tinmug

Have discovered DSTV needs the full package. No shortcuts there. Greedy MFs. Quick question for those using a VPN: which feed for Olympics XCO (in English)? ❓

Thanks for the detailed reply @Shebeen. The SABC schedule – so far – doesn't list the XCO races (too white?). But yay we can watch BMX racing. 🙄 Showmax appears to be mobile device only 🤬 and then I cannot even get confirmation that they'll show the XCO races (likely will be broadcast). Last time I parted with money to watch DSTV I needed a wok to point at the sky. I see they offer streaming now. Welcome to the Noughties. Had a squiz at their skeds and can't find out which channel XCO will be on for Sunday and Monday. Anyone know? Next step will be to sign up for the cheapest streaming deal to watch, well, two races. Or fly to Paris (while cursing the SABC and all the licence fees they've been paid over a lifetime). 🙂

Don't have DSTV, don't have any need for it outside cycling once every four years. We have some magical trails here in Africa, but sometimes living here really is annoying.

Where to watch? SABC website is, perhaps predictably, entirely useless. No cycling scheduled for Sunday (Women's XC) or Monday (Men) at all that my SABC skills have managed to unearth. Which brings me to Showmax. Apparently (one) mobile device only (because, FWICG, in Showmax logic, you need the Premier League package). Anyone know any more about where/how (and by avoiding lying about my geographical position; way too complex with a network of home and business devices)? 🤷‍♂️

A bigger knob? What does your towball look like (i.e. is it removable without major butchery like it would be with some German cars)? Likewise what does the Holdfast arrangement look like. Been years since I had a Holdfast rack but the one I had had a large range of adjustment (assuming this has changed). If it's a newish bike rack it may be with taking up with Holdfast. Option C: cycle everywhere and sell the car.

Sorry pal, try as I might I see little room for now trying to squirm out of advising insurance fraud. Your words are literally to tell the insurance co a line of events that didn't occur. Whether 'casing a jump' – whatever that means in a youngster's (jumping to conclusion here) mind is irrelevant – caused it or not. My raised eye brows are because of your statement; of HOW to get an insurance company to pay for damage: by fabricating a story. Your own words.

The OP said "... the rims because i heavily cased a jump." Then our friend Wyatt Earp says "My advice would be that you tell them you rode in quite an aggressively rocky area, you heard spokes making a noise and inspected the wheels after the ride. Noticed the cracks and you want to put in a claim for a new wheelset." Now perhaps I am wrong but this seems to fit my dictionary's definition of fraud quite well. Or did I somehow misunderstand the true meaning of the message, when Mr Earp suggested telling the R1 insurance company that a very different set of circumstances were at play? Gee. And we wonder why insurance rates are so high. And I wonder why this statement didn't seem a little strange to anyone else here. 😑

@droo Thanks for the info. As many (I hope!) have gathered the 'slagging off' the name is entirely tongue in cheek. An earlier poster commented on similar associations that can be drawn with virtually any name out there. Mentioning it in every one of my tedious posts made me smile, every single time. And hopefully others too. Childish? Depends who's asking. Offended? Depends who's asking. 🤷‍♂️ Glad to hear they are locally designed, and meticulously so. The brand does have indications of staying the course in SA, I am truly excited for them and applaud their efforts. As I mentioned every single person I have spoken with who owns one (and I am referring to the TR brand, not the kiddies' bikes ... in case that's not clear 😛) truly likes their bikes and are happy with the choice. Great.

One more thing: if that 20-odd K was mine I'd want to try and find something with a single chainring up front. Front derailleurs belong on the ark. 11 speed is fine, 12 little nicer. Bike brands like Merida (etc) are global brands because they are good. Titan (ugh! But I may have mentioned that) is probably a Chinese generic frame with some stickers on it. I am not dissing the brand – lots of people ride TR bikes and rave about it – but since I have learnt to distrust South African brands I tend to generally cast my net a little beyond our borders. Also nothing wrong at all with Chinese stuff; you'd be surprised how many top-end European brands outside cycling are made in China. They can and do make exceptionally well-engineered and produced things. But not always, they build to a price point. Business, and all that. Also I'd stick with a groups I know I can get parts for. And hydraulic brakes (older or cheaper bikes may have cable-operated disk brakes – AVOID). Not saying never-heard-of-before derailleurs are junk, but good luck finding jockey wheels for it in 3 years' time (maybe, or not, who knows, feel lucky?). You'll get more for your bucks used. BUT carefully look at condition of all the bits, and expect that you may have to replace chain/cassette/pads/tyres/whatever a lot sooner than you'd need to on a new bike. Also, what's 5K? Not much money but it adds another 25% to your budget making a great many bikes here on Bike Hub (or new) a possibility. What's 10K ... 😆 And yes you can buy now and upgrade when the bank account looks better but this option is often more expensive (speaking from first-hand experience ... many times over 🤨).

Obvs look at something with the right frame size, and don't hesitate to ask questions re service history when buying used (with proof thereof). Any rusted on the Reef is walk away, most bike parts with silver paint means old (not necessarily an issue). One-by drivetrains are nice, but if you are happy with two derailleurs then not an issue (well, not until you experience a one-by setup; then you're going to want one).

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/732925/fully-serviced-upgraded-merida-120-400 Old but light (and carbon is repairable, aluminium not): https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/732672/scott-spark-920-hmf-superior-carbon-xt In spite of ad saying Condition: Good (https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/732672/scott-spark-920-hmf-superior-carbon-xt) it doesn't look like it. Scratched stanchions, scratched frame, scratched bits everywhere. Some cosmetic, others could be trouble down the line (that would be the fork and goodness-knows what else I can't see in the fuzzy photos).

Up the creek from you, plus comes with Ergon grips (which probably cost more than you old bike is worth) and bar ends (one careful old owner 🤣) Edit ... I haven't had enough coffee today. Actual link to the thing with Ergons: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/600362/merida-96-9600-l-nx12spd-tlr Also meh fork, Spez above better in this regard. And colour; Spez also a better colour. Unless you're a careful old man then you'll be fine.

Pretty good deal on the face of it (assuming you are the right size, and you want to take a weekend trip to the civilised – or should I say Civilized ... geddit, geddit? – part of the country. Edit: suppose I need to add the link! https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/731151/specialized-epic-comp-2014?referrer=top

Explore the used market. But that Titan (ugh!) is not a bad buy. A Spez (worth buying) will probably cost a lot more. Have no clue what Giants cost, Cannonades are kinda expensive and servicing the Lefty ain't cheap. Might be a Merida of reasonable age and drivetrain/brakes lurking out there.

Microshift Advent X drivetrain. No cue what that is, and I don't think I want to know. Shimano; fine. Sram; fine. Anything else, paired with unknown brakes; not fine. https://solomonscycles.co.za/products/2023-titan-racing-cypher-rs-dash-29″-mtb/ This one looks a bit more palatable. I just don't know about that name. Or the yellow boots.