and off in seconds.

Flip


-- 
    __@  __@        Phillip "Flip" Russell  | Purdue University
  _-\<, -\<,_       flip@sage.cc.purdue.edu | West Lafayette, IN
 (_)/---|/-(_)      "We don't have enough power captain!!!"
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: steve@enterprise.den.mmc.com (Steve Gilbert)
Subject: Sponsors for mediocre riders. Was: Atlanta '96 : Pro cyclists in ?
Organization: Martin Marietta
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 22:23:07 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.024905.22538@hpcvusn.cv.hp.com>, harry@cv.hp.com (Harry Phinney) writes:
|> swayzed@brandonu.ca writes:
|> 
|> I don't understand why, but "amateur" team sponsorship has gotten so
|> plentiful that even mediocre, over-the-hill riders like myself can get
|> free bikes, clothes, paid travel expenses and entry fees.  This is
|> amateurism?
|> 
|> Harry Phinney   harry@hp-pcd.cv.hp.com

Wow! This sounds like me.
Mediocre : Check
Over-the-hill : 34 years old, Check
==> free bike : Yes, a Masi, Merckx, or Colnago please !
==> clothes : Let's see, 6-panel suspender shorts, etc.
==> paid travel expenses and entry fees : OK, how much to send me to Italy for a
    month to get some continental racing experince?  Oh yes, just send the bill
    to my sponsor at this address please.

Sign me up !!
--
/\          Steve Gilbert
  \         Martin Marietta Astronautics, Denver
   \  /\    steve@xanadu.den.mmc.com
    \/  \___
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Thursday, 13 Aug 1992 20:24:24 CET
From: <DNASTASZ@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Heart Rate Survey: Results

Good Evening,
Bob Novy writes:

>Here are the data that more than 50 cyclists sent me.  Given below are age

>Age    Min    Max
>30     45     165
>30     52     192   <- Me
>30     40     185
>30     40     185

Oh dear, guess I'm a 30 year old wimp -  3100 miles this year
just isn't enough. How many miles do I need to become a Real Cyclist (TM)?

Dave Nastaszczuk. ESOC, 6100 Darmstadt, Germany.
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: cd674@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Susan J. Christie)
Subject: Re: Cycle Oregon (so who will be there?)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 21:51:49 GMT


Here's another Cycle Oregon Rider!  My husband and I are
numbers 13 and 14.  Fifty-eight people from our community are
signed up to go (Corvallis, OR).  See you on the ride!

Susan C.
cd674
From: pgf@cayman.COM (Paul Fox)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: light/battery comparisons?
Date: 17 Aug 92 15:47:41 GMT
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge Ma


I have a Cateye Turbo (I think), that I like a lot -- my partner needs
a light -- Performance sells a 6W house brand that uses a gel-cell, and
has a flashing tail-light (an excellent, idea, IMHO) for aoubt $90.
Nashbar has a "MegaLight", for which they don't give wattage or battery
type, for about $50.

The hours ratings on both are far higher than I recall on mine -- mine
is on the order of 1 or 2 hours, Performance claims over 3 hours, and
Nashbar claims 6 1/2 hours.

Any opinions on battery types or light brands?

paul fox, pgf@cayman.com

-- 
		paul fox, pgf@cayman.com, (617)494-1999
		Cayman Systems, 26 Landsdowne St., Cambridge, MA 02139
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: canderso@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chuck Anderson)
Subject: Re: Young white male in red sports car
Reply-To: canderso@nyx.UUCP (Chuck Anderson)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 03:28:28 GMT

> akins@flamingo.cis.ohio-state.edu (gregory adkins) writes:
>> slais02@unixg.ubc.ca (Robyn Stewart) writes:

>>He *slowed down* matching my speed a safe distance behind me, waited
>>until the road straightened out a bit enough that ...............

>For some reason this behavior always makes me nervous.  

I agree with the nervousness.  I experience this, too ("I wish this person
*knew* what they were doing.").

BUT, the friendly wave makes up for about anything.  A wave from a motorist
always brings a little smile to my heart.

Robyn, what did the last line in your post mean (a 70-ish car - well tuned)?
You lost me (easy to do).

