Bennie Dikwiel

05:00 am to 06:15 during week on water only.

Not that anyone is going to recognise you or your bike!

Sorry for the hijack, but I also need advice. My first attempt at servicing my headset on my mtb and I have a problem. After removing the stem bolts, top adjusting screw & cap the handle bars and spacers came off fine, but the fork just won't come down even after persuasion with a mallet. Should I whack it even harder, or is there some trick to this?

Hello Balsie While most Hubbers are WYSIWYG, unfortunately there are a tiny few hubbers that when they move from the real world out there, to the cyber world in here, take on a cyber personality of such a nature that if they has to race in here, would fall into the age category Nippers, Sprogs or Sub Juniors! Ps Good luck with your sale.

I don't cycle any more. I also don't cycle any less.

DirtBag no kidding hey! It is a monster! From 871m to 1802m in 27km. Remind me not to forget the Oxygen Cylinders. See you there. Here is the 55km route profile:

Best bang for your buck is the Red Label bib by Velotex.

I come from a 13 year hotel & casino management background and I know when there is a general absence in enthusiasm, friendliness, and empathy by hotel staff. Gauged by the staff attitude from our entrance to the place it was clear that we were not welcome. "You must leave your bicycle at the bottom by the security gate" did not give me piece of mind, and when I raised my concern to the manager regarding it getting stolen it was not explained that they have a facility to store bikes in the basement, locked up with name tags and the signing in and out of bikes. Should this have been explained to me I would have gladly accepted it no problem.

This thread is intended for you to list the establishments where cyclists were made aware that they or their bicycles were not welcome. Where possible please give details ie Place, Date, Time, Names so where the establishments would like to comment or attempt to rectify, they could do so. My 1st as follows: Place: Beacon Island - Plett Date: 3 April 2011 @ 14H30 Staff: Porter "Benji" Manager: "Abraham Jansen" My wife, a friend and I arrived after doing the Harkerville route (it was a dry day) and wanted to sit outside on the patio to have lunch. We were refused access with 1 bike and were told to leave it down below with the access security. I said that I was scared it was going to be stolen and said that I would prefer to take it around to the grass where we will be sitting. We were told by "Benji" the porter that this is not possible. We asked to see the manager and without greeting or introduction "Abraham Jansen" the duty manager confirmed that the bike was not allowed to be pushed to the grass outside by the patio. Without any alternative and being made quite aware that we were not welcome, we left hungry. Shame on you Beacon Island! We as cyclist are not human sub-species and our bicycles do not carry diseases.

Leave those things, the view is always better on your real bike outside!

If you look carefully, it looks like a Maxxis Crossmark thread patern one of the suspect's forehead.....

Here is the pics... https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/102045-baakens-valley-bikejacking-port-elizabeth

So it was our turn in Port Elizabeth today. Two suspects armed with knifes bikejacked two riders at Dodd's farm in the Baakens valley P.E. today. Good news is that the speedy chase down by fellow MTB'ers, ADT, Atlas, WEESA and the SAP resulted in the recovery of the bikes and the arrest of the bikejackers!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: See the full story in http://www.peherald.com tomorrow. Here are the suspects, not so brave now without their knifes and looking a bit worse for wear. They are going to be sore tonight and they didn't even get to ride very far!

Rookie seller only has 5 posts........

