kandui

Save yourself the money and make sure your bike has the following a week before the Epic: 2 brand new tyres (take one spare for the team) new front and back brake pads (take 2 sets of pads along as spare) If brakes are a bit spongy, get them bled. New cassette, chain and chain rings ( or not more than 2 months old). A spare rear derailleur for the team, if you can. Don't forget your derailleur hangers. At least one spare per bike. Front and rear hub bearings have no play. Spokes are tight and wheels run true. On a dual Sus, make sure the pivot bearings have no play. If any bearings have play, get them replaced. Any mechanic at the Epic will accept walk-in clients, so why waste good money paying a retainer? Nobody can foresee a frame crack or similar event-ending incident. But, have your basics in place and your bike will be fine and the mechanic gets paid to turn your cranks, shift the gears and lube your chain. The bike wash is free and every single bike gets washed. Set aside half an hour each day to do a basic check. Check the tyres for thorns and pull them out. Take some extra Stan's in case too much liquid squirts out. Check all your bolts (handle bar, brake calipers, etc) and instead of checking how tight they are, turn them the opposite way. This way you avoid over tightening. Wipe down the chain with a cloth thoroughly and apply lube, one roller at a time. Wipe off excess lube after 10 minutes. Score your seat post with a knife (if Carbon, use some Tipp-Ex) to check your saddle height each day. After 3 Epics I have seen how the mechanics (especially the big set-ups) work and I see no priority given to the guys that have paid for a package. Your bike becomes one of many and it might only be looked at at 4am when the mechanics are bleary-eyed , can't think straight and miss something. It has happened to me and it's annoying when it affects your ride and you know it was pure negligence. I take my own work stand and a box of tools and spares along. If I can't help myself, I go and ask a mechanic nearby (I know a lot of the guys) for advice or book my bike in. Anyone want to make use of my work stand and tools during Epic 2014, you're welcome. Find the Table Mountain Bikers/ Hansgrohe gazebo in Tweede Kamp and Bob's your uncle.

Good Luck "Ride" riders. Enjoy the event and smooth the trails for us following on Friday.

Had your bike been data dotted, it would have provided refutable proof that you were the owner of the bike and it holds up in court. For under R200 once-off with no monthly subscription, it is a cheap and simple way to prove that you own the asset. Plus, your details remain on the database for 20 years, longer than any of us would own a specific bike.

Good to know what the circumstances around the theft of your bike really were. It was negligence/opportunism , rather than a bike jacking. Either way, a bike was still stolen , but it's important to separate the types of crime so that we understand what is actually going on. The guy who stole your bike will definitely be back in the area. He sounds like the usual scum that trawl the streets, looking for an open door or any opportunity to steal something of value. He is most likely a known face to the NW and I would keep a lookout for him. SAPS in Tamboerskloof were/are a good bunch and will be eager to help. I used to be very active in the NW, but have moved focus to the mountain.

Spares?

Must have been the same bugger that stole a friend of mine's through axles in Underberg at the Sani this year.What a tosser!

I do have one for you. Will give it to you tonight.

You might know Datadot as a company that micro dots motor vehicles. Table Mountain Bikers have teamed up with Datadot in a pilot project to create awareness for the Bike Dot system for your bicycle. What I would like to do is offer the first 20 respondents that have had had their bike stolen a Datadot kit to apply the micro dots to the the new bike or the bike you have left. I know this is an after the fact offer, but had the bike been dotted before it was stolen, your details would have been on the Datadot database and if recovered, the link between bike and owner can be established much quicker and you avoid the thief saying it's his cousin's bike he is borrowing, the usual raft of excuses. Plus, Datadot is legislated and can be used as evidence in court. Datadot have trained SAPS officials and provided them with training and the means to identify a dotted bike. We will do the same training here in Cape Town with SAPS, CCID, San Parks and Bike shop owners. Please visit the Datadot website at www.datadot.co.za and read about the product. A brand new Applicator has just been developed and will be ready soon, but in the meantime I can offer the current system which is still simple to use. I think this is an easy and sensible way to ID your bike and adds a layer of security which is cost effective. That's why I chose to get involved. It's not a GPS device, but it links you with your bike.

By the way, a bike was stolen at the corner of De Lorentz and Kloof Street yesterday afternoon. Black, White & Orange Momsen Activated the CCID and Saps Woodstock once I was informed, but no luck so far. I don't know how the bike was taken (left unattended, or forcefully taken), but guys, be aware and don't leave your bike leaning against a wall, thinking you have your eye on it. It takes only seconds as the perp is probably watching you. They are in no hurry and will wait for the right moment.

The person robbed of his bike, shoes & helmet is a member of TMB. He called me early on Friday morning to let me know what happened. The incident occurred in The Glen , just above the S bends. he had seen the 2 perps as he was going down the road (doing hill repeats), but thought nothing of it. He mentioned that not a single car stopped to assist, probably to be expected not knowing whether you will be blown away, but still cowardly behaviour nonetheless. According to him it was opportunistic and didn't seem planned.

Looks good. Looking forward to riding for the Team

Either from Nuweberg Forestry Station. The gate is right opposite and it's one way up. The tougher route is from Lebanon Village side, but to explain the route is not so easy. Drop me a PM when you're ready to go and I will give a detailed route description.

R3500 won it

I think the R3500 will survive as the winning bid.

If there is real intent to ride/bid, I might ask the organisers for another entry.

The entry is now bid at R3500.

It's the tented option, nothing fancy added.

Team Entry is bid at R1500. Bidding closes at 12 Noon on Friday.

Anyone in the Western Cape keen to pay tribute to Burry can visit the cairn 20 we built at the top of Groenlandberg,Grabouw in February. We put up some Tibetan prayer flags as well as some laminated photos with messages. While it's not an easy ride to get to the top of the Groenlandberg, we thought it was the appropriate location. The rock pile is growing. Take a ride up there, place a stone and reflect in your own way , surrounded by spectacular vistas.

Tankwaman is selling his entry. We were riding together, but everything fell apart last week. His is going for R250. Check the Classifieds.

Anybody got a spare driver to take a car back to Knysna? send me a PM if you have a second wife, brother , cousin, auntie, uncle with a license.

thanks.

I have been given 1 Ride the Rhino team entry which I would like to auction off to the highest bidder. All proceeds go to the Rhino Orphanage, outside Mokopane, which is the preferred charity of the event. Opening Bid: R1000. Now you can decide what you are prepared to pay for a 3 day stage race and hope you don't get outbid. Auction ends 20 September at Noon. Proof of payment within 24 hours, otherwise the under bidder gets it. Payment is made directly to the Rhino Orphanage, not me. Email me your bid to be sure I get it: ride@tablemountainbikers.co.za Event details: http://www.renosterveldmtb.co.za/ If you bid as a company , I will give you some exposure on the Table Mountain Bikers website, Facebook page, Twitter feed and in our newsletter. Good Luck!

I found a pair of Rudy Project Rydon's in the Highlands area of Grabouw yesterday morning. Give me a description of the route you did and I can verify whether they are yours or not. I found them in an area not heavily frequented by riders.