Robbie Stewart

That was a lekker day, and the beers @MORNE , Andre, the dude standing on the side of the step-up and I had afterwards were epic as well. maybe we should have a get together at one of the aforementioned trails and have a good day out. Morne, Josh and rest of the crew will surely be up for it.

Actually yes, I would buy this Evil. It looks like it will be somewhat more stable on a loose, rutted gravel descent than the first sample you posted. I'm not sure about the comfort factor on a long ride being crouched over because of the reach on that layout, but you could potentially tweak the dropper post to find the sweet spot. As for that size S Trek, that just looks so cramped I'd be surprised if the poor people relegated to that frame won't be falling more often than anyone riding size M and up.

Glad to see I am not the only one seeing the potential for risk in a bike like that. But then, what is sexy to me is when the front wheel is stretched away from the front triangle, not brought closer. I was also wondering about the geometry on such a setup and how different a SML will ride compared to XL for instance. Sleepless nights for sure

My questions are rhetorical based on the picture at hand. I did read the article as well, and understand what is being implied. Just commenting on an observation. I am fully aware that the people building the frames and wheels know what they are doing, but I am more wondering aloud about how far engineering progression can be taken before it becomes unviable. The bike is purdy in a weird way, but I'd pass. Different strokes, different okes.

I'm curious looking at the pic posted by @splat. At what point is too big a thing? I mean, would those wheels be an option for someone riding a size small frame? Or how steep will the down tube have to be to accommodate the wheel without scraping against it? Will the chainstay length increase exponentially each time a frame sizes up? Will fork lengths increase to fit the new larger diameter wheels? When is enough just that, enough? I don't particularly think I like the look of that bike. It's like one of those ladies going for breast augmentation surgery and opts for the watermelons, thinking they make her look sexy. Instead it ends up causing spinal injury in addition to all the crude jokes that it started. Double fail to my mind. EDIT - And looking at the potential pedal placement at the 3 o'clock position, someone with big feet will need careful foot positioning to not scrape that tyre on a turn when the foot comes through the top stroke while pedaling. I would hate to be chucked OTB by my own foot while riding down a loose, gravelly descent trying to swerve for ruts in the road surface.

The only reason BS like this happens is because of 'we the people' who are willing to feed that monster by happily opening our wallets and forking out hard earned money to the unscrupulous sellers. Stop feeding the monster and it will die.

I was going to say this was a very refined "fyn brag" as well. I would love the opportunity to go ride something like that myself. I feel bad for @Renier though, as on his return, Tygerberm is just not going to cut it anymore, and even after a couple of rides down Jonkers and Tokai, he will want to sell up and head back to what he has discovered real mountainbiking to be.

She is a beaut, there's no denying that. 🤩

I needed to go find solitude to think through some personal obstacles. I felt at the time it was a very apt description. Dorstberg has always been my Achilles heel. Good place to get 'in the zone'.

That climb is a lung buster for sure. It definitely exposed some weaknesses in my armour. I lie, it exposed all of them. 😁 The descent is really fast. I actually found it quite fun. Riding that line well at speed is definitely a skill. Everything doesn't have to be gnarly to be fun for sure. I wanted to go up for a second go but I was knackered by the time I finished my first lap. I think that this particular climb and descent is a good candidate for building mad fitness. I will be back.

It's been nearly 3 years since the last visit. Today was all about getting out on my own to clear my head and reset my focus. The green cathedral helped.

Condolences.

I ride with Fox MX gloves. Im on my second pair in 2 years only because the old pair had a pong to them that I couldn't get rid of. At least that was until I discovered anti bacterial washing fluid. They last and are robust for protection against scraping and falls. I have no issue to use the glove to wipe sweat from my brow either. Being MX gloves they are not as flimsy as MTB gloves, yet I still have good feel and connection with the bar grips during a ride, particularly when riding rough trails. www.go-mx.co.za

I am not sure I'd want to ride downhill on a hardtail. But maybe not even enduro. I will just like to ride some black and deep blue trails on a bike like that for the pure raw fun it looks like it wants to have. I won't build up a bike of that nature to go ride flowy, meandering singletrack on manicured trails. That might just bore me to tears.

