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Seems a couple of riders fell ill.(Erik, Arianne, Adriaan etc) Does anyone know if James Reid or his partner is ill? If not, I presume his partner holding him back a bit? I would usually expect him to be up there. Hope they can make up a bit of lost ground this last month before the Epic. Unfortunately that's what everyone's probably thinking.

@My stuff - I agree I've chosen not to get involved in this as I was a previous fanboy and defended Kev. I've chosen also not to get involved as this mud flinging on the hub has almost been as bad as the one between the riders. Gary, I wouldn't be surprised(just guessing) if Brandon E knew. Which is why it hurts all the more and can't really distance himself from it. I'm not saying he funded it purposefully, but Its a bit like the Mike Ross from "The Suits" thing. If you knew and didn't blow the whistle you have dirt on you and that is why this has taken so painfully long to come out? For example.. Brandon Steward Rode 2007 Epic with Kev, Team MTN/ Energade - Raleigh was in its heydays, Dave George was a Road pro in the same team If I recall correct. Impey was also on that team? In 2011 Steward and Darren Lill rode the JBerg2C together although they clearly had a fallout some time after that. My point is all our old pros know each other well enough to know who is "juicing"..Especially if they did team camps together etc. I was a big fanboy and ignorant of the "ugly" that was beneath a obviously very nice guy until a young current up-and-coming-pro spilt the beans over a cup of coffee a few years back. Apparently some of the guys are so arrogant about the stuff, that they tell you to go get yourself a beer from the same fridge their stash is kept in and expect you not to tell. (This particular person has not even been caught/found guilty yet but I'm sure its next as CSA prob just don't have the means to fight all these cases at the same time) Most of you would obviously have been the hero, but If I was a young up and comer I'd probably also be to scared to tell...I mean If you want to Blow the whistle loud enough for it to matter, you'd better be well prepared for the SH1TSTORM you'll have to face with so many people in the industry that are in on the whole thing not to speak of dirty riders that haven't been caught yet..the Lance thing. We have all learnt that.. But its no wonder it feels so damn good to finally be proven right - Fand, Darren etc Anyway that's my 2c.. One has to be careful with words these days as lots of people have found out, I'm merely a previous fan boy who has learnt that people will always disappoint even our heros. But I'll always ride my bike

Sure.. All good, surely he owns the machinery anyway. But Big ups for doing it in the first place. He has a good little business going there. Spent the money and its slowly coming back to him. The time I was there in January there must have been 20 cars parked outside, the coffee shop was full, and I saw and heard people around me on the trails quite often. I think its a nice break from the old Hakerville red route everyone use to crowd during Dec hols. However.. as others have said. Perhaps now might not be the best "climate" for this request

I was at the GRTrail Park last week and believe me I want nothing to do with that jump nore the drop in.. Its massive and after the drop in you pace down a hill for atleast 100m before even hitting the kicker. I was into dirt jumping when I was younger and hit some pretty big gaps, but that thing is massive.. I just don't understand why the trailpark doesn't cover some of the expences or do they just want a free ride all the way? They charge R100 per entry.. sure they spent lots on the amazing trails, but its the most I have ever paid to ride my bike apart from a race.

So why does a Canadian want to go do it in the Garden route and get us to pay for it? Surely the Trail Park must chip in ?

Heads up...Using "Positive result" in a heading should be prohibited for anything but a ''positive result'' !!

What are the frame only options going for? Id be keen on a Stage Max.. That thing must be a blast.

Maybe it should be called.. "Bike of the show". Not that I don't think its a great bike, and probably is "The best bike". I just wonder how many of the voters actually rode the bike further than 10 metres?

Awesome Something every rider who has done that race will be able to apprechiate. Well done for having the balls to go for it. I hope you didnt have to drive your way back to town I did that once, Bad move.

Wow ok. Ya the part about them having to send the products to the competitor to get the stamp of aproval is a good point. Although I saw some "UST" badge and all Schwables when I googled it. So I now just dont know why the heck my front tyre sits so loose If its suppose to have the whole UST beading and all.. Anyway. So I might then get the Snakeskin Racing ralph. for the back. The Rocket Ron is great but Im a bit unsure of the puncture protection, purely because they have shuch widely spaced knobs. Its been 100% for the front so far. Just need to keep the pressure up.

