Li Mu Bai

cool.

haha, I think that you will find very few people who dont honestly care. Human nature = sub-consciously competing always, no matter if its whilst riding, or comparing equipment, or talking about it over coffee, weekend warrior or pro... They will usually buy the best they can afford, because if no one cared what they rode, Macro would be making a killing on their "Dunlop range" of machines...

yup, but stores wont have all brands, so you can usually just compare 1 0r two types, then have to mission off elswhere.

Gorgeous part of SA. Done the Haenertsburg mtb race years ago, and then the PWC road race, stunning, but you do climb your butt off...

Hope so. it can only improve.

um, its because they want to make a sale without predjudicing themselves. I think once most people move beyound the entry level stage, weight does play a part in their choice (perception that lighter is better/faster, peer pressure, cool factor, bragging rights)

on the ball, is this Falco. Try get yourself some basic maintainence courses or ask as may questions when the mech is busy as you can so that you empower yourself for the future. Its only a bike, and if you duff something, there is always another LBS to assist.

The Tracker ads with the bs sob stories of their so called recoveries drives me nuts...

Oh my goodness. If you walk on stones / rocks, expect wear. Did you really expect any other response from ASG? As for changing the tread pieces - WHAT A BRILLIANT DESIGN IDEA! you can replace them when worn for a fraction of the cost of buying a completely new pair! and the softer rubber probably slips less on wet rock than other brands whose tread pieces are harder/more plasticised.

Oh nonsense, they lasted 18 months didnt they. if their is a flaw in manufacturing they would have 'exploded' a lot a lot earlier. This post is quite bizarre, pathetic actually. If your wipe out and subsequent damage to your cycling equipment happened in the first week I'd have sympathy. Whats going to happen when you prang your bike into a tree / hole and bend the handle bar lets say? You going to post it here that the manufacturer wouldnt give you a new one? GET REAL dude. As far as Sidi goes, their product is feature rich, attractive and does work. 18 months jeeeeez...

Ive ordered them straight from the uk. Marcin uses Paypal for his ordering and invoicing, and it takes 2 weeks on the dot to arrive (Royal Mail). so far so good. http://absoluteblack.cc/index.php

I have a 34t Sram Spiderless chainring from Absolute Black on my XX1 crankset which looks like this: https://fbcdn-sphoto...317674568_o.jpg Then I have a 36t 104 BCD XX1style/Shimano AB chainring on my Sram Carbon 2200 crank. The spider of this crank can also be removed for further weight saving which I will do shortly. It looks like this: https://fbcdn-sphoto...419138922_o.jpg My next purchase will be a RED 34t for the Sram Carbon 2200 crank. The 34t works great. from the Absolute Black website: http://absoluteblack...oluteblack5.jpg The AB is ever so slightly cheaper than the Wolfring / Raceface option, but the CNC machine detailing and lightweight design really appealed to me most.

I took my 1x10 setup on its first stage event this last weekend. X9 10sp shifter, XX1 crankset with a 34t Absolute Black spiderless chainring, X9 Type 2 rear deraileur, Sram 1031 chain. sram 11/36 1070 cassette. It went really well, the Berg and Bush climbs were climable in the 34/36 combination (the day1 spionkop climb was cancelled unfortunately) and there was no loss in speed with those around me cranking it on the flats and decents. There were no chain suck issues in the muddy conditions of the first day, and I did not drop the chain once on any of the rocky rough decents. Very impressed with the simplicity of it all and the range of the drivetrain. Bike was light and managed well. Thoroughly enjoyed it all, probably not going back to my 2x10.

34T IS GREAT

Quite right, those rhinos carry some serious fire power. not to mention the white tiger 2m from the road...

oops, my bad. You should then head out to the Cradle for a spin. Northcliff cycles, Club100, Cyclelab, and thousands of others will be out there taking in the fresh quiet morning air. Best 30-40km you could hope for in JHB. If you dont want to join a club, then you will most likely be able to find like minded souls starting out from Toadburry Hall, Valverde Country Estate, Avianto, or at the Rhino Park itself.

What you should consider is the Vortex Cycle Challenge on Sat 9th Nov. its a great ride on the Moloto Road north of Pretoria. Quiet, a tiny bit of climbing, but mostly flat so LOTS of pedalling with no decents to hide. Usually a small field, bunch start, ride at what ever pace suits you (the youngsters usually drop everyone after 8 km lol, ) R100 entry fee - find the Vortex Cycle Club on facebook.

For racing i readly like the Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp. fairly light, good wear n tear, comes in various colours, good puncture resistance. Next fav is Vittoria Rubino Pro then Conti Gatorskins, heavier, but have good puncture resistance. Last fairly well too.. Dont like Schwalbe Ultremo - the side walls brreak apart. Also Conti GP4000 start to fall apart very quickly - threads peeling out of the sidewalls etc.

Really enjoying the 34 - 11/36 on my hardtail and now recently converted my dual sus to 36- 11/36. So far no issues with climbing on either bike. My biggest bugbear with 2x10 is chainsuck in wet conditions. mud/grass fouls the closer spacings of the chainrings easily and messes up the drivetrain. Not having the FD has been a pleasure. the simplicity of the setup is great too. I have a 32 chainring too, used once, and will probably not use it very much. the 34 on the 29 is an excellent chainring. Just remember, even with a clutch rear deraileur and a long toothed chainring (wolfring, Absolute Black, Raceface, XX1), you still need to rige a good line. Hectic rocky decents can still flick the chain off, so pay attention

I know it has nothing to do with William, but he sets the benchmark for service - he always tries to help where he can wrt Thule.

if its any consolation, I havent even received my seeding yet, a week after they started being emailed.

William should have you sorted out in no time, give him a call at woodmead.

what he said.

perhaps try a smaller bottlecage?