Mook

Nearly got taken out by a "lesser spotted Cape skrop-hoener", aka tarrentaal, on Saturday. Had I hit him at 25km/h, a full fairing might not have saved me despite wearing head- and eye-gear worth R10k. Most accessories could be subjected to this one test .............. "it depends" As @MORNE and others mentioned, many potential cyclists are scared off this sport by the cost of the so-called "essentials". Have bike, will ride 🤙 Old's cool

Have done a few myself. The Tankwa-Karoo was particularly brutal on equipment. It depends on the load you intend carting along. Bikepacking per se should be OK on a carbon setup, BUT a self supported touring setup where you carry water, food, house, spares and clothing is a totally different story. I use a very basic outfit built on a steel frame. This thing is indestructible given 34kg total loaded weight + 85kg rider. I have had no breakdowns whatsoever. My panniers, racks, frame etc are still in good shape. Hell, my cantilever rim brakes even stops me effectively on Franschhoek pass, Bainskloof pass, Du Toitskloof pass, Bo-Swaarmoed pass. Steel or Ti for sure 🤙

Yes @Paul Ruinaard, you are correct. Some sections with chevron stands and long stretches without any road shoulder. I cycle that route often and it is not safe when dark. I'd stay clear of that road after dark You want to stay away from Mbekweni - no matter what time of day. The R44 between Wellington and Klapmuts is a gauntlet you do not want to run at night. I have been commuting via the R44 for the past 2 years and that road is not safe for a lone cyclist. There has been the odd incident of attempted muggings on the Paarl mountain contour road. Drunk drivers and glass strewn in the roadway is a frequent hazard along most of the roads you intend riding. My advice @olmec would be to get a buddy or 3 to ride with you, or get an escort vehicle/motorbike.

SAPS does not have the resources and/or the inclination to address this issue. Vehicle patrols are useless, even if they manage to do patrols. The geography of the Woodstock area is such that continuous foot patrols are the only option. SAPS must have recruits/cadets or reservists on the ground to sniff out these dingbats from under the bridges, buildings, bushes etc. On foot you stand a better chance to react much quicker

A door stopper "lapslang" makes my heart skip a few beats 😝 Bottelary Hills also have a few Puffy's and Bra's. Mole snakes are often mistaken for the darker Cape Cobra.

We live too close to Africa ...........................

BMI and fitness levels differ dramatically amongst individuals and these are the 2 attributes that have to answer the difficult questions when you exercise in extreme heat. You have to anticipate more fluid loss than under normal conditions. By the time you hit the "wall" it's too late. Being a habitual cramper myself, I have to force myself to drink more regularly rather than wait for my body to signal that it's thirsty. Scientists prescribe the average fluids or carbs per hour to be ingested, yet these are only average volumes. You have to train in various conditions and figure out what your body needs more of in extreme heat.

I am not going to stick my noggen into this hive 🤐 You have access to >50 Phd's in cycling on this forum. @RobertWhitehead should be able to give you everything you need in terms of brand options. You want to deal with a local bikeshop for obvious reasons. I can say that Titan has been doing good work on their frames. Components are generic across all brands. Enjoy

Only wise men refrain from posting their GF's weight on a "public" forum. You might just grow to a ripe old age 😝 There are a number of threads here that deal with your query. My advice would be to 1)Go for a hardtail 29'er; 2)Go for the best possible frame you can buy and upgrade components as you get into the sport. The market for 2nd-hand components is alive and well as people upgrade. As you probably have learnt, many different brand models utilize the same frame with the components, ie. wheels & groupset determining the price. Get a good frame with low- to mid tier components, and upgrade the components as time passes. Enjoy the journey. It's not about the bike (LA)

My suspicion also. Dishing on a wheel does'nt go out by "fluke" and OP states that the wheel runs true. Assuming the wheel runs perfectly fine in another frame, the only problem must then be frame related.

@MORNE you cannot buy lose Shimano cassette rings over the counter in SA I guess? Any suggestions where I can start looking? I have a Deore starting to skip on the bottom 2 rings. Thx

You shivering @dewaldsss 🤷‍♂️ It was'nt that cold ................................... Mooi man 👊

Brilliant @DJR 👊 OR the cape ends up in the rear mech ........... 💥

Absolutely ☝️ IMHO many law enforcement officers neither 👽

It depends what he/she identify as 🤷‍♂️ If you decide to take a swing, make it count.