Robbie Stewart

I was riding up to the mast climb from Supertubes, and by the tree just before the big ascent starts a guy and his girlfriend were sitting on the trail fiddling with one of the bikes. Silly me rides up to them and asks them if they need help. At that stage the big guy stands up and asks me for my day pass. He never said anything else. For a split second I was starting to drool at the thought, and then decided he wasn't worth it, and duly presented my permit to be on the hallowed ground I was on.

I stand under correction, but is there not a board up that says this route is strictly members only?

Where can I buy tickets and popcorn to accompany my Black Rhino Stout while I watch this movie?

Some Rhino, Cobra, Hammer action sounds like a jol. I'm keen.

Now that is a welcome bit of news. Dunno how I missed it, but you learn something new every day.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO ? ! ?

If I want to ride both Conties and Hoogies on the same day then that means two day passes - with no traverse between them other than the tar road - and that puts me in a space where I can justify just as well going to ride elsewhere like Stellenbosch or Tokai side. Inevitably meh trails lose out to more exotic lines elsewhere. disclaimer - 'meh' because more of the same old same old gets boring after a time. The trails themselves (Hoogies / Conters) aren't meh - the rest on the other hand . . .

Same. I have been riding away from the local trails more this year than being local, to the point I'm debating the merit in even acquiring a new board. I don't see the value proposition anymore. I pay my day pass at either Hoogies or Conties, and that's it. I still leave happy.

What I do prefer for Bottelary over Tygerberg is that my day pass allows me full access. Tygerberg system is a day pass per farm only. Those trails are fun. You get some proper distance and elevation in when riding there, admittedly it's more a XC type environment, but there is nothing wrong with that. The mix of farm roads and jeep track and single track make it an enjoyable day out and as @BuffsVintageBikes says, that breakfast comes well earned.

I'm curious. What about Bottelary do you prefer more? I used to ride there often with my boet, but he has not been riding since about 2018 so I no longer venture there. I also enjoyed the trail network.

Wait, what!?! There are other farms in the network?

https://bike-addict.co.za/products/titan-skyrim-dash-2024?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=d065f73d8&pr_rec_pid=9075364430121&pr_ref_pid=9075172573481&pr_seq=uniform R37990 https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/dual-suspensions/products/titan-cypher-rs-dash-2024?_pos=21&_fid=6b316d815&_ss=c R33990

The trails haven't changed that much in the time you've been away. Some new additions to Bloemendal and Hoogekraal and Meerendal. Like Chris says, take it easy first ride out and you should be fine. As for riding groups, reach out to the Slow Coach group on Vleisboek for a group of riders who never leave anyone behind. Also there is another Warren & Melissa Go Riding group ride starting at Bloemendal on Saturday which is usually well attended and you're likely to meet a bunch of people there you can ride with. Also, the beer is great after the ride. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=436982702182107&set=a.176988554848191

hi @StaticX Maybe post some links of the bikes you fancy here and we can advise you more accurately. I am around 1.88 and I ride XL. I have often wondered about perhaps riding L but when I sit on one it feels cramped. Maybe, go to a bike shop and sit around on a few sizes between L and XL and see what feels better. Nothing worse than getting an ill-fitting bike that you spend hours on and start feeling cramped in the cockpit.

My Stumpy EVO on Fox 36 160mm / Float X 150mm climbs better than my 120mm Camber. I'm not sure if the mullet setup and 30t chain ring has something to do with it, but that bike is such an easy climber I'm shocked. More so since all the YT reviews say it's a pig in the climbs. The downside is that due to the 30 t ring it spins out super quick meaning I'm permanently in the highest gear.

The Pyga and the Trek are bikes that will handle trail riding and climbing more efficiently. They will descend well enough, but not like the Specialized Enduro. The Enduro, although being able to climb, is geared more towards the gravity spectrum. It wants to descend quickly, and then let's you climb back up the hill again for another go at the descent, but that ascent will be slow going. Decide what type of riding speaks loudest before you dole out the cash. Buy the bike that caters to your intended riding style. All mountain bikes are not equal in that regard. It's pointless buying a cross country bike if you want to ride technical gravity lines, just like an Enduro / Downhill bike will be horrible doing a full day marathon.

That's a HARD NO for me as well. I see mud, I don't ride. I recall so many people having to replace drive trains after the 2019 Karoo to Coast after gritting it out to Knysna in torrential rain and near freezing temps. Many bikes nearly died that day. And then, that grit gets onto your suspension and starts killing your stanchions and seals. Nee dankie. Ek hou verby.

for the same reason they wear lycra . . .

This will keep anyone busy for a loooooong time

I guess a VPN should allay those fears

I rode Lourensford in 2014 when they had an event there on the Epic final day. I recall it being just one long uphill slog. Also, scenes on TV from last year's Epic with all the rain, mud, and hike-a-bikery informs me that the drainage there is a pig that should be avoided on wet days.

I've been on bike hub since forever. I have yet to buy or sell anything on here. But just in case it hasn't been said yet, use Bike hub pay.

I did my first attempt at heading to the west of the V&A yesterday via the N1. I started riding down the cycle path and by the time I passed Milnerton flea market I kept on going. At the Caltex I was about to turn when a roadie passed me. I decided on a whim to follow him and ended up on the N1. Nearly poo'd myself when a container lorry passed me so close I could reach out and touch it. After that I found myself under the elevated freeway and after some twists and turns discovered the way to the entrance to the V&A past The Yacht Club. From then on I rode onwards to the top of Suikerbossie before turning around - in hind sight, I regret not carrying on to Chapmans. As I said, that was my first attempt and I actually enjoyed it immensely. I so wish it was a more viable route. Maybe one day. For elevation, I go and ride the trails around Tygerberg, Stellenbosch and Tokai in the weekends. During the week, I ride the cycle path to Melkbos and just ride at tempo to keep the legs fired up. It works for me, but yeah, I wish we had more variety.

I cycled down the road heading Melkbos way, but then I took a left rather than the usual right heading to town via the west coast cycle path and the N1 ( which was super stressful when a container truck passed me with less than 1m of separation), and found myself at the top of Suikerbossie. The waves looked good enough to go for a swim.

I watched a fellow rider go down hard on the Leatt skills park this morning resulting in concussion and some minor abrasions to his chin from pushing the dirt with his face. His helmet was not full face and that led to his chin pushing dirt. The nature of the crash meant that concussion was always going to be on the cards regardless of helmet type. I didn't explicitly catch what brand it was, but for some reason I'm thinking it was Leatt.