Clinton - theCOW

We were throwing around the thought that most can make it slightly earlier than 7, so for the weekly "regulars", we meet earlier, then do a eg 30-45min ride then meet back at Spur for the usual night session so we get more distance in. I'll msg Jacques & Dubber as well

Any idea on how far we intend riding tonight? I've got all my stuff loaded in the car so G2G Who would be keen to meet at 18:15ish, depending on traffic

We got her back to the Mall OK (by car), sore stomach i guess from hitting the handlebars then grazed elbows, not sure what else. Not sure if she went to the hospital for Xrays etc? Ashchest, she def wasn't the 1st to bail that i saw Another girl went bundu bashing down VetSeun and then the above girl's bf did an awesome slide bail along the railway line by Wash & Go (<- i think)(he slid & got up so quickly that you'd swear he planned that trick - BUT i saw it ) way before she did the over the bars at high speed trick. All in all, a very interesting ride! Weather was good, did drizzle a bit, but more pleasant than soaking. We also hit a knarly single track uphill that i haven't done before, would love to try it again, too many people means riding uphill was difficult. Really not sure who'll do last weeks and this weeks Ride Report??

I love my DA 9sp, rode it for years, pity the left lever is going and at R1500 to "fix" really not worth it. Rode the DA 7800, them moved to Force 2010. Very different feel from the DA hoods but I've grown to love the SRAM hoods and shape, the braking on both the DA and Force are equally as good. The ability to pull the shift lever towards you is a novelty but a bonus when riding in the drops. SRAM Force 2010 The right lever is crisp, precise and the double tap isn't that hard to get use to (i have mis-shifted tho climbing). The left lever i think is heavier on the upshift, you can only trim the big blade and the drop to the small chainring only happens when you release the lever, so a little getting use to. I've also had it chain suck a couple times on the down shift.....so i know how Andy feels Shimano DA 7800 Has a softer feel in general, Right lever is just as easy to flick up and down. Left lever in terms of ease of throw i think makes it better. So my overall view would be if SRAM could make the FD throw lighter, it would make Force Groupset UNBELIEVABLE value for $$$! :thumbup: Now you just need to join all the Specialized boys

In all the times i've been down, nope besides a couple punctures Think the beauty behind the safety is riding in numbers and not following the same route every week Give it a try, last week was hectic, was another intro ride and only 29 of us

Welcome to the first ride report for 2011, very late but hopefully well worth the read. Hope you all have a fantastic year ahead with tons of happy MTBing moments and AR stories to tell! I think this might have even been my 1st Intro ride after about 4 months riding with the awesome DnD crew. It had been raining for the couple days leading up to the 6th January, so many were worried at how muddy the trails would be or if we were going to get rained on. What a fantastic night, quite warm even after all the rain, slightly overcast but the rains had held back and not spoiled the start. The evening was still quite bright with sunset only happening after 19:00. The biggest group I’ve ever done this ride with, a total of 18 with a guesstimate at 6-8 newbies, welcome to the new DnD riders & the guys and gals from Assitport Adventure Racing. The regular briefing to our social ride was given by Oupa Gert and Francois was going to do the sweeping this fine evening. I chose to ride at the back with Francois as there was a newbie Katharine who was definitely a tad nervous being her 1st night ride. Off along the regular route towards XTC Park, I haven’t learnt all the trail names yet and my 1st time to XTC park. The part was a little swampy with the previous days rains but still fun to ride. We did the drop off a couple times doing a loop around the park until it came time to ride UP the drop off. I’d seen a couple guys go up before and while some others chose the easier chicken run up the gentle slope, I was keen for a challenge and headed for the drop off. This is where I earned the honour of writing my 1st ride report J Sloshing thru the swamp towards the drop off, I failed to make it all the way up and lay my steed down gently after unclipping, this was followed by *screams* of “Ride Report!!!”. We continued out of XTC park were we hit a bit of tar towards the Wash & Go. Thru the drop off and along the railway lines. This section was filled with huge puddles of mud and a couple slippery sections. Just off the dirt, or rather mud, we were back on tar to head up to Python (1 of my favourite single tracks!). Along the road, we were met by a quick flowing stream crossing the road where all the mud you’d collected was quickly washed off by the ankle height water. All I recall was 1 of the Assitport ladies really keen to get back for Pizza….Erm wonder who that was Up to Python and what I’d class as our 1st speed zone for the night, not sure who took honours but I’m sure the newbies loved this as much as I do! Along the jeep track we twaddled, I was chatting to a couple regulars I’ve grown to know where we rode parallel to the R21. Another fence at the end meant we had to pass our bikes over the fence or barrier before riding to the top of Shebeen Queen. Couple of us stopped to put a bit of air into a flattish wheel of 1 of the newbies and then off once again down past the Shebeen, great fun along a wide road with a dash of speed! A bit more tar headed towards home is where we started to feel the droplets that had held off most the night. Back into the dirt we headed with the rain starting to put a damper on things. On the dirt track home, we had the pleasure of climbing RUSH (Ride Until Something Happens), it’s become really knarly from the rains before and a challenging climb to most. Thru the final bit of bush and back to the Irene Mall. All home safely, an eventful night but that’s what made it truly enjoyable! See you all on the next ride

Welcome to the club :clap: Absolutely awesome ride!!! Are those classic bend bars? I've gone classic on all my bikes (except MTB ) Happy riding!!

