nigelhicks

If you havent done it before then as everyone says its a nobrainer - R6800 for the 2 day is ok as the organisation is slick ... Pity that the trails are being worn in by rider numbers to the point that they may as well be a highway ... but then again the 2 day is now being punted as the "new-to-stage-racing" event .. so i suppose that suits a large majority of riders which is great for the sport. So if you havent done it ... DO IT ... if you have done it 7 times like i have ... think of giving someone else a chance (like im doing)

yeah its a fun weekend out there

you will be fine - stages run on parts of the 60km ... Some big climbs - but you are not timed so it doesnt matter You can race it on any bike - 29er hardtail to 170mm all mtn bike ... just dont bring a DH rig ... you will die

You are only Enduro if you wear Goggles with a XC helmet ... or a Fullface with Sunglasses ... Needless to say ... DaveD is full Enduro on his Yeti SB66... hahaha

Cant Agree more - the term "Enduro" should only be used to define an Event with staged timing ... if you are going for a ride in the mountains its a mountain bike ride ... or if you want an "all mountain" ride ... Catch phrases come in so quickly and get used to make Joe Soap and his product look cool and sound trendy .. Thats why what we did in Lesotho this last weekend was dubbed "RAD Ride" ... as i wanted to shy away from the current industry norm.

Actually - come to think of it - I think you may need a full domestic licence to race SA Champs as a 30+ category rider. I looked in the rule book and all it says is that you need a licence (no mention of the normal affiliation fee that we pay to just race Provincials) ... then i think to Worlds - we had to get a domestic licence there which was then upgraded to an international licence. So maybe you do need a full licence .... But anyway - the issue of categories needs to be sorted out.

ya thats bull**** dude. They really need to up their game - the XC guys have a full suite of categories but the DH guys are given a hard time ... you only need a full domestic licence to race ELITE or JUNIOR! The rules also state that there are Sub Vet, Vet and Masters Categories (as long as there are 5 riders to make up a category) But then in the XC - they had a nippers class when in the UCI and CSA rules (http://www.cyclingsa.com/rules-and-regulations.aspx#41) it states that there is only a YOUTH Category - AND THERE WERE ONLY 4 riders in the class! Come on guys get your act together and enforce your rule book evenly and fairly across the disciplines. Cant on one day say no to one group of riders but then the next day let someone else ride as you know them.

pity the commissaires allowed him to race but not the other local lighties who are actually older than he was! Good old communication issues

Work??? What work? we only starting today pretty much ... But it will hopefully have roughed up some sections with a couple of rain ruts. hahahaha Going down there this PM to check it out

that coloured dakine one for R800 is pretty cool only think i had an issue with with the old dakine ones was the lack of padding where the downtube went ... But this one looks ok ... also has the bike holder straps which work like a charm

Mine stays on my car permanently and has not been stolen (yet) ... Nothing to say it couldnt be though ... but then again, that is the same as saying your car itself cant be stolen ... Or you can just whip it off and shove it behind the seat when you are not using it

Link to a previous thread on this topic. Island Style can custom make them for you for around R1000. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/133815-cool-new-tail-gate-mat/ The oke from island styles contact details are in the topic

and then you see what happened to Cascades yesterday afternoon - it lived up to its name! The steel bridge from Virgin is partly washed away ... The tar in the parking area where the pics are taken is no longer - was swept away as rafts of tar ... The trials section is also no longer!

dont know what Braaileg is on about with the XT brakes - maybe the older version gave some fade issues but the new ones are amazing - so good i run them on my DH bike. I would agree with Rouxtjie and cherry pick (unless you get a good deal on a full groupset) ... Id say go for: XTR shifters - best ever IMO - better shift mechanism internally I have the 9spd ones and 3 years in they are still like new - perfect stiff shift feel - no sloppyness XT Cranks - for weight over SLX SLX brakes - same as XT's actually SLX derailleurs - rear has a clutch so thats all you need - front doesnt wear down that much DONT GET THEIR HUBS!

proper protective clothing for DH! A red condom suit .... http://shop.bikemag.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/h/phillipe-perakis-mammoth-mountain-california.jpg or Darth Vaders rave outfit http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/pedalmafia/imgs/8/0/8024b0dd.jpg

yeah there are some good guys on here ... your pleasant encounter demands a RAVE

The ladies inflicted WAY more damage to this piece of dirt at the last provincial in PMB compared to that fallen tree. Kath Fourie becoming environmentally friendly Kate Stephenson attempting a Superman flight The wife (Joanne Hicks) thinking a snooze is better than riding at this point Hayleyearth having a dig for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

That was a fallen tree - and no Jo didnt do it too much damage ...

Yeah look i hear exactly where you are coming from ... and the more preventative measures for noobies the better. But again as I said its personal preference rather than necessity

Really??? I must have missed the memo from CSA and the UCI about them being compulsory :whistling: hahaha GL ... you dont "need" a Leatt Brace - as has been said already in a couple of previous posts - many of the world cup riders do not use them. It is personal preference. I for one dont like them so i dont use one .. neither does minnaar, hannah or stevie smith. So its all about personal (or sponsorship) preference.

yes If he is NOT racing ... he can wear whatever he wants (UNLESS the bike park has stipulations of its own). Regulation only comes in at events

Just remember though - if you go to Nationals where ALL practice sessions are official practice your mankini will not be well appreciated

YIP!

It is in all OFFICIAL practices and then the race - if you are caught in OFFICIAL practice without the correct gear you will be disqualified. So in a KZN case - you can wear a Man-kini on Saturday if you wish as this "practice" day is open-practice and does not fall within the jurisdiction of KZNMTB. There are no marshals, medics or uplifts, so it is just guys on the hill riding. Sunday however would be a different story.

No - the rules vary dependant on the National Legislation See France where all riders are forced to wear back protection and long finger gloves under national ruling. The UCI themselves are pretty slack on Clothing regulations and rely mainly on the national bodies to enforce the rules dependant on the country. This is from the UCI's rule book § 3 Clothing and protective accessories 4.3.011 All lycra-elastane based tight-fitting clothing is not permitted. 4.3.012 A full-face helmet must be worn properly both when racing and when training on the course. The helmet must be fitted with a visor. Open-face helmets may not be worn. 4.3.013 The UCI strongly recommends that riders wear the following protection: • back, elbow, knee and shoulder protectors made of rigid materials; • protection for the nape of the neck and the cervical vertebrae; • padding on shins and thighs; • broad full-length trousers made from rip-resistant material incorporating protection for the knees and calves, or broad-cut shorts made from rip-resistant material plus knee and calf protectors with a rigid surface; • long sleeved shirt; • full finger gloves. National federations may impose in their national regulations and under their responsibility the use of other protections than helmets including for international events on their territory. The national federations are responsible for monitoring compliance with such regulations to the exclusion of UCI.