Chainyank

At 15:30 I went past a guy matching that description standing on the wooden bridge. Looked unassuming. Perhaps my 2014 epic didn’t match his ambitions. Is it worth noting these guys are deliberately looking for eBikes? Easy to spot if you know what to look for. Fat down tube and smashing the climbs no sweat.

The 20km can’t be classified a “fun ride” and could well have discouraged many newbies to ever enter an organised ride again. My wife struggled massively. Having done the Wellington trail seeker 20km in October, her first ever race, in 1h40min - this one took her 3h18min. The weather wasn’t too dissimilar The substantially more technical route of Banhoek, forced her to walk and scale many sections and also assisted distraught young kids battling through the course. The organiser’s ill-devised plan to converge the 20km course with the 40km and marathon course exasperated the misery for everyone. (An all to common oversight in MTB races) Kids were terrified and seasoned riders frustrated at being held up. It was impressively shrewd for some schools to foresee the heat issue and pulled their pupils from the race. Perhaps a cautionary message from organisers warning of the heat or placing additional water stops on route might have made the fun ride more manageable. Or cancel it because these are mostly complete novices falling, bruising and dehydrating through an experience they’ll never want again.

Would prefer something useful rather than a medal. Something like a branded chain length checker tool, cool bar ends pr CO2 canisters

Thanks @Schnavel the PTA one was great when I visited awhile back. maybe Paarl is my next stop. I took it to freewheel Cycology to do the November service so I’ll report back what the say and do on this issue. I’m not a fan of swapping out parts because I try keep the stanchions spotless and could get back something that not so well maintained and would have a shorter lifespan.

Thanks @Mookconfirms the rumour. Anyone know if there is a non brain shock that could fit a 2014 specialized?

@Schnavel who do I talk to at specialized? The workshop guys at the store? They’re just following policy. Take this for example. I had a dropper serviced by them in August and it leaked air by December. I took it back and they said it’s unfixable. I argued with the workshop about warranty on a service but they shrug you off and just say what the main Stellenbosch head workshop guy told them. Buy a new one. @DieselnDust I have no idea. I didn’t think to check before I sent it in. Will do this time.

Yeah that’s my gripe is that only specialized are able to work on their proprietary parts at their set price with no competition how do I know the technician did make an error And I’ve heard rumours that they swap around parts from different bikes

Hi Droo. Thanks for the reply. Bike did about 110 hours since the service and the start of the squelching and brain issue. Isn’t the expected service internal 200hours? here’s a pic of the leaking oil

My fox brain rear shock had a full service in November last year. On return it constantly leaked oil which didn’t seam to concern local specialized agent when I emailed photos. Now the brain isn’t activating so I’m peddling a water bed. Anyone else have a similar issue and whats the likelihood Specialized offering to redo the service at their cost. also, has anyone successfully found and installed a non brain rear shock to their 2014 epic?

Thanks for the info. That’s cheap enough to risk it

So the Aliexpress stuff is legit? Could we put a single order in for all the parts various people need and split postage?

Thanks for the replies. I’m in Cape Town. Garmin told me to drop off at a sportsmans warehouse. So I went to one and they said average time to get a quote is 3 weeks.

I have searched YouTube and the removal and fitting looks straight forward. It’s just about finding the part. I phoned garmin and the don’t give you an estimated cost. You have to send it in to get a quote. But that takes 3 weeks.

Anyone had experience replacing a garmin forerunner screen. My 235 is cracked. Is the garmin workshop your only option? What is the cost normally? Anyone tried importing one and fitting it yourself?

Hi. A friend is looking for a XD freehub for these wheels. Would a Mavic one work possible?

Are these still available on the market?