Headshot

I watched an xce eliminator race last year where the sixer rider killed it and came second in the WC standings.

Hairy, don't forget how important the tyre tread pattern and chain lube brand are as well. When you factor those in, Nino and Phil clearly have an advantage - They are like Honey Badgers on White Lightening out there.

Ha, the problem was this single track stuff they were forced to ride on yesterday. Unused to it (this is the Epic after all) and not realising it was there for fun and part of the route (yes really!), Kevin tried to avoid the obstacle, as any good MTBér would. It's all the organiser's fault for sticking een spoor into a dirt road race. I mean really.

There's a WC XCO woman racer who wins on a sixer dual or did last year. No doubt she won't have the option in '14 :-)

I see plenty of shorties doing fine on 29ers and tall okes on sixers/650 - So much wheel size BS from bike adverts advertising sprouted as fact...

If it was 26'vs 29. the 26ers would also "be right up there" . Its not about the wheel size.

The bike yes, but the hair and lycra - not so sure

Thanks guys. The 26er HT did not have brakes fitted yet but front wheel had a brand new C/L 160mm rotor fitted.

Keep an eye out if you are in the Cape Town area please. Scum climbed into my walled and very private back yard area at 5am Sunday and took: 1. An old (1998) but under restoration Giant HT bike - gray unpainted ali, XT 26" wheels, RS Reba fork, Spaz Phenom seat and Spaz lock on grips on Ritchey WC bars and stem. This was a fun project bike that I had spent lots of fun time on and is greatly missed. 2. My sons old 20"Merida 7 spd kids MTB - hanging up ready for his brother in a few years, now gone. 3. My Camelbak Mule circa 2007 - orange and gray, with alloy Lezyne pump, tube, Tokai permit and greencard, blue and black Cape Storm bike windbreaker and pair of Darcs mirror cycle glasses. 4. Urge, Enduromatic helmet - black/yellow/red, no foam inserts as these were being washed. PM me if you have any info. I will be checking the local usual suspects on an ongoing basis...

You also need to make sure of two things 1. - is the star nut thing in the fork steerer tube firm and not slipping up when you tighten the top cap? and, 2- is there is room to pull the stem and headseat up tight? By this I mean that the steerer tube needs to end at least a few few mm below the top of the stem. If there is no gap there, the top cap tightening will achieve nothing. Add a spacer below the stem if you need to increase the steerer/stem clearance..

Hans Dampf super gravity casing 2.35's are great in front. I'd go wide and softer on the front and narrower and harder compound rear. I have just put on a Nevegal 2.3 at the back - a little heavy but more durable than my last one I hope...

DH spds - very good but heavy compared to the 520s on up.

If you had looked carefully you would have seen that the perps you saw wear green parks uniforms. The baboons fight all the time - it sounds worse than it is. They are no more aggressive than they have ever been IMO - I regularly encounter them and stop for a drink to watch their antics. They are not dangerous in my experience. A large male climbed into my car to look for food the other day. He simply ignored my attempts to chase him out but left after I got into the car with him. Irritating (and entertaining) yes, dangerous, not in my experience.

FF gloves are definitely a bit hotter but worth the pain. I sometimes leave them off on the uphill part of my ride if its very hot.

No I think I am having trouble following your English. And reading Tubehunters post again, I think you didn't understand his English.

That's old news - read the thread and dismount from your high horse. You didn't answer the question posed. Please do so before asking your own. This is hypothetical remember. What would you have done if your life had been endangered by the van driver in the manner suggested. If it was like that I think many people may well have understandably reacted in exactly the same way as the cyclists did. in fact, their behaviour could even be seen as self defence. If they had not perhaps the van and its occupant would have continued to endanger their lives. If it was nothing like that, their reaction was probably excessive. I am looking forward to hearing the full other side of the story as should everyone else.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/executive-style/fitness/blogs/on-your-bike/youre-a-cyclist-so-its-your-fault-20140205-321np.html A slight mood lightener and very apt description of what being an outie or cyclsit is all about. Apologies to Flowta if he already posted this link.

Think I need a bike on car road trip to KZN....

Rule no 1 - do not buy MTB specific gloves from a bike shop. Rule 2 - go to a motorcycle shop and buy a pair of strong long lasting MX gloves for a fraction of the price. Fly racing are good - my current and only pair are several months and crashes old and still going strong. Giro FF gloves I have had were worse than shite - they used some real leather on the palms with multiple seams - slippery and not durable at all. Just junk.

Ja, I suspect that the Capra may get the same kind of review as the Rallon - a great bike downhill but not the first choice when the ride includes lots of climbing. Could make a good bike if you want to do enduros and race DH with one bike though

Noted - seems the crims are everywhere these days. Note to self - find that missing pepper spray canister and stick it on the camelbak. TMNP could also do better on the security front - instead of wasting time and money fining people for swimming in the dam near Rhodes Mem.

The Orbea and YT look a bit alike - and I like them both... Have to start saving...

I was in no way blaming the trail for the incident - that corner was always there albeit with a tree to mark the spot. Thing is trees do stand out rather well, whereas stumps lie low and nail you. I have had my fair share of run ins over the years. A jump off that stump would be a good way to use it to our advantage. Years ago I witnessed a crash on the jeep track from the neck as we rode up. The guy lost it round a corner and flew head first into a pine tree. He and his bike ended up meters down the slope. Lets just say he lived but his head wound was not pretty...They sent a heli for him too. Lets face it - MTB can be dangerous - that' s part of what makes it fun.

Just watched a video of me and HHH riding that trail. You carry speed off Cobra and enter Mamba. Shortly after that is a massive stump (ex tree :-( ) that the trail ducks to the right around. If you aren't concentrating properly or lose control when you brake to get around the short right hander, it is waiting for you. By the sound of it he hit the stump at speed and went OTB on his head. Not great.

Still waiting for the perps to come up with their side I see. I am guessing that isn't ever going to happen... As the judge in Oscars trial will eventually say - "Guilty"