Bos

I will look out for you, although I think youre a little fitter than I am. Falling like flies now...!😆

What time are you starting? I'm in 8am. Early start driving from Worcester! Ya the Taxing on the arms part is very much part of my thinking.. I'm going to the top then will pic the line with the shorter que, then go to the top again to get the two tough climbs out the way, then its rally time that DH is so kiff.. Red P might be a bit snotty, usually is, but then again, there's not much braking or turning so who gives 😆

Some very sexy sleds here! lower, longer slacker! ROWDY!! I think we should just have another shred day after the EWC is over with, Enduro light route plus some extra spice. I mean its what these bikes were made for! I'm feeling a new frame coming on for my birthday!! Which reminds me, the one time I got something new I never posted it.

Got the mail. Interesting start. Which of the first 3 stages to tackle first. I'm now super excited. So aparently I'm a Master ey.. I thought I'd get to be a Vet but seems its strait to Ballie class if you're over 40 lol! Maybe they are referring to skill levels 😁

Nope It wasn't me. But the wind really funnels across that plain at RP and Plummer. I don't think we're going to get rain though. I'm all over worrying right now. I'm all set. The day must come. It's going to be good fun. Going for a last little spin to check out all the gear and that's me. May do a lowers service for the arms sake. Will see if I have time. Probably won't. Does anyone know where the waterpoint will be? It was at the bottom near the end of Armageddon previously. I guess that's why we go that way after DH.🍼

Ya the Plumber is NOT FUN but it challenges you on a whole different level. Even Mylo was hurting during the POV video 😆. Its so janky! To me the Enduro light sounds like an absolute EPIC day out. Red Phoenix and DH line both fast flowing trails with Zululand to finish it off. Save us some beers guys. 🍻

Thats a k@k excuse 😁 Just joking. Pretty serious stuff, frustrating process that recovery. I must say, life in the 40's is busy enough to make these events difficult, but there were so few this year that with me missing Witfontein, I just had to do this one, although I knew I was not really in shape to race the thing. Beers and war stories will be shared afterwards regardless! And talking k@k is half the fun! Besides, we all want there to be more events, so lets support them when able. @MORNE & @Meezo did you get blown off your bikes? Wind is pumping here.

It's what one does when you're slightly nervous but excited and trapped behind a keyboard. You better be riding Mr happy go lucky?

1800m sounds excessive, but I did Plumber + DH + top half of Red P + Iron Monkey last weekend and it was a 1100m day with 3 hours of riding so it may very well be. doesnt really matter, what matters is its not optional 😁 I'm riding by myself so will be nice to hook up with some other groups on the day. However, I got my 30T installed, so may get to the top last. However, I will be there at the end as some of those hills are pretty steep. I am guessing the route will be something like this..which means we do that k@k steep climb x3 Green being the stages, and climbs being as follows: Yellow to S1 Orange to S2 Purple to S3 Magenta to S4 Pink to S5 Disclaimer - I know nothing, Image from Strava heatmaps, and the purple climb should start from the bottom of plumber, not Red Phoenix

Can you people stop practicing ! 😁 The trails are pretty blown out. I rode my last recce yesterday, as some of us have a day job and kids! Plumber is pretty blown out. The dirt around the rocks are now even less, so nothing to drag onto the rocks if It rained And for the life of me I keep dabbing around the tight left hander just after the fast straight bit on the second section. I know its coming up, but then I'm kind of surprised at the gradient, and the last resort is to lock the back and try skid the back wheel but then my foot is out before the next steep shoot.. Maybe Sundays my lucky day. I am definitely able to hit the straights faster than before, but one pays for it in fatigue, and Im not sure If I'd be better off slowing it down a bit going into that section.. anyway, Ive ridden it twice before the race and that's about all the time I'm going to get, Should have stopped there and walked back up yesterday. @Robbie Stewart I also rode the DH track the first time last weekend and was surprised at the fun factor, and then we are not even racing the last bit which also has plenty of jumps. It sure is fast. It felt like I flew down there, the top bit came and went really quickly, the 2nd part so much fun. I hit some of the doubles and by the time I was headed down that steep shoot by the end I was seeing double from the G-Forces. I'm very keen for the first 3 stages. Iron Monkey is going to be a battle to bleed least time on the lower two sections as they require lots of pedaling out of the turns and body-English to go fast. Main take away from yesterday was to fit a 30T chainring up front, as I suspect we will do that bugger of a climb up the back of Plumber at least twice.

Ja nee, I'm trying not to look.. I don't mind the downs quite as much, although I may just go get that Assigai.. I just don't particularly feel like the 3 hours of climbing in very wet conditions. Somehow for a marathon event it feels more normal to ride in the wet, but I guess it's still mountain biking.

