nigelhicks

you guys have it all wrong ... this is what you have with beer! http://www.stereomojo.com/MINI%20AMP%20SHOOTOUT/images/Burger-and-Beer_000.jpg

Only in SA ... go to Europe and 26 is still BIG .... (pun intended ... hahaha)

I am in love ... that thing looks amazing

??? You sure this is Turkey? This pic is of The Wave in Arizona ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave,_Arizona

Well done to Cycle Lab for enduring us Hubbers and taking some chirps with good humor - noce to see a store being proactive in trying to help the consumer make the right decision. So as for the Voucher - as I am in KZN - I have "donated" the voucher to the Gauteng DH Committee who will have it as a lucky draw at their next event ... So if you want to stand in line for a sweet voucher to the Cycle Lab megastore in Fourways - Best you get out your mountain bike and go and enter the next DH event in JHB. I'll make sure Racestrong gets off his arse and posts something on here about the race details ... Also remember - you DONT need a DH bike to race DH - if you havent raced before and are interested .. contact Racestrong or SuperMil on here and they can help you out with details Cheers Nige

how about this???

Ok so the best way to say it then would be that 29er is the "newly adopted industry standard in SA" So then its still open for the consumer to choose.

I totally agree with you that there are a number of articles available on the web that delve into the benefits and faults of each wheelsize, however you cant put all this information onto a billboard as CycleLab are trying to do. As I said in my post - it urkes me that 29er has so much prevalence, but there is no denying it ... it is the most sought after ... having worked in a bike shop you cant miss this fact ... Although, as you have indicated a customer SHOULD do their own research prior to a purchase - as you have done ... but many people dont ... The fact that 29er has become the most sought after bike in SA is mainly due to the terrain and style of events that we have in SA that cater for the mass market - 40 to 60km on jeep tracks and nice flowy singletrack lends itself to a fast rolling bike - we dont have elevation and lift assited trails like Europe so the light 29er is the obvious choice. Its a pity, but hopefully people will see past this and make good decisions based on their own wants - just like you did. I'll have a think and see how to make it more punchy for CL ....

Thanks for the voucher offer - I will send the details through just now - Im sure the guys in our KZN Development Cycling Programme can put the voucher to good use. Cheers Nige

Yeah thats perfect - please use it ... The more knowledge we can impart onto the newer riders the better. Post a pic of the new sign on here when its done.

+1 --- I agree that needs to see the bottom of a bin! hahahah

Well done for replying to the thread to waive some concerns. Although the info on your boards is complete nonsense, I (and I'm sure most of the guys and girls on here) can see the angle which you are trying to get to. Some advice: 1. Rather than saying that "26 - are unsure of MTB or are on a tight budget" "27.5 - keen on Cross country, technical trail or Enduro" "29 - keen on marathon and worried about your times" .... maybe pitch it like this .... "26 - Previous standard wheelsize - better for steep technical terrain, fast acceleration - Prevalent mainly in DH, no longer industry norm in SA. "27.5 - Emerging intermediate wheelsize - utilized in all disciplines (XC, Enduro and DH) - gives benefits of larger wheel without deminishing sharp feel of smaller wheel. " 29 - Most sought after wheelsize in SA - better for marathon riding, well equipped for SA trails, better for beginner technical trail experience. As much as I hate to say it - 29er is the norm here in SA and as you mentioned most of the LOCAL distributors have dropped the 26 inch wheelsize completely (I think this is silly but thats just me). So as you rightly say - the only 26inch XC bike around (other than a custom build) is a cheapie from Sportsmans ... I think that although you do need to make it easier for the customer - you must try and not continue to portray the mindset that 26 is crap and 29er is the way as this is not the case as they can be adapted for diferent riders and different trails. Here in SA - I agree - 29er for 99% of our races is the best - however with a growing Enduro/All Mountain population we need to give the 27.5 wheelsize its credit - as well as then 26er for its roll in DH bikes (although a number of maufacturers are now testing 27.5 rigs) ... as well as jump bikes that frequent your pump track in the evenings. So in short - dont try pass the small ones off as crap - but rather give a better understanding in your signs ... its easy to do! Cheers Nige

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.365791856892311.1073741832.350498771754953&type=1 Pictures

