wesley_r

Got a family thing on Sunday at the Taal Monument, I have SWAMBO's permission to do a run afterwards... some questions: 1. how long is the Late Harvest trail? 2. where does it end? 3. is it marked? 4. will a non-downhiller like me survive it on a hardtail? Thanks

no diet = no weight loss. I suppose at some point I need to start watching what I eat... official results are in, I was 2nd last with a time of 4h08m... my cycle computer read 3h15m so that means I was taking breaks for over 45 minutes in total (including a break to help a fellow competitor with a bomb to change his flat, since I was in no rush)! my average speed was 12.39km/h next goal is to do the 40km next year in close to (or sub) 3 hours by A. stopping less and for much less time (i.e. I need to work on my stamina) and B. attacking the climbs harder to bring the average speed up (I am happy with how fast I descend the singletrack)...

So I did it! Last Tuesday I sent my bike in to get a new wheelset made up and fitted - I got it back on Friday! Saturday I did the 40km at Eselfontein and came 2nd last (as far as I know) but I finished it! (and nogal with a little stoppie on the finish line) EINA!

Thanks for all the advice guys. After taking the wheels off last night, and stripping them of rotors and tires, I came to the conclusion that the front rim had to go - simply respoking it was not going to sort it out, it was kaput. I popped into Geco Cycles this morning and had a long chat to Bradley, who was all to happy to answer my many questions. At last we settled on the Alex Supra BH, to be relaced onto my existing hubs with new DT Swiss spokes. All in, for the rims, spokes and labour for both wheel (including servicing the hubs), it's costing me R1700, which is not too bad. I get the wheels back on Thursday (fingers crossed) just in time for Eselfontein! Sure, the Supra BH's are going to make the wheelset heavier, but hey, I am no weight weenie, and am hard on my stuff! This was a grudge purchase to start off with, but now I'm looking forward to having a tougher wheelset that I can roll on with confidence!

In fact - there are 2 sets! However, I've taken a look at (a brand new) 317 rim, and it's a very narrow rim. Perfect for normal XC riding, and all reviews I've read say they're a great entry level rim, but personally I think I'll kill them as quickly as I killed the WTBs currently on the bike. I'd rather repair the front, and shop around some more for a worthy replacement. Some nice options on CRC as well, including a special price on the Spank Subrosa rims (in bright green, yeah baby!)_

That's what I'm thinking. The biggest issue is that 5-10 spokes are loose, bent and the nipples are stripped. I am thinking of just replacing those spokes and getting the wheel as true as possible for now. It comes from a big knock I took a while back where I bent the wheel down the middle about 7 degrees! LBS managed to straighten out but the spokes only held for so long... Other option, as I've said, is to simply lace the Mavic EN521 onto the existing hubs, with new spokes. No sense in replacing the hubs if they're still running fine. There's something that bugs me about putting a R3k wheelset on a 6k bike - just feels like overkill

What about these? https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/86585-mtb-wheelset-bargain/

My front wheel has really taken a beating, the back is going to follow suite soon, so I need to replace my wheels pronto - and by pronto I mean in the next couple of days! (going to Eselfontein on the weekend)! The current wheels are WTB rims (dunno what model) on Formula hubs (again, dunno the model) - cheap wheelset that came stock on my Mongoose Tyax I need something that can handle a big guy (115kg) that enjoys a lot of singletrack, and tends to exercise very little caution - i.e. tough and reliable wheels a must, need to handle abuse! (sounds like a dodgy dating ad) Option 1: keep the existing hubs, lace on either a Mavic EN521 or Alex Supra BH with new spokes (the cheapest option) Option 2: buy a new wheelset "off the shelf" - On-One: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.za/pON%20ONE%20MODEL%20D%2026ER%20WHEELS/On-One-Model-D-26er-Wheels.aspx or - Fulcrum Red metal 5s: http://www.buycycle.co.za/buyparts/wheelsets-mtb/fulcrum/fulcrum-mtb-wheelset-red-metal-5-fulcrum.html or - Red Metal 10s: http://www.buycycle.co.za/buyparts/wheelsets-mtb/fulcrum/fulcrum-mtb-wheelset-red-metal-10-6-bolts-fulcrum.html Option 3: build up a wheelset - hubs, either Shimano XT or NovaTec disc (cheaper) or Hope Pro 2 (more expensive) - rims: Alex Supra BH, Mavic EN521 or DT Swiss X455 I'd like to keep it all under R2500 - so the Hope option isn't looking good. I don't know enough about the aforementioned products to make an informed decision, so any advice would be appreciated. Currently I am leaning heavily towards the Mavic EN521 on either the NovaTec or Shimano hubs... but the On-Ones and Fulcrums on those specials are cheaper... help!

Re: the Mongoose Tyax Super, I have one - the spec on the site says the fork is: Suntour Raidon RLD 120mm travel, magnesium lowers, 32mm aluminum stanchions, hydro damping and remote lock out It is in fact (as per the pic), a 100mm travel Rock Shox Tora (coil) and does not have a remote lock out Good luck with your decision

Video of this year's top 3 runs: http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/2010-Rampage-Top-3-Runs,187

The rain's got rid of the loose stuff, and besides for a couple of puddles and muddy bits it's not too slippery. However, halfway through my ride it started drizzling and then it got slippery very quickly! Very bumpy at the moment as well all along the track!

Thanks! I've done Contermanskloof and Meerendal... not Nitida or Hillcrest. Nitida is Tygerberg MTB club members only, or am I mistaken? I might do Contermans > Kliprug > Hillcrest this weekend. Worth it?

