T-Bob

Great we can both pretend we're not at all bothered that we're missing out.

Yeah, DNE as well. Got a Dads N' Daughters camp out on Saturday night so that scuppers my event. Missed last years camp out with the little lady because I was overseas so there was no way she was going to issue a pass this year. Good luck to all. Going to stick my head in the sand and pretend that nothing is happening this weekend. On the upside guessing I'm going to have Tokai all to myself Sunday arvo!

Source bladder are the best IMHO. Nice wide neck and never go gunky. Currently looking for a 2l horizontal one. Saw some on special the other day then lost the site before I ordered.

I know, I think they were showing off about how much you can get in there. Obviously you don't need to pack it like you're grizzly adams and heading to the wilderness for a few years. A nice touch is the bladder area is insulated. It's built tough, very well thought out and the all mesh straps / back area mean it's super cool in hot weather and hardly feels like you're wearing anything. For under 2hr rides I've got a hip pack / fanny pack that works well. Can still fit a large CB podium bottle in as well as: - Tube - 2 x bomb - Co2 Adaptor - Card - Keys - Phone - Multi tool - Fox tool - Tyre levers - mini pump - emergency gloves / min 1st aid kit

Only fanny packs on shorter rides for me. No moonbags.

Get a Henty and shut the thread down! No sweaty back. Great storage. No bounce about. Built in banana holder. Only issue is getting the form Aus or the UK but well worth it. Looks a bit weird at first but rocks! https://henty.cc/shop/enduro-backpack/

Had the Meta 650b and it was good but I didn't find any 'fun' in it at all on the trails. Got such good write ups but I was left scratching my head a bit. I've ridden a Scout and that that is a very capible bike for the amount of travel and rides like tigger after a 6 pack of Red Bull. Trannys are true to their 'party win the woods' vibe and have a sold history in the gnarly stuff. The Spectral is actually a great trail bike. It's a brilliant mix of trail fun and doesn't fall into the longer slacker, sled approach that can deaden a ride. The Strive is their enduro focused frame. I know Canyon locally has a couple of demo Spectrals on sale.

All depends of the bike and the suspension. Something one the Evil Following is a beast of a bike with only 120mm out the back, 67 odd head angle and will tackle almost everything you decide throw at it. The Suspension set up in so good at what it does you'd be amazed. Same with the Smuggler that used to have 115mm travel, the Banshee Phantom with 110mm and the new 29'r trance has around the 120mm travel out the back. Then I've ridden longer travel bikes that felt like they needed more to be deal with everything. A Jeffsy runs a 150 set up but is a great trail bike while a Ripmo runs 140 and is raced by the Ibis team on the EWS. It's more about the bike and the numbers work as a whole than just travel.

There was an interview with Valgren and he seemed bemused as to what had happened this year but was very excited to be coming into form finally. Not sure Lombardia is the right race to give him a big chance but will be good for him to get a decent result and take into the off season.

So Bahrain has dumped Rohan. Rohan likes BMC's, like alot. Who has BMC currently as a sponsor?

Yeah, I was surprised on the price on those and to be honest I'd prolly look elsewhere for an alu frame set (or maybe even a DS steel). Trannys and Ripmo AFs have got to be an option as well when you're throwing coin like that down. I really want to try a Kingdom DS or the new Superstar. Truthfully I'd buy the whole bike and work from there. Every build I've done I've looked at it after and just wondered why I didn't just buy a whole bike and not be a fool. Busy trying to work on a 853 steel hard tail. Got the frame at bargain but trying to spec it out, even cheaply with a GX 11, Revelation / Mattoc fork etc is going to be way more than loads of the full build Cotics that are up for grabs in the classifieds.

Bwaahahahahaa.... Economy.

Have asked them about shipping but no response yet. Might just go through the process and see what they do. Usually US companies are pretty pricey (and lazy about trying to find cheaper options). Might get a couple of pairs and Aramex them.

Don't know if they are #Enduro but they look pretty badass. I'm guessing there isn't a local distributor for PNW products. Which makes a sad panda.

Oh now that is nice and they do a 29'r version called 'hello Dave'. TAKE MY MONEY!

Nah, I rode my one everywhere but it liked Hoogies Cobra and the trails back to the car park the best.

This was such a brilliant short travel trail bike and covered everything I do with my longer travel rig. Almost perfect for SA and all the good stuff in Tokai, Hoogies conties and Jonkers. Would happily go for long a day out as well (maybe with the monarch in rather than the coil). Still holds my best times at both Cobras, AM, Top to bottom snakes.There is something special about a tranny... ahem.

but.... little wheels?

I'll open my account with my Ripmo. With a new, unnamed, enduro specific Ibis being tested on the EWS I'm saying this is a trailbike. On the AM side of trail or Agressive Trail if we're using magazine lingo. Sure, it's probably not for most trails around the Western Cape but I do ride it on most and to be honest for 160 up front and a 145 out back it does a very good job of the ups and downs. Normally I'd be happier with a 140mm / 115 - 130mm for my trail bike but this kind of does it all.

Like the look of that but if you're going to make a steel frame it seems weird you wouldn't go get some Reynolds or Columbus goodness to make it out of.

Report damn it!

Hummm... I smell a humble brag or the start of mind games to mess with the competition.

Sweeeeeet. Back with the bounce at both ends. Looks awesome. #isitinsured?

Heard word that they are a bit prone to breaking according to a ginger wheelbuilder and a hulk smash riding buddy.