Boogaloos - best berms in the business! Sappie chappie down to the falls is still the greatest though ... that stepdown hip onto the road is amazing!

i think i may have some in my spares bin - I will check for you

I think this video says it all - No one can doubt these dudes logic! http://www.pinkbike.com/news/ultimate-mtb-wheel-size-shootout-video-2014.html

in queenstown there is proper elevation - just the ride up the Skylift gondala takes you up 800m (roughly the same as going from the base of Tokai to the radio mast) ... then the hill carries on up for another 700m So they have lots of elevation to play with

no they are still processing obviously contact nic venter - his missus may have some - 0847527157

HMMM - so that means our current World Champ, Mr Minnaar, is either on a tight budget - or he is unsure if MTB is going to be his thing ... WOW - then how did he do so well? Must have been fluke!

Well - unlike what Alec says - The Courses are in for BIG changes ... XC will be totally new. Nick has some amazing stuff up his sleeve with a course that will be insanely spectator friendly, but at the same time gnarly. And then the DH - well I'll just have to let you all wait and see - if you are in and around Cascades over the next couple of weeks - go and have a look around Cloud 9, Haibo, and Slip n Slide (where Hill crashed) and maybe you will see some changes

Headshot - as Mayhem said we lack the vertical in most cases - Also we lack the fact of snow in winter ... Without snow the ski lifts are not economically feasable as if you look in Europe the ski passes cost way more than the bike passes - as the bike passes are just meant to tick over ... Thats why Hafjells owners are planning on closing the park as it just costs too much in overheads in overheads to keep the park going in the summer. Here in SA we all know the culture of MTB is to see who can ride up the hill the fastest via strava, so to put in a lift anywhere in the country would only be economically viable if you had buy-in from government who would offset the losses that the lift would initially obtain by writing it off to increased tourism in the region. However - as you have the main attraction being Table Mtn just up the road - a 2nd lift at Tokai would not be feasable as people would do one or the other - not both. (Especially at R200 which is the going 2-way rate at Table Mtn now) ... Also - would you spend R100 PER Run down the hill if you were to pay the Table Mtn fees? I think a ton of people would have a hissyfit. I know i would as its just too expensive - 10 runs = R1000 ... for one days riding. So this is where the overseas parks benefit from the snow season - as they get more clients to compensate for the lack of clients in summer. So unfortunately I do not see an economically viable Mtb-specific cable car in SA for some time.

NEGATIVE - the Act has some clause (that I am yet to find .. and i have read the thing twice) ... that stipulates that the Driver needs to have a PDP - and that the persons need to be seated in a closed vehicle ... (with or without seatbelts - of that im not sure) .... But this then means that we would need 10 bakkies compared to 2 Dynas to shuttle for a Provincial event. This becomes FAR too expensive to hire vehicles.

There will still be trails that will be open for XC between now and the World Cup event in April. Nick has TOTALLY changed the XCO track so there will be some construction on some of the trails through this period - you just need to be considerate and if Nick is working on a trail when you are down there just ride something different so as not to interfere with his guys or machinery. Its as easy as that ... Or just shoot out to KArkloof and hit their trails too

No! I dont know Sean - you will need to speak to Morne about this - I am not sure what they are planning for SA's

KZN MTB will NEVER have the funds or resources to use the entire track for a regional event. This would have to include proper shuttles to the top and 50 odd marshals. ... so no definately not the full track. Track will be similar to what is shown in the attached pic Start next to the pump house above A-frame ... down an old trail we used for provincials last year down a steep bank to the start of the 2009 4x ... right onto the 4x and through the big left hand berm - drop down the bank onto the existing Masters Worlds Track, over the hip and through the rocks - then over the step down joining the Masters Track with the Elite Worlds track. Then into a new section at Slip n Slide (where Sam Hill crashed) that will take us down to below Garys Bridge ... then across the road below the bridge and into the lower rock garden ... then sharp left onto the old 4x track and over the tables before the Money Maker ... then off to the left down the valley before the final hip jump Proposed track shown in red - with shuttle access on the day shown in yellow If you are wanting to shuttle privately you can go up English road - but on the day KZNMTB needs to abide by the Sports and Recreation Safety Act and need to keep off public roads so will be using the route shown in yellow