TyronLab

Nope. Build-it. I have had family members that did ride in build-it kit for the past few years, but we're a big 8 man (well, 7 now due to injury) team.

320-3 here. If you see a large group of red and black Build It riders, I'll be the hairy fattest one.

Nice thing about the weather is that you don't have a choice, and no matter how **** or great its going to be, it is what it is. I just really want to shake this tiny headcold I've had going on for a week now. Hoping that it doesn't affect my riding too badly.

I get little quivers of pleasure every time I see that bike. Hot dayum that's a beauty!

New profile looks awesome! Route could use some hills.

So it seems the weather is running amok in the cape. The photos I'm seeing and the road condition is making me pretty nervous on my Alu hardtail with 2.2 tyres. But alas, time to HTFU it seems!

Probably doing this one as a last hurrah before the 'Baviaans. Riding from Boksburg to the race, doing the 70 then riding back. The 40km incarnation of this was the first race I did when I got my bike last year. After only 3 weeks of ownership mind you, so it'll be awesome to see the progress I've (hopefully) made. I remember feeling ecstatic that I actually rode 40km off road on a bicycle at the time, although my legs and bumhole were utterly demolished.

Awesome! Which site is that? I understand if you can't share. I've always wanted a chance to ride around one of the open pits I visit frequently, but fear of getting arrested or smushed is too big unfortunately.

I can see your point, and if you're happy to ride trails like that then awesome for you. My personal preference is that there are features that challenge me, not how rough a straight section of uneventful trail is. I could very easily have the same experience riding the footpaths in the veld behind my house, for free. If I'm paying to ride a trail, my expectation is that there are interesting features for me to tackle. A lumpy, straight, 2% gradient climb is not my idea of a feature, but again, that's my preference. Give me a steep technical climb, a rough drop, some tight spaces to negotiate, jumps and berms that can all be as rough as a bear's arse and I'll feel that is money well spent. I'm not saying everyone should boycot Modders, I'm just giving an honest opinion about my experience there.

Attempted to do the 40km red loop yesterday, but the trail was so full of lumpy grass that I gave up and followed the orange route home. While there wasn't a lot of overgrowth from the side of the trail, the actual trail needs a lot of work. Might be fine for guys on dual sus bikes, but for HT plonkers like me lumpy grass just sucks to ride through. The green, yellow and orange routes were good though, I'm assuming that's just due to increased traffic vs the red route. I'd much rather spend my R50 at Big Red Barn to be frank. Its a pity, because Modders has so much potential.

I'm back on the bike, but haven't built up the courage to go off-road yet. I'm judging it by trying to pop a wheelie. If I can do three wheelies in a row without my shoulder muscles hurting I'll venture off road again. My actual bone is 100s, no issues whatsover, but I'm getting a lot of snapping when moving my shoulder. There's no obvious change in movement within the joint or my arm, some minor weakness, but the sound is distressing me. Thinking I should probably head to the physio...

Looks awesome! Where on this side of Jozi are you doing 64km with 1000m of elevation? Camaro/Alberton?

Hit Suikerbosrand for the first time today, 10 weeks after my collarbone break and 6 days after my first outdoor ride thereafter. Astonishing place to ride a bicycle, but super tough, especially in my current fat / unfit state. Can't wait to go back!

*Unpopular opinion suit on* To be frank, for 70% of our trails, and the endless dirt roads our country has, I can totally see the point of a dual susser gravel bike. You get the aero position and efficiency of a road bike but you can take it off road and, critically, it can flatten out the corrugations of our rougher gravel roads. Sure, you won't bomb down DH tracks, but for riding to a tame trail (like most in GP) on the road, doing a lap or two and riding home it'll probably do a great job. To be frank, I don't think that'll be any less capable off road than my Sola seeing as it has a dropper at least, but should be much more efficient getting to the trail.

I'm assuming this thread is silent due to everyone sitting on their bikes at this very moment, training away on a 10% dusty trail somewhere? I'm beyond excited for it. First timer attempting it with 7 family members (look out for Build-It kit on the start route), one of which is a Savage. Longest ride up until now is 100km (50% dirt, 50% road), so I have some ways to go. Attempting it on my cheapo Silverback Sola 4, strongly contemplating the need for my second kidney to fund a dual-susser for the occasion.

I think it greatly depends on where you're riding to be honest. I'm based in GP and I've ridden quite a few trails and races in this region, and I can't imagine anyone here needing to own a bike larger than a 140mm travel bike. The exception may be the Hartebeespoort DH track I've heard of but never ridden. If I compare that to footage I've seen from the trails in KZN and Cape Town its all very tame and basic. Personally I would rather have a trail bike for comfort more than capability. I don't aim for podiums in races, nor will I ever. I ride and race purely for fun. I generally have the legs to complete races, but not the butthole. And riding things like lumpy grass (which somehow always creeps into races) always makes me wish for a bike that's more forgiving, even if I have to work harder.

Lekker braaf voor jou maaitjies nê?!

I'm in the same position. Riding the IDT for a week and a bit now. Also had a clean break and very little (few mm) displacement. I'm typing on my laptop now and there is 0 discomfort anywhere in my body, sling-free. I'll see how it goes along, if I have any discomfort later today or tomorrow I'll resort to the left hand chicken-peck typing again. As someone who generally does 60 words per minute chicken pecking is mind-numbingly frustrating.

Thanks for sharing the horror stories everyone. Unfortunately got news yesterday that I need another two weeks in the sling, four weeks until I can start exercising again and six weeks until I can ride off road. needless to say I'm pretty bleak about it. So, a question for anyone medically inclined. My fracture at the moment is 30% healed, with minimal displacement of my shoulder. I, however, need to start working on my laptop again. Even though the doc said I need to be in a sling, would it be a train smash if forego the sling to use both hands on my laptop? My shoulder is perfectly still while doing this and relaxed, and since the bone is kinda-healed I'm thinking it should be fine? I can't bear the thought of another two weeks at home working with just one hand. On the positive side I've discovered the joys of indoor riding and have clocked just over 10 hours in the week I've had it, so at least my fitness won't hit rock bottom.

You are correct good sir. They are grub screws. Best bet would be to take your pedal to a fastener place in an industrial area and get the right size and test it. I would go for grade 12.9 steel or stainless if you can find it. May not be able to find either and have to stick to Gr8.8, which is fine, just not as strong as 12.9.

My fracture was relatively simple, just a clean diagonal fracture through the center of the bone. Went for my two week follow up today, doc says everything is healing up well so no need for the surgery. Picked up my IDT today, just need to get a trainer tyre and I'll be ready. Thanks for the feedback guys! Seems I came off lightly...

Thanks for the replies guys. @tinmug that's a horrific yet captivating story! @patchelicious I've heard that on a few occasions. It was my first serious OTB so I'm assuming its par for the course. @DJR That's a bummer dude. I'd be even more depressed than I am if I had an awesome commute (and commuter bike) like you have. @MDJ Solid advice. I'm actually in the process of selling my PS4 to buy an IDT for those exact reasons. I'm entered into my first Trans Baviaans with some very strong family this year (a sub-10 TB Savage nonetheless) so this has put a serious knock in my training plan. Let's hope my IDT shenanigans can at least get me started again.

With "Breakin' out of Hell" from Airborne blasting on my internal HiFi I was bombing down the Telkom Tower dirt track in Heidelberg (for the first time), doing my best Atherton impression on my stiff HT XC bike. I met a ditch at 48kph. The cautious thing to do was drop the anchors and grind to a halt with another 100m of sweet descending to do, or pull off my best bunny hop to date. Needless to say some seconds later I was lying in the dirt, winded, sore, yet somehow still stoked. I was still under the impression that I would be riding home after a sip of water and a rest. 1hr late the ER doctor showed me an XRay with my clavicle split obliquely through 80% of its thickness. Two weeks down the line my clavicle and surrounding tissue seems fine, but my opposing wrist, rest of the affected shoulder's muscles, inter-rib muscles and mental stability less so. Has anyone else experienced their opposing arms and other muscles taking strain when your dominant arm has been in a sling for two weeks? Any experiences to share on how long it took you to get back on the road and subsequently on the dirt with a fractured clavicle? I didn't realise how much cycling had become part of my life, and what a massive mood booster the fun and fitness it brought me was.

Hamana hamana, that is one badass mofo! Enjoy!

New Trance? Even if it isn't very nice! Couch - checkPedals relatively level - checkTyre brands at the 12/6 positions..... So close!