--
  *************************************************************************
     Chuck Anderson                uucp    :         uunet!nyx!canderso
     Boulder, Co. (303) 494-6278   internet:         canderso@nyx.cs.du.edu
  *************************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: loucks@isrc.sandia.gov (Cliff Loucks)
Subject: Re: VETTA 200 Wireless
Organization: Sandia National Labs, Org. 1600, Albq., NM
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 19:12:22 GMT

From article <1992Aug13.163010.35828@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu>, by deb1@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (DERRICK ERNEST BOUCHER):
> "tyler" writes:
>>I have found a Vetta 200 wireless computer reasonable, and am wondering
>>how well they work.
> In my experience, the Vetta 200 wireless is very unreliable.  Mine never
> works below 40 Fahrenheit, and sometimes cuts out at warmer temperatures.

I've got two 200s and my son has another one.  Of the three, only
one has had any problems.  That problem was poor connection between
the unit and its antenna/mount.  Sandwiching some aluminum foil
between them fixed it right up.

Cliff (I'm a happy camper) Loucks
-- 

Cliff Loucks  <=>  loucks@isrc.sandia.gov
Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: akins@flamingo.cis.ohio-state.edu (gregory adkins)
Subject: Re: Why shave?
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 23:29:57 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.182158.8183@source.asset.com> parksd@source.asset.com (Don Parks) writes:
>I don't shave my legs, however, I thought of a good reason to do so
>the other day after a particularly messy (muddy) bike ride.  I bet it
>is a lot easier to wash all the dirt, etc. of your legs without
>having to scrub it out of all the hair.
>
>
>Don (the non-leg-shaving) Juan
>-- 
And for rec.bicycles.road, I think it is alot easier to
wipe off the chain grease that never fails to accumulate on
the back of your leg.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Akins                            |  "Life may be not only meaningless,
akins@cis.ohio-state.edu              |    but absurd."  -Thomas Nagel

    ____O         __O      "Saturn Floats"
   _`___\-'      / /\_,               |
  (')\/(`)     ___/\                  |
                   /_                 |
--------------------------------------
From: self@pasteur.ics.uci.edu (John Self)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: SUMMARY: using presta tubes with a Schraeder wheel
Date: 21 Aug 92 23:42:24 GMT
Organization: UC Irvine Department of ICS

I received advice on how to use Presta tubes with a Schrader drilled wheel
from the following people:

roat@rrc.chevron.com (Suzanne Roat,Chevron,(510)242-5313)
pardo@cs.washington.edu (David Keppel)
Glenn Stauffer <stauffer@cc.swarthmore.edu>
gs7413@noah.sbc.com (Bert Soto)
gcarter!gcarter (George Carter)
rlewis@muskwa.ucs.ualberta.ca (Robert Lewis)
etxorst@eos.ericsson.se (Torsten Lif)
jackson@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Bruce Jackson)
kenl@origami.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Ken Lehner)
Christ Ward <ward@cs.uiuc.EDU>
Eric House <ehouse@apple.COM>
Scott Seligman <seligman@CS.Stanford.EDU>
Gardner Cohen <beldar@MicroUnity.COM>
"R. Scott Truesdell" <truesdel@ics.uci.edu>
"Thomas H. Kunich" <tomk@netcom.COM>
praetzel@marconi.uwaterloo.ca
Wayne Iba <iba@ptolemy.arc.nasa.GOV>
Mike Khaw <khaw@parcplace.COM>
john andersson <jra@bally.COM>

Thanks to all of you for your advice.  The consensus seems to be that
for low pressure mountain bike tires no adapter is necessary, just put
the tubes in.  The bike I'm changing over is a road bike with 90 PSI
27x1.25" tires.  I went to my campus bike shop and bought two of the
rubber grommets made for this purpose for a total of a dollar.  One
kind netter offered to send me two free, but for a buck I decided to
just buy them locally.  Everyone mentioned that the grommets are a
pain to put in, but it only took me a minute or so with a pair of long
nose pliers.  It seems to be working OK so far, I'll post something if
I run into any problems.

					Thanks,
"What do you mean 'nice block,'			John Self
 I was SPRINTING for that prime!"		self@ics.uci.edu
						uunet!ucivax!self
						JTSELF@UCI.BITNET


--

					Thanks,
						John Self
						self@ics.uci.edu
From: truesdel@ics.uci.edu (R. Scott Truesdell)
Subject: Re: My Bicycle Helmet Experience
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 14 Aug 92 22:51:06 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.051502.2302@leland.Stanford.EDU>,
tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) wrote:

> p.s. i wonder... in a personal injury action, might failure to wear a
> helmet be treated the same way as failure to wear a seat belt?  that is,
> might they reduce your award on the ground that your failure to wear a
> helmet resulted in injury which would otherwise have been avoided or
> reduced?

