Zebra

…and nothing wrong - whatsoever - with looking at a 2x setup, either; actually allows a better chain-line run, in many cases, though 1x is very much in vogue presently, and has its own benefits, etc. Paradoxically, the history of MTB was 1x (old school), then 2x, the the TRIPLE ring was invented, so…..much later……1x was, er, re-introduced! (the Cynic’s view to drive train development!)

the BIKE RADAR website has some good tips on achieving a good fit; at 187cm, you are mostly in XL territory, but let’s see what the hub says… Bike size Frame size Rider height Extra-small 13-14in 152-162cm (5ft – 5ft 4in) Small 14-16in 162-170cm (5ft 4in – 5ft 7in) Medium 16-18in 170-178cm (5ft 7in – 5ft 10in) Large 18-20in 178-185cm (5ft 10in – 6ft 1in) Extra-large 20-22in 185cm plus (6ft 1in plus)

I like your thinking about the water bottles - or another item, that is not 'sized' in a size-break; that will be easier, and even IF you have two different sizes, that is simpler that a clothing-type line. Maybe consider ASKING on the Hub what locally-manufacturable item is in short supply, or what people cannot find, and consider that? But yes, your water bottle idea might be solid - I feel like there are DOZENS to choose from out there, but that may not be the case! Cheers Chris

Fixed it for you. 😉

I wonder if there is not an easier route, to make something useful/quality for local cycling, rather than socks? Or do you have ACCESS to sock-making? Reason I say this is the following: 1. I know of no pre-existing ‘gap’ in the market, thought there may well be one, but price and /or quality and design/fit is always sought after -will your socks have a USP? 2. Wearables need to be SIZED, whereas a non-wearable ‘accessory’ is a bit MORE one-size-works-for all (broad brush strokes, I know). For socks, you would theoretically need minimum 4 sizes; 2 Male, 2 Female; female socks are rather different to male socks… 3. then adding in a few different designs, some that will sell, some that will likely ‘sit’, your inventory ‘width’ can ramp up very, very quickly. 4. You may well have easy access to affordable sock-making technology, that would be a definite plus. 5. Good luck! I am in a lightly-similar industry (motorcycle clothing and accessories), and we find keeping size-and color-breaks MUCH more work than say stocking a Silver crash bar, and one Black crash bar, finish and Klaar! YMMV. (meaning if you make a ‘widget’ a bicycle shop can stock 1 or 2 or 3, whereas socks will require OUTLAY, to carry a size-break, a male-female break, and then different patterns, etc) But good luck, fascinated to watch your progress! Cheers Chris

…known buyer…? THIS ONE CASE seems more ‘solvable’, with resources, and resolve, than say the ‘Mountain Mugger’, for example… who knew HOW to get hold of ‘not so nice people’? who paid whom for the hand-over of the stolen/returned bike… and was a case opened prior to phone calls being made? Chris

Johann, I don’t think this is the solution for your needs, but I previously have under-slung a 500w battery underneath my down tube, and have it currently mounted ABOVE (on) the down tube, meaning, in theory at least, one COULD ride with a regular battery both above and below the down tube, esp. if your frame has water bottle mountings underneath the down tube… sounds dodgy, but it was well secured, with an additional safety strap… …on lightly aggressive off-road, the tyre would occasionally brush the battery case (!), but would NOT interfere on-road whatsoever.….JUST putting it out there, for interest sake… 1st pic under, 2nd pic above…

…and if you wish to SEE an innovative range-extender, from Scott bikes, then this clip shows how they work, easy on, easy off! https://www.scott-sports.com/za/en/lumen …range-extender shown at 1min25 seconds… Cheers Chris

This chap did 120km, in 4:10 minutes, and 962m elevation, on a single battery; CTCT has 1200 meters elevation, but is 11-odd km shorter, just food for thought. what he says about not REGULARLY running an eBike battery below 10%-20% holds water, I think, unsure what ChrisF thinks about doing a deepish discharge ONCE?

Keen to learn who the 3 good local builder are, thanks Chris

ChrisF has way more experience than I do, having different KIND of E-Bikes, as well as having extra battery(s)…for longer races, tours, etc. that said, have had my converted eBike for 6+ years, and I only have the single battery, and I think You, Johann, could have a fun CHALLENGE (and save R20-R30k!) using JUST the one battery, and setting yourself THAT challenge; complete CTCT on one battery! I have done 80km on one battery before, with a small reserve left over, so it may be doable, AND, you could test your one-battery strategy before the time, by cycling nearly the same route, and an identical distance, and see how you go?! THAT seems like a fair challenge, since in any case, you cannot go faster than 4h10 minutes anyway, so you could practice some battery management, and see how you go; only real ‘bump’ after Suikerbossie is the very-doable Camps Bay to Clifton bump, and then flattish to finish. I say save R20-R30k, since you only want extra battery for this ONE race, and work out your strategy! Chris

Update, please, on the durability, Guido, after 9 months? thhanks Chris

Same question…

Wow, I occasionally commute (30km one way, then bike in van on return journey home) with one of those FREEBIE Two-Oceans-type ‘drawstring’ backpack, I reckon all my work gear: a T-shirt, u/pants, socks, shorts, and ultra-light shoes (Onitsuka Tigers) , must weigh 1.5kg, and the backpack 150 grams or so! The only modification is I tuck a plastic bag inside the backpack, so sweat from my back is not transferred through the thin backpack fabric, thus keeping clothes dry. I don’t wish to carry a GRAM of unnecessary weight up Suikerbossie, if I don't have to! Cheers Chris

