Trackz

Have read all your accounts multiple times over the years I have been following FC. Its the writing up of the stories of the trial that get people fired up and inspired to go see for themselves. Well done!

Race to Rhodes this year (first 6 days of FC) at a touring pace. Blogging the journey here makingtrackz.wordpress.com for some insights.

Looking for a team entry for Trans Baviaans 2014. I am aware of the wait list but not sure if that's the only option. Please send me a message or just post here if you by chance have an entry you may not require. Happy to cover transfer costs if applicable. My apology if this has been posted in the incorrect forum/topic. Happy to move it.

Was the issue settled amicably last night? There is a very deep passion for this amazing event with those who live, eat, dream and when the stars align get to experience it. My guess is those who own and those who traverse this land probably love and treasure it equally. Really hope the 4 hour indaba last night was concluded with coffee and "nog enetjie".

Here's food for thought ... been riding the 24h hub/rim for about a year now on my Specialized Epic 2007. I put the new Crest/Hope wheel on tonight ... and it was scratching against the frame ... on closer inspection I notice my rear horisontal stay has cracked on both sides. Any correlation ... 24h wheel vs frame crack?

Smile at JB. I think you hit the nail on the head ... sentiment! I still have my 1985 Le Turbo road bike and 30kg Peugeot tandem! Thanks for the discussion, for now I can't wait to get the Hope hub rolling later today!

Anyone know the railway section from Mamelodi - Rayton - Bronkhorstspruit? Safety?

Some good replies thanks. JB: Yip, agree, I'm building a new wheel as you suggested, Crest with Hope Pro 2 32h but the 819 is such a nice rim it's a sin to toss it so want to fix it & use as a spare. Some suggest the triple lacing 16/8 spoke split may even be stronger than a 16/16, only problem off course is when a spoke goes the wheel is very skew! Worth a try just to be different, its a spare anyway.

Slick - You are probably right re those XT hubs, took me many places but been through 3 of them! Like your idea of a different 24 hub, any sugegstions?

Anyone tried this? I have a Mavic 819 24h rim and cannot find a suitable 24 hub so thinking of getting a 32h so as not to waste the 24h 819 rim. I read about triplet lacing and people that have done it but I'll probably mess it up. Who's tried this? Did it work sufficiently?

anyone?

From experience with helmet cams the past few years ... you need several mounts as per above advice. Terribly boring to watch a beautiful piece of singletrack for 60 minutes. Use the mounts/gorillapod as suggested and change the mount and shot angle every 5 mins, yes I know, stop/go affair. At the end you'll have some variation and enough material to produce yourself a 5-10min clip of your ride. Benefit is you'll have a clip you like to watch yourself. If you don't you'll end up with hours of boring footage on your 3TB HD that you never watch. Kind of knowing you have nice memories stored somwhere but too difficult to go find.My 2c.

Somewhere along the way I have ended up with a Mavic 819 24h rear wheel and a matching XT Hub. Hub has worn out & looking for a replacement. Will much appreciate assistrance with a 24h XT hub.

I only trust Finish Line & Summit Cycles. Rest all on black list. Simple! I treat them badly, give them a messed up bike, want it done tomorrow and for free ... They respond by taking their time and giving me no discount :-) ... but when I have an emergency they make a plan to help out and most importantly give me back a proper working bike which is all I want ... so I'm happy to do the 200km round trip!

Too many people finishing, they should make it even tougher, next thing people are going to want tar roads & ski lifts to get to the top ;-). Seriously, if you go to Sabie what do you expect other than long big climbs, warm temperatures and long days in the saddle. Embrace it and earn the bragging rights! Well done to everyone that finished ... now go and brag to your friends!

Was talk before FC but he actually didn't use the Alfine in the end, untried & unnecessary risk at the time. Best to ask him direct now.

+3 will bring hand tools, unfortunately nothing petrol driven

If the Freedom Challenge (www.freedomchallenge.org.za) had to cancel riding due to weather and safety the race would probably never even start. Temperatures of -15C, whiteout snow conditions, rain for days, portgaging over mountains for full days more than once, riding through the night, getting lost, no water points, no massage girls, etc. PS: I am not a FC rider but it kind of sets the standard for me. Personally I only ride if the temperature is between 15-20C and if it doesn't rain and if there is cloud cover and cell phone reception so I can access Facebook. Please excuse me now, my bubble bath is ready.

Dear Tokai regulars I am in CPT every 2nd week & want to ride Tokai during the weeks I am there. Will appreciate some advise: - what times during the week the trials are open, morning & afternoon? - do I need to first get a permit or something to ride there or does one just pitch & ride - does same apply to hiking? Much appreciated

At the risk of sounding silly ... (but been there) ... if you rode hands free you would not have the problem so it may well be related to pressure on the grips, ie too much pressure from leaning onto the handle bars too hard, could be a weak core (very common amongst cyclists), could be saddle position/height. You don't need an expert to set up your bike to be honest, there are 2 or 3 basics but we are not all built the same so sometimes it takes an inch this way or that way to find comfort or optimal power transfer. Try playing with your setup & see if you can find a way to reduce the pressure on your hands without making yourself uncomfortable in another area. Enjoy. It's part of the journey.

Have 2 tyre options (one dry, one wet), check forecast day before you travel down, fit most appropriate tyre set. If it rains & muddy you want narrow tyres (1.9") with big spaces so you can still ride while the 2.2" chaps are swearing & throwing their bikes into the sugar cane fields (yip, seen that more than once).

I have worked out a 3-4 day off-road mostly ride from Pretoria East to Sabie/White River I am planning to do in the near future, was planning to ride solo but it's always nice to have company. If anyone's planning 3-4 day rides from Pretoria-East please let me know - must be mainly off-road, tar only to connect and then I ride next to the road. I'll be keen to join.

Entered!

Have run non-UST tyres on non-UST rims for past 5 years. I am not particularly careful on the tyres, hit rocks & ride over them so sidewalls always at risk. - Geax Saguaro 2.2 running at 1.1bar, no issues at all and tyres approaching end of life. Team RE had same experience, just a bit heavy when you portgage ;-). - Crossmarks seem popular but I had many punctures, incl sidewall. One of few non-UST tyres with a sidewall thick enough to risk running without a tube. - Kenda Karma also no issues despite Kenda warnings re Stans. - Specialized ...Fast Track somethings??? ... useless ... sidewall delamination during first 1000km. Going at speed ... non-UST combos around SA every Saturday - perhaps an exception? Bottom line ... there are bullet proof non-UST setups around - ask around & you will find something that works for you.

Glad you are ok after it all. Personally I think it's worth sacrificing a drive chain for a story like that .