:thumbup: To Evans! Year ago i ordered S-Work shoes, arrived at my cousin in the UK quick as well, can't remember exact days to save on the customs duties. Ordered a seatpost for a m8 on Sat as well after Wiggle didn't have stock. Evans did a price match, processed order on Sat and it arrived either Tues or Wed at my cousin. They def on my list of guys to buy from!

I've run Rocket Rons (non UST) with a tubeless conversion on my wheels since i got it. Over the w/end, slashed (fit my pinkie in size hole) the back tyre over stones/rocks climbing up Breedts Nek. I believe a UST would've kept me rolling. So new tyre, the gator, bomb, time taken to fix etc, if you trash a non-UST every 3 months, it's not worth the price or weight saving imo. I do seem to have to check pressure a lot more often, almost daily they down by about .2 bar, also seems to have lost almost all the sealant in 2.5 months? MTB tyres i think are easier to put on in general compared to some road tyres! I agree with others: what type of riding you do would depend on what setup you'd choose. Kinda Off topic: Is there a diff between UST and Tubeless Ready?

Rode at the Cycle Park yest with a couple mates, bumped into a fellow COW. He's also riding MT Kings F & R, Rear has been turned (tread running other way to front), apparently much better power transfer.

I've got the Evil Eyes with clip in - Can't remember the cost. My biggest con is your eyelashes rub against the scripted lense. I have Jaw Bones with Scripted Mirror finish Lense from Oakley (US Order)(as well as the original 2), think the whole setup cost me R4600 from Optom. They great! I know Rudy does a RX lense as Photocromatic, not sure on cost, saw the Ad in a Bike Mag. My thought if you ride in Winter/low light as well?

Lawley street rocked, some awesome lights up there! Think some of the cars were looking at the blinged out and pimped out bikes as well All in the spirit of fun and Christmas! Thanks for introducing me to a different side of riding, it's been great fun this year and def will be on the cards for many more Thursdays!

CWC - thank you for doing something for the less fortunate! Think this is a great initiative and with future years and a lot more notice, i'm sure many more will get involved. I'd be happy to get friends to donate old toys and i'll send them down to you! I unfortunately will have to sit this 1 out. Being a COW, i'd support but my bank account has been severely punished with charities already this year Thought, with CPT being the home or the Argus, maybe do something that week/end when there will be 30000 vaalies there (blankets/clothes getting closer to winter)? Well done CWC! :thumbup:

K, now i'm hoping the rain stops, i don't mind the mud (spoken like a true roadie)

Any idea if we can loop past Spur round 22:00 or 23:00 to drop me off or gonna be an out and back? Else i'll skip, ride with the roadies early on Thurs Morn

Thx MyGT, i'll get hold of Simon Next Q: Got road & MTB stuff that i've collected from a couple guys, i hear Simon only does MTB, anybody know who does road development stuff?

http://www.wicount.co.za/?productid=mtncycle Awesome, looks like they've extended it to Jan 2011 For anybody that wants to buy a friend an XMAS pressie

So is this what's pushing a COW on the w/end NIIICCCCEEEE!!!! If you go with a white seat, i say go back to black tyres. Else there's toooo much white. Or else keep it as it is

A cow, an ant and a poepol are debating on who is the greatest of the three of them. Cow: I give 50 litres of milk every day and that's why I am the greatest!! Ant: I work day and night, summer and winter, I can carry 52 times my own weight and that's why I am the greatest!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Why are you scrolling down? It's your turn now--- Say something..........!!!

Feel free to push us if u feeling too strong

I have an idea and it has something to do with last Thursday night, can you remember that far back?

Haven't done this specific event, i know the area and don't see any major hills except Karee kloof. I'll be doing it with a couple other guys in COW kit very chilled

Thank you to everybody that supported the-COWS! It took me a while to realise why we ride in COW suits, Ice Cream bikes, Double laps and some that did the MTB on Sat & either a single or double on Sun etc. It's a challenge to be different, if it was easy everybody would do it? Kids with Cancer don't have it easy, if you're poor & stay outta town it's even harder! This is what CHOC takes care of for those kids and families. I take my hat off to guys riding ice cream bikes, there were stages that they were only propelled by the rider, a single speed, approx 50 kg bike, that's serious in anybody's books! I'll def be back next year as a COW, the how CraziNESS is still to be decided! Love Living Life!

I'm 100% COW! I encourage people to see what's actually happened with past years money, CHOC house has been purchased and setup in Soweto so it's close to Bara for treatment. This years aim was to upgrade the Childrens Oncology facility at Bara, a public hospital where everybody gets to benefit, not just the elite. I'm all for anybody supporting a charity, what touched me on the day was a guy riding in memory of his daughter who passed away, no idea from what etc. On my 2nd lap, i got to chat to a couple other guys on the M1, they were raising funds to help keep under priviledged kids off the streets by giving them "activity" centres thru a Christian organisation. All part of my reason for riding it twice, it's a real eye opener as opposed to just racing!

That's awesome dude! Many happy miles! SPECIALIZED RULZ!!! :thumbup: