JJDT

What started out to be excellent service initially is now poor. I need a new BB for my MTB and I'm also in the process of buying extra parts that I will need in the next few months. Wednesday started browsing for parts and saw a statement by Cycle Lab stating that they will match the price with some T&C's. The online consultant explained the process and within 60minutes after providing the details I received an e-mail stating that the parts needed is in my cart(prices matched). Thursday morning proceeded with the order and a while later received an e-mail stating that not all the parts are at the Fourways store, but will be sourced at another branch and that there is a 48 hour turnaround time. I would've only managed to fetch the parts on Saturday so this would've been perfect. Never received a confirmation that the parts has arrived by Saturday morning and at around noon replied to the initial e-mail requesting feedback on the part sourcing as 48 hours has now been surpassed, but never received any feedback. This morning received an exact e-mail that I received on Thursday morning stating that not all the parts are available in store and that there is a 48 hour turnaround time. Replied on the mail stating that I'm not happy, but still no feedback. To summarise if I had place my order with the shop that I did my price match with, I would've received my order today and with shipping included I would've still saved R90 from the original CL price. The price match was for me the convenience factor that I was heading in the direction of CL and would just pop in and get my parcel. The last 8 months dealing with CL with various issues that ended in chaos. Each time it was just a mess and this time I'm really calling it a day with them, even if they are closer to home I will rather plan and source my parts online even if it means that I will pay more with shipping it will beat the shopping experience of CL.

The measurement from the top bolt to the rear bolt is 210, then the size is confirmed as 210x55mm. My previous measurement was the total length of the shock, which explains the 13mm difference.

Your guess is correct it is a Merida, my wife's e-bike. It is a Suntour Edge LOR8. From my measurement on the shock it seems that the size is 210x55mm according to Suntour. My measurements is total length 223mm and top width 55mm.

Hi All I'm looking for a replacement shock similar to this one. This is apparently a Suntour Shock and the service kits for these shocks are not available in SA or they are like hen's teeth. The shock seems to be losing air and asked the LBS for a full service, when collecting the bike I was informed that all seals etc. was just cleaned as they could not source a seal kit anywhere. I want to source either Rockshox or Fox, for the future I want a shock that parts are easily available. Quick searches on CWC, Evo Bikes and Bike Addict did not yield favorable results due to the shock mounting(See attachment). Any ideas where I can find a suitable replacement?

It seems that this year by the look of things there will be no last minute finishers. Vernon who is the last person still officially in the race with 20km's to go will finish with some time to spare. Big Kudo's to the Big Guy Jannie Du Plessis on finishing the race (alhough by the time of this post not formally finished) it is one amazing achievement.

47H36....What an achievement...

I think this record will stand for some time and also IF it will be broken in the near future.

Just saw on the FB page that Hansie abandoned the race due to health issues😢

What I do to get the extra salt into my body that is lost by sweating is to snack on some "Dry Wors" starting from the first hour into riding and on the hour afterwards. In between I snack on energy bars just to have some food. I use this with my energy drinks. I experimented at first with some boiled baby potatoes in salt but for me it is more food as the salt content is low compared to "Dry Wors" which also act as food but with more salt content to keep the cramps at bay.

I agree with Ouzo on this venue as it logistically way better than any other venues. The main thing parking and access to the venue. Where is a venue currently that would cater for about 15 000 cars and easy to get in and out. The other aspect is the "Chill Zone" after the race that can accommodate about 7 000 people at once. You also need to think about the fact on how full road closure will affect residents. Option 1: Kyalami will be able to accommodate the numbers, but realistically thinking there is only one entrance. The first year I rode was in 2003 and the event was at Kyalami and I do not think the numbers were as big as the past few years. There was multiple roads going to Kyalami but only two entrances. The main entrance and then there was a gravel road that took you from Leeukop Prison to the one side of Kyalami. Most people from the east, north and south used the main entrance as it was the best option but traffic was a nightmare. Getting out of Kyalami depending where you parked was also a mission. So this one in these times are a no go. Option 2: Steyn City. Do not know how much open space are available these days, but will be able to accommodate the numbers. Few options for entering the venue, but basically three roads leading towards these entrances. Traffic from the N14 past Dieplsoot with the never ending roadworks was also hectic. Traffic going out two options Cedar Road towards Fourways and N14 Diepsloot. Traffic outbound will also be hectic. Option 3: Current Venue. Logistically it is the best for traffic as there are multiple roads going out. The are is large enough to cater for the numbers. Further options to make is safer is to explore Nasrec as a parking option behind closed gates. Need some sort of identification for entering and exiting the area. Get proper security and also more to assist with traffic handling and also parking. Better signage for parking identification. Get the SAPS involved at the finish, more visible. Last word on the route it is meant to be tough. The same applies to MTB events, if it is labelled as tough accept it as it is. This is not an event for unfit masses, although on paper it looks fine but throw in weather then it is on another level.

How does the number compare to CTCT, are their numbers also decreasing? As for the route finishing no19 yesterday, the route was always hard. Thinking to the days of Witkoppen Road with the long climb towards the water tower in Honeydew. Few km's later the N14 first climb and then the long drag before getting of the freeway. Then it was that dreaded hill turning left into Summit Road, and the it was that heartbreak hills on the R55nheading towards Kyalami. Then there was Riversands, where you had the climb on Witkoppen before turning right on Malibongwe, then it was the climb towards the Lion Park. The last stretch on this route was the Ceder Road climb and the last climb in Steyn City before the downhill finish. As for security for better parking the start and end should then be moved to start closer to Nasrec with parking inside the venue. The route Maybe have a reverse route the same that they have done with the Riversands route.

Interesting start this year...wonder why all the changes. From history riding this event every time there is changes to the start/finish at the event it means that possibly a change of venue is on the cards for the near future. Maybe I'm wrong this time but this is just my experience and view. As for time I do not think that I will be close to last years time due some health issues over the last 8 weeks or so. Looking at 3:30...anything faster will be a huge bonus.

Will also look at things that I value as a good deal.

Did you do the Parys outride this year...remember that we discussed ways on how to achieve 200km. Never got to do the event, but now that you mention it and if you did the event how was the ride.

Looks like Frosty do have a privileged account with the organisers for him to receive his details before most of us on here 😁

For me at this stage: Magalies Gravel Grinder 150km - February (Bailed last year, need to conquer this beast) Tour Durban MTB Event - April (Tentative) Race to the Sun - May

I will not stress, could not recall any tech sections. The 25km is aimed at mass participation for an enjoyable event. Most of the racing snakes will be hopefully in the front. Just enjoy the ride.

Sometimes you need to learn the "hard way"😀.

The entertainment/food stall area was behind the stadium. Wanted to buy a beer after the first race that was held at the stadium. Only had cash with me and then they only accepted card payments, that was the only time I went to that area. Doubt if we will go through the stadium by looking at the video clip. It will then mean the entrance/exit is at exactly in the same tunnel. This will mean that you do a "parade lap".

So no stadium walk through this year...which was a waste of time anyway imo. That last drag to the finish will be somewhat tough if you are going for the sprint downhill only to realise that you have burned the last matches and you need to drag yourself to the finish. The parking will be a challenge as I presume the field on the right hand side where us early birds used to park will now be used as the entertainment/food stall area.

How on earth did they calculate that avg.😕 @Spinnekop what was your avg time last year and I presume that the sharp end of A Batch were all together until the finish

Thanks Frosty, the reason for my post is the actual rules of the payback. I'm healthy and rarely see the inside of the consulting rooms. Now I have a hearing disability and need to make use of hearing aids. These units are expensive and although DH pays a large sum towards these units. When I claim for a new unit my savings account is used and that will put me in the self payment gap and thus I claim one unit in the first year and the second unit in the second year. Come payback time DH calculates all claims and immediately I'm in the above 30% claim bracket not because of health issues but for an item I need to make life easier. In hindsight I was quick to react instead of just do the maths and then decide.

Adding a gym session to your training program is excellent and for me I would follow the same approach, but I just do 2 gym sessions a week. My approach is some what flexible, if I feel I would rather ride instead of a gym session I go for a ride and also vice versa when I do not feel like riding I will go to the gym. Received an-mail from a person who I do follow on MTB fitness he summed this up nicely on what you experience. He basically explained the theory around training and a toilet roll. If you take a toilet roll and remove 4 sheets and look at the roll and will not notice any change. The same on the next week remove another 4 sheets and still it will show no movement. But after a few months we will start to notice the difference. It is the same as we start a training program, initially we will see no results but after a few months we will notice the difference. Here I'm also guilty as we recover from injury or sickness we want to see progress within a few days and then get frustrated if we have one high and the next a low, instead we just need to focus and patience do reward well.

Discovery with their changes now is using the endurance athletes criteria for everybody. I would love to see the ratio for people who are endurance athletes (registered) vs normal athletes. Time to consider vitality...(savings on life policy) vs saving the vitality fees and losing the every few years cash back bonus on the policy.

Their administration still amazes me. Received a WA message at 14:28 yesterday stating that I'm re-seeded to batch H. Received another message at 17:32 which is exactly the same as my original message received stating my batch and start time. I just hope the ride will be better than the administration and hopefully they did not forget to close one of the roads among the route.