[Advice on Dual Suspension Bike]

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

[Tygerberg MTB Trails]

30 minutes ago, AllAboutRides said:

Thank you for the info! Much appreciated

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

[Advice on Dual Suspension Bike]

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.

[Advice on Dual Suspension Bike]

9 hours ago, Me rida my bicycle said:

The Spaz sounds very tempting being 12spd and carbon but I think all that travel is going to climb like being on a trampoline, I might be wrong closest to that I have been on was a Reign and that was a tough 30 odd km's but it was also running on soft Minions.

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.

[Advice on Dual Suspension Bike]

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.

[[Event] Lourensford Classic]

5 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

Friend did this 2 or 3 years back in Stellenbosch, with a Scott with only 800km on the clock .... NO !! a hose pipe does NOT get the grit out of the bearings .... 

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.

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

23 hours ago, Spafsack said:

Seems more people ride 'road type' helmets or no peak helmets nowadays, why is this? 

for the same reason they wear lycra . . .  

[Best MTB towns in the Western Cape]

6 minutes ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

Banhoek, PLasir, Jonkers, Paarl Mountain reserve , Wellington

This will keep anyone busy for a loooooong time

[Cant personally Import SRAM anymore :(]

3 minutes ago, madmarc said:

Was more concerned about if they would geo block firmware updates 

I guess a VPN should allay those fears

[[Event] Lourensford Classic]

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.

[HUB Member for 3hrs - wants to buy my bike!?]

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. 

[Cape Town danger areas]

33 minutes ago, Spinnaroonie said:

Exactly! I've been avoiding riding into town/Camps Bay from Blouberg due to the N1 incidents lately. So I started going via this way to get into Durbanville for a new loop. Now this way is compromised too. 

Trying to be a well-rounded cyclist in Blouberg is becoming increasingly difficult. We have to ride far to get decent vert and most of our options are now tainted. 

It's a difficult pill to swallow that road cycling is dying a multipronged death. 

Gravel bike classifieds entered the chat... 

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.

 

[Where has your bike taken you today?]

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. 

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

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.

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

5 hours ago, MORNE said:

Sounds about right for anything Leatt 👀

They dont use the best Chinese child labour thats for sure.
 

All my leatt things were bin worthy after max a year of use. One jersey only lasted one wash before unraveling at the seams. I dont buy their things anymore. For the price you have plenty of options. 

Just bought a pair of clipless shoes from them. 😶

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

13 hours ago, SwissVan said:

 

It’s the washing machine

I sweat like a pig 🐽 and wash my helmet under the shower with hair shampoo. The liner stays in the helmet and still looks and smells like new. Helmet is at least 5 years old. Taking the liner out of the helmet every time is probably contributing to the damage.

My gloves go into the washing machine very occasionally, they never smell (well as far as I can smell….) but only for a cold wash with the lowest spin speed. I also alternate gloves having multiple pairs allows them time to dry properly indoors and not in direct sunlight.

 

 

I'll be using that shampoo tip. Thanks.

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

On 3/29/2024 at 1:09 PM, Zebra said:

Inexpensive shot of White vinegar into the washing machine drawer, IF the anti-bacterial wash is pricey, or finished; works wonders!
Chris

I tried that today. I'll admit to doubting the vinegar, but it actually worked as advertised. Even after a wash I could normally smell a faint whiff of sweaty odour, but not today. I chucked all my kit into the machine, gloves, shoes and the rest and they came out smelling fresh as daisies. Thanks for the advice. 

[Motorists vs Cyclists.... again]

My right leg muscles just about vanished after I broke my ankle and fibula. I started riding again after 3 months and within 6 months from the break the swelling reduced to a point of looking normal. For the next year I basically just rode weekends, but since I started training in January for the cycle tour both my legs regained muscle and tone to the same level I had before my manual induced break. So @'Dale I'm sure you will regain muscle, tone and strength within no time.

I also had to deal with PTSD back in 2016 after a crash put me in the trauma section at Durbanville Medi-Clinic. Upon a return visit to the CT scanner I remembered why I was there after regain consciousness after the crash in that same CT scanner. My whole body went through involuntary convulsions the second time that were so bad the assistant had to ask me to keep still. 

[Cape Town danger areas]

Well there goes that route. I used it every now and then to navigate through the boerewors curtain from the west coast side of town since cycling past Dunoon became a no-go. 

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

3 hours ago, lechatnoir said:

I'm afraid to ask the obvious.

to appease your mind. No, never.

What I have discovered that even with washing gloves immediately after every ride they still develop a pong after time. I use an anti-bacterial wash now that sorts out the smelly business.

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

2 hours ago, lechatnoir said:

yeah, the concept of finding your helmet in a darkened room by smell alone is a bad one....

that, and your gloves . . . when you realise you are breeding e-coli on your fingers  

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

3 hours ago, PhilipV said:

I rinse my helmets in the shower  after every ride. Haven’t replaced pads in 4 years. No soap, nothing. Just rinsing out the sweat.

I reckon its the washing machine killing the liner. My helmet is still new but in dire need of a new liner. Here's hoping Leatt have replacement stock.

 

[Song of the day, add your current favourite....]

This song just hit me in the feels. 1994 was a good one.
 

 

[Buying a new helmet. What you like and what you don't like]

Leatt also have something akin to MIPS which works well. I've had a few smacks and it dissipated the force each time.

One thing I would ensure is that the helmet you get has replaceable helmet liners. My current lid only came with one, and it is starting to fall apart from regular washing. It's about a year old.

[the unofficial Cape Epic 2024 thread]

7 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Unless people are now dropping out of the Epic due to heart attacks and strokes I call BS on the covid theory.

I never considered it as a possible reason until DieselNDust mentioned it, and it made me think, but as I typed my response I was thinking that would be the case since 2021 which clearly hasn't been.

Anyhow, I still have respect for anyone who starts the Epic and makes it all the way. I reckon as much as I believe I would ride it all, in all likelyhood I would be doing a fair bit of walking as well due to compound fatigue as Jewbacca said.

From the comfort of my couch something just riled me seeing all the people walking on the ST and that reminded me of a time I was exposed to similar doing Trailseeker events.

Now when it comes to trails, I ride the ones I want with my mates and barely anyone else, and that suits me fine. Kudos to anyone who loves the camaraderie in suffering a multi stage event.