Yes, as I live in Houties and travel out by car 2x per week, I noted the repairs to many of the Hydrants, incl being freshly painted for easier spotting them… then yesterday morning, I noticed a road crew with spades, clearing the weeds, grass-ingress into the rainwater channels; this was not the expanded work programme, but an a actual road crew, just a small section of road, but nice and spickerish none-the-less! Really nice trail, keeping MTB. / Gravel traffic off a very busy road! Chris

Whoops, I am due to contact you about an old -school handlebar; just getting visiting family and 1000 Festive-season duties out the way, then will be back in touch. cheers Chris

Not sure if clockwise is ‘easier’, but for me, the ‘reward’ was always doing the Smitswinkel climb, and THEN savouring that long, drag-race from the top of Smit’s, past Cape Point gate, and on to Red Hill base, and left down to Scarborough…. that way FEELS more intuitive - to me- than counter clockwise, possibly since the CTCT does that direction. That said, have gone the other way MANY times to change things up, but since you asked, I think CLOCKWISE for ‘easier’! Chris

Thanks, I think somehow it needs to be made clearer, happy I did not ride it, but it was a close call! do you maybe have a mini map of the area, to help me better understand the ‘legal’ part? You seem to know the area well, thus the request - thanks! Chris

This pic better shows relative positioning of the 3 signs…

Exploring some of the numerous Constantia Greenbelt offerings, I checked signs to see where I was allowed/not allowed to ride… THIS one had me perplexed, an older Pedal Power sign saying NOT to ride, and older ‘general’ rules board, now in disuse, saying not to ride, and a NEW sign giving permission to ride! What to do, I did not ride, since: 1. The trail IMMEDIATELY below the road crossing to THIS trail said no riding… 2. thought I would try and do the right thing, and seek clarity! Below signs show where the confusion rises; that PPA sign is covered in mound/fungi, so has been there some years, the new BIG sign on new poles looks to be about 3-6 months old, at a guess? The old wooden sign s falling over, and in any case superseded by the latest sign. Curious, is all?! Chris

Mid-afternoon MTB ride up C’Nek, then down the Constanta Greenbelt trails, back up some side roads, into the Cork forest bordering Rhodes Drive, up the gravel to the Nek, …then turned around and did the traverse behind Kirstenbosch, back along some of Rhodes drive, back into Cork forest for 2’nd time, back up gravel to C’Nek, then bombed down the trail into Houuties, a very pleasant 3 hours indeed! nice and cool, I had forgotten how incredibly rough/rocky the Cecilia forest section was UP UNTIL the exact border with Kirstenbosch, when the trail turned SILKY SMOOTH… I swear I came close to losing some tooth-fillings on that Cecilia forest section, I have not ridden it in MANY a year, and used to train it in 2005/2006/2007 for stage racing, and am SURE it was WAY smoother back then - anyone who can set the record straight?

I know it says R35, but I suspect it really is R35K. Just saying.

Nice Uber-chilled rendition of ‘Light my fire’, some GREAT drone-flying, and then the juxtaposition between fire and water, very, very chilled video, 11 out of 10! Chris

No picture post, unfortunately! Hout Bay, Chappies, Ou WaPad, Silvermine Circuit, Level 5, Cobra, then Snake Eyes, then that ‘flow’ trail to the end, then dirt pavement to Hartlief Deli in High Constanta, coffee & a breakfast bun, then Constanta Greenbelts up to C’Nek, and off-road down C Nek into Hout Bay. I loosely call it my 50/50 ride (50% tar, 50% dirt), but finding some new ‘sneaks’, I suspect it is more 30% tar, 70% dirt. Riding UP the Constantine green belt for 1st time in MANY years, was very pleasantly surprised at the extensive, groomed BERMS on that trail -someone put a LOT of effort in, and now I plan to go down them on next ride. all of this on a home made eBike, but using only the lower power settings, so I feel I got a good workout. But yes, went full strength ‘e’ setting on the concrete strips up to Silvermine circuit! Cheers Chris

I rode the 'Upper' Pipe Track, from Camps Bay direction Hout Bay, ridden the lower (?) one a few times back in 2005 - 2007, but 1st time to attempt the upper track... Whew! It is ROCKY in places, I had to dismount several times, ZERO complaints since I was having a blast, and the views were indeed out of this world... And then the section(s) where it dips into the forest, with tree cover close above your head, and SMOOTH dirt, heaps of fun, it was. Ended it all of with a visit to those BIG guns at Apostle Battery, in a bit of a state, now, but fantastic to see them, and a religious group was having their end-of-year party at the Apostle Base, good to see it getting used. I will SnapScan to donate in a week's time, when I ride it again - had my phone on me, but was unable to pay this, will do so shortly, and VERY appreciative of the trail maintenance efforts - I could see where a trail builder had put Latterite (sp?) down in one section, and PRESUMED same trail builder as Hout Bay 'trail', which I did contribute to - also a fantastic initiative. Keen to hear thoughts on that Camps Bay Pipetrack trail - peoples thoughts, etc! Cheers Chris