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A good few years back I was involved on behalf of an importer of plastic sheeting liner material which SARS decided was not exactly what it said on the box (biaxially oriented) and a higher duty was due. After a win in the High Court and being thrown out on appeal, SARS gave up. Back then judges were perhaps a bit better than now, but it does all turn on semantics and in some cases like this one, a bit of science, so a good expert is essential. When it comes to bikes, I suspect most Judges think they know what one is but its hard to see how a wheelless frame is a bike, unless it was also seen as a contrived attempt to escape duty, which it probably was.

Wow, that is terrible. I hope your sister makes a complete recovery, Byron.

Exactly and this is in fact how the moto world operates. You can have bling but at an extra cost otherwise its no name brand in house parts.

I had no idea Kashima was so K@K . To be avoided at all costs by the sound of it.

Chipped Kashima is a badge of honour, a bit like a chipped eBike 🙂

@Jewbacca Precisely.

Actually I think you're dead wrong on one thing. The bigger the group of cyclists the more likely the car has to take note and slow down to pass. Most fatalities and incidents, like Savages recent one and the poor bloke who was struck by the drunken Navy guy near where your pics are taken were not in large groups or riding abreast. In fact i think very few incidents between cars and cyclists involve large bunches but I'm happy to be corrected.

I am embarrassed to be even a temporary road cyclist . If the outfits aren't bad enough you get to be lumped with a bunch of riders who get into a group and start behaving as if they own the road. Sunday a group from CY - about 40 riders with a support bakkie following them took over Chappies for a while. They weren't the only ones. I cringe in my lycra when I see that. That said, the vehicles on the road were well behaved and just sat there until they could pass.

Can I add pedestrians and runners to the list of moving danger areas? We had three incidents on one ride this weekend. Runner going away from us on the sidewalk drops into the road just ahead of me to overtake with no concern for what's coming up behind. Then a woman on her phone crossing a busy road near Glencairn with no attempt to keep an eye on approaching bikes (or cars). The third was similar to number 2 - guy on foot crossing road in front of my wife in Tokai. In comparison the cars were well behaved, but sadly some fairly idiotic riding too. Don't overtake slower riders in the face of a following car when the road widens ahead in 150m presenting a far safer place to pass... Eish.

He, I've never tried it, but some extra lean cooked mince plus a bit of milk and Bovril sounds yummy 🙂

Nutribullet some mince meat?

To be fair though, a Camber is a very outdated bike geo wise, so there are a host of factors that make your Stumpy so much more fun to ride, not just the whippy rear wheel.

Interested to know - what broke at the front of your bike?

Go for it and send us blog reports on how it rides.

I recall a couple of events I did in the 40's several years ago - Boschendal Argus MTB springs to mind. I missed the heat cut off and did the whole 50km. Managed to climb into a small stream to cool off at one point. The worst was day two of S2C at 45deg in places, ridden with the inevitable runny gut...

Its amazing to see how the SANP jeep tracks in Cecilia have gone to the dogs since that video was shot five years ago. Sections of it are nothing more than rock gardens now.

The Constantia Greenbelt and Cecilia to Newlands Forest loop are exceptionally safe. I am there once a week. I am not aware of any reported muggings in the area for at least 5 years, but I may have missed the report The M3 single track from Peddlars to Tokai can be a bit deserted at certain times and as its close to the M3 and has some homeless people camping at one point does feel a little less safe. That said I ride it alone and haven't had any issues. Mugging/Bike Jackings have taken place on the Spaanschemat road from time to time - If I recall the last one was very early in the morning last winter.

No man - wear those tears as badge of honour. I still have an ancient long sleeved First Ascent top with barbed wire holes in it. Brings back great memories. 🙂

There seem t be a few well priced HT 29ers out there. R10k isn't going to buy you much of a new bike and as others have said, you'll get a better bike buying second hand, even if you have to fix a few things.

Just rode some of the Elgin trails. The climbs are gentle and the tracks really come alive if you open it up on the descents with just enough tech to make them fun. They're smooth enough for a hardtail and even dare I say, a 26er. The Trails End owners have done a great job of restoring the bridges and tracks damaged by the late winter floods.

My Mule was stolen several years ago and i replaced it with a Dakine Drafter (on sale at R500) which has withstood numerous crashes and a bladder repair. I'd rate it as better than a Mule and as well made if not better. Sadly, not available in SA anymore it seems.

My experience of Ryder products has been excellent. They deserve kudo's for making affordable quality products that show up the show pony brands who overcharge for similar products by up to ten fold. I have a set of their SPD's on my road bike - so far so good. I have just bought their Force saddle for my HT bike which looks like a power saddle and costs R340. Yes, 1/10 the price of a fancy Spesh saddle. It is comfortable, reasonably light and looks good. Those shoes look good and I bet they are far cheaper than rival brands. I will give them a go when my old 5.10's finally wear out.

You jest surely. Do some googling. Its basically snake oil.

Don't do it, adds at least 200g 🙂

Precisely. I have no interest in most of what is offered on DSTV and neither do I have the time to watch all of it or watch events when they are broadcast instead of later, on demand as a replay. And ya, there is no comparison to GCN+ and Netflix from a price point of view. Even F! is available as a streaming service independent of satellite TV providers.