wesley_r

Fine: Why do I open myself up for abuse? I don't know...

There's this: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/77722-mtb-front-disc-wheelhope-hub/page__gopid__1105488#entry1105488 And at my LBS is a very good condition wheel with Mavic XM117 rim (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=36245) and Shimano M475 Hub (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38226) also for R600 Thoughts?

hell no!

of course i do! i rode all the way to the top so i could walk down :lol:

shot for the head's up on both the rim and the spoke tension - I did stumble upon a thread with all sorts of graphs and illustrations - way over my head - i prefer to give it to a pro to sort out then ride until i break it again!!

no! not the beard! that's a dealbreaker right there!

Take a look at the pic above - do I look like I'm built for tight clothing? smartass...

Everyone's a comedian The worst part is, it was such an un-spectacular prang, I won't even post the video (yes, there's video) because, frankly, it's so lame it's embarrassing! C'mon - post your bike damage pics! And while you're at it, gimme some advice: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/78368-rim-question-might-need-to-replace-not-sure-with-what/

So, at Majik Forest yesterday I had a very slow, unimpressive "ride into a ditch" - the result: http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/DSC01845.jpg Fail! LBS is trying to see if they can, err, "straighten" it out, but if they don't (or even if they do in which case it will be weakened) I need to look at replacing the rim (and maybe some spokes as well). Problem is, being a bit of a noob at this mountain biking thing, I am completely overwhelmed and out of my depth when it comes to the offerings out there, and have no idea what to pay, or what I am even looking for. I'm a pretty heavy dude (115kg) and have a tendency to abuse things B) my rides are either short afternoon "road rides" to keep the fitness up, but mostly afternoons at Majik Forest, weekends at Grabouw, Meerendal, Jonkershoek and hopefully soon Hillcrest, Tokai, etc I love blasting (I use that term loosely as I am sure the downhill crowd would scoff at me) down singletrack and am more than willing to pedal to the top and "earn my turns". So I guess I need a rim that's both tough but also not too heavy These caught my eye, any good? > http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29329 (The fact that they come in bright green doesn't hurt either) So, any advice or rims I should be looking at? And what on average would it cost me to have the wheel built, once I've purchased the rims and spokes? Thanks!

ha! threadjack away! - pop in and chat to Trevor, try it all on there's some very lekker knox stuff - also have some nice chest / back protectors... try the knee guards on - 1 strap but very snug fit...

I know, sucks right? Also, AFAIK no 661 importer? Which new fox pads you referring to?

lol, thanks - blue and yellow husky = me Knox - yeah, they are pretty sick - I don't have a pair myself (yet) but you can get them from Adventure Rider in Northgate Island, Cape Town... www.advrider.co.za Retail for less than R500 661 style knee pads: http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/20100422020628486076_normal.jpg Full shin - goes all the way to ankle - with 2 piece knee cup (mountain bike specific - also come in black) http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/2009040202260926550_normal.jpg

post your pics... http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/DSC01845.jpg

Dunno if this is the right place to post, or if there's already a thread like this, but here you go... http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/th_DSC01835.jpg (click to view full size) http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo314/th3_w3s/DSC01829.jpg

I treat my Mongoose Tyax Super as a road bike, cross country bike, trail bike, all mountain bike, whatever... all while wearing a sleeveless t-shirt, a moerse hydration pack, and sneakers with flat pedals... o ja and bar ends (soon with riser bars) and a home made old tube mudflap... that's how I roll 1 bike = everything. i'm not rich enough to live otherwise

Geco cycles - they have new and 2nd hand Silverbacks on the floor, plus they sell mongoose, giant, merida and cannondale... speak to bradley - super friendly - and tell him you're wesley's el-cheapo friend

shot - where?

not a problem - they are all looking for bikes in the 2k budget range - the rest is seperate... mr price shorts R200, ryder gloves R160 - 1 already has a helmet and shoes (clipless) and I have a spare helmet for number 2, and will soon have a spare helmet for number 3... o and the 2 that don't have shoes can ride in sneakers (like I do - I'm resisting the clipless revolution for as long as I possibly can)

I've got 3 mates who are all interested in cycling and who have 1 thing in common - they can't afford to (and don't want to) shell out just yet for a good mountain bike - their budget is R1 500 - R2 500 each... not negotiable (I have tried ) My brother in law (Trek 4-something-00 disc) and myself (Mongoose Tyax Super) plus a couple of other peeps ride together all the time, places like Majik Forest (the roads and the singletrack), Meerendal, Grabouw, Jonkershoek, and then short little rides round the burbs, etc - this will be the riding group that the 3 mates will be slotting into - a mix of "cross country" riding and singletrack fun! My concerns with this budget for my friends: Friend #1 rides motorbikes offroad with me - he will start pushing it harder and harder down the singletrack and eventually trash himself or the bike Friend #2 is a roadie - he should be fine, but might complain about the weight Friend #3 is getting into it for fitness, and plans to flog it after a year and buy something better I have spotted a couple of Silverback Reno's going for R1900 - R2000 - a 2010 and a 2009 both in good nick - anyone got experience with these bikes? Anything else in this price range I should look at? Obviously we're aiming for hardtails with V-brakes, I think a 2.5k bike with hydraulic discs is a little too much to hope for? Any advice on what bikes to look at would be appreciated - new or 2nd hand, doesn't matter (though I think 2nd hand would be a better bet)...

interesting points so far, keep em coming

I was at my LBS yesterday, chatting away (as I love to do) and we got onto the topic of 29ers. Now, a 29er appeals to me in a big way -I still haven't figured out why, and I'm not even sure it would suit my riding, but damn, I'd love to own one. When I first discovered 29ers (admittedly, only recently) I turned to the interwebs for information - and one point I stumbled upon was that there's a feeling out there that 29ers don't handle as well as traditional 26ers, but there's also the notion that as development continues on the bigger wheeled bikes the geometry, and handling, will improve Back to the LBS - I raised the point that everywhere you look, more and more manufacturers are turning to adding 29ers to their model lineup... to which LBS guy replied "yes, but - only a handful of manufacturers have experience in that area" (e.g. Gary Fisher, Niner Bikes, etc). Perhaps he has a point - is this new trend simply going to lead to every other manufacturer adding poorly thought out niners to their lineup for the sake of jumping on the bandwagon? Or do we simply sit back for a year or two and watch as everyone, through trial and error, refines their 29" offerings? What I'm saying is - do you think this "29er uprising" is a good thing - are we perhaps heading towards for a market where 29ers are commonplace, and the drive to improve and be better pushes rapid development? And are we going to have to wade through a multitude of poorly designed "for the sake of doing it" bikes before we get there? And of course, the question I still haven't been able to find a clear answer to: what style of riding is a 29er suited to? What are your thoughts?

funny guy, i keeel you last

pfft! the airbags are PERMANENTLY deployed in addition to the roasties, my left shoulder hurt like a mofo last night. I also just bought myself a new helmet - Fox Flux - it was the first ride with the helmet, as I came off i just thought "please, not the helmet"

Dunno if there's already a thread like this (searched and couldn't find anything)... post your "I ate dust" photos... I'll kick us off then - yesterday, Grabouw, rocky descent, too much speed, big rock meets front wheel and over I go...