Monark

Hi Am considering riding the Outsurance KZN Explore tomorrow but a ton of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours. My 29er is running Racing Ralfs and my 26er is running Crossmarks. How do the Ralfs cope with some water? I have no experience with them so dont really feel like paying school fees for 45km Some guidance would be appreciated

Done and dusted in Durbs

Guys for ID purposes, take your old Discovery Med Aid card, punch a hole in it and attach it to the zip on your hydration pack... it is visible and will give people all of your details... done...

I have the Windcutter and am happy... running XT metal pads and SLX callipers and the stopping power is great!

Worry about strength as much as mass/weight...

I have SLX and after 3000km of no issues I will just replace them with the new 2012 SLX and then move these onto my new bike

Eldron, any issues with the AC's?

Please let me know!

I recently nearly ploughed through a group of roadies who had stopped on an onramp onto the M4 in Durban (Blue Lagoon) and had not bothered to clear the road or pull off to the side... I come along in my double cab, take the sharp left to find the entire onramp full of roadies, just standing around... I just put my hand on the hooter and drove... The weak and stupid must die... simple... I am not going to roll/smash/ damage my car to avoid inconsiderate roadies...

How technical is it?

BigBen, nice build! The matt black frame looks wonderful! That is the 1800D Lite frame if I am not mistaken. What does she weigh? Your thoughts?

Right, she now has a 160mm XT rotor on the rear running XT sintered pads. The brakes have been bled and she now stops sweetly. The brake performance improvement is so great that I have completely put off my Hygia brake upgrade! (Leigh's Cycle Centre in the Pav did a wonderful job setting her up) I have also added a Fizik seat and she is now much more comfortable to ride. I have put some more mileage on the bike and I am beginning to love it. I have forgotten how 'pure' riding a hardtail is and just how much fun it is to hop over everything. The bigger wheels (notwithstanding their 2.35kg mass) roll beautifully and despite the bike's mass (12.5kg) you can flick it through corners and it is very compliant. Despite reviews that 29er hardtails do not turn into corners well I have found the opposite to be true. The riser bars are awesome and provide for ultimate control. For added comfort I have increased the front fork's travel from 100mm to 120mm as per the owner's manual. The Rockshox Recon Gold is a good fork for the money and the extra 20mm of travel has not gone unnoticed. I have landed some nice drop offs with the bike and have punished the drive train in water and yet she is still perfect. The white paint gets dirty very very easily though.

Hi Great to hear. Are you running the braided hoses and XT/XTR pads? Bike? Please let us have another impression after you have had them on the bike for a while.

Thanks Cycho! I have dropped them a line via email. Lets see what they have to say.

Still looking if anyone knows of a Scandal 29er...

He is mainly an XC rider. Does the inbred come in 29er?

Thanks guys. Kiwi has a PM Have recently seen a few On Ones and the owners love them. Lets hope that Kiwi can find a medium for my mate.

Am looking for some direction... Please... maybe a price too....

Well??

Hi Any updates? Have either of you ridden with SLX brakes? How do these compare?

Alivio and Deore are entry level. Try and get SLX components.

We have a Silverback (Ventura)in our stable and it is awesome. For the price the spec is amazing and she is very light. Has over 1000km on it and it is yet to give a single hassle.

I feel that SLX is the perfect compromise. It is accurate, light and very reliable! XTR looks bling but it is very expensive.

Thanks my man. I am very keen to see what you have to say. I am running a mix of SLX, XT and XTR brakes and am very happy but they are not light at all! The Merida came with entry level Deore hydro brakes and might upgrade to Hygia Elites if they are any good.

I see that they are sold on the forum but no one seems to rave about them. On Mtbr they get very good reviews. Who has them, which model and are you ranting or raving...