I'm not a lawyer, but my take is that it could indeed reduce the injury
award. I think the lawyer arguing for this would have to come up with a
definitive study or something like insurance actuary tables. I don't
know if 'expert opinion' would be sufficient.

  --scott
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: somerville@BAE2.NCSU.EDU (SOMERVILLE)
Subject: Re: Re: All that fat
Reply-To: somerville@BAE2.NCSU.EDU (SOMERVILLE)
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 17:45:06 GMT

In article <16190397@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, khe@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Keith Erskine) writes:
>In rec.bicycles, somerville@BAEPV3.NCSU.EDU (SOMERVILLE) writes:
>
>There must be *SOME* fat in the diet.  The body cannot survive
>on just carbos and protein.  While other sources can be converted
>in the body and stored as fat, some fat in the diet is necessary
>and beneficial.  
>
>Your logic is flawed.  While it is true that high fat diets are
>bad, this does *NOT* mean that ALL fat is bad.  If a cyclist is

I agree completely!  My statements were made in context that once
removed allows Keith to respond to a position that is ludicrous.
I do not think anyone should eat NO fat in their diet!! I am certain
Keith knew this was not what I meant to say when he crafted his reply.

>2 years ago while racing I rigorously followed a low fat diet while
>training/racing about 250 miles a week.  I got my body weight down
>by 5 pounds and climbed faster than I ever did.  The drawbacks were
>that I felt borderline hypoglycemic with such low body fat - I was
>*MUCH* more susceptible to severe bonking unless I consumed carbos
>nonstop while riding.  I talked with other racers who had the same
>problems.

By all means, do not tell us what you ate, how long you tried it,
or what "such low body fat" means exactly.  This sounds like 
the testimonials for tires and anodized rims. You may be interested to
know that Dave Scott, Scott Tinley, and Scott Molina
all used a 10% fat (Pritiken) diet for the six weeks leading up to the
1982 Ironman. They captured first,second, and fourth places.  They did
not seem to have trouble training for or completing the >9 hour race.     
I do not mean to question your own experiences, but simply to
point out that such testimonials are relatively easy to come by
and do little to help us laypeople (in my case anyway) sort out fact from
myth.  

>In short, don't put any more faith in the extremist claims of militant 
>vegetarians than you do in the propaganda from the beef and dairy industry. 
>A little meat, ice cream, and milk won't turn you into a supermodel with
>perfect teeth, nor will it strike you dead on the spot.

Sounds like good advice -- exactly the same sort of thing I might say.
For the record, I am not a vegetarian and I do not know what a
"militant vegetarian" is, but I promise not to put any faith in them
if I ever do meet one.

--
Garth Somerville
somerville@bae.ncsu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: tan@lynx.msc.cornell.edu.UUCP (David Tan,Box 219 Baker Lab,54810,2720402)
Subject: Basic Physics (was: Re: Descending hills)
Originator: tan@msc2.msc.cornell.edu
Organization: Cornell-Materials-Science-Center
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 16:05:17 GMT

From article <1992Aug18.132450.27265@bas-a.bcc.ac.uk>, by skaamjm@ucl.ac.uk (Matthew Moore):
> tan@lynx.msc.cornell.edu.UUCP (David Tan,Box 219 Baker Lab,54810,2720402) writes:
> 
>>From article <1992Aug14.102108.8273@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, by ftgcdj@vax.oxford.ac.uk:
>>> I heard a story about a guy in a road race being handed a water bottle full of
>>> lead (Pb) at the start of a long descent. Around 8kg (17.6 lbs) extra!
>>> 
>>I think this was in a TdF of many a year ago (was it Coppi?)  He was given a
>>leadfilled bottle by a "spectator", pretended to drink out of it, and pitched
>>it at the bottom of the descent, to another "spectator."
> 
>>Wish I could remember details...
> 
>>Dave
> 
>>> One way to get your speed up, I suppose!
> 
> er, didnt a geezer called Galileo use the leaning tower of Pisa to
> demonstrate that heavy objects fall at the same speed as light ones?
> (he dropped a cannon ball and a bullet off the top, and they landed
> together. 
> 
> While the accelaration, and speed should be similar, the momentum will
> differ of course,[ momemtum = mass * velocity ]
> but this will not affect the speed directly, apart
> from providing kinetic energy to overcome losses due to friction).
					    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Granted, if you're descending down a hill in a perfect vacuum, sliding
frictionlessly down the incline, it won't matter how heavy (well, massive)
or light you, your bike, or stuff on the bike are, you'll descend at the
same rate.