I need to go ride Tokai - badly. Can't believe I STILL haven't done it!!

Here's some highlights of my ride at Majik this afternoon - shot on the Drift HD170 - http://www.actioncam...t_hd170_camera/ http://www.vimeo.com/15753362 'scuse the shakiness, my hardtail doesn't like the bumps too much! Video includes me realising i hadn't dropped my seat - doh!

Finals: http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/2010-Red-Bull-Rampage-Finals-Video,3970/sspomer,2

Some advice please... I'm looking at replacing the wheels on my hardtail. My favourit riding is mostly trail riding and singletrack type stuff, and I'm a heavy guy, so I need something fairly bombproof, but at the same time not full on downhill wheels (i.e. not weighing a ton) I'm trying not to break the bank. Some options I've spotted on CRC: Azonic Outlaw set - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8871 DMR Comp front - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22972 DMR Comp rear - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22973 Or, I'm thinking of going for one of their custom wheel builds, with either nuke proof generator or fire eye excelerant hubs, but have no idea what rims to add to those (I quite like the Fire Eye Excelerant and Spank Subrosa rims but the spanks are a bit more expensive) Locally, I've also spotted these On-Ones: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.za/pON%20ONE%20MODEL%20D%2026ER%20WHEELSET/On-One-Model-D-26er-Wheelset.aspx Any advice or opinions?

So far: DAY / LOCATION / DISTANCE / TIME / AVG SPEED / TOP SPEED 1 / Contermanskloof / 17.7 / 01:33:17 / 11.39 / 40.8 2 / Road / 16.8 / 01:01:49 / 16.31 / 49.82 3 / REST 4 / Majik Forest / 9.67 / 00:45:51 / 12.66 / 34.32 5 / Majik Forest / 7.49 / 00:36:54 / 12.19 / 35.58 6 / Road / 16.56 / 00:57:13 / 17.37 / 51.72 7 / Majik Forest / 7.21 / 00:38:10 / 11.34 / 35.58 8 / Jonkershoek / 18.87 / 01:32:53 / 12.19 / 41.56 Yeah, I know to the pro's that doesn't seem like much, but to me it's a lot! If you told me a year ago that I'd be cycling - let alone this much - I would have laughed in your face! I need to up those distances this week though!!

Very pimp / bling - needs a brown seat to round it off...

I guess that's a NO

now that I have the computer I am keeping a log - route (e.g. "contermanskloof" or "road ride"), distance, overall time, avg speed, top speed, haven't thought about weather or health... will check my weight weekly and see if there's any difference. I'm a sucker for stats.

It's only a 30mm rise, I'm sure I can be forgiven... (my 50mm rise bars will be on their way soon) B)

Thanks for the feedback! I'm in Cape Town, northern suburbs. I do vary it - mostly road rides in the week (or a quicky at Majik forest) and then on the weekends places like Meerendal, Majik Forest (longer ride), Contermanskloof, Jonkershoek - only done Contermans once and Jonkers twice but going back in the next couple of weeks, as well as Lebanon and Hillcrest. Got you on the road vs offroad distance, totally! My 60 year old is riding the route with me (and my brother in law), but I said nothing about him kicking my ass! I can fix a puncture I also carry a spare tube, I prefer changing the tube when out on the ride, I find it quicker and easier. And I carry a puncture kit, and gas bombs, and, and. In my hydration pack. That's right, I said hydration pack. And flat pedals. And riser bars, with bar ends (and occasionally a sleeveless T-shirt, shock horror)

No, I'm not turning 40 anytime soon, but I have signed up to do the 40km route at Eselfontein this year, on the 24th October. 40km is probably no big deal for most experienced hubbers here, but consider this: in January of this year I was 115kg, unfit, about to turn 31 with a 1 year old son. I also hadn't been on a bicycle for over 13 years, and then it happened - we went away with family for a few days and I (big mouth) had got myself into the position of riding a 7 year old Nishiki tank from L'agulus to Struisbaai (and back). When I was done coughing up my lungs I vowed to get into this "cycling" thing. What I'm saying is, for a 31 year old noob, it's a big deal, ok? (to add to that, my 60 year old father is doing it with me!) Fast foward several months and here I am. A lot fitter, cycling more often on my own bike (Mongoose Tyax Super) - about 3-5 times a week - and weighing 112kg. Ok, so the eating thing is still a problem - sue me. And in just less than a month, a 40km trail ride! My goal - to actually do 40km BEFORE I go off an do it at Eselfontein. My approach is simple and not very technical - cycle often and cycle far! Basically I am working up to it - I got myself a cycle computer this weekend, and as of Sunday I've been "logging" my rides. Sunday was 17.7km at Contermanskloof, yesterday it was a 16.8km road ride. I have to more than double that! So, any words of wisdom, advice, encouragement? My one big question is - how much is overdoing it? How many days in a row can I cycle before I take a day off, and if I take a day off what's the most days I can take off? Wish me luck!

Hey peeps... I'm thinking of getting a pair of Shimano AM40 MTB Shoes - the "flat pedal" kind (I'll never go clipless, you can't make me!)... does anyone know where (if) I can get them locally (preferably Cape Town)? Could order from CRC, but the import duties would kill me (40% on shoes, isn't it?) Thanks!

Simple question really, I have a Mongoose Tyax Super with a Rock Shox Tora coil (not the U-turn) - 100mm travel. What if I upgrade to a 120mm or even 130mm front fork (or maybe even the new Tora U-turn which can be set up to 130mm)... doable? or am I messing with the geo too much?