Huge thanks for THIS: In a nutshell. The Snakeskin version is their lightweight Tubliss convertable option with strong kevlar reinforced sides.. Tubliss ready is kind of the tubliss convertable tyre for the masses that dont want the often overkill of the full on UST system which in essence could be used without sealent. So They are heavier. Most Importantly Schwable claim the tyre bead and rim hook will work. I think I got a bit spooked when I saw how big the difference was between the Mavic UST tyre I have on the rear and the Rocket Ron evo pacestar(which is a good example of a tubliss ready tyre) I have on the front when I tried to take them off. There is a very distinct difference in the bead of many TLReady tyres and UST tyre. Yes they will work on both but as the picture below illustrates, the UST locks in place, where the TLR is more held in place by tyre pressure. I use to think it was mostly Sidewall integrity compare the bead of the tyres in the sectional diagram below.

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Does anyone have experiance with TL-Easy /Snakeskin Schwable tyres on UST Rims? When inspecting my UST brick Im running on the rear, i noticed the bead having a square/flat interface with the rim that once engaged is probably almost impossibel to burp. My Rocket Ron on the front came off the rim completely about 3 weeks ago when going down a steep singletrack. Im now thinking of trading my Heavy UST rear tyre for a Snakeskin Racing Ralph. But the 250gram difference might not be worth the risk? This is in preperation for the Tankwa Trek in a months time.. Is running a TLReady Racing ralph at the back silly? (I only weigh 70KG with kit)

Wow.. I guess the 28 helped a bit but still Sheesh.. that hill and II have a love hate relationship. Its tried to kill me many a times and I admit, Its pobably the only hill where I have turned around and gone home, haha. I have a 25t and it was at the end of a long ride, but still.. If I may ask, did youguys choose to go to signal hill because the crossing at the top was a pain to get over? It would have made a nice climb to do Glenbeach to cablecar, think its 380m or something.. Either way. Well done! you have us all at your feet!

This is Damn impressive. Did the guys on road bikes gear down for it? Surely it wasnt done on standard gearing? If so you cant have much of your teeth left!Hats off

Jaa nee.. Think they can stop pushing this bike now, getting a bit tired of it . That unbalanced suspension is a receipy for desaster and they should know better. Throw in Pat Morewood's name into the mix and everyone beleves what they are saying, but when ridden hard this settup will send you flying. With 130mm up front and 80mm on the back you'll get "bucked" on big hits.. The rear will be ramping up when the fork is still flying through its mid travel sending your momentum and weight forward. Ad steep downhills a bit of speed and some big hits as you'll find in Enduro and you will be sent over the bars no matter what your skill level.

@SLABS This one... "@Digger_forum Impey wants to sue the anti doping agency. But why doesn't he and his lawyers go for the pharmacist? #makesnosense#nonsense"

That point I made took moolah out of the equasion. If youre talking performance, which wil always be at some expense.. Dont know what full suspension bikes you've owned but they have improved by leaps and bounds. I would swap a pivot and shock service once a year or once every 2 years for the speed of a dual anyday. With your argument I could say what you'll be paying in rear rims what I'll spend on the shock service. Its really not as big a thing as you make of it.

To get back to the topic... HT vs ST 2014-15.. The question is asked If new technology has changed anything.. The Long answer is. NO. Technology is only trying to make HT frames even lighter and more complient (softer) The tech getting better will only make a FS lighter and even stiffer to the point that apart from cash there is no point to have a HT, because by using lockout you'd have the same thing. If a FS and a HT has the same weight and the same price only someone with something to prove will choose the HT. Anyone with a Brain(no pun intended) will choose FS. However there are lots of people who will defend the latter.. flogging that dead horse. To Quote The man in your Question himself.. I had a beer with Kevin Evans about 3 weeks after the Epic where he had that epic dual with the Songo team and everyone else was left fighting for 3rd. I asked him why Nedbank360 and Songo was so far ahead of the rest that epic.. He said that the other teams(Bulls, Merida, Giant etc) did not have lightweight 29 inch FS bikes to offer their teams. And after 3 hours in the typical Epic routes, they would simply ride away from the other guys, who were so fatigued that they had no answer. If like Myself, you ride Mountainbikes because you love it and you spend just as much time on the singeletrack as racing I'd pick a FS(regardless of wheelsize) over ht anyday. There is Merit to where you live though. If you dide mostly district roads and smoother surfaces and never leave your area, or race max 3hour races and you are young and wild.. be my guest

