rudi-h

where did you get the info that 10 time finishers get a higher weighting... the website says in very clear terms that "entries will be awarded at random". I see there is a "family / group" option, which I guess makes it a bit better than just entering on an individual basis... however, had it been the old system then I would have been assured of an entry for myself and my mates in 1 hour and 11 minutes from now, so can't say that waiting for a "maybe" entry in October gives me a lot of pleasure..

this is retarded, cannot believe that anyone with a brain cell can think up such a system. People travel all over SA and go to the CTCT in groups. What if you get an entry and your mates don't? That makes for a pretty shitty weekend. thumbs down organizers, thumbs down!

cool bike, i really dig it! probably the only HT bike from any of the main stream manufacturers that i'll buy due to the longer travel / slacker head angle geometry. For some reason the other guys out there just don't have any bikes in this category. (I'd still go for a cotic or on-one though) big issue with the mixed wheel size though. not keen on keeping track of different size tyres, different tubes, not being able to buy wheels in sets etc... They also could have sold it stock with 800mm bars though, that way everybody can cut to suit.

I'm not sure who was behind the spruit upgrades, but maybe coincidentally then, the spruit became a better place after Juma. I just assumed it is as a result of Juma, irrespective of who put in the work. If every little spruit upgrade and a bit of publicity (through JUMA) only urges a handful more cyclist to ride there instead of flocking out of town for their weekend rides, it means more cyclists in the spruit which makes it safer (and more fun).

say what you want of the juma last year, but the event has improved the condition and safety of the spruit dramatically, most notably cleaning up big time and the addition of the sections underneath Jan-smuts, Conrad and William Nicol. I believe they are going to build a permanent route underneath Tana and hopefully the extra traffic will make the spruit safer in general. For making my backyard safer and more fun I'm willing to pay R500 even if there isn't an event at all. Count me in!!!

I used to ride 730's and felt too narrow. Went for 800's now. They're much better than the 730's but maybe a tad too wide if you spend lots of time in forest trails. I won't go smaller than 750 again. Ever

wow! maybe its because the price is going up so much every year that the bucket list riders are jumping to enter before they need start pawning cars and houses in a few years from now

Eventually (and to the detriment of all of us) these crazy prices filter through to smaller races too, so embrace yourself for R1000 entry fees to one day races in a few years to come... Triathlon races used to be in the R200 mark until ironman started becoming big charging thousands. Now a poorly organised race in Germiston costs R700...

I'm glad you are not the guy at my insurance firm calculating my premiums. If you do not even consider it "low risk" to assume that you can ride on a public road... So you think the Monaco F1 course has an alternative route? Or Centre Court at Wimbledon? Or champs elysees where the TDF ends?

To those who cannot grasp the congestion issues... Many will ride with mates and fall back into later start groups. Many will have a chilled ride averaging 20 instead of 35, spending more time on the same stretch of road. Many will stop, take photos, have a drink at the water tables that would normally not even have noticed it. Many will boose heavily riding in not so straight lines. To those that cannot grasp that the event costs will not drop... Do you honestly think that zero cash was spent to date and that all costs will be incurred on race day as every rider passes a kilometer marker? Salaries of organisers are paid regardless (likely including overtime work to make the required changes). I'm sure 99% of service providers have been paid deposits by now and would still insist on the invoice amounts being paid as per the purchase orders... The only saving will be on the tonnes of cokes, bananas and whatever else they would have given to the dudes being out there for 7 hours on their saddles. Last time I checked coke and bananas weren't refundable at you local grocery store either... So simply transferring your entry fee to next year, well good luck.

Maybe you should start by counting to 35000.. That's why you can't ride a second lap. There won't be space, that's why.

Reading this thread I start to understand why we do not have consensus on 26" VS 29" wheels after daily debates of the last 6 years. That's not even talking about the red traffic lights debate that started about a century before the birth of le hub!

