Steady Spin

Compare the photos. Definitely NOT the same bike.

Sadly not the same bike. Suspect advert though.

Does it count that I switched from a 2012 Morewood to a 2018 Evil in 2020?

I’ve had Schwalbe Hans Dampfs that lasted more than 3000km and didn’t disintegrate like these Butchers. My fiance’s Butcher and Purgatory combo also lasted longer with bo disintegration like this. Based on the above I posed my question. I think I got my answer thank you.

I’m on the shorter travel spectrum of the trail bike category with a 140/120mm setup and to be honest it handles everything my skillset can ever throw at it and what GP has to offer. For example Wolwespruit has nothing that needs an aggressive trail bike. The frame is a little dated being a 2018 model with a 66 degree HA but it does the job just perfectly. Wont be upgrading any time soon.

Good to know my expectations are too high haha. But yes, 3000km +-. I guess I'm ok with replacing tyres once a year then. I'm ok with tread wear which is normal but knobs just shearing off is poor.

One year in on a set of Butcher T7s. Very disappointed to see wear like this. 3000km. This is the front tyre. Rear looks a little better funny enough. Time to replace before Karkloof.

It is more the profile of the tyre that changed and not the actual width. Wider rim will square off the profile more creating the appearance of a wider tyre.

Shortly after starting my new job my old company implemented 100% back at the office. Dodged a major bullet only having to go in twice a week now.

Hold on tight. This is just the slow crawl up to the crest.

Been there. Self employed quickly became unemployed and R60k in debt spiraled out of control for the next 10 years and ended up at R300k between loans and credit card debt even though I found a job within 6 months of unemployment. I settled one credit card with the next and paid a loan back with the second credit card. Salary was just not enough to cover everything. Clawed ******* hard to get out of that mess. As it stands now I only have a bond and vehicle finance. Credit card has a limit of R10k in case something happens and it never gets used. Unless I absolutely have no choice, I will never make debt again... touch wood.

Definitely feeling it. No more putting money in the bike fund. The increase in bond costs sucked that up. Nothing better break on my bike. Super lucky to have moved jobs just now which puts a little bit more food on the table and allowed me to buy a car that is on average 2l/100km lighter on fuel.. But, long gone are the snacks and comfort food from Woolies. Checkers and Food Lovers all the way. Even then our basket per week increased from R800 to R1200 a month over the past 2 years. I saw a 2l of milk hit R42,99 at Woolies this week (yes I know but those bags of Fantasy Galore though...) Things are going to punch hard coming soon.

The amount of Thule stuff I've seen on Facebook marketplace where I thought to myself "that doesn't look like a cyclist" is alarming. The prices were also ridiculously low for roof racks. Agree with you on leaving arms on the rack. In less than ideal areas I will even take the rack off and pop it in the boot.

Location?

Same question around turning the temperature of the geyser down. In theory a lower temp = more hot water being used which in turn requires more water to be heated up again...

Pleasantly surprised when I bought a Topeak pressure gauge. My Birzmann pump is way out. 22psi would be closer to 28/30psi Well worth the investment. Settled on 24/26psi front and 26/28psi rear depending on trail being ridden. Anything gravel grinding I go for 30psi front and rear. 2.4 Specialized Butchers front and rear and I weight just north of 100kg.

Wolwe is your best bet with two big lines from the top (third option with a jump line) and then a smaller line in the middle of the trails. Super well built jumps that don’t try and kill you. Not a fan of Grootfontein. Definitely not suitable for Joe Average and the climbs back to the top are a bit steep. Shuttle days suck less.

I'm not fit or strong enough to do a 60km outride to experience everything that Karkloof has to offer. I just don't have the time to get that fit and strong due to other responsibilities. If an e-bike improves or "enables" my riding experience then so be it.

Best money I could have invested in my quality of life. 5.5KVa inverter with 11KWh of lithium storage. Mostly off-grid except for our geyser. Electricity bill dropped to around R250 a month and we never sit in the dark. Obviously this runs my Kickr and TV 😛

Thanks. Imported into Trailforks. Looks pretty damn cool.... that climb though. My fiance will kill me.

Always put in sport mode.

Does anyone have some Strava rides or GPX files for MTO? Finally getting closer to booking accommodation and planning at least two rides over the 4 days we are there.

Stop forcing people to clip in

Shoes shoes shoes. Paired with a flat pedal with metal pins. Foot position is also key with the pedal more towards the middle of the foot. My recommendation for shoes will always be 5.10 but it is an absolute pain to get in SA. Second would be Ride Concepts. Good fit and great grip.

Agreed on the amount of play. My OneUp has about the same and previous KS posts also had that much play. Service when it gets sticky or sluggish.