[Chris Willemse Cycles Online: THE BIG CLEARANCE SALE!]

Any idea if the kickr 4 will be on your black Friday sale this year? Skould have enough saved up by then????

[Cycle touring in South Africa]

Hi Cobus. Obviously way too late for the question. But do you perhaps have a route/map that you used for the Amersfoort- Ballito route?? Thanks hey

[[Event] Waterberg Extreme 330km | 26hrs]

Hi guys. 

 

Any idea on how many spots have been taken on the team and solo entries? 

[How is your Epic training going?]

I was in hospital 2 times during the holiday, had an operation as well, was off for about 3weeks in total, also felt I wasn't ready/motivation was down in the dumps, but I watched last years epic, that got me back on track, trust me!!! Good luck guys, can't wait, 59 days left

[I have an idea for a new thread...]

what the!?

 

Hahaha- sheperd's pie!!!

[Beware of Giant top end bicycles.]

Oh, f*&k me. I'm editing the thread title. WTF is a bicicle? A pair of icicles?

also typed "reciving" in his letter to head office , maybe thats why they ignored him?? just kidding...just kidding!!

[Groenkloof Free entry 28 Nov]

Plus een.

plus een maand of een student??

[Groenkloof Free entry 28 Nov]

What Varsity do you go to? I want in.

TUKS OF NIKS ..... if you have the right subjects you can really have 3months

[MTB n00b needs some bike advice]

"I would like to know:

- Should I purchase a new complete bike or get a 2nd hand bike?

- Any specified thing/brand I should be looking for? Heard you get different "sets" etc...

- Tubeless, slime and liners? Benifits and which should I get?

- How many gears are preferable or is there a standard?

- Should I import a complete bike from CRC or will customs kill any sort of saving on a bike?

 

Any advice would be apprecited!

 

Thanks! "

 

hi, my 2cents:

"- Should I purchase a new complete bike or get a 2nd hand bike?"-

 

I think if you take your time and shop around, youll get a MUCH better bike 2nd hand than new, dual-suspension for 14k will probably get you shimano slx or sram x7 groupset at best, and the manufacturers always skimp on some of the parts of new bikes to bring the price down... i have bought 3 2nd hand bikes and NOT 1 problem, because i really did my homework on them.

 

"Any specified thing/brand I should be looking for? Heard you get different "sets" etc..."-

 

The only thing that differs on the brands of the bikes, are the frames, the rest of the parts like groupset/wheels/shock/etc are from the same factories on ALL the bike brands..SRAM is SRAM and FOX is FOX on all the bikes..so ja...

 

"Tubeless, slime and liners? Benifits and which should I get?"

 

In the bicycling magazine was an article of the 10 or something ALL TIME best improvements in cycling...tubeless tires was like 2nd or something just after Suspension forks for mtb....tubeless is the only way, a bit more money on the initial tire, but 99% of the "would've been punctures" are never heard of with tubeless

 

" How many gears are preferable or is there a standard?"

 

depending on your budget, i have 9 speed and just got new 9 and 10 speed groupsets for next year, the 10 speed is a bit more pricey and you save like 150grams on a set..but dont think for us "regulars" there is no real difference

 

"Should I import a complete bike from CRC or will customs kill any sort of saving on a bike?'"

 

support the locals i think, there are many good deals in SA, 2nd hand or new, go local. My training partner got nailed with taxes last year on a bike from evanscycles in the uk, more than 30% tax on the price....

 

 

thats my view on it.. most important, this sport can take over your life, and hopefully it does..its awesome!! good luck and enjoy every pedal-stroke

[Good recovery drink/shake]

Use USN Recover Max sometimes but really enjoy a Spur Burger & chips much more. Normally after long hard rides, I'm sick of sweet stuff - that's when a juicy burger packed with protein, and chips with salt, go down really well. The bun and the chips add all the carbs you need and remember tomato is a fruit and lettuce is a vegetable. Yeah to real food!

real food still nr 1 yes....also stop at spur on my way back sometimes...R20 bucks for a full breakfast

[Good recovery drink/shake]

i use recover max as well, but only after real hard rides to help speed recovery for next day's training!! otherwise i use my own mix as well.

milk, 1/2teaspoons coffee, peanutbutter(no added sugar one), and then a scoop or 2 whey protein..depending on taste preference..

 

i also make my own energybars too(or at least my mom does), its cheap and you can put in what you like with no overdose of sugar!! but just a serving protein(25-30g) and a solid meal with good protein and carbs does the best job...you can never beat real foods!!

[29er hardtail stage-racing]

Hopefully it makes SOME difference-haha!! I'm doing all my training on 26 ht, and attekwas(+ 5days training afterwards) so will be conditioned for the saddle at least!! The rest is in the head and legs- but I'm going 29ht 99% at this stage..

[29er hardtail stage-racing]

@OP. How fat and lazy are you? Racers can do Epic style races on a hardtail. Softcocks use dual suspension. I don't think wheel size makes a difference.

Tough,young and fit--just very new to long MTB races and even newer to multi-stages!! Just wanna make sure...its not about if my body can take it, ill survive that!! Just want everyones own opinion on the 2 bikes, cause its a lot of money and want to buy the best bike possible!!

[29er hardtail stage-racing]

Here is your first clue - Burry and Christoph won on DS 29'ers last year.

Here is your second clue - Kevin and David got spiffy new DS 29'ers a week before pioneer and totally ripped the field apart with it. Their focus is the Epic as well. Kevin's dad is the route planner. Does 1 + 1 = 2 or does 1 + 1 = 2DS 29'ers?

 

Hope this helps.

Keen eye for detail.. Nice thing to pick up hey!! Thanks- its just pretty expensive to get 29er ds, I thought I could get a proper one, but its crazy where the prices go when you look for X0 or even X9/XT groupset!!