Holy smoke I'm glad that I'm not married to half of you lot. All this bitching just gave me a headache! I'm also coming from jhb and also paid R6k for the weekend, but no, I don't expect them to refund me, I don't expect them to tolerate me for another lap on what is going to be a very congested road and even thought I'm disappointed in the situation but to start slinging insults at the organisers... Can't wait, gonna be great!

Just curious, why is there such a strong perception that the race will be cancelled. Can one not ride next to a piece of land that burned down? excuse my ignorance, I live in the highveld and have ridden through hundreds of fields that burn down every winter. I understand that the fynbos is a different kettle of fish to the highveld grasslands, but is it really not possible to ride there?

i didn't think it was badly marked... but then again I was far away from the front so many folk around me to follow. course was nice but tough, and the run definitely not for the faint hearted! some bottlenecks on the bike but I think the athletes are more to blame for this than the organizers. seen some dudes clip out and walk for a rock the size of a tennisball out there, so I guess unless you make it all 7m wide gravel roads there will always be bottlenecks on the singletrack... None the less, big up to the organizers for an awesome event!! I really don't know why an event of this class only sells 1/10th of the entries compared to 70.3... maybe marketing?

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I have a serious shin and a calf bite... clearly not enough talent yet

see some mention above to the "thickness" of the pedals. Just curious, what difference does it make whether the pedals are thicker or thinner in terms of the cross section? i cringe to say, but I bought giant pedals (and put them on a santacruz... i know) and they are quite "thick", probably around 30mm if i had to guess? does this mean I need to buy a pair of saints?

Careless whisper. Seether nailed it

slightly off topic, but i see many of you wondering to go with flats (and good shoes) or not. so maybe a little something for those who are still in two minds... i started riding bikes from back when I was 4, so i always thought I can ride and am pretty fast on singletrack, but could never do proper tricks. ive been hesitant of jumps, couldn't (and still can't) wheelie properly, manual was beyond me and i couldn't hop much more than a pavement (with cleats only). so with the youtube era coming along a few years ago and every second video you see involves some dude with sick bike skills, I thought I should make a childhood dream come true and give it a go to improve my skills. Bought a book (that one from Brian Lopez) and practiced a bit, but after falling my arse off a LOT on relatively easy jumps, i seemed to have lost interest. buying my first trail bike 2 months ago, I promised myself that I'd learn to ride this bike properly and take it to Moab/Whilster in the next 5 years. Got flats (and 5.10's) and signed up for some lessons with Peach. It's only been a bit more than a month and I can't tell you how much more I enjoy riding a bike now! I'm by no means exceptional yet, but I managed to clear a 350mm bunnyhop the other day (with flats), I can do a track stand as long as I want, getting better at endo's, I'm getting the hang of a manual and I'm not super terrified of getting some air anymore. I couldn't believe how quick it is to learn if you actually get taught. For some reason we take lessons when we play tennis, guitar, golf or whatever else, but nobody ever teaches us to ride a bike properly. Id strongly advise skills lessons and I'd strongly advise flats to anybody that remotely likes mountainbiking. If you are anything like me, you will never regret doing this! I'm like a little 5 year old kid again! edit: spelling

a bike without a dropper... is hardly a bike at all

So how much difference between impact low's and freeriders? I bought freeriders cause i preferred what they look like... any meaningful differences?

I'm definitely in! To those who are wondering if it is worth the while, IT IS! I've been to Peach's skills clinic a few weeks ago and it is incredible what he can teach you on a bike in the space of a few hours! hops, jumps, berms and balance (or any of these) for me

unfortunately with mountain bikes you don't buy value, you buy fun/enjoyment. unfortunately what makes a bike fun and a ride enjoyable is a) good suspension components, b) a stiff and light frame and c) and stiff and light wheelset all of the above are exceptionally difficult to design and manufacture and the companies that get it right know it which means that they keep their prices high...

Its a 160mm Pike, but as the 5010 is a 140mm bike the shop suggested to space it to 140mm not to compromise the riding position... Not sure how much difference this will make in the ride, I've never had the privilege to ride a bike of this caliber or travel, so I'll have to see when we do the setup. Any suggestions for or against spacing a fork?