I'm guessing here, but that bike doesn't strike me as caring about going fast. It looks more like it wants to do a full frontal assault on as much tech as it can gobble up during a ride. To me resembles the kind of bike that wants to get rowdy, party bike style.

I made it to the top of Rhino 2 just in time for the bunch to get there from the bottom of Happy Hops. Ended up settling for beer and pizza as well. At least I got me a lekker Leatt helmet and some Deathgrips for a bargain, so it was a fun day out.

I got spat out the back by all the eBikers on Conties day. Made the mistake to try keep up on the first switchback climb. I nearly had a coronary event. Dunno if I'm willing to do that to myself again. The lesson I learnt on that day was to not ride with eBikers if you're Amish.

Just watched your Insta of the Rhino rock garden @440MTB. I recall that day as I was one of those "unknown soldiers" that stopped by you because of the mud that got flung in my eye. I also ride with @MORNE on the odd occasion. On the day we just dropped in from Rhino 1. It was tons of fun. I ride a Spez Camber 120 on everything the WC has offered, from every Tygerberg line to every Jonkers line apart from Status Quo and Plumber to Witfontein to Bloemendal to Meerendal to Plaisir Flow and everything inbetween. Do I feel under biked? No. Do I want a new bike? Heck yeah! Today the Trek Slash 8 caught my eye. I've decided to let the feeling blow over and let sanity prevail. I'll rethink that choice in the new year again. My experience was that my skills have markedly improved riding what I have now to the point that I am comfortable and confident on any line, jump etc. that is typical to the Cape. Now, I can take my time to calmly decide what bike would be best suited for my skills and the terrain we have available to ride.

funny story time with a lesson to boot. So a mate recently buys the new bike. Goes tubeless on the stock tyres and keeps saying how he is going to upgrade that rubbish Veetire rubber to proper Maxxis tyres. Yet, het never quite does it. On Sunday, we choose the most direct route to the top of Contermans by the mast to drop in on Rhino 1. Hike a bike time due to the severe angle of elevation. Less than a minute after dropping in, I hear him yell at me he blew his rear tyre on the rocks. No spares, tubes or otherwise assistance. Hike a bike time back to the car. His ride was from the mast drop in to the scene of the crime just after the rhino 1 drop-in. the lesson? tubeless works best on proper rubber. cheapest is not always best.

Whatever you end up buying, you MUST get a helmet. Don't skimp on the helmet. It is THE one most Important bit of kit you need to have. Having had a few concussions, one serious, I will be the first one to advise you to get the best one you can afford. Concussions are no joke. 7 years since my big crash and I still have lingering after affects.

This is one of the reasons I only ever buy new parts, unless I know first hand where the parts are sourced from. Even better if I know the bike the parts come off of i.e. a buddy or someone they know.

same.

I was insured with Budget in the 00's. I finally paid off the vehicle I was driving at the time and bought a second car for the wife. Long story short, after negotiations and threatening to leave my insurance premium was lowered to match the much cheaper quote I got elsewhere for the new car. A few months later I end up in an accident with the paid off car. I get recovered and the next day I receive a phone call from Dial Direct (which I was migrated to by Budget at the time of lowering the premiums) informing me I only have 3rd party cover and am unable to claim for damages. Months of endless back and forth asking them why I am suddenly on 3rd party after being on comprehensive ever since I bought the car, they reckon that when they quoted me the lowered premium it was on 3rd party and not comprehensive. I ended up walking away from the fight, lost a car and changed insurance to Santam because I knew where the broker lives, and told him as much. Since 2008 I have been with Santam and not once have I had claim issues. I won't be changing to these brand insurers ever again.

Taking advantage of zero wind. Getting the big jumps dialled.

If I vreet a couple of pies and don't take a dump for a week I'll be almost two of yous. 🤣