T-Bob

yeah but in my case I'm kicking myself for not having YOUR Following in MY shed.

Yeah... I am kicking myself a bit about not having a right sized Following in my shed. Glad you're enjoying it. Stick a 2.3 slaughter on the back and a eliminator 2.6 up front and you'll be super happy you did.

he got 2 and single handed saved TDD blushes for another year.

One liner of the month!!!

Damn... why won't this like button work more! That is epic.

Spez tyres used to be their best kept secret as they were super good and super cheap until last year when they all went up to R800 odd. Not going to step me though. I've been on a e13 semi slick and miss my Slaughter. Just wish they would make it in something bigger than a 2.3 for 29'rs. I hated the 2.6 Butcher tho so the Eliminator could be the new go to. Was that Aggressor an EXO case for R600 @ Stoke?

Of course he's worth a bet. Thing is no one has really seen a full strenght Cav' for a good 2 years so no one really knows. Most people are working off attempts at competing while still suffering the effects of EB. Time is ticking for him and he'll be motivated for TdF with the record and the fact that he must have questioned his career and place in the sport during those off times and if that isn't fuel for the fire then I don't know what is. I for one hope he can come back and represent for DD on the big stage. Love him or hate him he has been one of the greatest sprinters ever and you'd want to see him go out competing at full strength and winning for DD.

So is that your review of the new hoops then?

Bottom line is Porte was a great super dom' but not a true great. The sport is littered with them. Being a GT contender isn't only about talent it's the whole package, the pressure, the management of you, your riders etc and luck / making your own luck is part of that. He just hasn't performed at the highest level when he needs to and that is what you need to do, consistently. There is the constant phrase about team sky that they hovered up 'riders who would be team leaders else where' which is partly true but there is nothing to say they would have been real challengers to the 3 or 4 kings of each generation. Bouhanni was a leader of a team so we all can say it may not be as glittering as it's made out to be.

Seems they are. I just got an email about bike bags from them.

Want. Want. Want!

hummm... you seem to see a lot of that when people leave Astana.

Did you listen to the 'life in the peloton' podcast with Imps? He came across as such a decent guy and listening to his side for the doping story as well as switching into a leaders mindset as really interesting. https://lifeinthepeloton.com

To be honest, having had my Ripmo for a bit now I'd say this looks like a perfect SA bike. I like the Ripmo and don't get me wrong it's hella good at what it does but having come off a Evil Following it seems like a using a bomb to crush a walnut. I've had a 'few' bikes in the last 24 / 48 months and out off all those the shortish travel 29'rs with good suspension design and killer geo are the ones that have shone. The Evil and the Smuggler being the top trumps for most of that Cape Town has to offer on a regular basis. This new Ripley might just just be another fantastic option for here and 110% drool worthy. Just don't look at the $$$. JKW was smashing it in that video on his 'light trail bike'.

This looks so good....

I've seen look-a-likes in LBS for about R90. Sure they aren't the original ones but it you strap it to your bars, you flick the switch and the 'bing'... just like the one that cost a fair bit more. It's a bell. It rings.

Holy cow. Totally forgot they signed him. He was a talent and it was a gamble but hopefully he can get his career back on track. A few years back he was a great rider to watch.

Just to go back to the title of the thread... posted ad last night. Dropper sold today. Collection happening this arvo. Done.

Bike Yoke 160mm dropper.... OMG it's buttery smooth... so, so smooth. Super stoked. Zee germans know their stuff and you can get every conceivable spare for it locally as well. Nice touch.

It's bikes we're talking about. That sits in the 'necessity' column and should never be glibly lumped with 'disposable income'. That is what is left after you've bought the bike bits for things like school fees, bond, wifes birthday presents...

Yeah but as I'm pretty allergic to latex I'll be too busy trying to breath! True fact: I've never had a puncture on any of my mountain bikes for over 10 years. I know this as because it gets a bit spicy when I come in contact with stan or anything I'm not entirely sure what the hell I do apart from wait for a kind person to cover themselves in sealant on my behalf.

Yup... there are shops for that and at R70 for mounting tyre, sealant and a free wash n' lube for the bike I'm happy to outsource that 'fun'.

Yeah... Still kicking myself I didn't buy yours at that price. Worst timing ever. I'd just sold my L that was a touch too big and had been looking for a M then bought a new frame the day before you ad dropped. How is the Sentinel v The Following? I'm liking the Ripmo but miss the following for the flat out labrador puppy, goofing off, bmx with big wheels that the evil was.

I'd go for an Evil Following MB as my all rounder... climbs pretty well, goes down like a mad beast and swap out the wheels n' tyres and pretty happy to punch out the miles or a bit of a race. For SA I firmly believe a short travel, aggressive trail 29'r is pretty much perfect (with the geo and suspension taken into consideration).