nigelhicks

all the action will be live on redbull.tv

yes you can check out www.mtbworldcupsa.co.za

Then - the 650b DH bike train ... Trek World Racing - Session 9.9 650b Brook has already been on one Lapierre - Prototype 722 DH 650b Loic Bruni and Sam Blenkinsop have been on these since last year already GT - Just released - Prototype Fury 650b I think the whole team will be on them this year. Madison Saracen - Prototype Saracen 650b DH I believe Matt Simmonds and Manon have been testing them in teh off season Devinci Global Racing - Divinci Wilson 650b prototype They also have this to use if they dont use the little bike Giant Global Racing - Prototype Giant Glory 650b Needles Hart and Guiterrez will all be on this bike AFAIK

Who's your prediction for the WIN? As i see it so far here's how things are panning out with the riders too.... Trail bikes! Scott 11: Brendan (i-hate-pedalling) Fairclough - Scott Genius 180mm 650b Maybe some others? Chain reaction cycles Nukeproof: Sam Hill - Custom Nukeproof Mega - 170mm 650b Joe Smith - Custom Nukeproof Mega - 170mm 650b Devinci Global Racing: Nick Beer - Prototype Devinci 170mm 650b Specialized Aaron Gwin - Specialized Enduro - 150mm 29er Mitch Ropelato - Specialized Enduro - 150mm 29er ..... Does anyone know of anyone else??? ..... I will be interested to see how they fair up this year ... as last year they all got thumped by 2x 26inch wheeled DH bikes!

So whos getting keeen? Remember the DH is on SATURDAY and not Sunday this year Quali's are on Friday - and the weather report is predicting rain on Friday :cursing:

i dont know any offhand - never had to stay in one up there ... hahaha check out wheretostay.co.za

no camping on site - there are some b&B's around - or there is an easystay motel down the road

although this Spicy isnt too bad ... but i still prefer the original carbon Spicy http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb9793712/p5pb9793712.jpg

compare with - 29er Zesty - YUCK! http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb9795571/p5pb9795571.jpg

yeah i know im shallow but still - i prefer this shape - just the straight front triangle tubing makes it IMO http://www.endurotribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/nicolasvouillozlapierrespicy.jpg

shape ... the bent downtube and toptube ...

I dont know what - but those new Lapierre carbons just dont do it for me

WRONG DATE - its the 6th World Cup is on the 11th to 13th

Now this is the one thing that irritiates me about the current stage events - the "once you are in you are in" mentality ... there are so many riders looking for entries - they could really create a proper "cult" style vibe if the entries were first pay first serve ... then riders have bragging rights to say that they got into the event - not just "ok i did it last year so i suppose i will do it again" attitude ... if the organisers did it this way they would have riders almost fighting to get spots ... But then again - looking at the events and numbers - the organisers business plans must be ok ... hahaha

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