Finally got to do a proper recce of the Gnar on Saturday. We did a bit of on foot inspection of a couple of the pluming and thoroughly enjoyed piecing it together. Only to miss half of them when I eventually did come down. The top was a bit moist, and although conditions were prime, I lost the front and almost ate it in a berm. One forgets how many switchbacks there are between the drop at the top, and where the actual rocks begin.. Definately made me think of other front tires. The big surprise of the day was the DH track. Its my first time down that thing of beauty.. OH MY, how much fun?? I mean its kind of obvious as its a DH course, but how fast can one go on that thing!?? May very well be my new favorite trail in Jonkers. Then went up and did Iron Monkey. That trail beat me up a bit by then as We'd been out there for 4 hours. I was just surviving, although the trail, in general is also in good condition.. so we did 25km and 1150m climb.. all I can say is, Im a little nervous for the big day. Tracks are all so kiff though.. Im Excited!

Het jy die max grip of max terra? En 2.5 of 2.6?

The Rimpact I'm looking at is less than half the weight and 1000 bucks for 2. (Exc shipping and vat) cushcore is R2750 a set and half a KG. Those are my reasons.

I Was on the verge of pulling the trigger on a Maxx Terra Assigai 2.5, but I want to check out the Kenda Pinner Pro this weekend. My riding buddy has one up front. It looks like the typical Assigai rip off with better rolling resistance. It will probably have slightly less grip, who knows, I'm sure there's a tradeoff. I'm thinking it may be the height of the actual knobs thats slightly lower, in which case I cant see it having the same performance, but Im guessing here, so let me rather shut up and confirm @Headshot, I'm well jealous of your aggressor performance. I highly rate the tire, It grips fine on everything but very steep stuff when its snotty, but mine definitely deforms& burps when I push it into turns. Its that insert of yours that's making the difference. I wish they were available off the shelf locally. I'm going to get some Rimpacts. Let me know if you want in.

Thanks for the feedback. I dont miss grip to much on the DHF, but there are sections where its hard to lean the bike over and sink the sideknobs of the DHF. But really. It probably wont make 15 seconds difference..

So Gents, I need some help deciding.. The topic is Tyres! My main focus is Enduro, I have 2 x wheelsets, one runs lightweights for loger endurance rides, the other my typical Jonkershoek wheelset that I would race on. Bike is 160/150 29 and I don't need the tires to corner for me, If you know what I mean. I kind of know how to corner. I've been running MAXXIS DHF 2.5WT-Dual Compound EXO+ front and AGGRESSOR 2.5 EXO Maxx terra on the rear for the last 18 months. They are only starting to degrade on the corner knobs and could be fine for another while IF I ignored the itch in my ass.. I would actually just like to replace the front so get a new sharp tire for the EWC race on the 24th and move the DHF to the rear as It is also EXO+ I know the Assegai is the bees knees as far as grip goes, but I'm considering the MaxTerra so Its not too slow rolling. Considering I hardly ever ride in the wet. OR, should I look for a Max Grip DHF ? Has anyone compared the two?

Yes, something different for sure! very cool day. I like the top half of Armageddon more, and in fact often skip the bottom half, but the climb up there is hard, so I'm OK with that was wondering if they may bring in the DH track as I saw the jumps have been primed and I almost diverted on my last visit.. And so I will have to! Not even sure where it starts though. All I can say is 1800m and 35km is going to hurt. I entered because the initial page said 25km, LOL!! Saaltjie, after what most would consider a big day out already is going to be a teambuilding exercise. But we are doing it together, and thats what counts right! 😁 The place is going to be packed this weekend.

I thought you said it felt like Etzabeth;) Glad you're not too hurt. I need to come do some recce's. I have not done plummer since EWC 2019! It's not the trail you'll make massive time on but you could lose lots of time If you don't get it right. And then If they decide to make the DH trail part of it for instance, I've never actually ridden it. I think It will dry up by Wednesday and I may try get there for an afternoon ride, otherwise Saturday of course.

So @ChristiaanSt& @PhilipV You two seem to be in the know.. I don't really want the stages to be published in advance as It will make for even more practicing on course, which is inevitable, I mean there are only so many tracks in Jonkers.. But can you elude to the amount of climbing we are in for ? Christiaan mentioned the runs are not all full pull vibes, which is exactly what I shouldn't have heard as my panic training has now taken a backseat I'm sure its not going to be much less than 1500m though ey? Regards

Was one of them hurt more seriously? I doubt it was their first times hitting that. Just doesn't seem logical that they would do a train on a first attempt. The guy in front probably didn't have quite enough speed which got the best of him, the second guy was just a passenger by that time. I was looking at that drop the other day. One could make quite the sick roll in from the cliff behind the drop If given access. One could build it at just the right place so you don't even have to pedal. Only because the uphill roll in can be tricky as proven here.. One loses speed quite quickly once you stop to set up for the drop.

😁We send together, we eat dirt together! Didn't mean to be nasty. Glad they are OK.

All the gear and no idear

How did the oke in front go down? And what's the Duster doing up there? I mean I'd give my left nut for a shuttle pass in jonkershoek. Imagine dealing with traffic while trying to ride there lol 😆 Joy's of fatherhood I tell you. The ballie class really deserves much more recognition than we get.

Year one..that thing was like 2m into a rooted shoot. So frigging exhilarating.