Bos

Also Entered, and I'm more than happy with "only"4 stages Route from Entryninja: The Route Liaison 1: a nice little warm up... +350m Stage 1: Red Phoenix/Bennet's Red, top to bottom: 2.58km, -318m Liaison 2: This is where you start hating us a little! +318m climb. Stage 2. The Plumber: definitely to top two sections, including all large features. maybe also the lower section if there are reasonable riding lines around the jumps. We have yet to check out it's condition. 1.17km, -246m Liaison 3: This is where you start hating us a little more! +311m climbing Stage 3. Armageddon/Canaries: top-to bottom including re-vamped upper section and Zululand lower. It's easier, but it's longer... hello arm pump! 4km, -453m There will be a Cadence Nutrition water point at the bottom of Canaries, for you to wash away your tears. Liaison 4: There is no hate. There is only being one with the bike. And a donderse climb. +436m Stage 4. Iron Monkey: top to bottom. -479m

Any route details for this?

Well It may be that with bigger stronger everything we are finally reaching a point where things are to stiff. 35mm DI might make bars stronger, but personally, I've never had a problem with my bike not going where I want it to because my bars flex. Like I mentioned, Stems, forks, axles and wheels.. Hell yes, but bars? I think the slight flex only makes the ride more comfortable. Proof of that is that for the first time really, companies are starting to build flex points into bars etc.

That struck a nerve.. I recently made the jump to 35mm DI bars and found they are much stiffer. In fact, plain uncomfortable! A fork should be stiff, a stem should be stiff but bars don't have to be? It can flex a bit which is making me think the vertically complaint one-up bars as an example, might be worth paying for. Although R2500 isnt cheap. But there might be other alternatives, even lighter weight Ali bars perhaps?

Dude, thats what John Tomac Rode. So you were ALSO one of the cool kids Those 2'1's buzzed my chain stays all the time we have come a long way!

In the 90's I was cruising the Knysna single tracks on my backyard welded jump bike and riding my jumptrack on Huchingson Coyote's. Those F#ckers had corner knobs like no one's business, in fact, the whole tire was a corner knob. Plush, oh believe it, at 45kg's I ran it 15psi and it was more suspension than any 16 year old kid needed. I mean, my body was still fresh.. the sweetness of being a teen.. hell yes.

For sure. I think one can quite easily get away with the EXO but will have to run higher pressure to make up for the lack of support in the casing, and then also rim strikes and pinching the casing. This is my big problem. The downside of the higher pressure is sacrificing comfort and grip.

I think as much as the much debated "death gap" has been closed. (Personally I like the gap and have no confidence in tires without the "bite gap".. I think the side/corner knobs were moved closer to the center as well, reducing the angle the bike has to be lent before they come into play, which subsequently closed the gap slightly. In other news, I picked up a DHR II for the front yesterday. The DHF in 2.5 just looked like slightly to much tire for me. great for Pinning it down Iron Monkey, but every other day, a full blown Dh tire on a 135mm trailbike. Besides, I want to figure the whole thing out for myself, If I don't like it, It will end up in classifieds. The shop had the new EXO+ as well, and I was pleasantly surprised that the actual difference in weight was negligible (20g)which is great news. Almost no penalty for the extra protection, which for the folks left slightly unsure about running the EXO casing at the back.

The trails are only in epic condition at the moment! The top split on the plumber is getting some nasty little braking ruts that are hard to avoid. They square the berm off when ridden in the rut. The solution would be to get the front wheel wide of the rut and let the rear follow the rut but it's easier said than done, since its pretty steep! Red Phoenix is all time at the moment. Planning on taking off early to go hit it while it lasts later this week.

I would be very pissed If I drove to jonkershoek to find the PC offline. They better have a backup system then.

Someone on here said they didn't get a lot of life out of a Razor Rock.. So my cornering knobs are starting to tear off. I'm leaning towards a Aggressor as well, Then next month get a DHF or DHR front. I know there are other exciting options out there, but I Trust Maxxis' wear and the knobs wont start tearing off. You running EXO at the back @Headshot?

