AR SLABBERT

Has anyone seen Wallock SA before? Keith, the owner, is a super lekker oke, and I think this idea is genius. Thought it was worth sharing.

@guidodg Awesome, please let me know!

Splitting opinions here, but I'm on the hunt for an SRAM Gripshift EAGLE(12SPD), preferably X01 or higher, that needs to be in good shape. Drop me a PM if you have anything.

Does anyone know where I can still get some Imbi Straps, naturally most modern racks don't have the need for them anymore, but they are still the best solution for my old Hold Fast rack. Anyone got some to sell?

Hey @Barry, Most people on BikeHub and those I’ve dealt with throughout my career can vouch for my demeanour and the way I do business, so this really doesn’t sound like something I would have done. That said, it was about 6,7 or 8 years ago now, and if it happened at Centurion Cyclery, I genuinely have no recollection of the incident. But can still appologise if it did and leave it at that. My post on this thread was for the betterment of the cycling community and I'd rather carry on with that path, have a lekker eve!

@Barry No, that is me, I was there for a very brief stint in sales and stock control before moving to Lynnwood Cyclery. I may have helped in bringing your bike to the front for you, but I certainly wouldn't have argued about it. I was at the end of matric in high school at Centurion Cyclery. Are you perhaps not thinking of the older, taller employee who was also blonde, often causing people to get us mixed up? If it was, I can only apologise now, but as I said, I was around 18 and I can't think of myself chasing a grown man out of a bicycle store at the time.

Hey, @Barryfortunately, no, not me, I was based in Pretoria all my time with Spez and briefly in Paarl. And back then, I was fairly young too and not confrontational at all.

I spent about four years in sales and tech at Specialized before moving into the bicycle insurance world, and honestly, there are far more good bike shops out there than bad ones. There are plenty of genuinely passionate people wrenching because they love it, not just for the paycheck. My best advice is to visit your local bike shops, with or without your bike and just chat to the staff. You can usually tell pretty quickly whether they’re in it for the money or whether the money comes naturally because they care about what they do. There’ll always be a bit of trial and error, but that’s why it’s so important to hold onto a good mechanic once you find one.

I think a lot of people forget just how good we have it with BikeHub. I work with bicycle insurance claims internationally, and the alternatives out there don’t even come close. The UK has BikeSoup, which is… well, soup. The US/Canada has PinkBike, which is decent, but nowhere near as refined as BikeHub when it comes to the buy/sell experience. BikeHub gives us a safe, structured place to trade in a second-hand market that normally offers very little protection. Being able to check a buyer’s or seller’s rating is a feature we all use. Personally, I won’t deal with anyone who has no Hub ratings at all. Most of us here have been burned on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, OLX, and the rest, so the difference speaks for itself. At the end of the day, BikeHub is a business with staff to financially support. I’ll happily pay a small fee if it means keeping the platform secure, functional, and trustworthy. I’d much rather that than “saving” a few rand and losing the only decent safe-trading space we have. Keep it up @Nick and the rest of the BikeHub Team, you've got my continued support like many of us Hubbers.

Hey Marc, yes, you can replace the crown of the fork, it's called a CSU. Your local bike shop should be able to get a price for you, likely not the carbon Sid WC. I would, however, be very concerned for the integrity of the frame. The CSU is very, very strong, and for it to fail in that manner, I suspect you may find damage inside the headset area. Take a flashlight and look for any signs of cracking in the paint.

Hi@Croglet, unfortunately, unlike your front fork, a rear shock with a damaged stantion will lose air pressure, especially given that the wear line is within the sag point. Out of curiosity, what does the internal shaft look like? Typically, the more catastrophic wear is to the internal shaft, which is prone to most trunion-mounted shocks; the light at the end of the tunnel is, again, unlike a fork, the stantion is quite a bit cheaper to replace. My recommendation once the repair has taken place is to buy a decent fork spray and keep that seal lubricated, once or twice a week, just wipe the stantion down and lubricate the seal. Best of luck, send me a PM if you have more technical questions, and I'll gladly help where I can.