Just.. just.. I am just a bit slower Actually....scrap that.. a bit slower on the up Must do a group ride at some nice trails ive never been to. I havent been to Tokai in 2 years, and i dont really miss it. But, there are now like 8 farms with trails all over and the only one ive ridden is contermanskloof.

So I have not been riding much over the last 2 years, been surfing, and BORED with tablemountain...recently started getting back into it and looking at all kinds of reasons for upgrading. Those of you who know me, I like the technical and fast stuff, hitting jumps and playing around, although I also do marathon races and distance stuff. All on the same bike ofcourse, so the bike I ride might not reveal my real love. My old Zula was getting boring although nothing wrong with it at all. light, bullet proof, etc but my XTR 2 x 9 and 26er settup was just obviously not good enough anymore.. you know how it goes. So I started reading up.. I always had something for the Rocky Mountains.. I read up about them a bit and apparently they made excellent trail bikes and one can make them go fast. although the 95mm rear tracel suggested its a distance machine. However the 20mm front and 12 x 142 rear, short wheelbase and chainstays with relaxed head angle was getting some rave reviews for singletrack and apparently 26er like performance. Long story short I saw 2 x Element 930s In classifieds and that same night without saying good bye I stripped my Zula for parts and the next day it was uploaded. Im now the proud owner of a heavy and low specced but very capable 29er. Ive ridden her about 3 times. the first ride was getting acustomd to low level parts and heft ! Second ride.. SOLD! This thing goes through ruts, roots, rocks and almost anything like a bulldozer. On my ist proper ride I got a KOM for a very rutty and rooty downhill section that ive ridden 100s of times. Again. You might not understand that I like my stem slammed and my seat at shoulder hight, but I make it work Would love to Enduro on this thing. Once I got lome lighter wheels and dropped weight to about 12kg. Id think this is the best of both worlds..and no more "26er for singletrack"..

Yip. Thats what I'll do, and hope the crests isnt gone by the time the masses gets back to work tomorrow. Thanks for the response.

mm... Thanks for the response. If I may ask: What bike were you on? What rims have you had before? What kind of trails do you ride? 95% of the time I spend racing marathon or riding relatively smooth trails, rough dirtroads. If I do hit Tokai or some bike park I would hit the jumps. I use to dirt jump and rode a hardtail so as I said, Its not heavy hits. I just know that some folk are heavier on wheels than others. Not Implying anything, just saying. But. As you say, the last thing you need when pinning down a rutted singletrack at 35km/h is the front to pringle. Thats broken collarbone stuff. But, If It does that. Then I cant see a 85kg "racer" on a HT riding down a rutted singletrack on a marathon course not doing the same..And that should be within what this rim can do.

Since it looks like Bullet has decided what he's going with, Id like to ask some recomendations on this same topic. Dont want to start a new thread. I Recently moved to a 29er from my trusty Zula. So far enjoying it but while my Zula was 11,6kg my new bike is a Rocky Mountain element 930 Ful sus @ 13.2kg. So the first things Im replacing is cranks and wheels which should knock off almost a full kg. Reg the wheels. I weight 68kg, I ride smooth and am really not heavy on wheels but I do hit the jumps and do like to push it on the technical downhills. I was running Sun Equiliser 23 rims(410g) laced(DT Revolution) to Hope Pro 2 hubs on my Zula. I was very happy with them and never had to true them, only had the rear tensioned once. Theres a set of Crests on the hub for R750 a op right now. I'll build whatever rims I choose onto my hopes with DT competition spokes(might be a bit stiffer on the bigger wheels) Will I be OK on the Crests? If not who stocks the Arch EX 's ? Replies apprechated

I take it Bero would not have recovered..? That would have been a showdown..Berto, Quantana and Froom.. Bring it