PhilipV

Well I can vouch for the Spez store in stellies. I live in Somerset West, but I will ride my bike to Stellenbosch to buy something there instead of the spez store in S-West. They guy there (Craig Boyes IIRC) remembered my shoe size a week later, and advised me to look at a lower end show rather when I told him what I planned to do. And a few years later he said that what he had on the floor was a down grade, and that I would be disappointed. (This was in covid time when stock was a nightmare.) I can't comment on the workshop, I swing my own spanners. Larney Concept stores attract the kind of customer who waltzes in waving his credit card saying "I have no clue, but here is my card, give me one of everything." I've only been to the Spez store in Paarl once, and the big F-off I had written on my forehead probably scared the kid off.

I know a guy who would obsessively wash his bike after every ride, but then couldn't understand why I don't let a high-pressure hose near my bikes and washed my bike myself at W2W. Well about 6 weeks after W2W he discovered that the shaft on his rear shock was scratched, FUBAR.

I'm pretty sure that I've posted this before, but I love this bike, so here it is again. I haven't ridden my nice bike in many weeks, riding this bike exclusively. And I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking this bike on holiday instead.

I've taken to spraying my legs with Peaceful Sleep before riding/running/ going into the veld. Any mosquito spray/lotion that has DEET in it will apparently work, but PS mentioned Ticks on the bottle, so it's what I grabbed. Sadly it doesn't do much to deter snakes though. Unless you carry a can and a lighter with you. The VWS guys might not be happy with that suggestion though.

So, shady left field option here, from someone who is neither a lawyer, a local there and doesn't know the setup. Take a cue from the dirty corporate cookbook. If Jozi trails is an npo or business, there is hopefully some limited liability Chinese wall between it and it's founders/directors . So JT throw removes the soil dumps, but leave the trails, throw their hands up in the air, say sorry and disband. Fire it's directors and employees, and leave a shell with very little value. Then enter stage left, a new npo/pty Ltd pops up, with new directors and saves the day by employing the employees who got shafted, and continues the good work that JT did. If mining companies can strip assets and leave u rehabilitated mines, then so can trail builders. The wheels of bureaucracy turns slowly, and Jozi municipality is basically a toothless dog. By the time anything solid is going to happen, then the above mentioned @jhbmunicipality people will have moved on. And there will be nothing left in Jozi Trails to prosecute. They can't keep effluent, pollution and squatters out, so how will they keep mtbs out?

Klas 👌

It would(n't) be quite a shame if something would happen to those trees, hampering their growth. But if I was him, I'd just cut the top of the trees off as soon as it reaches his roof height and keep it trimmed at that height. Can't do much about that block of flats, they don't trim easily.

A friend of mine brased two small screws together to act as a join between two cable outers, effectively screwing them together. Not sure wether you can make something like this, or wether it will work for hydraulic hoses? I've taped 12v cables together with insulation tape before to pull new wires in when I rewired my parent's camper. That might help if the cable run isn't too tight.

It's not just the snakes trying to kill us. I pulled three ticks off my legs during the day yesterday. Perks of having an outside job...

I see he is fishing un overseas waters as well. https://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=241171&pagenum=1

I have no sympathy. They could have chosen a locally made garment. But that would have cost more up front. But alas. Usually it is Tog Bag one year, followed by Jersey the next. I don't know if it still follows that pattern.

That's the problem with being a salaried worker. If you had your own business the new tools become assets. And your accountant will be way more lenient than your wife. ie: Own an Ice Cream shop, you need a table saw to replace that bit of shop fitting. And you can deduct the VAT. And reduce taxable income. AND write it off. we just don't talk about the measly salary I sometimes pay myself.

I suggest splitting Cape Town in two missions and staying in Stellenbosch as well . If you stay in town (stellies) you can roll out the door to Jonkers, Eden, G-spot. Around Simonsberg you have the Conservancy trails at Muratie, Plasir, Boschendal and Banhoek. You can roll on down to the Winelands trails at Dornier, Stellenzicht Ernie Els and Helderberg. Do a Paarl day trip for an adventure on the slopes of Paarlberg, or go play at Doolhof in Wellington. Cape Town leg you have to do Contermanskloof and Tokai, and a Around-Table-Mountain mission will be a lekker adventure. And I think a summer sunset on The Missing Link trail above Camps Bay will most likely be a core memory you'll look back on for many years.

I'm guessing the Paarl DH trail, which is close to Labori, and a few of the other trails around there? But I haven't ridden there in many years, so no bueno.

Lekker! Sorry Morne, I havezero inside info in this event. But if they ask I'll probably tag you out somewhere. Paarl in somer gaan warm wees, so bring 'n hoed en smeer sonbrand room aan.

No one is acting surprised.

Love it! As soon as this Ezel malarkey of this weekend is over im going to put my big bike in the back of the line and just ride SS and run trails for the foreseeable future. For some reason I am excited about a masochistic summer.

Jip. The penny dropped for me when he mentioned GY F1 tyres. And I've also just realised that I prefer Gorilla Tape because it costs a lot less compared to Stan's tape.

On really steep hills yes.

Oh it happens. I'm guessing that you've never had a tyre blow off a rim, spraying sealant everywhere? Most bike shops will have a story like that. In the days of V-brakes, I rode my rims until they were worn into a concave shape. I was a student, with less cents than sense. I had a rim break while inflating at a garage. This was in 2009.

My cousin grows peppers, and sells to woolies. They have the science down to a Tee. They grow in tunnels, using hydroponics, dosing fertilizer as needed, sorting out pests as needed and it goes into cold storage soon after picking. And woolies take great care in their supply chain. I'm guessing that you grew your peppers in the backyard, without spraying any pesticides? I'm also guessing that yours tasted nearly as good as the store bought peppers, even if they weren't as pretty?

Ek sal nooit Kromme Rhee ry nie. Miskien op die grond langs die pad. Een van ons spanmaats op skool is hier doodgery. 18 jaar later en ek onthou nou nog daai oproep.

Air coming out of spoke holes point to a leak underneath the tape. I reckon leaving the rubber tape underneath the GT is what caused your headache. Glad you are sorted now. That pop must have been very satisfying after this episode.

Well, to be fair the really technical stuff at Eselfontein isn't part of the three day event. But the three day is the right amount of technical in my opinion. And (once again in my opinion) it's the best three day race in the WC. Best stage race actually.