ChrisF

How do you store your cordless tools between projects ? And the batteries, when not on the charging rack ? and NO .... on a pile is not OCD compliant ...🤪 Similarly, when tacking 3 or 4 of these tools to a site to wrap up a project fitment .... how do you package it for transport ? Having added the belt hooks, it no longer fits in the original boxes. And the larger carry bags is just one open compartment with everything scraping over each other ....

I had to choose between the Giant Revolt and the Merida .... the Merida looked good with the internal cables, but I am not buying into that maintenance nightmare. I am using the FORZA out-front mount for the Garmin, with the light below it. It has a slight upward angle on the install, keeping everything clear above the cables.

As noted by most posts above - your riding conditions and temperatures are critical to the correct answer. In Bellville it seldom gets to single digits ... BUT, 5km from home the R300 dips at Hazendal and the temperatures dips even faster. Often down to degrees, seldom below 3 degrees. The trick being that 5km further it is back at 9 or 10 degrees, then just heating up from there for the rest of the ride. I have started these rides with full finger gloves, just to put it in my pack after 10 or 15km ... then again, these rides typically mean I am going to take of layers of clothing as well. So I got the Mule hydration pack for the extra storage. This only applies to 100+km rides in the winter. (which I should be doing now in preparation for Augrabies) At Augrabies it is a whole different ball game !!!! Starting in 3 to 4 degrees celcius .... add wind chill and those firts 5 km are a slow defrost session .... by the first water point the script has flipped, reaching 10 to 15 degrees and heating up to low 20's. Thankfully they have the option where we can take of layers, put it in a bag on the back of a bakkie and pick it up back at the finish point. So For Augrabies I start with latex gloves, then full finger gloves over that ... It stops the freezing ... BUT !!! After a few km your fingers start sweating, so you stop and remove the latex and use the gloves to the first or second water point, depending on how it heats up. Then again, with those thorn tree bushes - best to keep those full finger gloves on !! I am noting the feedback about the First Accent thermal inners ... will try this for Augrabies. (can only be better than the latex .... that is only an emergency measure, and only for the worst of the cold)

The real irony .... Around here one of those "parents" is a fellow cyclist who has to provide input on event safety and event permits .... In Noordhoek it is also a fellow cyclist who is one of the volunteer health and safety officers for the World Champs and fun rides who has to provide input on the days and hours leading up to the start gun ...

Swartberg also closed Not sure if it was possible to do N2 - Swellendam - Ashton - Montagu - Koo - N1 .... one heck of a detour and no alternative if any section got blocked ....

Sucks to be an organiser. Even if they could get detours for the route .... they NEED an event permit. 1. These detours would most likely not be accessible to emergency services 2. With a "state of emergency" declared, emergency services are barely coping, so Council can hardly justify assigning staff to a sports event during this time. SUCKS to be a paid up participant !!! Even worse for those that already booked and paid for travel and accommodation .... And then the reality hits when a Hubber's sister has to be recued by boat off her house's roof this morning (granted, closer to Worcester). All round these storms have reaked havoc.

Saturday morning. Maritz on the bike, me on foot outside Koringberg

Sure, the Crux IS a good bike. In fairness, you will make most ordinary bikes look good RESPECT on your progress over the last 5+ years !!

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/859716/big-changes-for-discovery-vitality-in-south-africa/

My heart agrees 100% ..... but then .... I have to drive out to sites a few times a week. When my schedule allows I LOVE to commute by bike !! Then again, only 4,8km, with only only one climb to get over the N1. I can decide to PR it and arive drenched in sweat, or I can idle along and get to work with hardly any sweat. Quick basin wipe down and some deodorant does the job. After work ..... nothing like a bad meeting to help you smash all your PB's ..... More often than not the return trip includes some extra distance, often 30 to 40km return trip. On the odd occasion I have a morning meeting the Cape CBD .... Every moment in the car I am doing the maths how much quicker I would get to Town on my bicycle .... except there is no safe route. On a super positive note .... every so often I get to schedule my meetings in remote spots, from Noordhoek to Stellenbosch to Villiersdorp, heck even Hermanus .... bike in the car time .... Nothing like doing Hemel and Aarde trails, or a lap around the Theewaterskloof dam, or G-spot, or even half an Argus after work .... by the time the ride is done I get to drive back home after peak traffic.

