ronniebuis

Uh uh buddy - totally with you (I ride both). As you say, it is "roadie", but beautifully engineered. As a wannabe roadie, (I'm a wannabe cyclist FULL STOP) I liked it immensly - in tang it was awesome. That's why, when I decided to go ahead, I had to have the sprung fork colour coded too. I tried a solid fork in my Merida XC800 (which WAS my commuter until I did the FLX up) and didn't enjoy it much, even only on the road, so I put the Manitou R7 back in.

Hey CJ. I am growed up - well, I think so - most others disagree. But, at 55, I decided now it is time for me - kids out the house etc etc. So !!!!!. Problem is, deze ole legs ain't worth shite - so, most would say "the bike, she is wasted on you". I now say, if I can't do it anymore, at least I can look good not doing it !!! I returned to PE on 10th Dec with it. Only did one feeler 30km roadride and then got moera flu so I didn't ride it again. Came back to Pmb for X-mas on 16th but brought my Merida 96 3000D up to bash around the Cedara forets / Kaarkloof / Cascades & Worlds View with my son. Couldn't bear the thought of crashing the Niner. Titus, I first saw it as a single speed with the fixed fork - that is what set me off. Absolute engineering poetry. But, reality set in and I got cold feet when I realised a sprung fork would be white or black. Then W Squared showed me a pic with the colour coded Reba XX - the rest is history.

Hi "CJ". Rough idea - frame @ R15k - Reba XX fork @ R6200-00 - XTR Groupset @ R9300-00 ex Evans UK - I bought a Silverback Segma 29er for R18000-00 and used the ZTR wheels - the XT groupset went on to the Merida FLX (pictured above). Seat & grips were about R1,5k. Between the two bikes I blew about R52k - for FLUX sake DON'T tell my wife - I like my cahonies Dangling (PUN) just where they are tank yew veddy much. Niner is insured for R45k and the Merida for R35k. There are some things one's wife just does not need to know - ne'. The oke's at W Squared were absolutely superb - some of the bits from the XTR groupset did not match my Niner yet, wherever they could, they swopped / replaced to keep my costs down. They even swopped the 29er fork from the Segma (straight tube) for an equivalent 26" fork for the Merida - superb service. I cannot commend them enough. Now - all I gotta do is find my old legs and make them move a bit faster than the kid next door on his tricycle.

Thanks Dangle - one day, when you blitz me, stop to say hi OK ? Just to take a liberty, I attach a pic of the other bike W Squared built for me. It is my commuter (I am down in PE). Bought the frame 2nd hand and Plastic Rebuilders refinished it completely - looks like new. Changed the Merida white "flames" to yellow and pimped it in yellow too. Fadda Klissmass was veddy good to me.

Another view - almsot too scared to side the blerry thing, it's so pretty.

Hey Dangle (& others). Attached (I hope) is my Niner - built up by W Squared Cycling in Hilton. Had the fork colour coded too and pimped it with an orange saddle and grips (brought in from O/seas). Put a full XTR groupset on and ZTR wheels.

Seems most of you guys 'n gals at least got your licence. I applied in June or July (first joined Fat Tracks in PE). paid my CSA fees and within 10 days I was e-mailed that my licence was approved, was advised of a number and was told that this temporary letter was valid for X period - and that my official licence & paperwork would be with me in 7 - 10 days. Well, it is now the end of the year and despite a dozen e-mails from me (and some from Fat Tracks), I have nothing to show for my money. Doesn't that constitue fraud ????? Some of my later e-mails were not polite as I consider them a bunch of incompetent a-holes. Come renewal time, I will insist that my 2010 fees be used to issue me with my 2011 licence as I have had no benefit from my money to date. If they are unwilling, I shall simply hang around 50m down the road from the start of any race I might decide to do and I will simply join in from there - I don't need any official results to enjoy riding with a bunch of fellow cyclists - and, as far as I know, there is squat they can do.

Hey, no matter HOW stunning, no matter HOW sexy, no matter HOW awesome she may be, somewhere, some oke is sick and blerry tired of her K&K.

Hey Buddy. I might be "da Man" but I am a stoopid man - PC dinosaur - that's me. I dunno how to upload pics of my completed Niner. I had my Reba XX forks colour coded and put an orange Fizik Arione saddle on. Now have orange grips too. I think it looks quite cool. If you / Dangle or anyone else is interested, e-mail me and I will gladly send a pic or two (ronbuis@absamail.co.za). The blerry thing is almost too pretty to ride. The Merida FLX frame I had refinished in yellow also turned out quite sweet. Will include one or two of that too if you are interested. Those dudes at WSquaredCycling at Hilton really went beyond the call of duty for me. I can only recommend then highly.

There IS a problem. They will eventually officially trade from the store over the road from the temporary "Wimpy" store. Their official store is problematic as there is no council approval at present. Their intention is to use the Wimpy as a temporary base until the official store receives said approval. They will carry limited stock at the "Wimpy" store and fetch & carry stock as required from the official store. They are not officially open but we managed to acquire some stuff - but had to depart from the "tradesmans" entrance out back. Just try knocking on the door of the official store in the meantime. There are bods inside

Just a quickie on the guys seen "leaving the route". Possible they weren't competing ? Just individuals out on their own. Had it down here in the boondocks (PE) where marshals were doing their best to shepherd me on a race route when I was out on my own trying to spin a pedal. Nearly ran one down - asked him "VOKKITOL - DO I LOOK LIKE A RACER ???

That is scary senseless. My old stomping grounds around 20 yrs ago. But, even then, it was dodgy on your own and I often packed when I went to Umkomaas or Scotburgh or beyond. Not as safe as we would like to believe. RIP fella.

So. it seems the general consensus agrees with my medicine - MUSIC - LOT'S OF IT - and LOOOUUUDDDD !!!!! Gets the adrenaline flowing and the pedals spinning. Mine is in my sound room - I watch a music DVD. If I have to sit indoors I spin for 30km (computer fitted to rear wheel) and adjust gearing and resistance one the trainer. Works for me - I leave big puddles of sweat on the plastic mat I had to lay down. Indoor trainer is not ideal but sometimes necessary.

I agree with Johan Rissik - CSA se moer. I paid my fees in July. Got a lekka letter advising of my number and that my card etc would be with me within 7 - 10 days. Over 3 months later and a dozen e-mails and I still have nothing to show for my mpney. They can get stuffed. If they don't use my paid fees for my 2011 licence AND ACTUALLY GET ME MY CARD, I will simply join in any race I feel like riding 100 yards down the road. The previous regime were apparently fraudsters - in my opinion, this new lot are no better. I am no legal beagle but I am sure that if you take someone's money for an intended purpose, on the promise of some trade / goods / services etc, and fail to deliver, that constitutes fraud.

While we are at it, how about adding some ideas as to what we want. The poll doesnt really allow you to express true feelings and ideas. They are sh_t scared of the negative feedback. Read the latest Bicycling (I think it was) - contained an article on their "Olde Guarde" - the theft & corruption. But the "New Guard" is useless - incompetent. I signed up for my Licence in July - did the EFT thing. Got a reply on 31/July advising receipt, advising of my number (declaration that the letter was valid for 2 weeks) and advising my club would receive my card in 7 - 10 days. 3 mths later and over a dozen e-mails later, I still have nothing - nada - nicks. Seems the paperwork was sent down but the system is archaeic - and CSA don't give a shite. I am going to demand that the fees I have paid (for nothing to date) get transferred for a 2011 licence. If they don't agree, they can suck my nose and if there is any race I feel like doing, I will simply join in 100m down the road. Such incompetence really gets my goat, as you may have picked up.