However, the races I've heard of are run at rather less than such ideal
conditions...life's sure unfair, innit?

Even so, it's quite likely that the effect was greater in the mind than in
the fact, which often does make a rider race better.


Dave
From: kim39@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: follow up on Specialzied Allez Epic and RB-1
Date: 21 Aug 92 01:27:16 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1992Aug20.212717.14961
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

>>Why does everyone seem to want fat tires on a road bike?  Did you say that
>>you were going to be touring on this bike?  If so, I guess I can understand.

>Maybe you're just light.  I went back to fat tires because it provides 
>considerably more comfort and cushions the rim much better than carbon fiber
>or titanium frames and costs considerable less than either.  Then again
>I'm 6'3" and 230 lbs.  Maybe they're a little slower but it's worth it.
>-Terry

	Yeah, what he said..... Also, I may indeed tour on this bike
(I originally wondered what tires a '91 Allez would take.  The answer
appears to be 26mm and 32mm for the RB-1.

	Also, now that I know Terry Thiel (who now rides an RB-1
with non-loosening wheels, right?) is 230lbs, I will no longer
call myself a "larger rider."  Maybe I can just be "heavier than
most racers" or "decent-sized" or "medium."
-Case, frozen ghost, 182lbs and dropping
From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Descending hills
Date: 19 Aug 92 17:43:02 GMT

> er, didnt a geezer called Galileo use the leaning tower of Pisa to
> demonstrate that heavy objects fall at the same speed as light ones?
> (he dropped a cannon ball and a bullet off the top, and they landed
> together.

Forward propulsion, when coasting down a hill, is the gradient %
times the rider weight.  Drag on a bicycle is predominantly air
resistance that is related to frontal area.  Frontal area increases
roughly with the square root of weight while volume as the cube root.
Therefore, objects of roughly the same shape and material fall faster
the larger they are.

Rocks fall while rock dust remains suspended in the air for hours.
The two are, other than size, identical.

Lead shot and a feather do not fall at the same rate even in Pisa.

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
From: akins@flamingo.cis.ohio-state.edu (gregory adkins)
Subject: Re: Bike cops
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 12:03:12 GMT

In article <1992Aug21.192310.18663@access.usask.ca> choy@skorpio.usask.ca writes:
>Now that all these cities are getting bike cops, are they good at
>chasing bikers? Leave the motorbikes out.
>
>Henry Choy
>choy@cs.usask.ca

They just started having 2 pigs on bikes at Ohio State.  They
were quoted in the student newspaper as saying [paraphrased]
	"We hope we never have to chase a bicycle"

The first time I saw these cops they were wearing standard
issue black slacks and leather work shoes.  Since then
they have been given non-biking shorts and tennis shoes.
But I doubt if they could give anybody that rides 
more than 20 miles a week any serious competition.

When I was young I loved to run from cops in my car.
Now I don't like driving, so this seems like another
fun hobby.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Akins                            |  "Life may be not only meaningless,
akins@cis.ohio-state.edu              |    but absurd."  -Thomas Nagel

    ____O         __O      "Saturn Floats"
   _`___\-'      / /\_,               |
  (')\/(`)     ___/\                  |
                   /_                 |
--------------------------------------
From: tanner@sundog.nas.nasa.gov (Leigh Ann Tanner)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: L.A. Olympic velodrome
Date: 18 Aug 92 17:32:30 GMT
Reply-To: tanner@sundog.nas.nasa.gov (Leigh Ann Tanner)
Organization: Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation Facility NASA

In article <19579@fritz.filenet.com>, markt@felix.filenet.com (Mark Thomas) writes:
|> I have talked to some people that used to race there and they say that the
|> track is closed now and it looks like there will be no money to open
|> it up. It seems that the state budget has a major affect. :{
|> 
|> mark-justspin-thomas
|> 
|> 
Is this really true??  This is the Dominquez Hills velodrome??
They had some really great track programs.  It's really a nice
velodrome.

Leigh Ann
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leigh Ann Tanner                        Parallel Systems Support
NASA Ames Research Center M/S 258-6     Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000
tanner@sundog.nas.nasa.gov              (415) 604-4306
   __o            __o            __o            __o            __o
 _`\<,_         _`\<,_         _`\<,_         _`\<,_         _`\<,_
(_)/ (_)       (_)/ (_)       (_)/ (_)       (_)/ (_)       (_)/ (_)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles