- Active Topics
- Forums
- Create Topic
-
13 minutes ago, DJR said:My youngest is doing a research project in the Kalahari (on Pangolin, so scaly, but mammal). One of his co-researchers is doing a PhD project on Pufadders. She catches them and when she has a few, she gets the vet in. They anaethetise them and implant a tracker that also records all kinds of biometrics. That way she can find the snake again at the end of her project to get her expensive trackers back. Badass woman! (Likes heavy metal too)
The young D sometimes help her track her subjects. He says it is unnerving to have the tracker go bananas, bleeping like all hel is breaking loose because the snake is within a metre from you, and be totally unable to see it. Recently she had one Puffy that went quiet with his tracker not moving for over 5 months. So, it was decided to go dig it out of the burrow because it must be dead if it stayed there right through winter and into high summer. D was invited because anyone needs help digging in 40 degrees heat. So, after a good few hours of digging and by then in a belt-deep hole, he finally opened the cavity ...... just to find a very live and pissed off puffy that decided to go deeper into the tunnel system. So, yes, they do not sommer attack.
He says he's going the think twice before volunteering to help her dig again.....
See what happens when you listen to Heavy Metal! 🤓
3
Snakes don't just bite because you're there. I've had a dog stand (briefly) on a sizeable puff adder, then step off with foot right next to it, and still the puff adder just remained still. Ready to strike, but still (and likely quietly sh1tting itself). The dog was totally unaware of the snake's presence.
A more recent, and worrying, episode saw my dog smelling something in the air, then turned to zone it on source of smell ... which was a puff adder. Fortunately I looked in the the direction of his interest and saw the puffy before his nose made it there. Dog yanked back, puffy bailed into the bush. Same dog also sighed out and made contact with sizeable mole snake (earlier on the same walk). 😑
A week later I stopped to let a puff adder cross the road a few metres ahead, then found another – significantly larger – puff adder literally right next to my foot. Coiled and ready to inflict pain, but silent and no doubt hoping I'd go away (which I did, rapidly). That was the last time this summer I walk anywhere remotely near empty veld (have ventured back to a broad trail on a busy weekend morning).
I've seen more snakes in one week this summer (is it summer yet?) than I have in 5 years of walking in the veld. Too risky, trying to get my dog to his fifteenth birthday (just around the corner) and beyond.
3 minutes ago, samson99 said:I am in Ireland and will also need to move to Eurosport, but apparently will need to use a VPN as well. So frustrating as I am in the 1st world 🤣
Oh boohoo. You can drive to half the races!
6
I have a Silverback (have owned it for several years now).
My advice: buy a Scott.
Boring details: nothing particularly wrong with my and wife's two Silverbacks except some manufacturing issues (damaged threaded inserts on carbon frame). Quality control issues (rear shock) and reluctance (read refusal) to honour warranty on a few items (shock included, to be fair this is via a bike shop; approaching Silverback directly may have had a different outcome). Silverback was born is SA but they seem to want to put a lot of distance between themselves and SA. Scott is a well-established international brand with direct local representation. That alone makes the choice obvious.
At least a mid-range groups is advisable (Shimano Deore or Sram NX). But this will push the price up little.
8 minutes ago, Shebeen said:what? LOCK HER UP!
30 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:One has to wonder how fleeing from custody is a thing. Especially if the perpetrator is a known flight risk candidate.
It's difficult to see how she could be found innocent. Justice for Mo Wilson. 🤞
It's like a soap opera. The oh-I'm-not-guilty-at-all Armstrong escaped from custody (for all of ten minutes before being found). Some fresh-faced lawyer says the jury is biased thanks to skewed reporting.
Um. Fleeing client. Twice.
My 2c worth: break the bank and buy something with a replaceable battery (you'll definitely save in the long run). And it's available locally (haven't read the reply schpiel up above but I'm sure somebody steered you in the right direction.
So in short, I reckon, +1 for going local.
Nothing yet. I heard via the grapevine. Bear in mind the WCNP is under new management and it seems the manager has big plans. Have also heard there may be some routes (walking? Cycling?) sponsored by local businesses. And from what I gather things will move fairly quickly.
2
… many things are cheap when you earn a First World currency. 😝
Land and triple storey houses excluded.
No, you need a bare minimum of 161 mm of travel.
Update: just heard that new cycling routes are in the pipeline! 😁🤙
2
1
About the map above; 'You can basically ride anything': I'm afraid not.
The green lines in the diagram above are, strictly speaking, for hiking only. Seeberg has a new 360-degree hiking trail called the Baker Trail (with the southern section being brand new), but bicycles are not allowed there. Same applies to the trails from Geelbek, but folks do occasionally ride between Geelbek and the Churchhaven area (part or trail not shown on map, no signs calming you can't ... yet). A big part of the peninsula between Geelbek and Preekstoel is privately owned.
The white line (tar) that you see on the map between Langebaan Gate and Tsaarsbank (and/or West Coast [Road] Gate) is perfectly pleasant to ride, even on a MTB.
An absolute no-go route is (apart from obvious stuff like the beaches etc ... you'd amazed where some cyclists venture and how close they are pushing to get rule-abiding cyclists banned outright) is south along the twee-spoor marked MTB Trails on the map above. The road is closed for a very good reason: there is an Black Harrier pair (endangered species) nesting close to the trail; and any traffic – foot, bicycle etc – disturbs the birds and places the chicks' lives at risk.
Play according to the rules and the trails will remain open to cyclists for many years to come (and bear in mind that the volunteers – who have a loud voice in the rules – consists of riders and hikers who generally see mountain bikers as a nuisance). The park has a brand new manager that has already carved one new hiking trail and will hopefully toss a new MTB route or two our way the the future.
The best flower viewing is in the Postberg Reserve (privately owned, open only two months of the year). You can cycle the usual trail (no idea what it's called, assuming it even has a name) that starts at Langebaan-side gate, up the tar road, turn left/inland just after you crest the first hill then follow the dirt road around and down back to the tar road. Turn left/south when you get to the tar and pedal short distance to trail running off towards lagoon (behind low-slung chain), follow the trail back to where you started. Easy ride, will be some flowers to see and highly likely sightings of Eland, steenbok and if you're lucky the lone bontebok (and maybe red hartebeest).
Repeat if not tired or head south along the tar before the road sweeps around south-end of lagoon for a nice tar stretch towards Postberg Reserve.
24 minutes ago, emme said:12h30 women,16h30 men...
Thanks, was just about to ask that. Assume that SAST.
2 hours ago, DieselnDust said:The Spectre isn’t officially available yet.
Pyga is locally made, the Mobu would be the one to go for. Not cheap and not exceptionally light but man is it well made!
other frame sets in carbon would be Specialized S-Works epic, trek supercalibre in project one, ibis Exie, and Giant anthem. Core is an open mould Chinese frame with some customisation for the brand. You can probably order something direct if you have the patience
The Mobu looks amazing. But yeah. 🤑 Ibis available locally (as a frame-only arrangement)?
2 hours ago, Barry said:Sling bikes are local. Only available in titanium but they can custom make a frame and or build.
The Sling does look good (much better than ate-something-sour face of their aircraft 😅), and the attitude of the Sling founders is infectious (have been following their antics for many years). But better half favours carbon (she already has a steel GB).
2 hours ago, Nick said:How ageing are we talking? If it's non-Boost maybe sell as is and get a complete new bike.
Not that old really, boost hubs. She'll likely want to keep her current frame (because god knows the 5 bikes in the garage is nearly enough yet!); so a nice rebuild project sounds like a nice way to upgrade.
1 hour ago, Giant Bicycles South Africa said:Have you had a look at our Giant Anthem Advanced Pro frame? https://www.giant-bicycles.com/za/anthem-advanced-pro-29-frame
Really nice. Really, really nice. Price?
19 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:Op specifically wanted carbon so I didn’t offer metallic options because then I would have thrown in mercer bikes as well
(Get well soon Dave!)
Also darn nice, admired the Mercers in the article that appeared about Dave somewhere recently. But yeah, carbon (at least you think it's lighter). 😂
3
Exploring going lighter for the wife's bike. She's running reasonably good bits on an ageing and heavy full-suspension frame; could be handy to carry those (inasmuch as could be carried over, probably not rear shock) over to a lighter frame.
Hardtail is tempting for the weight saving (and simplicity).
But also just curious who makes carbon frames in SA.
It seems few shops sell carbon frames (MTB, both HT and FS) in South Africa.
Who are the (local) manufacturers? I know about Pyga 🤩 and Core. But who else is out there? Recommendations? Experience with any of these? Worth importing?
8 hours ago, Dgas said:This may be a stupid question and has probably been asked here before. Is the anyway to watch/stream the TDF in SA apart from DSTV?
Any way to watch TdF without Supersport? GCN+ doesn't seem to list it (for SA).
... others don't have a day who owns a team. 😉
13 hours ago, Spookie said:I also have issues, and my fibre line is 100/100…
weirdly on my phone, no problem, on a laptop also don’t seem to have too many issues, but when I try watch on my tv… nightmares. Buffers every few seconds. I’ve followed their instructions about making sure the TV app is up to date etc, but nope… agree it’s very frustrating. I have no desire to watch on my phone when I have a TV 😂
Email GCN about it.
The Munga 2023
in Events
Posted
Erm ... you do realise that the SPCA is a charity. For animals. And that the SPCA didn't give gemmerbal as much as a cent (or a cat) towards his selfless campaign to help them?
Gemmerbal simply stated that all the costs towards him riding the Munga – that's entry fee, (branded?) kit, spares, food ... everything – is paid out of his own pocket. Whatever awareness he raises, and whatever donations are made go directly – and crucially every cent of it – to the SPCA.
So what have you done lately to help the helpless (or unfortunate)? 😶