It seems there’s a bit of a misconception that the XTR Di2 groupset is categorically faster at shifting across the board. While it may feel quicker in a work stand or under light pedalling, that’s not typically how we ride. SRAM’s Transmission system is specifically designed to excel under load and under real-world conditions like climbing, sprinting, or navigating singletrack, the shift speed is comparable to Di2. In most riding scenarios, shifts happen under pressure, and that’s where Transmission really shines. Speed in the stand doesn't always translate to performance on the trail. This was quoted from the above-mentioned review, which adds to my opinion. (https://theradavist.com/shimano-xtr-di2-review/) XTR Di2 vs. SRAM AXS Transmission At some point down the road, I’ll do a deeper dive into this comparison, too. It deserves it. But I’ll keep it brief here since there’s already so much to cover. SRAM Transmission is better than XTR Di2 at downshifting one or two gears under load. It’s quicker and quieter, and that doesn’t change significantly as you increase load. Even to unreasonable levels. There’s still a loud singular “snap” as the last link makes its move, but SRAM almost feels like a continuously variable transmission. Especially when shifting just one gear, I usually feel the ratio change before I even hear a sound. While on XTR Di2, loaded downshifting creates a very brief but audible grind that you can feel through your feet. Loaded upshifting isn’t that different between SRAM and Shimano, though I’m rarely in such a hurry to upshift that I can’t back off the pedals.

7-year-old cassette and chain tech, and the XC brake set is essentially unchanged aside from minor tweaks to fluid and seals. I’ve got no doubt this groupset will be reliable and solid—Shimano rarely misses in that regard but I can’t help feeling a bit underwhelmed. After seven years, this is all they’ve managed to bring to the table? If this had launched alongside SRAM's first-gen AXS Eagle, it would've been a serious contender. But we’re heading into 2026 now, and SRAM has had years to iterate, refine, and absolutely pack features into their AXS platform. And while slightly faster downshifts are nice, that alone doesn’t define a top-tier groupset in my opinion. I think Shimano's real opportunity lies in hitting the DEORE, SLX, and XT levels hard, especially by leveraging their strong backwards compatibility. Even Campagnolo has moved forward with a 13-speed road drivetrain, so the bar has definitely moved. That said, I don’t dislike Shimano at all. I still see them as the kings of the entry to mid-tier MTB space, and I’m currently running a 12-speed XT setup myself. I’d genuinely be excited to see an SLX or XT Di2 upgrade kit. But, being realistic, and knowing Shimano’s track record with availability… we probably won’t see widespread stock for another 2–3 years.

I am an insurance claims specialist focusing specifically on the cycling industry, specifically handling claims for U.S. I’ve seen firsthand why bicycle insurance can sometimes get a bad rap. The truth is, most frustration stems from misunderstandings about what is (and isn’t) covered. Here’s the hard reality: there’s no such thing as true "all-risk" insurance when it comes to bikes. Every policy has limits and exclusions, and insurers are required to make those clear, either when you sign up or even before. Yet, in my experience, about 99% of negative feedback comes when a claim is denied due to the policy simply not covering the situation. And in most of those cases, the policyholder hadn’t read or fully understood their coverage. Having assessed over a thousand bicycle insurance claims, here’s my honest advice: Be honest. It’s not worth risking being blacklisted for misrepresenting a claim. Read your policy wording yourself. Don’t rely solely on a broker or third party to explain it. Cooperate with your insurer. The claims process goes far more smoothly when you’re actively helping rather than fighting it from the start. We’re not out to deny claims unfairly; we’re human too, and reasonable conversations go a long way. If your claim has merit and your policy covers it, we're on your side.

Hi @JH Vagrant drop me a WhatsApp 0832568744

@JH Vagrant I have a Cannondale headset adaptor cups from 1/5th to 1/8th for sale if you're keen.

@DieselnDust I can't speak for other insurance policies like contents or car insurance however I can fully vouch for JaSure on bicycle insurance. I recommend giving them a look. Their pricing is competitive but at no expense of service. Top-notch from policy inception to claim settlement. You can easily update your policy to include changes or upgrades without ever needing to speak to a call centre.

Does anyone have a worn-out GOLD SRAM XX1 chain? The more worn the better.

@BuffsVintageBikes Could you drop me a WhatsApp on 0832568744, this is exactly what I was looking for!

Hi Hubbers, I'm looking to replace the rim decals on my Enve M50 wheels, but I'm struggling to find them. Does anyone know of someone who can print them for me or where I can find some? Dragon sports has but they are R830 per side..... Thanks in advance!

I've been on a couple different bicycle insurer's now. JaSure have by far been the best. Turn around time and ease of getting your bicycle insured. Would highly recommend checking them out.

Nice!!