Never is a lonnnnggggg time. Thankfully I dont have the patience for that spinning wheel .... though I have a few gifts from friends who bought it from Temu

RESPECT !!! And they finished in a good time

I wanted to answer to this post on Thursday .... Friday's traffic, mid day and again in the afternoon .... it is downright scary how how bad VEHICLE our road behaviour has become : - road rage - total absent minded behaviour (even without visible signs of a phone or similar) - yes, the phones - total disregard for traffic lights .... I am getting scared to slow down for an orange light, three cars behind me still drive casually over the by then red robot - aaaaagggg ... we all know the long list .... Taxis ... around here it is (being optimistic) a 50/50 change of getting a decent driver vs a camacazy pilot ..... but being big blocks they are reasonably visible and we can mostly pre-empt the expected bad behaviour. The bit that sits bad with me .... our very own neighbours that are adopting the taxi's bad habits .... Cars vs cars is becoming a nightmare ..... The very sad reality .... these same bad drivers dont care about other cars, they care even less about a scratch or some cyclist blood on their fender ..... It is yet another piss up weekend, sorry a "long weekend" ..... PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE For all our shared sentiments on this topic .... as a nation we are drifting further and further from a safe solution for ALL ROAD USERS.

No photo can explain the VIBE in the park when the cyclist move in for the weekend. From toddlers to grand parents .... push bikes to full carbon racing machines .... For those that dont know the area .... MARCHAND is more of a district than a typical "town". It is roughly half way between Kakamas and Augrabies falls. So if the family rocks up for a sports weekend and stay at Augrabies, it is just a few minutes to get the kids to their event. The next two days the FUN is at Augrabies .... PS - Marchand butchery is GOOD !!! PPS - I spoke with Ree Straus earlier this week. There are a still a couple of open spots. NIKE - "Just DO it"

LOVE this photo .... If this is your other hobbie .... be sure to visit Augrabies Technically a few km West of Augrabies, but that whole area is prime for this hobby

As a real weekend rider .... met lang pote .... (and riding with feet a bit forward on the pedals ... jip, ja, daar is redes ...) I regularly struggle with toe-overlap. I quickly started testing for toe-overlap before checking any other bike specs. ONCE got the fright of my life at Stairway-to-Heaven. Was still very new at trails, and very unfit ... third switchback .... struggling to keep momentum and managing the switchback climbs ... next moment I cant straighten the bike .... still dont know how I did not fall over. A longer bike quickly solves that issue .... IF you can reach the bars with some degree of comfort .... Ironically, my gravel bike has very significant toe-overlap .... and is a stretched out fit .... but perfect for its purpose. I do know that I am VERY aware of the toe-overlap when I have to negotiate any tight turns. Any day at the schools MTB racing you find many kids on new bikes, all stretched out trying to navigate the tight turns. Barely managing the stand over height .... make no mistake, the smile al the way. It just looks like they still need to grow into the bike ..... before long we will smile quietly looking at the same, knowing the adult wont ever grow into the bike .... In fairness ..... my riding buddy at a solid 2,05m (6'9") would finally look proportionally correct on a bike.

Maybe a photo, to help guide answers to your model. "Wheel on" trainer? It should have an adjustable magnetic resistance system.

Getting more and more difficult to buy a "high end" 26" bike .... relegated to kids bikes .... sucks for the shorter adults @Scary Rider @Silver rider

+1 for Irma The first half of the fitment is YOU ... your mobility, your flexibilty .... then a fitment that considers YOU on your bike. Roughly 35km from Paarl, well worth it.

Winter has crept up on us .... Few weeks back I was enjoying a sun rise along the same route, Polkadraai, at the same time.

I love my 27,5 MTB .... On a 29" I must run a short dropper post.

Pretty safe to say ..... I will still be too short for a 32"....

And "gravel bikes" ...

Hey .... Irma stays right here on our doorstep .... You are welcome this side of the boerewors curtain 🤣

+3 for Irma