Event Name: Jeep Katberg MTB Classic When: 16 April 2011 Where: Katberg Eco Golf Etate & Hotel, Eastern Cape Category: MTB Jeep Katberg MTB Classic Where: Katberg Hotel ( 40km North of Fort Beaufort) Distances: 55km Up-&-Over the mountain Challenge ; 35km Challenge and a 20km fun ride as well as a 5km kiddies fun ride. Here are routes for all fitnesses and ages! This year we are adding an exciting downhill race! 7km down the old Kat Pass!!! This will be on the Sunday Morning. Distances and Costs: 55km Grand Cherokee Challenge - R180-00 (Includes Hoddie/T-shirt, Spur Burger & Goodie Bag)(Requires License to ride) - Classified as marathon 35km Patriot Experience - R 125-00 (Includes Hoddie/T-shirt, Spur Burger & Goodie Bag)(Requires License to ride) - Classified as half-marathon 20km Wrangler Ride - R 100-00 (Includes Hoddie/T-shirt, Spur Burger & Goodie Bag)(No-license required to ride) 5km Spur Family Ride - R 55-00 (Includes T-shirt, Spur Burger & Goodie Bag)(No-license required) 7km Extreme Downhill Race - R 50-00 (License Required to race) Temporary day licenses can be purchasd at R30-00. Route Info: 55km Mountain Challenge Route - The route starts at the Club House this year and goes around the back of the golf estate with a slight gradual climb on the cement tracks. At the back of the estate the route ducks down into the nature reserve. At the base of the reserve the riders are taken deep into indigenous forest single track. There is a steepish, but short single track climb that takes riders back to the forest roads. From here it is another short climb to the main forest gravel road. Here the 55km riders depart from the 35 & 20km riders route, to go toward the infamous Kat Pass. The Kat Pass takes riders up 650m in 10km! From here there is a short reprieve as riders head a short distance down the other side before turning up onto the newly found short-cut to the top of the Katberg Mountain. This short-cut removes 300m of vertical climbing from last year’s route to get to the top of the mountain! The terrain is also much more ride’able, with only short portages for the non-mountain-goats. This new route also hugs the cliff-line allowing for much more awe inspiring views on the way to the compulsory stop which has also been moved to the Notorious Turn-Off (that many riders missed in 2009!). From here the route definitely turns downward, with some of the most unique single track cut in the mountain reeds. Half way down the mountain the 55km riders will join up with the 35km riders who will also be very happy to start pointing their bikes South! The loooong mountain-side loop of last year has also been cut in half, so the riders will do a short contour path with some undulations before joining the 20km riders in the downhill sprint back home! With the finish at the Club house – same as last year, just coming from the other side. 35km Challenge Route: The route starts at the Club House and goes around the back of the golf estate with a slight gradual climb on the cement tracks. At the back of the estate the route ducks down into the nature reserve. At the base of the reserve the riders are taken deep into indigenous forest single track. There is a steepish, but short single track climb that takes riders back to the forest roads. Here the 35km and 20km routes break away from the 55km route, by continuing West along the forest roads away from the golf estate. After a few kilometres the 20km riders will head up a slight hill, but the 35km riders will continue along the forest road. Up to a point where they will point their bikes upward, heading up the Southern face of the Katberg Mountain along a spectacular pass that will take the 35km riders to a point where they will meet up with the 55km riders heading down the mountain. From here the route is mainly downhill, with 2 climbs that link them up with the 20km riders again. The route then follows a lovely indigenous forest contour path. One more short little climb, then it is really downhill all the way into the Golf Estate, to finish at the club house. Huge accommodation specials at the hotel, and camping right at the start/finish area!! See full deyails of rates etc. in the race entry form attached below. There is REALLY no reason not to do this ride! It is only 250km from Port Elizabeth , 180km from East London and 80km from Queenstown. Excitement is mounting for the Fourth annual Kat Classic MTB challenge which takes place on Saturday 16 April in Katberg. This is the perfect MTB event for the entire family. For accommodation bookings speak to Amanda on 043 743 3433 This promises to be a race filled with spectacular views, great prizes, fun & good food We look forward to seeing you there! Go to Event Page

Fortunately my rear tyre is worn (now a 25 inch), otherwise the poor ows behind me wouldn't have been able to see a thing from all the smoke due to the tyre rubbing up against the seat tube...

I rode up such a steep gradient today at Bruintjies hoogte, after standing for about 15 min I think I might have streached my brand new chain

Strong & Cheap Shimano HG53 chain lasts me 3000 k's, I really couldn't bother saving 30g on a chain and paying twice more for it.

This dude was at the start of the race with some seriously suspect looking hair...

173cm 85Kg (Eastern cape Beer & Braai diet)

Which route will you take there and at what pace?

Then it is ONLY R 3800 per team (Excl camping) I would also love to go, but completely out of my budget

WELL done! Frail if you ever plan a charity ride to P.E., consider your accommodation here as sponsored!

Unfortunately for us it is often better to NOT exercise our right to cycle in the actual road and stay alive, than to exercise our right and die. Often I wish that we could be given the same respect motorists give to stray dogs, at least the stray dogs get given a wide berth!

Just heard the news on Algoa FM - Seriously sad...