mountain_lion

No

Tankman Same time, same place next week Thursday? Will see if I can join you guys. All depends what happens between now and then with the renovation work to my house...

No, you go straight left!

Unfortunately the situation in SA is a lot different from say UK and Europe where people have a right to roam and access to the hills and mountains are free for all. In SA the public roads are about the only "place" you can access without obtaining permission. Elsewhere you are trespassing. Scuzzy, I understand your pain with the ever increasing cost of our sport, same goes for me. I obtained informal permission several years ago to ride on some of the farms which have now joined the trail system. I could string my own route options together as I felt like, all for free. I have now lost this freedom and will buy an annual permit to continue riding "in my back yard". However doing so I gain sustainable access to many more farms (where I had to trespass in the past). Initially I almost never encountered other riders in the area or saw any other tyre tracks than my own, but recently this started to change. The landowners were being forced to act. The response could have been to lock the gate... However, if we as the local MTB community can prove to the landowners that we can use their property in a responsible manner, more farms will come on board and join the trail system. This area has a lot of potential for MTB. Also remember that the permit fees are NOT going into the landowner's pockets. It goes to the Bottelary Conservancy, who operate the trails.

Complaining because you have to pay to ride on land where you were trespassing in the past? The alternative is a locked gate with this sign...

Although it is true that there is not much true single track at present, it does not mean that that these trails are all open dirt roads. You will not encounter many bakkies along the trail, but tractors yes. There is a reason for that... Notice the 'hills' in the trail name? Don't under estimate them! What goes up must come down. Obviously not down hill style technical or comparable to some of the Jonkershoek single track, but not smooth either. If the fun factor is still not enough, just up your speed There is a lot of potential single track to be built in the area, but single track costs money. The trail needs to be up and running before single track can be built. Waiting until the single track is there before supporting the trail is a bit short sighted (and selfish). What I am saying is before writing this trail off because there is not enough single track, at least give it a try. PS Being a local (2 streets from Homer) I know the area well, but was not directly involved with setting any of this up; I am just very excited about the formalising of the access to the area (although I will now have to stick to the marked trails).

JB, which "oil" are you using these days for Fox forks (lower legs not damper)? Still mixing?

I tried the Mezcal, but did not like it. It rolls fast, but lacks grip, especially on the more technical stuff. Fine on open hard pack roads, but that is not my thing. Never tried it in the wet, but guess it will not be great there either. Now running Maxxis Ignitors (UST) front and back and loving them.

Dirtman Thank you very much for allowing me to join you guys for the ride on Saturday. Gee, it was hot! You have done an excellent job; it is obvious that you have put in a lot of effort and time into this. The new single track sections just need some rain on it to help compact the sand. Can't wait for the route to be officially opened. Beware guys, if you string all the route options together, you are in for some serious climbing! I expected a tough 45km, but still under estimated it. Lets blame it on the extreme heat...

I trust that a number board (or something similar) to be displayed on the bike will be supplied with annual and day passes so that users can easily spot free loaders and politely inform them of the rules and where to pay.

My understanding of a club is: "For members, by members". So if there is something that you think your club should be doing, get involved and do it!

Well done avoiding them! There has already been a few "incidents" on the R44 adjacent to Cloetesville (your alternative route). The advise offered by the cops is not to ride there or ride in groups... Best of all is that the Kayamandi police station is right next to the traffic lights where many bike jacking have occurred. Don't know what to do about this either.

For a great all round tyre, try Kenda Karma (if you can find them in UST)

I understand that a Google map at this stage might be premature, but just an indication of which side of Stellenbosch (north, south, east west) will be nice to satisfy the curiosity.

Also doubt if the quick link worked loose. Was the bent link near the quick link? If not, then my guess is that the chain jammed, bent and then the quick link opened. I have also had a quick link come loose on the road bike, but that was due to a chain jam from a bad shift (going from big blade to small without letting up on the power enough). My conclusion was that the quick link opened as a result of the jam and not vice versa. Fortunately I was not going fast (up hill) and could retrieve both sections of the quick link, repair the chain and continue with my ride.

All depends how long I stop and who I meet up with... Whats with the borrowed bike? Not one in your collection good enough? I am sure you will be able to catch up with me from L, I will be on my heavy chro-moly hybrid. Look out for me at Simonstown waterpoint. Mrs mountain_lion is seeded W, but has decided watch the action on TV

Thanks Slowbee, have not had much time to spend on the Hub lately, but still lurk here every now and again...

+1 Enjoy the Argus, do it on the bike you are used to. Forget about the time. If you finish the Argus, you can reward yourself with a new bike. Buying a bike in a hurry is never a good idea. Take your time to find the bike which is right for you.

IIRC this is no. 15 for me. First one in 1995. Best was 3:24 in 1999 on a chromolly hybrid

Doing no. 15(??) Best seeding ever, but I have been injured and did almost no training since December. Anybody else doing a leisurely Argus from G (or a few groups after), is welcome to join me. I will be stopping at the water points to make up for all the coke I did not drink on previous years. I will be on my hybrid (leaving the road bike at home) sporting a lion's mane... (which mrs mountain_lion must still make) Can't miss me, so say hello when you go past.

I am starting in G, but been injured, so did almost no riding since Die Burger. Will be taking it VERY easy and making up for all the Coke etc which I did not drink at the water point in previous years If The Hub J group comes past at decent slow pace, I might join them for a while...

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/60834-1010-for-crc/page__view__findpost__p__918351

As already said, New cassette = New chain, but if changed in time, New chain does not have to mean new cassette. Regarding the stiff link, did you open the link up slightly after inserting the pin? When inserting a link pin, it is always a good idea to do that. Prevents stiff links. However these days I always use a quick link to join my chains; makes it easy to take off and the chain clean too.

Another +1

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/60365-bike-insurance https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/43239-cycling-insurance