Vaultboy

I haven't seen this post here yet - if it is, please delete this. Just thought its worth sharing.

I've got the 8spd. Chain drops on the trainer, even, if I shift too aggressively. Dropping off the chainring, not the cassette, and not at end of take. I assume it's not a limiting screw issue.

Yeah, this crossed my mind. I started this thread expecting that if BB/Crank component quality was an issue that someone else would have experienced it before me. I don't suspect it is, though. Like you say, Rook has put a really nice package together, and I would actually upgrade to an Advent X groupset if I could find it. I really like the shifters.

I haven't changed the chainring - it did less than 500km before I changed the chain, and has just under 1000km now. I don't think its worn, but I've had a few chain drops off the chainring, though on both the original chain as well as the new chain. Not sure why. Should I post pics?

I've got a Rook Scout. Bike was fine for first 200km on road and trainer. About 50km into my first gravel ride, I could feel and hear grinding in the cranks. Took it for a service, and the LBS said there was sand in the BB. They cleaned it out, relubed and reassembled it, but couldn't tell me what the underlying issue was. A gravel bike that can't handle gravel? It's better now, but not perfect. I can still feel a grind in the cranks in any gear at any cadence. Any ideas? And what next? Back to Rook? Secondly, the whole drivetrain is not as smooth or silent as I would expect after this, either. I changed casettes and chain, adjusted cable tension and it shifts fine, but the chain clacks. Tried different lubes too, doesn't matter. I sound like a shopping trolley coming down the street. 😭 (ok probably an exaggeration, but not by much).

Good to know. Mine has lasted over 18 months so far, but no proper rain rides - only light drizzle.

Yeah, I don't even struggle, but its a hassle when you want to ride late at night or early in the morning to swap bikes and wheels etc. You just want to get on and ride and get off.

I can see myself ending up here in a year's time, not because of wanting to train at the same time, but because my wife has taken a liking to virtual group rides, Pretty soon she's going to want us to start riding together.

Nice to hear that Noom works. Using MyFitnessPal to keep a food diary and track calories etc, I also lost 14kg. Went from 102kg down to 88 kg a few years ago, but I'm back up to 94 kg now, and at least keeping it stable, but being in the eighties just made everything easier. So I *know* what I need to eat, but I've been wondering if I shouldn't just double down on Noom - I reckon I need the crutch/positive reinforcement.

I bought my wife the 2021 Titan Calypso Rogue Ride. The frame is lovely. The fork is ok. I have to agree that the Tourney groupset, in particular the rear derailleur, is not up to scratch. The shifters are nice. The brakes are dull and fade too quickly. Claris would have been a BIG improvement. Its a pity Titan couldn't work that into their entry level lineup. You would probably also want to upgrade the saddle as well. Also, although they come with Vittoria Barzos, they are not tubeless ready. So you might end up forking out another R1300 on each bike to go tubeless.

I agree with your definition. And it can cut both ways. For example, I consider low end Scotts to not be value for money - they aren't junk or bad quality, but overpriced for what you are getting and just trading off the brand name.

So, this whatsapp is doing the rounds. I don't know who the BSB team are, or whether there's any truth in that the farm has been bought by a mining company, but it makes no material difference to the application. But in this age where disinformation spreads easily, some factual correction is probably required. Hoogekraal has been sold to a mining company. Please help us OBJECT to the proposal of a prospecting/mine here on the Hoogekraal Farm. The prospecting/mine would directly affect this area, the natural beauty would be destroyed. Objections are open until 5 June, after which the decision will be made. *Please EMAIL your objections to Siphumelelo Mbali (‪062 920 2525‬) siphumelelo@siteplan.co.za Let’s save the natural beauty of our environment and our trails! Kind regards, The BSB Team Hoogekraal Farm Edit: Also just to point out that this whatsapp could have originated from someone impersonating BSB. There's no way to verify the source.

So is this only applicable to SRAM? I have a 12 spd SLX groupset. If the shifting between 11 and 12spd is the same, can I use an 11spd 105 cassette on the trainer, with my 12spd SLX shifter and derailleur?

If you read the very annual financial statement cited in that DM article, you can see where the money goes. You will see that only 25% of their income is from government. The rest is self-generated, primarily by TMNP and KNP, which subsidises 20 other parks. almost 50% of that budget goes to salaries, which might seem like a lot, but they are severely understaffed. Think about it : TMNP is over 200km2, with probably over a thousand kilometers of road, trail and paths, almost all of which are open access apart from Cape Point and the Cableway. We never see any rangers because they don't have enough. Also, yes, they had over 200 million in irregular expenditure, but this was not 2000 televisions being bought that mysteriously disappeared, like in NorthWest (Education, i think?): (page 49 of the report: 'Irregular expenditure assessed in the current financial year is attributable to two (2) legacy contracts making up 97% of irregular expenditure assessed in the current financial year. The two (2) legacy contracts, namely Roomseeker Systems and the Rhino Poaching Project, were awarded prior to the 2019/20 financial year. The Rhino Poaching Project was funded by the Nature Conservation Trust through the HGB Foundation. The remaining 3% relates to other irregular expenditure incurred as a result of non-compliance with procurement process requirements.' People often jump on the Auditor General bandwagon expecting corruption and theft. The reality is that often procurement just takes too bloody long in government, and well-meaning officials just want to get stuff done. There are things they do that I don't like either, like bad faith public partication, but none of this stuff justifies stoning a ranger. I don't like how some of the farmers run the farms we ride on or where they decide we can or can't ride but hey, I'm not gonna stone them for it.