How does one organize this..? Perhaps I can twist some trailbuilders arm to "forget some spades" at the top of Plumber, Armageddon, Red P and Iron M and hide in the back of the bakkie

Question.. I'm looking for a rear tire, and as discussed on here a dozen pages ago, my Shwalbe Razor Rock's corner knobs are starting to tear...someone told me so, I know. Trying to understand all the manufacturers casing/formula standards.. I Know Maxxis.. DD / EXOand WTB is self explanitory, but Shwalbe is darn confusing. What casing to look for in a rear, example: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/374487-schwalbe-hans-dampf-29r-tyre-evo/ Whats Evo? like EXO?

Sorry, No can Do. Will probably be able to ride it on Sunday morning, If anyone is keen. Want to Recon Plumber and Bennets Red. Problem is, that the other trails will feel so tame after Plumber

They didnt go from the very top to the very bottom on every stage last year If I'm correct.. Its our only hope Looking at my last ride in Jonkers the Saaltjie took an hour after we did Firehut. Anyway, Probably closer to 4 hours yes. If anything this just motivates me to get out there and go ride those awesome trails. A shuttleday sure would help things along

I've never #enduro'd Jonkershoek myself but would recommend doing the drop in at The plumber a couple of times before racing. The hardest part is that it's blind and an uphill run in. The top part is also pretty steep and I'm thinking of fitting that 203mm rotor! Haven't ridden the trail this year and the last time the middle part was very eroded. New bike will make it a bit more fun I'm sure. Also haven't ridden Red Phoenix this year! I'm thinking at least two practice rides to familiarize myself again. We are in for 3.5hours of climbing alone. Probably 25 minutes of racing. I'm so keen!

This is one I wont miss. Those are some pretty intimidating stages I might add. I cant see myself getting through the day without taking at least one tumble. Many of those stages are very physical If not darn right brutal. Cant Imagine what Its going to feel like after 3 stages! Taping my hands to the bars before Iron Monkey. Whats the chances of us riding Lances trail? (Status Quo) I have not done the new DH line at all, Isn't Iron Monkey the old DH line? Better start looking for a heavy duty rear Tyre so long. And muscle up!

Some good ones here! Nice topic. The "getting a proper bike stand" one, just really help with the frustration levels and it keeps me feeling like a pro mech. One or two of my own, although maybe more personal they have worked for me. 1. Don't wash your bike too often. rather use a wet cloth and hand broom to dust it off and wipe where necessary. 2. Don't check tire pressures by hand the morning before the race. I find because its usually cold early on, we do the "thumb test" harder, then over inflate the tire causing no.3 3. If your suspension feels too firm after the day before stuffing around, DONT try let just enough air out trail side. You are guaranteed to let to much air out, which will spoil your ride even more. will try think of more

No Waterbottle...

Classic. So, what bike do you ride? I'm sure bikes like POLE with steeper seat angle and slack HA must make your head spin even more.. It took me a while to get use to.

Someone on the previous page said these are Fugly @stefmeister But I really like it. Not a big fan of the red and black colourway, but this gray/black looks bad-ass! I think this think just might have won me over back to the dark side.. I really like the somewhat old-school vibe portrayed here https://enduro-mtb.com/en/first-ride-review-2020-rocky-mountain-slayer-carbon-90/ Kind of like, It doesn't matter what happens at EWS or the rest of the world, there will be people riding gnarly lines in BC all the same.

Agree, I think the Stumpjumper will sell well in SA. 140/150mm with pretty slack GEO. Really is all we need. The gap between trail and enduro is being pushed on again. It use to be that trail bikes had 120/130 and enduro was at 150, but Its moved on to 140/150 and 170mm. These #Enduro bikes will also be on the shortlist of all the chairlift fans.

Thank you for the reply. I opted out though as the trails were apparently very wet and quite soft from all the rain. Next time though!

I have to go see a client out at 2pm in Wellington today and if I'm done early I have the option of checking out these trails for the first time, or doing a couple of runs at Paarl's Taal monument DH track. Can anyone tell me, which of the trails is the best bang for time (I will probably only have 1hour30 or so. I like technical.. How long does the Porcupine loop take the average person? Thanks!

Reminds me a of the IRC El Gato..Not sure anyone remembers that?