[29er hardtail stage-racing]

Hi JGdp

That was my cargo pant, and if you can like to ride, get a lightweight No-name cheap chinese frame and build a very light and very cost effective rigid SS.

Dangle and I are both 41 and Fred is a few yrs older all doing very well on SS and and really enjoying the simplicity ( plus low maintenance).

Recovery is the main challenge and , if you are fit, and young there should be no problem.

people will think its hardcore, but it is really easier than it looks.

PS( wife's username)

D Vader

Was about to say- NO woman on an SS passed me-hahaha!!

You'd be glad to know, I'm building a 26 ht SS from my old parts-really looking forward to riding it over the holiday(which I have a solid 3 months of :-)...will let you know how it goes, byt I'm not going rigid, have an older front shock I'm putting on!! Thanks for the reply

[Groenkloof Free entry 28 Nov]

Except if you're a student that has just finished exams

yes please...3 months holiday

[HELP!!! Grip shift xo replacement rubber grippy thingy's]

Yeah, R 500 for the set is quite a bit better than R 500 plus per side...

 

My good deed for the day

will come back 2 you somehow cheers man!!

[HELP!!! Grip shift xo replacement rubber grippy thingy's]

great, im also looking for new grippy things, was about to buy new shifters!!

[benefits of a carbon fibre seatpost]

http://www.ninerbikes.com/seatposts

Marketing BS...? Who's going to find out for us?

How easy do the seatposts break?? when you ride them on their limit with regards to length inside the frame??

[Aftermarket frames]

My riding-partner bought a brand new scott spark ltd last year R70k or something, 2weeks before the pioneer. And on stage 3 he broke the frame really bad as well...i also think it depends on the fall/impact on the frame... btw, i just ordered my "aftermarket frame' this morning , will let you know how it goes...

[Aftermarket frames]

looks like you joined last month, oh well.

CSI can suck it...well done!! gotta love theHub :clap:

[Sponsorships]

Hi there,

I just have a quick question. My son is now 16. He started mtb racing this time last year. So far he's had 3 podium finishes in Vorieberg Races (30km), was 5th overall in Gauteng for the Anatomic Spur School Races in his age category, 10th overall in the Anatomic Spur Nationals, he did four out of the five Nissan Trailseekers. He came 3rd in the Van Gaalen race for the Youth Boys and is currently 4th on the SASeeding list (Nissan Trailseeker Series Standing)and 9th on the Top Seeding Index for Gauteng. There are a few more races, but I can't remember all of them now, but I think that for a laaitie that just started off, he is doing pretty good.

 

Now my question is, how does one go about getting sponsorships for him? Nothing fancy, just sponsoring his clothes or races. Just to get his foot in the door. Do I compile a presentation of his achievements and go out into the great big world or do I just wait for hopefully someone to approach him?

Hi, congrats on the laaitjie's races, well done!! im not exactly sure how it works, i know there are literally 1000's of guys trying to get sponsors, so it wont be easy..but if he keeps his fitness and race hard next year, then maybe talk to some of the guys at the bike-shops for a sponsor of some sort. pick the races carefully, and be careful of injuries, he is still young, maybe taking him to a good coach to look at his setup/body comp etc...every small gain could help in the long run(or ride).

 

good luck...

[Higher spec 2nd hand or lower spec new]

Hi again,

 

I'm not sure why I am asking this as I have seen a lot of comments on here about 2nd hand vs new already but let me give it a go with regard to specific bikes

 

If you personally had the choice between the following new and old bikes, for the exact same price, which would you go for :

 

NEW

 

2011 model brand new Titan

Fork SUNTOUR XCR R/L

B-Lever TEKTRO DRACO

Brake set TEKTRO DRACO 180MM/160MM

Chain SHIMANO HG-53

Chainwheel SHIMANO M430 44-32-22T

DERA-F SHIMANO FD-M430

DERA-R SHIMANO RD-M430

Freewheel SHIMANO HG-50-9

Hubs SHIMANO M475

Pedal VP ALLOY

Rim ALEX TD-17

 

2nd hand

 

2011 model 2nd hand Silverback

Fork: Suntour Raidon LO Air 100mm

Rims: Alex ACE 17 Double Wall Aluminium

Hubs :Novatec Sealed bearing Disc

Tyres: Kenda Small Block Eight 26" x 2.1

Shifters: Shimano Deore 9 Speed Rapidfire Plus

Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore

Rear Derailleur : Shimano SLX Shadow

Chainwheel : Shimano M443 Octlink 22/32/44T

Bottom Bracket: Shimano E525 Octalink

Cassette : SRAM PG-950, 9 Speed 11-32T

Pedals : VP Components

Brake Set : Shimano M445 Hydraulic Disc

not too sure about this, but a guy at the local bike shop once mentioned something that sealed bearings are easier too service too(on the silverback)...

[Higher spec 2nd hand or lower spec new]

forgot to mention, my dad bought a 2011 merida matts sub 60, with deore components and XT rear derailer for my mom, brand new, with some extras as well for R5500 at saleys cycles(know they have a few branches)...so there are older models in the shops for good prices too...

[Higher spec 2nd hand or lower spec new]

If I were you, dude, I'd definitely go 2nd hand. No doubt about it... Far better value, and you;ll get far more enjoyment out of a higher specced 2nd hand bike that has better components. One thing to remember as well: An abused bike is almost always just a simple service away from being awesome again... you do get the exceptions, but the guys looking to sell at the "bottom end" are almost always looking at upgrading because they're loving the sport.

 

Welcome to the Hub, btw...

well said..i agree, for the current budget i would buy 2nd hand, no doubt, there are always good deals!! enjoy the search-its part of the fun hey...