So often we see reminder about how we, as MTBers, need to be respectful of the landowners whose properties we ride on, that riding there is a privilege and not a right, even though we pay for that access, etc. The same thing applies to conservation agencies. We need to remember that their primary business is not recreation - it is conservation. Our access is a privilege, even though we pay for it (through taxes and/or permits). The fact that we pay doesn't give anyone permission to be douchebags anymore than we would to a landowner or their employees.

My only bike is a 12 spd alu dualsus XC bike (13.5kg), and I primarily do trail rides of 30km or less. The n+1 itch has started and I'd really like a bike for the following: - to go on longer rides with friends, who are primarily roadies, but who also do gravel and light singletrack rides on their hardtails. - to put on a trainer. (My 12 spd can't go on a trainer). My preference would be a gravel bike over a hardtail, just for a different riding experience. Also looking to spend less than 20k, because reasons. I'm currently undecided between a Rook Scout, with 8 Spd microshift (https://rookcycles.com/collections/rook-scout/products/rook-scout-groad-black-8-speed) and the new entry level alu Titan Switch (not on their website yet), which has 8spd Claris. I'm looking at these because 8 spd stuff is cheap and bombproof, and I already have a claris cassette on the trainer for my wife's 8spd bike. Swapping bikes on the trainer would be easier for her than swapping cassettes and bikes. A dedicated trainer bike AND a gravel bike are not on the cards. My wife's maths is that n+1 does not equal 3 (for now). Questions: at 13kg, the Rook is virtually identical to my dualsus bike in weight. The Rook comes standard with 47s, which will probably be plush, but will obviously not roll as fast? Will the gravel geometry, drops and slicker tyres offset the weight? Or should I go for the Titan, in which case I'm worried about the stampkar feel on a rigid aluminium - almost everyone I know who rides alu gravel bikes have upgraded the standard 38 rubber to 43+, for more comfort. Anything that I'm not considering?

I'm considering getting the 8 Speed - they're getting new stock next month. Are you guys still happy with your purchase? How has it held up over the last two years - the microshift R8 groupset in particular. @Pure Savage, you also noted that the brakes needed adjustment every 300 km? @Steven Knoetze (sk27), I'm the same height as you - was the 54cm a good fit?

Does this 28x1.25 tyre fit on a 26er? I assumed that this was for a 27.5 wheel. I was looking for 26er trainer tyres during lockdown, but gave up. Ended up selling my trainer instead.

Are Canyons available locally?

I have the Ryder Concept Brighteyes for visibility. They are awesome little USB rechargeable lights - the rear light is especially bright. The front is bright, but a focused beam with not enough spread for night riding.

I bought this night riding light set on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082GXHD4P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I couldn't see a local light with that brightness for a comparable price. The headlight also functions as a power bank, which is useful for me, because i use my phone as my cycling computer. Not sure if it is actually 4000 lumens, but it is hella bright, and spreads nicely. The rear light is ok, but not as solidly constructed as the front, plus the LEDs aren't as bright or have as good a lateral spread as other rear lights I've had.

I wear minimalist shoes (wide toe box, zero drop, thin flexible soles) almost exclusively, as all other shoes give me foot problems for normal use, and even worse for cycling - pressure on my big toes and foot pain along outer part of my foot. Minimalist shoes are great, but are not very well suited to flat pedals - too much flex, plus they are quite expensive, so not keen to get the soles ruined by pins. Any shoe suggestions?

As a golfer, I would just say stay off the greens. On a more serious note, Malmesbury golf course's maintenance roads and jeeptracks make for a lekker gravel ride. I wonder if the Estate manager would be keen to regular riding.

And here I am, just starting cycling again after 16 years, after getting over my fears....and getting serious doubts because of what I'm seeing. Zwift is an expensive alternative, and not nearly as freeing.

Yeah, i wasn't condoning robbery or theft. My previous bike was stolen, and I've been mugged or shaken down plenty of times. Its a South African reality. My point was merely that the market needs to shut down at the top end as well. From the lessons in these couple of threads over the last few days, its pretty clear that there's no interest in that from authorities or insurers.