mountain_lion

Sounds like you have the correct approach and attitude. Like spinnekop said: ever kg you loose helps. If you take it easy, you should be OK for 40km. Ensure that you drink enough on the day; it can get very hot at Eselfontein. Also note that the Eselfontein 40km is one of the tougher 40km routes. It is mostly single track, has some long climbs and a steep rocky single track down hill. So, brush up on your technical skills as well as endurance. Most of all enjoy the training and event!

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Watched Into the Wild last night. Hope to travel to Alaska some time; did not consider taking the bike, but now you have got me thinking...

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

Be careful with importing shoes and clothing. The duties are high (I think 30% on shoes). And then you pay VAT on top. I have only ordered bicycle parts from CRC since there is no duty on parts; only VAT and handling payable and even then you need to check the local price before you order.

You mean a Sturmey archer? http://www.blonkindustries.com/sitebuilder/images/Sturmey_Archer_3_speed-371x272.jpg

Which is well worth it! Just buy it and support a well done product. I did, that is how I got ST3.0 I am still using my trusty 305 so can't help with the MapSource issue. I also store some data in MapSource, but it is not a problem at all finding rides in ST if you name it properly when you import it. There are various ways of filtering / reporting the data.

I am 1.7m. Medium and Small from most manufacturers fit me. Large is too big. I normally prefer the small with a long seat post. Smaller frame is easier to handle (and lighter). I agree that you should first try to get the frame size right, but it is often still necessary to change the stem length to get the set-up just right. Why do you insist that the factory fitted stem is best for you? It was specified by someone who has never even seen you on the bike; how would he know? mountain_lion2010-06-03 14:43:07

SNAP Edman...

I have managed to trash a chain over 800km in the Western Cape mud one winter, but 200km ??? How did you determine it is at 0.75 wear? Measuring with inch ruler is the most accurate way. "Chain checker" tools are notoriously inaccurate... https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=73710 https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=68830

Posting in the For Sale section with pics will give you a much better chance of success... Your price does sound slightly high.

Now also cloned for Vista and Windows 7: http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/

The magic light is an example of what the Chinese do best. Copy and manufacture cheap. It is a direct rip-off of the Lupine Tesla. Thus no R&D costs. It is actually so cheap that it is difficult to buy the parts for a decent DIY light for less (but I still prefer to build my own). It is not perfect, but offers good value for money. Also see https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=67088

Have you tried Stans? They claim they seal all side walls, but you will need to do the "shaking and lie flat" thing a few times... See the installation video on their site: http://www.notubes.com/support_movies.php I sealed a pair of non-UST tyres with thin side walls using Stans when I first went tubeless years ago, but have since been riding UST tyres; just so much easier to seal and stronger side walls for peace of mind. Beware of inflating with a bomb. Can cause problems with the latex. Apparently to do with the cooling effect bombs have. If you have to use a bomb, turn the wheel so that the valve is at the top and the sealant at the bottom. I have never used a bomb. Floor pump works fine if you have the tyre seated correctly. Does need lots of soap and water sometimes and a hand in the right place... Obviously it is much easier with a compressor, but I don't own one (yet)

Ditto!

Yes, you need to resize your pic to be less than 100KB file size. See https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_topics.asp?FID=19 Many tools available for the job. Google is your friend. Try the Image Resizer Windows Power Toy for XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx also cloned for Windows 7: http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/ There are many on-line picture resizing services available as well. I saw a nice site recently which implemented a Java resize tool; i.e. no need to upload your image to resize. It is all done in your browser. Just need the Java Runtime Environment installed. Can't remember the URL now... Perhaps Admin can add some Java code to the Pic Upload dialogue to do this automaticly...

MTB Tyre guide published by Maxxis : mountain_lion2010-05-03 11:16:42

Do the "shaking thing" and lie down flat. Repeat. See the installation video on the Stans site. http://www.notubes.com/support_movies.php

Narrow is better for mud, but not so good for traction. There is no "correct" tyre choice, thus the many options available. I am riding 2.1 UST Maxxis Ignitors front and rear at the moment and loving them. Fortunately winter has not arrived with all its might in the Western Cape yet, so can't comment on their mud performance at this stage. However being slightly narrower with medium knobs, I hope they will do OK in the mud too. Since they are doing well in the dry so far, this could prove to be a very nice general purpose tyre.

Look where you want to go. (and don't go back to the road)

Yes, that is the easiest to find. At least 2 entry points from the Old Helshoogte road. You can also enter from the road leading up to the hydro. Meurant's Stellenbosch MTB mud fest in August normally exits here before continuing on to Rustenburg farm. Note that Rustenburg is no go at all other times. Be careful around the dams; muggings have been reported.

AFAIK you can get it from any MTO office. Me and the Mrs got ours at Jonkershoek. They want and ID / Passport photo, which they laminate onto your permit card. All done by hand... We paid the fee and dropped off our photos at the Jonkershoek gate one Saturday and collected our cards the weekend after at the gate. I have only used my permit at Jonkershoek, but as I understand it, it is vallid at all MTO forests where MTBs are allowed, so should get you in to Grabouw as well. Best will be confirm with MTO.

The road from Stellenbosch dead-ends at the Jonkershoek entry gate. Is beautiful and the veld is starting to recover nicely from last year's terrible fire. Unfortunately the fire destroyed the best single track in Jonkershoek. Us locals called it Never-ending-story, but the signs labelled it Elioti (I think). I doubt if it will be repaired. Not only was considerable damage done while clearing the burnt trees (they are not done yet), but the intensity of the fire was so fierce that the soil burnt as well. After the fire the winter rains did the rest; large sections of the trail were washed away by landslides. Fortunately the Canary trails were spared by the fire and they still offer some great riding. Of course there are many other nice single tracks too...

I prefer to go in the other direction; i.e. climb up past the dam and then bomb down the longer straight section on the east side. You can get some good air over some of the drainage bumps, but be careful there are now some nasty ditches that can catch you out...