Robbie Stewart

I just want to run the cassette in the mid range on the spare wheel on the Melkbos cycle path which is as flat a road as you could hope to get. I don't see why it should need fiddling around with the limit screws. That will effectively turn my bike into a second bike using a different cassette on faster gravel tyres for week day rides which I need to start doing again. I just don't want to do it on my trail rubber.

12 speed rd with an 11 speed cassette on HG hub. So if I read you correct it's a no?

Thanks, I guess . I saw some sexy bikes though.

Yep. Assegai maxxgrip upfront. Soon to be DHR II at the back. 💸💸💸 In a moment of weakness I gave a perfectly rideable HT hanging on my garage wall to my nephew. I guess I need a second bike again. It's going to be fun convincing wifey. Perhaps I should just buy a set of gravel tyres and fit them to the set of Spez Roval wheels I have in storage and use them as the midweek wheels. Here's a hack and bodge question. Would an 11 speed GX cassette fit a NX Eagle derailleur? Mmmmm.

In COVID year I was probably the fittest I've ever been since I was averaging about 150km per week, but the last two years I've been riding mostly trail only on weekends and no more midweek riding due to a mad work schedule that doesn't really allow morning rides. (At least that's what I'm telling myself and I'm sticking with that). I know I need to increase my riding frequency but shees tyres are expensive these days so just going for a tar dash is not something I'm super keen on.

I'm of the opinion that an e-bike is what I need. For me climbing is merely an evil necessity for the reason I'm riding in the first place, which is the descent bit. The only reason I go up is so that I can go back down again. If I can do that more often in a session I'll be happier. Yesterday I was the one not stopping whenever the train stopped so that I can maybe join in for one ride down. I managed to descend Supertubes alone and then continued on to Rhino in time to see everyone come up from the bottom of Happy Hops. By which time I was tanked. Either don't ride with e-bikes, or join them on one yourself. My average was about 8kph on the mix of ascent and descent. That brings perspective into crystal clear focus.

My rug rat made her grand entrance just as I hit 42. I'm confined to riding analogue for a while yet while she gets schooled. Yesterday though as I was riding up Contermans in a train of e-bikes made me realise how awesome they are.

I concur. Thank you to @Warren Melissa Go Riding for hosting such a fun day. It was a jol and indeed something that can become a regular feature. I'm looking forward to more days like this. Also thanks to The Trail Store Bloemendal for the pop-up shop. I was in the market for a new lid and some grips and managed to score some good deals on great kit. Win win. lastly thanks to Rob Starke for the fun day. What did I learn on the day? Trying to ride up that 'mountain' in a train full of e-bikes is just looking for trouble. So either I need to get fit or get an e-bike... What a blast of a day.

So the long term forecast for next weekend predicts gale force wind on Saturday and hard rain for Sunday morning. Yay.

Trail maintenance is a thing. Iron Monkey has been receiving some TLC of late. It has only been closed over the course of the last two weekends. Prior to that I have been riding down there plenty.

I saw that too. I mean next to JH, Witfontein is probably the closest rendition to true, raw mountain biking. This leads me to believe that the general MTB community in South Africa are in reality just glorified gravel riders and steer well clear of anything remotely technical. That's cool, people must do what they feel good at, but I would say that Witfontein is severely under-rated.

Partially true. There is a lekker loop of around 10km that doesn't require climbing that goes up the valley on the one side and back again on the other along the bottom around the dam. It's pretty much flat. but the marathon crowd must also know that around Jan / Feb all the pro's from Europe and beyond congregate in Stellies and can often be spotted lurking around the trails in the area, including Jonkers. So . . . if the pro's ride there, then the marathon types must start putting their skin the game if they want to walk the talk.

The last 10 times I swung a leg over my saddle, 7 of those 10 times was at Jonkers according to the orange oracle of stats. But yes, no matter how often or how infrequently one goes, that place is just special. And also, Hylton Turvey has his hand in the building that has happened there, so there's that for all the die-hard Karkloof disciples.

JH also has plenty lycra on any given day mixing it up with the #Endurobro crowd. There are trails ranging from green to blue to red to black. There is gnar, jank, flow, steep up, steep down, gravel and even hiking with some mind blowing scenery. It doesn't matter what you ride, just that you ride there at least once. You will find any mix of cyclist there, even the odd roadie that rode up the valley from Stellies for a cuppa.

just . . . how? How on earth do you ride past Jonkers and not ride there? Banhoek is literally on the other side of the mountain. Paarl is just up the road. Also, there is literally an Enduro there next Sunday. Do the right thing.

I came across a list of the Top MTB Trails in SA, and was eager to see what it was about. What caught me off-guard was the very bold statement about the winner which got me thinking, 'based on what criteria is the winner determined?' and what does the rest of South Africa think about the claims? https://www.topmtbtrails.co.za/ This bit is what caught my attention: We have encountered passionate mountain bikers throughout South Africa (mainly in the Western Cape, to be honest) who think their local trails are the ultimate flow. While this is great in terms of local support, it’s not true. Only those who have ridden these trails will understand trail flow’s real meaning – and feeling. And unless you have travelled to Karkloof and ridden those trails properly, you cannot make any claims like this without expecting to be corrected by anyone whose biking life the Karkloof trails have enhanced. Truly, Karkloof is SA’s best mountain biking trail. *disclaimer - I am not swaying the decision either way, I am merely curious about the bold statements made in the segment about the winner. Haven't ridden there, so can't really agree or not. And without further ado . . . fight! (not really)

Bicycle laboratory doesn't really count as a bike shop

Saturday was something else! That wind at times resembled e-bike turbo assist and at other times it wanted to kill you. Dropping into Monkey 1 was spicy as the wind was trying very hard to body slam me into the side of the mountain. I don't mind the wet, but the wind must please back off on the day.

have I just been appropriated?

That would suffice. Low rolling resistance with enough tread to keep the rubber side down and not get caked with mud at the inevitable river crossings.

To be fair, building a downhill line requires a mountain. Mine heaps don't count. On another technical point, can Gautengers claim to be "mountain biking" in the absence of mountains, or is it simply a case of gravel riding disguised as mountain biking. Points to ponder. . .

I mean, yeah sure the more the knobs the less the speed, but unless your name is Matt Beers or Nino Schurter then who cares anyway. More knobblies equals more fun.

Good to hear. It's going to be a big day out for sure. Excitement level 10 already.

@MORNE How is that shoulder of your's doing?

Now this intrigues me. What about them makes them Handle Badly? Under what conditions is this statement made?