martinza

On Saturday, coming down the last section of the flow trail at Helderberg, a guy took an awful fall and it looked like he broke both his wrists/arms. He was with a group of experienced enduro riders, who had no problems with the black trails higher up. I have not stopped thinking about him this weekend, and I really just want to know if he's okay. Please tell the oke we're feeling for him, and hoping for a speedy recovery. Needless to say, I was shocked, and don't feel like going really fast on my bike...

Wow Nick, what an awesome reply. Thanks for giving some insight into how the design decisions were made. I can see your point, and I think you're right about not overwhelming someone that wants to place an advert. It is at least quite easy to spot a trail/enduro bike just from the picture (it it's not a picture just of the saddle ????).

Forgot to mention, I'm talking about the classifieds ????

It would be nice to be able to select the "riding style" filter aka Marathon or Trail for all mountain bikes, currently this is only available for dual-suspension mtbs. A hardtail can be a trail bike too Is there a feature request page for bikehub?

Recently took a tumble with my mountain bike thereafter the the front hub was loose and I had a broken spoke on the rear. After spending way too much time trying to figure out what the best bike shop would be for the repair, or if I should try it myself, I threw out all logic (to me) and went to the closest one, Specialized. From calling to book the service, to taking the bike in, to receiving a notification that the bike was done (before 12:00 on the service day!), it was just a seamless, excellent experience. Then payment time came...And I nearly fell on my back... It was so reasonable, I cannot even think that I contemplated trying to repair it myself The cost of the whole repair, was to me less than the cost of the time I would've spent on just changing the tyre and topping up with sealant. I will definitely go there again.

In Germany lights are regulated by StVZO - Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung or German Regulations Authorising the Use of Vehicles for Road Traffic, I think these regulations make quite a lot of sense: light-test.info/en/faq-en/169-stvzo-bike-lamps-regulations And basically provide rules for how high and bright your lights might shine (and no flashing at night).

I'll google these and see if this could work, thanks

Thanks for all the effort everyone. And thanks Theo. If it's not a tunable setup issue, then I will live with it, even though it is very frustrating. What I mean is, if this is just how the bike is brought out, then I probably need to adapt. I think you only realize how much you back pedal until you have a problem like this. Ratcheting is the one case, but if you stop (for whatever reason) and you want to get going, you typically first align your pedal to get your foot on, and that is back pedaling. I can't imagine you would be able to get on your bike on a steep/rocky/loose section without aligning pedals. Then the other case is where you stop, you reverse a bit to get out of the way, again you've back pedaled. You don't have to actually pedal, reversing the bike has the same effect. Taking the bike out of a the house/garage, reversing it, you've back pedaled.

Would I see the spacers? Lol, I don't see anything...

Thanks for all the feedback so far. It is the stock drivetrain, with 28T MegaTooth front cog. I tested the chain tension by pushing the derailleur forward while back pedaling and this makes no difference. The chain climbs off the rear cog at the top, so the chain is still properly wrapped around the cog up to the derailleur when this happen, which to me says the derailleur can't have any impact at this point. This would also eliminate the hanger, now that I think about it. After some further testing, I see it also starts climbing off from the 2nd largest cog. It must be alignment, but does that mean Trek made the bike with this problem?

Okay, the straight edge route makes sense, I'll try that. But if it is straight in the middle, gear 5/6, would it not make sense then to drop when not guided by the derailleur? The bike is a stock standard Trek Stache 5, I expect they would have the spacers right.

It is second hand bike that has done this from the start. But chain wear is something I should check then, thanks. I was also thinking it has to have something to do with chain line. As the deraileur is guiding nicely when going forward, but there is nothing to guide when going back, so in some ways it makes sense that the chain would want to go to whatever position is "0" alignment with the chain ring...

Whenever I'm in the lowest (biggest) gear (1x10 Shimano Deore) and I either roll back or pedal backwards, my chain starts to climb down the casette towards the highest (smallest) gear. This is bloody frustrating if you're on a steep uphill, you stop or fall over, try to align the pedals to get going again and then KACHRKIKIGHIGK!!!: the chain was 5 gears down and you just put full power on to get going. It does look like the wheel is correctly aligned. The gear shifts up and down are really smooth. Any reason why this happens, and ideas on how to remedy?

From Merida: The Big Trail range will arrive around MARCH next year (2021) and the 400 and 500 will be the models offered in SA….not the 200 sorry.

Found some: https://www.cyclesunitedonline.co.za/shop/maxxis-chronicle-29-29x3-00-exo/

Anyone know where one could get some 29x3.00 tyres? Also called 29+. The bike came with Bontrager Chupacabra 29x3.0", but I would take anything, the more aggressive tread the better. I have trawled the internet to no avail. Thanks, Martin

Ah no man, most of you are missing the point! It's not an argument about wheel size, it's an argument about what gives you joy when riding a bike. I mean, I feel like I'm shredding down the trail doing 20km/h, so the question really is, would I feel more lekker on the 29 or the each of the three 26es. The one example I can give is, I have kind of gravel/city/mountain hybrid GT Transeo (29 inch). It can't take more than 42mm wide (I think) tires. It was loads of fun riding that down the trail, but it felt kind of unsafe, and just not right. Then I just now got a 29 inch trek stache, which is so much more fun up and down the trail, because it feels right. I'm not necessarily faster, it's not necessarily easier to maintain. But I want to go out and ride more. So the only real convincing argument I see here is that one 29er bike can do all of what the 3x 26ers can do, at least on a fun level. And I presume it should also be less maintenance to have one bike rather than 3.

It seems I can get a 26" downhill bike + 26" dirt jumper + 26" dual suspension XC for the price of one modern 29" trail bike? Each one of those would provide a purpose made experience, and should be truck loads of fun doing what they're made for. If your only goal with riding a bike is to have fun, would it not be worth it to go 26inch? Fun in this case not measured by times on Strava or competing against others, just you and the outdoors. It's a bit like playing old video games, do old games become less fun because new games are better? Or is it just our perception that changes?

Hahaha, wow that got out of hand quickly. But yes, my mind is made up, I am waiting for the Slade to come into stock again, if i get a 2nd hand one before that I will buy it, if not, I'll buy a new one. Thanks for all the help! Just on the Drone, I did look at it, until I got this trail bike obsession in my head. So it's completely fine to suggest it, as seeing as I am a beginner, we can't really say where I'll end up (XCO or Trail), but I think after everyone's comments it is clear that the trail bike can do some cross country too.

That is true, but it does raise another question, should I really be so stuck on getting a trail bike? My interest is riding up and down Eden forest and the surrounds in Stellenbosch. I will never race, or ride long distances. That is why I thought I should get a trail bike.

Okay thanks for the input, that was quick! On fitting the bike, I don't think I would know what feels right, I think you only get that feeling once you've ridden a lot. I am going to wait a bit more

There are quite a few posts on the topic, but I can't seem to get an answer that I'm happy with. I am 1.72m tall, and currently ride a medium GT Transeo, I have close to zero experience in mountain biking. I want to buy a hardtail trail bike for under R20k, and thought of getting a Silverback Slade or Trek Roscoe. There is a large Roscoe in the classifieds, but according to Trek I should be on a medium or medium/large, however, the slade medium has the same reach as the Roscoe large? Does this mean I can get the Roscoe large and it will fit more or less the same as the slade medium? Alternatively, I must just be patient and wait for a medium trail bike to come onto the classifieds...